LJWorld.com

October 18, 2006

This chat has already taken place. Read the transcript below.

Moderator:

This is 6 News Reporter Laura McHugh. Lawrence City Manager David Corliss has just joined us, and we'll begin our chat here right at 1:30 p.m.

parsimoniousjayhawker:

Dave, congratulations in being selected as our new CM. What are your short-term goals and long-term goals to combat the perceived "crime" problem in our downtown during the evening/early morning hours?

Where do you see our City in the next five years, socially & economically?

David Corliss:

Thanks for the good wishes and your question. Our downtown is an important part of our community and the safety of patrons, employees, visitors, et al. at all times is also important. We have added two sergeant positions to the 2007 budget which will provide additional supervisory resources for our police department - which will help the entire community, including downtown. We are also monitoring safety issues and crime incidents in the downtown area to determine any appropriate additional steps. On the second question, I have great confidence in the future of this community and I think that we will be stronger economically in five years with more and better paying jobs while we retain the unique social vitality of the community which makes it a great place to live and to raise a family.

nugget:

Last evening the City Commission heard three hours of discussion over the rezoning request of 917 Delaware. The result was yet another delay in this process. Those of us who are their neighbors, customers and supporters are dismayed that after a 7-2 vote in favor by the Planning Commission and a 4-1 (possibly 5-0) in favor by the City Commission that this city simply can't get its job done on these matters. A lot of us think the process is broken. Do you agree, and if so, what do you plan to do in the future to correct this?

David Corliss:

Thank you for your question.
I disagree with the characterization of the meeting last night. The Commission's decision to initiate consideration to a change in our zoning laws to allow for consideration of a commercial private dining use in residential areas seeks to make sure that these types of uses do not negatively impact residential properties. While there will be additional consideration of the issue, and the applicant did not immediately get what was sought, there is support for the view that such consideration is the best path before such a use is made permanent. I do agree that we need to constantly look at our development process to make it predicatable, transparent, and a fair facilitator of quality development. We are making a number of changes to our development process, and will seek to make it better. The property situation last night was unique in a number of respects, but that supports making the necessary changes to allow for this type of development in the Code.

Quigebo:

Is the City of Lawrence ever going to offer curbside recycling. I know that there are private services available, but many people that I talk to are amazed that the City hasn't taken a more proactive role with curbside. Many cities (not in Kansas, yet) require separation and collection of recyclables, and people have no problem with doing it.

David Corliss:

Thanks for the question.
Curbside recycling is available thru private vendors. We have studied possible City curbside recycling in the past (whether voluntary or mandatory) and found that it does not currently make the best use of either financial resources or environmental resources - it would cost all users of the sanitation utility and would not significantly increase the amount of recycling that would be accomplished throughout the community. I do think we can make a number of other improvements in our sustainability values )e.g. energy conservation, better City facilities from an energy use standpoint)and would like to work with the Commission to accomplish that.

merrill:

How about lighting up some darker areas to help prevent activites such as rape and theft? With new growth comes more crime so perhaps more lights would act as a uninviting factor?

Taking on the task of bringing in new high paying jobs will be no mean feat but what do you have in mind? The community now knows we cannot afford polluters.
Good Luck in your endeavors for jobs and generally speaking.

David Corliss:

Thanks for the question and best wishes. I think the suggestion of additional street lighting is worthy of review. We currently spend about $500,000 annually through Westar for our street lights. Aside from collector and arterial streets, we generally only have street lights placed at intersections (there are exceptions) on local streets. Lighting may be a worthy deterrent against crime to consider.
Bringing new higher paying jobs to the community is a priority for the City Commission. We are working on a number of fronts, including biosciences. I am also going to explore other opportunities with our economic development partners - the Chamber of Commerce and Douglas County. My plan is to continue to make this a priority and place additional resources on this important issue.

macon47:

Congratulations on your new job.
We spent about a gazillion dollars a few years ago getting
The stoplights in town timed for better traffic flow.
Iowa street must need timed again, it is mostly stop and
Go driving, can your help,? many thanks and good luck

David Corliss:

Thanks for the question and your best wishes. I think it was a light short of a gazillion - but I will check into it! We do have the traffic signals between 9th and 33rd street on Iowa timed to allow for improved traffic flow. It works best for traffic at the speed limit and is challenged when there is higher volume traffic. I will ask our traffic engineer to review the system. You should also know that at the direction of the Commission we are studying intelligent traffic systems (ITS) technology to best implement these state-of-the art practices. ITS technology goes beyond timing of signalization to seek improved traffic flow on our major streets. Improved traffic planning and responding to congestion issues will be a major priority for the City.

bearb:

Congrats on jumping into the fire Dave. What's the status on the report findings from the North of North Street sewer analysis? If industrial park development begins soon north of US 24/40, how quickly would the city move to provide assistance to developers, and the airport with city sewer service.

Good luck!

David Corliss:

Thanks for your note. The City is spending over $2 million to improve the sanitary sewer system in North Lawrence this year. If your question concerns storm sewer issues, the major projects to respond to storm water issues in North Lawrence which were outlined in a recent report will be part of future capital budget considerations by the City Commission because these projects have large price tags. City staff has met with development interests proposing business park development generally in the airport area - and we are seeking to encourage appropriate development which meets community standards and expectations for this area.

concernedvoter:

David - First, congratulations. What ideas do you have to reduce the burden on residential tax payers through diversification of the existing tax base? Thanks.

David Corliss:

Thanks for the note of congratulations and your question. As I noted in an earlier response, economic development is an important priority. Our property tax base is leans too heavily on residential property and we should seek quality non-residential development to grow our tax base. Along with our economic development partners, the Chamber of Commerce and Douglas County we are looking at a number of initiatives and ideas. The City Commission has budgeted a City economic development coordinator position in 2007, budgeted infrastructure funds as an incentive tool, and increased our funding to our economic development partnership with the Chamber. I want to work on seeking additional regional and national headquarters to Lawrence, draw on the base of KU and Haskell alumni who might seek to bring a business to Lawrence, and continue to pursue items such as bioscience development and other possible avenues. One of my primary tasks as City Manager is to put resources on priorities - quality economic development is a priority and we are going to put appropriate resources (money and time) on this issue.

Moderator:

David, we appreciate you joining us today. That wraps up chat.

Moderator:

But first, let's have one last question.

roger_o_thornhill:

Do you think the fact that I-70 is a toll road through town has a negative impact on the patterns of development(commercial, industrial, and residential) and on traffic patterns (and as a result, road wear) on the northern and north-central sides of town? Is there even anything that can be done about it?

David Corliss:

Thanks for your question - I take a little different view.
I think the fact that the major interstate in eastern Kansas is a toll road has had an impact on the type of development experienced in our part of the state. Partly because of limited interstate intersections on I-70, urban density development has been concentrated in incorporated cities with turnpike interchanges - rather than scattered in otherwise rural areas - I think that has been good for northeast Kansas and also for Lawrence. I haven't seen the turnpike as a negative on Lawrence's growth patterns. Maintenance of such a major infrastructure is expensive and from a public policy standpoint, user fees through turnpike tolls is a fair way to pay for these maintenance costs. I understand I did not get a chance to answer all the questions, so please feel free to send me an email at dcorliss@ci.lawrence.ks.us and I will be glad to respond to your questions today and in the future. Thanks for this opporutnity.