DRAFT       

RESOLUTION NO.  6925

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS ESTABLISHING THE DOWNTOWN TASK FORCE

Whereas, a long-standing goal of the City of Lawrence has been the enhancement of its historic and vibrant downtown area; and

Whereas, the City’s comprehensive plan supports the enhancement and preservation of the downtown area as a significant mixed-use area with a strong retail market presence; and

Whereas, the governing body of the City of Lawrence, Kansas desires to review and implement any necessary changes to policies, laws, financial incentives or other regulations or options and further desires to receive the counsel and recommendations of a group of citizens who are tasked to review certain issues concerning the downtown;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS:

Section 1.     Establishment of Downtown Task Force.  There is hereby established the Downtown Task Force.  The Task Force shall develop recommendations to the governing body of the City of Lawrence, Kansas regarding and concerning the City’s downtown, specifically focused on the following four issues:

a.  Retail vacancies and retail growth management

b.  Mix of retail and bar uses in the downtown area

c.  Event coordination with Convention and Visitors Bureau and the University of Kansas

d.  Support for the Arts in the downtown area

Among the issues the Task Force should specifically review is the feasibility of incentives for retail incubation in the downtown area with the goal of enhancing non-food service retail occupancies in downtown businesses. 

Section 2.     Membership and Organization.  The Task Force shall consist of seven to eleven voting members who are residents of the City of Lawrence, representing a broad range of community, business owners, property owners, residents and other interests who have an interest in the enhancement of downtown.  All members of the Task Force shall be recommended by the Mayor and approved by the City Commission.  One member of the Task Force shall be a City Commissioner who shall serve as Chair of the Task Force.  City staff under the direction of the City Manager shall provide appropriate staff support for the task force.

Section 3.     Reporting and Recommendations.  The Downtown Task Force shall provide recommendations to the governing body by December 31, 2011, with periodic reports to the governing body as the Task Force deems appropriate.

Section 4.     Initial and Subsequent Meetings.  The Task Force shall meet initially at the time and place as determined by the City Commissioner representative of the Task Force.

Section 5.     Open Meetings.  The Task Force shall conduct all meetings in public sessions as required by the Kansas Open Meetings Act.

Adopted by the Governing Body of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, this ____ day of July, 2011.

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Aron E. Cromwell, Mayor

ATTEST:

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Jonathan M. Douglass, City Clerk