Olathe City Council Meeting – August 4, 2026: Budget Workshop & Public Hearings
Olathe City Council Meeting – August 4, 2026: Budget Workshop & Public Hearings
The Olathe City Council met on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included two executive sessions, a consent agenda, two new business items, a lengthy public comment period largely focused on the Starfish Project's special use permit, and a detailed planning session covering the proposed 2027 water & sewer, stormwater, and solid waste budgets and capital improvement plans. The council approved the consent agenda (7-0), Ordinance 26-40 (rezoning for a mixed-use development at 133rd and Black Bob) (6-0, with one recusal), and Ordinance 26-41 (amending noxious weed definitions) (7-0). The public comment period included 17 speakers with two minutes each, divided between supporters and opponents of the Starfish Project.
Consent Calendar
- Approved items A through H (excluding item F, which was pulled by staff) unanimously (7-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Starfish Project Supporters: Caleb Bauer (823 N Hamilton) argued that few suitable locations exist and that the special use permit should be granted out of necessity. Kelly Patterson (617 W Little) stated 97–98% of Starfish clients are housed; the facility does not attract homelessness. Reed Kabel (18305 W 114th, Senior Pastor of Trinity Fellowship) urged approval, citing his own childhood reliance on assistance and the importance of compassion. Dave Coker (18963 W 117th, retired transportation planner) said client cars look no different than suburban shoppers. Josie Ann Impo (407 E Lula, single mom and immigrant) shared personal testimonials and asked the council to put themselves in others' shoes. Jane (11020 S Cottage Lane, retired business owner and volunteer) described her front-desk experience: clients often shop for multiple people, and unhoused visits were infrequent. Michelle O'Brien (11630 W Harmony Lane, board member) emphasized a family-centered environment with an unblemished safety record and cited studies showing community services reduce crime. Lauren Lance (14641 S Acuff Lane) shared her own need for assistance after her husband's layoff and supported the new location near the library. Alicia Jackson (13212 S Locust Street) advocated for meeting basic needs to enable safety and belonging. Bridget Moore (1305 N Leav Drive) argued Starfish helps people afford to live in Olathe and urged the council to also address the homeless encampment with resources. Valerie Duncan (15690 W 138th, Briarwood resident) stated not all neighbors oppose the project.
- Starfish Project Opponents: Kevin Sellers (13612 S Locust) questioned compatibility with surrounding uses and noted the applicant's estimate of a five-year stay. Kate Gray (13631 Sycamore) raised concerns about loitering, panhandling, and trash based on Starfish's past eviction. Eric Banks (15750 W Locust) argued the operation does not generate taxes or sales revenue, that traffic data is unproven, and that the location is fundamentally incompatible with the R-1 neighborhood. David Miller (Briarwood resident) claimed Starfish changed its description of size and intensity, referenced past disruptive behavior, and asked the council to respect the planning commission's denial recommendation. A speaker (unidentified) pointed out that Aldi was a different use and that the special use permit requires meeting all three conditions, which he argued Starfish does not.
Discussion Items
- New Business A (Ordinance 26-40 – Rezoning for 133rd & Black Bob Mixed Use): Senior Planner Nathan Jury presented the request to rezone ~5 acres from AG to Planned District for a mixed-use development with two commercial buildings and five townhome buildings (44 units) in a French Renaissance style. The developer, Jibfelter (1420 S Copper Creek), stated the project provides missing middle housing: 32 units at 1,780 sq ft priced under $500,000, with elevator shafts pre-designed and a mix of for-sale and for-rent. Traffic concerns were addressed: a signal at 133rd & Black Bob is not warranted by this development alone but may be needed when the nearby multifamily project (600+ units) is built. Councilmembers suggested considering extending 133rd Street to reduce congestion. The motion passed 6-0 (one councilmember recused).
- New Business B (Ordinance 26-41 – Noxious Weed Definition Update): This item amended definitions in the Olathe Municipal Code. No discussion; passed 7-0.
- Planning Session – Budget Workshop #2: Budget Manager Clara Bernauer and Infrastructure Director Mary Yeager presented the 2027 proposed budgets for water & sewer, stormwater, and solid waste. Key points:
- Water & Sewer: $1.5 billion system; 5.9% expenditure increase; proposed rate increase of $7.41/month average (6.38% total utility increase expected). Significant capital projects: Cedar Creek WWTP nutrient removal ($36M total), biosolids treatment via supercritical water oxidation (SQO, $12.5M, 61% state-funded), waterline rehabilitation (2 miles/year at $3.2M/mile, but backlog growing). Water demand declining due to efficient appliances, delaying need for collector well #5. Future biosolids improvement could cost $140M. The council discussed asset management risk, water main breaks, and partnerships with WaterOne vs. maintaining control.
- Stormwater: 16.9% expenditure increase; proposed rate increase of $0.68/month. CIP focuses on corrugated metal pipe replacement leveraging 50% county SMAC (Stormwater Management Advisory Council) matching funds. Delayed Briarwood stormwater improvements and Cedar Lake spillway fix due to cost. Council discussed the county's stagnant funding.
- Solid Waste: 5.1% expenditure increase; proposed rate increase of $1.14/month (total $23.88/month). CIP includes transfer station expansion (phase two ~$13M in 2030), household hazardous waste facility improvements, and a vehicle purchase. Food waste program expanding with a third location at Pioneer Park via grant. Council discussed food waste composting and tire disposal fees.
- Overall Utility Bill: Average monthly increase of $9.23 (6.38%) to approximately $145/month. Next workshop (August 18) will cover rec fund, park sales tax, and street maintenance.
Key Outcomes
- Ordinance 26-40 (Rezoning) – Approved 6-0 (Councilmember Bacchus recused).
- Ordinance 26-41 (Weed Definition) – Approved 7-0.
- Consent Agenda – Approved 7-0.
- Authorization to Resolve Tort Claim – Approved 7-0 (related to flooding claim discussed in earlier executive session).
- Executive Sessions: Two executive sessions (quarry special use permits and tort claim) were held; no action required after the second one.
- Additional Executive Session: A third executive session (15 minutes) was held regarding a pending special use permit application (presumably Starfish Project); no action taken.
- Budget Next Steps: Public hearing on the budget (exceeding revenue neutral rate) scheduled for September 8, 2026; adoption target September 15.
- Public Comment: The council heard 17 speakers on the Starfish Project special use permit; no vote was taken. The item remains pending.
Meeting Transcript
Good Amy, I'll call to order this regular meeting of the elite city council for Tuesday, August fourth, twenty twenty six. The first item on our agenda is an execution an executive session. Do I hear a motion? Yes, my item A, I move that the Latin City Council recess into an executive session for consultation with the city attorney to discuss matters deemed privileged in the attorney client relationship regarding certain pending quarry special use permit applications, pursuant to the exception provided in KSA seventy five four three one nine B two for a time not to exceed forty five minutes. Yes. We are reconvening from executive session a motion to recess back into executive session for ten minutes. Oh, wait a minute. We're going under another reason. So let's hear a motion for an item B. I moved the latency council recess into executive session for consultation with the city attorney to discuss matters being privileged in the attorney client relationship regarding a tort claim. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Oletha City Council for Tuesday, August 4th, 2026. We just came out of an executive session, so do I hear a motion? Uh yes. I move to authorize the city attorney to finalize and the mayor to execute an agreement to resolve a particular tort claim involving flooding. Second. We have a motion and a second with the city court, please call the roll. Mr. Denult. Yes. Ms. Essex? Yes. Dr. Felter? Yes. Mr. Bacon. Yes. Mr. Sconover? Yes. Mr. Fachis? Yes. Mr. Creighton. Yes. Motion passes seven zero. Next 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. One item of interest before we go uh to the consent agenda. Item F. Staff has requested that item F be polled and it will come back to us at a later date. So with that, we'll 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. So I move to uh approve the consent agenda as provided. Items A through H.
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