Jan 21, 2025 City Council Meeting

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:15]

ALLEGIANCE] GOOD

[RECOGNITION]

I WANT TO SAY WELCOME TO THE KARLIN FAMILY. WE WILL BE PUBLICLY RECOGNIZING THE YEARS OF SERVICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER JOE KARLIN AND HIS MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY. WE HAVE SEVERAL GROUPS THAT HAVE PREPARED REMARKS, SO WE'LL CALL EACH TO THE PODIUM AS THEY HAVE THEIRS PREPARED.

WE'LL START WITH THE LENEXA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

GOOD EVENING. I'M ASHLEY SHERROD, CEO OF THE LENEXA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

TO THE MAYOR AND GOVERNING BODY, I'M PLEASED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF THE LENEXA CHAMBER'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERSHIP, FOR THIS WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION OF COUNCIL MEMBER KARLIN AND HIS PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE LENEXA COMMUNITY.

WITH YOUR INDULGENCE, I'D LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD A RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER KARLIN AS APPROVED BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

WHEREAS THE LENEXA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WAS FORMED ON JUNE 12TH, 1925, IS GOVERNED BY ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BY ITS ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS THE POWER TO CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION BY RESOLUTION.

AND WHEREAS JOE L KARLIN WAS APPOINTED TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OF THE CITY OF LENEXA, KANSAS AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER IN 2009 AND WAS CONTINUOUSLY REELECTED THEREAFTER.

AND WHEREAS, HE SERVED FIVE YEARS ON THE LENEXA PLANNING COMMISSION PRIOR TO HIS COUNCIL SERVICE.

AND WHEREAS OVER THESE YEARS HE WAS STEADFAST IN HIS VISION AND SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF LENEXA AND LENEXA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND PARTNERSHIP, AND COMMITTED HIS TIME AND SERVICE TO LENEXA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, GROUNDBREAKING AND RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONIES, ITS LEADERSHIP LENEXA PROGRAM, AND OTHER EVENTS AND EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE AREA BUSINESS COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS, HIS IMPACT ON AND STRONG SUPPORT OF THE LENEXA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE POSITIVELY CONTRIBUTED TO OUR MEMBERSHIP AND ALL LENEXA BUSINESSES.

AND WHEREAS LENEXA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GREATLY BENEFITED FROM HIS LONGTIME LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE CITY OF LENEXA.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE LENEXA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ON BEHALF OF THE CURRENT BOARD AND ALL PAST BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF THE LENEXA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HEREBY EXTEND TO JOEL KARLIN OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE LENEXA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, OUR MEMBERSHIP, AND THE CITY OF LENEXA, KANSAS.

AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE SHALL ALWAYS BE A PART OF THE HISTORY OF THE LENEXA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. DONE IN LENEXA, KANSAS, ON THIS 21ST DAY OF JANUARY 2025, WE'RE PLEASED TO PRESENT A FRAMED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE KARLIN FAMILY.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

SENATOR DINAH SYKES COULD NOT BE WITH US THIS EVENING, BUT SHE SENDS THIS MESSAGE FROM THE KANSAS SENATE AS A TRIBUTE.

BE IT HEREBY KNOWN TO ALL THAT THE OFFICIAL RECOGNITION IS EXTENDED TO JOE KARLIN.

THE KANSAS SENATE JOINS IN HONORING THE LIFE OF JOE KARLIN, A LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION.

JOE WAS A TIRELESS SUPPORTER AND TRUE PILLAR OF THE LENEXA COMMUNITY.

HE WAS A BUSINESS LEADER AND VOLUNTEERED WITH MANY LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, JOE KARLIN WILL BE REMEMBERED AS SOMEONE WHO CARED DEEPLY ABOUT PEOPLE.

HE WAS ALWAYS WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF AN ISSUE, AND ALWAYS WANTED TO HELP HIS FELLOW KANSANS.

JOE KARLIN WILL BE MISSED BY THE LENEXA COMMUNITY AND BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM.

SIGNED BY DIANA SYKES, SENATOR, KANSAS SENATE AND THE SECRETARY OF THE SENATE.

ONE, TWO. I'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT. NEXT IS REPRESENTATIVE LAURA WILLIAMS WITH THE KANSAS HOUSE. THANK YOU. I HAVE A HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRIBUTE TO JOE KARLIN IN AND IT STATES IN HONOR OF JOE KARLIN, WE RECOGNIZE HIS OVER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO THE CITY OF

[00:05:07]

JOE SERVED HIS COMMUNITY UNTIL HIS PASSING. HE WAS A GENUINE PUBLIC SERVANT, NOT ONLY TO HIS CONSTITUENTS, BUT ALSO TO THE ENTIRE CITY OF LENEXA. IT IS WITH DEEP GRATITUDE WE REMEMBER AND HONOR HIS LIFE OF SERVICE, AND IT IS SIGNED AND PREPARED BY REPRESENTATIVE BRANDON WOODARD, REPRESENTATIVE JOELLA HOY, AND MYSELF.

UP NEXT IS THE LENEXA STAFF, WHO HAVE THEIR SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.

STAND OVER HERE SO I CAN LOOK THIS WAY. HI, MY NAME IS BECKY YOCHAM.

I'M CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF LENEXA, AND I AM HONORED TO STAND HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY PROFESSIONAL STAFF, TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR JOE'S TWO DECADES OF SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY.

20 YEARS IS AN INCREDIBLE RECORD OF SERVICE, AND WHEN YOU REFLECT ON IT, IT'S ALSO A HUGE PART OF JOE'S LIFE.

AND HE SPENT SO MUCH OF HIS LIFE DEDICATED TO THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS REALLY SPECIAL.

SO TO ALL OF JOE'S FAMILY, BUT ESPECIALLY TO YOU, AMY, THANK YOU FOR SHARING HIM WITH US FOR ALL THOSE YEARS.

WE KNOW THAT THE TIME AND ENERGY THAT HE DEVOTED TO THE CITY CAME AT A COST, THAT THERE WAS DEFINITELY SACRIFICES THAT WERE MADE.

AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF HIM IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ALONGSIDE JOE, BOTH DURING HIS TIME AS A PLANNING COMMISSIONER AND ALSO HIS TIME ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

HE WAS SUCH A THOUGHTFUL MEMBER OF BOTH BODIES.

HE APPROACHED EVERY ISSUE WITH CARE AND RESPECT.

HE WAS ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE OF OUR STAFF. ALWAYS OPEN TO HEARING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

AND HE ASKED REALLY INSIGHTFUL QUESTIONS THAT REFLECTED THAT.

HE HAD REALLY, THOROUGHLY CONSIDERED THE ISSUES THAT WERE BEFORE HIM.

AND I THINK HE BROUGHT SO MANY PERSPECTIVES TO THE TABLE AS A CPA, A PARENT, A NEIGHBOR, AND REALLY SOMEONE WHO CARED DEEPLY ABOUT LENEXA.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT CHANGED DURING JOE'S TENURE ON THE COUNCIL IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE HAD SO MUCH REMARKABLE GROWTH AND CHANGE OVER THAT TIME.

AND HE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SHAPING A LOT OF THE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT ARE IN LENEXA TODAY.

AND SO I LISTED DOWN JUST A FEW OF THE PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES THAT HE WAS SUPPORTIVE OF OVER THE YEARS THAT REALLY ARE LANDMARK IN THE COMMUNITY.

THIS CITY HALL THAT WE'RE STANDING IN TODAY. THE LENEXA REC CENTER, LENEXA JUSTICE CENTER, CIRCLE PARK AQUATICS CENTER. THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES HEADQUARTERS BUILDING.

VISION 2040. THE LENEXA OLD TOWN ACTIVITY CENTER THAT'S STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION TODAY.

THE NEW FLEET FACILITY AT OUR MUNICIPAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THE BLACK HOOF DISC GOLF COURSE AND THE ROLLING MAGIC SKATE PARK.

JUST TO NAME A FEW. SO ON BEHALF OF STAFF, WE HAVE SOME GIFTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOUR FAMILY.

FIRST, I'M GOING TO INVITE FIRE CHIEF TRAVIS VAUGHN DOWN, AND HE WILL BE PRESENTING A CUSTOM LEATHER FIRE DEPARTMENT HELMET SHIELD THAT WAS HANDCRAFTED BY BATTALION CHIEF MATT SKINNER. AND IF WE COULD GRAB A PHOTO WITH YOU AND THE CHIEF, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. NEXT, MUNICIPAL SERVICES DIRECTOR NICK ARENA WILL PRESENT WHAT HAS BECOME A TRADITIONAL CITY STREET SIGN FOR FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHICH READS JOE KARLIN STREET. THERE'S JUST ONE REMINDER THAT COMES WITH THAT.

YOU CAN'T PUT THAT UP ON THE STREETS OF PARKHURST.

NO MATTER HOW TEMPTING IT WILL BE TO DO THAT.

NEXT, I'LL INVITE POLICE CHIEF DON LAYMAN, WHO WILL BE PRESENTING A CUSTOM WOODEN LENEXA POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMORY BOX IN RECOGNITION OF JOE'S SUPPORT AND DEDICATION TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND FINALLY, I'M GOING TO INVITE PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR LOGAN WAGLER DOWN.

LOGAN IS PRESENTING YOU WITH A CERTIFICATE FOR A TREE TO BE PLANTED IN JOE'S HONOR.

AND THEN THE PARKS AND REC TEAM WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU TO DETERMINE THE BEST LOCATION FOR THAT.

FOR WHERE YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE TREE PLANTED IN JOE'S HONOR. AND THAT'S WHAT THE PLAQUE IN FRONT OF THE TREE WILL BE, AND WE'LL GET THAT PLANTED WHEN THE TIMING IS RIGHT FROM A WEATHER PERSPECTIVE.

SO NO PROBLEM. SO JOE'S SERVICE IN HARTFORD, LENEXA MADE AN IMPACT ON ALL OF US.

[00:10:04]

AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL. SO ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF LENEXA AND ITS STAFF, THANK YOU TO YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY.

THANKS TO JOE FOR HIS INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE FINAL CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME INDIVIDUAL REMARKS BY FORMER GOVERNING BODY MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT AND THEN OUR CURRENT GOVERNING BODY.

WHEREAS THE LENEXA GOVERNING BODY WISHES TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE DEDICATED SERVICE AND COUNTLESS CONTRIBUTIONS OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JOE KARLIN TO THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS.

AND WHEREAS JOE WAS APPOINTED TO THE LENEXA PLANNING COMMISSION IN MAY OF 2004, WHERE HE SERVED FIVE YEARS AND APPOINTED TO THE LENEXA CITY COUNCIL IN 2009, WHERE HE WAS REELECTED IN ALL SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS, CONTRIBUTING OVER 20 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CITY.

AND WHEREAS, IN ADDITION TO HIS OFFICIAL DUTIES AND AS AN ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIAL, JOE CONTRIBUTED TO THE LENEXA COMMUNITY THROUGH HIS INVOLVEMENT WITH NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION BOARDS FOR BOTH OAK PARK AND BROOKWOOD SUBDIVISIONS.

AS CO-PRESIDENT OF THE SHAWNEE MISSION WEST HIGH SCHOOL BOOSTER CLUB.

SERVING AS LENEXA REPRESENTATIVE ON THE UNITED COMMUNITY SERVICES OF JOHNSON COUNTY DRUG AND ALCOHOLISM COUNCIL.

AND AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE LENEXA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INCLUDING GRADUATING FROM LEADERSHIP LENEXA PROGRAM.

AND WHEREAS, JOE WAS ALSO PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED LIVES OF COUNTLESS YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE CHRISTA MCAULIFFE.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTA AS A YOUTH SPORTS COACH, AND AS CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TOM KARLIN FOUNDATION, WHOSE MISSION WAS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF TEENS LIVES AND TO REDUCE SUICIDES THROUGH AWARENESS AND EDUCATION.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT BE RESOLVED THAT THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF LENEXA GRATEFULLY HONORS JOE KARLIN FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL AND SELFLESS SERVICE TO THE CITY OF LENEXA AND ITS COMMUNITY, RECOGNIZING HIM AS A DEDICATED LEADER, ADVOCATE AND FRIEND TO ALL.

SIGNED THE SEVENTH DAY OF JANUARY IN THE YEAR 2025.

I THANK AMY AND FAMILY. YOU'VE WITNESSED OVER THE YEARS THAT I TEND NOT TO WRITE SPEECHES.

I TEND TO JUST TALK WITH NOTES. I'M GOING TO DO THAT TONIGHT.

AND HONESTLY, SO MUCH OF WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID TONIGHT, I CAN JUST SAY DITTO.

COME GET MY HUG AND GO HOME IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

BUT I FIRST WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU TO AMY AND ANNA, BEN AND MARY BETH FOR SHARING YOUR FATHER WITH US FOR ALL THESE YEARS.

TRUST ME, I KNOW THE AMOUNT OF TIME HE PUT IN.

AND HONESTLY, WHEN I FIRST MET JOE BACK IN, I HAVE TO LOOK AT MY NUMBERS HERE BECAUSE I LOST 20 YEARS HERE BACK IN 2003.

I BELIEVE IT WAS WHEN HE WENT THROUGH LEADERSHIP LENEXA AND APPLIED FOR THE POSITION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IMPRESSED ME ABOUT JOE WAS HOW ACTIVE HE HAD ALREADY BEEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IN THOSE EARLY YEARS, HE WAS INVESTING IN YOUR LIVES, YOU KIDS, AND SERVING IN SO MANY CAPACITIES AT CHRISTA MCAULIFFE.

AND AS YOU MOVED ON THROUGH VARIOUS GRADE LEVELS IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO JOE ALWAYS HAD A PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTING FIRST IN THE KIDS AND THE FAMILY, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IN THE SCHOOLS. SIGNED UP FOR LEADERSHIP WHEN I MET HIM THERE, MET HIM AND KNEW HIM THROUGH HOLY TRINITY OVER THE YEARS, AND HE WAS JUST A ODDS ON FAVORITE AND HANDS DOWN, THE RIGHT CHOICE TO BE APPOINTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION ONE YEAR AFTER GRADUATING FROM LEADERSHIP LENEXA IN 2004. UNFORTUNATELY, A FEW YEARS LATER, 2009, WE LOST COUNCIL MEMBER JANE KLEIN, AND I'M NOT SURE A LOT OF YOU WILL REMEMBER THIS, BUT JANE WAS REELECTED ON A TUESDAY AND BACK THEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN APRIL, BUT SHE PASSED AWAY THE SUNDAY BEFORE THE TUESDAY.

THE VOTERS STILL VOTED FOR HER, SO JOE WAS APPOINTED TO A FULL FOUR YEAR TERM BECAUSE LENEXA YOU GET THE REMAINING TERM AS OPPOSED TO THE NEXT OR NEXT ELECTION.

AND AGAIN, JOE RAISED HIS HAND TO MOVE FROM PLANNING COMMISSION, WHERE HE HAD DONE A FABULOUS JOB OVER THE YEARS INTO THE COUNCIL SEAT AND HAD A PASS FOR FOUR YEARS. AND. I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE ONLY THING JOE EVER MADE ME MAD ABOUT WAS ABOUT 16 YEARS LATER AT A COUNCIL

[00:15:03]

AND I'M GOING, JOE, YOU'VE BEEN HERE 16 YEARS.

YOU'VE JUST BEEN JUST GOING TO, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH THE AND I KNEW HE WASN'T, BUT HE WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS JUST THAT STUCK IN MY MIND.

HE WAS LIKE, COME ON, JOE, YOU DON'T MEAN THAT. BUT WE HAD A NICE DISCUSSION ON THAT.

AND ULTIMATELY WE DECIDED WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE ALWAYS DID.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE FEW THINGS, YOU KNOW, WE DO THESE THINGS IN RETREAT SOMETIMES AS OPPOSED TO IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC.

SO YOU CAN HAVE GOOD FRIENDLY DIALOG. AND WE'RE KNOWN TO HAVE A BEER AROUND HERE ONCE IN A WHILE, TOO. AND JOE WAS ALWAYS ONE OF OUR FAVORITES THERE.

JOE REPRESENTED LENEXA IN SO MANY WAYS, AND FRANKLY, UPON HIS PASSING, I LEARNED MORE THINGS THAT JOE DID AS PEOPLE REACHED OUT TO ME TO EXPRESS THEIR CONDOLENCES FOR MY LOSS. AND I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE GOING THROUGH, AND I WAS AT THE SERVICE, I SAW HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WERE THERE TO SUPPORT YOU AND REMEMBER JOE.

JUST A KIND HEARTED SOUL. ALWAYS PUT EVERYBODY ELSE FIRST.

LOOK AT THESE SLIDES. JOE'S SMILING WITH THE BIGGEST SMILE ON EVERY ONE OF THOSE BECAUSE HE ALWAYS LOVED LENEXA AND LOVED WHAT HE WAS DOING WHEN HE WAS INVOLVED.

I CAN'T TELL YOU. AND WE PROBABLY CAN NEVER MEASURE THE IMPACT THAT JOE HAS HAD ON YOUTH IN LENEXA AND JOHNSON COUNTY.

WHETHER IT WAS THE UCS DRUG AND ALCOHOL POSITION THAT WE APPOINTED HIM TO OR THE FOUNDATION OR WHATEVER.

AMY, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU AND JOE. AND I'VE TALKED TO MARY BETH ABOUT THIS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND OTHER SIBLINGS.

WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE, THE YOUTH IN JOHNSON COUNTY IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

WE'LL NEVER KNOW HOW MANY LIVES YOU TOUCHED AND HOW MANY LIVES YOU SAVED BY PUTTING YOURSELVES OUT THERE AND TURNING A TRAGEDY INTO SOMETHING VERY POSITIVE.

AND THAT'S JUST A HALLMARK OF WHO JOE WAS PUTTING OTHER PEOPLE FIRST AND CELEBRATING THE COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK YOU ALL BENEFITED FROM THAT GREATLY AS WELL, WITNESSING THAT.

I DID RECEIVE ONE EMAIL THAT I THINK KIND OF EXPRESSES THAT IN A NUTSHELL FOR JOE, AND IT'S FROM RENEE MCKINNEY AT THE ADVENT HEALTH SHAWNEE MISSION. SHE IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR AT THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UNIT.

AND I'M REACHING OUT TO LET YOU KNOW I'M THINKING OF YOU AS I'M LEARNING OF THE LOSS OF YOUR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, JOE KARLIN. I HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE JOE FOR MANY YEARS AS WE PROVIDED EDUCATED EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ON SUICIDE PREVENTION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I ALWAYS HAD THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR HIS MISSION AND HIS THOUGHTS.

MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND THE FAMILY DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.

AND I KNOW RENNY IS JUST ONE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO SEND THE EMAIL, BUT I KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE HAD VERY SIMILAR THOUGHTS OF JOE, AND I JUST AGAIN WANT TO EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE FOR YOU ALL SHARING HIM WITH US ALL THESE YEARS.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. I DON'T HAVE STAFF ANYMORE, SO I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.

FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER CINDY GREEN.

I WAS ON THE COUNCIL. I DON'T KNOW A LOT OF YOU FROM WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER, WHEN HE WAS FIRST APPOINTED IN 2009, AND JOE WAS ALWAYS THOUGHTFUL AND WONDERFUL ADDITION TO THE COUNCIL AT THAT TIME.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, WITHIN A YEAR OF HIM BEING APPOINTED TO THE COUNCIL, I LOST MY HUSBAND AND I REMEMBER HIM BEING AND AMY BEING VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ME DURING THAT TRAGEDY TOO. WE WENT THROUGH A LOT OF THOSE, UNFORTUNATELY, HERE ON LENEXA COUNCIL, BUT JOE HAS JUST BEEN A BLESSING TO SO MANY PEOPLE, AND I'M HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT HE WAS A FRIEND AND A COLLEAGUE AND JUST WISH YOU ALL THE BEST DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, TO TRY AND REMEMBER THE GOOD MEMORIES OF HIM AND HELP COMFORT YOU AS YOU GRIEVE, BECAUSE HE IS A WONDERFUL PERSON THAT WILL BE NOT FORGOTTEN EVER AND JUST MADE A HUGE IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. ANOTHER HUG.

FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER ANDY HUCKABA.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT FEELS REAL. REALLY FUNNY TO BE BACK IN THIS COUNCIL CHAMBER.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. TONIGHT, ON THIS COLD NIGHT, WE HONOR THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JOE KARLIN, A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT AND A STRONG FAMILY MAN WHO DEDICATED HIMSELF TO MAKING LENEXA A BETTER PLACE.

I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ALONGSIDE JOE ON THE CITY COUNCIL FROM 2009 TO 2019, AND DURING THOSE YEARS,

[00:20:06]

JOE BROUGHT A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO OUR DISCUSSIONS AND DELIBERATIONS AT THE DAIS, ALWAYS ENSURING HIS VOICE ADDED VALUE TO THE CONVERSATION.

INDEED, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING HIS RICH ANNOUNCER LIKE VOICE ON THE DREAMS AND HOPES AND ISSUES WE FACE AS A GOVERNING BODY.

HE WAS ALWAYS WELL PREPARED, ENGAGING AND WELCOMING.

AND WHETHER IT WAS HIS ENERGY, HIS FRIENDLY DEMEANOR, OR HIS UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR HIS COLLEAGUES, JOE HAD A WAY OF BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER. HIS PASSION FOR SERVICE WAS EVIDENT IN EVERYTHING HE DID, AND THE CITY OF LENEXA IS UNDOUBTEDLY BETTER BECAUSE OF HIS DEDICATION AND HARD WORK.

AND BEYOND HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY, JOE'S LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY WAS CLEAR AND DEEPLY INSPIRING.

HE BALANCED HIS COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY WITH HIS COMMITMENT TO THOSE HE LOVED THE MOST, SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF US. SO TODAY, WE MOURN THE LOSS OF OUR DEAR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE JOE KARLIN'S LEGACY WILL LIVE ON IN OUR LIVES. HE TOUCHED AND THE COMMUNITY HE CARED SO DEEPLY ABOUT AND WILL MISS HIM GREATLY.

AN ASIDE, AS I ALWAYS DO, AND ASIDE RIGHT THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE ON THE COUNCIL TOGETHER AND YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THIS DEEPLY, FORM A SPECIAL BOND TOGETHER BECAUSE OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE GO THROUGH AND THE WORK THAT WE GO THROUGH, AND WE BECOME KIND OF LIKE FAMILY.

AND SO WE'RE ALL FEELING THIS LOSS AND LOVE FOR YOU AND FOR JOE AND FOR YOUR FAMILY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK AND JUST HONORING JOE TODAY.

IT'S GOOD.

FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER MANNY STOOKEY. I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST NOT TO CRY. NO YOU'RE NOT. I HAVE TO WRITE THIS DOWN.

HI, EVERYONE. I'M SO FUNNY BEING BACK. I WAS STILL NERVOUS, LIKE, I ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. GOOD EVENING. I AM MANDY STOOKEY.

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF GETTING TO KNOW JOE AS WE BOTH SERVED ON THE LENEXA PLANNING COMMISSION FROM 2004 TO 2009, WHEN JOE WAS THEN APPOINTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTING WARD FOUR.

I LATER JOINED JOE ON THE LENEXA CITY COUNCIL WHEN I WAS APPOINTED TO REPRESENT WARD 4 IN 2011, WHEN I RETIRED IN 2021. SO THAT WAS THE TIME FRAME THAT WE WERE TOGETHER, WHICH WAS LOOKING BACK.

THAT'S. WOW. YOU GUYS ARE LIKE FAMILY. WE ALSO HAD KIDDOS THAT ATTENDED SHAWNEE MISSION WEST IN OVERLAPPING YEARS.

JOAN. THE ENTIRE KARLIN FAMILY'S DEDICATION TO LENEXA AND THE SHAWNEE MISSION WEST COMMUNITIES, ALONG WITH JOHNSON COUNTY AS A WHOLE, WAS TRULY IMPACTFUL FOR SO MANY REASONS THAT SOME HAVE BEEN MENTIONED HERE ALREADY.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE WAY THAT JOE'S SMILE LIT UP A ROOM AND HOW HIS KIND, GOOD NATURED, AND GENEROUS HEART MADE PEOPLE FEEL.

PRIOR TO MY RETIREMENT, I WROTE LETTERS AND PROVIDED MAGNETS THAT READ YOU MAKE LENEXA PROUD TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE ENTIRE LENEXA TEAM. I HAD THESE MAGNETS MADE WITH THIS STATEMENT TO SERVE AS A REMINDER OF THE IMPACT THAT THEY MADE EACH AND EVERY DAY. I'D LIKE TO SHARE YOU THAT SHARE WITH YOU ALL THAT LETTER THAT I WROTE.

JOE. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I STILL HAVE IT. I'M KIND OF A LENEXA DORK.

SO I HAVE I HAVE ALL OF YOUR LETTERS THAT I WROTE TO EVERYONE IN HERE.

AND JENNIFER MARTIN'S GOT EXTRA MAGNETS IN HER DRAWER.

OKAY. OKAY. SEE, LOOK, THIS IS RIGHT HERE. I ACTUALLY HAVE IT.

AND IT SAYS, JOE, I AM SO VERY PROUD OF YOU, OF YOUR DEDICATION, INSIGHT, INTEGRITY AND PASSION IS TRULY APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING SO GIVING OF YOUR TIME, TALENTS AND MANY YEARS OF SERVICE.

IT HAS BEEN A TRUE PLEASURE AND AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH YOU, AS IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT I WILL ALWAYS TREASURE.

[00:25:05]

BETH. BEN AND YOU, OF COURSE, AMY AND THE ENTIRE KARLIN FAMILY FOR SHARING JO WITH ALL OF US.

IT IS QUITE A TIME COMMITMENT, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAD TO GIVE UP A LOT OF THINGS AS WE GOT TO EXPERIENCE THAT IN OUR HOUSEHOLD, TOO. BUT IT REALLY MEANT A LOT AND CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.

AND ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED THAT HE'S TOUCHED IS WHAT MAKES LENEXA GREAT.

AND SO I HAVE A MAGNET. I STILL HAVE EXTRAS FOR EACH ONE OF YOU, SO THAT IT MAY SERVE AS A REMINDER OF THE IMPACT THAT YOU ALL AND YOUR HUSBAND AND YOUR DAD MADE ON SO MANY OF US.

I'M TRULY THANKFUL FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO KNOW JOE.

SO I WILL GET YOU YOUR MAGNETS.

FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER CORY HUNT.

HI, AMY. FAMILY. BIG HUG. I'M CORY HUNT. I SERVE WITH JOE FROM 2017 TO 2021 ON THE COUNCIL.

AND WHAT A GREAT GUY. HE JUST, HIS SERVICE TO LENEXA, FOR ONE THING, CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED.

THAT'S FOR SURE. AND IF YOU'RE EVER THINKING ABOUT JOE, YOU CAN JUST LOOK AROUND AND YOU'LL FEEL HIM, RIGHT? HE TOOK ME UNDER THE WING AND SHOWED ME THE ROPES A LITTLE BIT.

SHOWED ME HOW TO ASK QUESTIONS AND WAS JUST SUPER.

THE BIG TAKEAWAY FROM JOE FOR ME IS I DIDN'T KNOW VERY MANY MEN MY AGE THAT WERE THAT COMPASSIONATE.

RIGHT. SO I KIND OF COINED, LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU BROUGHT COMPASSION WAS COOL FOR ME.

I DON'T MEAN JUST CARING FOR SOMEONE LIKE YOU'RE YOU KNOW, I CARE FOR MY WIFE, I CARE FOR MY FAMILY. I MEAN, JOE HAD A DEEP CARE FOR PEOPLE, AND IT TAUGHT ME A LOT. AND I WOULD GET RANDOM TEXTS FROM JOE ASKED ABOUT MY SON, AND I APPRECIATED THAT, BUT HE WAS REALLY JUST ASKING ABOUT HOW I WAS DOING, AND I'M SO GLAD I GOT A CHANCE TO SAY THANK YOU.

AND HE WON'T BE FORGOTTEN. THANKS, SAM.

AND FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER DAN ROH. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. AMY AND FAMILY. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHAT WITH YOU THIS EVENING.

I DON'T HAVE ANY PLAQUES, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY SIGNS, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY STICKERS IN SUPPORT, BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME THINGS FROM MY HEART IS WHAT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU. WHEN IT WAS FIRST MENTIONED THAT WE HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY I SAT DOWN IN THESE THOUGHTS JUST IMMEDIATELY CAME TO MIND ABOUT YOUR HUSBAND AND YOUR FATHER AND MY COLLEAGUE.

WE SPENT TIME TOGETHER ON THE COUNCIL, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THINGS VERY REDUNDANT.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS ABOUT JOE IS THAT THESE KIND OF THINGS WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR HIM.

YOU WOULD MEET HIM ONCE, AND YOU FELT LIKE YOU KNEW HIM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

IT WAS AMAZING HOW QUICKLY THAT HAPPENED. BUT HERE ARE THE THINGS THAT CAME TO MIND.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I CHALLENGE YOU TO LOOK AT THESE PICTURES OF JOE AND NOT SEE THIS.

HIS SMILE. THE SMILE WAS ALWAYS THERE. AND THE OTHER THING THE FIRST TIME I MET WAS THE HANDSHAKE.

WHEN JOE SHOOK YOUR HAND, IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS.

HE WAS VERY, VERY SINCERELY WANTING TO ENGAGE WITH YOU AND GET TO KNOW YOU FROM THE HEART AND THE SOUL.

HE WAS THAT KIND OF GUY. AS MANY HAVE SAID, HE WAS A VERY, VERY CARING MAN, AND HE TRULY TOUCHED AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE WITH HIS KINDNESS THAT HE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE. ALWAYS. AND I MEAN ALWAYS, HE MEANT WHAT HE SAID, AND HE FOLLOWED THROUGH ON HIS PROMISES.

HE WAS A MAN OF GREAT INTEGRITY. HE HAD A GREAT PASSION.

AND HE MATCHED THAT WITH A PERSISTENCE THAT AT TIMES WAS LIKE, OH, MY GOD, JOE, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE STILL AT IT.

YES, DAN, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

SO FORTH. HE CARED DEEPLY ABOUT THIS CITY, AND HE ATTRIBUTES THESE THINGS HE BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL,

[00:30:02]

THAT WAS WHO JOE WAS. HE WAS A GREAT COUNCIL TEAMMATE.

LENEXA IS CLEARLY A BETTER, BETTER PLACE FOR JOE KARLIN'S PRESENCE ON THE COUNCIL IN EVERYTHING THAT HE DID AS A CITIZEN, AS A WIFE, AS A HUSBAND, EXCUSE ME. AND AS A FATHER, HE WAS A GREAT MAN.

THANK YOU.

AND FROM OUR CURRENT TEAM, WE'LL START WITH WARD FOUR. TO AMY AND FAMILY, ALTHOUGH I DID NOT KNOW JOE FOR LONG, HE EXEMPLIFIED WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT.

JOE'S RECORD OF WORK FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LENEXA COMMUNITY CONVINCES ME THAT HE HAD A PASSION FOR DOING THE HARD WORK OF LEADERSHIP, AND FOR SEEKING TO DO THE DO THE RIGHT THING.

JOE LEAVES A LEGACY OF SERVICE, CARE, AND COMMITMENT FOR US ALL TO EMULATE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING HIM WITH US. MAY HIS MEMORY ALWAYS BE A BLESSING TO YOU.

OF COURSE.

YOU KNOW, I TRIED REALLY, REALLY HARD TO REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST MET JOE.

AND I CAN'T. I'M OLD. IT COULD HAVE BEEN AT SHAWNEE MISSION WEST WHEN I WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND THERE WERE SO MANY ACTIVITIES THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN WITH THE KIDS AND EVERYTHING GOING ON THERE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN AT ONE OF THE VOLUNTEER DINNERS THAT LENEXA DOES FOR US.

I WAS ON THE PORK BOARD WHILE HE WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL.

WE COULD HAVE MET THERE. COULD HAVE BEEN ANY NUMBER OF THE EVENTS WE DID.

THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OR VISION 2030 OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE I'VE KNOWN JOE FOREVER. AND AMY, YOU TOO.

YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY, AND SURELY THAT'S MEMORABLE.

AND BUT I WILL TELL YOU A REALLY SHORT LITTLE STORY THAT I THINK REALLY TELLS THE STORY OF JOE.

WE WERE AT THE LAKE LAST SUMMER WITH GOT IN THE BOAT, WENT OVER TO THE BOATHOUSE FOR LUNCH.

UP THE STAIRS WE WENT. LO AND BEHOLD, HERE'S JOE AND AMY AND BEN AND WHOEVER, WHEREVER THE LITTLE GUY WENT.

AND THIS ONE WAS THERE, BUT NOT QUITE IN THE SAME CONDITION.

AND THEY WERE HAVING A GREAT TIME. FAMILY TIME.

AND I INTRODUCED MY FRIENDS TO JOE, AND JOE INTRODUCED THE FAMILY TO ALL OF US.

AND WE WE HAD A GREAT TIME. AND AS I REMEMBER, IT WAS A MONDAY.

AND WE HAD SOME ISSUES THAT WE WERE WORKING ON HERE AT THE CITY.

AND SO I KIND OF. AS AN ASIDE, SAID, WELL, I'M GETTING UP TOMORROW MORNING AND GOING BACK, BUT I'LL BE BACK AFTER THAT. JOE KIND OF SMILED AND SAID, I'M NOT GOING BACK.

AND THEN WHEN I LOOKED OVER A LITTLE LATER, HERE'S JOE, AND HE'S SITTING ON THE STEPS IN THE SHALLOW END OF THE POOL WITH WHEREVER HE IS, AND HE'S BEING GRANDPA. AND YOU SEE THE LOVE IN HIS EYES.

AND WHILE YOU'VE HEARD EVERYBODY TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH HE LOVED THE CITY, HE LOVED YOU GUYS EVEN MORE.

HE WAS AN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS FATHER. AND THAT'S MY FAVORITE MEMORY OF JOE, BECAUSE HE'S SMILING, BUT NOT AT THE CAMERA. HE'S SMILING AT THIS LITTLE GUY NEXT TO HIM AND JUST HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME.

HE'S SUCH A GREAT MAN. WE ALL MISS HIM. WE'LL GO ON, BUT WE'LL REMEMBER HIM AND HE'LL INSPIRE US TO DO THINGS.

AND I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, I REALLY AM, BUT HE'S A GREAT GUY.

[00:35:01]

WITH A BIG SMILE. AFTER SOME RESCHEDULING DUE TO HIS TREATMENTS, WE WERE ABLE TO MEET ONE EVENING AFTER WORK.

I TOLD JOE I WANTED TO GET TO KNOW HIM AS A PERSON AND A COLLEAGUE, NOT AS A CANDIDATE, WHICH HAD BEEN OUR ONLY INTERACTION UP TO THAT POINT. HE WAS SO KIND AND SO GENEROUS AND WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE HIS LIFE STORY AND LISTEN TO MINE. WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CITY COUNCIL AND HE GAVE ME SOME ADVICE, BUT MOSTLY WE JUST SAT AND TALKED. WE TALKED ABOUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING, INCLUDING OUR FAMILIES, OUR HOBBIES. OUR FAMILY. LOSSES TO SUICIDE. AND HIS ILLNESS. ALMOST TWO HOURS LATER, WHEN WE PARTED WAYS.

WE HAD DEVELOPED A BOND AND A FRIENDSHIP THAT I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER.

ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD. I TEXTED JOE AND I SAID, JOE, I WANTED TO TELL YOU WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE THAT I'M SO LUCKY TO HAVE MET YOU. AND I'M HONORED TO CALL YOU A FRIEND.

WE SHARE SOME COMMONALITIES THAT I WILL ALWAYS HOLD DEAR.

AND I'M THANKFUL WE HAD A CHANCE TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER.

I WISH YOU PEACE AND CALM, MY FRIEND. HE TEXTED BACK.

THANKS, CHELSEA. I TRULY APPRECIATED IT. IT WAS ONE WEEK LATER THAT HE HAD PASSED, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, JOE, FOR YOUR SMILE AND YOUR KINDNESS.

AND I'LL MISS YOU. THANK YOU.

I DIDN'T KNOW JOE VERY LONG, BUT I DID WANT TO COME DOWN AND TALK WITH YOU DIRECTLY BECAUSE EVEN THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THAT I KNEW HIM, HE REALLY LEFT AN IMPRESSION ON ME. I MY MY FIRST EXPERIENCE JUST WITNESSING JOE'S LEADERSHIP WAS, I THINK IT WAS BACK IN 2018 OR 2019 WHEN THE CITY WAS TALKING ABOUT THE NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE. AND I CAME IN AS A CONSTITUENT TO WATCH THIS CONVERSATION.

AND HE WHEN HE WAS STARTING TO SPEAK, HE TALKED ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE WITH YOUR SON'S PASSING AND TALKING ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BUILD COMMUNITIES THAT SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR YOUTH AND OUR RESIDENTS. AND HE STRONGLY FELT THAT THE NDA WOULD DO THAT.

EXCUSE ME, THE NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE WOULD DO THAT.

BUT I WAS HONESTLY IN AWE OF HIM SHARING THAT I WAS NOT EXPECTING IT, BECAUSE IN THAT MOMENT, HE TRULY EMBODIED THIS CONCEPT OF COURAGE AND VULNERABILITY THAT DOCTOR BRENE BROWN TALKS ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, HE HAD THIS MOMENT OF VULNERABILITY AND HE CHOKED UP A LITTLE BIT TALKING ABOUT IT.

AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY COURAGEOUS. AND HE REALLY SET AN EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF LEADER THAT I WOULD WANT TO BE.

BUT I'M HONESTLY, I'M VERY SAD THAT I DIDN'T GET TO KNOW HIM A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

I WAS NOT AWARE OF HIS WELL, CANCER UNTIL WE WERE TOLD THAT HE WAS BEING MOVED TO HOSPICE.

AND THAT MOMENT HAD ME REFLECT A LOT. BUT I THINK MY MOST IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY FROM. MY EXPERIENCES WITH JOE IS THAT THERE IS, I GUESS HE REMINDED ME

[00:40:07]

HE WAS JUST VERY LIKABLE AND ADMIRABLE PERSON IN GENERAL AND MANY OTHER THINGS.

BUT HE ALSO, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, HE HAD VERY UNEXPECTED QUIRKS AND JOKES THAT WOULD COME OUT OF NOWHERE, YOU KNOW, AND THEY WOULD JUST ADD SO MUCH LIKE ENERGY AND SURPRISE TO THE PARTY OR THE CONVERSATION.

AND I AND I JUST REALLY CHERISH THOSE MOMENTS.

I THINK ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHEN I WAS SURPRISED WAS WHEN HE I THINK HE WAS.

YOU WERE THERE LIKE HE SAID, HE LISTENS TO BAD BUNNY, AND I WAS NOT EXPECTING, YOU KNOW, THIS GOOD WHITE BOY FROM MIDWEST KANSAS TO LISTEN TO SUCH TASTEFUL MUSIC? I'LL CALL IT THAT.

AND I LOVED IT. AND WE WOULD EXCHANGE SONGS FROM TIME TO TIME.

AND I WOULD ASK HIM, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF WHAT YOU'RE LISTENING TO.

AND HE'S LIKE, MAYBE IT'S BEST THAT I DON'T KNOW.

BUT I'M LIKE, YEAH, THAT'S FAIR. BUT I LOVED IT.

AND AGAIN, THERE WAS THIS JUST UNEXPECTED CONNECTION THAT I JUST WASN'T ANTICIPATING.

AND I WILL ALWAYS TREASURE THAT. AND I JUST WANT TO FINISH BY SAYING THAT I TRULY CONSIDER MYSELF HONORED TO HAVE MET HIM AND WORKED ALONGSIDE HIM. THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF DISAGREEMENTS.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OF DISAGREEMENTS HERE AND THERE. BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THE.

THE HIS LEADERSHIP AND HIS INTEGRITY WAS MUCH BIGGER THAN ANYTHING.

AND HOW HE WOULD COME AROUND AFTER THOSE DISAGREEMENTS.

AGAIN, THAT WAS VERY AWE INSPIRING FOR ME. AGAIN, I WISH I HAD HAD MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET TO TALK TO HIM, BUT NONETHELESS, I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT OUR PATHS CROSSED AND THAT I WAS WILLING TO, THAT I WAS ABLE TO WITNESS HIS LEADERSHIP AND HIS DEDICATION TO THE CITY.

AND I HOPE TO BE AS GOOD AND AS COMPASSIONATE OF A LEADER AS JOE WAS.

THANK YOU.

WELL, UNLIKE CRAIG, I KNOW EXACTLY WHEN I MET JOE. AND I'M OLD TOO.

I MET JOE FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN THE CITY WAS ACQUIRING A SMALL PARK AT 83RD AND LACKMAN.

JOE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE BROOKWOOD HOMES ASSOCIATION.

AND THAT PARK BECAME THE NA-NEX-SE PARK. RIGHT THERE AT 83RD AND LACKMAN.

HE, OF COURSE, WENT ON TO JOIN THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO ALL OF YOU THAT LIKE LENEXA, YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE JOE KARLIN TO THANK FOR MAKING LENEXA SO LIKABLE. JUST WONDERFUL.

JOE WAS JUST A GOOD MAN IN EVERYTHING HE DID AND EVERYTHING THAT HE TOUCHED THROUGH HIS HUMILITY AND HIS EMPATHY AND HIS JUST GOODNESS.

HE OFTEN SHOWED US HOW TO TALK ABOUT UNCOMFORTABLE ISSUES.

AND HE'S GOING TO BE MISSED. AND I'M GLAD I KNEW HIM.

AND I CAME DOWN HERE, SO I GOT A HUG. THANK YOU.

SO MUCH. I WAS LIKE.

WELL, I HAVEN'T BEEN PART OF THE CITY COUNCIL VERY LONG.

THE REASON I'M GOING TO STAY UP HERE, BECAUSE I'M UP HERE BECAUSE OF JOE KARLIN.

[00:45:04]

ANTHONY FAZIL. AND ASKING IF I VOLUNTEER TO HELP JOE THROUGH HIS MAYORAL RUN.

AND BACK THEN, I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, ANTHONY, I'VE BEEN ACTUALLY KIND OF CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL MYSELF.

IS THERE ANY WAY JOE AND I COULD TEAM AND DO THIS TOGETHER? NEXT THING YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING A CALL FROM JOE AND WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR TOGETHER AND HELPING EACH OTHER OUT.

IT WAS JUST SUCH A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE TO LEARN THE LEADERSHIP AND THE I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS DOING.

I JUST KIND OF THREW IT OUT THERE AND I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM HIM.

WHAT'S THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEET AND GREET? NEXT THING YOU KNOW, I'M DOING NEIGHBORHOOD MEET AND GREETS WITH JOE. BUT FAST FORWARD, I'M SITTING UP HERE BECAUSE OF JOE AND I OWE HE AND HIS FAMILY SUCH UNDUE GRATITUDE FOR HIS MENTORSHIP.

AND I JUST WISH WE COULD HAVE CONTINUED THAT MENTORSHIP UP HERE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

AND I COULD HAVE CONTINUED TO LEARN FROM HIM.

BUT I OWE YOU GUYS A LOT OF THANKS. THANK YOU.

I WASN'T SURE WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY TONIGHT. I HAVE KNOWN AMY A LONG TIME 30 PLUS YEARS.

AND I THINK I MET JOE ALONG THE WAY A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF THAT BEFORE I DECIDED TO RUN FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID WHEN I DECIDED TO RUN WAS REACH OUT TO JOE BECAUSE HE HAS THE SAME CONSTITUENCY, THE SAME WARD. AND SO I THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE SOME REALLY SAGE ADVICE FOR ME.

AND I REMEMBER SHOWING UP TO COFFEE AND WE WERE SITTING THERE AND I SAID, JOE, YOU'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL A LONG TIME.

THESE ARE YOUR PEOPLE. THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE CONSTITUENTS, YOU KNOW EVERYBODY.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ME TO SAY? AND HE SAID, CORNY, I'VE NEVER KNOCKED A DOOR IN MY DAY, IN MY LIFE BECAUSE HE NEVER HAD AN OPPONENT UP UNTIL AFTER THAT.

RIGHT. AND SO I WAS LIKE, OKAY, SO HOW AM I GOING TO DO THIS? AND WE KIND OF CHUCKLED. AND IT WAS REALLY THE FIRST TIME THAT I GOT TO KNOW HIM AND FIND OUT ABOUT HIM PERSONALLY AND REALLY HEAR ABOUT WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO HIM, WHAT HIS EXPERIENCE WAS ON THE COUNCIL.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT FROM THAT DAY WAS HE SAID TO ME.

WELL, I GUESS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE ME IS THAT I'M A DREAMER.

AND REFERRED TO HIMSELF AS A DREAMER. HE SAID, I THINK THAT I AM ALWAYS MAYBE I'M MAYBE I'M TOO OPTIMISTIC.

BUT THERE HAS TO BE A WAY, AND I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A WAY FOR ANYTHING TO BE DONE.

AND I KIND OF TAKEN THAT ALONG WITH ME IS WHEN I SEE JOE.

JOE'S A DREAMER. JOE WANTS TO SEE THINGS HAPPEN, AND HE'S GOING TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE IT MAKE IT HAPPEN.

AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF SITTING NEXT TO JOE ON THE DAIS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SOME REALLY TOUGH TOPICS, AND HE'S ALWAYS REACHED OUT AND WANTED TO KNOW MORE, WANTED TO KNOW WHY I THOUGHT, WHY MY EXPERIENCES OR WHY I THOUGHT THINGS DIFFERENTLY, MAYBE FROM HIM AND WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND BETTER HOW TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FOR LENEXA. AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THE TIME AND THE EFFORT TO BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP, TO UNDERSTAND, TO LISTEN. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT I HAVE TO SAY IS THAT HE WAS ALWAYS A GREAT LISTENER.

HE WAS ALWAYS HOPING TO FIND THAT SOLUTION. HE WAS RELIABLE AND CONSISTENT AND JOYFUL AND COMPASSIONATE.

AND I THINK THAT I HOPE TO ALWAYS BE A DREAMER LIKE JOE AND HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.

I. WANT TO THANK AGAIN THE ENTIRE KARLIN FAMILY FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, ALLOWING ALL OF US THE TIME TO CELEBRATE.

JOE. AS YOU KNOW, OUR RELATIONSHIPS ARE SO VERY SPECIAL AND WE ARE GLAD THAT WE GOT TO DO THIS RIGHT.

SO THANK YOU, AMY. IF YOU'D LIKE TO CLOSE US OUT, WE'D BE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU.

THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU FOR

[00:50:02]

LIKE I SAID AT HIS CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE.

JOE HAD BIG PLANS FOR THE CITY AND HIS ROLE IN IT, BUT GOD HAD BIGGER PLANS FOR HIM.

HE HAD SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR, AND HE FOUGHT LIKE HELL TO STAY HERE WITH US.

I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MANY HOURS HE SPENT WORKING FOR THE CITY.

AND ALL THE CITY PROJECTS IN HIS 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.

HE DID IT SO HUMBLY WHILE HE WAS A QUIET GUY AND QUITE INTROVERTED.

HE REALLY ENJOYED CAMPAIGNING LAST YEAR. I THINK HE SURPRISED HIMSELF IN ADDITION TO THE COUNCIL AND EVERYTHING HE DID ON IT. HE OWNED A BUSINESS IN LENEXA FOR 26 YEARS, AND WE'VE OWNED THREE HOUSES IN THIS WONDERFUL CITY IN OUR 32 YEARS OF MARRIAGE. HE WAS VERY DEDICATED. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE STAFF FOR THEIR KIND WORDS THAT YOU WROTE IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE. WHERE IS SHE? WHERE'D SHE GO? OH, THERE SHE IS. IN THE PRESS RELEASE, I SAID I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR IT ON THE RADIO AND THE TV THAT DAY.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE TO THE FIRE AND THE POLICE FORCE FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE SERVICE THAT THEY PROVIDED ON THE DAY OF THE FUNERAL AND AFTER.

SO MANY OF OUR FRIENDS COMMENTED ON THE FLAG.

IT WAS JUST STUNNING. THE OFFICERS ON THE MOTORCYCLE IN THE PROCESSION LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE HAVING THE MOST FUN AS THEY WERE ZOOMING BY US, AND WE WERE AMAZED AT THE FIRE TRUCKS AND THE TRASH TRUCKS AND THE OTHER CITY VEHICLES THAT HAD STOPPED ALONG THE WAY AND STOOD AT ATTENTION AS WE PASSED. IT WAS A FANTASTIC TRIBUTE TO JOE THAT I AM SURE HE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT HE DIDN'T DESERVE.

I'M STILL ACROSS THE STREET OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO LET ME KNOW IF YOU EVER NEED ANYTHING OR ANY GOOD NEWS TO SHARE.

THE OTHER DAY MY SISTER COMMENTED ABOUT CASEY BEER COMING TO LENEXA AND I SAID, IT'S SO WEIRD NOT TO KNOW THIS STUFF BEFORE IT GOES OUT TO THE PUBLIC, SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANKS. YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL WAS A BIG PART OF MY LIFE ALSO, AND I WISH YOU WELL AS YOU STEER THE CITY INTO THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

WE WILL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS BEFORE WE RESUME OUR AGENDA.

OKAY BEFORE WE GET GOING AGAIN, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE ONE OTHER SPECIAL GUEST WE HAVE IN THE ROOM TONIGHT.

IF YOU'RE A SCOUT AND YOU COME TO A LENEXA CITY COUNCIL MEETING, YOU GET TO BE EMBARRASSED FOR JUST A MOMENT.

WOULD YOU TELL US, PLEASE, YOUR NAME, WHERE YOU GO TO SCHOOL, AND WHAT BADGE YOU'RE WORKING ON TONIGHT? AND WHAT BADGE ARE YOU WORKING ON? WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IF CITIZENSHIP GETS TOO BORING, YOU GUYS ARE WELCOME TO LEAVE AT ANY POINT.

AND, JENNIFER, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. JENNIFER. ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE DRAFT MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 7TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING?

[APPROVE MINUTES]

ALL IN FAVOR? MINUTES ARE APPROVED. ANY MODIFICATIONS JENNIFER? NONE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. WE HAVE TWO APPOINTMENTS THIS EVENING.

[APPOINTMENTS]

I DON'T BELIEVE DAN WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT THIS EVENING, BUT HIS RECOMMENDATION MEMO WAS IN YOUR PACKET.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS APPOINTMENT? SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION BY MELANIE. SECOND BY BILL.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE ARE RECOMMENDING JOHN HANLEY TO FILL THE CITY COUNCIL WARD ONE SEAT.

[00:55:09]

WE WILL WORK TO GET HIM UP TO SPEED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE AND BRING HIM TO YOUR RETREAT ON FEBRUARY 7TH AND EIGHTH.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBER JOHN HANLEY? MOTION BY CRAIG. SECOND BY CHRIS. ALL IN FAVOR? THANK YOU. JENNIFER WILL ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE.

OKAY, JOHN, IF YOU WILL, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.

I STATE YOUR NAME. I, JOHN HANLEY. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.

DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.

THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF KANSAS, IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF KANSAS, AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF CITY COUNCIL.

MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL. MEMBER OF THE CITY OF LENEXA, KANSAS.

OF THE CITY OF LENEXA, KANSAS. SO HELP ME GOD.

SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OKAY, GREAT. AND THEN DO YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR SEAT? YES. THANK YOU. YOU BET.

OKAY. YEAH. HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BOY? NO. SORRY.

WELCOME ABOARD. WE'LL SEE YOU. ALRIGHTY, WELCOME ABOARD.

TONIGHT WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. THERE ARE EIGHT ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

DOES ANYONE WISH TO REMOVE AN ITEM FOR ITEM FOR DISCUSSION.

SEEING NONE, I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEMS ONE THROUGH EIGHT. MOTION BY CHELSEA.

SECOND BY COURTNEY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.

[9. Public hearing to appear and show cause why the fire damaged structure at 19430 W. 87th Lane should not be condemned and ordered repaired or demolished as an unsafe or dangerous structure - CONTINUED TO THE FEBRUARY 18, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT STAFF'S REQUEST]

SHOULD NOT BE CONDEMNED AND ORDERED, REPAIRED OR DEMOLISHED AS AN UNSAFE OR DANGEROUS STRUCTURE.

THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS BEING CONTINUED TO THE FEBRUARY 18TH, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT STAFF'S REQUEST.

ITEM NUMBER TEN IS CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH 87 RENNER MIXED USE PROJECT.

[10. Consideration of amendments to economic development agreements associated with the 87 Renner Mixed-Use Project]

SEE ITEM TEN. B IS THE AMENDED AND RESTATED TIF PROJECT PLAN FOR 4C, DISPOSITION DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH PPRE 87 RENNER, L.L.C., ITEM TEN C IS AMENDED AND RESTATED COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH PPRE 87 RENNER, L.L.C. ITEM TEN D IS A RESOLUTION DETERMINING THE INTENT OF THE CITY TO ISSUE APPROXIMATELY $57 MILLION IN INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS TO FINANCE THE COSTS OF ACQUIRING, CONSTRUCTING, AND EQUIPPING 87 RENNER MIXED USE PROJECT.

AND ITEM TEN E IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE OF THE PROJECT, EXECUTION OF THE RESOLUTION OF LEASES, AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXERCISE OF PURCHASE OPTION RELATED TO THE CITY'S INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS.

GOOD LORD. SEAN. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

SEAN MCLAUGHLIN WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY. I'LL TRY TO MAKE THIS ACTUALLY MAYBE SHORTER THAN READING OUT THE LIST OF ITEMS YOU'RE CONSIDERING TONIGHT.

BUT FOR A LITTLE BACK HISTORY ON THIS PROJECT.

[01:00:02]

THIS PLAN AND PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED APPROXIMATELY AROUND 2018.

THE PREVIOUS, THERE'S BEEN TWO PREVIOUS DEVELOPERS.

THE MOST PREVIOUS DEVELOPER DID FINISH SOME OF THE SITE WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 2023, WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THE MAP THERE.

YOU CAN ALSO SEE IF YOU DRIVE BY THERE'S BEEN SOME GRADING AND SITE WORK DONE ON THE SITE.

OVER THE YEARS, IT'S CONTINUALLY REMAINED A MIXED USE PROJECT.

APPROXIMATELY 215, 215 MULTIFAMILY UNITS AND TWO BUILDINGS, AS WELL AS APPROXIMATELY 10,000FT² OF FIRST FLOOR COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL SPACE.

YOU SAW THE PLAN AND APPROVED THE PRELIMINARY PLAN BACK IN DECEMBER.

IF YOU'LL RECALL, THIS IS JUST A FACADE PICTURE.

JUST TO REMIND YOU OF WHAT THIS THIS THIS WILL LOOK LIKE WHEN IT STARTS TO GET OUT OF THE GROUND.

AND OVER THE YEARS WE'VE IMPROVED SEVERAL INCENTIVES.

AND TONIGHT YOU'LL CONSIDER A HOST OF APPROVALS TO TRANSFER AND AMEND THE AGREEMENTS TO PUT THEM IN THE NAME OF THE CURRENT DEVELOPER THAT'S PLANNING TO DO THIS IN THE FALL. JUST AS A REMINDER TIF PROJECT PLAN, 4C, STARTED IN 2018.

WE, THE CITY WILL GET THE FIRST $481,000, WHICH IS THE AMOUNT OF PREPAYMENT THE CITY DID FOR SBD ASSESSMENTS ON THE PROPERTY.

DEVELOPER WILL GET THE NEXT 12.5 YEARS OF TIF REIMBURSEMENT WITH A MAX TIF REIMBURSEMENT OF 10.1 MILLION.

THE CID WAS APPROVED IN 2022. IT'S A 1% SALES TAX OVER 22 YEARS.

IT ACTUALLY STARTED ON THE FIRST OF LAST YEAR.

AND SO THAT CLOCK HAS ALREADY STARTED RUNNING WITH A MAX REIMBURSEMENT OF $1.75 MILLION.

AND THEN FINALLY, THERE'S 57 MILLION IN IRBS FOR THE SALES TAX EXEMPTION.

YOU ALSO IS THE LAST ONE. YOU'LL BE TERMINATING THE PREVIOUSLY ISSUED BONDS TO CLEAN UP THIS TRANSACTION AND GET THEM ALL INTO THE NAME OF THE NEW DEVELOPER.

SO TONIGHT, AS I'VE KIND OF ALREADY STARTED STATING WITH TIF PROJECT PLAN FORESEE, YOU WILL AMEND THE PROJECT PLAN.

YOU'LL AMEND AND ASSIGN THE PROJECT PLANS DDA OR THE DISPOSITION DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ON THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

YOU'LL AMEND AND ASSIGN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND THE IRBS.

YOU'LL TERMINATE THE 2222 IRB ISSUANCE, AND YOU'LL ADOPT THE RESOLUTION OF TEN TO THE 57 MILLION IRBS.

STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF ALL THESE ACTIONS.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. AND THERE'S REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DEVELOPER TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM AS WELL. DISCUSSION ON ITEM TEN A THROUGH TEN E. A QUESTION. YES. I PRESUME THE PHOTOGRAPHS ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION ARE NOT THE RIGHT ONES.

YEAH, THAT ONE MESSED UP. OKAY. I WHERE'D IT GO? THERE. THAT WAS THE RIGHT ONE. SORRY. OKAY. CAUGHT.

ON THE IRBS THAT WE ARE TERMINATING. WAS IT FOR THE SAME AMOUNT? NO, IT WAS FOR 20 MILLION. SO THEY'RE UPPING IT BASED ON THEIR FINANCIAL NEEDS.

BUT IT'S WITHIN THE PROJECT THAT CERTAIN DEVELOPERS, IT'S SALES TAX ONLY.

SO IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THE WHOLE PROJECT SCALE.

IN THIS CASE, IT'S THEY'VE UPPED THE AMOUNT FOR THE WHOLE PROJECT.

THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? WE WILL HAVE FIVE SEPARATE MOTIONS.

SO HAVE THEM READY. MOTION NUMBER ONE. ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PASS THE ORDINANCE APPROVING THE SECOND AMENDED PROJECT PLAN FOR C MOTION BY BILL. SECOND BY. SECOND. CHELSEA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION PASSES. MOTION NUMBER TWO IS TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AND AMENDED AND RESTATED TIF PROJECT PLAN FORESEE DDA WITH PPRE 87 RENNER, L.L.C. APPROVED MOTION BY CRAIG. SECOND BY MELANIE.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION PASSES. ENTERTAIN A MOTION NUMBER THREE TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AND RESTATED COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT DDA WITH PPRE 87 RENNER, L.L.C. MOTION BY BILL, SECOND BY MARK.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION PASSES. MOTION NUMBER FOUR IS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION DETERMINING THE INTENT OF THE CITY TO ISSUE APPROXIMATELY $57 MILLION IN INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS TO FINANCE THE COST OF ACQUIRING, CONSTRUCTING, AND EQUIPPING 87 RENNER BOULEVARD.

MIXED USE PROJECT. MOTION BY MELANIE. SECOND BY BILL.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. NUMBER FIVE, A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE OF THE PROJECT, THE EXECUTION OF THE RELEASE OF LEASES, AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXERCISE OF A PURCHASE OPTION RELATED TO THE CITY'S INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS. SERIES 2022. MOTION BY MARK, SECOND BY MELANIE.

[01:05:01]

ITEM NUMBER 11 IS A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE KANSAS HOMELAND SECURITY REGIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.

[11. Resolution adopting the Kansas Homeland Security Region L Hazard Mitigation Plan]

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO ASK YOU TO ADOPT THE REGIONAL MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN. THIS PLAN IS THE BASIS FOR ALL OF OUR PLANNING THAT WE DO IN THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WORLD.

IT GIVES US THE DIRECTION. IT HAS THE THREATS AND THE HAZARDS AND THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO PLAN FOR THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE STATE OF KANSAS. ALSO IN THE JOHNSON COUNTY REGIONAL AREA, REGIONAL CONSISTS OF JOHNSON, LEAVENWORTH AND WYANDOTTE COUNTIES. AND THIS IS PART OF OUR PLANNING PROCESS WHEN WE ARE WORKING ON THIS TYPE OF PLAN.

THE BENEFITS OF ADOPTING THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN IS THE ELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL FUNDING.

WE WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR SPECIFIC FEMA GRANTS THAT ARE GRANTED THROUGH THIS PLAN.

IT STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. IT HELPS US WITH OUR LEADERSHIP AND OUR COMMITMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING SAFETY ACROSS OUR CITY.

SUPPORTING LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY IS WHAT WE ARE IN BUSINESS FOR, TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PREPARED AND ABLE TO RESPOND TO ANY TYPE OF DISASTER, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION.

IMPROVING OUR COORDINATION THROUGHOUT. JUST NOT OUR JURISDICTION, BUT OUR COUNTY AND OUR KC METRO REGION THAT WE ARE A PART OF, AND THAT SPECIFIC DECISION MAKING WHEN IT COMES TO REBUILDING AND RECOVERING FROM ANY TYPE OF DISASTER.

HAVING THAT ECONOMIC CONSCIOUSNESS IN PLACE SO WE KNOW HOW TO MAKE OUR CITY GROW NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO US, AND REDUCING THAT RECOVERY COST. SO IN TODAY'S WORLD, THROUGH THE INSTITUTION OF BUSINESS, THEIR STUDIES SHOWED FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND ON MITIGATION PROJECTS, WE SAVE SIX IN THE RECOVERY PROCESS.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING YOU KNOW TO THINK ABOUT.

THE FOUR FUNDING SOURCES THAT THIS GRANT COVERS IS THE HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM.

THIS PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY WHAT FUNDED AND HOW THE STATE PAID FOR THIS PLAN.

THE STATE PAID FOR IT. THEY HIRED THE CONTRACTOR.

AND SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT THIS GRANT CAN BE USED FOR.

IT CAN ALSO BE USED FOR CREATING SAFE ROOMS IN BUSINESSES AND OUR SCHOOLS AND THE DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE FIRE ONE SIDE OF THIS IS FOR WILDFIRES. SO IT HAS TO DO WITH A WILDFIRE IMPENDING ON A TOWN, AND THE TOWN HAS TO BE ACTIVELY EVACUATING AT THE TIME AND THEN FIRE WHEN WE GET THE MONEYS BACK FROM THE FIREFIGHTING SIDE OF THIS TYPE OF GRANT. THIS IS MORE YOU SEE A LOT OF THIS BACK IN WESTERN KANSAS DURING THE WILDFIRE SEASONS.

IT ALSO BUILDS THE BRICK GRANT THAT WE USE WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

THIS GRANT HELPS US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE IF WE HAVE DIFFERENT PLACES WITHIN OUR CITY THAT NEEDS SOME FORM OF HELP REBUILDING DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE CAN PUT TOGETHER PROJECTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS AS THEIR FUNDING SOURCE, TO MITIGATE ANY AREAS WITHIN OUR CITY THAT NEED SOME EXTRA ATTENTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO MITIGATING FIRES, FLOODING AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEN WE HAVE THE FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANT GRANTS PROGRAM.

WE ARE EXTREMELY LUCKY WITH THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR CITY THAT FLOODING IS MINIMAL, AND MOST OF THE TIME OUR STORMWATER SYSTEM HANDLES WHATEVER IS HANDED TO US.

SO THAT IS THERE IF WE NEED IT, IF WE NEED TO EXPAND OUR SYSTEMS IN DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THAT.

SO THOSE ARE THE FOUR FEDERAL GRANTS THAT THIS PLAN COVERS.

BACK IN 2020, WHEN YOU APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS PLAN.

THE ACTIONS THAT YOU HAD AT THE TIME, THERE WAS ONLY FOUR.

SO I WENT BACK WHEN I CAME ON BOARD AND I KNEW THIS PLAN WAS COMING UP FOR DEVELOPMENT.

[01:10:04]

WE SAT DOWN AS A TEAM AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE CAME UP WITH 18 DIFFERENT ACTIONS, MITIGATION ACTIONS THAT WE SAW WITHIN THE CITY THAT WE COULD UTILIZE THESE GRANT FUNDS FOR. AND THEN ALSO ON NUMBER 19, THAT WAS NUMBER 4 IN 2020.

AND TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.

SO THINGS LIKE THIS DO HAPPEN. AND THIS PLAN IS FOR FIVE YEARS.

IT'S FOR 2024 THROUGH 2029. IN THAT TIME PERIOD, WE STILL CAN ADD ACTION MITIGATION ACTION ITEMS TO THIS PLAN.

WE CAN WORK WITH FEMA IF WE NEED ANYTHING CHANGED THAT DOESN'T REFLECT WHO LENEXA IS, OR IF WE NEED EXTRA INFORMATION.

IN THIS PLAN. WE JUST WORK WITH THE STATE HAZARD MITIGATION OFFICER AND WITH FEMA REGION SEVEN TO GET ALL OF OUR INFORMATION UPDATED AT THAT TIME. SO IN THIS TIME PERIOD TO GO FROM 4 TO 18 AND THEN HAVE ONE OF YOUR FOUR FROM FIVE YEARS AGO ACCOMPLISHED IS EXTREMELY HUGE IN THE MITIGATION WORLD.

SO ADOPTING THIS PLAN IS NOT JUST A PROCEDURAL THING, IT'S AN INFORMATIONAL PIECE.

IT IS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS NOT A DIRECTIVE.

IT DOES NOT COST US ANY MONEY, BUT IT IS THERE.

IF WE ADOPT THIS PLAN. IT OPENS UP MITIGATION FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO US AS A CITY WHERE WE WOULD NOT HAVE THAT ABILITY TO DO THOSE GRANTS. SO I AM REQUESTING THAT YOU ADOPT AND APPROVE THE REGIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN TONIGHT.

I STAND FOR QUESTIONS. MARK. I HAVE ONE AND I BROUGHT IT UP TO BECKY AND TRAVIS NOT TOO LONG AGO, BUT I THINK THERE WAS A RECENT FIRE AT A LITHIUM BATTERY PLANT IN CALIFORNIA.

AND WITH THE DESOTO BATTERY PLANT, I JUST WAS CURIOUS IF THIS PLAN KIND OF COVERS THAT.

I KNOW IT COVERS WILDFIRES. BUT WHAT ABOUT A BATTERY PLANT IN SUCH A CLOSE PROXIMITY TO US FOR THAT ONE? WE ARE WE HAVE DISCUSSED IT INTERNALLY AND ALSO IN THE KC METRO REGION.

SO FOR THAT PIECE AND THAT PLANT THAT IS IN THE FIRE WORLD, BUT THEY ARE ALL WORKING TOWARDS IT.

THAT FALLS INTO DESOTO'S FIRE DISTRICT, WHERE WE WOULD BE THE CLOSEST NEIGHBOR TO THEM IF THERE WAS SOME FORM OF MITIGATION THAT WE COULD DO, WE COULD ASK THE STATE AND SEE IF WE COULD ADD IT TO OUR ACTIONS, AND THEN PUT IT IN AS A PROJECT WHEN THAT GRANT OPENING COMES.

CHRIS. YEAH, JUST TO PLAY OUT THAT SCENARIO A LITTLE BIT MORE.

IT SAFE TO ASSUME THAT DESOTO AND JOHNSON COUNTY HAVE KIND OF, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, SAYING, YOU KNOW, KIND OF PLAN FOR CATASTROPHE WHERE SAY, GOD FORBID, SOMETHING BLOWS UP A BIG PLUME OF SOMETHING AND IT STARTS DRIFTING TOWARDS US. DO WE HAVE CONTINGENCY PLANS OR DO WE KIND OF KNOW WHAT WE WOULD HOW WE WOULD REACT? YOU KNOW WHAT? OFFICIALLY, YOU KNOW, TRAVIS WOULD DO OR THE CHIEF, YOU KNOW, CHIEF VAUGHN OR CHIEF LAYMAN.

I WON'T ANSWER FOR CHIEF ON. I'LL LET HIM ANSWER.

BUT ON THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SIDE OF THAT, YES, WE ALL HAVE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLANS.

WE ALL HAVE EVACUATION PLANS THAT WE UTILIZE.

AND. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THAT PLAN, IN PARTICULAR, I HAVE CHIEF VAUGHN SPEAK TO THAT.

YEAH. WELL, OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE TRAVIS VAUGHN WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THERE ARE CERTAIN SCENARIOS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME. AS IT RELATES TO A LARGE CATASTROPHIC EXPLOSION AND OR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RELEASE WITH A PLUME OF CHEMICALS GOING OVER CERTAIN POPULATIONS.

WE DO HAVE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO HELP MITIGATE THAT, BUT PART OF IT IS KIND OF WITHIN THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REALM, AND THAT IS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GOING TO GENERALLY HAVE TO SHELTER AND TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES TO SOME REGARD FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

NOW WE'VE GOT A COUPLE ONE FEDERALLY FUNDED HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TEAM OUT OF OVERLAND PARK FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THEY HAVE PRETTY THEY HAVE A LOT OF CAPACITY AS IT RELATES TO SOME OF THEIR DETECTION AND MONITORING EQUIPMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT THEY CAN HELP US IDENTIFY THE TYPES OF HAZARDS.

AND THEY GOT SOME SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN MODEL PLUMES AND WHERE IT MIGHT GO AND WHICH AREAS WE MIGHT WE MIGHT NEED TO EVACUATE AND OR SHELTER IN PLACE.

[01:15:03]

AND IN THAT SITUATION, DO WE HAVE ANY WAY OF OR HISTORICALLY HAVE WE ALERTED FOLKS, YOU KNOW, SAY IN THE NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS TO SAY, HEY, IF THIS HAPPENS, PUT DUCT TAPE AROUND THE, YOU KNOW, YOUR WINDOWS AND DOORS HUNKER IN PLACE UNTIL YOU HEAR FROM US.

I MEAN, AND I DON'T MEAN TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT.

NO. YOU'RE OKAY. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE DONE A LOT OF EDUCATION IN THAT REGARD.

I DO KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT A MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEM CALLED NOTIFY JOCO.

IT'S EVERBRIDGE PRODUCT, AND THAT IS AN OPT IN PRODUCT WHERE WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.

I THINK YOU KNOW HOW MANY ARE SUBSCRIBED TO. SO THIS WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD PUSH FOR NOTIFYING JOCO BECAUSE ONLY 10%.

WE HAVE ABOUT TEN, ALMOST 11% IN LENEXA WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THAT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM.

BUT OVERALL, IN THE WHOLE JOHNSON COUNTY REGION, IT'S LESS THAN 10%.

SO THAT WOULD BE A GREAT THING IF IT WAS SOMETHING THIS SIZE AND TO THIS EXTENT.

WE ALSO HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF ASKING JOHNSON COUNTY OR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TO SEND OUT AN IPAWS MESSAGE FOR US, AND YOU ALL RECEIVE THOSE THROUGH THE STORM. YOU KNOW, IS THAT AMBER ALERT SOUNDING MESSAGE THAT WE COULD ALSO USE THAT WOULD GET TO ANYBODY IN ANYBODY IN THE JURY, YOU KNOW, GEOGRAPHICAL STATE THAT WE NEED TO NOTIFY.

AND I'M GOING TO ASK FOR ME. HOW DO I GET ON THAT NOTIFICATION LIST? THERE IS THE WEBSITE, NOTIFYJOCO.COM. OKAY. BUT I CAN EMAIL YOU.

WE'LL MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE THAT MAYBE IN BECKY'S.

BECKY'S NOTES. NOTICE ON FRIDAY. AND, YEAH, THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WE BROUGHT SUSAN ON BOARD IS TO ENGAGE WITH OUR HOA'S IN THE COMMUNITY, WITH OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS, AND TO HELP THEM BECOME BETTER PREPARED TO PLAN FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

OKAY. CHELSEA. SUSAN, IS THERE ANY CONCERN OR ANY POSSIBILITY THAT THIS FEDERAL FUNDING WOULD BE ELIMINATED IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE? NO, NOT THIS FUNDING. OKAY. THERE'S OTHER FEMA FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN CALLED INTO QUESTION BECAUSE FEMA RAN OUT OF MONEY, BUT THEY REALLY HAVEN'T. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT PROGRAM HAS THE MONEY.

THIS IS SET STRICTLY JUST FOR MITIGATION SO THAT MONEY IS AVAILABLE FOR THESE GRANT PROJECTS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR SUSAN? I EMAILED YOU SOME SUPER NERDY ONES AS I WAS GOING THROUGH THE DOCUMENT IN DETAIL, SO I WON'T BORE EVERYONE WITH THAT, BUT THE ONE I DID WANT TO POINT OUT, JUST FOR CLARITY FOR EVERYONE, WAS YOUR 18 MITIGATION ACTIONS, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT WERE LISTED AS A HIGH PRIORITY WITHIN THE FIVE YEAR TIMEFRAME? AND JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THOSE ARE PLANNED THROUGH THE CIP PROCESS.

IF YOU COULD SHARE YOUR ANSWER TO ME ON THAT, PLEASE.

SO ON THIS ONE, NO, THESE HAVEN'T BEEN PUT INTO THE CIP PROCESS OF IT ALL.

WHEN WE DO GO FOR GRANT FUNDING, IF WE CHOOSE TO APPLY FOR THIS GRANT, IT'S A 7525 MATCH.

AND SO IF THERE IS ONE THAT ONE OF THE ENTITIES WANTS TO GO FOR, AND YOU KNOW IMMEDIATELY THAT WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO START PUTTING IT INTO NEXT YEAR'S GRANT PROCESS IN 2026.

THANK YOU. OKAY. THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION.

I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE KANSAS HOMELAND SECURITY REGIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.

MOTION BY CHELSEA, SECOND BY MARK. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION PASSES. ANY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS THIS EVENING.

[COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS]

MARK. WHAT'S UP? WE DID. WONDERFUL. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING.

YEAH. WELL, ACTUALLY, I DO WANT TO SAY EARLIER, YOU KNOW, WENT TO THE RECOGNITION FOR THE MILESTONES.

AND I AM ACTUALLY VERY IMPRESSED BY THE LONGEVITY OF A LOT OF OUR STAFF.

AND I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN OUR STAFF IS EXEMPLARY.

AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEONE LIKE TRAVIS 30 YEARS.

THAT'S WONDERFUL. AND I THINK IT MAKES OUR JOB EASIER.

AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE. YEAH. I THINK IF ANYONE EVER HAS ANY QUESTION ABOUT WHY WE ARE SPECIAL AS A BODY, THEY SAW FULL EVIDENCE OF THAT TONIGHT. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

[01:20:01]

[STAFF REPORTS]

WE HAD THAT LAST WEEK AND WE CELEBRATED 775 YEARS OF SERVICE THAT DAY, WITH ABOUT PROBABLY 20 TO 25 EMPLOYEES.

SO IT WAS A PRETTY COOL EVENT AND GOT TO SEE FOLKS WHO HAD GIVEN A GREAT PORTION OF THEIR LIVES TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO IT WAS GREAT. WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE ALL INVITED NEXT YEAR. HE JUST HAPPENED TO BE IN THE BUILDING AND POPPED IN AND JOINED US, WHICH WE WERE HAPPY TO HAVE HIM. AND THEN JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE WILL HAVE A MEETING NEXT WEEK IN PLACE OF YOUR STANDARD COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING.

WE'RE HAVING A JOINT MEETING, THE FIRST OF TWO JOINT MEETINGS WITH THE LENEXA ARTS COUNCIL.

THAT WILL BE HELD IN THE PRAIRIE STAR PARKWAY CONFERENCE ROOM AND PRAIRIE STAR.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A PARKWAY THERE. IT'S JUST THE PRAIRIE STAR CONFERENCE ROOM AT THE NORMAL MEETING TIME OF 7:00.

WE EXPECT THAT TO TAKE A LITTLE OVER HALF AN HOUR AND A HALF.

SO LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. AND YOU'LL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF PRE-HOMEWORK FOR THAT MEETING THAT YOU SHOULD GET LATER THIS WEEK SO.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TONIGHT. OKAY. THIS ENDS THE RECORDED PORTION OF THE MEETING.

WE WILL HAVE BUSINESS FROM THE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.