Bottom Line

Lawrence city commissioners will consider amending the city’s sign code to remove some restrictions on political signs.

Background

The current code allows political campaign signs to be placed in yards from six weeks before an election to two weeks after. City officials say recent court rulings indicate those restrictions are unconstitutional.

Other business

Consent agenda

Review and approve minutes of the City Commission meeting of July 2.

Receive the Economic Development Marketing Program Activity Report for May and June 2002.

Approve all claims.

Approve appointments of David Longhurst, Don Johnston and Doug Holladay to the Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board.

Approve drinking establishment licenses for: Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant, 711 W. 23rd St., Suite 28; FiFi’s Restaurant, 925 Iowa; Panda Garden, 1500 W. Sixth St.; The Sandbar, 17 E. Eighth St.

Approve retail liquor licenses for Ray’s Wine & Spirits, 721 Wakarusa, Suite 107; Ray’s Liquor Warehouse, 1215 W. Sixth St.

Authorize the city manager to enter into an engineering contract for $112,403.09 with BG Consultants for 2002 waterline improvement projects.

Adopt the following ordinances on first reading:

Rezoning 23.3827 acres from suburban home residential to planned residential district north of Clinton Parkway and west of Lake Alvamar.

Annexing property north of Clinton Parkway and west of Lake Alvamar.

Adopt on second reading an ordinance prohibiting traffic control signs on private property which do not comply with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

Adopt the following resolutions:

Setting out the findings and determinations of the governing body of the City of Lawrence and ordering the construction of grading, paving and otherwise improving/widening Sixth Street for a dedicated westbound left turn lane at Comet Lane, including property acquisition, traffic calming devices, bicycle facilities, subgrade stabilization, stormwater improvements, sidewalks on both sides and other necessary and appropriate improvements.

Establishing a public hearing date for the proposed special assessment benefit district and improvement of sanitary sewers for Riverside Business Park.

Approve site plan for Morgan Mini-Storage; 1100 E. 24th St.

Approve temporary use permit for fund-raising event for Boys and Girls Club from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. July 25 at Meadowbrook, 15th and Crestline.

Accept dedication of easements and rights-of-way on the following plats:

Final plat of Park West, a 130-lot single-family and multiple family residential subdivision. The property is south of Wakarusa Drive (extended) and east of Queens Road. Submitted by Landplan Engineering, P.A., for Green Tree, L.C., property owners of record.

Final plat of Oread Center, is a replat of Lot 1B of a Lot Split of Lot 1, Oread West No. 8. This is an eight-lot research office development containing 13.13 acres. The property is south of West 15th Street between Research Park Drive (proposed) and Wakarusa Drive. Submitted by Landplan Engineering for Sam Campbell, co-managing member, New Oread Group, LLC, property owner of record.

Final plat of Payne Subdivision, a replat of Lot 20, Addition No. 11, North Lawrence, is a three-lot residential subdivision. The property is west of North Ninth Street between Elm and Locust streets. Submitted by EBH & Associates, for Clarence Payne, property owner of record.

Final plat of Polk Subdivision. This proposed four-lot industrial subdivision contains 3.195 acres. The property is at the northeast corner of 11th Street and Haskell Avenue. Submitted by EBH & Associates, for Michael R. Polk and Gregory M. Polk, property owners of record.

Final plat of Kirk Welding Addition, a replat of Lot 26, Lawrence Industrial Park and an adjacent portion of vacated railroad right-of-way. The property is in the 900 Block of East 29th Street, west of Haskell Avenue. Submitted by Landplan Engineering, P.A., for Kirk Welding Supply, Inc., property owner of record.

Final plat of 1901 Addition, a replat of Lot 16, Block 2, South Lawrence in the southwest fractional quarter. This property is at the southwest corner of 19th and Massachusetts streets. Submitted by The Peridian Group, Inc., for Dahman Raisdana and Shahin Raisdana, property owners of record.

Authorize the mayor to sign a Release of Mortgage for Curt Cunningham, 725 Locust.

City manager’s report.

Regular agenda

Conduct public hearing on partial vacation of utility easement, Lot 1, Monterey No. 7 Addition (Hy-vee West Sixth Street location.)

Consider amendment to City Sign Code to remove the durational limit on political signs.