Bottom line

The Lawrence City Commission has a full agenda Tuesday, including discussion of a contract with police, plans for a downtown condominium complex and a requirement for traffic studies with new developments.

Background

The police and city are at an impasse in negotiations; the condominium complex has run into opposition from neighborhood advocates and must appeal rulings that it violates city codes; and the traffic study requirement is opposed by critics on the grounds it will make housing more expensive.

Other business

Recognition

• Recognition of Bijai Jones (Free State High School), DerrickNewman, Brandon McAnderson and Coach Dirk Wedd (Lawrence High School) for being selected to participate in the 30th Annual Kansas Shrine Bowl game.

Consent agenda

• Approve all claims.
• Approve drinking establishment licenses for Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant, 711 W. 23rd St.; Zen Zero, 811 Mass.; La Parilla Inc., 814 Mass.; Longhorn Steakhouse of Lawrence, 3050 Iowa.
• Approve a retail liquor license for Ray’s Liquor Warehouse, 1215 W. Sixth St.; and Ray’s Wine and Spirits, 721 Wakarusa Drive.
• Authorize/approve the expenditure of $17,000 to Westar Energy for the relocation of overhead transmission lines along O’Connell Road between 23rd and 31st streets.

Adopt on first reading the following ordinances:

• Ordinance No. 7661, adopting the 2000 Uniform Plumbing Code.
• Ordinance No. 7664, rezoning 0.51 acres from single-family to residence-office district for property at 501 Rockledge Road.
• Ordinance No. 7665, rezoning 1.81 acres from single-family to residence office district for property at 505 and 515 Rockledge Road.
• Charter Ordinance No. 35, allowing the sale of alcohol on Sundays and some holidays, and allowing the City Commission to establish hours of Sunday sales and restrict certain holidays by ordinary ordinance. (Four affirmative votes are required for charter ordinances.)
• Ordinance No. 7666, allowing the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol Sept. 6 at Burcham Park for the Lawrence Mountain Bike Club’s “Tour De Fat” fund-raiser.
• Ordinance No. 7667, establishing Sunday liquor sale hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and prohibiting retail liquor sales on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day, upon the effectiveness of Charter Ordinance No 35.
• Ordinance No. 7668, renaming West 15th Street from Iowa Street west to the city boundaries as Bob Billings Parkway. This ordinance will be effective on and after Aug. 1, 2004.

Adopt on second and final reading the following ordinances:

• Ordinance No. 7658, on proposed maximum special assessments for the improvement of Research Park Drive.
• Ordinance No. 7659, rezoning .31 acres from general industrial to general commercial district for property located at 311-317 N. Second St..
• Ordinance No. 7660, rezoning 4.45 acres from agricultural to office district for property west of the southwest corner of West Sixth Street and East 1100 Road.
• Ordinance No. 7662, allowing the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol from 4 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. Aug. 23 for a concert at Burcham Park.
• Adopt Resolution No. 6471, establishing the public hearing date of Sept. 9 to consider the proposed annexation of approximately 2.99 acres generally located at 1241 North 1300 Road (Denton tract). This property abuts 31st Street and is located south of 31st Street, east of Lawrence Avenue, and is surrounded by city boundaries.

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

• For Moon Place Subdivision. This proposed one-lot commercial subdivision contains approximately .933 acres and is at 821 Iowa. Submitted by Landplan Engineering P.A. for Xin Li Liu, Wu Sheng Zheng, Wei Ping Wang and Qing Ling Wang, property owners of record.
• For Dahl Subdivision, a replat of Lot 6, Block 2, Sunflower Park Addition No. 1, and Lots 1 and 5, Block 2, Sunflower Park Addition No. 2. This proposed three-lot residential subdivision contains approximately .8359 acres and is west of Crossgate Drive on Blackjack Oak Drive. Submitted by The Peridian Group Inc. for Brandon Dahl, property owner of record. (PC Item No. 2; approved 9-0.)
• Approve lease agreement with Verizon Wireless for use of space on and below the Stratford water tower near the intersection of Stratford Road and Sunset Drive, conditioned upon Black & Veatch engineering approval.
• Authorize the mayor to sign a Release of Mortgage for Cheryl Lincoln, 2111 Melholland Road.

¢ City manager’s report.

Regular agenda

• Conduct public hearing pursuant to Resolution No. 5063 concerning proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the city of Lawrence and Lawrence Police Officers Assn.
• Consider approval of Ordinance No. 7650, establishing requirements for traffic-impact studies.
• Receive economic development report from Director of Economic Development.
• City Commission discussion and direction concerning proposed Sesquicentennial Plaza/Amphitheater.
• Consider historic review, land-use approvals and parking amendment for the proposed development at the northeast corner of Eighth and New Hampshire streets:

a) Consider the appeal of the Historic Resources Commission finding that the development does ‘encroach upon, damage, or destroy’ the Eldridge Hotel and (old) Post Office, based on the Secretary of Interior standards and the guidelines adopted by the Historic Resources Commission.

b) Consider appeal from the Downtown Design Guidelines ad hoc review committee’s determination that the proposed development is inconsistent with the Downtown Design Guidelines. Specifically, the developers are requesting permission to install/construct angled parking along New Hampshire Street and to increase the zero-foot building setback along New Hampshire Street to an 8-foot building setback to accommodate the installation of angled parking along New Hampshire Street.

c) Approve site plan, subject to conditions.

d) Consider amendment to parking agreement governing city-leased spaces on the eastern side of the 700 block of New Hampshire.

• Receive West Sixth Street and South Lawrence Trafficway (K-10) Nodal Plan.
• Discussion of Sixth Street and Kasold Drive geometric and traffic signal improvements.
• Discussion of ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) Set-Aside Program application for: Sixth Street Closed-Loop Traffic Signal System from Iowa to Massachusetts streets; Iowa Street Closed-Loop Traffic Signal System from Sixth to 23rd streets.
• Discussion of KDOT applications for KLINK, Geometric and Economic Development Applications.