Aug 25, 2025

SHAWNEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

August 25, 2025

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. 

The main topic of tonight’s meeting was the 2026 budget and the decision to exceed the revenue neutral rate. As a reminder, cities will almost always take in more tax dollars each year (i.e. exceed the revenue neutral rate) than the previous one due to growth and inflation, even if they leave the mill levy (i.e. the tax rate) the same. Additionally, while many residents have concerns about their property valuations, those are set by the county and not the city. In fact, the city of Shawnee only receives about 20% of each resident’s municipal taxes. The governing body held public hearings about both the budget and exceeding the revenue neutral rate, as required by state law. One resident spoke in favor of leaving the mill levy the same, citing the Reserve Reduction Plan and Property Tax Rebate Program as more effective measures to address reserve levels and property tax relief than a mill levy decrease across the board. Three residents spoke in favor of a reduction, complaining of increasing property valuations (which are not set by the city.)

Councilmember Whitted favored a flat mill levy so the city can pay for stormwater repairs and essential services. Councilmember Burchfield echoed this, and reminded the crowd to look into the property tax rebate program. Councilmember Knappen, though he has voted for a mill levy decrease three times in the past, also favored a flat mill levy due to challenges including decreasing sales tax revenue, inflation, and increased insurance costs. Councilmember Murphy also supported a flat mill levy so the city has enough reserves to pay for emergencies. Councilmembers Gillette and Kemmling favored a mill levy decrease, believing the city can cut taxes to counterbalance rising property valuations at the county level. Councilmember Walters concurred, saying there is always somewhere you can cut. Councilmember Gillette’s motion for a mill levy decrease failed and the budget with a flat mill levy passed 5-3 with Gillette, Kemmling, and Walters in dissent. Councilmember Stiens was not present, but the Mayor does vote on budget items.

The governing body also discussed street improvements at Black Swan and Quivira. Staff presented multiple options, some of which included bike lanes and/or green strips between the street and the sidewalk. Staff conducted a survey of neighbors near the area and while neighbors directly adjacent to the project opposed wider options that include bike lanes, the bike lanes were very popular with everyone else. Mayor Sandifer and Councilmembers Knappen, Gillette,  all spoke to the need for bike safety. Councilmember Walters favored including the green strips for pedestrian safety. Two residents spoke of concerns about high speeds in the area, preferring a design that slows traffic. One resident, while supportive of the overall project, had concerns about stormwater runoff which staff seemed to address. One resident advocated for bike safety, sharing that “shared lane” arrows actually make streets LESS safe for cyclists than nothing at all, and that bike lanes are the safest option for cyclists. No vote was needed for this item as it was purely informational.

Additionally, the Council considered the following:

• Passed consent agenda (unanimous)

• Approved contract with Fry & Associates for park fixtures at Garrett Park (unanimous)

• Authorized the financing of firefighting equipment with general obligation bonds (unanimous)

• Approved Professional Services agreement for the 2025 Stormwater Management Program (unanimous)

• Ratified semimonthly claims (unanimous)

There was no Council Committee meeting tonight.

City Council Meeting: 

https://cityofshawnee.civicweb.net/document/312160/?splitscreen=true&media=true 

Recap by: Alex Welch Blattner