Council Economic Development Committee of the Whole

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Economic Development Committee met on April 10, 2012, at 1:00 p.m., with Chair Beard presiding. The committee addressed four agenda items during the meeting, hearing informational presentations on the Commerce Lexington Quarterly Activity Report and the Lexington Parking Authority agreement for LFUCG Parking Garages. The committee approved the Pedestrian Oriented Business District proposal and deferred action on the LexPark Ticketing Process to a future meeting. One motion was voted on during the session, and the committee heard six public comments.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on April 10, 2012:

• Beard, Chair
• Stinnett, Vice Chair
• Gorton
• Ellinger
• Kay
• Ford
• Blues
• Lawless
• Farmer
• Crosbie
• Myers
• McChord
• Martin
• Henson
• Lane

No members were absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

The body voted on a motion to accept the Pedestrian-Oriented Business District ordinance with amendments 1:24:59. The motion was made by Diane and seconded by Myers.

Motion: Accept the Pedestrian-Oriented Business District ordinance with amendments to remove the word "unduly" and require 400-foot notification to surrounding residents.

Outcome: Passed by voice vote.

Votes in Favor: Beard (Chair), Stinnett (Vice Chair), Gorton, Ellinger, Kay, Ford, Blues, Lawless, Farmer, Crosbie, Myers, McChord, Martin, Henson, and Lane.

Votes Against: None.

Abstentions: None.

Conditions: The ordinance includes a requirement that notification to residents within 400 feet of a proposed district must be provided prior to establishment of the district.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed the following financial action:

Parking Garage Ownership Transfer

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) approved the transfer of ownership of its parking garages to the Lexington and Fayette County Parking Authority. No specific dollar amount was identified for this transaction. This action represents a shift in the management and operational structure of the city's parking infrastructure.

Public Comment

Several council members and a community member provided comments on the Pedestrian-Oriented Business District ordinance and related parking provisions.

Council Member Lawless spoke in support of the pedestrian-oriented district on South Limestone 1:00:49. She shared research and community feedback on the South Limestone Corridor, emphasizing the economic hardship caused by parking costs and expressing support for the district as a means to encourage business growth.

Council Member Martin raised multiple concerns about the ordinance. He expressed concern that the Pedestrian-Oriented Business District ordinance was being considered in the wrong committee and that he had not had sufficient time to review it 1:22:09. He also questioned why the ordinance was limited to the infill and redevelopment area when other pedestrian-friendly zones like Chevy Chase could also benefit 1:23:19.

Council Member Kathleen Martin expressed concern that transferring ownership of parking garages to the Parking Authority would remove council oversight, citing precedent with library and LexTran funding 1:38:37.

Council Member Stinnett stated she could not support the employee parking provision due to the city remaining financially liable for bond payments, and advocated for reevaluation after five years 1:45:05.

Dr. Blues asked about balancing revenue generation with downtown attractiveness, specifically regarding the proposed $2 night parking rate 1:41:23. In response, Dr. Blues was reassured that the rate would be competitive and paired with safety and lighting improvements.

Contested Items

Three matters generated significant disagreement during the April 10, 2012 meeting.

Parking Garage Ownership Transfer

Council Member Kathleen Martin opposed the proposed transfer of parking garage ownership to the Lexington and Fayette County Parking Authority. Martin's primary concern was the loss of council control over the facility and potential financial liability for the city. She cited precedent from previous experiences with library and LexTran funding as examples of how such transfers could create ongoing financial obligations for the municipality.

Employee Parking Exemption

A split vote occurred over the five-year employee parking exemption included in the garage transfer agreement. Council Member Stinnett objected to this provision, arguing that the city would remain financially liable for employee parking during the exemption period. Stinnett contended that the exemption should not extend for the full five years without reevaluation, suggesting the terms needed to be reconsidered before the agreement was finalized.

Pedestrian-Oriented Business District Ordinance

Council Member Martin raised a procedural dispute regarding the Pedestrian-Oriented Business District ordinance. Martin questioned whether the ordinance was properly before the Economic Development Committee and stated he had insufficient time to review the measure. He asserted that the ordinance should be assigned to a different committee for consideration, indicating disagreement over the proper procedural pathway for the legislation.

Commerce Lexington Quarterly Activity Report

8:01

Jenna and her team presented the Q1 2012 economic development report to the group. The presentation highlighted significant economic activity for the first quarter, including:

• 319 new jobs created
• $23 million in investment
• Strong activity across biotech, IT, and advanced manufacturing sectors

Key speakers for this agenda item included Jenna, Tyrone, and Pamela.

In addition to the primary economic metrics, the team discussed two additional topics:

• Results from the Venture Club survey
• The marketing calendar for upcoming initiatives

The outcome of this agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal decisions or action items recorded.

Pedestrian Oriented Business District — Lawless (1-2)

42:13

Chris King presented a proposed ordinance to establish Pedestrian-Oriented Business Districts, which would allow waivers of off-street parking requirements in designated areas. The ordinance aims to support pedestrian-friendly development in specific zones by reducing parking mandates that might otherwise constrain business district design and density.

During discussion, the council considered amendments to the proposed language. A key modification removed the word "unduly" from the ordinance text, clarifying the standards for parking requirement waivers. Additionally, the council added a 400-foot resident notification requirement, ensuring that property owners within that radius would be informed of proposed changes to parking regulations in their area.

Council Member Lawless, Dr. Blues, and Council Member Martin participated in the discussion alongside Chris King. The council members engaged with the proposal and supported the amendments made during the meeting.

The motion to approve the ordinance passed with support from all members present, resulting in approval of the Pedestrian-Oriented Business District ordinance with the amendments incorporated.

Lexington Parking Authority agreement for LFUCG Parking Garages (3-39)

Gary Means and Sally presented a revised transfer agreement for LFUCG parking garages to the Lexington and Fayette County Parking Authority 1:26:32.

Presentation Overview

The presenters outlined a revised agreement that included several financial components:

• Revenue enhancements
• Expense reductions
• A five-year employee parking exemption

Concerns Raised

Council Member Stinnett and Council Member Kathleen Martin raised concerns about the proposed agreement. Their primary issues centered on:

• Financial liability implications
• Loss of control over parking operations

Outcome

This agenda item was presented as informational, with no formal action taken during the meeting.

LexPark Ticketing Process (40-45)

1:41:23

The council discussed proposed changes to the LexPark ticketing process and parking rate structure. Key speakers included Gary Means, Dr. Blues, and Council Member Lawless.

Proposed Changes

The discussion focused on several modifications to improve revenue and the downtown parking experience:

• Implementation of a $2 night and weekend rate
• Adjustments to the validation program
• Improvements to parking signage for better visibility

Focus Areas

The primary emphasis was on increasing revenue through automation and enhancing the overall visibility and accessibility of downtown parking options. The proposed changes aimed to modernize the ticketing system while making parking information more readily available to users.

Outcome

The agenda item was deferred, meaning the council postponed further action or decision on the LexPark ticketing process modifications at this time.