Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning & Development Services

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Brian Jimenez, Code Enforcement Manager
CC:	Scott McCullough, Director Planning & Development Services
Date:	October 14, 2010
RE:	1313 Haskell

Background

On September 28, 2010, staff presented an update to the City Commission regarding the status of the repair work/clean up that is to be completed by the October 15, 2010 deadline date that is identified in Resolution No. 6885. 

Staff informed the Commission that Mr. Seibel had completed a diminutive amount of repairs to the house and detached garage and that those repairs had occurred only recently after Mr. Seibel learned that staff was going to provide an update to the Commission.  The City Commission directed staff to provide a final update on October 19, 2010 and to prepare for the demolition of the structures.

Since that update, staff of Development Services has had several contacts with Mr. Seibel during the week of October 11^th as he initiated contact in reference to submitting a building permit application for the construction of the porch.  At the time of the writing of this memorandum, Mr. Seibel had submitted a building permit application for review on October 13, 2010 at 4:50pm. Staff will begin the review process and provide additional information to the Commission on October 19, 2010.  

Furthermore, all additional work performed by Mr. Seibel since September 28, 2010, has been viewed by staff as addressing only minor items identified in Section 3 of the Resolution.  The following pictures taken on October 12, 2010 identify the small changes that have occurred to the structures since September 28, 2010.

The Resolution authorizes the City to raze the two structures once the Commission reviews the progress of the repair/clean up and determines Mr. Seibel has not complied with the requirements identified in Section 3 of the Resolution.

It should be noted that staff conservatively estimates that over 100 hours have been exhausted on this property since the first code enforcement action was initiated on March 29, 2006.

Staff Recommendation

Mr. Seibel has not successfully fulfilled the fifteen repair/clean up items; therefore, it is staff’s professional opinion that the order outlined in Resolution No. 6885 to demolish the garage and residence should be enforced and implemented.  In preparation to carry out the order of the resolution, staff has contacted three excavation companies to provide removal bids. If the commission agrees, the process to remove the structures should commence immediately.