City Commission Goals

Staff to provide Commission with status briefing on former Farmland Industries property and city’s efforts to facilitate industrial park development at the site; proceed with annexation of property.

Annexation Ordinance No. 8435 annexing 448 acres adopted and effective. Staff continuing to explore acquisition and partnership options.

Proceed with providing water/sewer infrastructure at the Lawrence Municipal Airport and continue to promote the airport for economic development opportunities.

Waterline construction to be completed March 2010. Sewer concept study reviewed, direction to negotiate contract for sewer design work. Construction completed ?.  City Commission approval of Hawkeye lease 2/2/2010?  Continued contacts with economic development prospects for airport development.

Proceed with improvements to the development process to ensure adequate facilitation for quality development, including incentives for infill development

Development Code improvements continuing. See  McCullough report of 9/6/2009.

Redevelopment contact program underway

Schedule Commission discussion on governance structure for economic development partnership

City Commission discussion and direction anticipated in fall.

In cooperation with our economic development partners, the city should focus efforts to:

Make Lawrence among the most attractive for “green” jobs

Bowersock dam improvement contract approved 8/25/09. Staff meeting to discuss additional opportunities.

Staff and Chamber staff met with Johnson County Community College representatives in July 2009 at their Lawrence campus regarding job training and “green job” opportunities.  Stimulus funding opportunities in this area are being monitored. 

Enhance and market Lawrence as a retirement destination

Staff plans to review retirement strategies undertaken by other communities, identify key tasks and infrastructure needed to enhance the community as a retirement destination, identify community leaders to build these resources.  City to cooperate with Chamber efforts.

From MARC newsletter - EPA guide to smart growth and older Americans.  The guide is geared toward community leaders, but also provides guidance for cities in developing a community that better accommodates senior citizens.

Explore additional industrial park locations

Chapter 7 of Comprehensive Plan adopted. PDS and Economic Development Coordinator will provide report.

Promote additional research fields at the University of Kansas with economic development benefits

City staff to schedule meetings.  Incubator under construction.   City and County acquired West Labs Building in January 2010.

Provide staff report on economic development successes in other communities and analysis of tools used.

Staff provided an extensive survey and digital presentation on various tools used by other communities in a January 2008 Study Session:  http://www.lawrenceks.org/study_sessions/2008/01-14-08/01-14-08h/eco_devo_staff_memo.html

Provide staff report on economic development financing options used in other communities.

Cit City staff to schedule meetings.

Continue efforts to improve the responsiveness and outcomes of the development process, including:  participation with development stakeholders in recommending Development Code amendments which reflect community values and needs, appropriately encourage infill development, establish appropriate measurement tools for the development process, and reflect scale and cost reasonableness.

Development Code amendments underway. See McCullough report of 9/6/2009.

Redevelopment contact program underway.

City staff to schedule meeting on performance measurements.

Continue city’s master planning efforts, including a review of the Urban Growth Area boundaries.

Northeast sector plan underway. Kick-off meeting September 17.  PDS to provide additional report on UGA review.  Coordination with utility master planning.  

Complete water and waste water master plans to ensure appropriate attention to maintenance, growth and regulatory needs.

CC approved contract for wastewater master plan.

CC authorized RFP for water master plan.

Staff report on waterline conditions.

Commission direction on planned rehabilitation of the former Carnegie Library.

City Commission accepted bids 1/26/2010. Anticipate completion in mid/late 2010.

Staff report on options for increased cleaning efforts in Downtown areas.

Staff reviewing options for improvements

Review opportunities for enhancements at the Lawrence Public Library.

Staff to schedule meeting with library

Commission discussion on homeless shelter with focus on city’s role.

CC to consider SUP for LCS Kentucky site in January 2010.

Staff working with LCS on land use and property needs for new facility.

Staff report on efforts to enhance Lawrence community events, including review of efforts in other communities, opportunities for city signature event and city coordination and promotion.

Staff to schedule meeting.

Staff report on community planning process to develop a recreation center located west of Kasold.

City Commission authorized comprehensive Parks and       Recreation needs and facility planning on October 6.

Schedule Commission discussion to consider charging a body with completing an inventory of historical structures and recommended prioritization of the structures.

PDS to provide report on issue.

Seek educational and publicity opportunities to encourage recreational activities including walking and biking downtown.

Burroughs Creek Rail/Trail groundbreaking on October 6. CC to discuss sidewalk maintenance responsibilities in fall.  Transportation planners to provide report on current and possible future efforts for pedestrian and bicycle activity.

Facilitate public discussion and review of possible city sponsored curbside recycling program, including explore feasibility of a pilot program and in-depth review of possible program costs and benefits.

Recycling division providing report.  SAB received at 9/9/09 meeting.  City Commission to receive SAB recommendations.

Continue to use stimulus funding to support transit system.

Transit Administrator to provide report.

Update Memo  

Seek publicity opportunities to tell the city’s story of green efforts including alternative fuel transit vehicles and energy saving projects.

Mark Thiel and Steve Stewart to provide Public Works efforts.

Hire Sustainability Coordinator (possibly in cooperation with the county) and task the position with raising the sustainability message and substance for the community, including reducing city energy consumption and costs, green business enhancement and other sustainable initiatives.

Grant approved.   Next steps for implementation underway. CC approved cooperation agreement for coordinator position on October 13.  County proceeding with recruitment.

Schedule Commission receipt of report from Peak Oil Taskforce.

Preliminary report from the Task Force is anticipated in January 2010.

Staff report on status of Chapter 16 (Environmental Chapter of Comprehensive Plan)  including timeline for report to City Commission.

Planning to provide status report.

Schedule Commission discussion of sensitive land language in development code and farmland preservation issue.

City Commission will receive multiple opportunities to discuss sensitive land issues during Chp. 16 review and text amendment review that will be submitted for CC consideration in the fall, 2009.

Staff report on existing tools and possible enhanced tools  that support infill development

Need staff report;  include CID,  redevelopment contact letters, etc.

Schedule Commission discussion about approved and unfunded traffic calming plans to focus on funding options and timeline expectations.

Public Works report.   List attached.  Discussion with City Commission should include priority of pedestrian/school crossing.

Staff report on number of school crossing locations that are absent crosswalks.

Public Works to provide report.  Meetings underway with school representatives.

Staff report on sidewalk gaps in areas surrounding schools.

Public Works to provide report in November.

Staff report on options for enhancing City Code compliance regarding zoning (single-family residence), yard and blight maintenance, including development of useful performance measurements.

PDS to provide report.

Seek educational and publicity opportunities:

·         To encourage proper yard maintenance including mowing and trimming;

To be included in the above PDS report.

·         For TND so neighbors are informed about allowed and prohibited uses in infill development;

PDS to provide report.

·         On sidewalk maintenance responsibilities including repair and clearing;

CC to discuss sidewalk maintenance and funding options.

·         To highlight street equity issues and demonstrate that all neighborhoods are receiving street maintenance including the analytical basis for decisions of street and curb repairs.

Public works to provide report.  Staff working on report.

Schedule Commission briefing on South Lawrence Trafficway and US 59 highway from state and/or federal transportation agency.

KDOT briefing held on October 6.

Complete phase II of transit planning effort to coordinate routes with improvements launching in summer/fall 2010.  Consider additional opportunities for KU coordination and other improvements to increase ridership.

Coordination efforts with KU are underway.  Recent successes include the new shared Route 11 and a joint Guide to Ride map.  Efforts on a joint facility are also continuing, as is Phase II of the transit planning effort, anticipated to bring additional route changes and more coordination for August 2010.  An update was provided at the August 11 City Commission meeting on efforts to date:  http://www.lawrenceks.org/web_based_agendas/2009/08-11-09/08-11-09h/pt_coordination_update_memo.html

Staff report and briefing on past and current efforts to extend 31st Street east of Haskell Avenue.

Public Works to provide status report. CC budgeted some funds for ROW acquisition in 2010 budget.

Staff report on existing tools that facilitate development supporting other modes of transportation.

PDS to provide report, include highlighting of existing tools:  mixed-use district, sidewalk standards, transit oriented design; and ideas on how to encourage these uses.

Staff report on options to increase foot patrol and cleanliness efforts in the downtown area.

See parking fee/fine item below.  Additional foot patrols in downtown area underway.

Engage merchants to help identify strategies to garner support for hosting events in downtown.

Staff to schedule meeting.

Staff report on opportunities to encourage additional re-development in the downtown area, including newly enacted legislation for community improvement districts.

Staff report to be prepared.

Staff report on parking fees and fines for downtown parking system.

Ordinance No.  8413 adopted.  Effective September 1.  Resource enhancement for foot patrols and downtown beautification.

Staff report on other communities’ activities to be proactive with downtown development.

Staff report to be prepared.

Carnegie rehabilitation and active use

CC accepted bids for project on 1/26/2010. Anticipated completion mid/late 2010.  Future home of CVB and FFNHA.

Library improvements

Staff to schedule meeting.

Staff report on improvements to performance measurement system, including engagement of citizens and stakeholders in selected metrics and measurements that better define “success” in city services.

Budget Manager to provide report.

Staff report on employee cross training efforts.

Staff to provide report.

Staff report on quality assurance standards used when working with vendors.

Staff to provide report.

Conduct citizen survey in 2010.

Citizen survey budgeted for 2010.

Staff report on current and past eGov initiatives including efforts with electronic utility bills and online payments.

Staff is working on a report and E-gov initiatives.  Staff is discussing options to centralize credit card payments to better facilitate online payments and possibly consolidate and negotiate better fees.