CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending December 31, 2010

 

 

City Commission Goals Statement update

Staff has updated the City Commission Goals Statement, adopted in July 2009, with significant actions taken toward achieving the goals.

 

KU development of Center for Design Research at Chamney dairy site

The City has received the attached communication from the University of Kansas concerning their plans for development of a Center for Design Research involving interdisciplinary research for current and developing energy performance systems.  This Center will be located along Bob Billings Parkway near the old Chamney dairy barn site (see draft site concepts). Scott McCullough, Director of Planning and Development Services, is coordinating the City’s response under the City/University land use agreement to ensure compliance with the agreement and facilitation of the various project elements.   

 

Parks and Recreation presents Teamwork Awards

The Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department held its annual Holiday Luncheon and Teamwork Recognition on Friday, December 17.  During the luncheon, the Tom Wilkerson Teamwork Awards were presented. Winners of the Teamwork Awards were:

  1. Category I (full-time employees): Paul Baumchen, horticulturist II; Rodney Croucher, horticulture field supervisor; Brent Hill, park district #3 field supervisor; Lenny Irey, senior park and facility maintenance; Lee Ice, youth sports supervisor; and Jamie Reed, recreation center programmer.
  2. Category II (part-time employees): Fran Hopkins, part-time aerobics instructor; Carolyn McGruder and Beverly Mumford, recreation center leaders. 
  3. Category III (other groups or individuals): Black & Veatch and Westar Energy volunteers; Fred DeVictor; David Ambler; Tom Sheely; and the City of Lawrence Utilities Department.

Please see the attached report for photos and more information about the winners of the Teamwork Awards and their contributions to the success of the Parks and Recreation Department.

 

Carnegie Open House set

The City of Lawrence will host an open house for the recently renovated Carnegie Building, 200 W. 9th Street, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Saturday, January 8, 2011. The open house is being held so the public may view the restored building prior to the relocation of the Convention and Visitors Bureau/Destination Management, Inc. offices. The Convention and Visitors Bureau/Destination Management, Inc. will utilize portions of the building’s garden level for their offices beginning mid-January. Exhibits in the upper level of the building are currently being created and will be available for public viewing later in 2011.  A formal dedication of the building will occur in spring 2011 with the completion of the exhibits.

 

2010 grass and weed abatement summary

Each spring, the Code Enforcement Division recommences the annual enforcement of the city’s Weed Code. The enforcement of this seasonal violation typically begins in early April and continues through the end of October. The attached memo provides a summary of the 2010 effort to enforce the Weed Code and provides comparisons to recent years. If a property owner is unresponsive to violation notices the city may notify a contractor to mow the property and then assess the costs to the property. The city budgets around $25,000 per year for these abatements.

 

6th Street ITS project update

On September 21, 2010 the City Commission awarded the Construction Bid for 6th Street ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) project to K & W Underground, Inc. of Overland Park, Kansas. Construction of this project is currently proceeding according to schedule. Attached pictures show the construction crew pulling fiber optic cables along West 6th Street. To date, fiber optic installation along 6th Street (from City Hall to Iowa) has been completed. Anticipated completion date for this project is March 31, 2011 (assuming normal winter weather conditions).

 

The remaining work consists of installing fiber optic along Iowa (from 6th to 23rd), along Mississippi (from 6th to Traffic building at 5th and Mississippi), installation of closed circuit TV cameras at selected intersections on 6th and Iowa and installation of various hardware, software, video screen and other Intelligent Transportation System devices.

 

The principal goal of this project is to install fiber optic communication lines in order to develop a closed loop traffic signal system along 6th street (from Massachusetts to Iowa) and Iowa street (from 6th to 23rd). A closed loop traffic signal system will enable video-monitoring of intersections, instantaneous response to signal malfunctions and unlimited signal timing plans, and thereby would greatly improve traffic flow and safety. The ITS system will assist and improve the emergency response by Police and Fire.