Memorandum

City of Lawrence

 

TO:

Lawrence City Commissioners

FROM:

Lisa Larsen, City Commissioner

DATE:

April 27, 2016

RE:

Mayoral Terms

 

[This recommendation was presented to the City Commission at its regular meeting on April 26, 2016.]

 

Commissioner Herbert and I discussed many possibilities for determining how to move forward with the mayor and vice mayor positions.

 

We both agreed that our primary concern is that this recommendation not be a patchwork to hobble together a system of mayoral appointments. We have seen too much of this patchwork and “do overs” this past year. We want to make it clear that we want to be done with this type of governing.

 

We wanted a one time clear cut fix for a situation that was not borne from this current Commission’s doings but was from both inside and outside forces that have wreaked havoc on our community over the last year.

 

These recommendations will no doubt elicit both agreement and disagreement from the public. Please understand that we do not make these recommendations lightly and we believe that our proposed recommendations are in the best interest of Lawrence.

 

Therefore, we respectfully submit the following recommendations to this Commission:

 

1)    That a new mayor and vice mayor be appointed on the 2nd Tuesday of January 2017 – in line with the legislative mandate that moved local elections to November and the seating of new commissioners at the same time as all other State elected officials.

 

2)    It is further recommended that the current mayor and vice mayor remain intact until January 2017.

 

3)    Future mayors and vice mayors will be appointed each year on the 2nd Tuesday of January. The method of appointment shall follow Lawrence’s historical election process for appointing mayors and vice mayors based on the number of votes received.

 

4)    The terms will be for one year. It is our intent that no duly elected official be denied their full term.

 

Mayor Amyx and Commissioners that is our recommendations and we will stand for questions or comments if you deem it appropriate.