After hot debate, Lakeland OKs $300,000 for LED parking aids in two downtown garages
3 Lakeland commissioners balk at cost of downtown LED parking aids The Ledger
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The High Cost of Implementing Changes to Lakeland’s Downtown Parking System
The high cost of implementing changes to Lakeland’s downtown parking system left nearly half the city commissioners looking for the nearest off-ramp.
The commission voted 4-3 on Monday morning to spend nearly $300,000 to have Massachusetts-based TCS International Inc. install parking guidance systems in the Main Street and Heritage Plaza parking garages.
Concerns Over Cost and Funding
Commissioner Guy LaLonde expressed fiscal concerns, stating, “I’m looking at this fiscally asking for an additional $60,000 to protect an interest, and that seems a little fiscally off.”
LaLonde, along with Commissioners Mike Musick and Bill Read, voted against the project due to the increased cost of the system and uncertainty over who would be responsible for covering it. The cost increased by more than $63,000 when LED indicators were added above each individual parking space below the third level.
Improving Public Parking Accessibility
Tess Schwartz, the city’s traffic operations manager, emphasized the goal of making public parking spots “very, very straightforward” for drivers entering the Heritage Plaza parking garage.
The garage is uniquely set up as a condominium association, with specific spaces being owned and reserved for the city’s private partners who helped build the garage: Lakeland Regional Health, MidFlorida Credit Union, and Heritage Plaza’s owner BKP Five.
Schwartz explained that the condo association was approached for financial involvement, but they believed the parking guidance system was a public benefit that would primarily benefit residents.
Commissioner LaLonde questioned the lack of financial involvement from the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority (LDDA).
Julie Townsend, the LDDA’s executive director, stated that the organization was never approached about funding.
Exploring Alternative Funding Options
Mayor Bill Mutz proposed voting down the contract and seeking additional funding from the condo association and LDDA. He suggested asking the partners to contribute half of the difference, approximately $30,000.
Commissioners Stephanie Madden and Sara Roberts McCarley opposed renegotiating for additional funds from the private-public partners.
Future Considerations
The commission has previously discussed the possibility of building another parking garage in the future if the need arises.
Schwartz mentioned that the individual parking space indicator lights could be used to indicate unavailable slots during maintenance, benefiting the garage’s private partners. Additionally, the system will provide valuable data on parking space utilization in the garage.
Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all.
- Indicator 11.2.1: Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities.
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SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
- Indicator 9.1.1: Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road.
Analysis
The article discusses the high cost of implementing changes to Lakeland’s downtown parking system. This issue is connected to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The specific target under this SDG that can be identified based on the article’s content is Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all. The article highlights the cost concerns raised by some city commissioners and the need to make public parking spots straightforward for drivers entering the parking garage.
The article also mentions the installation of parking guidance systems in the Main Street and Heritage Plaza parking garages. This is related to SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, which focuses on developing quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure. The specific target under this SDG that can be identified based on the article’s content is Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. The article discusses the cost of installing the parking guidance systems and the potential benefits they provide in terms of better utilization of parking spaces.
The indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets are:
- Indicator 11.2.1: Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities. This indicator can be used to measure the accessibility of the parking system and the convenience of public transport options for the population.
- Indicator 9.1.1: Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road. While not explicitly mentioned in the article, this indicator can be relevant as it measures the proximity of the population to infrastructure, which includes roads and parking facilities.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all. | Indicator 11.2.1: Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities. |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. | Indicator 9.1.1: Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road. |
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Fuente: theledger.com
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