CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM

Department:	Public Works		Commission Meeting Date:  June 5, 2018
Staff Contact:	Mark Thiel
Recommendations/Options/Action Requested:
Consider an appeal of the administrative denial of a Temporary Use of Right of Way (street closure event) permit for the 2018 Tour of Lawrence.
Executive Summary:		On May 2^nd, 2018, the Tour of Lawrence submitted a Temporary Use of Right of Way (street closure event) permit application for a bike race event to be held in downtown on Sunday, July 1^st, 2018. The event is a figure eight Criterium style bike race with 19 categories. The street closures associated with the course are the 700 block of Vermont Street, the 700, 800 and 900 blocks of Massachusetts Street, the 800 and 900 block of New Hampshire Street, the 100 block of West 7^th Street, the 100 blocks of East and West 8^th Street, the 100 block of East 9^th Street, and the 100 block of East 10^th Street (see attached permit and course map). On May 4^th, 2018, staff sent the permit application out for review. On May 7^th, 2018, the City received a concern from Downtown Lawrence Inc. (DLI) related to the event’s impact on the downtown businesses and access to downtown parking. DLI submitted their official concerns to the City in writing (attached letter dated May 10^th, 2018). Generally, DLI is in support of the event but requested that the street closures be completed and the roadways and access to parking be reestablished by 12:00 p.m. the day of the event. On May 14^th, 2018, the City met with the event organizers and shared DLI’s concerns and asked if they were able to modify the event schedule and provide better access to downtown parking, based on their event closures. They agreed to look at the schedule and see if a shortened version would be possible. On May 15^th, 2018, staff met with DLI and some of their members to discuss this event and possible solutions. They were consistent in their message to have the downtown streets back open to traffic and pedestrians by 12:00 p.m. That information was relayed to the event organizers.  On May 17^th, 2018, the City received a letter (attached) from the event organizers stating their position about the race and the impact to downtown. Event organizers agreed to shorten the closure time, to be done at 3:30 p.m. and provide a comprehensive parking plan, which has not been submitted. As a result, staff offered a meeting between the City, event organizers and DLI to discuss options and find a solution. That meeting never took place because the event organizers considered the 3:30 p.m. the best compromise the event could absorb. Throughout the entire review timeline staff has offered to assist the applicant with locating alternate routes and/or working with those impacted to find an alternate solution that all could agree upon. Not finding an amicable solution the City subsequently administratively denied the permit application based on all the reviews, discussion, and the overall impact to downtown, the request from DLI and its membership and the inability to find a solution on closure times. This item is presented to the Commission to accommodate a request from the event organizers to have the Commission consider an appeal to reverse the administrative denial of the street closure permit. Both DLI and the event organizers have been asked to submit any information they would like the Commission to consider as part of this appeal. Both groups submitted information, which is attached.
Strategic Goal Area:		Safe, Healthy and Welcoming Neighborhoods.
Fiscal Impact (Amount/Source):		There is no fiscal impact to the City.
Attachments:		Event permit application Schedule and map DLI letter dated May 10th, 2018 Tour of Lawrence letter dated May 17th, 2018 Tour of Lawrence Commission packet DLI Commission packet

Reviewed By: (for CMO use only)

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