August 1, 2000

August 14, 2001

The Board of Commissioners of the City of Lawrence met in regular session at 6:35 p.m., in the City Commission Chambers in City Hall with Mayor Rundle presiding and members Dunfield, Henry, Hack, and Kennedy present.

With Commission approval Mayor Rundle proclaimed Saturday, August 18, 2001 as “Scouting Extravaganza Day.”

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Kennedy, seconded by Dunfield, to approve the City Commission meeting minutes of August 7, 2001. Motion carried unanimously.

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Kennedy, seconded by Dunfield, to approve claims in the amount of $4,265,585.92 and payroll from July 29, 2001 to August 11, 2001 in the amount of $1,185.969.45. Motion carried unanimously.

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Kennedy, seconded by Dunfield, to approve the Drinking Establishment License for Cadillac Ranch, 2515 West 6^th; Kansas Alumni Association, 1266 Oread Avenue; Granada, 1020 Massachusetts; Hereford House 4931 West 6^th No. 126; FiFi’s Inc., 925 Iowa (Contingent Upon Sate License); the Retail Liquor License for Myers Retail Liquor, 902 West 23^rd; and, the Sidewalk Dining License for Prairiefire: An American Bistro, 724 Massachusetts. Motion carried unanimously.

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Kennedy, seconded by Dunfield, to concur with the recommendation of the Mayor and appoint Amanda Conrad as a non-voting KU student to the Human Relations Commission. Motion carried unanimously.

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Kennedy, seconded by Dunfield, to place on 1^st reading Ordinance No. 7391, rezoning [Z-03-16-01] approximately 2 acres from PCD-2 with use restriction to PCD-2 with amended use restrictions, located on the southeast corner of West 6^th and Monterey Way. Motion carried unanimously. (1)

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Kennedy, seconded by Dunfield, to place on 1^st reading Ordinance No. 7392, rezoning [Z-04-17-01] approximately 5 acres from A (Agricultural District) to RM-1 (Multiple-Family Residence District), located at 4340 West 6^th, commonly known as Heritage Baptist Church. Motion carried unanimously. (2)

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Kennedy, seconded by Dunfield, to place on 1^st reading Ordinance No. 7394, rezoning [Z-04-19-01] approximately 1.1 acres from B-2 (General Business-County) to PCD-2 (Planned Commercial District), located at 3301 Iowa, the Wright’s Wallcovering site. Motion carried unanimously. (3)

Ordinance No. 7390, amending the City’s Plumbing Code concerning the use of PVC piping, was read a second time.

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Kennedy, seconded by Dunfield, to adopt the ordinance. Aye: Dunfield, Henry, Hack, Kennedy, and Rundle. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously. (4)

Ordinance No. 7385, adopting and appropriating the 2002 City budget, was read a second time.

Ordinance No. 7386, making determinations on the budget and appropriating of property tax revenues pursuant to K.S.A. 79-2925b, was read a second time.

Ordinance No. 7387, establishing water and sanitary sewer rates for 2002, was read a second time.

Ordinance No. 7388, establishing sanitation rates for 2002, was read a second time.

Ordinance No. 7389, establishing building permit rates, was read a second time.

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Kennedy, seconded by Dunfield, to adopt Resolution No. 6325, authorizing the Quad Counties Cooperative Agreement, approved by the City Commission on August 7, 2001. Motion carried unanimously. (10)

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Kennedy, seconded by Dunfield, to approve the Site Plan (SP-05-32-01) for Star Sign and Graphics, located on Lot 5, Block 2, East Hills Business Park, subject to the following conditions:

1. Execution of a Site Plan Performance Agreement;

2. Filing of Final Plat with the Register of Deeds; and,

3. Provision and approval of a photometric plan.

Motion carried unanimously. (11)

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Kennedy, seconded by Dunfield, to approve change order for Inverness Drive, Clinton Parkway to 24^th Place, in the amount of $75,781.00. Motion carried unanimously. (12)

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Kennedy, seconded by Dunfield, to authorize Mayor to sign a Release of Mortgage for Mark and Robyn Hobson, 1013 East Home Circle. Motion carried unanimously. (13)

Sandra Day, Planner, said staff has been working with the Home Builders Association to develop a program where by the City would be responsible for the planting of street trees in single family and duplex lots. The approach staff has taken to this idea was to address both Technical Subdivision Requirements (Text Amendment) and development of an Administrative Policy. The separate Administrative Policy sets out the interdepartmental structures that needed to be in place to implement the program. Both approaches would work in conjunction to provide a program that was responsive to City staff, in terms of fee structures and to the necessary spreading of different tree species throughout a development. After a year of reviewing this operation, at that time, staff would make necessary modifications and adjustments. The Planning Commission requested that some of the language be modified at the public hearing in July to have this program be implemented not only for newly platted subdivisions, but for those undeveloped lots in currently plated subdivisions in the single family and duplex zoning district.

It was moved by Henry, seconded by Hack, to approve the text amendments concerning the planting of street trees in single family and duplex lots and authorize drafting a joint Ordinance/Resolution for placement on a future agenda. Motion carried unanimously. (14)

George Williams, Public Works Director, presented the letter from KDOT concerning funding of 6^th and Kasold intersection improvements through the Federal-Aid Safety Program. KDOT would fund ninety percent of the costs associated with these improvements while the City ten percent of the costs. There would be a protected left turn phasing at the 6^th and Kasold intersection as well as the extension of the south and west leg left turn bays and modified by removing the medians and replacing a flush median with stripe median at those locations. He also wanted to investigate modifying the entrances and exits of the facilities near the intersection.

Henry asked about “add protected left turn phasing” and was the protected left turns phasing for east and west traffic and also north bound traffic?

Williams replied “yes”, all the legs of the intersection would have protected left turns.

Hack asked about the policy on funding projects and if the City was turned down for funding for a particular project, did the City proceed to try again for funding until passed.

Williams said “yes.”

It was moved by Kennedy, seconded by Dunfield, to authorize staff to proceed with the 6^th and Kasold intersection improvements. Motion carried unanimously. (15)

David Woosley, Traffic Engineer, presented the staff report on the traffic calming plan for Harvard Road, between Monterey Way and Wakarusa Drive. He said earlier this year the City received a number of concerns from people in the area about the high speed of traffic along Harvard Road, between Monterey Way and Wakarusa Drive. The issue was taken to the Traffic Safety Commission and they directed staff to meet with the neighborhood to develop a plan that might solve some of the problems. When the staff met with the neighborhood they presented a presentation on traffic calming, the neighborhood seemed to like the idea. The neighborhood started gathering plans of their own as to what they would like to see along Harvard Road. After some minor adjustments, the neighborhood decided what areas they would like to start with on a temporary basis to see if the problems could be solved before going with something permanent.

Jeff Moran, 4513 Harvard, said he had a concern about an accident that occurred on April 6, 2001 involving a child being hit by a car on Harvard Road. This accident concerned many people in the neighborhood and their sentiment was that traffic volume and the speed of traffic on Harvard Road was too large and too fast. Since that time, the Traffic Safety Commission had done a study and discovered that in many stretches of the road there was an average of approximately 900 cars per day. The average speed was between 35-40 miles per hour in the residential area with speeds as high as 60 mph recorded. Harvard Road was a collector street, but unlike the other collector streets, the street was built with houses facing the street. With the combination of heavy volume traffic moving at a high rate of speed and hundreds of children living in the area it was a recipe for disaster. He said the Harvard Road Neighborhood was asking the City Commission to take the first step to allow this temporary solution.

Johannes Feddema, 4600 Grove Street, said he wanted to emphasize the point that Harvard Road was a collector street. Currently, neighborhoods were designed with the idea that cul-de-sacs attract a low volume of traffic which then released the traffic into collector streets to guide traffic from the neighborhood. City Ordinance stated that houses were not to face collector streets because of the high speed and volume of traffic. Both the Planning Commission and City Commission voted in the past to exempt Harvard Road from this Ordinance therefore, causing part of this problem in their neighborhood. Once the neighborhood met as a group, the neighborhood came up with some temporary solutions. The neighborhood group researched different traffic control devices and the negative experiences cities had with various traffic control devices. He said the neighborhoods focus was to slow down traffic on Harvard Road for child safety. There were only two crosswalks in the entire neighborhood for children to cross the street. The neighborhood decided the intersection of greatest concern was Grove Street which the neighborhood group proposed a crosswalk with a middle island. Mulberry Drive which is also a collector street and may connect to Folks in the future, and Goldfield at Harvard were also concerns because of either the high volume of traffic or anticipated high volume of traffic and were proposed roundabouts. Once the preliminary plan was finalized, they presented the plan to the neighbors in the area. Feddema presented the City Commission with a map showing the overwhelming number of residents that were in favor of the preliminary plan.

Mike McKenzie, 4604 Harvard Road, said he was one of the people who introduced this proposal to the residents in the neighborhood from Wakarusa to Mulberry and on both sides of Harvard. He said 35 of the 41 homeowners that live in this area signed for approval, five homeowners were not found and one person did not want to sign for approval based on the experience with a roundabout on Monterey Way. The neighborhood was asking the City Commission for the approval of temporary traffic calming devices through the wintertime so necessary studies could be performed to see if the traffic calming devices would work. He had a concern with the safety of children in their area.

Jill Patton, 4404 Harvard Road, said three major concerns from the neighbors was the speed of traffic in the area, children walking to school and safety for their children in their front yards.

Dunfield asked Woosley about the traffic circles proposed and would the stop signs already in place be at the cross streets?

Woosley said generally when setting up a traffic calming device, stop signs were not needed, but with a temporary traffic calming device, you would want to maintain the stop signs. If in the future, the traffic calming devices became permanent, then the stop signs would not be viable with the traffic calming circles.

Henry asked Woosley even though these traffic calming devices were temporary would there be any signage to alert motorist that they were approaching a temporary roundabout.

Woosley said “yes.”

McKenzie presented the City Commission with a map showing the proposed traffic calming devices.

Kennedy asked if there were any future plans for Mulberry Street and Folks Road connection. He said in the future it seemed that connection would be a good location for a through road.

Williams said there were cross easements between the properties so residents could gain access, but they did not have any public right of way.

Wildgen asked Woosley if any existing parking needed to be eliminated or restricted when installing the four temporary traffic calming devices.

Woosley said only if there was a problem with people parking close to the center islands.

Jerry Smith, 3620 Harvard Road, had a concern about the section of Harvard Road that he lived on, because it was not included in the discussion of traffic calming for that area. There was the same flow of traffic by Dad Perry Park on Harvard Road. Traffic calming devices were needed on Harvard Road between Monterey Way and Kasold Drive. He suggested lowering the speed limit on Harvard Road and more signage indicating to motorist they were approaching a park area.

Mike Wildgen, City Manager, said the Traffic Safety Commission would be the way to address changing the speed on Harvard.

Eileen Phillips, 4709 Harvard Road, said she also had a concern about the speed of traffic. The neighborhood needed to address the issue of joggers and walkers in the area. She said there was a lot of traffic on Harvard Road because the perception was it was faster to go down 9^th to Lawrence Avenue and Harvard Road. She suggested the traffic signals on 6^th Street be timed to eliminate traffic on Harvard Road.

Feddema said as a Lawrence resident, he saw this issue as a problem with the planning process. He said the City should consider all these issues discussed as they do future development.

Dunfield said it was nice to have citizens bring the City Commission a proposal for their neighborhood. He said the City’s Engineering staff has done a good job in recent years of informing people about working towards traffic calming in some of the newer areas. He appreciated the effort by neighborhood and was in favor of the proposed plan.

Henry concurred with Dunfield.

Hack also concurred with Dunfield and said if nothing else, they got to know their neighbors. In a new neighborhood, it was nice to see the potential of a neighborhood organization being formed. Because of their contact with people in the area, they had made others aware of the problem. She said the traffic calming devices had a potential to slow down traffic as well as making the road less desirable for traveling. She was in favor of the proposed plan.

Kennedy concurred with Dunfield. He said when neighborhood groups come to the City Commission to discuss their plans, the public gets a learning curve. He was in favor of the proposed plan.

Rundle asked Woosley about the temporary traffic calming devices assessment of whether they were effective or not.

Woosley said staff would like to have the temporary traffic calming devices in place for ninety days before traffic studies were performed on the speed of traffic.

Moved by Hack, seconded by Kennedy, to approve the traffic calming plan for Harvard Road between Monterey Way and Wakarusa Drive. Motion carried unanimously. (16)

Jim Mullins, 1305 Jonathan Drive, had a concern about semi tractor trucks and trailers parked in residential neighborhoods. He suggested changing the City Ordinance concerning semi tractor trucks and trailers to say “no commercial vehicles could park in residential neighborhoods.”

Wildgen suggested staff research this issue of commercial vehicles and bring a report back to the City Commission. (17)

Moved by Kennedy, seconded by Dunfield, to adjourn at 7:37 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.

APPROVED:

_____________________________

Mike Rundle, Mayor

ATTEST:

___________________________________

Diane Trybom, Deputy City Clerk

COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 14, 2001

1. Ordinance No. 7391 – 1^st Reading, rezone (Z-03-16-01) 2 acres, from PCD-2 w/restrictions to PCD-2, SE corner of W 6^th & Monterey Way.

2. Ordinance No. 7392 – 1^st Reading, rezone (Z-04-17-01) 5 acres, from A to RM-1, 4340 W 6^th.

3. Ordinance No. 7394 – 2^nd Reading, rezone (Z-04-19-01) 1.1 acres, from B-2 to PCD-2, 3301 Iowa.

4. Ordinance No. 7390 – 2^nd Reading, amend Plumbing Code for PCV piping.

5. Ordinance No. 7385 – 2^nd Reading, appropriating 2002 City Budget.

6. Ordinance No. 7386 – 2^nd Reading, property tax revenues.

7. Ordinance No. 7387 – 2^nd Reading, Water & Sanitary Sewer Rates for 2002.

8. Ordinance No. 7388 – 2^nd Reading, sanitation rates.

9. Ordinance No. 7389 – 2^nd Reading, building permit fees.

10. Ordinance No. 7385 – 2^nd Reading, wholesale water rates for rural water districts.

11. Site Plan – (SP-05-32-01) Star sign & Graphics, Lt 5, Blk 2, E Hills Business Park.

12. Change Order – Inverness Dr., Clinton Pkwy to 24^th Pl for $75,781.

13. Mortgage Release – 1013 E Home Circle, Mark & Robyn Hobson

14. Text Amendment – Street trees in single family & duplex lots.

15. 6^th & Kasold Improvements.

16. Traffic Calming – Harvard Road discussion.

17. Commercial vehicles parked in residential neighborhoods.