Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	David Corliss , City Manager
FROM:	Megan Gilliland
CC:	Diane Stoddard Casey Toomay Brandon McGuire
DATE:	October 2, 2014
RE:	Safe Winter Walkways Program 2013 Review

Background:

In 2004, the city partnered with Douglas County Senior Services (DCSS) to create a program to connect people that need help removing snow from public sidewalks with able-bodied individuals willing to remove snow.  Douglas County Senior Services has agreed to work with the city to implement the “Safe Winter Walkways” program again this season.  The program and commitments are described in the attached Memorandum of Understanding.

To implement the volunteer program, the City Manager needs to sign the Memorandum of Understanding.  The Memorandum of Understanding will then be signed by a representative of Douglas County Senior Services.  Representatives of Douglas County Senior Services have reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding.

A press release for the program will be released in early October. 

The table below shows a program history for participation versus volunteer availability:

	Volunteers	Participants	Waiting List
2009	52	60	0
2010	57	119	24
2011	38	124	40
2012	24	91	67
2013	41 (served 57 properties)	89	32

Sixty-four percent (64%) of people who requested assistance from DCSS in 2013 were paired with a volunteer.  Numerous volunteers were paired with multiple homes.  It is noteworthy that the Lawrence Police Department staff was very involved and took multiple homes.  Their support was appreciated as part of this volunteer program.

2013 was the first year we implemented a strict deadline for participant sign-up.  DCSS and the city worked together to make sure previous participants, volunteers and the general public were aware the program had a deadline.  The deadline was helpful and allowed participants and volunteers to be paired up generally ahead of winter weather and this allowed participants to know if a volunteer for their property had been assigned.

DCSS staff and city staff have decided the deadline for the 2014/2015 season will be Friday, November 21, 2014.  This date has been selected so that participants and volunteers can be matched prior to the holiday season, and hopefully, prior to snow season. 

City staff will use a varied list of methods to solicit volunteers for the program.  The 2014 Communication Plan is attached.

Recommended Action:

Direct the City Manager to sign the Memorandum of Understanding for the 2014-2015 Safe Winter Walkways program.