Olathe City Council Meeting – April 7, 2026: Traffic Ordinance Amendments, Public Hearings, and Chamber Annual Report
Olathe City Council Meeting – April 7, 2026
The Olathe City Council met on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 6:30 PM, beginning with an executive session to discuss personnel matters related to municipal judges. The regular meeting reconvened at 7:00 PM and included special business, public hearings, a consent agenda, new business, reports on traffic ordinance amendments and main trafficways, and an annual report from the Olathe Chamber of Commerce. The meeting adjourned at 8:39 PM. Councilmember Schoonover voted "no" on several resolutions; all other votes were unanimous or 6-1.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (7-0): March 17, 2026 meeting minutes; new and renewal licenses; travel authorizations for Mayor, Councilmembers, and City Manager to Washington, D.C.; Resolution 26-1032 amending City Council Policy CC-3 (speaker time allocations); final plat for 175th Lone Elm Center; project requests for 2027-2031 County Assistance Road System (CARS) Program; bids and contracts for 2026 Neighborhood Street Improvements and Quivira Road Improvements; renewal of traffic signal supplies contract; additional funds for janitorial services; 2025 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant; purchase of Dell servers.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made during the General Issues and Concerns of Citizens portion.
- For public hearings on Resolutions 26-1029 and 26-1031 (Blue Springs Safety Storage and Aspen Funds building amendments), no public comments were received, and each public hearing was closed unanimously.
Discussion Items
- Traffic Ordinance Amendments (Title 10): Assistant City Attorney Bob Gallimore presented proposed changes to regulations for e-bikes and micromobility devices. Key changes include adopting a three-class e-bike system, a 15-mph sidewalk speed limit, allowing e-scooters on roads with speed limits up to 30 mph, and requiring helmets for e-scooter riders under 18. Councilmembers Schoonover, Felter, Essex, and Creighton expressed support for adding a helmet requirement for e-bikes as well. Police Chief Mike Butaud noted enforcement would prioritize education, with fines ranging from $40 to $120. The ordinance is tentatively scheduled for a vote at the next meeting.
- Main Trafficways Amendments (Sections 10.10.010/020): City Engineer Nate Baldwin briefed the council on updates to the Johnson County CARNP Plan, particularly the re-designation of Edgerton Road to a four-lane divided roadway to improve north-south connectivity west of K-7. Mayor Bacon requested a deeper report for future CIP and budget discussions.
- Chamber of Commerce Annual Report: CEO Tim McKee, along with Kelly Peetoom (CVB) and Jason Leib (Business Development), presented highlights: the Chamber is a five-star chamber with ~1,200 members and represents ~100,000 employees. The CVB reported $317 million in visitor spending in 2023, supporting 4,100 jobs and generating $35 million in state and local taxes. Economic development efforts include retention of companies like Centaur Animal Health and Faith Technologies, and recruitment of firms like Renews and Indra. The Chamber is also managing storefront improvement grants in downtown and launching a downtown Olathe Business Council. Mayor Bacon urged continued pursuit of a wholesale club (Costco or Sam's Club) for Olathe.
Key Outcomes
- Executive Session (7-0): Council recessed into a 25-minute executive session for personnel matters regarding municipal judges. Upon reconvening, they voted 7-0 to authorize staff to proceed with strategies discussed.
- Resolution 26-1027 (Mahaffie Board Appointments): Approved 7-0, reappointing Marge Vogt and Kevin Gilmore, and appointing Councilmember Schoonover as council representative.
- Resolution 26-1028 (Blue Springs Safety Storage – Master): Approved 6-1, with Councilmember Schoonover voting no.
- Resolution 26-1029 (Blue Springs Safety Storage – Building 1): Approved 6-1, with Councilmember Schoonover voting no.
- Resolution 26-1030 (Aspen Funds – Master): Approved 6-1, with Councilmember Schoonover voting no.
- Resolution 26-1031 (Aspen Funds – Building 1): Approved 6-1, with Councilmember Schoonover voting no.
- Consent Agenda: Approved 7-0.
- Ordinance 26-13 (Special Assessments on Hedge Lane improvements): Approved 7-0. The bonds will be issued in summer 2026.
- Direction to Staff: Council asked staff to:
- Include e-bike helmet requirement under age 18 in the traffic ordinance (pending final vote).
- Report on code enforcement trends affecting citizen satisfaction.
- Explore formation of a housing task force with participation from the Olathe Housing Commissioners to address housing attainability.
- Prepare a report on the Johnson County CARNP Plan’s impact on Olathe.
- City Manager Announcements: A new partnership with Kansas State University will bring a mobile surgery center to the Olathe animal shelter. The farmers market begins April 25 at Black Bob and May 2 downtown; attendees are encouraged to donate non-perishable food for the Mayor’s community food drive.
Meeting Transcript
Sourdough. My starter is updated. Oh my nose rosemary. Really good. Don't use cheap butter. I'll give me a pass. That's a cent. Or don't do it at all. I feel like I'd have to share the line. That's why I slipped it up there, but for you, so no one would know. I wanted to keep it. And you have to bring it more and with the back of the so that we're going to be able to do that. I often bring by the way. Mr. Creighton? Yes. Mr. Denult? Yes. Motion passes. Seven zero. Okay. We did. Actually, it was twenty-five minutes. So we're good. We're good. Yeah. I think we're gonna wait till seven. Okay. That's what you said. Okay. Yeah, we're good. That's why we're gonna go to the speaker. We'll begin here in just a minute. Good evening. Welcome to our regular meeting of the Olympic City Council for Tuesday, April seventh, twenty twenty six. We just uh reconvened from an executive session. Do I hear a motion? Yes. I move to authorize staff to proceed with the strategies as discussed and directed by the governing body. Second. We have a motion and second with the city clerk, please call the roll. Mr. Skinover. Yes. Dr. Felter? Yes. Mr. Vaucus?
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