Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works Department

 

TO:

Charles F. Soules, P.E., Public Works Director

FROM:

Mark Thiel, Assistant Public Works Director

CC:

Tarik Khatib, Chief of Police

Mark Bradford, Fire Chief

Ernie Shaw, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation

DATE:

December 4, 2015

RE:

2016 Art Tougeau Parade and Final Friday Event & 2016 Buskerfest Street Event Permit

 

The Lawrence Arts Center and Buskerfest have applied for street event temporary use of right of way permits for their 2016 events which will be held on the same dates over the weekend of May 27 to 29, 2016. In conjunction with the city, both event organizers have coordinated these events to work together.

 

The Art Tougeau / Final Friday has requested the closure of the 900 block of New Hampshire Street on Friday, May 27, 2016, from 12:00 p.m. to Saturday, May 28, 2016, at 2:00 p.m., for the parade after party and awards (see attached map).

 

The Buskerfest has requested the closure of the 100 block of east 8th Street on Friday, May 27, 2016, at 12:00 p.m. to Sunday, May 29, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. and the 900 block of New Hampshire Street, on Saturday, May 28, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. to Sunday, May 29, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. (see attached map)

 

Access to the parking garage would be maintained via the southernmost entrance on New Hampshire as well as the 9th Street entrance. The street would be blocked with movable barricades, but the applicant will maintain adequate width in the westernmost lane for fire apparatus access to the garage in case of emergency.

 

The Art Tougeau applicants have also requested an ordinance authorizing the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol on the 900 block of New Hampshire Street during their event.

 

The Buskerfest applicant has also requested an ordinance authorizing the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol on the 100 block of E. 8th Street and the 900 block of New Hampshire Street during their event.

 

The request to sell, possess and consume alcohol within the public right of way has been reviewed pursuant to City of Lawrence Code, Chapter IV, Article 1, Section 4-113 for both events and the events were found to be within 400 feet of a church or school. Pursuant to code requirements, staff has notified the church that a public hearing regarding this request will be held on January 12, 2016, at the City Commission Meeting (See attached letters). The affected area for these events is the 900 block of New Hampshire Street.

 

Event notification was sent out for both events to adjacent property owners advising them of the events as well as being on the January 12, 2016, commission agenda (see attached notices). In addition to this notice, coordination with Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Police, Fire/Medical, Lawrence Transit, Explore Lawrence, and Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods was completed with no issues being identified.

 

ACTIONS

Conduct a public hearing regarding distance limitation waiver request for the 2016 Buskerfest event to be held Friday, May 27, 2016, to Sunday, May 29, 2016. The public hearing would apply to the 900 block of New Hampshire Street portion of the event from Saturday, May 28, 2016, at 2: p.m. to Sunday, May 29, 2016, at 7:00 p.m.

 

Find that the proximity of the temporary sale of alcoholic liquor for the event is not adverse to the public welfare or safety and a grant distance limitation waiver.

 

Conduct a public hearing regarding distance limitation waiver request for the 2016 Art Tougeau Parade and Final Friday Event to be held Friday, May 27, 2016, at 12:00 p.m. to Saturday, May 28, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. The public hearing would apply to the 900 block of New Hampshire Street portion of the event.

 

Find that the proximity of the temporary sale of alcoholic liquor for the event is not adverse to the public welfare or safety and a grant distance limitation waiver.

 

Adopt on first reading Ordinance No. 9185, allowing the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol on the public right-of-way on the 100 block of east 8th Street, and the 900 block of New Hampshire Street during the Buskerfest event.

 

Adopt on first reading Ordinance No. 9191, allowing the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol on the public right-of-way on the 900 block of New Hampshire Street during the Art Tougeau event.

 

Approve a street event permit for the 2016 Lawrence Busker Fest for Friday, May 27, 2016, to Sunday, May 29, 2016. The event will be held in the 100 block of east 8th Street, the 900 block of New Hampshire Street, and in front of the US Bank (not in the right of way).

 

Approve a street event permit for the 2016 Art Tougeau Parade and Final Friday Event on Friday, May 27, 2016, to Saturday, May 28, 2016, for the closure of the 900 block of New Hampshire Street.