Bottom line

City commissioners will consider approving a program that will allow police officers to purchase through the city certain types of rifles that officers then would carry with them in their patrol vehicles.

Background

The lease-purchase program basically would allow the city to buy the rifle and then the officer would repay the city through 26 automatic payroll deductions. The city has a similar program in place that allows officers to purchase their patrol pistols. The police department requires officers to purchase their patrol weapons because it believes officers will be more likely to practice with the weapons if they own them and also that they will maintain them better. The city is estimating each patrol rifle will cost about $1,600. The department has been allowing officers to carry patrol rifles since 2003, but there has not been a program in place to help them purchase the weapons. The City Commission considered the issue last month, but took no action after a member of the public asked for more time to study the issue.

Consent agenda

• Approve City Commission meeting minutes from Nov. 15 and Nov. 22.

• Receive minutes from various boards and commissions.

• Approve claims.

• Approve licenses recommended by the city clerk’s office.

• Bid and purchase items:

A. Award to various bidders chemicals for water and wastewater treatment.

B. Award 2012 coordinated printing bid to Printing Solutions for up to $22,000.

C. Authorize the city manager to execute a supplemental agreement to an existing engineering services agreement with BG Consultants for $64,750 for design and construction phase engineering services for the Wimbledon Drive water main replacement.

D. Award lease of four backhoes for three years for the public works and utility departments to Murphy Tractor Co. for $150,600.

E. Authorize the staff to advertise a request for proposals for design and construction phase engineering services for the 2012-2013 Water main Relocation/Rehabilitation Program.

F. Award bid for one hybrid aerial lift truck for public works traffic division to Drake-Scruggs Equipment Co. for $87,331.

G. Approve selection and authorize staff to negotiate a scope of services with the team of Bartlett & West/CDM for the Farmland Master Plan.

• Adopt a resolution authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute a deed, bill of sale, and termination of lease agreement, and to take all other actions necessary to transfer the project to Schlumberger Technology Corp., terminate all interest of the city in the project and carry out the intent of the resolution, all pursuant to retired industrial revenue bonds for the property at 2400 Packer Road.

• Approve rezoning about 3.3 acres from RSO (Single-Dwelling Residential-Office) & CS (Strip Commercial) to CS (Strip Commercial), at 2600 Redbud Lane, 2620 Iowa, 2626 Iowa and 2032 W. 27th St. Submitted by Landplan Engineering for KMAH LLC, property owner of record. Adopt on first reading an ordinance rezoning those properties.

• Accept dedication of easements and rights of way for preliminary plat, of KMAH and Lawrence 27 Iowa Addition (formerly Meadow Lea Estates), two lots, approximately 3.3 acres, located at 2600 Redbud Lane, 2620 Iowa, 2626 Iowa and 2032 W. 27th St. Submitted by Landplan Engineering for KMAH LLC, property owner of record.

• Receive city auditor’s policy on new government auditing standards.

• Approve updated request from Bowersock Mills and Power Company for city participation in the installation and maintenance of a rubber dam system. Direct staff to prepare appropriate documents for commission approval.

• Authorize the mayor to sign subordination agreements for:

A. Leonard Ford, 1801 Atherton Court.

B. Seth Swartzendruber, 4016 Overland Drive.

C. Shala Stevenson, 1238 Prairie Ave.

• Authorize the mayor to sign releases of liens for 1229 and 1233 Laura Ave. — Tenants to Homeowners Inc.

• Approve text amendments to various sections of the city’s Land Development Code regarding revisions to the district criteria and development standards for development adjacent to R (Residential) Districts, clarify other density and dimensional standards, and clarify or add terms used in the density and dimensional standards table.

Regular agenda

• Consider these determinations by the Historic Resources Commission concerning a proposed project at 900 N.H.:

A. Consider making a determination based on a consideration of all relevant factors that there is or is not a feasible and prudent alternative to the proposed project at 900 N.H. and that the proposed project includes/does not include all possible planning to minimize harm to the listed properties. The Historic Resources Commission determined, 6-0, on Oct. 27 that this project will encroach upon, damage or destroy the listed historic properties and their environs.

B. Consider an appeal of the HRC determination that the proposed project to be located 900 N.H. does not meet the intent of the Downtown Design Guidelines. The HRC determined, 6-0, on Oct. 27 that this project does not meet the intent of the Downtown Design Guidelines.

C. Consider an appeal of the HRC determination to deny a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed project to be located at 900 N.H. The HRC determined, 6-0, on Oct. 27 that this project will encroach upon, damage or destroy the listed historic properties and their environs.

• Consider request to authorize a patrol rifle lease purchase agreement for police officers. This item was deferred from the Nov. 22 commission meeting.

• Consider request to authorize the distribution of request for qualifications for construction management services for the Lawrence Public Library project.