CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending April 1, 2017

February 2017 Monthly Building Permit Report

The Building Safety Division issued 153 building permits in February, with total construction for the month valued at $12,042,138. Total permit fees assessed for the month were $91,739, and total review fees assessed were $489. Permits were issued for twenty-eight (28) new residential projects, including twenty-five (25) single-family dwellings and three (3) duplexes. Staff Memo February Report Year-to-Date Summary

2016 Building Permit Trends Report

Attached is the 2016 Building Permit Trends Report.

2016 Rental Licensing and Inspection Reports

Planning and Development Services submits the 2016 Annual Rental Licensing and Inspection Program Report for review. More details on program statistics can be found in the Second Half of 2016 Rental Licensing and Inspection Report.

Budget Blueprint – cuts to HUD (CDBG/HOME)

President Trump released his Budget Blueprint for the Federal Fiscal Year 2018 on March 16. There are significant cuts listed for non-defense spending, including many deep cuts to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) budget. The Budget Blueprint includes total elimination of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME). The Budget Blueprint states “This Budget reflects the President’s commitment to fiscal responsibility while supporting critical functions that provide rental assistance to low-income and vulnerable households and help work-eligible families achieve self-sufficiency. The Budget also recognizes a greater role for State and local governments and the private sector to address community and economic development needs”. While the President will release his full budget in May, the blueprint provides a framework for the final request that will come from the White House.

As this is a blueprint document, it should be noted that there is still a lengthy process that the budget goes through prior to adoption. Both the Senate and the House will draft Budget Resolutions, and as a result they will work together to create one document looking at priorities, programs, and regulations. This is the budget that is normally adopted, not the version that is released first from the White House. Staff will continue to monitor the situation and keep the City Manager and the City Commission informed of anything that the local jurisdictions can do to get the word out about the importance of the CDBG and HOME program to the Lawrence community.

Additionally of note, there is still no Federal budget set for 2017, so there are no CDBG or HOME funding levels to report at this time. The budget Continuing Resolution expires on April 28. The City of Lawrence 2017 program year will begin on August 1, 2017. Attached is a chart of the declining state of Federal funds in the form of CDBG and HOME over the last 10 years. Although the funds have decreased over the last decade, the City continues to fill critical gaps with these funds.

Planning and Development Services 2016 Annual Report Now Available

Planning and Development Services staff work throughout the year responding to customer inquiries, improving and enforcing regulations, refining departmental efficiencies, and processing development related applications. The 2016 Annual Report highlighting departmental efforts undertaken throughout 2016 is now available.

Aviation Advisory Board Update

The Aviation Advisory Board Meeting planned for April 5, 2017 has been tentatively rescheduled for April 12, 2017. Staff has been working on skydiving procedures and would like to submit the draft to the Federal Aviation Administration to review. Pending this review the Board will meet to discuss the policy. The date change is posted on the City’s web page under the Aviation Advisory Board.

At this meeting the Board will discuss and hear comments on proposed skydiving process/procedures at the Lawrence Municipal Airport.

Upcoming Street Events

Attached is a list of upcoming street events.

Article of Interest

Attached, please find an article regarding Google Fiber.

Neighborly Mini-Bond Marketing Campaign

Purchase of new fire apparatus selected by Neighborly as a winner in the Bond Challenge. See attached for more information.

Mud Creek Boat Ramp Closure Update

Please see the attached report for an update on the Mud Creek Boat Ramp closure.

Sports Pavilion Lawrence Basketball Tournament

Attached is a report on the upcoming Never Walk on the Hardwood Basketball Tournament and how it will affect open play at Sports Pavilion Lawrence.

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical 2016 Annual Report

Attached is the 2016 Annual Report for Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical.

2016 Utilities Annual Reports

The Utilities Department has completed the following annual reports, all of which are viewable on the City’s website, https://lawrenceks.org/utilities/annual_report.

· 2016 Annual Progress Report – Integrated Municipal Wastewater Plan Memorandum of Understanding