The Lawrence Times

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved a plan to bring city sidewalks and curb ramps up to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The plan is estimated to cost the city and residents about $103.5 million over the next 20 years. Evan Korynta, ADA compliance manager for the city, gave the commission a presentation on the ADA Right-of-Way Transition Plan in May and returned to speak to the commission Tuesday. Federal law requires cities and states to have ADA transition plans to ensure that all people can access travel paths. Some of the issues the city currently has with sidewalks [...]

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday showed a range of interest in creating a “common consumption area,” which would allow folks to drink alcoholic beverages as they move through downtown. City staff members researched other communities in Kansas that have enacted CCA districts and shared their findings in a memo to the commission ahead of the meeting. Key concerns commissioners discussed during the presentation Tuesday were the costs of enforcement if additional downtown security would be needed and cleanup. Porter Arneill, assistant director of arts and culture for Lawrence Parks and Recreation, told the commission that the concept and feedback thus far [...]

The City of Lawrence has filed what appears to be its first Douglas County District Court lawsuit against a local landlord for allegedly refusing a prospective tenant based solely on their use of housing vouchers. Sue Herynk and her husband Joe Herynk, of River City Homes Inc., are named as defendants in the case. Sue’s responses indicate that they are eager for another chance to contest the city’s ordinance banning source of income discrimination, which they call unconstitutional. The Lawrence City Commission in February 2023 approved an ordinance change that creates a protected class based on renters’ source of income, as [...]

The Lawrence City Commission voted 3-1 Tuesday to no longer broadcast the general public comment period and to move it to the very end of each meeting because of how some people have chosen to use the time. “I guess my concern is when people are using public comment to be performative, not to actually talk to us. And that’s what I think the purpose of public comment is, is to talk to us,” Commissioner Brad Finkeldei said. The commission last month approved several changes to procedures, including moving the general public comment period to the second-to-last agenda item and not broadcasting it live, [...]

Lawrence has been short a fire engine most of the day Thursday, and firefighters expect that to happen again — maybe as soon as this weekend — because of staffing shortages and overtime cuts. Seamus Albritton, president of IAFF Local 1596, the firefighters union, said normal daily staffing for Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical operations is 39 firefighter-paramedics, but that minimum has been cut to 36. “Usually if we did not have 39 people available to work due to various reasons such as leave, we would call firefighters back for overtime to fill those vacancies allowing us to keep all units in service for [...]

Frank Meade originally lost his driver’s license nearly 40 years ago. When he was young, Meade was fined for driving drunk. But he couldn’t afford the cost and the state suspended his license. That didn’t stop him from using his vehicle for the many years following, and he wound up racking up a load of debt from traffic violation fines and court fees. He would need to pay those if he ever hoped to have a legal driver’s license again. “I just continued driving and continued driving and they just stacked up,” Meade told the Kansas News Service. “I had more fines and fees [...]

A Douglas County judge has ruled against a group of landlords who sued the City of Lawrence over an ordinance that bans discrimination against some prospective tenants. The Lawrence City Commission in February 2023 approved an ordinance change that creates a protected class based on renters’ source of income... Local housing advocates have said that the protections could significantly help lessen Lawrence’s housing and homelessness crises, because many families who qualify for housing vouchers are unable to find landlords who will accept them. The full memorandum decision is here. Source: The Lawrence Times

Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday voted to approve the joint city-county strategic plan to end homelessness and heard an update on supportive housing plans and projects. The strategic plan, “A Place for Everyone,” breaks the issues into five focus areas: Equity and Inclusion; Affordable Housing; Supportive Housing; Systems; and Emergency Shelter. Staff members first presented the draft plan to the county commission in March 2023. The commissions had a joint meeting in January to hear updates on the plan’s progress. The plan includes an estimate of about $267.77 million for the five-year plan — that breaks down into about $218.3 million for [...]

Lawrence city commissioners approved most proposed changes to public comment procedures, including no longer broadcasting general public comment live. Commissioners hear public comment on specific agenda items they’re considering, but people may also address the commission about any topics “germane” to city business that aren’t on the agenda during the general public comment period — which has been near the beginning of meetings for years. Commissioners voted to: (1) Move general public comment almost to the end of the meetings, but not the very end. Frequent commenter Chris Flowers told the commission that people often make points in general public comment that commissioners [...]

Proposed changes to Lawrence City Commission procedures would move the general public comment period to the end of meetings, make it untelevised, and require signup in advance. Commissioners hear public comment on specific agenda items they’re considering, but people may also address the commission about any topics “germane” to city business that aren’t on the agenda during the general public comment period — which is currently near the beginning of meetings. Source: The Lawrence Times