CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Week ending November 15, 2013
Iowa Street Now Open
The final phase on the Iowa Street Project is now complete and traffic has been restored to all lanes on Bob Billings Parkway and Iowa Street. Staff Memo & Attachments
Residential trash collection schedule over Thanksgiving holiday
The City of Lawrence Solid Waste Division is moving its Thursday residential collection day due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Only residential customers with regularly scheduled trash day on Thursday will be affected. Thursday residential customers living north of 23rd Street/Clinton Parkway will have their trash picked up on Tuesday, November 26th and those living south of 23rd Street/Clinton Parkway will have their trash picked up on Wednesday, November 27th. There will be no residential trash collection on Thursday, November 28th or Friday, November 29th. The regular collection schedule will resume the following week.
Rock Chalk Park Infrastructure Report
Please see the attached report regarding the progress and costs of the construction of infrastructure at Rock Chalk Park.
Flood Insurance Program Changes
In 2012, the U.S. Congress passed the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, also known as the Biggert-Waters Act, which calls on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other agencies, to make a number of changes to the way the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is run. As the law is implemented, some of these changes have already occurred, and others will be implemented in the future. Key provisions of the legislation will require the NFIP to raise rates to reflect true flood risk, make the program more financially stable, and change how Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) updates impact policyholders. FEMA has issued an informational bulletin for homeowners and also put out a fact sheet. In addition, the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners will be hosting a presentation by Robert Butler, from FEMA’s Region VII office, at their December 4, 2013 County Commission meeting at 4pm and have invited the City Commission to attend.
Public Works Staff Participates in Equipment Expo and Training
Public Works staff recently competed in the annual American Public Works Association snow and equipment expo training and completion. Staff made a good showing against competition from other NE Kansas cities. See attached memo for more information and photos.
Transit Hub Update
On June 25, the City Commission received a report from Olsson Associates regarding several possible sites for a permanent transit hub. At the meeting, the City Commission indicated an interest in pursuing the 9th & Iowa location. Subsequent to that discussion, KU officials have approached City staff regarding KU interest in locating the transit hub on KU Endowment property south of Fire Station 5 just northeast of 21st and Iowa. As staff discussed this possible site with KU officials, it appears that the site offers some advantages in terms of its proximity to campus, adjacency to a major arterial and the potential for a favorable long-term land lease arrangement with KU Endowment. While the 21st and Iowa location would require signalization of 21st and Iowa intersection and some improvements to 21st Street and Stewart Avenue, staff believes that the improvements may be less than the 9th and Iowa site would have required. Additionally, the site avoids the need to acquire property and is closer to the arterial street. Staff is planning a neighborhood meeting with area stakeholders on Monday, December 2 at Fire Station 5 from 6-7 pm to discuss the idea and receive feedback. Staff plans a formal discussion with the City Commission in December regarding the results of the neighborhood meeting and further details of the concept.
19th Street Watermain Replacement
Department of Utilities and general contractor Nowak Construction have completed replacement of the watermain on 19th Street from Maple Lane to Harper Street as shown on the attached map. The project included the replacement of approximately 1,300 lineal feet of 12” cast iron waterline originally installed in 1954 with 12” PVC pipe. The waterline was installed utilizing horizontal directional drilling in order to minimize the impact of construction activities on affected residents and property owners.
The completion of this project has served to improve the overall water distribution system reliability, reduce operational and maintenance costs, and to eliminate conflicts with the planned resurfacing and future extension of 19th Street to the east. The existing cast iron watermain had outlasted its usable service life and City distribution staff had repaired the line 3 times in the last year affecting access along 19th Street and requiring repeated repair of the street.
Nowak Construction was given notice to proceed on June 24, 2013 with a total of 105 calendar days allotted to attain final completion. The contract time was increased by 32 calendar days for additional work requested by City staff, delays associated with the approval of traffic control plans and temporary road closures, approval of modifications to the as bid plans to connection points at 19th and Harper Streets and 19th Street and Maple Lane, and coordination of work with Douglas County with respect to events at the Fairgrounds. Nowak Construction has completed all contractual and additional work and the project met all requirements for substantial completion as of October 09, 2013.
The project was awarded to Nowak Construction in the amount of $454,409.40 and a final change order, to accommodate additional work necessary to successfully complete the project, was executed in the amount of $52,910.93 for a total construction cost of $507,320.33.