I'll call this meeting of the election city council to order on Tuesday, May nineteenth, twenty twenty six.

The first item on our agenda is an executive session.

I move that we recess into an executive session to discuss applicants for municipal court judge, pursuant to the non-elected personnel exemption provided in KSA seventy five dash four three one nine B One for one hour.

Yes, let's go ahead and leave it at six forty five.

And then we can always go back in if we need a few more minutes.

Ladies and gentlemen, we uh met in executive session a little bit earlier tonight.

So do I hear a motion out of executive session?

Uh yes.

I move to authorize staff to proceed with the strategies discussed and directed by the governing body.

Second.

We have a motion and a second with the city clerk.

Please call the roll.

Mr.

Schoonover, yes.

Dr.

Felter.

Yes.

Mr.

Vacus.

Yes.

Miss Essex.

Yes.

Mr.

Creighton.

Yes.

Mr.

Dinult.

Yes.

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Motion passes.

Seven zero.

And we'll start in just a minute or two.

We are uh this is our regular session of the Olatha City Council for Tuesday, right, May nineteenth, twenty twenty-six.

Uh, the next item on our agenda is Pledge of Allegiance.

Would you please stand with me for the pledge?

And to the republic for which it stands.

Here to present the award is ETC CEO Chris Tatum.

Chris, and you're also proud father of Dr.

Christian Tatum.

So anyway, mayor members of the council, it's great to be here.

Um I don't do many of these presentations.

The company's grown a lot over the years, but it's great to be able to deliver this special one to the city of Olatha.

Uh you heard the results a couple months ago.

They were fabulous.

They've been fabulous year after year after year.

And it's because of your leadership and the great staff team that's really attentive to the city residents.

And putting this into perspective, we've had over 500 communities now do this the last few years, and you rank in the top ten percent of them every single year you do their survey.

No one else has done that for seven years.

The next place city has done it five times.

After that, it's three, two, and a handful of ones.

So your consistent performance year after year is setting a standard that really every other city looks to uh in this country.

Few things, because I typically we give a letter like this to notify the folks who get this award.

It's usually one page.

Your letter is two pages.

The reason for that is it lists all the things that the city accomplishes significant compared to everyone else.

And so there are over 30 items on this list where the city ranks more than 20 percent above the national average.

No one else is even close to that.

Most cities who win this award are maybe five or ten items above the national average at that level.

So you're to be congratulated.

The other thing, yeah, you can clap out there.

So the other thing about this award that's special uh is that it weighs eleven pounds of crystal, and that's significant because the very first class of direction finder before there were hundreds of cities doing it, uh, were eleven here in the Kansas City area.

Olatha was one of those who committed early on.

So when you pick this up, you'll realize that it represents those first 11 communities of which Olatha is one of the very first.

And finally, I just want to let you know that there are three things that are really integral to this award.

Not just the overall delivery of services, but it's how well residents think they get value for their taxes that pay, uh, how well they think of the city's customer service, and the overall quality of service provided.

Those three independently make three of the key indicators, and you rank significantly above all the others.

In fact, this year your overall composite rating was over a hundred and thirty uh points above the national average, which is just a hundred and fourteen.

So put that in perspective.

The max score is three hundred, and you score two hundred and forty-four.

So just again, congratulations.

Great job to everyone, and it's a proud thing for me to be a resident of the city uh which delivers such great services to residents like me.

So thank you.

Chris, you want to join me right in the middle here?

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

So we want to thank Chris and his organization for the good work that he does for the city, but also we know that it's our city employees uh that make all of this happen.

So it's your talent, expertise, hard work, and especially commitment to this community that make Olatha an outstanding place to call home.

So congratulations to all of our employees for all their work.

Which leads us to the next item.

Uh item B is recognition of the Public Service Recognition Week Award winners.

And uh speaking of congratulations at this time, I'd like to recognize the winners of our annual employee awards.

Here to introduce the awards is City Manager Susan Sherman.

So, Susan.

Thank you, Mayor, City Council members.

Thank you for taking a moment tonight to uh celebrate with us our great employees.

Thank you, Chris Tatham and ETC for always um sharing those results because that's what makes us better.

We use those results.

We listen to what people tell us they like and don't like, and we adjust and innovate.

And so I want to definitely say thank you so much for coming to to share those with us.

Some of our awards this year we did something new.

So we'll talk about direction finder as part of that as well.

But again, thank you for taking time uh during the meeting tonight.

As you know, the first four first full week of May is very special for our organization as we recognize staff who show heart and soul every day um in their job during public service week and and beyond.

This year's theme for public service week was leading with purpose and included a call to action to all of our employees to focus on their why.

Why do they come to work?

Why do they love being here?

What is it about this special place that makes us achieve and dream?

Direction Finder statistics, as you just heard, are one of the pieces of our service matrix, and our staff continues to serve at the highest level of resident satisfaction and truly sets a standard for excellence in public service every day.

During our last meeting, Mayor Bacon dedicated the first week in May as Public Service Recognition Week, and tonight we're proud to highlight staff members who won awards during our annual celebration.

We have invited award winners and their families.

I think you maybe heard one of those family members happy, so happy to have them with us.

Although we know some had uh other obligations tonight, it's the last week of school and some of those celebrations.

We are so happy to have those who could make it tonight.

Um, as your name or your group is called, please come up and we'll take a group photo with the mayor after we are completed with all of the awards.

First, we want to highlight two groups that move the needle on direction finder.

As we noted, the Chiefs will soon be uh call Olatha home.

During our celebration, we talked about the Chiefs coming home and that they bring championship banners with them.

And so this year, something new for us.

We're doing championship banners for direction finder, and we chose two groups to give those banners to this year.

The first group is our environmental services lab.

They are out and about in the community visiting elementary schools, testing water quality and leading all state and national requirements.

Could you please make your way up?

More than 90% of residents are satisfied with their water quality, and their team earned this championship banner for all they do.

Our second banner this year went to our building inspections team.

They completed more than 20,000 inspections last year and issued more than 3,500 building permits.

They complete 99% of resident permit reviews within the five-day goal, averaging less than three days on their plan review time.

They enhance the image of the city and the value received for tax dollars in the direction finder score and are very deserving of this championship banner.

Would you please join us up here?

We have two groups with win the Innovation Through Excellence Award.

This award celebrates an individual or group who has brought forth and implemented an innovative process, program, or idea.

Our first group is the trenchless sewer patch crew, and they are represented by Ruben Martinez Reyes.

Our second group was the Plastic Bag Recycling Program, represented by Clayton Duffy Duffin, Donnie Palmer, Tapatrick Barbie, Logan Northrop, and Laura Thomas.

Our next award is the 2040 Future Ready Award.

This award highlights individuals or teams looking to address tomorrow's challenges today.

Would Matt Surridge and the traffic signal maintenance team of Jason Keller, Barry Sink, Dennis Goodman, and John Dew please come up and be recognized.

The Vision, Value, and Mission Award is reserved for individuals or teams who impact residents and staff by going above and beyond representing our organization through our vision, values, and mission.

Two individuals rose above the rest, Michelle Sherry and Lloyd Harrell.

Would you please join us?

Sean Phelps received this award.

There he is.

So all of the pretty flowers you see are here.

And finally, our standard of excellence award.

This award isn't given every single year, and it's reserved for the best of the best.

The standard of excellence is reserved for individuals or a group who collectively live out our mission of setting the standard for excellence in public service.

Janna Goolsby and our wellness center earn the award this year.

So lastly, I just want to say, you know, how very proud we are of the work of all of our employees.

Our nominations come within the organization, and I had to read like 50 awards.

And so we have so many great stories, so many great things are happening in our organization, and these are the best of the best.

And but I would say also the families that support us and help us be our best every day.

So thank you all for coming and congratulations.

I am in a lot of pictures.

So we uh on the council, we make sure that we give accolades and praise to our employees all the time, but it's nice to do it uh in a special occasion for them, especially during uh the month of May for public service uh employee recognition week.

So with that, we will move to public hearings.

Each year Olatha direct CDBG funds through the federal government toward public services, public facility improvements and housing rehab programs.

This public hearing is an opportunity for Olatha agencies, organizations, or individuals to provide ideas and proposals for grant funding tonight.

I don't know that we have anybody that has signed up to speak.

No, sir.

Um let's go ahead and close the public hearing.

A motion to close the public.

Yes.

Do we want to make sure we don't have anyone in the audience?

Is there anyone in the audience here to speak in the public hearing concerning the CDBG funding requests?

I don't see any, so a motion to close the public hearing will be in order.

Thank you.

I move that we close this public hearing.

Second.

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

Dr.

Felter.

Yes.

Mr.

Vacus.

Yes.

Ms.

Essex.

Yes.

Mr.

Creighton.

Yes.

Mr.

Denult.

Yes.

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Mr.

Scunover.

Yes.

Motion passes.

7-0.

I have a real quick question, Susan.

I'm putting you on the spot a little bit.

So the CDBG, how do we determine who's going to receive the funds?

We don't get a lot of public input.

And then also the amount of the funds doesn't seem to move.

It's been about this for 20, 30 years.

So we get a certain percentage of the counties based on our population.

So if you want to talk just a little bit about CDBG.

Yeah, I'd be happy to.

Community.

Yeah, community development block grant funding is very important on a number of levels.

In this block grant, we are an entitlement city, so we get our money through Johnson County, and it has stayed very steady over my whole career here.

We have to spend those dollars on either public service.

Some of it goes to public service and social services, and others are projects for low and moderate low-income areas throughout the city.

So that's determined by census block.

We do have an internal committee that goes through each of the applications that we get.

So we open up applications in early in the year, and then that group interviews and scores those applicants, and then we come to you with the projects as well as the social services that we're using those dollars for.

And the public hearing is required by the federal grant.

It is process.

Okay.

Very good.

Well, so if you have an organization that you think you're deserving of CDBG money, then you should get the application in.

When when is that closed?

It's usually right after the first of the year.

Okay.

Very good.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Seeing none we'll move on to the consent agenda.

The items listed below are considered to be routine by the city council, may be approved in one motion.

These may include items that have been reviewed by the city council in a prior planning session.

There will be no separate discussion unless a council member requests that an item be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately.

Council, are there any such items tonight?

Seeing none, a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented will be in order.

Well, I would move to approve the consent agenda as presented with 14 items A through N.

Second.

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

Mr.

Craighton.

Yes.

Mr.

Denult.

Yes.

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Mr.

Scunover.

Yes.

Ms.

Pardon me.

Dr.

Felter.

Yes.

Mr.

Vacus.

Yes.

Miss Essex.

Yes.

Motion passes.

7-0.

We'll now move to new business.

Item A is consideration of ordinance number 26-21, which is RZ26-0004, requesting approval of a rezoning from the CTYRUR County Rural District to the R3 residential low density multifamily district and a preliminary site development plan for forest view townhomes located southwest of K-7 Highway and West 119th Street.

Planning Commission recommended approval 8 to 0.

The proposed the proposal includes 72 townhomes plus a recreational area and green areas.

Yes, thank you, Mayor and Council.

Emily Carillo, senior planner.

As introduced, this is a rezoning with the preliminary site development plan for forest view townhomes, which is a phased development consisting of, as you mentioned, 14 townhome buildings and total of 72 dwelling units.

The site is located just south and west of K-7 Highway and west of 119th Street.

Surrounding area includes Timberstone Ridge, single family residential development to the north, forest view to the south and west, and the previously approved high meadows multifamily development to the north and east, there adjacent to K7.

The site is characterized by significant native vegetation and varied topography, including a stream corridor and generally slopes toward the Little Cedar Creek, which is located to the south and west of the site.

This request is to rezone the property from an existing county rural zoning district to the R3 residential, low density multifamily districts to accommodate this townhome development.

The surrounding area does include a mix of conventional and planned residential districts along with remaining county zone land in the area.

Additionally, there are some um commercially zoned properties located just to the east adjacent to K7.

So this proposal was submitted and reviewed prior to the adoption of our updated comprehensive plan of elevate Olatha.

And so therefore this was reviewed under plan Olatha.

It remains the guiding policy under the review of this application.

The site is designated as urban mixed use center and primary greenway on the Plan Letha future land use map.

And so the requested R3 zoning district does align with both of those land use designations in plan Olatha.

It's also consistent with several policy elements from Plan Olatha, including consistency with the plan, encouraging housing, their services, and support for a variety of housing choices.

This proposal is consistent with both future land use frameworks comprehensive plans.

Elevate Olatha plan also designates this area as mixed use and further supports the proposal through alignment with key strategies related to land use, housing in neighborhoods, and the natural environment.

So this is where we're transitioning kind of to these strategies for elevate a lathe.

You'll see more of this in the coming meetings.

This site is also related, or I'm sorry, was also located within the K-7 corridor study area, which identifies a range of potential uses, including parks and open space and also low density residential.

The development proposes the 14 multifamily townhome buildings, a total of 72 two-story dwelling units.

Site amenities include a covered picnic area, walking trails with seating and exercise stations and recreational, I'm sorry, and recreational fitness stations throughout the perimeter of this site.

This is a will be constructed in two phases.

So this is kind of the phasing plan.

You can kind of see the kind of the dividing line is hard to see here on the screen.

So the northern half is identified as phase one, and then the sort, the southern half is identified as a second future phase two.

So phase one includes buildings one through nine.

That'll be a total of 48 units, as well as tracks A, B, and D.

This is track D, roughly in this area, that will have the detention dry detention basin as well as some of the additional trail amenity that connects to a future trail down here to the south.

And then the future phase two includes buildings 10 through 14.

It's an additional 24 units, as well as common tracks C and E.

And that development will proceed to the south just simply based on market demand.

The applicant is requesting one waiver, and that is to reduce the required corner side yard setback from 20 feet down to 15 feet as outlined in our report.

You can see that highlighted here on the screen that affects building buildings three, six, and eleven in this proposal, and staff is supportive of this request.

A traffic impact study was completed, meeting the city's requirements.

Access to the site will be provided from 119th at mesquite.

The developer is responsible for constructing a 10-foot sidewalk on the south side of 119th Street, as well as an eastbound right turn lane to accommodate the proposed development.

And this is similar to what's required and what's in place to the development to the north.

So that movement, there's a right turn lane heading north on Mesquite to access the development to the north.

So this aligns with that.

Moving to the landscape plan, a type 3 buffer is required along the south of at least 20 feet, and the applicant is providing a 60-foot buffer in that area to the south and west portion of the site.

This is incorporating existing native vegetation and tree canopy in this area.

This is also adjacent to over 40 acres of dedicated parkland to the south adjacent to this site.

A 25-foot master landscaping track is also provided adjacent to West 119th Street, which is consistent with UDO requirements, and including additional tree preservation area that was incorporated where feasible following feedback from the neighborhood meeting.

And finally, a 10-foot type 1 buffers provided along the east, supplemented with additional plantings and tree preservation.

The project does preserve approximately 28% of the existing contiguous tree canopy and understory, and that exceeds the minimum of 20% per unio.

The existing tree canopy to the southern portion of the site will be preserved.

You can see that here on the screen with removal limited to areas necessary for grading and stormwater detention only.

And then finally, street trees are being provided along both sides of all internal streets, meeting multifamily tree requirements, and that's exclusive of street trees and buffer plantings and foundation landscaping will be provided in accordance to UDO standards.

The development provides over seven acres of common open space required for the district, and over 65% of the total site is designated as an outdoor amenity and therefore exceeding UDO requirements.

The plan does incorporate multiple UDO compliant amenity types, providing both active and passive recreation throughout the site.

Covered picnic area, open play, yard areas, and then the existing trees and street corridor areas, which are being preserved, meet that natural feature requirement, and are also an added amenity for this development.

So we'll dive into the elevations.

Again, 14 buildings.

These townhomes are subject to horizontally attached residential building design.

The two-story units include walkout rear patios, attached single-car garages, and covered front front entries meeting architecture code for these required items.

Additionally, a minimum of 75% class one materials are required in this building design category for primary facades.

And in this proposal, both primary and secondary facades are meeting that 75% threshold of Class 1 materials and therefore exceeding code requirements.

Primary materials include stone veneer, genuine three-coat stucco, and clear glass.

And a class three lap siding is used as an accent material.

Cohesive overall palette includes light, natural, night neutrals, excuse me, steel, coal, bronze, tan, and natural wood tones.

No waivers are being requested from architecture code and all facades meet code requirements per UDO.

Required neighborhood meeting was held on March 31st, in which 13 individuals were in attendance and topics included traffic, pedestrian connectivity and safety, utility coordination, project ownership, parking, and preservation of existing trees along 119th Street.

In addition, three letters of public correspondence were received by staff, and those are included in the packet and comments reflect similar themes raised at the neighborhood meeting.

And lastly, five individuals did speak during the public hearing before planning commission held on April 27th, addressing consistent topics of traffic and just general quality of the overall development proposal.

This application does meet the golden criteria for considering rezonings as outlined in the staff report.

And so at this time, staff is recommending approval of the rezoning RZ26004 with no stipulations, and also recommending approval of the preliminary site development plan as stipulated.

Additionally, Planning Commission does recommend approval of the rezoning as stipulated by staff.

That concludes my presentation.

I'm available for questions.

The applicant is also in attendance, and I think would like to say maybe just a few words and introductions as well.

Okay.

We've got a couple of questions of you, Emily, or staff, so we'll do that and then we'll ask them the applicant if they want to speak.

Councilmember Creighton.

Thank you.

Ms.

Crillo, and this may be something that Mr.

Love would want to refer to.

As I read this in my extensive time on Planning Commission, always would delve into the traffic studies and the like.

And I believe with most of this moving to the east that this site in and of itself is not going to be significant, but I am concerned long-term about that entire section because I have had some concerns raised to me by residents.

Really going back to the West as far as northbound Clare and what uh what we can maybe be thinking about as far as improvements down the road.

I know some of that is city, some of it's county, but you mentioned it how it was going to be monitored.

Can you just uh expand on that just a little bit so we know what to be watching for in the future?

Sure.

I'm probably gonna ask um Charlie Love, our development review engineer, um, to to answer that for us.

Thank you.

Charlie Love, Chief Development Engineer.

Um the city does annually we we review um internally projects that are are currently on our unfunded list.

I think this year we're reviewing approximately maybe 56 different projects.

I do know that there's several different projects that are out in this area, uh whether it's the intersection there at 119th and Clare.

I think there's some other improvements along Claire, either north and ether south of 119th.

I know there's also some potential future projects in regards to uh 119th Street in K7 and that uh the on-off ramps and potentially future uh signalization projects that would take place there.

So we do annually take traffic counts and uh there's a prioritization process that the city goes through, which then we later in the year uh come and speak with you all and present what we recommend, and there's a process that we work with you in regards to then establishing our five-year CIP.

And those counts will be taken prior to the next time we uh discuss CIP.

They would be.

I think there's already even been some current counts that have been taken on uh currently on 119th and Claire uh uh Claire because there's a potential of a study that's going on there.

And if you want to get into the more details on those studies, I know Date Nate could probab possibly answer those as well.

No, I don't need any more detail.

I just wanted to make sure that it would be something we'd be able to see at CIP time.

CIP time.

Thank you.

Councilmember Schoonover.

Thank you, Mayor.

And and thank you all.

I my big concern here uh it's along the same lines of uh Councilmember Creighton's uh talking about traffic in the overall area.

My big concern is only having one point of egress into this neighborhood for the time being.

I know I know uh uh down here on the bottom right, it looks or or there's there's plans for a second point at uh of egress at some point in the future.

Can you can you tell us anything about about that?

I I probably have to either have Emily talk or maybe even the applicant talk about the timing in regards to the two phases.

There's two phases.

I know that first phase, um, and as with all of our uh applications, our fire department does review those, and they're really the one that is triggering those requirements and those those real concerns in regards to having immediate two ways of access.

They have reviewed this and and they are supportive of what's being proposed by the applicant.

Okay.

But it seems to me that they could probably extend where that existing cul-de-sac is on the north side as a second point of access into the neighborhood if it were needed in the case of an emergency.

Is that something that we've considered asking them to do?

In regards to phase one, I don't think that that is probably the approach we would want to take.

Um I know we're we're we're we're looking at trying to maintain proper spacing between drives along 119th.

There's also some future development that then would come to the east, and so we have to be cautious about where we're gonna allow points of access out onto 119th and those spacing requirements, they are important to look at.

And so we would be getting probably closer than we wanted to if we extended that cul-de-sac up.

If we were or if that was something that wasn't proposed, we didn't review that.

It would probably have some limitations in regards to it wouldn't be a full access.

It would have to be some type of write-in, right out, but that wasn't part of the plan that was reviewed and fire was supportive of what was shown on this plan.

Okay.

Uh the other thing I I I wanted to note, i i i it sounds like in the planning uh commission meeting, um there was a lot of concern about street parking um for these units and whether people would be able to uh park on the street and what the impact of that would be.

I just want to be clear, is it would that be a city concern or is that an HOA concern for this particular neighborhood?

Um some of the streets, and I don't know that it clearly shows on here.

I don't know if we have a slide that does clearly show it, but um these streets are going internal, other than I believe that stub that's right as you come in and goes to the west, they are public streets.

And so consistent with all neighborhoods and public streets, they they do allow on-street parking, but there are of course there's gonna be a lot of limitations in this neighborhood.

Sure.

Just based on the actual driveway spacing and an actual vehicle being able to park there on the street.

I know we've had conversations with our traffic engineers already in regards to this development.

And there are occasions where, depending on how parking is is being handled in neighborhoods, we do upon request go out and at later dates install no parking signs if need necessary.

Do we know will this development have an HOA?

I it would have to defer to the applicant.

If if they do I I mean that would be something that I I think it would be worthwhile for the city to say, you know, within your your bylaws, we would like a restriction um regarding street parking in in the neighborhood, so that way it it does become more of an HOA issue than uh than a city issue.

I'm not sure that's something that you know necessarily needs to be escalated to the city each time somebody has a dispute.

So that's just my thought.

But that's all I have.

I've got a couple of questions.

Um I think the concern about the tr the parking along the street is valid, especially if we're gonna try to get emergency vehicles through here because um I uh help manage some units up by the legends that have similar uh layout.

Some of these driveways look like you can accommodate two or three cars, but there's others that um you know you would not hardly have space for two, one in the garage and maybe one on the drive.

So I don't know where a guest would park that doesn't look to see to me like there's a lot of spaces indicated for guest parking around this development.

So that is I think that's a valid concern, getting our our emergency equipment through.

There's been a few of these where we've had a limited access of one in and out, one uh place for egress and ingress egress.

Um and we've accommodated with two separate drives with a median.

So that if you blocked one, you could have cars go in the wrong way and uh for a time being if it was blocked.

So I don't know, and you will really don't have that uh option here the way this is laid out.

Was that talked about?

And uh like uh Councilmember Schoonover is made the comment about the future connection to the east down on the south part of this.

If that never happens, and I don't know, would that then go around to the frontier road along K-7?

Because we've got Ernie Miller Park just a little bit to the south.

So where would that go and at what point are we expecting that to be connected?

And so obviously staff's not concerned about emergency vehicles getting in here and out at this point.

Which it's been something that we've addressed in other situations, so I'm curious why not here.

Yeah, Emily Corello, senior planner, so I'm gonna start with the with the on-street parking um question.

And so as Charlie mentioned, um these are will be public streets, so they're designed to city street standards similar to what you're wide.

28 or 22.

28.

Okay.

28, yeah.

Um so it's similar to what you would see in any residential neighborhood, which also allows for on-street parking in single family residential neighborhoods.

So this is a similar scenario.

The difference I think is you have such a frequent um pattern of where those driveways are that it doesn't give you as much gap to do on street parking.

Now there are um some areas.

Umnate here a little bit.

Some of these areas.

There are some pockets where it will accommodate for that.

Um but I will say the other piece of this is this use um from a townhome vertical, or I'm sorry, horizontally attached um residential homes require 1.5 stalls per dwelling unit.

Um so these do have a single car garage and at least enough space for an additional car to uh stall in their driveway.

As you can see in this layout, there are a few driveways that do appear longer, just kind of given on given how the site is laid out.

And so they there's probably more there for that for that personal um property.

Um but it does provide efficient and what meets code for off-street parking, and then just like you would see in any other single family residential neighborhood, there are opportunities for on-street parking that allow clearance for vehicles to get through.

The difference I think to me is a lot of your single family has uh uh two car garage or two-car garage at least with double Y or at least two lanes of concrete leading up to the garage door or possibly three.

And here um in like my subdivision, they don't allow our our HOA won't allow street parking or they discourage it.

So um, and I don't know if they're going to have that here, but are some of these units three bedroom?

And we have to defer to that or get some clarification.

I think when you get the multiple bedrooms is when you have multiple cars, and that's when it becomes a problem.

Where does everybody park?

Um if you don't have it, and so it ends up being on the street, and you can you restrict it only to one side and not the other and discriminate.

Um I'm just I I know this has been an issue, especially when it snows.

Uh where's everybody going to park so you can get a uh cloud through there?

So I I think it could be a challenge.

So then I have one other if we're move.

Um so you're coming west on 119th.

That's a pretty good hill.

A lot of times people are picking up speed about the time they're going to hit this drive.

Is there a left end turn lane that designated left end?

So the cars coming behind down the hill uh don't have to slam on their brakes.

Charlie Love, Chief Development Engineer.

This plane does not propose a left turn lane into this uh development.

If you're traveling westbound, there is just the if you're traveling eastbound, there's a right turn lane that's being proposed.

I was just thinking about that topography right here, and it is you're coming down pretty hard and you're picking up speed, you know.

Um I think it would be difficult to you'd all you'd be slamming on your brakes trying to not hit somebody that wanted to make a left-hand turn.

If they're waiting for cars coming up the hill, um I think a left turn designated into here for westbound traffic would be would make a lot of sense.

I don't know how many vehicles a day would be making that.

Um, but because of the topography and you're coming downhill, I think it might be warranted.

Um the traffic engineers and and staff we have we have reviewed the the um the traffic counts that's on 159th Street or sorry, 119th Street.

We've also taken a look at what this site generates in regards to traffic coming into the site and also out of the site.

We've looked at AM and PM and those peak hours.

And uh essentially the 119th street does experience some variation in traffic patterns depending on AM and PM and those peak movements.

There's a lot of traffic that travels east in the morning and a lot of traffic that travels west in in the evening peak.

And so uh the the thought in regards to not warranting that left turn lane is the fact that because there's not an equal amount of traffic that's coming in both directions directions for how few cars are going to be making that left turn, there's ample uh opportunities because there's not nearly as much traffic in that PM coming from the west.

And so as you're traveling west on 119th, that left turn movement is going to is not going to experience very many conflicts in regards to cars coming to the same time, and so there's a lot of gap.

And so because of those reasons, we didn't feel that it warranted that left turn lane.

What so um I just got back from a trip to McPherson.

And on Highway 50, what they'll do is they don't have a left-turn designated lane, but they'll have a D cell lane to the right.

And what people will do, if there's a car sitting in the the main lane of traffic to make a left-hand turn and they're waiting on cars, people will use that D cell uh that's used for um it's actually a right turn into stone crest subdivision to the north.

They'll use that to get around the car that's making a left hand and waiting on traffic.

Is that permitted?

And it's I think it's that's by design on Highway 50 and Highway 56 in Olatha or in Kansas.

So um is that a permitted use here of that D cell lane?

I'm not specifically familiar with the exact locations that you're talking about.

I can show you on a map.

Um I'm not gonna say that, you know, if if I was coming down this uh, you know, and there was a car that was that was there stopped and had to be stopped to make that left turn.

I'm sure I'm sure we would see some cars sneak by on that right turn lane and try to get around them.

Now I'm not here to say that that's a legal traffic movement, but I think that naturally does happen sometimes, yes.

Well, it's a way that you don't rear end somebody and allows them to get around and not traffic doesn't get so jammed up.

So I I can see that.

If we would permit that, I think that's a solution possibly.

So um council member Boggins, that's all thanks, Charlie.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

Emily, just a few questions if I could.

I want to make sure on phase two.

So is phase one half of the 72 units.

Um phase one is 48 units.

48 phase two is the 28 or 24.

It's time phase subject to demand.

Correct.

Um the assumption a decision is made to move to phase two.

Is there a requirement then to build that east side road?

Yeah, there will there will need to be that we would probably require an uh a final site development plan at that point where we would come in and evaluate.

Let me give me back up to this other slide.

Give me just a second.

So that you can see this.

And so it kind of depends on the future of that property to the east and the timing of if that redevelops and if not, and this still needs a second point of access, then we would have to revisit that at that point at that point.

So we will we will revisit what the requirement for a final site development plan for phase two, regardless.

That eastern road, is that designated as Dunraven?

I know it is to the north.

I don't know.

I don't know if it continues to the south.

So I'll I'll let Nate answer this.

Okay.

So Nate Baldwin, City Engineer.

Um so yes, that is Dunraven there that goes north and south through there.

Okay.

Good.

Thanks very much.

You know, I'd offer a few comments.

We uh you know, Timberstone Ridge to the immediate north on the north side of one 119th is just a a beautiful enclave.

And Forest View to the west to the southwest is yet another beautiful subdivision.

You know, all of Aletha is beautiful, but I think west of K-7, in particular, this part of Olatha is just uh uncommonly attractive.

And of course, we're very concerned that we preserve the uh the environment of Tamberstone Ridge.

I've spent a lot of time with planning over the last few months to to look at this in detail to discuss this with traffic with the planning department and consider the implications of this 72 unit to the south.

You know, it makes sense.

It's very well designed, it's well developed, it's first class.

It is yet another enclave that nestles in, I think, very well across the street from Timberstone Ridge.

You know, concerning traffic, uh Nate and crew did a traffic study on Clare Road from 127th up to 119th in the fall.

We looked at traffic counts, and they are in the process of updating that traffic study.

Should be done soon, and we're going to make a report out to the Forest View community.

Just a lot of concern about traffic management.

And what I would offer is that uh public works is there every step of the way to ensure that traffic is monitored and we we don't let things get out of control.

I think this is a controlled development.

I think it makes sense.

You know, I am supportive as the development of the development as presented, with the understanding when when we get to the point of the phase two, we'll want to revisit some of this.

Yeah.

Thanks very much.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh Emily, um, I was noticing that uh there aren't many covered decks, which we've seen a lot in our multifamily or are in uh the other thing that I was noticing that there's no um eaves on the roof.

It's flat.

And we haven't seen a lot of that.

Is this something new that's coming or did staff look at that?

And uh especially on the back, you don't have any space outside of the back patio doors for a covered area.

It's just kind of blank.

So was that talked about?

The for the rear patio um, any covered decks or anything like that.

Being a covered scene.

A covered rear patio is not required by code.

So that would just be a a preference to add that as an additional amenity.

Um what the code does require are the um recessed on the front end of this, the recessed garages and the recessed or projecting um front entryways and it and it dictates the the size and the area that's required there, and this does meet that.

Actually, it exceeds that.

So the rear piece of it, the rear patio um is not necessarily a a requirement.

It's just an added amenity in this scenario.

Will these be rented or owned?

By the way, yeah.

Staff does not have those details at this time, but the applicant could probably address that for you.

Okay.

Councilmember Vaucis.

Um Thank you, Mary.

I just wanted to circle back briefly.

The comment about on-street parking, specifically on-street parking within the new subdivision, uh within Timberstone uh villas.

So I think it's not uncommon for HOAs to simply specify no off-street parking, on-street parking after dark.

So that's to be determined.

I'm not sure that uh a plan is put into motion yet on whether or not there will be an HOA for this arrangement, but if there is, it would be simple enough, just to impose that rule.

On-street parking is allowed during daylight, but after dark, it's got to be in the driveway.

Just offer that.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh if the applicant would like to address the council, we'll give them 10 minutes.

Are they here?

Would you like to address the council?

Yeah, welcome.

Just give us your name and address for the record.

Hi.

Welcome.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, City Council members.

Appreciate being here.

Uh my name is Judd Clausen, uh Phelps Engineering 1270 North Winchester, Olatha, Kansas for the record.

Uh joining me tonight uh is um uh Brian Rodrock and Jeff Gifford here, uh uh principals with uh Rod Rock Development.

Um, you know, the Rod Rock families, you know, invested and and built a lot of great neighborhoods in Aletha and Johnson County, including uh Forestview uh and and uh Councilman Vaucus, you're exactly right.

They intend for this to be a special enclave too, and it really fits well with you know what the city is planning uh here with their future land use plans, both the current land use plan and the future one uh fits well with that.

Um I know Brian and Jeff and our architect Clint Evans with NSPJ worked real hard with staff to make sure that you know the architecture met all of the requirements that the city had set forth as far as um you know materiality and and all those types of things where the garage doors are recessed.

Um so I'm I'm very proud to present project that does not require any kind of deviations from architecture, and you know, we we typically see quite a bit of that.

Um I'm here in front of you often with some kind of deviation.

We are asking for one though, um, as Emily pointed out, that's interior to the site.

And one thing I wanted to add to what Emily presented was that it it's just for those sides of those buildings on a corner so that it matches up with the front setback that we're already allowed to have.

So it's not reducing it any more than what a front setback might be on that street.

Secondly, I kind of wanted to just follow up on a few things about the one access point.

You know, really, you know, in good urban planning and engineering and for fire access and things like that, it's always good to try to have cross connections between different properties.

You look for that within shopping centers, you look for that within subdivisions, so that somebody's doing a new subdivision.

Um they provided some access to a future parcel so that that future parcel when it develops can connect in, and that's how great communities are made, right?

We are not just islands of subdivisions and developments that all just go out to the main traffic way.

So that was a major purpose of trying to provide an access point there.

These townhomes are all fire sprinklered.

Uh so that does under the IFC provide for uh additional units beyond just the one access point.

And I think that's probably one of the reasons why our fire department was accepting of the one access point.

But certainly we are working within the code uh of the ISE and the fire department and making sure that we're meeting all those requirements.

So with that, I know um Brian and Jeff and I are proud to present this project for your consideration.

Uh we are agreeable to all the stipulations, and Emily did a great job presenting uh graphics are great.

And uh thank you.

All right, we've got a couple of questions if you don't mind, Chad.

Uh Councilmember Felter.

Thank you.

It's not so much a question.

Thank you, Jed, for the information.

But um I think these are beautiful.

And um there's not a Rod Rock development out there that hasn't added amazing value.

I'm thinking of the monument on uh 167th in Merlin and then Forestview, Shaban, the waterfalls, they're amazing.

So I I think these are unique and will be a great addition to Olatha.

I hesitate to add any restrictions at all to on-street parking, especially if staff has reviewed it and said that it was workable because we want these to rent and sell without harm.

And to me, any restrictions um could do that.

If the HOA so chooses to self-restrict, I would support that.

But I I wouldn't, as a council member uh want to choose to add that as an element of approval.

So I just want to thank uh Jeff and Brian for continuing your investment in Olatha, and I think these are stunning and I look forward to seeing them built here in Olatha.

Thank you.

I don't see any other questions.

Um is this restricted to 55 plus or are kids allowed in this development?

It's not an age restricted development.

Yeah, all are welcome.

Yeah.

Well, I could just tell you from I'm I I can tell you that Rod Rock has done some amazing things.

I that those comments are well um you know repeated here.

And uh there were people that never thought Forestview was possible because it's too much rock over there.

Put sewers in it and look at it today, it's beautiful, and the topography is wonderful.

So I'm I'm not suggesting that I'm you know dinging that part of Rod Rock.

I'm just questioning the ability for multiple cars and the lack of community parking spaces.

I just don't see any spaces where you could have visitors park.

And that could be an issue.

I know uh I could point you to development uh by the legends that it's been a real problem.

So and so I you know I guess we'll learn.

But um I hesitate to uh not have any provision for guests or especially teenagers when you have three bedroom homes or units.

You know, will any of these have three bedroom?

That'd be a question.

Yes, there is a mix between two and three bedrooms on this.

And one of the things too, Mayor, is I mean, as we go on further with final development plan, I think there is maybe some opportunities to add a few additional parking spaces.

And that's certainly something that you know uh we're our team is committed to continuing to make this project even better.

Uh you look at like that northwest building up there, um, that has to be on a private drive because of just proxim how it works, right?

And the topography there.

But you can kind of see the throat of that drive as it uh east of the building there.

I mean, there's an opportunity to drop a few spaces in that location that might be used kind of by the surrounding buildings in that location.

Um there are other places too where we could take a look at dropping in a few spaces.

One other thing too is I'm just really glad that this is a public street uh in this in in recently public works in the last few years has adopted a multifamily public street standard, and we're using that again on this type of project.

And and it and I really want to compliment the staff for doing that.

Uh having a multifamily public street uh section, which really works to make projects like this happen.

Great.

All right.

Well, thanks for uh Councilmember Denult.

I just want to round out, thank you very much.

Uh round out real quick.

Is there going to be any HOA or any restrictions?

Uh any anything that the developer will be putting in uh for this development uh for the residents who would live here.

I I imagine there would be an HOA.

I I don't I don't I'm not sure if they've made a decision on that or not yet.

But um certainly um there will be restrictions as far as uh paint colors and all kinds of things uh that you know get set to make sure that this is a high quality development.

Yeah, and with regard to the parking spaces is where I was going or parking on the street is just if there was anything that the uh development was going to do or if it was going to fall back on the city to try and fix it.

I don't think we'd want to do anything preemptively.

I think it would be something more that's more regulated based on if issues should arise.

Um I agree that if you can provide uh some on-street parking and fire department and police, everybody's fine with it for as uh w how it's being used.

For example, where that east intersection is, uh I think Emily highlighted it, and then that section that goes to the south, there's a long street section there that could provide some on-street parking.

And maybe it's as simple as if it becomes a problem, you restrict it to one side only.

Uh that type of thing.

So that's something you have to really kind of police as time goes on.

Yeah.

I hate to say something now to force uh additional expenses when I do feel like it's a really great development.

Um there might be a little let's see.

So knowing there's a phase one and a phase two, I'm uh I'm kind of looking forward to see what phase one looks like and feels like uh before going, hey, we need to maybe carve out some additional parking spaces um or get some restrictions put in either somebody.

So uh thank you very much.

Uh I think it's a really neat looking development.

I'd be excited to see it get done.

Thank you.

Thank you, Judge.

Uh no any other questions for staff or comments.

Uh motion to be in order would be in order to approve item A under new business.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

I'd like to make a motion.

And I would say that uh I drive through Timberstone Ridge once a month to marble the topography and the setting of the homes.

I drive through Forest View on a regular basis in there too to marvel at the beauty of the setting.

You know, I fully expect what we've seen tonight for these forest view town homes will be the same kind of wonderment once completed.

We just need to see it begin and see how it sorts out.

It's going to be a nice, nice addition to Western Olatha.

With that said, Mayor, I would offer uh a motion to approve ordinance twenty-six-21 as presented.

Second.

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

Miss Essex.

Yes.

Mr.

Bacchus.

Yes.

Dr.

Felter.

Yes.

Mr.

Scunover.

Yes.

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Mr.

Denult.

Yes.

Mr.

Craighton.

Yes.

Motion passes.

7-0.

I would just say that the Rodwak Rod Rock name carries a lot of weight in our community.

We know you do quality stuff, so there's a lot of trust.

So we think it it'll be an awesome uh development.

We look forward to seeing it.

So thank you.

We'll now move to item B.

Item B is consideration of ordinance number 26-22, which is PAR 26-0014, requesting approval to amend ordinance number 14-27.

Vacation 14-002, an ordinance vacating a portion of Alcant Street and 120th Street right away.

This vacation was previously approved in 2014.

Today's action updates up the uh updates the ordinance to include the full legal description of the subject area.

Is there a need for presentation on this item?

Seeing none of motion be in order.

I would move to approve ordinance twenty-six-twenty-two.

Second.

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

Mr.

Schoonover.

Yes.

Dr.

Felter?

Yes.

Mr.

Vacchus.

Yes.

Miss Essex.

Yes.

Mr.

Creighton.

Yes.

Mr.

Denult?

Yes.

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Motion passes.

70.

Item C is consideration of ordinance number 26-23 pertaining to proposed amendments to Title 7 of the Alatha Municipal Code allowing expanded hours for the sale of alcoholic beverages during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Earlier this year, the Kansas legislature passed a law allowing cities to expand the hours for the sale of alcohol during the World Cup.

This item was a report at the earlier meeting in May.

Is there a need for a presentation or questions of staff on this item?

Motion to approve this would be in order.

I would move to approve ordinance 26-23.

Second.

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

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Mr.

Schoonover?

Yes.

Dr.

Felter?

Yes.

Mr.

Vacchus?

Yes.

Miss Essex?

Yes.

Mr.

Creighton?

Yes.

Mr.

Denult?

Yes.

Motion passes.

70.

Item D is consideration of resolution number 26-1043 authorizing a survey of land necessary to be acquired for the 103rd Street Lift Station Replacement Project PN1-Cero 11-17.

This item and the next item are needed to move forward the 103rd Street Lift Station project, which requires an upgrade to part of the sewer system in the Cedar Creek area.

Is there a need for a presentation on this item?

Questions of staff?

Seeing none, a motion to approve would be in order.

I would move to approve item 26-1043.

Second.

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

Mr.

Creighton?

Yes.

Mr.

Denalt?

Yes.

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Mr.

Schoonover.

Yes.

Dr.

Felter?

Yes.

Mr.

Vacchus?

Yes.

Ms.

Essex?

Yes.

Motion passes.

70.

As was mentioned earlier, this item E is con as part of that same consideration for the sewer lift station.

Consideration of ordinance number 26-24 approving an engineer survey and authorizing the acquisition of land for the 103rd Street Lift Station PN1-C011-17.

Motion to approve it be in order.

Move to approve ordinance 26-24.

Second.

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

Mr.

Bacchus.

Yes.

Miss Essex?

Yes.

Mr.

Creighton?

Yes.

Mr.

Denult?

Yes.

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Mr.

Schoonover.

Yes.

Dr.

Felter?

Yes.

Motion passes.

70.

Item F is consideration of ordinance number 26-25 authorizing payment by the City Treasurer of an imminent domain award and court approach appointed appraisals fees for constructing and maintaining the Santa Fe Ridgeview to Merlin Improvements, Project PN 3-C-025-1 set 18 in the matter of the City of Olatha versus McDonald's USA LLC.

This item and the next one are related to the city expansion the need for land for uh acquired for the Santa Fe Improvements Project, which includes work along Santa Fe from Ridgeview to Merlin, as well as the new interchange at I-35.

Is there a need for presentation on this item or questions of staff?

Seeing none, a motion to approve ordinance 26-25 would be in order.

Thank you.

I would move to approve ordinance 26-25.

Second.

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

Mr.

Denult.

Yes.

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Mr.

Schoonover?

Yes.

Dr.

Felter.

Yes.

Mr.

Vacchus.

Yes.

Miss Essex.

Yes.

Mr.

Creighton?

Yes.

Motion passes.

70.

Item G is consideration of ordinance number 26-26 authorizing payment by the City Treasurer of an imminent domain award and court appointed appraisers fees for constructing and maintaining the Santa Fe Ridgeview to Merlin Improvements Project P and 3-C-025-18 in the matter of the City of Olatha versus Brogdon Properties.

LLC.

Will this be the last of all our properties that we need?

Are there a few still pending in court?

We have a few that we're still negotiating, Mayor.

But we're getting close to the end.

I think we're getting close to the end here.

Okay.

Any need for a presentation or questions on this item?

Seeing none, a motion to approve ordinance number 26-26 would be in order.

I move to approve ordinance 26-26.

Second.

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

Dr.

Felter.

Yes.

Mr.

Vacchus?

Yes.

Miss Essex.

Yes.

Mr.

Craighton?

Yes.

Mr.

Denalt.

Yes.

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Mr.

Sconover.

Yes.

Motion passes.

7-0.

We'll now move to general issues and concerns of citizens.

We have three individuals that have signed up to speak tonight.

So would the city clerk please read the guidelines and then invite the speakers up, please.

The City Council has extended this privilege to allow people who live and work in Olatha to address concerns to the City Council.

Speakers must only address the council.

Council members are not required to respond.

Please treat others with kindness and respect.

The council has allocated up to three minutes per speaker.

Tonight we have three speakers.

Welcome.

Good evening, Mayor Baker.

Bacon and council people.

I live in Boulder Hills Enclave down around 175th.

And we are now getting a group of apartment buildings put in next to our R1's zoned area.

And what I want to talk to you about here, though, is the trust.

The trust between citizens and the government.

In uh 2007, the council approved a preliminary development plan for the property at 175th in Black Bob.

That plan had 264 units and 22 two-story buildings designed as owner-occupied townhomes and condos.

This plan is part of the public record.

Every person every family who purchased a home in that whole area had that to look at in order to determine whether or not they wanted to live in the area and put 500 to a million dollars into new homes.

When we decided that, you know, we saw that it was townhomes and condos, maybe a uh uh retirement community and stuff.

And that was all very agreeable to my family in regards to living next to that type of place where people would have ownership into their abodes.

Now 19 years later, the developer who had that uh zone that plan set up and had the zoning changed at that time to RP3.

Uh RP3 had to be done in order to put in the town homes and and condos and stuff like that.

And instead of the 264 units, now they want 318 units in three-story apartment complexes with 10 different buildings in the whole area.

Uh that's not a minor minor adjustment.

It's a fundamental change in what the public record had promised us.

Councilman members, I'm not here to argue that property owners don't have any rights.

They do.

But so do we as citizens of Olatha.

While families make their biggest final financial decision otherwise buying a home, they should be able to rely on the public record for what's going to be happening next to them.

The 179 families inside of Boulder Hills, you know, did just that.

And we trusted the council's predecessors.

Uh and we trusted the public record.

Um I believe now there's no approval needed or anything else because the RP3 covers this massive increase in occupancy above the townhomes to an apartment building.

So that's why nothing like what's presented to us a little bit earlier here has been done for this area.

And uh we just have a lot of upset about this and wish we could be heard.

And we we'd like you to go back to a plan similar to that.

Thank you for my time for your time.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Cameron Smith.

Please come to the podium, state your name and address for the record.

Welcome.

Hey, welcome.

Cameron Smith, 300 South Church Street, Olatha, beautiful Kansas.

I am here today to ask for a change in the definitions of Title VI, Chapter 6.09.040 of the Onatha Municipal Cord.

Um sorry, I'm a little nervous up here.

Anywho, in the municipal code, there is a definition for excessive growth, meaning it this is all in relation to terms of plants around homes.

Um poison sumac is listed as a species that you need to watch out for.

Poison sumac has never been found in the state of Kansas, so I'm just asking for that to be removed.

And also it lists poison ivy as an issue plant.

I understand from a human perspective.

If anybody's under bird watching, they're essential for certain bird ecosystems.

I believe that that should not be listed as a problem plant under the city municipal code.

Outside of that, under the definition of weeds in the same chapter, I'm asking for an addition of Bush Honeysuckle, Lanicera macchiae, and Yoanymus or winter creeper, Uanus fortuni.

Both of these species are already listed in Johnson County as noxious and invasive and dangerous to local ecosystems.

In addition to that, uh in the state of Missouri, MDC already labeled them as noxious and invasive as well as in Oklahoma.

It's here, destroying our local forest.

I'm asking for that to be not allowed and put on the list if people have that in their homes.

Outside of that, I will just say as a personal anecdote, I am a forester for the city of Olatha.

I'm also a native botanist for this around the city.

I maintain some of the prairies around the city as well, and I work with a lot of native plant organizations in Kansas City.

And I'm just looking for us to really push to make our natural areas.

I don't want to say beautified, but ecologically resilient.

I want them to be what they were 500 years ago.

And as a forester myself, I see these species moving in.

I see the city's efforts against it, and it's like uh it's like to putting out a fire with a super soaper.

It's it's not enough, and I believe citizens can have that little part of not being able to plant this plant, these two species, and looking out for them and removing them in their own landscapes.

Um specifically Uanimous winter creeper is a big one because it's a huge horticultural crop.

People really like it.

It's illegal to buy in Missouri, and I know the city has some plans where they're doing landscaping where they are putting it in, and I think that that is uh hideous, to say the least.

That's about all I have to say.

I'm just here to represent native ecosystems and ecology.

Uh Cameron, do you have uh time for a question and clarify?

Absolutely.

Councilmember Felter.

Thank you, Mayor.

So is winter creeper and what's the other one?

Uh winter creeper and then bush honeysuckle.

And I have the scientific names for that too, if that helps, because I don't really use common names when I'm doing identification.

I use common names.

So I completely understand.

Okay.

Can you give that list to this gentleman right over here?

Do you want me to speak it out loud or I can hand it to you?

I bet he would record he'd like to have it.

Yeah.

Perfect.

Thank you.

Yeah, thank you guys.

Our final speaker this evening is Joe Speer.

Joe, would you please go to the podium, state your name and address for the record?

Welcome.

Thank you very much.

I do appreciate the opportunity to share a few thoughts regarding the Gateway Landing Project in Olatha also.

My name is Joe Spear, and I live at 17357 South Hall Street in Boulder Hills.

I've lived in Olatha for 18 years and I taught in the district for 39 years.

I have concerns regarding the Boulder Hills uh project.

And I'd like to start with a quote that I found on the Olatha government website in reference to the Olatha Planning Committee.

And it said the City of Olatha Planning Works works toward re realizing the community's vision and goals for high quality growth and development while perseverant preserving the character of existing neighborhoods and service to its residents.

Like we were discussing or I heard some of the discussion earlier.

We're very proud of our neighborhood out in the south end of town.

And we feel like it's very beautiful and it's very social, and it has been a great place for me to come at this point in my life.

The neighborhood has a very, very special quality about it.

We're a group of property owners with real estate values, as Mark said, from half a million dollars to $850,000 that I know of for sure.

Temporary housing and rent property just doesn't seem to fit in to me to the character of our neighborhood.

We all know there's a difference between property owners who own their home and want to actually enhance and improve the neighborhood, which I feel is one of the advantages that we have right now in the neighborhood.

And if you're in the rental system, which we all were at one point in our you know lives, that's not your priority.

You're not worried about how things are looking on the outside, especially.

And it does seem kind of strange to us, I think that this apartment complex, it's already being put into the center almost of our neighborhood that's pretty well developed for the most part.

We are very concerned about safety, traffic, storm water, compatibility and privacy for the homeowners who back right up to the property and have a three-story apartment that can look right down in their backyard.

And just as a retired teacher, I have to tell you my heart has to feel for the school system in this situation.

Because I know what it what it means when you have overcrowded classrooms and when you have safety issues surrounding the school at those special times of the day when students are arriving and leaving.

I believe that you may have also heard from the developer that when they first talked to all of us, and there was a large crowd at our neighborhood meeting, um, that we were definitely not happy with the project.

And but as they gave us more information, we came around.

Well, I have to tell you that's not what I would consider what's happened in the neighborhood now.

I feel like there are a lot of people who are very discouraged and frustrated at this point.

So I'm just going to close with a request that you represent your current constituents, and that you help us and consider the positions that we're in and help us to maintain the character of our beautiful neighborhood where it is.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, all our speakers.

Tonight we'll uh now convene a planning session.

We have several reports under item A.

Uh Council members, I'll just go down the list and if you hear your a number that you want to have polled and talk about it, then stop me.

How about report one?

Two Mitchell properties three.

How about Scanell?

Number four.

Yes.

Yeah.

Which one?

On the all them in general?

They're all asking for four and five.

Okay.

All right.

Let's talk about IRBs.

Tax abatement.

Yes.

Yes.

Uh do you have questions of staff?

Councilmember skin over.

Thank you, Mayor.

And and my questions, so so you know, we've got these reports in and I know the the specific ones that I'm that I'm referring to are are two reports two, four, and five, which I know are developments that are are seeking to use our updated 80 percent uh incentive policy.

But I'm seeing that these come pretty far below what council is generally expected of a cost-benefit ratio to to recover costs for item two, as I see it, it was 1.03 and for 4 and 5, they were both 0.87.

Um is it possible when when this is presented to council, can we see what the numbers would look like at the 50 percent level?

Is that I mean it d do we have the ability when we're when we're approving these, is this an all-or-nothing thing?

Is our vote a binary vote, or can we say, well, eighty percent for this development doesn't make sense, but I'd I'd be fine with 40 percent.

Absolutely.

Kate Messer, Financial Strategy Manager.

So the the policy that was adopted last year gave you an additional uh 30 percent up to 80 percent.

So if if you would like to see any of these report on requests at a different percentage, we can definitely run a cost-benefit analysis at that level.

I think I personally I think that that would be would would be helpful, particularly for some of these developments that even at the 80 percent level are are nowhere near what council has historically done from a CBR standpoint.

The other thing I would suggest is I know that the policy does allow additional consideration for headquarters.

But but uh uh uh climate related issues.

Um I'm forgetting the term here, but uh uh eco-friendly developments, that type of stuff.

Um if we could get information about those uh about that while we're looking at these two, because right now I'm looking through some of these packets.

I don't I don't really see any information about about that type of stuff.

And I know that is supposed to be a consideration that we we take into account as well.

Okay.

Councilmember Vaucus.

Is that it?

Okay.

Thank you, Mary.

So just to clarify that so what we're talking about.

S sustainable design aspects.

Yes.

Okay.

So any aspects of sustainable design that are coming forward with these uh development proposals.

We'd like to hear that.

Yeah.

Okay, good.

Thank you.

Just as uh edification.

Not necessarily as a requirement of our tax abatement policy.

It's just like if you if they want to sway schoonover or Vaucus, maybe they need to put some uh you know what whatever.

Ecology type of develop um features in these um buildings or whatever.

Okay.

Okay.

That's kind of what they're looking for.

You know, I learned something just recently.

These are all uh slated for 10-year abatements.

And uh just remember this that 80 percent for 10 years is less than 50 percent for 20 years, and that's what Linux is doing.

So they're giving them 50 percent abatement for 20 years.

We're we're holding it to 10 years, so that's actually less of an abatement uh to the city.

So uh there is competition out there for these developments.

Um so we've expanded this, but at some point we're going to run out of room.

I mean, there we'll be done with I mean they're coming in so fast.

The interesting thing is uh that some of these they come in and they look like warehouses, but then the next the the tenant moves in and it's all manufacturing.

We've toured one yesterday.

I don't can't remember what yesterday.

High power down at 167th in Lone Elm.

That uh looks totally like a warehouse with forklifts and you go inside and it's high dollar manufacturing equipment making gener uh backup generator systems.

Uh half million dollar generator system.

So I think about 40 percent or so of these warehouses end up being manufacturing facilities with um a different pay scale for the employees that um so um I don't know um we're trying to be competitive and uh and and allow for these people to uh develop an Aletha.

I know it's not exactly our policy is to at 1.0 on cost-benefit analysis or or that would be to that we're paid back in 10 years.

But when you get 0.87, it extends it out to 12, 13 years.

So but um it's still in my view is is less than what some of our neighboring communities are offering.

So just just food for thought.

Any other comments on the reports?

I guess these will be coming to us in the near future.

Yes, um, coming back June 2nd.

All right.

For a public hearing.

We'll now move to discussion item A is a discussion regarding the 2026 State Legislative Session Review.

Uh Natalie Bright is here with uh Bright and Carpenter Consulting for a presentation.

Welcome, Natalie.

Give us the rundown on Kansas legislative sessions.

Let's start her PowerPoint.

Okay.

Thank you, Amanda.

She's amazing, as you all know.

Sorry.

It's okay.

There you go.

There we go.

Okay.

Well, thank you.

Natalie Bright.

Um a pleasure to be here today and to talk about the 2026 legislative session, which um did end much earlier than we traditionally do.

And so we've had some time to really absorb and look at what has happened and what was passed during the 2026 session.

So just here to give you some highlights and um give you kind of an update of where the city um really weighed in and what issues that you looked at and where we thought there were some wins, maybe some losses, um, and then where we're gonna go for it in 2026, what we need to do in the off-season, and then what 2027 might look like.

So we'll get started here.

Um just a few stats.

I think it's always interesting just to kind of see what the legislature did.

Um they had over 1,300 bills that were introduced in 2026.

The governor signed 136 of those.

14 bills were vetoed.

Um, and twenty um actually were overridden.

So that that actually shows the two years.

Sorry about that.

Um it was a little less than that.

I think um and I may ask representative uh Essex, if you remember what the total number of the overrides were.

Um maybe it was 12.

I'm thinking it was around 12.

So I apologize on that.

That 20 is wrong.

Um but we also um created and welcomed the new local government caucus, um, which was created and has about 41 members, which I think is a long time coming.

Um and I think we'll create a great opportunity for that local government voice to be represented in the legislature.

So this was their inaugural year.

And I think as they grow, it's going to be really important that the City of Letha stay engaged in that, helping provide them information as they move forward on those issues.

I met with the city and the staff and kind of talked about what my role was, where I was going to be looking at needing their assistance.

I got to hear from them, got to really work with Amanda Stanley, who is now coming and is helping with the advocacy.

Her expertise was really just amazing this year, really helped in a lot of areas.

And so I really appreciated that opportunity to work with her side by side.

We worked closely with your staff.

You have some of the best staff in the state, as you all know, but their expertise is unmatched by others in other communities.

And so often they are coming to us to ask for areas of guidance and how can we find a path forward.

So I appreciate being able to have that access and ability to help us move good policy forward.

Assisted with drafting and submitting testimony on bills when we had city priorities.

And there are lots of things that your city could communicate on and could testify on, but you want to be judicious and you want to make sure it's areas that really are going to impact you and where you feel like you can make a difference.

We also, as a lobbying corps, meet weekly with the league to understand what's going on statewide with municipal issues.

That's incredibly important for us lobbyists who wear boots on the ground every day.

It helps us bring messages back to you and your staff.

And then strategized with the league staff on again those key issues, how do we move forward?

And then we did sponsor a breakfast.

Me being Brighton Carpenter Consulting on behalf of the city, sponsored that breakfast just to kind of let them know that we were there.

We wanted to support that new group as they move forward as a caucus.

Here are the areas that we submitted testimony on testimony on behalf of the city.

Some of these were in person, some were written only, but they were areas where your staff felt that it was important that we have some type of position and present that to them.

Here is where I think we saw some wins and where we really were able to weigh in.

One was the property tax reform.

There were lots of ways that they looked at addressing property tax relief.

I think everybody in this room would appreciate a way to move forward on property tax relief, but it's difficult.

It's it's tough.

The state has really gotten out of the business of assessing property tax outside of the schools and the 20 Mills.

And so for them to try to find a path forward at the state level is very difficult unless they look at you at the local government and try to, as I say, put handcuffs or are ways to tamper you down.

And so really trying to find that path forward.

Um, you know, there was a lot of work done, a lot of discussion, but there just was not the agreement really to move forward that got support both sides of the aisle and the governor.

And so the last bill that did um be considered by the governor, she vetoed it.

The legislature adjourned, and there wasn't an opportunity for them to come back and try to override that or to offer another solution.

So that means in 2027, we'll be looking at property tax again.

Um I think the sales tax distribution formula, this is an issue that came out of Wichita.

They wanted the legislature to relook at how that city cost share with the counties is distributed.

And so there was a bill that was actually introduced, I think in 2005.

They put a um a hold on that.

They wanted to try to move it forward in 2026.

There were some discussions of a new formula when we took a look at it, um, at particularly we meeting the city.

We knew that it was going to potentially hurt us, and so we really worked to ask them to hold off and give um the local experts some more time to work through that.

Um, as the league will say, there are winners and losers no matter what kind of formula you put forward, but we hope that we can put one that's fair.

Um, and um, so we'll be working on that in the off season.

Um, there was some efforts on fire sprinklers to give a little bit more authority to the locals, and so any units that are four or less, they will be able to oversee that sprinkler.

It won't be the statewide mandate of you having to meet those requirements.

Um, and then of course, the most important is working with this uh legislature on the star bonds and the sports authority for the chiefs and making sure that that got established and that that project can be underway.

And so we were supportive of those efforts and worked with lawmakers to make sure they got it right so that you guys can be successful in that.

Some areas that I count as losses are those where they take away local control and they start to erode it.

And these are the three areas uh we did submit uh submit testimony in all of these areas.

Um there was a lot of work done across the state um in trying to not move these forward.

I believe the governor um vetoed all of these, Amanda.

Do you know?

I don't not sure about public nuisance, but um, I think the others that there was discussion, uh she did veto them, but they were overridden.

And then the 2026 elections.

Um I think it's just important to note these that we will be having fall elections, as I'm sure all of you are aware.

Um, the U.S.

Senate, the U.S.

House races, there's one Senate seat, and then the all four congressional um our governors races, I think are some of the most interesting we've had.

We actually had primaries um, you know, that are going to be uh tough primaries.

Um for a long time I don't know that we've had one on the Democrat side.

We've had them in the Republican, but to have them on both sides, I think it will be ones to watch.

Um and then all other statewide races, so insurance commissioner, um treasury, uh insurance um secretary of state, those are the ones that are up for also for election.

And then we have 13 house seats that will be up.

Senate um gets a bye unless you were a senator who replaced midterm.

There are a few of those, but we don't have any of those in um in Olathe.

So and then there is two constitutional amendments that will be considered this year.

The one is in the primary, which is the judicial selection.

Um that one's probably a little more difficult.

It's really wanting to change how we appoint our or how uh Supreme Court justices in Kansas are um submitted the first round, whether they are elected by the voters or whether we continue the process of where we have an appointment through the bar, and then the governor gets to select from three candidates that they present to her, then they get to that judicial selection by the governor would get to serve.

And so um that will be in the primary, but then also in the general election, there's another constitutional amendment that will allow um you to vote on citizenship required um in order to vote in Kansas.

And then in the off season, these are just some areas that we're gonna work on.

Um, property tax reform, as I mentioned.

There's already been a request by some senators to do a special session.

Um they would like to see us shift some of the um property tax to sales tax and so help fund schools through sales tax.

Um I don't know that there will be the interest or the bandwidth, um, particularly when you've got a Senate president who's running for governor to want to come back for a special session.

So I think the odds of that happening are very small, but it is being discussed and was presented.

Um also we want to make sure we monitor the creation of that sports authority, the Starbonds um districts, making sure we continue to see progress in moving forward on that.

Um I know Jamie's gonna be working with a team to talk about that sales tax distribution to make sure that if we redo that formula, we get it right and that it isn't punitive for us.

And then um the right-of-way, these are things that we continue to talk about.

Um, you know, that is an asset of the city that you're responsible for the taxpayers, and we just want to make sure um that it is being um cared for appropriately.

And so there's lots of discussions going on with industry and the local units in regards to relocation in the right-of-way as well as franchise fees that are charged there.

So there is a work group that's been put together.

We're working through the league to try to see if we can come forth with some compromises or at least be able to present something to the utility committees next year to try to work and and clean some of that up.

Technology's changed.

We want to make sure that we are as modern and um doing the best we can for the taxpayers.

And then, of course, we'll track that election activity just to keep you apprised of what's going on there.

And with that, this is just a sneak peek at some of the things I think we'll think about in 2027.

Um, there will be a new administration because we will have a new governor um, regardless um whether it's Democrat or Republican, it will be new because Governor Kelly has termed out.

Um we will have new House leadership.

Um Dan Hawkins is leaving to run for insurance commissioner.

Um, and then we could potentially have changes in the Senate.

Um Dinah Sykes is running for insurance commissioner.

Ty Masterson is running for governor, Ethan Corson is and uh um we also have Cindy Holser who's running.

Um, and so there could be changes there.

We'll work on property tax.

Again, that sales tax distribution, I know we'll take up next year the right-of-way.

And then I don't want to ever leave out the school finance formula.

I know schools are important to this community.

Um, they will be needing to look at that formula.

Um, there are some thoughts that maybe they will just extend the formula because it is set to expire um and a new one is set to be in place by July 1st.

I don't know if they can get that done with a new administration in the short time.

So there are some who think maybe they will extend that a year.

Um, or maybe they'll get busy and they'll get a formula done and they'll implement that and pass that next session.

So with that, I would be happy to answer any questions.

I did want to put a photo up of my business partner, Marley, because you don't often get to see her here.

Um, but we do work as a team together to make sure that we're representing you to the best of our ability.

And again, I just thank you for the opportunity to represent such a great community and to work with such an expert staff.

Um I I really feel like I learned something every time I sit down with them, and I appreciate that.

So with that, I'll be happy to answer any questions, Mr.

Mayer.

Okay, no.

Uh we do have some questions.

Sounds like there's gonna be a lot of leadership changes in Topeka next year.

So that'll be interesting to see.

Uh Councilmember Essex.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thanks for being here, Natalie.

I just want to say Natalie and Marley, I would put Amanda in there.

Familiar, friendly, um, knowledgeable faces that were so helpful during session and just kind as can be even in the most stressful situations.

So they are cut out for this job, and I can't thank you, ladies, enough for all you do for the city of Olathe.

It is it has made a big difference.

So thank you.

Um I did hear back the veto numbers for 2026, 20 bills were overridden and 20 line items.

Okay.

So the 20 was right.

I was right there.

Okay.

Perfect.

And and I just want to add to something that keeps coming back.

You you're talking about elections.

There is an effort to move all odd years to even just have elections every two years, including local all the way through the federal.

So that is something that didn't get a lot of traction because the county clerks were against it.

But it's something that I have a feeling is going to keep coming back.

I just wanted to let you know that that is looked at seriously.

So thank you again for everything.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Councilmember Creighton.

First of all, thank you for all your work and your regular reports.

Being new, going through orientation, drinking through a fire hose, learning this.

Those reports were so helpful for me to just stay up on what could be impacting us.

Because I am new, tell me what is the timeline when council gets to do feedback, staff gets to do feedback, looking towards the next session.

And obviously, as you pointed out, there's a lot of changes that could be happening next year.

The makeup's going to be so different.

And so what's the timeline when we do that?

Because once the election happens, you've got two months, and in that we've got Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year.

So it's it's going to be tough.

So when do we start prioritizing?

I appreciate that.

First of all, thank you for reading the reports.

It's always comforting to know somebody does read them.

And second of all, I will work with Amanda.

I work with um Susan to put that process together and to make sure that we do it early and timely.

Um but also kind of need to be able to read what you know what is what is happening, where the tea leaves going.

And so we'll be working on that again through the entire um summer.

In fact, I think we've already started working on it.

We have those work groups that we're being a part of.

And then we will start um moving that towards you.

And then um I know Susan and Amanda will put a great timeline together and and we'll work with them on that to be successful.

Yeah.

Sure.

Also, the League of Kansas municipalities puts together their statewide agenda, which is always very helpful.

Um if there are areas that you have particular interest in that affect more than one city, they s kick that off in this area tomorrow with their meetings.

So we'll have people attending that.

But then leading up into October, um, they have annual meetings and policy groups, and if there's legislation that you're passionate about, um they vote on that policy um at the end of October.

And so then generally cities across the state kick off their own agenda after that October date so that they can have everything lined up.

Because if there's any policy things, you really got to be working that hard in November and December.

I always tell my clients in this offseason the most important thing is just to keep those relationships with your elected officials.

You all know.

It's much better if you have a relationship with them to have it to have an ask if you know them and the ability to do that.

So that is top priority is for us to work on those relationships and then we'll watch those issues start to develop.

Interims will start meeting.

In fact, some have already met.

Um, you know, in an election year, sometimes they're a little lighter, but LCC has not approved what that calendar looks like.

But I know there are requests, they will be having interim meetings.

Those also kind of help to set priorities in what we think we'll see in 2027.

Thank you.

That's everything I had.

Councilmember Scunover.

Thank you, Mayor.

And thank you, Natalie.

Uh I I think you know, along the lines of of councilmember Creighton's comments.

I think in the past we've done a really good job of almost what I'll call like a reactive uh agenda where if the legislature is going to do something, we will voice, you know, what the city's position is and why we think it's a dumb idea or a great idea or whatever the case may be.

I would like us to look at to do something on the proactive side as well when we look at at those policies that we think are really gonna improve uh uh you know the city when it comes to sales tax collection or or some of these these issues.

Um so along the lines of what Councilmember Creighton was saying, I think doing that early in the process so that we can as as the council can have a chance to to weigh in on some of those issues and to set that direction, I think would be very helpful.

So might be a discussion that we have during our our budget session as far as sales tax collection and how much is out there, you know.

How much more what who wants a 12 percent sales tax rate?

So I think that would be tough to sell.

So I don't know.

Um there's definitely some uh pitfalls that we want to stay away from.

So yeah.

Uh Natalie, uh appreciate all the work you do in Topeka this year for us and also the coordination of our trip to DC, if you're involved in that in any way.

We appreciate that.

I heard you guys had a great trip.

We did.

And impressive that you actually saw all of the members.

I know.

That means they thought you were important.

They wanted to make sure they met with you because that doesn't always happen, I can assure you of that.

So I was really pleased that Amanda did a great job, despite losing her phone, which I thought was fantastic.

But she pulled through that.

That was great.

Yeah.

That's what I heard.

Yeah.

So thank you for making that trip.

We know that's important too, right?

To go see them and to visit them where they're at.

So thank you.

And their staff.

And their staff.

It was worthwhile, yeah.

Incredibly important.

Thank you, Nil.

Yeah.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

So speaking of our trip to D.C., we had an opportunity to meet directly with uh Senator Moran, Senator Marshall, and our Representative David's in D.C.

Our federal partners play an important role in advocating for us in D in Washington to help us identify any federal dollars that might be available to keep our city projects moving forward.

So we want to express our gratitude to each of our representatives and their staff for making the time to meet with us and then for working on behalf of the lathe and all the Alathians in DC.

And we know Amanda was important part of that too, so awesome work.

Yeah.

We'll now go to additional items.

I'm going to start on my left, Councilmember Creighton.

Thank you.

Three quick items.

First of all, as always, a big thank you to our public service staff for their uh their hard work that earned them the awards.

Um and not just the recipients, but we we have a great staff of about twelve hundred people across the city.

So please extend the thanks to them.

Um two things just very quickly, mostly uh for the city manager.

Could you give us an update on the uh date that we're looking at the parking garage to be in?

That's the first question.

Um Susan Sherman, City Manager, it's in June.

And is anybody moving in the back?

Yeah.

Mayor City Council, Zach Hardy, Deputy Director of Infrastructure.

Uh we are actually uh you I believe it's June 16th that you will see it, and then we will start construction after that.

Very good.

I I knew it was coming quickly and just wanted to keep that out there.

Yes.

Uh the final thing uh from City Manager Sherman is um we had the several reports tonight on the industrial revenue bonds.

Mr.

Schoonover brought that up, Mr.

Vaucis.

When do being new to this and not having been in the process before, when do we as a council get to kind of weigh in on that?

I'm I'm not opposed to economic incentives.

I just want to be able to know uh when I'm going to get a chance to have a put in my two cents worth.

Sure.

Thank you for the question.

Um traditionally the city council has taken up economic development tools, IRBs, tax abatements in the fall.

So I would expect if you want us to move that a little bit early.

We need to get the budget done.

So it's usually that October time frame where we'll come in, do some um maybe even a workshop and any kind of things that we need to change in the policy or or discuss in the policy so you all have good understanding of that.

Very good.

Thank you.

I would just say uh add to that it's it's really not a very good practice to tweak those constantly because business businesses are trying to plan and the chambers out there recruiting, and so it's nice if they have a little bit of a at least a 12-month window that they can say this is what a lathe is doing right now, but it might change next year.

So that's why we don't look at it every week every time we meet.

So yeah, it is but we review it on an annual basis.

So that's typically what we've done.

Councilmember Schoonover.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh just a uh couple of quick things.

Nate, I know uh you and I had a chance, you were very responsive to some some messages that I had had sent um Iowa Street between uh what is that, Herald 127th Street and 119th Street.

Um I've I've had some concerns from some folks over in the area.

Uh can you just give an update on on that project and when they'll see a smoother road?

Yeah, absolutely.

Nate Baldwin, City Engineers.

So uh thanks for the question.

Um we're doing things a little bit differently in Iowa because there were over a hundred what we call transverse cracks, those are the cracks that go across the street.

Usually we'll mill out the asphalt and then we'll repair that base.

Uh what we've found is if we have to do that many repairs, it's better to do it while the old asphalt's in place and then mill out the top two inches of that repair and then come back.

You get a smoother ride after the end.

So if you've driven Iowa, it is noticeably rough.

There's a lot of asphalt patches, it looks you know not great, drives even worse.

So we're waiting until after school's out, and then we're putting a pedestrian refuge island in at 123rd in Iowa.

That's where one of the main crosswalks is for the elementary school there.

After we do that, so probably around mid-June, we're gonna come mail out all that asphalt and the replace it.

So I would think by the end of June, the people out there are finally going to have a nice smooth ride on Iowa.

Well, awesome.

Thank you so much, Nate.

I appreciate that update.

I know for the half a person watching this online.

They they may appreciate that update.

Uh well.

So thank you so much.

And along those lines, uh, you know, just thank you so much to the city staff to to all of our crew.

Um, you know, we the ETC award tonight, I think having public uh public service recognition week uh tonight was was uh very noted um because certainly we don't we don't win those awards without uh such a great staff.

So thank you to everybody for all you do.

Councilmember Felter.

Thank you, Mayor Bacon.

Um congratulations to all of the employees that got awards tonight.

That was amazing.

Grateful for your exceptional work here in Olatha.

It's National Public Works Week.

And I was gonna give all the stats with all the miles and houses and street lights, but I'll post it online.

It's a lot, and we are so grateful when the rest of us are in bed.

A lot of y'all are working.

So we are grateful.

Full Service City is a heavy lift, and we recognize that.

Congratulations to Leadership Olathas class of 2026.

Uh an amazing group graduated Friday, and their names will be added to the list of nearly 1,200 leadership Olatha alumni dating back to the 1980s, which is pretty cool.

And Lori Menard was uh designated the Distinguished Leadership of Letha alumni.

And um that designation is given to individuals who exemplify continued leadership and service beyond the program.

Candidates must demonstrate active involvement in the Olatha community, a strong commitment to community service, and a sustained positive impact since completing leadership Olatha.

And I think that Lori is the definition of that designation.

So congratulations, Lori, and thank you for the difference that you make in our community.

And that's all I have, Mayor.

Thank you.

Councilmember Vacas.

Um Thanks, Mayor.

Just to remind, Monday is Memorial Day.

Uh perhaps the most serious day of the of the year for us here in the United States.

It's the day in which we commemorate our war dead.

Um the ceremony is held at Veterans Park.

And uh the American Legion Post, uh, 153, also known as the Earl Collider Post, really puts that ceremony on.

It starts at 1030.

It and it's it's over at 1130.

It's a great event, not just for the sake of the speeches, but the Olatha Civic Band plays for about 40 minutes out of the hour event, and it's a wonderful band.

I certainly would encourage everyone to attend the ceremony.

The weather looks like it's going to be nice to ceremony, and it's a commemorate commemoration.

It's very serious, quite quite frankly.

And it's important for all of us to think about it, whether you're there or not.

But certainly come out and enjoy the music.

Thank you, Mayor.

Councilmember Essex.

Thank you.

I just wanted to also say congratulations on um the annual employee award winners.

We have so many great people here.

You hear from us every single council meeting, complimenting staff for one thing or another, just because the rock stars, and we just want to make sure we continue to say thank you for all you do.

Um the the ETC Leading the Way Award, pretty impressive that seven years in a row, we're getting recognized for that.

That is such an accomplishment.

So everybody pat yourselves on the back that the everyone here had a part in that.

So thank you so much for all you do for us.

Um wanted to also say that last week was police week.

Um we actually had SRO agency award given to our police.

Only one of 11 agencies to receive the model SRO agency award from the National Association of School Resource Officers.

Congratulations to Chi Pit and the entire police force again, phenomenal group of people.

Those of you who have interacted with our SROs, they're amazing.

They're involved, they love the kids, they're they're doing great things in our high schools and at our deaf school as well.

And this week is EMS Week.

Um we just want to recognize and thank them for all they do, all the emergencies.

How many sirens did we hear in the time we've just been here in the um in the in this room?

So thank you so much to EMS and to our police.

Councilmember Denal.

Thank you.

Um very glad that Robin brought up that last week was police uh police week.

And you know, going to we we went to DC last week and it was just really amazing.

They had a huge uh showing, a lot of police there.

I think Chief, uh it would have been amazing to sit had you there with us.

Um I also just want to really quickly mention uh thank you to the fire department.

I know they're uh excellent at taking care of our own learned of one of ours with a small, maybe not so small health thing, and uh our fire department did an excellent job and everything's looking up.

was police uh police week and you know going to we we went to DC last week and it was just really amazing they had a huge uh showing a lot of police there I think Chief uh it would have been amazing to have had you there with us um so wanted to mention that I also just want to really quickly mention uh thank you to the fire department I know they're uh excellent at taking care of our own learned of one of ours um with a small maybe not so small health thing and uh our fire department did an excellent job and everything's looking up and so I just want to say we're thinking about you and um yeah the next thing I want to say uh just to everybody public service uh recognition uh congrats to the award winners but also thank you to all the staff uh you guys do a phenomenal job and lastly thanks for a well prepared meeting every meeting goes so smoothly uh I just really appreciate that so thank you City Manager Susan Sherman anything tonight I do not have anything further I just recently learned that the city uh got an award from the WTS of Greater KC which was formerly the women's transportational or transportation seminar and I don't know I guess we've got a lot of women uh that work for the so maybe it was dumb luck that we got this recognition I don't know because I think that we as a city look at qualifications your talent and as long as you're doing a good job in the position it's yours whether you're male female or whatever so um uh anyway we got that award so it funny story uh a couple of Thursday nights ago we got recognized by the school district well at the school district and uh so several employees came and so was the mayor and about six or seven women that were up there accepting the award so I don't know what happened to all the guys that night but I felt real comfortable because I grew up with seven sisters so it was uh just like being like a family photo.

Uh fourth Fridays returns this week.

So join us and our friends from Chamber on Friday in downtown Olatha for live music, food, drinks, and family friendly activities.

The summer tradition begins or brings thousands of people together for the fourth Friday in each month during the summer months.

So uh activities start at 6 p.m.

So check that out Friday afternoon or evening.

And then coming Monday uh Memorial Day all of the city pools will be open is that correct they're all open.

So I know today really didn't feel much like a pool day out there but uh I checked extended forecast on Monday supposed to be 83.

So uh get out there have some fun and enjoy a great Memorial Day on Monday.

So that is all tonight folks thanks for being here we are adjourned