CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City and University of Kansas finalize Letter of Intent – Added 11/03/08
The City and the University of Kansas have finalized the Letter of Intent regarding working together to enhance the transit systems with a goal of seamless service by July 1, 2009. Both parties have now executed the Letter of Intent and the KU-City Transit Planning Team continues to meet on a weekly basis.
October sales tax distributions
The City of Lawrence recently received its October sales tax distribution. The distribution is the result of retail sales from mid-August to mid-September. The amount budgeted in 2008 for total city sales tax revenue (city, county, and use taxes) equals $22,675,298. Using a trend analysis of previous distributions, a projection of 2008 sales tax revenue was $22,602,146 or $73,152 less than the amount budgeted.
Actual distributions for the January through October period (reflecting mid-November through mid-September sales) total $19,162,668. Projections based on the trend analysis anticipated $18,851,807 for January through October collections. As a result, the actual distributions for the ten months are $310,861 more than the amount projected. A spreadsheet showing total monthly sales tax distributions since 2001 is attached.
The 2008 to date sales tax distributions represent an increase of 4.0% over the same period in 2007. The 2008 actual amount represents a 1.6% increase over the 2008 projection. Based upon the first ten months results, it remains likely that our sales tax revenue will meet the budgeted amount.
City, Breakfast Optimists and Downtown Lawrence sponsor Halloween event
The 37th Annual Halloween Paint-In was held in Downtown Lawrence, sponsored by Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department, the Lawrence Breakfast Optimists Club and Downtown Lawrence, Inc. The Paint-In was open to those in 3rd grade and older. There were 45 participants this year. Participants had submitted sketches of their artwork earlier in the month and on Saturday, October 25, they reproduced their works on Downtown merchants’ windows. The event was free and underwritten by the Optimists Club. Please see attached photos of some of the artwork.
YSI improvements underway
Parks and Recreation Department staff has been working on various improvement projects at the Youth Sports Complex (YSI) this fall:
§ Removed all of the silt from the baseball/softball infields and replaced it with Ag Lime;
§ Laser leveled all of the baseball infields;
§ Installed a new irrigation main that will allow the irrigation of soccer fields 1-10 in the future;
§ Work will soon begin on irrigation for field #10;
§ The landscape staff is in the process of installing 28 new shade trees in the complex.
Staff also installed a new roof on the concessions/restroom building and repaired the storm sewer pump for the complex earlier in the year. This winter staff will address the soft spots that have developed in some of the parking areas.
City hosts 10th Annual Employment Law Update Seminar
The Legal Department / Human Relations Division conducted the 10th Annual Employment Law Update Seminar on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, at the Eldridge Hotel (see photo). Eighty-two (82) attorneys and human resources professionals attended the seminar that covered such topics as Case Law Updates, Effective Workplace Investigations and Report Writing, and Ethics. Cynthia Colbert, Paul Winn, Michelle Smith, Sharon Powley, and Jim Wisdom all helped make the seminar a success.
Transit System receives NAACP business award
The Lawrence-Douglas County Unit of the NAACP awarded the Lawrence Transit System the Business Impact Award during a ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 25. The “T” was honored for their leadership and contributions in Lawrence. Sate Representative Barbara Ballard, an educator and administrator at the University of Kansas, legislator and a leader in civic involvement, delivered the keynote address at the event.
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.