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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Olathe City Council Meeting on April 15, 2025: Appointments, Annexations, and Crime Stats

City Council — Tuesday, April 15, 2025

BodyOlathe, Kansas

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, April 15, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 43:19

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:04

Good evening.

0:05

Welcome to our downtown library, Flex Ox space for our regular meeting of the Olatha City Council for Tuesday, April 15th, 2025.

0:16

The first item on our agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:18

Would you please stand with me for the pledge?

0:24

A Pledge of Allegiance is the flag of the United States of America.

0:28

And two public under God.

0:43

We'll now move to special business.

0:45

Item A is consideration of resolution number 25-1029 appointing members to the Parks and Recreation Leadership Board and Board of Trustees of the Olathe Parks and Recreation Foundation.

0:56

Do I hear a motion?

0:58

Yes, Mayor.

0:58

I move to approve residents.

1:02

I move to approve resolution number 25-1029, appointing members to the Parks and Recs Leadership Board and Board of Trustees of the Olatha Parks and Recreation Foundation.

1:13

Second.

1:14

We have a motion and a second with the city clerk, please call a roll.

1:17

Mr.

1:18

Yes.

1:19

Yes.

1:20

Mr.

1:21

Yes.

1:22

Mr.

1:22

Stunner.

1:23

Yes.

1:23

Mr.

1:24

Bobbins.

1:25

Yes.

1:25

SS.

1:26

Yes.

1:29

Our Parks and Rec Board ensures we have the public's insight on what our community needs and wants from our parks, recreation programs, and special events.

1:38

They also help spread the word about the great things happening in our parks and rec departments.

1:43

So joining us tonight to introduce our new members is our parks and rec board chair, Greg Foss.

1:48

Greg.

1:53

Yeah, there you go.

1:58

It doesn't sound like it.

2:03

There.

2:04

Is that better?

2:05

There we go.

2:06

Got it.

2:07

Yes, I'm Greg Foss.

2:08

I've been involved with the Park and Rick Foundation for about the last six years.

2:12

And I'd like to start tonight with uh just giving a few comments about some of the existing projects that are happening right now or have been happening over the last few months getting some things done.

2:23

First is Black Ball Park.

2:25

Some major improvements have been happening there.

2:28

Brand new playground being installed right now, and that we're looking at having that uh dedication of that playground.

2:34

It looks like they're looking at a date at the uh uh end of May, possibly.

2:40

The uh reclex feasibility study.

2:44

We have a great firm that's assisting the city in Parks and Rec on looking at a facility that could be a wonderful outstanding possibility for uh basketball, volleyball, uh soccer indoor facility that uh is uh in in the study phase right now.

3:04

The Oval or the uh Olatha Community Center construction and renovation is currently going on.

3:11

The facility is open, but they're you have to enter through a different set of doors at the moment.

3:16

The uh renovations are gonna take, I think that's April 14th through August 25 for that to be happening at the uh community center.

3:26

The uh summer or this winter, the Prairie Center ball fields have had some significant improvements.

3:33

Burrow softball access has had some major improvements there.

3:38

Um last thing I want everyone to know about is the park and rec scholarships.

3:44

Last year we gave a thousand dollar scholarship to a senior going on to college.

3:48

This year we have two thousand dollars available.

3:50

Applications are coming in now.

3:52

We'll be hopefully awarding two $1,000 scholarships to uh young men or women that are going on to college.

4:03

So first on the list for these uh appointments is uh Shapri Marshall.

4:11

Let me change packets here.

4:13

Shapri is um founder and CEO of Travel Path Homes.

4:20

It is uh she helps secure medical professionals and housing when they're on emergency contracts.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Youth Programs█████████████████████████25%

Parks and Recreation███████████████████19%

Public Safety████████████12%

Environmental Protection█████████9%

Historic Preservation████████8%

Land Use Planning███████7%

Community Engagement███████7%

Technology and Innovation████4%

Economic Development████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Olathe City Council Meeting on April 15, 2025

The Olathe City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Downtown Library Flex Box Theater. The meeting covered special recognitions, a consent agenda item on camera technology, two annexation actions, and updates from the police department. All votes were 6-0 in favor unless noted, with Councilmember Felter absent.

Special Business

Parks and Recreation Board Appointments: The Council approved Resolution No. 25-1029, appointing new members to the Parks and Recreation Leadership Board and the Board of Trustees of the Olathe Parks and Recreation Foundation. Chairman Greg Foss introduced new members Shapri Marshall (founder/CEO of Travel Path Homes), Jesse Gillam (Army National Guard veteran and restaurant manager), and Merlin James (senior engineer at Garmin). Foss also highlighted ongoing projects including the new playground at Black Bob Park, the Reclex feasibility study, and community center renovations.
Proclamation – Arbor Week (April 21-25): Mayor Bacon presented the proclamation to City Arborist Supervisor Mike Katzer, noting that Olathe has been a Tree City USA for 42 consecutive years and forestry staff planted over 750 trees last year. This year’s Arbor Week will partner with Olathe West’s Green Tech Academy.
Proclamation – 250th Anniversary of Paul Revere's Ride: Mayor Bacon presented the proclamation to Tim Talbot and Alexis Radil of Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm. The proclamation endorses the “Two Lights for Tomorrow” initiative, where city buildings will hang two lanterns on April 18th.
City of Champion Awards: Mayor Bacon and Olathe School District Athletics Director Matt Johnson recognized high school state champions: Olathe Northwest Raven Dance Team (6A state champions, NDA national titles), Hayden Renault (6A 500 free champion), Olathe East 200-yard medley relay team (6A state champions), Audrey Leonard (girls wrestling, 145 lbs state champion), Justice Thomas (girls wrestling, Olathe South’s first four-year champion with a torn labrum), and Giovanni Caudil (boys wrestling, 165 lbs state champion with 51-4 record).

Consent Calendar

The consent agenda was approved with the exception of Item F, which was pulled for separate discussion.
Routine items approved included: approval of April 1, 2025 council minutes, new liquor licenses, a professional services agreement with Garver, LLC for 118th Street design, contracts for aerial lift trucks and rear loaders, and other routine matters.

Public Comments & Testimony

Heather Sharp, an Olathe citizen, spoke regarding the winery on Woodland Road (recorded in minutes but not in live-streamed portion). No further details provided.

Discussion Items

Item F – Renewal of Price Agreement with Electronic Technology, Inc.: Councilmember Schoonover requested clarification on cameras and license plate readers (LPRs). Chief Information Officer Barrett Baumgartner explained the cameras are used at city facilities and traffic intersections, and LPRs are at eight intersections exclusively for law enforcement purposes, integrated into a metro-wide network to track suspects. The motion to approve passed 6-0.
Police Department Crime Statistics: Councilmember Vogt invited Police Chief Mike Butaud to share highlights from the police awards ceremony and 2024 crime data. Key stats: average emergency response time of 4.3 minutes, violent crime reduced 3.8% (following a 3% reduction in 2023), property crime reduced by 19%, overall crime down ~12% (over 13,000 fewer crimes). Clearance rates: 86% for violent crimes (vs. national average 41%), 41% for property crimes (vs. 14% national average). Chief Butaud also noted 44 officers received awards.
New City Council Business: Councilmembers shared updates: Gilmore announced Third Street Social restaurant coming to downtown Olathe; Essex noted MNU cheerleaders won NCA national championships; Vogt congratulated Mayor Bacon on 30 years of service (first meeting April 18, 1995) and announced a June 3rd reception at the library terrace. Mayor Bacon reported the community food drive collected over 700 pounds of food, and farmers markets will open in April. The Council also thanked Deputy City Attorney Chris Grunewald for his 10 years of service (his last meeting).

Key Outcomes

Resolution No. 25-1029 (Parks and Rec board appointments): Approved 6-0.
Item F (Electronic Technology price agreement): Approved 6-0.
Ordinance No. 25-10 (Rezoning for Jemi Home Care): Approved 6-0. The 0.84-acre property at 15690 S. Mur-Len Road will be rezoned from County Residential Low Density to R-1 Single-Family; final plat also approved. Planning Commission recommended 9-0.
Annexation Agreement with Commercial Reposition Partners 17, LLC (146+/- acres at NE corner of W. 175th Street and S. Lone Elm Road): Approved 6-0. The property will be developed as an industrial/logistics business park.
Ordinance No. 25-11 (Annexation of the same 146+/- acres): Approved 6-0.
Executive Session: The Council recessed into a 10-minute executive session on information system security (K.S.A.75-4319(b)(12)). After reconvening, they authorized staff to proceed with discussed strategies (vote 6-0).
2026 Budget Principles: Presentation by Interim Budget Manager Clara Bernauer; no action taken. The 2025 Federal Legislative Program was also discussed but not voted on.

Note: The meeting adjourned at 8:27 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Welcome to our downtown library, Flex Ox space for our regular meeting of the Olatha City Council for Tuesday, April 15th, 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 is the flag of the United States of America. And two public under God. We'll now move to special business. Item A is consideration of resolution number 25-1029 appointing members to the Parks and Recreation Leadership Board and Board of Trustees of the Olathe Parks and Recreation Foundation. Do I hear a motion? Yes, Mayor. I move to approve residents. I move to approve resolution number 25-1029, appointing members to the Parks and Recs Leadership Board and Board of Trustees of the Olatha Parks and Recreation Foundation. Second. We have a motion and a second with the city clerk, please call a roll. Mr. Yes. Yes. Mr. Yes. Mr. Stunner. Yes. Mr. Bobbins. Yes. SS. Yes. Our Parks and Rec Board ensures we have the public's insight on what our community needs and wants from our parks, recreation programs, and special events. They also help spread the word about the great things happening in our parks and rec departments. So joining us tonight to introduce our new members is our parks and rec board chair, Greg Foss. Greg. Yeah, there you go. It doesn't sound like it. There. Is that better? There we go. Got it. Yes, I'm Greg Foss. I've been involved with the Park and Rick Foundation for about the last six years. And I'd like to start tonight with uh just giving a few comments about some of the existing projects that are happening right now or have been happening over the last few months getting some things done. First is Black Ball Park. Some major improvements have been happening there. Brand new playground being installed right now, and that we're looking at having that uh dedication of that playground. It looks like they're looking at a date at the uh uh end of May, possibly. The uh reclex feasibility study. We have a great firm that's assisting the city in Parks and Rec on looking at a facility that could be a wonderful outstanding possibility for uh basketball, volleyball, uh soccer indoor facility that uh is uh in in the study phase right now. The Oval or the uh Olatha Community Center construction and renovation is currently going on. The facility is open, but they're you have to enter through a different set of doors at the moment. The uh renovations are gonna take, I think that's April 14th through August 25 for that to be happening at the uh community center. The uh summer or this winter, the Prairie Center ball fields have had some significant improvements.

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