September 30, 2013 City Commission Meeting

Announcements

• 📅 No Texting While Driving Day: Mayor Maynard proclaimed Thursday, September 19, 2013, as "No Texting While Driving Day" to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.
• 📅 Fire Prevention Week: October 6-12, 2013, was proclaimed "Fire Prevention Week," with a focus on preventing kitchen fires, the leading cause of home fires.
• 📅 Airport Fly-in: The annual Airport Fly-in is scheduled for Saturday, October 5th, starting at 7 AM (public access at 8 AM). The event will feature acrobatic performers, World War II aircraft, and kids' activities. Entry is free, with a $5 parking fee.
• 📅 Master Plan Capital Improvements Work Session: A work session to review and re-prioritize the Capital Improvement Plan is scheduled for Monday, September 30th.
• 📅 Taxi Cab Ordinances: Proposed ordinances for taxi cab regulations, focusing on equitable fares and safety, are expected to be presented at the second City Commission meeting in October.
• 📅 Electronic Voting: The implementation of electronic voting for commission meetings is anticipated within the next 30 days.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Agenda Approval: The meeting agenda was ✅ Approved.
• Consent Agenda Approval: The consent agenda was ✅ Approved.
• Shawnee Airport Authority Consent Agenda: The Airport Authority's consent agenda was ✅ Approved.
• Shawnee Municipal Authority Consent Agenda: The Municipal Authority's consent agenda was ✅ Approved.
• City Manager Performance Evaluation: A motion to defer the City Manager's performance evaluation for 30 days (to the second meeting in October) was ✅ Approved.
• Nash Construction Lawsuit Defense: Following an executive session, the City Commission ✅ Approved a motion to authorize the City Attorney to engage outside counsel to defend the city in the case of Nash Construction versus the City of Shawnee (CJ-2013-377).
• City Attorney Employment Contract Changes: Following an executive session, the City Commission ✅ Approved a motion to modify the City Attorney's contract to:
  • Include 180 days of severance pay.
  • Deem employees assigned to the City Attorney's office as city employees, reporting directly to the City Attorney for hiring, discipline, and termination.
  • Provide the City Attorney with a 5% merit increase in salary, retroactive to July 1, 2013.

Financial Matters 💰

• Sales Tax Report: The September 2013 sales tax report showed an increase of $63,000 for the month, bringing the year-to-date increase to $152,000. The city remains on a flat budget.
• Swimming Pool Fundraising: Phil Tomlinson reported that $238,000 - $239,000 has been raised towards the $1.233 million goal for the new swimming pool, with half of that amount coming from a matching grant.
• Storm Reimbursement: The city has received approximately $40,000 in reimbursement for May storm recovery efforts, with more expected. The city's investment in storm recovery is estimated to be in the $70,000 - $75,000 range, including debris pickup and staff hours.
• Budget Brochure: A new visual aid (brochure) is being developed to inform citizens how the city spends its money, breaking down expenditures by General Fund, Utility, and Sales Tax. This will be available to the community soon.

Public Comments

• Swimming Pool Fundraising: Phil Tomlinson addressed the commission, providing an update on the successful fundraising efforts for the new swimming pool and commending Mayor Maynard's fundraising abilities.

Agenda Summary Table