July 16, 2019 City Commission Meeting

Announcements

• Shawnee Forward will host a come-and-go reception for Interim City Manager Eric and incoming City Manager Chance on 📅 July 23rd, from 4-6 PM, at the Shawnee Forward office.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Consent Agenda: The City Council approved all items on the consent agenda.
• Appointment of Vice-Mayor: Commissioner James Harris was appointed Vice Mayor.
• Finance Director & City Treasurer Appointment: Ashley Neil, CPA, was approved as the new Finance Director and City Treasurer and was sworn into office.
• Architectural Services for Police Department Renovation: A proposal from TAP Architecture for design services for the renovation of 912 East Independence (former bank building) for the Police Department was approved. The project has an estimated budget of over $3 million, funded by the half-cent sales tax.
• Motorola Credit Corporation Lease Renewal: A resolution authorizing the renewal of the lease payment agreement with Motorola Credit Corporation for dispatch consoles, radios, and repeater sites was approved. This marks the sixth of seven annual payments.
• Rezoning 4900 North Harrison Avenue: An ordinance to rezone property at 4900 North Harrison Avenue from C3 Highway Commercial to a Commercial Planned Unit Development (PUD) for commercial development was approved. This allows for the creation of two separate lots with specific development restrictions, including no competing hotels.
• Plat Approval for 4900 North Harrison Avenue: The plat for the retail development at 4900 North Harrison Avenue was approved, formalizing the separate lots created by the rezoning.
• Rezoning 3939 North Kickapoo Avenue: An ordinance to rezone property at 3939 North Kickapoo Avenue from PUD to C3 Highway Commercial for retail development was approved. The applicant noted that the previous PUD restricted certain uses, and environmental concerns regarding underground tanks had been addressed.
• Preliminary Plat for Farrowing Hill South Addition: The preliminary plat for Farrowing Hill South Addition, a three-acre tract at Bryan Avenue and East Main Street for single-family residences and a new Friendship House community center, was approved.
• Senior Citizen Center Flooring Bids: The consideration of bids for the purchase and installation of vinyl tile and carpet for the Senior Citizen Center was deferred to the next Commission meeting for further review, as only one bid was received.
• Airport Engineering Services Contract: A contract for professional engineering services with H.W. Lochner, Inc. for airport projects was awarded for a five-year period, with fees to be negotiated on a project-by-project basis.
• Airport Late Fee Establishment: An action to establish a 1.5% monthly late fee on unpaid balances for airport hangar rentals, land leases, and fuel/oil accounts was approved.
• City Manager Appointment: Following an executive session, the Commission voted to offer the City Manager position to Chance Allison, effective 📅 August 2nd at 5:30 PM, with a salary of $135,000, to be formalized in a contract.

Financial Matters 💰

• Year-End Budget Amendments (City Council): The last year-end budget amendments for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 were approved, primarily for cleaning up accounts and paying remaining bills.
• Monthly Sales Tax Report: July sales tax receipts totaled $2,068,000, which is 1.24% above the projected budget increase of 0.75%. Use tax collections were notably 89% higher than the previous year, attributed to internet sales.
• Year-End Budget Amendment (Municipal Authority): A year-end budget amendment for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 for the Shawnee Municipal Authority was approved, mainly to cover workers' compensation expenditures and adjust revenue for debt service transfers.

Public Comments

• Citizen's Participation: No citizens came forward to speak during the general public comment period.
• Public Hearing - Rezoning 4900 North Harrison Avenue: No one spoke for or against the proposal during the public hearing.
• Public Hearing - Rezoning 3939 North Kickapoo Avenue: The applicant, Nellman Browning, spoke in favor of the rezoning, explaining that the previous PUD restricted development and that environmental concerns (underground tanks) had been addressed and certified by the Corporation Commission. No one spoke against the proposal.

Interim City Manager's Farewell & Commissioner Comments

• Interim City Manager Eric delivered a farewell address, highlighting key achievements during his tenure, including the Expo Center's remarketing, automatic meter reading (AMR) infrastructure, project manager savings, securing $60 million in bonding for water and wastewater upgrades, balancing the budget, reorganizing departments, improving the Senior Center, successful police and fire bargaining agreements, updating cemetery policies, a new fire station, and acquiring a new police facility. He also suggested future focus areas for the city: re-examining VSI funding, developing the Train Depot, addressing the vagrancy issue, and developing lakefront property.
• Commissioners expressed their gratitude for Eric's leadership, experience, and contributions during a challenging period, acknowledging his role in stabilizing the city's finances and setting a positive direction. They also welcomed the incoming City Manager, Chance Allison.
• One commissioner addressed public concerns regarding the 2018 audit, stating that all money transfers were legal, had a clear paper trail, and no laws were broken, encouraging citizens to consult CPAs for clarification. Another commissioner cited the city charter to clarify that interfund transfers, once lawfully appropriated, do not require further Commission approval.

Agenda Summary Table

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