CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending Sept 15, 2006

Flow Monitoring System Installation

Bob Brower, Wastewater Field Operations Manager with the Utilities Department, reports that twenty-seven (27) flow meters and eight (8) rain gauges will be installed in the City’s sanitary sewer collection system later this month.  This two-week installation project, part of the Permanent Flow Monitoring Program, is scheduled to begin September 18th and will allow staff to being receiving flow data from strategic sites within the sewer system (for example, pump stations) in early October.  Once the meters and gauges are installed and sending data, staff in the Engineering division will do analysis and system modeling.  The data is real time within fifteen minutes and will be used to assist staff in the areas of operations, planning, and forecasting of maintenance activities.  Live monitoring of the meters will also be available, providing staff at the Wastewater Treatment Plant with indications of high water level alarms at pump stations.

Major Projects Map Completed

The City has produced a map of major public and private construction projects across the community. The map, which will be updated periodically, will become available online in the near future.

City Employee Wins Award at International City/County Management Association Conference

At last week’s International City/County Management Association Conference, Management Analyst Jonathan Douglass was selected for the KUCIMAT Intern Excellence Award for his work last year as an intern in the City Manager’s Office (see the award nomination). The KUCIMAT (Kansas University City Managers and Trainees) Alumni Association is a professional organization of graduates from the KU Department of Public Administration.

Transit System Supports Gould Evans “Alternative Transportation Day”

The Lawrence office of design firm Gould Evans recently held an “Alternative Transportation Day” in which employees were challenged to get to work without using a car. Prior to the event, Lawrence Transit System staff members visited the firm to share information about using the “T” bus system (see news release). Jane Huesemann, vice president of Gould Evans, reported that several members of the firm used the “T” to get to work and they had positive comments regarding the cleanliness of the buses and how pleasant it was not to have to deal with driving in traffic.

City of Lawrence Sets the Standard for Communication with Residents

In September 2005 the City of Lawrence produced a “guide to city services” flyer featuring a graphic representation of a streetscape with phone numbers for common resident concerns. The flyer was distributed throughout the community in the newspaper and is a special feature on the City website. The communication tool was such a success that it has inspired a strikingly similar flyer in a neighboring city.

Airport Projects Underway

Work has begun on the partial taxiway project at Lawrence Municipal Airport. Please see the attached photos of the work in progress.