Memorandum                      

City of Lawrence

Department of Administrative Services

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

 

FROM:

Frank S. Reeb, Administrative Services Director/City Clerk

 

CC:

Cynthia Boecker, Assistant City Manager

Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager

Jonathan Douglass, Assistant to the City Manager

 

Date:

August 28, 2008

 

RE:

Application for Use of Right of Way for Get Downtown 2008

 

 

The City Clerk’s Office has received an Application for Temporary Use of Public Right of Way from Just Like Lawrence, Inc., for a Get Downtown, free admissions event, scheduled for October 3-4, 2008.  Just Like Lawrence, Inc., is a not for profit corporation formed for the purpose of coordinating and producing the Get Downtown event.  The application requests the use of New Hampshire Street between 8th and 9th Streets and includes City Parking Lots 8 and 4, on the east and west sides of New Hampshire Street, respectively (see attached map). The specific event times are from 4 pm to 11 pm on Friday and noon to 11 pm on Saturday. To allow for set up and clean up of the area, the requested dates and times for the use of the right of way are from Friday, October 3rd at 6 am until Sunday, October 5th at 6 am.  A stage is proposed at the south end of the 800 block of New Hampshire (just north of the 9th & New Hampshire intersection); however, neither the 8th & New Hampshire nor the 9th & New Hampshire intersections are requested to be closed for this event.  Because of the Saturday morning Farmer’s Market in Lot 8, event organizers are coordinating the event with the Farmer’s Market organizers.  During the event times, food vendors will set up in the parking lots.   Event organizers also are willing to provide snow fencing around trees and landscaping in the city parking lots to minimize damage.   

 

The City Clerk’s Office has also received a Temporary Permit application from event organizers requesting the temporary sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic beverages on the right of way referenced above. Because this temporary event will occur on City property on which the sale, possession and consumption is generally prohibited by City Code, pursuant to City Code section 4-105, an ordinance authorizing the temporary sale, possession and consumption is required.  I have attached a copy of Ordinance 8316 for consideration and approval. This ordinance, if adopted, would allow the temporary sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic beverages on October 3, 2008 from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and on October 4, 2008, from noon to 11:00 p.m.   In order to help prevent alcoholic beverages from leaving the event area, the perimeter of the area will be fenced with a 6 foot tall chain link fence.  The applicant will retain private security for the event but is requesting that the Lawrence Police Department provide officers for the event at no cost to the event organizers.   In addition, the event organizers are requesting the donation of in-kind services of a Fire/Medical standby medic unit, a 40 yard Public Works/Solid Waste roll off container; and Parks & Recreations trash barrels.  

 

Recommended Action: Staff recommends approval of the Use of Right-of-Way Permit for the Get Downtown event on October 3-4, 2008 subject to the following conditions:

 

  1. The concert shall commence no earlier than 4:00 pm on Friday October 3, 2008 and shall conclude no later than 11:00 pm on Friday, October 3, 2008 and shall commence no earlier than noon on Saturday October 4, 2008 and shall conclude no later than 11:00 pm on Saturday, October 4, 2008;
  2. The Use of Right-of-Way Permit shall be valid from 6:00 am on Friday October 3, 2008 and shall conclude no later than 6 am on Sunday October 5, 2008;
  3. Snow fencing must be used around trees and landscaping and approved by Mark Hecker, Superintendent Park & Maintenance;
  4. Temporary sign permit must be obtained from the offices of Development Services, if temporary signs are used;
  5. If signs are displayed in conjunction with this use they shall comply with City sign regulations and shall not be located on public right of way.  Signs for this activity can only be displayed during hours of operation; 
  6. The applicant must obtain a temporary permit for the temporary sale of alcohol from the City Clerk’s Office;

 

 

 In addition, staff recommends the Commission adopt, on first reading, Ordinance 8316, authorizing the temporary sale, possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages on the specified city property.