Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works Department

TO:	Charles Soules, Public Works Director
FROM:	Mark Thiel, Assistant Public Works Director
CC:	Tarik Khatib, Chief of Police Mark Bradford, Fire Medical Chief
DATE:	June 13, 2014
RE:	2014 Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championship – August 24, 2014

The city has received a street event permit and a request to close Massachusetts Street from North Park Street to South Park Street (see map) on Sunday August 24, 2014 for the Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championship. Massachusetts Street between North Park and South Park Street would be closed from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday August 24, 2014.

In addition, the weekend of August 22 – 24 has two additional events in the downtown area; Buskerfest and the Hot Rod Hullabaloo. The event coordinators from each event have been in contact with each other and are all in agreement for sharing these dates. Buskerfest (August 22 – 24) will close the 100 block of East 8^th and East 7^th Street. The Hot Rod Hullabaloo (August 23) will close the same block of Massachusetts Street on Saturday August 23 (see map).

They have also requested an ordinance allowing the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol in conjunction with the event.

The request to sell, possess and consume alcohol within the public right of way has been reviewed pursuant to City of Lawrence Code, Chapter IV, Article 1, Section 4-113 and the event was found to be within 400 feet of a church or school. Pursuant to code requirements, staff has notified churches that a public hearing regarding this request will be held on July 22, 2014 at the City Commission Meeting (See attached letter).

Possession and consumption of alcohol on the right-of-way is generally prohibited, unless the City Commission adopts an ordinance exempting an area from that prohibition. The attached Ordinance No. 9012 would temporarily allow the possession and consumption of alcohol on Massachusetts Street between North Park and South Park Streets during this event.

This application has been reviewed by Public Works, Police, Fire / Medical, Parks & Recreation, Downtown Lawrence, Inc., and Lawrence Transit without any comments or issues.

Notice of this event and commission agenda item was sent out to affected properties in the area of South Park. (See notice)

ACTIONS

Conduct a public hearing regarding distance limitation waiver request for the 2014 Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championship event to be held in South Park on Sunday August 24, 2014.  Find that the proximity of the temporary sale of alcoholic liquor for the event is not adverse to the public welfare or safety and a grant distance limitation waiver.

Adopt ordinance No. 9012, allowing the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol on Sunday August 24, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in South Park and on Massachusetts Street between North Park and South Park Street associated with the Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championship Event; provided the sale, possession and consumption are pursuant to City of Lawrence and State of Kansas law

Approve a street event permit and closure of Massachusetts Street between North Park and South Park Street from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday August 24, 2014 for the Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championship Event.