Advisory Board

The Parks Advisory Board was established October 1, 1998, for the purpose of serving as an advisory board to the Division of Parks and Recreation.  In this role, it serves as a vehicle for receiving public opinion and for promoting a comprehensive parks and recreation delivery system. 

The Parks Board has fifteen members.  Twelve members are appointed by the Mayor from each of the twelve council districts.  Three of the other members are selected as follows:  One member is a councilmember at large and one member a district council member (recommended by a majority of the Urban County Council Members).  The last member is a representative of the Fayette County School System and has to be recommended by a majority of the Fayette County School Board.  Each member serves a term of four years from the date of their appointment. 

The Board has various powers and duties and they are allowed by law to:

• Adopt bylaws which are not inconsistent with Article XXXVIII of Chapter 2 of the Code of Ordinances of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG).
  
• Appoint standing and ad hoc committees, which may be comprised of Parks Board members, employees of the LFUCG, the public, or any combination of the foregoing;
  
• Hold public forums for the purpose of gauging the will of the public on parks and recreation matters;
  
• Solicit financial and other contributions to the LFUCG, including donations of real property, for the purposes of parks and recreation programs;

  Assist the staff of the division upon request, in the performance of their duties in the following areas:
  

• Interpreting and promoting the division’s mission, goals and objectives to public officials and the general public;
  
• Implement the specifics of a Division of Parks and Recreation public relations plan;
  
• Implement the specifics of the parks master plan and any other Parks and Recreation plans adopted by the LFUCG of the Division of Parks and Recreation;
  
• Evaluate current services and facilities of the Division of Parks and Recreation and divisional priorities;
  
• Provide the highest standards in Division of Parks and Recreation leadership, facilities, and services;
  
• Review fees and charges and alternate sources of funding to the division of parks and recreation such as grants, gifts, endowments, etc; and
  
• Provide a high standard in the preservation, conservation, and maintenance of all parks open space, and facilities operated by the Division of Parks and Recreation.
  
• Assist the Division of Parks and Recreation in making recommendations to the mayor and urban county council in the following areas:
  
• Division of Parks and Recreation policies and priorities for facilities, programs, fees, charges, schedules, etc.;
  
• Public relation strategies for stimulating public involvement, promoting services and achieving results;
  
• Presentation of the Division of Parks and Recreation budget;
  
• Professional development and training of division of and recreation staff;
  
• Legislation that will promote the mission, goals, and objectives of the division of parks and recreation;
  
• Establish land acquisition and facility development/improvement priorities, and
  
• Monitor services, development of a volunteer program, and coordination with interest groups in the community.
  
• The Board shall prepare and present to the LFUCG Urban County Council in work session written reports on a quarterly basis each calendar year and shall have a place on the work session agenda, if requested, for the purpose of submission of the reports.

The Parks Board can not:

• Directly or indirectly operate any Parks and Recreation program;
  
• Hold title to any real or personal property;
  
• Receive or hold any funds;
  
• Be involved in the selection, supervision, evaluation, or discipline of LFUCG government personnel, provided that Parks Board members may serve on a selection and recruitment committee;
  
• Have any direct involvement in the LFUCG Urban County Government budget process, provided that the Parks Board may assist the director of Parks and Recreation in making recommendations as a part of the budget process;
  
• Expend or commit urban county government funds, provided that the Parks Board may authorize expenditure of any funds directly appropriated to it for a particular purpose by the urban county council;
  
• Enter into or influence contractual obligations provided that members of the Parks Board may serve as part of a selection team; or
  
• Represent to the public, media or any other person that they represent the LFUCG or the Division of Parks and Recreation.
  
• Also, all members of the Parks Board are subject to the code of ethic s contained in article 16 of the LFUCG charter.