Olathe City Council Meeting Summary - July 16, 2024
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Olathe City Council Meeting Summary - July 16, 2024
The Olathe City Council met on July 16, 2024, at 6:00 PM (with the live streamed session beginning at 7:00 PM) in the Council Chamber at 100 E. Santa Fe. The meeting included proclamations, recognition of student champions, two public hearings, consent agenda approval, and new business. Councilmembers present: Bacon, Vogt, Gilmore, Schoonover, Felter, Vakas. Councilmember Essex was absent. The meeting also transitioned into a planning session after the live streamed portion.
Special Business
- Proclamation declaring August 6, 2024 as National Night Out: Mayor Bacon read the proclamation and presented it to Police Sergeant John Moncayo and residents Sandy Blake and Dan Sullivan from Boulder Creek Villas. The event promotes community policing and neighborhood camaraderie.
- Recognition of Olathe high school student champions: Director of Athletics Matt Johnson introduced students and teams from Olathe West, Olathe South, Olathe North, Olathe Northwest, and the Olathe Advanced Technical Center who won state titles in track, baseball, softball, culinary arts, and electronics. Awards were presented by Mayor Bacon.
Public Hearings
- Weed Mowing and Debris Removal Assessments: No speakers. The public hearing was closed by a unanimous 6-0 vote.
- Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB) and Tax Phase-In for BPG Olathe 1 LLC (Building B, Great Plains Commerce Center): The project involves a 149,500 sq. ft. light industrial facility on 11.27 acres at 15880 S. Theden, with a $16.25 million investment, expected to create 100 new jobs over 10 years. Financial Strategy Manager John Page presented the cost-benefit analysis showing a city ratio of 1.62 and a 5-year payback. No public speakers testified. Councilmember Schoonover questioned the average annual salary of $38,000 given that 85% of jobs start at $12/hour. Councilmember Vakas asked about energy efficiency standards and use of city solid waste services. Chet Belcher noted the IRB policy relates to architectural standards and that an upcoming code update will address energy codes. Vince Cuezze (Polsinelli Law) confirmed this is the third building for the developer. The public hearing was closed 6-0. The resolution (No. 24-1031) was approved 4-2, with Councilmembers Schoonover and Vakas voting no, citing concerns about low wages and lack of exceeding UDO standards.
Consent Agenda
- Items A through N were approved as a block by a 6-0 vote: meeting minutes of July 2, 2024; renewal of licenses; Resolution No. 24-1032 (intent to levy property tax exceeding revenue neutral rate); Resolution No. 24-1033 (public hearing date for structure at 413 S. Cherry Street); 2025 CDBG funding recommendations; Amendment No. 2 to the 2003 Cooperation Agreement with Johnson County for CDBG and HOME programs; final plats for The Greens at Prairie Highlands (Seventh and Eighth Plats), Mur-Len Commercial Park (Fifth Plat); consent calendar renewal; fiber optic installation contract renewal; Sensus water meter purchase; salt contract award; portable restroom services contract award.
- Item O (AXON contract extension): Pulled for separate discussion. Councilmember Vakas highlighted the Police Department's analysis resulting in $3.1 million savings over five years by extending the contract two years (2028-2029) at 2022 pricing, including taser upgrades and interview room upgrades. Motion to approve passed 6-0.
New Business
- Ordinance No. 24-28 (amending Title 9, Olathe Public Offense Code): Approved 6-0.
- Ordinance No. 24-29 (amending Title 10, Olathe Traffic Ordinance): Approved 6-0.
New City Council Business
- Councilmember Vakas reported on the Olathe Live concert (Veterans Appreciation Night), Journey of Hope bike riders, MARC policy meeting, and solid waste roundtable participation.
- Councilmember Felter congratulated students, reminded of family fun nights at Mahaffie Farmstead, Olathe Live concerts, and theater in the square (Annie Jr.), and noted that Municipal Court is accepting school supplies for traffic fine credit. She also acknowledged firefighters deployed to the Copper Fire in California and the Republican National Convention.
- Councilmember Vogt attended the KU Cancer Center ribbon cutting and thanked participants in MARC. She expressed interest in revisiting the tax abatement policy in the fall, suggesting more points for living wages and energy efficiency.
- Councilmember Schoonover thanked solid waste staff for limb pickup and shared his recent diagnosis of rectal cancer, asking for patience if he misses meetings. He urged others to get colonoscopies.
- Mayor Bacon announced the Olathe Mayor's Children's Fund is accepting grant applications through August 1st at OlatheCares.org, with a goal of $155,000.
Key Outcomes
- Proclamation and student recognitions approved.
- IRB resolution for BPG Olathe 1 LLC approved (4-2).
- Consent agenda items A-N approved (6-0).
- AXON contract extension approved (6-0).
- Ordinances 24-28 and 24-29 approved (each 6-0).
- Council directed staff to present an option for a 1/8 mil reduction in the upcoming budget (from planning session discussion).
- Council expressed support for Councilmember Schoonover and discussed future policy review on tax abatements.
Planning Session (after live stream)
- Discussion on the Proposed 2025 Water and Sewer Budget, 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and fees. Budget Manager Jarrod Stewart and Infrastructure Director Mary Jaeger presented. Councilmembers asked about rate comparisons, battery replacements, cost increases, and in-house options. Mayor Bacon asked for an option showing a 1/8 mil tax reduction impact.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you. Good evening. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Latha City Council for Tuesday, July sixteenth, twenty twenty-four. The first item on our agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. Would you please stand with me for the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which the stands under individual with liberty of justice for all. Next on our agenda is special business. Item A, August 6th is national night out. Each year, this event gives both our police and our residents an opportunity to strengthen relationships throughout our community, which is key to building and maintaining a safe city. To accept today's proclamation, I'd like to welcome forward police Sergeant John Monkeo and resident Sandy Blake, a representative from the Boulder Creek Villas. John Sandy. So the proclamation reads whereas the National Association of Town Watch sponsors the 41st Annual National Night Out on August 6, 2024. And whereas the program provides an opportunity for the City of Aletha to join forces with thousands of other communities across the country. They're working on okay. Okay, now we're back on. I can hear. Okay. Sorry about that. Okay, to join uh forces with thousands of other communities across the country to promote community policing and to emphasize the importance of relationships in maintaining safe neighborhoods. And whereas this gathering strengthens the connections between officers and residents, allowing them for improved communication, understanding, and a more caring and safer Olatha. And whereas it is essential that all citizens of Olatha understand the importance of crime prevention programs and the impact their participation can have on reducing crime, drug abuse, and violence in our city. Now therefore, I John Bacon, mayor of the City of Aletha do hereby proclaim August 6th, 2024 as National Night Out in Olathe in conjunction with the Olatha Police Department, Alatha Fire Department, Johnson County Med Act, and the National Association of Town Watch. Behalf of uh all the people at Boulder Crick Villas, I accept this award and I'm appreciative of it. Uh it means a lot to us. Uh we've got a good working relationship with the police department, and uh, we want to keep it that way. So uh thank you very much, Your Honor. All right, that's it. Lower him a little shorter here. Hello, everyone. My name is Sergeant John Moncayo. I'm the public information officer for the police department, and I would like to reintroduce Mr. Sandy Blake and Mr. Dan Sullivan. They're with the Boulder Creek Villas uh neighborhood. Uh National Night Out is an annual community uh building uh program that promotes police and community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. This initiative began in the 1970s and quickly grew into a national network in 1984. Today the campaign stands on the motto that the best way to create a safer community is to know your neighbors and know your surroundings. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council members, for your unwavering support in this effort. The men and women of the Olatha Police Department look forward to continuing meaningful and positive interactions with our citizens, and we look forward to seeing you all on August 6th from 6.30 to 8.30 p.m. Thank you. Okay. We'll move on to item B. That's why this we have this huge crowd here tonight. So we've got this crowd is from Olatha Public Schools with a lot. We have a lot to sell. So we'll work on it. I'll go over here. Okay. So tonight we are handing out City of Champion Awards to students who have earned state titles.
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