City of Lawrence

Cultural District Task Force

July 15, 2013 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Commissioner Bob Schumm, Grace Peterson, KT Walsh, Mike Logan, Susan Tate, Brenda Nunez, Jacki Becker, Cindy Maude  Mandy Enfield

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

None

 

STAFF PRESENT:

Diane Stoddard, Tommy Bohler, Britt Crum-Cano

 

PUBLIC PRESENT:

Several citizens

 

Commissioner Schumm called the meeting to order. 

 

The minutes from the June 25, 2013 meeting were corrected with a minor correction clarifying hotel/bed tax.  A motion was made by Ms. Walsh and seconded by Ms. Peterson to approve the minutes with that change.  Motion approved unanimously. 

 

Mr. Logan reported that Downtown Lawrence had a meeting and discussed elevating Final Fridays.  There was also a discussion with DLI regarding possible support for a cultural planning position.  He indicated that there will be more discussion on this in the future. 

 

Ms. Tate stated that the Lawrence Arts Center board had discussions regarding the cultural district.  She mentioned that that the board discussed the possibility of contributing financially toward a position if the City were willing to make large investment in the position.  Her Board thought that the position was critical for the city, but also the cultural district. She also mentioned that they were interested in free events, such as Final Fridays, maps and identity.  The Live Well Lawrence group is also interested in shared use pathways.  She clarified that this contribution would be redirected toward this new position from the current part-time coordinator position for Final Fridays.

 

Ms. Walsh mentioned the importance of the true stories be told about the area, big music events (downtown rather than in residential area), east Lawrence homes tour revival, protection for existing residents related to cost of living in the area, repair of sidewalks all the way to 15th Street, and geographic zones within the cultural district (such as primarily office/retail, primarily residential). 

 

Ms. Nunez mentioned concerns about street lighting- she stated that there are no lights on here street in the 800 block of New Jersey.  Ms. Peterson added that lighting could be done in a creative way but some were concerned with light pollution.  Lighting the pathway area in pedestrian scale could be an option.  Ms. Walsh stated that she went to DeVictor Park and enjoyed the naturalist play equipment and stated that she would like to see those opportunities in the cultural district.  Ms. Walsh also stated that the Santa Fe Station offered an opportunity to the area. 

 

Ms. Maude asked about the report that was due in October and the group’s approach to getting that done.  Commissioner Schumm stated that he thought the report could come together based on prior discussion.  Ms. Tate thought it was important in the report to specify recommendations from the group and asked how those recommendations would be done.  Commission Schumm stated that the group was working well together to get consensus and a vote could be done at the end.  The group discussed an outline of the report as a starting point.  Ms. Stoddard indicated that she could bring an outline for the next meeting’s discussion. It was requested that the draft outline be sent out in advance of the meeting.  Ms. Walsh indicated that she thought it was important to put in front of East Lawrence.  Ms. Tate wanted to make sure that the group thought ahead to have any input meetings necessary in advance of October.  Ms. Maude suggested that the recommendations get as specific as possible in order to communicate a vision.  She thought that including visuals in the report would be important.  Ms. Peterson stated that she had assumed that the report would be building onto a cultural plan later.  There was discussion about Treanor’s vision on 9th Street.  Commission Schumm stated that he had not seen that but would ask for it from Treanor.  Ms. Maude suggested including a zoning map in the report. There was a statement that there is no intention of the group to make changes to zoning within the district. 

 

Mr. Logan requested inviting the Convention & Visitors’ Bureau to visit about these concepts.  Mr. Logan mentioned that he thought there would be more buy-in from other entities related to supporting a position.  Ms. Maude added that she thought that the Chamber of Commerce should be involved as well because quality of life is a top issue for business and economic development.  Mr. Logan proposed a three year plan related to the position.  Ms. Walsh voiced her concern about making sure that the position functions independently. Commissioner Schumm stated that he thought the position would report through someone at City Hall. He also stressed that it would be important for the commitments from other stakeholders be identified. 

 

For the next agenda, it was requested for the next meeting for a representative from the Convention & Visitors Bureau to speak about their role and what they do.   Also, a zoning map was requested, and the draft outline of the report for discussion.  Also, there can be more discussion about what other communities are doing. 

 

Ms. Tate reported that the Arts Center just received an Our Town grant.

 

The next meeting was scheduled for July 30 at 4 pm.   

 

The meeting adjourned at 5:05  pm.