Inter Governmental Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Special Inter-Governmental Committee met on June 30, 2009, at 1:00 p.m., with Andrea James presiding. The committee addressed two informational agenda items: the Authority of Downtown Development Authority and an Update on Committee Items. During the meeting, the committee heard five public comments and took one motion to a vote. No substantive actions were passed, as both agenda items were presented for informational purposes only.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on June 30, 2009:

• James
• Myers
• Gray
• Blues
• Beard
• Henson
• Feigel
• Lawless
• Martin

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn. Beard moved to adjourn the meeting, and Blues seconded the motion 2:40:00. The motion passed by voice vote.

Public Comment

Several council members and city officials provided comments addressing the Downtown Development Authority's (DDA) role and the need for improved strategic coordination across the city.

Vice Mayor Gray 1:00:16 emphasized that while the DDA has made progress, the city lacks a comprehensive, strategic plan connecting downtown development with broader urban fabric and economic development goals. He urged the committee to address the absence of a unified vision and a central point of coordination.

Council Member Lawless 1:04:18 stressed that Lexington lacks a commissioner-level entity with authority to develop and lead a cohesive, citywide strategic plan. She criticized the current siloed approach and called for a reevaluation of how downtown development, economic development, and urban planning are coordinated.

Council Member Myers 1:09:38 requested that the DDA provide a list of past projects, challenges, and policy barriers encountered. He asked the DDA to bring back recommendations on alternative funding mechanisms and expanded authority beyond downtown, emphasizing the need for concrete examples to inform future policy decisions.

Council Member Feigel 1:12:25, noting her status as a new council member, suggested that the DDA could serve as a clearinghouse for project status and progress. She proposed that regular updates on key developments would help the council track outcomes and maintain confidence in the authority's effectiveness.

Council Member Martin 1:19:21 questioned whether this discussion should be held in the Planning Committee instead, given the overlap with long-range planning, small area plans, and the role of the Planning Commission. He urged alignment with the Planning Committee's ongoing work.

Contested Items

Role and Authority of the DDA

Council members engaged in a heated discussion regarding the Downtown Development Authority's (DDA) role and effectiveness. Members expressed frustration over what they perceived as the DDA's lack of strategic direction, despite its broad legal authority. The disagreement centered on how the DDA should be structured and empowered to function more effectively. Some council members advocated for restructuring or renaming the organization, while others called for granting it more formal power to coordinate citywide development initiatives. A key concern underlying this debate was the fragmentation of development efforts across multiple entities and questions about accountability for the DDA's performance and decision-making.

Need for Citywide Strategic Planning

A split vote resulted from debate over which body should lead efforts to develop a unified strategic plan for the city. Council members disagreed on whether the Intergovernmental Committee or the Planning Committee should take the lead on this initiative. Proponents of a citywide strategic planning effort argued for the need to establish a comprehensive vision for development across the city. However, other members contended that the Planning Committee was the more appropriate forum for leading such planning efforts. This disagreement reflected broader questions about governance structure and which committee had the proper mandate and expertise to coordinate citywide strategic planning.

Authority of Downtown Development Authority

5:08

The committee reviewed the legal authority of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) as established under Section 2-429 of the Code of Ordinances. The Department of Law provided clarification on the scope and limitations of DDA's powers.

Key Points Presented

The DDA was confirmed to have broad authority to facilitate development, coordinate policies, and implement plans across Fayette County. However, the Department of Law noted an important limitation: the DDA cannot act on projects involving the Lexington Center Corporation without obtaining consent from that entity.

Discussion Focus

The committee's discussion centered on several aspects of DDA operations:

• The DDA's role and scope within the county
• Reporting requirements and accountability measures
• The need for strategic coordination among relevant parties

Participants

The discussion included input from David Barberie, Harold Tate, Andrea James, Vice Mayor Gray, and Council Member Lawless.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action taken. The review served to clarify the legal framework governing the DDA's authority and operations.

Update on Committee Items

During this agenda item, the committee provided an update on matters referred to the Intergovernmental Committee. 2:40:00

Status of Referred Items

No changes were reported to the existing list of items referred to the Intergovernmental Committee. The committee confirmed that no new motions or actions were generated from the meeting.

Key Participants

The discussion involved Andrea James, Council Member Myers, and Council Member Lawless.

Discussion Focus

The committee's discussion centered on identifying areas for improvement in organizational operations. Specifically, participants addressed:

• The need for better coordination among relevant parties
• Strategic planning requirements
• Improved reporting mechanisms for the Downtown Development Authority (DDA)

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal actions taken. The update served to confirm the status quo regarding committee referrals while highlighting operational areas that would benefit from enhanced processes and communication.