Committee of the Whole-Budget Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Committee of the Whole met on June 2, 2009, at 9:04 a.m., with Vice Mayor Gray presiding. The committee considered six agenda items, took 14 motions and votes, and heard seven public comments during the session.

The meeting produced mixed results across its agenda. Two items were approved: the Review of Finance, Budgeting, and Social Services Recommendations and the Review of Code Enforcement Office Relocation. Three items failed: the Review of General Government Recommendations, the Review of Mayor's Office Special Projects, and the Review of Economic Development Task Force Funding. One item—the Review of Public Safety Recommendations—was deferred for consideration at a later time.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on June 2, 2009:

• Vice Mayor Gray
• Jerry Southers
• Council Member Lane
• Council Member Crosbie
• Council Member Myers
• Council Member James
• Council Member Beard
• Council Member Martin
• Council Member Henson
• Council Member Blues
• Council Member Feigel
• Council Member Stinnett
• Council Member Lawless
• Council Member Gordon
• Council Member O'Mara
• Council Member Logan Askew
• Council Member David Jarvis
• Council Member Shaye Rabold

No members were absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included 14 votes, all conducted by voice vote. The following motions passed:

Procedural Motions - Motion to take a 15-minute recess due to lack of quorum, moved by Lane and seconded by Crosbie 7:38 - Motion to adjourn 3:54:10 - Motion to change time of next COW meeting to 9:00 am, moved by Stinnett and seconded by James 3:53:21

Budget and Staffing Approvals - Motion to approve funding for two vacant nuisance control officers, moved by Crosbie 1:52:31 - Motion to approve funding for office relocations for Code Enforcement within the Phoenix Building, moved by Crosbie 2:32:05 - Motion to approve $6,000 for work study positions in the Commonwealth Attorney's Office, moved by Blues 2:47:22 - Motion to restore funding for Council Aid at $70,000, moved by Blues 3:03:29 - Motion to restore funding for Council Members NDF and operating accounts to FY 2009 levels, moved by Blues 3:35:33 - Motion to restore $48,000 to the Council Clerk's operating supplies and expenses, moved by Blues 3:40:30 - Motion to restore Sister City salary level at FY09 level ($4,000), moved by Blues 3:52:16

Committee Referral - Motion to refer review of hiring ordinance, Council's role, and Mayor's role to the Budget & Finance Committee, moved by Feigel and seconded by Crosbie 1:56:55

Failed Motions - Motion to approve $30,040 for salary adjustments in the Coroner's Office, moved by Blues 2:58:33 - Motion to fund the Council's Economic Development Task Force at $25,000, moved by Blues 3:26:55 - Motion to reduce funding for arts programs by $45,000, moved by Blues 3:50:38

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed multiple financial items totaling approximately $779,040 in appropriations, purchases, contracts, and amendments:

Equipment and Infrastructure - Purchase of 6 radar trailers for use by police districts: $69,000 - Funding for office relocations for Code Enforcement within the Phoenix Building: $11,000

Personnel and Staffing - Appropriation of $110,000 for two vacant nuisance control officers - Appropriation of $23,000 for a part-time CSEPP coordinator position - Appropriation of $81,000 for an administrative officer position at a day treatment center - Appropriation of $30,040 for salary adjustments in the Coroner's Office

Police Department - Appropriation of $100,000 for personal protective equipment for police - Appropriation of $35,000 for educational scholarship reimbursement for police

Employee Benefits and Wellness - Appropriation of $90,000 for YMCA membership subsidy for non-collective bargaining employees - Appropriation of $20,000 for optional flu immunization

Budget Amendments - Amendment of $185,000 to reduce debt service and fund fire station relocation - Amendment reducing arts programs by $45,000, affecting LexArts

Public Comment

Council members discussed arts funding and budget cuts during this portion of the meeting.

Council Member Martin argued that cutting arts funding would harm economic development, stating that arts are vital for attracting intellectual capital to Lexington 3:42:18.

Council Member Lane emphasized that arts funding supports organizations that will contribute to the success of the upcoming World Games 3:44:00.

Council Member Gordon stated that a thriving arts community encourages economic development and increases public spending 3:45:11.

Council Member Lawless supported maintaining arts funding to ensure outreach to underserved communities and people with disabilities 3:45:44.

Council Member Blues clarified that the proposed cut was not meant to devalue the arts, but to maintain consistency with across-the-board reductions in the mayor's budget 3:46:17.

Council Member Myers stated that the arts were not a sacred cow and that the 10% cut was consistent with the mayor's proposed reductions 3:47:45.

Council Member Gordon also explained that restoring the Sister Cities salary was an oversight and that no other salaries were cut 3:51:44.

Contested Items

The June 2, 2009 meeting included three significant areas of disagreement among council members.

Council's Role in Hiring and Budget Implementation

Council members engaged in a heated discussion regarding the proper division of authority between the council and mayor concerning budget implementation. The specific point of contention was whether the council could mandate the hiring of positions that had been approved in the budget, or whether the mayor held sole authority to make hiring decisions under the city charter. To resolve the disagreement, council members requested a legal opinion to clarify the respective powers of each branch.

Arts Funding Reduction

A proposed $45,000 cut in arts funding generated strong opposition from council members. Those opposing the reduction argued that the cut would harm both economic development and community access to the arts. The disagreement resulted in a split vote, and the motion to approve the funding reduction failed.

Coroner's Office Salary Adjustment

Council members voted on a motion to approve a $30,040 salary adjustment for the Coroner's Office. The proposal divided the council, with members expressing concerns that approving the adjustment would set a problematic precedent for selective reclassifications across other city departments. The motion failed due to this split vote.

Review of Public Safety Recommendations

The committee discussed recommendations related to public safety funding during this agenda item. 44:31

Key Speakers

The discussion involved Crosbie, Stinnett, and Martin.

Topics Reviewed

The committee examined several public safety-related recommendations, including:

• Radar trailer purchase
• Animal control personnel
• Emergency management

Outcome

The radar trailer purchase was tabled due to funding concerns. The overall agenda item was deferred, indicating that further discussion or action on these recommendations was postponed to a future meeting.

Review of Finance, Budgeting, and Social Services Recommendations

2:12:37

The committee discussed funding proposals for social services positions during this agenda item. The discussion centered on two staffing positions: a new social service coordinator at Black & Williams Center and an administrative officer at the day treatment center.

Key speakers in this discussion included Henson, Blues, and Martin.

The committee considered the funding request for a social service coordinator position at Black & Williams Center. Following discussion of this proposal, a motion was brought forward to fund the coordinator position. The motion passed, resulting in approval for this staffing addition.

The outcome of this agenda item was approval of the funding recommendation.

Review of General Government Recommendations

The committee reviewed recommendations for general government offices during this agenda item, which occurred approximately 2 hours and 42 minutes into the meeting 2:42:00.

The discussion covered funding recommendations for three offices:

• Commonwealth Attorney's Office
• Coroner's Office
• Council office

The primary focus of debate centered on a proposed salary adjustment for the Coroner's Office. Key speakers in this discussion included Blues, Stinnett, and Martin.

A motion was made to fund the Coroner's Office salary adjustment; however, this motion failed. The committee did not approve the proposed salary adjustment at this time.

Review of Mayor's Office Special Projects

3:41:08

The committee discussed a proposed 10% reduction in arts funding during this agenda item. The discussion centered on a motion to cut $45,000 from the Mayor's Office Special Projects budget.

Key Speakers and Positions

Blues, Martin, and Lane were the primary speakers during this discussion.

Debate and Concerns

The motion to reduce arts funding faced strong opposition from committee members. Those opposing the cut raised concerns about the economic development and community impact implications of reducing arts funding. These speakers argued that the proposed reduction would have negative effects beyond the immediate budget savings.

Outcome

The motion to cut $45,000 in arts funding failed. The committee did not approve the proposed 10% reduction in arts funding for the Mayor's Office Special Projects.

Review of Code Enforcement Office Relocation

2:00:05

The committee discussed the relocation of the Code Enforcement office from the first floor of the Phoenix Building. The primary motivation for the move was security concerns.

Key Speakers

Crosbie and David Jarvis led the discussion on this agenda item.

Discussion and Clarification

David Jarvis provided clarification regarding the relocation proposal, which helped inform the committee's decision-making process.

Outcome

The committee approved a motion to allocate $11,000 for the Code Enforcement office relocation. The approval came after Jarvis's clarification on the matter.

Review of Economic Development Task Force Funding

The committee discussed a proposal to fund the Economic Development Task Force with $25,000. 3:04:12

Key Speakers and Discussion

James, Stinnett, and Martin participated in the debate over the funding request.

Concerns Raised

Committee members expressed concerns about the lack of a clear plan for how the funds would be used. Additionally, there were concerns about establishing a precedent with this funding decision.

Outcome

The motion to fund the Economic Development Task Force failed.