Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Attorney’s Office

TO:	Thomas Markus, City Manager Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager Brandon McGuire, Assistant to the City Manager Toni Wheeler, City Attorney Sherri Riedemann, City Clerk
FROM:	R. Scott Wagner, Management Analyst
DATE:	April 24, 2018
RE:	House Bill 2597

An enrolled copy of House Bill 2597 is attached. The law clarifies the role of mayor by amending K.S.A. 12-104.  Section 3 of the bill is of interest.  Pertaining to commission-manager forms of government, the bill states that:

          …the mayor shall be considered part of the governing body in all matters.

A summary note on the legislation from the Kansas Legislative Research Department is also attached.   The bill becomes law upon publication in the Kansas Statutes – July 1, 2018.

Recommendations/Action Items:

None.  No action is needed to comply with this bill.  Current City of Lawrence code provisions at Ch. 1, Section 1-202 regarding the Governing Body and Ch. 1, Section 1-207 regarding the Mayor - set forth below, are congruent with this legislation.

1-207                SAME; MAYOR.

At its regular meeting on the second Monday of January of each year, the Governing Body shall elect one Commissioner to serve as Chairperson. The Chairperson shall have the title of Mayor. The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the Governing Body, shall retain the authority to vote and to take all actions accorded Commissioners, and shall execute all ordinances, agreements, and other documents requiring the signature of the Mayor. The Mayor shall have no administrative duties. The Commissioner selected as Mayor shall serve in that capacity for a period of one year, commencing on the second Monday of January, when he or she is elected Mayor, and expiring on the second Monday of January of the succeeding year. (Ord. 9233)