[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:11]
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.
JENNIFER, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL? THANK YOU.
MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER HANDLEY. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER EITERICH IS ABSENT.
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. ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA THIS EVENING?
[MODIFICATION OF AGENDA]
YES. STAFF REQUESTS THAT ITEM 2 BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR PRESENTATION.THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE 2 PROCLAMATIONS THIS EVENING.
[PROCLAMATIONS]
I'M GOING TO HOLD ON MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AWARENESS MONTH BECAUSE COURTNEY USUALLY READS THAT AND ACCEPTS IT, BUT IT WAS IN THE PACKET. YOU CAN READ THAT AT YOUR LEISURE AND I'LL JUST READ THE OTHER ONE.WHEREAS AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE MADE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GROWTH AND STRENGTH OF OUR NATION IN COUNTLESS RECORDED AND UNRECORDED WAYS, AND WHEREAS AMERICAN WOMEN PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE NATION AS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE LABOR FORCE, AND WHEREAS AMERICAN WOMEN SERVED AS EARLY LEADERS IN THE FOREFRONT OF EVERY MAJOR PROGRESSIVE SOCIAL CHANGE MOVEMENT AND HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY COURAGEOUSLY IN THE MILITARY. AND WHEREAS AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE BEEN LEADERS NOT ONLY IN SECURING THEIR OWN RIGHTS OF SUFFRAGE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, BUT ALSO IN THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT, THE EMANCIPATION MOVEMENT, THE INDUSTRIAL LABOR MOVEMENT, AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, ESPECIALLY THE PEACE MOVEMENT, WHICH CREATE A MORE FAIR AND JUSTICE FOR SOCIETY FOR ALL.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JULIE SAYERS MAYOR OF LENEXA, KANSAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 2026, IN THE CITY OF LENEXA TO BE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND WOULD CELEBRATE ALL THE LADIES IN THE ROOM.
UP NEXT WE HAVE 2 PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING.
[PRESENTATIONS]
FIRST, WE WILL HEAR FROM THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU FOR THEIR MID-YEAR REPORT.IT'S BEEN ANOTHER GOOD YEAR FOR LENEXA HOTELS.
YOU CAN SEE WITH THE NUMBERS I INCLUDED IN THE CHART FOR GAS TAX.
THAT GAS TAX COLLECTION WAS PRETTY CLOSE TO 2024 NUMBERS.
AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE BUMP WE EXPECT TO SEE IN JUNE AND JULY.
OUR 13 HOTELS RANGE FROM ECONOMY TO UPSCALE, AND THEY CATER TO DIFFERENT VISITOR DEMOGRAPHICS, SO THEY AREN'T CONSIDERED COMPETITORS WITH EACH OTHER WITHIN LENEXA.
OF COURSE, SOON WILL BE HOME TO 15 PROPERTIES WITH THE OPENING OF THE AC MARRIOTT AND THE RESIDENCE INN ACROSS THE STREET, WHICH WILL BRING OUR GUEST ROOM TOTAL TO ALMOST 1800.
I DID SOME CHECKING ONLINE FOR ROOM RATES AROUND CASEY'S WORLD CUP MATCH DATES, AND FOUND SOME INSTANCES WHERE HOTEL ROOMS THAT ARE NORMALLY PRICED AT ABOUT $50 ARE LISTED FOR $150, AND THOSE NORMALLY IN THE $150 RANGE LISTED FOR OVER $500.
I ALSO DID A LITTLE BROWSING ON VRBO AND AIRBNB AND FOUND A TOWNHOME THAT LOOKS TO BE IN 4 COLONIES LISTED AT OVER $2,000 A NIGHT, WHICH IS NORMALLY 2 TO $300. A HOME IN OLD TOWN LISTED AT ABOUT $1200 A NIGHT, WHICH NORMALLY GOES FOR $300, AND A HOME NEAR SOCORRO, PA, LISTED FROM MAY THROUGH JUNE AT $6,500 A NIGHT.
SO PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
THE CVB ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH IS MADE UP OF LENEXA HOTELS AND SEVERAL CITY AND CHAMBER REPRESENTATIVES, INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBER NICKS, MET LAST2 WEEK FOR OUR FIRST MEETING OF 2026.
MOST OF THE DISCUSSION CENTERED ON WORLD CUP AND WE WELCOME MAJOR BRETT RUSHTON FROM LENEXA PD, WHO PROVIDED SOME INSIGHT ON THE DEPARTMENT'S SAFETY AND SECURITY PREPARATIONS FOR THE WORLD CUP.
[00:05:07]
IT IS VERY INTERESTING TO HEAR WHAT THE POLICE ARE FOCUSING ON IN THESE PLANNING STAGES, AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON, WHICH IS EVENTS AND WATCH PARTIES AND AND HOTEL RESERVATIONS.TODAY ACTUALLY MARKS 100 DAYS UNTIL THE FIRST MATCH, WHICH IS ON JUNE 11TH IN MEXICO.
AND WE'LL GIVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION AT THEIR MARCH MEETING ON LENEXA PLANS.
I ALSO ATTEND PITCH LENEXA MARKETING COMMITTEE MEETINGS WHILE WE AWAIT MORE INFORMATION.
THEY HAVE ASKED OUR FOCUS TO BE ON ENSURING HOTEL LISTINGS ARE UPDATED ON THE KANSAS STATE TOURISM WEBSITE AND GENERALLY KEEPING HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY ENGAGED AND INFORMED. ON TO OTHER NEWS. MY REPORT ALSO INCLUDED NUMBERS PROVIDED BY THREE AND TWO BASEBALL CLUB OF JOHNSON COUNTY, WHICH SHOWS THAT THEIR TEAM AND PLAYER NUMBERS ARE THE HIGHEST THEY HAVE BEEN IN AT LEAST FIVE YEARS, WITH ALREADY CLOSE TO 1200 TEAMS SIGNED UP FOR TOURNAMENTS, AND POSSIBLY MORE THAN THAT SINCE THEY SENT THAT DATA IN JANUARY.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE I CONTINUE TO USE WITH PEOPLE TO EXPLAIN HOW TOURISM AND TRAVEL ARE CONNECTED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND WHY VISITORS ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR ECONOMY.
JESSICA'S IS A CHOOSE AND CUT YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS TREE FARM AND WALNUT POND AGRICULTURAL DISCOVERY CENTER IS SELF-DESCRIBED AS A WORKING HOMESTEAD ON STEROIDS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF LENEXA.
THEY ARE ON 80 ACRES, AND THEY ARE DEDICATED TO EDUCATION, PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION, AND SUSTAINABILITY WHILE RAISING VEGETABLE CROPS, HAY, AND SEVERAL TYPES OF ANIMALS. IN STATE LEGISLATIVE NEWS, THERE ARE 2 TOURISM BILLS THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING, BOTH OF WHICH ARE NOW WITH THE SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE.
HOUSE BILL 2346, WHICH I'VE REPORTED ON PREVIOUSLY, ESTABLISHES THE KANSAS SPORTS TOURISM GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD BE ADMINISTERED ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE AND WOULD PROVIDE GRANTS TO ASSIST COMMUNITIES IN DEVELOPING AND BIDDING ON SPORTING EVENTS.
THE BILL WAS AMENDED AFTER CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STATE TOURISM DEPARTMENT AND THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF KANSAS, WHICH WERE NOT INVOLVED WITH WRITING THE ORIGINAL BILL.
SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS INCLUDE MAKING SURE THAT NEW BUSINESS IS A PRIORITY, AND ALSO THE REQUEST OF A RESERVE FUND SO THAT RURAL COUNTIES ARE NOT SHUT OUT BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS. APPROXIMATELY 20 OTHER STATES, INCLUDING ARKANSAS, ILLINOIS, IOWA AND MISSOURI HAVE SIMILAR TOOLS, SO THIS WOULD HELP KANSAS COMPETE AGAINST OTHER STATES FOR THIS SPORTS BUSINESS.
AND HOUSE BILL 2481 WOULD, AT THE VERY BASIC LEVEL, REMOVE THE 2 BEDROOM REQUIREMENT, WHICH IS WHAT A SHORT TERM RENTAL MUST HAVE TO QUALIFY AS A HOTEL OR MOTEL AND ALLOW GAS TAX TO BE COLLECTED ON RENTALS WITH ONE OR MORE BEDROOMS. THIS WOULD BE IN PLACE FROM MID-MAY THROUGH MOST OF JULY OR WORLD CUP SEASON, AND I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED, THOUGH, IF PROPONENTS OF THIS BILL TRY TO MAKE THIS A PERMANENT COLLECTION TAX.
TO WRAP UP, I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE CVB.
NOT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE AS FORTUNATE IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR GOVERNING BODIES.
THAT MAKES LENEXA AN ATTRACTIVE CHOICE FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE ONCE IN A LIFETIME REPORT THAT I WILL BRING YOU.
BE BRINGING YOU IN THE FALL. AND WITH THAT, I'LL TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
ANYTHING FOR JULIE. CHRIS. HI, JULIE. THANK YOU.
DO YOU HAVE TO THE 3 AND 2 BASEBALL DAY THAT YOU PRESENTED? DO WE HAVE INCREMENTAL NUMBER OF HOTEL NIGHTS THAT THAT MIGHT RESULT IN AND WHAT WE SALES TAX.
WE DO NOT THE HOUSING COMPANY THAT THEY WORK WITH THAT'S IN CHARGE OF THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE THEM TO STAY IN LENEXA. SO THAT IS THAT KIND OF USED TO BE THE CASE, LIKE 20 YEARS AGO, THEY WOULD YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE LENEXA HOTELS. AND THEY'VE REALLY GOTTEN AWAY FROM THAT WITH HAVING A HOUSING COMPANY THAT DOES THIS REGULARLY MAKE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF PLAY. STATE OF PLAY KIND OF THING.
SO NO, I DON'T HAVE THAT. I COULD TRY AND LOOK AT THAT FOR YOU.
I'M JUST NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. YEAH. I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU HAD IT IN YOUR BACK POCKET.
IT'D BE NICE TO KNOW. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? JOHN. MICHAEL, I FEEL LIKE LAST YEAR WE HAD HEARD ABOUT ONE OF THE TOURNAMENTS THAT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT FINDING ENOUGH ROOMS TO
[00:10:04]
STAY IN DURING WORLD CUP. WAS THAT EVER RESOLVED? THAT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION. THAT WAS WITH THAT WASN'T THREE AND TWO.THAT WAS, I BELIEVE TOP GUN WAS WORKING WITH HOTELS AROUND THIS AREA, KIND OF OFF FOR 35 TO GET HOTELS TO BOOK ROOMS FOR THEM DURING THIS TIME. THAT KIND OF WENT ON FOR A WHILE.
I THINK. WE HAVE 2 HOTELS IN LENEXA THAT DID HOLD A ROOM, BUT IT'S JUST REALLY HARD TO ASK HOTELS TO DO THAT WHEN THERE'S THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE KIND OF BUSINESS THEY'LL GET FOR WORLD CUP. YEAH. BUT THAT THAT ORGANIZATION WAS PART OF THE REASON FOR THIS SPORTS TOURISM GRANT BILL.
THEY WORKED ON THE ORIGINAL THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THAT.
OKAY. AWESOME. THANK YOU. YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND THEN NEXT, THE LENEXA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.
ASHLEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND GOVERNING BODY.
AND TONIGHT FOCUSED ON OUR 2025 ACTIVITY WITH A LOOK AHEAD TO WHERE WE ARE IN 2026.
AS USUAL, I THINK TO BEGIN, IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO BRIEFLY TOUCH ON THE IMPORTANT CONTEXT THAT SURROUNDED DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH IN THROUGH 2025, WHICH REALLY HAS SET THE LANDSCAPE AS WE'VE HEADED INTO 2026, JUST TO MENTION A FEW OF THE KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS.
WE SAW INFLATION COOL IN 2025 TO 2.7% BY THE END OF THE YEAR, ALTHOUGH THAT'S STILL HIGHER, OBVIOUSLY, THAN THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S 2% TARGET, AND NECESSITIES LIKE FOOD AND HOUSING REMAIN PERSISTENTLY HIGH.
BUT WE ALSO SAW THE FEDERAL RESERVE CUT INTEREST RATES MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE LAST HALF OF 2025, TOTALING A 3 QUARTERS OF A PERCENT DROP. IMPROVING CAPITAL AVAILABILITY AND SUPPORTING RENEWED ACTIVITY IN CAPITAL INTENSIVE INDUSTRIES AND REAL ESTATE.
THOSE ARE SECTORS THAT RELY HEAVILY ON BORROWING TO FINANCE EXPENSIVE, LONG TERM ASSETS.
AND I BELIEVE THE IMPORTANCE AND IMPACT OF THE ACTION BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS REALLY HIGHLIGHTED IN A RECENT HEARTLAND REAL ESTATE BUSINESS SURVEY OF DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE MIDWEST, WHERE 62% OF THE RESPONDENTS TO THAT SURVEY CITED INTEREST RATES AS A FACTOR THEY BELIEVE WILL MOST IMPACT DEVELOPMENT IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY IN 2026. THE ECONOMY ALSO GREW 2.2% IN 2% IN 2025 A SOLID.
AND REALLY GROWTH FIGURES WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER THAN THAT.
AND THEY ESTIMATE THAT THAT DRAG THAT Q4 NUMBER DOWN BY AT LEAST 1%.
OTHERWISE, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER THAN 2.2%.
CONSUMER SPENDING, WHICH IS ANOTHER KEY GROWTH FACTOR, HAS REMAINED REMARKABLY RESILIENT, ALTHOUGH NOT NECESSARILY UNIFORMLY ACROSS ALL INCOME LEVELS OR RETAIL SECTORS.
WE HEAR IT REFERRED TO AS THE K-SHAPED ECONOMY, WHERE LOWER INCOMES MAY BE MORE CAREFUL OR LIMITED IN THEIR DISCRETIONARY EXPENDITURES, AND HIGHER INCOMES ARE DRIVING SPENDING THAT CAN BE MOSTLY GOOD FOR LUXURY AND DISCOUNT RETAILERS, BUT HARDER FOR TRADITIONAL MID-LEVEL RETAILERS LIKE DEPARTMENT STORES.
WE ALSO SAW FUEL COSTS DECLINED FOR A 3RD CONSECUTIVE YEAR.
SO IN SHORT, I THINK WE SAW 2025. THE US ECONOMY MORE FORGIVING AND RESILIENT THAN PROJECTED.
I THOUGHT IT WAS APTLY DESCRIBED IN ONE ANALYSIS AS BENDING WITHOUT BREAKING.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT 2025 DIDN'T ALSO PRESENT CHALLENGES FOR BUSINESSES AND INVESTORS TO NAVIGATE SOME NEW AND SOME PERSISTENT IN THE NEW CATEGORY IN 2025, THERE WERE NEWLY IMPOSED AND REGULARLY CHANGING AGGRESSIVE TARIFF AND TRADE POLICIES THAT CREATED MARKET VOLATILITY, WIDESPREAD BUSINESS IMPACTS, AND SIGNIFICANT UNCERTAINTY.
WE ALSO SAW THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION INPUTS AND CONSTRUCTION LABOR CONTINUE TO INCREASE.
ACCORDING TO THE JOHNSON COUNTY ECONOMIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE TOTAL VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS LET IN JOHNSON COUNTY IN 2025 WILL BE THE LOWEST OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, SO DEFINITELY SEEING A REDUCTION IN NEW CONSTRUCTION.
THE LABOR MARKET ALSO CONTINUES TO RECALIBRATE.
AS EMPLOYERS HOLD OFF ON EXPANSION DURING THIS UNCERTAIN TIME.
HIRING HAS SLOWED AS EMPLOYERS HANG ON TO THEIR EXISTING WORKERS.
[00:15:01]
LOW, HIGH OR LOW FIRE LABOR ENVIRONMENT, CREATING A STAGNANCY IN EMPLOYMENT MOBILITY THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATES TICKING UPWARD. ALTHOUGH OUR LOCAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS FOLLOWED THE NATIONAL TREND AND TICKED SLIGHTLY UPWARDS AT 3.2% UNEMPLOYMENT, JOHNSON COUNTY'S LABOR MARKET STILL REMAINS TIGHTER THAN THE NATIONAL YEAR END AVERAGE, WHICH WAS 4.1% AT THE END OF THE YEAR.I I THINK THAT'S TICKED UP TO 4.3% SINCE THEN.
SO THAT KEEPS LABOR AVAILABILITY A PERSISTENT ISSUE TOGETHER.
AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THESE FACTORS AND OTHERS INFLUENCED MANY INVESTORS, DEVELOPERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO HIT PAUSE ON THEIR GROWTH PLANS IN 2025, WAITING FOR CONDITIONS TO CLARIFY AND IMPROVE.
AND I THINK WE ALL SAW THAT IN OUR ATTRACTION PIPELINE.
THE KANSAS CITY REGION LARGELY MIRRORED THESE NATIONAL TRENDS, AND WE DID FEEL IT IN OUR PIPELINE.
DESPITE THE TARIFFS AND COST INCREASES, THE RETAIL MARKET REMAINS STRONG AMID HIGH CONSUMER DEMAND AND SPENDING, ESPECIALLY FOR THE EXPERIENTIAL AND EXCLUSIVE RETAIL, PARTICULARLY VALUED BY GEN Z AND NEIGHBORHOOD RETAIL AND QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANTS SERVING THE QUOTE UNQUOTE 15 MINUTE CITY TREND THAT VALUES ACCESSING ESSENTIALS CLOSE TO HOME.
THE OFFICE MARKET CONTINUES ITS MULTI-YEAR RECOVERY.
WHILE VACANCY RATES GENERALLY REMAIN BELOW PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, LOW LEVELS OF NEW OFFICE CONSTRUCTION HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO KEY MARKET POSITIVES LIKE IMPROVED ABSORPTION RATES AND DECLINING VACANCY AND SUBLEASE AVAILABILITY.
WE'RE ALSO SEEING THAT NEWER AND HIGH END, HIGH AMENITY PROPERTIES ALSO CONTINUE TO BE POCKETS OF STRENGTH IN THE OFFICE MARKET, WHICH IS JUST REINFORCING THE FLIGHT TO QUALITY TREND THAT WE'RE REALLY SEEING RESHAPE THE OFFICE MARKET.
BUT WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO FOCUS ON LENEXA, AND I'M GLAD TO REPORT THAT EVEN WITH 2025 HEADWINDS, LENEXA CONTINUED TO GENERATE GROWTH AND INVESTMENT IN ALL CORNERS OF THE CITY.
THE EAST SIDE SAW A MAJOR NEW RETAILER, SIERRA AND PETCO, FILL VACANCIES AT ORCHARD CORNERS AND THE OPENING OF THE REVITALIZED LENEXA OLD TOWN ACTIVITY CENTER, SPURRING NEW ENERGY AND MOMENTUM IN OLD TOWN.
TO THE WEST, NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT TOOK SHAPE, WITH ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROJECTS PLANNED TO COME BY 2025, AND LENEXA SAW NEARLY $400 MILLION IN TOTAL NEW PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT, BRINGING LENEXA TOTAL NEW PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT FROM 2020 THROUGH 2025 TO MORE THAN $2.6 BILLION, WHICH IS AMAZING FOR A SUBURBAN COMMUNITY OF OUR SIZE.
TOP COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PERMITS RELEASED IN 2025 BY INVESTMENT VALUE, SIGNIFYING NEW CONSTRUCTION AS WELL AS EXPANSION, RENOVATION AND TENANT FINISHES. AND AGAIN, YOU'LL KNOW THESE, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETIMES GOOD TO STEP AWAY FROM THE INSIDE THE FOREST TO LOOK AT THE OVERALL FOREST. AND WHAT AN AMAZING YEAR IT'S BEEN.
LENEXA LOGISTICS CENTER. SOUTH BUILDING SIX. LENEXA LOGISTICS CENTER EAST BUILDING ONE.
THE EUROFINS VIRACOR BIOPHARMA LABS, NEARLY $22 MILLION TENANT FINISH.
5 4 RESTAURANT AND DRAFTHOUSE KICKING OFF THE VILLAGE AT ADVENT HEALTH AS WELL AS CANYON CREEK APARTMENTS, ACCORDING TO THE JOHNSON COUNTY ECONOMIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR NEW STRUCTURES AND ADDITIONS, OVER $250,000 IN 2025. DEVELOPMENT IN LENEXA ACCOUNTED FOR ROUGHLY 13% OF THE PERMITS ISSUED COUNTYWIDE, BUT NEARLY 20% OF THE COUNTY'S TOTAL CONSTRUCTION BY SQUARE FOOTAGE NEARLY 648,000FT².
THAT'S THE HIGHEST AMONG ALL COMMUNITIES IN JOHNSON COUNTY.
THE LONG SHARED VISION FOR RESTAURANT ROW'S PHASE 1 WAS COMPLETED, WITH THE FINAL TWO RESTAURANTS, TUPELO HONEY AND MEDITERRANEAN MEDITERRANEAN, JOINING ENJOY PURE FOOD AND DRINK AND CACTUS GRILL, CONTINUING TO ADD TO THE AMENITIES AVAILABLE TO LENEXA RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND VISITORS.
THE MUCH ANTICIPATED NEW LOCATION FOR CASEY BEER AND LENEXA VISTA VILLAGE BROKE GROUND.
PREPARING TO OPEN THIS YEAR IS A NEW COMMUNITY GATHERING SPOT.
2025 ALSO SAW REDEVELOPMENT OF THE VACANT RENNER 95 OFFICE BUILDING, PURCHASED BY NATIONAL RETAIL JUGGERNAUT RALLY HOUSE AS ITS NEW COMPANY HEADQUARTERS, DEEPENING THEIR LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO LENEXA.
A FEW OTHER NOTABLE COMMERCIAL PERMITS RELEASED IN 2025 INCLUDED SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONS AND REMODELING AT QUEST DIAGNOSTICS DATA BANK KIDS AND CHILDCARE, AS WELL AS SUBSTANTIAL TENANT FINISHES AT REGAL DISTRIBUTING, AUTO PARTS DISTRIBUTOR MOTION INDUSTRIES, GRAPEVINE DESIGNS, PETCO, HERSHEY'S, DOT'S PRETZELS ONLINE RETAILER, AND MOUNTAIN BLUE AND MC FLOORING.
[00:20:02]
REGARDING OUR EVERYDAY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY, 2025 WAS ANOTHER BUSY YEAR FOCUSED ON PROVIDING FRONTLINE SUPPORT TO OUR DEVELOPMENT STAKEHOLDERS, WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS TO AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE PROJECTS, FACILITATING SITE VISITS, MARKETING OUR COMMUNITY, SPEAKING ON PANELS AND CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS AT INDUSTRY EVENTS.365 DAYS WITHOUT INJURIES. WITH AN ECONOMIC ATMOSPHERE AND LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY THAT CAUSED MANY A TRAGIC ATTRACTION, PROJECTS TO PAUSE AND THOSE MOVING FORWARD REALLY TILTING TO HYPERSCALE VENTURES THAT ARE A LITTLE OUTSIDE OF OUR WHEELHOUSE.
LENEXA PIPELINE DEAL FLOW PIPELINE HAS CONTINUED TO BE ANCHORED BY ORGANIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMPANIES THAT ARE ALREADY IN LENEXA OR IN THE REGION WHO ARE READY TO GROW IN PLACE OR EXPAND TO NEW LOCATION AND ARE LOOKING TO OUR CITY TO FIND THEIR NEXT OPPORTUNITY.
I REGULARLY RESPOND TO INQUIRIES THAT AFFIRM COMPANIES SEE THE VALUE IN DOING BUSINESS HERE, AND WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO HELP. OUR VARIETY OF REAL ESTATE OPTIONS ARE EXCEPTIONAL TRANSPORTATION, ACCESSIBILITY, WELL-TRAINED WORKFORCE, COMPETITIVE ECONOMICS, COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, AND HIGH QUALITY AMENITIES CONSISTENTLY PUT US IN THE HUNT.
WHEN I WAS ASKED ON A PANEL IN DECEMBER WHAT I FELT GOOD ABOUT REGARDING DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST YEAR OR TWO, I IMMEDIATELY NOTED THE BREADTH OF SECTORS REPRESENTED RATHER THAN 1 SINGLE DOMINANT NARRATIVE.
LENEXA HAS ATTRACTED MAJOR PROJECTS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, HEALTH CARE, THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR, LIFE SCIENCES, HOSPITALITY, RETAIL, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND HEADQUARTERS.
LENEXA STRIVES TO BE A WELL-ROUNDED COMMUNITY WITH A HEALTHY, STABLE AND DIVERSE LOCAL ECONOMY.
THAT INTENTIONALITY IS PAYING OFF AND LENEXA IS WELL SITUATED TO COMPETE INTO THE FUTURE.
SO I'M OPTIMISTIC AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO THE NEW YEAR.
LENEXA HAS PROJECTS IN THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE.
WE HAVE ACTIVE PROJECTS WE'RE PURSUING. WE'VE SEEN AN UPTICK IN OPPORTUNITIES SINCE THE START OF THE YEAR, AND WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE. THERE ARE IMPORTANT TRENDS THAT WE ARE WATCHING IN 2026 THAT COULD IMPACT OUR GROWTH ENVIRONMENT AND THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKETS.
I'LL HIGHLIGHT JUST A FEW TO CLOSE OUT. THERE IS, OF COURSE, LINGERING UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE ECONOMY, LABOR AND FEDERAL ACTION THAT COULD HAVE MAJOR ECONOMIC IMPACTS FOR BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING POLICIES RELATED TO TARIFFS AND TRADE, IMMIGRATION, ENERGY TAXES, AND FEDERAL PROGRAM FUNDING.
THE FULL IMPACTS OF THE RECENT U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION ON TARIFFS AND THE ELEVATED CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST REMAIN TO BE DETERMINED BEYOND THE SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS ALREADY BEING FELT. RECENT KANSAS CITY FEDERAL RESERVE SURVEYS ACROSS THE MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE INDUSTRIES REVEALED THAT AS THEY HEAD INTO 2026, BUSINESSES ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER DEMAND FOR THEIR GOODS AND SERVICES WILL ULTIMATELY BE THERE, WITH GEOPOLITICAL UNCERTAINTY AND WORKER AVAILABILITY, ESPECIALLY SKILLED TECHNICAL WORKERS ALSO RANKING HIGH AMONG THEIR CONCERNS.
ANOTHER TREND THAT I'M EXCITED TO SEE IS KANSAS CITY'S GROWING GLOBAL RECOGNITION.
OUR REGION IS EXPERIENCING GROWING INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS INTEREST AND ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING IN LENEXA, WHERE I REGULARLY WORK WITH THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE'S INTERNATIONAL DIVISION.
THANKS TO HIGH PROFILE PEOPLE AND EVENTS THAT HAVE PUT KANSAS CITY ON THE GLOBAL STAGE, AND THE NEW STRATEGIC INTERNATIONAL MARKETING INITIATIVES BY OUR PARTNERS, NOTABLY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND KC, EDC, THAT HAVE LEVERAGED THIS MOMENT, NO DOUBT BEING A WORLD CUP HOST CITY THIS SUMMER, HAS THE POTENTIAL TO REINFORCE AND ACCELERATE THE REGION'S FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT ACTIVITY.
AND I THINK WE'RE WELL SITUATED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT MOMENTUM.
AND THE LAST ONE I WOULD JUST MENTION IS THE IMPACT OF AI.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE TECHNOLOGY IS EXPENSIVE. SO IF YOU'RE ALLOCATING TO AI.
WHAT ELSE AREN'T YOU INVESTING IN AND WHAT DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS COULD THAT HAVE? AND HOW SOON CAN THE PRODUCTIVITY GAINS OFFSET THOSE HIGH COSTS? WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE LABOR MARKET? WHAT ABOUT THE DEMAND ON INFRASTRUCTURE? HOW ARE INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES ADAPTING THEIR PROCESSES AND WORKFORCE STRATEGIES TO CAPTURE THE BENEFITS AND MANAGE THE RISKS OF WHAT IS LIKELY A STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION IN OUR ECONOMY? HOW AND WHERE THEY'RE INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
HOW THEY'RE FINDING AI AND TECH TALENT AND RESKILLING THEIR EXISTING EMPLOYEES.
WE'RE STILL AI ADOPTION IS STILL SPREADING. WE'RE STILL IN THE EARLY STAGES.
AND THOSE ANSWERS I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO EXPLORING IN THE YEAR TO COME.
SO JUST TO WRAP UP, IN SUMMARY IN A VERY COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT, LENEXA CONTINUES TO STACK UP.
[00:25:04]
WELL, WE'RE REGULARLY WELCOMING NEW INVESTMENT AND JOBS TO OUR COMMUNITY.AS JULIE SAID, IT'S REALLY A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS THE FRONTLINE ADVOCATE, SERVING OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY WHILE WORKING ALONGSIDE YOUR TOP NOTCH CITY STAFF TO ATTRACT NEW INVESTMENT, JOBS AND AMENITIES FOR LENEXA CITIZENS.
AND WITH THAT, THANK YOU ALL AND I'M HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY NUMBER OF EVENTS. YOU WERE DOWN TWO PEOPLE AT ONE POINT.
NEW STAFF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN GREAT ONBOARDED. WE FELT NO TURBULENCE ON OUR END.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WAS THE GOAL. YES, THAT WAS THE GOAL.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. UP NEXT IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
THERE ARE TEN ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA.CITY MANAGER. MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC. IN THE EVENT THE ITEM IS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, IT WILL BE PLACED ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. AS NOTED AT THE TOP OF THE MEETING, WE WILL BE REMOVING ITEM 2.
ANYONE ELSE WISH TO REMOVE AN ITEM FOR DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 1 AND 3 THROUGH 10 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
MOTION BY CRAIG. SECOND BY AVERY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.
[2. Bid award to J. Warren Co. for the 2025 Community Development Block Grant Street Lighting Project]
ITEM NUMBER 2 IS A BID AWARD TO J. WARREN CO FOR THE 25 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT STREET LIGHT PROJECT PROJECT.SO TIM IS GOING TO COVER THAT NOW. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. AS TIM GREEN, CITY ENGINEER, AS I MENTIONED, WE RECEIVED AN INQUIRY TODAY AND THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH THE COUNCIL.
AND I'M NOT SURE I HAVE IN THE YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD SAY NOT ONLY IS IT BEST PRACTICE TO DO A DETAILED EVALUATION OF ALL THE BIDS, IT'S ALSO A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT. SO WHEN WE HAVE CDBG FUNDS, FEDERAL OR STATE FUNDS THERE IS A REQUIREMENT AND WE HAVE TO DOCUMENT ALL THE STEPS WE GO THROUGH. SO WE DO IT ON EVERY PROJECT, BUT SPECIFICALLY ON THOSE FEDERAL JOBS.
AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BOTH OF THOSE.
SO A FAIR OUTCOME STARTS WAY BEFORE THE BIDS ARE OPEN.
FIRST STEP WE'VE GOT TO GET CLEAR, CONCISE PLANS.
IF THE CONTRACTOR KNOWS WHAT HE'S GOING TO GET INTO, HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU A BETTER BID.
I FEEL LIKE WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB. WE'VE GOT EXPERIENCED STAFF THAT KNOW OUR STANDARDS AND DO A GOOD JOB OF REVIEWING PLANS FROM CONSULTANTS, AND I THINK WE GET THAT CONSULTANT CONSISTENT, GOOD SET OF PLANS THAT WE CAN GET OUT.
WE ALSO HAVE THE THE PUBLIC ADVERTISEMENT. AND THE ADEQUATE COMPETITION ON ALL OF OUR PROJECTS.
OVER 75,000. WHICH MAJORITY ARE WE REQUIRE? BIDS.
SEALED BIDS BE SUBMITTED ON A CERTAIN DATE. WE ADVERTISE ALL OF OUR PROJECTS OUT ON A WEBSITE, OUR WEBSITE, AND THEN IT'S ANOTHER WEBSITE CALLED DREXEL.
WE ALSO ADVERTISE IN THE LEGAL RECORD ON FEDERAL JOBS.
THERE'S REQUIREMENTS FOR MINORITY ADVERTISING AND SOME OF THE DIFFERENT PAPERS THAT WE DO.
SO I THINK WE GET A REALLY GOOD LIST AND GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT BID.
NOT ONLY DO WE GET THE LOCALS, BUT WE WE ALSO GET OUT-OF-TOWNERS THAT BID QUITE A BIT.
SO I THINK WE'RE REACHING REACHING PEOPLE. WE ALSO THERE'S A COUPLE PLAN HOUSES, DODGE REPORTS AND A FEW OTHERS THAT WE WORK WITH CLOSELY THAT GET OUR PLANS AND GET THOSE DISTRIBUTED OUT. SO WE DO HARD TO OR WE TRY HARD TO GET THOSE OUT TO EVERYONE.
SO THE BID EVALUATION ITSELF, THERE'S I'M GOING TO SAY 3 AREAS.
THE 1ST IS RESPONSIVENESS OF THE CONTRACTOR. SO BEFORE WE OPEN BIDS, AS SOON AS WE OPEN THEIR DOCUMENTS AND BEFORE WE READ THE BID, WE LOOK TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'VE SUBMITTED ALL THE FORMS ON A FEDERAL PROJECT.
WE GO THROUGH THOSE THAT ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE BID BONDS.
[00:30:10]
BID. ONCE WE OPEN THE BID, WE GATHER ALL THE BIDS WE GO THROUGH, PUT THEM IN A SPREADSHEET AND LOOK AT EVERY BID AND CHECK THE MATH ON EVERY ONE OF THEM.IF THERE'S A NON RESPONSIVE BIDDER THAT IS PART OF THAT HE'S THROWN OUT RIGHT.
THEN WE DON'T CONSIDER HIM. WE DON'T GOING FORWARD.
BUT BUT NOT VERY OFTEN. WE THEN LOOK AT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONTRACTOR AND FOR THE MOST PART THAT IS, IS THE LICENSE IN GOOD STANDING. DOES HE HAVE EXPERIENCE? AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGER ONES IS, IS HE DEBARRED OR SUSPENDED? THERE'S A LIST OUT THERE THAT CDOT KEEPS OF ALL VAULTED, BARRED AND SUSPENDED CONTRACTORS THAT WE GO THROUGH WHEN THE BIDS ARE OPEN.
MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT ON THAT LIST ON FEDERAL JOBS.
WE'LL COMPARE IT TO THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE. WE'LL COMPARE BIDS TO EACH OTHER.
THERE IS A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE OF THE BIG ONES IS AN UNBALANCED BID.
WE DON'T SEE THIS. WE'RE VERY LUCKY. WE HAVE GOOD CONTRACTORS, GOOD BIDDERS.
I DON'T SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYONE HAVE A BID.
THAT'S THAT'S NOT BALANCED AND JUST NOT RIGHT.
BUT WHAT A CONTRACTOR COULD DO IS IF THEY KNOW YOU HAVE A LOW QUANTITY FOR, SAY IN THIS CASE STREET LIGHTS, WIRING. THEY LOOK THROUGH THE PLANS AND THEY SAY, HEY, I'VE GOT.
THERE'S 10,000FT OF WIRE IN THIS PROJECT, BUT THE BID FORM ONLY HAS 1000FT.
WELL, THEY MAY TRIPLE THEIR BID ON THAT LINE ITEM KNOWING, HEY, I'M GOING TO GET A CHANGE ORDER FOR THAT AMOUNT. SO THERE'S THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE LOOK AT TO GO, HEY, THERE'S A COUPLE BIDS THAT ARE REALLY OFF HERE.
WHY ARE THEY NOT STANDARD? SO WE GO THROUGH THROUGH THOSE FRONT LOADING.
SO THERE'S JUST SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE CONSISTENT AND FAIR.
WHAT I TYPICALLY LOOK FOR ON A, ON A BID IS I WANT THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE TO BE IN THE MIDDLE.
I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO BE LOW. AND BY THE PROJECT DON'T WANT TO BE HIGH EITHER.
WE WANT TO BE LOW. WE ALWAYS WANT A COUPLE. BIDDERS ARE A LOWER THAN US, COUPLE HIGHER THAN US.
AND IN THIS CASE, IT WORKED OUT REALLY WELL. AS I HAD MENTIONED, THE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PLANS, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS BID, TLS GROUP AND JJM WERE BOTH FROM OUT OF STATE.
I THINK ONE REASON YOU SEE HIGHER BIDS FROM THEM IS THEY DON'T KNOW OUR STANDARDS.
SO THERE'S THERE'S SOME OF THAT THOUGHT OF, WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO DO THIS RIGHT.
SO I BETTER PUT A LITTLE MONEY AND CUSHION IT HERE.
SO AGAIN, THE, THE LOCAL GUYS THAT KNOW OUR CONTRACTS REALLY HAVE AN ADVANTAGE OF, OF THOSE BIDS.
BUT IN THIS CASE, WE I THINK WE HAD A GREAT BID LIST.
THE NEXT THING WE'LL DO IS WE'LL LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL BIDS.
AND THIS IS A BID FORM THAT FROM THIS PROJECT.
AND IF YOU'LL SEE THE VERY FIRST LINE, IT'S FOR THE 20 FOOT STREET LIGHT POLE WITH TYPE F LUMINAIRES, YOU CAN SEE JAY WARREN BID $4,000 A POLE ON THAT.
WE LOOKED OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS, WE LOOK AT WHAT WAS THE LOW, WHAT WAS THE HIGH IN THE BALLPARK.
AND YOU CAN SEE IT WENT FROM 3700 UP TO. SORRY, I CAN'T READ IT, BUT 55 AND YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE 4000 IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THE BID ITEMS AND COMPARE THEM TO TO PAST BIDS AND JUST MAKE SURE THEY'RE ALL IN THE BALLPARK.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I THINK WE HAD 33 LIGHT POLES.
THE HIGH BID ON THIS PROJECT WAS 16. BUT IF YOU GO THROUGH PAST YEARS, YOU CAN SEE PRETTY MUCH YOUR LOW BID IS ALWAYS GOING TO CHARGE YOU ABOUT 10,000 OR 10,000, 10,500 IF YOU TAKE THAT TOTAL BID OF ALL THE WIRE, THE STREET LIGHTS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, DIVIDE IT BY THE NUMBER OF STREET LIGHT POLES.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET CONSISTENT. YOU CAN DO THAT WITH STREETS TOO.
IF I HAVE A 2 LANE ROADWAY, I CAN DIVIDE IT BY THE NUMBER OF FEET IN THE IN THE PROJECT ITSELF AND TELL YOU THE PER LINEAR FOOT COST OF A 2 LANE ROADWAY, WHICH IS AROUND 500 $600 A FOOT NOW. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THOSE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE.
[00:35:07]
WE CAN KIND OF LOOK AT A BID RIGHT OFF THE BAT AND GO, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT IN THE BALLPARK OF WHERE WE SHOULD BE.SO THAT WRAPS IT UP. I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO GIVE YOU A SUMMARY OF WHAT WE, WHAT WE LOOK AT, AND I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. AVERY.
I THINK I ALSO SAW MAYBE IT WAS ON THERE, BUT COULD YOU ALSO SPEAK TO YOUR EVALUATION OF THE RELEVANCE OF THE WORK TO THE TYPE OF CONTRACTOR THAT MIGHT BE BIDDING ON IT, AS IN, NOT JUST DO THEY HAVE THE PRICE, NOT DO THEY ONLY HAVE THE QUALIFIED PEOPLE, BUT PERHAPS THE RELEVANCE OF THE WORK.
SO WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND JUST MANAGE THE PROJECT AND DO NO WORK HIMSELF, WHICH THAT HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY. SO THAT KIND OF GOES TO YOUR POINT OF WHEN WE SEE A CONTRACTOR, WE KNOW IF IT'S A MAJORITY OF OF STREET LIGHTS AND WE GET A ROADWAY CONTRACTOR BIDDING ON IT, WE'RE GOING TO REALLY DO SOME INVESTIGATION ON THAT AND CALL HIM AND ASK QUESTIONS AND GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.
SO YEAH, WE DEFINITELY DO LOOK AT THE EXPERIENCE EXACTLY RELATED TO WHAT THEY WILL BE DOING.
THANK YOU BILL. HEY TIM, YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS PRESENTATION WAS PROMPTED BY AN EMAIL.
YES. WHAT WHAT WAS THE GIST OF THE EMAIL? WHAT WAS THE QUESTION? SURE. THE QUESTION WAS THE THE LOW THE 2 LOW BIDS SEEMED QUITE A BIT BELOW THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE.
SO WERE WE SURE THERE WEREN'T ANY ERRORS IN THOSE TWO LOW BIDS AND WHY THEY WERE SO MUCH LOWER THAN ESPECIALLY THE HIGHER BIDS, BUT EVEN THE ENGINEERS ESTIMATE. SO THAT WAS THE QUESTION.
AND THEN I HAD SENT HIM BASICALLY ALL THE INFORMATION I PROVIDED YOU, AND HE WAS WAS VERY HAPPY.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS A CONTRACTOR MAY HAVE A HIGHER BID.
TYPICALLY IT'S THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK AND THEY WILL THROW BID IN.
AND HEY, IF I GET IT, I MADE MONEY ON IT. THE OTHER IS THERE'S SOME CONTRACTORS BLACK AND MCDONALD.
SOME OF THE OTHER CONTRACTORS, JAY WARREN, JOSIAH, DON'T.
SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY WHY THE BID MAY BE LOWER.
BUT WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE. AND IF WE SEE SOMEBODY REALLY LOW.
WE WILL QUESTION. AND COUNCIL HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT LISTENING TO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, SO WE'LL DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE. THANK YOU. YEAH.
CORRECT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. WITH THAT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO AWARD THE BID TO J.
WARREN AND CO FOR THE 2025 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT STREET LIGHTING PROJECT.
SECOND. MOTION BY BILL, SECOND BY AVERY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. WE HAVE NO NEW BUSINESS THIS EVENING.
ANY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS? MARK, I HAVE ONE.
[COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS]
I GOT A CALL TODAY FROM SUSAN CARTER. JUST CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE CONTROLLED BURNS.JUST. AND SO I JUST WANTED I THINK WE'VE REACHED OUT AND TALKED TO HER.
A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS HAVE. SO SHE JUST CALLED ME TODAY, AND.
AND SHE JUST WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE'S HEARD, AND AND IF ANYBODY NEEDS TO RESPOND TO HER, IT'D BE A OF COURTESY TO, TO TO GET A HOLD OF HER AND TELL TELL HER THAT WE'VE WE'VE HEARD HER CONCERNS.
OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY. BECKY, ANY STAFF REPORTS THIS EVENING?
[STAFF REPORTS]
JUST A COUPLE OF SCHEDULING ITEMS. COUNCIL MEMBERS.WE WILL NOT HAVE A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING NEXT TUESDAY THE 10TH.
AND WE ARE ALSO CANCELING THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 17TH DUE TO THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL BEING IN WASHINGTON, DC FOR THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES CONFERENCE.
THANK YOU. THIS ENDS THE RECORDED PORTION OF THE MEETING AND NOW WE WILL TAKE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.