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 Medical Chief Ernie Shaw, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation
DATE:	June 13, 2016
RE:	2016 Bike MS – September 16 – 18, 2016

Background

In September of 2011 the Bike MS event came to Lawrence for the first time. eXplore Lawrence ( formerly known as The Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau) is working with the Mid-America Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to have Lawrence host, for the sixth year in a row, the overnight stay for its 2016 Bike MS event on September 17, 2016. Bike MS is the Mid America Chapter’s largest fund raising event, with more than 1,800 riders participating. On Saturday, September 17, 2016 the ride will start in Johnson and Shawnee Counties, and the riders will travel west and east to Lawrence, ending at South Park for the day. Bike participants will resume their ride early Sunday, September 18, 2016 in the morning by retracing their route.

The Mid America Chapter requests a Street Event Temporary Use of Public Right-of-Way Permit for 5:00 a.m. Friday, September 16, 2016 through 12:00 p.m. Sunday, September 18, 2016, allowing the closure of Massachusetts Street between North Park Street and South Park Street; and North Park Street between Massachusetts Street and Vermont Street. The Temporary Use of Public Right-of-Way Permit would also not allow parking on the south side of South Park Street but would allow parking on the north side of South Park Street between Massachusetts and Vermont Streets from 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 16, 2016 through 10:00 a.m. Sunday, September 18, 2016. The Community Building parking lot would also be closed from 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 16, 2016 until Sunday, 10:00 a.m. September 18, 2016. The Mid America Chapter has negotiated an agreement with the Parks and Recreation Department for the use of South Park and the Community Building for an overnight “Cycle Village” for many of the riders to spend the night on Saturday (see attached map).

The proposed ride routes will bring riders into Lawrence from the east and west of town. Because this is a ride, not a race, riders will be trickling into Lawrence throughout the day on Saturday and will be able to obey regular traffic signals and stops, thus not requiring major law enforcement support. On Sunday, September 18, 2016 at 7:00 a.m. riders will begin leaving together in waves.

The applicant has also requested an ordinance to allow the possession of alcohol within the public right-of-way.

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 and the event was found to be within 400 feet of a church or school. Pursuant to code requirements, staff has notified churches that a public hearing regarding this request will be held on July 19, 2016 at the City Commission Meeting (see attached letter).

Possession and consumption of alcohol on the right-of-way is generally prohibited, unless the City Commission adopts an ordinance exempting an area from that prohibition. The attached Ordinance No. 9253 would temporarily allow the possession and consumption of alcohol on Massachusetts Street, from South Park Street to North Park Street and North Park Street (Massachusetts to Vermont) on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 5:00 a.m. to Sunday, September 18, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. during this event.

The organizers have also requested donation of Police and Fire Medical Department services in support of the event.

Notice of this event and commission agenda item was sent out to affected properties in the area of South Park (see attached notice). This application has been reviewed by Public Works, Police, Fire/Medical, Parks & Recreation, Downtown Lawrence, Inc., Lawrence Association of Neighborhood and Lawrence Transit.

Actions

Conduct a public hearing regarding distance limitation waiver request for the 2016 Bike MS Event to be held in South Park on Saturday, September 17, 2016 to Sunday, September 18, 2016.

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

Adopt Ordinance No. 9253 allowing the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 5:00 a.m. to Sunday, September 18, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. in South Park and on Massachusetts Street, between North Park Street and South Park Street associated with the 2016 Bike MS Event; provided the sale, possession and consumption are pursuant to City of Lawrence and State of Kansas law

Approve a street event permit and closure of Massachusetts Street, from South Park Street to North Park Street and North Park Street (Massachusetts to Vermont) on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 5:00 a.m. to Sunday, September 18, 2016 at 12:00 p.m.; and no parking on North Park Street, from Massachusetts Street to Vermont Street on Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 5:00 a.m. to Sunday, September 18, 2016 at 12:00 p.m.; and closure of the Community Center parking lot #7 on Friday, September 16, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. to Sunday, September 18, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.; and no parking on W. South Park Street Friday, September 16, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. to Sunday, September 18, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. for the 2016 Bike MS Event.