The Manhattan City Commission listened to a presentation about the Kansas Department of Transportation's Intelligent Transportation Systems Tuesday night during its weekly meeting. The Commission also approved an agreement that will install sensors and possibly cameras at nine stop lights along Fort Riley Boulevard from East Poyntz Avenue to Richards Drive. The design will be created by the City of Manhattan, but the job itself will be paid for by the State of Kansas.

If successful, ITS will improve travel times from the west side to east side of Manhattan on Kansas Highway 18. The system will also have a wireless remote monitoring system, which will serve to make adjustments to stop lights for better traffic flow. It would also allow Manhattan residents to look at traffic before they drive on K-18.

Several Manhattan bike riders also spoke about the Bicycle Master Plan during the public comment period. Diane Novak, bicyclist and Manhattan resident, spoke and asked all bikers present to rise in the City Commission chambers and more than 25 bikers stood. Novak asked the commission to be mindful of bikers as the commission progresses in the south end development.

Paula Goldwyn, life-long Manhattan resident, presented a petition in support of a dog park. She gathered about 550 signatures for the dog park petition and said the signatories asked that the dog park develop as fast as possible.

Commissioner Bob Strawn informed Goldwin that a change of ordinance might be required, but the "DNA" was in place to get the dog park started.

The commission also approved the rezoning of a residential district and turned it into a restricted-business district. The rezoning efforts, which were for the First Assembly of God Church, 2310 Candlewood Drive, will allow the church to sell fireworks for Independence Day.

Two other rezoning ordinances were approved. In one ordinance, housing-developer Land Frey Property Development Corporation desired 1,440 feet east of Marlatt Avenue to be used to develop new houses.

The second ordinance rezoned McCall Landing from an industrial park district to a Commercial Planned Unit Development District.

The approximate 26-acre tract of land is generally located north of the intersection of McCall Road and Carlson Street, south of Levee Drive, west of McCall Pattern Company and east of Abbott Management and Sunflower Self-Storage.