CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Week ending June 3, 2011
Staff work continues on 2012 budget
Staff is continuing to work on preparation of the 2012 budget, and has prepared the following items:
§ Comparison of 2011 budgets for the top ten largest cities in the State;
§ League of Kansas Municipalities, “Kansas Tax Rate and Fiscal Data Book” for 2011;
§ Report from the Finance Director on Sales Tax Collections through May 31, 2011;
§ Report from Human Resources, following up on questions from Commission regarding healthcare usage, retirements, and other benefit related questions;
§ Report from Finance Director on Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) liability;
§ Follow up from Utilities Department on items from previous study session.
Downtown LED lights installed
In 2009 the City of Lawrence applied for and was awarded $858,600 through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program (EECBG). The EECBG is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and is designed primarily to assist local and regional governments in promoting more efficient use of energy and conservation measures. $172,180.00 is available for Downtown lighting replacement.
On Tuesday June 1, 2011, Public Works crews began replacing 100 of the old downtown light fixtures (mercury vapor and high pressure sodium lighting) in the 800, 900 and 1000 blocks of Massachusetts Street with new LED energy efficient fixtures (see attached photos). The city could realize a savings of 40 to 50 percent on energy usage. Three crews worked together to complete the entire replacement in one day. The new lights will also greatly reduce the amount of maintenance time that had been spent keeping the older, outdated fixtures operational. The lights look great and have an estimated life of 50,000 hours or 11 plus years. As part of the EECBG program energy usage will be tracked and reported to the Department of Energy for the next three years.
Report on community efforts to address homelessness
The Development Services Division has prepared the attached report regarding community efforts to address homelessness, including information on the Community Commission on Homelessness (CCH) past efforts and future plans and a summary of funding for homelessness related services from 2005 to present.
Bowersock Dam receives APWA Award
During the recent American Public Works Association (APWA) Mid-America Conference held at the Overland Park Convention Center the City of Lawrence Public Works Department was recognized for its work on the Bowersock Dam Rehabilitation Project. The Public Works Department won the APWA Award under the category “Structures less than $5 million in cost”.
The elimination of water flowing through the Bowersock Dam was the primary goal of the project. To achieve this goal, sheet piling was driven parallel to and upstream of the existing dam face. Rock fill was then placed between the existing dam face and the newly driven sheet piling. A two foot thick reinforced concrete cap was then placed between the sheet piling and tied to the existing dam face (see attached photos).
A primary factor for the accolade can be contributed to the fact that the design, drafting and construction inspection were completed entirely in house by city staff. The following staff members worked on the project: Matt Bond, Lyle Morris, Nick Voss and Shawna Trarbach. The contractor L.G. Barcus & Sons was instrumental in the success of the project completing it 144 days ahead of the original project schedule.
Skyhoundz and golf rounds
Warm weather and green grass have ushered in various outdoor activities by the Parks and Recreation Department, including the Skyhoundz Canine Disc Championship held in South Park, and the start of men’s golf league play at Eagle Bend Golf Course and Learning Center. Please see the attached report for more information and photos.