July 22, 2016 City Commission Meeting

Announcements

• Employee of the Month: Mary Palacios from Municipal Courts was recognized for her diligent, hardworking, and friendly demeanor, as well as her fluency in Spanish, which has been instrumental in assisting the court.
• Avedis Foundation Partnership: Michelle Briggs, President and CEO of the Avedis Foundation, announced a significant 5-year partnership with the City of Shawnee to implement the Master Trails and Sidewalk Plan. This initiative aims to build 14 miles of sidewalks at an estimated cost of $3.5 million. The Avedis Foundation will contribute $350,000 annually through 📅 2021, matching city efforts dollar-for-dollar. The project focuses on improving health, wellness, and quality of life by connecting schools, parks, and neighborhoods.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Consent Agenda: The consent agenda was ✅ approved.
• Ward Two Commissioner Resignation: The resignation of Ward Two Commissioner Linda Age was ✅ accepted. A motion to deny the resignation failed due to lack of a second, and the City Attorney clarified the commission's role is to acknowledge, not deny, a resignation.
• Ward Two Commissioner Appointment: Ron Gillum was ✅ appointed to the Ward Two City Commission seat, filling the vacancy left by Linda Age, and was sworn in.
• Hotel Motel Surcharge Election: An ordinance authorizing the calling and holding of an election to amend the present hotel motel surcharge was ✅ approved. The proposal is to increase the surcharge from 5% to 7.5% of gross receipts or $1 per occupied room, whichever is higher.
• Special Election for Surcharge: A resolution calling for a special election on 📅 November 8, 2016, for the purpose of adopting the amended hotel motel surcharge ordinance was ✅ approved. The ordinance, if passed by voters, would become effective 📅 April 1, 2017.
• Ballot Submission: The ballot to be submitted to the election board for the hotel motel surcharge was ✅ approved.
• Sunday Alcohol Sales in Restaurants: A resolution asking the Pottawatomie County Commissioners to place a ballot title permitting the Sunday sale of alcoholic beverages in restaurants was ✅ approved. This is a renewed effort to boost economic development and attract more restaurants to Shawnee.
• Shawnee Park Edition Final Plat: Consideration of a final plat for Shawnee Park Edition (Case S416) was ➡️ deferred until the August 15th meeting, following the Planning Commission's August 3rd meeting.
• Property Rezoning (RZ-16-04): An ordinance to rezone property located on the east side of Harrison Street, north of Transportation Parkway, from PUD (Planned Unit Development) to C3 Highway Commercial was ✅ approved. This change was recommended by staff to "clean up" the zoning as the original PUD, established in 2008, is no longer applicable due to piecemeal sales and non-conformance.
• Airport Rules Amendment: A resolution to amend the rules and regulations for the operation of Shawnee Regional Airport was ✅ approved. This amendment eliminates a restriction (Section 7B) that prevented aircraft owners from hiring personal mechanics, allowing them to bring certified mechanics to work on their aircraft in T-hangers. It also adds a new section (9D) clarifying that T-hangers are for storage only and not for commercial use or setting up a business.
• 911 Wireless Telephone Fees Litigation: Following an executive session, the Council ✅ authorized legal counsel to file a lawsuit against the Pottawatomie County 911 Trust if a final demand letter regarding unremitted 911 Wireless telephone fees is not accepted.
• City Judge Contract Renewal: Following an executive session, the Council ✅ approved the renewal of the City Judge's contract for another year at a part-time salary of $50,000. Evaluations for the City Manager and City Treasurer were deferred to a future executive session.

Financial Matters 💰

• Hotel Motel Surcharge Discussion: The proposed increase in the hotel motel surcharge from 5% to 7.5% is estimated to generate an additional ~$200,000 to $250,000 annually for tourism-related activities. Staff noted concerns from hotel operators about the increase in a competitive market.
• Sales Tax Report:
  • July Sales Tax: Total collections for July were $1,475,000, an increase of $33,000 (2.31%) compared to the previous year.
  • Fiscal Year Performance: The fiscal year ending June 30th saw a total sales tax increase of $659,000 over the prior year, with retail sales accounting for $614,000 of that growth.
  • Education Tax: July collections for the education tax were $106,000, up from $63,000 last July.
  • Mall Payments: A quarterly payment of approximately $100,000 was made to the new mall, reflecting ongoing development and economic activity.
  • Overall: Sales tax, use tax, court fines, and franchise fees are performing well, indicating a positive financial outlook for the city.

Public Comments

• Legal Fees for CPN Disputes: Tom Claybrook, a citizen, inquired about the amount of money spent or owed in legal fees related to disputes with the Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN). The City Attorney stated that this information falls under privileged communication between attorney and client and could not be disclosed during the meeting. Mr. Claybrook expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of transparency regarding the use of public funds.

Agenda Summary Table