Well, let's give this a try.  Trent Rice here, and I'll warn you in advance that the city's usually blazing fast wi-fi is, tonight, wonky at best.  We'll keep the blog going as long as we can. 

The big issues for the council toinight will be a report from Lane 4 Developers.  The Kansas City-based company is the master developer for the Campustown redevelopment project.  The company is expecetd to deliver a report on it's progress, or lack thereof, on moving the project forward.  Related to that, Lane 4 is expected to ask the council for another extension on it's memorandum of understanding on how it will move forward.  The company is expected to tell the council that it's having trouble acquiring land and closing a funding gap with ISU.

The council will also get an update from city staff on flood mitigation projects.


8:15PM  You know how I've mentioned in the past the so-called "Council Speed Bump" phenomenon?  We has it.  We are mired hip-deep in a rezoning issue on land on way south Duff Ave.  People who live in the area are concerned that any development in the area will make stormwater drainage issues even worse than they say they already are.

8:35PM  Yep, still stuck on the same issue.  It's gonna be a LOOOOONG night.  Again

8:45PM We've moved on, finally.  That being said, we're poised for another speed bump.

9:00PM  Yep, another speed bump.

9:15PM  Cleared three speed bumps only to hit the speed bump of a 5 minute break that will take 10 minutes.  Campustown is next... 

9:30PM  Campustown report being given by City Manager Steve Schainker.  He says phase one of project, east of Welch, has a preliminary cost of more than $19 million.  He says Lane 4 can't guarantee that it will ever move into phase two of the project.  Company says no committment from ISU on office space use is a sticking point.

9:40PM  Schainker says Lane 4 only wants a 60 day extension to the current agreement.  He says the company is of a mind that it should know whether ISU is a player in that time.  If ISU is out, Schainker says the project is likely not going to go forward.  Also, Schainker says there aren't any property owners on the west side of Welch (phase two) who are willing to sell to Lane 4.  That means any land acquired would have to come from eminent domain.

9:50PM  ISU Business and Finance Vice-President Warren Madden says the rental rate Lane 4 wants for a 20-year lease for office space in the major building in phase one is very high, even after negotiations.  He says ISU also wants to know that there will be more to the project than just one new building. 

10:00PM:

1st Ward Council member Tom Wacha: "I don't think we have a choice" in extending the agreement.  He says if ISU is not part of the project, there is no project.

2nd Ward Council member Jami Larson:  "I don't have a lot of faith in this project.  I'm not sure we should put all our eggs in Lane 4's basket."

4th Ward Council memner Riad Mahayni:  "The time may not be right for this project."

10:30PM  The council votes not to extend the agreement with Lane 4.  Council member Riad Mahayni offers an amendment that encourages the company and ISU to continue conversations on office space agreement.