Good evening.

Welcome to City Hall for the Tuesday, July twenty first regular meeting of the Olatha City Council.

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

Would you please stand with me for the pledge?

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America.

One nation under God.

We'll uh now move to special business.

We have a couple of items under special business tonight.

Item A is a proclamation recognizing the Olatha Noon Optimus Club on their 80th year.

Here in Olatha, we're fortunate to be home of some exceptional civic clubs full of passionate volunteers who dedicate their time to making our community a better place for everyone.

Tonight we're celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Olatha Noon Optimus Club.

So would Club President Bob Quartz please come forward?

Did I say Barb?

I it sounded like Bob, but it's actually Barb.

I call a large family, so I answered my mom's doing the animation.

Thank you.

All right.

So let me read the proclamation, and then if you want to introduce the folks that are here and say whatever you'd like.

So I'll read the proclamation.

It says, whereas for eight decades, the Olatha Noon Optimus Club has demonstrated a strong commitment to the principles of optimism, fellowship, and civic engagement.

And whereas the club has contributed meaningful meaningfully to the quality of life in Olatha through charitable efforts, volunteer service, scholarships, and programs that encourage and support young people, including the Olatha Mayor's Children's Fund.

And whereas the City of Olatha recognizes the lasting impact of organizations such as the Olatha Noon Optimus Club, whose members have given generously of their time, talents, and resources to benefit others.

And whereas the 80th anniversary of the Olatha Noon Optimus Club is an opportunity to honor its history, celebrate its accomplishments, and express appreciation for its continued contributions to the community.

Now, therefore, I John Bacon, Mayor of the City of Olatha, do hereby proclaim July 21, 2026 as Olatha Noon Optimus Day, and encourage all Olathians to join in recognizing and celebrating the Olatha Noon Optimus Club for its many years of outstanding service to our community.

Thank you so much.

Okay, we we do have a few um people from our club that have um are here as well for this um exciting moment.

Um I would like to, on behalf of the Olatha Noon Optimist Club, I'd like to thank Mayor Bacon, the City Council, as well as you, the citizens of Olatha, um, for supporting us.

And um we certainly enjoy serving the youth of Olatha, and you may be familiar with some of the ways we we um serve the youth.

Um, in addition to the aforementioned scholarships, we also encourage youth that are um interested in the arts with Olatha's Got Talent.

We encourage them to participate, they get scholarships to go to more of an artistic kind of college that furthers their education.

And um, a few of our winners are actually in the entertainment uh field.

Um I think one of them is actually at the dinner theater in a performance right now.

Um we also um sponsor some essay and oratorical contests, which help youth to uh further enhance their speaking um skills and their writing skills, uh, which I don't have because I'm looking at my notes here.

Um recently the Olatha Noon Optimus Club uh supported Olatha Northwest High School Sources of Strength students and the videography students, who successfully produced a public service announcement on the 988 crisis line.

It is entitled Five Minutes That Matter and is currently being used by various suicide prevention groups in the Olatha community and beyond.

Um it's available on YouTube for anyone who wants to use it.

I've got one a little off script here.

Um as a club, we also participate in hosting a Kansas District Optimist Golf Tournament, which will be on August 3rd, and all the proceeds from that event, um, and we've been doing it for many years, um, are donated for the purpose of sending youth who are battling cancer to camp for one week.

It pays for their expenses, and a medical team accompanies them so that their treatment cannot uh or is not interrupted.

This offers them a nice opportunity to go camping and um offers their parents some respite from the um stress of caregiving.

We always welcome participation in these events as well as new members, and more information can be found on our website, Olatha New and Optimist.org.

And once again, we thank Olatha for recognizing our 80 years of service to the youth of our community.

Again, thank you.

So thank you, Bob.

Barb.

I don't know what it's kidding grief.

Okay.

And and also the Optimus Club for all the work that you do in our community.

Um it's amazing, and we wanted that to continue.

So when I get I get to come and address your uh group once in a while, a year uh once a year, I guess, and I get some really good questions from that group.

So very active.

We'll now move on to um item B, which is a proclamation recognizing August 4th, 2026 as national night out.

This event is a great opportunity to highlight some of the strengths of the Olatha Police Department, our public outreach, relationship building, and community policing.

Here to accept the proclamation tonight is resident Ashley Squires and community outreach outreach specialist Bethle Wendell.

So I'll read this about National Night Out.

So I'll read the proclamation.

It says, Whereas since 1984, National Night Out has been providing neighborhoods an opportunity to connect with each other and local law enforcement to come together with a shared vision of safer communities.

And whereas the city of Ulata, along with thousands of communities across the country, will host National Night Out on August 4th to promote to promote community policing and the and to emphasize the importance of relationships in maintaining safe neighborhoods.

And whereas this gather gathering strengthens the connections between officers and residents, allowing for improved communication, understanding and a more caring and safer Olatha.

And whereas it is essential that all citizens of Olatha understand the importance of crime prevention programs and the impact their participation can have on reducing crime, drug abuse, and violence in our city.

Now, therefore I, John Bacon, mayor of the city of Olatha do hereby proclaim August 4th, 2026 is National Night Out in Olathe in conjunction with the Olatha Police Department, Olatha Fire Department, Johnson County Med Act, and the National Association of Town Watch.

I'll get this toward if you want to continue.

I'll speak for both of us.

Thank you, Mayor and members of the City Council, for your continued support of National Night Out.

This annual event brings neighbors together, strengthens partnerships with law enforcement and first responders, and helps build safer, stronger communities.

On Tuesday, August 4th, neighbor neighborhoods across Olatha will gather for National Night Out and Olatha Police Officers as well as Olatha Firefighters and Johnson County Medic will be visiting neighborhood events throughout the city from 6 30 to 8 30 p.m.

We appreciate your support and look forward to another great evening of connecting with our community.

Yes.

So thank you, Beth and Ashley, for being here and good luck on the event next month.

We'll now move to public hearings portion of tonight's meeting.

Item A is a public hearing in consideration of resolution number 26-1058 regarding the structure located at 617 North Water Street, declaring the structure to be unsafe and dangerous, and ordering the property owner to commence repairs or demolition of the structure by August 20th, 2026.

Chief Building Officer Ryan Arder joins us for a presentation.

And that's not Ryan, that's Chet Velcher.

So Brian's on his way.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Mayor.

City Council, Ryan Arder, Chief Building Official, here to talk about 617 Northwater.

This is a single family residence with a detached garage structure.

That is an unsafe and dangerous structure.

Per O'Latha Municipal Code 1502.250.

We enforce uh these dangerous structures and in also in compliance with Kansas statutes uh 121750.

This uh residence is on Northwater at the cross streets of Mulberry uh in water, just a little north of City Hall here.

And a brief history, umtices and violations were sent from our property maintenance group for uh on several attempts with no response from the homeowner during this time uh we were informed that the property owner is deceased, and our next step was to get a hold of the next of kin uh to help us with the with the property, and nobody is taking responsibility or wants to be a part of the property uh rehabitation.

So um we uh are uh it's essentially an abandoned property at this point and uncared for for the last decade or so.

This year we started the abatement process and um uh did some um inspections and uh we're here today to finalize that uh that motion thank you, Ryan.

Any questions or has anyone signed up to speak in this public hearing?

No, sir.

Is there anyone in the audience that would like to address this property at 617 Northwater?

Seeing none, a motion to close the public hearing would be in order.

I move to close the public hearing.

Second.

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

So if there's no other questions or comments of uh council members, then a motion to approve resolution number 26-1058 would be in order.

Um I move to approve a resolution uh second we have a motion and a second with the city clerk, please call the roll.

Mr.

Creighton, yes.

Mr.

Denult, yes, Mr.

Bacon.

Yes, Mr.

Schoonover, yes, Dr.

Felter.

Yes, Mr.

Vacchus, yes, Miss Essex.

Yes, motion passes 70.

Item B, I'd like to open up a public hearing in consideration of resolution number 26-1059 regarding the structure, a single family detached house located at 414 East Cedar Street, declaring the structure to be unsafe and dangerous, and ordering the property owner to commence repairs or demolition on the structure by August 20th, 2026.

Uh Ryan is here again, so if you want to give us a brief presentation.

Yes.

Thank you, Mayor.

City Council once again, Ryan Arder, Chief Building Official, speaking on 414 East Cedar Street.

This is actually a multifamily residence of been converted into eight units as unsafe and dangerous at this point.

Um once again, the municipal code that uh presides over uh this this uh action and the property is at the crosswall uh cross streets of Southwater in East Cedar.

And the brief history here is um our um property maintenance uh group has been working with the property owner and there have been several citations and violations and court appearances over the last few years.

Um we were not granted um permission to enter the property to do any inspections so with probable cause we uh um got a search warrant and uh served that in April of this year and beginning the uh abatement process any questions of staff on this from count council members um is there anyone no one is signed up to speak?

Is there anyone in the audience that would like to speak in this public hearing?

Seeing not a motion to close the public hearing be in order.

Thank you, Mayor.

I move to close the public hearing.

Second.

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

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Mr.

Schoonover.

Yes.

Dr.

Felter.

Yes.

Mr.

Vacus.

Yes.

Ms.

Essex.

Yes.

Mr.

Creighton.

Yes.

Mr.

Denult.

Yes.

Motion passes 70.

A motion to approve resolution number 26-1059 would be in order.

I move to approve resolution 26-1059.

Second.

We have a motion.

Second with the city clerk please call the roll.

Ms.

Essex.

Yes.

Mr.

Creighton.

Yes.

Mr.

Denult?

Yes.

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Mr.

Schoonover.

Yes.

Dr.

Felter.

Yes.

Mr.

Vacus.

Yes.

Motion passes.

70.

We'll now move 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.

Councilmember Vaucus.

Could we pull item I?

I would like to talk a little bit about L or Councilmember Schoonover.

Thank you, Mayor.

I'd like to pull item M is in November.

Okay.

And L and M for me.

Okay.

A couple of questions.

So I L M and N are the exceptions.

A motion to approve the consent agenda would be in order.

It was I L M N N.

ILM I and M or L and M are related.

Okay.

So we have 24 items on the consent agenda.

So I move to approve the consent agenda as presented last items I, L, and an M.

Just for clarification.

Just for clarification.

He said N Mike Nancy.

Yes.

And you say L is associated with N.

I said L is associated with M, as in Mary.

Okay, so are we pulling M also?

Yes.

Okay.

Yep.

L M N I.

Okay.

Just clear as much.

Second that 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 I is consideration of resolution number 26-1064, repealing resolution number 24-1059.

City Council Policy PI-1A, bidding requirements policies for public improvement projects.

And I'm sorry, who pulled that?

I did.

Oh thank you.

Councilmember Vaucus.

Thank you, Mayor.

And I just asked City Legal to just give us a quick review on what we're doing here.

Thanks, Bob.

Evening, Council.

Mayor.

Uh Bob Gallimore, Assistant City Attorney.

Mayor Potem, uh, this is really a trailer to the ordinance that you passed uh two weeks ago.

Um approving uh essentially what's in this policy uh with some updates, uh, but moving them into ordinance um with the other procurement policies.

Um that ordinance will go into effect on um July 27th.

And so we don't want to have both the existing policy and this new ordinance operating at the same time because they cover the same subject matter.

So this resolution will just repeal the existing policy uh the same date that the new ordinance goes into effect.

Okay, very good.

Thanks, Bob.

Thank you.

Any other comments or questions on item A?

Seeing that a motion be in order.

Thank you, Mayor.

So I'll move to approve uh item I on the consent agenda as presented.

Second.

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

Dr.

Felter.

Yes.

Mr.

Vacus.

Yes.

Ms.

Essex.

Yes.

Mr.

Creighton.

Yes.

Mr.

Denult.

Yes.

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Mr.

Schoonover.

Yes.

Motion passes.

7-0.

Item L is consideration of an author of an authorization of transfer from the street excise tax fund to the Dennis Avenue Hedge Lane and to Parker Street.

Improvements project PN3-C-021-26.

Um.

Thanks, Nate.

U my question on this particular this is going to start the ball rolling on a potential $17 million project for improvements to Dennis Avenue from Parker to Hedge.

Some of the comments well, it's it's tied to item M.

But so I don't know if you want to talk about them together.

My concern is as we're tightening our belt a little bit, and we're actually postponing some of our CIP projects.

This project for 17 million doesn't really add any additional lanes.

It does have some turn lanes, but it talks about improving Dennis as far as curbs, sidewalks, and storm water.

But there are parts of this street that already have all of that.

Matter of fact, the sidewalk goes all the way from Parker to Hedge.

Now, if you go further west on Dennis from Hedge to Wharplift or Lakeshore, there are no sidewalks.

So Mike can I guess before we get, you know, start spending the two two million bucks for the engineering and also I understand there's some money available.

So if you if you want to just kind of give a little presentations, I just wanted counsel to make sure that we were ready to go on this.

Yeah.

Well, thank you, Mayor Council members.

As far as some of the challenges that are exist as far as staging for parents pickup and things like that.

Student drop-off.

Yeah, yep, I can do all that for you, Mayor.

So again, Nate Baldwin City Engineer.

Uh so thank you, Mayor Council members.

So I've got a little presentation.

I'm going to kind of talk about why we're proposing to do the project and then walk through.

I've got some aerials of what we envision this project doing, and hopefully that answers some of your questions.

And then if not, uh I will be here to answer your questions.

So first off, it does um improve Dennis Avenue to a three-lane roadway, not the entire thing, and I'll get into that as we go through there.

And there are other improvements to that.

So this really is about safety and capacity.

Um there's a lot of access management concerns with this, a lot of offset roads, and I'll go through that.

So right now, as it stands today, Dennis has over 8,600 vehicles a day on that.

Uh it's a two-lane road, unimproved in sections.

Uh it also has a crash index of 4.3.

What a crash index tells you is anything above 1.0 probably needs to be addressed for safety reasons.

This is 4.3.

Um over the past three year period, this is the highest crash index road that we have in the city of Olatha.

So it's not just capacity, but really a safety concern as well.

Um for our traffic engineers, uh, it's the highest priority project we have out there that we haven't already started.

Obviously, like Santa Fe 935 is more important.

But from the list, every year we put together the proposed uh CIP sheets, our traffic engineers and um uh transportation engineers in the office go through and prioritize those with a bunch of different um rankings and criteria.

This popped out to number one, and then as you mentioned, Mayor, we do have six million dollars in uh surface transportation um grant um money that we get that through mark.

Six million dollars is the most we have ever gotten for an Arturo Road uh improvement through this program.

So uh not just Olatha, but there's other people out there also saying that this project is uh highly important.

So we'll start here at the uh intersection of Dennison Parker.

Um you can see up here, right here, a lot of uncontrolled access points to here, especially in that um the intersection influence area, right?

So what we need to do is put some mediums in there, help control traffic.

People try to pull out as you're coming in there, and there's a lot of accidents at that point.

Also, those turn lanes need to be extended.

So that'll be part of that this project uh as well.

And then this section of Dennis uh from Robinson to Province, we really don't have room to widen it, but you can see I'm hoping that's showing up.

Yeah, these these intersections are offset, and that's that provides um a lot of conflict points you're not facing where you're turning.

So you get people turning out against each other and going on.

So again, this is another area where um we have a lot of crash histories, and um what we're probably gonna do in this area is put a some medians in there to control access a little bit more where people have other ways to get around, force them to a little bit safer intersections with that.

Then here we have two collect roads that come on to Dennis kind of in the middle, Robinson Drive to the south and Montclair to the north.

They're offset there, and that creates a very big problem.

You have people trying to churn against each other.

We really want to line those up, but instead of lining those up, they're a little too far away.

We're gonna put a couple of roundabouts and connect them in.

We call it a dogbone roundabout.

So you'll be able to safely navigate through there and not be have any concern with conflicting uh traffic patterns.

And then we'll we'll talk a little bit here.

So this is the section of Dennis Avenue that's unimproved.

This is where we'll widen it to three lanes, put curb and gutter, uh sidewalks on the south side.

As you know, mayor, there's sidewalks on the north side.

We'll also um signalize the intersection of Hedgelane and Dennis Avenue.

Um right now, what we're seeing a lot with the school is we get parents parking all through here and this side just uh on the road, and it's only two lanes.

So they try to pull off, but it only ends up leaving about one lane of traffic for people to drive through, and it's head-on traffic.

So um twice a day during the school, you can really you you have a lot of concerns with with traffic there.

Um we're still trying to study what we're gonna do.

We need to work with the school on how we can get a lot of those people off of the road and onto their property.

So they need to be a partner with us on this project.

But we also need to widen this road and put some additional churn lanes in there to safely churn in the school and for some capacity improvements if we can't get all the parents onto the school property.

So hopefully that helped answer some of your questions.

If not, I'm here to answer any further ones.

So um, real quick, so Oregon Trail uh pool is a city asset.

So what on that screen that you're showing right there, what portion of that is city owned and what's school district?

I mean, is it are we going to help improve some of the parking there or the circulation or what's our plan there?

That will that will not be part of this project.

Um the scope of this project is defined with those federal funds.

We have to keep it on the hedge corridor.

So we can't do improvements off to the parking, but that's where we look to the school district as our partner to help us with that.

It may not be um adding parking spaces, it may be how they circulate traffic throughout there.

And we meet with the school district quarterly, and those are the type of items we'll discuss, and we'll get them involved with this project as well.

Okay.

Uh Councilmember Sconova.

Thank you, Mayor, and and thank you for pulling these items because I I can attest from experience that that this road, particularly in the morning, is just absolutely a nightmare.

It is it is a bottleneck, and God help you if you ever try and turn left.

Um it's I think it's it's dangerous, particularly when kids are walking to school and and when parents are trying to drop off and then go to work.

So I I just want to say I fully support this project.

And and Nate, thank you so much for chasing the federal dollars on this one because I think I think now this this project needs to get done and it'll never be cheaper than doing it now.

So thank you very much.

Thank you.

I think I think you've answered my questions.

I like the idea of the dogbone roundabout to try to hook up Montclair to the north.

Yeah, we're very excited about that.

Okay.

Um so with that, I would entertain a motion.

Well, uh motion to approve item L and M too.

If I didn't really have any other questions on M.

Is it okay to combine those two?

Okay.

So a motion to approve L and M.

L and M.

Second.

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

Mr.

Macon.

Yes.

Mr.

Schoonover.

Yes.

Dr.

Felter.

Yes.

Mr.

Vacas.

Yes.

Miss Essex.

Yes.

Mr.

Creighton.

Yes.

Mr.

Denult.

Yes.

Motion passes 7-0.

Item N is consideration of award and contract to Vasquez commercial contracting LLC for construction of the Olathe Girls Softball Complex concession/slash restroom facility project PN 4-C-036-26.

Councilmember Schoonover.

Thank you, Mayor.

And I I think this is a great project.

I think it's absolutely needed.

I just pulled it because I need to abstain from voting on it.

So that's really the only reason why.

But I guess if you have a I'd love to.

If anyone has any other questions, I just well, I I um any other questions?

Any okay.

Councilmember.

Thank you.

Yeah, Nate, I'd love for you to present on it because I'm really excited about this.

Okay.

Yeah.

Um, so thank you, Mayor Council members.

Nate Baldon, City Engineer.

I've also got Johnny Brockis over here, uh, our park superintendent.

So uh if there's some things I can't answer for you, I've got support right here.

But um this rendering, what you see before us is the this project is a combination of three different facilities out there.

We've got restrooms and different facilities and concession stands.

And in 2013, we did a facility report.

So 13 years ago, we envisioned needing this facility here.

And we finally come to the day where we've got this.

What we heard in the parks master plan, uh, wouldn't uh the outreach number one priority was taking care of existing facilities.

This checks that box.

The other thing we heard is restrooms, restrooms, and restrooms.

And this checks that box as well.

This more than doubles the capacity of the restrooms and brings them all into one single location.

It's not going to look exactly like this.

Uh the contract we have is for design build, but this was the rendering that came out of that 2013 facility report.

And really, by building this and providing these facilities, this is going to put us on par with um other facilities like uh Blue Valley and JCPRD.

And as we're competing for those tournaments, it's really important to stay up with those.

Councilmember Felter.

Thank you.

Thank you, Nate.

Does this put the girls' facility on par to be equal with the boys facility?

I believe it does, yes.

Okay.

And then the last time I was out there, um, there was a great need for shade.

Is is that being addressed at all?

I'm gonna let Johnny talk about that.

Mayor, uh Council, Johnny Brock is park superintendent.

Uh when we redid the uh parking lot two years ago, we added quite a few trees in there.

It's gonna take some time for them to mature, but we are we have a plan to provide more shade in this area, yes.

You know, right in the middle, it's kind of on the asphalt where in between all the fields.

Uh is there a way to do some sort of canopy of some sort there?

Because there used to be big trees, but they've been cut down and it that's where it's really hot.

Yeah, we've discussed adding some shade structures to this area to help provide shade for for uh people using the facility.

We also have uh shade covers over the uh bleachers.

So on a hot day, you have a little bit of shade right there while you're watching the games.

Thank you.

Yep.

And Johnny, while you're there, um if you're at the concession stand here now.

There is you're under covered area.

Are you uh planning to have uh some kind of a cover when you're standing for concessions on the west side of the building here?

We have spoke about maybe an eight-foot covered area to provide a little protection while you're while you're placing an order, yes.

Okay.

Very good.

All right.

Any other questions on item in?

Seeing none of motion be in order.

I move to approve item and second.

We have a motion and a second when the city clerk please call the role.

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Dr.

Felter.

Yes.

Mr.

Bacchus.

Yes.

Miss Essex.

Yes.

Mr.

Creighton.

Yes.

Mr.

Denult.

Yes.

Motion passes 6-0.

We'll now move to new business.

Item A is consideration of ordinance number 26-37 requesting approval to annex approximately 70.99 acres, located one-fourth mile north of West 175th Street and U.S.

169 Highway.

It's ANX 26-0002.

Um this annexation will eliminate an enclave of unincorporated land.

The owner is purchasing annexation it is pursuing annexation for future industrial development.

Is there a need for a presentation on this item?

Any questions?

No.

Seeing that a motion would be in order.

I move to approve ordinance 26-37.

Second.

We have a motion and a second one.

The city clerk please call the roll.

Ms.

Carvacis.

Yes.

Miss Essex.

Yes.

Mr.

Creighton.

Yes.

Mr.

Denult.

Yes.

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Mr.

Scunover.

Yes.

Dr.

Felter.

Yes.

Motion passes.

70.

Item B is consideration of ordinance number 26-38 and resolution number 26-1067 authorizing the issuance and delivery of the general obligation improvement bond series 2026A.

Bids were received today.

For both this item and the next one, the temporary fund uh the general obligation bonds in item B and also the temporary notes in item C for our funding mechanisms for city projects.

All right.

Thank you.

All right.

Good evening, Mayor, City Council, Kate Messer, Financial Strategy Manager.

We have good news today regarding our GO and temporary note financing.

So I'm just going to briefly walk you through kind of the details of both sales.

So as with every issuance, um when we go to market, we get rated by a rating agency.

So standard core was this one for both RGO notes and our temporary notes.

They reaffirmed our current city ratings at double A plus for the general obligation bonds and then the SP one plus for the temporary notes.

Revenue bonds will issue these later this summer, so you'll see those sale prices September-ish.

In every rating uh opinion, we have highlights, and a lot of these highlights are evergreen for us.

And a lot of these highlights are evergreen for us.

The outlook remains stable.

The ratings remain stable.

Strong economic growth and conservative budgeting has contributed with a track record, conservative and sophisticated management team.

So we we take those highly.

With every opinion, we also have downside scenarios.

So what would it take for us to receive a downgrade in rating?

And then also the upside scenario, what it would take for us to have an upgrade in ratings.

So the downside scenario is always around our um our reserve levels, and if they continuously and sustainly reserve fall under the targeted and the policy stated policy reserve levels, then we can kind of see a downside scenario.

Upside scenario, it's always kind of related to our debt burden.

So we have a larger CIP, we issue more debt.

So they kind of want to always see us maybe reduce that a little bit, and then weather the storm of near-term inflationary pressures and revenue uncertainty.

So geo bonds um par value of just over 19 million there.

We got 10 bidders, and the best and lowest bidder was FHN financial for true interest costs of 3.17, and that's the lowest rate we've seen since 2021.

So good on that front.

Temporary notes, uh just under 173 million a par there for four bidders.

The best and lowest was B of A Securities, which is Bank of America.

And the true interest costs there of 2.726, which is the lowest since what is that, 2022.

So good news on both fronts of those those ratings.

Some of the major projects included in these um financing sales in the geospace.

We have 135th Street retaining wall, facility renovations, improvements, um, street reconstruction, modernization of fire stations.

And then in the temp notes, you'll see some of the legacy projects there of Santa Fe, 119th City Hall Parking Garage and Fire Station Fire.

Uh so three items up in front of you this evening.

One is an ordinance for the geo uh bonds and a resolution for the geobonds, and then a resolution for the temp notes.

And I'm happy to stand for any questions.

Any questions of Kate?

No.

Seeing none, I'm happy about the bids.

Those are awesome.

Great.

Uh a motion be in order.

So I would move that we approve ordinance 26-38 and resolution number 26-1067.

Second.

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

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Mr.

Schoonover.

Yes.

Dr.

Felter.

Yes.

Mr.

Vacus.

Yes.

Miss Essex.

Yes.

Mr.

Creighton.

Yes.

Mr.

Denult.

Yes.

Motion passes.

70.

Item C is consideration of resolution number 26-1068 authorizing the issuance and delivery of the principal amount of the general obligation temporary notes series 2026-A.

Any need for any more questions, comments, uh motion be in order.

I would move then to approve resolution 26-1068.

Second.

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

Mr.

Denult.

Yes.

Mr.

Creighton.

Yes.

Ms.

Essex.

Yes.

Mr.

Vacchus.

Yes.

Dr.

Felter.

Yes.

Mr.

Scunover.

Yes.

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Motion passes 7-0.

Item D is consideration of ordinance number 26-39 authorizing payment by the city treasurer of an in the eminent domain award and court-appointed appraisers fees for constructing and maintaining the Santa Fe Ridgeview to Merlin Improvements Project PN3-C-025-18.

In the matter of the city of Olatha, Kansas versus Olathe Landing LLC et al.

Court case number JO-2026-C V8.

This is the latest anticipated imminent domain proceeding to acquire public right-of-way and easements for this project.

Is there a need for a presentation staff on this item?

Seeing that a motion be in order.

I would move to approve ordinance 26-39.

Second.

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

Dr.

Felter.

Yes.

Mr.

Bacchus.

Yes.

Ms.

Essex.

Yes.

Mr.

Creighton.

Yes.

Mr.

Denult.

Yes.

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Mr.

Scunover.

Yes.

Motion passes.

7-0.

Next item on our agenda is general issues and concerns of citizens.

We have three individuals that have uh signed up to speak and address the council tonight.

So at this time I'd like the city clerk to please read the guidelines and ask and invite our uh speakers up.

The 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.

The council has allocated up to three minutes per speaker.

Tonight we have three speakers.

Would our first speaker, David Miller, please come to the podium, state your name and address for the record.

Yes, please.

Yeah.

Welcome.

Thank you.

Appreciate all you all do.

My name is David Miller.

I live at 158-51 West Locust in Briarwood in Olatha, Kansas.

I understand you're not voting on the Starfish proposal tonight.

The formal hearing is expected before the planning commission next week.

I'm speaking because I want our neighborhood concerns heard before this proposal gains moment momentum.

Starfish may be a great organization.

My daughter has volunteered there many times, and we support her in I'm very I'm good friends with them because I know them for the Olatha Chamber.

But I don't think it's a good fit for the location that they're proposing.

The former Aldi property sits at the entrance to Briarwood.

Our neighborhood has one primary way in and one primary way out.

When the nearby school dismisses around three o'clock, traffic already backs up nearly to Santa Fe.

Now imagine that same entrance becoming a daily destination for an organization that says it plans to serve more than a thousand people a day.

Aldi reportedly served around four to six hundred customers a day at that location.

Starfish is proposing an operation that could create considerably more activity at an already congested entrance.

This is not a remote industrial property with several access points.

It's beside an established homes.

It's directly across from the Olatha Public Library, and it's near the Indian Creek Trail.

Some of our neighbors are concerned because of the homeless population has lived in the woods as well as when there was the quilting shop there, they would live on the sidewalks of the quilting shop and then also go to the public library.

Recent reporting said Starfish wants to work with the transient population at the library.

That statement matters because it connects the proposal directly to the public space used every day by families, students, and our residents.

We've already experienced loitering, litter, and unauthorized camping near the trail in the wooded areas and at that particular location.

Starfish Starfish has acknowledged similar problems near its previous location, expects to manage the challenges here.

We do not want the trans the trash spreading to our streets and our yards.

We do not want additional camps developing along the trail or in our woods or at our library.

We do not want our families becoming uncomfortable walking to the library using the trail or allowing their children to enjoy their neighborhood.

Those concerns are not an attack on the people that they help.

They are legitimate questions about whether this properly property can handle the predictable effects of this operation.

The proposal also appears inconsistent with the city's goals for improving safety, mobility, and congestion along I-35 in the Santa Fe corridor.

Adding a high volume destination besides the restricted neighborhood entrance does not improve mobility.

This property is not has been vacant.

This property has not been vacant for decades or proven unable to attract an appropriate commercial tenant.

There's no emergency requiring the city to approve the incompatible use simply to fill the building.

It's a great organization, but the entrance to Briarwood's at the wrong location.

Thank you for listening to me today.

Thank you.

Appreciate all you do.

Our next speech speaker is Jenny Steele.

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

Welcome.

Hi.

I love this room.

I love city government, but the last time I was here, I was accepting a tennis shoe for pennies for shoes from our school for our schools.

So feels good to be back.

All right, Mayor and members of the Olatha City Council.

My name is Jenny Steele.

I reside at 1395 South Rome Drive in the Briarwood neighborhood.

I thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening.

I'm here to share concerns regarding the proposed special use permit that would allow the starfish project organization to operate a supply distribution location in our residential area.

First, um I want to express my genuine gratitude for the work Starfish does in Olatha.

Many in Briarwood support their mission and we acknowledge the value of their service to neighbors experiencing housing insecurity and basic needs.

However, good services must be paired with appropriate planned use planning.

And according to the city's own uh maps and demographic data, identifying focused areas for lower income assistance.

135th and Brome is not identified as a high need zone.

There are no longer Title I schools in this immediate vicinity.

From a city planning perspective, placing a high traffic distribution resource outside of designated support service corridors creates unnecessary logistical challenges and fails to serve clients efficiently.

Furthermore, Briarwood is an established single family residential neighborhood.

While mature neighborhoods naturally face aging infrastructure, stability is key to preserving them.

Introducing an active non-residential supply distribution hub directly into a residential area undermines neighborhood stability and risks accelerating property value decline.

Now my family is truly deeply committed to Olatha.

We want our tax dollars to support Olatha's growth and our schools and our neighborhood's future.

But allowing a commercial scale service organ operation in a single family residential pocket is inconsistent with sound zoning and comprehensive planning.

Now I will be offering this statement at the upcoming Olathe Planning Commission, but felt uh compelled to bring it here before any vote will occur.

I'm asking that you deny this special use permit for the Briarwood location, and instead encourage the placement of this facility in a commercially zoned corridor, better suited for high density public access.

I really appreciate your time and thanks what you do for our city.

Thank you.

Our final speaker final speaker this evening is Robert Aslan.

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

Welcome.

Robert Aslan, 1430 East Collegeway Apartment 41.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated, and no warrants sell issue, but upon probable cause supported by author affirmation and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.

That's a direct quote of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution.

There's no doubt in the city of Olatha, so-called automated license plate readers or ALPRs are a more commonplace site.

These cameras purport to cut down on crime by capturing license plate numbers and personal identifying information as cars pass by, which is all searchable by law enforcement.

Because these cameras constantly capture this information, thousands of Olathans have had their information collected not only by local law enforcement but also by corporate entities, block um motorola, et cetera, regardless of whether they are suspected of a crime.

This is done on a mass scale and all without the issuance of a warrant.

And I argue that these cameras are unconstitutional.

In no fewer than three cases, Riley v.

California, Carpenter v.

United States, and Chetry versus the United States, the Supreme Court has ruled that accessing electronic cell phone records consisted of a search under the Fourth Amendment and required a warrant.

In Carpenter, the Supreme Court further stated that a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy in the whole of their physical movements.

This system of what amounts to national mass surveillance directly infringes on that expectation of privacy.

In my view, it's unconstitutional because unlike cell phones and other electronic devices we opt into using, there's no opting out of being surveilled.

If accessing cell phone records is a search that requires a warrant, then I argue that searching for vehicles by license plate location or other piece of identifying information is a search and one that requires a warrant.

And in some cases, this data has been abused by certain law enforcement officials, most concerningly Kansas City Star guest columnist in Linuxa.

The private firms that sell to use mass surveillance systems to law enforcement claim that the cameras are instrumental in solving crime.

Thanks be to God that Olatha is a safe town, far safer than most.

And by all accounts, crime in Olatha is on an overall decline.

Correlation, however, does not prove causation.

There's not been substantial evidence that the installation of these cameras has directly resulted in a decline in crime rates across Olatha.

If they did, they have played only a peripheral role.

Furthermore, regardless of results, the owners of a vast majority of vehicles are innocent.

And why must the innocent majority give up their rights for the criminal minority?

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

We'll now move uh actually to item nine.

We'll convene a planning session.

We have one report uh that talks about uh noxious weeds.

And so is there a need for questions of staff on this?

I have a question.

So um I noticed that we're going to keep poison ivy on here.

But I I um I I had an argument with a guy, a neighbor, and I I told him what poison ivy is.

Oh no, no, that's Virginia Creeper.

What's the difference?

Because Virginia Creeper can cause a lot of the same issues that poison ivy can.

So how do you address that?

Uh mayor city council Johnny Brock is park superintendent.

So Virginia Creeper usually has five leaves.

Yes.

And Poison Ivy usually has always has three for the most part.

So you could really tell the difference.

You can get a rash or from either one.

Is that correct?

Uh I mean a lot of people are allergic to a lot of different plants.

Uh you know, it just depends on your skin.

Uh, but poison ivy for the most part will cause a rash.

Uh I can I can dance in Virginia Creeper and not get a rash from it.

So that's good to know.

That's the only question I had.

Because I th I thought they were similar as far as how a person reacted to them.

But you're saying Virginia Creeper is virtually harmless.

Yes.

Okay.

Okay.

I didn't know that.

Thank you, Johnny.

I don't see any other questions.

But thank you.

All right.

Uh we'll move now to item ten uh for an executive session.

What do you think of 20 or 30 minutes?

Twenty-five minutes?

Okay.

Is that okay?

Yes.

Okay.

So a motion to recess into executive session would be in order.

Yes or no.

Micro.

Thank you.

Executive session ten item A.

I move that the Olatha City Council recess into an executive session to discuss personal matters of non-elected personnel for the mid-year review of the city manager pursuant to the non-elected personnel exception provided in KSA 75-4319 B1 for a time not to exceed 25 minutes.

And that we would expect to return to the council chambers not later than 815.

820?

820.

Okay.

Uh would the city clerk please call the roll?

Mr.

Bacon.

Yes.

Mr.

Schoonover.

Yes.

Dr.

Felcher.

Yes.

Mr.

Vacus.

Yes.

Ms.

Essex.

Yes.

Mr.

Creighton.

Yes.

Mr.

Denult.

Yes.

Motion passes seven zero.

So we are reconvening from executive session our uh review of city manager and I would just say we're excited about Susan Sherman's leadership and Olatha and all the good stuff that she's doing and appreciate all our work and very happy and just excited to have you on board and with that we'll go to additional items.

I'll start on my left, council member um Creighton.

Sorry, Jeff.

Thank you, two items.

Um first of all, um I love our police department, spent a lot of years on the uh police advisory council and then the police foundation.

Many, many Tuesday August nights with the National Night Out Group, and it was hotter than blazes this year because there's something going on here about budget that I have to be at.

I will miss it.

So Chief, um that probably means we're gonna have very seasonable temperatures and it's gonna be a nice evening.

Hope that's successful.

Seriously, folks, um if your neighborhood is doing it, it is a good event.

And one last thing.

We are in primary election season.

If you hadn't figured that that out by all the sights or the signs.

Um encourage you to remember to get out and vote.

Uh advanced voting is open.

I have already been out and done mine.

I am a very strong advocate of advanced voting because uh quite a number of years ago I had a I and a block of Olay the Citizens had a bad experience.

Uh poll workers messed up royally, and we were denied the right to vote.

It is a privilege, but beyond that it's a right and something we need to do.

So I'm a strong advocate for advanced voting.

And as much as I pre appreciated the then uh commissioner calling me and offering her apologies.

The fact is I didn't get to vote.

So I wanna remind everybody, please get out and vote.

It is essential.

Thank you.

Councilmember Schoonover.

Thank you, Mayor, and I will just echo what uh my friend uh council member Creighton said about going out and voting.

I did it today, twice.

No, I'm kidding.

Um vote early and often, right?

All right.

That's recorded for member Felter.

Councilmember Bacchus.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

So great to see fire station number nine open and have it open.

What a beautiful building, what a great facility.

That sets the standard for what fire station should look like.

So has ever anybody here seen the movie one battle after another?

Jimmy and I were talking.

That's a movie with uh Leonardo DiCaprio.

It's one battle after another.

He's having a tough life being a rebel.

Well, we're in the middle of budget season.

And it's one battle after another.

But I want to take a moment and thank the staff for their professionalism.

You know, everyone is striving to do so much so well.

It is a struggle.

Well, we're getting through it, and it's amazing how well it comes together given the quality of the folks that work for the city of Olatha.

Thank you all.

Thanks, Mayor.

Councilmember Essex.

Well, everybody said great things.

I I agree with everyone here.

I just want to say I'm a little um sad that I offered to test out the fire pole uh l Olathe Station 9.

They had it closed, they said no way.

So if there's an opportunity that I can just come and where's the where's the chief?

Okay.

If I can just come and go down at one.

I mean, I I think I'd be all right.

Ambulances are there, right?

Just again.

Anyway.

Thank you so much.

Nothing further.

Councilmember Denall.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh I just want to say it's really, really hot out.

And I don't like it.

But as a reminder, there are cooling centers or places you can go to get out of it.

Library's a good place to read a book, and I hear they have air conditioning.

Also, there are if you don't remember, we have two farmers markets.

I don't think everybody does that.

But the downtown one Saturday and the Wednesday Black Bug Park.

And then lastly, I know Susan and I have talked about this multiple people have.

Uh for the wonderful friends online watching this, of which I know there are probably many.

Um that area at Santa Fe and I 35 is a big project, and I know it doesn't look perfect now.

Uh, but I think we have some interesting and neat things that might be coming to to spruce it up over these years as we see everything develop.

So look forward to that.

City Manager Susan Sherman.

Anything for the U.S.

Nothing further tonight.

Um I have a couple of things.

I just want to remind folks that applications close at the end of July for our Olaitha Citizens Police Academy, so you can apply online at Olathecas.gov forward slash police if you're interested.

And then uh it is budget season, so um this is just a reminder that we have our second workshop coming up at our next meeting, August the fourth.

Public input is an important part of the budget process.

So if you'd like to give us some input on how you want us to spend your tax dollars, we appreciate that.

You can go on our website at the latecast.gov forward slash budget for your input.

And also all the documents that we receive as a council will be posted there for your um knowledge.

So with that, I want to thank everyone for being here for those watching, and uh we are adjourned.

Good have a good night.