CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending January February 4, 2011

 

 

Airport Master Plan

The Airport Master Plan continues to be developed. The Public Works Department added another chapter on the city website called ‘Alternatives’, which provides several options for the airport layout (phase 2). Please see http://www.lawrenceks.org/airport to view the document.  

 

Update regarding negotiations with BNSF regarding Santa Fe Station

City Staff has prepared a memo updating the City Commission regarding the status of negotiations with BNSF on the acquisition of the Santa Fe Station.  It appears that BNSF is not willing to negotiate a transfer of the station and a land lease subject to a grant funding contingency.  The memo sets forth options at this point.  Meanwhile, staff continues to seek funding opportunities for the Station. Staff suggests that issue of acquisition of the Station be a topic during budget discussions for the 2012 budget.   

 

Parks and Recreation holds Daddy Daughter Date Night

Lawrence Parks and Recreation held it’s annual Daddy Daughter Date Night Saturday, January 22, at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. More than 110 fathers and daughters were in attendance for the evening, which included dinner, photos, flowers and dance. Please see the attached report for photos and more information.

 

Staff presenting Complete Streets principles to Planning Commission

The Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization (L-DC MPO) staff will present to the Planning Commission on February 9th at 7:30 a.m. the principles of complete streets, the existing City of Lawrence practices in regards to multimodal transportation planning, and options on moving forward to make Lawrence a more formal Complete Streets city.  Staff will be seeking direction on whether and how to move forward on incorporating Complete Streets principles. Please see the attached memo for more information.

 

Take Charge Challenge kick-off event held

Approximately 500 people came out to the Take Charge Challenge Kick-Off event on Saturday, January 29 at Liberty Hall. They learned about energy efficiency programs and celebrated the rivalry of the Jayhawks and Wildcats in both the Take Charge Challenge and in basketball with a watch party at the event.  Everyone who attended received a weatherization kit to help jump-start the Challenge, which included insulation for power outlets, an Efficiency Kansas brochure about energy audits and weatherization, a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), Westar EfficiencyWorks brochure, and information about the Challenge.  Representatives of Efficiency Kansas, Westar Energy, City of Lawrence Planning and Development Services, and ECKAN Weatherization were available to answer people’s questions about their particular programs.  Kids’ activities were nearby such as face painting and balloon art.  Vice-Mayor Aron Cromwell, City Commissioner Mike Dever, County Commissioner Mike Gaughan, Senator Marci Francisco, and KU Environs President Celeste McCoy participated in a halftime trivia game about the Take Charge Challenge with a lamp package prize from Electric Supply Lighting.  A raffle followed the trivia game with energy efficiency prizes from businesses including Electric Supply Lighting, Cottin’s, Best Buy, and Ernst Hardware.

 

The current count for switches to CFL (compact fluorescent lights) for Lawrence is 2,154; Manhattan’s total is 598 (as of 2/3/11).  The Take Charge Challenge will continue through September; staff will provide the Commission with updates on a periodic basis.