CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Week ending August 29, 2014
Public Works Supervisor Elected to National Board
Todd Lohman, Traffic Operations Division Supervisor, was nominated and elected by his peers to the Board of Directors of the International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA) at their Annual School & Conference in Schaumburg, IL last month. This is a very prestigious position and gives the City of Lawrence great exposure throughout the United States and Canada.
Todd has been active in IMSA since 2002 and holds several other positions; including representing IMSA on the Temporary Traffic Control Technical Committee of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, representing IMSA with the Illuminating Engineering Society, and representing the Central Section of IMSA as Alternate Delegate to the IMSA Council of Delegates; in addition, Todd previously held the position of President of the Central Section of IMSA. Todd’s activity in these positions has included crafting standards that impact public safety throughout North America.
IMSA is the oldest known association of its kind in the world, dating back to 1896 and currently has approximately 11,000 members. IMSA is dedicated to providing quality certification programs for the safe installation, operation and maintenance of public safety systems; delivering value for members by providing the latest information and education in the industry. For more information about IMSA, please visit their website at http://www.imsasafety.org/history.htm.
City-Wide Cultural Plan
The City of Lawrence was recently awarded a grant from the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission to complete a city-wide cultural plan. The first step in the process it to hire a firm to assist with the planning effort. A Request for Qualifications from interested cultural planning firms has been prepared. Responses are due from qualified firms by September 26, 2014. Once a firm is selected, there will be significant input opportunities for stakeholder groups and interested citizens. Please direct any questions to Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager, at dstoddard@lawrenceks.org.
July Rental Licensing and Inspection Report
The Planning and Development Services Department submits the first monthly rental licensing and inspection report under the new program for the month of July. Of note, only licensing data is available at this time since implementing the new program requires that units be licensed first to determine sample size of units to be inspected. Inspection data will be available beginning with the August report.
Planning & Development Services Mid-Year Report
The Planning & Development Services Department submits its mid-year report for the more common case types in each division. For 2014, January through July, 2,874 separate cases or licenses, excluding rental licenses, have been opened or processed within the department. Report & Attachments
The City of Lawrence Business Resource Guide:
The City of Lawrence has published the City of Lawrence Business Resource Guide to help assist our local Small to Medium (SME’s) sized businesses in their entrepreneurial pursuits. Regardless of size or phase, SME’s will have the tools and resources to strategically plan for their business needs and connect with the City’s Small Business Facilitator, Cyndi Hermocillo-Legg. This comprehensive guide outlines local, state and federal contacts, brief descriptions of programs, a small business checklist, Lawrence Public Library resources and City of Lawrence’s Department specific contact information to help small businesses navigate their opportunity. This guide is not a substitute for legal or financial counsel; rather, the vast amount of information and web-links are interactive and intended to serve as roadmaps to strengthen our local SME’s ownership experience as they continue to grow in our great city.
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GROWLawrence Road Construction Small Business Notification Program
The City of Lawrence (Public Works, Planning & Development Services and Utilities Departments), Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Lawrence and Douglas County EDC and Kansas Small Business Development Center have formed a public/private partnership to support small businesses during the time of road construction growth and progress in the city of Lawrence.
The public/private partnership provides small business and property owners with detailed project information surrounding upcoming road construction logistics that may affect their small business. The notification process gives small businesses the ability to plan effectively and stay informed about road construction projects that will help them adequately prepare their small business needs. The following are small business supportive materials that will be communicated and shared through the notification program:
· Grow Lawrence: Road Construction Small Business Project Guide;
· Mailed and/or Store Visit to share information details and referral to the Small Business Development Center to plan effectively for the construction;
· Detailed project information and contact resource - http://lawrenceks.org/construction/2014
· Small Business Resources:
http://lawrenceks.org/pds/small-business
- Small Business Plan Template
- City Small Business Resource Guide
- Small Business 3 Year Cash Flow Template