OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Olathe City Council Meeting - May 6, 2025: Awards, Public Hearings, and Major Decisions

City Council — Tuesday, May 6, 2025
BodyOlathe, Kansas
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 6, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:41:29

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Council for Tuesday, May 6th, 2025.

0:02

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

0:05

Tonight, we have Trail Life Troop 1613 with us to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:10

So would the troop please come forward and lead us in the pledge.

0:46

Okay, whenever you're ready.

0:59

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.

1:09

Okay, let's thank Troop 1613.

1:16

Let's go, boys.

1:43

Okay, now we'll move on to special business.

1:46

First item A is presentation of the leading away leading the way award to the City of Olatha.

1:52

This award recognizes communities for outstanding city services.

1:55

We're thrilled to announce Olatha is receiving this award for the sixth time in a row.

2:01

Here to present is ETC CEO Chris Statham.

2:04

Welcome, Chris.

2:05

Mayor, members of the council, it is great to be back.

2:09

And it's great to have such a crowd here this evening because the achievement that the City of Olatha has accomplished by getting this award is exceptional.

2:17

Each year our firm uh conducts surveys of about two to three hundred cities and counties across the United States and around the world.

2:24

And we have developed a standard for excellence that has to be achieved in order to rank in the top ten percent of all cities.

2:31

The City of Olatha has done it for the fifth consecutive time this year.

2:36

There have been more than a thousand cities conduct the survey during that period, and none have accomplished that feat.

2:44

There is one other that has won it three times.

2:47

It's like getting in the Super Bowl five years in a row.

2:50

That sounds great.

2:51

Yeah, so better than the Chiefs.

2:53

So putting this in perspective, it's based on the overall quality of customer service, the value that residents think they get for their taxes, and also the overall quality of city services.

3:06

There's 300 possible points, which means you'd have to get a perfect score.

3:10

No one does that.

3:11

The national average is 121 in those three categories.

3:16

City of Olatha's is 248.

3:20

And you've sustained it year after year after year.

3:23

And not only that, of more than 50 services that are assessed, the City of Olatha ranks above average in all of them, and the city ranks above 29 areas, above 20% or more the national average.

3:37

It's a truly amazing feat.

3:39

So it's my honor tonight, Mayor, to present to you this 11-pound crystal award, which represents the 11 cities that first did our direction finder survey back in 2000.

3:51

Olatha was one of them.

3:53

So congratulations.

4:25

Thank you, Chris.

4:26

And you know, uh that award wouldn't be possible without our outstanding employees.

4:32

So we're accepting it on their behalf, and so uh we appreciate all they do for our city.

4:38

Uh I'll now move on to item B.

4:41

Item B is a proclamation recognizing May 3th through the 10th as public service recognition.

4:47

So this is an important week in the city of Olatha as we stop to recognize the hundreds of city employees who serve Olatha.

4:55

Not only do they dedicate their time and talent to our great city, but they do it with passion and heart.

5:01

So to uh accept the proclamation tonight is the City of Olatha facilities employee El Ray Page, and I'm not sure if I got you for your first name right.

5:15

He has won the Vision Values and Mission Award last year, recognized for his great work ethic, always being so helpful, and especially for his positive energy.

5:25

So, Elry, would you please come up and accept the population?

5:41

The proclamation reads whereas pe uh public employees at the federal, state, county, and municipal levels deserve recognition and high praise for the work they do to keep our communities running and thriving.

5:53

And whereas Public Service Recognition Week provides us the opportunity to celebrate these workers and to educate communities about the wide variety of ways Olatha employees make our community a better place.

6:05

And whereas city staff set the standard for excellence in public service and are committed to serving our community with respect, accountability, initiative, and integrity.

6:15

And whereas the dedicated dedication and commitment of city employees extended to the community through volunteer activities, being good neighbors and setting a positive example as exemplary citizens.

6:28

And whereas the City of Olatha is pleased and proud to join other local governments across the nation in observing public service recognition week and celebrating the many vital contributions of city employees to our organization community.

6:42

Now, therefore, I John Bacon, mayor of the City of Olatha, do hereby proclaim May 4th through the 10th, 2025 as Public Service Recognition Week in Olatha, urging all citizens to join in honoring our city employees and recognizing their achievements and contributions to the quality of life for all Olathians.

7:03

So thank you, Mayor Bacon.

7:10

Thank you, City Council.

7:12

And um it's a privilege to work for the City of Olatha.

7:16

It's been awesome.

7:17

Okay.

7:27

Thanks.

7:35

So we want to thank El Ray for being here uh today and and thank you again to all of our employees for everything you do for Olathe to make this a special place we call home.

7:48

We'll now move to item C.

7:49

Item C is recognition of the 2025 Civic Academy graduates.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement███████████████15%
Land Use Planning███████████████15%
Community Engagement██████████████14%
Procedural████████████12%
Economic Development█████████9%
Affordable Housing████████8%
Public Safety███████7%
Youth Programs██████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Olathe City Council Meeting - May 6, 2025

The Olathe City Council met on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The meeting began with special presentations, including the Leading the Way Award (sixth consecutive year), proclamations, and recognition of Civic Academy graduates and Teen Council seniors. The council then held three public hearings on industrial revenue bond requests, all of which were approved unanimously. The consent agenda was approved with four items pulled for separate discussion: a travel request for Municipal Judge Kenney, a real estate contract for 1114 E. Santa Fe Street, a sales tax exemption for Montage Apartments, and a payment processing contract. New business included the rezoning for the Olathe Range police training facility and resolutions for the Quivira Road improvement project. Key outcomes included the tabling of the Montage Apartments IRB for two weeks and the approval of all other items.

Special Business & Recognitions

  • Leading the Way Award: ETC CEO Chris Tatham presented the award for the sixth consecutive year. Olathe scored 248 out of 300 points (national average 121), ranking above average in all 50+ services assessed.
  • Public Service Recognition Week: Mayor Bacon proclaimed May 4–10, 2025, as Public Service Recognition Week. Custodian Elree Paige accepted the proclamation.
  • Civic Academy Graduates: 23 graduates completed the nine-week program. Graduate Sandy Blake spoke about the city's excellence.
  • Teen Council Seniors: Five graduating seniors were recognized for completing over 600 hours of community service. They shared their future plans.

Public Hearings

All three public hearings were opened and closed with no public comments. Each was approved unanimously (6-0).

  • Blue Springs Safety Storage South (Building 1): Resolution 25-1030 for a 62,000 sq ft industrial facility at 167th & US 169. $21.5M investment, 50 new jobs in 10 years. Cost-benefit ratio 1.34, payback 7 years.
  • Aspen Funds Master Resolution: Resolution 25-1031 and first amendment to annexation agreement for a business park of ~1,092,315 sq ft on 98 acres at Hedge Lane & 167th. $140M total investment, phase one $28.6M. Cost-benefit ratio 1.75, payback 5 years.
  • Aspen Funds Building 1: Resolution 25-1032 for a 217,685 sq ft speculative industrial facility. Part of the same business park.

Consent Calendar

The consent agenda was approved with the exception of items F, G, I, and W, which were pulled for separate consideration. Items approved en masse included:

  • Meeting minutes of April 15, 2025.
  • New and renewal liquor licenses.
  • Travel requests for city manager and councilmembers to Washington, DC (May 13-15).
  • Business expense statement for city manager.
  • Various final plats, special use permits, engineering agreements, and contracts.
  • Acceptance of dedicated land for public easements and right-of-way for multiple subdivisions.

Discussion Items (Pulled from Consent Agenda)

  • Item F – Travel Authorization for Judge Kenney: Approved 6-0 to attend the All Rise conference in Kissimmee, FL. Councilmember Schoonover highlighted the municipal court's efforts to implement a treatment court.
  • Item G – Real Estate Contract with Falco, LLC: Approved 5-1 (Gilmore opposed). Councilmember Gilmore objected to the eminent domain proceedings used to acquire the adjacent property.
  • Item I – Sales Tax Exemption for Montage Apartments: Tabled for two weeks by a 6-0 vote. The resolution would have expressed intent to issue IRB for a mixed-use development at 1051 N Mur-Len Rd. The sales tax exemption (materials only) was estimated at ~$260,000 if purchased in Olathe. Councilmembers Felter and Schoonover opposed due to lack of a consistent policy and the project not addressing affordable housing needs. Councilmember Vogt and staff noted the developer had worked on the project for five years and the prior council had supported it. The attorney for the applicant, Chris Mattix, confirmed the apartments would be market-rate.
  • Item W – Payment Processing Services with Paymentus: Approved 6-0. The annual spend authorization is approximately $500,000. Councilmember Felter requested a broader review of all convenience fees during the budget process. Councilmember Gilmore asked to see what sister cities are doing. Mayor Bacon favored absorbing the fees for customer service.

New Business

  • Olathe Range (RZ25-0002): Ordinance 25-12 approved 6-0 to rezone 95.6 acres from County AG to AG and approve a preliminary development plan for a public safety training facility. The project includes three phases: outdoor shooting range, training facility, and driving course. It will preserve 98% of woodland and comply with noise ordinance. Police Chief Butaud thanked the council.
  • Quivira Road Improvements (143rd to 151st): Resolution 25-1036 and Ordinance 25-13 approved 6-0. The project will create a two-lane divided arterial with turn lanes, bike lanes, sidewalks, street lighting, and a roundabout at 147th Street. It addresses the last unimproved section of Quivira Road. Mayor Bacon asked about bike lane connectivity north of 143rd; city engineer will follow up.

Key Outcomes

  • All three public hearing resolutions (25-1030, 25-1031, 25-1032) approved 6-0.
  • Consent agenda approved except pulled items.
  • Item F (Judge Kenney travel) approved 6-0.
  • Item G (1114 E. Santa Fe sale) approved 5-1.
  • Item I (Montage Apartments IRB) tabled for two weeks.
  • Item W (Paymentus) approved 6-0.
  • Ordinance 25-12 (Olathe Range) approved 6-0.
  • Resolution 25-1036 and Ordinance 25-13 (Quivira Road) approved 6-0.
  • Councilmember Schoonover requested staff to look into eliminating city sales tax on groceries over 3-5 years.
  • Councilmember Felter emphasized the need for a consistent policy on sales tax exemptions for multifamily housing.
  • New City Auditor Caitlin Clark was welcomed.

Meeting Transcript

Council for Tuesday, May 6th, 2025. The first item on our agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. Tonight, we have Trail Life Troop 1613 with us to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. So would the troop please come forward and lead us in the pledge. Okay, whenever you're ready. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. Okay, let's thank Troop 1613. Let's go, boys. Okay, now we'll move on to special business. First item A is presentation of the leading away leading the way award to the City of Olatha. This award recognizes communities for outstanding city services. We're thrilled to announce Olatha is receiving this award for the sixth time in a row. Here to present is ETC CEO Chris Statham. Welcome, Chris. Mayor, members of the council, it is great to be back. And it's great to have such a crowd here this evening because the achievement that the City of Olatha has accomplished by getting this award is exceptional. Each year our firm uh conducts surveys of about two to three hundred cities and counties across the United States and around the world. And we have developed a standard for excellence that has to be achieved in order to rank in the top ten percent of all cities. The City of Olatha has done it for the fifth consecutive time this year. There have been more than a thousand cities conduct the survey during that period, and none have accomplished that feat. There is one other that has won it three times. It's like getting in the Super Bowl five years in a row. That sounds great. Yeah, so better than the Chiefs. So putting this in perspective, it's based on the overall quality of customer service, the value that residents think they get for their taxes, and also the overall quality of city services. There's 300 possible points, which means you'd have to get a perfect score. No one does that. The national average is 121 in those three categories. City of Olatha's is 248. And you've sustained it year after year after year. And not only that, of more than 50 services that are assessed, the City of Olatha ranks above average in all of them, and the city ranks above 29 areas, above 20% or more the national average. It's a truly amazing feat. So it's my honor tonight, Mayor, to present to you this 11-pound crystal award, which represents the 11 cities that first did our direction finder survey back in 2000. Olatha was one of them. So congratulations. Thank you, Chris. And you know, uh that award wouldn't be possible without our outstanding employees. So we're accepting it on their behalf, and so uh we appreciate all they do for our city. Uh I'll now move on to item B. Item B is a proclamation recognizing May 3th through the 10th as public service recognition. So this is an important week in the city of Olatha as we stop to recognize the hundreds of city employees who serve Olatha. Not only do they dedicate their time and talent to our great city, but they do it with passion and heart. So to uh accept the proclamation tonight is the City of Olatha facilities employee El Ray Page, and I'm not sure if I got you for your first name right. He has won the Vision Values and Mission Award last year, recognized for his great work ethic, always being so helpful, and especially for his positive energy. So, Elry, would you please come up and accept the population? The proclamation reads whereas pe uh public employees at the federal, state, county, and municipal levels deserve recognition and high praise for the work they do to keep our communities running and thriving. And whereas Public Service Recognition Week provides us the opportunity to celebrate these workers and to educate communities about the wide variety of ways Olatha employees make our community a better place. And whereas city staff set the standard for excellence in public service and are committed to serving our community with respect, accountability, initiative, and integrity. And whereas the dedicated dedication and commitment of city employees extended to the community through volunteer activities, being good neighbors and setting a positive example as exemplary citizens. And whereas the City of Olatha is pleased and proud to join other local governments across the nation in observing public service recognition week and celebrating the many vital contributions of city employees to our organization community.

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