OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings
Olathe City Council Regular Meeting - November 3, 2026
City Council — Tuesday, November 3, 2026
BodyOlathe, Kansas
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, November 3, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Transcript — Verbatim
Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Planning27%
Procedural24%
Veterans Recognition13%
Budget Equity Analysis11%
Public Engagement8%
Parks and Recreation5%
Transportation Safety4%
Community Engagement3%
Stormwater Management3%
Summary of Proceedings
Olathe City Council Regular Meeting - November 3, 2026
The Olathe City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The council addressed an executive session on property acquisition, a Veterans Day proclamation, a land swap with a school district, a contract for street design, industrial revenue bonds, and a grant for an inclusive playground, while also hearing public testimony opposing a proposed rezoning.
Executive Session
- The council unanimously (7-0) authorized staff to proceed with acquiring right-of-way and easements for the 159th Street (Brougham to Black Bob) and Lone Elm Road (119th Street to Harold) improvements projects following a 15-minute executive session on the preliminary discussion of real property acquisition.
Special Business
- Mayor John Bacon read a proclamation recognizing November 11, 2026, as Veterans Day in Olathe. Korean War veteran Rex Connley accepted the proclamation.
Consent Agenda (Items C and H Removed)
- Item C (Land Swap with USD 233): Council approved Resolution No. 26-1094 ratifying a real estate contract with Unified School District No. 233 for a land swap. The city will acquire the Meadow Lane Elementary site for commercial development, while the school district will build a new school on city-owned land at the northwest corner of Lone Elm and College. Councilmember Schoonover expressed concern about traffic safety and requested postponing the vote. Staff stated the new layout would improve traffic flow, and other members argued the contract was already executed and part of a bond issue. Passed 6-1.
- Item H (Santa Fe Design Contract): Council approved Supplemental Agreement No. 5 with HNTB Corporation for the design of the Santa Fe (Ridgeview to Mur-Len) Improvements Project. Staff stated the agreement was planned since 2019 and does not impact the schedule or budget. Passed 7-0.
New Business
- Item A (Special Assessments – Brome Drive): Ordinance No. 26-56 levying special assessments for improvements on Brome Drive was approved 7-0. One property owner is affected and consented.
- Item B (IRBs – Third Street Social): Ordinance No. 26-57 authorizing up to $5,000,000 in taxable industrial revenue bonds for TSSOL Real Estate, LLC (Third Street Social restaurant) was approved 7-0. Note: The agenda summary contained a typo citing a prior approval date of December 3, 2026; staff confirmed it was December 3, 2024.
- Items C & D (Two Trails Park – Variety KC Playground): Council approved a fund transfer and an agreement with Variety KC for a $3,000,000 grant to build an inclusive playground at Two Trails Park. The city's 20% match is up to $750,000. The playground will feature accessible and sensory-specific elements. Construction is expected summer 2027 to spring 2028. Both passed 7-0.
Public Comments and Testimony
- Three Heritage Park area residents spoke against the proposed R4 rezoning (RZ26-0010) for 476 apartments.
- Nick McDonnell opposed the project due to building heights (56 ft vs. 50 ft cap), inadequate buffer (20 ft), and traffic dangers. He proposed lower-density alternatives.
- Joseph Maxwell argued the project set a bad precedent as the first R4 on an unimproved road and directly adjacent to R1 homes. He presented renderings of the visual impact.
- Aaron Hill, citing his engineering background, raised concerns that the stormwater plan would drain runoff onto Heritage Trail and neighboring properties without adequate detention.
Planning Session Reports
- Scannell Properties IRB: A report was presented on a request for industrial revenue bonds and tax phase-in for an $80,465,680 industrial facility. No formal action was taken.
- Vehicle & Equipment Replacement Fund (VERF): Budget Manager Clara Bernhour presented a budget amendment increasing expenditure authority by $9.2 million to account for delayed delivery of large fire apparatus. A public hearing is set for November 17, with adoption expected December 1.
Councilmember Comments and Additional Items
- Councilmember Creighton requested reviews of free speech zone policies and an update on the Johnson County Aggregate quarry special use permit.
- Councilmember Schoonover requested staff research a permanent common consumption zone for downtown Olathe.
- Councilmember Felter provided a Veterans Day tribute and noted an EPA Superfund meeting on December 1 at Indian Creek Library.
- Mayor Bacon announced the Nov 7 Community Prayer Breakfast at MNU benefiting the Olathe Mayor's Children's Fund.
- The meeting was adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
So I'd like to call this regular meeting of the latest city council for Tuesday, November third, twenty twenty six to order. The first item on our agenda is an executive session. Do I hear a motion? Yes, on items A and B, I move that the Electra City Council recess into an executive session for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property for the one fifty nine street Brome and to Black Bob Improvements Project and the Lone Elm Road, one nineteen street to Harold Improvements Project. Pursuant to the exception provided in KSA seventy five-four three one nine B six for a time not to exceed fifteen minutes. We have a motion and a second with the city clerk, please call the role. We are reconvening from an executive session. Do I hear a motion? Oh, yes, thank you, Mayor. On item A, I move to authorize staff to proceed with the acquisition of public right of way and easements required to construct the one fifty-ninth street, Brome to Black Bob Improvements project as directed by the governing body. Second, we have a motion and a second with the city clerk. Mr. Bacon. Yes. Motion passes seven zero. No, sir. On item B, I moved to authorized staff to proceed with the acquisition of public right of way and easements required to construct the Lone Elm Road, one nineteenth Street to Herald Improvements Project as directed by the governing body. We have a motion and a second. Would the city clerk please call the roll? Mr. Creighton. Yes. Mr. Facus? Yes. Mr. Schoonover? Yes. Mr. Bacon. Yes. Dr. Felter. Yes. Ms. Essex. Yes. Mr. Denult. Yes. Motion passes 7-0. So good evening, everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Olatha City Council Council for Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026. It is election night in America, and so to celebrate that and Veterans Day next week, the American Legion Post 153 Color Guard is with us to present the colors and lead us into Pledge of Allegiance. Would everyone please stand? Oh, right face.
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