CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending December 17, 2010

Kansas City Arts Incubator Tour

City Staff organized a tour of the Kansas City Arts Incubator located at 115 West 18th Street on November 30, 2010 (please see attached photos). The group that toured the facility was comprised of Roger Zalneraitis, several members of the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission, Lawrence Arts Center staff, and other interested parties. The tour was hosted by Jeff Becker, the Arts Incubator director, who founded the Incubator in October 2001 after running his own manufacturing firm and obtaining a Fine Arts degree from the University of Kansas.

The purpose of the tour was to better understand what is required to found an arts incubator and help to ensure its success. The tour was in response to growing discussions among economic development staff on how to capitalize on the strength of the arts in Lawrence.  Additionally, the same topic is being discussed at the meetings of the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission and its task force on Arts Sustainability. It is envisioned that the informmation from the tour will be utilized by the Cultural Arts Commission as it furthers discussions on the future of the arts in the community.

Addendum to 2010 Retail Market Report

Planning staff has developed an addendum to the 2010 Retail Market Study for the City of Lawrence in response to questions raised by the Lawrence City Commission at their November 16, 2010 meeting.

Parks and Recreation hosts Breakfast with Santa

Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department’s Special Events Division hosted Breakfast with Santa the morning of Saturday, Dec. 11, at the Community Building, 115 W. 11th Street. More than 150 people attended the event. Breakfast was served up in the always-entertaining style of Chris Cakes, “Kansas City’s original pancake flippers.” Children who attended also had the opportunity to create holiday arts and crafts project and get their faces painted. Parks and Recreation’s resident Santa, Bill Rogers, was on hand to greet kids and get pictures taken with him. See the attached report for photos of the event.