2026-10-06 - City Council

00:57Hall and good morning to all of you  and to our viewers online. We'll call

01:02this meeting to order. With us this  morning to provide our invocation is

01:06Pastor Philip Moore of Eden Fellowship  Ministries. Following that invocation,

01:11we will have our pledge of allegiance.  And we ask that you please stand for both.

01:26First, I would like to thank the mayor and the  city council for this opportunity opportunity.

01:32Uh let's pray. Gracious God, we thank you for  this day and for the opportunity to serve the

01:38people of Witchah. We pray for our mayor, the city  council, and all who carry the responsibility of

01:46leading this city. Give them wisdom to make  sound decisions, courage to do what is right,

01:52and compassion for the people that they  serve. Help them to listen with understanding,

01:58deliberate with integrity, and work together  for the good of our entire community.

02:04Bless the families, neighborhoods, businesses, and  individuals who call Witchah home. Give special

02:12strength and help to those who are struggling  or in need. May your wisdom guide this meeting.

02:19May your peace govern our conversations and may  the decisions made today contribute to a safer,

02:28stronger, and better Witchah.  We ask this in your name. Amen.

02:37To the flag of the United States of America  and to the republic for which it stands.

02:44One nation under God, indivisible  with liberty and justice for all.

02:53Thank you, Pastor Moore, for that invocation.  Madame Clerk, can you please call the first item?

03:00Approve the minutes of the regular meeting  September 22nd, 2026. Council members,

03:05are there any items to be edited? I see none.  With that, I will move to approve the minutes for

03:13the regular meeting September 22nd, 2026. Second.  Motion second. Discussion. See none. Madame clerk,

03:21please open the role. I I. Motion passes. 70.  Madame clerk, please call the next item. Awards

03:31and proclamations. Today's proclamations are White  Cane Awareness Day, National Arts and Humanities

03:37Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month,  and Highland Cemetery Historic Preservation

03:42Month. Will those who support the White Cane  Awareness Day please come forward at this time?

04:53Thank you to the National Federation of the Blind  of Kansas, South Central chapter and Envision

04:58to for this proclamation this morning. The  proclamation reads, "The city of Witchah, Kansas,

05:04founded in 1870. Whereas the white cane carried  by blind individuals throughout our city enables

05:11them to fully participate in and contribute to our  community symbolizes their right to achieve a full

05:17and independent life and demonstrates their  ability to work productively in competitive

05:22employment. Whereas the city of Witchah abides by  the blind pedestrian right-of-way law KSA8-1542,

05:32which requires motorists and cyclists yield  the right of way to a blind pedestrian

05:37carrying a clearly visible white cane  or who is accompanied by a guide dog,

05:43thereby ensuring streets are accessible  and that every blind individual may move

05:48freely and safely from place to place.  Whereas Kansas White Cane Law KSA39-1101

05:57also encourages the public and employers to expand  employment opportunities, strengthen acceptance of

06:03blind individuals in Witchah's competitive labor  market, and open new pathways in our rapidly

06:09changing society, recognizing and utilizing  the valuable skills, talents, and productive

06:15capacities of comp uh competent blind individuals.  Whereas the city of Witchaw through its public

06:22agencies and with the cooperative support of the  South Central chapter and Kansas affiliate of the

06:28National Federation of the Blind encourages  the community and our schools, colleges,

06:33and universities to provide full training  opportunities for blind students and to recognize

06:40the white cane as a vital tool of independence for  blind individuals. Now therefore, be it resolved

06:47that the Witchaw City Council does hereby proclaim  October 15, 2026 as White Cane Awareness Day.

07:16Good morning. Um, thank you, Mayor Woo, and  thank you, city council, uh, for issuing this

07:23proclam proclamation on our white cane safety day.  Um, as part of the text read, uh, back in 1964,

07:32President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed into law  across the land the first White Cane Safety Day

07:40uh, act. Um, for decades leading up to this,  blind people struggled in our movement to achieve

07:50equality with access to the highways and byways of  the United States. Um, we suffered under a legal

08:00construct known as presumptuary negligence. And  so one particular case in the 1950s involved a

08:08uh blind gentleman who was run over by a uh drunk  driver who had uh accidentally um crossed onto the

08:18sidewalk. So literally we were not allowed legally  to walk on the sidewalk without presuming we were

08:28negligent in being in public. Um, we worked very  hard for about a 15-year period and by the early

08:3670s had white cane laws in all the 50 states. So,  this is a continuation and we really appreciate

08:42your acknowledgement of um our existence and  our work and and love in the community. Um,

08:51I guess I should say that to carry this forward  and to honor the spirit of this proclamation,

09:00um, right now we're involved in trying  to implement pedestrian white rightofway

09:06access guidelines across the country.  Um, those have gone into the law in 2023,

09:13but are still not being implemented  with fidelity in many jurisdictions,

09:16including our own. So, we appreciate all  of your help and uh good morning. Thanks.

09:57Everyone scooch

10:04towards like two o'clock.

10:09The camera would you just something so  everyone knows where you are and they

10:12can hear you and that way they know where to look.

10:18One, two, three.

10:22Perfect.

10:38Tom, can I have more?

10:48Thank you, Tom. Uh, there are multiple  proclamations in braille as well. So, uh,

10:53the organizations that support them can  have a copy of that proclamation. I had

10:58the opportunity to be with them on Saturday  morning for the White Cane Awareness Walk,

11:03and it was beautiful to see family members and  community members come together for that. With

11:10that, I would like to invite the supporters  of the National Arts and Humanities Month,

11:17the City of Witchaw Division  of Arts and Cultural Services.

11:38And while we transition, I want  to say thank you to the Division

11:41of Arts from the city for organizing  live music and arts activities right

11:47outside of the city hall chambers uh  this morning. So, thank you for that.

12:17The proclamation reads, "The city of Witchaw,  Kansas, founded in 1870. Whereas public support

12:25for the arts at all levels in the United  States has enriched American civilization,

12:31fostering unity and strengthening the nation  through diverse cultural expression and increasing

12:37engagement by citizens as creators, performers and  audience members. Whereas this support recognizes

12:44and encourages the growing number of Americans  contributing to the flourishing cultural sector,

12:50giving voice to a collective identity and sharing  artistic gifts with people of all ages. Whereas

12:56institutions that promote and provide access  to artistic work, strengthen civic engagement,

13:02foster understanding across cultures, and inspire  a shared vision for the future, adding more than

13:09185 million to Witchah's economy, $4.4 billion  statewide, and 151 billion nationally. Whereas

13:21the city of Witchah is committed to equitable  access to cultural arts opportunities, activating

13:27and strengthening the creative potential of the  community so that artistic expression thrives and

13:33cultural heritage is preserved and celebrated.  Now therefore, be it resolved that the Witchaw

13:40City Council does hereby proclaim October  2026 as National Arts and Humanities Month.

13:55Thank you, mayor and council, and good  morning. My name is Lindsay Banaga, and

13:58I have the privilege of working with these fine  folks behind me, uh, where I serve as the city of

14:02Witchah's arts and cultural services director.  Um, we work alongside many incredible artists,

14:08organizations, and advocates who make our  community a more vibrant place to live and

14:12visit. On behalf of the local arts and culture  sector and the humanities sector, I'd like to

14:16thank the mayor and council for the proclamation  today. Um, and thank the Witchaw community for

14:20continuing to show up for our arts and cultural  sector. Do also want to shout out the Kansas

14:24Bluegrass Association for uh making city hall a  lively place this morning with some live music

14:32and City Arts for providing a lot  of visual art that you see in the

14:35uh city hall's lobbies and making a print uh for  National Arts and Humanities Day as well. So,

14:40thank you city arts. Uh here in Witchaw, the arts  are woven into the fabric of our daily life. Our

14:46community is home to countless artists,  organizations, and cultural institutions

14:50who contribute to our community in so many  different ways. From museums to galleries,

14:55theaters to parks, libraries, city centers,  public art, and gathering spaces of all kinds,

14:59the arts are everywhere around us all the time. Uh  the sector does so much more than just entertain

15:05us. I think that's very easy to understand, but  it's so much more than that. Arts and Humanities

15:09helps make our community stronger, healthier, and  more connected. The sector is an economic driver,

15:15as you heard in the proclamation, and it plays  an important role in our education systems,

15:19in workforce development, and having a robust  arts and humanities sector is a key indicator

15:24of a thriving community at large. Please consider  October your annual invitation to go check out

15:30what Witchaw has to offer and what arts and  culture organizations have to do across the

15:34nation. uh whether it's uh visiting a favorite  attraction or trying something new, uh this is

15:38your invitation to go visit a museum, an art  gallery, a concert, a festival, a performance,

15:43a film, or any show uh of really of any kind and  enjoy all that Witchaw has to offer. Thank you.

16:10Three rows.

16:26I always find

16:53in the next day or two.

17:05May I please ask the supporters of  the domestic violence awareness month,

17:09the city of Witchaw Law Department  to come forward at this time?

17:52Good morning. Good morning.

18:07The proclamation reads, "The city of Witchaw,  Kansas, founded in 1870. Whereas domestic

18:15violence awareness month highlights the reality  that domestic violence is widespread and affects

18:22individuals and families throughout our community.  Whereas domestic violence and intimate partner

18:28violence continues to impact our community  with national statistics showing that more

18:33than one in three women and one in four men in the  United States experience rape, physical violence,

18:41and or stalking by an intimate partner in  their lifetime. Whereas in the United States,

18:47intimate partner violence results in nearly 1300  deaths each year with more than three women losing

18:54their lives every day at the hands of an intimate  partner. Whereas this year's domestic violence

19:01awareness month campaign alone, the theme is loan  love should not hurt calls on community members to

19:11broaden domestic violence prevention and awareness  efforts. Engaging new partners in ensuring the

19:18next generation fosters and practices healthy  relationships grounded in equality and respect.

19:29Now therefore, be it resolved  that the Witchah City Council

19:32does hereby proclaim October 2026 as  Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

19:48Good morning. My name is Amanda Meyers. I am the  executive director of the Witchaw Family Crisis

19:53Center. And I apologize, I'm going to be reading  a lot this morning. Um, as we just heard, October

19:59is domestic violence awareness month, a time set  aside to educate the public about relationship

20:04abuse, honor survivors, and commit together to end  domestic violence. I want to start with what this

20:12past year looked like here in Kansas. In 2025,  domestic violence homicides increased by 65%.

20:21More than 3,000 survivors who reached out for  shelter could not get it either because there

20:26wasn't room or because the services they needed  weren't available. And Kansas law enforcement

20:31answered more than 23,000 domestic violence calls.  That's more than 63 calls a day and more than two

20:39or three calls every hour. Every one of those  calls is a person who needed help and too many

20:45didn't get it in time. So, let's make domestic  violence month about action. Of course, you can

20:52and should donate supplies to a shelter, volunteer  your time, and make a financial contribution. But

20:59I want to ask you for something that costs nothing  and may matter even more. Talk to the young people

21:06in your life. Many of us have been following a  story out of a college campus that's been all

21:11over the national news this fall. The violence  we see in homes doesn't start in homes. It starts

21:18much earlier. And what young people learn about  respect, about power, and about how to treat

21:24another person when they think no one is watching.  An adult who controls a partner's phone, their

21:32money, their friendships. Was once a teenager  who learned that jealousy means love or that

21:38no is just the start of a negotiation. Domestic  violence, dating violence, and sexual violence are

21:45not three separate problems. They grow from  the same root. And that means we can reach

21:51them in the same place. At the dinner pl, the  dinner table, in the car, on the sidelines. So,

21:58please talk to the young people in your life about  what a healthy relationship look like looks like

22:03and the warning signs of one that isn't, including  coercion, control, manipulation, guilt tripping,

22:10what to do when they see something wrong, how to  step in safely or simply refuse to laugh along,

22:16and how to promote a culture of respect and  safety. Each of us has a role to play. Learn

22:22the signs, have hard conversations, and help raise  a generation that knows respect is not optional.

22:31If we do that, the numbers I read today don't have  to be the numbers we read next October. Thank you.

22:58One, two, three.

23:14I know.

23:29May I please ask the Highland Cemetery  Historic Preservation and Witchah

23:34State University along Council Member  Ballard to come forward at this time?

23:54Thank you, Mayor. Council member Shepard, would  you like to come down here? Do you want to come

23:59stand with me? Okay. Thank you. Uh, I would like  to read the proclamation of the city of Witchah,

24:05Kansas, founded in 1870. Whereas  Highland Cemetery, founded in 1870,

24:12is the oldest cemetery in Witchah. And whereas the  city of Witchah has owned Highland Cemetery since

24:201982. What a great year I was born in. And has  partnered with the Friends of Witchaw Pioneers,

24:26a local nonprofit organization for more than a  decade to preserve and protect this historic site.

24:33And whereas Highland Cemetery has been  successfully nominated and accepted into

24:39the Registry of Historic Places. And whereas  the month of October is recognized as Historic

24:46Preservation Month. Now therefore,  be it resolved that the Witchaw City

24:51Council does hereby proclaim October 2026 as  Highland Cemetery Historic Preservation Month.

25:06Um I don't have a prepared speech, but I want to  thank everyone that's helped us um get this far to

25:13get that cemetery preserved. Um it is of course  where the city founders almost all of them are

25:20now and their families are still in Witchah. I've  spoken to the family of Henry Smith who was the

25:28founder of that cemetery and um on behalf of them  and our volunteers and the city park department

25:37that takes care of the grounds uh we all very  much appreciate this and thank you very much.

26:14Madame clerk, please call the next item.  The Kansas African-American Museum,

26:20a tribute to Trailblazers, Kia Duggin,

26:28the 25th annual Tribute to  Trailblazers Hall of Fame

26:31presented by the Kansas African American Museum.

27:21Thank you, Felicia. Tonight, I have the  bittersweet honor of presenting the 2025

27:27Doris Kerr Lens Rising Star Award posumously  to Kia Duggins. Kia was a fearless advocate,

27:35an impassioned educator, and a rising leader whose  presence sparked hope and action in everyone she

27:43touched. A graduate of East High School and  Witchah State University, Kia went on to serve

27:48as a policy intern for First Lady Michelle  Obama, a Fulbright scholar in Taiwan, and a

27:55civil rights attorney with the Civil Rights Corps  in Washington DC. She recently accepted a faculty

28:02position at Howard University and was set to begin  teaching this fall. We tragically lost Kia earlier

28:09this year in the heartbreaking DC helicopter  collision that claimed the lives of many. Yet,

28:15even in her absence, her light continues to  guide us, rooted in resilience, rising in unity.

28:23It is with deep respect and heartfelt emotion  that I accept this award on her behalf.

28:57When she was 2 years old, she told me, "Mommy,  God wants me to dance." And so, and so we put

29:04her in ballet. You were supposed to be four when  you start ballet. But I found a teacher who said,

29:10"Let her come to class and we'll see." And Kia was  way more focused than the girls older than her.

29:15And so she did ballet for 16 years, danced on  point, and several African-American girls ended

29:21up taking ballet because they saw Kia take  ballet. When she started, she was the only

29:26African-Amean. And by the time we left the  studio, there were numerous African-American

29:32girls taking ballet, and she taught ballet to  African-American girls in our community as well.

29:41I would describe Kia as equal parts fun and  fierce. She knew that you can't change the

29:46world without a fight, but she also knew that  to keep anyone anywhere doing anything, you

29:52had to have fun. You had to feel connected with  them and you had to do the work with love. Kia

29:56was born and raised in Witchah. She is our oldest  daughter. She's our first born and part of that is

30:03in her name, Kia, which seasons beginning or new  beginnings. So that was intentional. Intentional.

30:11That's literally what her name means is season's  beginning in Swahili. So it's both afroentric and

30:18we just love the meaning. And I just knew that  God was going to use her to do amazing things

30:23in both our bloodlines and it it turned out  to be true. She's very very very inquisitive,

30:29always questioning things, always looking for  answers, a very caring heart. So always trying

30:34to figure out how she can help someone else. She  was reading chapter books by first grade. So yes,

30:40she was a very avid reader and again I think  it just speaks to her uh inquisitive nature and

30:45wanting to know about the world around her. When  they were small every day when I dropped them off

30:49at school I would always say to them the scripture  Luke 12:48 to whom much is given and they would be

30:55like we know mom much is required. So that is part  of how they were raised and also in our church and

31:01I would say her biggest hero was Michelle Obama.  first time she saw her during the Democratic

31:07National Convention, she was 13 and she fell in  love with her and wanted to be Michelle Obama,

31:13wanted to be just like Michelle Obama, I should  say. She was also inspired by Condisa Rice. She

31:19wanted at one point to be Secretary of State. And  so she wanted to actually get into that position

31:26where she can go out and help change the world  by helping a lot of the underdeveloped countries

31:31become more economic powers. My students call me  Professor Kate. However, majority of my former

31:39students, especially students in this group that  I mentor called Parton International Group, they

31:46all call me Mama K, including Kia in her senior  year in high school when she was competing for

31:55Bartan Scholarship compet during the competitions.  That was the first time I met Kia. So Kia was not

32:02necessarily like being all out there. She just  carry herself as herself. Kia Dugens. However,

32:11don't mistaken silence and and and uh you know  casually you know being herself when she open up

32:18her mouth that is where the impact come from.  This is someone that is uh beyond her age.

32:30We are staying on top of a major breaking news  uh story near Reagan National Airport. A massive

32:36search and rescue operation underway right now  after a passenger plane collided midair with an

32:41Army Blackhawk helicopter crashing into the Ptoic  River below. This was just before 9:00 last night.

32:52When I met Kia, I was really takenback by  how lovely and bright and warm she was,

33:01as she felt like an old friend immediately. It's  no surprise to me that Kit went to Harvard because

33:06she was brilliant and she understood that power  doesn't give you a seat at the table. You have

33:11to take it. She was a brilliant litigator who  developed novel theories to defend our clients

33:19constitutional rights. and she was a beautifully  adapt organizer who knew how to bring people

33:26together around a common goal. Kia was one of the  intricate people in eastern Tennessee to get the

33:31Hamilton County suit back in uh September 21st,  2023 where individuals was not getting proper

33:39dip due process rights when they go in front  of the magistrate. Kia was the first person

33:44that brought it to us to let us know that hey  individuals supposed to have legal representation,

33:49legal counsel. um when they go in front of the  magistrate and she let us know that individual's

33:54constitutional rights are being broken. Kia  decided that she wanted to go to Harvard because

34:00um one of the things she said is um people don't  listen to women of color, especially black women,

34:07but maybe if I get a degree from Harvard, it may  give me a little more clout and people may be

34:12willing to listen to what I have to say. Kia also  started a nonprofit when she was 20 years old.

34:19It's called the Princess Project. And when she  was small, someone told her, "Princesses aren't

34:24brown." And so her response as an adult was to  start a nonprofit called The Princess Project,

34:29which works with under reppresented girls  and gives them the social capital and the

34:34tools that they need to succeed in life. And so  one of our goals to keep her legacy alive is to

34:39continue her nonprofit. also too in her past she  was working as an intern for Michelle Obama and

34:46she dealt with let girls learn initiative. Um  that's another program that she was a part of.

34:52So she's a inspiration for other young youth to be  able to show them that um just because others may

34:58feel like you can't do something you whatever you  put your mind to you can do it. Oh, so uh Bulbride

35:05uh she touched my heart. She came in one day. She  said, "Okay, I want to try for Bulbrry." I said,

35:11"Okay." So, of course, I had to help her. You  know, you had to recommendations and all that.

35:16Then she came back. She said, "Okay, I got in and  guess which country I pick?" She said, "I picked

35:22Taiwan." I was so shocked. I said, "Why Taiwan?"  I said, "Because that's where you from. I want to

35:29get to know your culture and your countries." I  have a picture of us, you know, over there. She's

35:34very passionate about uplifting social justice and  because she's seen, you know, a lot and that's why

35:40when she was at WSU, she actually is the first  student that, you know, to even pay that close

35:45attention and identify that there's a lot of  food insecurity among international students.

35:53She literally had friends from all walks of life,  you know, from the highest exec to the man on the

35:59street. Literally, you know, she was giving  her neighbors food or using her bus pass to

36:04help other people get on the train in DC. And  so, I do think that her love of people is the

36:09thing that has touched so many lives. And we saw  that at her service. And so, that's it is really

36:15beautiful. And I think it's it's a beautiful  picture of the way the world is supposed to be.

36:34I want to say thank you to city manager Marstall  for having the council give recommendations for

36:41when awards will be re-shared amongst the council  meetings. and the Kansas African-American Museum

36:48um has these videos during the awards  ceremony. So, thank you for helping us share

36:53uh these awardees with the rest of the community.  Madame Clerk, can you please call the next item?

37:01The city's adopted civility pledge. The city  council is committed to promoting civility. They

37:06stand united. They lead with respect and dignity,  and they honor every resident in all communities.

37:10They are working to create an environment that  values shared goals with increased empathy and

37:15genuine dialogue. We now come to public agenda.  The public agenda allows for up to five speakers

37:20to have five minutes each to address the council.  Please bear in mind that this is not a period of

37:24dialogue with council or a question and answer  period. This is your opportunity to address

37:28the city council with your concerns. I ask that  you address your remarks to the city council as

37:33a body and not to any individual council member.  No action will be taken relative to items on the

37:38public agenda other than referral to the city  manager for information as necessary. Speakers

37:43will please speak into the microphone. Please  state their name and address for the record.

37:47A time clock will display the speaker's remaining  time to speak. Order and rules of decorum will be

37:51observed. The first speaker today is Donnie  Patton. Conditions of sober living houses.

38:03Gentlemen of council. My name is Donnie Patton.  First time here. I'm here to speak about the

38:11unlawful and deplorable conditions of the sober  living house and to request that a referral be

38:17brought to the uh the city manager for resolution  of the issue. earlier this uh month or last month

38:27I had spoken with my uh representative about  the issue and uh you know he said he was going

38:33to look off into it and so I'm here today just to  make sure that he uh follow through on his word

38:42you speak into the microphone sorry uh earlier  I'm sorry about that mayor I'm sort of nervous

38:49you sort of a celebrity around you um earlier I  had spoke with my uh representative about the uh

38:57issues uh that I had with the conditions of the  sober living uh particularly the uh St. Clair

39:04house over there uh 226 South St. Clair. uh and I  wanted um my uh city manager to look off into it

39:16uh to see what information that he could uh gather  in regards to the issues of my concern. That is

39:24the reason why I'm here today um with hopes to  encourage him uh through the participation in this

39:31particular meeting. Uh I don't have too much to  say uh but as far as I know uh in my study of the

39:39law, I haven't found anything that uh authorizes  any sober living or business within Kansas to

39:47uh lure any individuals going through treatment  or having drug issues uh being lured in the false

39:56pretenses and and and money taken and not uh  returned unto them. Uh I thank you for your

40:03time and we'll be in contact. Thank you. Thank  you, Donnie. Madame Clerk, please call the next

40:13individual. Ellen Riker, criminal record of  Andrew Bernard Boulevard Constructions Group.

40:26Sorry. Uh, yes, Helen Riker. Unfortunately, my  address is still fluid. All right. I It is scary.

40:34I get it is uh I'm here as a board member of the  Witchaw Area Housing Coalition. I have not come to

40:41make another plea for the Chapen Park community  that would fall on deaf ears, nor did I come to

40:45discredit Andrew Barnard Boulevard Construction  or anyone affiliated with them. To be fair, I will

40:52acknowledge that since my article regarding him  and Boulevard Construction was published, Andrew

40:58has communicated with me directly, contributed  monetary to supplies for Chapen residents,

41:03and said he intends to do all he can to work with  the residents and the government to make sure the

41:08cleanup goes as smoothly as possible for everyone.  That doesn't change why I'm here today. I'm here

41:15to ask a simple question. Why does the scrutiny  applied to people seeking housing and employment

41:20from the city of Witchaw differ so drastically  from the scrutiny applied to contractors receiving

41:25public money? People applying for Witchaw housing  vouchers undergo criminal background screenings

41:31as qualifying criminal activities within the  preceding three years can affect eligibility.

41:36Then they go through another screening process  for a for-profit landlord. Last night I emailed

41:41Andrew's court records to the mayor, city council,  city manager, and city attorney. You can also find

41:46them on our blog at witchaw area hcc.org. The  document the document they document criminal

41:54cases spanning almost 20 years in two Kansas c  counties with multiple victims involving threats

42:00of violence, domestic violence, property damage  and battery, including convictions for criminal

42:05damage to property and b battery causing bodily  harm. Under Witchaw's current voucher standards,

42:12those incidents span nine years during which his  criminal history could have triggered denial.

42:17Private landlord screenings beyond that could  potentially go into 2028. People experiencing

42:22housing insecurity must overcome this kind of  criminal history without Andrew's financial

42:27resources, both provided by the city and his  other ventures. The city used to employ its

42:32own staff to do most of the work we now contract  out, employees who underwent background checks.

42:38Andrew's charges and convictions could have  possibly kept him from one of these jobs.

42:42Moving public dollars to private contractors,  regardless of the supposed savings, should not

42:47mean overlooking the same basic safeguards. If the  city of Witchaw has criteria for deserve deserving

42:53housing or employment, it should apply them to  the owners and employees of private companies

42:58receiving public money and trust. The person doing  the work may change, but the checks and balances

43:04should not. Accountability is not something the  government gets to demand only from those with the

43:09least while enriching those who already have so  much it. And uh since I have some time extra here,

43:18uh if you want to talk about how we can help those  experiencing housing loss and domestic violence

43:23in a way that we currently are not, uh we are we  should think of some resources that help them and

43:29their animals and to stay together because that  is currently most of what is left at the Chapen

43:35Park community are people that have dogs, very  well cared for, fed, beautiful, loving dogs that

43:43are mostly chipped and licensed and uh neutered  or fixed. They are the best. They they're better

43:52cared than my dogs. I'm going to tell you that  right now. Um and when I asked them what they

43:57needed, the first thing they listed was the stuff  for their dogs. And um I had to actually be like,

44:03"No, what do you need?" And they were like, "Oh  yeah, food would be good." Um so I just think

44:11that's that's primarily what's left there. Um,  and you don't have any options for most of the

44:16people that are left there. You don't. You don't.  They'd have to give up their dogs. And I'm going

44:20to tell you right now, I would not do that. I will  live in a tent. Some of them have to separate from

44:25their partners if they want to get help because  their partner may have a criminal history and

44:29they don't. And uh, I wouldn't do that either.  I wouldn't abandon my husband and my animals for

44:36a studio apartment in the ghetto. So, I'd rather  live in my car or a tent. So, thank you very much.

44:47Thank you, Helen. Madame Clerk,

44:49please call the next individual.  Reverend Steven Aerson, homeless IDs.

45:03Steven.

45:07Madame Clerk, please call the next individual.

45:10Madame Mayor, we do not have any others signed  up. We have room for three individuals to speak

45:16before the council. Um, please state your name  and your address and you will have five minutes.

45:25My name is Sarah Kleen and I am still unhoused.  Um, I'm contacting you guys today because October

45:3212th is approaching. I'm going to try and read  from this. So, just give me two seconds. Um,

45:38I submitted something. and I tried  to submit it to you guys yesterday,

45:41but it's kicked it back. But I submitted you guys  each an email of a proposal for an emergency. Um,

45:50sorry,

45:54I love chat GPT because it helps the emergency  request to preserve Chape and Park area and

45:59establish a managed transition plan. Um, as you  guys know, we've been working with the people

46:04down in Chapen. I am actually a former  and current resident of Chapen. And um,

46:11we've had multiple agencies come out there and  we've to our best avail. But even when we have

46:20the things that we need, we're still not finding  the housing. And so we still have residents down

46:24there. We have residents all over Witchah  still that are unhoused. and you guys are

46:28doing a great job doing that, but we're not  finding enough properties that are willing

46:33to work with us or that can. Most of it's I  think has to do with the inspection. Sorry,

46:38I missed that back. Um, regarding the October  12th purpose, um, we respectfully request that

46:46the city of Witchaw postpone the tw October  12th closure removal and vegetation of the

46:51wooded area adjacent to Chapen Park until the  city has completed an individual transition

46:56plan for every remaining resident and publicly  documented the legal housing, property, safety,

47:01and environmental basis for the proposed action.  We have people down there and they're at different

47:06stages and like some of them are housed and then  there's some that are saying that they've had no

47:12housing. I asked the city to comply with its own  ordinance and policies while addressing the actual

47:18circumstances of people who will be displaced.  The city has publicly acknowledged the approximate

47:2320 to 25 people remaining at Chapen and the  16 residents have received housing vouchers.

47:28The city has also acknowledged the landlords are  not required to accept these vouchers and that

47:32this creates a barrier to moving residents into  permanent housing. A vouchure is not a home and

47:37this just because they have vouchers doesn't  mean that they're housed. Um like I said,

47:42a lot of them a lot of the landlords don't want to  deal with the inspection because the inspections

47:48have actually the guidelines for the inspections  aren't that strict. I think we should have that

47:54on every property that people are moving into.  Unfortunately, that's not what their standards

48:00are. Um, I want to sum this up real quick, but  with the city's own policy, police department 503

48:07describes homelessness as a circumstance requiring  a serviceoriented response and instructs officers

48:12to connect people with available resources and  alternatives to incarceration. And like when

48:18we are stuck doing what we can and it's  not fast enough to put a timeline on the

48:22place where these people are have inhabiting it's  putting these people in dire circumstances again.

48:30um the community based established contact.  I also wanted to bring up real quick though

48:37um the last two sites that we had cleared out  the um parks and wrecks all of the trees were

48:44demolished and this is a beautiful wooded area  and under the tree canopy policy which is on

48:49the city's website it talks about that basically  the trees certain trees let me get to there um

49:03that proposed destruction of the wooded area  would be addressed separately from the camping

49:06issue. Witchaw has a tree canopy policy. The  pro policy states that for applicable capital

49:11improvement projects, the city will retain and  project protect as many trees as possible within

49:16the scope of this project. This policy also  establishes criteria for determining when a

49:21project has a significant tree be impact. And this  one would be by far larger than any of the other

49:28ones that have been tacked down. Um the thing  that I the email that I sent you had several

49:34um suggestions and one of them would be the  tree inventory, tree count, tree diameter

49:40and just kind of the forestry review. Also, the  uh parks, they have a meeting on October 12th,

49:47which coincides with the decommissioning of that  park. And I just ask that we at least get through

49:53that and see October 12th is just really coming up  quick and there's been a lot going on and there's

49:59still people down there and I don't think that the  people down there are going to make it very well

50:04out on the streets. Um, thank you. Thank you,  Sarah. We have room for two more individuals.

50:28Good morning, mayor and council. My name  is Margaret Shabbaz and I am a resident

50:35of district 6. And that is actually why I'm here  to talk what I'm here to talk about today. When

50:41members of the public come before city council,  we are routinely asked to state our name and our

50:48home address for the record. My question is  why do we still need to publicly state our

50:55exact home address? I understand city may have a  legitimate reason to know whether someone lives

51:02in Witchah or which district they live in, but  there is a difference between the city knowing

51:07where someone lives and requiring that a person  to announce their home address publicly at a

51:12microphone. These meetings are recorded, they  are broadcasted, they are available online.

51:18Once I stand at this podium and state my address,  I am not simply giving that information to seven

51:25sitting people, but I am giving it to  the world. Sorry, let me get my place

51:36and in front of me. I am giving it to  the world, the people who are watching,

51:41it's publicly recorded and potentially anyone who  watches that recording later. For some residents,

51:47that creates a very real safety concern. I  can speak personally to this. I have dealt

51:53with someone who has harassed and stalked me  in the past and currently now. I should not

51:59have to choose between participating in my  local government and protecting the location

52:04of my home. But this isn't just about me. This is  about survivor of domestics violence. Think about

52:10someone who has obtained a protection order. Think  about a teacher, a police officer, social worker,

52:15health care worker, or other residents who have  reasons to keep their home address private. Think

52:22about someone who wants to come before council and  speak about controversial issue. They may strongly

52:27disagree with someone watching this meeting. Why  should that disagreement come with direction to

52:35their front door? And then there's another  question we may not be able to measure. How

52:42many people have decided not to speak because they  didn't want to announce their home address? If

52:48even some residents are staying silent because of  that requirement, then the procedure intended to

52:54identify speakers may unintentionally be creating  a barrier to public participation. There is a

53:00simple solution. Instead of requiring speakers  to publicly state their street address, allow

53:06us to state the name and city council district we  stay in. And if additional geographic information

53:14is necessary, we could state our district and the  nearest major intersection. And if the city truly

53:20needs a person to complete at complete address and  forest records, the information could be provided

53:25privately during registration without requiring  it to be announced from this podium or broadcasted

53:31publicly. This isn't an unusual concept.  The city of Topeka public comment protocol

53:38requires speakers to state their name and city  of residence, not the complete street address.

53:43So I am asking the council and staff to review  Witchah's current policy and answer two questions.

53:50First, what governmental purpose requires a  speaker's exact home address to be announced

53:56publicly? And second, can that same purpose be  accomplished with less personal information?

54:02If the answer to the second question is yes,  then I believe we should change the policy.

54:07Public participation should be encouraged. People  should be able to disagree with their government,

54:13question their government, criticize a decision,  advocate for their neighborhood, or simply bring

54:18an issue to the attention without unnecessarily  broadcasting where they live. My request is

54:24simple. Please change the public comment procedure  for residents who state their name and district or

54:31name, district, and major intersection instead  of their exact home address. The city can verify

54:37residency privately when necessary. Our voices  should be public. Our front doors don't have

54:44to be. Thank you. Oh, um just real quick on this  little handout, it's kind of black. My printer ran

54:52out of color, but I just gave some um where it's  blank at I gave some examples. So, City of Witchah

54:58lists their city and street home address, whereas  Topeka lists just the name and the residents. So,

55:04as far um Seaside, Oregon, Mount Montgomery,  Washington, Jordan, Utah, Yura, Linda, California,

55:12they all just list the name and city residents.  I just wanted to bring some extra so you guys

55:18are like, "Okay, yeah, cool." So, thank you.  Thank you, Margaret. We have space for one more

55:24individual. I see none. We will now bring it back  to the bench. Council member Hohheisel. Thank you,

55:31Mayor. Um first, Margaret, always good to see you.  Um I know we've had people come up here before and

55:36just give the district. So, I don't know that it's  um ingrained in our policy. That's something we

55:42can look at. And I personally I'm okay with  people just giving their district. I see.

55:47Um, Jennifer, if I may, um, council member,  the city ordinance does not require it. I'm

55:53not familiar with the the process if there's  a form that is filled out that asks for it,

55:57but the city ordinance does not require a  public speaker to state an address. Okay. So,

56:02maybe we can just change how we how we pronounce  it, I guess, communicate it. Yeah. Yes. So,

56:08I appreciate that. Um, Helen, you're absolutely  right about the animals. Um, specifically dogs.

56:15We are looking at options with that. I don't  think we are able to necessarily say right now

56:21because there's a couple of different options we  are looking at, but that's definitely something

56:25that's on our radar as far as trying to provide  those services as well. Um Sarah, I will take a

56:32look at this. Um we have delayed the date uh a  few times already just to try and make sure we

56:37get as many people into housing as we possibly  can. Um and you said 16 out of 25 down there.

56:48Okay. So, we'll look at that. We're I I'll  do everything we can to make sure we give

56:55as much time and uh resources as possible  and Steve maybe can come up here and talk

56:59about we've been down there for five or six  months trying to get people signed up and it

57:05seems like it's different now that there's  a date that people feel that push a little

57:10more. Um and regarding the trees that is um  on the state, it's state property. Um we want

57:19to res preserve as many trees as possible down  there. Um ultimately since it is state property,

57:26they will be the ones who are who have that  final say. So as far as um we're concerned,

57:32we are just trying to um take as few trees out as  possible to continue forth with the cleanup. So,

57:41um, anything beyond that, again, that's  on the Kansas Department of Transportation

57:45and the city manager might have a little  more information, um, pertaining to that

57:56is that while it is state property, it's also a  flood plane. And so trees in a flood plane are how

58:02um, the Department of Transportation will consider  the factors related to tree growth within the

58:07flood plane. So, it's their decision. Okay. Well,  I appreciate that. And um yeah, I'll be in contact

58:17with you. Thank you, Council Member Shepard.  Thank you, Mayor, first of all to Donnie. Thank

58:24you so much for being here. It was a pleasure  speaking with you a couple weeks back. I did have

58:28an opportunity to follow up with our director  of housing, I believe close to that same day,

58:32and um unfortunately, the city doesn't have any  authority over our silver living houses. However,

58:38I did learn from our director of housing that  particularly if it's the condition of the homes

58:43um or the the houses that we do have MABCD that we  can work with and I have communicated with Chris

58:49Labram about that and so that is in the process  and thank you for coming here and reiterating that

58:54um today. It's important that we are all aware of  of that situation. So um I'll be in touch with you

59:00to follow up on what we learn. Um Helen, thank  you for um your advocacy regarding our unhoused

59:06neighbors. I've had healthy and um spirited  or robust discussion with our city manager in

59:11regards to this. I think I've said publicly  that um if if there was a vote to support

59:17this encampment cleanup that it wouldn't get my  support for many reasons. And that's not to say

59:21that I think we should allow encampments to exist.  But I worry about our ecosystem and our ability to

59:27meaningfully um address the issue. And I don't  know if this is necessarily meaningfully doing

59:32that. So I do have a couple of questions for the  city manager. I did share with him that I would

59:37have questions today. Um, and so, city manager,  can you explain at a high level how we arrived at

59:42this point and how long has the encampment been  in existence? Thank you, council member. Um,

59:49actually, I'll have Stephen Bert uh come  down. He's our assistant housing director.

59:53He's been uh intimately engaged with Chapen in  particular, but the initial since I've been here

59:59for nine months. I actually one of my first tours  in the first three months on the job, I actually

1:00:05toured this chapen site. Um but that was also  prompted by we have a record of calls for service

1:00:13for police, fire, and EMS. So certainly a public  safety concern. my understanding and Stephen may

1:00:20be able to help us that this has had some type of  encampment or residence for more than five years.

1:00:26I'll put it that way. Um but let me ask Stephen  to come forward to tell you about our efforts

1:00:31some of the um data and things that we've been  working from. But the uh impetus was one we had

1:00:37um an encampment cleanup for SIMS I believe two  years ago. Um, so we have a history of the city

1:00:46trying to work with folks to find housing support  in different areas of the city. This is the next

1:00:51opportunity to do that. But part of the impetus  was the calls for service for public safety. Um,

1:00:57but I'll ask Mr. Bert to uh elaborate on some  of our efforts at least since March. Thank you,

1:01:02city manager, mayor, council. Um, Sims Park was  cleared about two years ago of over 40 people

1:01:10and the housing department wasn't there. And  this opportunity um to look at how we address

1:01:18unsheltered homelessness, particularly in the  encampment space, has been a conversation that

1:01:23the homelessness services sector has been  having across the country for several years.

1:01:28And so in the summer of 2025, we invited Mandy  Chapman Simple and her team who did reduce and

1:01:34continues to coach unsheltered homeless encampment  uh resolution in other cities including Houston,

1:01:40Denver, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa, who recently  claimed that they closed downtown. Don't exactly

1:01:46know what that means yet, but we're going  to go on a road trip here soon to talk about

1:01:49what it means to enter an encampment with housing  resources rather than with enforcement strategies.

1:01:56And we successfully cleared an encampment through  housing 50% of the people at 235 in Broadway.

1:02:02We've cleared an area near the Pepsi plant. Sort  of just see how that would work. Closing Chapen is

1:02:09not necessarily part of what we thought would be  best practice in terms of its size. But at the end

1:02:15of the day, we met over 91 people as of yesterday  and there's 26 people there and we've housed 20.

1:02:23and the 26 that are still there, we are working.  We have that many beds reserved at Second Light.

1:02:30We have communicated with the shelter and we've  communicated with wall um the animal shelter and

1:02:36with wall to address the animal uh issues. We've  secured storage and we have vouchers available for

1:02:43everybody who was left down there. Many of them  have said to us either directly or indirectly that

1:02:49they plan to move their encampment up the path  away from Chapen. And when or if they do that,

1:02:55we will continue to work with them there as  well. Our goal is to end homelessness. And

1:03:01the only way to do that is through housing. We've  got a few barriers. We continue to work through

1:03:06those barriers. But Chapen rose to attention  because in the last three years, Witchah Police

1:03:12Department has responded to the area 69 times. In  the past three years for aggravated ba battery,

1:03:19aggravated kidnapping, arson, possession, and  consumption of minor, um, aggravated sodomy,

1:03:25destruction of auto by firearm. We've seen  shootings down there. The accessibility for

1:03:30our first responders is challenging. It's a dead  end. and the other areas on the other side of it

1:03:37are less challenging for our first responders.  Not to say that that was our plan to relocate them

1:03:42that way. Our plan was to house as many people as  we could. This is a different strategy than with

1:03:48Sims Park. And with the number of people we've  interacted with, we've had over 500 interactions

1:03:54um since March. Um, we've interacted with many of  those people who have either accepted a housing

1:04:00voucher, told us they do not want to be housed or  have simply left the part that that part of the

1:04:06encampment altogether. But part of our strategy  was to go in and offer housing to everybody. And

1:04:13since March, we've had a fair amount of people who  have asked not to be housed to choose to continue

1:04:20to do their unsheltered homelessness. Doesn't  mean we move along. It means that we continue

1:04:24to engage them at every opportunity. When we did  give a date, the number of asks for housing did

1:04:32increase. And those number of people of folks  who've been there actually over 10 years, those

1:04:37are the folks that we have had to build a little  bit of a different plan for to get them into

1:04:41shelter so that we can get them across the finish  line at some point in the next month or two. Thank

1:04:48you. I have several questions. So again, very high  level. Um, so you're saying 10 years. Why now?

1:05:00The rise in emergency services calls. Um,  there have been some incidents in terms of

1:05:06fires and shootings and we believe it's unsafe  for people to be down there any longer. Thank

1:05:15you. Did we consult with our COC partners prior  to making this decision? Continuing with care

1:05:20for folks who aren't aware what COC means.  We have continued to partner with the COC

1:05:24on all decisions. Do we have any indication of  where the folks who have not taken our services

1:05:30um but are no longer at the park where they  have gone? We are working with our community

1:05:35partners to use the geoloccation button  in the homeless management information

1:05:40system so that we can continue to track  where they may u next present themselves.

1:05:49I will I will just say that this is where I've  struggled with this is that I I know that housing

1:05:56is doing a phenomenal job trying to get people the  services. I've also shared with the city manager,

1:06:03it's kind of like this double-edged sword  because I listened on NPR where we said,

1:06:07"We're giving them vouchers, but we don't have  enough landlords who are a part of the program.

1:06:11So, we need more landlords to step up and be  a part of the program." Couldn't agree more.

1:06:16But if we're offering the vouchers and there's  nowhere for them to go in the interim, we ask for

1:06:21them to go to Second Light. But if Second Light  is at capacity or they refuse to go to Second

1:06:27Light because as you've mentioned and as we've  heard, some folks refuse to to want to be in a

1:06:31shelter. I I'm afraid that the problem is is that  it it's creating this cycle where the challenge

1:06:42is in Chapen Park today, which I don't want  that for my neighbors in district 3. But again,

1:06:47this weekend I was just informed of an encampment  site located in Witchaw State near Witchaw State.

1:06:53And I can't there may be no correlation at  all. Our unhoused neighbors exist everywhere.

1:06:59But I'm fearful that if we are not attacking  this in a robust, holistic way without all of

1:07:05the readily available resources and policies in  place, how are we truly addressing this issue?

1:07:12Can you speak to that for the folks who may  be concerned in district one that hey because

1:07:18because we're not really getting folks into where  they need to go. Folks may be in district 5,

1:07:25district 1, district two. We do not have enough  resources to end homelessness at this point.

1:07:36But I will stand to say that it's more of a  case management issue. We've said before that

1:07:43we don't have enough case managers to do the walk  alongside with individuals. When we do, it is not

1:07:49our experience that we cannot locate a unit. When  we're looking for a unit and we have a voucher,

1:07:55we are often able to make that connection. We need  more case managers to do the work. When we don't

1:08:02have enough case managers, it it forces us to  focus our resources on specific geographic areas

1:08:09that are rising to attention and creating concern.  If we take a scattershot approach and I run over

1:08:15here and I try and solve this encampment, I run  over here and I try and solve that encampment,

1:08:19we are simply spreading ourselves too thin. What  we can do though is when we focus our resources,

1:08:25we're able to make impact. Where do we go next?  what is the decision about the encampment that

1:08:31we work on next or we need about 98 more case  managers and then I can take a little bit more

1:08:37of a scattershot approach. This is giving us  the legs to do this well and to do this right.

1:08:44And with more case management, we can certainly  cross that finish line with a lot more people,

1:08:49but in the meantime, we've got to focus our  resources on those most in need and in the

1:08:54most dangerous and volatile places. I appreciate  that, Steve. And I appreciate the rationale. I

1:08:59don't have to agree with it, but I appreciate  that there is a rationale behind it. So,

1:09:05I'll make a comment then last question. Um, do  we have data? Because as you mentioned, this is

1:09:13not the only hot spot for an encampment. There are  encampments all across the city. So, does the data

1:09:18showcase that this is a hot spot like it rises  to the top of the list? Yes. Okay. Thank you. Um,

1:09:25and then I know you all have applied for the SAMA  grant which will help kick open some opportunities

1:09:30for more case management. I know it's a little  while before we find out whether or not it was

1:09:34announced this week that we did not receive it.  Okay. So, how do we get you the support that you

1:09:42need? Because we are now at an impass. You need  case management support. This work, in my opinion,

1:09:49should not be happening without getting you the  support you need. Sending you all out there to

1:09:54do that job is not fair to you. It's not fair to  our city. It's not fair to our unhoused neighbors.

1:09:59We have folks who are there who we've heard they  have animals that they don't want to depart from.

1:10:03We know that those who are unhoused with animals  are less likely to seek shelter if they cannot

1:10:08take their animals with them. We know that if  someone is married and or dating a partner with

1:10:13a criminal history, there is pl there are places  that will not accept them. And that shelters for

1:10:18couples often don't exist here in this city. for  families. They don't exist here in the city at the

1:10:24rate that individual shelter does. We need case  management support. So, if I guess I'm asking our

1:10:31city manager to work with housing to give us a  number on what we should consider to get you all

1:10:37the case management support because if we do not  have that, we're kicking the challenge down the

1:10:43road. We are not solving homelessness. We are  not getting people the necessary supports that

1:10:48they need. I do have good news. Thank you for that  message received. Um, and I'll have a conversation

1:10:54with a city manager. A lot of this got kicked off  by one-time grant from Quick Trip. We That ended,

1:11:03it's going to end. We've um pushed that out to on  June 30th as a spend so that we can continue to

1:11:09do the work. In the meantime, we've applied for  COC resources and received that. So, we're going

1:11:14to be able to expand the team just a smidge, but  continue the work. So the institutionalization of

1:11:21what we are doing at least can persist. Remind me  how much that same how many case manage management

1:11:28supports would that have given you if we would  have received it? Uh 16 to 20 with the COC dollars

1:11:34that you've received which congratulations by the  way how much more support is that giving you more

1:11:39support? Um it's a total of 4.5 FTEES. to another  1.5. Given your expertise, what would you say is

1:11:49the right number for case management support  for a city our size experiencing the challenge

1:11:53at the rate that we are? I believe and I've done  I have done the math. I do believe that if I we

1:11:59are to also overlay onto the housing navigation  feature of our shelters that doesn't happen that

1:12:06that can happen in an improved way. I think  we're shooting upwards of 70 70 case man.

1:12:14Thank you. You're welcome, Council Member Hoisel.  Thank you, Mayor. Um, heartbreaking to hear about

1:12:21the SAMA grant. We didn't receive that. Um,  I fully agree with Council Member Sheepard.

1:12:27It seems like, um, case management is one of the  main obstacles. Another one I just wanted to put

1:12:32on everybody's radar is um last year with the  property management ordinance we looked at, we

1:12:39were considering a um discrimination of income, a  ban on discrimination of income. That didn't make

1:12:46it into the final version and it also has since  been banned, I believe, on the state level. So,

1:12:53um just something for everybody else to keep  in mind because finding those landlords willing

1:12:59to take vouchers is one of the main obstacles  that you guys are facing. So, um we just need

1:13:04to keep that in mind as we work through in the  future who we support and um who comes up uh

1:13:11what issues come up on the state level. So,  thank you for that, Stephen. You're welcome.

1:13:19Thank you, Steve. Um I do just have one from uh  public agenda and that is uh Margaret's suggestion

1:13:26regarding public agenda itself. I would actually  like to see if this council would be interested

1:13:32in having a holistic conversation regarding  public agenda. As you know over the last three

1:13:38years we've now allowed individuals who are  not signed up to speak before council so they

1:13:44don't have to do that ahead of time if there is  room for individuals. Um, our council currently

1:13:50allows for five minutes per person per meeting.  Uh, in addition to five minutes per person per

1:13:58meeting for every single new agenda item. Um, so  technically an individual could speak upwards to

1:14:0630 minutes in one council meeting. Um, and  so I would like to see how this can council

1:14:13would like to address public agenda. Uh we love uh  people coming to city council engaging with their

1:14:21council members. Uh there's also opportunities for  individuals to talk with their council members at

1:14:27the monthly district advisory board meetings  as well as via multiple different avenues.

1:14:33Um so I do believe that we need to have a more  holistic conversation regarding public agenda.

1:14:40Um, so, city manager, I do want to know about  um what Margaret has suggested, which is not

1:14:48publicly stating an address. And city attorney  did respond yesterday um because individuals

1:14:56who don't live in Witchaw are also allowed to  speak before the council in public agenda. The

1:15:02city ordinance on public agenda speakers contains  no residency requirement. However, code 2.04.190

1:15:14I1G allows for no speaker on the public agenda  to appear more frequently than once every fourth

1:15:22meeting. So, basically once a month. Um, but we  have not been adhering to that because we have

1:15:28the open uh portion if someone has not signed  up which allows for more public engagement.

1:15:36Um, so we really do need to look at this public  agenda uh public agenda comment section more

1:15:43holistically. So, city manager, if that could  be up for either a discussion at some point

1:15:49um either at a workshop or um possibly at  district advisory board meetings. Council

1:15:56member T. Thank you. Um later this month we're  having a council retreat and I know there's

1:16:00probably already a robust agenda for that, but  I think that would be the appropriate time to

1:16:05have this discussion. Um I'm not really  prepared to have it today obviously and

1:16:10um perhaps at a workshop, but maybe even if we  could begin the conversation and have law give

1:16:14us just a quick review of exactly what  we're supposed to be adhering to um and

1:16:20then we can further the discussion. So at the  retreat would be my recommendation. Thank you,

1:16:25Council Member Johnston. Thank you, Mayor. I  do think we need to talk about it. I've been

1:16:30pretty vocal and our meetings are way too long.  Uh we have people waiting to to talk about issues

1:16:37that are important to the city. Uh not that  when PE speakers come, they're not important,

1:16:42but if they really think and consider there's  an issue they really want to talk about,

1:16:48they can sign up ahead of time. That's just my  opinion. So, I think we need to find ways to

1:16:53make the meeting shorter and more efficient, and I  think most of the community will appreciate that.

1:17:02I see no further comments from the bench. Madame  Clerk, please call the next item. Consent agenda

1:17:08items 1 through 26. Council members, are there  any items to be pulled from the consent agenda?

1:17:19I see none. With that, I will move to approve  the consent agenda items 1 through 26. Second.

1:17:25Motion second. Discussion. See none.  Madame clerk, please open the role.

1:17:32Motion passes. 70. Madame clerk, please call  the next item. Board of bids and contracts

1:17:38dated October 5th, 2026. Good morning, mayor, city  council. Josh Lober, Department of Finance. I have

1:17:44five items for your consideration today. Uh the  board of bids and contracts convened yesterday,

1:17:49October 5th, for the following. For engineering,  we have the 2026 sanitary sewer manhole

1:17:55reconstruction phase 1 for multiple sites for  Dutton Construction Services LLC in the amount

1:18:01of $246,840. This was subject to your approval  of the new estimate and budget authorization just

1:18:08moments ago. We have the water distribution system  sanitary sewer paving phase 2 to serve veranda

1:18:15second edition tide for Pearson Construction  LLC for an aggregate total of 23,635.40.

1:18:24We have the generator replacement  for storm water pump station number

1:18:277 for Atlas Electric LLC in the amount of  $217,000. We have the engine replacement

1:18:34for the aerial platform fire truck for  Cumins Incorporated for $103,889.38.

1:18:43We have the paper products contract  groups three, four, and eight change

1:18:46order for Brady Industries of Kansas LLC  for an amended annual spend of $43,74.50.

1:18:56This is how to become a vendor with the  city. This is our purchasing calendar,

1:18:59small business resource events, uh, hosted  by the city or participating. And these are

1:19:05open public opportunities out on the street  today. It looks like I fit it on one. I'll be

1:19:09happy to answer your questions and recommend  your approval. Thank you, Josh. Questions

1:19:14for staff? I see none. I move to approve the  board of bids and contracts dated October 5th,

1:19:202026. Second. Motion second. Discussion. See  none. Madame clerk, please open the role.

1:19:28Motion passes 70. Madame clerk, please call the  next item. Petitions for public improvements.

1:19:39Morning, mayor, city council members. Paul  Gunzelman, public works and utilities. For

1:19:43the record, I have some new petitions for your  consideration this morning. The signatures on

1:19:50the petitions represent 100% of the improvement  districts and the petitions are valid per Kansas

1:19:55statute. Rington addition located in district two.  The project will provide water, storm water drain,

1:20:07sanenetary sewer, and paving improvements required  for a new residential subdivision. And it is

1:20:14recommended that the city council approve the new  petitions and budgets, adopt the new resolutions,

1:20:18and authorize the necessary signatures.  And I will stand for questions. Thank you,

1:20:23Paul. Questions for staff? See none. With that,  I move to approve the petitions for public

1:20:28improvement. Second. Motion second. Discussion?  See none. Madame clerk, please open the role.

1:20:38Motion passes. 70. Madame clerk,  please call the next item.

1:20:43Ordinance reestablishing  the access advisory board.

1:20:55Morning mayor and council members. Gary Jansen,  public works and utilities. I'm happy to be back

1:21:01um in front of you to discuss this item for  reestablishing of the access advisory board.

1:21:08Uh you'll recall back in August staff became  before he had recommend a proposed restructuring

1:21:13of the access advisory board which would in  at that time we were recommending seven voting

1:21:18members appointed by the city council  and three non- voting exeicio members.

1:21:23uh based on our discussions with you and  comments from the public and rightly so,

1:21:28the item was deferred to today which gave us  additional time which I think was well spent

1:21:34and you'll see a new recommendation today that I'm  hoping is supported by all based on the meetings

1:21:40we've had since then. We were able to meet  with the current access advisory board three

1:21:46different times and on September 23rd the board  did recommend approval of the proposed proposal

1:21:53that you'll see today. So we talked about some  of the challenges before in particular that the

1:21:58current board includes 32 voting members. Um  it was starting to create some challenges with

1:22:03efficiency and effectiveness. A lot of good  things happening a lot of passionate people

1:22:08but we think we can get to a better place. Um the  discussions we had with the board since that time

1:22:13brought us to a recommendation of 11 voting  members. I'll talk about what that makeup is

1:22:19here in just a moment. We also want to clarify  the responsibilities and again create a more

1:22:24efficient and consistent appointment process while  maintaining accessibility oversight across Witchaw

1:22:30and even with Cedric County. The board continues  to provide valuable input on accessibility issues.

1:22:36We want to find a better path forward and  get I think get back to a place we were at

1:22:41one time to be more effective for all of us.  The proposed ordinance would codify the access

1:22:47advisory board in the city code consistent with  other city advisory boards. who would establish

1:22:52an 11 member voting board with one appointment  each by the mayor, each city council member,

1:22:58the city manager, and then there were three  specific groups that the board wanted to make sure

1:23:04were represented as as being able to vote. That's  the independent living resource center. They have

1:23:10been a part of our accessibility issues from the  very beginning. National Federation of the Blind,

1:23:16which is the South Central Kansas chapter,  and the Witchah Association of the Deaf.

1:23:22Along with this um we've talked before about  where we would go with exeicio members and our

1:23:29recommendation today is to establish 11 exeicio  non- voting members. I will walk through this with

1:23:35you real quick. Um we spoke with all of them who  were previously on the part of the board makeup.

1:23:41There were some who no longer wanted to be uh  considered. They can obviously still be part of

1:23:46the discussions. They can be at any meetings. Uh  but those are the folks that did want to be part

1:23:50of it. So that includes our ADA coordinator, city  traffic engineer, uh representative from transit,

1:23:57Sedric County ADA coordinator, the Sedric  County Department of Aging and Disabilities,

1:24:02Sedric County Association of Cities, Envision,  Starky, the Veterans Association, CATS,

1:24:07and the Cable Poly Research Foundation. So 11  voting members, 11 exeicio non- voting members.

1:24:17This ordinance will redefine the board's  responsibilities. Um I think really getting us

1:24:22back to the core of our mission where we were at  one time and and we want to get back to that point

1:24:27in reviewing capital improvement infrastructure  transit mobility projects that designated project

1:24:32milestones to incorporate accessibility and  universal design principles. We had a lot of luck

1:24:37with that one at one time. We want to come back  to that because we can really get a lot from this

1:24:42board um looking at any of our infrastructure  projects going forward. going to provide

1:24:47recommendations regarding sidewalks, pedestrian  crossings, public facilities, parks, transit

1:24:51access, and related accessibility improvements,  and review city accessibility policies,

1:24:57and other accessibility initiatives. None of  this is really a wholesale change or anything

1:25:01new. It's just reestablishing where we want to be,  and I think those members of the board want to be,

1:25:06too. By by implementing this ordinance, city  staff will be empowered to administer board

1:25:12meetings moving forward. Previously, Seduit  County uh had offered services to administrate

1:25:17the board meetings. They are no longer part of  that. Um but it was something they had taken on

1:25:24uh really and I think it was a lot of extra effort  for them. So, it makes sense for us to take over

1:25:28the board with staff. It's going to allow us  to um provide meeting minutes, board agendas.

1:25:35It's already working well. We're going to start  meeting at the advanced learning library. And so,

1:25:41City of Witsto will oversee administration. Staff  recommends that the composition of the board track

1:25:47along with the current bylaws by requiring  substantial representation by persons with

1:25:52disabilities and organizations that serve them.  This is a discussion we had with the board and I

1:25:57think we got to a good place on that and again  it reflects what is in the current bylaws. The

1:26:03proposed ordinance would clarify the authority of  the board to create subcommittees that can include

1:26:08members of the public who are not on the board to  address relevant issues. Over the course of time,

1:26:14we have had some issues that kind of stalled out.  Got to a point where city had a interpretation

1:26:22particularly of federal law related to ADA. Um the  accessible community may not have seen it quite

1:26:28that same way. we didn't really have the best  process in place to get us past that point. So,

1:26:34the subcommittee is specifically in place,  including the opportunity to have somebody from

1:26:38the outside to help us move those issues forward.  Uh, including coming before the city council

1:26:45saying, "We've got an issue. Here's where we  think we're at on both sides of this. Here's what

1:26:49the cost impacts might be, and help us be able to  move forward differently than we did in the past."

1:26:56The proposed restructuring creates a consistent  appointment process that maintains represent

1:27:01representation through elected officials, improves  board efficiency, simplifies administration,

1:27:07provides a clear framework for accessibility  review of city projects and policies that I just

1:27:12spoke about, and strengthens the board's ability  to advise the city on accessibility matters. So,

1:27:18this really is intended for us to be able to  get the most that we can out of this board and

1:27:22the input that they provide to the city. Upon  appointment of its members, the access advisory

1:27:28board is expected to meet at least monthly during  its initial organization and implementation

1:27:32period. Appointment term shall be two years.  Assuming your approval of moving forward today,

1:27:39uh staff has been working with the clerk's office  and communications. We hope by early next week.

1:27:45So what'll happen with your if you approve this  today, all current appointments will be vacated.

1:27:51Um the application process we hope to have open  by next Monday. We will be providing notification

1:27:58to all those current board members. We've been  talking to them about that during the meetings

1:28:04that we had. We'll make sure that we provide as  much notification as we can. Uh again through

1:28:10what the clerk's doing with the website, what  our comm's team is doing with the website and

1:28:14what we'll do by direct contact. So, we want to  make sure everybody knows at the point in time

1:28:18that they can start applying for these open board  positions. There is no fiscal impact associated

1:28:26with establishing the access advisory board.  As we discussed before, I've got staff engaged

1:28:32to help administrate these meetings and we are  just including that within their current duties.

1:28:38With that, staff recommends city council place  the ordinance on first reading and authorize

1:28:43the necessary signatures. I'd be happy to stand  for any questions. I would just tell you again,

1:28:48I think we got to a really good spot. We had some  great conversations during the three additional

1:28:54meetings we had with the board. Uh, and I  think we're all excited to be able to move

1:28:59forward. Thank you, Gary. Questions for staff  beginning with Vice Mayor Glascock. Thank you,

1:29:06Gary. I'd be interested in hearing from  the public, but I feel this is a good

1:29:09uh progress forward and thank you for the work on  this. I hope that this is a better product and I

1:29:14from my standpoint I think it is. I do have one  quick question though um regarding the exeicio

1:29:20members at the bottom. I think that's a really  good list and these organizations are longstanding

1:29:25organizations in the community. What happens  though if one of them were to go away and they act

1:29:31as defunct positions? Does the board unilaterally  could they add other exopicio members or let's

1:29:36say Envision changes their name at some point and  this is listed as Envision right now. Can the ex

1:29:41official me or can the board change the makeup of  exeicio or does that have to come back to council

1:29:46to be able to change that? I might let Nate  Johnson with the law give you the better response.

1:29:54So kind of two different components there.  Navier Tyler Johnson with the law department.

1:29:58Um, so we did kind of go back and forth on that  and I think you're you're you're going in the

1:30:02right direction there where if it's in code and  maybe the organization doesn't exist anymore,

1:30:08uh, we would maybe have to come we would have to  come back to council to change that. The board

1:30:13cannot change the code through its bylaws. Now, in  a situation where maybe an entity's organizational

1:30:19name changed, I I and we could talk about that  in the law department, especially depending on

1:30:24the situation, but that might be a circumstance  where we don't have to come back because it's

1:30:29the same entity. And then these organizations  will also be subject to some of the rules of

1:30:35attendance and making sure that you're there.  Um, but we also thought having it in the code

1:30:41provided a little bit more certainty and that  was something that we heard in our discussions

1:30:46with the current access advisory board and that  that's why we tried to approach it that way. Um,

1:30:51we're open to creating some sort of ways out  potentially in the code, but thought maybe

1:30:55that opened things up a little bit too. So,  definitely a discussion we had. We can craft

1:31:00it however council would like, but this is sort  of how we settled it to provide some certainty

1:31:05uh moving forward and then kind of we can make  changes as necessary. But as Gary mentioned,

1:31:10we did make sure to touch base with each of these  entities so they all understood the changes that

1:31:15are occurring, what the responsibilities for them  would be moving forward and they agreed that they

1:31:19would like to participate in this manner. Okay.  Thank you. I appreciate the clarification. I see

1:31:24no further questions for staff. We will now  open it up for public comment on this item.

1:31:41Good morning, city council, mayor, and city  manager. I I'm hoping that you guys vote today

1:31:52um re really good because this access advisory  board needs to stay in place and to keep it

1:32:02going. Um and and that so I I am all for the  disability community and the blind community.

1:32:13you know this I've been here at every city  council meeting um and and that so uh please

1:32:26thank you thank you Andrew would anyone else from  the public like to speak I see none I will close

1:32:35public comment on this item bring it back to the  bench with that I would gladly move this item

1:32:43I know that this uh previous board had 29  voting members and this is to consolidate

1:32:51and make it more efficient so that there are 11  voting members instead and 11 exopicio members.

1:33:00With that I will go ahead and move to place  the ordinance on first reading and authorize

1:33:06the necessary signatures. Second motion  second discussion see none. Madame clerk,

1:33:12please open the role. Motion passes 70. Madame  clerk, please call the next item. Public hearing

1:33:20and request for economic development  exemption Lee Aerospace Incorporated.

1:33:35City with development services. Today I have two  presentations for you and I will try to you know

1:33:45uh make them quick for you. Uh so Lee is uh  proposing a new construction uh uh that is uh next

1:33:54to their campus in district 2. Just a little bit  just about Lee. Uh they have been uh you know like

1:34:01uh within the city for about 37 years now. Uh they  were founded in uh ' 89 and they really focus on

1:34:10uh creating uh uh you know creating uh uh you know  uh windows for different planes and uh you I know

1:34:22different uh uh planes within those sectors.  they they uh export out to Textron, Boeing,

1:34:30uh you know, and uh uh you know, and uh Learjet.  So talking just a bit about the project, you know,

1:34:36it's going to be about a uh 50 uh you know a  million dollar project uh you know with the

1:34:42building cost of just about 21 and uh you know and  different uh purchases uh for the different uh you

1:34:53know like equipment at the 29. So with that, Lee  is uh seeking to get a 100% property tax abatement

1:35:02uh you know under the uh you know under the uh  EDX program. I wanted to take a few uh seconds

1:35:11just to talk just about this tool. This is one  of the tools that we don't really see that you

1:35:18uh you know that much use just because of the uh  qualifications uh that the Kansas Constitution

1:35:24places on it uh you know and some statutes.  So this tool is uh for businesses that do uh

1:35:34uh for businesses that do uh qualify is a uh you  know is a good tool because there are no bonds uh

1:35:42uh that are compared to our uh other uh property  tax abatement program. And so this can be some

1:35:48uh cost savings for that business to um uh to one  uh help with the uh construction costs and two to

1:35:57help with uh some of the cost that comes with the  bonds. Uh so this program you know like uh only

1:36:04provides a property tax abatement. There's no uh  sales tax uh part as this tool. uh you know and uh

1:36:12just like always uh you know all development costs  are going to be borne by the developer and no

1:36:17taxpayer dollars uh uh uh there's no risk to the  taxpayers and the city is not giving out money. So

1:36:27uh talking more just about the uh project uh you  know they qualify for a 100% 5 plus5 uh uh you

1:36:36know property tax abatement uh they will create uh  25 uh you know uh they will create 25 jobs uh they

1:36:45are currently at uh you know uh 169 uh uh you know  like employees and at the fiveyear mark in 2034

1:36:56uh you you know they will be at the 194 mark. Uh  you know uh the you know per some of the documents

1:37:04within here you know uh the property tax abatement  would start in uh Janu of 2029 and the five-year

1:37:12in 2034 and the abatement will be done in December  31st of 2039. Uh I did also want to point out that

1:37:21uh in the green sheets uh that you got on  Friday. Uh so I mean uh uh there is a uh

1:37:29corrected different attachments uh from  that that was basically uh just a change

1:37:35uh for the dates. Uh previously they were on uh  2027 uh for the uh uh for the uh construction

1:37:44uh you know completion but then that got  changed to uh at the end of Q1 of uh 2028.

1:37:54Uh the uh estimate property tax for the  first full year is about uh you know 562,000

1:38:03uh you know with the city being about uh you  know like 116 uh thousand um our friends at uh

1:38:12CEDBR performed a uh CBA for this project  and uh uh so uh uh for our screen here it

1:38:20uh meets the uh one one and is With that, I  stand for questions. Uh uh but I do ask um

1:38:28before we get to uh uh questions, uh uh Jim  Lee does have a presentation uh you know,

1:38:35and I would like him to uh come at this time to  uh to uh present more just about the project.

1:38:51Thank you, Corey. Appreciate it. Mayor Woo,  city council members. Uh, by the way, thank you,

1:38:59uh, Council Member Tuttle, and Mrs. Woo to come  out to our facility, get to know it a little bit.

1:39:04I appreciate that. Uh, basically, I'm I'm open  for any questions, but I'm happy to tell you

1:39:09about our company. As as Corey mentioned, uh, it's  Lee Aerospace. We started back there in ' 89. Uh,

1:39:16we manufacture windows for Boeing. met with  some of our first windows in Cessna, Larjet,

1:39:21Bombard, it goes on and on. Now we're  doing business with Cirrus Jet, a lot of

1:39:25people outside of the Kansas area. A matter of  fact, all over the world, we ship windows. So,

1:39:30the company's been doing well. And um there's  just a a small picture of a couple of our

1:39:36windows. Those are uh uh Dave Havlin-8 windows.  So, we're into the commercial world nowadays.

1:39:41And the primary uh expansion that we're going  to do with the 93,200 foot building will be

1:39:47manufacturing commercial type windows. Uh that's a  a picture of the building. It'll pretty much look

1:39:55just like that. Uh it's connected to a current  campus that we have another five buildings on.

1:40:01Uh I think that's on the next slide. So you can  see the uh buildings that are there. they were

1:40:07actually under the same uh plan incentive plan  and and fortunately they've been uh providing

1:40:13taxes for the last uh 10 to 15 years every one of  them now. So anyway, we appreciate the help on the

1:40:20u uh plant 7 up there and I'm open for  any questions. Thank you, Mr. Lee. Uh one

1:40:28quick question for you before I ask my prepared  questions. How many individuals do you employ at

1:40:34Lee Aerospace currently? We currently have around  169 folks or so. Thank you for being an employer

1:40:42here in our community. It's our pleasure. Um  I have a list of questions for Corey first.

1:40:51Corey, can you first uh start off by  telling us what's the current property

1:40:55taxes for that piece of land? Yes. Uh  thank you, mayor. Let me pull up that

1:41:07Uh, give me one second.

1:41:20Yes. So, the uh current uh property  taxes for the site is around uh $37,000.

1:41:28And the following question would be will  they still be paying those property taxes

1:41:33for the land? Uh correct. Um  but that is uh subject to the

1:41:39uh county uh you know in their uh different  uh you know like appraisal processes

1:41:48for the layman who may be watching right now.  They will still be paying property taxes to

1:41:54the city county USD259 for the land that they  currently have. Yes, correct. This edx is for

1:42:02the improvements on top of that land. That is what  the abatement is for. Is that accurate? Uh yes,

1:42:07it is. Thank you. I have a list of questions  that uh I will be asking from now on uh post our

1:42:14September workshop and I have sent these to Corey.  Um, so I'll start off with the staff questions.

1:42:21There are four questions. Um, and I will then ask  them to applicant. Is the economic development

1:42:28tool necessary for this project and what is the  risk to the city? So I will touch upon uh the risk

1:42:36uh there uh is no risk uh to the city. All costs  are going to be uh by the uh developer. If they

1:42:45do not uh complete the uh construction within  the time um then they will uh not be uh getting

1:42:54uh the assistance from the city. Uh and I'll uh  uh and then for that first part of the question,

1:42:59Jim, do you mind explaining just a little bit  more about why the tool? Yes, I appreciate it.

1:43:05And and living in Witchah my entire life, I  appreciate the city does this. Uh, you know,

1:43:10I just got an email this morning, Myrtle Beach.  You know, everybody tries to get companies like

1:43:14us that have man manufacturing jobs out of here.  So, I think it's important for everybody to know

1:43:19uh that Witchah is fighting for companies like  ours to stay in Witchita and we appreciate it. So,

1:43:24yes, it's it's a very effective tool to keep  jobs in Witchah. So, it's necessary for this

1:43:31project to move forward. Absolutely. Thank you.  Second question, is there a clear public benefit?

1:43:42I think the public benefit is taking like a  look at some of the jobs that are going to be

1:43:47uh created. There's going to be uh 25 uh you  know uh there's going to be 25 jobs that are

1:43:54created at a high uh wage. uh you know  and the addition of you know currently

1:43:59right now this is just uh uh this is  just like some uh you know where the

1:44:04project is going to be at is just like  some land and so it will increase the

1:44:10uh property tax values uh you know like uh after  the 10 years of the uh property tax abatement.

1:44:19Third question has the project and the sponsor  been thoroughly vetted? Uh yes they have. Um there

1:44:26has been a uh CBA done and that can tell us uh you  know uh you know uh whether or not the project is

1:44:35um good to move forward. Uh you know and then as  well we have uh met with Jim and the team you know

1:44:43for a long time now you know this project  has been uh you know uh in the works since

1:44:50I believe early March. And last question, does  this agreement protect taxpayers? Uh, yes. Uh,

1:44:58there is uh no risk uh to the taxpayers. Thank  you, Corey. And thank you, Mr. Lee. Council

1:45:05member Hohheisle. Thank you, Mayor. Uh Corey, I  know you're pulling double duty today and you're

1:45:12relatively new uh to the position as well. Is  the one to one as far as the costbenefit ratio,

1:45:18is that across all of our um economic  development tools? It is there are some

1:45:30uh it would mainly be for the uh uh property  tax abatements. You know, if we look at some

1:45:37uh you know, if we look at CI and if we look at  TIFF, um you know, uh our guidelines ask for like

1:45:45a 3 to one, but that um uh but for those projects,  uh they do not go through uh WSU to get the

1:45:54costbenefit analysis. And so that uh you know uh  3:1 is mostly done on a staff level. Okay. And how

1:46:05How confident are we in the analysis? It's we're  making it by the skin of the teeth essentially.

1:46:11So, how how is that part of the 5year look back  that Yes. Got that cost? Uh yeah. So in I believe

1:46:18I said 2034 uh you know uh you know uh I or uh  someone else in this position by then uh will

1:46:28uh take a look at the uh jobs uh created and  then work with uh WSU to provide that new uh

1:46:36uh you know uh uh CBA and and showing uh you know  what the project was uh you know when we came here

1:46:44today. uh uh you know and what the project  is now based upon that uh capex jobs and if

1:46:51they miss out on that and I should have clarified  relating to jobs anyways so if they don't meet the

1:46:57um costbenefit ratio does that mean they are  exempt from 30% of the property tax exemption

1:47:05or how much of this would would it come down as  far as property tax exemption so could you please

1:47:14uh say that So for it's 100% right now. If they  don't meet the C the cost benefit analysis there

1:47:21ratio. Yeah. Does that mean the 30% that's related  to the 25 new jobs that would come off as far as

1:47:28the the property tax abatement or is it all 100%.  I believe it is the full uh you know 100% property

1:47:38tax abatement. Um and so if they did not you know  uh meet the job marks at the uh five-year uh you

1:47:48know we will come back to council and um give the  projects uh you know numbers and like what jobs

1:47:54that they have and then uh give some you know uh  options for some uh clawbacks with this project if

1:48:02they did not meet their uh uh commitments. Okay.  I appreciate you're right. We don't see edxs too

1:48:07often here. just had a couple of questions. This  is maybe the second or third one I can recall

1:48:13seeing. So, I do appreciate it. Yeah, I believe  uh the last one was in uh 2024 and that was for

1:48:19uh you know uh this project. Well, you know,  Lee asked for one in 2024 as well. So, 2024 was

1:48:26like the last one that we had. Okay. Thank you.  Appreciate it. I see no further questions. Um,

1:48:33I simply wanted to say thank you for continuing  to invest in the air capital of the world

1:48:39uh with the current employees that you uh  currently have and the additional 25 new

1:48:45jobs that this would create. So, thank you for  your investment. Uh, Corey and Mr. Lee, we will

1:48:52now open it up for public comment for anyone  to speak on this item. I see none. I'm going

1:49:00to close public comment and bring it back to the  bench. This resides in council member Tuttles's

1:49:04district. Thank you. I just want to say thank you  to Corey and also thank you to Lee to Leah within

1:49:10our economic development department. I've had  the chance to tour Lee Aerospace several times

1:49:15since my time on council. Um and most recently,  I also want to thank Lee Aerospace um not only

1:49:22for the tours. Um I've had the pleasure of going  to NBAA a couple times and every time that I go,

1:49:27you have a great display. Everyone wants to come  see you. Everyone come wants to come and learn

1:49:32about you. And because of that, then they want  to come and see and learn more about Witchah and

1:49:36hopefully to do exactly what you're doing.  Continue to invest in Witchah and continue

1:49:42to invest in your employees and your future  employees. So, we couldn't be more grateful

1:49:46enough on behalf of the city of Witchah. So, with  that, I will move that the Witchah City Council

1:49:51close the public hearing, place the ordinance  on second reading, and authorize the necessary

1:49:56signatures. Second. Motion second. Discussion.  See none. Madame clerk, please open the role.

1:50:05Motion passes. 70. Congratulations. Madame  clerk, please call the next item. Public

1:50:12hearing and request for economic development  exemption diversified services incorporated.

1:50:23Uh, one more then I can uh sit down. Um so uh  this is my uh second and final uh presentation for

1:50:31today. This is for uh diversified uh services.  Uh so diversified services is proposing to

1:50:40uh you know is proposing a construction you  know at their uh campus in district 6. Just a

1:50:49little bit about diversified they have been uh you  know uh within the city for about 65 years now.

1:50:55uh you know and they do a  lot of the heat treatment,

1:50:58painting and like metal processing  for space planes uh uh pretty much

1:51:07pretty much like uh everything in the air that  you will do. Uh so uh so talking like a little

1:51:13bit about the project uh you know the uh the total  uh you know investment that they are planning on

1:51:19doing is about 1.9 uh you know you know 1.9 uh  uh you know 1.9 uh you know a million you know

1:51:31building construction cost about uh you know 1.4  for and then like additional uh purchases of the

1:51:40uh you know of the like equipment at about 500k  they are asking for a 90% uh you know a 90% uh you

1:51:48know property tax abatement uh I'm not going to uh  uh you know uh belabor this slide um but they are

1:51:57only seeking a property tax abatement there's no  uh uh you know sales tax on this project that they

1:52:03are uh uh uh you know asking uh from the city to  be uh you know like exempt you know all costs are

1:52:12borne by the developer and no taxpayer dollars are  at risk. So they are seeking a 95 sorry a 90% uh

1:52:22uh you know five plus five uh property tax  abatement. They are going to create five

1:52:29uh you know uh new jobs. They are currently  at 333 jobs and uh uh you know and at the

1:52:38five-year mark they will be at 338. uh you know  based upon uh their uh construction timeline

1:52:47uh the property tax abatement will begin on uh  January 1st of 2028 the 5-year in 2033 and the

1:52:57property tax abatement uh you know uh will end on  December 31st of 2038 you know pending that they

1:53:05uh meet all of their uh deadlines uh you know uh  uh you know The estimated property tax for the

1:53:14first full year is about 34,000 uh you know with  the city being about 10 this project and I forgot

1:53:21to mention is is essentially just a parking lot  and so there is uh nothing there besides dirt and

1:53:28gravel uh you know so this will add a new building  and put some more uh uh you know and allow for

1:53:37uh more property taxes to be uh generated. I  believe they are paying around um uh $420 in

1:53:48uh property taxes. Oh yeah. Uh so at the end  of the 10 years that number is going to be

1:53:54uh uh you know uh significantly uh you  know higher and uh costbenefit analysis

1:54:02uh you know uh you know uh was performed you  know uh meeting uh you know our guidelines and

1:54:12is with that that I stand for questions. Uh  and before we uh do that uh you know uh Rob

1:54:18uh Bass uh sorry uh Paps is here uh to kind  of speak just a little bit about the project.

1:54:38Good morning Woo council members. Um, want to  uh thank you uh for the council members that

1:54:45came and toured the project. Uh, council member  Ballard and Johnston and Mayor Woo. Thank you for

1:54:50that. Um, as Corey mentioned, diversified  services is a 65year-old Kansas business.

1:54:57It's a third generation business. I  represent the third generation. Um,

1:55:01working on the fourth coming in hopefully.  Um, and um, as Corey also mentioned, we do

1:55:08everything to basically aerospace parts after  they are machined. We do all the heat treatment,

1:55:14uh, plating, anodizing, non-destructive  inspection, things of that nature. Um, so,

1:55:21uh, with that, know if there's any other questions  or Thank you, Mr. Bats. Yeah, we will now open it

1:55:28up for council member questions. I submitted  questions to Corey. So, I'll start with Corey

1:55:34again. Uh, you already mentioned this, but just  one more time, what are the current property taxes

1:55:39for this piece of land that is a parking lot? Yes.  So, this uh parking lot, they pay about uh $4 and

1:55:46uh uh $420 in property taxes. And will they  continue paying this the same property taxes

1:55:54for the land? Correct. Thank you. Um and I  noticed that this is a company that has received

1:56:01um or has utilized these tools before. Uh they  came before council in 2024. Can you just share

1:56:09uh but that project did not go forward? Yes. Uh  that project uh did not go forward. Uh you know

1:56:16uh I believe uh uh you know I believe you know uh  Rob can talk a little bit more just about that.

1:56:23Yeah. Um but the project did not move forward  because they uh purchased uh uh yeah because they

1:56:30purchased uh you know like a building uh besides  doing the uh new construction. But Rob Sure I'd

1:56:37be happy to comment on that. So this campus for us  we've been very aggressive in pursuing space work

1:56:43space related work which has been very interesting  and and have brought a lot of that to our city.

1:56:48Um the project we considered in 2024 had to do  with building a new facility across the street on

1:56:54some ground we also um own just across the street  on Murdoch Street. And actually we were ready to

1:57:01move forward with that and then kind of got lucky.  One of our neighbors that was contiguous to our

1:57:06campus um that's currently on the south side of  the street where we already operate came up for

1:57:10sale. We were able to buy that property and expand  into it instead. So that was kind of a better use

1:57:16of our dollars at that time. So now we've kind of  filled up that new property and on to the next one

1:57:22here. Thank you for the continued investment into  again the air capital of the world. And I do want

1:57:29to mention you mentioned space. Yes. And Senator  Moran has been very pivotal and making sure that

1:57:35the air capital now thinks about space as well.  So thank you for being uh part of that expansion.

1:57:42I also submitted the same four questions to  Corey and then Corey sent it to the applicant.

1:57:49First question is the economic development tool  necessary for this project and what is the risk

1:57:55to the city? Um so I can talk about the risk. Uh  there is uh there is uh there is uh no risk uh to

1:58:04the city. the like developer will pay for all the  costs and um and all the uh you know construction

1:58:12costs uh you know will be borne by the developer.  Do you want to talk about the tools? Sure.

1:58:21What can you repeat the question for  me? Sure. Is the economic development

1:58:25tool necessary for this project to move  forward? Yeah, absolutely. We had to be

1:58:29very competitive in bidding this project.  So we need this to justify the construction

1:58:34and a ability to move forward with it. And I  forgot to ask you this question ahead of time,

1:58:41but how many individuals do you employ  at diversify? We employ 333 currently

1:58:48and this would add an additional four five new net  jobs at 72,900. Yes, that's correct. Thank you. Uh

1:58:58second question, is there a clear public benefit?  Uh yes, the uh tax rules, uh you know, just like I

1:59:06uh previously mentioned, they're paying uh $420 in  property taxes because of the construction uh you

1:59:13know, after the 10 years, you know, they were uh  that uh parcel of land will be paying uh you know,

1:59:19like a much higher in property taxes. uh you  know the second one is uh uh the second one

1:59:27is uh uh you know it the second one is uh the new  jobs that are being brought in and also the third

1:59:34one just you know just supporting a business  that had been here for for just a very very

1:59:41uh you know like for 67 65 years. Yeah 65 years.  Sorry I was thinking 67 for a second. Thank you

1:59:50Corey. And has the project and the sponsor been  thoroughly vetted? Uh yes they have. And lastly,

1:59:58does the agreement protect taxpayers? Yes, there  is uh no risk uh to the taxpayers. Thank you,

2:00:06Corey, and thank you, Mr. Bats. I see no further  questions from this bench. We will now open it

2:00:12up for public comment. I see no one from the  public who would like to speak on this item.

2:00:19I will bring it back to the bench. This resides  in Council Member Ballard's district. Sorry,

2:00:26Council Member Johnson had a Sorry. Thank  Thank you, Mayor. Uh I always wondered what

2:00:32your company did and I really enjoyed getting  the tour. It was just absolutely amazing. And

2:00:37uh thank you for choosing Witchaw. Thank you  for m moving into new areas such as space and

2:00:43stuff. So you have remarkable company you and your  father have created. So uh congratulations Council

2:00:51member Ballard. Thank you, Mayor JB. You stole  everything. I was going to say I was going to say,

2:00:58um, I've driven past your building for a long  time, for years and years, and like Council

2:01:04Member Johnson, always wondered kind of what goes  on in some of these buildings. And so, it's really

2:01:08interesting to see all of the different things  that you do. Very interesting to see that you guys

2:01:12are doing some work with space, which is awesome  to hear that we're doing right here in Witchah.

2:01:18Um, and I also especially love that you have  continued the family business. I think that is

2:01:23really awesome and we have some really great  businesses right here in Witchaw that have

2:01:26been passed on for generations. So, I commend you  for that. I'm sure it's not always easy, but um,

2:01:31really really appreciate that. So, um, if nobody  else has any questions, then I would like I move

2:01:41to close the public hearing, place the ordinance  on second reading, and authorize unnecessary

2:01:47signatures. Second. Motion second. Any discussion?  I see none. Madame clerk, please open the role.

2:01:59Motion passes. 70. Madame clerk, please  call the next item. Supplemental agreement

2:02:05number three, pre-stress concrete  cylinder water pipe evaluation.

2:02:17Good morning again, mayor, city  council members, Paul Gunzelman,

2:02:19public works and utilities. For  the record, um the item before

2:02:24you is the next phase of the uh pre-stress  concrete cylinder water pipe um inspections.

2:02:35The city council approved the initiation  of uh PCCP rehabilitation project in 2023

2:02:42and the city council approved a contract with  pure technologies for the inspection planning

2:02:47to establish the methodology and sequence  of work to assess condition of the pipelines

2:02:54identified in the Witchaw's distribution system.  Supplemental agreement number one was approved by

2:03:00city council on October 8th of 2024 and provided  standard pricing for Pure Technologies inspection

2:03:07technologies and methods and provided detailed  scope schedule and cost estimates for pipeline

2:03:13assessment for the first year of the project.  No leaking or failed pipes were found during the

2:03:19additional inspections and no repairs were  currently required and phase one inspected

2:03:25approximately six miles of pipe. Supplemental  agreement number two was approved by city council

2:03:33in April of 2025 and it amended the scope of work  to be completed for the next group of pipeline

2:03:39inspections. Again, no leaking or failed pipes  were found during the the inspections and no

2:03:45repairs are currently required and that uh  inspected approximately 4 and a half miles

2:03:53of pipe with that phase. So, planning for  the next group of inspections is underway.

2:04:01The pipelines to be evaluated include a  major distribution pipeline that serves

2:04:05the southeast portion of Witchaw and provides  service to the city of Derby. Additionally,

2:04:12the inspection services will evaluate the  condition of large PCCP pipeline that will

2:04:17serve as a secondary connection between Witchaw  Waterworks and Hes Pump Station. and supplemental

2:04:23agreement has been completed for this work and  this will um include approximately 23 miles of

2:04:31pipes to be inspected. The contract amount to date  is $7,441,000. The cost of supplemental agreement

2:04:40number three is $7.2 million, which brings  the total contract amount to 14.6 million.

2:04:47The existing the existing budget of $8 million  was approved by the city council on April 8th,

2:04:532025. And the 2027 through 2036 adopted capital  improvement program includes $4 million in both

2:05:022026 and 2027 for the pipe rehabilitation project.  Staff is requesting to initiate the full amount at

2:05:12this time for a revised budget of $16 million.  And there is $4 million programmed annually

2:05:19through the 2020 through 2033 in the existing  capital improvement program. And with that,

2:05:28it is recommended that city council approve  supplemental agreement number three,

2:05:32adopt the amending resolution, and authorize the  necessary signatures. Thank you, Paul. Questions

2:05:38for staff? I see none. We will now open it up for  public comment on this specific item. I see no one

2:05:48from the public. I'll bring it back to the bench.  With that, I see no further comments. So, I will

2:05:54move to approve the supplemental supplemental  agreement number three and adopt the amending

2:05:59resolution. Second. Motion second. Discussion.  See none. Madame clerk, please open the role.

2:06:08Motion passes. 70. Madame clerk, please call  the next item. Contract and vendor selection for

2:06:14multiple CIP projects. Again, Paul Gunselman,  Public Works and Utilities. For the record,

2:06:26the 2027 through 2036 adopted capital improvement  program includes multiple projects that are

2:06:32identified to begin design in 2026. In April  of 2026, city staff issued a request for

2:06:40qualifications for several CIP projects, and the  staff screen and selection committee interviewed

2:06:46nine vendors on June 5th and June 8th of this  year. The staff screen and selection committee

2:06:54recommends the following selections along with  the design concept fees. 13th Street from Gatewood

2:07:02to web road. Um Benish was selected as the  consultant for design. Um few of the reasons was

2:07:09understanding the traffic traffic operations and  access concerns near Witchaw Collegiate School.

2:07:15The next project, Ponyie Greenwitch to 127th  Street, BHC, was selected for completing

2:07:21traffic analysis for roadway and intersection  improvements, including developing roundabout

2:07:26concepts for the intersection of Ponyie and 127th  Street. 13th Street Country acres to Ridge Road.

2:07:34Bofman was selected for understanding of the  corridor's traffic operations near Northwest

2:07:40High School as well as patrol west and Ridge Road  34th Street PEC was selected for that design for

2:07:49the understanding of TR traffic operations along  Ridge Road and the need to evaluate traffic signal

2:07:55and left turn warrants at the intersection.  The proposed initial agreements provide for the

2:08:02development of a design concept for each project.  And the item or the slide before you includes

2:08:11concept design fees and existing budgets that have  been approved by city con by the city council on

2:08:18those dates listed. And each project will be  returned to the city council at a future date

2:08:23for approval of the respective design concepts.  final design agreement and final budget approval.

2:08:32And with that, it is recommended that city  council approve the selection of vendors,

2:08:36approve the contracts, and authorize the necessary  signatures. And I will stand for questions. Thank

2:08:42you, Paul. Questions for staff? I see none. We  will now open it up for public comment on this

2:08:48item. I see none. I'll bring it back to the bench.  The projects reside in district number two and

2:08:55district number five. I would be happy to make the  uh recommendation to approve the selection of the

2:09:02vendors, approve the contracts, and authorize  a necessary signature. Second. Motion second.

2:09:07Discussion. See none. Madam clerk, please open  the role. Motion passes. 70. Madame clerk,

2:09:15please call the next item. Revised budget for  East Four Mile Creek Interceptor Improvements.

2:09:23Paul Gunzelman, public works and utilities. For  the record, this is my last presentation before

2:09:28I give the podium over to somebody else. And on  September 20th, 2022, the city council approved

2:09:36funding to begin the design for East Four Mile  Creek Interceptor Improvements. In November of

2:09:442022, the city council approved a design contract  with professional engineering consultants.

2:09:50And in January of 2024, the city council  approved supplemental design agreement

2:09:55number one with PEC for additional design  services. The map before you, the four mile

2:10:02creek basin is shown in red and the green line  reflects the sanitary sewer to be constructed.

2:10:12The formal creek interceptor sewer project will  construct a new sewer main to provide additional

2:10:17capacity due to the rapid growth in northeast  Witchah. Again, another map. Uh the new sewer

2:10:25main is recommended in the latest sewer master  plan and the existing budget approved to date

2:10:32has funded the design fee easement purchases  and staff management project management.

2:10:39Final design is complete and acquisitions  are in progress. The existing budget of

2:10:47$500,000 was approved by the city council on  September 20th of 2022. The adopted capital

2:10:54improvement program includes $ 8.5 million in  ongoing projects. Staff recommends initiating

2:11:00the full amount for a revised budget of  $9 million funded by the sewer utility.

2:11:07The project will be funded from future revenue  bonds or sewer utility cash reserves and if

2:11:12revenue bonds are issued an additional 8% will be  added for financing and administrative costs. The

2:11:19project was included in the most recent cost of  the service analysis and will not impact rates.

2:11:26That is recommended to approve the revised  budget adopt the mending resolution and authorize

2:11:32the necessary signatures. And I will stand for  questions. Thank you, Paul. Questions for staff,

2:11:37beginning with Council Member Johnston. Paul, I  know this this goes right up against Andover. Does

2:11:43it also serve parts of Andover? It's uh I think  it's Let me go back to that map. I think mainly

2:11:50it's along 143rd Street there. Um because I know  that was part of the supplemental agreement with

2:11:56uh PEC was initially I believe it was going to  be um constructed on one side of the street but

2:12:02after looking at existing utilities we've had them  res redesign it to the other side of 143rd Street.

2:12:08Okay. So but it just but most of it yeah it just  serves Witchaw residents I believe. So I'll look

2:12:15back. Yes. Yes. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Yep. I  see no further questions from the bench. We'll

2:12:23open it up for public comment on this item. I see  no one from the public who would like to speak.

2:12:28I'm going to bring it back to the bench. This  resides in council member Tuttles's district.

2:12:33Sorry. Thank you very much, Paul. I appreciate it  and thank you for all of your work on this. Um,

2:12:38and with that, I would move that the Witchaw  City Council approve the revised budget,

2:12:43adopt the remmening resolution, and  authorize the necessary signatures.

2:12:46Second. Motion second. Discussion. See  none. Madame clerk, please open the role.

2:12:54Motion passes. 70. Madame clerk, please call the  next item. Funding for park security improvements.

2:13:12Morning, mayor, city council. Uh Tim Kellums with  uh public works and utilities here to present on

2:13:18funding for park security improvements. Um I will  note that this is we have a different line item in

2:13:23the CIP for park security and lighting. This  is a separate one. So just kind of wanted to

2:13:28make that note here up front. Uh some background.  Nazcer Park is one of the most visited uh parks

2:13:34in the city's park system with an estimated um  over 275,000 visitors and we expect that to grow

2:13:41especially as we're making new uh developments  uh downtown uh having more residents moving there

2:13:46and as well as the number of businesses and and um  opportunities downtown. So, we expect this number

2:13:52to grow uh over time. You can see here off in the  in the photo, we do have lots of different events

2:13:58in Navar. You can see so many different people  there, uh, different markets. It's a wonderful

2:14:03space for different events. The park hosts a  number of community events and programming. Um,

2:14:09some of those, some of the notable ones is  Open Streets ICT, the Odyssey Witchaw summer

2:14:14concert series, uh, Storytime Village, Winter  Wonderland, and so many different things uh,

2:14:19supporting and helping uh, events at NAS  or excuse me, at Interest Bank Arena.

2:14:26Many of the these events bring hundreds or  thousands of people together and require a

2:14:31safe and secure atmosphere. Um, obviously  when we have people in a public park,

2:14:36uh, we want to make sure that we're  having a good time, everyone's having um

2:14:39um interacting together, and everyone has a a safe  and enjoyable time. Uh, to do that, currently,

2:14:46we are using temporary physical measures uh to  prevent um any type of of uh or basically to help

2:14:53secure the site. You can see here in the photo,  we have a number of uh jersey barriers that we

2:14:58use to help secure the park. These are deployed  um especially when we have a lot of events kind

2:15:04of crammed together, which that's the goal, right,  is to have it programmed as much as possible. So,

2:15:08um we do leave these out, try to make sure that we  secure the the park. Um there are some challenges

2:15:14with putting these up and down, back and forth  when we have different events. It's a lot of

2:15:19back and forth especially um uh for staff time as  well as a lot of coordination behind the scenes uh

2:15:25to get these deployed for different events. Um so  one of the one of the great things and some inter

2:15:32cross department coordination is with WPD and and  the uh parks and recck department uh making sure

2:15:38that everything is approved and through different  events um so they are on the same page when we

2:15:43have these uh different events to make sure  we have a secure site. uh some analysis. Um

2:15:50moving to a permanent security measures uh seems  like a great idea. Um such as crash rated ballers

2:15:56or barriers. You'll see those. Most people don't  realize that they're walking by them, but a lot of

2:16:00these crash rated ballers are around uh interest  bank arena around uh city hall here and a number

2:16:06of other places. So I think it it's a good option  for us to help secure the site and also doesn't um

2:16:12most people don't even realize that they're there.  Um the plan is to install these at Nazcer Park

2:16:18uh along Douglas and St. Francis Avenue. The goal  here is that the the permanent security measures

2:16:24will reduce staff time and resources required for  the event. You can imagine how much coordination

2:16:30and planning has to go in for each time there's  there's an event trying to make sure we have

2:16:34a secure space. Uh so this will help having  permanent security measures in place knowing

2:16:38that it's all uh all in place and ready to go for  an event especially if we get last minute requests

2:16:43for uh for events. This is a great way for us to  move and be readily available for those events.

2:16:50Financial considerations. Uh the adopted CIP has  uh $325,000 in GEO bonds funding for the park.

2:16:59I will note that this was a move that was made  uh when the CIP was adopted during that day. So

2:17:05you may not see it in the proposed budget, but it  is was a recommendation or motion um when it was

2:17:11adopted. Um and so staff uh recommends initiating  the full amount at this time uh so we can

2:17:17uh get moving. For legal considerations, the law  department has reviewed and approved the bonding

2:17:22resolution as to form. It is recommended that city  council approve the initiation of the project,

2:17:27adopt the bonding resolution, and authorize  necessary signatures. And I'm happy to stand

2:17:31for any questions. Thank you, Tim. Questions for  staff. Um, I do have a couple questions regarding

2:17:37this. When this was originally thought of, Navar  Park, why were ballards not considered for safety

2:17:45purposes, but since it's open, we've now thought  about Ballards? Sure. I I wasn't here at the time,

2:17:52so I can't don't have intimate direct knowledge  of it, but I imagine some of it kind of came down

2:17:57to budget and also not knowing um exactly what the  space was going to be used for over time. We have

2:18:03a much better understanding on the type of events  that we have there. Now, so when we are designing

2:18:08the security improvements for the project now,  we know exactly where the vendors are are want

2:18:14to be. We know we have uh staff in park and wreck  that know exactly how to lay out different events,

2:18:19what's going to be critical for them. So, I think  I know it probably would have been great to have

2:18:24them originally, but I think uh looking back it's  probably good that we have a better understanding

2:18:28of how the site works truly now uh versus just  trying to take a guess uh then and especially

2:18:33knowing all the different events that we never  thought were going to happen then uh now coming

2:18:38to fruition, especially with a number of those  NCAA tournaments uh the summer concert series

2:18:44etc. I think we have a good understanding  now of of the potential for the site.

2:18:48I greatly appreciate that safety is the reason why  we're thinking about these ballards. Um the most

2:18:54recent time I was at Navar Park was this weekend.  Uh the Down Syndrome Society of Witchaw had their

2:19:00party at the park and just seeing the space being  activated. St. Patty's Day, they also activated

2:19:06with the wagon masters. Uh the chili cookoff with  Somewhere Fest had a collaboration this year.

2:19:12I just love seeing so many individuals um  gathering in this open space. Um but I do want

2:19:19to caution and make sure that from this moment  forward, any projects that have these open spaces,

2:19:25we consider safety as the number one thing first.  And so Ballards, I know that they are costly,

2:19:32but they are necessary and we can see it. Um, we  have the jersey barriers right now and I know that

2:19:39people have said they don't look as nice, but the  purpose for them is for safety and so ballards

2:19:46will also accomplish the safety measure, but also  the aesthetically pleasing nature of ballards,

2:19:52which is much more um, visibly beautiful  than the Jersey barrier. Yeah. Um, so again,

2:20:00thank you very much, but I would love to see more  of these open spaces, whether in our downtown core

2:20:05or elsewhere. When there are open spaces like  this, we consider these ballards, uh, because

2:20:10they are very much needed. Council member Shepard,  thank you, Mayor. I appreciate your thoughts about

2:20:17the ballards matching the character of of that  area. Um, I think that's really important. And

2:20:23I also know that this has been a priority for  many of us and want to specifically thank Vice

2:20:28Mayor Glascock for looking and finding where  we can shift some things around to make this

2:20:32a priority. As you said, Tim, with major events  coming to our city, we want to make sure that

2:20:36our guests feel safe. Um, can you go back to  the second to last slide? I believe it was.

2:20:46Okay. Yeah, right here. Um, so this is something  that I spoke with Vice Mayor Glascock about and I

2:20:52think we may have had a little tiny discussion  about it from the bench, but bullet number two

2:20:57says currently temporary physical security  measures are being used to secure the park

2:21:00during events or require considerable time and  resources from city staff and the Witchaw Police

2:21:04Department. One of the things that I know that  I've been engaged on, Vice Mayor Glasco has been

2:21:09engaged on, Council Member Ballard has also been  engaged on is the cost associated with the park.

2:21:15So if we are absorbing this cost to add in these  security measures, maybe this is a question

2:21:20for Reggie, how does that alleviate cost for  organizations and partners to utilize the park,

2:21:27be it security or even paying for this the  jersey barriers? I mean, I would really

2:21:32like to see us removing and reducing barriers for  folks to be able to utilize our public amenities.

2:21:43And I can speak to that uh as far as the uh  savings as to the event organizers once they go

2:21:48through the special event application process  uh that is approved. What are those safety

2:21:52standards that are needed and they incur that  cost with being able to do the road closures and

2:21:57the setup time and those things are something  that they incur that expense for now that we

2:22:01have permanent options there. That would be one  less thing that they would be responsible for.

2:22:05So if we're adding these ballards to close  the park or to enclose it for safety measures,

2:22:11that should be something that we should remove  from maybe uh the end user incurring as a cost,

2:22:18right? That is correct because we already have  that permanent option that's there in place at

2:22:22the park. Um someone asked me about plans to so  we this would be on the front side. Someone asked

2:22:30about uh the back side potentially. Are there  already ballards there? Uh there are some small

2:22:37ballards that are there on the walkway near where  the uh where the Portland loo and the u area is

2:22:43where we have our AV equipment, but we're also  going to add some on the other side that's there

2:22:48where they come up to the stage to do uh the setup  for usage there. But those will be collapsible so

2:22:54that it can be erected when it's not being  used. So, we talked about Jersey barriers,

2:23:00and I want to be clear, the jersey barriers may  still be necessary, specifically as we look at our

2:23:06small businesses in that corridor, shutting down  the streets for events. So, that would be separate

2:23:13from uh anything that's related to Douglas or  outside of Napster Park, but those events that

2:23:18are happening in Napa Park, that will take care  of those requirements for security purposes. So,

2:23:22small business across the street wants to utilize  the park and wants to utilize street closures,

2:23:28they probably still need the jersey barriers,  right? It will be dependent upon what the size

2:23:34and the scope of what they're actually needing  to do. Anything that's happening now with this

2:23:38will just be providing the security for national  park independently. Okay. Okay. I just want to

2:23:45make sure by making this investment we are also  alleviating cost for folks who are utilizing

2:23:50the parks. That is correct. Okay. Thank you,  Council Member Tuttle. Thank you, Council Member,

2:23:57for that. That was really important for me,  too. And then I just wanted to provide a little

2:24:00bit of context. I wasn't here in 2018 when  the construction began on this project. Um,

2:24:05but I was in 2020. And I will say the question was  brought up is why we're these are not included in

2:24:11the beginning. The world has changed significantly  since 2020. We've had national events, world

2:24:17events where um we weren't even thinking about  back then. And and then also I will applaud take

2:24:22an opportunity to pause and applaud our Witchaw  Police Department and especially our new police

2:24:27chief. He has heightened awareness and concern  about safety. And so that is also I'm assuming

2:24:33some of the catalyst for this. But the great thing  about it is as council member Shepard brought

2:24:38up the cost for the users is going to go down.  And so just thank you Tim for all your work on

2:24:44this project and thank you to our Witchaw Police  Department for thinking of security and safety as

2:24:50paramount in Witchah. Tim, one more question.  As it seems like there will be consensus here

2:24:57regarding moving forward uh when can this actually  go into effect so that it can uh be much more

2:25:04thought of for the current uh event users? Sure.  Yeah, I think we're full steam ahead. We've been

2:25:11working with a um on call engineering firm and  plan to move forward with them to to put together

2:25:17construction documents. Um so I think they're  ready to go. We just need to get through uh

2:25:23the paperwork to get them off and running on the  project. We already have some internal concepts

2:25:28that we've been uh floating around and discussing.  So I think um I think it probably really comes

2:25:33down to when we can get a contractor on board and  get them going and scheduling. I think one of the

2:25:39things I do have some concerns about are are lead  time. Hopefully we don't have a whole bunch of

2:25:43lead time with these ballards, but I think that  the goal is to get it done as soon as possible,

2:25:47early spring is the goal. Uh, one more question.  So, we don't have exactly when they will go into

2:25:53uh the actual park, but I do know that trash  recepticles are is one of the um items that is

2:26:00coming forward with Navsker Park. Could those also  serve a dual purpose as well? If they could also

2:26:08serve as some sort of safety barrier or a safety  mechanism um placing those trash recepticles in

2:26:15those location that that could also serve that  purpose. Sure, good question. Um so there's

2:26:21actually um I can't remember who exactly is the  authorizing entity that does it, but different

2:26:27ballers have different crash ratings, so at  different speeds, different types of vehicles

2:26:31and whatnot. So a uh a trash receptacle wouldn't  have the same stopping capacity as these barriers.

2:26:38So our plan is to go with um industry standard  level security ballard. So it'll be a a robust

2:26:45system at the park. Thank you. Council member  Ballard. Council member Shepard. Thank you. Mayor,

2:26:53you making that point and hearing you. Tim,  is there a way I mean I think we talked about

2:26:58planters serving as ballers. Is that the  plan moving forward or is that something

2:27:02you're considering? Yeah, that's something we're  still considering. I think the the biggest thing

2:27:06is making sure I think it kind of comes down  to dollars and cents and how quick we can get

2:27:10it together. Uh we are considering that they do  make planters that are crash rated for those. So,

2:27:17it's really trying to find the right options and  trying to get them implemented in the right place.

2:27:21But yeah, that is something we are considering  as well. Yep. Awesome. I'm I'm thinking about

2:27:26the Flowers on Douglas and just aligning aligning  with the character that's already there. But then

2:27:30also what a help a good partnership might  be with downtown Witchaw if they're already

2:27:35doing an RFP for folks who manage the Flowers on  Douglas if we can if we can ask very nicely with

2:27:41the Smile if this is something that they might  consider taking on too. I don't know few few

2:27:45board members on the downtown Witchaw board up  here might be open to having that conversation

2:27:49again looking at efficiency and partnership and  I know that they do a lot of events at the park.

2:27:54So again if we're reducing the cost for the end  user they might be very interested in what that

2:27:59healthy partnership could potentially look like.  Sure. Great idea. I see no further comments or

2:28:07questions from the council. We will now open it  up for public comment on this item. I see none.

2:28:14I'll bring it back to the bench. This resides in  Council Member Sheepard's district. Awesome. Thank

2:28:21you so much. Again, I want to thank Vice Mayor  Glascock for really taking a look at the budget

2:28:26to figure out how we can make this happen.  And so, with that being said, I move that we

2:28:30approve the initiation of the project, adopt the  bonding resolution, and authorize the necessary

2:28:34signatures. Second. Motion second. Discussion.  Seeing none, madam clerk, please open the role.

2:28:46All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed,  same sign. Motion passes. 70. Madame clerk,

2:28:54please call the next item. Digital signage for  the new multimodal transit facility. Good morning,

2:29:04mayor, city council. Penny Feice, Witchah  Transit. uh here today to seek approval for

2:29:09some finishing touches at the hub. On uh December  11th, we issued an RFP for digital signage. And

2:29:16this is meant to meet um ADA satisfaction for a  system that displays real-time information about

2:29:21the arrival and departure of buses as well  as some emergency information if needed. We

2:29:26received two responses and both of those teams  were interviewed on February 27th. The staff

2:29:33screening and selection committee recommends Avale  technologies due to the vendor's experience with

2:29:38transit agencies of our size. Their cost proposal  is competitive and that will allow for a seamless

2:29:43integration with our existing software system. The  proposed solution includes 12 digital um displays

2:29:51that will be affixed to each to a column near to  each bus bay and allow for real-time information.

2:29:57There will also be three standing signs um one  on each platform and again these are fully ADA

2:30:03compliant compliant. They're dynamic so the  information can change as needed and um we'll

2:30:10I like to compare it to the arrival and departure  signage of the airport, right? Where's my bus?

2:30:15When is it leaving? Where do I need to be? There  on the left is an example of existing signage in

2:30:21another city who provides um transit service. That  middle photo is is the hub. So that sign on the

2:30:28left will be affixed to that column underneath  the C3 sign. And that will be repeated um for

2:30:33each bay. On the right is a concept rendering of  the standing sign that will go on each platform.

2:30:43This project is eligible for 80%  federal funding with a 20% local match.

2:30:47Uh the total contract is for $376,365.90.

2:30:54Um most of that is for hardware. Um  some of that is for software to be

2:30:58paid annually. And then there is $101,6610  for implementation and installation. Federal

2:31:05grants will cover $31,000 $31,92.70  with a local match of $75,27320.

2:31:16This is throwing me off today. Is recommended  that the city council approve the contract and

2:31:20authorize necessary signature. I'm happy to stand  for questions. Thank you, Penny. Questions for

2:31:26staff? I see none. We'll open it up for public  comment. I see none. I'll bring it back to the

2:31:35bench. This resides in council member uh and vice  mayor Glascox district. Mayor, thank you. I would

2:31:42move that the city council approve the contract  and authorize the necessary signatures. Second

2:31:47motion second. Discussion. See none. Madame  clerk, please open the role. Motion passes.

2:31:5570. Madame clerk, please call the next item.  Funding agreement with Cedric County for MABC.

2:32:05Good morning, mayor, members of city council.  Mark Manning with the department of finance.

2:32:08Today I want to go over a funding agreement that  we have uh negotiated with Seduit County for

2:32:14uh the funding of our MABC department. So in 2012  uh city and county staff went down the road of

2:32:22seeking how we could functionally consolidate  the MABC uh department particularly on the code

2:32:27enforcement side. Uh so we engaged stakeholders  uh we developed some plans and we developed a

2:32:33framework for consolidating uh the department. Uh  essentially uh we would uh trid out city employees

2:32:41through attrition and replace those with county  employees and then eventually we had planned to

2:32:46shift the collection of the fee revenue to  Sedwick County. Uh so we operated under that

2:32:52model for a few years and by 2027 the process had  matured to the point where it was appropriate for

2:32:57us to develop a a little bit better framework. So  the city and county managers both agreed uh to an

2:33:04agreement which specified some of the things that  we had been doing and that is that the collection

2:33:09of revenue would be shifted entirely to the  county and that was possible because the county

2:33:13was operating the computer system under which  we were collecting the revenue. So it made sense

2:33:17for them to do that and in return the county would  reimburse the city for our applicable expenditures

2:33:23in the code enforcement side. So that agreement  was in 2017. Uh fast forward to 2026 which of

2:33:31course was nine years later and we still have  a few remaining issues to resolve. Uh so again,

2:33:37city and county staff worked very collaboratively  over the last few months uh to identify those

2:33:42issues and to develop a a uh a funding agreement  that'll carry us into the future. Uh there's four

2:33:50areas I want to highlight for you in the funding  agreement. Uh one is centered around cash flow

2:33:55requirements which we needed to address. Uh the  other is the fee fund balance that the city has

2:34:00retained since 2012. Uh then we also uh talked  about uh how we would determine the reimbursement

2:34:08amounts and then finally we had fleet assets  that we uh needed uh and wanted to transfer to

2:34:13the county. So I'll go over them briefly. Uh the  agreement specifies how we develop the budget. Uh

2:34:19basically city staff uh figure out the technical  details of our MABC budget in the spring and we'll

2:34:25meet with county staff and by uh May of each year  the city and county will agree at a staff level

2:34:31on what the appropriate funding level is for uh  the city MABCD code enforcement side. Uh we'll of

2:34:37course include those in the proposed budget that  you see and presumably you'll adopt the budget

2:34:41with some level of funding. that level of funding  that you adopt then will set the reimbursement

2:34:46level from the county and the city expenditure  level for the city. Uh then we always true up

2:34:51at the end of the year. If we don't spend all  the money the county sends us, we will true up

2:34:55and and provide them any unspent funds. This model  incidentally is exactly what we do with two other

2:35:01city county funds which is the flood control fund  and the planning fund. Uh so we just used that

2:35:07model and we applied it here to MABCD. Let me talk  about cash flow briefly. As I noted uh initially

2:35:14from 2017, our model was the city would front  the expenditures for city staff and operating

2:35:20costs and then the county would reimburse us  quarterly but on a lagging basis. So obviously

2:35:25that created cash flow problems for us since  they were reimbursing us three and sometimes four

2:35:30months after we had expended the funds. So because  of that the city retained a balance in our MABCD

2:35:37fee fund and that balance was set at 1.25. 25  million. Uh we wanted to change that model again

2:35:44to more align it to what we do in planning and  flood control. Neither of which have a city fund

2:35:49balance. Uh they don't have a city fund balance  because the county reimbures us a little bit more

2:35:55promptly. Uh so the county agreed to reimburse us  in January and in effect front the money for us.

2:36:01And because they're willing to do that, there's no  need for the city to retain a fee fund balance. Uh

2:36:06so we were happy to provide that balance back to  the county and ultimately it was fee fund revenue

2:36:11again which the county is responsible for anyway.  Uh fleet assets uh the city has 11 vehicles that

2:36:19we use for our city staff in this area. We've  retained those vehicles for quite a few years.

2:36:25During that time we have charged the county cost  through our fleet fund both to maintain them and

2:36:31also to replace them. Those vehicles are at  end of life. Uh so it's an appropriate time

2:36:36for us to figure out how to transfer those  to the county. So what we've uh proposed,

2:36:41what the county has agreed to is that we will  transfer those end of life vehicles to the county

2:36:46and we will also provide them the reimbursement  funds that they have paid us over the years

2:36:52uh which is a little bit north of $500,000 and  then the county would be completely responsible

2:36:57for the fleet uh going forward. Uh so that  model works better for both parties. Uh finally,

2:37:04let me talk about term. This is an evergreen  agreement, which is to say uh there is no specific

2:37:09termination date. However, uh each party does have  an off offramp anytime we choose to pursue it,

2:37:15which is to say with proper notification, either  party can cancel this agreement uh as of May 15th

2:37:22each year for the succeeding year. In other words,  we do have an opra offramp if it's ever decided

2:37:26uh to pursue that. So from a financial  standpoint, I would emphasize this has no

2:37:32impact on the general fund. Everything I've talked  about is fee funds, uh, license fees, permit fees,

2:37:38building construction permits, those sort of  things. Those fees, incidentally, are restricted

2:37:43for MABCD type activities. So again, no impact  on the general fund. Uh, fleet fund will have

2:37:49a little bit of an impact. Uh, we will reimburse  the county. The replacement charges they have paid

2:37:54us over the years. We'll do that uh as early as  possible in 2027. Uh so they will have a one-time

2:38:00non-recurring expense next year, but again  essentially they're remitting revenue that they've

2:38:04collected over the last few years. Uh our fleet  will shrink obviously with the 11 less vehicles.

2:38:10So their operating cost should decrease by some  uh amount going into the future. Uh so again uh

2:38:19I would tell you again there's no impact to the  general fund and this is kind of just the natural

2:38:23process in this consolidation and hopefully we'll  memorialize it and fix some problems that we've

2:38:28had the last few years. So recommended action  today is that you approve the proposed funding

2:38:32agreement approve any necessary budget adjustments  and authorize necessary signatures. Uh so with

2:38:38that I'd be happy to answer any questions. Thank  you Mark. Questions for staff? Um I just had one

2:38:44question. Obviously, this is a consolidation that  happened many years ago and I asked the question

2:38:49of has this been successful and city manager  I think you had some comments regarding this.

2:38:57I don't have Thank you, mayor. I don't have a  full report about what the goals were 10 years

2:39:03ago loosely. Um I think from all measures they do  think it's successful in terms of how we've had a

2:39:10one-stop shop and how particularly if you talk  to groups such as WAB who is supportive of this

2:39:16agreement change um their focus has been this has  been a helpful um structure of government for them

2:39:23where they only have one entity to work with.  And so when you hear about a user experience,

2:39:28WABA is one measure that they believe that this  has been a good um consolidation between city and

2:39:34county service and they want to see it continue  which is why they're supporting this agreement.

2:39:38But um any indepth review of the consolidation has  not been done. Um so that's my short answer. Thank

2:39:48you very much, Council Member Shepard. Thank you,  Mayor. the city manager's thoughts just reminded

2:39:53me that um not a question but really a comment.  And I did have an opportunity to check in with

2:39:58some folks about how they feel in regards to this.  And I'll quote very briefly um that they feel that

2:40:03this is a step in the right direction that they  they really struggled in the past between the

2:40:08residential construction community and the city.  Um, but this is a step in the right direction

2:40:12and and how our city manager has patiently  absorbed information and the city staff have

2:40:18uh been going back looking into the history as far  back as 1990 and that this is a quick uh efficient

2:40:25remedy to a major concern that they've had with  fleet vehicle purchases for a while. So again,

2:40:30I just want to applaud the staff, applaud our city  manager, uh, for being a good partner because it's

2:40:34really important for us to be a good partner and  it's a testament through the folks who experience

2:40:38it firsthand that this is something that they  want and I'll be very supportive of it today

2:40:42for that reason. I see no further comments  or questions from the council. Thank you,

2:40:47Mark. We will now open it up for public comment on  this item. I see no one from the public who would

2:40:53like to speak. I'll bring it back to the bench.  With that, I will go ahead and move to approve the

2:40:59MABC funding agreement with Cedric County, approve  any necessary budget adjustments for the fleet

2:41:05fund, and authorize the necessary signatures.  Second. Motion second. Discussion. Seeing none,

2:41:11madame clerk, please open the role. Motion passes  70. Madame clerk, please call the next item.

2:41:21Zone 202636 with con 2026 101 amendment in the  city to PO 140 on property zone geo general

2:41:31office district with con 2026 101 to permit  warehouse self storage selfservice storage

2:41:37generally located on the east side of 135th  Street West and within 750 ft south of West

2:41:44Maple Street at 500 South 135th Street South.  Good morning. Scott Widel from the planning

2:41:51department here to present this item. So, as you  heard, the applicant is requesting approval of two

2:41:56things. The first is an amendment to an existing  protective overlay that's on the property. The

2:42:00second is a conditional use to permit warehouse  self- storage on the site. This item is being

2:42:05heard today because the DAB and the planning  commission recommendations both for approval

2:42:09are slightly different and I'll talk to you more  about what those are. In terms of the request,

2:42:14the applicants indicated they're requesting the  zoning changes in order to develop the site with

2:42:18commercial uses, warehouse self- storage, and  possibly residential. In terms of the property,

2:42:24as you can see here, it's generally located to the  south and east of Maple and 135th Street. Subject

2:42:30site is approximately 8.6 acres in size, consists  of one ownership parcel. is largely undeveloped,

2:42:36so it's open space with a small portion along the  south boundary in use for the golf course path.

2:42:42In terms of context, properties to the north  are zoned LC. Here we go. Limited commercial.

2:42:48And they're either within a community unit plan or  protective overlay. Um, and they're developed with

2:42:54large format retail and a and strip commercial  center. Properties to the south and west are

2:43:02zoned SF5 single family and developed with a golf  course and property to the east is zoned SF5 and

2:43:07developed with single family homes. In terms  of the staff report, it provides additional

2:43:12information about the applicant's two site plans  that were submitted. In addition, the staff report

2:43:18also includes an overview of the applicant's  requested changes to the allowed uses, screening,

2:43:22landscaping signage, and required pedestrian walk  system. The staff report also includes uh also

2:43:30identifies the applicant's request for waiverss  of conditions typically associated with warehouse

2:43:34self- storage uses. In terms of review, on August  27th, the MAPC, the planning commission reviewed

2:43:41this request and recommended approval of the zone  changes of the zone change request protective

2:43:46overlay and the conditional use. And that was per  site plan alternative number two which included

2:43:53the residences along the south subject site abuing  the golf course. And that vote was 12 to1. There

2:43:59were five members of the public who spoke uh with  concerns regarding neighborhood compatibility,

2:44:05lighting, security, traffic, developer  communication, and proliferation of self storage

2:44:10in the area. On September 14th, the DAB reviewed  the request and recommended approval with some

2:44:18modified text to the protective overlay, and that  vote was 7 to one. There was one public comment in

2:44:24favor of the alternative to site plan so long  as there was appropriate screening, lighting,

2:44:29and landscaping provided. The DAB recommended  changes to the protective overlay differs from

2:44:34the MAPC recommendation in the following ways. The  DAB recommendation would permit greater signage at

2:44:40the at the site. It would also exclude the  proposed self- storage buildings on parcel

2:44:454 from the requirement to have a pedestrian walk  linkage to the front uh sidewalk along 135th. And

2:44:52it would also permit drive-through restaurants  without a screening wall if located within 150

2:44:57ft of residential zone. Sorry, it's a little bit  detailed, but I just want you to know the nuances

2:45:02between the differences. Um, no protests  were received against the case. Therefore,

2:45:06the zone change can be approved by a simple  majority vote, uh, four out of seven votes. So,

2:45:11the recommendation coming to you from the planning  commission is to adopt the findings of the MAPC,

2:45:16approve the requested zone, the requested changes,  and authorize necess necessary signatures, and

2:45:22instruct the city clerk to publish the ordinance  after approval. And that would require again four

2:45:27of seven votes for the MAPC recommendation.  Alternatives include the following. You can

2:45:31approve it per the DAB and again that would  require five of seven votes because it's an

2:45:36override of the MAPC. You can deny uh the request  and that would be an override of the MAPC and

2:45:42require five of seven votes. Or as always, you  can return the case to the planning commission for

2:45:46additional consideration and that would require  just a simple majority, four out of seven. So,

2:45:52uh with that, I'll take you through some of  the graphics. So, here's the aerial showing

2:45:55the property. Here's the zoning map which you saw  earlier. You can see that it's actually the zoning

2:46:00on the site is split. It's LC to the west, it's go  to the east. Here's a map from the comprehensive

2:46:08plan showing that new residential is recommended  for the area. Now, this is alternative number one

2:46:14that was submitted by the applicant. Uh so this  is the one that has not been recommended to you,

2:46:19but just to show you what it show uh what  it illustrates is these are storage units,

2:46:23self- storage units in the middle. So that orange  uh color there and then on the west side are the

2:46:29commercial parcels that you can see laid out and  then this is a reserve uh for drainage I believe.

2:46:34Now this is alternative two. This is one that's  recommended to you. It shows the self storage

2:46:38on the north portion in the middle there. Shows  residential lots on the south portion there. And

2:46:44then it's largely uh the same as what you saw  earlier with the other alternative. Here's the

2:46:49notification and protest map. Again, no protests  were submitted against the application. And here

2:46:55are photos from the site. Again, largely in green  open space, some agricultural use, it looks like,

2:47:02looking to the south, looking to the west, looking  to the north. And with that, I'll stand for any

2:47:08questions. Thank you, Scott. Questions for staff,  beginning with Vice Mayor Klasco. Thank you,

2:47:14Mayor. Uh Scott, just confirming that the MAPC  recommendation and the DAB recommendation both

2:47:19are with site plan 2, not with site plan  one. That's correct. Yes, sir. Thank you.

2:47:25See no further questions. This is not get public  comment. This resides in Vice Mayor Glascock's

2:47:31district. Thank you, Mayor. First off, I want to  thank Councilman Johnston for also attending a

2:47:36meeting with the neighbors uh who are concerned.  I think this is an example of when neighbors and

2:47:40developers work together towards a solution, it  can be a better solution for the neighbors as a

2:47:44whole. Um, I just want to thank everybody involved  because I think um, we have a much better product,

2:47:49especially with site plan two. I think it fits the  character of the neighborhood and excited about

2:47:54the development. The neighbors were particularly  excited about some of the restaurants along the

2:47:59um, would that be the west of the location. Uh  they did express concerns and I would just like um

2:48:05the record to show regarding speed along uh that  would be 135th Street. It kind of has a curve.

2:48:13So when you're going around the curve, it looks  like you're accelerating and sometimes that's

2:48:17a dangerous curve. I have sent that um I believe  over to public works as well, but just looking at

2:48:22the speed because once this is developed, we may  have more people entering uh with the restaurants

2:48:27at that location and it seems that the neighbors  and the developer were both interested in that

2:48:31as well. So with that, I will make the motion to  approve DAB's recommendation. I also do want to

2:48:36thank uh the developer when he came when they came  before DAB had a list of suggested changes. Often

2:48:42they'll just say maybe what they want to change  but not with specific language. They came with

2:48:47specific language which made the process much  easier as well. And so I would make the motion

2:48:52that we approve the requested zoning change and  conditional use as recommended by the district

2:48:56advisory board. I move to override the MAPC. Adopt  the following findings. Approve the requested zone

2:49:02and conditional use with the DAB modified PO 140  language. Place the ordinance on first reading.

2:49:09Authorize the necessary signatures and instruct  the city clerk to publish the resolution. In

2:49:14support of the motion, offer the following  findings. The DAB recommended language will

2:49:18help ensure that f future uses of the property  will be more compatible with the neighborhood.

2:49:26Motions. I'll second it. Uh discussion. Council  member Johnston. Thank you, Mayor. Uh I appreciate

2:49:34being involved in this discussion. mainly because  I love to play golf and I play Auburn Hills

2:49:40a lot and I don't usually hook it into this  field, but I do slice it into that lake. So,

2:49:45uh that that lake level rises every  time I play. So, yeah. So, thank you.

2:49:52We have a motion second. Any further discussion?  Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please open the role.

2:50:00Motion passes 70. Madame clerk,

2:50:03please call the next item. Public hearing  and approval of the 2027 annual agency plan.

2:50:16Good morning, mayor, members of council. Sally  staying with the housing and community services

2:50:20department for the record. The item that I  have for you today is the 2027 PHA annual

2:50:27agency plan and capital fund program estimates.  So, similar to the community development programs

2:50:34that you approved the annual plan in May, the  public housing programs also have a five-year

2:50:40and one-year plan. So, this year we are looking  this 2027 will be the third year of that previous

2:50:47five-year plan. Uh, currently, actually, when  I this was written, we had 46 units of public

2:50:53housing. We're down to 26 just since this was  written. So, things are moving. That's great.

2:50:58um 3540 housing choice, EHV and mainstream  vouchers. Our our housing authority jurisdiction

2:51:06covers all of Cedric County, Butler County, and  Harvey County outside the city of Newton. And

2:51:12the annual agency plan really puts together  our method of rent uh rent determination,

2:51:18weight list policies, operational policies,  and provides an update on the previous year.

2:51:23As far as the capital fund program, the c that  program is specific capital for public housing

2:51:29properties and seeing that we're not expecting  to have any more public housing properties,

2:51:33we are expecting no capital fund funding. Uh  the plan schedule is very much scripted in

2:51:41regulation. We have to provide at least a 45day  public comment period which we published the

2:51:46documents on August 21st. The public comment  period ends today with the public hearing.

2:51:51We also convene a resident advisory board  meeting. We invited all 3,000ish section

2:51:578 participants. We had about 25 who actually  showed up um to have a conversation about the

2:52:03proposed changes. Today's the public hearing and  we have to submit the plan to Hood at least 75

2:52:08days before the beginning of the fiscal year. So  that is due no later than October 19th. So the

2:52:14update to the public housing program getting  short and sweet. RAD is is complete all four

2:52:20projects. We're continuing to sell those single  family homes from the portfolio and looking

2:52:25forward to terminating the public housing pro uh  program. And we know that those sales proceeds

2:52:31from the sales of those single family homes  will be invested in new section 8 project

2:52:36based voucher assisted housing including Parkland.  for the housing choice voucher program. In 2025,

2:52:44we served 3,376 families and distributed over $22  million in rent assistance on their behalf. Those

2:52:52f that equates to just over $6,500 per household.  The average income of those households was just

2:52:58over 145 and 52 and 52.52% of those households  were elderly or disabled. Those households contain

2:53:083,691 dependents and 704 of those households came  from homelessness. As you can see by this slide,

2:53:17we partner with most every homeless organization  in the community um to provide case management

2:53:23for those households that are receiving rent  assistance through the voucher program. So

2:53:31further updates on progress in the HCV program.  Family self-sufficiency, we had 124 families

2:53:37participate in 2026. Our individual and family  development program also assisted an additional

2:53:43eight housing choice voucher participants. The way  to work program in 25 had 161 jobs for youth. And

2:53:52we new vouchers. We received 44 tenant protection  vouchers um because Starky actually opted out of

2:53:58their direct contract with HUD and they turned  that rent assistance over to us to administer on

2:54:04behalf of those um clients. We received five  additional VASH vouchers to help us tackle

2:54:09veterans homelessness. And we just received 33  additional foster youth to independence vouchers

2:54:15which is a partnership with Department of Children  and Family, Ember Hope, and Witchah Children's

2:54:22Home to try and provide housing for youth who  are when I say youth, I mean 18 to 24 year olds,

2:54:28young adults um who came from the C foster care  system and are uh housing instable or homeless.

2:54:36The current uh administration is terminating the  emergency v housing voucher program at the end

2:54:41of 2026, four years ahead of when it was scheduled  to terminate. So that program will no longer exist

2:54:49as of the end of the year and we are working to  convert those households into other vouchers.

2:54:56So changes in our administrative plan. The housing  opportunities through modernization act we call

2:55:04HOTMA. HOTMA was passed by Congress in 2016 and  they are finally implementing for January 1st

2:55:12of 2027. 11 years took them to get this together.  So our uh administrative plan incorporates all of

2:55:20those regulatory changes related to HOTMA and  it affects most areas of the program and they

2:55:25are spelled out in the plan. All of these changes  are regulatory and we have have to implement them

2:55:31starting January 1. Other areas we've chosen  to make some changes in the administrative

2:55:37plan or recommending um is within leases in  the voucher program to cap late fees at 10%.

2:55:44under um there is no specific cap under state  law. It just says they have to be reasonable.

2:55:51Um and we've had some interactions with court and  Kansas legal services who believe that setting a

2:55:5810% cap meet is reasonable. Uh request for teny  approval. We're just stating that those forms

2:56:05need to be submitted by the landlord because  the landlord is the one who can tell us what

2:56:09we need to know about the unit. Utility search  charges. Uh, this just comes from experience. We

2:56:14had a landlord this past year who was responsible  for the utilities on the lease, but then trying

2:56:20to build a tenant for those on top. We're just  making it clear they're either responsible for

2:56:26the utility or they're not. It can't be a mix of  both. Um, we're recommending that vouchers when

2:56:32we issue families vouchers extending the time they  can look for a unit from 60 days to 120 days just

2:56:38because it is getting more and more challenging  for for families to find units. Reiterating that

2:56:44homeless referral based vouchers such as HPP um  or VASH vouchers that that case management has

2:56:51to be in place in order for that uh tenency to  happen. Payment standard decreases. So when the

2:56:58payment standards are set based on the small area  fair market ruts set by HUD and we're saying if

2:57:05those payment standards go down that isn't going  to be implemented until their first annual after a

2:57:1112 month notice period to give people lots of time  to know that there is a decrease in that standard.

2:57:18The national standards for the physical inspection  of real estate we call inspire that new standard

2:57:26has to be implemented by February 1st of 2027. We  are just saying we're going to implement January

2:57:311 with all these other changes rather than two  separate timelines. We've clarified that a unit

2:57:38will not go into abatement meaning hold rent  from a landlord if the unit does not have a

2:57:44utility the tenant is responsible for paying.  Right? That's just clarifying it. That's how

2:57:49we've been practicing it, but didn't have it  spelled out in in the plan. Obviously, we're not

2:57:55going to withhold rent from a landlord because the  tenant failed to pay their electricity. That makes

2:57:59sense. Clarifying that uh if there are damages  that the um landlord wants to bill the tenant

2:58:06for that they have to send notice to the tenant  and to us anytime during the the teny and up to

2:58:1230 days after the teny expires. and that if they  choose to nonrenew a teny um that the owner issues

2:58:21that notice that they're going to terminate at  the end of the term, they must provide us a copy

2:58:26um of that notice which must include the grounds  for termination that are consistent with their

2:58:32housing assistance payments contract. We received  no public comments to our proposed changes.

2:58:39Even with the at the RAB meeting, we spent  most of the time talking about home ownership

2:58:43opportunities with with folks on that call. Um, as  I said before, we expect no capital funds. So, the

2:58:49budget for 27 capital funds, there is none. There  is no impact on the general fund. The development

2:58:56and submission of this plan is required by HUD to  continue receiving funding. And it's recommended

2:59:01that the Witchaw Housing Authority Board close  the combined public hearing on the Witchah Housing

2:59:06Authority 2027 annual agency plan and 202731  capital fund program 5-year action plan. Approve

2:59:14the plans with any amendments made during the  public hearing today and authorize the necessary

2:59:18signatures to certify the documents for submittal  to HUD. And I stand for any questions. Thank you,

2:59:24Sally. Questions for staff beginning with council  member Hohheisle. Thank you, Mayor. Um, just real

2:59:29quick, Sally, the new vouchers that we have, is  that from the existing uh funding pool that we

2:59:35have? I know we've had some issues with trying to  increase the value of vouchers to match that. So,

2:59:41I see that we have some new vouchers. Is that  new funding or It is new funding. So, they do

2:59:46base that on our perunit cost, current perunit  cost when they issue us a new uh allocation or

2:59:53increment of vouchers. So, it is definitely new  funding that should then renew in the next program

2:59:59year. Okay. Did road to 21st housing legislation  help with any of that or not not these particular

3:00:07paths? No. Okay. Thank you, Council Member  Shepard. Sally, I just never want to miss the

3:00:13opportunity to say thank you for the innovative  work that you're doing. I'm so happy to see about

3:00:18the cap on late fees. Uh I think Yu and myself  and a couple other members I believe the mayor

3:00:23and council member Hohisel went to the the rental  uh discussion at Kansas Health Foundation about a

3:00:29month ago and I know that that's a discussion that  is happening statewide. So to see that we are a

3:00:34little bit ahead of the curve on this means a lot.  And then finally uh myself and Mayor Woo had the

3:00:40opportunity to walk through District 1, Northeast  Witchaw District 1 to see the great work that

3:00:45housing has done in partnership with our nonprofit  community and spreading the word to more people

3:00:50who have not been exposed to what we are doing to  try to make housing more available and increase

3:00:58the quality of affordable housing available too.  So, thank you for that and uh I know that you have

3:01:03a lot of fans who didn't know about that work  uh who are now been exposed to it. So, thank

3:01:08you. Thank you. I see no further comments from the  council. Thank you, Sally. Uh we will open it up

3:01:16for public comment. See no one from the community  and we'll bring it back to the bench. With that,

3:01:26I will move to close the public hearing,  approve the plan, and authorize necessary

3:01:30signatures for the submittal to the US  Department of Housing and Urban Development,

3:01:35HUD, of the Witchaw Housing Authority,  WHA, 2027 annual agency plan. Second.

3:01:42Motion second. Discussion. See none.  Madame Clerk, please open the role.

3:01:49Motion passes 70. Madame clerk, please  call the next item. Mayor, if I may. Okay,

3:01:55we will reset. We're almost there. The motion. I  mean, should we go ahead and just do this and then

3:02:02Okay. Okay. We're on a tight time. Okay. Okay. You  can go ahead. Thank you. Uh we're Madame Clerk,

3:02:10please call the next item. Approve that, pursuant  to section 204090, Council Member Johnson's travel

3:02:16expenses as estimated on the travel authorization  and expense form to attend NLC's 2026 city summit

3:02:22in Nashville, Tennessee, November 18th through  21st, 2026 for the purpose of representing the

3:02:28city of Witchaw by meeting with federal officials  consistent with AR3.1 be approved. Upon return

3:02:33from travel, actual expenses shall be reported  to the controllers's office. Move to approve

3:02:39that travel. Second. Motion second. discussion.  Seeing none, madame clerk, please open the role.

3:02:47Motion passes 70. Madam clerk,  please call the next item.

3:03:0326 summit Tennessee November 1826 for the  purp with federal officials consistent

3:03:12with AR3.1 be approved upon return  from travel actual expenses shall be

3:03:16reported to the controllers's office.  I move to approve that travel. Second.

3:03:21Motion second. Discussion. See none.  Madame clerk, please open the role.

3:03:29Motion passes 70. Madame clerk, please  call the next item. Approve to exceed the

3:03:36gift limit as established by the ethics  ordinance and accept the travel expenses

3:03:40pursuant to section 204090 for council member  Becky Tuttles's attendance and presentation

3:03:45at the American Public Health Conference in  San Antonio, Texas, November 1st through 3rd,

3:03:502026. The estimated gift amount will  be $1,886.40. The estimated cost to

3:03:57the city will be $185. Actual expenses shall be  reported to the controllers's office upon return.

3:04:04I move to approve that travel and a correction  on the witchah.govtransparency portal. Second.

3:04:12Motion second. Discussion. See none.  Madam clerk, please open the role.

3:04:20Motion passes. 70. Madame clerk, please  call the next item. Approve that pursuant to

3:04:26section 204090, Vice Mayor Dalton Glascock's  travel expenses as estimated on the travel

3:04:31authorization and expense form to travel to  Orlon's France to participate in the Witchaw

3:04:36Orlon sister activities and attend the 50th  concourses de laion on October 18th, 2026 for

3:04:45the purpose of representing the city of Witchah,  strengthening Witchah's sister city relationship

3:04:49with Orlon and participating in official  community and cultural exchange activities

3:04:54consist consistent with AR 3.1 be approved. There  will be no cost to the city. Council member,

3:05:00Vice Mayor Glascott. Thank you. I just wanted to  make sure that the update was there. There will

3:05:04be no cost to the city. I'm using uh personal  funds to be able to go to this. Um and I do

3:05:09want to just briefly say uh I'm really excited  because this will be 14 members of Run Witchah.

3:05:15Uh this is the 50th year of the and I'm going to  mispronounce the LA courses day Indian. Um, it's a

3:05:21unique run that takes place around the keeper of  the plane statue uh that Witchtow was gifted to

3:05:25Orlons. And so I was able to make this uh travel  work with another travel schedule. So I'm just

3:05:30popping over and uh going to present awards to  the half marathon winners while I am there. So I'm

3:05:35really excited about the opportunity. Thank you,  Vice Mayor Glasco. With that, I move to approve

3:05:40that travel second. Motion second. Discussion.  Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please open the role.

3:05:50Motion passes 70. Madame clerk, please call the  next item to see the gift limit established by

3:05:58the ethics ordinance for Mayor Liy Woo to accept  travel and expenses to attend the American Swiss

3:06:03Foundation's Innovation Forum on October 15,  2026 in Boston with programming at the Harvard

3:06:09Graduate School of Education in MIT for the  purpose of representing the city of Witchah and

3:06:14serving as a guest panelist. The innovation forum,  developing the workforce of tomorrow, is hosted

3:06:20by the American Swiss Foundation for the purpose  of exploring how apprenticeship-based workforce

3:06:24innovation and other talent development strategies  can help prepare workers, strengthen communities,

3:06:30and meet the evolving needs of employers,  bringing together leaders from government,

3:06:35business, academia, and the nonprofit sector.  The forum will examine practical approaches to

3:06:40building more resilient workforce systems on  both sides of the Atlantic. The estimated gift

3:06:45amount for program, travel, hotel, and meals is  $1,000. There will be no expense to the city. I

3:06:52move to approve that. Travel second. Motion  second. Discussion. See none. Madam clerk,

3:06:57please open the role. Motion passes. 70.  Madame clerk, please call the next item.

3:07:05approved to exceed the gift limit established by  the ethics ordinance for Mayor Liy Woo to accept

3:07:09travel and expenses to attend the Hunt Mayor's  Fellowship Program in Kansas City on October 16th,

3:07:142026 for the purpose of representing the city  of Witchah and serving as a guest panelist. The

3:07:19Hunt Mayor's Fellowship Program is hosted by the  Hunt Institute for the purpose of bringing our

3:07:23nation's mayors together to engage in thoughtful  dialogue, peer learning, and policy exploration to

3:07:29strengthen mayor fellows capacity as education  leaders. The estimated gift amount for travel,

3:07:34hotel, and meals is $1,000. There will be  no cost to the city. I move to approve that

3:07:39travel. Motion second. Discussion. Seeing  none, madam clerk, please open the role.

3:07:47Motion passes. 70. Madame clerk, please call  the next item. Council member appointments and

3:07:52comments. Council members, any appointments at  this time? Mayor. Council member Shepard. I would

3:07:59like to appoint Ashley Collins to the affordable  housing review board. Any other council members?

3:08:07I have several. I'll be forwarding this on to the  council as well as um the city clerk. I move um I

3:08:15would like to appoint Katie Dawn to serve on  the food and farm council. Scott A. Mhler to

3:08:21serve on the board of codes of standards and  appeals uh as a licensed structural engineer.

3:08:27I would like to appoint Pastor Pam Hughes  to serve on the Emergency Communications

3:08:32Community Advisory Board. And I would like to  appoint Jason Harper to serve on the Witchita

3:08:39Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees.  Second. With that, I will move to approve all the

3:08:45appointments. Second. Motion second. Discussion.  See none. Madame clerk, please open the role.

3:08:55Motion passes. 70. Madame clerk, please call  the next item. Council member comments. Council

3:09:01members, any comments? Council member Hohheisle.  Thank you, Mayor. Real quick, everybody come out

3:09:06this uh Saturday, 11 to 3:00 to former Lincoln  Park. We will be having a firefighter fundraiser

3:09:13uh for the museum. We'll have the old smokehouse  where you crawl out of bed and crawl out of the

3:09:19house. Uh firefighters doing various drills.  Uh dump tank for maybe a couple of people. So,

3:09:25wanted to make sure my colleagues and anybody  listening uh get that invite. Thank you. Uh one

3:09:32more comment. Uh on Sunday, it will be the Prairie  Fire Marathon, half marathon and 5K. There will be

3:09:38some road closures, but it is really good for our  community to see this uh annual event. Uh we will

3:09:44be participating, some of us uh in the 5K. There's  a mayor's friendly 5K that is not timed. that will

3:09:52be the one that I'll participate in and I hope  that uh fellow council members will also join.

3:09:57With that, I see no further comments. I am sorry,  but we have an executive session. That's the

3:10:03reason why we're rushing through. So with that, I  move that the city council recess into executive

3:10:08session for 20 minutes to receive information  on a contract pursuant to KSA 75-4319B2 for

3:10:17legal consultation with the city attorney which  would be deemed privileged in the attorney client

3:10:21relationship for legal advice. This executive  session is required to protect attorney client

3:10:29privilege and the public interest. This executive  session will begin at 12:15 p.m. so that we have

3:10:37a break. So 12:15 p.m. and end at 12:35 p.m.  Um and the meeting will resume in council

3:10:45chambers for a second executive session. Motion  second. Second discussion. See none. Madam clerk,

3:10:52please open the role. Motion passes 70. We  will now adjourn for the executive session.