CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending December 12, 2014

Kennel licensing regulations:

Staff has prepared a memorandum summarizing the City’s kennel licensing regulations.  While the code requires a kennel licensing fee, this fee has not been collected in recent memory.  These regulations are currently under review and code changes may be appropriate to discuss, or additional research undertaken, as directed by the City Commission.

City Commission Meeting Time:

A few weeks ago, the issue of an earlier start time for City Commission meetings was briefly discussed.  Attached is a staff report regarding the meeting times of various governing bodies in the area.  It would be appropriate for the City Commission to provide direction on this matter. 

Special populations celebrates holidays with dinner, dance, and decorated tree

Recently, the Special Populations held their monthly Coffeehouse dinner and dance, with a special visit from Santa and one of his elves.  See attached for more information.

Community applies for Culture of Health Prize

Community partners (LDC Health Dept., Douglas County, the City of Lawrence, United Way, Health Care Access, Douglas County Community Foundation, USD 497, etc.) collaborated to apply for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation "Culture of Health Prize."  The RWJF Culture of Health Prize honors communities which place a high priority on health and bring partners together to drive local change.  Six communities, selected from more than 250 across the nation, will receive no-strings attached $25,000 cash prize in recognition of their accomplishments.  Lawrence and Douglas County have advanced through the first round of application.  As part of the second stage application process, City of Lawrence Communications staff created a video that profiles our health partnerships in the community:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmznVeI5c00&feature=youtu.be

Notification to prize recipients will take place on February 13th.

Market Match Pilot Program provides $9,000 in SNAP matching funds to help families access healthy, local food

Market Match is a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) dollar for dollar matching pilot program started at two farmers’ markets in Lawrence, KS this past June.  Funding in 2014 was provided by the City of Lawrence, Douglas County, and LiveWell Lawrence.  In its first year, the program provided $8,881 in direct funds to match SNAP dollars, leveraging $17,933 total SNAP dollars spent at area farmers markets, for a local economic impact of over $32,000.  80% of Market Match participants strongly agreed that Market Match influenced their decision to shop at the farmers’ market, and 62% strongly agreed that their fruit and vegetable consumption increased because of Market Match.  83% of vendors surveyed strongly agreed or agreed that there was an increase of SNAP customers visiting their stand compared to previous years.  The City of Lawrence has committed $10,000 to fund a 2015 Market Match program, which has been matched with charitable dollars from the Topeka Community Foundation and Kansas Health Foundation.  Therefore, plans for 2015 include expansion to other Lawrence-based and regional farmers markets.

See attached report.