Committee of the Whole-Budget Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Committee of the Whole met on May 26, 2009, at 1:00 p.m., with Vice Mayor Gray presiding. The meeting focused on FY 2010 budget planning through a series of Council Link report outs covering multiple city departments and functions. Five agenda items were presented, all of which were informational in nature, addressing budget links related to Finance, Budgeting, Social Services, Outside Agencies, General Government, Public Works and Environmental Quality, and recommendations from the Links Committee. The body heard five public comments during the meeting and took one motion to a vote. The session provided an overview of budget priorities and departmental planning across city government for the upcoming fiscal year.

Attendance

Present: - Vice Mayor Gray - Council Member Henson - Council Member James - Council Member Gorton - Council Member Blues - Council Member Crosbie - Council Member Feigel - Council Member Martin - Council Member Stinnett - Council Member Myers - Council Member Beard - Council Member Byers

Absent: - CM Lane

Late: None reported

Votes and Decisions

The Council voted unanimously to approve a recommendation regarding health care plan changes for partner and outside agencies currently covered under an LFUCG health care plan. 1:58:55

Motion Details: Council Member Myers moved the recommendation, which was seconded by Council Member James. The motion passed unanimously with all 12 voting members in favor and no votes against.

Decision: Partner and outside agencies currently covered under an LFUCG health care plan will move to their own health care plans effective July 1, 2010. Three agencies received earlier transition dates: the Health Department, Housing Authority, and County Attorney will move to their own health care plans effective January 1, 2010.

Voting Record: The following Council members voted in favor: - Vice Mayor Gray - Council Member Henson - Council Member James - Council Member Gorton - Council Member Blues - Council Member Crosbie - Council Member Feigel - Council Member Martin - Council Member Stinnett - Council Member Myers - Council Member Beard - Council Member Byers

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included the following financial appropriations and amendments:

Employee Benefits and Services * Reinstatement of YMCA membership subsidy for non-collective bargaining employees: $90,000.00 * Reinstatement of LFUCG-sponsored optional flu immunizations: $20,000.00

Social Services * Creation of new Social Services Coordinator position for Black & Williams Center: $18,172.00 * Funding for Program Administrator for Day Treatment Center: $90,000.00

Legal and Administrative * Addition of $6,000 for legal professional services in Commonwealth Attorney Office * Reclassification of corner office with potential salary increase of 7.5%-12%: $30,040.00 * Increase in Council Office Administration funding: $95,701.00 * Addition of $48,000 to Council Clerk operating supplies and expenses * Addition of $140,000 for two unfilled auditor positions in Internal Audit * Reduction of $10,227 in civil service salaries and benefits for Government Communications

Economic Development and Community Programs * Addition of $25,000 to Economic Development Task Force * Addition of $4,000 to Sister Cities program * Reduction of $45,000 from arts program (LexArts)

Public Works and Infrastructure * Addition of $48,000 for large animal removal in Public Works * Addition of $55,847 for traffic signal tech senior reclassification and neighborhood traffic management program * Addition of $35,846 for reallocation of 10 Traffic Signal Tech Sr. positions * Addition of $20,000 for neighborhood traffic management program * Addition of $2,000 for mileage reimbursement in Historic Preservation

Planning and Technology * Addition of $30,000 for purchase of easements in PDR * Addition of $1,000,000.00 matching grant opportunity for PDR * Addition of $188,000 for Enterprise Business Solutions Division in Computer Services * Reduction of $30,000 for subscriptions and publications in Law Department

Public Comment

Council members raised several concerns regarding budget allocations and staffing matters during the meeting.

Council Member Crosbie questioned the Economic Development Task Force funding allocation 1:12:03. He noted that $25,000 was being allocated to the task force despite only $3,000 being spent in the previous year, suggesting the allocation lacked justification and appeared arbitrary rather than based on demonstrated need.

Council Member Martin expressed concern about the arts program funding reduction 1:17:05. He stated that eliminating $45,000 from the arts program would negatively impact lean organizations operating with limited resources and could lead to closures during the current economic hardship.

Council Member Gordon sought clarification regarding the coroner's office reclassification 1:22:48. He asked whether the reclassification was based on a broader government market study or was specific to the coroner's office. The response clarified that the discussion was isolated to the coroner's office.

Council Member Byers addressed Waste Management staffing issues 1:50:00. He inquired whether the link contained a policy recommendation regarding 54 vacancies in the Waste Management department and requested a presentation on a master hiring plan.

Council Member Myers reported on health care plan transition decisions 1:56:12. He explained that the committee unanimously supported moving outside agencies off the LFUCG health care plan by July 1, 2010, with three exceptions scheduled to transition in January 2010.

Contested Items

The May 26, 2009 meeting included three contested items that generated significant discussion among council members.

Arts Program Funding Reduction

Council Member Martin and Council Member Blues disagreed over a $45,000 cut to the arts program. Martin raised concerns that the reduction would harm arts organizations during a period of economic hardship, arguing that lean organizations were particularly vulnerable to budget cuts at this time. Blues countered that the cut was consistent with reductions being applied to other special projects in the budget. This item resulted in a split vote among council members.

Economic Development Task Force Funding

Council Member Crosbie challenged the allocation of $25,000 to the Economic Development Task Force, characterizing the decision as arbitrary. Crosbie pointed out that only $3,000 had been spent in the prior year, questioning the justification for a more than eightfold increase in funding without clear evidence of actual need. This disagreement prompted a heated discussion among council members about whether the funding level was appropriate.

Health Care Plan Transition for Outside Agencies

Council Member Crosbie identified a procedural discrepancy regarding health care plan transitions for outside agencies, specifically concerning the Human Society. Crosbie noted that the recommendation presented to the council conflicted with what was proposed in the Mayor's budget, indicating a conflict in the reported recommendations that required clarification.

Council Link Report Outs: FY 2010 Budget Links — Finance, Budgeting, Social Services, Outside Agencies

5:30

Council Member Henson presented recommendations from the Finance, Budgeting, Social Services, and Outside Agencies budget links for the FY 2010 budget.

Finance and Administration Recommendations

For Finance and Administration, Council Member Henson reported on recommendations totaling $110,000, which included:

• Reinstating YMCA subsidies
• Funding flu immunizations

Social Services Recommendations

For Social Services, the recommendations totaled $108,172 and included:

• Creating a new Social Services Coordinator position
• Funding a Program Administrator position

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with Council Member Henson providing a report-out on the budget link recommendations to the full council.

General Government Links Report

Council Member Blues presented the General Government Links Report, which included several budget recommendations 40:02.

The presentation outlined the following proposed allocations:

• $6,000 restoration for Commonwealth Attorney intern
• $30,040 for coroner reclassification
• $95,701 for Council Office Administration
• $25,000 for Economic Development Task Force
• $48,000 for Council Clerk supplies
• $45,000 reduction in the arts program

The item was presented as informational in nature. No additional details regarding debate, concerns raised, or discussion outcomes were documented in the meeting record.

Public Works and Environmental Quality FY2010 Link Report

Council Member James presented recommendations for the Public Works and Environmental Quality FY2010 Link Report 1:25:32.

Recommendations Presented

Council Member James recommended the following allocations and opportunities:

• $48,000 for large animal removal
• $35,846 for traffic signal tech reclassification
• $20,000 for neighborhood traffic management
• $2,000 for historic preservation mileage
• A $1 million matching grant opportunity for PDR (Purchase of Development Rights)

Outcome

This item was presented for informational purposes.

Outside Agency Agencies Link Report Out

1:55:10

Council Member Myers reported on the committee's review of outside agency budgets. The committee unanimously approved the Mayor's budget proposal with two exceptions that require additional information and clarification.

Agencies Requiring Further Review

The Downtown Development Authority and Commerce Lexington were identified as requiring more detailed information before the committee could finalize its recommendation on their budgets.

Health Care Plan Transition

The committee passed a motion to transition outside agencies to their own health care plans, moving them away from the current arrangement.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with the committee's findings and motion presented to the full council for consideration.

General List of Recommendations from Links Committee

1:41:37

The Links Committee presented a general list of recommendations for consideration by the council. Council Member James and Council Member Blues were the key speakers during this discussion.

The committee made three primary recommendations:

• Nepotism Discussion: The committee recommended placing nepotism into the Intergovernmental Committee for further discussion and review.

• Urban Services Fund Presentation: The committee requested a presentation on the Urban Services Fund to provide the council with detailed information on this funding mechanism.

• Ordinances and Laws Compilation: The committee recommended compiling a comprehensive list of ordinances and laws that require budget allocations, to ensure proper tracking and budgeting of mandated expenditures.

This agenda item was presented as informational in nature, with the outcome focused on sharing the committee's recommendations rather than taking immediate action. The recommendations were intended to guide future discussions and work by the appropriate committees and council members.