Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

 

FROM:

Jonathan Douglass, Assistant to the City Manager/City Clerk

 

CC:

Tarik Khatib, Chief of Police

Mark Bradford, Fire Medical Chief

Charles Soules, Director of Public Works

Ernie Shaw, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation

 

DATE:

July 30, 2012

 

RE:

2012 Bike MS

 

 

In September of 2011 the Bike MS event came to Lawrence for the first time. The Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau is working with the Mid-America Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to have Lawrence host the overnight stay for its 2012 Bike MS event on September 22-23, 2012. Bike MS is the Mid America Chapter’s largest fund raising event, with more than 1,800 riders participating. On Saturday 09/22/12 the ride will start at Garmin International’s parking lot in Johnson County, and the riders will travel west to Lawrence, ending at South Park for the day (see attached route). Bike participants will resume their ride early Sunday morning by retracing their route back to Garmin. A separate group of riders will travel from Topeka to Lawrence (see attached route).

The Mid America Chapter requests a Temporary Use of Public Right-of-Way Permit for 5:00 a.m. Saturday 09/22/12 through noon Sunday 09/23/12 allowing the closure of Massachusetts Street between North Park Street and South Park Street, North Park Street from Massachusetts Street to Vermont Street, and the Community Building parking lot. The Mid America Chapter is negotiating an agreement with the Parks and Recreation Department for the use of South Park and the Community Building for an overnight “Cycle Village” for many of the riders to spend the night on Saturday.  

 

The proposed ride route into Lawrence will be west on N 1400 Road from Eudora, north on Noria Road, west on 15th Street, and north on Massachusetts Street to South Park. Because this is a ride, not a race, riders will be trickling into Lawrence throughout the day on Saturday and will be able to obey regular traffic signals and stops, thus not requiring major law enforcement support. On Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. riders will begin leaving together in waves, requiring more law enforcement support.

 

The organizers have also requested donation of police and fire medical services in support of the event. Traffic control by the Police Department will require up to two officers for 3-4 hours.

 

Event organizers request city approval of the possession and consumption of alcohol on the closed section of Massachusetts Street during the event. Adoption of Ordinance No. 8764 would allow this.

 

ACTION:       Approve a Temporary Use of Public Right-of-Way Permit for the 2012 Bike MS event from 5:00 a.m. Saturday 09/22/12 through noon Sunday 09/23/12 allowing the closure of Massachusetts Street between North Park Street and South Park Street, North Park Street from Massachusetts Street to Vermont Street, and the Community Building parking lot, if appropriate.

 

                   Adopt on first reading, Ordinance No. 8764, allowing the possession and consumption of alcohol on the public right-of-way during the 2012 Bike MS event, if appropriate. 

 

                   Approve donation of police and fire medical services in support of the 2012 Bike MS event, if appropriate.