CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending May 3, 2005

 

 

ICMA Best Practices Award

Ron Hall, Information Systems Director, has returned from the ICMA Best Practice’s Symposium and will provide a report to the Commission.  The City of Lawrence’s e-government program was selected to be one of the case studies presented at ICMA University’s Best Practices 2005 in Austin, Texas, April 27-28, 2005.  Tim Laurent, East Lawrence Center Supervisor, Frank Reeb, Administrative Services Director, and Mike Wildgen, City Manager, joined Ron in attending the symposium.  The ICMA Best Practices Symposium highlights local government excellence and allows participants to understand what was achieved in the case study jurisdictions along with how those ideas and approaches can be put to work in their own communities.  Besides e-government, other issues presented at the symposium will include citizen involvement, financial analysis/budgeting, homeland security, performance measurement, and smart growth.

 

MOU Activities in 2005

The attached memo updates the City Commission on upcoming discussions per the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Lawrence Police Officers Association (LPOA) relative to the 2006 budget.

 

Implementation of Yard Waste Container Requirements Going Well

The implementation of the preferred yard waste container program is going very well.  Extensive public education and information out-reach was spear-headed by Diana Sjogren, Waste Reduction and Recycling (WR/R) Specialist and Mollie Mangerich, WR/R Supervisor.  Collection of yard waste started March 7, 2005.  Craig Pruett, Field Supervisor/Solid Waste, has been diligently tracking the set-out habits of Lawrencians, to assist with analyzing the implementation of the preferred container program.  Based on the information provided by Craig, the spreadsheet below summarizes the set-out habits of Lawrencians during this initial transition to no-plastics.  The transition period has been remarkably successful.  We started with program with over 86% compliance with preferred containers.  The percentage of households with plastic bag set outs rapidly fell to less than 3% by week four.  During weeks seven and eight, plastic bag set outs accounted for 1.5% or less of homes setting out yard waste.  In short, by week seven, we have achieved over 98% preferred container set-outs.  Detailed information on the types of set-outs and the education / out-reach timeline are attached. 

 

 

 

Irrigation System for South Park

Here are some pictures of the new irrigation system that was installed in the west side of South Park.

 

‘April Showers to Water Towers’   Photos

This Water Festival for Douglas County was held in conjunction with other Earth Day activities April 23rd in South Park.  Information regarding watersheds, the life of a raindrop, erosion, our drinking water and non-point source pollution were presented using fun, educational activities.  Organizers included the City of Lawrence Stormwater Division and Department of Utilities, Kaw Valley Heritage Alliance, Douglas County Farm Bureau, K-State Research and Extension and the Douglas County Conservation District.  Well over 200 people attended the festival, with nearly 150 rain ponchos given away to those who visited all eight activities.   

 

Drainage Project Photos

The attached photos were taken during construction of drainage improvement projects at 6th and Iowa, 7th and Vermont, Brushcreek, and 10th and Illinois.

 

Action Items from 04-26 -05

A report on the action items assigned to staff during the 04/19/05 City Commission meeting is attached, along with an update of previous action item assignments.