Olathe City Council Meeting - September 1, 2026
Olathe City Council Meeting - September 1, 2026
The Olathe City Council held a regular meeting on September 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The meeting included a proclamation recognizing Deaf Awareness Month, approval of consent agenda items, public comments on zoning and homelessness, reports on financial audits and code amendments, and a detailed discussion on the Santa Fe, Ridgeview to Mur-Len Improvements Project aesthetics.
Proclamation
- Mayor John Bacon proclaimed September 2026 as Deaf Awareness Month in Olathe, highlighting the city's role as home to the Kansas School for the Deaf, the Museum of Deaf History, Arts and Culture, and the Olathe Club of the Deaf. Co-superintendents Joan Macy and Joel Allen accepted the proclamation and thanked the city for its support.
Consent Calendar
- The council approved the consent agenda (items F, G, H removed) with a 7-0 vote.
- Item F: Final pay estimate and change order for Black Bob water tower No. 2 painting. City Engineer Nate Waldman reported the project came in $27,500 under budget. Approved 7-0.
- Item G: Agreement No. 636-25 with KDOT for funding the K-10 and Lone Elm Bypass Project (PN 3-C-096-26). The project includes a truck bypass route to improve safety by diverting trucks from school zones. KDOT will fund the full $18.7 million estimate; no city funds are required. Councilmember Schoonover clarified that the vote is only to accept KDOT funding for the bypass road, not to endorse the interchange itself. Approved 7-0.
- Item H: Professional Services Agreement with HNTB Corporation for design of the K-10 and Lone Elm Bypass Project. Approved 7-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
Five citizens addressed the council:
- Forrest Miles (1128 S. Montclair Drive, resident 45 years): Opposed the proposed R3 zoning for 336 apartments and six villas near Sunnybrook, citing traffic and school congestion concerns. Expressed support for smart development but not overdevelopment.
- Brian Perkins (experiencing homelessness): Advocated for homeless individuals, noting he has submitted over 40 public comments in 16 months to the Board of County Commissioners. Requested continued attention to homelessness issues.
- Casey Gwynn (co-founder, Alliance for Hope International): Announced the planning of the first Family Justice Center in Kansas, to be located in Olathe/Johnson County. Emphasized public safety and breaking cycles of violence. Thanked council members for their support.
- Craig Millard (11307 S. Montclair Drive, resident since 1979): Strongly opposed the 336-unit apartment complex adjacent to his R1 single-family neighborhood, citing increased density, traffic, and character change. Questioned the traffic study's validity and asked the council to evaluate cumulative impacts before approving the rezoning.
- Pete Marsh (11271 S. Montclair Drive, resident 26 years): Opposed the Sunnybrook development rezoning, arguing that the staff report inaccurately describes the neighborhood and omits a west-side buffer. Presented elevation data showing the proposed three-story apartments would read as four to five stories from his home. Requested a buffer of owner-occupied townhomes or similar development.
Planning Session Reports
- 2025 External Financial Audit: No questions or presentation requested.
- Title 6 Amendments (Johnson County Codes): Assistant City Attorney Bob Gallimore explained that adopting the 2025 Johnson County Environmental Sanitary and Aquatic Health Codes will keep the city current with county updates. The aquatic code changes allow greater regulation of public and semi-public pools but do not apply to private backyard pools. No questions from council.
Discussion Item: Santa Fe, Ridgeview to Mur-Len Improvements Project (PN 3-C-025-18)
Assistant City Engineer Teresa Bink presented the aesthetic design for the single-point urban interchange at I-35 and Santa Fe. Key elements include:
- A large decorative signal truss with a wave pattern, double helix fencing matching 119th Street, decorative brick paving to match downtown Olathe, and heavy landscaping.
- Lighting: floodlights inside truss supports, rope lighting under barrier caps, and column lighting from I-35.
- Sidewalks: 10-foot on the north side, 5-foot on the south side, with separation from traffic. Council discussion focused on:
- Pedestrian and bicycle safety: Councilmember Denult requested more buffers and safety features; Bink noted the design separates sidewalks from lanes.
- Traffic calming: Councilmember Denult wondered if landscaping could reduce speeds; Bink suggested a better driving experience may reduce aggression.
- Median access: Closing some left-turn points to improve safety, directing traffic to Ridgeview signalized intersection.
- Durability: Powder-coated aluminum fencing (not painted) and brick form liner (stained, not brick veneer) to avoid chipping and freeze-thaw issues.
- Budget: Original state commitment was $140 million; after adding scope, KDOT increased funding. The design year is 2050, with a 50-year bridge lifespan.
- Councilmember Creighton urged keeping the area looking nice during construction, avoiding a
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Olatha City Council for Tuesday, September 1st, 2026. 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 flag of the United States of America and the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God and invisible with liberty and justice for all. Item A is a proclamation recognizing September as Deaf Awareness Month. One of the great things about Olatha is our unique role as the home of the Kansas School for the Deaf. This allows us a great opportunity to get to know our deaf and hard of hearing neighbors to create a city where they can thrive and to celebrate everything they bring to and do for our community. So joining us tonight to accept this proclamation are the Kansas City or the Kansas School for the Deaf co-superintendents, Joan Macy and Joel Allen. So would you both please join me up front? So I'll take a minute and read the proclamation, and then you can tell us what's going on at the School for the Deaf. So the proclamation reads: whereas the City of Olatha is proud to recognize and celebrate the varied perspectives, backgrounds, and cultures that make up our vibrant and diverse city, including the deaf community. And whereas we are better because of our deaf and hard of hearing neighbors, individuals with an alternative sensory and social experience, who harness the power of visual language, and who come from wide-ranging variations in onset of deafness, level of hearing, educational background, communication method, and cultural affiliations. And whereas Olatha has been named one of America's most deaf friendly cities in recognition of the opportunities and programs we offer, as well as a culture that embraces our deaf and hard of hearing residents. And whereas we are proud to be home of the Kansas School for the Deaf, the Museum of Deaf History, Arts and Culture, and the Olatha Club of the Deaf. And whereas the lives of all Olathians are enriched by the contributions of our deaf neighbors, as well as this opportunity to recognize their achievements within our great city. Now, therefore, I, John Bacon, mayor of the City of Olatha, do hereby proclaim September 2026 as Deaf Awareness Month in Olatha, encouraging all citizens to learn about and celebrate the values, culture, heritage, and language unique in the deaf community. And language is unique in the deaf community. I just want to say thank you for recognizing Deaf Awareness Month and really Kansas School for the Deaf is very blessed to have Olatha, the Olatha community here established. Olatha has been a wonderful support for our School for the Deaf and for many generations and throughout the area. So we want to thank you for your investment in what we do. Thank you. We also want to thank the mayor for all the collaboration that the City of Olatha has given to the School for the Deaf, and we look forward to a lot more partnerships in the upcoming years. So thank you to the council and to Mayor for everything that you've done for us. Thank you, thank you. Oh, it's ours, brother. Thank you. So over the weekend, uh my um five-year-old granddaughter was showing me her ability to do the alphabet in ASL. And so uh someone is asking me, what am I going to do for deaf awareness September? And I said, Well, I'll probably learn some letters of the alphabet. So, you know, we do have some artwork at Calamity Line from uh park that spells out Olatha right there with the with the alphabet uh hand signal. So yeah, do something in September to uh for deaf awareness. So and actually my granddaughter learned that at preschool here in Olatha. So something that's probably a little unique to our community. So thank you all for being here and what you do for Olatha. 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 requested an item be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately. Um are there any such items? Uh Councilmember Creighton. Yes, I'd like to pull item G, please. Councilmember Schoonover. Thank you, Mayor. Uh along with item G, I'd like to pull item H, please. Item H. Councilmember Felter. Item F. Any others?
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