Olathe City Council Meeting – October 1, 2024
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Olathe City Council Meeting – October 1, 2024
The Olathe City Council met on October 1, 2024, at 6:45 PM (live streamed session at 7:00 PM) to consider a range of items including proclamations, a public hearing on industrial revenue bonds, consent agenda items, and new business. The council unanimously approved all items on the agenda, including a $6 million increase in industrial revenue bonds for a warehouse, an ordinance amending procurement policies, $62 million in bonds for Garmin campus renovations, and a rezoning for a 214-unit rental community called Olathe Commons. The council also received reports on the Street Maintenance Sales Tax and held discussions on the Olathe Community Fund, opioid settlement funds, and municipal court operations.
Special Business
- Proclamation – Fire Prevention Week (Oct 6-12, 2024): Mayor Bacon read and presented the proclamation to Karen Wiley, Fire Education Specialist. Ms. Wiley emphasized the importance of working smoke alarms and noted that 54 schools had been visited to teach fire safety. The proclamation urges residents to install, test, and replace smoke alarms.
- Proclamation – Disability Employment Awareness Month (October 2024): Mayor Bacon read and presented the proclamation to Mark Gash, Chair of the Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board. Mr. Gash announced the Greater Kansas City Disability Mentoring Day job fair on October 23, 2024, at MidAmerica Nazarene University.
- Report from Street Maintenance Sales Tax (SMST) Oversight Committee: Chair Carrie Rezac presented the committee’s annual report on 2023 activities. The committee confirmed that SMST revenues were properly sequestered and expenditures were consistent with the voter-approved referendum. The sales tax has allowed the city to maintain and resurface 1,115 lane miles of streets. Mayor Bacon noted this was the 10th report and that the committee will be renewed for another 10-year term.
Public Hearing
- Item 7A – Industrial Revenue Bond Increase for 167 Logistics Centre West, LLC: Public hearing on Resolution 24-1052 and Ordinance 24-41 to increase the bond amount by $6 million (from $42 million to $48 million) for a 438,314 sq ft industrial/warehouse building on 22.55 acres at 167th Street and Monticello Road. No public comments were made. The project is expected to create 275 new jobs with average wages of $52,000, generate $137 million in new wages over 10 years, and produce $159,000 in annual city property tax after the 10-year abatement period. The council closed the public hearing and approved both the resolution and ordinance unanimously (7-0).
Consent Agenda
- The council approved the consent agenda (items A-F, H-K) with the exception of Item G. Approved items included: meeting minutes of September 17 and September 20, 2024; license renewals; business expense statement for City Manager; dedication of easements for Stonebridge Park final plat; 2024 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant; contract for Upper Mill Creek RCB Repair; agreement with Unlimited Sports Solutions for Prairie Center Park Improvements; contract with McAnany Construction for asphalt and concrete work; amendment with Titan Built for construction management; and price agreement with Delta Fire and Safety Equipment for bunker gear.
- Item G – Black Bob Park Improvements Project (pulled by Councilmember Vogt): Councilmember Vogt asked for an update on the project, which uses $4.4 million in park sales tax. Park Project Manager Tod Hueser described the scope: new playground equipment (accessible/inclusive features including a ramp-accessible tower, sensory dome, and accessible carousel), new shelter, parking lot, restroom, stormwater improvements, and shade structures. Mayor Bacon inquired about a mini zipline, but it was not included in this phase. The council approved the agreement with Crouch Recreation, Inc. unanimously (7-0).
New Business
- Item 9A – Ordinance 24-38 (Procurement Policies): Amends Olathe Municipal Code Chapter 3.50. No discussion. Approved unanimously (7-0).
- Item 9B – Ordinance 24-39 (Garmin Campus Bonds): Authorizes issuance of taxable industrial revenue bonds up to $62,018,800 (noted by Mayor Bacon as the correct amount, correcting the agenda’s $88,739,000) for renovation and repurposing of two existing facilities on the Garmin campus. Approved unanimously (7-0).
- Item 9C – Ordinance 24-40 (RZ24-0011 – Olathe Commons): Rezoning from RP-3, RP-4, and C-2 to R-3 (Low-Density Multifamily) and approval of a revised preliminary site development plan for 23.15 acres southwest of W. 119th Street and S. Greenwood Street. Planning Commission recommended approval 8-0. Senior Planner Nathan Jurey presented the proposal for a 214-unit rental community (single-family homes and townhomes) at 9 units per acre (previously allowed up to 18 units/acre). Discussion included: no protest petitions; all units will be rented (developer plans to own the community); rent estimated at $2,000-$3,000/month; single-family homes on the south and east sides will have no garages (parking on street); townhomes have one- or two-car garages; no basements (slab-on-grade, but storm shelters required by code); traffic improvements include a second left turn lane on Shannon Lane. Councilmembers expressed disappointment that units are not for sale but supported the project as filling the “missing middle” housing gap. Councilmember Gilmore noted that lack of garages helps keep price points affordable. Approved unanimously (7-0).
Planning Session Discussion
- Olathe Community Fund: Tim Danneberg, Director of External Affairs, presented. Councilmembers expressed concerns about donor fatigue and the abstract nature of the fund. Consensus was to conduct a case study before further action. Mayor Bacon and Councilmember Essex supported the case study approach.
- Opioid Litigation Settlement Funds: Kristine Martin (Fire Strategic Initiatives) and Sgt. Robert McKeirnan presented a proposal for a program using opioid settlement funds. Councilmembers asked about funding sustainability and integration with the court system. The program is expected to serve 10-15 individuals. Council expressed support for the collaborative effort between police and fire departments.
- Municipal Court Update: Judges McElhinney and Kenney provided an overview. Councilmember Essex praised the court’s community engagement. Approximately 500-750 community service hours are completed annually. Judge Kenney identified mental health resources as the biggest barrier to success. Councilmember Vogt thanked the judges for their work.
Key Outcomes
- All votes were unanimous (7-0) on all actions taken during the meeting.
- Proclamations for Fire Prevention Week and Disability Employment Awareness Month were accepted.
- Public hearing closed and industrial revenue bonds increased for 167 Logistics Centre West.
- Consent agenda approved (with Item G separately approved).
- Ordinance 24-38 (Procurement Policies) approved.
- Ordinance 24-39 (Garmin bonds) approved.
- Ordinance 24-40 (Olathe Commons rezoning) approved.
- Planning session discussions: Council directed staff to prepare a case study for the Olathe Community Fund; expressed support for the opioid settlement program; and received the municipal court update.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Olatha City Council for Tuesday, October 1st, 2024. The first item on our agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. Would you please stand with me for the pledge? A pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republican, which it stands One Nation and Indivisible with Liberty and Justice Crawl. I'd like to take just a minute to pass along condolences to the family of police sergeant Greg Richardson. Sergeant Richardson passed away unexpectedly last week while off duty. He spent most of his life serving the Olatha community since 1997. So to his family and to his work family, you're in our thoughts and prayers. We'll now move to special business. So the first item is a proclamation declaring October 6th through the 12th, 2024 is Fire Prevention Week. The theme of this year's Fire Prevention Week is smoke alarms. It's an important tool about which Olatha's fire public education team regularly speaks with our community. Olatha Fire Public Education Specialist, Karen Wiley joins us to accept the proclamation, Karen. Talk about smoking. I would love to. Okay. This proclamation reads this whereas the City of Olatha is committed to creating a community where people feel safe and where residents and businesses can expect exceptional public safety services. And whereas the Olatha Fire Department preserves lives and prevents fires through an active community risk reduction program. And whereas the 2024 Fire Prevention Week theme is smoke alarms, make them work for you, which serves to remind us of the three key steps in smoke alarm maintenance. Install, test, and replace. And whereas working smoke alarms since smoke well before you can, and double your chance of surviving a house fire. And whereas families should ensure everyone in the home understands the sounds of the smoke alarms and knows the family's emergency escape plan. Now therefore, I John Bacon, Mayor of the City of Olatha, do here boat hereby proclaim October 6th to the 12th, 2024 as Fire Prevention Week, and urge all Olathians to install smoke alarms on each level and in every bedroom to test them once a month and to replace them at least every 10 years. So Mayor Bacon and also the council for your continued support of the Olatha Fire Department. I appreciate the opportunity to address the need for working smoke alarms for all of our residents. As was mentioned, we urge our community to test their smoke alarms to ensure they're working properly. If you're watching online, you can wait until the meetings adjourned to do so. Batteries need to be changed every year, and the smoke alarms need to be replaced when they're 10 years old. To help spread our message, we've already visited 54 schools this semester to teach our children how to keep their families safe. If our residents have any questions, they can go to our website and click on smoke alarms, the smoke alarms tab, or um email us at Olatha, uh smokealarms at Oatha KS.org. We also want to highlight that we can help facilitate the installation of bed shakers and smoke alarms, strobe alarms for our deaf and hard of hearing communities. Thank you so much for your time. Yeah, thanks. So thank you again, Karen and Fire Department for all you do to keep us safe in Olatha. Item B is a proclamation declaring October Disability Employment Awareness Month. The City of Olatha is proud to offer a high quality of life to all our residents. And that means all of the life of all our residents, and that means all our residents. Excuse me. We're grateful to our persons with disabilities advisory board for the work they do to support our residents with disabilities, including their effort to retain employment. So at this time, I'd like to call forward the P PDAP Chair, Mark Gash to accept the proclamation. Welcome, Mark. Thank you. Thank you. I'm sure there's stuff going on. So the proclamation reads whereas the City of Olathe is committed to being an inclusive community where all residents can live a productive life and enjoy a high quality of life. And whereas workplaces that welcome the talents of all people, including those with disabilities are a critical part of our efforts to build an inclusive community and strong economy. And whereas 2024 marks the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the 79th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. And whereas the Olatha Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board serves as a strong advocate for residents who live with disabilities, including mobility and sensory impairments, physical illness, mental illness, and developmental and learning disabilities.
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