City leaders recommend challenging Census figures / LJWorld.com

Archive for Thursday, September 20, 2007

September 20, 2007

City leaders again are recommending that local elected officials challenge the Census Bureau's estimates that Douglas County population growth is stagnant or slightly declining.

City Manager David Corliss alerted city commissioners that city planners are recommending that Lawrence challenge the most recent Census population numbers, which showed the city's population declined by a little less than 1 percent in 2006.

That is far less than the city's historical growth rate of 2 percent to 2.5 percent per year, but it marks the second year in a row that the Census Bureau has released estimates showing the city's population growth as stagnant.

Corliss said the city's analysis of building permit and utility data indicates that the city's population has not declined. But he also said city numbers acknowledge there has been a slowdown in past growth rates. He added that a challenge isn't an attempt to mask challenges the city is facing in the economic development arena.

"I just want people to know that challenging the Census data is not our economic development effort," Corliss said. "We just want to make sure that we have the right numbers for federal funding purposes."

The city receives community development block grant money and other federal funds based, in part, on the city's population.

Commissioners did not take any action today. Corliss alerted commissioners that the item is expected to be on their agenda for the Tuesday evening meeting.

The issue came up as commissioners were discussing what items to include on a list of issues to discuss with federal legislators as part of a trip to Washington, D.C., in October.

Mayor Sue Hack, Vice-Mayor Mike Dever, and Corliss are scheduled to travel to Washington to meet with the state's legislative delegation on Oct. 21 through Oct. 23. County Commissioner Bob Johnson, and representatives from the Chamber, Kansas University and the Lawrence School District are also likely to go on the trip, Corliss said.

This will mark the second year in a row that a Lawrence delegation has traveled to Washington to lobby legislators.

"I know sometimes there are questions about the value of these types of trips, but I'm a firm believer that the face time really does pay off," Hack said.

Corliss said cost estimates aren't yet available for the trip. He said the city will be paying airline and lodging expenses for the city delegation. The other organizations will be covering their own expenses.

Last year, all five city commissioners went on the trip, but Corliss said it was determined that probably wasn't needed this year.

Corliss will be compiling a full list of issues for the city delegation to discuss with legislators. Issues that commissioners expressed interest in today included:

¢ Funding for major road projects, such as an interchange for Bob Billings Parkway and the South Lawrence Trafficway, and improvements on Kansas Highway 10 that would make entering and exiting the East Hills Business Park safer.

¢ Continued funding for the Lawrence Public Transit System. Corliss said commissioners probably should be prepared to talk with legislators about a possible merger of the city transit system with the KU transit system.

¢ Updating legislators on the community's efforts to capitalize off the area's Civil War history through a recently granted National Heritage Area designation.

¢ Discussion of silting problems at Clinton Lake and other federal reservoirs. The city receives a significant amount of its drinking water from Clinton Lake.

Discussion

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20 September 2007
at 12:47 p.m.

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Stew (Anonymous) says…

How did Corliss and the other city planners not plan for a possible drop in population? Yet another example of what happens when people do not want to address the possible negatives in life (i.e, saving for a rainy day) and instead choose denial (excuse, me positive thinking).
20 September 2007
at 1:25 p.m.

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toefungus (Anonymous) says…

Spending money for face time needs to be rethought. As a nation, we spend tremendous amounts of energy moving people to a central location to share ideas. However, the truth is, they share fun. Eating out, ball games, sight seeing. It is part of the experience of conferences of all types. Why not try more electronic meetings like video conferencing, instant messaging, web meetings with PowerPoint, audio, and instant questions and discussion. If it is really about learning, then this should work. If you wanted a private conversation, tunnel a private link. This may be too high tech and saves too much money for our government officials, but eventually the cost of energy will change these bad habits.
20 September 2007
at 2:34 p.m.

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cowboy (Anonymous) says…

Weren't all the legislators out of town when they went last year ? This is pure boondoggle
20 September 2007
at 4:50 p.m.

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biggunz (Anonymous) says…

i don't think enrollment at ku is down.
20 September 2007
at 6 p.m.

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Wilbur_Nether (Anonymous) says…

Oh, stoppit, biggunz. Facts never have anything to do with a good case of righteous indignation.
20 September 2007
at 7:24 p.m.

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classclown (Anonymous) says…

City Manager David Corliss also recommended that any city official that has not already done so, stick their head in the sand.
20 September 2007
at 8:02 p.m.

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Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

Once again this is amazing. The previous City Kommission proposed and implemented policies designed to slow growth to “smart” levels. Now they complain, once again, that it is working to well. Then when they implemented the smoking ban they knew that sales taxes from restaurants and coffee shops as well as liquor sales taxes from bars would decline. But now they are shocked and stunned when it happened. The simple fact is Corliss is either lying to us or he is the single most ignorant person in Lawrence government (and that says something) when it comes to simple math and basic economics. I am pretty sure it is the former.

20 September 2007
at 8:10 p.m.

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KsTwister (Anonymous) says…

This could backfire when the count is even lower still…….at least for 4 families that I know moved out and their empty $200k homes. Sounds like a personal crusade for Corliss or is it Chad?
“This will mark the second year in a row that a Lawrence delegation has traveled to Washington to lobby legislators.” Except let us make that the second time this year while your on the subject.
20 September 2007
at 8:14 p.m.

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Stain (Anonymous) says…

This is kind of like Mayor Sue Hack saying “I just don't believe it” when the consulting group she bragged about and recruited produced a report that showed retail is overbuilt.

When you don't like reality, just make up your own, and sell it to the people!

Unbelievable if voters swallow this.
20 September 2007
at 10:35 p.m.

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KsTwister (Anonymous) says…

Lawrence city schools headcount from last year said an increase of 297 students then todays paper an additional 169. Virtual school or otherwise I tend to question this report. Maybe another census could set the record straight though.
20 September 2007
at 10:47 p.m.

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none2 (Anonymous) says…

While they are debating whether to spend money to argue something that has happened more than once, they should consider scaling back their grand plans. What if they decide to contest, and they loose out? They should scale back plans for a lot of expansion of services until they know the demand will be there — such as the additional sewage treatment plant. extra interchanges, the emp-T, and other pet projects that will take more funding over time.