City delays decision on police union contract

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday delayed a choice between two versions of a proposed 2004 contract with the city’s police union.

The contract proposed by the Lawrence Police Officers Assn. contains better insurance benefits, vacation time and pay guarantees for the 90-officer unions than the version proposed by city administrators.

Commissioners said they wanted more time to examine the costs of the police proposal, as well as extending the same proposed benefits to other city employees.

“These are folks who are clearly on the front line,” Commissioner David Schauner said. “We need to do what we can to resolve this in a fair way.”

Commissioners said they would discuss the issue at their July 16 study session on the 2004 budget, with a final decision expected at their July 22 meeting.

Amphitheater project deemed too expensive

City commissioners on Tuesday encouraged the Lawrence Sesquicentennial Commission to raise money for a sesquicentennial plaza — but said an amphitheater for the same site would have to wait.

Both projects would be built on 1,500 acres of land at Clinton Lake the city leases from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The plaza would cost $405,000. The amphitheater would cost $1.27 million. Commissioners said they weren’t ready to pay for the latter project.

“I think there’s no way we can commit to that kind of expenditure with our current budget situation,” Commissioner Boog Highberger said.

Plan for Sixth and SLT sent off for review

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday sent the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission a “nodal” plan to guide future development at Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway.

Under the plan, the 640 acres surrounding the intersection would display a diversity of land uses:

• The northwest corner is slated for office, industrial and warehouse uses.
• The northeast corner would mix homes, stores and offices.
• The southeast corner would be similar to the northeast, splitting the land between residential, commercial and office uses.
• The southwest corner would include offices, research/industrial buildings and warehouses.

The Planning Commission will take public comment on the proposal.

The plan should be back to the Lawrence City Commission by September, city officials said.