CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
2008 City-wide annual report released
The City of Lawrence annual report has been posted to the web at www.lawrenceks.org. The report, a highlight drawn from departmental reports, features progress made supporting a growing community, including the Oread hotel project and the University of Kansas Boathouse in Burcham Park.
Special events in 2008 included the championships (and efforts to support the downtown celebrations of KU’s NCAA basketball championship) and the complimentary city football shuttle for all home football games in 2008.
Basic city services and public safety are also reviewed for the year with a numerical summary of activity. Also in the 2008 year end review is a listing of employee, local and national awards received by the city.
Website highlights city’s efforts to obtain federal funds
The city has prepared two new web pages to enhance public access and transparency regarding the city’s efforts to obtain federal funding for worthy local projects. The pages focus on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the traditional federal appropriations process.
Spring compost sale a success
The city’s Spring Compost Sale was held Thursday through Saturday, March 12-14. The compost was sold for $10 per scoop, which is approximately 3 cubic yards, or it was free for self-loaders. A total of 1,510 vehicles entered our facility over the three-day period. A total of 2,686 cubic yards of compost (1,746 tons) were distributed over the course of the 3 day event. At the close of the event on Saturday, there were 144 cubic yards of compost left. The implementation of a $10 per scoop fee for loading did not decrease demand, but it did slightly increase the number of vehicles that were self-loading. A total of $11,990 was generated during the 3-day compost sale. Please see attached memo for more details.
Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area Q&A
The Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) has prepared the attached question and answer document regarding the purpose and status of the Heritage Area. FFNHA, designated by Congress in 2006, is comprised of 41 counties along the Kansas-Missouri border and is headquartered in Lawrence. The Heritage Area exists to link cultural and historic sites and to promote and facilitate cultural tourism. By October 2009 the Heritage Area is to provide a management plan to the National Park Service and Department of the Interior for approval.
APWA career profile features Public Works staff member
The American Public Works Association (APWA) teamed with the Kansas City Star to develop a “Star in Education” insert focused on careers in Public Works. APWA selected Tammy Bennett, Assistant Public Works Director, to be one of the two career profiles included in the insert. Her profile is on page 2 of the insert. APWA will use this education piece through high schools and teachers nationwide.
Preservation Alliance provides match for planning grant
The Lawrence Preservation Alliance has presented the city with a $300 donation to help defray the city’s matching funds requirements for a grant to fund a Historic Preservation Planning Intern and the North of Stadium Historic Resources Survey. This donation is in addition to the $300 donation previously received from the Oread Neighborhood Association.