Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

 

FROM:

Jonathan Douglass, City Clerk/Assistant to the City Manager

 

CC:

Tarik Khatib, Chief of Police

Ernie Shaw, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation

Chuck Soules, Director of Public Works

Bob Nugent, Transit Administrator

 

DATE:

May 30, 2013

 

RE:

Elvis 5K Run/Walk

 

 

Requested Action

The Lawrence Sports Corporation, on behalf of several area Rotary Clubs, has requested city approval of a Temporary Use of Public Right-of-Way Permit to hold their event on city streets on June 22, 2013.  

 

Traffic, Parking, and City Service Impacts

The proposed route would require the complete closure of Tennessee Street from 6th Street to 8th Street from 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., and the closure of 7th from Kentucky to Tennessee from 6:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Once the race is complete all activities will be moved into Watson Park. (see attached traffic control plan)

 

The event will likely cause some parking challenges for the Outdoor Aquatic Center, where swimming lessons are held all morning and which opens at 1:00 p.m. for public swimming. Parking is already challenging in the area due to the library and parking garage construction.

 

Transit reroutes will be needed due to the event.

 

The need for law enforcement resources dedicated to the run can be minimized by completely closing the streets along the race route, and detouring traffic around it. The Police Department is currently working on an operational plan that would not require any officers dedicated solely to the event. This will require a significant number of advance warning signs and barricades, which will have to be provided by a private company at the race organizers’ expense. Volunteers will need to be stationed at every single street and alley intersection along the route to help drivers find their way off and around the race course.

 

City staff will send notice to properties along and surrounding the route prior to City Commission consideration of the event.  

 

ACTION:      Authorize issuance of a Temporary Use of Public Right-of-Way Permit for the Elvis 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, June 22, 2013, allowing the closure of various city streets.