OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Overland Park City Council Meeting - June 15, 2026

City Council — Monday, June 15, 2026
BodyOverland Park, Kansas
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, June 15, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:17:02

Transcript — Verbatim
0:06

Good evening, everyone.

0:07

It is Monday, June 15th, 2026.

0:11

And uh it's 7:30 on the clock, so I will call the meeting to order and ask the clerk to call the rule.

0:19

Mayor Kirk Scook here.

0:21

Council President Melissa Cheatham.

0:23

Here.

0:24

Council members Healy.

0:25

Here.

0:25

Grimmer.

0:26

Here.

0:28

Orlaza.

0:29

Here.

0:29

Scrivener.

0:30

Here.

0:30

Antrim.

0:31

Here.

0:31

Reese.

0:33

Payne.

0:33

Here.

0:34

Eunice.

0:35

Here.

0:36

Here.

0:38

All right.

0:39

Um, Councilmember Reese has an excused absence.

0:42

Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:46

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:51

And to the Republic.

0:53

One nation.

0:54

Under God.

0:55

Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:03

All right.

1:04

Next on the agenda is our open public comment period.

1:07

And we've had two people sign up.

1:09

So when I call your name, if you would move over to the podium here on my left, you will see a little box on the corner that will count down your three minutes you have to share your thoughts with us.

1:23

And uh it starts with a green light, and when it gets to three minutes, the red light will come on.

1:27

So uh I would appreciate you wrapping up your comments if you're still speaking when the red light comes on.

1:33

So first we have uh Jamie Lee Klishner.

1:39

Hope I'm close.

1:42

Uh and then after her is Mike uh Wenry.

1:46

If Mike is here.

1:48

So uh Jamie, welcome.

1:51

Thank you.

1:52

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

1:53

My name is Jamie Kleesner.

1:55

It's okay.

1:56

Please, sir.

1:56

Thank you.

1:57

I live at 9901 El Monte, and I am the chair of the Environmental Advisory Council.

2:01

I'm here again on behalf of the EAC to speak about the recent vote at the CD committee and subsequent agenda topic tonight for the 2024 residential codes.

2:12

The EAC wrote you all a letter last week asking that you keep stricter standards when it comes to building homes in our city.

2:19

I'd like to read that letter for the record.

2:22

Dear members of the CD Committee and Council members, the Environmental Advisory Council has been given an update on the codes review and modification process.

2:31

The task force that was recently gathered to review and advise on updating our residential and commercial city codes, included our staff liaison, Laura Ish.

2:41

Laura has been updating the EAC on the task force actions monthly at our meetings.

2:47

However, some of us were recently contacted by outside sources who were concerned with how the process ended.

2:53

Our understanding is due to Kansas Senate Bill 418 being adopted.

2:58

The Overland Park Task Force ended up leaving the 2018 code as previously adopted in place for homes under 2500 square feet.

3:08

We were informed previously that the task force had already voted to strengthen the codes and make a progressive change to the 2024 residential code with some agreed upon weakening amendments, including a HERS score of 63.

3:23

The HERS score measures a home's energy efficiency with 100 being the least efficient and zero being the most.

3:31

This HERS score of 63 is less than specified in the 2024 residential code, but stronger than the score of 68 in the currently adopted 2018 code.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing█████████████████████████████████████████41%
Public Safety█████████████13%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████13%
Procedural████████████12%
Public Engagement████████8%
Environmental Protection████4%
Community Engagement████4%
Youth Programs██2%
Waste Management█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Overland Park City Council Meeting - June 15, 2026

The Overland Park City Council met on Monday, June 15, 2026, at 7:30 PM. Mayor Kirk Scook presided. All council members were present except Councilmember Reese (excused). The meeting included public comments, proclamations, approval of consent agenda, debate on a bicycle helmet ordinance, adoption of the 2024 residential code, and a detailed work session on the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).

Consent Calendar

  • Appointments and Reappointments: Approved unanimously (11-0).
  • Consent Agenda Items (excluding item 12): Approved 11-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jamie Kleesner (Chair, Environmental Advisory Council) spoke in favor of stricter residential energy codes, advocating for a HERS score of 62 (instead of the proposed 63/68) for all homes, including those under 2,500 square feet. She argued that smaller homes should not be held to lower efficiency standards and that the task force was biased toward builders.
  • Mike Winry (resident, 7624 Floyd) complained about inadequate parking enforcement during farmers market and art fair events, stating that cars parked illegally on his street and no tickets were issued despite calls to police.

Proclamations

  • Juneteenth (June 19, 2026): Read by Council President Melissa Cheatham.
  • Pride Month (June 2026): Read by Councilmember Healy. Both proclamations emphasized inclusion and were accepted by the HR department.

Discussion Items

  • Safe Streets Plan Update (Committee of the Whole): Council President Cheatham reported on an update to the Safe Streets Plan, which aims to eliminate serious injury and fatal crashes. Community engagement is open through June. The plan will identify risk locations and policy changes to secure state and federal grants.
  • World Cup Watch Party: City Manager Laurie Curtis Luther announced the first watch party on June 16 at Clock Tower Landing, featuring Argentina vs. Algeria, with more events scheduled.
  • Resolution 5137 – Solid Waste Collection: The council set a public hearing for July 20 to consider a resolution of intent to establish an organized solid waste and recycling collection service. Approved 11-0.
  • Ordinance TC 3516 – Helmet Requirement for Minors on E-Bikes/Scooters: Councilmember Scribner removed this from the consent agenda to speak. She expressed support but emphasized the need for safer infrastructure, driver education, and action against fraudulent e-moto manufacturers. Councilmember Newland proposed an amendment to increase the fine to $50 (first offense) and $100 (repeat), and to move the enforcement date to July 15. The amendment failed. The original ordinance (effective date January 1, 2027, with warnings allowed immediately, $10 fine first offense, $25 second offense, dismissible with proof of helmet purchase) was approved 11-0.
  • Ordinance BC 3513 – Adoption of 2024 Residential Code: Councilmember Grummer moved adoption. Councilmembers Cheatham and Healy spoke against, arguing that the weaker HERS scores (63 for large homes, 68 for small homes) codify the status quo, fail to improve efficiency, and resulted from a flawed process dominated by builders. The vote was 6-5 in favor (with the mayor casting the deciding vote to approve).
  • Resolution 5142 – TIFF District Amendment (Black & Veatch): Authorized a public hearing on July 20 to correct a legal description error and amend the OP Plaza 2 TIFF district plan. Approved unanimously.
  • Resolution 5126 – Lease Consent for Edison OP Office Building: Approved unanimously after clarifying the lessee's legal name.
  • Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Update – Work Session: The council engaged in a detailed exercise to provide direction on residential uses within proposed neighborhood districts. Using a green/yellow/red card system, they discussed:
    • Quadplexes and Triplexes: Direction to draft options allowing them in N2 and N3 districts, with design and location regulations. Not for N1.
    • Townhomes: Direction to allow on a limited basis in N1 with design standards, and permitted in N2/N3. Also to consider townhomes in other districts.
    • Duplexes: Limited in N1 (with design and location regulations), permitted in N2/N3.
    • Cottage Courts: Direction to allow in N2/N3 without restricting to portfolio designs; limited in N1 (but with reservations).
    • Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): General support for drafting ADU regulations. Mixed feedback on whether they should be limited or permitted in neighborhood districts, with emphasis on design standards and lot size requirements. No final decision; further discussion scheduled for July 20.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved 11-0: Appointments, consent agenda (excluding item 12), Resolution 5137, Resolution 5142, Resolution 5126, and Ordinance TC 3516 (helmet requirement).
  • Approved 7-5 (with mayor breaking tie): Ordinance BC 3513 (2024 residential code with HERS 63/68).
  • Defeated: Councilmember Newland’s amendment to increase fines and expedite enforcement of the helmet ordinance.
  • Direction to Staff: Draft UDO provisions for quadplexes, triplexes, townhomes, duplexes, and cottage courts as discussed; prepare regulatory options for ADUs; return with further detail on July 20. The council will continue the UDO work session on that date.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. It is Monday, June 15th, 2026. And uh it's 7:30 on the clock, so I will call the meeting to order and ask the clerk to call the rule. Mayor Kirk Scook here. Council President Melissa Cheatham. Here. Council members Healy. Here. Grimmer. Here. Orlaza. Here. Scrivener. Here. Antrim. Here. Reese. Payne. Here. Eunice. Here. Here. All right. Um, Councilmember Reese has an excused absence. Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic. One nation. Under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All right. Next on the agenda is our open public comment period. And we've had two people sign up. So when I call your name, if you would move over to the podium here on my left, you will see a little box on the corner that will count down your three minutes you have to share your thoughts with us. And uh it starts with a green light, and when it gets to three minutes, the red light will come on. So uh I would appreciate you wrapping up your comments if you're still speaking when the red light comes on. So first we have uh Jamie Lee Klishner. Hope I'm close. Uh and then after her is Mike uh Wenry. If Mike is here. So uh Jamie, welcome. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor and Council. My name is Jamie Kleesner. It's okay. Please, sir. Thank you. I live at 9901 El Monte, and I am the chair of the Environmental Advisory Council. I'm here again on behalf of the EAC to speak about the recent vote at the CD committee and subsequent agenda topic tonight for the 2024 residential codes. The EAC wrote you all a letter last week asking that you keep stricter standards when it comes to building homes in our city.

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