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KANSAN.COM
NEWS
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Horizon 2020 plan for Lawrence awaits final input
CASSIDY RITTER
@CassidvRitter
Fourteen years after the City of Lawrence and Douglas County set out to strengthen Lawrence and unincorporated Douglas County, the city has modified its efforts and created a 19-step report to address a variety of issues in the city.
Horizon 2020, a plan through the City of Lawrence, gathered input to create an issue action report. The report addresses 19 priorities, including preserving historic buildings and improving neighborhoods.
The report lists the city's vision as being focused on live, work, learn and play.
The "live" section focuses on transportation healthy living for all ages while preserving the historic value of Lawrence.
"Work" focuses on investment and networking in a diverse, growing population. It is also focused on "thriving creative arts and entrepreneurial communities."
"Learn" specifies the importance of weaving the University community into the local community. It also says it will work to ensure access to high-quality lifelong learning opportunities.
"Play" emphasizes the need for "a thriving mix of activity centers, schools and parks/trails within walking and biking distance of residential uses". It also focuses on preserving the historic aspects of downtown and cultural heritage.
What's Horizon 2020?
Horizon 2020 is a comprehensive plan for Lawrence and unincorporated Douglas County created to make sure city plans are in line with community wants and needs. The plan values affordability, creativity, education, health, innovation, jobs, livability, quality design and sustainability.
What is it going to change?
The goals in the action report target improvements throughout the city,including employment,building,retail,natural resources and housing.
Some of the points in the action report include:
- Maintain a strong and stable downtown
- Create quality neighboards for all people
- Create quality neigh borhoods for all ages
- Create employment opportunities
- Enhance agricultural uses and rural character in Douglas County
- Enhance sidewalks, trails and walking paths
- Enhance bicycle and pedestrian safety
- Enhance the transportation network
How soon will the
- Add policies to protect natural resources
community see changes?
If the issue action report is approved, changes will be seen
in January 2016, according to Jeff Crick, Planner II for Horizon 2020. He said the Steering Committee, which helps guide the process, will recommend the Board of County Commissioners, Planning Commission and City Commission accept the report Aug. 31.
Once the report is approved, the Steering Committee will develop a draft with revised policies to present to the community, said Scott McCullough, Director of Planning and Development Services.
What has the city been doing until now?
Until now, the Steering Committee has been gathering information about Lawrence and Douglas-County, including community wants and needs population, employment trends, land use and development patterns.
Who's on the committee?
Horizon 2020 is a growth plan for Lawrence. One of the aims is to "maintain a strong and stable" downtown.
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
Mayor Mike Amyx and nine other members of the community, including representatives from the city, county and school district.
Edited by Kelly Cordingley
IOA adds position to ease process of reporting
MGKENNA HARFORD
@McKennaHarford
dent.
The Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, which investigates reports of sexual assault, has hired an interim measures coordinator and will hire three new investigators for the upcoming semester.
Michael McRill, the interim measures coordinator, will help make sure students involved in the reporting or investigating process are still able to attend class and stay on top of assignments. So, if a student is assaulted and doesn't go to class the next day, McRill can contact the professor and get the classwork for that stud-
McRill is also available for students, faculty and staff who request interim measures or students who don't want to pursue an investigation but still want interim measures.
“[The position] ensures that everybody has access to educational opportunities during the process,” McRill said. “Another way of thinking about interim measures would be for people who maybe aren't going to pursue a case but still need some kind of accommodation. The reason I mention that is just to highlight how broad [the measures] can be in terms of offering student services that would help them maintain
their safety on campus but also their ability to continue accessing opportunities on campus."
IOA investigates all reports related to Title IX, including discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual assault.
"The primary function of Title IX is to guarantee that gender discrimination in the
"[The position] ensures that everybody has access to educational opportunities during the process,"
MICHAEL MCRILL Coordinator for IOA
form of sexual harassment or sexual violence doesn't impede educational opportunities," said lane McQueeny, executive director of IOA. "Our primary role is to make sure that the impact is diminished and that we're doing everything we can to make sure people are still going to class and getting the programmatic benefits of attending the University."
latest.
The three new investigators will replace the vacancies left by former IOA employees. Investigators handle student reports to IOA by talking with the student, the respondent and witnesses. McQueeney said she hoped the spots would be filled by mid-September at the
McQueeny said IOA was able to finish investigating most of the cases reported last academic year and during the summer.
Over the summer, McRill said he focused on making the IOA website more student-friendly. He also conducted focus groups on student attitudes regarding sexual violence and suggestions for IOA.
"You kind of figure out where people are and the different stages in terms of understanding." McRill said.
ing process before, McQueeny said.
This year, McRill said he would be creating and working with students on individual solutions for each case.
IOA plans to conduct more focus groups this year including some with people who have been through the report-
"Individuals would say what they're needing, and we would think creatively about how we can put those into place most effectively," McRill said.
Edited by Kate Miller