Negotiations between the City of Lawrence and the local firefighters union have come to a halt until a mediator takes over the proceedings next week. A local resolution governing contract negotiations states that the negotiations are automatically considered at an impasse if they aren’t ...
School district leaders have concerns about helping the city pay for a program that puts police officers in schools, and some are questioning whether the program is worthwhile at all. That was the takeaway from Wednesday's meeting between City of Lawrence leaders and the Lawrence school board ...
City leaders reached a general consensus Tuesday that the city should make cuts to several programs in order to keep the property tax rate flat and eliminate proposed entrance fees for recreation centers, but expressed interest in continuing to fund a scholarship program at the Lawrence Arts ...
A Lawrence City Commission work group is proposing dozens of potential changes, including cuts to several programs, to address concerns commissioners have with former City Manager Tom Markus’ recommended budget for 2020. As part of its work session Tuesday, the commission will discuss the ...
City leaders will soon discuss a new growth plan that would favor infill development over expanding the city’s boundaries. As part of its work session Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will discuss the new comprehensive plan, Plan 2040, which lays out policies that will shape how the ...
Representatives for the City of Lawrence and the local firefighters union continue to disagree on how much of a wage increase is needed to keep firefighter pay competitive, and contract negotiations could soon require mediation. Negotiations between the city and the union, Local 1596, are ...
CONSENT AGENDA: CLAIMS: a) Consider approving all claims. The list of claims will be posted by the Finance Department on Monday prior to the meeting. If Monday is a holiday, the claims will be posted as soon as possible the next business day. ACTION: Approve claims. ADOPT ON FIRST ...
Explore Lawrence will be interviewing potential candidates this month for the new position of sports business development director. The person in that position will be expected to aggressively pursue sports tourism, said Michael Davidson, executive director of Explore Lawrence. Explore ...
Affordable housing projects and programs requesting support from the city include a development of small homes, apartments for seniors, and a mixed-use complex with units for low-income renters. The city’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board has received funding applications from six ...
A judge has denied a homeowner’s request to temporarily halt the controversial Queens Road reconstruction project in order to hear a lawsuit that claims the taxing districts set up to fund the project are illegal. In January, Kurt Schaake, a homeowner in the taxing districts, filed a ...
The City of Lawrence has officially welcomed new City Manager Craig Owens aboard. Owens began his employment with the city on Monday, and Tuesday was his first City Commission meeting. Owens replaces Tom Markus, 68, who retired after about three years as the city’s top administrator. ...
City leaders expressed interest Tuesday in putting a cap on the number of whole-home Airbnbs and other short-term rentals that can be operated by a single owner. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted 3-2, with commissioners Stuart Boley and Leslie Soden opposing, ...
A proposal to impose a 16-cent fee for each disposable plastic or paper bag used at local stores will soon be headed to the Lawrence City Commission. The city's Sustainability Advisory Board advanced the recommendation Tuesday night during a special meeting at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, ...
Updated story - July 2 — Commission votes to defer construction of one bike boulevard, consider less expensive options for other City leaders will soon consider whether to move forward with Lawrence’s first bike boulevards, even though the project is significantly over budget. As part ...
The City of Lawrence is treating water from Clinton Lake for an unpleasant taste and odor caused by algae. Lawrence has two major sources for its drinking water: the Kansas River and Clinton Lake. The Clinton Water Treatment Plant is currently treating water with elevated levels of geosmin, a ...
With its funding from the city holding flat and reserves dwindling, city officials say that the funding philosophy of the city’s recreation services — which have historically been free or substantially tax supported — needs to change. Amid what he’s described as a difficult budget ...
We are really nice but not that rich. That is one takeaway I had from my final interview with Lawrence City Manager Tom Markus as he ended his tenure at City Hall last week. Markus noticed the Lawrence friendliness in the grocery store and other places where he was out and about around the ...
Lawrence city leaders will soon consider changes to the city’s recently established rules for regulating Airbnb properties and other short-term rentals, including an option to ban certain rentals from neighborhoods. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider ...
Robin Byer brought along several canvas bags to carry home her groceries from Checkers Foods Friday morning. “It’s so hard to remember all the time,” she said about bringing the bags from her car into the store. “There is a learning curve for everything.” Byer was one of several ...
Interim Fire Chief Shaun Coffey has been hired as the new chief of the Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical Department, Lawrence City Manager Tom Markus announced Thursday. Markus, who appointed Coffey as interim chief in July 2018, said in a city news release that he had watched Coffey lead ...