[E-updates] October 2007 edition of The Flame newsletter from the City of Lawrence

Tue Oct 9 08:23:47 CDT 2007

THE FLAME

October 2007

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

The October 2007 edition of The Flame newsletter is now available online
at  www.lawrenceks.org <http://www.lawrenceks.org/> . The text of the
newsletter is below.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. eGov - City Services at Your Fingertips

2. FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

3. Lawrence Wastewater Earns Award for Innovation

4. Home Energy Conservation Fair & Sustainable Homes Tour Offers
Lawrence a Look at Energy Alternatives

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

1.  eGov - City Services at Your Fingertips

New technologies are empowering the City of Lawrence to deliver services
more efficiently and in a way that better fits the demands of modern
lifestyles

 ~ David Corliss, City Manager

The City of Lawrence is offering more services and resources directly to
residents via the convenience of their home and office computers.  No
more driving across town or standing in line. 

Electronic government, or eGov for short, allows Lawrence residents to
access a wide range of programs on a 24/7 basis.   From paying your
utility bill to scheduling a building inspection, you can log on to the
City website, lawrenceks.org. 

The eGov portal is located in the top toolbar of the city's webpage. All
you have to do is log on and click the eGov link. For many services, the
Internet provides a way to improve response times while containing
costs. In addition to eGov options, Lawrence continues to offer standard
methods of service delivery.    

A Sample of Services Now Available Online 

- Apply for building permits (commercial/residential/multi-family)

- Apply for T-Lift services for individuals with disabilities

- Calculate your estimated property tax (residential/business)

- City Jobs: view openings and apply online

- Enroll for Parks and Recreation activities (golf, swim, classes)

- File a complaint (nuisance/blight/environmental)

- Pay parking and traffic fines

- Register a domestic partnership

- Report a pothole

- Schedule a building inspection (commercial or home)

- View bus routes and times

- View City Commission meeting agendas and minutes

- View complete A-Z listing of City services

- View contractors licensed with the City of Lawrence

- View a list of planned development projects

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

2.  FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

Q:What do I do with my raked leaves?

A:   Place fall leaves, grass, and other yard trimmings in cans, carts
or compostable bags and place by your curb before 6:00 a.m. on Monday
mornings (March - mid December). Plastic bags are not allowed. 

Q:  How can I help prevent the flu?

A:   Be sure to get your flu shot this season, and follow good health
habits like washing your hands, covering your coughs and sneezes and
staying home when sick. Contact your physician or the Health Department
for more info (785) 843-0721. 

Q:  How many roommates can I have?

A:  City code allows no more than 3 unrelated persons to reside in one
single-family zoned housing unit. 

Q:  Where can I park my bicycle?

A:  Never park a bike where it can get in another's way. It is illegal
to lock your bike to a tree, fire hydrant, street sign, stop sign or
streetlight. Some parking meters have bike-locking adaptors attached,
and free-standing bike racks are available downtown.

Q:  How loud can I play my favorite music?

A:  Don't play music so loud that it can disturb others. It is illegal
to play music from a vehicle that can be heard 50 feet away, including
base reverberation. Brawling and offensive language are also considered
disturbances of the peace.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Frequently Called Numbers

Brush drop-off (785) 832-7979

City Job information (785) 832-3333

Eagle Bend Golf Course (785) 748-0600

File a noise complaint (785) 832-7509

Lawrence Public Library info line (785) 832-3833

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

3.  Lawrence Wastewater Earns Award for Innovation

The City of Lawrence Wastewater Management System was selected by the
Alliance of Innovation as the recipient of its 2007 Outstanding
Achievement in Innovation Award.  Presented at its June conference, AI
recognized the Utility's operation under a single integrated management
system as being a best practice in local government. 

The AI award for innovation is the most recent in a growing list of
awards earned by Lawrence Wastewater. Last year, the utility became one
of only two agencies in the nation to earn three widely respected
certifications recognizing sound policies and procedures for
environment, health and safety.

"The integration of numerous processes into a single system that detail
operations while protecting the environment takes us beyond the
requirements of existing regulations," notes Dave Wagner, Utility
Director.

The treatment process for wastewater is a highly technical and
scientific process. These certifications affirm the world-class quality
of wastewater services provided to the Lawrence community.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

4.  Home Energy Conservation Fair & Sustainable Homes Tour Offers
Lawrence a Look at Energy Conservation

NOTE: The Average Family spends $1,900 a Year on Energy Bills.

Lawrence will host its 7th annual Home Energy Conservation Fair
and Sustainable Homes Tour on Saturday October 13, 2007 from 9am to 5pm.
This year's fair will be held at Free State High school, 4700 Overland
Drive. 

The fair works to improve community awareness of the positive impact of
energy conservation. Vendors will include dozens of nonprofit
organizations, governmental agencies and for-profit businesses that
provide products and services to help cut home and business energy use.
Attendees will be able to view an array of products like Green Tags and
low energy fluorescent light bulbs.

Speakers and workshops will explore home weatherization to keep heating
costs low, and energy efficient new home construction and remodeling.
Other topics include: peak oil, recycling, wind and solar energy, and an
update of pending legislation. 

This year's featured speaker, Kristin Riott, is one of over 1,000
individuals trained as a climate presenter through the Climate Project
Training Program.  

The homes tour will feature area homes that incorporate energy
conservation products and design. For more information visit
www.lawrencerecycles.org <http://www.lawrencerecycles.org/>  .

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

OUR MISSION:  We are committed to providing excellent city services that
enhance the quality of life for the Lawrence community.

City information is available online at lawrenceks.org and on cable
Channel 25.

_____________________________

Lisa K. Patterson | Communications Manager

City of Lawrence

PO Box 708 | Lawrence, KS 66044

(785) 832-3406

fax (785) 832-3405

lpatterson at ci.lawrence.ks.us

www.lawrenceks.org

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://web.ci.lawrence.ks.us/pipermail/e-updates/attachments/20071009/2fbd5980/attachment.html