City updates strategic plan to end chronic homelessness

Housing study reveals need for 6,300 new units

City clarifies residency requirements for shelter access

"Wellness Wednesdays" initiative shows drop in emergency calls

Commissioners alerted to potential state preemption of local housing laws

Historic Reuter Organ building project receives final incentive approval

Commission approves additional design funding for Massachusetts Street project on split vote

Airport Layout Plan approved for federal submission

Commissioner calls for pause on new debt issuance

City updates strategic plan to end chronic homelessness

LAWRENCE, Kan. — City staff and community partners presented a two-year update on "A Place for Everyone," the joint city-county strategic plan to achieve "functional zero" chronic homelessness by 2028. Assistant City Manager Brandon McGuire and various agency leaders highlighted progress, including achieving quality data standards through the "Built for Zero" framework and securing commitments for 221 new supportive housing units, but the presentation also identified significant ongoing challenges such as funding reductions, a lack of year-round emergency shelter capacity for families and a rise in opioid overdoses.

Housing study reveals need for 6,300 new units

LAWRENCE, Kan. — During discussions on affordable housing, staff revealed preliminary data indicating that Lawrence needs to add approximately 6,300 housing units over the next decade to keep pace with population growth. The current "A Place for Everyone" plan aims for 1,500 new affordable rental units by 2028, but construction has slowed, with recent averages showing only 270 single-family and 230 multi-family permits issued annually; a commissioner described the local housing market as "stuck," urging the body to find ways to accelerate development.

City clarifies residency requirements for shelter access

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Following public comments alleging that unhoused individuals are being denied shelter due to a lack of documentation, city staff clarified the residency policy for the Lawrence Community Shelter. The shelter's program administrator explained that while the shelter prioritizes Douglas County residents, staff utilizes a wide range of records—including medical history, previous leases or interactions with local agencies—to establish residency, emphasizing that there is a three-day respite period to allow individuals time to prove residency and that the city aims to be inclusive rather than exclusionary.

"Wellness Wednesdays" initiative shows drop in emergency calls

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Public health officials reported success with the "Wellness Wednesdays" outreach program, which brings mobile medical clinics directly to the Lawrence Community Shelter and Pallet Village. Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health Director Jonathan Smith noted that the consistent presence of nurse practitioners and community health workers has built trust with the unhoused population and reduced unnecessary ambulance transports, noting one high-utilizer of emergency services went from 44 calls in a few months to just one call after being permanently housed.

Commissioners alerted to potential state preemption of local housing laws

LAWRENCE, Kan. — City Manager Craig Owens and staff warned commissioners about pending state legislation that could preempt local ordinances regarding housing discrimination and short-term rentals. House Bill 2504 and Senate Bill 391 would nullify the city's ordinance prohibiting landlords from refusing to rent to tenants based on their source of income, such as housing vouchers, while House Bill 2481 could force the city to approve short-term rental applications automatically if not processed within 15 days, measures city leaders argue undermine local control.

Historic Reuter Organ building project receives final incentive approval

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Commissioners granted final approval for a comprehensive incentive package to aid in the restoration of the historic Reuter Organ building and the adjacent "Little Red" building, which have been vacant since 2001. The package includes a 95 percent property tax abatement for 15 years through a Neighborhood Revitalization Area, a 2 percent Community Improvement District sales tax and sales tax exemptions on construction materials for the project led by developer Matt Gilhousen. A financial analysis presented by Baker Tilly, a public sector consulting firm, indicated the project would yield a negative return on investment without public assistance due to the high costs of historic rehabilitation.

Commission approves additional design funding for Massachusetts Street project on split vote

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The city commission voted 3-2 to authorize Amendment No. 5 to the contract with Trekk Design Group for the Massachusetts Street Multimodal Improvements project, covering the corridor from 14th to 23rd streets. The $95,970 amendment funds additional design scope, including stormwater infrastructure and bike lane modeling, though commissioners debated the necessity of the amendment, with dissenters expressing concern over the project's growing costs and the number of design amendments while supporters emphasized the safety benefits of a three-lane configuration and protected bike lanes.

Airport Layout Plan approved for federal submission

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The commission approved the submission of a new Airport Layout Plan to the Federal Aviation Administration, a critical step in the city's airport master planning process. The plan outlines potential future developments for the Lawrence Regional Airport over the next 20 years, including new hangar developments and a conceptual solar installation, though Melissa Sieben, director of municipal services and operations, noted that while the plan includes aspirational items like runway extensions, the immediate focus remains on maintenance and financial stabilization to address the airport's current operating deficit.

Commissioner calls for pause on new debt issuance

LAWRENCE, Kan. — During the future agenda discussion, a commissioner requested that city finance staff separate new capital projects from rollover projects in upcoming bond considerations. The commissioner expressed a desire to pause the issuance of debt for any new projects until the city has completed the request for proposal process and hired a new municipal financial advisor, citing a need for prudent fiscal management before taking on additional obligations.

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