CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending August 31, 2012

Public Meetings on Proposed Additional Parking Spaces for the 700 Vermont Parking Garage

City staff has scheduled two public meetings to provide background information and respond to questions concerning the proposed special assessment benefit district to pay for 72 additional parking spaces with the construction of the new parking garage as part of the Lawrence Public Library expansion and renovation.  The 700 Vermont Parking Garage will include a minimum of 250 parking spaces as part of the approved project.  An additional 72 parking spaces have been designed, but will require approximately $1 million in additional funding beyond the anticipated budget of $4.25 million for the parking garage portion of the approved project.   Staff is proposing that the City Commission consider a special assessment benefit district providing that downtown property owners pay for the additional $1 million plus interest and issuance costs.  Staff will host two public meetings to discuss this proposal on Tuesday September 18 and Thursday September 20.  Both meetings will start at 7:30 a.m.  The meetings will be in the theater at the Lawrence Arts Center.  Staff anticipates City Commission consideration of the special assessment benefit district resolution on September 25.  If the resolution is approved by the City Commission, the benefit district can be stopped by a successful protest petition executed by property owners.  Additionally, City Commission approval of the final bids for the parking garage portion of the project – including the alternative of 72 additional spaces – will be required later this fall once the project gets underway.