CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Week ending April 2, 2010
Parks and Recreation awarded grant
The Parks and Recreation Department has been notified that they have been awarded a Waste Tire Products Grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in the amount of $13,591. This grant will fund half the cost of installing recycled rubber playground surfacing at South Park.
Pavement Management Program survey
City Commissioners have inquired how our Pavement Management Program compares to other cities. The Public Works Department prepared a short survey and partnered with the American Public Works Association (APWA) to find similar communities throughout the United States. Surveys were sent and 16 communities responded. A memo and summary of replies is attached. In the absence of a national standard for measuring pavement condition, staff continues to look for opportunities to compare our pavement condition index to indices used by other cities.
Skate Park Surface Repair Update
The Parks & Recreation Department recently completed work to patch cracks in the surface of the skate park at Centennial. See attached photos of the surface after the cracked areas were milled; asphalt patches were later installed. This work is considered a temporary fix to allow the park to remain open while permanent solutions are being researched and bid. In the next two weeks staff will be meeting with representatives of firms that specialize in skate park design and installation. This process should begin to identify long term solutions for the surface cracking and options to upgrade some of the features in the park. It is anticipated upgrades to the park will be recommended for City Commission consideration in early summer.
Volunteers assist with flower plantings downtown
“Project Pansy 2010” was carried out on March 27, when 5 Parks and Recreation staff and 16 volunteers braved the 45 degree rainy weather to plant 1500 yellow, orange, & blue pansies in downtown (see photos). Corporate volunteers included employees from Best Buy Inc. and Bartlett & West Engineering. Other volunteers included local youth, parents and retirees from the community.
Street repairs completed
Among many others, the Public Works Department recently completed major patches on Bob Billings near Crestline and on E 23rd Street. The repairs consisted of milling the areas, repairing the base, and installing the patches.
4th Quarter 2009 Economic Barometer
The Economic Barometer report for the fourth quarter of 2009 has been released by Economic Development Coordinator/Planner Roger Zalneraitis.
Santa Fe Station (BNSF Depot) Update
Staff received draft documents from the BNSF Railway to accomplish the transfer of the Santa Fe Station to the City of Lawrence in late March. We are working on reviewing the documents and will be discussing the issues with the BNSF and the City Commission in the coming weeks. It has also been confirmed with KDOT officials that KDOT will likely announce its Transportation Enhancement Grants in late June.