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Downtown Lexington Management District seeks 10-year reauthorization, citing added stability for larger projects
Summary
The Downtown Lexington Management District presented its petition for a 10-year reauthorization, reporting majority owner support and arguing a 10-year window would allow larger projects and bonding capacity; the board reported about $560,000 in annual revenue and described programs for maintenance, safety and grants.
The Downtown Lexington Management District (DLMD) presented a petition to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council seeking reauthorization for a 10-year term.
Jim Frazier, chair of the district, said the longer term "allows us continuity to do bigger projects" and increases the district's ability to bond for larger capital investments. Frazier told council the district's footprint covers roughly 2 percent of the county land area but accounts for a disproportionate share of downtown employment and revenue generation.
Frazier described the district's annual revenue at about $560,000 under current PVA assessments and said a substantial portion of those funds pay for the district's block-by-block maintenance ambassadors. He said the DLMD makes matching grants for property improvements (up to $9,000 per approved application), funds public art and lighting, and provides ambassadors who assist visitors, perform maintenance and carry naloxone for overdose response.
On the petition process, Frazier said the district exceeded statutory thresholds: the reauthorization effort secured signatures representing 64 percent of the assessed value and 51 percent of property owners within the district, above the city's requirement of 51 percent of owners and 51 percent of assessed value. He said those figures were certified by the city law department.
Council members asked about boundary expansion and business participation in security systems tied to the city's FUSIS program. Frazier said expansion was considered but rejected after outreach showed the district's tax base would not sustain the additional safety and ambassador costs for certain tougher neighborhoods; he said the district tried and pulled back after resident and owner concerns. Frazier said about 25 to 30 small downtown businesses participated in the district-sponsored camera/FUSIS grant program, with larger entities such as the Parking Authority having implemented systems separately.
The presentation was informational; no formal council action was recorded on reauthorization at this meeting.
