Lawrence Commission Primary
Page 6 University Dally Kansan, March 9, 1981
The issue of downtown redevelopment, a much-debated and much-written-about subject for more than two years, looms large over *Waukee*'s city Commission primary election.
The primary, made necessary by a large 13-candidate field, will narrow the field to six finalists, who will then run in the April 7 general election.
Two incumbents—Barkley Clark and Bob Schumm—are contesting for three seats becoming open on the commission. Ed Carter, the current mayor, is not running in the race, but that he has "done his hit" on the commission, and that it was time to step aside for others.
The other two commissioners, Don Binn and Marc Francisco, do not come up for re-election.
The efforts of Cleveland developer Jacobs, Visciori and Jacobs to rezone a 61-acre tract in south Lawrence for a suburban, "cornfield" mail, is the most pressing issue facing downtown. The city agreed. Several cited the more general issue of downtown redevelopment as also being
important. The Kansan's questions were designed accordingly.
1. What experience do you have in community organizations that you think qualifies you?
The questions were:
2. Why are you running for the City Commission?
The candidates' answers are given in that order
suburban, "command" the city should play in downtown development, if any?
Do you support rezoning the 61-acre tract at a suburban, "corffield" mall?
Voters will be allowed to select three candidates of the 13 on the ballot, with the top six vote-givers advancing to the general election. Lawrence polls will be open tomorrow at 7 a.m., and registered voters will be able to cast city limits will be allowed to cast ballots.
According to the clerk's office, primary turnout is traditionally light, and a big influx of voters to the polls is not expected. The governor may find more enthusiasm, the clerk's office said.
Mike Amvx
Mike Amyx, 27,
works as a barber in
his father's shop. He
2612 Redbud Leap.
His answers:
- Although I am not involved in any community groups, I think my Lawrence business experience qualifies me for the job. My personal contacts come from all walks of life and they could help me hear all sides of each issue and to make sure we made decisions that every citizen could benefit from.
- 1 - i am running for City Commission to give the
city more accessible and
hard-wiring commission.
- No, I don't. I think we need to look farther into the downtown before we make a final decision. However, I recognize the necessity for us and realize the needs of the downtown community.
- The city should take a dominant role, using financial tools to enhance competition and to provide a more fruitful retail market. I think the town should be blended into the city as a whole.
Barklev Clark
Barkley Clark, 42,
is a KU law professor
who was elected to the
City Commission
in 1973 and was elected
in 1977. He lives at
1511 Crescent Rd.
- I served on the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission from 1970 until 1973, including two terms as chairman. I was first elected to the City Commission in 1973 and reelected in 1977. I have served two terms as mayor of Lawrence.
- Since 1970, I would guess that I have spent an average of 15 hours per week—every week on local government. I am a lawyer, a member of the law faculty, a teach local government law at the KU law school.
- I am running for a third term because I think my experience in city government can be helpful in working on the important issues that lie ahead, such as downtown verses the "corridor field." I am also running because I have a strong belief in the local government under our political system.
- I am opposed to the corriedale mall reorganizing plan. It violates our comprehensive plan and it would slowly strangle downtown. We need to have some more department store shopping space that would be of a size and scale which fits into the historic fabric of Massachusetts Street.
- The City Commission should vigorously support downtown redevelopment. Downtown is the center of our city, an element that sets it apart and makes it special.
Sherri Dietz
Sherri Dietz, 26, is a KU law student. She drives at 2018 Miller Dr.
*In my work as a legal assistant in the at-
torney office, I spend time with community- based issues daily on a local service provider.
Her answers:
If you don't get involved with something like this, you can't complain when a city issue isn't decided your way. I don't think the local council will be going on. They need to be more fully represented.
- Without access to the total research data on this mall, it's difficult to forsee all the potential detrimental or beneficial aspects a mall like this could provide. The commissioners have all this information and still in a dilemma. Obviously, there is no easy answer to an issue as important as this one.
- The city's role should be one of protecting the balance between new retailers and already established businesses in the downtown area. We have to make sure that businesses detriment of businesses already established.
David Frve
Dry Frye, 31, is an independent hous ing contractor. He lives at 2714
His answers:
- My only qualification is my concern for what is happening in the city. I think experience could be a detriment. If you get too much experience, you get above the people you're trying to deal with.
- We need someone in there who's concerned with what the people want and not with some special interest. A city commissioner should be concerned with what the citizens want.
- I don't believe the city needs a mail. I personally think it would hurt other retailers in the city. I don't feel the city is large enough at this point, but the other retail businesses that are already here.
- The city has no place in the actual operation of retail businesses, but if some disaster takes place, the city should come in with some type of bonds for redevelopment.
Tom Gleason
His answers:
Ton Gleason, 32, is a Lawrence attorney He lives at 1647 Vermont St.
- in a past president of the Oreal Neighbourhood Association and presently serve on its board of directors. I currently serve the city as the chairman of its Community Development Committee, and I am also representative taking part in the city's Teska and Associates downtown study development.
- I think the City Commission has not given significant attention to all the different attitudes and interest in Lawrence. Also, I have lived there for 15 years and the city means a great deal to me.
Scott Nesbitt
- The first thing the city should do is complete a comprehensive plan for the downtown. That would be the first step. After that, the city has to make sure that it doesn't involve taxpayer expenditure.
- No. I think the cornfield mall would create more problems than it would solve. It would cause substantial dislocation of businesses and a degeneration of the downtown.
Nancy Hambleton
- I served as city commissioner (1971-1975) and as mayor (1973-1974). I am present president of Cottonwood Board and vice president for community affairs for the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce. I helped to initiate housing rehabilitation, neighborhood organizations and downtown redevelopment on my past tenure on the commission.
- Lawrence is facing some important decisions and anticipates reduced resources and increasing demands. Although, these problems will be difficult, it's an exciting and challenging time to be involved in city affairs. I'm part of the team that helps retailing and a strong downtown, but realize we must not neglect other areas of the city or demands for resources.
Her answers
Nancy Hambleton,
56, is director of
business development
with Design Build
Architects. She lives at
1312 Rainy Place.
- No, I don't. Although, this is the easiest and quick way to add additional retailing, it will inevitably weaken the heart of the city, which is so important as a cultural and business center. We should be strengthening development there, building up our 24-hour activity, not pulling out retailing.
- The city has to work with private developers and retailers. One reason downtowns show deterioration in so many places is that it is expensive and difficult to redevelop areas.
*I'm a former reporter and editor for newspapers in Buffalo, N.Y., Kansas City and Chicago. I've also taught journalism at the University of Illinois for two years. I hold a doctorate and a master's in journalism with secondary concentrations in political science and sociology.
Nossen Stkitt, 34, is the owner of S.R. Nossen and Sons, a small-engine repair business. He lives at 622 Illinois Street.
His answers:
- Basically, I've had quite a few negative experiences dealing with the commission, particularly in the area of competitive bidding. I think the City Commission does an excellent job responding to interest groups, but if you are not an interest group, you have a hard time getting heard.
- I. Yes, I think if someone wants to bring money into the city when the construction business is really hurt, it would bring more jobs into the city. It would cause some economic dislocation, but economic dislocation is what causes people to get off their rumps and compete or die. We need to return to a sense of economic competitiveness. To stop growing is to die.
I *think the city should treat the downtown just like any other business district. The city's IRB policy is grossly discriminatory. It's just unfair to unfair to have a geographical zone that
Jerry Riling
Jerry Rilling, 26, is a self-employed janitor. He lives at 320 Pioneer.
His answers:
- I's not a member of any organization, but I have attended the City Commission meetings regularly for the past five or six years, and the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission meetings four years before that, I'm not a newcomer to the City Commission.
- I *think now, at this point in my life, I can contribute much more to the City Commission than I can as a private citizen attending the peace and justice council in peace of mind, because I think I can do the job.
- No. The mail would destroy the downtown, and make the city of Lawrence just like Topeka or Kansas City, Kan. I don't want to see board-up businesses downtown. I think that if the mall is put in, the downstown would die a slow, but sure, death, and that would be tragic.
*I think city support with bond revenue, mixed in with private development money, is the best method. I don't think Richard Inn (lawyer for Jacobs, VissiSON and Jacobs, the proposed mall's developers) understands that the city of Lawrence won't own any of the downtown stores if the city helps to build them. The stores will be owned by the private merchants and developers.
Bob Schumm
- I have had two years' experience on the commission, and I think that's a terrific asset. I also have my business experience, over 10 years of owning and operating my own businesses (Schumm owns four Lawrence restaurants) and beats self-employed.
- The major issue that I've been following during my tenure on the commission hasn't been decided yet, and that's the question of the suburban mall and downtown retailing. I've read the information, both pro and con, on the mall and what it could do to the downtown.
Chester Schmitendorf
Bob Schumm, 34, is a two-year incumbent City Commissioner and a Lawrence restaurant owner. He works at St. Andrew Drive.
- Not going to say yes or no at this time. I have, however, in the past, issued statements strongly supporting the downtown area and the central business district. I've worked hard to gather information on where to locate free-standing stores in the downtown area, if we can enlist some major retailers into going along with this concept.
I've met a lot of people in different cities, and talked to a lot of people here, and I've gotten an awful lot of information on this question. I think I'm ready for the next command, and I hope I'm on it.
- I think we should use every kind of tool at the city's disposal to rebuild that central business district. These tools would be in the form of industrial revenue bonds, Urban Development Action Grants, tax increment financing, and items we can use to entice firms into our city.
Another device that's being considered right now in the Legislature is the special tax benefit for businesses that have made a commitment to business. These taxing districts could be very, very important to our city. At one of the National League of Cities meetings (the conference took place in Washington, D.C., Feb. 28-March 4), the legislators said they believed the parameters that the federal government has set. We're right on line, right on target.
Chester Schmittendor, 21, is a part-time employee of George's Ufurniture and Antiques, and a part-time student in the University Business. He lives at 121 Kentucky St.
I've never been much for joining organizations, and I don't consider myself an organization candidate. I was in the Air Force during the 1950s. I'm proudly a member of the Kansas Air National Guard.
His answers
- At the time I filed, there were only two or three people running, and I thought I would give the voters a choice. I believe in continued improvements in the East Lawrence and Cread neighborhood, but again I don't consider myself a neighborhood candidate.
- I still have to look at the reports the reports Commission has now, but I'm not sure the cornfield mall would be as bad a thing as everyone makes it out to be. I need to look at the issue in a new way. And I don't think the downtown mall proposal is very wise; a downtown mall would look out of place.
- I really don't know what the proper city role for the downtown would be. The city has spent a lot of money in improving downtown, and it will have the new city hall there. I would advocate supporting downtown a jitter, not too much. I wouldn't support any major construction projects.
Nancy Shontz
Nancy Shontz, 52,
lists "community volunteer" as her occupation at 3243 Saddlehill.
- I am a very active member of the League of Women Voters, and have been for 18 years. I am currently on the Douglas County Environmental Improvement Council, and am a member of the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee. I am also a member of the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center.
Her answers:
The Advisory Board is a self-organized citizens' group that deals with environmental issues. The Block Grant Advisory Board helps manage the community's Lawrence's older, "targeted" neighborhoods.
- My decision to run is a combination of many years' experience in government issues and community activities. No one issue motivated me to run, but the upcoming mall decision should be the downstairs should be revitalized and should be the center of most of our retail expansion.
- No. I think it's a very poor location for intensive commercial use. It would trigger an explosion of development in the outlying city and it might not be supported two regional shopping centers.
- The city has at its disposal a number of methods to redevelop the downtown, and most do not involve tax money or public funds. There are industrial revenue bonds, the Urban Development Action Grant, and several other ways to raise money. Some spin-off expenses from redevelopment, such as street improvement and enlarging utility capacity, will involve public funds, and we'll have to be careful about how we spend those.
I have been involved in all the city's major issues for the past five or six years. I've also studied city government through the League of City Males, and I believe it a good working knowledge of city government.
Aaron G. Serrault
Aaron G. Serrault,
2% is a custodian for KU Facilities Opera-
tions lives at 133 in Ohio.
Ohio St.
His answers:
- None that I can think of. I've never really been an organization joiner.
F
- There are a few things I would like the city to do, and I would push for those things. I favor the cornfield mall, and I think the north bank of the Kansas River, across from City Hall, should be more extensively developed. Perhaps a new civic center could be built there.
- Yes. It's a good location, I think, and the city needs the new stores. I think the mail is essential to Lawrence for economic reasons. I don't think the effect on downtown will be that bad.
- Under certain circumstances. I don't think the city should get too heavily involved unless it's a life-or-death situation. Otherwise, I don't think city involvement would be too good.
- I think the city should issue low-interest loans or some form of financing that would not cause increases in taxes, to make sure that these buildings are structurally sound. It has been reported to me that many of the basements are in very bad shape.
Pat Slick
I've learned a lesson from the East Coast, where I used to live. I rode on the bus from New York to Philadelphia, and I never realized that I lived in York, because of the extensive development.
Pat Slick, 32, is a graduate student in religious studies. He lives at 1123 Oregon.
"The City Commission has the final say over the granting of a district," Eldredge said. "The City Commission can dissolve it, but if 40 percent of its residents vote it to maintain the district, it will be maintained."
- "I'm a member of the Sunflower Alliance and the Kansas Natural Guard (two anti-nuclear organizations). I'm also a member of the East Lawrence Improvement Association, and the Oread Neighborhood Association. I lived until just recently at 1340 Tennessee St.
*Absolutely not. I am in favor of keeping Lawrence as green as possible. I can remember when I used to walk a mile through the fields from 23rd Street to 33rd and Iowa to visit a local business, but now I'm in a suburb of Topeka or Kansas City through continued expansion. With the addition of a mall, you may be invited in more jobs, but you also bring in a need for increased city services, along with some prime farmland and introducing pollution, noise and traffic congestion into the area.
It might also be a good idea to close off a couple of streets, say, between Seventh and 11th on Massachusetts, and make it sort of a pedestrian mall.
His answers:
A Kansas Senate Bill backed by State Sen. Jane Eldredge, Lawrence city commissioner Barkley Clark and city manager Buford Watson, would allow downtown Lawrence merchants to improve apartment improvement districts" to finance construction and other improvements within that district.
- I have found, that in all the places that I've lived, that Lawrence is the only place where I have gotten as much, if not more, out of the city than I've put into it. I want to run just for one day. And I want to share the people of Lawrence and give back to them some of the nice things that they've given to me.
"If 25 percent of the merchants file a protest petition (to dissolve the district after it has been formed), it will take a 4-1 City Commission vote to reverse their decision. If 40 percent to petition
"We wanted to expand that so that the merchants could, in effect, tax themselves in order to purchase buildings, build mini-parks, parking areas and so on. They could, for instance, build a new building and then lease it to Macy's or what you have."
Downtown retail merchants could receive a powerful addition to their assortment of incentives for new downtown businesses--if the Legislature will go along.
EDLREDGE EXPLAINED that the consent of 25 percent of a particular district's merchants was necessary to petition the city to create a district. If 40 percent of the area's merchants were in a counter-petition against the district's formation, the action would be blocked. Eldredge said.
"The idea was that the downtown areas needed another tool to enable merchant associations to upgrade the downtown area." Clark said yesterday. "We thought what we would do is expand the benefit distinct concept, which we use to build sewers, streets and sidewalks.
Improvement bill a tool to upgrade downtown
dissolve the district, it's a dead issue right then,
with no City Commission action."
ELDREDGE SAID that a Senate colleague, Valley Center Democrat Norma Daniels, had expressed worry that, in her Wichita-area constituency, it would be easy to summon the necessary 25 percent support to create an improvement district. However, the 40 percent coalition necessary to block the district's forfeiture could be more difficult to get, Daniels said.
"I think the 25-40 guidelines are more than adequate for Lawrence," Eldredge said. "But Norma, and some of the people from smaller cities, are concerned about it.
Eldredge said she hoped that "the bill will come out of the committee favorably, and get through the Senate by the deadline on Wednesday." After then, Eldredge explained, the Senate can work only on House bills for the remainder of the session.
"This district tool can be used to make downtown development competitive with suburban development," Eldredge said. "Downtown development can then hopefully be offered at a comparable price to suburban development."
BOB RADCLIFFE, a member of the Downtown Lawrence Association, said that he thought it would be good for him.
"It takes into consideration the special needs that a commercial district has," Raddie said. "If a particular commercial group wants to form a special benefit district, they can pay for it."
"Parking lots could be built this way, and promotional funds could be put together to promote the area. Those things shouldn't be a general obligation of the city."