Jul 01, 2025 City Council Meeting

[00:00:14]

THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

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

COUNCIL MEMBER HANDLEY. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER EITERICH IS ABSENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER CHARLTON. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER NICKS.

HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER NOLTE SORRY. WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? COUNCIL MEMBER ARROYO THAT WAS A FLASHBACK [LAUGHTER] COUNCIL MEMBER ARROYO.

COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMSON. PRESENT THANK YOU THAT WAS INCREDIBLE MUSCLE MEMORY [LAUGHTER]. ALL RIGHT.

[APPROVE MINUTES]

[MODIFICATION OF AGENDA]

[PROCLAMATIONS]

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. WE HAVE NICOLE JOHNSON AND HER GROUP HERE TO HELP ACCEPT WITH US.

YEAH. WELCOME. WHEREAS 24% OF LENEXA POPULATION IS MADE UP OF BLACK, ASIAN, LATINO AND INDIGENOUS CULTURES, AND A SENSE OF BELONGING AND INCLUSION IN COMMUNITIES IS VITAL FOR THE WELL-BEING AND MENTAL HEALTH OF BIPOC INDIVIDUALS.

AND WHEREAS CULTURAL HUBS, AREAS IN WHICH PEOPLE HAVE A SPECIFIC CULTURAL BACKGROUND HAVE COME TOGETHER TO LIVE, PROVIDE SERVICES, OR CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER ARE VITAL SOURCES OF BELONGING THAT PROMOTE OVERALL MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

AND WHEREAS THOSE WHO HAVE STRONG CONNECTIONS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES HAVE BETTER MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES, INCLUDING LOWER RATES OF SUICIDE, VIOLENCE AND FEELINGS OF ISOLATION.

IN ORDER TO MOVE TOWARDS A MORE MENTALLY HEALTHY FUTURE, COMMUNITY LED ACTION MUST BE PRIORITIZED AND SUSTAINED.

AND WHEREAS, ADVOCATING FOR MENTALLY HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS MUST PRIORITIZE ACCESS FOR ALL, COMMUNITY SUPPORT REQUIRES AN UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERYONE IS DESERVING OF A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT AND HAS A ROLE IN THE WELLNESS OF THOSE AROUND THEM.

AND WHEREAS BEBE MOORE CAMPBELL, WHO IS HONORED IN JULY FOR HER ADVOCACY FOR THE UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SPACE, SPEARHEADED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH IN THE BIPOC COMMUNITY AND HOW RACIAL DISCRIMINATION EXACERBATES THE STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL ILLNESS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I JULIE SAYERS, MAYOR OF LENEXA, KANSAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF JULY 2025, IN THE CITY OF LENEXA TO BE BEBE MOORE CAMPBELL NATIONAL MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND URGE ALL IN ESSENCE, TO JOIN IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN THE BIPOC COMMUNITIES AND RECOGNIZE THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS SHAPED BY SOCIAL FACTORS LIKE HOW ONE IS TREATED, ACCESS TO RESOURCES, AND SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS.

ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? JUST THANK YOU FOR THAT I DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT A LOT.

SO I'M NICOLE HI EVERYBODY I HAVE STAGE FRIGHT SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW THIS GOES [LAUGHTER].

I'M A PROVISIONALLY LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR IN MISSOURI.

SO YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHY SOMEONE FROM MISSOURI IS ACTUALLY HERE IN THE LENEXA SPEAKING TO YOU.

I RECENTLY ACCEPTED THE ROLE AS THE PRESIDENT OF UNITY UNITED NETWORK OF INCLUSIVE THERAPISTS FOR YOU.

AND WITH THIS ROLE, I WILL BE WORKING WITH BOTH MISSOURI AND KANSAS TO BRING AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN THE BIPOC COMMUNITY.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, AS I ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION, I ALSO CALL UPON THE CITIZENS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS IN KANSAS TO RECOMMIT OUR COMMUNITY TO INCREASING AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF BIPOC MENTAL HEALTH AND STEPS OUR CITIZENS CAN TAKE TO PROTECT THE MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH COMMUNITY LED ACTION AND ORGANIZING, AND THE NEED FOR APPROPRIATE AND ACCESSIBLE SERVICES FOR ALL.

I HOPE THAT AS MY JOURNEY CONTINUES, I'M ABLE TO SPEAK WITH EACH ONE OF YOU ON THE IMPACT YOU HAVE MADE TO BRING THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN THE BIPOC COMMUNITY TO THE FOREFRONT OF THOSE YOU WORK WITH OR HOLD DEAR TO YOUR HEART SO THANK YOU.

I WELCOME YOU

[00:05:05]

[APPOINTMENTS]

YOU ALL HAVE RECEIVED A MEMO RECOMMENDING JENNY DE CICCO, WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN THE MEETING PACKET.

I DON'T SEE THAT JENNY IS HERE. SHE'S FAMILIAR WITH WORK FOR THE CITY BECAUSE SHE IS EMPLOYED AT RUBIN BROWN SO WORKS WITH OUR AUDITORS AND HAS LIVED IN LENEXA FOR A LONG TIME. SO WITH THAT, I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS APPOINTMENT.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? JENNY IS APPROVED. NEXT, WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

THE MATTERS LISTED IN THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND APPROVED COLLECTIVELY WITH NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION.

ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION BY A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNING BODY, CITY MANAGER OR MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC. IN THE EVENT AN ITEM IS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, IT WILL BE PLACED ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. ANYONE WISH TO REMOVE AN ITEM FOR DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 5 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

MOTION BY MELANIE SECOND BY CHELSEA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED. ITEM NUMBER SIX WAS A CONSIDERATION OF A REZONING AND PRELIMINARY PLAN,

[6. Consideration of a rezoning and preliminary plan known as Vantage at Lenexa for a multifamily residential development on property located at the northwest corner of Prairie Star Parkway & Monticello Road - WITHDRAWN BY THE APPLICANT]

SEAN, ARE YOU PRESENTING SOMETHING ON THAT ONE?

[7. Resolution determining the advisability of authorizing certain municipal improvements and establishing a special benefit district to finance them and waiving the sealed bid process (Woodsonia Drive SBD) The City received a petition to establish a special benefit district (SBD) to finance the construction of Woodsonia Drive, as well as related public improvements. The maximum estimated cost for the SBD is $10,077,000. This resolution will establish an SBD for this project and waive the sealed bid process for construction of the improvements.]

WOODSONIA DRIVE SPECIAL BENEFIT DISTRICT. I KNOW FOR MYSELF IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE DONE ONE OF THESE, SO I DECIDED I'D START OFF WITH A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND FOR EVERYONE HERE.

AND I'M NOT SURE THIS GROUP HAS DONE ONE IN MANY YEARS.

SO A SPECIAL BENEFIT DISTRICT ALLOWS THE CITY TO LEVEL LEVY SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS TO PAY COSTS FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.

THE ESSENTIAL SBD PROCESS IS LAID OUT BEFORE YOU, AND THERE ARE CERTAINLY A LOT MUCH MORE COMPLICATIONS.

BUT THIS IS KIND OF THE SIMPLE VERSION OF HOW WE DO IT HERE IN THE CITY OF LENEXA, AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS SUBMIT A PETITION TO THE CITY OF LENEXA.

GENERALLY, WE REQUIRE 100% OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO SUBMIT THAT PETITION, AND THAT'S THE CASE HERE TONIGHT.

AFTER REVIEWING THAT PETITION AND CHECKING THINGS OVER WE CREATE THE SPECIAL BENEFIT DISTRICT BY RESOLUTION, WHICH IS WHAT YOU'LL BE CONSIDERING HERE TONIGHT.

AFTER WE CREATE THE DISTRICT, WE WILL THEN LEVY ASSESSMENTS BY ORDINANCE.

AND WE USE WHAT'S CALLED THE MAXIMUM ASSESSMENT APPROACH.

AND THAT APPROACH, WE TAKE A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF CONTINGENCY INTO THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S AMPLE FUNDS TO COMPLETE THAT PROJECT.

AND THEN WHEN WE COMPLETE THE PROJECT, WE WILL COME IN AND RE LEVY AND LOWER THAT.

AND SO AFTER WE DO THE LEVYING WE'LL GET CONTRACTS GOING WE'LL GET CONSTRUCTION GOING AND WE'LL TREAT IT JUST LIKE ANY OTHER PUBLIC PROJECT.

WE RUN THIS PROJECT, WE HOLD THE CONTRACTS. AFTER IT'S DONE, WE COME IN GENERALLY, WE WILL AMEND THAT ORDINANCE DOWN TO WHATEVER THE ACTUAL COST WAS TO ALIGN WITH WHAT THE PETITION SAYS. SO THAT'S THE BASIC PROCESS OF MOST OF THE SBDS IN THE CITY OF LENEXA.

TONIGHT WE'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WOODSONIA DRIVE SBD.

MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROPOSED ROAD.

BUT ESSENTIALLY MORE OR LESS IT COMPLETES THE ROAD SYSTEM BETWEEN PRAIRIE STAR PARKWAY NORTH ALL THE WAY TO 83RD STREET.

THERE ARE COMPONENTS WITHIN THERE THAT ARE ALREADY COMPLETED, SO IT FILLS A LITTLE BIT OF A GAP, BUT IT WILL COMPLETE THAT ENTIRE COLLECTOR ROAD.

IT COVERS APPROXIMATELY 152 ACRES. AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THE PETITION WAS SIGNED BY 100% OF THE OWNERS WITHIN THAT RED BOX ON THAT MAP. THE MAXIMUM PROPOSED ASSESSMENT RIGHT NOW IS $10,077,000, AND IT'S SPLIT 80% 20% BETWEEN THE OWNERS 80%, AND THE CITY AT 20%. THAT'S IN LINE WITH OUR POLICY FOR COLLECTORS AND ARTERIAL ROADS, SPECIAL BENEFIT DISTRICTS. THE TERM IS 20 YEARS SO THOSE ASSESSMENTS WILL BE LEVIED OVER 20 YEARS.

[00:10:03]

SO WITH THAT, STAFF DOES RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION CREATING THE SPECIAL BENEFIT DISTRICT FOR WOODSONIA DRIVE AND WAIVING THE SEALED BID.

WE WAIVE THE SEAL BID IN THE SITUATION GENERALLY BECAUSE THERE ARE CONTRACTORS ALREADY OUT THERE, AND IT HELPS US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF COST AND LACK, LESS MOBILIZATION, SINCE WE CAN POTENTIALLY USE CONTRACTORS ALREADY DOING CONSTRUCTION IN THE AREA. SO NEXT STEPS KIND OF LAID OUT IN THE BEGINNING ARE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS.

I EXPECT DESIGN TO COME RATHER QUICKLY BEFORE THE COUNCIL.

AND THEN WE WOULD LEVY ASSESSMENTS AND DO THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT.

CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN THIS FALL AND WOULD POTENTIALLY GO THROUGH NEXT YEAR.

AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

JOHN. SINCE WE ARE WAIVING THE SEALED BID DO WE HAVE ANY GUARANTEES AS FAR AS QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE ALREADY OUT THERE? AND THEN WHAT PROTECTIONS DOES THE CITY HAVE IN TERMS OF QUALITY OF WORKMANSHIP BEFORE HAND OVER TO THE CITY? SO WELL, WE WILL WE KNOW THAT THE CONTRACT IS OUT THERE WE'LL ALSO GET BIDS FROM OUR KNOWN ONES, SOME WHO DO PMP, MANY WHO'VE DONE ALL WORK. WE WILL GO WITH ONES WHO'VE DONE WORK FOR US.

IS PUBLIC PROJECT LIKE ANY PUBLIC PROJECT WILL BE OUT THERE INSPECTING AND WE WILL NOT ACCEPT UNTIL IT IS UP TO THE SPECIFICATIONS AS REQUIRED OF ANY PUBLIC ROAD.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING FURTHER ON THAT TIM AS SEAN MENTIONED WE'LL HAVE ONE CONTRACTOR THAT'S ON SITE, HAS WORKED WITH THE CITY MANY TIMES, AND I ANTICIPATE WE'LL GET 1 OR 2 OTHER BIDS FROM CONTRACTORS WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH.

WE WILL INSPECT THIS PROJECT FULL TIME WE'LL HAVE A CITY INSPECTOR OUT THERE FULL TIME, AND THEN WE DO HAVE A TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON ALL OF OUR PROJECTS, SO I'M SURE WE WILL GET A QUALITY PRODUCT. MARK.

SEAN, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE MAP OF OWNERSHIP? THERE WAS A LITTLE PARCEL JUST SOUTH OF EVERYTHING, CLOSER TO PRESTON PARKWAY.

WHO OWNS THAT? IS THAT THE CITY OR IS? THIS RIGHT HERE? AND THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT, EVEN IF YOU'LL BENEFIT, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISTRICT.

AND ALL OF THE SIGNERS OF THAT PETITION ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER PROPERTIES THAT ARE BENEFITED BY THIS DISTRICT, BUT THEY'VE CHOSEN NOT TO BE IN THIS PETITION.

OKAY THANK YOU. CHRIS. HOW DID WE COME UP WITH OUR ASSESSMENT? WAS THAT SOMETHING OUR ENGINEERS CAME UP WITH, OR JUST BEST PRACTICES? NO WE, TIM AND HIS TEAM WORKED ALONGSIDE ENGINEERS FROM WHO EVENTUALLY DO THE DESIGN FOR THE CONTRACT TO WORK ON ALIGNMENT AND WORK ON ALL THE DESIGN ASPECTS AND GET A QUALITY ESTIMATE ON THIS.

SO IT'S A WELL INFORMED ESTIMATE USING OUR SPECIFICATIONS FOR THESE TYPES OF THINGS.

THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? BILL. HEY, SEAN THIS IS A GOOD IDEA WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ROAD FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

WHAT ARE THE CITY'S RISK ON THIS? THE CITY 'S RISK IS THAT SOME OF THE ASSESSMENTS POTENTIALLY WOULD NOT BE PAID AFTER THEIR ASSESSED. HOWEVER THAT'S A MORE OF A TIME RISK THEY WILL BE PAID EVENTUALLY AS PROPERTIES TURN OVER.

WE ASSESS ON TO THE PROPERTY ITSELF IF YOU. SO MAYBE SOMEONE'S NOT PAYING THEIR ASSESSMENT.

BUT ONCE THAT PROPERTY GETS PURCHASED THOSE ASSESSMENTS WOULD GET PAID UPON THAT PURCHASE SO THERE'S A TIMING MECHANISM OF THAT.

BUT I'LL BE HONEST, WE'VE DONE A DOZEN OF THESE AND I'VE CERTAINLY DONE 6 TO 8 MYSELF.

AND WE JUST DON'T LIKE MANY. WE IT'S THE SAME NOT LACK OF PROPERTY PAYMENT THAT WE SEE GENERALLY.

AND I THINK NATE WOULD TELL YOU IT'S 3% OR SOMETHING AROUND THE CITY. IT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING WE SEE ONCE THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD RATE OF COLLECTION, AND IT DOES GIVE US THE ABILITY TO COLLECT THESE THINGS ON THAT.

GOOD THANK YOU. OKAY. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FOLKS FROM THE PETITIONER GROUP.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO ADD? NO? OKAY. YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US? SO I WOULD AGREE WITH MR. NICKS WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE COMING TOGETHER HERE.

WE'D LIKE TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION IN GETTING THIS DONE.

IT OBVIOUSLY ADDS A VALUABLE PUBLIC ASSET TO THE CITY ALLOWS YOU ALL TO PROVIDE YOUR FACILITIES,

[00:15:06]

WOODSONIA DRIVE. MOTION BY BILL, SECOND BY MELANIE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES CONGRATULATIONS.

ALL RIGHT. ANY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS THIS EVENING?

[COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS]

SO WHILE I WAS A LITTLE BIT BUMMED ABOUT THAT, I WAS ALSO EXCITED TO SEE THAT IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL EVENT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO US HAVING IT AGAIN IN THE FALL. HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE MORE CONTAINERS [LAUGHTER] FOR EVERYONE.

AND THEN THE LAST THING I JUST WANTED TO MENTION I RECENTLY HAD AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME.

IT WAS JUST A LITTLE DEAD BUNNY BUT WHEN I FOUND IT, IT WAS STILL LOOKING LIKE IT HAD SOME LIFE IN IT.

I CALLED ANIMAL CONTROL, AND I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND OFFICER DORR, WHO WAS VERY POLITE WITH TAKING MY PHONE CALL.

AND WHEN HE SHOWED UP, I WAS CLEARLY VERY DISTRESSED ABOUT THE SITUATION AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATED HOW HE TOOK THE TIME TO CONSOLE ME, WHICH I WASN'T ANTICIPATING THAT.

AND IT REALLY MEANT A LOT TO ME AND IT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW, LIKE, JUST WHAT A GREAT TEAM WE HAVE WITH THE LIKE, POLICE OFFICERS AND ANIMAL CONTROL. SO JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AND DON, IF YOU CAN PASS ALONG MY RECOGNITION, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS DID A GREAT JOB AT THE BARBECUE THIS WEEKEND.

I GOT A CHANCE TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS YOU KNOW, ON THOSE TEAMS AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS.

THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS TURN DOWN THE SUN A LITTLE BIT [LAUGHTER].

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT WAS A GREAT EVENT, AND I ACTUALLY JUST MIGHT DO IT AGAIN.

YEAH. THE TEAMS EXERCISED THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN CHOOSING THOSE NAMES TO SOME OF THOSE LIKE MADE ME BLUSH WHEN LOGAN HAD TO READ THEM OUT LOUD.

ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS? BECKY ANYTHING FROM STAFF?

[STAFF REPORTS]

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU TONIGHT. GREAT THANK YOU THIS DOES END THE RECORDED PORTION OF THE MEETING.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.