July 3, 2007
The Board of Commissioners of the City of Lawrence met in regular session at 6:35 p.m., in the City Commission Chambers in City Hall with Mayor Hack presiding and members Amyx, Dever, and Highberger present. Commissioner Chestnut was absent.
CONSENT AGENDA
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Highberger, seconded by Amyx, to approve City Commission meeting minutes from June 19, 2007. Motion carried unanimously.
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Highberger, seconded by Amyx, to approve the Traffic Safety Commission meeting minutes of June 4, 2007; and the Hospital Board meeting minutes of May 16, 2007. Motion carried unanimously.
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Highberger, seconded by Amyx, to approve claims to 409 vendors in the amount of $986,301.42. Motion carried unanimously.
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Highberger, seconded by Amyx, to approve the Drinking Establishment License for Sandbar, 17 East 8th Street; and Kokoro, 601 Kasold Dr., D102 & 103. Motion carried unanimously.
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Highberger, seconded by Amyx, to concur with the recommendation of the Mayor and appoint Andrew Brown to the Community Development Grant Review Board to a term that expires December 31, 2007; reappoint Michael Moore to the Convention and Visitors Bureau to a term that expires July 1, 2007; reappoint Truman “Bud” Waugh to the Douglas County Emergency Management to a term that expires July 1, 2008; appoint Alan Wiechert to the Historic Resources Commission to a term that expires March 1, 2010; and appoint Kristen Roussel to the Neighborhood Resources Advisory Committee, to an at-large position that expires September 30, 2007. Motion carried unanimously.
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Highberger, seconded by Amyx to place on first reading, Ordinance No. 8123, amending Section 17-502 of the Code of the City of Lawrence, 2006 Edition and amendments thereto pertaining to the designation of Trafficway connections and repealing the existing section. Motion carried unanimously. (1)
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Highberger, seconded by Amyx to concur with the Traffic Safety Commission’s recommendation to “deny” the request to remove Bob White Drive from the Traffic Calming Project List. Motion carried unanimously. (2)
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Highberger, seconded by Amyx to concur with the Traffic Safety Commission’s recommendation to establish “no parking” along the south side of University Drive between Brittany Place and Crestline Drive; and place on first reading Ordinance No. 8124, establishing “no parking” along the south side of University Drive between Brittany Place and Crestline Drive. Motion carried unanimously. (3)
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Highberger, seconded by Amyx, to concur with the Traffic Safety Commission’s recommendation to reverse “stop signs” at the intersection of 23rd Street and Noria Road; and place on first reading, Ordinance No. 8122 reverse the “stop signs” at the intersection of 23rd Street and Noria Road. Motion carried unanimously. (4)
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Highberger, seconded by Amyx, to authorize the City Manager to execute a License Agreement with Sunflower Broadband for installation of conduit behind City Hall. Motion carried unanimously. (5)
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Highberger, seconded by Amyx, to authorize the City Manager to submit documents to participate in the auction of the former Farmland Nitrogen Plant. Motion carried unanimously. (6)
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT:
During the City Manager’s Report, Mayor Hack reminded the public that fireworks were not permitted within the City limits in Lawrence. (7)
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:
Conduct a public hearing to consider the vacation of a 50’ right-of-way at 1100 East 23rd Street, Lot 1, Parkway II Subdivision as requested by Oread L.C.
Mayor Hack called a public hearing to consider the vacation of a 50’ right-of-way at 1100 East 23rd Street, Lot 1, Parkway II Subdivision as requested by Oread L.C.
Chuck Soules, Public Works Director, presented the staff report. He said Oread L.C., was the owner and applicant for this vacation of right-of-way for parking and cross access with the property to the east. He said the City had an extraordinary amount of right-of-way in that area. The vacation would be consistent with similar City Commission action approved for the Quiktrip project at Haskell Avenue. He said staff contacted all utilities and adjacent property owners and no objections were received. He said staff recommended approving of the vacation, contingent upon approval of the public access agreement on the site plan.
Commissioner Amyx asked how old the extraordinary 50 foot of right-of-way was.
Soules said the lot was platted the latter part of 1970’s or early 1980’s.
Commissioner Highberger asked if there was any extraordinary right-of-way on the other side of the street.
Soules said no. He said staff was still maintaining 60 foot from the center line of the right-of-way to the north and south, all the utilities were in the proposed right-of-way and none of the utilities had any issues with this vacation.
Vice Mayor Dever said he had a question concerning improving the ingress and egress into consolidation and if it was likely to occur if the Commission was willing to move forward with the vacation.
Soules said if the lot to the east developed that would provide potential consolidation. The property owners to the north had concerns about potentially losing access in the future because they had a business in the back, to the north and used the western entrance.
Vice Mayor Dever asked if the western entrance was the only access to that property.
Soules said that property owner had an access easement with the land owner.
Vice Mayor Dever asked if that was the road that would be consolidated.
Soules said the development that would occur to the east and north, plus the current development would all share one access.
Commissioner Amyx said one of those business owners was in the landscaping business and asked if the owner of that business would have any problem getting his vehicles through that access.
Soules said at 24 feet, that business owner should not have any problem getting his vehicles through that access.
Commissioner Amyx said in this particular case, it was probably better they consolidated the ingress and egress locations and ask staff to work with those business owners to make sure their vehicles could come in and out.
Mayor Hack called for public comment.
Upon receiving no public comment, it was moved by Amyx, seconded by Hack, to close the public hearing. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Amyx, seconded by Highberger, to approve the Order of Vacation of a 50’ right-of-way at 1100 East 23rd Street, Lot 1, Parkway II Subdivision as requested by Oread L.C., conditioned upon approval of the public access agreement on the site plan. Motion carried unanimously. (8)
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Hubbard Collingsworth, Lawrence, said he had addressed the County Commissions about the bio-science and the contributions the City and County were making. He said he wanted to make sure that money was well spent and not unraveling at the state level with the concern everyone was expressing over the board that was overseeing this issue.
Mayor Hack said it needed to be made clear in terms of the two different authorities, the Lawrence/Douglas County Bioscience Authority and the Kansas Bioscience Authority and their recent changes and new appointments to the board. She said she attended a meeting with the City’s own authority and there would be more updated material and stakeholder meetings conducted.
Collingsworth said he was concerned about job creation and wanted to make sure Lawrence did not lose any jobs and not need to import people for those technical jobs.
Mayor Hack said that was the goal and there was a lot of interest in this City concerning biosciences.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
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TBD
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● Salvation Army Site Plan and Rezoning; ● Retail Marketing Analysis Code provisions ● Neighborhood Revitalization Act proposals for target neighborhoods and downtown; NRA policy statement ● Special Use Permit information for Alcohol Establishments and Entertainment Venue Ordinance Public Meeting Scheduled for July 11 ● Adoption of Joint City Ordinance No. 8097, and County Resolution No. ____, to replace Chapter Seven – Industrial and Employment Related Land Use, in Horizon 2020 with a revised Chapter 7 entitled “Chapter 7 – Industrial and Employment Related Land Use in Horizon 2020, CPA-2004-02 Edition”, and repealing the existing chapter.
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(9)
Moved by Amyx, seconded by Highberger, to recess into executive session for 30 minutes at 5:45 p.m. for the purpose of discussing matters deemed privileged under the attorney client privilege. Motion carried unanimously. (10)
The Commission returned to regular session at 6:15 at which time it was moved by Amyx, seconded by Highberger, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.
APPROVED _____________________________
Sue Hack, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Frank S. Reeb, City Clerk
1. Ordinance No. 8123 – 1st Read, amend 17-502, designation of trafficway connections.
2. TSC – Deny removal of Bob White Dr from Traffic Calming Project List.
3. Ordinance No. 8124 – 1st read, “no parking” S side of University Dr between Brittany Pl & Crestline Dr.
4. Ordinance No. 8122 – 1st read, reverse “stop signs” intersection of 23rd & Noria.
5. License Agreement – Sunflower Broadband, install conduit behind City Hall.
6. Auction – Farmland Nitrogen Plant.
7. City Manager’s Report.
8. Vacation – 50’ ROW at 1100 E 23rd, Lt 1, Parkway II Sub.
9. Future agenda items
10. Executive Session.