Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Jonathan Douglass, Assistant to the City Manager/City Clerk
DATE:	April 7, 2011
RE:	Distance Limitation Waiver Hearing – Various Events Downtown

City Code prohibits the sale of alcohol within 400’ of a school or church, unless the following steps are taken:

· The affected churches or schools are given 30 days notice of a public hearing to consider a distance restriction waiver;

· A public hearing is held before the City Commission;

· The City Commission finds that the proximity of the sale of alcohol is not adverse to the public welfare or safety; and

· The City Commission grants a distance limitation waiver (sections 4-113 and 4-206 of the City Code).

There are various events in the downtown area in the planning stages which wish to incorporate the temporary sale of alcohol, whose locations are within of 400’ of various churches.

· Arts Center Street P’Arty, May 27-28, 900 block of New Hampshire

· Americana Music Festival, June 25, South Park

· Tour of Lawrence, July 1-3, various locations downtown

· KC MS 150, September 24-25, South Park

City staff has notified the affected churches that there will be a public hearing regarding the sale of alcohol associated with these events during the May 10, 2011, City Commission meeting. Staff requests that if a hearing cannot be held on that day that the City Commission have the hearing on their agenda but defer it to a future meeting.