Lakeland Downtown Development Authority to focus on security, cleanliness, drinks in 2023

LAKELAND — Lakeland Downtown Development Authority is hoping to strike a delicate balance between creating a fun, inviting party-like atmosphere and public safety with its 2023 budget.

The LDDA has adopted a tax rate of $2 per $1,000 assessed property value for fiscal year 2023. The tax is only paid by those property owners within the specialized district centered around Munn Park. It will bring in approximately $583,000 which the LDDA will use with about $281,000 in other revenues to benefit the city's downtown.

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Julie Townsend, the LDDA's executive director, said the agency's pilot project of hiring a private, armed security guard to act as additional "eyes and ears' on the streets was a success.

"We better understand what the downtown needs are from a security perspective," Townsend wrote in an email. "One thing we learned is that downtown is pretty darn safe. There were very few incidents that required his security trained services."

Townsend said many situations the guard handled were more maintenance matters: broken lights, graffiti, damaged property and trash issues.

Rather than hiring a  guard, Townsend said the LDDA will be implementing a hybrid approach by adding staff. The first position will be a downtown clean and safe manager. This individual will be responsible for creating and implementing programs aimed at keeping "downtown looking great," Townsend said. This could vary from making sure trash compactors stay operational, addressing litter on the sidewalks or reporting graffiti. Other tasks will include reporting to the city issues like broken street lights or broken curbs.

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The LDDA's 2023 budget also sets aside money to have part-time staffers called "Downtown Ambassadors." Townsend said these employees' job will primarily be focused on serving downtown visitors by answering questions on parking, events, where to find a specific eatery or purchase goods. Throughout the year, they may be tapped to help with downtown surveys and assist the safety manager.

Drinks downtown?

Townsend said the LDDA has secured state liquor license that will allow residents to drink on the street during special events.

In the post COVID Era, restaurants and breweries have been allowed to continue selling customers to-go drinks that must have a closed lid when it leaves the building. Bars were not given the same privileges.

"You can't walk out of Molly's with a beer, but you can when I have my state liquor license that says Molly's event footprint," Townsend said.

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During special events, businesses that are licensed to sell alcohol will be allowed to sell drinks to customers, who will be permitted to leave with open containers if they are within the designated event space. It means resident will likely be able to drink on the streets and Munn Park during special events.

The special events areas doesn't completely cover downtown, according to Townsend. So residents will have to be aware if they are leaving the designated area, or closed off streets, to have finished their alcoholic drink or discarded it.

Bring in the buds

The LDDA will begin offering a new Urban Landscaping Grant in fiscal year 2023. The goal is to beautify the landscape of the city's downtown core.

Townsend said the LDDA will offer the opportunity for business owners to have a consultant assist with landscape efforts and demonstrate how to design and implement planting for their location. Funds will be provided to help purchase the plants and containers.

"The planters on the sidewalks are great, but as you look down a sidewalk you don't really see them until you are upon them," she said. "We need added beautification at eye level so that it continues to invite you to walk down the street."

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-75454. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFl. 

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: LDDA to focus on security, cleanliness, drinks in 2023