Memorandum

City of Lawrence

TO:	City Manager Mike Wildgen
FROM:	David L. Corliss, Assistant City Manager & Director of Legal                                                    Services
CC:	Scott Miller, Victor Torres
Date:	January 12,  2006
RE:	Neighborhood Integrity Issues

In the fall of 2006 City staff began meeting with a number of neighborhood representatives to discuss continuing concerns centered on nuisance – misdemeanor crime issues.  The agenda below is from our November 28, 2006 meeting:

1) Review of protocol for reviewing disorderly house responses

2) Review DRAFT staff memorandum on possible changes for consideration to the current disorderly house ordinance

3) Review DRAFT amendment to the rental registration ordinance making it clear that owner occupied structures in the RS zoning district can not have more than three unrelated residents

4) Review DRAFT staff memorandum on possible incentive program under the Kansas Neighborhood Revitalization Act to encourage owner occupied single family residences in target neighborhoods

5) Discussion of accelerated abatement program for response to trash and environmental blight issues

6) Noise Ordinance enforcement and map.

7) What is success?  Discussion concerning establishing benchmarks or performance measurements to monitor progress – or lack of progress – in regards to these neighborhood integrity/preservation issues.  In September, City staff presented certain statistical information concerning rental houses in certain neighborhoods, calls for police service, calls for environmental blight complaints, etc.  Is there a statistical measurement that can be used to monitor this issue, and focus resources and attention, over time?

At this time staff is prepared to proceed with City Commission review of the proposed amendments to the disorderly nuisance house ordinance.  This topic was also generally discussed at a recent Lawrence Association of Neighborhood meeting which several City staff members attended.  At that meeting, staff provided statistical information on recent enforcement efforts concerning the noise ordinance.   In 2004, the Lawrence Police Department issued 85 citations for noise ordinance violations; in 2005 the Department issued 324 citations, a 281% increase.

Staff plans to continue a review of these neighborhood integrity issues and present possible amendments to City Code provisions as they are further considered and drafted.