Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Jonathan Douglass, Assistant to the City Manager/City Clerk
CC:	Ron Olin, Chief of Police Mark Bradford, Fire Medical Chief Charles Soules, Director of Public Works Ernie Shaw, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation
DATE:	January 20, 2010
RE:	2010 Kansas Marathon

Ryan Robinson, organizer of the Kansas Marathon, has requested city approval and support of a marathon, half-marathon, 5K and kids run to be held in Lawrence on Sunday, April 18, 2010. The Kansas Marathon is a not-for-profit event with all proceeds benefitting Health Care Access.

Race Routes

All races begin and end on the University of Kansas Shenk Sports Complex at 23^rd and Iowa. The marathon and half-marathon start at 7:30 a.m. The 5K starts at 7:45. The races are proposed to follow the routes depicted on the attached maps, and would use portions of the following city streets, adjacent sidewalks and trails: W 21^st, Naismith, Crescent, Engel, Clinton Parkway Recreational Path, Heatherwood, W 22^nd, Hartford, Waterford, Crossgate, W 24^th, Kasold Recreational Path, SLT Recreational Path, W 27^th, W 6^th, George Williams Way, Blue Nile, Andrew John, Diamond Head, Harvard, DeVictor Park Trail and Stoneridge.

The reconstruction of Kasold Drive, expected to begin in June 2010, will not impact the race route.

The race will also travel on various streets owned by the University of Kansas, and race organizers are in the process of obtaining approval for the use of those streets.

The biggest traffic impacts will be when the race crosses Iowa at 21^st, Kasold at 22^nd, and Clinton Parkway at Crossgate. This will require Iowa to be closed in both directions twice, for less than five minutes each time. Because the race begins at 7:30 a.m. on a Sunday, staff does not anticipate that these will be major disruptions to normal activity. Adjustments have been made by the race organizers in consultation with the Police Department to improve the route and traffic control over the 2009 race, which experienced only minor problems.

Traffic along the route will be controlled by law enforcement and race volunteers and will require intermittent closures as runners are present. Volunteers will also staff watering stations along the route and be responsible for any litter cleanup along the route.

City staff mailed notice of the 01/26/10 City Commission consideration of the race to addresses along approximately the first half of the route, which are likely to see more significant impacts due to the race. Staff also mailed personal letters to the Saint Lawrence Catholic Center, Clinton Parkway Assembly of God, and Hy-Vee, which all may be uniquely impacted by the race. The attached correspondence has been received to date in response to the mailings. Staff does not expect this race to be a major inconvenience or disruption to adjacent properties.

City Approvals and Support Needed

Race organizers request City Commission approval of a temporary use of right-of-way permit (pending submission of the application form and proof of insurance) for the streets and sidewalks depicted on the attached route maps on Sunday, April 18 from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Race organizers will obtain a special use permit from the Parks and Recreation department for the use of the recreational trails along the route. If the race organizers desire to put up any signage/banners for the race, they will need to obtain the necessary approvals from the Development Services Division.

Race organizers have requested the donation of city services in support of the event. The major items requested are the following:

Traffic control from the Police Department at levels determined appropriate by the Police Department. Race organizers have been meeting with city staff including Sergeant Michael Monroe to make adjustments to the route and traffic control plan.
Standby medical support for the race by as many units as are determined necessary by the Fire Medical Department.
Patching of pot holes along the race route.
Temporary stop signs and street barricades. The city will provide as many signs and barricades as possible, and race organizers will provide for any needed above and beyond the city’s supplies.
Placement of a 30 yard dumpster near the start/finish area.

Similar support for the 2009 event (which did not include a full marathon) cost the city $9,515 in staff time, equipment and materials. The 2010 event does include a full marathon, but much of the additional distance is run on recreational paths, so costs are expected to be similar or only slightly higher. Staff will track actual costs associated with this and other events throughout 2010.

ACTION: Approve temporary use of right-of-way permit for various city streets and sidewalks from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 18, 2010, for the Kansas Marathon, and donation of city services in support of the event.