CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM

Department:	Public Works		Commission Meeting Date:  March 7, 2017
Staff Contact:	Mark Thiel
Recommendations/Options/Action Requested:
Conduct a public hearing regarding distance limitation waiver request for the 2017 Buskerfest event to be held Friday May 26, 2017 to Sunday May 28, 2017. The public hearing would apply to the 900 block of New Hampshire Street portion of the event from Saturday May 27, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. to Sunday May 28, 2017 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. Adopt on first reading Ordinance No. 9332, allowing the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol on the public right-of-way on the 100 block of east 8^th Street, and the 900 block of New Hampshire Street during the Buskerfest event.
Executive Summary:		The Lawrence Arts Center and Buskerfest have applied for street event temporary use of right of way permits for their 2017 events which will be held on the same dates over the weekend of May 26 to 28, 2017. The City, in junction with both event organizers, have coordinated these events to work together because they have overlapping location uses. The Buskerfest will close the 100 block of east 8^th Street on Friday May 26, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. to Sunday May 28, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. and the 900 block of New Hampshire Street, on Saturday May 27, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. to Sunday May 28, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. (see attached map) Access to the parking garage would be maintained via the southernmost entrance on New Hampshire Street as well as the 9^th Street entrance. The street would be blocked with movable barricades but the applicant would maintain adequate width in the westernmost lane for fire apparatus access to the garage in case of emergency. The Buskerfest applicant has requested an ordinance authorizing the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol on the 100 block of E. 8^th 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 and was found to be within 400 feet of a church or school. Pursuant to code requirements, staff has notified the church on January 31, 2017 that a public hearing regarding this request will be held on March 7, 2017 at the City Commission Meeting (See attached letters). The affected area for this event is the 900 block of New Hampshire Street. Event notification was sent out for this event to adjacent property owners advising them of the event as well as being on the March 7, 2017 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.
Strategic Goal Area:		Other
Fiscal Impact (Amount/Source):		The fiscal impact to the City is $1,000 for Public Works and $500.00 for the Police.  Any City Department cost will be submitted to be recouped from the Transient Guest tax fund at the end of the year, if applicable.
Attachments:		Ordinance No. 9332 Buskerfest map Public hearing notice Adjacent property owner notice

Reviewed By: (for CMO use only)

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