Lawrence City Hall and I have something in common: We’re both rooting for a warm-up. I’m rooting for one after my wife a few weeks ago decreed that the furnace shall not be used again until after Labor Day. (She didn’t say which year.) City Hall is rooting for a warm-up of sales tax revenues. Well, one of us got what we were looking for, and the other is still trying to learn how to knit an afghan.

The city recently received its March sales tax check from the state, and collections were up 7.4 percent compared with the same period a year ago. The March check generally reflected sales that were made in February.

That was a good batch of news because January and February sales tax checks — which reflected sales made primarily during December and January– were middling at 0.8 percent and 1.2 percent increases, respectively. For whatever reason, post-holiday sales seemed to soar. (I know I had to go buy llama hair and a loom.)

Actually, it may not be traditional retail sales like those that are driving the higher numbers at all. I’m still waiting on the latest numbers from City Hall, but earlier this year the city said the two largest categories of sales tax growth were sales of building materials, which were up by 28 percent compared with the same period a year ago, and sales taxes charged on hotel rooms, which were up 19 percent over the same time period a year ago. The building materials could be a sign of the new Menards store, and increased hotel activity could be a sign of events taking place at Rock Chalk Park and elsewhere around town. It is tough to know exactly what is driving the increases in either category, but they are noteworthy.

The March sales tax check now has Lawrence’s year-to-date sales tax collections up by 2.9 percent for the year-to-date. The city still needs that number to grow to meet its budget projections for 2016, but thus far the city is not expressing much concern. The city needs sales tax growth to check in closer to 4 percent to 5 percent in 2016.

What’s most interesting about Lawrence’s sales tax numbers is that Lawrence is outpacing all of the other large retail communities in the state thus far. Here’s a look at growth percentages for some of the state’s larger retail centers:

• Lawrence: up 2.9 percent

• Kansas City: down 2.1 percent

• Sedgwick County: up 0.2 percent

• Johnson County: down 1.1 percent

• Salina: down 4.5 percent

• Manhattan: down 0.6 percent

• Lenexa: down 14.6 percent

• Topeka: down 0.3 percent

• Overland Park: down 1.0 percent

• Olathe: up 1.1 percent

In other news and notes from around town:

• For those of you who missed it in the J-W’s sports section, we now have more details about a unique pole vaulting event slated for later this month.

I reported last month that plans were in the works for a pole vault exhibition to be held in the parking lot of Salty Iguana Mexican restaurant at Sixth and Wakarusa. Now, KU officials have confirmed the event will be held as part of the Kansas Relays.

KU officials also have announced that the event will attract professional pole vaulters who will be competing for cash prizes based on how high they vault.

Among those competing will be former KU standout Jordan Scott, a seven-time Big 12 champion. The field will feature four men and four women.

The event is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. on April 21 at the Salty Iguana parking lot. In addition to the pole vaulting, there will be a bit of a parking lot party, with food and drink being sold at the event.

The pole vaulting event hopes to replicate the success of the Downtown Lawrence Olympic Shot Put event that is now in its fifth year. That event — which features some of the world’s best shot putters competing in a ring at the intersection of Eighth and New Hampshire — is set for 6 p.m. on April 22. That event is organized by eXplore Lawrence, the city’s convention and visitors bureau, but is held in conjunction with the Kansas Relays.

• File this one in the category of something to keep an eye on: The Lawrence chamber of commerce is in the process of looking for a new home for its offices and the KU Small Business Development Center. Bonnie Lowe, chief operating officer for the chamber, confirmed that the organization is shopping around for a new office as its current lease at Seventh and Vermont streets has expired. The Chamber — which has its offices above the Jos. A. Bank retail store — has signed a short-term extension while it looks for space.

Lowe said the chamber may decide to sign a new long-term lease at it current location, but she said The Chamber does have some interest in ground floor office space somewhere in downtown.

“That would probably be my preference,” Lowe said of ground floor space. “From a visibility standpoint, that would really help.”

Lowe didn’t get into any locations that The Chamber is considering, so I don’t know if the group is looking at ground floor space on busy Massachusetts Street or in one of the many office buildings, like the Hobbs Taylor Loft building, that is on New Hampshire Street. There also are probably some options on Vermont, as well.

Lowe did confirm that The Chamber is confining its search to the downtown area. I’ll let you know when I hear more.

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