The Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department is vying for a national award, and officials are hoping this will be the year they take home the top honor. The department is one of four finalists this year for the National Recreation and Park Association’s Gold Medal Award, which recognizes excellence in parks and recreation management. This is the fourth year the city has been named a finalist, with the most ...
Though Lawrence city commissioners said they were sorry to hear City Manager Tom Markus’ announcement that he plans to resign, all said they are grateful for the changes he’s brought to City Hall. Markus, 67, announced Tuesday that he plans to resign in the spring of 2019, which will mark approximately three years since he began his position as the city’s top administrator. When Markus was interviewed, ...
The Lawrence City Commission voted to begin regulating Airbnb properties and other short-term rentals, including a process that would require commission approval before a property owner who resides elsewhere could operate such a business. At their meeting Tuesday, commissioners voted, 3-2, with commissioners Matthew Herbert and Jennifer Ananda against, to approve licensing and inspection requirements for ...
Story updated 10:57 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018: City Manager Tom Markus has announced that he plans to resign in spring 2019. Markus, 67, made the announcement at the end of the Lawrence City Commission’s meeting Tuesday evening. In a letter to the commission, which he read aloud, Markus said that he was clear during the hiring process that he would not likely be a long-term city manager in Lawrence. ...
The City of Lawrence could soon begin regulating the fast-growing short-term rental business in Lawrence. Following direction from city commissioners last year, city staff has drafted regulations that would allow short-term rentals in all residential areas, but would require them to be licensed, to be inspected annually, to be insured to a certain level and to follow occupancy limits and other restrictions. ...
For every 20 rental units in Lawrence today, only one was inspected by city staff in the past year. After a survey found a significant number of Lawrence residents describe their housing condition as poor, some city leaders are asking whether the city is doing enough inspections. The resident survey, conducted as part of the city's recent housing market analysis, indicated that 24 percent of renters rate their ...