Memorandum
City of Lawrence
Public Works
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TO: |
David L. Corliss, City Manager
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FROM: |
Chuck Soules, Director of Public Works
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CC: |
Diane Stoddard, Cynthia Wagner, Jonathan Douglass, Toni Wheeler
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DATE: |
January 8, 2013
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RE: |
City Commission Agenda Item on January 15, 2013
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Project History: In November 2010, voters approved an $18-million, 20-year bond issue to renovate and expand Lawrence Public Library. This bond issue also included plans to add a 250-space parking structure that doubles the number of spaces for the Library, Outdoor Aquatic Center, Senior Center and general parking availability in downtown Lawrence. Now that construction for the parking garage is nearing, the City of Lawrence is proposing to add an additional level, approximately 70 spaces, to the parking garage to maximize parking spaces available in downtown and to take advantage of efficiencies that can be achieved now while construction is occurring on this project.
Staff held two public meetings at 7:30 am at the Lawrence Arts Center on September 18th and September 20th.
On September 25, 2012 the City Commission held a public hearing on the advisability of adding an additional level (approximately 70 spaces) to the Library Parking Garage. The City Commission directed that staff to await the actual bid proposal and look at the option of exempting churches, residential property, and those areas used for parking.
On October 30, 2012 bids were received for the Garage. The alternate bid for the additional level will cost $834,806.00.
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December 11, 2012 |
City Commission adopts Resolution No. 6995 setting out the findings of the Governing Body and ordering the construction. |
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December 14, 2012 |
Resolution No. 6995 was published beginning the 20 day protest period ending January 3, 2013. |
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January 3, 2013 |
Protest petition received (attached) |
Evaluation of Protest Petition:
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9 owners representing 23 properties or 181,356 sq. ft. (All 9 owners are resident owners) |
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Total properties |
263 properties |
2,774,283 sq. ft. |
100% |
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City Owns |
24 properties |
959,510 sq. ft. |
34.59% |
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Exempt Properties |
45 properties |
486,308 sq. ft. |
17.53% |
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Property not City owned or exempt |
194 properties |
1,328,465 sq. ft. |
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Petitioned |
23 properties |
181,356 sq. ft. |
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% of petitioned property vs. not City owned or exempt |
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23 properties/194 properties |
11.9% |
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181,356 sq. ft./1,328,465 sq. ft. |
13.65% |
Resolution 6995 provides that the Improvements shall not be commenced if, within 20 days after publication of this resolution, written protest signed by both 51% or more of the resident owners of record of property within the improvement District and the owners of record of more than half of the total area of said district are filed with the City Clerk. Based on the above evaluation the petition is not sufficient.
The Governing Body, however, may determine that the 23 properties are significant and can decide not to move forward with the project.
If the Governing Body directs staff to proceed, the attached spread sheet provides that the City would pay for exempt areas in addition to City owned property. That assessment total would be $435,059.00 or 52% of the project. Assessments would be on 2014 property tax bills.
Action Requested: Authorize City Manager to initiate a change order for the additional level to the Library Parking Garage to be paid for with special assessments from the established benefit district.
Respectfully Submitted,
Charles F. Soules, P.E.
Director of Public Works
CFS/ch
Attachments: Downtown Map