Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

To:	David L. Corliss, City Manager Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager
From:	Kevyn Gero, Management Intern
Date:	May 18, 2015
Re:	2016 Budget – Public Input Meetings Summary

Background

In order to provide the public with an opportunity to give input into the 2016 budget process, two meetings were held to listen to comments and ideas on how the City should allocate resources. About twenty people attended each meeting, including City Commissioners and staff. A summary of both meetings is provided below.

Summary of Exercise

At both Budget Input meetings, staff facilitated a group question in which members of the public were asked to choose the level of priority for each budget category. Citizens received instructions stating:

“The City of Lawrence Budget has been split into 20 categories. Place a sticker under each budget category to indicate whether you think it should receive a higher priority, the same priority or a lesser priority in the 2016 budget compared to the 2015 budget. Please use all 20 dots, bone one use one dot per category.”

+ Higher Priority

= Same Priority

- Lesser Priority

Example:

Parks and Park Maintenance

+	=	-
·

Conclusion: “I think Parks and Park Maintenance should be a higher budget priority in 2016”.

Budget Categories:

Staff tallied the dots for both Budget Input meetings and identified some trends when comparing the average number of dots placed in each category.

Seven categories received more dots on average than the other categories in both sessions for “should be a higher priority in the 2016 Budget compared to the 2015 budget” : Police, Social Services, Economic Development, Planning and Zoning, Code Enforcement, Public Transportation, Parks and Park Maintenance and Police. Street Maintenance and Recreation facilities and programs both received a high number of dots at the May 14^th meeting but did not at the May 4^th meeting. It should be noted a few people mentioned that they understood “Street Maintenance” to include issues related to sidewalk, bicycle and non-motorized transportation pedestrian related infrastructure.

Arts and Culture received a higher than average number of dots in the “lesser priority” category at both meetings. During the May 4^th meeting, Arts and Culture was also marked more than average as a “higher priority”. Economic Development similarly received a high number of marks in both “higher priority and lesser priority” boxes. Municipal Court, Tourism, Library, and Recreation facilities and Programs all received a large number of dots in the lesser priority category.

Monday, May 4- Union Pacific Depot

Commissioners Present: Mayor Jeremy Farmer; Commissioner Mike Amyx, Commissioner Stuart Boley, and Commissioner Matthew Herbert

City Staff Present: Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager; Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager; Megan Gilliland, Communications Manager; Kevyn Gero, Management Intern

Community Members Present: Sign-in sheet with list community members.

The meeting began with introductions by Mayor Farmer. Casey Toomay provided a brief overview of the budget process and directed everyone to the City’s webpage for updates. She then began the budget exercise with the group.

After all citizens had the opportunity complete the exercise, staff debriefed by discussing trends and observations. People discussed why they thought a category should receive the same level of priority or less. A few people noticed that there were very few dots in the “lesser priority” category. Tourism did have a lot of dots in the negative column. A few citizens responded that because of a few major capital projects such as Sports Pavilion Lawrence and the Library, they thought the costs may be decreasing after those projects have been paid off. It was noted that these project require maintenance. The addition of Sports Pavilion Lawrence has increase the availability of space and the amount of programming.

The group spent a large amount of time discussing pedestrian issues, complete streets and safe routes to schools. Sidewalks and bike lanes were mentioned as one of the categories not listed in the exercise. While street maintenance is important, it was mentioned that people may have placed their dot for the “same priority” because they were considering the extensive street maintenance projects that took place the summer of 2014.

School zone safety and 27^th Street were discussed as an issue of traffic safety concerns. Schools zones should be up to federal standards. The group spent time discussing school zones, appropriate signage and crosswalks. Streets around schools should be a priority. The City needs a policy to address these issues. Traffic calming is never funded and the City needs flexibility to address current needs. The issue would benefit form a coordinate effort. More cooperation and collaboration between the school district and the City should be could place to start. The City should plan and budget for temporary traffic issues caused by construction. New streets could be delayed to address needs now. The upcoming citizen survey was mentioned as a method to get citizen input on city services.

Casey asked what the dots in the “higher priority” category for policy meant. Participants answered their dot meant increased law enforcement and a new police facility. The Police Facility Tour showed the low morale because of working conditions.

A few people discussed the desire to see increased ridership, a better route system and alternative transportation routes. A citizen stated that public transportation currently does not serve the Barker neighborhood and they would like to see more equitable coverage.

Many citizens expressed support for Social Services to be a higher priority in the 2016 Budget than in the 2015 Budget. One person stated they support increased funding because social service agencies are receiving less support from the state the city should provide more local support. A few citizens stated their support for specific social service agencies such as Boys and Girls Club, Lawrence Community Shelter and Van-Go and their satisfaction with the services they provide.

The group discussed the connections between mental health and county jail. They also talked about what impact improved mental health facilities could play on police resources. Events such as Fourth of July need enforcement and Police are needed to provide security for City facilities.

Mayor Farmer thanked everyone for attending and the meeting adjourned.

Thursday, May 14- Fire Station #5

Commissioners Present: Mayor Jeremy Farmer; Commissioner Mike Amyx, Commissioner Stuart Boley, and Commissioner Matthew Herbert

City Staff Present: Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager; Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager; Megan Gilliland, Communications Manager; Brandon McGuire, Assistant to the City Manager; Ernie Shaw, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation; Chris Mulvenon, Assistant to the Chief; Kevyn Gero, Management Intern

Community Members Present: Sign-in sheet with list community members.

Mayor Farmer welcomed everyone and provided an overview.

The group made some general observations after the dot exercise noting that the City must have a lot of potholes or sidewalk needs because of the high number of votes in the street maintenance category. The dots seemed to focused on core city services. Categories that cover infrastructure issues that affect quality of life are highly skewed toward the left. In the police category there were no dots in the “lesser” priority column. The group discussed what the dot meant and if it implied more funding. Dots could mean effectiveness or funding. Casey explained the funding sources for each category and whether it uses general funds.

Long term planning was a topic of discussion. People mentioned that they would like to know about major investments and upcoming maintenance. These type of long term planning could help us identify what we are looking for on the horizon. Economic development investments seem abstract and obscure.

Sidewalks were a major topic of discussion. The city needs continuous sidewalks and especially where there are bus stops. People discussed other ways other cities creatively fund sidewalks. Other pedestrian and bicycle issues where mentioned. A bike sharing program can be operated by the public transit authority but it is not common. Someone mentioned that they appreciated the effort of maintenance the brick streets. Sidewalks are an economic development strategy because millennials want to live in a walkable community.

Casey asked the group their thoughts on the idea of a transit hub. The group discussed the geographical location and how it will affect the system. Transportation services important role in the economy and supporting people in poverty. A good transportation system is the best investment for low income population, especially if it is affordable. Transportation can play a role into adding more density.

Some citizens asked about code enforcement issues and how the City responds to issues when a citizen calls. Other topics were affordable housing and reducing traffic around schools.

Casey talked about the guest tax and how it is funded and used. It is important to tell the story of tourism. A bicycle or pedestrian loop around the city would be a great investment to attract tourists.

An improved transit system cannot be understood independently of multi-modal system. Anything that moves us away from individual automobiles is better use resources.

Non-profit health clinics play an important part of the community to keep people healthy. Workforce development and childcare are part of economic development. Affordable early childcare should be an economic development priority.

The group named categories they thought were missing from the dot exercise- public health, sidewalk and trail piece, transportation infrastructure, active transportation.

Mayor Farmer thanked everyone and encouraged them to take advantage of future opportunities to talk budget. He adjourned the meeting.