CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending January 7, 2017

Low-Income Elderly Utility Rates program – added 12/30/16

As a reminder to the Commission and utility citizens, the City has a program for low-income elderly customers. If a customer qualifies, they are available to receive a discount of 65% on their City provided utilities. Flyer

November 2016 Monthly Permit Reports

The Building Safety Division issued 202 building permits in November, with total construction for the month valued at $11,749,807.  Total permit fees assessed for the month were $83,265.  Permits were issued for fourteen (14) new residential projects, including nine (9) single-family dwellings, four (4) duplexes and one (1) mixed use renovation/addition project that includes fourteen (14) dwelling units.      Staff Memo Monthly Report Year to Date Report

City Adopts Revised Economic Development Policy

The City of Lawrence adopted a revised economic development policy via Resolution No. 7184 at the December 20, 2016 City Commission meeting. This policy becomes effective on January 15, 2017 and governs the use of economic development incentives in the City, providing general policy standards and information on the use of industrial revenue bonds (IRB), property tax abatements, neighborhood revitalization area (NRA), tax increment financing (TIF), transportation development district (TDD), and community improvement district (CID).   A revised application for economic development assistance has also been approved.  This and more information can be found on the City’s Economic Development web page.

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire/Medical Department Monthly Activity Report

Attached is the Lawrence-Douglas County Fire/Medical Department Monthly Activity Report for November, 2016.

Arts and Economic Prosperity

Arts and Economic Prosperity 5 (AEP5) is a national research study conducted every five (5) years by Americans for the Arts to measure the Economic Impact of the local Nonprofit Arts & Culture Industry through audience surveys and organizational financials.  The City and the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission commissioned AEP5 in late 2015, successfully collected data in 2016 and will receive a comprehensive report in June 2017. 

More than 1200 hard-copy audience intercept surveys have been collected―400 more than required―and 22 Lawrence/Douglas County non-profit arts organizations have submitted their financial data.  Thus far, the 22 organization’s financial and audience data shows $15,680,493 in total annual expenditures and 621,472 in total annual attendance.  This information will be combined with audience survey data for the comprehensive report. 

Additionally, according to the Americans for the Arts Creative Industries report for 2015, there are 225 for-profit Arts-Related Businesses in Lawrence/Douglas County that employ 973 people.

Art & Culture and Economics Reference Report

Future Agenda Items

Attached, please find a summary of future agenda items.

Future Work Session Items

Attached, please find a summary of future work session items.