CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Illustration of City/County funding relationships and impacts on taxpayers
The attached spreadsheet illustrates the impact of current City/County funding relationships for dispatch and the Health Department on taxpayers in Lawrence and in the County outside of Lawrence. The calculations demonstrate that the owner of a $160,000 home in the City pays 97% more for the Health Department and 258% more for dispatch than the owner of the same valued home in the County outside the City, despite the fact that City and County residents receive the same services. The spreadsheet also illustrates the effects on City and County mill levies if the County were to fund 100% of these County-wide services.
Westar transmission line clearance project
In the next one to two weeks, a Westar Energy contractor will begin a transmission line tree clearance project in West Lawrence. This transmission line runs adjacent to Kasold, from Peterson to K-10. Wright Tree Service, Westar’s contractor, will make personal contact with each affected resident landowner, or leave a number for the landowner to call for more information. The attached letter from Westar contains more details on the project. Landowners may also contact Westar at 866-562-5121 for further information.
Report on All-America City competition
Please see the attached report on the All-America City Award competition. The City sent a small delegation to the awards competition in early June. Lawrence was named a finalist, but did not win the award.
Report on train horn quiet zone process
The attached report is a review of the train horn quiet zone implementation process, and the City’s research into the feasibility of establishing a quiet zone in North Lawrence.
SDAT materials posted online
The final report of the Sustainable Design Assessment Team has been posted online at http://www.lawrenceks.org/sdat/. City staff created a table of contents of the recommendations in the report, which is also posted.
Parks & Recreation offers camps and classes
The attached photos are from some of the recent camps (Mini Munchkin, Tennis and Gymnastic camps) overseen by Jo Ellis, Recreation Program Supervisor. Joel Nichols from Channel 9 News in Kansas City was a guest speaker for the Mini Munchkin Camp. 31 fitness classes are underway for the summer session with an average of 15 participants per class. Fitness classes are offered 7 days a week at various times and locations.
Junior League Golf underway
Junior League Golf (for boys and girls 12-17 years old) runs for six weeks and promotes fun competition for junior golfers. This year’s league has over thirty participants. See attached photo of a foursome out on the course.
Traffic Engineer appointed to Institute of Transportation Engineers delegation
Traffic Engineer David Woosley has been appointed to the Institute of Transportation Engineers delegation to the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. See the attached letter for more information.
Planning staff presents to MOKAN wireless association
Planner Sandra Day was recently a guest speaker at the MOKAN (Missouri-Kansas) Wireless Association quarterly meeting. The meeting included more than 60 individuals representing the industry including site acquisition firms, engineers, designers, tower builders (contractors) as well as representatives of other carriers/communication providers and at least one reporter an industry publication. Day discussed trends and concerns expressed by communities in the public planning side of siting wireless communication facilities, as well as the basic planning process and emerging stealth technologies.
Public Works hosts webcast
The national webcast entitled Local Government Climate Change Initiatives: Practical Strategies for Reducing Greenhouse Gases was hosted in City Hall on June 12, 2007. The webcast was a partnership presentation by the National Association of Government Environmental Professionals (NALGEP) and the Sierra Club Cool Cities initiative. Attendees included City Commissioner Boog Highberger, Sustainability Advisory Board members (Cindy Strecker and Chris Cobb), local Sierra Club members (Carey Maynard-Moody and George Brenner), and city staff (Kathy Richardson, Tammy Bennett, Lisa Pool, Jeanette Klamm, Dena Mezger and Steve Bennett).