Bottomline

City commissioners will consider approving a unique request by a downtown office to create a sidewalk seating area for its employees.

Background

The financial technology firm Yantra Services is seeking to install a seating area on the public sidewalk in front of its building at 840 Massachusetts St. The city has approved multiple sidewalk dining and hospitality areas for restaurants and bars in the downtown area. But the city has not approved any sidewalk seating areas for other types of businesses. Yantra has said it wants to have the sidewalk seating area to offer employees a place to take a break when the weather is nice. The city’s planning staff is asking commissioners to make a decision on whether it wants to open up the public sidewalks to that type of use. The current code only provides opportunities for bars and restaurants to use the sidewalks for seating areas.

Recognition

• Proclaim the month of October, 2014 as Meet the Blind Month and October 15, 2014 as White Cane Safety Day.

• Proclaim the month of October, 2014 as Community Planning Month.

• Proclaim the month of October, 2014 as Sweet Potato Month.

Consent agenda

• Approve City Commission meeting minutes of 07/08/14, 07/22/14, 08/05/14, 08/12/14, 08/19/14, 08/26/14, and 09/02/14.

• Receive minutes from various boards and commissions:

• Approve all claims.

• Approve licenses as recommended by the City Clerk’s Office.    

• Approve appointments as recommended by the Mayor.

• Bid and purchase items:

a) Award the construction contract for Bid No. B1433 to Westland Construction, Inc. in the amount of $396,889.00 and authorize the City Manager to execute the construction contract for Project No. UT1312 Bob Billings Parkway Waterline Replacement.   

b) Authorize the Public Works Street Department and the Utilities Department to seek bids for a backhoe replacement lease through the City’s bidding process.   

c) Authorize the purchase of a one-half ton truck from Laird Noller Ford for the amount of $22,481.00.

d) Approve a change order in the amount of $21,014 to Preferred Lawn Services to extend the irrigation at Lawrence VenturePark.   

e) Set a bid date of October 28, 2014 for the Master Street Tree Program.  

• Adopt the following ordinance on second and final reading:

a) Ordinance No. 9026, amending City Code Section 6-1711 Mobile Food Vendors to remove the time restriction for Mobile Food Vendors and the limit on the number of Vendors that can be located on properties where the City has approved a Site Plan establishing a location for a Mobile Food Vendor as a permanent or seasonal element of the site. 

• Approve rezoning, Z-14-00314, approximately .269 acres from RM12 (Multi-Dwelling Residential) District to RMO (Multi-Dwelling Residential-Office) District located at 1106 Rhode Island St. Submitted by Hernly Associates on behalf of the City of Lawrence, property owner of record. Adopt on first reading, Ordinance No. 9042, to rezone (Z-14-00314) approximately .269 acres from RM12 (Multi-Dwelling Residential) District to RMO (Multi-Dwelling Residential-Office) District, located at 1106 Rhode Island.

• Approve a Special Use Permit, SUP-14-00326, for Rhody Delahunty Complex for the development of two detached dwelling structures on a single lot in an RM District as required by Section 20-402 of the Land Development Code. The property is located at 1106 Rhode Island. Submitted by Hernly Associates on behalf of the City of Lawrence, property owner of record. Adopt on first reading, Ordinance No. 9043, for Special Use Permit (SUP-14-00326) for Rhody Delahunty Complex, located at 1106 Rhode Island.   

• Approve a Special Use Permit, SUP-14-00262, for the Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Plant, a Major Utility, located on approximately 531 acres at 2300 E 41st St.

• Authorize the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding for the 2014-15 Safe Winter Walkways program.    

1. Authorize the Mayor to sign Releases of Mortgage for Madeline Mumford, 429 Indiana Street; Rebecca Stakes, 431 Elm Street; and Andrea Welborn and Robert B. Irving, Jr., 508 Louisiana Street.  

• Receive city manager’s report.

Regular agenda

• Conduct public hearing to consider the vacation of a utility easement in the Langston Heights Addition as requested by property owner Bob Santee.  

• Consider approving Site Plan, SP-14-00379, for a use of right-of-way permit to use the adjacent sidewalk similar to a hospitality area for a non-food service related business, for Yantra located at 840 Massachusetts Street.  

• Receive update on discussions with Wicked Fiber regarding its Economic Development request.    

• Consider request from RG Fiber for public right-of-way use and other matters for service within Lawrence.   

• Consider appeal from City staff and Director of Lawrence Public Library decision to administratively revise the site plan (SP-12-81-11) for the Lawrence Public Library/Vermont Street Garage, 707 Vermont St, to add/relocate certain bike racks.   

• Receive Presentation from City Auditor regarding Performance Audit: 2014 Sidewalk Data.