Jan 06, 2026 City Council Meeting

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:10]

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

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

COUNCIL MEMBER HANDLEY. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER EITERICH.

PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CHARLTON. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER NICKS.

HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER BELL. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMSON.

PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER DENNY. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER HERRON.

PRESENT. MAYOR SAYERS IS PRESENT AND PRESIDING.

THANK YOU, JENNIFER. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE DRAFT MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 2ND CITY COUNCIL MEETING?

[APPROVE MINUTES]

[CONSENT AGENDA]

ALL MATTERS LISTED WITHIN 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 CONSIDERATION 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? HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS ONE THROUGH EIGHT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION BY CHELSEA, SECOND BY AVERY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED. NUMBER 9, UNDER OLD BUSINESS IS A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE FISCAL

[9. Resolution adopting the fiscal year 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Program The recommended fiscal year 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Program is approximately $273.3 million and includes funding for 61 capital projects.]

HI, NATE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

NATE BLUM WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. THE RECOMMENDED FISCAL YEAR 26 THROUGH 2030 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUNDS 61 CAPITAL PROJECTS AT A TOTAL COST OF $273.3 MILLION. THE MAIN FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE CIP ARE THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES OF $81.4 MILLION, GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS OF $75.5 MILLION AND A 38 CENTS SALES TAX, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY LENEXA VOTERS EARLIER THIS YEAR.

FOR PARKS AND PAVEMENT THAT COMES IN AT $48.4 MILLION.

MAJOR EXPENDITURE CATEGORIES INCLUDE STREETS, BRIDGES AND TRAFFIC, $169 MILLION.

FACILITIES PROJECTS, $36.8 MILLION. AND THEN STORMWATER PROJECTS AT JUST OVER $33 MILLION.

THE CIP DOES INCLUDE THE BRITAIN STREET SPECIAL BENEFIT DISTRICT.

I BELIEVE I MENTIONED THAT AT OUR LAST MEETING.

THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED IN DECEMBER, AFTER THE RECOMMENDED CIP WAS PUT TOGETHER.

THE $5.7 MILLION PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE PROPERTIES DIRECTLY BENEFITING FROM THE SBD IMPROVEMENTS, NOT TAXPAYERS AT LARGE. SO IT'S JUST THE PROPERTIES AROUND THE IMPROVEMENTS.

THE GOVERNING BODY HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE RECOMMENDED CIP ON DECEMBER 16TH.

WE RECEIVED CITIZEN COMMENTS ON THE 83RD STREET PROJECT AS WELL AS THE MONTICELLO ROUNDABOUT PROJECT.

ADDITIONALLY, THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEWED THE CIP AT ITS MEETING LAST NIGHT.

FOUND IT TO BE INCONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

AND BEFORE I STAND FOR QUESTIONS, I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO NICK ARENA, MUNICIPAL SERVICES, TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THE PROJECTS INCLUDED IN THE PLAN.

THANK YOU, NICK. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

NICK ARENA, MUNICIPAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. SO I'D JUST LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME MORE INSIGHT AND CONTEXT INTO THE MONTICELLO ROAD AND CLARE ROAD ROUNDABOUT PROJECT.

COMPLETING THE CLARE ROAD PROJECT IN 2026 IS CRITICAL BECAUSE IT GETS US OUT AHEAD OF THE 83RD STREET PROJECT THAT STARTED, OR SCHEDULED TO START IN 2027. IF WE DELAYED THIS, THE CLARE ROAD PROJECT ANY FURTHER WILL BE SEVERAL YEARS BEHIND THAT WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE ROAD TO DETERIORATE FASTER AND CAUSE A LOT SIGNIFICANT MORE PROJECT IN THE FUTURE.

THE CURRENT PCI, OR THE PAVEMENT CONDITION INDEX OF CLARE ROAD IS 52, WHICH PUTS IT RIGHT IN THE POOR CATEGORY.

SO GETTING AHEAD OF THAT AND MAKING SURE WE GET THAT ROADWAY COMPLETED IS IMPORTANT.

THE LAST TIME PMP WORK WAS COMPLETED ON CLARE ROAD WAS IN 2020.

AND IF YOU'RE OUT THERE, YOU CAN SEE SOME PRETTY SEVERE RUTTING THAT'S OCCURRED IN ABOUT A LITTLE LESS THAN SIX YEARS.

NICK, FOR OUR NEW MEMBERS, 52 OUT OF 100? YES.

THANK YOU. YES. THE MONTICELLO ROAD ROUNDABOUT PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR 2027, BUT SINCE THE WATSONIA ROAD EXTENSION FROM PRAIRIE STAR PARKWAY TO 89TH STREET, WE FLIPPED THAT WITH THE CLARE ROAD SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY CONFLICTS WITH THAT PROJECT.

THE CURRENT PCI OF MONTICELLO ROAD IS 37, WHICH PUTS IT AT A VERY POOR CATEGORY.

[00:05:04]

OUR CREWS HAVE BEEN IN BOTH OF THESE AREAS, BOTH THESE STREETS, DOING REALLY HEAVY MAINTENANCE WORK OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

AND THE ROADS ARE JUST DETERIORATING FASTER, ESPECIALLY IN THE SINGLE LANE ROUNDABOUT SECTIONS, FASTER THAN WE CAN KEEP UP WITH MAINTENANCE. BOTH PROJECTS DO ALSO INCLUDE.

SO IT'S JUST NOT THE ROUNDABOUTS, RIGHT? THE ROADS LEADING UP TO THE ROUNDABOUTS ARE GOING TO HAVE A TWO INCH MILL AND OVERLAY.

BOTH PROJECTS HAVE A TRAIL ENHANCEMENTS. AND WITH THE MONTICELLO ROAD, WE ALSO HAVE THE PARKING LOTS AT BLACK COVE PARK WILL BE GETTING TWO INCH MILL AND OVERLAY ON THEM. AND JUST STAFF FEELS ANY DELAY IN THESE PROJECTS WOULD REALLY LEAD TO MORE SIGNIFICANTLY COST IN THE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD. YEAH. WANT TO DO EVERYTHING IN THE RIGHT SEQUENCE. YES. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? OKAY. THANK YOU, NICK. ANY QUESTIONS FOR NATE, OR OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. BILL. YEAH, THANK YOU. WERE YOU DONE, NATE? YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. BECCY, HOW'S OLATHE DOING ON CONNECTING TO THE INTERCHANGE? I DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE FOR YOU.

NOT TURN A SPADE OF DIRT OR ALLOCATE MONEY TO OLATHE CONNECT SO THAT OUR LENEXA SCHOOL CHILDREN CAN GET GET ACROSS THE INTERCHANGE. SO I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT VERSE THIS IS, BUT IT'S THE SAME SONG.

SO THEM CONNECTING IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND, YOU KNOW SUSAN SHERMAN, DON'T YOU? I DO. BECCY? I MEAN, SHE'S BEEN AROUND 30 YEARS.

YOU MIGHT GIVE HER A CALL. THANK YOU. AND DO I REMEMBER RIGHT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COW MEETING TO TALK ABOUT 83RD STREET? CORRECT. WE HAVE THAT SCHEDULED FOR THE SECOND COW DATE OF JANUARY, SO I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT'S THE 26TH, 27TH. THE FOURTH TUESDAY OF THIS MONTH, WE WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT 83RD.

WE'LL SORT OF REVIEW THE OPTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH AND SOME OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT MR. GREEN MENTIONED WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE OVERVIEW. THAT IS OBVIOUSLY AFTER WE'RE ASKING YOU TO ADOPT THIS.

IF THE COUNCIL WERE TO ELECT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE PROJECT THAT INCLUDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING, WE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK AND AMEND THE CIP TO ADDRESS THOSE.

I WILL TELL YOU, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS GOING TO BE TO CONTINUE WITH THE DESIGN THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARD AND WHICH IS FULLY FUNDED IN THIS CIP.

AND AND THANK YOU, NATE, FOR THAT UPDATE ON THE ROUNDABOUTS, THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND ON THE SCHEDULING.

NICK, I MIGHT HAVE CALLED YOU NATE. PARDON ME.

NO OFFENSE TAKEN, I HOPE. YEAH. BUT MY BIG PROBLEM IS WITH THE INTERCHANGE.

WE´LL KEEP PUSHING. PARDON ME? WE'LL KEEP PUSHING.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THAT'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 26 THROUGH 30 CIP. MOTION BY JOHN MICHAEL, SECOND BY CHRIS.

BILL, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? I JUST WANT TO SAY I PLAN TO VOTE NO, BUT IT'S JUST BECAUSE OF THE INTERCHANGE.

EVERYTHING ELSE, AND NATE HAD ME WITH TRAILS AND PARKING LOTS IN THE PARK WITH HIS EARLIER TALK.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE ASSIGNED MONEY TO THIS.

OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? AYE. MOTION PASSES. ANY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS THIS EVENING?

[COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS]

HELLO, CHIEF SCHMITZ. YEAH, LET'S. [APPLAUSE].

AND WE ALSO HAVE AN INTERIM HR DIRECTOR, KRISTIN CROW.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS EVENING. [APPLAUSE]. I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL, I WENT TO A DELIGHTFUL VOLUNTEER EVENT LAST NIGHT AT LOW TECH.

IT WAS A NEW VOLUNTEER EVENT CALLED HELPING HANDS THAT JUST STARTED BACK IN NOVEMBER.

THERE WILL BE A NEW SERVICE PROJECT EACH MONTH.

IT'S THE FIRST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT LOW TECH.

[00:10:04]

SOME OTHER FOLKS WERE WRAPPING TEA TO GIVE AWAY TO HOSPITALS.

THERE WERE SOME FIRST RESPONDER WATER BOTTLES THAT THEY WERE DECORATING.

SO A DIFFERENT ACTIVITY EVERY MONTH. I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO CHECK THAT OUT AND LEND A HELPING HAND.

THE FIRST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH 4:00 AT LOW TECH.

BECCY, ANY A STAFF REPORTS TONIGHT? YES. LOGAN HAS ONE BRIEF REPORT FOR YOU.

[STAFF REPORTS]

LOGAN WAGLER, PARKS AND RECREATION. I WANTED TO LET THE GOVERNING BODY KNOW THAT ON MONDAY, YOU'LL RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM SUZANNE NEELY REGARDING THE AD ASTRA SCULPTURE EFFORT THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR QUITE A WHILE.

IF YOU REMEMBER, KIND OF REWIND THE TAPE FOR A SECOND, KIND OF WENT THROUGH STEP ONE, WE IDENTIFIED WE'RE GOING TO DO A CALL FOR ARTISTS.

THE GOVERNING BODY WILL BE A PART OF REVIEWING THOSE PROPOSALS.

THE ARTS COUNCIL HAS ALREADY LOOKED AT THEM. WE'VE NARROWED IT DOWN. WE'VE GOT SEVEN DIFFERENT PROPOSALS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN FRONT OF YOU. SO YOU GUYS WILL GET AN EMAIL WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO VOTE. YOU'LL HAVE TILL FRIDAY TO GET THOSE TURNED BACK INTO SUZANNE.

SO JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP THAT THAT WILL BE COMING ON YOUR WAY. SO IT´LL BE BE THE GOVERNING BODY, THE ARTS COUNCIL, AND A FEW MEMBERS OF THE STAFF THAT WILL BE SCORING THOSE PROPOSALS. AFTER THAT, THE ARTS COUNCIL WILL UNPACK ALL THOSE SCORES, WILL MAKE A DETERMINATION AND BRING A RECOMMENDATION FORWARD FOR FORMAL APPROVAL BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. THE WAY YOU STARTED, I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO TELL US SOMETHING TERRIBLE. NO, SORRY. I JUST DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO BE UP HERE THAT. THIS MEETING WENT QUICK.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SUZANNE'S QUITTING, WHAT'S HAPPENING? OKAY THIS DOES END THE RECORDED PORTION OF THE EVENING.

SORRY. DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? OKAY THIS DOES END THE RECORDED PORTION OF THE MEETING.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.