Bottom line: Commissioners will be asked to authorize issuing $7.8 million in industrial revenue bonds to developers of the apartment and retail project at 800 New Hampshire St. The bonds, which provide a sales tax exemption on construction materials, would save developers approximately $317,000 on the $7 million project.

Background: The City Commission voted 3-2 in December, stating it was the intent of the city to issue the industrial revenue bonds with the condition that the development group, led by Doug Compton and Mike Treanor, contribute $75,000 to Lawrence’s affordable housing trust fund. The city received the $75,000 on March 8. That’s the approximate amount the city stands to lose because of the sales tax exemption. It will cost the state approximately $227,000 and Douglas County about $13,000.

The project includes adding four floors and 55 market-rate apartment units to the old Pachamamas building. The lower level will be used for restaurant and retail use. There’s no parking included in the plans.

The City Commission convenes at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St.

Proclamations

• Proclaim the month of April 2016 as Child Abuse Prevention Month

• Proclaim the month of April 2016 as Mathematics Awareness Month.

Consent agenda

• Receive minutes from various boards and commissions:

Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting of 02/08/16

Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission meetings of 01/10/16 and 02/10/16

Planning Commission meetings of 12/14/15, 01/25/16, and 02/22/16

Public Health Board meeting of 01/25/16

Sister Cities Advisory Board meeting of 02/10/16

• Approve all claims. The list of claims will be posted by the Finance Department on Monday prior to the meeting. If Monday is a holiday, the claims will be posted as soon as possible the next business day.

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

• Bid and purchase items:

a) Set bid date of April 12, 2016, for Bid No. B1612, Project No. PW1604 – 2016 Microsurfacing, Patch, Overlay and Concrete Maintenance Program.

b) Set a bid date of April 19, 2016, for Bid No. B1604, Project No. UT1502 – Sunnyside Avenue Waterline Replacement

c) Award Bid No. B1610, Project No. PW1607 – W. 8th Street Reconstruction from Kentucky Street to Tennessee Street, to Sunflower Paving, Inc. in the total amount of $119,677.50.

d) Award the purchase of 3000 tons of de-icing salt in the amount of $152,310 and approve the purchase of 700 interlocking precast concrete blocks to construct a temporary bunker to contain the salt stockpile, in the amount of $35,000.

e) Award the purchase of two half ton trucks for the Parks and Recreation Department to Laird Noller Ford, for a total of $42,430, following the one percent local purchasing policy.

f) Reject bids for Project No. PW1534, 11th Street and Mississippi Street public improvements, and set bid date of April 12, 2016 for HERE project sanitary sewer service lines and waterlines to be included in Project No. PW1417.

g) Approve purchase of one (1) one-ton truck for the Fire/Medical Department, from Laird Noller Ford, for $31,850.

• Adopt on first reading, Ordinance No. 9210, authorizing the issuance of $7.8 million in Industrial Revenue Bonds for the 800 New Hampshire project.

• Receive state forfeiture fund reports for the Police Department for 2013, 2014, and 2015.

• Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Alicia Kelly and Katy Clagett to implement an Intersection Repair Community Mural Project at 10th Street and New Jersey Street and approve a temporary use of right-of-way permit for the intersection to be closed April 23 for the purpose of installing the mural.

• Authorize the Mayor to sign a Mortgage Subordination Agreement for Julee A. Smith, 2516 Crestline Court.

• Authorize the Mayor to sign a Mortgage Subordination Agreement for Beth Murphy, purchasing 2130 Rhode Island Street.

Receive public comment of a general nature

Regular agenda

• Receive recommendations from the Affordable Housing Advisory Board regarding the Transitional Housing Voucher Program and consider awarding $100,000 to the Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority.

ACTION: Staff recommends the City Commission approve the program parameters as recommended by the Affordable Housing Advisory Board and award $100,000 from the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund to the Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority.

• Recommendations from Transient Guest Tax grant fund committee for funding for 2016.

ACTION: Approve Transient Guest Tax Advisory Board recommendations for FY2016 funding and authorize the City Manager to execute grant agreements with the grant recipients.

• Consider the following items related to the Sales Tax Reserve Fund:

a) Discussion of the Sales Tax Reserve Fund.

ACTION: Direct staff as appropriate.

b) Consider the following purchases from the Sales Tax Reserve Fund:

i) Authorize staff to develop specifications and set a bid date for the replacement of the HVAC unit for the leisure pool at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center.

ii) Award bid for the Baldwin Creek Trail Project to R.D. Johnson Excavating, for $335,561.55. This project is an 80/20 grant from the Federal Recreational Trails Program and the cost to the city will be approximately $67,111.55. Consider authorizing the Mayor to execute the Greenspace, Pedestrian and Recreational path Easement, and to execute a petition to be filed before the Board of Douglas County Commissioners to vacate certain Greenspace, Pedestrian and Recreational Path Easements.

iii) Award bid to replace the HVAC system at the Holcom Parks Recreation Center, to A & H Air Conditioning and Heating for $52,581.24.

ACTION: Authorize Bid and Purchase items, if appropriate.

• Receive presentation from Frank Male, Lawrence Landscape, regarding the interchange at Kasold Drive and K-10. Consider approving a request for a temporary signal at Kasold Drive and E. 1200 Road and K-10.

ACTION: Approve request for a temporary signal at Kasold Drive and E. 1200 Road and K-10, if appropriate.

• Consider request for temporary over hire of 17 additional police officer positions in response to accelerated attrition based upon large number of anticipated retirements from 1991 Basic Recruit Academy and provide direction on long-term police hiring strategy.

ACTION: Approve request for temporary over hire of 17 additional police officer positions in response to accelerated attrition based upon large number of anticipated retirements from 1991 Basic Recruit Academy and provide direction on long-term police hiring strategy.

• City Commission direction to staff regarding HERE project

ACTION: Direct staff as appropriate

Discuss future agenda items

Discuss commission items

Receive city manager’s report