CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Update on stormwater projects
The following projects have been undertaken by the Stormwater Division recently:
§ 18th Terrace and Maple Lane – An additional inlet plus 35 feet of 12 inch corrugated metal pipe was installed to address standing water on the southeast corner. See photos.
§ Campfire Drive - Ground water was surfacing on Campfire Court and running down Campfire Drive 600 feet before entering an inlet. The street was deteriorating along the curb line and was on the mill and overlay list this year. The Stormwater crew installed 600 feet of under drain and poured concrete over the installation before the overlay project was started. See photos.
§ Monterey Way - After a sewer project went through the south side of the Monterey Way drainage easement, the Stormwater crew cleaned the channel, removing willow trees growing in the flow line and excavating silt and trash. See photos.
Rain Garden construction
The Stormwater Division, Waste Reduction and Recycling Division and Roger Hill Volunteer Center recently constructed a Rain Garden adjacent to the SWAN building. The Rain Garden captures stormwater runoff from a portion of the building’s roof, allowing it to soak into the ground. By keeping runoff out of stormwater drainage system, Rain Gardens help minimize localized flooding as well as allow pollutants in the runoff to be filtered out by the soil and plants. The SWAN Rain Garden was planted with nine species of native plants. It will serve as a demonstration site for homeowners interested in constructing a Rain Garden on their property. See attached photos.
Fleet manager among first group nation-wide to achieve Public Fleet Professional Certification
Steve Stewart, Fleet Manager, successfully completed his Public Fleet Professional certification exam, through the American Public Works Association. Stewart was one of 26 fleet professionals nation-wide to sit for the first exam – some of the most seasoned and professionally respected fleet managers in the country. Recertification will be required every five years.
The role of the public fleet operation has evolved over the years from providing high-quality, low-cost repair service to asset management and related business functions. The purpose of the Public Fleet Professional Certification is to promote excellence in fleet management by advancing the knowledge and practice of public fleet professionals to benefit communities through quality fleet services. Being connected with and certified by APWA ensures competent, experienced, and well-trained managers. The pay-off is to the public works industry and ultimately to our communities by providing recognized hiring and promotion standards that will lead to an improved workforce and improved delivery of services.
20th Annual Downtown Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition
The Lawrence Arts Commission hosted a walking tour of its 20th Annual Downtown Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition on Saturday, May 26, 2007 (see attached photos). The tour was led by this year’s juror, Glen Gentele, who is director of Laumeier Sculpture Park in St. Louis, Mo. He holds a joint appointment as the Aronson Endowed Professor for Modern + Contemporary Art at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. This event was attended by approximately 100 people, including four of the artists whose sculptures are on exhibit. After the tour a reception was held at the Lawrence Art Center.
The Lawrence Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition is featured in the newly released 1,000
Places to See in Canada and the USA Before You Die. It is a new edition of
the New York Times best-selling travel guide 1,000 Places to See Before You
Die. More than 2.2 million copies of the guide are in print, and it is used
by travelers to identify noteworthy events and locations. The book is organized
by region and subject-specific indices and offers details regarding events,
times, locations etc.
Downtown waterline improvements project update
Overall, project work is progressing ahead of schedule. We are receiving positive feedback from local merchants regarding the professionalism of Nowak Construction and how well the construction site is being cleaned up on an ongoing basis. Several downtown merchants have caught the construction spirit as demonstrated by their store fronts (see attached photos).
Weather permitting we anticipate Nowak Construction will be completing work on the east side of the 900 – 1000 blocks of Massachusetts Street early the week of June 11. Work will then commence later the week of June 11 on the west side of 900 – 1000 blocks of Massachusetts. The current construction progress has the change over from the east to west side in advance of the original July 13 date.
As of June 7, work on the east side of the 900 – 1000 block of Massachusetts Street is generally complete with the water main in place and in service. The remaining work consists of asphalt replacement and some sidewalk and brick repairs. Nowak anticipates asphalt replacement to occur early the week of June 11.
Monthly building permits report
The attached building permits report for May 2007 shows permits and permit fees are down compared to May 2006.