CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Week ending July 29, 2011
Recent Emergency Repairs Needed Regarding Kaw Water Treatment Plant
Staff recently has had to make several emergency repairs related to operations at the Kaw Water Treatment Plant. The repairs include various items related to the Low Service Pump Station 2, establishing a temporary water supply for the Kaw Plant and installation of a new presedimentation clarifier drive. These repairs, totaling approximately $200,000, are outlined in a staff memo and a more detailed report will be provided once actual costs are known.
Lawrence hosted softball world series
From July 18 – 24, Lawrence played host to the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Girls Fast-Pitch Softball 12 and Under (B) World Series Tournament at Clinton Lake Sports Complex, Youth Sports Complex. The tournament was a 5-game guarantee format. A total of 44 teams were expected to participate and bring 1,200 visitors to the community. The Convention and Visitors Bureau anticipates an estimated direct spending by visitors to be more than $700,000. A World Series Player Luau was held at the Lawrence Outdoor Aquatic Center on Wednesday, July 20, as part of the tournament activities. Photos
Parks and Recreation summer activities
The Parks and Recreation Department held more than 30 different types of camp for kids this summer, many with multiple sections. The gymnastics camp (5 sessions) and tennis camp (3 sessions), which were recently completed, both met for 10 hours each week and were offered for children ages 6 to 12 years old. Please see the attached report for photos more information. Throughout the summer (to date), there have been 1,372 enrollments in summer camp programming through Parks and Recreation.
From May 31 through August 5, the Lawrence Summer Food Program, administered by K-State Research and Extension of Douglas County, offers free meals to all youth between the ages of 1 year old to 18 years old at various community locations, including Parks and Recreation facilities. East Lawrence Recreation Center, South Park Recreation Center, Boys and Girls Club East Heights, Hillcrest Elementary School and Broken Arrow Park. Breakfast and lunch are served at Boys and Girls Club East Heights and Hillcrest Elementary, while lunch only is served at East Lawrence Recreation Center, South Park Center and Broken Arrow Park. Adults may purchase meals for $1.75 for breakfast and $3 for lunch. Adults must accompany anyone under the age of 4 years old. Please see attached photos of lunchtime activity and summer landscaping at South Park.
KDOT Announces there will be no 2012 TE Grant Program
The Kansas Department of Transportation recently announced that due to the uncertainty of federal funding of the Transportation Enhancement (TE) Program in the near future, KDOT has made the decision not to request the submittal of project applications this year for federal fiscal years 2013 and 2014. Typically, the TE grant program has been available for applications every two years. Over the years, the City has received TE Grants to support projects such as the restoration of the Union Pacific Depot, the restoration of historic brick streets, the Burroughs Creek Rail Trail and the Clinton Parkway Shared-Use Path. KDOT indicates that they will advise cities if and when funds will be available for future fiscal years through either continuing resolutions or a new Federal Authorization.
New Transit Guide to Ride now available
The transit Guide to Ride has beenupdated to incorporate changes to city and university bus routes. The new Guide to Ride, which includes route and schedule information for both the city and university routes, is available on all buses, at City Hall, grocery stores, and all across the KU campus. To get assistance with planning a trip or for more information, customers may call (785) 864-4644 or visit www.lawrencetransit.org.
2011 facilities and structures update
The attached memo provides a mid-year update and status of our 2011 Facilities and Structures Program. The Facilities and Structures Division maintains two parking garages - Riverfront Parking Garage and the New Hampshire Parking Garage. This division has seven full time employees which include an electrician, HVAC technician, multi-trade maintenance person for all buildings, one assigned to health facility, one assigned to the airport, one assigned to parking structures and a custodian for City Hall. The Facilities and Structures Division is responsible for building maintenance for approximately 40 municipal buildings. It maintains the Downtown lighting: pedestrian, parking lots, and city owned street lighting. The division responds to Planning/Development Services and Police reports of Graffiti. Division staff spends a minimum of eight hours a week at the I.T.C. Center on Bob Billings Parkway and provides technical support for other departments as well.
Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation 1500 Block of New Hampshire, 1100 Block of Delaware and 700 Block of Michigan – UT0905CS – Department of Utilities and general contractor Nowak Construction have completed the construction of sanitary sewer improvements for all three neighborhood locations as shown on the attached map.
The project involved the installation of approximately 1,750 lineal feet of 8” sanitary sewer by open trench (see project photo), directional drilling (see project photo), and pipe reaming/bursting methods as well as the installation of 640 feet of cured in place pipe (CIPP)(see project photo). As part of the project, the City obtained all easements and right-of-entry agreements necessary to complete the work as identified in the construction documents. Nowak Construction was given notice to proceed on January 31, 2011. A total of 70 working days were permitted to attain final completion per the executed contract. Construction activities were completed within 61 working days and the contractor was fully demobilized as of May 27, 2011. The project was awarded to Nowak Construction in the amount of $598,477.70 and executed change orders comprised a net deduct to the project in the amount of $21,967.29, for a total constructed cost of $576,510.41. Total project expenditures including design and construction phase engineering services, land acquisition, legal, and permitting costs totaled $701,892.41 or approximately 10% below the allocated budget of $776,000.00.