CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending April 6, 2012

Updates to Statements of Substantial Interests

If City Commissioners’ substantial interests have changed in the preceding calendar year, updated Statement of Substantial Interest (SSI) forms must be submitted between April 15 and April 30. The City Clerk’s Office annually sends a reminder to commissioners of this State law requirement. More information is available from the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission at www.kansas.gov/ethics, where links to the blank SSI form, instructions and applicable Kansas statutes can be found.

2011 Annual Report posted online

The City of Lawrence’s Annual Report is now online at www.lawrenceks.org/annual_report/2011. The Annual Report provides a general overview of departmental and organization-wide projects that parallel the City Commission’s Goals.

Downtown development process information

The City Commission requested information on how development in the Downtown area is regulated per adopted city code. The public has recently requested that the Commission initiate a more specific planning effort for the downtown area and the neighborhoods adjacent to downtown. The attached memo provides information on the current development process for new development, including redevelopment, in Lawrence’s downtown area and reflects that downtown development is highly regulated as to use and design. Any additional planning effort would use the adopted regulations as assumptions.

March building permits

The Building Safety Division issued 220 building permits in March, with total construction for the month valued at $3,314,446. Total permit fees assessed for the month were $36,689. Staff issued 10 permits for new residential construction in March, all for single-family dwellings.  This compares to 21 permits issued for new residential construction in March last year, including 13 single-family dwellings, one duplex, and seven apartment buildings containing 47 dwelling units. Please see the attached memo, building permits report, and summary report for more information.   

City departments help with Harveyville tornado recovery

Staff members from various city departments have recently assisted the City of Harveyville with tornado recovery efforts. Crystal Miles, Rodney Croucher and Kenneth Johnston in the Parks and Recreation Horticulture Division assisted in inventorying and grinding stumps left from damaged trees. Micah Seybold, GIS Coordinator assisted with mapping and utility locating related to the stumps. City Clerk’s Office staff spent a day working with the city clerk of Harveyville gathering information for disaster declaration paperwork. Please see the attached report for more information.

Bicycle Advisory Committee adopts work plan, revises bylaws, creates logo

The Lawrence-Douglas County Bicycle Advisory Committee has recently completed revisions to its bylaws, approved a work plan for 2012, and created a logo to raise public awareness of the committee. Please see the attached memo for more information.

Spring Break camp attendees experience SNAG Golf

Children who attended Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department summer camps took part in a SNAG (Starting New at Golf) golf clinic. The SNAG G-Ball program is designed to introduce people to golf. It is described as golf’s version of T-Ball and is an activity-based program focusing on progressive and developmental play in a non-competitive format. Sixty-four children took part in the spring break camps. Please see the attached report for more information and photos.

Public meetings regarding Oread overlay districts and design guidelines planned

The Planning Office along with Urban Development Services has begun the process of developing overlay districts and design guidelines for 5 areas within the Oread neighborhood. These were recommended as one of the initiatives of the Oread Neighborhood Plan which was approved by the City Commission in 2010. The kick-off meeting will be held on Friday, April 13^th from 5-6:30 pm in the Lawrence Public Library Auditorium and a Community workshop will be held on Saturday, April 14^th from 9 am-noon at the Carnegie Building.  For more information, visit our website at www.lawrenceks.org/pds/draft_plans.  

Sustainability grant received

The City Sustainability Coordinator has received a technical assistance grant from ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and the Institute for Market Transformation.  This technical assistance will support the City’s efforts to develop and implement energy efficiency programs in the commercial building sector.  We will use what we learned from our successful residential outreach in the Take Charge Challenge, and are working with the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Lawrence Inc., and Westar Energy to design an energy efficiency outreach program specifically for Lawrence’s small business community.  Energy efficiency recognition programs for business owners can help businesses save energy, save money, and be recognized for their leadership on this issue.