CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Week ending April 29, 2011
Parks and Rec holds egg hunt, installs Carnegie plaque
More than 1500 people participated in this year’s LPRD/Hy-Vee Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza on Saturday, April 23, in historic South Park (see photos). More than 750 children took part in the egg hunt, which consisted of the children hunting for 5 different colors of eggs and receiving a goodie bag from Hy-Vee. The children visited with the Keebler Elf and the Extravaganza Bunny. Other children’s activities included: face painting, clowns making balloon animals and inflatable games.
City Employee PC Purchase Program
For the past 12 years, the City of Lawrence has offered an employee PC purchase program. This program allows employees to purchase software and/or hardware through discounted rates, if available through the vendor, which are provided to the city due to the volume of equipment purchased each year. The purpose of this program is to assist employees of the city in developing and/or expanding computer literacy skills, so that these employees will improve their value to the city and enhance their career progression potential. Employees can purchase equipment that is similar and compatible with the equipment and software currently used by the city.
Over 12 years, 891 employees have utilized the program. The equipment is purchased by the city and repaid by the employee over a one or two year period. This year, 75 employees are participating in the program at a cost of $124,354.22. Over the years, the program has purchased $1,575,480 in software/hardware.
Economic impact of Clinton Lake lauded
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently released the attached press release, which details the economic impact of Clinton Lake, which includes flood protection, water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits to the citizens of Lawrence and the region. More than 1.6 million visitors used the recreation facilities at Clinton Lake in 2010. The Corps calculates that the lake has prevented $1.21 billion in flood damages since its construction in 1980, that visitors to the lake generate over $22,000,000 in regional sales each year, and that over 371 area jobs are attributed to visitors to Clinton Lake. There are several facilities on Clinton Lake land leased to Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department such as the Eagle Bend Golf Course, the off-leash dog park, the model airplane field, and the athletic fields at the Youth Sports Complex.
Over a thousand visitors attend the city’s Earth Day Celebration
On Saturday, April 16, 2011, the city’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Division hosted the 11th Annual Earth Day Celebration (photos) at South Park. Events included a parade hosted by KU Environs, a Water Festival for Douglas County (photos) organized by the city’s Stormwater Division, and a Sustainability Trailblazers awards ceremony presided over by Mayor Aron Cromwell. With attendance estimated at 1,200 people, this year’s Earth Day Celebration drew a great crowd. Activities were for all ages and included live music, 70 informational booths, and tours led by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. In addition, the Lawrence Transit System offered free rides all day, providing the experience and benefits of public transportation on all fixed routes.
NEA "Our Town" grant application submitted
As authorized by the City Commission in March, a National Endowment for the Arts Grant application has been submitted after the NEA requested a full proposal from the community. The City of Lawrence submitted the grant in conjunction with the Lawrence Arts Center and a group of community stakeholders. The grant is for a planning process for a new Science, Technology and Art (STArt) incubator that would help foster entrepreneurialism and business skills for artists. The City does not have a direct financial contribution to the project but would be involved in administering the grant should the application be successful. Please see the attached documents for more information on the grant proposal.
Parks and Recreation staff member earns building operator certification
John Gress, facilities maintenance supervisor (construction/HVAC/electric), completed Westar Energy’s Level I Building Operator Certification. The program educates employees responsible for maintenance and operations of large buildings and their complex heating, mechanical and electrical systems on methods of tracking an organization’s electrical systems, HVAC operations and lighting levels and controls, as well as ways to reduce energy costs.
Purchase cardholder training
The Finance Department annually provides training on the use of purchase cards to all employees who use a card. The training consists of a review of purchasing card guidelines and responsibilities of the cardholder. Based on recommendations of an audit of the city’s purchasing procedures by the City Auditor, recent changes to the credit card processing procedures will also be reviewed. Following the training, all cardholders take a 20 question test in order to maintain use of their card. The training, led by Accounts Payable Clerk Kaci Love and Purchasing Specialist Alan Landis, will be completed by mid-May.