Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Overland Park City Council Meeting - August 3, 2026

City Council — Monday, August 3, 2026

BodyOverland Park, Kansas

SessionCity Council

DateMonday, August 3, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:08:33

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:03

All right.

0:05

It's 7:30 on the clock on the wall, so I will call the Monday, August 3rd, 2026 council meeting to order.

0:13

Clerk, please call the roll.

0:16

Scribner?

0:17

Here.

0:18

Beck?

0:19

Here.

0:19

Healy?

0:20

Here.

0:20

Reese?

0:21

Grimmart?

0:22

Yeah.

0:22

Tritian.

0:23

Antrim.

0:24

Yeah.

0:24

Pain?

0:24

Yep.

0:25

Relazan?

0:25

Here.

0:26

Mayor Scott.

0:27

Here.

0:28

Um Councilperson Melissa Cheatham and Anash Jonas have uh are absent and have an excused absence tonight.

0:37

So uh please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:42

I pledge allegiance to the file.

0:49

Which is thank you.

0:59

The next item on our agenda is the open public comment period.

1:03

So if we've had 10 people sign up to speak today.

1:07

So uh what we'll do is I'll call your name, and if you'll come over to the podium, you'll notice that uh on your left are uh colored lights that will count you down from three minutes.

1:19

Uh it starts with green, moves to yellow, and then red shows you that you're three minutes up.

1:24

Um so if you see the red, if you would please wrap up your comments, it would be greatly appreciated.

1:30

So, what I'll do is I'll call the first three people.

1:33

Uh, if you could line up, it makes things move a little faster if you're willing.

1:37

So uh first is Stacy Montgomery, and then Beth Eland, and then Jennifer Savner Levinson.

1:47

Hopefully, I got those right.

1:53

And so when you come up, if you could uh give your name and address, we look forward to hearing from you.

1:59

My name is Stacey Montgomery, and I'm with EcoWastes Solutions.

2:03

Um here this evening, representing a team with more than 60 decades in solid waste experience.

2:14

Um good evening.

2:17

Represent uh pardon me.

2:21

EcoWaste has followed your comprehensive solid waste study closely, and we're here to support a zoned system tonight.

2:30

Um not a citywide monopoly and not a city-run department, and that's for several reasons.

2:37

But your own study shows that neighborhoods are seeing three or more haulers on the same street in the same week with two trucks, one for solid waste and one for recycling.

2:47

That's a big drain on infrastructure.

2:49

Um it's worth it's a problem worth fixing.

2:53

And when you have haulers in a zone system that is competitively bid periodically, then they are responsible and held to help to account for performance as well as pricing.

3:07

Your own study shows that also if you have a city-run department, that the cost is going to be somewhere between 22 and 26, whether depending on whether or not you have hoas opt out or not.

3:21

But price really is only part of the story.

3:25

The tens of millions of dollars in capital that goes into a solid waste operation, um, that's that the city will take on forever.

3:34

Um, it's also specialized workforce that you're gonna have to build from scratch, and that Kansas City doesn't have this metro area, just does not have that workforce.

3:46

Um, and then the liability will shift to the city, and with that, this is one of the most dangerous professions in the country.

3:58

So we at Eco Waste, we are prepared to competitively bid and perform in a zone-based system, and I think that would be the best thing for your residents.

4:11

Thank you.

4:12

Thank you very much.

4:14

So, Beth, if you'll come up, and then if uh Cheryl Jefferson Bell will join the line.

4:20

Thank you very much.

4:21

Welcome, please give your name and address.

4:24

Good evening.

4:25

My name is Beth Eland, E L A N D.

4:29

I live at 8418 West 92nd Terrace.

4:34

I have lived in Overland Park for 26 years.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Waste Management████████████████████████████28%

Community Engagement███████████████15%

Procedural██████████████14%

Economic Development██████████10%

Parks and Recreation█████████9%

Affordable Housing██████6%

Public Engagement██████6%

Water And Wastewater Management█████5%

Personnel Matters█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

Overland Park City Council Meeting - August 3, 2026

The Overland Park City Council met on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 7:30 PM. Mayor Scott presided, with council members Cheatham and Jonas excused. The meeting covered a public hearing on organized solid waste collection, multiple public comments on the Blue Valley Crest development and pool closures, the appointment of a municipal court judge, and approval of several financial and development items.

Consent Calendar

Consent agenda items were approved unanimously via roll call vote (10-0). No items were removed.

Public Comments & Testimony

Open Public Comment Period: Ten individuals signed up to speak. The first five speakers (Stacy Montgomery, Beth Eland, Jennifer Savner Levinson, Cheryl Jefferson Bell, Amy Nas) expressed support for the Blue Valley Crest housing project, citing benefits like affordable housing, smart land use, and compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods. Sally Williams also supported the project, noting it would help workers like an Overland Park arboretum employee afford to live in the community. John Kelly and Alan Penny opposed the council's decision to close neighborhood pools (Stonegate and Blue Jacket), expressing outrage and accusing the council of ignoring residents' needs. Mark Landsworth supported the pool closure plan but advocated for increasing the excise tax on developers for thoroughfares, suggesting it be combined with a potential parks sales tax ballot measure.
Public Hearing on Solid Waste Collection: Six individuals spoke. Willis Jackson (HOA volunteer) asked to remain involved in future discussions. Steve Willheit (Oak Park HOA board) opposed city takeover, citing a new five-year contract and concerns about losing competition and service quality. Matt Herman (KC Disposal) supported open market but offered to help design an organized system. Jennifer Peralta (HOA president) asked that HOAs be allowed to participate as a collective customer. Mark Landsworth supported organized collection to reduce street wear and suggested partnering with Olathe.

Discussion Items

Solid Waste Study and Organized Collection: Sustainability Manager Laura Ish and consultant Julie Davis (Burns & McDonald) presented findings from a comprehensive solid waste study. The study showed current costs vary from $18 to $44/month, with limited hauler options. Community engagement indicated general support for city-contracted service if cost-competitive. Four scenarios were analyzed: city-operated ($22/month with no HOA opt-out, $26/month with opt-out), city-contracted ($21–$22/month), and HOA opt-out options. Staff recommended pursuing a city-contracted (zone) model rather than city-operated, citing a shorter timeline (2.5 years vs. 7–10 years). A resolution of intent (Resolution 5137) will be brought for adoption on September 14, 2026, followed by an 18-month waiting period before service could begin (estimated January 2029). Council and public questions focused on HOA opt-out logistics, effects on competition, and the city-owned landfill property.
Judge Appointment: Mayor Scott introduced Andrew S. Talge as his nominee for Division 3 Municipal Court Judge. Talge has served as a pro tem judge in Overland Park for 8 years and as a Johnson County pro tem since 2010. He was recommended by the Judicial Selection Committee. Council unanimously approved the appointment.
Municipal Pool Updates: City Manager Lori Curtis Luther announced that Stonegate and Young's pools will close for the summer on August 7, 2026. Tomahawk Ridge Aquatic Center remains open through Labor Day. Maintenance at Matt Ross Community Center is expected to be complete by August 8.
Economic Development Items: Jack, economic development staff, presented three items:
- Resolution 5140: Set a public hearing (September 28, 2026) for a TIF redevelopment plan for the 8036 Metcalf project in downtown Overland Park. Approved (10-0).
- Resolution 5141: Set a public hearing (September 28, 2026) for a Community Improvement District (CID) for the same project. Approved (10-0).
- Ordinance RD 3487B: Amends the Black & Beach TIF plan, splitting Project Area 1 into 1A, 1B, and 1C to align schedules and facilitate parking structure reimbursement. Approved (10-0).
Revenue Bonds: Ordinance B-3525 authorized up to $5 million in economic development revenue bonds for phase one site and infrastructure work related to a development agreement approved July 6, 2026. Approved (10-0).
Planning Commission Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (10-0).
Mid-America Regional Council Report: Councilmember Grimmert noted the board did not meet in July but is moving to a new downtown building, with a new director expected in October.

Key Outcomes

The City Council adopted a resolution of intent for organized solid waste collection (to be formally voted on September 14, 2026).
Andrew S. Talge was appointed as Division 3 Municipal Court Judge, effective upon completion of pre-employment requirements.
Resolutions 5140 and 5141 (public hearings for TIF and CID) were adopted.
Ordinance RD 3487B (TIF plan amendment) was adopted.
Ordinance B-3525 (economic development revenue bonds) was adopted.
Consent agenda and planning commission consent agenda were approved.

Meeting Transcript

All right. It's 7:30 on the clock on the wall, so I will call the Monday, August 3rd, 2026 council meeting to order. Clerk, please call the roll. Scribner? Here. Beck? Here. Healy? Here. Reese? Grimmart? Yeah. Tritian. Antrim. Yeah. Pain? Yep. Relazan? Here. Mayor Scott. Here. Um Councilperson Melissa Cheatham and Anash Jonas have uh are absent and have an excused absence tonight. So uh please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the file. Which is thank you. The next item on our agenda is the open public comment period. So if we've had 10 people sign up to speak today. So uh what we'll do is I'll call your name, and if you'll come over to the podium, you'll notice that uh on your left are uh colored lights that will count you down from three minutes. Uh it starts with green, moves to yellow, and then red shows you that you're three minutes up. Um so if you see the red, if you would please wrap up your comments, it would be greatly appreciated. So, what I'll do is I'll call the first three people. Uh, if you could line up, it makes things move a little faster if you're willing. So uh first is Stacy Montgomery, and then Beth Eland, and then Jennifer Savner Levinson. Hopefully, I got those right. And so when you come up, if you could uh give your name and address, we look forward to hearing from you. My name is Stacey Montgomery, and I'm with EcoWastes Solutions. Um here this evening, representing a team with more than 60 decades in solid waste experience. Um good evening. Represent uh pardon me. EcoWaste has followed your comprehensive solid waste study closely, and we're here to support a zoned system tonight. Um not a citywide monopoly and not a city-run department, and that's for several reasons. But your own study shows that neighborhoods are seeing three or more haulers on the same street in the same week with two trucks, one for solid waste and one for recycling. That's a big drain on infrastructure. Um it's worth it's a problem worth fixing. And when you have haulers in a zone system that is competitively bid periodically, then they are responsible and held to help to account for performance as well as pricing. Your own study shows that also if you have a city-run department, that the cost is going to be somewhere between 22 and 26, whether depending on whether or not you have hoas opt out or not. But price really is only part of the story. The tens of millions of dollars in capital that goes into a solid waste operation, um, that's that the city will take on forever. Um, it's also specialized workforce that you're gonna have to build from scratch, and that Kansas City doesn't have this metro area, just does not have that workforce. Um, and then the liability will shift to the city, and with that, this is one of the most dangerous professions in the country.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com