Bottom line

City commissioners are expected to ask staff to study a request from the architect of the recently constructed Oread hotel to change the city code to allow smoking inside “mechanically ventilated” enclosed parking garages.

Background

City code prohibits smoking inside most public places in Lawrence, including below-ground parking garages such as those at the new Oread. In the architect’s letter — which doesn’t specifically say the request is for the Oread — garages that have mechanical devices to circulate outside air would be allowed to house designated smoking areas. City commissioners are being asked to refer the request to staff for further review.

Other business

Consent agenda

• Receive minutes from various boards and commissions.

• Approve all claims.

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

• Bid and purchase items:

a. Set bid date of Feb. 2 for City Bid No. B1002, Project No. PW1003, 2010 Crack Seal Program.

b. Set bid date of Feb. 2 for City Bid No. B1003, Project No. PW1004, Microsurfacing Program.

c. Approve purchase of geographic information system software licensing from Environmental Systems Research Institute for $43,071.64 in 2010 with options for two additional years.

d. Waive bidding requirements and approve sole source purchase of 150 water meter radio transmitters from Midwest Meters for the Finance Department for approximately $15,450 plus shipping costs.

e. Waive staff estimate and award the bid for the comprehensive rehabilitation project at 2420 Bryce Court to T&J Holdings for $25,585. The homeowner will provide funds in excess of $25,000 program limit.

f. Award bid for 2010 bus shelter maintenance services for the Lawrence Transit System to The Works for $10,618.40.

• Adopt these ordinances on second and final reading:

a. Ordinance No. 8481, for rezoning Z-10-17-09 to approximately 24 acres from UR (RO-1A/RMO pending) to Commercial (CC-400), for the Mercato project at the northeast corner of Kansas Highway 10 and West Sixth Street.

b. Ordinance No. 8486, amending Chapter 16, Article 12, Section 16-1201, Access Management Requirements for West Sixth Street.

c.) Ordinance No. 8483, for text amendment TA-10-21-09 to various articles to correct inconsistencies regarding the uses identified as Communications and Communications Service Establishments.

• Approve Text Amendment TA-11-23-09, to Article 12- Floodplain Regulations to review General and Additional Standards for Residential and Non-Residential Construction. Adopt on first reading, Ordinance No. 8484, for text amendment TA-11-23-09 to Article 12-Floodplain Regulations to review General and Additional Standards for Residential and Non-Residential Construction.

• Receive 2009 Lawrence Police Department Racial Profiling Report.

• Approve as signs of community interest a request from the Lawrence Home Builders Association to place signs in various rights-of-way for the annual Home Show Jan. 29-31. The signs would be placed Monday, Jan. 25, and removed Monday, Feb. 1.

• Receive request for amendment to city’s ordinance concerning smoking in public places; refer to staff for a report.

• Receive city manager’s report.

Regular agenda

• Consider authorizing the city to negotiate an engineering contract with BG Consultants for plans and specifications for the construction of phase 1 of the airport collection system, septic holding well, and lift station and force main for the Lawrence Municipal Airport Sanitary Sewer.