Bottomline

A program to expand the city’s rental inspection program to all rental units in the city will be discussed again by Lawrence city commissioners Tuesday night.

Background

Commissioners on Tuesday will be asked to weigh in on proposed registration and inspection fees as part of the program. Staff members are proposing a system that would require landlords to pay a $10 registration fee every year, and a $50 inspection fee in the years their apartment units are inspected. City commissioners also will need to weigh in on how often inspections should occur. A previous scenario had anticipated a landlord having some units inspected once every three years. Staff members also are presenting a scenario in which city inspectors would inspect 10 percent of all rental units in the city each year.

At the request of commissioners, staff members also have created scenarios in which owners of large apartment complexes would get a discount on the annual registration fee. In one scenario, landlords with 51 to 100 units would receive a 10 percent discount, 101-150 units would receive a 20 percent discount, and landlords with more than 150 units would receive a 30 percent discount. A third option would give discounts only to landlords who have more than 100 units.

Staff members are estimating the program would cost about $385,000 a year to operate and initially would require hiring three new inspectors and two administrative assistants.

Consent agenda

• Receive minutes from various boards and commissions:

• Approve all claims. The list of approved claims will be posted to the agenda the day after the City Commission meeting.

• Approve appointments as recommended by the mayor.

• Bid and purchase items:

a.) Set bid date of July 16, 2013, for PW 1334 — construction of safety/security around the two above-ground storage tanks on the former Farmland Industries plant site.  

b.) Award City Bid No. B1337, PW1301, (KLINK) Iowa Street, south city limits to 29th Street, to Sunflower Paving, Inc., in the total amount of $432,250.45 provided the contractor can meet the terms established in the contract documents.  

c.) Waive bidding requirements and authorize the purchase of 28 computers for the Lawrence Police Department off the State of Kansas contract for a total of $30,765.56.  

• Adopt the following ordinances on second and final reading:

a.) Ordinance No. 8873, merging the current Environmental Code into the Property Maintenance Code at Chapter IX, Article 6 of the City Code, as amended, and which would also provide for the promulgation of regulations governing the treatment and eradication of bedbug infestations.   

b.) Ordinance No. 8874, establishing a 55 mph speed limit on 23rd Street (K-10 Highway), between FF Street and Franklin Road.

c.) Ordinance No. 8875, establishing a 40 mph speed limit on Peterson Road between Kasold Drive and Monterey Way (approved by Traffic Safety Commission on 5/6/13 and by the City Commission on 6/11/13). 

d.) Ordinance No. 8876, allowing the possession and consumption of alcoholic liquor on Seventh Street, from Kentucky Street to Tennessee Street, from 9 a.m. to midnight on 07/04/13, associated with the Lawrence Originals 4th of July event.

e.) Joint City Ordinance No. 8869/County Resolution, for Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA-13-00067) to Horizon 2020 Chapter 6 Commercial Land Use and Chapter 14 Specific Plans, Revised Southern Development Plan, to expand the South Iowa Street commercial corridor east along West 31st Street to include 1900 W. 31st Street and identify the area as a regional commercial center.  (PC Item 4; approved 6-3-1 on 5/20/13)