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

Bob Nugent, Transit Administrator

Ernie Shaw, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation

DATE:

March 12, 2015

RE:

2015 Free State Festival -  Lawrence Arts Center

 

The Lawrence Arts Center has requested a Street Event Temporary use of right-of-way permit and an alcohol ordinance for the possession of alcohol in the public right-of-way for the 2015 Free State Festival, June 22 – 28, 2015. (See event description request and map)

 

Access to the parking garage would be maintained via the southernmost entrance on New Hampshire Street, as well as the 9th Street entrance. The street would be blocked with movable barricades and the applicant would maintain adequate width in the westernmost lane for fire apparatus access to the garage in case of an emergency.

 

The applicant has requested a minimal amount of city service in support of this event and staff is in support of this request.

 

The applicant has also requested an ordinance authorizing for sale, possession, and consumption of alcohol in the 900 block of New Hampshire Street during 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 the church that a public hearing regarding this request will be held on March 24, 2015, at the City Commission meeting. The affected area for this event is the 900 block of New Hampshire Street.

 

Event notification was sent out to adjacent property owners advising them of the event, as well as being on the March 24, 2015, City Commission agenda.  In addition to this notice, coordination with Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Police, Fire/Medical, Lawrence Transit, the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Lawrence, Inc. was completed with no issues be identified.

 

ACTIONS

Conduct a public hearing regarding a distance limitation waiver request for the 2015 Freestate Festival to be held Monday, June 22, 2015, to Sunday, June 28, 2015, and find that the proximity of the temporary sale of alcoholic liquor for the event is not adverse to the public welfare or safety and grant a distance limitation waiver.  The public hearing would apply to the 900 block of New Hampshire Street portion of the event.

 

Adopt on first reading, Ordinance No. 9073, allowing the possession and consumption of alcohol on Monday, June 22, 2015, from 12:00 p.m. to Sunday June 28 at 11:59 p.m. in the 900 block of New Hampshire Street associated with the Free State Arts Festival; provided the sale, possession and consumption are pursuant to City of Lawrence and State of Kansas law.

 

Approve the donation of various city services in support of the Free State Festival.

 

Approve a Street Event Temporary use of right-of-way permit for the use of New Hampshire Street from Monday June 22, 2015 to Sunday June 28, 2015 for the Free State Festival.