Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Fire Medical Department

TO:	David Corliss Debbie Van Saun
FROM:	Rich Barr
CC:	Jim McSwain Mark Bradford Tom Waechter
Date:	November 4, 2004
RE:	November 23 , 2004 Agenda Item

Please include the following item on the City Commission regular agenda for consideration at the November 23, 2004 meeting:

Project Description.  The Commission directed the Uniform Fire Code Board of Appeals to review the existing regulations and propose changes for Blasting Operations within the City.

Project History.  As a result of perceived problems with the existing regulations as applied to a project referred to as Fox Chase South development, the Commission received complaints from residents of the neighborhood. Those complaints included the following; location of explosives, proximity of blasting operations to occupied homes and an underground pipeline, adequate notification of area residents and utilities of the blasting plan and on-site supervision.

Project Status.  The Fire Code Board of Appeals began meeting on this issue on August 11 and after six meetings, concluded its review at a meeting on October 20. The proposed ordinance is attached.

Project Details.  A public hearing was held with the Board on September 1, 2004.   Notification of the public hearing was electronically distributed to the Lawrence Board of Realtors, Lawrence Neighborhood Associations, Chamber of Commerce, local developers, civil engineers and architects. Attempts to provide the notice to the Lawrence Homebuilders Association (LHBA) was unsuccessful because the LHBA office was closed during this time. The notice of public hearing was also posted on the City’s website. 

Five individuals appeared before the Board at the public hearing. Three individuals were present from the West Lawrence Neighborhood Association. Two individuals were present representing the Blasting Industry. Their comments are included in the Meeting Minutes for that date. In addition, written comments from the public are also included in the Commission’s information packet regarding this ordinance.

The Board’s final draft ordinance along with a matrix is attached to this cover. The matrix provides a comparison of the existing code to the one proposed by the Board of Appeals.  Agendas, meeting minutes, public input and additional information that was considered by the Board are provided for additional reference.

Action Request.  The Uniform Fire Code Board of Appeals and Fire Medical staff requests adoption of the proposed ordinance by the City Commission.