Lawrence Connected City Advisory Board Summary
Week of May 19, 2026
City to regain control of riverfront property in 2027 settlement
Corridor planning effort to address critical North Lawrence transportation links
Looming sales tax sunsets threaten city infrastructure funding
Street maintenance funding shifted from debt to capital sales tax
Budget constraints force cuts to ADA right-of-way transition program
Proposed capital improvement plan leaves replacement fire trucks unfunded
City shifts wastewater priorities, adding $16 million digester project while deferring $20 million plant expansion
Airport sanitary sewer improvements funded to spur regional development
Farmland remediation construction delayed to monitor current mitigation
City to regain control of riverfront property in 2027 settlement
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Following a recent legal settlement, the city will regain control of prime riverfront property currently occupied by the SpringHill Suites on a long-term land lease. The city will pay $325,000 to take full ownership of the land and the building after April 5, 2027, when the hotel vacates. The acquisition could create significant economic development and connectivity opportunities between downtown and North Lawrence, potentially aiding completion of the Lawrence Loop and spurring new riverfront redevelopment initiatives similar to those in Kansas City.
Corridor planning effort to address critical North Lawrence transportation links
LAWRENCE, Kan. — A task force overseeing the North Lawrence Corridor Study will resume meetings in June with a primary focus on transportation and connectivity. Concerns were raised during planning regarding the viability of accessing North Lawrence during infrastructure disruptions, with participants noting that residents should not be forced to pay a toll on Interstate 70 to reach the city's main infrastructure. The effort is expected to incorporate opportunities created by the city's upcoming acquisition of the downtown riverfront property.
Looming sales tax sunsets threaten city infrastructure funding
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Significant financial uncertainty looms as two major sales taxes prepare to sunset. The city's transit sales tax will expire shortly, likely prompting a ballot measure later in 2026, while the 0.3 percent capital sales tax that funds streets, sidewalks and fire apparatus will expire in 2029. With property tax revenues unable to cover necessary infrastructure improvements, the City Commission is expected to discuss whether to seek a renewal or an increase to the capital sales tax rate to address extensive community needs.
Street maintenance funding shifted from debt to capital sales tax
LAWRENCE, Kan. — The city has restructured its street maintenance funding within the proposed 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan, reducing reliance on general obligation debt by $4.5 million. An equal amount of funding has been shifted to the capital sales tax fund, supplemented by cuts made to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition program. Despite the funding swap, the street maintenance program remains heavily underfunded, covering only 60 percent to 70 percent of the city's total pavement maintenance needs.
Budget constraints force cuts to ADA right-of-way transition program
LAWRENCE, Kan. — The city has reduced planned funding for its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) right-of-way transition program to redirect funds toward underfunded street maintenance. The proposed 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan cuts $500,000 from the program in 2027 and $1 million in subsequent years. Delaying the 20-year compliance plan poses legal and financial risks, as other cities have faced expensive federal consent decrees for failing to address accessibility issues on their own timelines.
Proposed capital improvement plan leaves replacement fire trucks unfunded
LAWRENCE, Kan. — The proposed five-year Capital Improvement Plan currently lacks funding for replacement fire trucks. Historically, capital sales tax revenues have covered the cost of new fire apparatus, but competing infrastructure demands have strained the fund. While the plan includes funding for an updated fire station alerting system and Douglas County-funded ambulances, the City Commission will need to determine alternative funding strategies to replace aging fire trucks in the coming years.
City shifts wastewater priorities, adding $16 million digester project while deferring $20 million plant expansion
LAWRENCE, Kan. — A $16 million digester improvement project at the Kansas River Wastewater Treatment Plant has been added to the proposed capital budget to address immediate operational risks. To offset the sudden expense, the city removed $20 million in construction costs for the Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion from the five-year plan, leaving only $1 million for design work. The Wakarusa expansion is development-driven and can be delayed safely until community growth necessitates the added capacity.
Airport sanitary sewer improvements funded to spur regional development
LAWRENCE, Kan. — The city will fund new sanitary sewer infrastructure at Lawrence Regional Airport, replacing an outdated holding tank that currently requires frequent, costly pumping. The infrastructure upgrade, funded through utility cash and debt, will eliminate an existing service gap and allow for future private development in the surrounding area. Ongoing inquiries from developers have reportedly been hampered by the area's lack of permanent sewer access.
Farmland remediation construction delayed to monitor current mitigation
LAWRENCE, Kan. — The city has delayed $7 million to $8 million in capital construction for the former Farmland Industries nitrogen plant Superfund site remediation project in North Lawrence to gather more data on recent environmental capping efforts. By pushing the major construction out of the immediate five-year planning window, the city hopes to assess whether current mitigation strategies alter the site's long-term environmental needs. The deferment also helps the city maintain its general obligation bond fund balance policy through 2031 without raising the mill levy.
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