Manhattan City Commission Meeting – July 21, 2026

The Manhattan City Commission met on July 21, 2026, with all five commissioners present and a quorum confirmed. The agenda included a Discovery Center proclamation, public comments, a consent calendar with two items pulled for separate discussion, and two rezoning ordinances. All commission votes were unanimous, with each motion carrying 5-0.

Proclamation & Announcements

• The mayor read a proclamation honoring cowboy heritage and encouraging citizens to observe the day at the Flint Hills Discovery Center.
• A Discovery Center representative invited the public to the event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with regular admission; Sunflower Summer accepted for kids; activities included wagon rides, rope making, roping, and branding; the first 300 youth receive commemorative caps celebrating America's 250th anniversary.
• The city manager confirmed Friday's cowboy poetry contest starts at 7 p.m.; a proclamation reading and poetry reading at the Discovery Center are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. the next day.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sarah Nondorf, a Manhattan resident near Crandall Crest, said she had heard about a potential budget discussion and was told it would be on this agenda; it was not. The mayor said she could speak then or return in three weeks when the budget is discussed, and she chose to return.
• No other public comments were made at the beginning of the meeting.
• During the 930 Yuma Street rezoning, Garrick Baker of Baker McMillan Architects spoke in support for the client, noting the Historic Resources Board and Board of Zoning Appeals had both voted unanimously for the proposed changes.

Staff and Commissioner Reports

• A report on the Flint Hills Metropolitan Organization stated that the Fort Riley Safe Passage Program is continuing, with soldiers ranked captain and below eligible for two $30 vouchers per month; many riders choose drop-off and pickup in Aggieville, creating local economic impact. Funding comes from federal, state, grant, and philanthropic sources.
• The Flint Hills Area Transportation Board passed its budget using the proposed Manhattan contribution; K-18 connector ridership remains strong, most routes are drawing more riders, and the board is interested in securing more match dollars if local partners such as Manhattan contribute more. The report noted ongoing challenges with Junction City over bus route funding.
• A commissioner reported attending a municipal band concert and the Third Thursday downtown event; a correction noted that Arts in the Park still had two more concerts.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved 5-0 for items A through D after items E and F were pulled for general information and separate discussion.
• Item E, the purchase of an aerial bucket truck, was later approved 5-0.
• Item F, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board bylaws, was later approved 5-0.

Discussion Items

• Aerial bucket truck purchase: A commissioner questioned the $216,000 cost, noting the existing truck is 18 years old with 83,000 miles, 3,063 engine hours, and about 14 hours of use per month, and asked whether the city would keep or sell the old one. Staff said the old truck cannot be sold, is barely passing certification, broke down during storm response, and is frequently in the shop; without it, the city would lose one of its only forestry vehicles for tree work. Staff said the replacement can be ready in 30 days, comes with a three-year/36,000-mile warranty, lifetime structure warranty, and one-year parts/labor warranty, and is funded from $270,000 in the general CIP fund. A commissioner apologized that the engine-hour figure may have been a typo. The motion passed 5-0.
• Parks and Recreation Advisory Board bylaws: Commissioner McCullough said the packet did not show what changed, that the item arrived late, and that he had been told park and recreation boards elsewhere have more meaningful involvement. Staff explained the board's regular meeting lacked a quorum and was rescheduled; the approved changes were housekeeping, aligning officer elections with July board terms and addressing officer vacancies. The motion passed 5-0.
• Ordinance 7832 – Planet Fitness PUD: Staff presented a rezoning north of East Points Avenue and Sarbur Lane from neighborhood commercial to commercial planned unit development. One condition would permit all neighborhood commercial uses except beverage kiosks. The planning board had passed it unanimously. In response to a traffic question, staff said a driveway consolidation along the frontage road would help. There was no public comment. The motion passed 5-0.
• Ordinance 7833 – 930 Yuma Street: Staff presented a rezoning from low density residential attached with established neighborhood overlay to business commercial, a property referred to as the Yuma Cultural Center. Staff reminded the commission that rezoning is not tied to a specific use and that BC is the most restrictive commercial district, with many permitted uses already allowed in residential districts. The planning board passed it unanimously with no public comments. After the architect's supportive comments, the motion passed 5-0.

Key Outcomes

• All five roll-call votes were unanimous 5-0: consent agenda A-D, aerial bucket truck purchase, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board bylaws, Ordinance 7832, and Ordinance 7833.
• Sarah Nondorf indicated she will return in three weeks for the budget discussion.
• The city manager encouraged attendance at the cowboy poetry contest, confirming the Friday start time as 7 p.m.