CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending May 15, 2009

Update on the progress of 617 W 4^th Street

The City Commission has requested regular updates on the progress of the rehabilitation of 617 W 4^th Street. The Commission stayed a demolition order on the property pending satisfactory progress on rehabilitation. Code Enforcement Manager Brian Jimenez has provided the attached memo and photos regarding the status of the rehabilitation.

April building permits report

There were 169 permits issued in April 2009, compared to 189 in 2008.  Permit valuation was $6,482,254 compared to $19,402,345 last year.  Fees were $47,977.68 compared to $77,670.07 last year. Year-to-date permit valuation is down from $37,809,296 to $28,256,184 and fees are down from $205,368 to $194,761. Please see the attached memo, building permit report and summary report for more details.

Parks and Recreation survey results compiled

The Parks and Recreation Department has been involved in public outreach activities related to budget, programming and services. The department held a public forum on April 16 and had an online survey via their webpage through May 4. Last week the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board reviewed the results of the survey, which in general showed that citizens would support a slight increase in fees for programming, small admission fees for services and facilities currently offered for free, and support for the city band funding and continued Downtown beautification. However, in many instances the survey also showed equal support, and in some cases more support, for maintaining the current services at the current fees and reducing hours and/or levels of service provided. The department is further analyzing the data, its organizational structure, and its delivery of services, and will be presenting its recommendations to the city manager. Please see the attached memo, survey results, emails received, and other written comments from the survey.

Update on Public Works projects

The Public Works Department has provided reports on the following projects and activities:

• Downtown crosswalk replacements - In 2007 the City of Lawrence contracted for waterline replacements in downtown Lawrence, as part of that project certain crosswalks were replaced in the 900 and 1000 blocks. They later failed. As a result the city, under its warranty clause, required the contractor to remove and replace the unsatisfactory crosswalks. In April the contractor removed and replaced the crosswalks. This replacement project was coordinated with Downtown Lawrence Inc. as well as all business owners. The four week replacement schedule went according to plan and the new crosswalks met our specifications. While the second replacement of these crosswalks was an additional inconvenience to the public it was a great example of our process working for the guarantee of work by our contractors. See attached before and after photos.
• City’s energy conservation efforts presented at Kansas Municipal Utilities Conference - On May 6th, Kathy Richardson, Waste Reduction and Recycling Operations Supervisor, presented information on the city’s energy conservation efforts at the annual Kansas Municipal Utilities in Wichita. The presentation highlighted the city’s annual Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair and Sustainable Homes Tour and also detailed examples of energy efficiency and conservation measures city departments have implemented. In addition, Ms. Richardson informed conference attendees about the city’s greenhouse gas emission inventory, the final report of the Mayor’s Task Force on Climate Protection, and the recommendations developed by the Alternative Fuels Task Force.
• Solid Waste employees place in driving competition - Dave Pentlin placed first in the rolloff competition at the annual Sunflower Chapter, Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) refuse truck rodeo competition in Olathe last Saturday.  Eric Green placed 3rd in the rolloff competition.  Mike Payne placed 3rd in the side loader competition. The truck rodeo is an annual competition sponsored by SWANA. Drivers are judged on driving skills. The winners of the state rodeo are eligible to compete in the national rodeo in the fall. In the past, Lawrence Solid Waste Division has had four state champions and one national champion.
• Levee Certification - The levees along the Kansas River and Mud Creek total approximately 15 miles in length (see map). FEMA has required that all levees be certified according to the requirements listed in the Code of Federal Regulations 44 CFR 65.10.   Without certification FEMA would not recognize that the existing levees exist and would remove them from their Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM’s). This would mean that all of North Lawrence would be considered unprotected thus requiring flood insurance for all structures, which would be prohibitively expensive.  Matt Bond, Stormwater Engineer, has completed the levee certification and will be submitting the report to FEMA the week of May 18^th.  Lawrence is the only municipality in Kansas (and as far as we know possibly the nation) that has undertaken this task in house. Matt Bond has spent several months verifying the stability of the Kansas River Levee Unit that protects North Lawrence. Knowledge of the costs for this work being completed in other communities indicates that the cost of certification of the Lawrence Levee could have ranged from $200,000 -$300,000.
• Ohio Street brick reconstruction wins national award - The Ohio Street Brick Reconstruction Project received National Recognition as one of the Public Works Project of the Year for 2009 from the American Public Works Association. The project was selected by KDOT in 2005 as a Transportation Enhancement Program Project for the rehabilitation of a historic transportation facility (Old West Lawrence). The plans were developed in-house by the City. The construction process involved removing the existing asphalt overlay, removing and salvaging existing brick and stone curb, and construction of new brick roadway.  The new roadway consists of treated subgrade, concrete base, sand leveling layer, and one course of salvaged brick. See attached photos of the completed project. 

Rural Water District #1 raises water meter acquisition fee

When the city annexes properties served by rural water districts, it must pay a water meter acquisition fee to the district to cover the cost of the infrastructure previously installed by the district and to compensate for lost future revenue. Rural Water District #1 has notified the city (see attached letter) that they have raised their fee effective May 8, 2009.

City receives GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

The city has once again received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). The award certifies that the city’s 2009 budget document meets program criteria as a policy document, an operations guide, a financial plan and a communications device. Budget Manager Casey Liebst prepared the budget document and submitted it to GFOA for evaluation. See attached press release and letter to the mayor.