Aug 26, 2024

SHAWNEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

August 26, 2024

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 was a big meeting as the city council finalized the budget for 2025. First, they held a public hearing to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate for the budget. This is required by state law when the city plans on bringing in more dollars than the prior year, which will almost always be the case in Shawnee due to growth and inflation even when the property tax rate remains the same as a percentage. One member of the public spoke during the public hearing, commenting on the Johnson County Board of Commissioners’ property tax rate and property valuations (Note: the city of Shawnee does not have any control over either of those things.) Then, they held a public hearing for the actual budget during which one member of the public spoke opposing the increased funding for Old Shawnee Days, feeling they already had enough assets in reserve and that the city is already funding them enough. Finance Director Sean Rocco gave a brief presentation on the budget which the council has been working in committee all summer. The proposed budget leaves the mill levy rate the same and is a deficit budget that brings in less than it spends due to mill levy decreases the past three years and a projected decrease in sales tax revenue. Councilmember Gillette once again brought up decreasing the mill levy by a full mill this year despite staff’s recommendation to leave it the same, and cutting the additional funding for Old Shawnee Days. Councilmembers Kemmling, Walters, and Stiens all voiced favor for another mill levy decrease. Councilmembers Murphy, Whitted, and Knappen (who supported decreases in past years) felt another decrease this year was unwise due to the budget already being a deficit and the decrease in sales tax revenue. Gillette’s motion to decrease the mill levy and cut the increased funding for Old Shawnee Days failed 4-4 with Whitted, Murphy, Knappen, and Burchfield in dissent and Mayor Sandifer breaking the tie. The 2025 budget as originally written passed 6-2 with Gillette and Kemmling in dissent.

The governing body also held a public hearing for the 2025-29 Community Development Block Grant program, which is the city’s plan for funding infrastructure projects and grants for local organizations. Councilmember Gillette raised concerns that organizations such as Catholic Charities would use the city’s funds on border crossings rather than rent and utilities as requested, but staff assured him of the accountability measures in place for these organizations.

One member of the public spoke during Business from the Floor, asking the governing body to support the Johnson County NAACP financially.

Additionally, the Council considered the following:

• Passed consent agenda (unanimous)

• Held public to determine that a fire-damaged structure must be repaired or removed (unanimous)

• Approved construction contract for the King Street Reconstruction Project (unanimous)

• Approved final plans and authorized bid for Johnson Drive and Maurer Intersection Sight Distance Improvement Project (unanimous)

• Approved final invoice from Lenexa for their share of the 83rd and Monticello Traffic Signal Project (unanimous)

• Ratified semimonthly claims (unanimous)

At Council Committee, the fire department presented their plan to start providing Advanced Life Support as they are the only city in Johnson County that does not do so. This would involve having a paramedic on every fire truck. Councilmembers Gillette and Knappen asked about the cost of this and the fire department did not have a cost estimate yet, but projected they would need 18-20 paramedics either by training their current staff, or hiring people who already have their paramedic certification. 

City Council Meeting: 

https://cityofshawnee.civicweb.net/document/302368/?splitscreen=true&media=true 

Council Committee Meeting: 

https://cityofshawnee.civicweb.net/document/302365/?splitscreen=true&media=true 

Recap by: Alex Welch Blattner