CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM

Department:	Municipal Services & Operations		Commission Meeting Date:  08/14/2018
Staff Contact:	Jason Stowe
Recommendations/Options/Action Requested:
Authorize the mayor to sign a utility easement granting Westar an easement located at 826 Vermont LOT 56 on Vermont Street (South 32 feet of the East 12 Feet of LOT 56 for the purposes of utility easement.
Executive Summary:		Westar Energy and the City of Lawrence are partnering to complete work related to the removal of the overhead canopy and rehabilitation of the alley between 8^th and 9^th street between Massachusetts and Vermont street located directly adjacent to the parking lot at 826 Vermont. Westar requested an easement for its equipment located on LOT 56 of Vermont Street for installation and maintenance of utilities and equipment. The easement is the South 32 feet of the East 12 feet of LOT 56 on Vermont Street in the original Township of the City of Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas.  Currently Westar’s equipment sits directly adjacent to the requested easement inside a brick enclosure which is also located in the right of way. The requested easement is an extension of the area to allow for ingress and egress at that location as well as the addition of one new piece of equipment. Westar, at its cost, will also have to remove a portion of the North wall of the brick enclosure and reconstruct a new brick wall on the North end for the expansion of the new equipment. Westar is working with the City cooperatively and has signed a cost sharing agreement to offset the costs, associated with concrete work related to the canopy removal project. Westar Energy is participating in the amount of $22,378.66 for this work. The alley rehabilitation is a City project.  Westar is using the opportunity to upgrade its system to decrease the impact on local businesses, by completing its work in conjunction with the City’s schedule. Granting the easement will assist not only Westar, but will also reduce additional needed construction if Westar was to complete this project independently.
Strategic Plan Critical Success Factor		Innovative Infrastructure and Asset Management Sound Fiscal Stewardship Collaborative Solutions
Fiscal Impact (Amount/Source):		The easement will be conveyed for the sum of $1.00.
Attachments:		Utility easement Utility easement exhibit A

Reviewed By: (for CMO use only)

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