CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending January 1, 2016

 

 

Menards Public Hearing Rescheduled

Due to a city error with publication notice, the public hearing to consider the Menards’ tax abatement request has been rescheduled to Tuesday, January 19, 2016.

 

December Sales Tax Report and November Financial Report

The monthly financial report includes a summary of ALL budgeted and non-budgeted funds.  A cover memo for the financial report includes revenue and expenditure highlights for November.  Finance monthly reports can be found here:

https://www.lawrenceks.org/finance/accounting/reports

 

The sales tax report shows that sales tax revenue is above original budget, but slightly lower than mid-year estimates.  Monthly Sales tax reports can be found here:

https://www.lawrenceks.org/finance/accounting/sales-tax

 

Draft Oread Design Guidelines

The Draft Oread Design Guidelines are now available on the City’s website.  These were recommended as one of the initiatives of the Oread Neighborhood Plan, which was adopted in 2010.  Planning staff has scheduled a public meeting for the public to learn more about the guidelines and provide input on the draft text on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 from 6pm to 8pm at the Lawrence Public Library Auditorium.

 

Parks and Recreation Annual Holiday Luncheon and Teamwork Awards

Parks and Recreation recently held its annual holiday luncheon where the Tom Wilkerson Teamwork Awards were recently handed out. There are three categories for the award, including: full-time employees, part-time employees and outside agency, person or city department that exemplify teamwork.  See attached for more information.

 

Special Populations Hold Holiday Party

LPRD Special Populations held a special edition of its Coffeehouse program. The Baker University softball team volunteered, assisting with the evening to ensure fun was had by all the attendees.  The softball team has been volunteering at the December program for several years.   More Information

 

LPRD applies for BlueCHIP Award

Parks and Recreation has applied for the Kansas Recreation and Park Association and Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueCHIP Healthy Community Award.  Lawrence has won the award twice in the past (2011 and 2013).  Winners of the award receive $2,500 to fund healthy programming for the community.   More Information

 

LPRD applies for NFL Play-60 Grant  

Parks and Recreation is once again applying for a grant through the NFL Foundation for its flag football program.  The department received a $1500 grant of flag football supplies to start a flag football program.  The grants awarded go up to $7500.   More Information

 

August 2015 Rental Licensing Report

Planning and Development Services submits the August 2015 rental licensing and inspection reports.   Report

 

November 2015 Monthly Building Permit Reports

The Building Safety Division issued 171 building permits in November, with total construction for the month valued at $9,436,297.  Total permit fees assessed for the month were $61,274.  Permits were issued for fifteen (15) new residential projects, including eleven (11) single-family dwellings and four (4) duplexes.   Staff Report   Monthly Permit Report   Year to Date Permit Summary

 

Government Finance Officers Association Award

For the 25th consecutive year, the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the City of Lawrence by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its 2014 comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.

 

The 2014 CAFR can be found on the Finance Department Accounting page: https://www.lawrenceks.org/finance/accounting.   The City expects the 2015 CAFR to be produced by June 30, 2016.