Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

To:	Mayor & City Commission
From:	David Corliss City Manager
cc:	Management Team
Date:	January 12, 2007
Re:	01/17/07 study session – Review of Major Capital Projects

City staff has prepared a general overview of major capital projects.  Prioritization of these projects will be important as the Commission decides the timing and scope of these projects.  After discussion of these projects reflecting the Commission’s general priorities, staff would ask for direction to prepare a multi-year plan to implement the Commission priorities.  There should be several optional plans, highlighting different priorities and whether additional tax resources are needed for the plan.

Library:    The Commission has received the recommendation of the Library Board to construct a new library facility, and associated parking, at the current site of US Postal Distribution and Retail facility at the northwest corner of 7^th and Vermont. The proposed library facility would be approximately 100,000 square feet.  The project budget has been estimated at $30 million.  The Commission will have this item on a future meeting agenda.

Street Maintenance:   In 2007, the City will spend over $5 million on street maintenance activities.  This expenditure, and the deployment of a new three person street crew, represents a major commitment on a top City priority: seeking to address the condition of City streets and curbs. Public Works staff is reviewing the results of previous efforts and is preparing an analysis of progress made toward reducing the deterioration of street conditions in keeping with our multi-year planned efforts for street maintenance. Additional consideration is likely to focus on the need for total reconstruction of selected City streets (e.g. Kasold Drive) in the future which will require debt financing.

Stormwater:  Public Works staff has analyzed the North Lawrence Drainage Study (NLDS) and is reviewing existing stormwater project needs in other parts of the community.  Priority for stormwater projects has traditionally been based on the ability of a proposed project to first mitigate property damage from stormwater concerns.  Projects that can reduce property damage rank higher than those focused on reducing yard drainage issues and similar concerns. The total price for all of the estimated North Lawrence Drainage study projects was $41 million.  The recommendations of the NLDS must be prioritized with the community-wide recommendations in the 1996 Stormwater master plan, and this prioritization is underway. Of the recommended improvements in the NLDS, the following two projects are viewed as higher priorities in addressing stormwater concerns  in  north Lawrence:

· 2^nd & Locust – Geometric improvements at this intersection are scheduled for an October, 2007 bid date, and storm sewer improvements are included in the scope of the project.  Although these improvements will not prevent some collection of water in the railroad underpass during significant rain events, they will enable the area to remain open during less significant events.

· Maple Street Pump Station – with a phased approach, improvements that include the construction of a pump station, installation of piping, and land acquisition, will provide meaningful benefits to an area in central north Lawrence that has no drainage relief path.  The estimated cost of this project is $4.3 million.

One-Stop Development Shop and City Offices:  The Commission will receive the implementation plan for the Matrix Consultant report on our development process on January 23. We will seek to proceed with the merger of the Planning and Neighborhood Resources Department into a combined Planning and Development Services Department.  One of the keys to a successful merger will be a physical merger of the departments in one location.  Staff is reviewing the possible acquisition/lease of a portion of the Riverfront mall facility to accomplish this goal.  If the City is able to acquire a location for additional City offices, there will be savings from future lease payments. There will also likely be capital debt needs for this acquisition and necessary improvements.

Major Equipment/Apparatus:  Several departments are involved in the preparation of vehicle/equipment/apparatus replacement plans that will address the long-term needs of the operations of the departments providing a variety of services to the community:

· Public Transit – as part of a plan implemented for vehicle replacement, funds have been set aside in the Equipment Reserve Fund for the purchase of replacement buses for the transit operation.  Orders would need to be made in 2007 for receipt of buses in 2008.

· Public Works – the street division has a significant amount of equipment that is at, near or past its service life.  Given that dependable equipment operations are at the core of an effective street maintenance program, several key pieces of equipment are needed to modernize the fleet.  Examples include a motor grader, heavy duty farm tractors for mowing the levee and airport, a truck mounted oil distributor (used for heating and spraying road oils for paving and patching), and other pieces of road repair equipment.  A detailed report on a phased in approach to funding this equipment replacement program will be forthcoming. 

· Lawrence/Douglas County Fire/Medical – the Fire/Medical Chief is preparing a fire apparatus replacement plan to include options (purchase and lease) for apparatus replacement over the next few years in an attempt to provide safe, operable, cost effective equipment for department staff.

· Parks & Recreation – development of a replacement plan to address ongoing equipment needs (major mowing equipment, tractors, flatbed, etc.) for this department is underway.

Partnership for Lawrence Athletics and Youth (PLAY) The City is a participant in the current study of athletic and recreational facilities for our community. The final study is anticipated in early spring, 2007.

Water/Sanitary Sewer:  Several projects related to growth of the community are on the horizon for both utilities.  These projects will be financed with utility rates as set forth in the approved rate plan. Whether construction project increases will require revision to the existing rate plan will be reviewed this year.

· Wakarusa Water Reclamation Facility (WWRF) – land acquisition is nearly complete, the basis of design report is in final stages of development, and staff anticipates the use of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process to select a design/build team to complete the construction of the facility and associated piping.  This will be a Commission agenda item in the coming weeks.

· Clinton Water Treatment Plant Expansion – increased capacity and regulatory compliance are the factors behind this second phase of a two phase expansion project, which is under design and will be in construction spring, 2007.

· SE Transmission Main – this project is associated with providing increase water supply and reliability to wholesale customers, the WWRF, and development predicted in the south of Wakarusa area.

· Water Towers (southeast and west) – as part of the previously mentioned transmission main project, a storage facility in the southeast area is anticipated at some phase of development of this area’s growth.  The west tower (along Stoneridge Drive in northwest Lawrence) is under design and will be a summer, 2008 project.

Wakarusa Service Center:  A site plan for the area adjacent to the Clinton Water Treatment Plant on Wakarusa Drive is being developed to allow for a multi-user service center that could potentially address needs for an evidence facility (Police Department), offices (Public Works department), and other City related uses.