Dec 9, 2024

SHAWNEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

December 9, 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. 

The governing body held a public hearing to determine the fate of a short-term rental (AirBnB) at 50th and Ballentine in the McAnany Estates neighborhood. City Attorney Jenny Smith presented evidence of code violations from this property including occupancy limit violations on several dates, noise violations on one date, parking violations on several dates, and guests’ theft of a “We Hate AirBnBs” yard sign from a neighbor’s yard. The AirBnB owner’s attorney and property manager spoke in their defense, saying this property was purchased by a local investment group before the city passed their short-term rental ordinance. Before they purchased it, it was in foreclosure and in total disrepair. The ownership group spent a lot of money fixing it up which enhances the neighborhood, and have replaced their property manager since the code violations occurred, per their agreement with the city court. They stated they had no violations since the new property manager took over. Five members of the public spoke with complaints about this specific AirBnB or about short-term rentals in general. Ultimately, the councilmembers agreed that accountability was needed and unanimously voted to revoke the short-term rental’s license effective January 1. Councilmember Gillette reiterated his support for a total ban on short-term rentals in Shawnee; he unsuccessfully proposed this when the ordinance initially passed, but he promised to bring it up again when the ordinance comes up for review in February.

The city council also agreed to purchase 17.24 acres of property which is the last developable piece of land adjacent to the Valley of Champions. The city council considered this in 2022 and neglected to act, but staff proposed it again this year after negotiating a lower price and after other prospective buyers expressed interest. Councilmembers Knappen and Murphy supported this purchase because it allows the city to ensure that whatever is built there can generate revenue from visitors (as opposed to something like storage units.) Councilmembers Gillette and Walters disagreed, believing it is not the role of city government to control the use of land. The land purchase passed 6-2 with Gillette and Walters in dissent; Councilmember Kemmling was absent, but Mayor Sandifer voted since the mayor’s vote is required for a land purchase.

The governing body heard an update from staff on the Comprehensive Plan Review process, which is currently in the works with the planning commission and should come in front of the council committee in January with the planning commission's recommendations. Councilmember Gillette expressed his desire for a full weekend retreat to discuss changes to the comprehensive plan and in general seemed to have a lot of ideas to put forth. He has stated multiple times in the past his interest in revising the multifamily housing guidelines in the comprehensive plan since he was not on city council when it was adopted. Gillette and several other councilmembers will be meeting with staff in the coming weeks to provide their perspective before working this in committee in January. There wasn’t much discussion or contention tonight, but I bring it up because I expect this will be a hot topic in the new year.

One member from the public spoke during Business from the Floor, presenting the City Manager with a Hanukkah menorah he purchased for the city to display at City Hall since they also have a Christmas tree.

Additionally, the Council considered the following:

• Passed consent agenda (unanimous)

• Re-elected Councilmember Knappen as Council President for 2025 (unanimous)

• Passed the 2024 Amended Budget (unanimous)

• Passed the 2025 Federal and State legislative priorities (unanimous)

• Passed 2025 Property & Casualty Insurance renewal (unanimous)

• Approved SEED Agreement for Choppers Hair Studio (6-1, Walters in dissent)

• Renewed downtown common consumption area (unanimous)

• Accepted grant funds from MARC to develop a Downtown Wayfinding Plan & Policy for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers (6-1, Gillette in dissent)

• Approved agreement with Johnson County for reimbursement of Engineering and Construction Services for storm improvements at Mid-America West Sport Complex (unanimous)

• Approved Architectural Services contract for the Justice Center expansion project (unanimous)

• Approved Construction contract and final plans for the 2025 Annual Stormwater Pipe Repair Project (unanimous)

• Approved 2026-2035 Street Improvement Plan (unanimous)

• Ratified semimonthly claims (unanimous)

There was no council committee. Additionally, there is no meeting scheduled on December 23, so the next meeting will be on January 13. See you in 2025!

City Council Meeting: 

https://cityofshawnee.civicweb.net/document/304611/?splitscreen=true&media=true 

Recap by: Alex Welch Blattner