CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending February 11, 2011

Update on the 2011 Citizen Survey

In December of 2010, the City Commission authorized the City Manager to negotiate a contract with ETC Institute to develop and conduct the 2011 Citizen Survey.  Work has begun on development of the survey instrument, which is likely to mirror the instrument used in the last citizen survey, conducted by ETC in 2007.  More information about the 2007 survey, include the report of the results and the instrument itself, can be found at http://lawrenceks.org/2007_citizen_survey.  Commissioners who are interested in providing feedback to ETC on the survey instrument are encouraged to contact Chris Tathem at ctatham@etcinstitute.com or (913) 829-1215 or Casey Toomay at ctoomay@lawrenceks.org or 832-3409 by February 25.  ETC will be conducting the survey by mail, telephone, and the web, in March with results anticipated in late April. 

January building permits

The Building Safety Division issued 152 building permits in January, with total construction for the month valued at $3,281,725, down from $3,445,963 in January 2010.  Total permit fees assessed for the month were $25,457.80, down from $27,500 in January 2010. There were no permits issued for new residential construction in January.  This ends a stretch of 371 consecutive months, dating to January of 1980, in which at least one permit was issued for new residential construction.  Six permits were issued for new single-family houses in January last year.  The highest valued permit for the month was for a renovation of the Hy-Vee store at 3504 Clinton Parkway, with construction valued at $2,000,000. Please see the attached memo, summary report, and full report for more details.   

CDBG funding process overview

In response to a recent inquiry, staff prepared an overview of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding eligibility and general uses. The attached memo provides information regarding the roles of Community Development Division staff, the Community Development Advisory Board, and the City Commission in the administration of CDBG funds. It also describes eligibility and the application process for the award of CDBG funds.