UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1220
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A RESOLUTION encouraging LEXPARK to collaborate with the Lexington 1
Fayette Urban-County Government with ample public and government input to ensure 2
that downtown parking rates and enforcement hours are the lowest possible. 3
WHEREAS, in 2008, the Lexington Fayette Urban-County Government transferred 4
parking operations to the Lexington & Fayette County Parking Authority, known as 5
LEXPARK; and 6
WHEREAS, LEXPARK is a quasi-governmental authority with board members 7
who are appointed by the mayor of the Lexington Fayette Urban-County Government; 8
and 9
WHEREAS, LEXPARK operates and maintains the various city-owned parking 10
lots, spaces, structures, and equipment associated with those parking facilities; and 11
WHEREAS, LEXPARK is a self -sustaining operation receiving no regular 12
financing from the government, and primarily receives its revenue from parking fees and 13
fines; and 14
WHEREAS, revenues brought in by LEXPARK are still below pre-pandemic levels 15
and have also been affected by land trades between the Lexington Fayette Urban-County 16
Government and the University of Kentucky; and 17
WHEREAS, LEXPARK's expenditures are affected by rising costs and the 18
necessary expenditure of funding to ensure safety and security of facilities; and 19
WHEREAS, on January 3, 2023, most parking rates were increased by LEXPARK, 20
and changes to the rate structure also included enforcement on weeknights and on 21
Saturdays, times during which parking was formerly free; and 22
WHEREAS, initial rate increases and enforcement hours were established with a de 23
minimis of public notice and input; and 24
WHEREAS, LEXPARK board members did listen to subsequent public input and 25
modified some aspects of their original fee schedule and enforcement hours, bringing 26
some relief to consumers; and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1220
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WHEREAS, the pandemic has caused the closure of many downtown businesses, 1
and many of the businesses that were able to stay open are still in the process of 2
recovering from pandemic-related revenue losses; and 3
WHEREAS, employers are still finding it difficult to hire workers, who, in some 4
areas downtown, may be spending even more than they were previously just to park their 5
vehicles for work, which can be a factor in their decision to work downtown; and 6
WHEREAS, there is the fear that increased parking costs will deter, or have already 7
begun to deter, customers, or will wholly drive customers away from the downtown area 8
to patronize areas where parking is easier to find, less expensive, or both; and 9
WHEREAS, on January 24, LEXPARK leadership attended an Urban-County 10
Council meeting where LEXPARK officials delineated their rationale for the 11
implemented changes, and business owners and citizens spoke against the present rate 12
and enforcement changes and presented a petition containing more than 2,000 signatures 13
of persons opposing the changes; 14
NOW, THEREFORE, 15
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 16
Kentucky: 17
Section 1. The Senate, while acknowledging that LEXPARK is experiencing 18
pressures from finite income and responsibility for performing its function for the safety 19
and convenience of the visitors and citizens of Lexington's downtown, and furthermore 20
noting its prior cooperation toward listening to the citizens and elected officials of the 21
government, encourages LEXPARK to as soon as possible reduce its rates and 22
enforcement hours and collaborate with the citizens and government officials to find a 23
means of meeting its financial obligations and ensuring the safety and security of its 24
parking facilities with a minimum fiscal impact on the visitors and citizens patronizing or 25
working for downtown businesses with ample public and governmental input. 26
Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1220
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Resolution to Senator Damon Thayer for presentation to the stakeholders. 1