CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Week ending June 13, 2014
May 2014 Monthly Permit Reports:
The Building Safety Division issued 191 building permits in May, with total construction for the month valued at $5,801,337. Total permit fees assessed for the month were $50,459. Permits were issued for nine (9) new residential projects, including six (6) single-family dwellings and three (3) duplexes. Staff Memo May Permit Report Year-to-date Permit Report
Ecoflow Private I/I Program hosts open house:
On Tuesday, June 3, Utilities Department staff and Trekk Design Group representatives hosted the first of three open houses at the Douglas County Fairgrounds for residents in the Private I/I Program focus areas. Additional open houses are planned for mid-July and early September. Prior to the open house, staff sent invitation letters to about 350 properties and a total of 417 owners and/or residents. Over 100 residents attended the open house where city and Trekk staff were available to discuss the program, answer questions, and schedule appointments to evaluate properties. During the open house, staff scheduled 70 evaluation appointments and additional residents were given a tri-fold brochure with the hotline number to call for an appointment. Letters, door hangers, and door-to-door visits are also being used to generate understanding and interest in the program with preliminary success.
Staff and Trekk representatives began full time evaluation of the scheduled properties starting the week of June 9. An example of one of the findings where a sump pump is draining to the sanitary sewer is attached. Trekk crews are anticipating evaluation of 40 houses per week throughout June and 80 houses per week in July. Utilities staff and Trekk representatives are using an interactive mapping system to record the status of each property and tracking program progress. By the end of July, Utilities staff plans to have a representative sample size to project the quantity of defects, the participation and refusal rate, and other data for program planning purposes.
Rental Expansion Progress Report:
Planning & Development Services has prepared an update on the new rental licensing and expansion program, adopted via Ordinance No. 8840 on March 25, 2014.
City TV channel now replaying City Commission meetings:
The city’s government access channel, Channel 25, is now airing playback episodes of the City Commission meetings. The City Commission meetings will re-air at the following times each week:
Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
Thursday at Noon
Friday at 8:00 a.m.
Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Channel 25 is available to cable customers who subscribe to WOW. The city offers multiple options for viewing City Commission meetings for those not subscribing to cable. A live stream of the meeting is available on Tuesday nights at www.lawrenceks.org/stream or a video copy of the meeting is posted online at www.lawrenceks.org/agendas within a few days.
May Sales Tax Distribution:
The City of Lawrence has recently received its May sales tax distribution. The distribution is the result of retail sales from mid-March to mid-April. The distribution of $2,820,166.30 is $170,000 more than the prior year distribution for the same month. Please see the attached memo for more information.