CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending March 20, 2015

Public Works 2014 Annual Report:

Attached is the Public Works 2014 end of year annual report. 

Cultural Plan Meetings Scheduled:

The City of Lawrence has engaged the team of Christine Harris Connections and Creative Community Builders to complete a city-wide cultural plan for Lawrence.   The development of a city-wide cultural plan was one of the key recommendations of the city’s Cultural District Task Force report, delivered in late 2013.  The cultural planning process will create a functional and sustainable guiding plan which a) documents Lawrence’s unique cultural assets, b) defines cultural priorities, c) recommends strategies and tools which the City of Lawrence can provide to support the efforts of the community to accomplish those priorities, and further enhance the climate in which artists, art-related businesses, cultural tourism and creative sector economic development can thrive, and d) provides recommendations for integrating infrastructure and capital improvement projects with the overall goals of the cultural plan.  In order to create a successful cultural plan, numerous stakeholders in the community need to be engaged. 

The City’s consultants will be hosting several meetings during an upcoming site visit.  The public is encouraged to attend these meetings.  Several of the meetings will have a focus on particular groups.

• Tuesday, March 24 3:30-5:00 pm Cultural Plan Steering Committee Meeting – at Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Drive
• Tuesday March 24 6:30-8:30 pm – Artists Meeting at Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Drive.  The consultants will meet with artists in the community to discuss their needs and input into the City’s cultural plan development.  All artists in Lawrence are invited to attend.
• Wednesday, March 25 3:00-5:00 pm – Arts Organizations Meeting at Van Go, Inc, 715 New Jersey Street.  The consultants will meet with various arts/cultural organizations in the community to discuss their needs and input into the City’s cultural plan development.  All arts/cultural organizations in Lawrence are invited to attend. 
• Thursday, March 26 8:30-10:30 am – Creative Sector Businesses Meeting at the Lawrence Visitors Center, 402 N. 2^nd Street.  The consultants will meet with various for-profit creative sector businesses in the community to discuss their needs and input into the City’s cultural plan development.  All for-profit creative sector businesses in Lawrence are invited to attend.
• Wednesday, May 6, 2015 – Town Hall Meetings on Cultural Plan.  Location and times to be determined.  The consultants will meet with the general public regarding the City’s cultural plan development.  Citizens with an interest in the arts, performing arts, history, and culture in Lawrence are invited to attend. 

The City’s website has been updated with information about the cultural plan, including a sign-up for e-mail notifications on the planning efforts:  http://www.lawrenceks.org/cmo/cultural-plan.

9^th Street Corridor Project:

The Lawrence Arts Center received a prestigious ArtPlace grant award for the infusion of art into a streetscape project along east 9^th Street, from Delaware Street to Massachusetts Street, which will make the corridor more walkable and bicycle-friendly.  See attached brochure for more information. Additionally, the City’s website has been updated with meeting information:  http://www.lawrenceks.org/9th-street-corridor-project.

City Hall Bike Repair Station:

Recently the Public Works Department installed a bike repair station at City Hall. It is located near the bike parking on the east side of the building near the east entrance into City Hall.   Staff Memo

Commissioners reminded to update Statements of Substantial Interest:

The City Clerk’s Office would like to remind the Commissioners to file a Statement of Substantial Interest (SSI) form to disclose any changes in your substantial interests that occurred during the preceding calendar year.  The SSI form enables elected officials to publicly disclose substantial interests such as ownership and leadership roles, gifts, and compensation.  If a Commissioner needs or would like to update his SSI, please complete the attached form and submit it to the City Clerk’s Office by April 15^th.