SHNA Executive Committee Meeting
Monday, March 28, 2022, 6:30 pm
Fellowship Hall, Christ Covenant Church, 2312 Harvard Rd.
Meeting Minutes
Participants: Bill Arick, Bob Crown, Vicki and Joe Douglas, Jon Dunham, Phyllis Farrar, Nancy and Armin Landis, Gary Webber, Adam Weigel, John White. 50% quorum present.
I. Call to order by Gary Webber at 6:31 pm. Introductions of attendees.
II. Presentation from Adam Weigel, Transit Director, on proposed bus route changes and new Transfer Facility:
The opening of the Transfer Facility is currently scheduled for January 2023. Route Redesign (https://lawrencetransit.org/route-redesign-final-scenario/) is nearing completion. Six weeks of public input on route redesign began last week. Route changes will happen in two phases; University routes will change in August 2022, city routes will change in January 2023.
Weigel described January route changes in Sunset Hill:
a. Route 4 no longer uses Harvard and Centennial,
b. Route 6 would add north-south service on Iowa,
c. Route 30 would be split into two routes (100 and 30) but would use the same combined route as 30 currently uses.
All buses will enter the transfer facility from Crestline just south of Bob Billings. Buses will exit from the same access, plus eastbound on Bob Billings. Routes have been redesigned to increase access to important destinations on all routes, and address food dessert issues. Route 4 through North Lawrence connects that neighborhood to grocery stores on 6th Street.
For the Transfer Facility, an existing building will be rebuilt to include space for Transit offices, bus rider amenities, solar power, native plants. The artist for an art component will be selected soon. Sunday only “micro-transit” or “on demand” bus service will start in January 2023. Riders will be able to schedule small transit vehicles via app or phone for destinations within the city.
All bus services will be fare free for one year starting January 2023. This is possible due to stimulus funds. One feature of redesign is the joining of two routes called “Interlining” that extends the route of a bus rider while eliminating the need to change buses.
Question from attendees:
Will intersection of Crestline and Bob Billings change in any way? No changes are currently planned.
Will bus routes during KU home games be changed in any way? No. KU will continue to offer shuttle busses.
Will the changes interfere with current school heavy traffic at school openings and closings on Crestline and Ninth? No, there are no buses which currently or in the future go through that area. There is one bus on Crestline for one block just north of Bob Billings (30).
What percentage of costs is currently paid for by fares? In Lawrence, 6% pre-pandemic 3% pandemic. This is low, as comparable bus systems average 10% from fares.
Participant asked how many at the meeting ride bus in Lawrence? 2 of 10 raised their hands.
Webber thanked Weigel and were encouraged participants to help Transit by completing the survey (https://lawrenceks.org/listens/surveys/) in the next 5 weeks.
III. Discuss request for letter of support from Connie Fiorella Fitzpatrick, East-side People’s Intercultural Center: Connie was unable to attend.
IV. Approve minutes of fall meeting, December 6, 2021: Approved by acclimation.
V. Treasurer’s Report, Arick: Last meeting Dec 6th. $1,254.61 starting balance, income $40 expenses $70. $1,224.61 final balance. 105 members 92 households, 8 landlords, 5 businesses.
VI. Old Business, Webber
1. LAN update: Webber reported the following issues were discussed during the previous quarter:
i. USD 497 budget shortfall discussion
ii. New Chief of Police
iii. Subdivision Code Update progress report
iv. Building Peace mediation project
v. Old West Lawrence Traffic Management pilot project
2. Website update: Nothing new to report. Webber will be contacting East Lawrence to ask how they set up their membership “Pay Portal” on their WordPress web page. If it is feasible for us, he will bring a proposal before the EC in a future meeting.
3. EC Membership: We need to recruit one additional EC member for 2021-2022. Please send contact information of potential members to Gary Webber. We need 1 member. Please contact Webber if interested (or know of anyone who might be interested).
4. Business Membership Drive update: Campaign will continue with our August 2022 membership drive.
VII. New Business
1. Discuss Neighborhood Traffic Safety Management application for 2022: Ellenbecker, Goans, Stone, and Webber met via zoom and reviewed crash and survey data. They recommend applying in the next round with the focus on Crestline from 6th to University and 9th from Lawrence Ave. to Crestline. They also recommend that SHNA should address parking on Jana Drive at Harvard directly with the city, since parking issues are not part of this program.
i. Dunham moved to approve proceeding with application, Arick seconded. Approved unanimously.
VIII. New agenda items from participants
1. Jeanne Pees asked via email about crumbling curbs. “The curbs on Orchard lane at Crestline on both sides of Crestline were reported in 2005. In front of Carolynn Crawford it is crumbled and there is no curb. The response from the city was “no money in the budget” yet new curbs in west Lawrence were repaired. The overlay is in good condition so therefore we don’t see the need to repair the curb. Unacceptable. Rocks from the crumbed curb are in the street making it dangerous for biking and running.”
Webber replied that curbs in Sunset Hill are evaluated annually, and problem sites are photographed and submitted via SeeClickFix. This is the process we have been told to use by the city. In addition, neighbors are reporting the same curbs on SeeClickFix. Calls, emails, and letters to Municipal Services & Operations result in instructions to use SeeClickFix to report gutters and curbs, and that gutters and curbs will be repaired when they reach the top of a prioritized list of repair sites. Webber commented that one long-time problem curb and gutter site, Wellington between Stephen and Harvard, was renovated last year. He stated that he believes that this is a city-wide problem, primarily due to inadequate funds for repair, and that SeeClickFix is not helping.
Webber stated that LAN asked for an update on the SeeClickFix program in November, 2021. City staff have yet to provide an update, despite multiple requests. He believes that SHNA has done what they are supposed to do, and that LAN, with support of the neighborhood associations, should address this issue next.
2. Jeanne Pees asked about additional cleanup and trash receptacles for Centennial. “A new ramp will be installed in the skateboard park at Centennial Park attracting more people to Lawrence. The article was in the Sunday LJW. Has the neighborhood been involved in any of the discussion? I know the fundraising is being done by River Rats and others with the city’s backing. Increase trash is my concern and how can that be resolved. I would like, therefore, the city to provide more trash cans and cigarette containers. As Phyllis and I can attest after cleaning that area for trash, the butts were everywhere and the cans were overflowing leaving trash littered throughout. Will they start cleaning the park area also?”
Webber replied that Parks and Rec had not contacted SHNA about this proposed addition to the skate park. Farrar reported that additional receptacles were installed since Jeanne cleaned with her and are handling the current trash/recycle load. If receptacles are overloaded in the future, Webber will report this to Solid Waste and request additional receptacles or more frequent pickup.
Phyllis Farrar, SHNA Park Cleanup Director, reported that cleanup of Centennial Park by SHNA crew will continue as in the past. We will not be asking the city to clean the skate park. That will remain the responsibility of the SHNA cleanup crew. Farrar noted that damage to the skate park was reported by the cleanup crew and recently repaired.
Vicki Douglas asked if the additions to the skate park will increase parking requirements. She advocates no increase in parking to maximize green space. Webber replied that if additional parking was proposed, he would contact the EC about their position on this and communicate their position to the city.
3. Joe Douglas asked about the Polaris Missile shell at Centennial. He would like to see it moved to a more appropriate venue, such as a museum. Webber stated this issue has come up in the past, but never addressed. He suggested that he could add this to the agenda of EC in their May meeting, and to the Annual Meeting Agenda for discussion. He stated that it may take a subcommittee of interested members to approach the neighborhood and the city with such a proposal.
4. Vicki Douglas asked about the potholes in the parking lot at Hillcrest Shopping Center. Webber replied that he has contacted the company responsible for maintenance of Hillcrest. They respond that no repairs are planned. The owner wants to develop the property and sees no reason to repair the asphalt. Since this is private property, SHNA has little power to force the owner to repair the lot. If no one sues the owner for damage to their vehicle, the potholes will likely remain. The tenants have complained, but there has been no repair for years. The only asphalt in reasonable repair is on Royal Crest bowling alley and Merc property. The Hillcrest lots are generally in need of repair, especially on the west end of the shopping center.
5. Electronic recycling event: Saturday, April 2nd, 8:30 AM – 1 PM, University of Kansas Lot 301. Arrive early, vehicles arriving after 1pm will not be able to enter the event.
IX. Set date and time for spring meeting in May: Meeting scheduled for May 16, 6:30 PM, Christ Covenant Church.
X. Meeting adjourned at 7:47 PM. Minutes submitted by John White, Secretary.