CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending December 10, 2010

Utilities Department to publish annual update to standards and details

The Department of Utilities recently completed its annual review of construction material specifications, design criteria, and standard details for watermains and sanitary sewers.  Notable changes include the following:

• Acceptance of Cross Linked Polyethylene Tubing (PEX) for water service connections ¾” to 3”. The allowance of the PEX plastic for water service connections is an alternate to traditional copper service lines. The plastic piping is significantly less expensive than the copper in the current bid environment. Utilities Department crews have been using this material on a trial basis for services and several development projects have installed the material on cul-de-sac dead end lines.
• Acceptance of AVK models 2700 or 2780 fire hydrants. The inclusion of AVK as an acceptable fire hydrant manufacturer increases the number of approved manufacturers to three thus increasing the degree of competition as projects are bid.

Several other minor modifications have been made to various sections in order to correct identified omissions and errors noted in the original publication. The corrections made do not alter the existing material requirements nor do they pose an impact to material or development costs. A complete list of modifications and updated documents has been posted to the Department of Utilities website and is available for general public access.

Staff presents at paving conference

Mark Thiel, Assistant Public Works Director recently presented the Pavement Management System at KU's 54th Annual Asphalt Paving Conference.

North of stadium area historic resources survey

Planning and Development Services has completed a Historic Preservation Fund grant funded historic resources survey and building inventory of the area north of the University of Kansas Memorial Stadium from Indiana Street to Michigan Street and from 9^th Street to 11^th Street. The survey consists of information on building construction dates, owners, builders, architects and brief physical descriptions. This survey work and the associated survey summary document will allow the Lawrence Historic Resources Commission and the City of Lawrence to continue its long term goal of creating a comprehensive inventory of historic resources within the City. Individual building survey forms may be viewed using the Kansas Historical Society’s interactive online database Kansas Historic Resources Inventory (KHRI) http://khri.kansasgis.org/. The survey summary report may be viewed on the City’s web page at http://www.lawrenceks.org/pds/historic_resources .