Committee backs Movement City Alliance events pending written clearance from Recreation Department

The Ordinance Intergovernmental Relations Committee on April 22 voted to send two community event requests from Movement City Alliance to the full Lawrence City Council with favorable recommendations, conditioned on written clearance from the Recreation Department.

Movement City Alliance director Elvis Cabral described a 3-on-3 basketball tournament planned for June 7 at Nina Scoredo Park (Brook Street courts) to raise scholarship funds for participants. The event organizer said events will include brackets for middle- and high-school players and that the Lawrence Police Department had agreed to provide on-site presence. Committee members asked organizers to obtain written confirmation from Recreation Department staff; Vice Chair Selena Reyes and Councilor Filina Santiago pressed for a written clearance to avoid inconsistent approvals.

Cabral also described Fiesta del Barrio, planned at the spray park near Brook Street, as a neighborhood activation with food, Zumba, vendor tables and giveaways. Organizers said they conduct door-to-door outreach and school-based promotion to reach neighborhood families.

Committee action: Councilor Filina Santiago moved to forward both requests to the full council with a favorable recommendation pending Recreation Department clearance; the motions were seconded and carried by voice vote. Organizers were told to provide any written clearances to the city clerk before the full council meeting.

Separately, the committee handled a permit request from Soil Food Truck owner Annie Mansibo for a one-year anniversary permit (July 13) to place tables in front of a truck and asked the applicant to secure and provide Recreation Department confirmation before the committee acts further.