Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

 

TO:

Mayor and City Commissioners

FROM:

City Manager David L. Corliss

Date:

June 9, 2009

RE:

Draft City Commission Goals

 

At its May 26 Study Session, the City Commission held a discussion of goals.  This draft document seeks to recite the general consensus achieved at the goal setting session concerning next steps in these goals.

 

Existing goals and current language descriptions are maintained followed by next steps.  It is anticipated that Commissioners will discuss revisions and edits to the description at their June 16 City Commission meeting.

 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:  Promoting the economic development of Lawrence to provide varied work and business opportunities.

 

Recent successes

  • New Economic Development policy
  • In house cost benefit model with analysis
  • TIFF and TDD successes including Oread and Bauer Farms
  • Lawrence Douglas-County Bioscience Authority development of incubator

 

Next steps

  • Staff to provide Commission with status briefing on former Farmland Industries property and city’s efforts to facilitate industrial park development at the site; proceed with annexation of property.
  • Proceed with providing water/sewer infrastructure at the Lawrence Municipal Airport and continue to promote the airport for economic development opportunities.
  • Proceed with improvements to the development process to ensure adequate facilitation for quality development, including incentives for infill development
  • Schedule Commission discussion on governance structure for economic development partnership
  • In cooperation with our economic development partners, the city should focus efforts to:
    • make Lawrence among the most attractive for “green” jobs
    • enhance and market Lawrence as a retirement destination;
    • explore additional industrial park locations
    • promote additional research fields at the University of Kansas with economic development benefits

 

  • Provide staff report on economic development successes in other communities and analysis of tools used.
  • Provide staff report on economic development financing options used in other communities. (Commissioner Johnson suggestion)

 

PLANNED GROWTH:  Encouraging growth that protects our environment, neighborhoods, and cultural features while benefiting all of our citizens.

 

Recent successes

  • Planning and Development Services, a merged department
  • Adoption of International Codes
  • Enactment of Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) Code
  • Adoption of sector plans

 

Next steps

°   Continue efforts to improve the responsiveness and outcomes of the development process, including:  participation with development stakeholders in recommending Development Code amendments which reflect community values and needs, appropriately encourage infill development, establish appropriate measurement tools for the development process, and reflect scale and cost reasonableness.

  • Continue city’s master planning efforts, including a review of the Urban Growth Area boundaries.
  • Complete water and waste water master plans to ensure appropriate attention to maintenance, growth and regulatory needs.

 

COMMUNITY BUILDING:  Creating social capital and celebrating our heritage.

 

Recent successes

  • Formation and operation of Destination Management, Inc.
  • Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area designation and efforts to include a focus on Lawrence
  • 2008 Get Downtown event
  • Community efforts driving work to preserve Santa Fe Depot

 

Next steps

  • Commission direction on planned rehabilitation of the former Carnegie Library.
  • Staff report on options for increased cleaning efforts in Downtown areas.
  • Review opportunities for enhancements at the Lawrence Public Library.
  • Commission discussion on homeless shelter with focus on city’s role.
  • Staff report on efforts to enhance Lawrence community events, including review of efforts in other communities, opportunities for city signature event and city coordination and promotion.
  • Staff report on community planning process to develop a recreation center located west of Kasold.
  • Schedule Commission discussion to consider charging a body with completing an inventory of historical structures and recommended prioritization of the structures.
  • Seek educational and publicity opportunities to encourage recreational activities including walking and biking downtown.

 

ENVIRONMENT ISSUES:  Integrating the environment into our decisions as we work towards a sustainable city.

 

Recent successes

  • Energy code adopted and first year of implementation in 2008
  • Voter support of transit system
  •  Mayor’s Task Force on Climate Protection
  • Selection of alternative fuels for transit vehicles that included a community process for developing selection strategy
  • Implemented city wide vehicle idling policy

 

Next steps

°   Facilitate public discussion and review of possible city sponsored curbside recycling program, including explore feasibility of a pilot program and in-depth review of possible program costs and benefits.

  • Continue to use stimulus funding to support transit system.
  • Seek publicity opportunities to tell the city’s story of green efforts including alternative fuel transit vehicles and energy saving projects.
  • Hire Sustainability Coordinator (possibly in cooperation with the county) and task the position with raising the sustainability message and substance for the community, including reducing city energy consumption and costs, green business enhancement and other sustainable initiatives.
  • Schedule Commission receipt of report from Peak Oil Taskforce.
  • Staff report on status of Chapter 16 (Environmental Chapter of Comprehensive Plan)  including timeline for report to City Commission.
  • Schedule Commission discussion of sensitive land language in development code and farmland preservation issue.
  • Staff report on existing tools and possible enhanced tools  that support infill development

 

NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY:  Improving the livability of all Lawrence neighborhoods.

 

Recent successes

  • Additional resources dedicated to street maintenance program
  • Sidewalk improvements in “gap” areas
  • Additional resources dedicated to public safety with new fire trucks and full staffing in Police Department
  • Approved TND Code

 

Next steps

  • Schedule Commission discussion about approved and unfunded traffic calming plans to focus on funding options and timeline expectations.
  • Staff report on number of school crossing locations that are absent crosswalks.
  • Staff report on sidewalk gaps in areas surrounding schools.
  • Staff report on options for enhancing City Code compliance regarding zoning (single-family residence), yard and blight maintenance, including development of useful performance measurements.

 

  • Seek educational and publicity opportunities:
    • To encourage proper yard maintenance including mowing and trimming;
    • For TND so neighbors are informed about allowed and prohibited uses in infill development;
    • On sidewalk maintenance responsibilities including repair and clearing;
    • To highlight street equity issues and demonstrate that all neighborhoods are receiving street maintenance including the analytical basis for decisions of street and curb repairs.

 

TRANSPORTATION:  Improving access for all citizens.

 

Recent successes

  • Coordination with KU transit system
  • Reconstituted the Metropolitan Planning Organization
  • Delivered report on Intelligent Transportation System
  • Working with federal legislators for requests for streets and road funding

Next steps

  • Schedule Commission briefing on South Lawrence Trafficway and US 59 highway from state and/or federal transportation agency.
  • Complete phase II of transit planning effort to coordinate routes with improvements launching in summer/fall 2010.  Consider additional opportunities for KU coordination and other improvements to increase ridership.
  • Staff report and briefing on past and current efforts to extend 31st Street east of Haskell Avenue.
  • Staff report on existing tools that facilitate development supporting other modes of transportation.

 

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT:  Protecting the integrity of downtown while maintaining it as a unique community resource.

 

Suggested re-wording:   Enhance the vitality of downtown while maintaining it as a unique community treasure.

 

Recent successes

  • Resources dedicated to downtown infrastructure
  • Community events focused on downtown

 

Next steps

  • Staff report on options to increase foot patrol and cleanliness efforts in the downtown area.
  • Engage merchants to help identify strategies to garner support for hosting events in downtown.
  • Staff report on opportunities to encourage additional re-development in the downtown area, including newly enacted legislation for community improvement districts.
  • Staff report on parking fees and fines for downtown parking system.
  • Staff report on other communities’ activities to be proactive with downtown development.
  • Carnegie rehabilitation and active use
  • Library improvements

 

SERVICE DELIVERY:  Provide excellent city services consistent with resources available.

 

Recent successes

  • Public safety successes with new fire trucks and full staffing in the Police Department
  • Infrastructure investments
  • Majority of city employees’ time is spent on critically important activities included in service delivery

 

Next steps

°   Staff report on improvements to performance measurement system, including engagement of citizens and stakeholders in selected metrics and measurements that better define “success” in city services.

  • Staff report on employee cross training efforts.
  • Staff report on quality assurance standards used when working with vendors.
  • Conduct citizen survey in 2010.
  • Staff report on current and past eGov initiatives including efforts with electronic utility bills and online payments.

 

Suggested Next Steps:

The City Commission should provide staff with revisions to the goals and next steps.