Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

TO:	Dave Corliss, Debbie Van Saun
FROM:	Shoeb Uddin
CC:	Chuck Soules, Toni Wheeler, John Miller, Scott Wagner, Diane Trybom, Fred DeVictor, Mark Hecker
Date:	July 31, 2007
RE:	Oregon Trail Park Benefit District Project No. 7-ST2-307 (BD) August 07, 2007 Agenda Item

Please include the following item on the City Commission Regular Agenda for public hearing and consideration of an ordinance levying the maximum assessments on lots, pieces and parcels of land in the city of Lawrence, Kansas, to pay the costs for the construction of a Public Park including Park Facilities and other necessary and appropriate improvements, as authorized by resolution 6707.

Project Description

As part of the Oregon Trail Addition the development is providing approximately 4.3 acres for the development of a park.  The park will contain a recreation path/trail, playground area, and a pond which will also serve for storm water detention. An additional improvement contained in the benefit district includes an open channel for drainage.

Project Status/History

December 7, 2006	Request for benefit district.
December 12, 2006	Park Board approval of concept.
December 19, 2006	Concept of using a benefit district for park development introduced to City Commission.
February 6, 2007	City Commission establishes public hearing date. (Resolution 6698)
February 27, 2007	City Commission held public hearing. (Resolution 6707)
June 12, 2007	Request to waive bid requirements.
July 10, 2007	City Commission waived bid requirements.

Project Status/Schedule

· The final plat of Oregon Trail was approved by the City Commission on September 5, 2006.

· The public improvement plans were approved June 20, 2007. 

· The plat was filed May 14, 2007.  (Book 18, Page 132)

· Construction to begin summer of 2007.

Method of Assessment: Based upon a ratio of the square footage of each lot/parcel to the square footage of the entire improvement district.

Project Funding

The improvements are being funded 100% by the benefit district, 0% by the city at large. 

Total Cost of Improvements: $811,000.00

Total Construction Cost: $682,413.78, according to bid proposal submitted by R.D Johnson Excavating Company. On July 10, 2007 the City Commission accepted this bid waiving the bidding requirements for this project. The city would contract with R. D. Johnson Excavating and pay for the construction of the park.  An agreement, bonding, warranties, and insurance would be required as with any other project.

Action Requested:  Hold public hearing and, pending comments, approve Ordinance 8129 setting out the findings of the Governing Body adopting the maximum assessments for each tract of land within the benefit district.

Respectfully submitted,

Shoeb Uddin, P.E.

City Engineer