CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
HUD “Best of the Best Practices” Award received
The city, in partnership with Tenants to Homeowners, Inc., the city’s local non-profit affordable housing developer, was awarded the “Best of the Best Practices” Award at the annual HUD Spotlight on Excellence Conference on August 12 in Kansas City. The award recognized the Homewood Gardens affordable first time homeowner project at 17th and Bullene Avenue. The Community Development Division staff includes Rehabilitation Specialists Larry Hamm and Tony Hoch and Neighborhood Programs Specialist Lesley Rigney. Margene Swarts is the Development Services assistant director in the Planning and Development Services Department. The attached PowerPoint was presented by staff at Tuesday’s conference.
From an initial field of 16 applicants throughout Kansas and western Missouri, the City/TTH partnership project made the list of eight finalists and was invited to make a presentation at the conference regarding the project. The project was subsequently selected as the “Best of the Best Practices” for 2008.
Indoor Aquatic Center Annual Maintenance Underway
Parks and Recreation shuts down the Indoor Aquatic Center for two weeks in August every year to perform maintenance. Work includes draining both the leisure and competitive pools and preventive maintenance on all mechanical systems as well as performing detailed cleaning and painting. Photos of work underway are attached.
Playground renovation introduces reused rubber tires
Parks and Recreation recently completed an extensive playground renovation at Clinton Park, 901 W 5th Street. The upgrade is a continuation of the park renovation that was started in 2006 with the new park shelter and restroom. This is the first project in the parks to use recycled tire rubber for the surfacing under the playground. The surfacing is made by processing old tires, cleaning the rubber and then color coating and sealing the product to eliminate the black residue that would rub off on other surfaces. An additional benefit is the surfacing it will not grow weeds as easily as the wood chips. Attached photos detail the completed renovation and installation of the surfacing.
School Board recognizes SRO program's national award
At the Monday, Aug. 11 School Board meeting, the Lawrence Police Department’s School Resource Officers were recognized for receiving the National Model Agency Award from the National Association of School Resource Officers.
"We are extremely proud of our SROs and the work they have done in the junior and senior high schools." said Lawrence Police Captain Dan Ward, who supervised the SRO program in 2007-08. "One of the key elements to our success is the level of dedication and concern our officers have for the youth in our community. Our SROs act as counselors, teachers and law enforcement officers in an attempt to provide the best possible learning environment for the students." The department’s media release is attached.
SROs also are engaged in a number of student-related activities outside of the school environment, such as Police Camp; Alcohol Compliance Checks; Hawks, Cops and Kids; and the Seventh-Grade Football Program.
Present for the Monday recognition were Lawrence SROs and program supervisors: Kresten Spurling (West), Don Hicks (Central 2007-08), Eric Barkley (Southwest), Brian Kelly (South 2007-08), Ryan Halsted (Free State), Micah Stegall (Central), Myron Grady (South), Paul Fellers (program supervisor), Willie Brown (LHS), Matt Sarna (Free State 2007-08), and Dan Ward (2007-08 program supervisor).
July 2008 building permit reports
July recorded a high for the year in building permit valuation ($29,438,340) and fees ($157,109.10). Year-to-date fees are $508,902.10. New home construction included 6 new single family;1 duplex and 14 apartment permits issued. See attached summary report and detailed report for more information.
Update from Public Works crews
The concrete crew in the Street Division has been rebuilding a catch basin rebuild on Louisiana Street across from 29th Place. They also have replaced the basin lids on 19th Street west of Alabama in preparation for the new curb that is scheduled to be installed. Photos attached.
Crews also responded to the plugged sump pump at the North Lawrence pump station and removed the blockage and removed debris from the area. Photos attached.
Recycling Annual Report
The Solid Waste and the Waste Reduction and Recycling divisions have completed an annual report of recycling in the Lawrence community. In 2007, more than 30,314 tons of materials were recycled through City and private sector efforts in Lawrence representing a 35 percent recycling rate, which is believed to be the highest in Kansas and is higher than the national average (last listed by EPA as 32 percent). The City of Lawrence had a 4% decrease in the tons of material put in the landfill in 2007 compared to 2006.