CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending December 21, 2007

Update on Burroughs Creek Project

On November 7, 2007, the City submitted an application to KDOT under the Transportation Enhancement (TE) Program to fund construction of the Burroughs Creek Trail. The City’s property acquisition team will soon begin acquiring the needed property interests for the project. Please see the attached memo for more information.

Update on Federal Earmark Requests

The City submitted federal earmark requests for four projects during the FY08 appropriations process. The requests were $2,320,000 for Transit facility needs and bus replacements, $1,000,000 for intersection improvements at K10 and Franklin Road, $1,000,000 for intersection improvements at Bob Billings and the SLT, and $1,100,000 for stormwater improvements at 23^rd and Ousdahl. While the FY08 appropriations process has not been completed, at this point it appears that only the Transit request is likely to receive any funding (possibly $147,000). When a final bill passes and is signed by President Bush staff will update the City Commission again. Staff plans to submit the same requests for FY09, with an expected deadline of early March 2008. City staff will work with congressional staff members to convey the importance of these projects and continually improve the competitiveness of our requests.

Eagle Bend Golf Course Evaluation

Over the past few months Parks and Recreation staff evaluated the condition of Eagle Bend Golf Course and conducted a survey of golfing patrons to help establish priorities for future improvements to golf operations. Please see the attached memo for more information on these initiatives.

Parks and Recreation Announces Teamwork Award Winners

The Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department announced the recipients of the 2007 Tom Wilkerson Teamwork Awards at its annual holiday luncheon Friday, December 14. Karen Risner, administrative support, Laurel Kupka and Levi Donals, marketing interns, and the Lawrence Mountain Bike Club and Patrol were recipients of the award. Please see the attached report and program from the luncheon.

Lawrence Public Library Reports Circulation Increases

Library Public Library Director Bruce Flanders reports that library circulation has increased (setting new records) each year for the past nine years. This year is no exception, with total annual circulation again exceeding one million items. The library put together the attached chart showing that circulation has set new records each month for the past four years. Flanders stated, “These statistics are just one performance measurement that demonstrates that the Lawrence Public Library is providing tremendous value to our community.”

End of Year Parks and Recreation Projects

The Parks and Recreation Department has recently undertaken a number of projects and activities, including the following:

• Breakfast with Santa: Attached are photos from Lawrence Parks and Recreation "Breakfast with Santa" activity. 152 people ate breakfast and 175 total people attended the event. This is the third year that Parks and Recreation offered this program. Along with breakfast, we provided a holiday arts and crafts booth, a holiday face painting booth and Santa (employee Bill Rogers from the facilities maintenance division) was there too.
• Tree Planting Downtown and at Centennial Park: See attached photos.
• Playground Upgrades: Work has begun on the Clinton and Peterson Parks playground installation. This is a two part project involving the removal of the large swing at Clinton Park, moving it to Peterson Park, reconfiguring the Miracle playground system at Clinton Park and finally removal of the obsolete playground structure.