CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Memorial Park Cemetery Litigation Update
Please see the attached update on Memorial Park Cemetery litigation. The City has been the temporary receiver of the cemetery since May 2005 under an order of the Douglas County District Court. Since that time the City has been maintaining the cemetery with general funds. Through August 31, 2007, our expenditures totaled $223,781. Upon the advice of the offices of the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, the City has begun selling burial spaces at the cemetery.
Justice Assistance Grant Awarded to Police Department
The Police Department has been awarded an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $57,500 from the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant is to be used to enhance forensic capabilities of the Lawrence Kansas Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department through the purchase of additional equipment and intermediate to advanced level training. Partnership with the Sheriff’s Department is a required component of the grant program. There is no local match required for the grant.
Lawrence Tennis Center Repair/Replacement Needs
The Lawrence Tennis Center located on the Lawrence High School campus is in need of substantial repair or replacement (see photos). Over the past 8-10 years the court surface has declined due to surface cracking. The City and the school district (who were partners in the construction of the courts) have spent anywhere from $2,500 - $15,000 nearly every year to patch cracks and repaint the asphalt surface of these courts to keep them playable. These patches serve as a temporary solution to a problem that can only truly be fixed by removing and reconstructing the existing courts.
The main problems with the existing asphalt courts are the concrete footings used to hold the light poles, fences and nets. As the asphalt expands and contracts as the weather changes the concrete footings remain stationary. This causes the asphalt to crack every spring and fall. During the winter months the cracks usually worsen due to subsurface and surface moisture penetrating the surface through the cracks and freezing, causing additional widening of the cracks.
A potential solution to this problem is to remove the asphalt surface and install post-tension concrete courts in their place. Shawnee County had the same problem with their 8-court complex at Lake Shawnee. They removed and replaced all eight courts in 2001 (at a cost of around $33,000 per court) and have not had any problems since.
Neighborhood Revitalization Act Plans Presented to Community Stakeholders
City staff has been presenting the NRA plans to various stakeholders and seeking input. Staff Attorney John Miller and Management Analyst Scott Wagner made the attached presentation to the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods on September 5, and Planning & Development Services Director Scott McCullough was introduced to LAN and took questions. Staff is scheduled to present to the Neighborhood Resources Advisory Committee on September 13 and to a general meeting of the DLI membership on the Downtown NRA plan on September 26.
City Efforts to Prevent Underage Drinking
The City of Lawrence, in partnership with the Kansas Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and the Regional Prevention Center of East Central Kansas, will be offering a two hour workshop to assist alcohol retailers in efforts to reduce underage drinking. City Prosecutor Jerry Little and several Lawrence Police Neighborhood Resource Officers will be presenters. The attached flyer was distributed to alcohol retailers in Lawrence advertising the workshop.
City Utilities Department Receives KDHE Pollution Prevention Award
The City of Lawrence Utilities Department was presented with the 2007 Pollution Prevention Award from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment during the 2007 Kansas Environmental Conference in August. The award honored the Lawrence Utility Management System, which originated with the Biosolids program, expanded to the entire wastewater utility, and is currently being implemented in the water utility.
Overview of City of Lawrence Responsibilities for Bridges
The attached memo provides an overview of bridge terminology and identifies the bridge structures that the City of Lawrence is responsible for maintaining and inspecting within the city limits.
Fine Arts Funding
The table below summarizes City support (from several City funds) for fine arts activities in Lawrence.
|
FINE ARTS PROGRAM |
2007 Funding |
2008 Funding |
|
Lawrence Arts Center-programs |
89,300 |
95,000 |
|
Lawrence Arts Center-operations |
146,810 |
146,810 |
|
Arts Center Scholarships |
25,000 |
25,000 |
|
Band Concerts |
8,000 |
12,000 |
|
Arts Commission |
1,800 |
2,000 |
|
Outdoor Sculpture |
12,900 |
13,500 |
|
Arts Grants |
6,500 |
7,000 |
|
Phoenix Award |
2,200 |
3,000 |
|
Van Go Mobile Arts* |
73,200 |
82,500 |
|
Debt Service for Arts Center |
252,836 |
255,492 |
|
TOTAL FINE ARTS SUPPORT |
$618,546 |
$642,302 |
|
* Van Go is also considered a social service agency by the City |
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