CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Staff presents “Solid Waste Survival Training”
On November 12th Solid Waste Field Supervisor Craig Pruett was a featured speaker at a jointly sponsored Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Solid Waste Association of North America/Kansas “Sunflower Chapter” training course for both municipal solid waste transfer station operators and solid waste haulers. There were 80 participants at this event.
Craig created and presented a power point presentation called “Solid Waste Survival Training”. The information in the presentation pertained to the brain and how it adapts to survive in working environments. Craig has adapted the presentation for the Solid Waste Division’s employees and will be presenting it in the spring of 2009.
Parks and Recreation hosts Breakfast with Santa
The Parks and Recreation Department held Breakfast with Santa on December 13 at the Community Building. Families brought their children to participate in holiday activities such as arts and crafts, face painting, and visiting Santa Claus with their Christmas wish lists. Chris Cakes fed pancakes and sausages to 167 children and adults. Please see the attached photos of the event.
Public invited to comment on rental licensing and inspection proposal
The Planning and Development Services Department will be presenting a proposal in February to the City Commission to expand the rental licensing/inspection program to all rental units which are 50 years old or older. Property owners, property managers, neighborhood associations, realtors, tenants and the general public will have opportunities to meet with staff to review the proposal and to make comments prior to the presentation.
The first opportunities to speak with staff about the expanded program will be Monday, January 12 and Tuesday, January 13. The meeting format will be individual conferences. To schedule a meeting time, provide comments, or ask questions, members of the public may contact Brian Jimenez, Code Enforcement Manager, bjimenez@ci.lawrence.ks.us, (785) 832-3111.
Additionally, a public input meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 15 and will include a presentation of the rental licensing/inspection program. Questions and comments will follow the presentation. This meeting will be held at City Hall, City Commission Chambers, 6 E. 6th St.
BNSF Depot update
In November, the City sent BNSF a listing of items that the City and Depot Redux (a volunteer group aimed at improving and preserving the depot) would like to see repaired and improved in the depot. BNSF has indicated it will provide a written response to the listing. Recently, as a result of the November correspondence, BNSF informed the City that it would proceed with suggested plumbing repairs at the facility. These repairs represent approximately $4,500 in improvements. It does not appear likely that BNSF will proceed with some of the larger repair items, but more will be known when BNSF formally responds. BNSF has indicated general openness to a donation of the facility to the City, provided that BNSF’s interest in maintaining an office at the depot, or having comparable office space provided in close proximity, is protected. Attached is a copy of the latest Depot Redux newsletter, which provides some additional updates.
City staff has been working with Amtrak, Depot Redux and Historic Resources Administrator Lynne Braddock Zollner regarding placement of some new Amtrak signage at the depot. The signage is standard signage (see design drawings) that Amtrak is using at all station locations. Staff is working to balance visibility of the sign for passengers with preserving the historic appearance of the facility. It is anticipated that the signage will be placed sometime in the first part of 2009.