Jun 24, 2024

SHAWNEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

June 24, 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’s meeting was relatively brief, and most items didn’t generate any discussion. The one agenda item discussed was changes to Policy Statement 7, which governs how the governing body conducts their meetings. Currently PS-7 allows councilmembers to attend 2 meetings per year remotely. Staff recommended updating this language to allow for additional remote attendance if needed due to a reason covered by the Family Medical Leave Act (e.g. hospitalization, serious illness of a close family member, etc.) Councilmembers Kemmling, Knappen, and Walters all expressed interest in relaxing this further, feeling that the current governing body does not abuse this privilege. Ultimately, the governing body agreed unanimously to allow for each member to attend up to 5 meetings remotely per year, with additional remote attendance allowed as an FMLA accommodation. 

During Business from the Floor, one member of the public brought a petition to the council signed by his neighbors with concerns about speeding in their neighborhood. Another complained about the utility work that has caused multiple closures of Quivira Road recently. City Manager Paul Kramer provided an update on this project, explaining that previously it had been closed for a WaterOne project that had to be completed before the current stormwater improvements could take place. Updates are being made in short stretches to minimize impact so the current closure from 75th to 71st Street will end July 5. The second phase from 71st to 67th will be July 8-19, and then the final phase from 67th to 65th will last July 29 to August 2.

During Miscellaneous Council Items, Councilmember Stiens thanked staff for getting the Gleason Road improvement project through. City Manager Paul Kramer also reminded the public that firework sales begin June 27, with the use of fireworks being allowed on July 3-4. Police are focusing on education but will issue citations if regulations are broken.

Additionally, the Council considered the following:

• Passed consent agenda (unanimous)

• Approved mayor’s appointments and reappointments to city boards (unanimous)

• Approved contract for 65th and Lackman CMP Replacement Project (unanimous)

• Approved amendments to 2016-2018, 2019-2021, and 2022-2024 Johnson County HOME Consortium MOUs (unanimous)

• Approved Ratified semimonthly claims (unanimous)

At Council Committee, the committee heard presentations from the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce and Visit Shawnee, and also from city staff on the Capital Improvement Plan and the  special revenue funds for the 2025 budget. There were a few comments and clarifying questions, but no meaningful discussion to report. The committee also discussed staff’s proposed changes to Johnson Drive from King to Bluejacket. The project’s goal is to increase walkability and pedestrian safety on the downtown stretch of Johnson Drive by making changes that do not affect the road, but drive pedestrians toward crosswalks instead of crossing in the middle of the street. It also adds gathering spaces that can be used during downtown events. Multiple business owners and residents spoke at the meeting in favor of increased pedestrian safety downtown and a general effort to slow traffic and reduce focus on cars especially in this part of Shawnee.

Staff had originally proposed this project with a cost of about $1 million, but the council allocated $500,000 of leftover ARPA funds for it and asked them to come back with a reduced project. Staff found additional funding so the proposed updates will cost about $750,000, with a few additional add-ons if the committee chooses. The committee opted for brick pavers over concrete pavers, which will cost an additional $13,000 up-front but will last more than twice as long, so will incur lower maintenance and replacement costs over time. They opted not to add-on tree uplights or the shaded pavilion, but can explore adding the pavilion in the future. There were some questions about the safety and efficacy of the crosswalk beacon lighting proposed, so staff will review that further before this comes before the full council.

City Council Meeting: 

https://cityofshawnee.civicweb.net/document/299895/?splitscreen=true&media=true 

Council Committee Meeting: 

https://cityofshawnee.civicweb.net/document/299892/?splitscreen=true&media=true 

Recap by: Alex Welch Blattner