CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending July 7, 2006

 

Report on Streets Projects and Sidewalks Inventory

The attached memo from the Public Works Department gives a report on projects that impact existing streets and traffic, and gives an update on the progress of the sidewalk inventory. 

 

Report on Fireworks-related Responses

Attached is a summary of fireworks related responses made by the Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical Department on July 3 and 4.  In addition to emergency responses, Fire and Medical assisted the Police Department with enforcement activities on the evenings of the 3rd and 4th.

 

Public Comment on City Budget Solicited Through Website

A headline was recently added to www.lawrenceks.org soliciting input on the 2007 budget.  The headline reads, “Commission seeking feedback on 2007 budget” with the message, “The Lawrence City Commission is seeking public feedback on the 2007 budget. To submit your feedback about the 2007 budget online, please visit The 2007 Budget FeedBack page.”  The input feature has moved to a more prominent location on the website.  The feedback is also available from the Budget webpage at http://www.lawrenceks.org/budget.shtml .

 

Water Supply Information and Drought Contingency Plans

The attached memo from the Utilities Department provides information concerning water service delivery issues, status of relevant facility improvements and drought/conservation contingency plans.

 

Staff presents at City Attorneys Association Meeting

The City Attorneys Association of Kansas held its 2006 spring meeting on June 23 in Salina.  Staff Attorney Toni Ramirez Wheeler served on the panel discussing smoking ordinances.  Her presentation covered the adoption and enforcement of the city’s smoking regulations.  Follow up questions touched on the recent Douglas County District Court’s decision upholding the validity of Lawrence’s smoking laws.  In addition, Wheeler was elected to serve on the board of directors of the City Attorneys Association of Kansas.  She will serve through June 2008.

 

Utilities Project Customer Satisfaction Survey Report

The Utilities Department recently surveyed the 170 residential addresses in the Park Hill Terrace neighborhood following a cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) project.  CIPP is a method of reducing inflow/infiltration that involves lining the inside of old pipes without excavation, thus there is very little disruption above ground.  The Utilities Department has a multi-year plan to repair/reconstruct lines in older sections of the City using this trenchless method.  The attached report contains the result of the customer satisfaction survey.    

 

Well attended External Customer Input Session

On Thursday, June 22, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical hosted a lunch time public meeting to gather input for the department’s long-term strategic plan.  More than 40 citizens attended the session facilitated by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International.  The session was used to learn about the community’s needs along with community (city and county) expectations, priorities and concerns with fire and medical emergency service.  The public input contributes to the department’s strategic planning as it continues the process of gaining departmental international accreditation in 2007. 

 

Lawrence appears in national newsletter

The weekly email newsletter from the National Biosolids Partnership, a collaboration of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, Water Environment Federation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, included the Sunday, June 25 Lawrence Journal-World article on waste water treatment.  The Weekly Biosolids Update from NBP is read by biosolids producers, service contractors, and stakeholders from regulatory agencies, universities, the farming community, and environmental organizations.