CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending December 3, 2010

City Commission election webpage launched

The City Clerk’s Office has posted 2011 City Commission election information online at http://www.lawrenceks.org/2011_election. The page includes instructions and links to the documents necessary to file as a candidate, important dates, and other resources such as the Guide to Candidates produced by the Kansas League of Municipalities. The filing deadline for the election is January 25, 2011, at noon. The primary election will be held on March 1, 2011, if seven or more candidates file. The general election will be held on April 5, 2011.

City and County team up to get better pricing on contracts

Douglas County and the City of Lawrence have consolidated their elevator maintenance contracts to acquire better pricing. The Department of Public Works and Douglas County worked together requesting and reviewing government contracts from various elevator maintenance contractors. By getting quotes for government contracts and adjusting some elevators to quarterly inspections, the City of Lawrence will realize a savings of approximately 44% for the year. We are presently paying $25,689.30. In 2011 the City will move to Dynatron Elevator Service at a cost of $14,300.00.

Yankee Tank Lake (Lake Alvamar)

A Supplemental Watershed Work Plan and Environmental Assessment has been prepared for Wakarusa Watershed Joint District No. 35 to upgrade Floodwater Retarding Dam No. 24 (Yankee Tank/Lake Alvamar Dam) in Douglas County to meet current applicable state and federal high hazard criteria. 

A public meeting to review and receive comment on the Supplemental Watershed Work Plan and Environmental Assessment has been scheduled for December 13, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Douglas County Commissioners Room in the Douglas County Courthouse.  Copies of the plan are available for review at the Wakarusa Joint Watershed District Office in Overbrook, Kansas, Douglas County Conservation District Office, 1217 Biltmore, Lawrence, Kansas and on the NRCS website: www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ws_rehab/wakarusa.html.

This work plan and environmental assessment are a required step in the rehabilitation of the Yankee Tank/Lake Alvamar Dam.  Due to the recreational facilities, Clinton Parkway and K-10 Highway immediately downstream of the dam, its classification was changed from low hazard to high hazard.  The existing dam currently does not meet the state and federal high hazard criteria thus necessitating the rehabilitation.

Division Chief Stark appointed to Crisis City Advisory Council

Major General Tod Bunting, Adjutant General of the State of Kansas, has invited Division Chief Bill Stark of Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical to become a member of the Crisis City Advisory Council. Crisis City provides incredible training capabilities to first responders, emergency management professionals, and those who “do the dirty work” at the local, state, and federal levels. The main purpose of the Crisis City Advisory Council is to provide recommendations and advice on management and development issues, including recommendations for Crisis City. As a leader in the first responder and emergency management communities, Chief Stark’s participation on the Crisis City Advisory Council will provide him with a unique opportunity to help shape the training and response capabilities for the first responders of Kansas.

City receives KDOT reimbursement for traffic signal maintenance

The city’s Traffic Division maintains 85 signalized intersections and the traffic signals at the intersections of US 40/ US 59 (Tee Pee Junction), Iowa and K-10, 27th Street and K-10, and beacons on K-10 near East Hills Business Park for the Kansas Department of Transportation. The state reimburses the city for Maintenance of these signals. For 2010 the city received $19,280.

November building permits

There were 173 permits issued in November 2010, compared to 152 permits issued in November 2009.  Permit valuation was $2,774,797 compared to $4,014,786 last year.  Fees were $28,150.20 for October versus $34,796.40 a year ago. Permits were issued for six new single-family dwellings last month.  This compares to five permits issued for new single-family dwellings in November last year. Please see the attached memo, summary, and full report for more information.