The following items were some of the topics discussed at Thursday evening’s City Commission Work Session, and will be recommended for a vote at next Thursday’s City Commission Meeting. The entire packet of information is available by clicking here.

The City Commission will make a decision on whether or not to adopt two ordinances that reflect the latest changes made by the Kansas Legislature. The ordinances include the following changes:

-An amendment to the law that will help law enforcement keep pace with modern technology by allowing drivers to show proof of insurance using their cell phones, tablets, or even laptops instead of traditional paper.

• In 2012 the Hays Police Department issued 918 citations because drivers were unable to show proof of liability insurance at the time of the traffic stop. 800 of these tickets were dismissed when the driver was later able to provide the court a current insurance card.

-Removal of a switchblade knife from the list of weapons which are prohibited from being carried, concealed or unconcealed.

• Sec. 10.1.1 also removes the dagger, dirk, dangerous knife, straight edge razor, and stiletto from the list of dangerous weapons which are prohibited from being carried concealed.

-An amendment to Sec. 6.1 – Theft should help to improve the safety of our community and our police officers. Previously, those accused of stealing guns were charged with a misdemeanor, unless the value of the gun was over $1,000.

• Under the new law, anyone who steals a gun or possesses a stolen gun can be charged with a felony.  Both of these changes increase the possibility of a police officer coming in contact with a person armed with a lethal weapon. The City of Hays is prohibited from having an ordinance that further restricts the possession, carrying or use of a knife.

 

City staff recommends authorizing the City Manager to enter an agreement with CFS Engineers for the design of the on-street bike routes to be funded out of Capital Projects.

Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno explains the updates to the Bike Hays Plan:

Consideration of a contract with Wilson & Co to make repairs and improvements to the levee

-Hays’ latest rating is “minimally acceptable,” the lowest rating in which a levee sponsor can remain in the federal insurance program called Public Law 84-99.

• Participation in this program is at no direct cost to the City of Hays and allows for federal reimbursement should the levee be damaged during a flood event. Repairs to damages caused by floods are made to the system with 80% of the costs picked up by the federal government.

• Items such as poor sod cover, tree encroachment, minor erosion, a cracked swimming pool drain pipe, silt deposits and erosion near drains have led to this rating.

• The engineering services agreement and surveying totals $49,500. This is to be paid from the Stormwater Utility project line item. Flood control improvements were budgeted for 2013 and sufficient funds are available for this design work.