Urban County Council Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council convened on March 12, 2009, at 7:00 PM in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Jim Newberry presiding. The meeting covered three agenda items, including a presentation, second readings of ordinances, and second readings of resolutions. The council recognized a school through the Cans for Cash Contest presentation, which was informational in nature, and proceeded to approve both the ordinances and resolutions brought forward for their second readings. Over the course of the meeting, three votes were taken, three public comments were heard, and one presentation was given.

Attendance

The following 14 members were present at the March 12, 2009 Council meeting: Henson, James, Lane, Lawless, Martin, Myers, Stinnett, Beard, Blues, Crosbie, Ellinger, Feigel, Gorton, and Gray.

• Absent: McChord
• Late arrivals: None

Votes and Decisions

Three roll call votes were taken during the March 12, 2009 Council meeting.

• Approval of Ordinances Given Second Reading 21:43: Motioned by Gorton and seconded by Henson, this vote passed unanimously, 14–0. All members voted in favor: Henson, James, Lane, Lawless, Martin, Myers, Stinnett, Beard, Blues, Crosbie, Ellinger, Feigel, Gorton, and Gray.

• Resolution on Reimbursement of Temporary Advances for Capital Expenditures 1:52:29: Motioned by Blues and seconded by Stinnett, this resolution passed 11–3. Voting in favor were Henson, James, Lawless, Martin, Myers, Stinnett, Beard, Blues, Ellinger, Gorton, and Gray. Voting against were Lane, Crosbie, and Feigel.

• Resolution for Temporary Construction Easement from Unitarian Universalist Church of Lexington 1:52:29: Also motioned by Blues and seconded by Stinnett, this resolution passed 12–2. Voting in favor were Henson, James, Lane, Lawless, Martin, Myers, Stinnett, Beard, Blues, Crosbie, Ellinger, and Feigel. Voting against were Gorton and Gray.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved several financial actions at the March 12, 2009 meeting, covering capital improvements, environmental planning, and public education initiatives.

• Passenger Elevator at the Carver Community Center: The Council approved a contract with Jarboe Construction, Inc. in the amount of $124,990 for the installation of a passenger elevator at the Carver Community Center. No resolution identifier was provided in the meeting record.

• Master Plan Recycling Program: The Council approved an amendment to an existing agreement with Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc. valued at $17,965 related to the Master Plan Recycling Program. No resolution identifier was provided in the meeting record.

• Environmental Public Education: The Council approved an amendment to an existing agreement with Bluegrass PRIDE in the amount of $80,000 for environmental public education efforts. No resolution identifier was provided in the meeting record.

In total, the three financial actions approved at this meeting represent approximately $222,955 in contracted or amended expenditures. No timestamps or resolution numbers were included in the available meeting data for these items.

Public Comment

Three members of the public addressed the Council during the public comment period, all focusing on the Lyric Theatre project.

• Joe Graves 28:53 commended the Council for taking time to discuss the financial ramifications of the Lyric Theatre project. He suggested that a feasibility study be conducted before the Council moves forward with the project.

• Freda Merriweather 31:04 spoke to the importance of the Lyric Theatre to the broader community and urged the Council to fulfill their commitment to the project.

• Jim Clark 32:07 discussed potential synergies between the Lyric Theatre and other cultural facilities in the area, suggesting that partnerships could be explored as a means of reducing the project's projected deficits.

Taken together, the comments reflected both enthusiasm for the Lyric Theatre's community value and concern about its financial sustainability. While Merriweather pressed the Council to honor its existing commitments to the project, Graves and Clark each offered approaches — a formal feasibility study and inter-facility partnerships, respectively — that could help address the financial uncertainties surrounding it.

Appointments

The Council took action on two appointments during the March 12, 2009 meeting.

• Diana Caldwell was appointed to the position of Social Worker Sr. within the Department of Social Services.
• Angela Williams was appointed to the position of Social Worker Sr. within the Division of Youth Services.

Both individuals were appointed to senior social worker roles, with Caldwell's appointment placing her in the Department of Social Services and Williams' appointment placing her in the Division of Youth Services.

Contested Items

• Lyric Theatre Project: The Lyric Theatre project generated significant discussion during the meeting, with debate centering on the financial feasibility of the project and the level of commitment required to move it forward. Concerns were raised about costs and the need for a viable business plan before proceeding. The structured data does not identify specific individuals by name as parties to the disagreement, nor does it record a definitive outcome from the discussion.

Cans for Cash Contest School Recognition Presentation

11:11

Cheryl Taylor presented awards and certificates to schools participating in the Cans for Cash Program, a recycling initiative recognizing schools for their collection of aluminum cans. The presentation was informational in nature, with no votes or formal action taken by the Council.

The recognition honored schools for their involvement in the aluminum can recycling contest, with awards and certificates distributed as part of the program's acknowledgment of participant efforts. No additional details regarding specific schools recognized, award categories, or collection totals were provided in the record.

Ordinances Second Reading

20:08

The Council took up the second reading of ordinances during this portion of the meeting. The items before the Council included amendments to the Code of Ordinances as well as the issuance of Taxable General Obligation Pension Funding Bonds.

Key speakers during this agenda item were Gorton and Henson. The ordinances were presented for their second and final reading before the Council, following the procedural requirement that ordinances receive two readings prior to adoption.

The Council approved the ordinances as presented.

Resolutions Second Reading

1:59:44

The Council took up the second reading of resolutions covering the acceptance of bids for various projects as well as agreements with organizations. Council members Blues and Stinnett were the key speakers during this portion of the meeting.

The resolutions presented at second reading addressed multiple items, including bid acceptances for unspecified projects and formal agreements with outside organizations. No specific concerns or debate are recorded in the available meeting data for this agenda item.

The Council approved the resolutions at second reading.