Feb 10, 2025

SHAWNEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

February 10, 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. 

Tonight’s meeting was very short with no major discussion on any items. The only item of note is that the council approved the changes to the  Comprehensive Plan, which they worked in committee last week so there was no more meaningful discussion tonight. They mostly stuck to the changes suggested by the planning commission, though they did reject one proposed future land use change for a piece of land at 75th and K7, which the planning commission suggested for apartments but the council opted to leave mixed-residential based on resident feedback.

There was no Business from the Floor or public feedback. Most of the meeting was taken up by a 20-minute executive session - this is used in limited situations when the council cannot have their discussion in the public eye. Often it pertains to legal issues due to attorney-client privilege; this time it pertained to a 4% merit increase to the city manager’s salary based on his performance over his first year of employment.

Additionally, the Council considered the following:

• Passed consent agenda (unanimous)

• Approved slate of appointees to the Visit Shawnee Advisory Committee (unanimous)

• Approved final change order to the contract for the 2024 Mill and Overlay Project (unanimous)

• Approved bid authorization for the 2025 Mill & Overlay Program and Crack Seal Programs (unanimous)

• Approved Interlocal Agreement with Johnson County for reimbursement for the 2024 Stormwater Pipe Renewal Projects (unanimous)

• Approved 2-year extension request for Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) for the 43rd and Clare project (unanimous)

• Ratified semimonthly claims (unanimous)

At Council Committee, staff provided updates on three projects slated for the next two years: the KDOT 435 and Midland project, the 2025 Shawnee Mission Parkway project and the 2026 Midland Drive project. Communications Director Doug Donahoo shared what the city is doing on the public information side. Kevin Manning shared updates on the project maps and timelines. The northbound ramp of 435 and Midland was completed last year, and the southbound ramp will start in March and conclude between August and October of this year. The Shawnee Mission Parkway project may or may not involve adding a traffic signal at Vista Drive - two members of the public spoke in favor of doing something at that intersection, complaining of increased traffic. The Midland Road project is slated for construction in 2026; it will remain a 2-lane road but will be adding bike lanes, curb & gutter, and a sidewalk on the north side.

City Council Meeting: 

https://cityofshawnee.civicweb.net/document/307422/?splitscreen=true&media=true 

Council Committee Meeting:

https://cityofshawnee.civicweb.net/document/307425/?splitscreen=true&media=true 

Recap by: Alex Welch Blattner