Lawrence agendas: $2.04M street maintenance bid, $2.6M pump station contract, housing fund figures
Lawrence boards and commissions met about a dozen times in the past two weeks, but as of Oct. 19 no minutes had been published for any of those meetings. The items below are drawn from agendas, so they show what each body was scheduled to take up — not confirmed final actions.
City Commission: street maintenance, levee rock, biosolids
The City Commission's Oct. 13 agenda listed a proposed award of Bid 2600038 for 2026 Street Maintenance Phase 4 to FIT Excavating, Inc. for $2,042,113.50, with a $2,074,000 contract ceiling. The same agenda listed RFQ-2600046 for 2026 Levee Rip Rap to Kariba Systems Inc for $172,830.00, and RFP bid No. 2600039 for Wakarusa River WWTP Liquid Biosolids Contingency at $0.095 per gallon.
Also on that agenda: adoption of Ordinance No. 10211 to condemn real property for the K-10 West Leg Expansion - Utility Relocation project, and recognition of the 35th anniversary of the Sister City relationship with Hiratsuka.
Transportation Improvement Program moves through MPO
The MPO Technical Advisory Committee was set on Oct. 6 to consider recommending approval of the Federal Fiscal Year 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program, which lists federally funded and regionally significant transportation projects. The MPO Policy Board was scheduled to vote on approval of the same program on Oct. 15. The 2027 Unified Planning Work Program public comment period runs Oct. 1-31.
Airport policies and wildlife hazards
The Aviation Advisory Board's Oct. 7 agenda included electing a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, adopting a T-Hangar Waitlist Policy and a Hangar Lease policy, and recommending City Commission approval of a City Ordinance Change for Wildlife Hazards. Members were also to review draft Ground Transportation and Ground Lease policies and draft 2027 Airport Rates.
Housing trust fund figures
Documents for the Affordable Housing Advisory Board's Oct. 8 and Oct. 14 meetings, described as a 2020 annual activity report, list a $550,000 award to Penn Street Lofts from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, $426,662 in federal HOME grants to local agencies, and $53,000 to the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority for Project Able. They also note a Notice of Funding Availability for up to $450,000 in trust fund awards, an unaudited ending balance of $632,988, and completion of Bethel Estates of Lawrence Phase II in November 2020.
Building code appeals and fire code
The Building Code Board of Appeals was scheduled Oct. 8 to review a license revocation notice and appeal letter for VBC Construction, LLC, License No. BCL-000276-2024, and allegations of license application fraud involving BW P&L Holdings. On Oct. 15 the board was to discuss implementation of the 2024 International Fire Code and related fire prevention changes.
Historic designations and demolition
The Historic Resources Commission's Oct. 15 agenda listed public hearings on a Certificate of Approval for an addition at 1906 Barker Avenue; rehabilitation and a Special Use Permit for interior self-storage at 700 New Hampshire Street; a Certificate of Approval for demolition of unsafe structures at 439 Illinois Street; and nomination of 1500 Learnard Avenue to the Lawrence Register of Historic Places. Confirmation of staff-approved Design Review applications (Report 26-665) was also listed.
Also on the calendar
The Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission was set Oct. 14 to select 2026 Phoenix Awards recipients and review proposed 2027 Community Arts Grant guidelines. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board's Oct. 12 agenda contained only procedural boilerplate on meeting format and public comment, with no discussion items listed. The City Commission held a Strategic Plan retreat Oct. 5 with no other agenda items listed.
Coming up
Oct. 19 — Connected City Advisory Board: feedback on the 2027-2031 Five Year Plan for non-motorized projects, with a $4,280,000 budget; a staff recommendation for the KU Gateway Neighborhood Traffic Management Program with a $500,000 TIF fund budget; and an update on the Transit Sales Tax.
Oct. 19 — Douglas County Food Policy Council: presentations from Kansas Appleseed and Miranda Miller of the Kansas Food Action Network, a proposed special meeting Thursday, Nov. 5 at 6:30pm (virtual only), and a proposed accessibility assessment for the Culinary Commons at Building 21, Douglas County Fairgrounds.
Oct. 20 — City Commission: a contract with RD Johnson Excavating Co., LLC for $2,599,245.00 for the Pump Stations 44 & 45 Abandonment Project; a $430,067 task order with Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company for the Kaw and Clinton Water Treatment Plant Master Plan; Ordinance No. 10247 requiring special use permits for data centers in IL, IG and IBP districts; Ordinance No. 10249 incorporating the 2026 Standard Traffic Ordinance, 53rd edition; and Resolution No. 7709 adjusting the cost of leasing surplus dark fiber from the City.