Aug 05, 2025 City Council Meeting

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:03]

NEED EVERYONE TO TAKE A SEAT, PLEASE. WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO 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.

HOLD ON. JENNIFER, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL? THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER HANDLEY. HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER EITERICH. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CHARLTON.

HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER NICKS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ARROYO.

HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMSON. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER DENNY.

COUNCIL MEMBER HERREN. HERE. MAYOR SAYERS IS PRESENT AND PRESIDING.

THANK YOU. JENNIFER. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE DRAFT MINUTES OF THE JULY 15TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING?

[APPROVE MINUTES]

CRAIG. SECOND. COURTNEY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED? MINUTES ARE APPROVED. JENNIFER, ANY MODIFICATIONS THIS EVENING? NONE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. WE WILL START FIRST WITH THE PRESENTATION BY KATRINA ROBERTSON OF THE NAACP SILVER LIFE MEMBERSHIP,

[PRESENTATIONS]

GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE, TO MAYOR SAYERS AND ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AGAIN, I'M KATRINA ROBERTSON, PRESIDENT SECOND TIME OF THE JOHNSON COUNTY NAACP.

AND SO, ON BEHALF OF OUR BRANCH, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU THIS OUR CERTIFICATE FOR A SILVER LIFE MEMBERSHIP TO THE CITY OF LENEXA.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.

AS YOU KNOW, OUR BRANCH SERVES EVERY CITY IN JOHNSON COUNTY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OLATE.

WE HAVE ABOUT 600 MEMBERS, AND WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO WELCOMING MORE.

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].

TAKING PICTURES. I'LL TAKE A PICTURE. EVERYBODY HAS A CAMERA.

PLEASE. OH, YES. THEY HAVE SOME PEOPLE WITH THEM.

NAACP MEMBERS. WE'VE LOST OUR COMMUNICATIONS PARTNER. WELL, FORTUNATELY, WE ALL HAVE CAMERAS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT AND FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AS WELL.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

MATTERS LISTED IN THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE 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 ITEM THE EVENT.

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? HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS ONE THROUGH NINE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SECOND. MOTION BY CHELSEA. SECOND BY MELANIE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.

[10. Consideration of establishing Project Plan 6 in the Mining TIF District (Ross Canyon Multi-Family Project - Phase 1)]

OKAY. THANK YOU. ITEM A IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ESTABLISHING THE MINING TIF DISTRICT PLAN 6.

ITEM B IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE MINING TIF DISTRICT PROJECT PLAN 6.

ITEM C IS APPROVAL OF A DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH PETRA LENEXA, LLC, AND ITEM D IS A RESOLUTION DETERMINING THE INTENT OF THE CITY TO ISSUE

[00:05:04]

SEAN. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SEAN MCLAUGHLIN, CITY ATTORNEY.

I'M HERE TO PRESENT ON MINING TIF PROJECT PLAN 6.

AS A REMINDER, YOU SAW THIS PROJECT PLAN IN LATE LAST YEAR, I BELIEVE NOVEMBER OF 2024, IT CAME IN MULTIPLE PHASES.

AND THIS IS FOR PHASE ONE OF THAT PROJECT THAT WAS APPROVED IN NOVEMBER OF 24.

PHASE ONE INCLUDES 353 CLASS A MULTI-FAMILY UNITS, AS WELL AS ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE AND MINE MITIGATION.

ELIGIBLE PRIVATE AND PRIVATE REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THE TIF IS APPROXIMATELY $15 MILLION.

A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THAT IS FOR THE MINE MITIGATION, INCLUDING THE FILLING OF THE MINE TO MAKE THIS PROPERTY DEVELOPABLE.

ELIGIBLE PUBLIC REIMBURSEMENT INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY $8 MILLION, WHICH WOULD BE DEDICATED TO ROADS AND RESURFACING OF ROADS.

THE PROJECTED TIF REVENUE OVER THE 20 YEAR TERM IS $20.1 MILLION.

FURTHER, THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZES IRBS DO UP TO $130 MILLION FOR MULTIPLE PHASES OF THE PROJECT, AND THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AS SOON AS WE GET THROUGH THESE INCENTIVES PROCESS.

WITH THAT, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT PLAN, THE DDA, AND THE RESOLUTION OF INTENT.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS PROJECT, AND THERE ARE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE APPLICANT AS WELL TO ANSWER THEM.

ANYTHING FROM THE APPLICANT? SORRY, I HAD TO TAKE THE MILE WALK UP HERE, BUT BEN BIGHAM LAW FIRM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT PETRA LENEXA LLC.

I REALLY JUST WANT TO THANK STAFF'S TIME FOR WORKING WITH US ON THIS PROJECT.

WE'RE EXCITED TO DELIVER AS SCHEDULED. AND JUST A CLARIFICATION, MAYOR, ON THE ON THE IRB ISSUANCE AMOUNT, YOU MENTIONED IF THAT WAS A CORRECTION OR NOT.

AS A REMINDER, THERE'S TWO PHASES CONTEMPLATED THIS.

THE DDA IS FOR PHASE ONE. THE IRBS ARE CONSTRUCTED SO THAT PHASE ONE CAN BE ISSUED, WHICH WILL BE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THAT $130 MILLION.

AND THE SECOND PHASE WHEN MOVING FORWARD, CAN BE A SECOND ISSUANCE OF BONDS, WHICH WOULD THEN, SO THEN IT JUST SAVES US THE TIME OF HAVING TO COME A SECOND TIME BEFORE THE GOVERNING BODY AND JUST GET ALL THAT SORTED OUT ON THE FRONT END. JUST THOUGHT IT'D BE EASIER FOR EVERYBODY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOTTEN. IF YOU'VE GOT ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME OR, GOT TYLER BURKS HERE WITH PETRA FROM THE APPLICANT, AND WE CAN RESOLVE ANY PROJECT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING REGARDING THE INCENTIVES.

OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? THANK YOU. BILL. YEAH, IT MIGHT BE FOR SCOTT ON THE PLAN AND MAYBE NOT THIS PHASE, BUT THIS IS A PLAN WHERE WE HAD SOME TRAFFIC CALMING SO THAT WE TRY TO MOVE EVERYBODY OUT TO BRENTON ROAD RATHER THAN THE BACK DOOR OF THE REC CENTER. YEAH.

COUNCIL MEMBER YOU'RE CORRECT THAT THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS AT THE WEST BOUNDARY OF THE PROPERTY IN ORDER TO TRY TO PUT UP A PERCEIVED BARRIER TOWARD MAKING IT EASY TO GO WEST INTO THE DEVELOPED RESIDENTIAL AREA. AND SO WE THINK THAT WILL COME WITH THAT, WITH THE STREET IMPROVEMENTS AND THE ULTIMATE PLAN AND THE NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST ARE WORRIED ABOUT CUT THROUGHS UNTIL WE BUILD RIDGEVIEW ROAD AND ARE LOOKING TO MAYBE SOME TRAFFIC CALMING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THE THOUGHT IS RENDERED BOULEVARD, IT'S NOT A DIRECT SHOT TO 87TH STREET.

REMIND ME OF OUR I, I TALKED TO STEVE SCHOOLEY ABOUT TRAFFIC CALMING.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THAT? IMPROVEMENTS TO ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS.

YEAH, WE HAVE A POLICY, ACTUALLY, REGARDING TRAFFIC CALMING AND THE KINDS OF ELEMENTS, TRAFFIC CALMING ELEMENTS THAT THE CITY WOULD, WOULD ACCEPT. IT HAS A LOT OF THINGS GO INTO THAT POLICY RELATED TO MAINTAINABLE MAINTAINABILITY OF TRAFFIC CALMING ELEMENTS, SNOW REMOVAL. JUST DIFFERENT COST ITEMS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE WEST ABOUT A PLAN THAT I THINK WE CAN SUPPORT.

PART OF THE POLICY REQUIRES NEIGHBORHOODS TO FUND THOSE TRAFFIC CALMING ELEMENTS, SHOULD THEY DESIRE TO HAVE THEM.

[00:10:06]

OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? YEAH. MIKE. JOHN. MICHAEL, I JUST WANT TO THROW OUT THERE.

OVER THE PAST MONTH OR MONTH OR SO, JUST KNOCKING FOLKS DOORS.

I HAD A FEW RESIDENTS EXPRESSED CONCERN WITH THE QUANTITY AND TYPE OF INCENTIVES THAT WE OFFER UP AS A CITY.

THIS MATCHES OUR PHILOSOPHY KIND OF TO DATE. THESE UNDERMINED PORTIONS OF THE CITY REQUIRE MITIGATION TO BE USED IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, WHETHER THAT'S MULTIFAMILY OR ANY OTHER PROJECT.

THAT MITIGATION IS VERY EXPENSIVE, AND THAT'S WHY I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THIS.

AND I JUST WANTED TO MAYBE THROW OUT THERE, SINCE SOME OF THAT CONTEXT PROBABLY ISN'T WHAT FOLKS SEE FROM DAY TO DAY.

THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY. I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IF ANYONE IS PRESENT, WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM. SIGN IN AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALAN SCHWARZ. I LIVE AT 9387 LYNN ROAD, LENEXA.

I'M PRESIDENT OF THE COTTONWOOD CANYON HOMES ASSOCIATION, AND I REPRESENT 124 HOMES DIRECTLY SOUTH OF LENEXA CITY CENTER AND DIRECTLY WEST OF ROSS CANYON. THIS DEVELOPMENT, REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR HOA HAVE APPEARED BEFORE THIS BODY AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION EVERY TIME THIS PROJECT HAS COME UP.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THIS DEVELOPMENT AND THE SEEMINGLY ENDLESS NUMBER OF MULTI FAMILY DEVELOPMENT WITHIN A SINGLE SQUARE MILE AROUND OUR COMMUNITY. THERE ARE CURRENTLY THREE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 1200 HOUSING UNITS THAT HAVE RECENTLY OPENED OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION ADJACENT TO COTTONWOOD CANYON COMMUNITY.

THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE WHAT'S ALREADY IN LENEXA CITY CENTER DOWNTOWN, AND IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE PRAIRIE CREEK APARTMENTS THAT WERE DEVELOPED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO THAT ARE ALSO SOUTH OF US. THERE ARE THREE DEVELOPMENTS, ROSS CANYON LOCATED DIRECTLY EAST OF OUR COMMUNITY, 469 UNITS. REFLECTIONS, WHICH IS JUST NEXT TO ROSS CANYON, 300 UNITS.

VISTA VILLAGE, DIRECTLY SOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY, 382 UNITS.

THERE WAS A FOURTH THAT WAS SUBMITTED, BUT RECENTLY WITHDRAWN FOR ANOTHER 200 UNITS DIRECTLY SOUTH OF OUR PROPERTY LINE.

IT WAS WITHDRAWN, BUT I'M SURE THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL FILL IN THAT SPOT.

SO, PER CITY ENGINEERING STAFF, CONSTRUCTION OF THE ROUNDABOUTS ON RENNER IS MEETING THE DESIRED IMPACT OF REDUCING THE SPEED, BUT IT'S ALSO REDUCING THE TRAFFIC ON RENNER.

THE ACTUAL VOLUME OF TRAFFIC ON RENNER. THOSE PEOPLE ARE FINDING ALTERNATE ROUTES TO AVOID THE ROUNDABOUTS.

AND I DO THIS MYSELF. PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THOSE MULTIPLE ROUNDABOUTS TO GET TO CITY CENTER.

HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, RETAIL AND OTHER COMMERCIAL GROWTH, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY EVENTS.

AND LENEXA CITY CENTER HAS ATTRACTED ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC TO THIS AREA.

TRAFFIC IS UTILIZING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, COTTONWOOD CANYON, AS A ROUTE TO AND FROM LENEXA CITY CENTER, AND A SHORTCUT AS A SHORTCUT TO AVOID THE ROUNDABOUTS ON RENNER, AND THIS IS ONLY GOING TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE ADVENT MEDICAL CENTER AND THE ADDITIONAL BUILDING FOR KEYWAY.

CITY PLANNING STAFF, IN A MEETING WITH ONE OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES, STATED THAT THE TRAFFIC PLANNING IN THE AREA DID NOT PROPERLY ACCOUNT FOR THE CURRENT OR ANTICIPATED GROWTH IN THIS AREA. RIDGEVIEW ROAD AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, IMPROVEMENTS NORTH OF PRAIRIE STAR PARKWAY TO 87TH STREET ARE NOT CURRENTLY IN THE CITY'S CIP. WE ASKED THE CITY STAFF TO COME OUT AND DO SOME COUNTS IN OUR AREA, WHICH THEY OBLIGED VERY POLITELY, CAME OUT THE NEXT DAY, PUT SENSORS DOWN AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS BOTH IN TERMS OF VOLUME AND SPEED, IS WELL ABOVE TYPICAL VOLUME AND ABOVE POSTED SPEED LIMITS, SOME IN EXCESS OF 50 MILES AN HOUR IN A 25 MILE ZONE.

NOW, WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE CITY'S DESIRE FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

AND WE ARE WE? WE'RE FINE WITH DEVELOPMENT, ALTHOUGH WE WOULD QUESTION THE DENSITY OF SOME OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS.

AND WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ROSS CANYON THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, SPECIFICALLY TYLER BURKS AND ADDRESSING SOME CONCERNS WITH RESPECT TO SIGHTLINES FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD COMMUNICATION THERE.

THAT BEING SAID, GIVEN THE SAFETY IMPACTS OF THE POOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, LACK OF TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS THE RIDGEVIEW EXTENSION AND

[00:15:10]

THEY AGREED THERE WERE VOLUME AND SPEED ISSUES.

THAT PLAN WAS IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE CAN ASK 124 HOUSES TO PAY FOR TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES THAT ARE NECESSITATED BY THE MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA. OVER THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS, WE'VE REQUESTED NUMEROUS TIMES BY EMAIL TO MEET WITH THE CITY'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO DISCUSS WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ON THIS TRAFFIC CALMING ISSUE IS.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A SINGLE RESPONSE OF ANY KIND TO OUR REQUESTS.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? GOOD EVENING. MIKE FELLER 20324 WEST 98TH. I HAD A LIST OF QUESTIONS I'D LIKE TO ASK, AND IDEALLY WE'D GET SOME ANSWERS AT THE END OF THE MEETING OR DURING THE MEETING.

OUR FIRST QUESTION IS, CAN YOU CLARIFY THE 130 MILLION IN IRBS TO TO HELP ACQUIRE, CONSTRUCT AND EQUIP A MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT RELATIVE TO THE 23 MILLION IN TIF ELIGIBLE COSTS? SO IS THE DIFFERENCE OF 107 MILLION, IS THAT BASICALLY PHASE TWO OF THE DEVELOPMENT? I BELIEVE THE ATTORNEY ALREADY ANSWERED THAT, SIR. PARDON? I BELIEVE THE ATTORNEY ANSWERED THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS REMARKS. NEXT IS THE CITY, THROUGH ITS TAXPAYERS, PAYING $8 MILLION FOR THE STREETS, CURBS, LIGHTING AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE WITH NO REIMBURSEMENT UNTIL BEGINNING UNTIL THE 13TH YEAR. SO WE'RE ON THE HOOK FOR 12.5 YEARS FOR THAT.

CAN YOU VERIFY THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ANY ADDITIVE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE GENERATED FROM THIS PROJECT IN THE IN THE FIRST 20 YEARS FOR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE COUNTY GENERAL FUND, PARKS, LIBRARIES, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR LENEXA'S GENERAL FUND.

IS THERE EXPECTED TO BE ANY ADDITIONAL SALES AND USE TAX REVENUE GENERATED BY THE RESIDENTS OF THESE APARTMENTS? AS THE THOUSAND NEW REFLECTIONS AND ALEDO APARTMENT UNITS ARE APPARENTLY NOT SHOWING ANY SALES TAX BENEFITS BASED ON THE CITY'S PRELIMINARY 26 BUDGET.

IN FACT, IT APPEARS NOW THE BUDGET IS SHOWING A DECLINE FOR NEXT YEAR DESPITE ALL THE BRAND NEW APARTMENTS.

CAN WE ASSUME RESIDENTS OF THESE AND OTHER RECENT TAX INCENTIVIZED APARTMENTS ARE USING VARIOUS LOCAL SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SCHOOLS, POLICE, FIRE, EMT, STREETS, PARKS, LIBRARIES, ETC., BUT ARE NOT CONTRIBUTING ANY PROPERTY TAXES. SO IN EFFECT, OTHER TAXPAYERS ARE SUBSIDIZING THEM FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

AND WITH THE CITY'S VERY HEAVY USE OF THESE TAX INCENTIVES, IS THIS THE MAIN REASON OUR MILL RATE IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES.

CAN YOU CONFIRM? FOR THE FIRST TIME IN CITY HISTORY, OVER HALF OF OUR HOUSING IS NOW MULTIFAMILY RENTALS AND IS ALSO THE HIGHEST PROPORTION IN THE COUNTY, AND DO YOU EXPECT THIS TREND TO CONTINUE? AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, I MOVED HERE ABOUT 28 YEARS AGO, AS I RECALL BACK THEN THE RATIO WAS ABOUT 75/25.

SO THE TREND HAS BEEN PRETTY DRAMATIC. HAS THE CITY EVER CONSIDERED MAKING THE TAX INCENTIVES TO BE PROVIDED FOR THE IRBS AND SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR THESE APARTMENTS MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENTS? WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THESE POP UP AND SOME NEIGHBORING SMALL TOWNS.

QUESTION, ARE ANY OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS RECEIVING LOTS OF REQUESTS FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS FOR MORE HIGH END APARTMENTS, ESPECIALLY ONES THAT BURDEN TAXPAYERS? DOES ANYONE GET ANY, GETTING REQUESTS FOR THOSE? JUST HOUSING IN GENERAL. SO. PARDON. JUST HOUSING IN GENERAL.

OKAY. AND LASTLY, COULD YOU CLARIFY. I UNDERSTAND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE AN ISSUE IN OUR CITY WITH THE MINES. NO DOUBT THAT IT MAKES IT A BIG, BIG CHALLENGE ON WHAT TO DO WITH THAT LAND.

BUT COULD YOU CLARIFY WHO ELSE OTHER THAN DEVELOPERS WOULD ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM THIS PLAN?

[00:20:01]

YES. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? AILEEN VAN HORNE, 8131 ROSEHILL ROAD, PHASE ONE OF ROSS CANYON PROJECT, STATES THAT A COMPREHENSIVE FEASIBILITY STUDY HAS BEEN COMPLETED WHICH INDICATES THE BENEFITS DERIVED FROM PROJECT PLAN 6 OVER A 20 YEAR PERIOD ARE SIGNIFICANT.

REVENUES FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA AND OTHER AVAILABLE REVENUES ARE EXPECTED TO BE SUFFICIENT TO PAY FOR THE APPROVED TIF REASONABLE COSTS. PLEASE PROVIDE SPECIFICS AS TO THE BENEFITS AS BEING SIGNIFICANT.

IN 20 YEARS, WHILE PROPERTY TAX PAYING RESIDENTS PAY REDUCED PROPERTY TAXES, WHAT IS THE IMPACT TO THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE? POLICE, FIRE, ROADS, PARKS, ETC.. WHAT IS THE IMPACT TO THE COUNTY'S INFRASTRUCTURE? EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT? WASTEWATER? WHAT IS THE IMPACT TO SCHOOLS? DOES THE DEVELOPER HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR INCREASED INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS OVER THEIR TAX FREE 20 YEAR PERIOD, OR WILL THESE INCREASED COSTS MERELY BE PASSED DOWN TO PROPERTY TAX PAYING CITIZENS? LATE FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, THE COUNTY INDICATED 69,000 UNITS ARE PLANNED FOR JOHNSON COUNTY.

IN MARCH, SCOTT MCCULLOUGH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, INDICATED THE FOLLOWING FOR LENEXA 10,011 BUILT AND UNDER CONSTRUCTION PENDING PERMIT, 2900 UNITS WITH PLANNING APPROVAL AT SOME LEVEL WHERE THE ROSS CANYON NUMBER WAS THE ROSS CANYON NUMBER OF 353 INCLUDED IN THE 2900. SINCE THIS IS PHASE ONE, WHAT NUMBERS MIGHT BE INCLUDED IN FUTURE PHASES OF ROSS CANYON. THEN. ADDITIONALLY, 757 UNITS WERE AWAITING CONSIDERATION.

ARE THE 353 FOR ROSS CANYON IN THE WAITING FOR CONSIDERATION? AND WHAT NUMBERS MIGHT BE INCLUDED IN FUTURE ROSS CANYON? WHAT ARE THE RENTAL COSTS FOR THESE HIGH END UNITS? I NOTED THEY WERE MULTICLASS A, SO THEY WERE IDENTIFIED AS HIGH END.

WHAT ARE THE RENTAL COSTS FOR THE HIGH END UNITS? WHAT IS EXPECTED HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR RENTERS OF THESE UNITS? WHAT IS THE EXPECTED TIME EACH UNIT WOULD TURN OVER? WHAT AGE GROUP WOULD MOST LIKELY RENT THESE UNITS? THE MOST UPDATED MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR LENEXA IS 102,000 PER YEAR.

HOW DOES, HOW DOES THIS FIT WITH THE EXPECTED ANNUAL INCOME? CONSTITUENTS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

HOW DO THESE HIGH END UNITS HELP THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING? WHAT ADDITIONAL TIFS AND RIBS WILL THE CITY GIVE TO FUTURE PHASES OF ROSS CANYON? ACCORDING TO STATISTICS, AS MR. FELLER HAS INDICATED, WE HAVE MORE RENTALS THAN WE HAVE HOME OWNER OCCUPIED.

THE SHIFT TO RENTAL APARTMENTS FROM SINGLE FAMILY OWNER OCCUPIED HOMES CONTRIBUTES TO HIGH HOUSING COSTS AND RESULTS IN LACK OF AFFORDABILITY FOR, AND BECAUSE OF, THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN VARIOUS TAX ABATEMENTS.

YOU ARE SHIFTING THE TAX BURDENS OF LENEXA TO PROPERTY TAX PAYING RESIDENTS.

HOW MUCH HAS BEEN DIVERTED FROM THE CITY COFFERS IN JUST THESE TYPES OF PROPERTY TAX INCENTIVES? OUR PROPERTY TAXES HAVE SKYROCKETED FROM 1997 TO 2024 OUR TAXES HAVE INCREASED 283%.

HOW MUCH OF THIS INCREASE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO TIFS AND IRBS? I WOULD ASK KINDLY THAT YOU RESPOND TO MY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL. MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

SOME OF MY COMMENTS WILL DOVETAIL WITH SOME OF THE PRECEDING COMMENTS.

[00:25:02]

NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE FIRST. PARDON? YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. DAVID HANKS.

HANKS, I LIVE AT TWO, 2635 WEST 89TH. I'M IN THE WATERCRESS SUBDIVISION.

WARD ONE. DID YOU VOTE TODAY? OKAY. DID YOU VOTE TODAY? YES I DID. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [LAUGHS] YES I DID.

I RECEIVED, YOU KNOW, THE INFORMATION THAT THAT PRESUMABLY THE COUNCIL GETS.

AND I HAVE COME TO REALIZE MAYBE SLOWLY, BUT I'VE ATTENDED SEVERAL OF THE LAST COUNCIL MEETINGS AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS.

I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT CUMULATIVE RESIDENT OF LENEXA FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

I'VE SEEN GROWTH, I'VE SEEN CHANGES, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

BUT ANYWAYS, SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE NOTICED IN TERMS OF MULTIFAMILY DWELLINGS IS THERE'S THE REFLECTIONS AT 93RD AND RENNER, APPROXIMATELY 300 UNITS. THERE'S THE APARTMENT COMPLEX AT PRAIRIE STAR PARKWAY AND RIDGEVIEW.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY UNITS ARE THERE. THERE'S THE SOLARA PROJECT AT PRAIRIE STAR PARKWAY AND 7 HIGHWAY, 324 UNITS. THERE'S PROJECT PLAN 6, WHICH NOW I KNOW IS ROSS CANYON AT 93RD MILL CREEK AND RENNER, THAT'S 353 UNITS. AND SOON THERE WILL BE A MULTI-FAMILY PROJECTS AT WEST OF WATSONIA, OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I LIVE AT. PEARSON PARKWAY IN 83RD STREET.

OKAY. IN TOTAL, THREE OF THOSE COME TO ABOUT 1000 UNITS.

OKAY. AT 50% OCCUPANCY. THAT WOULD BE 500 VEHICLES, PRESUMABLY.

OKAY. WHEN THAT CONVERGES, THAT WILL BE SOMEWHAT OF A INCREASE IN TRAFFIC FLOW AMENITIES AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND WHAT I PERCEIVE THIS TO BE IS THAT LENEXA IS BECOMING WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS A BEDROOM COMMUNITY.

OKAY. BY DEFINITION, A BEDROOM COMMUNITY, BY SOME, IT'S A SMALL COMMUNITY THAT HAS NO MAJOR INDUSTRIES.

AND THAT IS LIVED BY IN BY PEOPLE WHO GO TO WORK IN ANOTHER TOWN OR CITY.

OKAY. SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF A BEDROOM COMMUNITY WOULD BE BUSINESS OWNERS.

RESTAURANTS. SMALL BUSINESSES, SUCH AS THE ONE AT CITY CENTER SQUARE.

OKAY, BUT THERE'S ALSO SOME DOWNSIDES TO BEING A BEDROOM COMMUNITY.

AND HERE'S JUST A FEW OF THEM THAT I'VE PULLED OFF THE INTERNET.

ONE OF THEM IS THERE'S LONG COMMUTES. NOW, ALL OF THESE DON'T APPLY TO THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE OUT THERE, BECAUSE BY WORKING AT HOME AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT LONG COMMUTES, A PRIMARY DRAWBACK IS THE OFTEN SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BEDROOM COMMUNITY AND THE WORKPLACE, LEADING TO LONG COMMUTES, INCREASED TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND POTENTIAL TRAFFIC CONGESTION.

THERE'S LIMITED LOCAL EMPLOYMENT. BEDROOM COMMUNITIES OFTEN LACKED THE DIVERSE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOUND IN LARGE CITIES, REQUIRING RESIDENTS TO COMMUTE TO WORK, FEWER AMENITIES, THEY MAY HAVE FEWER OPTIONS FOR SHOPPING, DINING, ENTERTAINMENT, SPECIALIZED SERVICES COMPARED TO URBAN CENTERS, UNLIKE THE CITY CENTER SQUARE AT RENNER.

TRANSIENT POPULATION, THE RELIANCE ON THE CITY FOR WORK CAN LEAD TO MORE TO A MORE TRANSIENT POPULATION WITH FEWER DEEP ROOTED CONNECTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY.

DEPENDANCE ON THE CITY. BEDROOM COMMUNITIES CAN BECOME OVERLY RELIANT ON THE NEARBY CITY FOR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, SOCIAL LIFE, AND EVEN ESSENTIAL SERVICES, POTENTIALLY HINDERING THEIR OWN DEVELOPMENT AND AUTONOMY.

STRAIN ON INFRASTRUCTURE. THE INFLUX ON RESIDENTS CONSTRAINED THE LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS ROADS, UTILITIES, SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY IF THE COMMUNITY IS NOT ADEQUATELY PREPARED FOR THE GROWTH.

TAXATION. I WON'T GO INTO THAT. LOSS OF GREENSPACE, A CONCERN ALTHOUGH THAT SITE MAY NOT HAVE MUCH OTHER USE OTHER THAN WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING.

LACK OF DIVERSITY THEY MAY LACK THE SOCIO ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY FOUND IN MORE ESTABLISHED URBAN AREAS.

I THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM. SO ANYWAYS, I WOULD JUST ASK THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR TAKE THESE ITEMS INTO CONSIDERATION WITH REGARDS TO THIS PROJECT MOVING FORWARD. AND BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL.

ONCE IT'S APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IT'S A DONE DEAL.

SO ANYWAYS, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, MR. HANKS. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? NONE. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MOTION BY MELANIE. SECOND BY COURTNEY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

[00:30:04]

WHEN MR. SHORTHOUSE SPOKE OF THE TRAFFIC IN THE STUDIES AND I WASN'T AWARE OF THIS CITY DOING TRAFFIC STUDIES IN THAT AREA, AND I BROUGHT UP THE SAME CONCERN ABOUT TRAFFIC HEADING BACK INTO THOSE DEVELOPMENTS, KIND OF THE WAY THE ROADS WERE CONFIGURED.

AND THEN THIS TRAFFIC STUDY IS FURTHER IMPLIED THAT THERE IS CONCERNS AND SPEED AND A NUMBER OF CARS GOING BACK TO THAT. OUR TRAFFIC OWN TRAFFIC STUDIES DID. SO HOW DID WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT INFORMATION? AND IT DIDN'T LOOK IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE'VE DONE ANY CHANGES.

AND HOW ARE THE TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES BEING ADDRESSED? AND IT DOES SEEM LIKE IT COULD BE VERY COSTLY TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND COULD THEY EVEN AFFORD THOSE TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES? COUNCIL MEMBER, A FEW THINGS, WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR FOR A WHILE, EVEN BEFORE ROSS CANYON.

I UNDERSTAND OUR TRAFFIC ENGINEERS HAVE BEEN ENGAGED.

IT CLEARLY IS A SORT OF BACK WAY IN THROUGH CITY CENTER.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE STUDY WITHOUT REVIEWING IT AGAIN.

AND I CLEARLY DIDN'T COME PREPARED WITH THIS ISSUE AT THE TOP OF MIND TONIGHT, BUT I AM HAPPY TO MEET WITH THE GENTLEMAN.

WE DON'T TURN AWAY MEETINGS. SO WE'VE, I WOULD BE WITH THEM THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER AND AGAIN, REVIEW OUR POLICIES, REVIEW THE TRAFFIC, STUDY INFORMATION.

IT'S BEEN FAIRLY RECENT. AND THROUGH ROSS CANYON'S DEVELOPMENT THAT WE WERE ENGAGED WITH THE HOA TO ANALYZE THE STUDY.

I RECALL THERE WERE SOME OUTLIERS OF SPEED. THERE ARE IN VIRTUALLY EVERY STUDY WE DO.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S AN AVERAGE OR A PROBLEM IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT CLEARLY THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS FRUSTRATED BY BEING A BACK WAY INTO CITY CENTER. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

SO WE'RE HAPPY TO KEEP THE DISCUSSION GOING AND HAVE THE MEETING.

OTHER QUESTIONS OR THE COMMENTS. OKAY, IF NOT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PASS THE ORDINANCE APPROVING THE MINING TIF PROJECT PLAN 6. MOTION BY CRAIG, SECOND BY CHRIS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. ITEM 10.C ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH PETRA LENEXA, LLC. MOTION BY BILL, SECOND BY MELANIE.

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

MOTION FOR 10.D ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

DETERMINING THE INTENT OF THE CITY TO ISSUE APPROXIMATELY $130 MILLION IN INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS TO HELP ACQUIRE, CONSTRUCT, AND EQUIP THE MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT.

MOTION BY CHRIS. SECOND BY CRAIG. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. WE HAVE NO NEW BUSINESS TONIGHT.

WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS. MELANIE.

[COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS]

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT KIND OF CAME AS A SURPRISE TO MANY OF US THAT THIS TREND THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING ON THE NEWS CYCLE OR EVEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA ARRIVED TO OUR OWN COMMUNITY.

AND I KNOW IT SHOOK MANY OF US. AND WHAT THESE EVENTS SHOWED US LAST WEEK IS THAT NO COMMUNITY IS SAFE FROM THESE RAIDS, SOME OF THE STORIES I'VE HEARD AND READ FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE VIOLENTLY DETAINED DESCRIBED DISTURBING AND INHUMANE APPREHENSIONS THAT DO NOT LINE UP WITH OUR VALUES AND OUR COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO THE VIBRANT COMMUNITY THAT LENEXA HAS BEEN WORKING SO HARD TO BUILD FOR DECADES. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO HAVE ALL THE FACTS BEFORE WE MAKE ANY CONCLUSIONS. THE FACTS THAT ARE OUT THERE SO FAR LEAD ME TO CONCLUDE THAT IRREPARABLE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL HARM WAS DONE TO OUR PEOPLE.

[00:35:06]

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE TERROR, THE ANGUISH AND THE DENIGRATION THAT THESE PEOPLE MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE.

AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THEIR EXPERIENCES THAT I CHOSE TO COME FORWARD TONIGHT WITH A PERSONAL STORY.

AND I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THIS STORY IS NOT ME TRYING TO PLACE BLAME ON ANYONE OR ANY SHAME, BUT RATHER BRING AWARENESS OF A GROWING TREND THAT WE NEED TO FACE.

ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO LET ME KNOW THAT AS A RESULT OF SOMEONE READING AN OP ED THAT I PUBLISHED EARLIER THIS YEAR, SOMEONE REPORTED ME TO STATE AUTHORITIES TO HAVE ME INVESTIGATED UNDER THE ALLEGATION THAT MY ARTICLE SUGGESTS THAT I AM NOT A CITIZEN AND THUS NOT ELIGIBLE TO SERVE IN PUBLIC OFFICE.

I WASN'T SURE HOW TO FEEL ABOUT THAT IN THE IN THE MOMENT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU ALL.

BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THIS MUST HAVE BEEN AN AWKWARD POSITION FOR THE CHIEF TO BE IN.

CHIEF LAYMAN RELAYED THE FACTS AND LET ME KNOW THAT ANOTHER OFFICER WOULD REACH OUT TO REQUEST PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP. WHEN THE CHIEF GAVE ME THE OPTION.

YOU KNOW, I WILL ADD THIS TO JUST TO HIGHLIGHT JUST LIKE HOW CASUAL IN A WAY THIS CONVERSATION WAS IN THE MOMENT.

SHE GAVE ME THE OPTION TO JUST EMAIL A COPY OF ANY SORT OF DOCUMENT I MAY HAVE THAT PROVES MY CITIZENSHIP, AND HONESTLY, I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE. SO I SAID, NO, YOU KNOW WHAT? I WILL SHOW YOU IN PERSON. BUT SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, EITHER WAY IS FINE.

I WAS NOT ALARMED, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I COULD NOT QUITE DISCERN THE MULTITUDE OF EMOTIONS I FELT IN THAT MOMENT.

LATER, I STARTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE REASON WHY THIS FELT UNCOMFORTABLE WAS BECAUSE I WAS BEING ASKED TO SHOW MY PAPERS.

AND MANY PEOPLE WITH AN IMMIGRANT BACKGROUND WOULD KNOW THAT THIS CARRIES A LOT OF POLITICAL AND HISTORICAL WEIGHT.

OKAY, SO NOW I WANT TO PAUSE HERE TO JUST REMIND EVERYONE THAT I'M NOT BRINGING UP THIS PERSONAL STORY TO BLAME OR SHAME ANYONE, ANYONE INVOLVED, BUT TO SPEAK TO THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN.

I CONSIDERED HAVING A PRIVATE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS SITUATION WITH THE CITY, BUT I'M MAKING IT PUBLIC IN THE HOPES THAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HEAR MY STORY AND ACT TO PREVENT THE SITUATION FROM HAPPENING TO THEM.

I AM ALSO NOT SUGGESTING THAT THE CITY HAD ANY DIRECT INVOLVEMENT WITH THE RAID THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK, OR THAT THESE TWO SITUATIONS ARE DIRECTLY CONNECTED.

I WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR, BUT THESE COINCIDENTALLY HAPPENED AROUND THE SAME TIME.

AND THIS DOES SUGGEST A SIGN OF A GROWING TREND THAT WE MUST FACE.

OKAY, SO I'LL PROCEED WITH MY STORY HERE. I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE LENEXA PD DIDN'T SEE THE GRAVITY OF THIS REQUEST. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IT WAS AN HONEST MISTAKE AND THEY FELT THAT THEY WERE DOING THEIR DUTY.

NONETHELESS, OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, I DECIDED TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY.

THROUGH OUR COMMUNICATIONS, WE LEARNED THAT THIS WAS TECHNICALLY NOT AN INVESTIGATION, SO I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.

THIS WAS CONSIDERED AN INFORMATIONAL REPORT. ULTIMATELY, MY ATTORNEY AND I DECIDED TO COMPLY AND PROVIDE PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, AND THE CASE WAS CLOSED.

BUT AT THIS POINT, THE EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HARM WAS ALREADY DONE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE AT NO POINT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS WAS THERE ANY ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE INVASIVE NATURE OF THIS REQUEST, OR NO CONSIDERATION OF VERIFYING THIS CASE IN A WAY THAT DIDN'T CREATE DISCOMFORT OR ANY TENSION IN MY PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LENEXA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

[00:40:08]

THIS IS THE REAL ISSUE. WE ARE LIVING OUT HERE LIKE IT'S 2024 AND OUR JUDICIAL PROCESSES AND INSTITUTIONS ARE INTACT. BUT I'M LIVING IN THE SUMMER OF 2025 FULLY ACKNOWLEDGING THE WORLD IS NOT THE SAME PLACE ANYMORE. AND THAT MEANS WE MUST ADAPT AND ACCEPT THE REALITY THAT WE LIVE IN.

THE LENEXA POLICE DEPARTMENT TAKES A LOT OF PRIDE IN THEIR WORK TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC TRUST, AND WE SHOULD HAVE GUARDRAILS IN PLACE SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE IN THIS AWKWARD SITUATION AGAIN.

OR ASK ANYONE EVER FOR PROOF OF LEGAL RESIDENCE, BECAUSE THAT IS COMPLETELY OUTSIDE OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL SCOPE OF DUTIES.

THANK YOU EVERYONE, I'M REALLY MOVED FOR ALL OF YOU MAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE.

WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER SOMETHING ELSE. THAT IF THIS HAPPENED TO ME, THIS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE ON THIS COUNCIL.

NO ONE IS PROBABLY GOING TO COME ASKING FOR PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP OUT OF YOU GUYS.

BUT WHAT CAN HAPPEN IS THAT ANY FALSE ALLEGATION COULD BE MADE AGAINST ANYONE HERE WITH SOME FLIMSY PIECE OF EVIDENCE, AND TAKE IT DIRECTLY TO THE HIGHEST STATE AUTHORITIES AND COMPLETELY RUIN YOUR REPUTATION.

AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT WITH JULIE, SO I'M GOING TO HOLD OFF ON GETTING MORE INTO THAT.

BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU ALL, I WOULD NOT WANT ANYONE, ANY SINGLE EMPLOYEE, COUNCIL MEMBER OR RESIDENT OF THE CITY TO GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH. SO TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO PLEASE SUPPORT ANY VIABLE MEASURES WE CAN PUT IN PLACE TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY FROM THESE WASTEFUL REPORTS, TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE VALUES OF INTEGRITY AND HONOR FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND DEMAND THAT OUTSIDE AUTHORITIES ARE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD OF INTEGRITY AS OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS OR SOLUTIONS, AND IT WOULD BE UNREASONABLE FOR US TO COME UP WITH ONE RIGHT AWAY, OR EVEN TONIGHT. BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO ASK EVERYONE HERE, MY COLLEAGUES, IS TO TAKE THE TIME TO LISTEN TO OUR FRIENDS AND CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT AND ARE HERE TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND TO DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS.

AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE TO PARTICIPATE IN CREATING CHANGE AND TO MEET THE MOMENT.

AND TO THE PERSON WHO REPORTED ME, I TRULY AND SINCERELY FORGIVE YOU, AND I HOPE THAT YOU MAY FIND INNER PEACE AND HARMONY IN YOUR LIFE. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

[APPLAUSE] PLEASE HAVE A SEAT.

PLEASE HAVE A SEAT. AS SOME OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HEARING THIS INFORMATION FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE'VE ALSO ASKED FOR A DESCRIPTION FROM THE LEGAL TEAM.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ARROYO THAT THIS SITUATION WAS DIFFICULT.

THE LENEXA POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM THE KANSAS BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION THAT AN INQUIRY HAD BEEN MADE ABOUT THE CITIZENSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBER ARROYO.

THIS INQUIRY WAS MADE AS A RESULT OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY PROVIDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ARROYO ABOUT THE FACT THAT AT SOME POINT, SHE OVERSTAYED HER VISA TO THE UNITED STATES AND BECAME UNDOCUMENTED.

THE INDIVIDUAL REPORTING THE CONCERN STATED THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ARROYO DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE NATURALIZATION IN THE TESTIMONY.

[00:45:01]

WHILE WE DID NOT ASSUME THERE WAS A CONCERN WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ARROYO'S NATURALIZATION, WE FELT WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER BECAUSE IT IS CITY'S OBLIGATION TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH OUR OWN ORDINANCES. SHORTLY AFTER THE COMPLAINT WAS FORWARDED TO THE LPD BY THE KBI, CHIEF LAYMAN REACHED OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER ARROYO AS A COURTESY TO LET HER KNOW THAT THE COMPLAINT HAD BEEN RECEIVED, THAT SHE WOULD BE, THE CITY WOULD BE INVESTIGATING AND WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE BRIEF INVESTIGATION.

STAFF HANDLED THE MATTER PROFESSIONALLY AT EVERY TURN, WHILE ALSO KEEPING AN EYE TO THE SENSITIVITY OF THE MATTER FOR COUNCIL MEMBER ARROYO.

THAT SAID, ONE THING WE ALSO TAKE SERIOUSLY IS THAT IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, WE MUST CARRY OUT OUR DUTIES WITHOUT EITHER PREJUDICE OR PREFERENCE.

WE CONDUCTED A STANDARD INVESTIGATION AS WE WOULD IN ANY CASE, REGARDLESS OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED.

WHILE IT WAS CLEAR THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ARROYO FEELS WE DID NOT HANDLE THIS IN THE RIGHT WAY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, CITY STAFF DID EXACTLY WHAT IS EXPECTED OF IT AND WE STAND BEHIND OUR ACTIONS IN ADDRESSING THE COMPLAINT FORWARDED TO US BY THE KBI.

TO BE CLEAR, WE ONLY INVESTIGATED THIS MATTER BECAUSE OF OUR CITY CODE REQUIREMENT THAT A COUNCIL MEMBER BE A CITIZEN.

WE DO NOT OTHERWISE INVEST IMMIGRATION STATUS OF LENEXA RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SEAN. ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS THIS EVENING? GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT CAME OUT.

MY COMMENT CONCERNS THE ICE RAID THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE CLEAR THAT WE DID NOT INITIATE OR INVITE OR PARTICIPATE IN THE RAID.

IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT IT HAPPENED, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT HAPPENED RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY.

AND SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOMETHING I POSTED ON FACEBOOK ABOUT MY, YOU KNOW, PERSONAL FEELINGS.

AND I JUST WANTED TO EXTEND A LITTLE BIT ON THAT.

TWO THINGS I JUST WANTED TO SAY. FIRST LENEXA POLICE DID THE RIGHT THING BY NOT SHOWING UP.

AS FAR AS WHAT I'VE LEARNED AND WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM JULIE AND OTHER FOLKS, THEY MADE THE RIGHT DECISION.

SO I WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THINGS LIKE THIS AREN'T NECESSARILY SUPPORTED BY US, AREN'T NECESSARILY GOING TO BE DRIVEN BY BY US.

AND I KNOW IT MIGHT NOT SEEM THAT WAY, BUT WE'VE HAD LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS AND WE TRULY ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POLICY THAT WE HAVE YOU KNOW, THEY EXIST FOR A REASON.

TO ENSURE THAT OUR LOCAL RESOURCES ARE USED TO KEEP LENEXA SAFE.

YOU KNOW, TO BUILD TRUST WITH OUR OUR COMMUNITY AND TO, YOU KNOW, ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT ARE UNDER OUR JURISDICTIONS.

AND THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO SAY, WELL, FIRST.

AND I EXPECT NOTHING LESS FROM OUR POLICE. AND THE SECOND THING THAT I WANTED TO SAY WHICH MIGHT BE MORE, MORE IMPORTANT IS THAT I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT LENEXA REMAINING A CITY THAT'S GOVERNED BY THE VALUES THAT YOU ESPOUSE AND THAT WE ON THE COUNCIL ESPOUSE AS WELL.

YOU COULD CALL IT JUSTICE. AND FOR ME, THAT MEANS FAIRNESS, ACCOUNTABILITY, PUBLIC SAFETY AND RESPECT FOR EVERYONE WHO, YOU KNOW, CALLS THIS PLACE HOME. I KNOW I WORK, AND I KNOW EVERYONE ON THE ON THE BOARD HERE WORKS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VALUES AREN'T COMPROMISED, THAT OUR INTEGRITY ISN'T STRAINED WHEN WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS IN THE PROCESS OF GOVERNING AND EXECUTING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST MAGICALLY APPEARS, YOU KNOW, WE MAKE DECISIONS AND ACTIVELY WORK TO CONSIDER NOT JUST OUR PERSPECTIVE, BUT AS MANY PERSPECTIVES AS WE WE CAN.

AND I THINK IT'S REFLECTED IN HOW WE LISTEN, HOW WE LEAD, AND HOW WE TRY TO PROTECT THE DIGNITY OF EVERY RESIDENCE.

I'M ONLY SPEAKING FOR MYSELF HERE, OF COURSE, BUT I DEEPLY VALUE THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE ON THE GOVERNING BODY.

WE CAN'T SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM, OF COURSE, BUT WE ARE NEVER POWERLESS.

AND I THINK YOU SEE THAT IN HOW WE ADVOCATE, HOW WE INFORM THE COMMUNITY, HOW WE SET OUR STANDARDS.

[00:50:01]

BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HEAR AT LEAST ME SAY THAT WE PROMISE TO LEAD WITH INTEGRITY, LISTEN CAREFULLY, AND TO ALWAYS PROTECT AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, EVEN IN A SITUATION WHEN IT'S NOT OF OUR MAKING.

THANK YOU. CHRIS. CHELSEA. FIRST OF ALL, MELANIE, I WANT TO SAY THAT I HEAR YOU AND I AM LISTENING. I, TOO, WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP CONCERN ABOUT THE ICE RAID THAT OCCURRED LAST WEEK. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THERE WAS A FEDERAL WARRANT THAT WAS ISSUED FOR SOME LABOR VIOLATIONS. AND WHILE WE DO NOT KNOW ALL THE FACTS, LABOR VIOLATIONS DO NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRE ICE AGENTS TO ARREST THE EMPLOYEES OF THAT RESTAURANT, NOR IN THE MANNER IN WHICH HAS BEEN REPORTED.

I BELIEVE IN JUSTICE FOR ALL, AND I BELIEVE IN THE RULE OF LAW.

I TOOK AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION, AND I TAKE THAT OATH VERY SERIOUSLY.

THAT OATH DEMANDS EQUAL PROTECTION, DUE PROCESS, AND HUMAN DIGNITY FOR EVERY PERSON, NO MATTER THEIR BACKGROUND OR IMMIGRATION STATUS.

AS A MEMBER OF THE LENEXA GOVERNING BODY, I AM PROUD OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR NOT ASSISTING FEDERAL AGENTS IN THAT OPERATION.

OUR OFFICERS STAYED TRUE [APPLAUSE], THEY STAYED TRUE TO THEIR MISSION TO SERVE AND PROTECT THE LENEXA COMMUNITY, NOT TO ENFORCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW. THIS KIND OF RAID FOSTERS FEAR, DIVIDES FAMILIES, AND UNDERMINES TRUST IN LOCAL INSTITUTIONS. OUR COMMUNITY IS STRONGER, SAFER, AND MORE JUST WHEN ALL RESIDENTS FEEL SAFE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PARTICIPATE IN CIVIC LIFE WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING TARGETED.

I STAND WITH OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS, AND I STAND FOR A LENEXA WHERE EVERYONE IS TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

THANK YOU. CHELSEA. COURTNEY. MELANIE.

I'M HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS HAPPENED UNTIL JUST NOW.

SO. AGAIN, SAME I HEAR YOU, I SEE YOU AND FRUSTRATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD DO THAT TO YOU.

IT MAKES ME WANT TO PULL OUT MY PASSPORT AND SUBMIT IT VOLUNTARILY SO THAT NOBODY'S QUESTIONING MY STATUS.

AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T WHO WE ARE, AND I HAVE STRUGGLED ALL WEEK.

I'VE GOT 16 ITERATIONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS THAT I'VE REWRITTEN BECAUSE I WANTED TO TRY AND TAKE THE EMOTION OUT OF IT.

I WANTED TO BE PRAGMATIC. I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT STILL WEREN'T ANSWERED, AND WAS HOPING THAT MORE INFORMATION WOULD COME OUT THAT WOULD HELP ME WRAP MY HEAD AROUND WHAT HAPPENED. I GOT A CALL LAST WEEK ON WEDNESDAY AT ABOUT 4:00.

I WAS DOWNTOWN AND SAID THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING A HALF A MILE FROM MY HOUSE.

I DROVE STRAIGHT THERE. I, TALKED WITH MANY OF YOU THAT I SEE FAMILIAR FACES TO TRY AND WRAP MY HEAD AROUND WHAT HAPPENED.

YOU KNOW, HEAR FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS AND SORT OUT WHAT IS MY ROLE IN THIS AND WHAT CAN WE DO AS A CITY, AND WHAT WAS THE CITY'S INVOLVEMENT OR NOT INVOLVEMENT? AND TO KIND OF TAKE AN APPROACH OF WHAT IS IT THAT IS OUR IS OUR ROLE, AND HOW DO WE KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE? MY HUSBAND'S AN IMMIGRANT. WE'VE HAD LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS AROUND, DOES HE NEED TO HAVE HIS NATURALIZATION PAPERS ON HIM? YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN TODAY'S WORLD? AND IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE IT'S NOT FAIR. IT'S NOT HOW WE TREAT PEOPLE.

PEOPLE DESERVE DUE PROCESS. AND I MET WITH THE CHIEF TONIGHT.

WE HAD SOME I HAD SOME QUESTIONS THAT WERE ANSWERED.

AND ULTIMATELY, WHAT I TOOK AWAY FROM EVERYTHING THAT I'VE GATHERED THIS WEEK IS THAT WE HAVE A LEGITIMACY PROBLEM WITH SOME FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT THERE IS NO LONGER TRUST, WHICH IS WHY EVERYBODY IS SHOWING UP WHEN THEY NEED TO.

[00:55:01]

AND WE'VE SEEN OTHERWISE ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT THERE'S BEEN A LACK OF DUE PROCESS, THERE'S BEEN THE CONSTITUTION VIOLATED AND THE COURTS SUPPORTING THAT.

I TEACH HIGH SCHOOL GOVERNMENT, AND THIS IS REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND AND TRY TO EXPLAIN TO MY STUDENTS HOW THIS IS HAPPENING AND WHAT IS OUR ROLE IN TRYING TO FIX IT. AND I DON'T HAVE ANY ANSWERS.

JUST LIKE SHE SAID, I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS, I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR US TO FIX THIS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AREN'T TREATING PEOPLE WITH DISRESPECT AND WITHOUT DIGNITY, AND WITHOUT DUE PROCESS AND WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY IN THE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE ON A FEDERAL LEVEL, BECAUSE IT'S TRICKLING DOWN TO PUTTING OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS INTO SITUATIONS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN. AND SO I AM VERY WILLING TO EXPLORE WHAT IT IS THAT WE CAN TRY AND DO, BUT I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION.

IF I DID, I WOULD BE ON NATIONAL NEWS RIGHT NOW.

AND I WOULD JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, MY JOB HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE A SAFE AND WELCOMING PLACE FOR EVERYONE TO LIVE, WORK AND COME TO IN LENEXA.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. AND I'M REALLY SAD THAT THIS HAPPENED THIS WEEK IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TO OUR BUSINESSES AND TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW AND AND SEE ON A DAILY BASIS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING OUT TONIGHT AND SHOWING THAT SUPPORT HERE.

THANKS SO MUCH. JOHN MICHAEL.

THERE'S NOT A LOT I CAN ADD TO THE REMARKS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, SO I'LL BE FAIRLY BRIEF.

FOR BETTER OR WORSE, I AM REACTING IN REAL TIME TO A SITUATION I WASN'T AWARE OF.

YOU SHOULD FEEL SAFE AT HOME, IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND AT WORK.

AND CIVIL SERVICE, AS MELANIE HAS DONE FOR SO LONG, IS WORK.

SHE SHOULD FEEL SAFE TO COME HERE AND DO THAT WORK FOR ALL OF LENEXA.

SHE SHOULD FEEL SAFE IN LENEXA ALL OF US SHOULD.

I LIKE LENEXA BECAUSE OF THE SENSE OF BELONGING IT GAVE ME FROM DAY ONE.

AND THAT WE CAN EXTEND TO EVERY ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN STATED LIKE, NONE OF US HAVE THE ANSWERS.

I HAVE TIME. I HAVE WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN AND ENERGY TO HELP.

AND SO I WANT TO THANK MELANIE FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND SHARING THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU WENT THROUGH.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE UP HERE WHO HAD SOMETHING TO TO SAY ABOUT THE SITUATION INSTEAD OF UNFOLDED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TO HELP US THROUGH THIS JOURNEY. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, LIKE COURTNEY SAID, IF ALL OF US HAD THE ANSWER, WE'D BE WE'D BE DONE.

THERE WOULDN'T BE A REASON FOR THIS MEETING. AND I THINK IT'LL TAKE A COMMUNITY TO GET THROUGH IT.

SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. GUYS, ANYTHING? OKAY. I WILL CLOSE BY SAYING THAT MELANIE AND I HAD A PHONE CONVERSATION EARLIER TODAY.

BECAUSE I HAD NOT HEARD DIRECTLY HER PERSPECTIVE ON THE EVENTS.

I'D ONLY BEEN INFORMED OF THE LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, AND THAT WAS HELPFUL FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND WHERE SHE FELT THAT THERE WERE MISSTEPS IN THE PROCESS. THE THING THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF AS LENEXA IS THAT WE ALWAYS STAND TOGETHER AS A GOVERNING BODY.

AS A STAFF, WE DON'T POINT FINGERS AT ONE ANOTHER.

WE FIGURE OUT PROBLEMS TOGETHER AND WE WILL DO THAT WITH THIS.

IF THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE LEARNED, WE WILL HAVE THE CONVERSATION AND WE WILL LEARN IT. AND THAT'S MY ASSURANCE TO YOU AS THE LEADER AMONG THIS GOVERNING BODY AND AS OUR CONDUIT TO OUR STAFF, IS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS TO ANYONE EVER AGAIN.

THANK YOU. WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO STAFF REPORTS.

[STAFF REPORTS]

SO AT 7:00. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. KEEP THAT ON YOUR SCHEDULES.

THIS DOES END THE RECORDED PORTION OF THE MEETING. WE WILL MOVE TO BUSINESS.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.