How satisfied are you with the City of Lawrence and its capital improvement planning process?

Please help us understand why you selected the answer above:

What priorities does the City need to have in relationship to projects it needs to undertake?

Please rank these priorities in order of importance to you.

How would you suggest funding these priorities?

What priorities does the City need to have in relationship to programs or initiatives it needs to undertake?

Please rank these priorities in order of importance to you.

How would you suggest funding these priorities?

What priorities does the City need to have in relationship to taking care of its people?

Please rank these priorities in order of importance to you.

How would you suggest funding these priorities?

Disappointed

I'm not completely sure what the "capital improvement planning process" is, but I am disappointed that every city council session I've been to is just a bunch of guys pretending to listen to dissent so they can do what they already intend to do. Why is there no development plan for New Hampshire, for downtown? If there is, why does it allow for one or two developers to buy large swaths of buildings to turn them into Lofts, Lofts, and More Lofts? On what grounds is this good for Downtown OR the people living in, working in, or visiting the area? What will happen when all of these high-priced residential areas are finished and there is nowhere to park? It will fall to the city, at our expense, I'm sure. The whole process seems to be a farce and people are so disenfranchised, that most have given up.

Building community, not class division. Accessibility for all, not some. Future planning (limiting land grabs and short-term money-making-for-a-few projects). Maintaining a unique and vibrant downtown. Sustainability initiatives.

Ensure new development projects fund adjacent and community-building endeavors (like parking structures, green space, MURALS). Pay-to-play needs to be turned around.

Percent for Art program, more community gardens, revitalize riverfront

better access to mental health and women's healthcare, dedication to strengthening and growing farmer's markets and food education, better city inspection of rental properties and actively trying to eliminate slumlords

partner with dedicated and proven non-profits

Disappointed

I feel there has been a gross mismanagement in the city's budget and the handling of projects. While i see the need and future potential for the Rock Chalk Park, I find cronyism and the hidden handling to be anathema to positive city development.

Public Safety, Infrastructure, Multi-Modal Transportation, Business

As above

If I knew the state of the budget and the options available to the council I could better answer this.

Affordable Housing is a major concern. Access to healthcare and fighting poverty.

As above

Same as before. If I knew the state of the budget and options....

Disappointed

It doesn't address larger projects adequately.

Disappointed

I feel like we give to much money away to developers that provide only low wage jobs back to the community. With housing prices and the jobs that are being created we are only expanding the growing gap in lawrence between the haves and the have nots. The best thing we have supported is the Peasley center. That will work to train people for good paying good benefit jobs and strengthen our community. All the the hotels that we are giving tax breaks to are doing are doing are creating minimum wage jobs and not paying taxes. And why didn't the council take the rock chalk complex to a vote? It should have been the peoples choice in a project that big. And why did the council do a no bid contract? As a steward of our tax dollars I hope you would be seeking the best price for everyone and not a "sweetheart deal" with a developer that just wants to have the city pay his bills.

Keep home prices lower and attract better paying jobs to lawrence. Not service industry jobs.

Everything else seems adequate in our community.

We can give tax incentives but to projects that's help the community not a small group of developers and potential a select few small business owners.

Rental registration. I'm tired of houses being crammed full of students with little regard to the upkeep of the properties and little regard to the community.

The standard of living in this city is becoming a wide gap. If you don't make enough money you have to rent and rentals are overpriced and not up kept in a lot if cases.

Tax dollars and increased rental standards that we actually enforce.

Affordable housing and access to better jobs will solve a good chunk of problems. The new county mental health expansion should help with mental health needs in lawrence since the state is not.

Jobs. Housing. Mental health

Already explained earlier

Disappointed

I am disappointed because it seems as though the CC does not listen to the public. It also favors certain individuals over the logical choice. One example is the library funding. The home owners are responsible through property taxes but it was put up for vote by the city. It should have been property owners only.

infrastructure and fiber

infrastructure Fiber

with less KDOT participation the city needs to budget priorities.

N/a

n/a

healthy foods, mental health, poverty

Poverty mental health healthy foods

Disappointed

I'm keeping up somewhat on the 9th street cooridor project, and I read some city minutes and stuff when I can but the information isn't out there enough, I'm interested in it and I still have to do some searching to really find much information on projects. Then when I do its so very dry and lengthy. Want this city to be better and more community driven, make information quick, to the point and accessible. With the ability to respond to it simple instead of must show up to things. I'm a non traditional student working my way through college and I don't have the availability to go to many community meetings to listen or be heard, make it easier to be involved, then listen, and maybe people will start to see that rewarded in their neighborhood improvements over time and give more effort to be involved.

Interlinking the projects its doing. Doing pipe work on 6th by the bridge? That space is rarely used, talk to the urban planners on how it can be better, or the locals on what needs to change there, or whoever else might need to work there sometime in the next 5 years so you can consolidate costs and link public amenities with infrastructure work.

More efficient usable public transit and bike lanes, improved walkability of mass and surrounding streets, 9th street corridor, police station

Sustainable iniatives and grants perhaps? Get the KU students in related fields and give them experience while getting insight for a cheaper price. That might help to connect them to the city better too.

A second time, the same questions?

Disappointed

I truly thought tax abatement a were more aligned with projects or companies that would add to the workforce. I also assumed it would be for projects that filled need on the community. Do we really need more apartments in town?

I do think the police need a new space. As simple as it seems, we need lines painted on our roads, there are many places in town where the lines have worn off, very dangerous!

roads 1, police 2

Look at where money is wasted could be a good start.

Disappointed

There are been two recent examples of projects for which the city disregarded competitive bidding and both diminished public trust in the City Commission: building the sports facility using a sweetheart deal with a local contractor who is known to be ruthless and dishonest, a rigged competition for the 9th Street Arts Corridor design.

Financial responsibility, energy efficiency, sustainability

Just did.

Renew infrastructure with capital improvement allocations & bonds where feasible. Strengthen the historic city (built before 1965). PACE program authorization.

Citizen involvement, efficiency, sustainability

Recycling is essential. Rental registration is very valuable--first for safety, then quality and efficiency in building. Establish a "green" rating system for rental housing so consumers can make wise choices.

Use current funding sources. Limit development expansion at the city perimeter. STOP handing out tax abatements and bonds to developers!

Mental health has been seriously neglected by the state of Kansas. Necessary for people to benefit from the other areas: access to health care 1, food 2, activity 3. Addressing poverty requires a better mix of jobs.

1) Mental health 2) access to health care 3) healthy food 4) physical activity 5) poverty

The current mix of revenue sources is about as good as it gets. Efficiency & reallocation are the only choices.

Disappointed

a Lawrence resident who reads the paper and tries to stay informed I couldn't have told you what a "Capital Improvement" is. In my mind it's the 9th St Corridor, Fiber Infrastructure, and new parks and rec faciliites. Those I think have all been handled poorly. With a lack of transparency of process and a lack of leadership among the City officials on having strong public stances. However, according to City of Lawrence website under "Capital Improvements" there is only the water and wastewater upgrades. So, I'm confused. I think the City should be more aware that city process isn't understood by the public and transparency and dissemination of information is critical.

Bringing walkable sidewalks to neighborhoods like East and North Lawrence. Providing services and infrastructure to encourage high paying white collar businesses to develop in the Lawrence area. Bringing high speed fiber to Lawrence. Making Lawrence more bikeable.

Providing services and infrastructure to encourage high paying white collar businesses to develop in the Lawrence area. Bringing high speed fiber to Lawrence. Bringing walkable sidewalks to neighborhoods like East and North Lawrence. Making Lawrence more bikeable.

I'm smart enough to know what I don't know. I have no knowledge of public funding so don't feel compelled to take a stab at this question.

I don't understand the question...

Yes, affordable housing, access to healthy food, mental health

affordable housing, access to healthy food, mental health

nah

Disappointed

Nature of Lawrence's vision of itself...economically driven always (e.g. jobs) where are ecologically driven concerns in priorities? (includes human systems as well...LIFE'S well being) Poor land use sensibilities.

Livability of this city, same old generics in home building out West where I now live. Public transportation education to increase ridership and expand services in neighborhoods now unfriendly to access...too many cul de sacs, not walker friendly.

Above are in 1,2,3 order...or seem to be inter-related to overarching problem of city design stagnation in newer areas.

Maybe developers and builders should revisit.

Institutional recycling...pronto..churches and schools before we lose the teaching moment and nonprofits' engagements in good works. Fencing codes: are there any in Lawrence? Too many "trashy" fences appearing in neighborhoods along public rights of way, e.g. east side of Geo Williams Way @ Langston Hughes north.

Both are important

Ongoing policies and programs

There has been an update to Horizon 2020 according to Co. Com. Thellman emphasizing healthier choices and lifestyles. Affordable, APPROPRIATE, diverse housing is an important start.

Sorry I've run out of time at this library computer. Sorry I can't attend one of your in-person session nights, maybe more in daytime hours.

Disappointed

The City Commission is really not "tuned into" what the average citizen feels is important to their welfare, but is more interested in fostering development plans for the wealthy developers. No relief is given to small-time property owners who by law are responsible for maintenance of sidewalks, for example. There is no "tax abatement" for the average citizen … just higher taxes.

Infrastructure improvements for the average citizen's welfare.

A measure of cost relief for property owners responsible for the maintenance of sidewalks. A well-funded and well-equipped police and fire department(s). Making certain public school buildings are renovated so that they truly are safe from intrusion by those wishing to do harm.

Stop giving tax breaks to developers.

Disappointed

We spent money we did not have on a rec center. We give money to developers but don't maintain our infrastructure, like sidewalks and parks.

SIDEWALKS.We need real, safe walkability; environmental protection. We also need to protect social services

1. Sidewalks 2. Infrastructure - water, wastewater, utilities 3. Social Services 4 Downtown

Stop subsidizing unneeded development and stop giving our tax money away to Fritzel, et. al.

Sidewalks -- we need to stop allowing pedestrian injuries and fatalities. Our kids should be able to walk to school without fear!

1. SIDEWALKS

Fee on utility bill; enforcement of code for rental units.

Affordable housing, access to healthy food, SIDEWALKS.

See previous answers.

Disappointed

We didn't need an ice skating rink.

The city doesn't need to fund private investors. I think the tax incentive for the HERE development is a bad decision.

Self funded or have them go to a bank.

Look for opportunities to us the guest tax to attract people from outside of Lawrence.

I feel the attempt to take care of the low income people with the rental registration is a fail. You have created a model that will increase rent and make it hard for them to find affordable housing. What the percentages of homeless people increase because of this.

Extremely disappointed

Horizon 2020 is ignored; developers always get their way; and citizen-neighbors never have sufficient representation.

Do we really have sufficient population to warrant a new sewage system?

We already pay sewer utility fees.

Rental registration needs to be enforced, not ignored!

Is there no data base of home addresses to keep track of problem housing?

Let's build a mental health facility next door to county jail that shares cafeteria and other basic spaces.

taxes

Extremely disappointed

It is difficult to believe things have been done so poorly through incompetence, since I do not think the city commissioners are as incompetent as they have appeared to be. Therefore, I am fairly certain that future (and perhaps current) considerations from developers result in making "incompetent" decisions from the taxpayers viewpoint, but derive benefits for local developers and contractors and short-run prestige for city commissioners and likely short-term and long-term backscratching if not more direct payoffs for city commissioners.

1) Longterm planning of all projects together 2) Explicit priorities between projects 3) Transparency and honesty in process

#3 above is most important because without the rest of the planning work cannot be trusted

No new taxes unless you go through an honest planning and then are able to get voters to vote favorably on the new taxes and bonds.

Would carefully limit new programs to what can be funded out of current budget which may mean cutting other things. Generally do not need more pork programs nor would I trust City Commissioners to make wise decisions as opposed to just distributing pork to buy off interest groups.

Not sure that affordable housing can be effectively tackled at the City Commission level. It may end up just giving away tax breaks to favored developers who will create some drop in the bucket affordable housing. Healthy food as also an amorphously large topic that may just allow the City Commission to noodle about on random unproductive blue sky ideas.

#1 Physical activity is probably the area where the City Commission could do the most concrete actual good through Parks and Rec and other projects and programs.

No new taxes, but any added funding pursued through grants, etc. for parks and rec/fitness/health infrastructure or activities is good.

Extremely disappointed

There seems to be no plan to address city and community needs.

Extremely disappointed

There are real issues of philosophy that need to be discussed regarding the police facility. It will never happen because from the varsity house on through the running comedy of the sports complex, the management of situations has been fraudulent in appearance. There was mention made by an architect(?) that all the existing facilities could be readily modified to better meet needs. No discussion. The designer of the facility is someone whose fees are a percentage of the total for the building.. why is his recommendation not offset by an impartial consultant? That may not qualify as fraud, just stupid. There seems to be a very strong pattern of the commission just doing what the city staff recommends with little critical thought and no input from taxpayers. Police do need support. But what kind and for what purpose. And who should pay? Law enforcement is best at protecting property. Why a sales tax? A lot of issues will be lost in the stink about the city's basic competence. For instance the chief dismissed community policing for Lawrence a couple of months after Ferguson. People need to be able to relate to policemen in the community. Isolated by buildings and philosophies, that seems very unlikely. One issue for that law center was evidence storage. I assume you have heard that civil forfeiture has been stopped by the justice department. How much storage space for “evidence” do we need now? I also assume that you saw about the 3 hour standoff where an apartment complex was evacuated, with the “rescue” vehicle there serving a largely dubious purpose – we need a facility for such a piece of equipment? We probably don't really need a jail – they couldn't even produce cause to hold the man once he surrendered. Maybe the forfeiture lawyer at the county attorneys office can move over to the city's payroll and handle lawsuits related to the department's malfeasance. In a larger sense the commission is happy to hand out tax benefits to developers, but when it comes to doing some work to handle concerns related to the broadband issues, its all hands off. So you help the developers who will take the money and run, but leave the taxpayers without the benefit of functional broadband. I am not a total montgomery fan, but the town will loose if the commission simply washes its hands and yells “free market free market”

1 - making information available --- before teh commision has already made an impliciti decision 2 - clear statement of the purpose to be served by the project so that details of the project once known, are coherent without relying on buzzwords like "efficent, cost effective..." peoples eyes glaze over and they grin and nod.

without a defined purpose, none of them have real importance. 1 infrastructure 2 a policeman i can talk to on the street (fewer cars with sirens and lights flashing) 3 the ability to walk and ride around town

property taxes

minimu wage would do more to help people in lawrence than any other single thing.

Extremely disappointed

I cannot believe you put Rock Chalk Park ahead of the new police station.

all of the above

infrastructure multi-modal safety

anything but sales tax

Affordable housing, access to mental health

see above

Extremely disappointed

because rock chalk park has cracks in the track

fix it before it gets worse

find the funding for my crosswalk by independence inc

Extremely disappointed

Library with fake ICE & rec center before Public Safety and a new Police facility. Makes NO sense

Each department within the City and County should develop an annual 5 year capitol improvement priority plan. These plans should be shared with the public.

Public Safety-Police Facility. Infrastructure-wastewater plant. Arts corridor

By having a more fiscal responsible thought process within City Government. The only reason I supported the sales tax increase for the Police facility is because I felt that was the only way to get that project funded.

Mental health the Homeless Shelter and Jail are full of people who need support with mental health.

Extremely Satisfied

It's not perfect, the darn close IMO

Economic development and jobs

1 & 2

incentives and tax breaks

Neutral

I know very little of the city's capital improvement planning process, but would like to know more. I have recently located the listening sessions and intend to participate whenever I can do so.

Neutral

please consider a new place to view wildlife, wetlands and river ate extremely important for nature walks and tourism

Walking trails and wetlands to view wildlife

hiking, walking trails, wildlife viewing

Parks and Rec

wildlife viewing, walking trails

place for wetlands

Parks and Rec, Haskell

Neutral

I DO NOT believe that the recent Police Headquarters was turned down by the voters due to a sales tax increase but DO BELIEVE that it was turned down because the site location was not the best -- and because the SITE SELECTION process was not visible to the media or local voters.

Real BICYCLE lanes and SAFE routes within Central Lawrence and beyond. North Lawrence Fire Station? Improvement of 23rd street with new traffic lanes and a center island that greatly reduces the number of turning vehicles. DITTO for 6th Street.

see above sequence

How do you plan to collect the WATER fees from former Alvamar? What Happened? explanation anyone?

Commercial recycling of glass certainly.

from business operators that make the waste!

Affordable Housing Home Repair Energy Incentives

Up to City Manager.

Neutral

Because i don't agree or disagree with what is done

Fix Delaware street so that maybe in the near future the one bus can come back down Delaware street to pick people up from 13th street and Delaware .it's hard on me to walk to 13th and Haskell I have a debilitating disease which is fibromyalgia.

Number repair Delaware street from ninth to 13th

N/a

Neutral

I'm not sure what the planning process is.

Neutral

I don't know much about the plan or what projects are considered capital improvements vs general up keep

Side walks and bike trails for sure. I'd like for biker safety to be a higher priority

multi-modal transportation, infrastructure, safety

multi-modal could possibly be funded by grants, infrastructure should be funded using as much corporate or business taxes as possible and safety should be sales taxes

Sidewalk programs, safe walking paths for children to get to school, benches at bus stops, street maintenance and up keep, commercial recycling

walking paths, bus stop benches, street maintenance, recycling

private fundraiser or grants for everything but the streets, property taxes for streets

Mental health and healthcare access, job skills programs,

healthcare, job skills

state taxes, grants, business cooperatives for job skills programs

Neutral

as a relative newcomer to Lawrence I'm still trying to figure out what the past plans have been, have they have fared with the public, and issues are of current interest.

a new police station is a must. walkability (with mobility devices such as wheelchairs and walkers being capable of being accommodated) and more improvements to east and north lawrence. I live in what I consider far west lawrence and it's beginning to remind me of Topeka (where I previously lived) in that all the development is west and the older parts of Lawrence are just suppose to suck it up and endure.

police station first

well...duh....it's called taxes...and in this instance I would make it a special sales tax because everybody who visits Lawrence gets the benefit of an effective public safety infrastructure. I'd make it a sales tax on sales at bars and restaurants, not a general sales tax that is regressive. Also, I'd make KU somehow pony up via a state appropriation that supports community policing. This should be something the state contributes in all University communities. Thousands of people who don't live in these communities travel to them hundreds of time a year. They benefit from law enforcement just as much as citizens.

mandate commercial and KU recyling....come on this is a no brainer.

Surcharge on these just like we residential folks have to pay. I don't mind my surcharge, I do mind the big entities not playing.

Make sure people have grocery stores they can walk to. create affordable, accessible (consider the needs of persons with disabilities and seniors) housing that is spread throughout the city.

grocery stores because it's pretty much doable right away. Then the housing

It's called incentives. Quite giving them to building more huge apartment complexes on the edges of town.

Neutral

I haven't really followed it and most people who are upset with the city are upset because the library was in done when you needed a police facility and I am a strong advocate for the library so I really wasn't upset that. Also I have only lived in Lawrence 5 years.

Infrastructure public safety multi-modal

infrastructure multi-modal public safety

For infrastructure and public safety -property taxes for multi-modal a mixture of sales taxes and property taxes

Sidewalks, commercial recycling

Commercial recycling Sidewalks

SIdewalks - tax dollars Commericial recycling -charge the user

Affordable housing, mental health, access to healthcare that is affordable

Affordable housing Mental Health and access to healthcare that is affordable

I have no idea what the best way to go.

Neutral

I selected 'neutral' because I am not familiar or aware enough of the role average citizens play in the planning process.

I think the walk-ability and bike-ability of a city will only continue to become more important in years to come, both for the sake of combating pollution and as a means to improve overall health of citizens. I think there is a great number of bike trails and lanes throughout the City already, but more lanes and a more prominent, consistent regulation/enforcement of traffic rules would help make biking and walking a truly feasible means of transportation throughout the City, as opposed to being more so for recreation/fitness.

I think general infrastructure should take top priority, as things like water utilities and roadways are essential to everyday city functions. Police and fire are obviously essential as well for the sake readiness and ability to respond to issues of public safety. Multi-modal transportation appears less essential to the above mentioned priorities - however - as I mentioned above, if biking/walking can be raised to the level of reliable, feasible and safe everyday transportation, it will only continue to become more important.

According to an Associated Press article, a $4 tax on the purchase of new bikes in Colorado Springs, CO has been in place since 1988 as a means to fund the maintenance of biking infrastructure. Per the article, it only raises up to $150,000 a year, but is used as a local match for federal grants. (This same article also pointed out that many bike riders in that city are also car owners who pay taxes that help fund highway construction, and home owners who pay property taxes, which go partly toward road construction.)

Neutral

I have to admit that I don't really know much about the planning process. However it is apparent that we are upgrading streets, water, sewer service. Many are still smarting from the Rock Chalk Park process and the regressive sales tax to pay for the new police station. You all need to have a talk with the KU urban planning prof. McClure about commercial development instead of just doing what certain developers want to line their pockets.

We will need the new sewer plant. We really should address water conservation to minimize sewer demand. Upgrade crumbling streets. Figure out what to do about police facility and fit it into the budget affordable housing

streets water conservation affordable housing

property taxes

see above

property taxes not sales taxes. No sales taxes on food

affordable housing. Niche between Family Promise, shelter and Tenants to home owners- Habitat

housing

grants, philanthropy, property taxes

Satisfied

Overall our city leaders work very hard to balance the needs of our city. Realistically not every project will go according to plan. That is simply life. But those who need to seem to learn from each "bump in the road". Lawrencians are very outspoken and are never really satisfied but I believe our leaders are good people trying their best to grow our city in a reasonable manner.

Infrastructure is always at or near the top. They are never the "fun" projects but are the basics. Our public safety is good for the city size so that needs maintenance but not huge growth.

Infrastructure Public safety

Long term planning - list the projects in order of importance, start at the top and review the priorities regularly. Be aware of all projects before you undertake any project. Building a new library and Rock Chalk Park before a new Police Facility did not show long term planning.

An emphasis of coordination between social service organizations.This seems to have improved in the last few years and the City should encourage further coordination.

Satisfied

I think you're doing a good job.

Satisfied

I think the city does a decent job given the political environment in which the budget is made.

infrastructure, police/fire, economic development

same as above: infrastructure, police/fire, economic development

I think the infrastructure tax should be put to a vote next year to dedicate funds to these three priorities.

Enhanced economic development - focusing on entrepreneurship, retention and expansion

Through the infrastructure tax. If that does not work, through property tax.

I think the city should focus on affordable housing from a program point of view. The rest of the issues could be handled by existing organizations in the community.

For the city, affordable housing

Property tax.

Satisfied

Not pleased with the SPL bidding process, but love the facility.

I think we need to improve the Police facilities buy using space that is currently unused in the West Office and by additions or improvements to the other areas.

The police, infrastructure, sidewalks and complete streets.

Additional sales tax or bonds.

Complete streets and commercial recycling.

Sales tax and bonds.

Better access to physical activity, mental health and affordable housing.

Sales tax or bonds.

Satisfied

I am amazed with Lawrence and appreciate how our streets have been upgraded .

Clean water, safe sidewalks, maintain streets and safety.

As above

Taxes and grants

Recycling

Taxes and grants

Mental health, provide free programs for those in need.

Mental health

Grants, public support and taxes