Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Clerk’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Jonathan Douglass, Assistant to the City Manager/City Clerk
DATE:	May 6, 2013
RE:	Distance Limitation Waiver Hearing for Downtown Events

Several downtown events have been scheduled for the upcoming months. These events are in proximity to various schools or churches 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 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).

The following events have requested permission to sell alcohol, and fall within 400’ of various schools or churches and thus require a public hearing and distance limitation waiver before they can obtain a liquor permit:

• Arts Center Street Final Friday and Art Tougeau Parade decorating event, from noon, Friday, May 31, 2013, until 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 1, 2013 on the 900 block of New Hampshire Street.
• Art Tougeau Parade After Party, on Saturday, June 1, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on the 100 block of E 10^th Street.
• Tour of Lawrence, June 28 and 30, 2013

• Friday, June 28, 2013, 10:00 a.m. – midnight, on the 700 and 800 blocks of New Hampshire Street and on the 100 and 200 blocks of E 8^th Street;
• Sunday, June 30, 2013, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., on the 700, 800, and 900 blocks of Massachusetts Street, on the 100 blocks of E 8^th Street and E 9^th Street, and on the 100 blocks of W 8^th Street and W 9^th Street.
• Bike MS event, 9:00 a.m. Saturday, September 14, 2013, to 2:00 a.m. Sunday, September 15, 2013, on Massachusetts Street from North Park Street to South Park Street, and North Park Street from Massachusetts Street to Vermont Street.

City staff has notified the affected schools and/or churches that there will be a public hearing regarding the sale of alcohol associated with these downtown events at the May 14, 2013, City Commission meeting. To date, staff has received no objections to the sale of alcohol at these events.

Additionally, the possession and consumption of alcohol on the public right-of-way is generally prohibited unless an ordinance exempting the property from the prohibition is adopted by the City Commission (section 4-105 of the City Code). Staff has prepared Ordinance No. 8863, which would exempt the locations listed earlier in this memo from this prohibition during the events.  

ACTIONS:      Hold a public hearing; find that the proximity of the sale of alcohol for certain events is not adverse to the public welfare or safety; and grant distance limitation waivers for the events, if appropriate.

                   Adopt on first reading, Ordinance No. 8863, allowing the possession and consumption of alcoholic liquor on certain public rights-of-way during certain events, if appropriate.