CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending June 20, 2008

 

Draft Chapter 7 Planning Commission meeting minutes available

Minutes from the Planning Commission’s May21, 2008 meeting regarding CPA-2004-02, a comprehensive plan amendment to Horizon 2020, Chapter 7: Industrial and Employment Related Land Use are available.  The Planning Commission made changes to the staff and public recommendations then voted to approve the revisions 7-2 and forward the revised Chapter 7 to the City Commission for adoption.  Following are links to the staff report, memo, complete chapter, communications, joint ordinance and resolution and other associated materials.

 

Appraisals of city property underway

As you may be aware, North Mass Redevelopment LLC (North Mass) has approached the City and the Kaw Valley Drainage District about acquiring some of the city’s vacant lots and vacating some of the platted streets in the area between North Second Street and the Kansas River Levee.  North Mass proposes to assemble the vacant City land with the property of North Mass for redevelopment of this riverfront area.  Legal staff is preparing a draft agreement between the City and North Mass on this matter for Commission consideration in the near future.   The City will have the real estate appraised and North Mass has agreed to reimburse the City for the appraiser’s services.  City staff requested bids for the appraisal work, in coordination with a representative of the Kaw Valley Drainage District.  Tim Keller and Associates’ bid was selected and the City Manager has executed a Letter of Engagement with the firm.  The agreement between North Mass being drafted by staff for Commission review and consideration would include provisions making the purchase contingent upon North Mass receiving necessary City approvals of any proposed plan for the area. 

 

Energy conservation action by Parks and Recreation

A new eternal flame has been installed at Oak Hill Cemetery, 1405 Oak Hill Drive.  The torch will burn one-third the amount of natural gas of the previous flame.  The flame, in place since 1967, was installed in conjunction with American Legion Dorsey-Liberty Post 14 veterans’ memorial.

 

Ohio Street brick street reconstruction project update

Public Works Engineer David P. Cronin provided the attached memo as an update on work to reconstruct Ohio Street between 6th St. and 8th St. back to a brick street. photos

 

Cost of driving calculator on Lawrence Transit System’s web site

Lawrence Transit System recently added a Cost of Driving Calculator to its web site at www.lawrencetransit.org.  The calculator estimates how much it costs an individual to drive to and from work each month, and annually. The calculator is based on the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority’s True Cost of Driving Calculator.

 

The calculator was prepared by eGov Coordinator Eric Gruber and is online at http://www.lawrencetransit.org/driving_calculator.shtml.

 

Kansas Turnpike Authority to host informational meeting

 

Representatives from the Kansas Turnpike Authority will hold a meeting on Tuesday, June 24 at 10:30 a.m. at the Visitors Center at the Union Depot in Lawrence to share information about the Kansas River Bridges Replacement and Plaza Improvement Project.