Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Jonathan Douglass, City Clerk/Assistant to the City Manager
CC:	Tarik Khatib, Chief of Police Charles Soules, Director of Public Works Mark Bradford, Fire Medical Chief Ernie Shaw, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation
DATE:	June 14, 2012
RE:	Color Run

The Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has requested City Commission approval to host the Color Run in Lawrence on Saturday, October 6, 2012, beginning at 4:00 p.m. The Color Run is a run/walk approximately 5 kilometers in length. Participants start the race wearing white clothing, and at various points along the route pass through “color zones” where bystanders throw colored powder (food grade cornstarch) onto the participants. It is perhaps best explained by seeing it in action, via YouTube. More information can also be found at the national organization’s website, http://thecolorrun.com/, including answers to Frequently Asked Questions. The event has been held in numerous other cities across the country.

In May, Bob Sanner of the CVB contacted city staff to talk in general terms about bringing the race to Lawrence. City staff received the proposed date and route of the event on Thursday, June 14, so there has not been time to work out many of the details of the race. The applicant requests City Commission approval of the general parameters of the event and race route. Other details will have to be negotiated between the applicant and city staff, including the Police and Public Works Departments, as planning efforts proceed.

Street Closures

The race would require various levels of street and intersection closures at different locations. The applicant requests the complete closure of the northern half of the 900 block of New Hampshire from noon – 11:00 p.m. The entire 900 block of New Hampshire would be closed from approximately 3:00 p.m. until the end of the race, and then only the northern half of the block would remain closed. The attached map shows the proposed start/finish area.

Color zones, where spectators and volunteers on the sidelines throw colored powder onto the runners are typically placed about every kilometer along the route and at the finish line area, for a total of 5 color zones. The streets will be entirely closed at these locations while the course is set up, throughout the race, and for a couple hours after the race while the colored powder is cleaned up. Locations for the color zones have not been decided yet, but will take into account access and uses of adjacent properties in order to minimize disruption to normal activities to the extent possible.

Post Race Cleanup

The colored powder thrown onto the runners is basically food-grade cornstarch, according to the race website’s FAQs:

Do the kilometer “Color Zones” affect runner vision? Or breathing?
The Color Run explosions are basically food grade cornstarch and are 100% natural and SAFE. As with any substance, you want to keep it out of your eyes and our “certified” color throwers make sure to aim low as you pass by. Some “Color Runners” opt to wear glasses or goggles for their eyes and use a bandana or dust mask for their mouths. As shown on the “about” page the middle lane is the “low color lane,” which offers a “lighter” color experience. In summary: We work pretty hard to make it so our precious “Color Runners” get as much or as little color on them as they like.

The applicant has discussed clean up of the colored powder with the Public Works Department. City staff plans to contact other cities where this event has been held to discuss their cleanup experiences. Race organizers will lay down plastic sheets over the street in the color zones. Volunteers with brooms will do additional cleanup after the plastic sheets are removed. City street sweepers will pass through the color zone areas after the manual cleanup is completed.

Notification

Due to the short timeframe between the city receiving the formal request and the City Commission meeting, and the unsettled details of much of the route, notice has not yet been mailed to properties along the route. The applicant will be contacting properties adjacent to the event area on the 900 block of New Hampshire over the weekend. After final event plans are settled, city staff will mail notification to properties along the route that may be significantly affected by the event.

ACTION: Authorize issuance of a Temporary Use of Public Right-of-Way Permit for the Color Run on Saturday, October 6, 2012, including the closure of the 900 block of New Hampshire Street.