City commissioners to choose new mayor

Bottom Line

The city commission will pick a new mayor to succeed Mike Rundle, who is finishing his one-year term in the post.

Background

Commission precedent indicates that Commissioner Sue Hack, who has served as vice mayor for the last year and was the leading vote-getter in the 2001 election, will be appointed to the largely ceremonial post by her commission colleagues.

Other business

Proclamation

Proclaim the week of April 1 as “Public Health Week.”

Consent agenda

Review and approve minutes of various boards and commissions: city commission meetings of March 5 and 12; Lawrence Douglas County Public Health Board meeting of Jan. 28; Neighborhood Resources Advisory Committee meeting of Feb. 14; Housing Trust Fund Board meeting of Feb. 19; Community Development Grant Review Board meetings of Dec. 11 and Feb. 26; Planning Commission meeting of Feb. 27; Traffic Safety Commission meeting of March 4; Sister Cities Advisory Board meeting of Feb. 13.

Approve all claims.

Approve the following mayoral appointments: David Dunfield to the Public Incentives Review Committee; Mike Howard, Leith Winsor and Jeff Oliver to the Board of Electrical Examiners; and Frank Estrada to the Mechanical Code Board of Appeals.

Bid and purchase items:

Award bid for a backhoe for the Utilities Department, to Seller’s Tractor Co. in the amount of $38,182.

Award bids for the 2002 mowing contract for the city to various bidders.

Award bid for three John Deere mowers for the Parks & Recreation Department to Deems Farm Equipment, in the amount of $32,600.

Approve lease extension with John Deere for maintenance equipment at Eagle Bend Golf Course.

Set bid date of April 9 on overlay and curb repair for downtown streets.

Approve maintenance agreement with Huxtable L.T. Service Inc. for the new Lawrence Arts Center in the amount of $25,776.

Adopt on first reading an ordinance allowing sale, possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages in Burcham Park, April 20.

Adopt on second and final reading temporarily prohibiting building permits and demolition in the Old West Lawrence rezoning area.

Adopt the following resolutions:

Authorizing $30,000 in additional general obligation bond authority for the improvement of Barker Avenue/23rd Street intersection and the 27th Street/Iowa Street intersection.

Authorizing $1,650,000 in general obligation bond authority for the improvement of 31st Street, east and west of Iowa, and for the intersection of Iowa and 31st Street, as authorized by the city commission on March 5.

Approve the following re-zonings and direct the preparation of an ordinance for placement on a future agenda:

A request for rezoning from a planned commercial development to a planned commercial development with multi-family residential uses for a 3.3 acre tract of land located south of the intersection of Sixth Street and Comet Lane.

A request for a revised Preliminary Development Plan, consisting of 20.865 acres located at the southeast corner of Sixth Street and Monterey Way. The revision proposes a mix of commercial and multi-family residential uses east of Comet Lane.

A request to rezone a tract of land approximately 27.9 acres from agricultural to single-family residence district. The property is generally located east of Queens Road, approximately 2,300 feet north of West Sixth Street.

A request to rezone a tract of land approximately 13.4 acres from agricultural to duplex district. This property is generally described as being located east of Queens Road, approximately 673 feet north of West Sixth Street.

A request to rezone a tract of land approximately 12.3 acres from agricultural to planned residential district. This property is generally described as being located east of Queens Road and a quarter-mile north of West Sixth Street.

Approve the following site plans, subject to conditions:

For the conversion of an existing restaurant (Hardee’s) to a new restaurant (Sheridan’s Frozen Custard), located on the northeast corner of Iowa and West 23rd Street.

For a building addition at Dale Willey Automotive; located at 2840 Iowa.

For a walk-up ATM at Krings; located at 634 Mass.

Approve the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) recommendation to revise the Functional Classification Map (FCM) to show 31st Street from Louisiana to O’Connell and O’Connell from 23rd to 31st streets as minor arterial streets.

Receive 2001 system development charge report from the Utilities Department.

Authorize the city manager to execute agreement with Success by 6 Coalition of Douglas County and Douglas County Dental Clinic. The agreement allows the city to serve as the financial conduit of state and federal funds for Douglas County Dental Clinic.

Authorize the city manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Historic Preservation Services, LLC, to provide services related to the development of the Historic Preservation Plan.

Authorize mayor to execute agreement not to protest for the formation of a benefit district for the improvement of Overland Drive between Queens and Wakarusa. This agreement is from the property owner of approximately 34 acres east of Queens Road, north of Overland Drive extended. The city commission will likely consider formation of a benefit district for Overland Drive in April.

Receive staff report on conservation easement to be placed on Kelly/Varvil property. Authorize city manager to execute agreement with Francis Kelly and Cheri Varvil for the purchase of approximately 14.414 acres located north of Westwood Hills development for $216,210.

Approve unanimous recommendation from the Traffic Safety Commission (TSC) to establish approximately 50 feet of additional a “no parking” zone along the west side of Sunset Drive, north of Cambridge Road.

Approve unanimous recommendation from the TSC to establish 35 mph speed limit on Harper Street between 19th and 23rd streets.

Authorize the loan limit increase to $35,000 for the Neighborhood Resources Comprehensive Rehabilitation and HOOT Loan programs.

Authorize the mayor to sign releases of mortgage for the following: Chris Dickinson, 314 Northwood Lane; Janis Pool, 324 Calif.

City manager’s report.

Regular agenda

Receive comments from Mayor Rundle and city commission.

Conduct election of new mayor.

Conduct election of vice mayor.

Comments of mayor and city commissioners.

Recess for 20 minutes.

Conduct public hearing on proposed partial vacation of a utility easement located at 814 Kasold Drive.

Consider request to rezone from duplex to single-family residential district lots in approximately 14 full or half blocks of Old West Lawrence. These properties are generally located south of West Sixth Street, west of the centerline of Illinois Street, north of the centerline of West Ninth Street, and east of the centerline of Michigan Street.

Commission items

Commissioners Rundle and Hack request discussion of goal setting and city survey issues.

Commissioner Dunfield requests discussion of Request for Proposals for architectural evaluation of the Carnegie Library Building to include building condition and potential reuse.