Memorandum

City of Lawrence

 

TO:

Mayor and City Commissioners

FROM:

City Manager David L. Corliss                            

Date:

October 21, 2009

RE:

Downtown issues

 

Several commissioners participated in a recent Downtown Lawrence, Inc. meeting during which several issues were raised concerning downtown.  This memo provides some initial background on these items and an opportunity for the Commission to provide direction to staff on their desires for additional information and background on these issues.

 

Panhandling Regulations

The City Commission considered Ordinance No. 8362 at its meeting of December 9, 2008.  This ordinance would have amended the City’s current laws regarding panhandling by prohibiting panhandling during nighttime hours and to prohibit active panhandling (generally making verbal requests for money) in the downtown area.  At the Commission meeting of December 9, the Commission tabled the ordinance and asked for periodic updates on the issue in the future.  Below are the agenda links to the December 9 agenda materials and a copy of the Commission minutes from December 9.

 

Staff Memo & Ordinance No. 8362    ACLU Correspondence of 12/09/08

CC Minutes of 12/09/08 (Discussion begins on Page 9)

 

Encouragement of Retail Establishments in the Downtown

One of the items discussed at the Downtown Lawrence meeting was the role of City government in regulating and/or incentivizing new and existing retail establishments in the downtown area. This may be a topic that the Commission wishes to discuss and provide direction to staff.

 

Encouragement of Downtown Redevelopment Projects

The City has recently adopted a tax-increment financing policy, which may provide an attractive redevelopment tool for certain downtown redevelopment projects.  Some communities actively solicit redevelopment projects through public requests for redevelopment (e.g. publication and distribution of requests for proposals for downtown redevelopment to local and regional developers).  Generally, these requests are focused on specific areas.  The Commission may wish to discuss this as well.

 

Downtown Board or Task Force

Another item discussed at the Downtown Lawrence, Inc. meeting was the idea of a task force or City board to encourage discussion and movement on several items related to downtown enhancement.

 

ACTION:     Direct staff, as appropriate.