CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Week ending March 9, 2012
City receives Sunny Award for website transparency
The City of Lawrence has been given a Sunny Award. The award is given to honor the most transparent government websites in the nation. Out of more than 6,000 government websites ranked by Sunshine Review, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to government transparency, only 214 received the award. Lawrence was one of three Kansas cities to receive an A+ ranking. Sunshine Review used a “10 Point Transparency Checklist” to analyze 50 state websites and more than 6,000 local government websites.
2011 vendor payment list now online
A list of all 2011 payments, with an explanation of all payments to vendors totaling more than $25,000, has been posted on the City’s website. This is the third year such a summary has been posted to provide additional information regarding city expenditures. Total expenditures are down $18 million from 2010, due primarily to a reduction in principal and interest payments for water and sewer debt and temporary notes. Employee health insurance claims are up by about $1 million dollars. Payments for KPF (police and fire retirement) reflect an increase of $433,000 over 2010; KPERS (all other city employee retirement) payments increased by $173,000. Total payments to Westar reflect an increase of $152,000, while Black Hills payments were down $51,000. Total payment to Hamm Quarry for landfill services was up $247,000. The total payment to MV Transportation reflects a reduction of $402,000 compared to 2010. This reduction is related to reduced repairs to fleet and building costs. A number of new vehicles have been purchased over the past two years, so the newer fleet requires fewer repairs. Building costs were lower due to the move into the joint maintenance facility.
City’s online budget calculator updated
The city’s online budget calculator was recently updated; the calculator can be found at http://www.lawrenceks.org/finance/. Governmental entities that collect taxes from Douglas County properties are now listed highest to lowest in the calculator and a graphic has been added to visually show the percentages received by each entity. The actual mill levy amounts are visible.
February building permits
The Building Safety Division issued 137 building permits in February, with total construction for the month valued at $7,733,125. Total permit fees assessed for the month were $54,488. Staff issued 13 permits for new residential construction in February, including 12 single-family dwellings and one duplex. Ten permits were issued for new residential construction in February last year, including 6 single-family dwellings, one duplex, two four-unit apartments, and one 8-unit apartment. Please see the attached memo, building permits report and building permits summary for more information.
Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Regional Transit Advisory Committee (RTAC) are excited to present the approved Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan (CPT-HSTP). MPO staff began developing this plan in December of 2010 in response to the growing need to replace the existing outdated plan for Coordinated Transit District #1. This new plan is the result of 8 meetings over the past year and the creation of the MPO advisory committee RTAC. MPO staff worked with regional transit service providers to identify the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, older adults, and individuals with limited incomes in Douglas County and created strategies to address the unmet and future needs. Please see the attached memo for more information. The CPT-HSTP is available online for viewing at: http://www.lawrenceks.org/planning/documents/CoordinateTransit.pdf
Donation meters implementation plan
Last year, the City Commission received information and discussed the implementation of donation meters in Downtown Lawrence. Donation meters are parking meters that have been repurposed to accept donations, which donations are then utilized to serve the homeless. The purpose of such programs is to redirect giving from panhandlers to programs which more effectively serve the homeless. Pursuant to City Commission direction, staff has prepared an implementation plan. Unless directed otherwise by the City Commission, staff will carry out this plan, summarized below: