CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Lawrence Police Department Honors Officers
On Friday, December 15, the Lawrence Police Department honored a number of officers for outstanding service. The following awards were given (more information regarding the individual awards is available in the attached media release):
§ Commendation Award: Officers Willie Brown, David Ernst, Eric Barkley, Sam Harvey and Michael Ramsey
§ Distinguished Service Award: Officers Jack Lichlyter, Harold Grady and Vincent Casagrande
§ Medal of Valor: Officers Max Miller, Todd Polson, Ryan Sayler and Shannon Riggs; Sergeant Damon Thomas
§ Meritorious Service Award: Captain Daniel Affalter
Parks & Recreation Announces Winners of the Tom Wilkerson Teamwork Awards
On Friday, December 15, the Parks & Recreation Department awarded the 2006 Tom Wilkerson Teamwork Awards to the following:
§ Category I Award (for full-time individuals or groups who exemplify teamwork): Rod Hoffer, field supervisor of Park District 3
§ Category II Award (for part-time individuals or groups who exemplify teamwork): Vick Lysen, fitness instructor
§ Category III Award (for outside agency, City department, individual or group who has assisted the department obtain success): Westar Energy’s Green Team
For more information on the award process and winners, please see the attached memo.
Staff Member Accepted into Kansas Certified Public Manager Program
Neighborhood Resources Director Victor Torres has been accepted into the Kansas Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program. The CPM Program is run by KU’s Public Management Center, and involves 288 hours of management training over 12 months.
The Parks & Recreation Department has recently contracted for the replacement of approximately 600 feet of bike path on the south side of Clinton Parkway near Inverness. Over the past 8-9 years we have been replacing sections of the original asphalt path with concrete. There are still several miles of asphalt path that need to be replaced. Please see the attached photos of the project.
Work began December 11 on the reconstruction of Kasold Drive from Peterson Road to the Kansas Turnpike. King Construction is the general contractor for the project with City staff inspecting. The projected total cost of the reconstruction is $3.2 million, with 80% of the funding coming from KDOT. The project will be completed in three phases to keep access to residences on the east side of Kasold. Estimated completion date is November 2007. The Public Works website (http://www.lawrencepublicworks.org/) contains up to date information on construction and detours. Please see the attached photos of the project.
Crack Sealing Update
The Street division continues to seal cracks as weather is dry yet cool. The division is currently working on 6th Street and Iowa Street. 6th street from Monterey Way east to Iowa Street has been completed and will continue eastward. Please see the attached photos of the work.
SmartCode Meetings Scheduled for January
PlaceMakers, a planning and development advisory firm, will be holding a weeklong charrette workshop January 31 through February 6 as part of its work to develop a Traditional Neighborhood Design ordinance (known as SmartCode) for the City of Lawrence. As an introduction to SmartCode development, PlaceMakers will be holding two meetings for stakeholders in early January.
Thursday, January 4th
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Location: Holcom Park Recreation Center, 2700 W 27th Street
Invitations sent to property owners in area of Master Plan and community
Friday, January 5th
8:30am – 12:00pm
Location: City Hall, City Commission Chambers
City staff and county representatives invited (see invitation)
The general public is welcome at both meetings, which are ideal opportunities to discover exactly what the SmartCode is, why it’s important to Lawrence’s development future, how it works, how it fits within our overall efforts and, perhaps most importantly, the benefits it offers – to developers, neighborhoods, the environment and the community overall. For more information regarding the meetings, individuals may contact Long Range Planner Dan Warner (832-3162 or dwarner@ci.lawrence.ks.us) or Neighborhood Planner Michelle Leininger (832-3163 or mleininger@ci.lawrence.ks.us). The complete charrette schedule for the dates January 31 through February 6 will be online at www.lawrenceks.org the week of January 3.
Tree Management Program Under Development
Staff is developing the specific components of an effective Tree Management Program for the City Commission to review and adopt, as appropriate, for the community. Our timetable for bringing this matter to the City Commission, after stakeholder input and Advisory Board review, is spring 2007. Please see the attached memo for more details.