Bottom line

City commissioners will consider changing the quorum of the City Commission from four members to three.

Background

Commissioners gave the item preliminary approval last week. The quorum establishes how many members of the five-member commission must be present to conduct a meeting. Since the early 1990s the city has set the number at four, in part so that two city commissioners could have a private conversation about city business without violating the Kansas Open Meetings Act. But the state changed the law in recent years to allow two members on a five-member commission to have a conversation even if the quorum is three. Commissioners have said the change is driven by the need to be able to do routine items, such as pay bills and issue payroll, if two commissioners are absent.

Consent agenda

• Receive minutes from various boards and commissions:

• Approve all claims.

• Approve licenses as recommended by the City Clerk’s Office.

• Bid and purchase items:

a) Approve bid for one front-load refuse truck for the Public Works Department to American Equipment Company for $153,672.

b) Waive bidding requirements and approve the sole source purchase of protective clothing for the Fire Medical Department from Municipal Emergency Services in the amount of $54,715.

c) Award bid for 2011 bus shelter maintenance services for the Lawrence Transit System to Smart Building Services for $12,095.

• Adopt the following ordinance on first reading:

a) Adopt on first reading, Ordinance No. 8598, adopting the Code of the City of Lawrence 2011 edition as authorized by Ordinance 8597.

• Adopt the following ordinance(s) on second and final reading:

a) Ordinance No. 8601, rescinding Ordinance No. 6089 that established Rhode Island Street as a one-way street from Seventh Street to Eighth Street for northbound traffic.

b) Ordinance No. 8602, rescinding Ordinance No. 8537 that established stop signs on Indiana at 11th Street and establishes a multiway stop at the intersection of 11th and Indiana streets.

c) Ordinance No. 8492, amending Chapter 19, Article 10 of the City Code to allow the enforcement of the updated Water Conservation Plan, per Kansas Water Office requirements.

d) Ordinance No. 8590, for Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA-3-1-10) to Horizon 2020 for an update to Chapter 8-Transportation.

e) Ordinance No. 8594 for the annexation (A-9-3-10) of approximately 51 acres located at the southwest corner of North 1800 Road (Farmer’s Turnpike) and East 1000 Road (Queens Road Extended).

• Approve revised Preliminary Plat, PP-6-4-10, for George Subdivision No. 4 (Northwinds Apartments), a one lot residential subdivision containing approximately 1.3 acres, located at 200 N. Michigan St., for consideration of acceptance of additional utility easements.

• Approve a request by BG Consultants, on behalf of the developer, Fairway, LC, for a variance from city code 19-302(1)(B) to allow the installation of master water meters for townhouse buildings of less than 13 units located at 2451 Crossgate Court.

• Authorize the mayor to sign two Releases of Mortgage for Antonia Ramirez, 235 Maple St.

• City manager’s report.

Regular agenda

• Consider adopting on second and final reading, Ordinance No. 8603, establishing the quorum of the Lawrence City Commission as three commissioners.

• Award Farmland demolition, Project No. PW1015, Farmland Transitional Services, to R. D. Johnson Excavating in an amount of $432,000 to be paid from the Farmland Remediation Fund (not to exceed $213,000), and GO Bonds ($219,000).