The City of Lawrence retained DIXON to develop a Parking Adjudication Strategic Plan, transitioning parking enforcement from a legal process through Municipal Court to a civil administrative system. This initiative streamlined operations, improved efficiency, and established a clear framework for policy updates and enforcement procedures.

DIXON conducted an in-depth assessment of the City’s parking enforcement structure, engaging with stakeholders, reviewing municipal policies, and analyzing best practices from peer cities and state regulations. The resulting strategic plan provided actionable recommendations to modernize the City’s approach to parking violations.
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Key Achievements

• Stakeholder Engagement & Assessment: DIXON conducted on-site meetings with Municipal Court and parking enforcement staff, engaged public stakeholders, and participated in enforcement ride-alongs to evaluate existing challenges.
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• Policy & Code Review: The team analyzed municipal documents, including parking violation templates, enforcement statistics, and municipal code sections. Additionally, they reviewed Kansas State Code and policies from comparable cities to identify best practices.
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• ‍Community Outreach & Feedback: An online survey gathered public input on the transition to a civil adjudication process, and two community meetings—both in-person and virtual—provided opportunities for residents to voice concerns and ask questions.‍
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• Strategic Plan Development: DIXON delivered a comprehensive Parking Adjudication Strategic Plan with key recommendations, including:
  • Updates to parking policies and municipal codes
  • Implementation of a parking violation amnesty program
  • New citation processing and appeal procedures
  • Development of an in-person parking education program
  • Long-term strategies to petition the State for civil administration of all parking violations

By transitioning to a civil enforcement model, the City of Lawrence improved the efficiency and accessibility of its parking adjudication system. DIXON’s expertise ensured a structured, data-driven approach, helping the City establish fair and effective parking enforcement policies.