City Commission agenda for Aug. 2

Bottom line

City commissioners will hold a public hearing and consider approving the 2012 city budget.

Background

The budget includes an increase in the city’s property tax mill levy for the first time in several years. As currently proposed, the mill levy for the city will increase by 1.88 mills. The bulk of that increase — 1.7 mills — will fund a voter-approved expansion of the Lawrence Public Library. The rest will help fund wage increases for city employees and the addition of four new police officers and one existing detective position to the city’s force. Commissioners also are expected to have a closed-door executive session to discuss new contracts with the city’s police and fire unions.

Executive session 5 p.m.

• Consider motion to recess into executive session for approximately 15 minutes for the purpose of consultation with attorneys for the body that would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship.

• Consider motion to recess into executive session for approximately one hour for the purpose of discussion of employer-employee negotiations. The justification for the executive session is to keep negotiations confidential at this time.

Consent agenda 6:30 p.m.

• Receive minutes from boards and commissions.

• Approve claims.

• Award a bid for one rear load refuse trucks for the public works department to Downing Sales and Service for $136,610.

• Adopt on second and final reading an ordinance adopting the 2011 Standard Traffic Ordinance, Edition 2011.

• Receive city manager’s report.

Regular agenda

• Conduct public hearing on 2012 city budget and consider approving on first reading ordinances that:

  1. Adopt and appropriate by fund the 2012 budget.

  2. Attest to the increase in property taxes levied for 2012.

  3. Establish municipal court fees.

  4. Establish solid waste service rates for 2012.

  5. Establish water and sanitary sewer service rates, effective Nov. 15, 2011.

  6. Establish system development charges for water utility and wastewater utility connections for 2012, effective Jan. 1, 2012.

• Receive this report from city auditor: “Performance Audit: City Using Pavement Data to Improve Streets.”