[Electronic-lan] Draft April minutes

Sun Apr 22 17:46:41 CDT 2018

Dear LAN listserve recipients,

I have attached the draft minutes for the April 18 meeting and included them
in the body of this message.  They will be considered for approval at the
May 16 meeting.  

Next meeting:

7:00 pm

Wednesday, May 16

Meeting Room C, Lawrence Public Library

Best,

Gary Webber

LAN Secretary

  _____  

Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods Agenda

Lawrence Public Library, Meeting Room C 

April 18th, 2018 7:00 p.m.

Announcements: Introductions 

Arline Slote-Davis, Oread Residents Association: Becky Pepper, City of
Lawrence Planning and Development Services; Bonnie Uffman, Barker
neighborhood resident; Candice Davis, Oread Residents Association
representative; Cindy Suenram, East Lawrence Neighborhood Association
representative; Courtney Shipley, Dad Perry Park/Kasold; David Longhurst,
Downtown Lawrence Inc.; David Mosher, Schwegler Neighborhood Association;
Gary Webber, Sunset Hill Neighborhood Association co-representative; Jane
Gibson, Barker Neighborhood Association representative; Jim Carpenter,
Planning Commission Member; John Bowen, visitor; Kirk McClure, Old West
Lawrence Association representative; Kyle Thompson, Oread Residents
Association; Linda Haskins, Oread Residents Association; Rick Lahm, West
Hills Homes Association; Rob Sands, Northwest Lawrence; Stuart Boley, Mayor
City of Lawrence, resident Schwegler; Travis Harrod, Springwood Heights
representative

Approve: March LAN minutes - No changes requested.  Webber moved to accept,
Gibson seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Treasurer's Report: Cindy Suenram - $2695.11 balance. Currently LAN has 10
neighborhood members and 3 individual members.

Update from City Planning Department: Becky Pepper, city planner - See
neighborhood updates at  <https://lawrenceks.org/pds/lan17/>
https://lawrenceks.org/pds/lan17/.

Speaker: Mayor Stuart Boley will speak about infill development as it
regards neighborhoods.

Mayor Boley reviewed progress in 2017. In 2015, commission selected Lisa
Larson and hired Tom Markus. Mayor Boley believes that the 2017 election
ratified those two decisions.  Budgeting has changed significantly,
including a structurally balanced budget for the general fund, a capital
improvement program, and inclusion of $15M in funds that were spent but not
part of the budget in 2015. Transparency has improved, and mistakes are now
being openly addressed.  Bryan Kidney made changes to bond financing that
generated an economic gain of $3.6M.  Utilities and public works are being
merged for greater efficiency and economies of scale.  The city has a better
relationship with the Journal World. Mayor Boley asked a rhetorical
question: Has LAN noticed any of these changes, and has LAN adapted to these
changes?

Mayor Boley lives in Schwegler neighborhood.  There are a large number of
rental properties in the neighborhood totaling 56%.  He believes that
environmental concerns, cost of extension of city services, and need for
affordable housing will drive increased density. He is concerned that recent
development of the Central District at KU will increase the amount of
student rental properties in Schwegler neighborhood as well as pass-through
traffic. He would like the city to discuss ways to limit the amount of
student rentals in neighborhoods by encouraging home ownership.  He also
thinks they should discuss accessory living units as one solution to
density.

Carpenter suggested that LAN should have a position on expansion into
suburbs and on purchasing adjacent properties to build large apartment
units.  The proposal before the Planning Commission at the April 25 meeting
to annex 97 acres in NE Lawrence is an example of this type of expansion.

Webber stated that he was concerned that it seemed like the Mayor's comments
implied that student rentals equated with deterioration of the neighborhood.
He commented that neighborhoods were places that should accommodate all
types of living units and all types of residents, within the constraints of
city codes and ordinances.  He stated that if the city is serious about
encouraging infill and discouraging sprawl, all city residents need to work
together to ensure that quality of life is maintained as density increases.
That is what neighborhood associations are supposed to facilitate.  The city
has been encouraging this with recent codes limiting the number of unrelated
occupants in rental units, and establishing a rental registration system.  

Davis stated that the rental registration system addressed code enforcement
and safety concerns, but not the environment of the neighborhood.

Mayor Boley stated that his presentation contained more questions than
answers, and that he believes a commission study session and a public
discussion are appropriate to address the concerns he expressed.

Updates: 

.         19th street - discussions are ongoing.  Uffman was concerned that
the neighborhood is opposed, but their concerns are not being taken
seriously.

.         Sidewalks - Uffman asked Mayor Boley how the program was
proceeding.  Mayor Boley said that they will be talking about the Sidewalk
Hazard Repair Program during the budget process.  If funds are made
available, the program will be started in 2019.  Uffman asked is funds would
be available for all who qualified for assistance.  Mayor Boley confirmed
that it is the intention of this commission that all who qualified would
receive assistance, but noted that future commissions can't be bound by this
one.  Uffman asked if changes would be made as a result of public and
commissioner questions on March 6.  Webber stated that in a phone
conversation with Brian McGuire, he was told that there may be edits to the
draft policy, and if so they would be included in the policy when the city
manager submits a final draft to the commission, probably in mid-May.

.         Due process - Shipley mentioned some confusion about time limits
for commission public comment by groups and individuals.  Previously group
representatives were allowed 5 minutes, individuals were allowed 3 minutes.
Now all public comment will be limited to 3 minutes.  She quoted the city
attorney that "there is no right for public comment."  Harrod commented that
although it seems that there is less opportunity for input, this commission
has made a genuine effort to attend meetings such as LAN and be available to
the public.  Mayor Boley stated that it is possible to make effective
presentations, and there have been good examples recently.

.         Housing study - Shipley attended, and was disappointed that it was
primarily attended by affordable housing advocates.  She would encourage
neighborhood residents and developers to become involved.

.         Missouri Street Development - Thompson stated that Oread has had
meetings about this proposal since the property is adjacent to Oread
neighborhood.  The developer wants to develop 56 apartments with
below-ground parking. Davis reported the property contained homes with
mature landscape but that the developer planned to bulldoze the homes and
trees and start over. They plan to review the site plan and continue to
monitor the proposed development.

.         Neighborhood reports - 

o   Webber reported that Sunset Hill Neighborhood Association held their
annual meeting on April 16.  50 residents attended.  SHNA is holding their
first neighborhood cleanup on April 21 and first neighborhood potluck on May
5.  

o   Mosher reported that Schwegler held its annual meeting in March, and is
starting its 2nd active year.  A neighborhood garage sale is scheduled for
June, and they are working to build community. Ongoing issues are mostly
with KU; intensity of lights, parking, traffic flow, student rentals.

o   Thompson reported that Oread will hold a quarterly meeting next week.
They are participating in the Big Event for the third year in a row.  

Suenram moved to adjourn, Longhurst seconded, motion passed unanimously.

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