Olathe City Council Meeting – March 4, 2025
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Olathe City Council Meeting – March 4, 2025
The Olathe City Council met on March 4, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber (with a pre-meeting check distribution at 6:00 PM). The agenda included presentations on the Mayor’s Children’s Fund, a Black History Month proclamation, and the 2024 DirectionFinder Survey results. The council approved a consent agenda (with one item pulled for separate consideration), two new business items, and later held a planning session that included reports, discussions, and four executive sessions. Councilmember Schoonover was absent; all votes were 6‑0.
Special Business
- Olathe Mayor’s Children’s Fund 2024 Campaign – Board Chair Debbie Newton reported that the campaign raised $171,545.25 (the minutes state “more than $170,000”) and distributed funds to 15 charities (the minutes list 16). Since 2011, the Pennies for Shoes program alone has raised $363,559. Total funds raised since inception exceed $2.2 million.
- Black History Month Proclamation – Mayor Bacon read and presented the proclamation to Rev. Dr. Bobby Love of Second Baptist Church (founded in 1868). Rev. Love accepted on behalf of the African American community in Olathe.
- 2024 DirectionFinder Survey Results – ETC Institute CEO Chris Tatham presented results based on 2,034 residents. Overall satisfaction with city services is 92%, 44% above the U.S. average. The areas showing the greatest improvement were traffic flow, street maintenance, and public safety – the top priorities identified last year. The city ranks above the national average in every service category by at least 18 percentage points. The three highest priorities for residents remain traffic congestion, street maintenance, and police/fire services.
Consent Calendar
All routine items on the consent agenda were approved in one motion, except Item K (vehicle fleet replacement) which was pulled by Councilmember Vakas for separate discussion.
- Item K – Resolution 25‑1022 (2025 City‑Wide Fleet Replacement) – Fleet Manager Josh Wood explained the replacement criteria (e.g., fire apparatus at 10 years/11,000 hours, police cruisers at 4 years/100,000 miles). The city’s fleet totals 1,400 units, with 70–80 replacements per year at an annual cost of approximately $9 million. Resolution approved 6‑0.
New Business
- Ordinance 25‑06 (VAC24‑0001) – Vacation of Public Utility Easement at 12675 S. Shady Bend Road – The Planning Commission recommended approval 7‑0. The easement will be relocated to allow construction of a new home. Approved 6‑0.
- 2025 Olathe Outdoor Sculpture Series – Art Committee Chair Chelsy Walker presented seven leased sculptures (one‑year stipends): Natural Wonders, Lyric, Rusted Spire, Snowy Owl, The Reader, Purple Coneflower, and Asparo Vulgaris (sponsored by Azura). The rebranded series now includes locations outside downtown. Approved 6‑0.
New City Council Business
- Councilmember Felter recognized Black History Month and announced the expansion of the property tax rebate program to include veterans and active military. In 2024, $118,000 in rebates were awarded to nearly 180 residents.
- Councilmember Vogt thanked staff for the DirectionFinder results, the fire department for its service awards, and staff for incorporating complete‑street elements (sidewalks, bike paths) into road projects.
- Councilmember Gilmore congratulated staff on the survey results.
- Councilmember Essex thanked staff, praised the fire department awards ceremony, and noted the success of the Olathe Chamber.
- City Manager Michael Wilkes thanked the council and staff for their dedication.
- Mayor Bacon announced that council meetings will move to the Downtown Library Flexbox starting March 18, 2025, due to City Hall construction.
Public Comments & Testimony (after live stream)
- Sarah DeGondea, an Olathe business owner, spoke about the Santa Fe exchange project.
Reports (Planning Session)
- Potential Revenue from EV Charging Stations – Beth Wright reported that the highest‑use solar chargers are at Indian Creek and Downtown Libraries; the marina charger is used least. Council discussed proposed charges and time limits. Report accepted.
- Annexation Request (ANX25‑0001) – Report on a request to annex approximately 7.93 acres northwest of W. 143rd Street and S. Lakeshore Drive. Report accepted.
Discussion Items (Planning Session)
- Olathe Public Art Committee Initiatives – Chair Chelsy Walker and Ron Fredman presented. Councilmember Felter challenged the committee to enhance the area around the tower across from the downtown library. Councilmember Vakas expressed enthusiasm. Councilmember Vogt asked about collaboration with local artists. Mayor Bacon cautioned that utility‑box art could look cheap but loved the sculptures. Councilmember Gilmore suggested working with new downtown businesses. Discussion was for informational purposes.
Executive Sessions (closed to public)
The council held four executive sessions (closed to the public) regarding:
- Acquisition of real property in northwest Olathe.
- Acquisition of real property for the Quivira Road, 143rd to 151st Improvements Project (PN 3‑C‑011‑24).
- Information system security measures for the City of Olathe.
- Personnel matters of non‑elected personnel regarding the City Auditor position.
Each session was authorized by a 6‑0 vote (Councilmember Felter was absent for the third session). After reconvening, the council voted 6‑0 to authorize staff to proceed with the strategies discussed and to authorize acquisition of temporary and permanent easements for the Quivira Road project.
Key Outcomes
- All votes taken during the open session passed 6‑0.
- Consent agenda approved except Item K, which was separately approved.
- Ordinance 25‑06 and the 2025 Olathe Outdoor Sculpture Series approved.
- Property tax rebate program expanded to include veterans and active military.
- Staff directed to proceed with real property acquisition strategies and easement acquisition for the Quivira Road project.
- Future council meetings will be held at the Downtown Library Flexbox from March 18 through mid‑May, returning to the Council Chamber in June.
The meeting adjourned at 9:27 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Okay. Good evening. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Olatha City Council for Tuesday, March 4th, 2025. The first item on our agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. Would you please stand with me for the pledge? A pledge of allegiance of the United States. We'll now move to special business. We have a presentation on the Olatha Mayor's Children's Fund 2024 campaign. Earlier this evening, we had the privilege of handing out more than $160,000 in grants to Olatha's Children's Charities. This will help thousands of local kids have their basic needs met in the coming year. Here to review the 2024 campaign is Board Chair Debbie Newton. Welcome, Debbie. Oops. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, City Council, for having us here. I've just wanted to tell everyone what a great year this has been. We've really had a good time with the community with your support and raising this money for the kids of Olatha. Also, we'd like to thank all the board who worked really hard to raise this money. This year our board raised $1,71,545 and $25. We presented the money tonight to 15 charities. All of this money stays at Olatha to support local charities working to meet the basic needs of Olatha kids. We've defined basic need as food, clothing, shelter, health, and education. Our charities offer free meals, weekend snack bags, free shoes, rent, utility, and assistance, even hygiene bags. Here you can see a few things, like from the Olatha Public School Foundation. They're handing out backpacks full of school supplies. Next that is the clothing closet at Catholic Charities. And food being distributed to distribute it at monthly mobile food pantries at the YMCA. We're grateful for the work of our charity partners and of the donors. None of this would be possible without the support of our business community and individuals who step up to donate the funds. Some of the big bigger donors this year include Olatha Community Prayer Breakfast, Kirby Hughes, and Kirby's Lawn and Gardens, the Olatha Chamber of Commerce, and Ron Boone of Boone Brothers Roofing. We also had a had a huge night at Extravaganza. If you haven't been, go to our website and check out this event. It's usually right before the holidays as a great event to go to, and all the money goes to uh Aletha Mayor's Children's Fund. We raised our most ever at this event this year, $20,736 and 82 cents. Thank you to all of our presenting sponsors who made this possible. Garmin, Walmart, Enterprise Bank, United Office Products, First Watch, C C Produce, Andy's Frozen Custard, and of course Fox's Fox Force, Joe Laurie, and we also had Santa and Mrs. Claus there. This year we held our first annual pickleball tournament. This was a huge success, bringing in more than $8,000. Thanks, especially to our partners at the Olatha Parks and Rec department for helping us put together the first time event. We're planning on our second event this year. Once again, our biggest donor of the year was Olatha Public School Community through the annual Pennies for Shoes campaign. They raised the second highest amount ever, $35,968.44 cents. This photo is from the school board meeting last month, where we recognize the school that raised the most money per school, per student. And that went to Madison Place, Chisholm Trail, and Olatha East. We want to give a special shout out to the Mayor's Children's Fund Team Committee. They helped raise the bar on Pennies for Shoes at the high school. In 2021, Olatha Five High Schools raised a common combined total of just 750. This year, with the help of the teen committee, they raised more than $5,000. Pennies for Shoes was created to help teach students about how easy it is.
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