CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending May 30, 2014

2013 Building Permit Trends

The attached report provides information concerning trends for building permits issued in 2013 compared to previous years and to other area jurisdictions.  Staff surveyed the other area permit-issuing jurisdictions within Douglas County, including Douglas County, Baldwin City, and Eudora, as well as Emporia, Lenexa, Manhattan, Olathe, Overland Park, Salina and Topeka.

Public Works Week at the T-Bones Game

The Public Works Department along with other city employees, family, and friends celebrated Public Works Week with a trip to a Kansas City T-Bones Baseball Game.  See the attached report for more information. 

Sidewalk Dining Inspections Completed

The Code Enforcement Division recently completed their annual spring inspections of  downtown businesses that have sidewalk dining licenses.  The administrative compliance procedures require staff to inspect twice a year.   Staff inspected 38 businesses and determined all were in compliance with their approved site plans.  Staff verifies the areas are being kept in good condition, advertising signage is not present within the dining area, umbrellas have minimum clearance for safe pedestrian travel and there are no obstructions or blocking of entrances or exits.   Staff identified one location where a licensee is no longer in business and has been replaced with a new business that wishes to keep the sidewalk dining use.   CED staff coordinates these efforts with the City Clerk’s Office and acts as the enforcement entity for any violation of the ordinance.  The fall inspections will occur in October.

Kaw Water Treatment Plant Transmission Main Update

On Thursday May 22, 2014 the team of the general contractor Garney Construction, horizontal directional drilling subcontractor Environmental Crossings, pipe supplier Underground Solutions and design engineer Burns & McDonnell completed the installation of the 2,400 foot long, 36” diameter water transmission main crossing of the Kansas River in the area shown on the attached map. This crossing represents the completion of a major technical and construction milestone within the Kaw Water Treatment Plant Transmission Main project. The overall project is scheduled to be substantially completed and in service by the end of August. Photos