Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities Department

TO:	David Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Shelley Schupp, Project Engineer
CC:	Cynthia Boecker, Assistant City Manager Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager Dave Wagner, Director of Utilities Scott McCullough, Director of Planning and Development Services Philip Ciesielski, Assistant Director of Utilities Russell Brickell, Fire Inspector
Date:	January 2, 2008
RE:	KU Boathouse – Ordinance Variance Request

Please include the following item on the City Commission consent agenda for consideration at the January 8, 2008 meeting.

The Department of Utilities received the attached letter from Landplan Engineering, PA, acting on behalf of the University of Kansas, requesting a variance to City Code for the proposed KU Boathouse in the City’s Burcham Park. Specifically, the letter requests approval to make a 6-inch diameter fire line tap on a water main extension that will effectively have the capacity of a 6-inch diameter water main. There are no existing water mains larger than 6-inch diameter available to this site. Chapter XIX, Article 19-122, of the City Code stipulates that “maximum size of any fire connection shall be at least two inches less in diameter than the main from which the fire connection is made, provided; that the City Commission may waive this requirement.”

The 1997 Uniform Fire Code, Appendix 3A, Section 5.2 requires a minimum fire flow of 1500 gpm while maintaining a residual pressure in the system of at least 20 psi. On October 10, 2003, the fire department tested the existing fire hydrant in Burcham Park, and found that the fire flow was 2655 gpm (with a residual pressure of at least 20 psi).  The Fire Protection Engineer, acting on behalf of the University of Kansas, has determined that the size and configuration of the existing and proposed water mains is adequate for the fire sprinkler system to be installed in the KU Boathouse and meets the fire flow requirements for this project.  Russell Brickell, City Fire Inspector has reviewed the memo from the Fire Protection Engineer and agrees with his findings.

The Department of Utilities and the Fire Department have reviewed the request and we have no objections to granting this variance.    

Action Request.  Utility Department staff and Fire Department staff requests approval from the City Commission to grant the requested variance from 19-122 of the code for the proposed KU Boathouse located in the City’s Burcham Park.