Jan 23, 2024 City Council

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:02]

THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

THIS IS THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE OLATHE CITY COUNCIL FOR JANUARY 23, 2024.

THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND WITH ME FOR THE PLEDGE.

[ALL] I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

[A. Consideration of Resolution No. 24-1004 appointing a member to the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Advisory Board.]

DO I HEAR MOTION? RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-1004 APPOINTING A MEMBER TO THE MAHAFFIE STAGECOACH STOP AND FARM ADVISORY BOARD.

THAT IS JANE JONES.

[MAYOR] I HAVE MOTION, DO I HEAR A SECOND? [MAYOR] I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLL? MOTION PASSES 7-0.

THE MAHAFFIE STAGECOACH STOP AND FARM.

IS A TRUE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL TREASURE. THANKS TO THE VOLUNTEERS SERVING ON THE ADVISORY BOARD, IT WILL CONTINUE BEING SO.

SO AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO INVITE MAHAFFIE STAGECOACH STOP AND FARM ADVISORY BOARD CHAIR DON SEIFERT TO JOIN ME AT THE, OR, TO COME TO THE PODIUM AND INTRODUCE OUR NEWEST MEMBER.

IT'S OUR PLEASURE TO WELCOME JANE JONES TO THE MAHAFFIE FOUNDATION BOARD.

I'M DON SEIFERT, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOUNDATION, AND WE'RE REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE HER JOIN THE BOARD.

JANE'S BEEN A MEMBER OF THE OLATHE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND AS SUCH, SHE'LL REPRESENT THE THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AS AN EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBER FROM THE SOCIETY.

SHE'S BEEN A BOARD CHAIRMAN OF THAT, SHE'S A RETIRED OLATHE EDUCATOR, 39 YEARS IN THE OLATHE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND JANE HAS SPENT PROBABLY COUNTLESS HOURS AND COUNTLESS HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS AT THE MAHAFFIE PROJECT DURING THE COURSE OF THEIR FIELD TRIPS.

SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HER.

JANE HAS LED HISTORY CAMPS THERE.

SHE'S JUST BEEN A VOLUNTEER AND SHE HAS SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL FROM MR. COURTNEY, BUT WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HER AND WE WELCOME HER TO THE BOARD.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE REST OF THE BOARD, THANKS TO ALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF FOR THE LONGTIME SUPPORT OF THE MAHAFFIE FOUNDATION. SINCE 1963 AND HAVE WITNESSED THE TRANSFORMATION OF MAHAFFIE FARMSTEAD, AND IT'S BEEN AMAZING, ESPECIALLY WITH ITS CURRENT LEADERSHIP.

AND I'M EXCITED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

AND I DO HAVE A DAUNTING JOB OF FOLLOWING BOB COURTNEY, THANK YOU. [MAYOR] JANE JUST HAPPENED TO TEACH AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

ALL THREE OF MY CHILDREN ATTENDED.

YOU HAD ONE OF MINE? OKAY, AWESOME. WHICH ONE? THE GOOD ONE! [MAYOR] OK, BRETT.

[B. Recognition of Olathe High School student champions and MNU soccer champions.]

WE ARE TRULY A CITY OF CHAMPIONS HERE IN OLATHE.

TWICE A YEAR, WE USE THIS OCCASION TO RECOGNIZE OUR INCREDIBLE STUDENT ATHLETES.

TONIGHT WE HAVE THE HONOR OF RECOGNIZING OUR OLATHE HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPION INDIVIDUALS AND TEAMS AND ONE NATIONAL CHAMPION TEAM FROM MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY.

SO AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MATT JOHNSON, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE OLATHE DISTRICT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO INTRODUCE OUR HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS.

THREE TIMES A YEAR, I GET TO STAND UP HERE AND AND DO REALLY WHAT'S ONE OF THE FAVORITE PARTS OF MY JOB, AND THAT IS RECOGNIZE THE THINGS THAT OUR KIDS DO AFTER 3:00 ON THE FIELD COURTS AND

[00:05:02]

SO IN THE STATE OF KANSAS KSHSAA AWARDS TEN TEAM STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS EACH FALL TEN DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AND THERE ARE 32 6A TEAMS, OR 32 6A SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF KANSAS. LAST FALL, OUT OF THE TEN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT WERE AWARDED THE TEN TEAM STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, OLATHE BROUGHT HOME FIVE OF THEM.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO RECOGNIZE THOSE FIVE TEAMS TONIGHT AS WELL AS SOME INDIVIDUALS.

SO IT IS MY HONOR TO WORK IN A DISTRICT THAT CARES SO MUCH ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT OUR KIDS DO AND TO WORK WITH GREAT PEOPLE, COACHES AND TO BE PART OF A GREAT COMMUNITY.

SO WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADO, I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE FROM OLATHE WEST THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, PAT BUTLER, TO TALK ABOUT THEIR STATE CHAMPIONS. ON BEHALF OF PRINCIPAL JAY NOVACEK, MY NAME'S PAT BUTLER.

I'M THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF OLATHE WEST, AND IT'S MY HONOR TO PRESENT TO YOU THE 2023 6A GIRLS STATE CHAMPION CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM SO THAT TEAM WOULD COME FORWARD, PLEASE.

KAITLYN WILLINGHAM, BREE NEWPORT, KATE MILLER, LIZ BROWNING, CYDNEY ALL, JAZMIN STEED, LILY BREWER, COLBY BROWN.

LAINEY CLEMENTS, CHLOE COOPER, AUDRA GONZALEZ, BROOKLYN WHITE, HEAD COACH KELSEY CARVALHO AND HER ASSISTANTS MACY CARVALHO, TODD CLAM AND KAYLA BARNES.

TELL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS TEAM, THE OWL CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM.

THE OWL CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM WON THEIR FOURTH STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN A ROW, SIX STATE CHAMPS IN OCTOBER AT RIMROCK FARM IN LAWRENCE.

THEY HAD SEVEN RUNNERS IN THE TOP 23.

AND THEY OUTSCORED THE SECOND PLACE TEAM BY 23 POINTS. IN THE WORLD OF CROSS-COUNTRY, THAT'S THAT'S DOMINATION.

IN NOVEMBER THE GIRLS QUALIFIED FOR NIKE NATIONALS FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.

THEY RAN IN PORTLAND, OREGON WITH SOME OF THE NATION'S FASTEST RUNNERS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING THIS SAME GROUP OF ATHLETES COMPETE ON OUR GIRLS TRACK TEAM IN THE SPRING, WHICH WILL BE THE RETURNING 6A STATE CHAMPS IN GIRLS TRACK.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 6A STATE CHAMPION CROSS-COUNTRY.

OLATHE WEST OWLS. AND WITH THAT, IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT OLATHE EAST MIKE WOLGAST.

IT IS MY HONOR TO REPRESENT OLATHE EAST, OUR PRINCIPAL, KERRY LANE.

AT OUR CEREMONY THIS EVENING, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OUR BOYS 6A STATE SOCCER TEAM PLEASE COME FORWARD. I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL 22 OR SO OF THEIR NAMES.

THE OLATHE EAST SOCCER TEAM FINISHED THE SEASON AT 17-4.

WHAT MAKES IT REALLY FUN RUN THAT THEY HAD IN THE STATE COMPETITION.

OF THEIR FOUR LOSSES THEY HAD IN THE REGULAR SEASON, THEY FACED THREE OF THOSE TEAMS IN THE STATE PLAYOFFS AND DEFEATED ALL THREE OF THOSE TEAMS. OF COURSE, STANDING AMONGST YOU ARE 11 INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL SUNFLOWER LEAGUE.

WE HAD FOUR INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE FIRST TEAM, ALL STATE AND THE 6A SOCCER COACH OF THE YEAR IS COACH O'GRADY WITH THIS GROUP AS WELL.

SO AGAIN, AN OUTSTANDING GROUP THAT WAS NOT ONLY GREAT ON THE PITCH, BUT ALSO GREAT INDIVIDUALS AS WELL.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 6A SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM FROM OLATHE EAST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GUYS. IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO TO INTRODUCE FROM OLATHE NORTH JENNIFER NOTEBOOM.

[00:10:01]

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR OLATHE NORTH GYMNASTICS.

THE OLATHE NORTH GYMNASTICS TEAM IS THE 2023 KSHSAA STATE CHAMPIONS.

OLATHE NORTH GYMNASTICS HAS NOW WON THREE TEAM TITLES IN A ROW, BACK TO BACK TO BACK CHAMPIONS.

THIS YEAR'S TEAM CONSISTS OF HANNAH JENSEN, SENIOR LINDSEY RAY, SENIOR, FAITH PHIPPS, SENIOR, GREER MOYER, JUNIOR, AMIRAH ALLEN, JUNIOR AND FRESHMAN OLIVIA NOTEBOOM.

IN ADDITION, SENIOR LINDSEY RAY WAS ALSO AN INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION ON BOTH THE BEAM AND THE FLOOR.

ALSO, AT EVERY SINGLE MEET THAT THEY DID ATTEND, THEY DID END UP GETTING FIRST PLACE AT ALL THE MEET.

SO CONGRATS GIRLS. HEAD COACH GO.

SORRY.

OKAY.

HEAD COACH HERRINGTON IS NOT HERE TODAY, BUT SHE WOULD LIKE THEM TO KNOW THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING GROUP OF ATHLETES THAT SHE'S EVER COACHED.

THEY SET THEIR MIND ON A STATE TITLE.

THEY WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

THEIR DEDICATION HAS EARNED THEM THREE BACK TO BACK TO BACK STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALSO COACHES AMANDA HARRINGTON AND MEGAN WILLIAMS. CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES, FOR EARNING THE 29TH STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN OLATHE NORTH HISTORY. AND THIS IS FOR I'M ASSUMING, THE BEAM IN THE FIRST PLACE, SO CONGRATS LINDSEY. NEXT IT IS MY HONOR TO CELEBRATE SENIOR STANDOUT ATHLETE ANGELEE HOCKER SING, SO COME ON UP ON ANGELEE.

THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT ANGELEE HAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED AS A CROSS-COUNTRY ATHLETE AT OLATHE NORTH, SHE'S A THREE TIME SUNFLOWER LEAGUE CHAMPION, FOUR TIME REGIONAL CHAMPION, AND MOST IMPRESSIVELY, FOUR TIME 6A STATE CHAMPION IN CROSS-COUNTRY HISTORY.

ONLY SIX PREVIOUS ATHLETES HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THE FEAT OF FINISHING AS AN INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION.

ALL FOUR YEARS, ANGELEE HAS MADE HISTORY AS THE SEVENTH ATHLETE EVER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS AS WELL.

THOSE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN WITHOUT AN INCREDIBLE WORK ETHIC.

A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF DETERMINATION AND DESIRE TO KEEP GETTING BETTER EVERY SINGLE DAY.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THESE AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THE PAST FOUR YEARS AT OLATHE NORTH. AND NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY DIRECTOR CATHY HILLIARD FROM OLATHE NORTHWEST.

IT'S MY PLEASURE THIS EVENING TO RECOGNIZE OUR STATE CHAMPIONS FROM OLATHE NORTHWEST.

THE FIRST STUDENTS I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ARE OUR BACK TO BACK STATE CHAMPION GOLF TEAM.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF REPRESENTATIVES HERE WITH US TONIGHT, MISS AVERY HIRSCHMANN AND CLAIRE SULLIVAN.

THEY WON THE STATE GOLF TOURNAMENT BY 24 STROKES.

AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, BACK TO BACK.

SO THEY WERE CHAMPIONS LAST YEAR, CHAMPIONS THIS YEAR. AND NEXT ON OUR LIST.

APPARENTLY OLATHE SEEMS TO BE PRETTY GOOD AT GYMNASTICS.

I'D LIKE OUR STATE CHAMPION ALL AROUND MISS EMMIE KELLER TO JOIN ME, PLEASE.

THIS IS EMMIE’S BACK TO BACK AGAIN, SECOND TIME AS A STATE CHAMPION ALL AROUND.

SHE ALSO RECEIVED A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE UNEVEN BARS.

EMMIE KELLER. OUR FINAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS EVENING FROM OLATHE NORTHWEST HERE.

REPRESENTING OUR RAVEN DANCE TEAM ARE ONE OF OUR ASSISTANT COACHES AND AN ALUMNUS OF THE OLATHE RAVEN DANCE TEAM, LAYNE STEPHAN AND TWO OF OUR DANCERS THIS EVENING, PAIGE MCCAIN AND OAKLEY JONES.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT OLATHE NORTHWEST HAS WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN DANCE SINCE THEY STARTED THIS ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.

[00:15:11]

[MAYOR] WOW, THAT WAS AMAZING.

AND NOW, AS A PRIDE PIONEER ALUM, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE KEVIN WARDLAW, COACH OF THE 2023 NAIA CHAMPION SOCCER TEAM FROM MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY.

ALSO TONIGHT, WE HAVE TODD GARRETT, WHO IS THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, AND PRESIDENT DR. SPINDLE, THANKS FOR BEING HERE. FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THIS INCREDIBLE GROUP OF MEN.

A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND TALK MUCH ABOUT SOCCER OR THE INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF WHAT THESE GUYS DID DAY IN AND DAY OUT ON THE FIELD.

I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHO THEY ARE AS YOUNG MEN.

I'VE BEEN IN THE MNU FOR 21 YEARS.

I'VE BEEN A COLLEGE COACH FOR OVER 25, AND I'VE SAID THIS MANY, MANY TIMES SINCE WE WON THAT CHAMPIONSHIP ON THAT DAY THAT NOT ONLY DID THESE GUYS DESERVE TO WIN IN THE GAME, BUT WHAT THEY DO OFF THE FIELD IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE AND A CULTURE THAT CONTINUES TO NEED LEADERS.

THIS IS A GROUP OF MEN WHO WILL ABSOLUTELY LEAD.

THEY WILL LEAD IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, IN THEIR HOMES, IN THE TOWNSHIPS AND PLACES IN THE REGIONS OF THE WORLD THAT THEY LIVE.

AND SO NOT ONLY ON THE FIELD WERE THEY AN INCREDIBLE GROUP, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IS OFF THE FIELD, THE WAY THEY TREAT EACH OTHER, THE WAY THEY TREAT THE OPPONENT, THE WAY THEY THEY THEY TREAT THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

AND OUR LEADERSHIP, OUR COMMUNITY, WHO THESE GUYS ARE AS MEN IS WHY WE WON.

THEY ARE INCREDIBLE FOOTBALLERS, AS WE SAY EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD EXCEPT HERE.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS AN AMAZING GROUP OF MEN.

AND I HAD SUCH AN INCREDIBLE SEASON WITH THEM AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PURSUE EXCELLENCE EACH AND EVERY DAY.

AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR THIS.

GUYS, COME ON UP. [MAYOR] WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES AND THE GREAT JOB THEY DO WITH DEDICATION AND REPRESENTING OUR CITY.

[7. CONSENT AGENDA]

THESE ITEMS LISTED BELOW ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAY BE APPROVED IN ONE MOTION.

THESE MAY INCLUDE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN A PRIOR PLANNING SESSION.

THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER REQUEST AN ITEM, BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY.

[00:20:06]

I WOULD LIKE TO PULL K, O AND P.

[MAYOR] OK, K, O AND P. COUNCILMEMBER VAKAS.

[MAYOR] ANY OTHERS? A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITHOUT ITEMS I, K, O AND P WOULD BE IN ORDER.

[VOGT] MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS A THROUGH Q WITH THE EXCEPTION OF I, K, O AND P.

[GILMORE] SECOND. [MAYOR] WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLL?

[I. Consideration of Resolution No. 24-1008 authorizing the BNSF West Track Separation Preliminary Engineering Project, PN 3-C-029-24.]

COUNCILMEMBER VAKAS. [VAKAS] PLEASE, THANK YOU, SIR.

I ASKED NATE TO STEP FORWARD JUST FOR GENERAL INFORMATION TO TALK TO US A BIT ABOUT THIS PROJECT, WHICH I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR OLATHE.

MR. BALDWIN, PLEASE.

SO, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, NATE BALDWIN, CITY ENGINEER.

SO JUST GOT A COUPLE OF SLIDES HERE TO JUST KIND OF TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS PROJECT IS AND WHAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO.

I THINK EVERYONE HERE IS AWARE OF THE TRAFFIC ON THE WEST TRACKS.

IT IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST RAILROADS IN THE NATION, 88 TRACKS A DAY, AND WE HAVE QUITE A FEW CROSSINGS ON THE ON THAT WEST SIDE.

RIGHT. AND THEY'RE NOT GRADE SEPARATED, BUT WE HAVE A FEW WE'RE WORKING ON ONE RIGHT NOW.

BUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR WITH THIS PROJECT IS REALLY WHAT CAN WE DO TO IMPROVE THE RELIABILITY OF EAST WEST TRAFFIC AND TIME TRAVEL? IN OLATHE? SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS REALLY GET THE PUBLIC INVOLVED AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE PRELIMINARY CONCEPTS WE LOOKED AT ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO.

WE SPOKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ABOUT WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

WE'VE GOT DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR WOODLAND ROAD, HAROLD, SANTA FE, LOULA AND THEN SPRUCE, EVEN THOUGH THAT IT'S NOT AT GRADE CROSSING, IT'S GREAT SEPARATED, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT'S NOT VERY RELIABLE BECAUSE OF THE HEIGHT THERE.

SO THIS PROJECT REALLY IS GOING TO INVOLVE A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT AND THEN TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE THAT RELIABILITY.

POTENTIAL DECISION FACTORS ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CERTAIN PROJECTS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S WHAT IS IT GOING TO COST US TO BUILD AND TO OWN IT? LONG TERM MAINTENANCE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WHAT DOES IT DO TO INCREASE TRAFFIC CAPACITY? WHAT ABOUT EXISTING ACCESS POINTS, WHETHER THAT'S ROADS, DRIVEWAYS? HOW DO WE IMPACT THAT? LAND ACQUISITION.

ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO DO LAND ACQUISITION OR ARE YOU GOING TO PUT PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES, PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR BUSINESSES? WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? RIGHT.

WE WANT SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY GOING TO BLEND INTO OLATHE. NOISE IMPACTS, YOU KNOW, HOW IS IT GOING TO AFFECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IF IT'S A PROJECT WE DO? AND REALLY ONE OF THE KEYS IS WE NEED BUY-IN FROM BNSF.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT THEM APPROVING WHAT WE'RE DOING.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

[MAYOR] ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? [VAKAS] ONE COMMENT, IF I COULD SHARE A BRIEF.

[MAYOR] GO AHEAD. [VAKAS] HEY, THANKS VERY MUCH, NATE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOVE AND A HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR TRAINS HERE IN OLATHE.

THEY'RE VERY MUCH A FABRIC OF OLATHE AND WE APPRECIATE THEM EVERY TIME THEY GO BY, BUT THEY GO BY A LOT.

AND CERTAINLY FROM AN EAST WEST TRAFFIC STANDPOINT, TRAFFICABILITY IS PROBLEMATIC FOR US.

SO THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS HERE ON SANTA FE, WHERE YOU CAN'T COME DOWNTOWN WITHOUT, ODDS ARE GETTING STUCK AT A TRAIN CROSSING.

WE'RE NEVER GOING TO HAVE THE DOWNTOWN THAT WE FEEL WE DESERVE UNTIL WE SORT OUT THE AT-GRADE CROSSING HERE AT SANTA FE.

IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT. IT'S KIND OF LOW-KEY.

BUT THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.

AND THIS YEAR, I HOPE AS THE YEAR WINDS DOWN, WE'RE IN A POSITION TO BEGIN TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS AND HOW WE GO FORWARD.

SO, MAYOR, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU.

[MAYOR] COUNCILMEMBER SCHOONOVER.

[SCHOONOVER] THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

SO, NATE, I APPRECIATE THE THE INSIGHT INTO THIS.

JUST FOR MY CLARIFICATION, THOUGH, AND I THINK FOR I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND THIS THIS PROJECT IS BASICALLY A STUDY TO SAY WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THESE EIGHT AT GRADE CROSSINGS? IS THAT IS THAT RIGHT? [BALDWIN] THAT IS ACCURATE, YES.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SOLVE EVERYONE, BUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS START LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN DO AND THEN START RANKING WHAT'S OUR NEXT PRIORITY.

[00:25:03]

WELL, ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH THAT, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO MOVE NEXT? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET THE MOST BANG FOR OUR BUCK AND REALLY INVOLVE THE PUBLIC IN SOME OF THOSE DECISIONS? [SCHOONOVER] WHEN ARE WE EXPECTING THIS THIS REPORT TO BE FINALIZED OR DONE THESE OPTIONS TO BE AVAILABLE? [BALDWIN] YEAH, GREAT QUESTION. I WOULD THINK BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

[MAYOR] COUNCILMEMBER VOGT.

[VOGT] SO NATE, WHEN CAN OUR PUBLIC EXPECT TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO HAVE THESE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS AND HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO INCLUDE THEM.

[BALDWIN] OKAY. YEAH, VERY GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MULTIPLE PUBLIC MEETINGS.

OBVIOUSLY WITH COVID, WE LEARNED THAT VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETINGS CAN BRING A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE COME OUT.

BUT I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO DO IN-PERSON AS WELL.

I THINK WE'LL WORK WITH COMMUNICATIONS, HAVE A WEBSITE THERE FOR SO PEOPLE WHO CAN'T EVEN MAKE ONE OF THE PUBLIC MEETINGS, THEY CAN STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT.

I WOULD THINK THIS SUMMER OR FALL IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

IT'S A LITTLE PRELIMINARY TO SAY EXACTLY WHEN, BUT WE WILL DO A VERY GOOD JOB COMMUNICATING TO THE PUBLIC ON WHEN THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE.

[VOGT] GREAT, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT WE'RE CONTINUING WITH THE VIRTUAL MEETINGS.

I THINK THEY'RE VERY HELPFUL.

WE GET MORE ENGAGEMENT.

WE HAVE PARENTS THAT HAVE LITTLE KIDS AT HOME.

THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF IT, YET IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SOMETIMES BE IN-PERSON.

SO I APPRECIATE THERE ARE SOME GOOD THINGS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF COVID VIRTUAL MEETINGS, RIGHT, AND DRIVE THRU AND PICK UP.

OKAY, THAT'S JUST SAYING.

SO UNLESS THERE'S ANY OTHER COMMENTS.

[MAYOR] I DON'T SEE ANY OTHERS, A MOTION WOULD BE IN ORDER TO APPROVE ITEM I.

[VOGT] SO I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-1008 AUTHORIZING THE BNSF WEST TRACK SEPARATION PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING PROJECT PN 3-C-029-24.

[GILMORE] SECOND. [MAYOR] WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLL?

[K. Consideration of a Professional Services Agreement with HNTB Corporation for design of the Quivira Road, 143rd to 151st, Improvements Project, PN 3-C-011-24.]

ITEM K IS CONSIDERATION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH HNTB CORPORATION FOR DESIGN OF THE QUIVIRA ROAD, 143RD TO 151ST IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.

COUNCILMEMBER FELTER. [FELTER] THANK YOU FOR PULLING THIS, MAYOR.

AND THANK YOU, NATE, FOR JUST STAYING RIGHT THERE.

I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS WONDERFUL PROJECT.

IT'S QUIVIRA ROAD 143RD TO 151ST, AND IT WILL IMPROVE QUIVIRA FROM A TWO LANE UNIMPROVED ROADWAY TO A TWO LANE DIVIDED ARTERIAL SECTION WITH TURN LANES.

IMPROVEMENTS WILL INCLUDE PAVEMENT CONSTRUCTION, CURB AND GUTTER, MEDIANS, STREET LIGHTS, SIDEWALKS AND PATHWAYS, BIKE LANES AND STORM SEWERS.

AND I'M ASSUMING YOU'VE DONE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY AROUND QUIVIRA, IS THAT CORRECT? [BALDWIN] NOT YET.

THAT WILL COME IN DESIGN PROBABLY LATER THIS YEAR, I WOULD IMAGINE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR FIRST PUBLIC MEETING WHERE WE INTRODUCE THEM TO THE PROJECT.

[FELTER] THEY'RE GOING TO BE SO EXCITED. [BALDWIN] THEY WILL BE.

WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM THEM FOR A LOT OF YEARS. [FELTER] YES.

I'M VERY EXCITED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. [BALDWIN] THANK YOU.

[MAYOR] ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? A MOTION WOULD BE IN ORDER.

[FELTER] THANK YOU.

[VOGT] MAYOR, MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH HNTB FOR DESIGN OF THE QUIVIRA ROAD, 143RD TO 151ST IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT AS PRESENTED.

[MAYOR] I HAVE MOTION, DO I HAVE A SECOND? [GILMORE] SECOND.

[MAYOR] I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLL? [MAYOR] NOW MOVE TO ITEM O. ITEM O IS ACCEPTANCE OF BID

[O. Acceptance of bid and consideration of award of contract to Conrad Fire Equipment Inc., for the fleet replacement purchase of one (1) Pierce Enforcer Heavy Duty Rescue (HDR) fire apparatus for the Fire Department.]

[FELTER] THANK YOU FOR PULLING THIS MAYOR BACON. AND CHIEF DEGRAFFENREID, WHEN I READ ABOUT THE FIRE APPARATUS WHICH IS A FIRE TRUCK ESSENTIALLY TAKING 44 MONTHS FROM APPROVAL TO PURCHASE TO BE DELIVERED, I'M SHOCKED IT'S STILL TAKING THAT LONG.

YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS? COUNCILMEMBERS, JEFF DEGRAFFENREID, FIRE CHIEF AND DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ALSO.

SO THANKS FOR BEING THERE THIS EVENING.

SO THIS RESCUE TRUCK WILL REPLACE A 2013.

WE PLAN IN THE REPLACEMENT CYCLE FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS.

AND UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, WHERE WOULD TAKE US LESS THAN A YEAR TO GET A NEW FIRE TRUCK.

BUT THAT'S NOT BEEN THE CASE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

THEY'RE QUOTING US 44 MONTHS ON THIS BUILD.

[00:30:02]

WE HAVE SEVERAL TRUCKS ON ORDER AND NONE OF THEM HAVE ARRIVED ON TIME AND THEY'VE BEEN PUSHED BACK LONGER.

WE TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER.

IT’S REALLY—RAW MATERIALS ARE NOT THE CHALLENGE ANYMORE.

AND REALLY THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB WITH RAMPING UP THEIR STAFFING.

BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MANY FIRE TRUCKS PURCHASED EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND THERE WAS NOW THERE'S A BACKLOG.

AND SO IT'S TOUGH FOR A COMPANY LIKE PIERCE WHO MANUFACTURES THESE.

AND IT'S REALLY A CHALLENGE WITH ALL FIRE TRUCK MANUFACTURERS, NOT JUST PIERCE.

SO WE COULDN'T CHANGE AND GET IT FASTER FROM A DIFFERENT VENDOR.

IT'S REALLY HARD FOR THEM TO INVEST IN A WHOLE NEW MANUFACTURING LINE AND TRAIN THE FOLKS AND ALL THE EQUIPMENT WHEN THE NUMBER OF FIRE TRUCKS BEING PURCHASED IS NOT CHANGING OVER THE YEARS.

AND SO IT'S A CHALLENGE THAT THEY'RE FIGHTING THROUGH.

I THINK WE HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS.

WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE CONRAD FIRE EQUIPMENT, THE VENDOR IN OUR COMMUNITY, MATTER OF FACT, THEY JUST MOVED FROM A BUILDING OFF OF SANTA FE AND RIDGEVIEW INTO A NEW FACILITY THAT'S BIGGER AND LARGER.

AND THAT'S GREAT FOR US WHEN WE NEED WARRANTY WORK AND SUPPORT FROM THE VENDOR.

AND SO IT'S BEEN POSITIVE.

BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS EVERYBODY IS CHALLENGED WITH THIS AND SO ON A NORMAL REPLACEMENT, WE'RE JUST LEARNING TO DEAL WITH THAT.

THE PART THAT'S BEING TOUGH FOR CITIES TO LEARN THROUGH, LEARN ABOUT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A MECHANICAL FAILURE WHERE TRUCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR, HEAVEN FORBID, AN ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING LIKE IT'S HAPPENED IN OUR COMMUNITY RECENTLY, NOT US, BUT NEIGHBORING FIRE DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE HAD THAT CHALLENGE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE RIGHT NUMBER OF RESERVE APPARATUS? AND I'LL SAY THE GOOD NEWS IS I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE TRUCK WE'RE CURRENTLY IN WILL BE FINE DURING THIS TIME, BARRING ANYTHING CATASTROPHIC, BECAUSE WE HAVE A GREAT MAINTENANCE CREW THAT TAKES CARE OF THESE THESE EMERGENCY VEHICLE TECHNICIANS THAT WORK FOR US, DO A GREAT JOB GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THESE VEHICLES.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON.

SO THANK YOU FOR A CHANCE TO TALK TO IT.

[FELTER] THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING TO THAT.

AND I KNOW CONRAD FIRE EQUIPMENT HAS BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO WORK WITH US, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC, WITH PARTS AND SUPPLIES.

AND AND THEY'RE AN OLATHE-BASED COMPANY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT. ISN’T THAT WONDERFUL? SO THANK YOU, CHIEF.

THAT'S I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.

THANK YOU.

[MAYOR] COUNCILMEMBER SCHOONOVER.

[SCHOONOVER] YES, THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU, CHIEF, WITH WITH KNOWING THAT THESE APPARATUS/APPARATI(?) ARE GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO GET OR IT'S TAKING LONGER AND LONGER.

I AGREE.

WE HAVE A WONDERFUL VEHICLE MAINTENANCE STAFF, BUT ARE WE SEEING THOSE KIND OF MAINTENANCE RELATED DOWNTIMES FOR VEHICLES? ARE WE SEEING THOSE BE PRETTY CONSTANT? ARE THEY INCREASING? ARE THEY ARE THEY GOING DOWN? [DEGRAFFENREID] WELL, THESE ARE COMPLICATED VEHICLES.

I'LL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, SO NORMAL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HAS REALLY BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE WE GET THE CHALLENGES.

WHEN YOU HAVE A VEHICLE THAT DOESN'T LIKE RADIATORS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND IT BECOMES A PROBLEM OR HEAVEN FORBID, THEY HAVE AN ELECTRICAL CHALLENGE BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY SMART VEHICLES AND THEY GET SMARTER ALL THE TIME.

AND THE SMARTER THEY GET, THE MORE ATTITUDE THEY GET AND WE NEED THEM TO WORK.

I MEAN, SO WHEN YOU HAVE AN ELECTRONIC LIMITER AND YOU HAVE A BASKET OVER A FIRE WITH FIREFIGHTERS IN IT, YOU DON'T WANT IT TO STOP MOVING, RIGHT? YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET IT DOWN SAFELY.

AND SO WE PUT A LOT OF TRUCKS OUT OF SERVICE FOR OUR TEAM TO TAKE A LOOK AT, JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY SAFE, MUCH LIKE YOU WOULD EXPECT A PLANE TO DO.

AND SO THOSE ARE TAKING LONGER.

AND I THINK WE'RE MANAGING THAT BY MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT NUMBER IN OUR RESERVE FLEET.

[SCHOONOVER] OKAY.

AND I KNOW THAT OUR MAINTENANCE FOLKS MAINTAIN NOT ONLY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S VEHICLES, BUT EVERY OTHER CITY DEPARTMENT'S VEHICLES, TOO.

SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THAT AS THOSE NEEDS INCREASE, HOPEFULLY WE'RE STAFFING UP AS AS APPROPRIATE AND TRYING TO RECRUIT APPROPRIATE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE TECHS AND EVERYTHING TO STAY.

I KNOW THAT'S OUTSIDE OF YOUR REALM, BUT THANK YOU.

[DEGRAFFENREID] THANK YOU.

[MAYOR] THANK YOU, CHIEF. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MOTION WOULD BE IN ORDER ON ITEM O.

[VOGT] I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE BID AND AWARD A CONTRACT, TO CONRAD FIRE EQUIPMENT INC.

FOR THE FLEET REPLACEMENT PURCHASE OF ONE PIERCE ENFORCER HEAVY DUTY RESCUE FIRE APPARATUS, FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

[GILMORE] SECOND. [MAYOR] WE HAVE A MOTION AND THE SECOND.

WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLL? [MAYOR] ITEM P IS ACCEPTANCE OF BID AND CONSIDERATION OF PURCHASE

[P. Acceptance of bid and consideration of purchase to Stryker Medical, for the purchase of one (1) Power-Pro 2 powered ambulance cot for the Fire Department.]

COUNCILMEMBER FELTER.

[FELTER] THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR PULLING THIS. CHIEF DEGRAFFENREID, WHAT DOES THE MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH UNIT DO?

[00:35:03]

WE KNOW IF THEY DON'T GET THEIR HEALTH CARE PROBLEMS TAKEN CARE OF, THEIR EVENTUALLY GOING TO BE A 911 CALL, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TIMES FOR US TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN SOMEBODY'S HEALTH DURING A CRISIS.

AND SO THIS TEAM REACHES OUT TO FOLKS THAT HAVE CHALLENGES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE CONNECTED TO THE HEALTH SYSTEM AND THEY HAVE A MEDICAL HOME IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HEALTH PARTNERSHIP, THE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SUPPORTED ROBUSTLY BY OLATHE HEALTH WHICH WE APPRECIATE.

AND SO EVERYBODY HAS A LITTLE BIT IN THIS GAME TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS OF OLATHE, THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF.

IT'S A TEAM OF ONE FIREFIGHTER AND ONE FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC AND A NURSE PRACTITIONER THAT ARE OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY TAKING CARE OF FOLKS.

[FELTER] THAT'S AMAZING.

AND THEN US REPRESENTATIVE SHARICE DAVIDS CONNECTED US WITH THE FEDERAL FUNDING OF JUST OVER $60,000 TO GET THIS AMBULANCE CAUGHT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK HER FOR THIS AND TO HIGHLIGHT THE MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH TEAM.

SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING US KNOW ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S ALL I NEEDED.

[MAYOR] ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? A MOTION WOULD BE IN ORDER.

[VOGT] I MOVED TO ACCEPT THE BID TO PURCHASE FROM STRYKER MEDICAL FOR THE PURCHASE OF ONE POWER PRO, TWO POWERED AMBULANCE CUT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

[GILMORE] SECOND. [MAYOR] WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLL?

[8. NEW CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS]

I'LL START ON MY LEFT. COUNCILMEMBER SCHOONOVER.

[SCHOONOVER] YES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR BACON.

I HAVE A FEW JUST QUICK NOTES.

FIRST, I WANTED TO GIVE A PERSONAL THANKS TO THE WONDERFUL FOLKS AT OUR CITY WATER DEPARTMENT WITH THE FROZEN TEMPERATURES.

WE HAD SOME PIPES BURST IN ONE OF OUR IN THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR, AND WE WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN THAT WITHOUT A HELPFUL PHONE CALL FROM OUR OUR WATER DEPARTMENT.

SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR HARD WORK, CERTAINLY OVER THE LAST WEEK, PLUS WITH ALL THE COLD WEATHER.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC UTILITIES FOLKS, I'VE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH THEM SOME OPTIONS OR SOME ISSUES IN MAYBE EXPANDING THE NEW FOOD WASTE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND I'M CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT DISCUSSION MOVING FORWARD.

AND THEN FINALLY, REALLY QUICK, I WANTED TO NOTE THAT THIS WEEK, JANUARY 22ND THROUGH 26TH, IS NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVORS WEEK AND I KNOW THAT HERE IN THE CITY WE ARE MOURNING, OBVIOUSLY A SHOOTING DEATH THAT HAPPENED JUST LAST WEEK.

OLATHE IS A PHENOMENALLY SAFE PLACE TO LIVE AND TO WORK.

AND I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR, OBVIOUSLY, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

BUT I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE KIND OF THE PREVALENCE OF THIS PROBLEM.

AND I HAVE SOME DATA HERE FROM EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY.

IN AN AVERAGE YEAR, 386 PEOPLE DIE BY GUNS.

IN KANSAS, IT'S ABOUT 265 BY SUICIDE AND 112 BY MURDER.

FIREARMS ARE THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG CHILDREN IN TEENS IN KANSAS.

NATIONALLY, IT'S THE IT'S THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH.

IN KANSAS, AN AVERAGE OF 31 CHILDREN AND TEENS DIE BY GUNS EVERY YEAR.

THAT NUMBER IS 3,012 IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE FROM 2014 TO 2019, 29 WOMEN WERE FATALLY SHOT BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER IN KANSAS.

THAT NUMBER IS ALMOST 3,200 NATIONALLY.

SO OBVIOUSLY IT IS, BY THE WAY, THESE THIS NUMBER, THESE NUMBERS ARE OUT OF DATE.

THEY'RE FROM 2020.

SO THEY'RE ABOUT THREE YEARS OUT OF DATE.

I DID HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH THE CHIEF BUTAUD TODAY AND HE REMINDED ME THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE GUN LOCKS, TRIGGER LOCKS AVAILABLE.

SO CERTAINLY, IF YOU ARE A GUN OWNER, I CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO PRACTICE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP.

SO WITH THAT, THAT’S ALL I HAVE.

[MAYOR] COUNCILMEMBER ESSEX.

[ESSEX] ALL RIGHT.

WELL, ON A LITTLE BIT LIGHTER NOTE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE HAVE HAD SOME CRAZY WEATHER, VERY COLD, LOTS OF PRECIPITATION, SCARY DRIVING CONDITIONS AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO, AGAIN, I KNOW WE DID THIS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

OUR STREET CREWS, OUR SANITATION.

MY TRASH WAS PICKED UP STILL.

[00:40:01]

AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

I MEAN, I HEARD THE SIRENS.

I HEARD YOU GUYS UP ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OVER THE CITY.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO.

AND I HAVE SPENT A LITTLE TIME IN ANOTHER CITY RECENTLY.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, THERE'S NO COMPARISON TO OUR ROADS AND OUR STREETS AND OUR CITY SERVICES.

SO JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

[MAYOR] COUNCILMEMBER GILMORE.

[GILMORE] NOTHING THIS EVENING. [MAYOR] COUNCILMEMBER VOGT.

[VOGT] I'M GOING TO ALSO THANK PUBLIC WORKS FOR ALL THEIR WORK, KEEPING OUR STREETS SAFE.

AND YOU PROBABLY DON'T GET TO LOOK AT NEXTDOOR, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE GET A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS TO OUR STREET CREW, ALSO TO OUR CREW THAT HAS GONE OUT AND PICKED UP TRASH.

AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE A KUDOS TO ALL.

I DO WANT TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND CHIEF DEGRAFFENREID LOOKED AT YOUR SIGNIFICANT EVENTS.

AND OF COURSE, MANY OF THOSE EVENTS DID INVOLVE EXTREME WEATHER RELATED TYPE OF EVENTS.

AND JUST SO OUR CITIZENS KNOW, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT NOT ONLY TAKES CARE OF HUMANS, BUT THEY'RE OUT THERE TAKING CARE OF OUR FURRY FAMILY, FRIENDS ALSO DOING A GREAT JOB.

AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE IT.

WE KIND OF GET HELD UP IN OUR HOME USUALLY.

AND THEN I WOULD JUST EXTEND TO OUR CITIZENS, WATCH FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS DURING THESE EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS.

TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

AND THEN FINALLY, JUST A SHOUT OUT.

FIRE MARSHAL WASSOM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP ON SOME CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATION WITH SOME CITIZENS IN WARD 4 REGARDING SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIMELY ASSISTANCE ON THAT, AND THAT’S IT.

MAYOR] COUNCILMEMBER FELTER. [FELTER] THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS TO CHIEF BUTAUD.

HE WAS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2023 DIVERSITY ADVOCATE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AWARD AT THE 20TH ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR LEGACY AND SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS DINNER.

WE'RE PROUD OF YOU.

AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO MAJOR JOHN ROWLAND, CLASS OF 94.

AT MNU, OF THE OLATHE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHO RECEIVED THE LIVING LEGACY AWARD FROM MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY, MAJOR ROWLAND SPOKE AT THE 18TH ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

COMMUNITY CELEBRATION AND DID AN AMAZING JOB. HE SHARED WITH US HIS MOTTO: “IF IT IS TO BE IS UP TO ME.” THANK YOU MAJOR ROWLAND FOR REMINDING US TO BE A LIGHT TO OTHERS IN THE DARKNESS AND ALSO I I'LL ECHO THE SENTIMENTS THANK YOU TO THE SNOLATHE ROAD CREWS FOR THEIR WORK KEEPING OUR STREETS SAFE AND THESE PAST WEEKS HAVE BEEN NEVER ENDING IT FEELS LIKE AND THANK YOU TO THE TRASH CREWS.

IT WAS DEFINITELY CHALLENGING, I'M SURE, SLOSHING THROUGH ALL OF THE PILES LEFT, YOU KNOW, FROM CLEARING THE STREETS.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WANTED TO BRING TO OUR RESIDENTS ATTENTION THE PROPERTY TAX REBATE PROGRAM APPLICATION WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS ON JANUARY THE SECOND.

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL AUGUST 30TH, 2024, AND REBATES WILL BE PROVIDED AFTER THE SECOND PROPERTY TAX INSTALLMENT HAS BEEN PAID.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, VISIT THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX REBATE PROGRAM PAGE.

AND THEN I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT TWO MEMBERS OF THE OLATHE FIRE DEPARTMENT ATTENDED THE RESPONSE TO RADIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION INCIDENTS COURSE AT THE NEVADA NATIONAL NUCLEAR SITE.

THIS ADVANCED COURSE USES ACTUAL RADIOACTIVE COURSE MATERIALS IN HYPER REALISTIC SCENARIOS BASED TRAINING SESSIONS.

THERE ARE SEVEN REGIONALIZED REGIONAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TEAMS IN THE MARC KANSAS CITY REGION IN JOHNSON COUNTY, KANSAS, JOHNSON COUNTY, OLATHE AND OVERLAND PARK.

THERE ARE TWO TEAMS. OLATHE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE ONLY REGIONAL WMD TEAM OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

THAT INCLUDES THE CAPACITY OF RESPONDING TO ALL HAZARD CLASSES, INCLUDING EXPLOSIVES.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

CHIEF DEGRAFFENREID.

THAT IS ALL I HAVE MAYOR BACON.

THANK YOU.

[MAYOR] COUNCILMEMBER VAKAS.

[VAKAS] THANK YOU, MAYOR. WELL, I THINK IT'S ALL BEEN SAID.

I'LL JUST OFFER IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT DAY TO BE IN OLATHE.

THANK YOU.

[MAYOR] CITY MANAGER MICHAEL WILKES.

ANYTHING FURTHER? SO WE RECENTLY PASSED A MAJOR MILESTONE FOR THE OLATHE MAYOR'S CHILDREN'S FUND. OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS ON THE MAYOR'S

[00:45:02]

AND THAT'S TRULY AMAZING.

THE VOLUNTEERS ON THE BOARD AND THE GENEROUS COMMUNITY HAVE NOW GIVEN $2 MILLION TO HELP CHILDREN AND THIS COMMUNITY.

THEY ARE AN INCREDIBLE GROUP AND THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY.

TO CELEBRATE THE MILESTONE.

WE'RE HAVING A CELEBRATION ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND, FROM 4:30 TO 6:30 AT THE FLEXBOX SPACE IN OUR DOWNTOWN LIBRARY.

THERE WILL BE REFRESHMENTS, DOOR PRIZES AND I'M SURE A GUARANTEED GREAT TIME.

SO IT'S ALSO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO THANK THOSE WHO MADE ALL THIS POSSIBLE.

THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME.

SO HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR TELEVISED PORTION OF TONIGHT'S MEETING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.