Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works Department

TO:	Charles F. Soules, P.E. Public Works Director
FROM:	Mark Thiel, Assistant Public Works Director
CC:	Tarik Khatib, Chief of Police Mark Bradford, Fire Medical Chief Ernie Shaw, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation
DATE:	July 8, 2014
RE:	2014 Bike MS – September 13 – 14, 2014

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, for the fourth year in a row, the overnight stay for its 2014 Bike MS event on September 13 - 14, 2014. Bike MS is the Mid America Chapter’s largest fund raising event, with more than 2,000 riders participating. On Saturday September 13, 2014, 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 September 14, 2014 by retracing their route back to Garmin.

The Mid America Chapter requests a Street Event Permit and an alcohol ordinance from Thursday September 11, 2014 through 12:00 p.m. on Sunday September 14, 2014 allowing the following closures and no parking on Massachusetts Street from South Park Street to North Park Street and North Park Street (Massachusetts to Vermont) on Saturday September 13, 2014 at 5:00 a.m. to Sunday September 14, 2014 at 12:00 p.m., and no parking on North Park Street from Massachusetts Street to Vermont Street on Thursday September 11, 2014 at 5:00 a.m. to Sunday September 14, 2014 at 12:00 p.m., and closure of the Community Center parking lot (Lot #7) on Saturday September 13, 2014 at 6:00 a.m. to Sunday September 14, 2014 at 12:00 p.m., and no parking on W. South Park Street Saturday September 13, 2014 at 5:00 a.m. to Sunday September 14, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. (see attached map)

The Mid America Chapter has negotiated 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 15^th 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. Event management would appreciate an officer at 15^th Street and Massachusetts Street from 6:45 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. to control traffic if necessary. Last year’s event required two (2) police officers for one (1) hour to manage traffic on Sunday morning. The organizers have also requested donation of police and fire medical services in support of 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 August 19, 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. 9023 would temporarily allow the possession and consumption of alcohol on Massachusetts Street from South Park Street to North Park Street and North Park Street (Massachusetts to Vermont) on Saturday September 13, 2014 at 5:00 a.m. to Sunday September 14, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. 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 attached notice)

ACTIONS

Conduct a public hearing regarding distance limitation waiver request for the 2014 Bike MS Event to be held in South Park on Saturday September 13, 2014 to Sunday September 14, 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. 9023, allowing the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol on Saturday September 13, 2014 at 5:00 a.m. to Sunday September 14, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. in South Park and on Massachusetts Street between North Park and South Park Street associated with the 2014 Bike MS 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 from South Park Street to North Park Street and North Park Street (Massachusetts to Vermont) on Saturday September 13, 2014 at 5:00 a.m. to Sunday September 14, 2014 at 12:00 p.m., and no parking on North Park Street from Massachusetts Street to Vermont Street on Thursday September 11, 2014 at 5:00 a.m. to Sunday September 14, 2014 at 12:00 p.m., and closure of the Community Center parking lot #7 on Saturday September 13, 2014 at 6:00 a.m. to Sunday September 14, 2014 at 12:00 p.m., and no parking on W. South Park Street Saturday September 13, 2014 at 5:00 a.m. to Sunday September 14, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. for the 2014 Bike MS Event.