City Council Meeting - September 3, 2024: Budget Adoption, IRB Approval, and Unsafe Structure Declaration
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City Council Meeting - September 3, 2024
The Olathe City Council met on September 3, 2024, at 6:30 PM (live-streamed session began at 7:00 PM) to address a full agenda. Key actions included adoption of the 2025 city budget and capital improvement plan, approval of industrial revenue bonds for a large business park, and a declaration of an unsafe structure at 413 S. Cherry Street. The meeting also featured presentations of the Mayor's Cup to Garmin, proclamations for Deaf Culture Month and Co-Responder and Crisis Responder Week, and appointment of a new member to the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Advisory Board.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes from August 20 and August 27, 2024 meetings.
- Approved travel requests for City Manager Michael Wilkes and Council Members Felter and Vakas.
- Accepted dedication of land for public easements for the Hope Roots Collective final plat.
- Approved Resolution No. 24-1047 assigning lease agreements and bond documents from Double T Enterprises to Lindenwood Olathe Holdings, LLC and others.
- Approved Resolution No. 24-1050 expressing intent to issue industrial revenue bonds for Rosebud Partners, LLC (sales tax exemption only).
- Approved consent calendar items including: water main relocation agreement with Water District No. 1 of Johnson County; turn lane construction and reimbursement agreement with Heritage Ranch Developers; contract awards for LED lighting, streetlight poles/bases, streetlight supplies, on-call demolition services, water transmission main valves, general electrical services, water meters and supplies, and an asphalt paving machine replacement.
- All consent items approved 6-0 (Schoonover absent).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Samuel Graham (15954 S. Avalon Street) spoke against the IRB request for Blue Springs Safety Storage South, LLC. He argued that Olathe already has hundreds of thousands of square feet of vacant warehouse space and that the project does not align with the city's economic development goals in Resolution 23-1080. He urged the Council to deny the request.
- Loren Brownlee, owner of 413 S. Cherry Street, stated that he faced difficulties repairing the property due to alleged arson and city actions. He requested more than the 30-day deadline to either repair or demolish the structure. He also expressed concerns about personal property removed during inspections.
Discussion Items
Special Business
- Mayor's Cup: Presented to Garmin for highest performance among Olathe companies in the Kansas City Corporate Challenge. Katie Stapleton accepted and highlighted Garmin's wellness program.
- Proclamation – Deaf Cultural Month: September 2024 declared as Deaf Cultural Month. Chriz Dally, Executive Director of the Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture, accepted and invited residents to a 5K event on September 28.
- Proclamation – Co-Responder and Crisis Responder Week: September 15–21, 2024 recognized. Olathe Police Sergeants Robert McKeirnan and Ben Smith, and co-responders Kimberly Rowlands and Jordyn Chaffin accepted. Sergeant McKeirnan thanked the Council and noted the program's expansion since 2011.
- Appointment to Mahaffie Advisory Board: Resolution No. 24-1044 appointed Kevin Corbett (former Olathe Parks and Recreation Director) to the board. Approved 6-0.
Public Hearing A – Industrial Revenue Bonds for Blue Springs Safety Storage
- Staff presentation by John Page (Financial Strategy & Procurement Manager) detailed a $252.9 million investment, construction of 1,549,955 square feet of warehouse/industrial facilities on 139 acres east of 169 Highway between 159th and 167th Streets. The project is estimated to create more than 1,000 jobs over 10 years, with estimated annual city property tax of $708 currently rising to over $700,000 after abatement. The city cost-benefit ratio is 1.47 (target is 1.3).
- Public hearing closed 5-1 (Vakas opposed). Resolution No. 24-1045 approved 6-0.
Public Hearing B – Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 413 S. Cherry Street
- Chief Building Official Ryan Arter presented photos and an engineering report documenting a 2012 electrical fire, subsequent deterioration, cracked foundation, collapsing ceilings and floors, and roof holes. The structure is uninhabitable since 2012. The property owner was denied entry for inspections; a search warrant was executed. The structure was deemed structurally unsafe. Staff recommended a 30-day deadline (by October 3, 2024) to commence repairs or demolition.
- Deputy City Attorney Chris Grunewald clarified that sealed engineering plans would be required within 30 days to obtain permits, and diligent progress thereafter would be expected.
- Property owner Loren Brownlee objected to the timeline and alleged arson. The public hearing was closed 6-0. Resolution No. 24-1046 approved 6-0, ordering the owner to commence repairs or demolition by October 3, 2024.
New Business A – Rezoning for Hope Roots Collective
- Ordinance No. 24-33 (RZ24-0013) rezoned 1.87 acres at 11515 S. Black Bob Road from AG (Agricultural) to M-1 (Light Industrial) and approved a preliminary site development plan for office space for wellness professionals. Planning Commission recommended approval 7-0. Approved 6-0.
New Business B – 2025 City Budget (Ordinance No. 24-34)
- Extensive discussion on the proposed $252.9 million budget. Council members expressed differing views:
- Councilmember Felter: Initially sought a tax cut but was convinced by Infrastructure Director Mary Jaeger that reducing the mill levy or fee increases would be short‑sighted and hurt future infrastructure needs. She supported the budget.
- Councilmember Vogt: Supported the budget, noting the city’s dual challenge of being an older community and the fastest‑growing in Kansas. She highlighted new public safety hires (2 police officers, 15 firefighters) and major infrastructure projects.
- Councilmember Gilmore: Opposed the budget, arguing it does not provide property tax relief for citizens struggling with inflation. He criticized the lack of council direction to limit property tax growth and questioned future support for tax abatements if no relief is provided.
- Councilmember Essex: Struggle with a 7% tax increase; while she would not cut staff, she believed some reductions could be made. She voted no.
- Councilmember Vakas: Supported the budget but called for addressing state‑level tax relief for seniors and more rigorous evaluation of incentive policies. He noted the police department found $3 million in savings.
- Mayor Bacon: Supported the budget, stating less than 20% of general fund revenue comes from property taxes, and Olathe has the second‑lowest mill rate in Kansas. He welcomed the veterans relief program in the budget.
- Vote: 4‑2 in favor (Bacon, Vogt, Felter, Vakas yes; Gilmore, Essex no; Schoonover absent).
New Business C – 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan (Resolution No. 24-1048)
- Councilmember Vakas noted public comments from Cedar Creek residents requesting an accelerated road project schedule. Resolution approved 5‑1 (Gilmore no).
New Business D – Comprehensive Listing of Fees and Charges (Resolution No. 24-1049)
- Approved 4‑2 (Bacon, Vogt, Felter, Vakas yes; Gilmore, Essex no).
Key Outcomes
- Mayor’s Cup awarded to Garmin.
- Proclamations declared September as Deaf Cultural Month and September 15‑21 as Co‑Responder and Crisis Responder Week.
- Kevin Corbett appointed to the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Advisory Board (unanimous).
- Industrial Revenue Bonds for Blue Springs Safety Storage South approved (Resolution 24-1045, 6‑0).
- Unsafe structure at 413 S. Cherry Street declared, with order to commence repairs or demolition by October 3, 2024 (Resolution 24-1046, 6‑0).
- Hope Roots Collective rezoning approved (Ordinance 24-33, 6‑0).
- 2025 City Budget adopted (Ordinance 24-34, 4‑2).
- 2025‑2029 Capital Improvement Plan adopted (Resolution 24-1048, 5‑1).
- Comprehensive Fee Schedule established (Resolution 24-1049, 4‑2).
- Consent Agenda approved (6‑0).
- Councilmember Schoonover (absent) shared a statement opposing the budget due to water/sewer rate increases and encouraged suicide prevention awareness (dial 988).
- Upcoming events announced: Old Settlers Days (Sept 5‑8), Comprehensive Plan workshop (Sept 18), and others.
- Meeting adjourned at 8:31 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, welcome to the regular meeting of the Olatha City Council for Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024. The first item on our agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. Would you please stand with me for the pledge? Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands under God with liberty and justice. We'll now move to special business. Item A is a presentation of the Mayor's Cup. Each year we uh present the Mayor's Cup to the to the Olathe Company with the highest performance in the Kansas City Corporate Challenge. We do this to celebrate companies that prioritize active lifestyles and healthy work cultures. The um things that we're thrilled to see in our local businesses. So this year, once again, it's Garmin, is the winner of the Mayor's Cup. They also won the Kansas City Corporate Challenge in their division for the third year in a row. So congratulations to Garmin. So at this time, would Associate Katie Stapleton please come up and accept the award. Okay. Thank you, Mayor Bacon, for awarding Garmin with this with the Mayor's Cup, we um we garmin this aligns a lot with our passion uh just for health and wellness and fitness. Of course, I work in the fitness division, but really the entire company values uh just being outside the camaraderie that sports uh provide us with and um you know there's a lot of work that goes into it. We have our well-being and wellness center people who uh do a great job taking care of all of our coordinators who are um involved in every single event. They're full-time employees who just take this on uh outside of their work time, and um it's pretty cool that we uh work in a place that also values fitness and wellness, and it's uh just very very special. So thank you very much, and uh yeah, we are very excited to keep uh keep competing and maybe go for four years. So thank you very much. So thanks to Katie for coming, and congratulations again to Garmin. Item two is a proclamation recognizing September as Deaf Culture Month. Uh Olatha is proud to be known as one of the most deaf-friendly communities in the country. An important part of this is the celebration of the culture of the deaf community. Joining us to accept tonight's proclamation is Chris Stelley, executive director of the Museum of Deaf History, Arts and Culture. Chris. Okay. You can stay right here. So the proclamation reads, whereas the City of Olatha is pleased to join communities across America in recognizing Deaf Culture Month to celebrate a diverse deaf community that emphasizes wide-ranging variations in ons in onset of deafness, level of hearing, educational background, communication method, and cultural affiliations. And whereas Kansas is home to more than 240,000 deaf community members, many of whom do not define themselves as one with loss of impairment, but rather as individuals with an alternative sensory and social experience who harness the power of visual languages. And whereas Olatha has been named as one of America's most deaf-friendly cities, in recognition of the opportunities and programs we offer as well as our culture, which truly embraces our deaf and hard of hearing residents. And whereas Olatha has the very proud distinction of being home to the Kansas School for the Deaf, the Museum of Deaf History, Arts and Culture, and the Olatha Club of the Deaf. And whereas the lives of all Olathians are enriched by the contributions of the Deaf community as well as this opportunity to recognize their achievements within our great city. Now, therefore, I, John Bacon, mayor of the City of Olatha do hereby proclaim September 2024 as Deaf Culture Month, in Olatha encouraging all citizens to celebrate the diverse human biology of our state and the values, culture, heritage, and languages unique to the deaf community. So thank you very much. The City Board, we appreciate the recognition for this month. And we do have a deaf museum here in Olatha. A lot of you may not realize that. So we're very proud to have this recognition and to have this museum here. And if you haven't been to the museum, please come learn about different ways that deaf people do live their lives and have their own culture and values and everything. We are excited to have an event coming up September 28th. We have our second annual 5K event. We try to promote uh sharing signing communities where all of us deaf or not deaf come together and support each other. You can learn some sign language and that type of thing, and we can communicate with each other. So you can join us at Frontier Park on September 28th. I have postcards. I'm gonna leave it on the table, I think out there, and you can pick it up, but please come and join us. Again, thank you, Mayor. All right.
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