CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
May building permits report
There were 133 permits issued in May 2009, compared to 168 in 2008. Permit valuation was $3,949,165 compared to $23,412,042 last year. Fees were $38,385.40 compared to $76,453.48 last year. Year to date permit valuation is down from $61,221,338 to $32,205,349 and fees are down from $281,821 to $233,146. Eight permits were issued for new single-family dwellings along with two permits for duplexes, compared to seven single-family and one duplex in May last year. No other residential permits were issued in May of either year. Please see the attached memo, building permits report and summary report for more details.
BNSF Depot acquisition update
BNSF is working to respond to the request made by the city to the BNSF Donation Committee requesting that the building be donated to the city and the underlying ground be leased to the city. BNSF’s real estate arm, Jones Lang LaSalle, is currently working on assembling detailed information regarding the depot and an outline of the city’s needs for review by the BNSF Donation Committee. It is staff’s understanding that assuming the BNSF Donation Committee acts favorably on the request, there will be more in depth discussion with the city on the specific real estate documents to enable this transaction. A representative from Jones Lang LaSalle was in town on June 16 to take photos of the depot property and visit with BNSF staff members.
City submits Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant application
On Friday, staff will submit the city’s application for $858,600 in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funds through the Department of Energy as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. A copy of the grant document is attached and will be added to the City’s ARRA website (www.lawrenceks.org/recovery). As previously reviewed with the City Commission, the purpose of the program is to assist eligible entities in creating and implementing strategies to reduce fossil fuel emissions in a manner that is environmentally sustainable and, to the maximum extent practicable, maximizes benefits for local and regional communities; reduce the total energy use of the eligible entities; and improve energy efficiency in the building sector, the transportation sector, and other appropriate sectors. Following review of candidate projects by the City Commission, the grant application includes: up to $100,000 for a Sustainability Coordinator to be jointly funded with Douglas County; $550,000 for HVAC and lighting upgrades at the Lawrence Public Library and $208,600 for replacement of lights along Massachusetts Street to LED. Application for these funds is due by June 25, 2009. Within 120 days of award of the grant, the city will have to submit an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (EECS), which staff is working to develop.
Legislation restricts political leaflets in city buildings & structures
Included in a bill that made changes to a number of state statutes, is an amendment to K.S.A. 25-4169 which prohibits the use of public funds or equipment to advocate for the election of a candidate for state or local office. Senate Bill 366 adds a provision prohibiting the distribution of political pamphlets or fliers in buildings or structures owned, leased, or rented by a municipality. The amendment provides that "no municipality shall permit or allow any person to distribute, or cause to be distributed, within any building or other structure, owned, leased or rented by such municipality any brochure, flier, political fact sheet or other document which expressly advocates the nomination, election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate for state or local office unless each candidate for such state or local office is permitted or allowed to do so in the same manner." The law which becomes effective on July 1, 2009, will apply to such city facilities as City Hall and other city offices, the Arts Center, the Depot, and perhaps city-owned park shelters, among other city facilities.