CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending March 28, 2014

Rock Chalk Park Infrastructure Report

Please see the attached report regarding the progress and costs of infrastructure at Rock Chalk Park for January/February 2014.

Planning and Development Services Annual Report Now Available

Planning and Development Services staff work hard throughout the year responding to customer inquiries, improving and enforcing regulations, refining departmental efficiencies, and processing development related applications. The 2013 Annual Report highlighting departmental efforts undertaken throughout 2013 is now available.

City Projects Receive Award from the Kansas APWA

American Public Works Association (APWA) Kansas Chapter selected their Project of the Year Awards for 2013 and two City projects were selected. 

Transit Hub Location Update

In early December 2013, staff held a neighborhood meeting with stakeholders regarding a possible transit hub location at 21st and Stewart, just northeast of the 21st and Iowa intersection and south of Fire Station 5.  The location is on KU Endowment property and KU officials have expressed an interest in having the transit hub at that location due to the popularity of the transit system with KU students, faculty and staff, and proximity of the site to the KU campus.  Staff has also attempted to contact the owners of the other potential site near 9th & and Iowa, but the property owners have not been responsive in indicating whether they have an interest in leasing or selling the property, which limits the ability of the city to further pursue that possible site at this time.  Staff is planning another neighborhood meeting for Monday, April 21 from 6-7 pm in the Jayhawk Room at Fire Station 5, 19th and Iowa, to discuss the results of a traffic study recently completed and further discuss the potential 21st and Stewart location with stakeholders.  Staff plans a formal discussion with the City Commission in early May regarding the results of the neighborhood meeting and further details of the concept.  

Spring Break Camp Attendees Take Part In St. Patrick’s Day Parade

This year’s Parks and Recreation spring break camp attendees at Holcom Park Recreation Center and the Special Populations spring break camp attendees at East Lawrence Recreation Center collaborated on a float for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Downtown Lawrence.  See the attached report for more information.