Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
DATE:	February 3, 2015
CC:	Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager
RE:	Citizen Advisory Committee Framework for the 9^th Street Corridor/ArtPlace Project

Background: 

On February 3, 2015, a group including el dorado, inc. representatives (Josh, David and Kara), Commissioner Bob Schumm, city staff (me, you, Chuck), the Lawrence Arts Center (Susan and Ben) and ELNA reps (Aaron and Jacki) met to discuss next steps on the 9^th Street project.  The group discussed the composition of a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC), whose purpose would be to serve as a main sounding board for the project as it is widely representative of stakeholders with the project.  The el dorado team has identified a late March meeting of this steering committee, with the main public workshops occurring during April.  The project will include numerous outreach efforts and public meetings in addition to the CAC meetings, which would also be held in public. 

The group would like to recommend a general framework for the CAC.  It is recommended that the City Commission approve the establishment of this CAC.  Doing so at its meeting on February 10 would enable the opportunity for the various representative groups to make their appointments so that the CAC can be in place by early March.  The group suggested that appointees to the CAC be able to commit to attending at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the monthly advisory committee meetings and be able to speak on behalf of their representative groups at the CAC meetings.  The group also wanted to urge consideration about socio-economic, ethnic and gender diversity with the CAC.  The consultant team and city staff would also be involved in each meeting of the CAC. 

Recommended Citizen Advisory Committee structure:

· 1 City Commissioner (also serving as chair), as appointed by the Mayor

· 3 representatives from east Lawrence, as appointed by ELNA

· 3 representatives of the city-at-large, appointed by the Mayor

· 1 representative of Downtown Lawrence, Inc. as appointed by DLI

· 1 representative from the Warehouse Arts District area, appointed by the Mayor

· 2 representatives of the Lawrence Arts Center, as appointed by the LAC

· 2 representatives of businesses along the corridor, as appointed by the Mayor

· 1 representative of the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission, as appointed by the LCAC

Total:  14 members

Requested Action:

Authorize the creation of a Citizen Advisory Committee for the 9^th Street Corridor/ArtPlace Project, including a membership framework.  Request that the various organizations make appointments as outlined no later than the first week of March, 2015.