CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending August 28, 2015

900 Block of New Jersey Public Meeting on changes to school and on-street parking:

The attached public notice was sent to all adjacent property owners to the 900 block of New Jersey, as well as East Lawrence Neighborhood Association and Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods related to the recent changes to New York Elementary and on-street parking.

Transit Shuttle from Downtown to Memorial Stadium for KU home football games:

The City of Lawrence invites KU football fans to park in Downtown Lawrence for free and catch a ride to and from Memorial Stadium during this football season. Downtown to Memorial Stadium service will be available for all seven home-game Saturdays. Fans can enjoy downtown restaurants and shops before and after the game.

Parking in the New Hampshire Street Parking Garage, 900 block of New Hampshire, the lower level and ramps of the Riverfront Parking Garage, 600 block of New Hampshire, and the Vermont Street Parking Garage, 700 block of Vermont, will be free for weekend game days.

The service to and from Memorial Stadium is $1 for all passengers. The service will run two hours prior to kick-off and one hour after the game or when no additional post-game passengers are present. Signs on the buses will display: #11 Downtown/Football Service.

Bus service will pick up and drop off passengers at only these four stops:

On the south side of 9th Street east of Massachusetts (next to the U.S. Bank building)
In front of the Riverfront Parking Garage
On the west side of Vermont Street north of 8th (in front of Douglas County Senior Services)
Memorial Stadium

Eagle Scout Project at Lawrence Nature Park:

For his Eagle Scout Project, Jon Jackson and Boy Scout Troupe 50 assembled 8 benches for Lawrence Nature Park. This included assembling and varnishing. All told the boys spent 157 hours in volunteer service on the benches. See attached photos.

Moody’s Investors Service Credit Rating for the Series 2015 A General Obligation Improvement Bonds

During the discussion on the bond sale at the August 25, 2015 City Commission Meeting, the Finance Director referenced the Moody’s bond rating report affirming the City’s Aa1 bond rating. The report is attached.

Rental Licensing Reports:

Planning & Development Services submits the June and July 2015 rental licensing and inspection reports for review.

Sales Tax Distributions:

The City of Lawrence has recently received its August sales tax and its share of County sales tax distribution. The distribution is the result of retail sales from mid-April to mid-May. The distribution of $3,097,298 is $42,540 less than the prior year distribution for the same month. See attached report for more information.