November 1, 2005
The Board of Commissioners of the City of Lawrence met in regular session at 6:35 p.m., in the City Commission Chambers in City Hall with Mayor Highberger presiding and members Amyx, Hack, and Schauner present. Commissioner Rundle was not present. Lawrence High Student Commissioner Anthony Frei was present.
PROCLAMATION
Mayor Highberger proclaimed the month of November as “National Family Caregivers Month”; “National Home Care Month”; and “National Hospice Month.”
CONSENT AGENDA
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Amyx, to approve the City Commission meeting minutes of October 18, 2005. Motion carried unanimously.
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Amyx, to receive the Planning Commission meeting minutes of September 26-28, 2005; the Historic Resources Commission action summary of September 15, 2005; the Traffic Safety Commission meeting minutes of October 3, 2005; the Mechanical Board of Appeals meeting minutes of August 31, 2005; the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority meeting minutes of September 25, 2005; and the Public Incentive Review Committee meeting minutes of September 14, 2005. Motion carried unanimously.
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Amyx, to approve claims to 275 vendors in the amount of $1,540,887.25 and payroll from October 16, 2005 to October 29, 2005 in the amount of $1,490,887.23. Motion carried unanimously.
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Amyx, to approve the Drinking Establishment Licenses for Eldridge Hotel, 701 Massachusetts; Club Liberty, 642 Massachusetts; Thai House Cuisine, 724 Massachusetts; and, The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts. Motion carried unanimously.
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Amyx, to concur with the recommendation of the Mayor and appoint David Johnston to the Convention & Visitors Bureau Advisory Board, to a term which will expire July 1, 2006; and appoint Lori Tapahonso to the Lawrence Alliance, to a term which will expire November 30, 2006. Motion carried unanimously.
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Amyx, to set a bid date of November 15, 2005 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Manhole Replacement Project. Motion carried unanimously. (1)
The City Commission reviewed the bids for programmable logic controller components for the Utilities Department. The bids were:
BIDDER BID AMOUNT
Logic, Inc. $40,545.00
RE Pedrotti Co. $45,601.00
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Amyx, to award the bid to Logic, Inc., in the amount of $40,545. Motion carried unanimously. (2)
The City Commission reviewed the bids lift station control panel enclosures for the Utilities Department. The bids were:
BIDDER BID AMOUNT
Stanion Wholesale Electric $20,069.55
Rexel Glasco $20,150.00
Kriz-Davis $22,923.72
Barr-Thorp $24,130.97
Western Extralite $24,700.00
Granger $34,538.40
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Amyx, to award the bid to Stanion Wholesale Electric, in the amount of $20,069.55. Motion carried unanimously. (3)
The City Commission reviewed the bid for a lift station control panel enclosure installation for the Utilities Department. The bid was:
BIDDER BID AMOUNT
Superior Electric $88,011.00
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Amyx, to award the sole bid to Superior Electric in the amount of $88,011. Motion carried unanimously.
(4)
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Amyx, to adopt Resolution No. 6618, setting a public hearing date of December 20, 2005, for the discussion of the unsafe structure at 429 Indiana Street and to consider ordering the structure to be repaired or removed. Motion carried unanimously. (5)
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Amyx, to approve the unanimous recommendation from the Traffic Safety Commission to install flashing beacons at the school reduced speed zone on Peterson Road at Arrowhead Drive. Motion carried unanimously. (6)
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Amyx, to receive correspondence from Williamsburg Homeowner’s Association concerning a request for a special assessment benefit district formation and maintenance/improvements to private streets; and refer to staff for a report . Motion carried unanimously. (7)
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT:
During the City Manager’s Report, Steve Clark said in this process, in terms of finding out what the needs were, they discussed the Library being the center of exploration and opportunity findings. One of their primary goals was how the library project could assist, help, or improve existing conditions with the Aquatic Center, parking issues, retail and other residential uses that might be in the area or visa versa.
They had recently looked at the site information and prepared data for that site in its current location and determined the needs and aspirations of the Library with the other consultants that were retained by the Library and the City. He said the next public meeting would have a lot of good data.
In addition, one of the other issues that needed to be addressed was to uncover opportunity from potential development partners. As part of that process, they had been asked by the Library Board to informally contact any developers that would be interested in being part of a public/private partnership. Through the library’s web-page and through this update, they were publicly asking for anyone who was interested to take part in this process and contact them. He said there was a lot of interest, both on the public and private side.
He said to head-off questions about other components that might be part of the project there might be other agencies that had expressed interest in being part of the Library’s program while the Library was simply looking at what was needed to provide services to the community in the future. They also invited any other agencies through their regulatory board to forward to them their needs so that as they talked to private entities, they could at least give them the needs of those other agencies that might be affected or might want to be part of the project. He said they were at that stage of talking to private folks to see how that interacted with the needs of the Library.
He said the City Commission might have received questions about the structural integrity of the Library and why they could not add on to the top of that building. He said they were proceeding with getting the structural analysis to show what the ramification of adding on would be.
He said they would have public meetings, Saturday, November 12th, 10:00 a.m., Lawrence Visitor’s Center; Tuesday, December 6th, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Library Auditorium; and Wednesday, January 4th, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the Library Auditorium.
Also, during the City Manager’s Report, Ed Mullins, Director of Finance, presented the 2005 Third Quarter Financial Report. He said the City was starting to see some growth in most of the City’s revenue sources. Overall the General Fund Revenue was approximately 7.5% compared to the same period last year. However, the General Fund expenditures were up 13.4%. The good news was that they were expecting the General Fund Revenue, by the end of the year, to be greater than budgeted and the expenditures to be less than budgeted.
Sales tax appears to be growing approximately 3.5% over the same period last year.
He noted on the Transportation Fund that MV Transporation wanted to discuss a fuel escalator which could have an impact on this year or future years in terms of how that budget looked.
He said there was a healthy increase in Water and Sewer funds because of the rate increases and a big reduction in the net income because the expenses were quite a bit higher than revenue. A big portion of that amount was a 7.3 million transfer that was being placed in cash finance for infrastructure projects which was part of the rate structure in the Master Plan in order to finance capital projects both with cash and debt.
The Golf Course showed improvement. However, revenue for the year was expected to be less than 90% of budget.
He said with the Federal Government continuing to raise interest rates, the City primarily invested in the short-term, meaning most of the City’s investments were less than 6 months in duration. During this last quarter 3.62 percent was earned which had a positive impact on that side of the equation of earning investments. He said there were two bond issues and the City’s bonded debt increased by just under, $17 million.
Commissioner Schauner asked if it made sense to permanently adjust downward, the City’s expectation for revenue on the golf course. He said it seemed that the Commission received this report every year and it was always a disappointing number. He said it might be time to be more realistic with respect to expectations.
Mullins said that revenue reported for the golf course was the trend. He said they had seen the peak in the number of rounds played and the rounds were going down or at best holding steady. At some point in time, there needed to be some discussion on what direction the City wanted to go with the golf course.
Wildgen said the golf course should be part of the recreation fund because if taking the Aquatic Center out and put those centers in a special fund, the same thing would be seen and even worse because those centers had a harder time making their budgeted expenses. He said the sales tax supported the recreation program especially the Aquatic Center and that support would be needed for the golf course.
Vice Mayor Amyx said he did not disagree with the City Manager, but the Commission needed to decide whether this was a municipal golf course and did staff need to aggressively bring more players on that golf course. He said the price of playing golf could not be raised to a point that people could not afford to play at that course.
Wildgen said staff tried to aggressively recruit more players to that golf course. He said they had more competition and staff was trying to keep fees competitive.
Commissioner Schauner said it seemed that it was more honest to put the golf course in the Parks and Recreation budget and at the same time, not stop aggressively marketing or price competition with the City’s competition.
Wildgen said without that $80,000 or $90,000, the City did not have a capital replacement program. He said next year staff would need to look at putting the golf course funds with the other recreation fund items.
Commissioner Schauner asked if that idea could be considered for 2007.
Wildgen said yes.
Also, during the City Manager’s report, Wildgen said Kay Kent, Lawrence/Douglas County Health Department Director, gave a report on the Avian Flu. He said if the Commission desired, staff could schedule Kent to give a report to the City Commission on local programs regarding the Avian Flu.
Commissioner Schauner said the reason he would like Kent to discuss the Avian Flu was because the Commission meeting was televised and there might be more coverage to the public.
Finally, during the City Manager’s report, Commissioner Schauner said he was pleased to see that staff did the 15th and Bob Billings Parkway signalization project in-house and the City saved at least $30,000. He said he would like staff to continue to do projects in-house every opportunity staff had.
In conclusion, Commissioner Schauner asked about the take home car issue. He asked if staff was going to bring the City Commission a specific policy.
Wildgen said yes. There was an internal work group that was started last week as suggested by Commissioner Rundle.
Commissioner Hack said the City Commission had asked for a continual update on the sewer capacity in the northwest quadrant. She said Debbie Van Saun, Assistant City Manager, had sent a memo to the Commission which would be posted on the City’s website as well as other data.
Wildgen said the information covered the entire sanitary sewer system in the Master Plan. He urged everyone to attend the meeting on November 3rd, 7:00 p.m., at South Junior High School to start the public process on the water reclamation facility plant which was a key issue in that Master Plan.
Commissioner Schauner suggested that it would be helpful to have another study session to have staff walk the Commission and stakeholders through this process. (8)
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:
Consider approving rezoning request, adopting findings of fact, and authorizing drafting of ordinance for placement on a future agenda Z-07-46-05: A request to rezone a tract of land approximately 10.281 acres from A (Agricultural) District to RS-2 (Single-Family Residential) District. The property is generally described as being located at 515 Monterey Way.
Mike Wildgen, City Manager, said this rezoning request was on the regular agenda because of Commissioner Schauner‘s question about the sewers. He said this was a ridge line issue and the recommendation was to send the sewage to the south.
Commissioner Schauner said he had the opportunity to talk with the applicant and had a chance to look at the report. He said his questions had been answered about the project.
Mayor Highberger called for public comment.
After receiving no public comment, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Amyx, to concur with the Planning Commission’s recommendations to adopt the findings of fact and approve the request for rezoning (Z-07-46-05) of approximately 10.281 acres from A (Agricultural District) to RS-2 (Single-Family Residential District). The property is generally described as being located at 515 Monterey Way; and, direct staff to prepare the appropriate ordinance. Motion carried unanimously. (9)
Consider Traffic Safety Commission (TSC) recommendation to deny a request for an all-way stop at the intersection of Constant Avenue and Becker Drive.
David Woosley, Traffic Engineer, presented the staff report. He said the basis for the Traffic Safety Commission’s recommendation for denial was because the City had to justify stop signs and four way stops in accordance with the manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and they felt that the University should do the same thing. In fact, the manual stated that all roads open to the public were supposed to comply with the manual.
Mayor Highberger said in reading the Traffic Safety Commission minutes it was more than just the fact that the applicant did not show, but at least one Commissioner drove that road and thought there was not a need for a sign at that location.
Woosley said there was not justification provided showing that it met any of the requirements for an all-way stop.
Mayor Highberger asked David Corliss, Assistant City Manager/Legal Services Director, to briefly set the legalities on this issue.
Corliss said the University of Kansas had the authority, under state law, to establish certain traffic regulations on its state owned property. He said what the city did for the state was adopt ordinances that made the traffic control devices, speed limits, stop signs, and other types of items with a similar nature, a municipal offense which puts it in the City Code and allowed the Public Safety Officers at K.U. to issue citations which were then prosecuted or adjudicated in the City’s Municipal Court. That was the relationship the City had in regards to KU’s traffic regulations and it worked fairly well. The last time he looked at the statistics, it was less than 10% and it might have been in the neighborhood of 5% of the City’s traffic citations generated by the KU Public Safety Office.
Vice Mayor Amyx said one comment from the Traffic Safety Commission was that this request for an all-way stop did not meet the warrants and no study had been done.
Greg Wade, University of Kansas –Office of Design and Construction, said they were a little surprised by the action of the TSC. He said they had submitted numerous traffic safety signing issues before the TSC and generally they passed with little comment. However, this time they were asking for a three way stop and there were conditions that the TSC might not be completely aware of. He said that was the reason they were present because KU did not have a full explanation of what they were trying to do. He presented handouts to the City Commission.
He said they had designed the intersection with a local engineering firm and they performed all of the analysis of the intersection and determined that there was a limited sight distance configuration on the south leg of that particular intersection. He said with the understanding between the engineering firm and KU’s office, they determined that the best way to proceed was to do the intersection as it was designed and then request that three way stop to add a level of safety because of shortened sight distance. He said as a part of this plan, a little south of the intersection, they included a stop ahead warning sign which would alert people driving that street to the north if there was an intersection ahead that they might not fully be able to see. He said because it was an internal street, they did not actually do a formal engineering study. Part of that reasoning was that a lot of development was going on in campus west and this intersection might change its configuration in the not to distant future. He said they felt they could proceed on this basis for this particular location. He said they were asking to proceed with their original concept to install the three-way stop because it would be a much safer intersection.
Vice Mayor Amyx asked if there was going to be enough warrants to justify a stop sign at that location once the development occurs.
Wade said that was a fairly safe assumption. Part of the difficulty was that they were in a big transition phase for traffic on campus west. He said at this point, the design of that large parking lot was still in process. The way it was designed currently would not add traffic to this particular intersection. All of that traffic would be diverted to the south. There would be a new intersection at 23rd and Crestline which they had performed a traffic study and worked with City staff on a configuration for that new intersection. He said the Park and Ride Program was accommodated at the Lied Center and would go to that new lot south which might reduce the amount of traffic on the intersection that he just described with the three way stop. He said west campus might improve around that particular intersection, but some other diversions were going to take place in the overall traffic plan. He said all of those efforts would come together the summer of next year. He said they were trying to get Becker Street open so they could occupy that building in December.
Vice Mayor Amyx said this question was off the subject, but asked if there was any discussion about extending Lawrence Avenue at 15th Street, south to Clinton Parkway.
Wade said that was Endowment property.
Wildgen said the Endowment had not planned anything west of the creek.
Commissioner Schauner said as he understood the presentation, the reason KU was looking for a three way stop was because the arc of that road was so sharp that one might have trouble seeing the intersecting traffic.
Wade said the south leg had a shortened sight distance due to topography and the curved configuration. He said it was not that it was completely blind, but it would be safer with a three way stop.
Commissioner Schauner said when reading the schematic it appeared that there was a possibility that Becker Drive might become a full-fledged four directional intersection.
Wade said it could become a four directional intersection in the near future.
Mayor Highberger called for public comment.
Richard Heckler, member of the Traffic Safety Commission, said one stop sign seemed logical. He said as far as what the future might bring, he did not know.
Commissioner Hack asked which sign Heckler was referring to.
Heckler said the stop sign at Becker Drive.
Vice Mayor Amyx said he thought the TSC probably did not have a lot of the information to consider. He said he thought there were sight distant problems and the notification of a “stop ahead” sign was going to make it hard for people approaching traffic to be able to make that turn without creating problems. He said with the additional information that the City Commission had, he did not have a problem with KU’s request.
Mayor Highberger said he appreciated the concerns of the Traffic Safety Commission. He suggested that KU come before the TSC when there were items that dealt with the University to give a presentation like other applicants. Given the different legal situation and the fact that KU could install those signs wherever they wanted, there should be a different standard in evaluating the request from KU.
He did not see any compelling reason not to allow our Municipal Court to enforce stop signs placed at those locations. He said he would vote to approve the University’s request.
Commissioner Hack agreed. She said her initial impression was not to approve the request. She said the Traffic Safety Commission made the best decision they could based on the information they had received, but given the additional information the City Commission received, she could see that necessity for KU. She said regardless of what the standards were with the University, it was always helpful, as they tried to work through issues between the University and the community, to at least be a part of the TSC process. She supported KU’s request.
Moved by Amyx, seconded by Hack, to approve the request for an all-way stop at Constant Avenue and Becker Drive. Motion carried unanimously. (10)
Consider Traffic Safety Commission (TSC) recommendation to modify the bus loading zones along 15th Street.
David Woosley, Traffic Engineer, presented the staff report. He said again this was a request from the University. He said this past summer the University made some significant improvements to 15th Street between Burdick and Naismith Drives. They had painted a wide median and established a couple of pedestrian crosswalks that were not established before together with some raised refuge islands to help the students get across the street. As a part of that process, in order to get all of that fit into that space, they had to adjust some of the bus zones along that portion of the street. He said this request was to update the City Code on the exact location of those bus zones so that they could be enforced similar to other regulations on the campus.
Mayor Highberger asked about the basis for the Traffic Safety Commission’s votes.
Woosley said the one vote against that request was because that Traffic Safety Commissioner did not like being a rubber stamp for KU. He said that Commissioner felt that KU should have brought this issue to the TSC ahead of time instead of after the fact. He said another Traffic Safety Commissioner thought that a representative from KU should have been there to answer any questions that the Traffic Safety Commission might have and still another Traffic Safety Commissioner felt their vote did not mean anything since the bus zones had already been completed.
Mayor Highberger called for public comment.
After receiving no public comment, it was moved by Amyx, seconded by Hack, to modify the bus loading zones along 15th Street. Motion carried unanimously. (11)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Shirley Martin-Smith, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, said the Board of Directors represented a broad cross section of this community and it included large and small businesses, manufacturers, services, retailers, not-for-profit organizations, technology companies, financial institutions, school districts such as Haskell University and the University of Kansas. She said they were proud to say that they represented over 1700 citizens from a broad cross section of this community. Their Board was reflective of that membership and all of their members had a strong interest in the economy of this City.
The City of Lawrence was a great community and they all took great pride in it, but tonight she was there to read a statement of concern on behalf of their Board. The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors was specifically concerned about the current representation that they as a community were unable to accommodate the needs of our citizens in one of their most basic City services, that being wastewater.
It was their understanding that it might be spring of 2006 before the City was certain what their wastewater capacity really was. There was a great deal of speculation as to what the answer might be and its potential impact if they fell short of the capacity needed to meet near future needs. This was unacceptable for the following reasons:
● “The quality of life as we expect it in Lawrence would mandate that we have basic city services available to us when needed;
● There is no one sitting in these Commission Chambers, watching this on TV, or visiting Lawrence that this does not affect;
● The economic damages because of time delays and the City’s inability to serve its citizens are tremendous;
Citizens in the building profession, retailers, universities, downtown, schools…construction of the New Jr. High, workers, insurance agent, bankers, hardware stores, and the general business community are all affected, and the list is endless.
● The uncertainty as to the future of our residential and commercial construction affects many people in the trades, Painters, framers, general construction workers, will have their livelihood affected due to less work and therefore they will have less income. That financial loss is significant for them and significant for the City.
● This impact to citizens means less disposable income, less purchasing power and thus and eroding tax base to pay for the service we all expect as residence of Lawrence;
● This impact on job growth in our current employer base and the ability to attract new companies is affected by the waste water uncertainty. It has already affected our ability to engage in economic development for our city and county;
● We urge you to expedite the study being done by Wade & Associates. Put a sense of urgency on this issue and resolve to have a solution long before spring 2006. We want to work with you to address the wastewater issue and will assist in every way possible The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce will do whatever we can to assist you in this very serious challenge before you as our elected leaders.”
She said in addition, they urged the City Commission to hire an independent auditor to gain a clear understanding of this issue. She said they further urged the Commission to keep this item on their agenda on a more regular basis.
She said, a lack of vision regarding our ability to deliver basic City utility services, i.e. sewer capacity, has helped create this situation. As we strive to resolve this issue and to better prepare us for the future on all levels, it is imperative we develop a clear idea of where we are going.
Therefore, we propose the creation of a common vision for Lawrence and Douglas County. Are you, the Lawrence City Commission, willing to take a leadership role in working with citizens and community entities in creating and adopting a common vision – one that ensures we remain a viable livable city with the qualities we have all enjoyed, and is the envy of many in this state?
She asked the City Commission to make a commitment to help this city move forward with a future in mind because it was imperative. She said they know that the Mayor was committed to a vision for this community.
She said earlier this evening Mike Wildgen, City Manager suggested that he take the northeast area sanitary sewer summary along with maps and present it to citizens in a variety of forums and opportunities. The Chamber would like to partner with the City to have such a forum for their members and they were willing to assist in any way to arrange that opportunity.
Student representative Frei asked about the status of the Wade & Associates study.
Wildgen said the study was on-going. The study was started earlier this year and was part of the whole process in dealing with certain areas of the community. He said the timetable for some of that work was spring 2006.
Vice Mayor Amyx said everyone on the City Commission supported the idea for a vision for the future of this community. He said the expedition of the Wade & Associates Study was on-going, but was at the top of staff’s list.
He said the City Commission’s job was a visionary process and they needed city staff to make sure as development occurred that the City Commission looked at capacity issues and other issues so that the City Commission was constantly providing the best service they could. He said the City Commission understood the urgency of this issue, but the Commission wanted to make sure it was done right.
Commissioner Schauner said it seemed that there was some willingness to believe that some members of this Commission did not have an interest in this community continuing to grow, but that could not be any further from the truth. He said there was no one on the City Commission that was at all happy about this situation. He said his concern was not just with what they did not know, but he wanted to know how they got where they were so that they could do everything within their power to make sure they did not repeat that process. He said what they knew was that the build out of the sewer treatment capacity a few years ago had obviously fallen short of what the City’s development success had produced. Whatever they build in the next phase of the City’s wastewater treatment facility whether it was transmittal or transference of that wastewater or the treatment of that wastewater, he wanted to make certain that they create a plant in the system that would not only handle the projected growth, but at some additional safety percentage.
He said the two most important issues were to understand where they were and secondly, make sure they did not repeat this process in the future. Still a third issue would be what mistakes were made along the way and how they got to where they were. If they knew the history, hopefully they could avoid repeating it.
He appreciated the Chamber coming forward because it was obviously a critical issue, not just to the Chamber and their members, but to every citizen taxpayer in the community who would ultimately pay the bill in one way or another, either for fixing the problem, or paying the cost of not being able to grow at a rate that this community could reasonably sustain.
Commissioner Hack thanked Martin-Smith for coming forward. She said there were a couple of issues that Martin-Smith addressed that the City Commission needed to respond to. The first issue was the sewer capacity. She said it was important to remember that there were plans in place for expansion of a new facility. She said it was important to take the Chamber up on their offer of partnering in a forum to clarify issues.
She said if the City Commission’s charge was to protect the safety, health, and welfare of the citizens, then they need to take that charge extremely seriously, but she thought they were. She said the Commission needed to know how they ended up in this situation and whether that required something like an independent audit, but she would prefer something exterior to the City Commission.
She said where the City Commission went from this point was another critical issue and how they would fix the situation so that they did not have an enormous economic impact on this community.
Another issue was one of visioning and when listening to Bruce Appleyard, Planning Consultant, Portland Oregon, presentation to the Commission, Appleyard talked about a vision for a community and without that vision you were essentially a raft floating along in the water. She said she before the City Commission could move on, core values and visions for the community needed to be discussed. A vision of where they were going could help this Commission and future Commissions make those types of decisions on a day to day basis which helped provide that fabric to the community that they all loved and wanted to see prosper. She said they might need to look at some outside help to help the community.
Commissioner Schauner said when Commissioner Hack mentioned Bruce Appleyard’s name it reminded him of one of the things Appleyard said which struck him as an epiphany. Appleyard said, communities tend to find themselves, the victims of a tyranny of incremental decision making. He said incremental decision making was sort of the opposite of planning. If every decision you make just simply stood alone without regard to what came before and what you want to come after, the tyranny that resulted, was the tyranny we’re facing now. Unless and until they devised a better system of not making decisions in a vacuum as incremental decisions and start making them as decision that were part of a cohesive vision to plan, that visioning and that planning and the adherence to that planning rather than incremental decision making would go a long ways toward helping them avoid this type of problem in the future.
Mayor Highberger said the City Commission was taking this issue very seriously. He said there was no one on the Commission that was trying to stop growth. He said the Commission was committed to resolving this issue as expeditiously as possible so that they could maintain a healthy rate of growth in the City of Lawrence. He said he would take issue with the idea that this was a failure of vision. He said it might be a failure of Planning and Engineering, but they were talking about vision and the City was ready to embark on what might be the biggest Public Works project in the history of the City and that was to accommodate growth of up to 150,000 people in this City by 2025. He said staff had been working on this issue for many years and did not strike him as showing a lack of vision or any sort of attitude about no growth.
He said he appreciated the offer of working toward a visioning process with the Chamber to work together to build a great City.
Martin-Smith said as a former City Commissioner, she did not envy their positions, but the City Commission had the support of a lot of people who know that, despite differences, they all loved this community and they wanted it to work.
Moved by Hack, seconded by Schauner, to adjourn at 7:50 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.
APPROVED:
_____________________________
Dennis Highberger, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________________
Frank S. Reeb, City Clerk
1. Bid Date Set – Manhole Replacement Project Wastewater Treatment Plant, Nov 15th.
2. Bid – Programmable logic controller components for Utilities Dept to Logic Inc., for $40,545.
3. Bid – Lift Station control panel enclosures for Utility Dept to Stanion Wholesale for $20,069.55.
4. Bid – Lift Station control panel enclosures installation Utility Department to Superior Electric for $88,011.
5. Resolution No. 6618 – Public Hearing Dec 20th, unsafe structure 429 Indiana.
6. TSC – Flashing Beacons, school reduced speed zone on Peterson at Arrowhead.
7. Format of Benefit District – Williamsburg Homeowner’s Assoc., private streets.
8. City Manager’s Report.
9. Rezone (Z-07-46-05) 10.281 acres, A to RS-2, 515 Monterey Way.
10. TSC – All-way stop, Constant Ave & Becker Dr. (Denied)
11. TSC – Modify bus loading zone, 15th St.