Agenda highlights ¢ 6:35 p.m. Tuesday ¢ City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets ¢ Sunflower Broadband Channel 25 ¢ Meeting documents online at www.lawrenceks.org

City could test tax rebate program

Bottom line

City commissioners will discuss the Neighborhood Revitalization Act, a program that can allow homeowners and business owners in designated neighborhoods to receive a property tax rebate on improvements they make to their properties.

Background

Staff members are proposing the city test the program for a two-year period and limit its use to the following neighborhoods: downtown, Brook Creek, east Lawrence, North Lawrence, Oread and Pinckney. The plan would allow for up to a 95 percent property tax rebate for 10 years on the value of new improvements to properties. The improvements, however, must be substantial enough to increase the value of the property by $10,000 or more. Historic properties could receive up to a 15-year rebate if the property is being remodeled. The plans ultimately will have to be approved by the County Commission and the school board in order for properties to have those property taxes rebated.

Other business

Consent agenda

¢ Approve City Commission meeting minutes from Nov. 13 and Nov. 20.

¢ 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.) Award the following bids for the Parks & Recreation Department: restroom and shelter cleaning to Jani-King for $4,788; downtown debris cleaning to Smart Building Service for $7,978; security services to Jani-King of Kansas City for $7,000.

¢ Adopt on first reading Ordinance No. 8211, authorizing the codification of the general ordinances of the city.

¢ Adopt on second and final reading Ordinance No. 8198, an ordinance providing for the rezoning of approximately 3.3 acres from RSO to RMO. The properties contain Summer Tree Apartments and are located at the southeast and southwest corners of Eldridge and West Sixth (U.S. Highway 40) streets.

¢ Receive proposal from Lawrence Freenet regarding a bus tracking/route planning system and advertising on buses and shelters.

¢ Approve relocation and reimbursement agreement in the amount of $333,000 with Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline Inc. for gas line relocation at the airport to accommodate improvements to the runway safety area.

¢ Authorize the city manager to execute an extension of lease agreement with The Shelter Inc., extending the current lease from January 2008 through January 2013.

¢ Receive city manager’s report.

Regular agenda

¢ Receive report from Kansas Turnpike Authority regarding Kansas River Bridge construction schedule and related issues.

¢ Consider adoption of proposed settlement agreement with the Kansas Attorney General concerning the Kansas Open Meetings Act.

¢ Receive staff report on Bauer Brook Estates annexation/infrastructure issues.

¢ Consideration and discussion of proposed Neighborhood Revitalization Act plans.

¢ Consider referring back to the Planning Commission the request to rezone two tracts of land approximately 4.41 acres from RM24 (multi-dwelling residential) to RSO (single-dwelling residential-office). The request originally rezoned the tracts from RM-2 (multiple-family residential) district to RO-1B (residence-office) district. The property is generally described as being located north of West Seventh Street, west of Wisconsin Street (south half of 1803 W. Sixth St., and 1710 W. Seventh St.).

¢ Consider amendments to Sections 20-804, 20-805, 20-808, and 20-811 of the Development Code for TA-09-20-07 to clarify that water service must be purchased from and conveyed by a publicly treated water source.

¢ Consider amendments to Sections 20-804, 20-805, 20-808, and 20-815 of the Development Code for TA-09-21-07 to clarify that access shall be taken from a hard-surfaced road.

¢ Consider approving the 2008 Legislative Policy Statement.

¢ Consider motion to recess into executive session for 30 minutes for the purpose of discussing possible acquisition of real estate.