Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities Department

TO:	David Corliss, City Manager Cynthia Boecker, Assistant City Manager Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
FROM:	Jim Stuit, Project Manager
CC:	Dave Wagner, Director of Utilities Beth Frailey Krishtalka, Management Analyst Philip Ciesielski, Assistant Utilities Director
DATE:	January 9, 2008
RE:	January 15, 2008 Agenda Item

Please include the following item on the City Commission consent agenda for consideration at the January 15, 2008 meeting:

Reimburse Buffalo Bob’s Smokehouse – 719-21 Massachusetts for sprinkler system installation in the amount of $37,642.38

Program History.  The City Commission, at its June 6, 2006 meeting, authorized a tap incentive to downtown building and business owners in the 700 and 800 blocks of Massachusetts Street.  In order to provide  further incentive to downtown building and business owners, the City Commission allocated $250,000 in the 2007 and 2008 budgets to fund an incentive program that would reimburse property owners up to 75% of the cost of installing full sprinkler systems in selected downtown buildings.  The properties for the 2007/2008 program were approved by the City Commission on April 10, 2007.

Program Status.  To date, three of the approved downtown properties (including the one in this memo) have taken advantage of the incentive, and have been reimbursed a total of $84,687.15 as part of the program.  Several other downtown properties are anticipated to complete sprinkler system installation in 2008.

719-21 Massachusetts Status. The sprinkler system has been installed in 719-21 Massachusetts in compliance with NFPA-13 and City of Lawrence standards.  A summary of installation costs is attached.

Project Funding.  The program is funded by the non-bonded water construction account of the Utilities Department.

Action Request.  Utility Department staff requests approval to reimburse Buffalo Bob’s Smokehouse in the amount of $37,642.38 for sprinkler system installation at 719-21 Massachusetts.