Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on June 2, 2009, with Mayor Newberry presiding. The meeting covered three agenda items, including one action item and two informational presentations. The Council approved a D-Day Proclamation and received informational updates on the LexTran budget and the 2009 ice storm recovery efforts. Over the course of the meeting, four votes were taken and two public comments were heard.

Attendance

All members of the Council were present at the June 2, 2009 meeting. The following 14 officials were in attendance:

• Mayor Newberry
• CM Blues
• CM McChord
• CM Beard
• CM Gorton
• CM Myers
• CM Crosbie
• CM Martin
• CM Lawless
• CM Henson
• CM Feigel
• CM James
• CM Webb
• CM Bennett

No members were recorded as absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

Four motions were brought to a vote during the June 2, 2009 Council meeting, all of which passed unanimously.

• Approval of the May 26, 2009 Summary: Moved by CM Blues and seconded by CM McChord, the Council unanimously approved the summary of the May 26, 2009 meeting. 25:27

• Approval of New Business Items A–G: Moved by CM Beard and seconded by CM Gorton, the Council unanimously approved the slate of new business items A through G. 25:59

• Referral of Shelters and Evacuation Plans to the Services Committee: Moved by CM Myers and seconded by CM Crosbie, the Council unanimously voted to place the issue of shelters and evacuation plans into the Services Committee for further consideration. 37:38

• Adjournment of Work Session: Moved by CM Beard and seconded by CM Ellinger, the Council unanimously voted to adjourn the work session. No timestamp is available for this vote.

No roll call votes were recorded; all four motions passed by unanimous consent. No nays or abstentions were noted for any item.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council considered seven financial items at the June 2, 2009 meeting, spanning contract amendments, grant acceptances, and new agreements across multiple city departments.

• Resolution 346-09 authorized an amendment to the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Program Contract with the Bluegrass Area Development District (BGADD).

• Resolution 352-09 approved acceptance of an award from the US Department of Health and Human Services related to the Healthy Tomorrows Project for FY2009.

• Resolution 363-09 approved an amendment to an existing agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) regarding the Healthway Trail Project.

• Resolution 359-09 authorized entering into an Engineering Services Agreement with HW Lochner, Inc. for right-of-way acquisition services related to the Newtown Pike Extension Project — Phase I Mitigation Area.

• Resolution 360-09 approved acceptance of an award from the Kentucky Heritage Council and a corresponding Letter of Agreement amendment on behalf of the Division of Historic Preservation.

• Resolution 361-09 amended Resolution No. 122-2009 pertaining to the Rural and Inner City Adopt-A-Spot Program for FY2009.

• Resolution 364-09 approved a catering contract with Hyatt Regency Lexington on behalf of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Police, for the 2009 Police Awards Banquet.

No specific dollar amounts were recorded in the available data for any of these items. Readers seeking exact figures are encouraged to consult the full resolution texts or the meeting record directly.

Public Comment

Two residents addressed the Council during the public comment period.

• Lewis Cobb 2:58:05 spoke on the themes of community involvement and the need for change. Cobb drew on his personal experiences to make his case and called for unity among different community groups.

• Nicole Dummitt 3:00:14 raised concerns about proposed changes to LexTran services. Dummitt focused on the impact such changes would have on people with disabilities and advocated for continued support of existing services as well as further expansion of LexTran's offerings.

Contested Items

• LexTran Paratransit Fare Increase: The council engaged in heated discussion over a proposed fare increase for LexTran's paratransit services operating outside the fixed route area. The debate centered on concerns about the financial impact on people with disabilities who rely on paratransit transportation, as well as the extent to which the proposed increase was tied to recommendations from a federal audit. No additional details regarding the specific council members involved in the debate, the proposed fare amounts, or the final outcome of the vote are available in the provided record.

D-Day Proclamation

6:01

Mayor Newberry presented a proclamation to three veterans — John Palumbo, Charles Gray, and Frank Cassidy — in honor of the 65th anniversary of D-Day. The proclamation was approved by the Council.

LexTran Budget Discussion

2:11:40

The Council took up a discussion of the LexTran budget, with the conversation centering on two primary issues: a proposed fare increase for paratransit services operating outside the fixed route area, and the implications of recommendations stemming from a federal audit.

Key speakers in the discussion included Rocky Burke, Jared Ford, and Dr. Kasarkis. The debate focused on the financial and practical consequences of adjusting fares for paratransit riders who fall outside the standard fixed route service area, a population that typically includes elderly and disabled residents who depend on door-to-door transit options.

The federal audit recommendations also factored into the discussion, raising questions about compliance and the potential budgetary adjustments LexTran may need to make in response. No final action was taken during this session; the item was informational in nature, serving to brief the Council on the current state of the LexTran budget and the policy considerations under review.

2009 Ice Storm Update

1:00:32

Pat Dugger presented an update to the Council on the 2009 ice storm, covering the response efforts undertaken, challenges encountered during the event, and lessons learned that could be applied to future emergency management planning.

The presentation was informational in nature, providing the Council with an overview of how the ice storm was handled and what improvements or considerations might be taken into account going forward. No vote or formal action was taken as a result of this agenda item.