Bottom line

City commissioners will consider passing an ordinance that dictates how they must accept bids for city projects.

Background

The ordinance will give the city the ability to accept a bid for a project even if it is higher than what the city engineer has estimated the project costs. The city currently does this, but the new ordinance will more clearly give it the legal authority to do so.

One Lawrence contractor, Steve Glass of LRM Industries, has expressed concern about the new ordinance. He has said the new ordinance should not allow the city to accept any bid that is more than 7 percent above the engineer’s estimate for a project.

Other business

Recognition

¢ Proclaim Thursday as “The Arc of Douglas County 50th Anniversary.”

Consent agenda

¢ Approve City Commission meeting minutes from Aug. 8.

¢ Receive minutes from various boards and commissions.

¢ Approve all claims.

¢ Approve licenses as recommended by the Department of Administrative Services.

¢ Approve appointments as recommended by the mayor.

¢ Bid and purchase items:

a.) Authorize city manager to execute agreement with Finney & Turnipseed P.A. in the amount of $16,500 for feasibility study on retaining wall reconstruction on city property adjacent to the Bowersock Power plant facility.

b.) Authorize the purchase by sole source of three MSA thermal imaging cameras from Conrad Fire Equipment for $28,687.50.

c.) Approve bid from Powerscreen Midwest Inc. for one trammel screen and additional fans for the Public Works Department for $118,480.

d.) Authorize city manager to enter into an engineering agreement with BG Consultants Inc. in an amount of $30,100.29 for the engineering design of Stoneridge Drive, from West Sixth Street south approximately 630 feet (to Silverstone Drive), including water main.

e.) Authorize city manager to amend the engineering services agreement for the construction of North Lawrence Pump Stations Nos. 1-3 for $68,682, bringing the entire contract amount to $382,384.30.

f.) Approve request to accept bids for two compact, four-wheel-drive pickup trucks equipped with utility beds and ladder trucks to be assigned to the Utilities Department project inspectors.

g.) Authorize city manager to approve a purchase order to Software House International for $16,491.08 for annual software maintenance fees for Microsoft software.

h.) Set bid date of Sept. 19 for the comprehensive rehabilitation program at 779 Locust St. and 1624 E. 18th Terrace.

¢ Adopt the following ordinances on first reading:

a.) Ordinance No. 8028, allowing the temporary sale, possession and consumption of alcoholic liquor on the west side of South Park on Sept. 9.

b.) Ordinance No. 8031, adopting the 2006 edition of the Standard Traffic Ordinance.

¢ Adopt the following resolutions:

a.) Resolution No. 6674, establishing Sept. 12 as the date for the temporary note and bond sale.

b.) Resolution No. 6673, authorizing the mayor to execute Economic Development Project Agreement No. 126-06 with the Kansas Department of Transportation, and authorize the mayor to execute Agreement No. 126-06 for the 23rd Street, Iowa to Louisiana streets, access management improvements project.

c.) Resolution No. 6675, authorizing $600,000 for Carnegie building, Seventh and Vermont streets project. Final design approval and bidding of the project will occur later this year. City temporary notes will be included in the upcoming fall note and bond issuance.

¢ Approve variance to the city code request regarding fire connection to the waterline main at West Junior High School.

¢ Authorize the mayor to sign mortgage releases for:

a.) First City L.C., 727 N.Y.;

b.) Harold and Caroline Shephard, 1025 Conn.;

c.) Ronald and Linda Wright, 724 N.Y.; and

d.) Kimberly Johnson, 2705 Traildust Court.

¢ Receive memo from Chuck Soules, director of public works, concerning a policy for price adjustments for asphalt materials. This policy would be incorporated in the City of Lawrence Specifications and Contract Documents.

¢ Receive city manager’s report.

Regular agenda

¢ Consider approving a use permitted upon review request for a main living unit and three rental units at 805 Ohio.

¢ Consider approving text amendments regarding standards for market impact analysis as part of site plan or zoning process.

¢ Receive staff report on proposed charter ordinance (Charter Ordinance No. 38) concerning bidding procedures.

¢ Receive staff report on implementation of 2007 budget.