City Council

Florence City Council Special Meeting Tuesday, February 6, 2024 6:00 p.m. MINUTES The City Council of the City of Florence, Kentucky, met in special session on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Boulevard, Florence, Kentucky, with Mayor Julie M. Aubuchon presiding as chair. CALL TO ORDER & WELCOME: Mayor Julie M. Aubuchon called the special meeting to order and declared the meeting open for the presentation of items on the special meeting agenda. INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Aubuchon and Members of City Council recited the invocation. All attendees recited the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: The roll was called, and the following five (5) members of council were registered present: Lesley Chambers, Jenna Kemper, David A. Osborne, Patricia Wingo, and Gary Winn. Councilmember Mel Carroll was absent. Staff members present were: City Attorney, Thomas R. Nienaber; CFO/HR, Linda Chapman; Fire/EMS Chief, Rodney Wren; Chief of Police, Tom Grau; Public Services Director, Eric Hall; Director of Administration/City Administrator, Joshua J. Hunt; City Engineer, Bill Viox; City Clerk, Melissa Kramer; Videographer, Perry Weber; and Police Lieutenant, Roger Allen. The following were also present in the audience: Resident of Florence, Angie Cable; Resident of Florence, Thomas Judd; Crosland Southeast Representative, Christopher Taft; Bayer Becker Representative, Katie Dillenburger, PE, Traffic Engineer Project Manager; Bayer Becker Principal, Jay Bayer, PE, PLS, LEED AP; and Resident of Boone County, Alex Evans. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to approve the minutes of the January 30, 2024, special meeting. Councilmember Wingo motioned to approve the minutes with a second from Councilmember Winn. All councilmembers present voted aye. Florence City Council (Special Meeting) Minutes: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 SECOND READING ORDINANCE O-1-2024: Mayor Aubuchon read Ordinance O-1-2024. An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. O-30-94 and Adopting an Investment Policy to Govern Investment of Funds by the City of Florence, Kentucky. As required by KRS 66.480, this Ordinance adopts an official policy to govern investment of funds of the City of Florence. The policy designates the Designated Officials of the City authorized to oversee investments; lists permitted types of investments; establishes procedures for monitoring investments; establishes standards for diversification of investments; and requires periodic reporting of the status of invested funds. Ordinance O-1-2024 includes the changes to KRS 66.480 which outlines the types of investments which are permitted by municipalities and governmental entities. Ordinance O-1-2024 for the most part, follows the Model Investment Policy recommended by the Kentucky League of Cities. The full text of Ordinance O-1-2024, including its exhibits, is available for examination in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Florence, Kentucky, in the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd., Florence, Kentucky, during regular office hours. Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to approve the second reading of Ordinance O-1-2024. Councilmember Osborne motioned to approve, with a second from Councilmember Wingo. Mayor Aubuchon requested a Roll Call Vote. Councilmember Chambers, yes; Councilmember Winn, yes; Councilmember Kemper, yes; Councilmember Wingo, yes; Councilmember Osborne, yes. Roll call recognized five yes votes approving the second reading of Ordinance O-1-2024 by unanimous vote. SECOND READING ORDINANCE O-2-2024: Mayor Aubuchon read Ordinance O-2-2024. An Ordinance Adopting and Approving a change of Concept Development Plan in a Commercial Two/Planned Development (C-2/PD) Zone for an approximate 11.82 acre site located on the northeast corner of the US 42/Farmview Drive Intersection and the southeast corner of the Old US 42/Farmview Drive Intersection, Florence and Union, Kentucky, to allow an approximate 56,000 square foot grocery store with an attached liquor store and drive-through pharmacy, along with two out lots for retail, service, and/or eating and drinking establishment uses. (Farmview Commons LLC) The effect of this Ordinance is to allow an approximate 56,000 square foot grocery store with an attached liquor store and drive-through pharmacy, along with two out lots for retail, service, and/or eating and drinking establishment uses on an approximately 11.82 acre site located on the northeast corner of the US 42/Farmview Drive Intersection and the southeast corner of the old US 42/Farmview Drive Intersection, Florence and Union, Kentucky, in a Commercial Two/Planned Development (C-2/PD) Zone. The full text of Ordinance O-2-2024, including its exhibits, is available for examination in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Florence, Kentucky, in the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd., Florence, Kentucky, during regular office hours. 2|Page Florence City Council (Special Meeting) Minutes: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to approve the second reading of Ordinance O-2-2024. Councilmember Wingo motioned to approve, with a second from Councilmember Winn. Mayor Aubuchon requested a Roll Call Vote. Councilmember Chambers, no; Councilmember Winn, yes; Councilmember Kemper, yes; Councilmember Wingo, yes; Councilmember Osborne, yes. Roll call recognized four yes votes and one no vote approving the second reading of Ordinance O-2-2024 by 4-1 majority. DISCUSSION: Mayor Aubuchon called upon Joshua J. Hunt, Director of Administration/City Administrator, to discuss annexation of a parcel of approximately 1.194 and 4.127 acres, located at 1 Gridiron Lane, Florence, adjacent to the city limits, the Boone County Pee Wee Athletic Association. Mr. Hunt explained to annex the property and follow House Bill 141, a formal discussion must be held and then adoption of an ordinance. He referred to his presentation identifying the parcels. The Boone County Pee Wee Athletic Association, Inc. has requested and consented to the annexation. Notification of the consent and annexation was sent to Boone County Judge Executive Gary Moore. Following, the city received confirmation there were no objections from the county to proceed with annexation. Mr. Hunt opened the floor for questions or comments. Councilmember Chambers inquired regarding the status of the loan requested by the Boone County Pee Wee Athletic Association associated with the annexation. Mr. Hunt advised the city received comments back from the Boone County Pee Wee Athletic Association attorney today and the closing documents are being prepared. Councilmember Chambers inquired if the Boone County Pee Wee Athletic Association, Inc. owned the parcels being annexed into the city. Mr. Hunt said yes, the organization did. Mayor Aubuchon explained the organization owned approximately 11.82 acres. MAYORS REPORT: • Mayor Aubuchon reminded everyone they had a few more days to complete the online survey for the Parks Master Plan – February 9 was the deadline. Mayor Aubuchon called upon Public Services Director, Eric Hall, regarding an update on the survey. Mr. Hall stated approximately six hundred surveys had been received to date. Additionally, there was substantial activity on the website with residents providing feedback on their likes and dislikes of the individual parks and at the recent open house on January 31. Councilmember Kemper stated she attended the open house for the survey and expressed concern that all parks were not being represented, specifically, the Florence Aquatic Center. She expressed desire to expand upon the services at the aquatic center based on feedback she had received. 3|Page Florence City Council (Special Meeting) Minutes: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 Mr. Hall explained the Parks Master Plan was discussed at the previous Budget Workshop. The parks in the survey are considered actives parks because they are open year-round, whereas the aquatic center is open ten weeks. Councilmember Kemper inquired what year the Parks Master Plan was discussed at the Budget Workshop as she did not recall being a part of it. Mayor Aubuchon stated the discussion took place last year and Councilmember Kemper was a part of the discussion. Councilmember Chambers agreed with Councilmember Kemper and was surprised the Parks Master Plan did not include more discussion regarding empty spaces in the city. Mayor Aubuchon stated the parks included in the Parks Master Plan are public access parks that do not have entrance fees, such as the Florence Aquatic Center and World of Golf. She reminded everyone it was a Special Meeting. • Mayor Aubuchon reminded everyone the city would be open Monday, February 19, Presidents’ Day, and there would be a Presidents Day display in the Florence Government Center lobby. The display would begin Monday, February 19 and go on until Friday, February 23 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily. • Mayor Aubuchon encouraged everyone to register for the Book & Literacy Festival, February 23-24. Registration for the events is on the city website and Facebook. Please contact the Administration Department for more information at 859-647-8177. • Mayor Aubuchon announced the city launched a YouTube channel for live streaming city council meetings. The direct link for the channel is on the website and the channel is “CityofFlorenceKentucky”. She encouraged everyone to subscribe to the channel and stay up to date. • Mayor Aubuchon encouraged everyone to check their mailboxes this week for the 2024 City of Florence Community Guide. The guide is available for online viewing on the city website at www.florence-ky.gov and through a link on the Facebook page. CLOSED SESSION: There was no need for Closed Session. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before Council, Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to adjourn the Special Meeting. Councilmember Wingo so moved, with a second from Councilmember Winn. Councilmembers present voted aye, the time being 6:17 p.m. APPROVED: /s/ Julie M. Aubuchon Julie M. Aubuchon, Mayor ATTEST: /s/ Melissa Kramer Melissa Kramer, City Clerk 4|Page