University Daily Kansan, December 4, 1984
CAMPUS AND AREA
Page 8
Renewal board gets support
By CHRIS BARBER Staff Reporter
At a study session yesterday, City Commissioners discussed one way some commissioners see of strengthening the city's efforts at building a downtown mall.
CITY COMMISSIONERS previously have discussed forming a board separate from the commission. Discussion yesterday focused on what powers the board would be given and who would serve on it.
At the suggestion of Commissioner Mike Amyx, commissioners considered forming an urban renewal board to handle downtown development. Although no vote was taken, Commissioner Nancy Shontz was the only one to express opposition.
Watson, citing a memorandum from city attorneys Milton Allen and Gerald Koeley, said that according to Kansas law, the board could have any of several powers, to be decided by the commission. Amending financing methods of financing projects and establishing plans for them
"Frankly, I think we are all looking for the same thing — some way to make this happen," said Butford Watson, city manager. "We're at the point where we need to try a lot of things, and this may be one that is worth trying."
However, the board would not be able to appropriate funds, levy taxes, or zone, vacate or rezone a piece of
property. Those powers must stay with the City Commission.
Mayor Ernest Angino said he saw two advantages to an urban renewal board.
First, the board would be free from the day-to-day responsibilities of the City Commission, giving it the ability to focus on urban development. The City Commission now serves as the city's urban renewal board.
THE SECOND ADVANTAGE. Angina said, is that the board would provide continuity because it would not be affected by commission turnover at elections every two years.
"Members of the City Commission have to be re-educated every two years," Angino said. "I feel that the key is the longevity of the body, that sets itself aside from the daily business of the community."
watson said the first five board members would serve varied terms. The board would have one one-year, one two-year, one three-year and two four-year members. All sub-committees members would serve four year terms.
SHONTZ SAID SIE saw no reason for an urban renewal board.
"The DIC can do all these things." Shontz said. The Downtown Improvement Committee serves as an advisory board to the City Commis-
"The DIC is much closer to the project. I really don't see much advantage, and I see some serious disadvantages."
This would be a non-elected body.
it would be a non-representative group, there would be no need for public communication, and it would be composed largely of business leaders of the community." Shontz said. "It would not be a community project or one the community knows much about.
"If it would be a business deal," BUT COMMISSIONER DAVID Longstreet had favored an urban office, the same reasons Shontz opposed it.
"It should be made up of business leaders." Longhurst said. "The DIC has to have representatives from different neighborhoods. We need to concentrate on finding people with the expertise to handle this."
Longhurst said he thought an urban renewal board should have the responsibility of seeing that the city's future is connected from a "mechanical" standpoint.
"AN URBAN RENEWAL agency should be dedicated to the notion of building the project," he said. "That should be removed from the political process."
"If we form an urban renewal agency, I think that would be a message to department stores that we committed to downtown." Hill said.
Commissioner Howard Hill saw another advantage to an urban renewal board.
Watson said the reason Lawrence never had formed an urban renewal board was that it had never handled a project of the magnitude of the downtown mall.
Professor's lawsuit dropped from District Court's docket
By JOHN REIMRINGER Staff Reporter
A Douglas County District Court judge yesterday morning removed a lawsuit involving two professors, a graduate student and a former graduate student from his trial court, where the suit was settled of court.
The suit, brought by Michael Crawford, professor of anthropology, against Henry Landsgaard, professor of anthropology. Lawrence graduate student Elizabeth Murray and former graduate Nancy Sempoksi, was scheduled to go to trial at 9 a.m. yesterday.
INSTEAD, CRAWFORD,
Lundsgaard and the lawyers involved in the case met in the courtroom to discuss the settlement of the case.
One of Lundsgaard's lawyers, Deputy Attorney General Bruce Miller, said that because the state had defended Lundsgaard under provisions of the Tort Claims Act, the settlement would have to be approved by the State Finance Council.
One of the conditions of the settlement was that it would remain confidential.
But Art Griggs, chief attorney for the state department of administration, said that any settlement approved by the finance council would become public record.
The act also provides that the attorney general's office can settle claims against a state employee with the approval of the council.
T. Dale Nicklas, Crawford's lawyer, said that the case could still go to trial if the terms of the settlement were not met.
GRIGGS SAID THAT he was not aware of any case which would require the approval of the state finance council if it did not require a payment of state funds.
The suit, filed in 1980, alleged that the defendants had slandered Crawford. It asked for $1.5 million in damages. The suit followed complaints made in 1977 by Murray and Sempolski that alleged Crawford had used unethical medical and research procedures during a 1976 research expedition to Belize.
The settlement was signed Saturday in Topeka by Crawford; Nicklas; Lundsgaarde's lawyers Miller and Dan Biles, both of the state attorney general's office; and Murray and Sempolski's lawyer, Fred Pheels Jr.
Yesterday morning Lundsgaarde and Murray signed the settlement. Phelps said that Sempolsk, who was in Massachusetts, had agreed to the settlement over the phone and that he expected her to sign it once it was mailed to her.
ON THE RECORD
But the parties' lawyers told District Judge Ralph King that they saw no problems with meeting the tern; of the settlement.
The Graduate Student Council Proudly Introduces Its Newly-elected Executive Committee:
Michael Foubert (Architecture/
Political Science)
GERTRUDE SELLARDS PEARSON Hall was evacuated after a bomb threat at 12:35 a.m. Sunday. KU police said yesterday. Residents
Kathy Noonen (Business)
Cathy Schifler (French & Italian)
STEREO EQUIPMENT VALUED
t $1.150 was stolen between 7 p.m.
saturday and 11:50 a.m. Sunday
rom Omni Electronics.
The Tort Claims Act allows the state to be sued and also provides for the defense of state employees.
Tiffany Jill
Platis Dyck
Tisha Audrey
Stucky Strobl
Michelle Sarah
McDuff Smith
Chris Shelley
Hammett Collier
Nancy Schmitz (Education)
were allowed to return to the hall at 1:40 a.m. after KU police officers and members of the hall staff had searched the hall.
D. Ann Squier (Sociology)
Brenda Stockman (Journalism)
Feel free to stop by the GSC office in the Kansas Union or to discuss your graduate concerns with any of the above GradEx members.
CONGRATULATIONS
ALPHA PHI PLEDGES ON YOUR INITIATION
Ted Vaggalis (Philosophy)
The holiday season starts in clothing from Mister Guy . . for Men and Women. . . Lawrence's only complete specialty shop for Men and Women.
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