CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending September 5, 2014

City Employee’s son receives scholarship from the International Code Council

Alex O’Brien, son of Patrick O’Brien, Building Inspector in Development Services, recently was chosen as the 2014 recipient of the William J. Tangye Scholarship.  This scholarship is awarded by the International Code Council in memory of William J. Tangye, the first Chief Executive Officer of the International Code Council.  The scholarship is intended to provide financial assistance to children of ICC members in their pursuit of higher education, and it’s quite an honor for Alex to be chosen as the recipient.

Lawrence Utilities Department recognized with 3 awards at State conference

On August 27, the Lawrence Department of Utilities received recognition at the Annual Kansas Water Environment Association/KS Section American Water Works Association Joint Conference in Topeka, KS. The KWEA awarded the Lawrence Department of Utilities with the KWEA Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation and Maintenance Award, the Biosolids Management Award, and the Collections System Award. Each of these three awards is based on outstanding performance and excellence in the specific wastewater related area. 

Rental Licensing and Inspection Outreach Update

City staff have been working since April to develop communication plans and strategies to educate and inform landlords and tenants about the expanded Rental Licensing and inspection Program.  As of January 1, 2015, all rental properties in Lawrence are required to maintain a valid rental license in compliance with City Ordinance 8840.  Staff held three well-attended landlord education seminars in the May and June for landlords and staff have recently focused attention on communication to tenants.  The postcard  was mailed out to 2,560 currently licensed units in the Rental Licensing and Inspection program, this includes existing properties and any properties licensed under the new guidelines.  Staff will continue to perform outreach and education through additional landlord seminars planned for this fall (dates TBA) and through education targeted to stakeholders including the Lawrence Landlord Association, neighborhoods, and departments at KU who perform outreach to tenants and students. 

Additionally, the city’s web page for the program was redesigned to provide specific information to landlords and tenants.  The page can be viewed at http://www.lawrenceks.org/pds/rental-licensing. Staff will provide a Google Analytics report later this year for the main program page and the tenant-focused web page (www.lawrenceks.org/rent).   Other outreach methods planned for the fall include the production of a video showing a ‘typical’ rental licensing inspection, Flame newsletter articles leading up to the January 1 implementation date, Channel 25 video/slide information, social media postings, placement of an ad in the Parks and Recreation Winter activity guide, and other standard distribution methods.