Apr 13, 2026

SHAWNEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

April 13, 2026

You can stream the full City Council meeting at the link below! If you don't have time to watch, here's my quick recap. 

Tonight’s meeting was quite brief with little discussion, but the council did move forward with contracts for several street improvement and pipe replacement projects that have been in the works and are part of the city’s strategic plan to replace aging pipes, add curbs/gutters/sidewalks to neighborhoods, etc. They also heard an update from Public Works Director Kevin Manning on outside funding opportunities from MARC that could help fund this type of project.

Five residents spoke during Business from the Floor. Four downtown business owners (Mike McVey, Mitzi Ryburn, Derick Shackelford, and Nathan Ryerson) spoke asking for the city to take parking and pedestrian safety into consideration when making plans for downtown. Specifically, they asked the city to revisit the traffic calming pilot project from 2021 which they felt was successful for their businesses but the council at that time ended prematurely. Councilmembers Burchfield and Reynolds both expressed interest in discussing options for pedestrian safety and parking downtown. Fred Schumaker complained of traffic on Hedge Lane Terrace between 67th and 71st and renters living in the townhomes nearby.

Additionally, the Council considered the following:

• Passed consent agenda (unanimous)

• Approved County Assisted Road System (CARS) program for 2027-31 (unanimous)

• Approved contract for 2026 Mill and Overlay program (unanimous)

• Approved agreement with Johnson County for reimbursement of Stormwater Pipe Renewal Projects (unanimous)

• Approved agreement with Johnson County for cost sharing of the Contain the Rain program (unanimous)

• Approved final change order for the 5900 Monticello Emergency Pipe Repair project (unanimous)

• Approved final payment application for the Garrett Park and Justice Center STAR Bay projects (unanimous)

• Approved final change order for the 80th Street Construction Project (unanimous)

• Approved revisions to Policy Statement 26 governing ADA accessibility on city website (unanimous)

• Approved contract for replacement of council chambers A/V equipment (unanimous)

• Ratified semimonthly claims (unanimous)

During Council Committee, the committee heard presentations from Deputy City Manager Lauren Grasshoff on the city’s Wayfinding Plan (signs that help navigate spaces and environments including directional, informational, regulatory, and identification signs) and Finance Director Sean Rocco with an overview of city funds and the budget deadlines for this year. 

Live Stream Meeting Link: 

https://cityofshawnee.civicweb.net/document/318635/?splitscreen=true&media=true 

Recap by: Alex Welch Blattner