City Council - Regular Meeting

the best place to work. I love working here. I feel very blessed. I love it here. I look forward to coming to work every day, being a part of this team. Like a family away from home where everyone feels like everybody knows their name. A city that supports you. We see that with our benefits, a pension, vacation days, job security, being able to be heard. We feel valued. We feel respected. Lee Summit is a very progressive city. It's growing. It's thriving. We have this drive towards not just doing a job, but doing it with a spirit of excellence. I had the opportunity to continue to grow regardless of 30 plus years doing this kind of work. It's more than just dollars and cents. We're here really to give back. Providing a service to better a community,

to go out and serve people, to be a part of something bigger than yourself.

If I would have known what I know now years ago, I would have been here much sooner. Hello, Lee Summit. I'm Jordan. Here's your flash briefing for the week of March 9th. City Council will meet for a regular session Tuesday night at 6 in council chambers in city hall. Meetings are open to the public or watch live on the city's YouTube channel. If you can't watch, catch the recorded meeting on demand on the YouTube channel or by subscribing to the council debrief newsletter, which breaks down three to four key agenda items. The community is invited to attend the wellness fun on Sunday, March 15th from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Green Street. This event is hosted by the Wellness Commission and promotes the eight dimensions of wellness. Discover local wellness resources, attend free yoga and fitness classes, and play mini golf. and the Charter Review Commission will hold a listening session to discuss the city charter on March 16th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Green Street Market. The listening session is an opportunity for residents to share their thoughts and feedback on specific areas of the charter. For information about these items and more, visit the city's website at cityofls.net. Thanks for listening and have a great week. The city of Lee Summit has hundreds of traffic lights across its more than 1,000 lane miles, all managed by the city's public works traffic technicians. The work happens inside those metal boxes on the side of each intersection. Inside, technicians program a device called the controller. The controller communicates directly with each signal head via underground wires, telling each light when to turn on and off based on a program cycle. City traffic engineers designed this cycle to allow traffic to flow as efficiently as possible for that particular intersection in order to best match current traffic patterns. They install something called a detection

system. Detection systems have taken many forms over the years from sensors in the pavement to radar boxes. But in Lee Summit, they primarily consist of cameras which workers mount above the traffic signals. These cameras don't record video or your speed. Instead, they monitor the spaces at the front of the intersection and identify when a vehicle is present in a specific spot. Once a vehicle is identified, the detection system sends a message to the controller, which then adapts its standard cycle to best serve the cars that are present. The pedestrian button works in a similar way. When the button is pressed, the controller receives a signal, requesting that it allow that section of the pedestrian walkway to go, which it then inserts into the signal pattern. Technicians also install something called a conflict monitor. The conflict monitor is a device in which they program all the potential patterns of lights that would lead to a collision. If the other systems mistakenly trigger those patterns, the conflict monitor sends the intersection into flash, causing all lights to flash red and directing drivers to treat it like an all-way stop. City traffic technicians implement and maintain these systems so effectively we rarely consider them. But every time we safely pass through a signal controlled intersection, it's all thanks to their work. So the next time you're waiting at a red light, remember the delicate coordination of super smart systems that move you through that space safely and efficiently every day. Welcome to the Lee Summit sign department. We are going to walk you through our process from start to finish. We make signs as needed here. It's not like we just go out into the field and place a speed limit sign here. No parking here. Our traffic engineers, they go through and they'll do field studies. They'll send us down an engineering work order for us to go out, place new signs or remove signs as

needed. Coming from the material, our blanks come in and they're just aluminum blanks. We can put our white, our red, our, you know, our fluorescent yellow, green, whatever. And basically what it looks like is just that there. Throw it up into the the roller. And once we got it covered, take it to our work table here and Tim will cut the corners, cut all the access off to where it's uh lined up. Right. As far as the plotter and the software that we use, there's a street name sign there and he's going to go ahead and print that out on the plotter so you can see the plotter and how it operates and runs. There's standards for the height even just on letters on the sign board. Basically, what we have on the computer there is it's pretty much set up to those and it goes through it's got a very small but sharp needle that goes through and cuts everything out letter by letter. Once that's done uh cutting, our next stage would be bringing it over here. Currently picking out the sign letters right now. We call it weeding or picking or however you want to call it. Next, putting it on the transfer tape. Then after it's taped, we bring it over to the roller. That's where we apply it to the actual sign blank. We'll roll it through one time just to get the air bubbles out. And the last stage is basically just uh taking the transfer tape off the front of it. And there's a finished product of street name sign. We'll take you out to

the field and show you our process that we go through. We're going to go out and follow our sign guys, get something installed for you. This is where we check our underground utilities. Tim, you got AT&T? AT&T is back here.

Everg Google. We should be good to go. We normally put all of our stuff together out in the field. Then once the base is installed, we'll go ahead and put the post in there. Come up to Perfect. That's how we do it. Simple, quick. Heat. Heat.

I really love living in our historic downtown. Um I walk my dog around. Um the shops take her for they you know they do pup cups at Poppies so you can get ice cream with a little dog biscuit in it which is her favorite thing in the world. My neighbors we have block parties together. Um I just I really like how welcoming and how vibrant it is. It's a it's an amazing place to live. Leon is a really great community. I love living here and I just wanted to try to find a way to give back. um look out for my neighbors, for the community. I've always tried to be um involved. Before serving on city council, I used to volunteer with AFS, which is an organization that um hosts foreign exchange students. So, my husband and I have hosted kids from around the world and then also volunteered with local families and schools. In my professional life, I'm a parallegal. Um and then in my personal life, um I enjoy reading, sewing. I'm I'm a quilter. So, I just finished a log cabin quilt that I'm going to send to my aunt out in DC. I can't claim any of our council accomplishments for myself. This is all always a team effort, but I am really excited about the uh farmers market event space that we have coming in. It's still in the design phases, but I think it's going to be a really beautiful space and it's going to really um continue keeping our downtown thriving. It's been in progress for a long time, but I think that people are going to really love it when it's done. I think one of my top priorities is going to be attainable housing that um for example, I've been trying to find a place um for my mom and Lee Summit. It's really challenging finding something um that really works for a retiree who doesn't have a huge budget. Just trying to make it more attainable for people no matter where they're at um in their lives to to be a part of our community. Community is is what we make it. Everybody should get involved in whatever way they can, whether that's just voting or whether it's joining a board or a commission or even running for office. Um whe they say the world is run by those who show up. So get involved however you can and make a difference in the community.

Heat. Heat. baby. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. All right.

behind Hey.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Okay, welcome everyone.

Would you please rise for the invocation and stay standing for the pledge of allegiance? Oh, dear Lord, thank you for this beautiful day and for the opportunity to gather this evening. Please give us clarity and good judgment when making decisions. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve our community and please give us discernment and patience when needed in these meetings. We also want to lift up our military as they continually sacrifice for our country. Keep them safe and let us always remember that our freedom comes at a price and we should be grateful for the opportunities that we have because of their sacrifices. In your name we pray. Amen.

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. Okay. Thank you. Thank you and welcome everyone. I'm calling to order the city of Lee Summit regular session number 66. Could I get a roll call, please? Council member Shields here. Council member Rder, present. Council member Hodges, here. Council member Prior, here. Member Funk here. Council member Levelville here. Council member Carlile present. Mayor Perm Lopez here.

Mayor Baird here. All right. First item on the agenda is the approval of the agenda.

I have a motion to adopt the agenda by council member Carile, seconded by Council Member Hodes. Discussion. Seeing none, please cast your vote. All votes are in. Please record the vote. It is approved unanimously. Thank you. Next is the consent agenda. I have a motion to adopt the consent agenda by Council Member Shield, seconded by Council Member Carlile. Discussion. Seeing none, please cast your vote. All votes are in. Please record the vote. That also is unanimous. Thank you. And then we have council roundt. These are items of general interest, things going on in the community in your district. Yes, council member Shields.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, this Saturday is Shamrock the Block at Green Street, which is going to be really exciting that it's getting to move there this year. Um, but at the same time over at the Level Community Center is going to be a mermaid and pirate swim. So, I'm unfortunately going to be missing Shamrock the Block because Felix is obsessed with mermaids. So, we are doing that. But very exciting opportunities this weekend. Hopefully, folks will come out and support the community. Very good. Thank you. All right, Council Member Prior.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, we received a very thoughtful email from Chief Snyder regarding some comments that were made that were made um again about public safety and what fire is doing mental health-wise. And I was wondering if during council comments, Mr. Dunning, if you would be willing to elaborate on that email and um kind of say what we are doing above and beyond SB4 and kind of lay that out. Sure. I can be prepar prepared for that. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Council Member Carlile.

Thank you, Mayor. I just want to remind everybody that tomorrow is the last day to register to vote to be able to vote in the April election. So, if you're not registered, go get that way. Thanks. All right. Thank you. Okay. Um, we're going to go next to proclamations. I think we have a bunch of visitors. If you all don't mind uh the theater groups uh meet me on the in front of the dis here

on the internet somewhere around there. Okay, if you all would just come this way and kind of around me. I'll stand and then we'll face out this way. So, very good. You Hey, thank you. All right. Can I squeeze in here? Yep. All right. Um, we'll go around in a second, but let me uh read the proclamation first. Uh whereas the city of Lee Summit is proud to support the students and teachers in our community and various programs in which they participate and teach. Whereas theater in our schools month is a national movement where thousands of students and theater educators join together in raising awareness of the impact that theater has on our schools and community. Whereas the theater programs of the high schools of Lee Summit last year provided over 600 students the chance to participate in more than 30 productions ranging from major musicals to small one act plays. Research has demonstrated that student performance on academic tests, positive behavior in school, graduation rates, and engagement in community citizenship activities are all better among students in theater programs when compared to the general student population. Whereas the theater programs have ha have a significant impact on the community of Lee Summit as over 15,000 people attended school theater productions in the city each year and thousands of dollars are spent at local businesses to purchase products and supplies needed to mount these productions and at local restaurants for before and after show meals. Whereas Lee Summit High School, Lee Summit North High School, Lee Summit West High School, Bernard Campbell Middle School, East Trails Middle School, Pleasant Lee Middle School, and Summit Lakes Middle School all present major productions throughout the school year. By the authority vested in me as mayor of the city of Lee Summit, I do hereby proclaim March 2026 as theater in our schools month.

Thank you all for coming. Can I uh can can are you going to speak or somebody going to speak on your behalf? Well, well, I I'll just introduce myself. So, I'm Nikki Stanley and I teach speech and theater at Pleasantly Middle School. And I'm Micah Hensley and I teach theater at Lee Summit High School. I'm William Palmer and I teach theater at Lee Summit North High School. Can I see who else is here too? Hi, my name is Ella Jeff and I'm the president of the LSHS Tiger Act Club. Hello, I'm Zoe Chuba and I am the historian of the Lee High School Tiger Act Club.

Hi, I'm Anna Zung and I'm the secretary of the Lee Summit High School Tiger Act Club. Hi, I'm Anna and I am the vice president of the Lee Summit High School Tiger Club.

Hi, I'm Lachlan Egan and I'm involved in Lee Summit North's theater program. Hi, I'm Kayla Winnia and I'm also involved in Lee Summit North's theater program. Hi, I'm Moss Keniff and I'm also involved in Lisa Manort's theater program. Hi, I am Emma Smith and I'm also involved in Lisa Manor's theater program. Wow, thank you all so much for coming and thank you for all the productions. Yeah. Um I love it whenever I see the big productions come out and everybody gets very excited and usually you pack the house at all of these events. So, it's it's a it's a great thing for our community. I once um did a short little speech on uh cultural arts and such and it really is a major uh driver for economic activity in our community, but also it's it's the health benefits are amazing. So, you're doing great things while you're having fun and and uh and doing your production. So, thank you. Um we're going to take a quick photo. That's okay. Can you squeeze in everybody a little bit closer? Thank you all again.

You all got these beneficial.

No, I wasn't. Pushed away. I think they Okay. Well, we have some business to do tonight. So, I'm going to uh look for the here we go,

the public hearing script. So, um, we're on agenda item 5A now, which would be a public hearing. I'm going to close the regular session and open the public hearing in the matter of a unified development ordinance, UDO amendment, updates to development requirements and review processes pertaining to article 2 applications and procedures and article 14 administration. City of Lee Summit is the applicant. Um, would all those wishing to speak this matter please rise and be sworn in by the city clerk. All right. Someone from the city going to do presentation. All right. Mr. Sto.

Good evening. Hector Jr., senior planner. Um, I have no new testimony to give at this meeting. At the last meeting, we were after giving the presentation, we were given direction to to come back with a clean version of the proposed ordinance changes and that language has been incorporated in the ordinance that is in your packet. So, we'll yield to any questions that you may have. Okay. So, um for the just for the public's knowledge, the um we opened the public hearing in the um was it the February 20? Yeah, February 24th. Um, so all of that is still on record and now we are coming back with clean language language to finish this public hearing up. So correct.

All right. Thank you, sir. Any questions? Council member Rider. Thank you, Mayor. So, we're saying that there's not going to be any more questions or discussion on the this public hearing. Is that's kind of what because of the changes that they made. You can ask questions or discuss. Yeah, absolutely. Well, um I think I'll I I had a comment about the uh concept and maybe that's a comment instead of a question. So, I'll I'll wait till you ask for comments. Thank you.

Okay, sounds good. Any other questions or for for uh staff? Okay. Anyone uh here would like to speak in favor or in opposition to the ordinance, please come forward. Okay, Miss Giddings, come

Debbie Giddings.

As I've said, it's very hard to find information on the website. There would have been tons and tons of documents to go through to find out what the changes were that you all received. It would have been nice if Mr. Zodto would have at least elaborated on the language that has been changed in this article so the citizens would be aware of it. Um there's one article in particular that addresses the substantial and minor changes and I think there's been discussion on that. I would like to know how that's been resolved as well as um the things that have to come before the planning commission that are going to be decided by administration. Now I think there needs to be a clear uh demarcation so that the citizens are aware of that. Uh what one of the things was which which zoning classification are we going to change and allow significant changes to be done or minor changes that the administration will be able to approve. prior we would have been able to speak to those uh changes and if I understand it correctly it will bypass everything and come directly to you where changes are not unlikely but more than likely not to happen uh with the plan. Um, every change that's being proposed has the supposed efficiency and streamlining the process. And my opinion is that everything is being done to help the builders and developers and that decreases their u expenses and accelerates the development process. And I'm not sure that quicker is better. Thank you.

Thank you. Anybody else like to speak? Mr. Alwish.

You know, as I as I briefly stated last week, uh this public hearing seems like just another example of the developer first culture within our city council. The proposal seeks to lower cost, remove red tape, and streamline processes for developers. We're going to allow them to increase building height and density by up to 10% without having to gain reapproval or go back to a public hearing. Um, and we're doing this by now classifying these changes as minor changes instead of sub substantial changes. Well, I have to tell you, I don't think the residents of Lee Summit would consider consider a density increase of 10% as a minor change. And I don't think neighboring homeowners would consider a 10% height increase as a minor change. And I don't want to be misunderstood. Reforming code and removing government interference from the process isn't what bothers me. I actually think it's a good thing. What bothers me is the culture and the priorities. You know, I came a couple months ago and I spoke on my experience with the government and how I'd been dragged through the court system here twice due to petty and restrictive ordinances that are levied against the residents. The same night the two judges came and expressed a major concern with lack of court resources and the council showed minimal interest in addressing these issues. Instead, you will almost certainly vote to advance these reform changes for the benefit of the developers and make no effort or initiative to do anything for the benefit of the residents. How much time and effort has the city spent creating these recommendations and the presentations for the benefit of just a select few? Is there really nothing better we can spend our time and resources on? The p the priorities of our city and our city council are upside down. You know, with one hand, we provide subsidies for developers and are willing to reform codes for them to make their life easier, while on the other hand, we strangle residents with new taxes and restrictive ordinances. And because of the issue with priority and the inequitable approach here, I'm in opposition.

All right. Thank you.

Anybody else? Teresa Volenwiter, 5201 Northeast Maybrook Road. I am never going to be in favor of reducing the rules and regulations and putting more power to these administrators. Hector Sto is the one that brought this up here. I can recall with Jackie Maloney that he in her to a letter to her stated that if your property is described via a meets and bounds description then it must be platted. That was according to a rule or regulation from 1976 and he put it right in the letter to her. Yet, in the case of a neighbor next to me, clearly their property had a meets and bounds description. It's right there. Yet, Hector failed to make sure that a plat was done of that property before a building permit was issued. In fact, a plat was not recorded at the county until two years after the people had moved into the house. Now, why is that? Inquiring minds want to know, Hector, we want to know. So, you're going to give more power to the administrators when you all can't pick up these mistakes? The planning commission can't pick up these mistakes. And who pays for those mistakes?

You have zoning regulations to help protect the neighbors. That's what they're for. Partly that's what they're for. Yet, you don't enforce them. You let them get by with lies and cheating and you can't pick it up. Some of you are legal people and you can't pick it up. So people have to here out here have to get educated. We have to go and take classes in surveying so we can learn about original surveys and retracements and meets and bounds descriptions and the like. But yet you do nothing. You lived only a stones throw away from that property and you want to talk about leadership and trust. I'm sorry. You don't earn it. You've got experience, but you don't have leadership or trust. Not in my world. You don't.

All right. Thank you, Miss Bletwater. Anybody else?

That red line should have been up there on Stop. Council member Prior. Thank you, Mayor. I was wondering if Mr. Sodto could address Miss Giddon. Is it Giddings? Giddens Giddings questions that she had. Thank you. Yeah, Mr. So, would you run through um a couple of the markups that are redlined in the documents that are online that we all discussed at length at the last public hearing on February 24th?

We pull that up and put that on the screen. This is my meeting to run. No, I I don't want the presentation, sir. I know. Okay. Working through. Thank you. Yeah. There we go.

I guess just for clarification, are we asking for just explanation on all of the red lines? Well, there wasn't any one public comment I brought up the 10% which I mean most of these are as you can see. Sure. Um so Mr. Sodto you tend to like in the no offense sir in the in the public hearing you went into great detail in all this there want a brief summary Mr. Sto. Sure.

I don't want a two-hour presentation right now. The documents are online, so we're not going into that kind of detail. They want to see the red markups on the screen, put them on the screen, please. So the changes that were made to the minor change major change essentially says that changes that are allowed by code in the respective zoning districts can be done up to the maximum that's already established in our zoning code without having to come through a new public hearing. Period. Okay.

So shows a couple of the markups how this works. the red lines. Sure. Yeah. So, this one in particularly um talks about um Okay.

So, so under paragraph C for example, it talks about and and the changes were that were specifically made were more to density, lot coverage, floor area ratio or height as stated here under number one up to the amount allowed in the underlying zoning district. Whereas before there were thresholds that said you're basically kept at 10%. So now we've got language here under paragraph C1, for example, that just plainly states you can make changes up to what's already allowed by code in the in the zoning districts that are called out at the at the heading of paragraph C. So residential zoning districts. Um the direction that was given by council was that those allowances were not to be u made for u commercial or industrial. Anything changing beyond 10% for commercial industrial has to come back through the public hearing process.

Pull up um pull up in the packet um the section article 2 2.4 4 00 conceptual development plan. Pull that one up, please. Yeah. So, it shows in this situation uh we're we're not requiring the total square feet of commercial and retail development when they when they what sir when they come forward as part of a conceptual development plan. Right. The conceptual conceptual conceptual. Yes.

Okay. And then they're also when they come for the conceptual they don't have to provide the typical structure elevations including materials and colors. That is correct. Conceptual conceptual but when they come back with their PDP they do they still have to do it at the preliminary development plan stage which is a public hearing front of the planning commission city council. Legal notices are put in the paper. Signs are posted on property. Mailers are sent to all property owners within 300 ft. So when they do a conceptual, we're not approving the plan. They have to come back for our approval. That is correct. With more details. Correct.

All right. Thank you. All right. Council member Prior, would you like any more detail for Mr. Sto? Are we eliminating anyone's ability to speak in favor of or against a project at all? Absolutely not. That's what I I I I didn't think we were. I just wanted to completely make sure. Thank you.

Okay, Council Member Funk. So, Hector, just for some clarification, and I'm just going to use round numbers because I think Miss Giddings said something about building height. These are just theoretical numbers so we understand simplicity here. So, if we have a UDO that says you can build a house at 10 feet tall, if someone proposes a development and the house is going to be 5t tall and they decide that they're going to add another foot and a half to that house, it doesn't have to come back through the process because it's not meeting the threshold. Correct. That is correct. Okay. Thank you, Hector.

Okay. um Mr. Dunning, can like that there's not that many changes in here. There's there's some, but like is there a way next time to have uh staff, Mr. Stoodto and such like just do a brief summary of the changes that are in here? Yes, absolutely. That's what we need to do is put that in the packet and and then we can rather than each document that shows the red line

I guess have a you know just have a separate summary sheet I call it a summary sheet of the changes and then that way um you can see that but it's it's a little bit of a challenge because you're going to pull out a red line from a very detailed document but hey if it means being more transparent that's that's fine. I think part of the challenge here is is we brought an ordinance, we brought a public hearing, but we were providing uh you options to provide us feedback to polish this up. So, it kind of created greater complexity in and crafting the ordinance. Okay. Very good. Um, Council Member Levelvel.

Yeah, I think Mr. Dunning just hit it. So, recalling that conversation was very two-way, right? So, we were and we're making recommendations and kind of all giving thumbs up. It would have been nice just a quick summary of like these are the it would help us recall yes we've gone through and looked at this but it it just be a good way especially when we're going back and forth making suggestions kind of giving general feedback just to say like here's the things that you you guys instructed us to do and here's what we've done and we wouldn't have to go through the whole thing again but that would that would be very helpful especially when that dialogue is going. Thanks. Thank you Council Member Shields.

Thank you mayor. Um, and again, just kind of for clarification, the red lines here are against the proposed version from the prior public hearing, right? So, so you had like a version that would say we're going to change all these things in the code. You presented to us, we said no, we don't want to do this, this, and this. And so, you redlined those out. And that's what you're showing us tonight. This isn't like a red line of the entire UDO. Obviously, this is just kind of against the proposed version from the original hearing. Correct. And since we discussed the impacted section, right? And since we had a pretty long discussion where we all kind of came to consensus on each of those changes, that's why we're not doing a full deep dive into it like we did last time. Right. Correct. Okay. Yeah, that makes sense to me. So, thank you, mayor. All right. Thank you, Council Member Levelville.

Well, I'll just add we didn't do any dive into it, right? We did a lot last week, so just Right. Okay. Awesome. Thanks. Okay. Thank you. Any additional questions? Yes, Council Member Raider. I'm sorry. I thought we were ready for commenting. Still in public. No, still in public hearing. Hold on. Hold on. Um, so any further questions from council? Okay. Uh, Mr. Sto, any further comment? No. All right. I I do appre appreciate your attention to detail. I just, you know, I wanted a summary tonight. That's all.

I understand. All right. Thank you. Um, okay. Hearing no further testimony, I'm closing the public hearing and reopening the regular session. Is there any council discussion on this application? Council member Rder.

Thank you, Mayor. Okay. We went through a lot of stuff and um, Mrs. Alers came up and said that we were going to table it to March the 10th. Um, I may have misunderstood. I thought there was going to be a little bit more discussion on that. So the only thing that I want to comment is about the concept um these concept applications um I felt like that on one of the last projects that we did um and Mr. Sodto actually I believe he said this at the time when when we look we we went through the concept this um the detail of it he said that there's an assumption when the developer um leaves you know that that meeting that we're going to push that thing forward they have the assumption of zoning or they have the assumption I understand they have to come back through the PDP and that's the only thing that just um worries me just a little bit about that because I felt like in that project. I didn't get all the information that I felt like they needed. It was kind of an overview. And so, I guess I'm just saying I I think when we do these concept drawings, we should have more detail. There should be more detail with them. And so, that I that I that I don't want to tell someone that we're going to do something and then come back the next time they come back and say, "Oh, I don't like this at all." I want to make sure that I get all the information upfront if we're going to assume that we're going to move forward with their with with their application. So, I think that's what I just want to make a comment about is I want to make sure that they give us all the information uh that we can get so that when they come back for the PDP that we can feel good or I can feel good about that assumption and moving them forward. Thank you, Mayor.

Okay. Thank you, Council Member Shields.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, you know, I appreciated the discussion that we had about this during the original public hearing. It was good kind of coming to consensus on these different items, what we consider to be more minor and not and that um we're still, you know, not allowing any changes above what's allowed in the zoning code. So, if there's a maximum height density set in the zoning, you're not going to exceed that. But to give just a little bit of flexibility, so we're not slowing things down unnecessarily for for very minor changes, things like the way that you screen your air conditioner on the roof. It just um I think it makes sense. You know, we've worked really hard to be a community that welcomes investment and that welcomes um people who are trying to create new jobs, new businesses, and I think it's good to to streamline line that where we can. So, I look forward to supporting this. Thank you. Okay. Thank you,

Mr. Denning. You kind of helped originate this whole conceptual thing. This is your fault on the incentive side, not on the development side. Okay. Okay. All right. Well, the con the conceptual side of of this um we should not be um making any assumptions that it's going to get approved. So, I think the wording there, we need to be careful of our wording. If that was stated, if it wasn't, then we just need to when we when we get done with these conceptuals, yes, we we're supposed to be giving feedback, but maybe we need to create some some guidelines. Um I think we're talking about certain things.

Oh, we are. Oh, that's right. We're Yeah. Go ahead, Mr. Dunning. Explain where how I just meant.

Yeah. So, so I think the the thought behind this is if if you've got a a development plan that you're bringing forward and and you've really got some um specifics and and you know what you're desiring, but you need to kind of master plan the rest of some acreage. If you can show that conceptually, help everyone understand what that what that plan envisions, I'll say, and what the thought process is to deliver what what you have bird in hand, if you will, and you're pursuing, but then also what may develop around this. And so those are documents that come forward and we keep them, right? They're part of the public record. And then when we get, who knows, five years down the road and maybe one of those concepts comes back in a in a preliminary development plan, we can refer back to that. what was envisioned five years ago here was the thought then a lot of things may have changed in that area over time that may uh require or trigger a different thought process of of developing that what was in from what was originally envisioned. So that's kind of what we're talking about here and when we do a concept plan what level of detail is necessary to paint that vision to say we don't know but here's what we envision that this may develop out as if that makes any sense. Yeah. Well, I mean it makes it makes sense that you would do that and to not do that doesn't make sense. Like in other words, yeah, we need to we need that's that's planning. Um so, okay, Council Member Shields.

Thank you, Mayor. And I think um we've we've discussed two different kinds of conceptual plans up here. Like sometimes we talk about a conceptual presentation for an incentive request, but that's a totally different thing than what this covers. Correct? Like this is about saying conceptually I think this area is going to be mixed use or commercial or residential and so I'd like to get it reszoned from a to residential, but I'll tell you the exact plans later, but but to kind of get them started on that process of resoning and getting a little bit of certainty that yes, the council wants industrial here or wants mixed use here, that kind of thing. Right.

That that is correct. They're separate processes uh that come through separate systems and requirements. Okay. All right. Thank you. I think uh I'm not seeing any further comments or statements. So, Council Member Funk, do you have it? Council member Shields. Council member Shields, would you please read bill number 26-038? Thank you, Mayor. I move for second reading bill number 26-038 an ordinance amending chapter 33 zoning article 2 pertaining to applications and procedures in article 14 pertaining to administration of the Lee Summit code ordinances for the city of Lee Summit Missouri on this

okay thank you um we have a motion to move to second reading bill number 26-038 by council member Shield seconded by council member Carlau discussion seeing none please cast your vote all votes in please record the vote passes unanimously thank So, we will go to the next public hearing. I'm going to close the regular session, open the public hearing the man in the matter of agenda item 5B. This is a public hearing for Paragon Star Apartments amended and restated land uh clearance redevelopment authority redevelopment plan. Grayson Capital LLC is the applicant. Would all those wishing to speak to this matter please rise to be sworn in by the city clerk?

I do. Mr. Elim. Uh, good evening, mayor and members of the city council. Uh, we have before you this evening the public hearing for the amended uh, land clearance for redevelopment authority plan associated with the Paragon Star Apartments. Uh, and um, Andrea Young with Grayson Capital will be kicking off the presentation for us and performing the presentation on behalf of Grayson Capital. Uh and then Megan Miller with Gilmore and Bell will come up acting as our council for economic development and we'll be here to answer questions uh as we go along as well. So with that, I'm going to turn it over to Andrea. Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. Um we came before you in January to introduce ourselves. Um but I just wanted to do a quick overview. Um again, we are a Kansas City based uh real estate development firm. We do quite a a bit of um advisory work, owners representation, development, uh primarily development and asset and property management. Uh and have a diverse portfolio of asset classes. Um and what we're proposing to do at Paragon Parkway is not something that you haven't seen before. Um and I'm going to skip ahead. I realized it was better to do it in this order uh last week before the LC board. Um we brought this to them last week. uh and they approved it by resolution. But um what we're asking for you to consider is um back in 2022 there was an LC redevelopment plan that was approved for Gold Crown Properties for this multifamily project. Um and originally they were going to do it as a single phase. Um fast forward they're no longer part of the deal. Um and we're picking up the torch if you will where they were. uh and proposing just two changes to the redevelopment agreement. The first being changing the developer of record from gold crown to us. Uh and then also phasing the project versus doing it all in one um development. Uh the factual findings from the previous redevelopment um plan remain. So, back in 2016 with the TIFF plan that was approved for not just this property, but the overall development, um there was a blight finding that still exists. Um the necessity for the incentives on this property still exist. Uh and our development is still in conformity with uh the PDP that was approved back in 2019. Um, and then just to kind of reiterate

things that aren't changing. Um, the project site scope, prior factual findings, our request is still just for the sales tax exemption on construction materials. We're not asking for an exemption on um, real property taxes. This property is in a tiff already, so um, no changes there. Zoning remains the same. Again, the only changes that we're making to the plan are to name us as developer of record and then to allow us to do a phased approach to um the development. Uh and then as far as the financial benefit, it largely mirrors what was approved with the prior 2022 plan. Um overall, our first phase, we anticipate around 225 units as part of that phase. Um the sales tax benefit to us we anticipate to be around a million dollars. Um and that benefit is about two and a half% of the total project costs. And then as far as the lease summit portion of the sales tax, that comes out to 84%. Um again, not going for real estate tax exemptions. So just that. And then I thought I'd show you guys a picture of our latest rendering. Um, we're going with the name preserve. So, uh, like to answer any questions that you might have. Um, anything.

Okay. Usually, we do the staff's presentation and then we go back to questions if that's okay. All right. Well, thank you. Thank you.

Hello, my name is Megan Miller and as Ryan stated, I'm with Gilmore Bell. Um, I'm the new Sid Douglas right after he retired. So, you'll be seeing a little bit more of me than you have in the past. So, I just want to go over a couple of things. Uh, just a little bit on the background to kind of reiterate what Andrea said. Um, prior LC board consideration and city council consideration for um, this LC plan, the previous one was done in July of 2022. Um, on February 25th of this year, the LC board approved uh recommended approval of this amended and restated LC plan that's in front of you today. Um, again to reiterate what she said, it's a handful of changes, right? We're designating a new developer from Gold Crown to Grayson Capital. Um, it's a new phased approach, so we're going from one phase to three phases. Uh something that I think is important to note is that um the lease and we'll talk about this a little bit is really only for the first phase. They have a right of first refusal to purchase the second and the third phases and we drafted those into the documents to make that process a little bit easier as long it substantially complies with the plan as has been presented. Um additionally there was an increase in costs. So it went from roughly 72.8 million previously to or sorry decreased a little bit to 44.1. We're scaling it down for this phase one, but um there is an increase obviously with phase two and phase three, you can see in the plan that they anticipate what their costs are going to be. Um within the ordinance in front of you that's right after this. Um there are three findings that have to be made. Uh blight and as she stated, there was a blight finding made in 2016. The blight is still there. It needs to be cured. Uh so we don't have any issues there. It is consistent with the comp plan. Uh there was PDP approval in 2019. And then we also have a consistency letter with from Tracy uh that

reiterates that also just as a necessity u purpose um it's the same benefit just the sales tax exemption on construction materials. Um there is an increase in benefit. This is about 2.5% of project cost. It's the benefit to the developer. Previously in 2022 that was 1.73. So we do have a bit of an increase there but still lower than the average benefit that the city provides. the average range goes from 5% to 25. And I believe Ryan's got your guys' fun little sheet that has if you want to see that. Um, but the developer has calculated the sales tax exemption is going to save them approximately 1.095 million and about 212,000 of that is projected savings from the city of Lee Summit. Um, I wanted to touch just briefly because the next um bill you're going to hear also approves two documents. the redevelopment contract and the lease agreement. So, I wanted to touch on those fairly quickly. The redevelopment contract really just provides for the leg logistics of the plan, right? The imple, excuse me, the implementation of the plan itself, including the steckum benefit that they're asking for. This includes all the potential phases because that's what the plan kind of lays out. We went ahead and included that in the redevelopment contract. Now, the lease that's in front of you really only deals with phase one because you have to own the property and they're obviously only purchasing phase one first. And so, I did draft in um as long as phase 2 and phase three are substantially similar to what you see in the plan that they will kind of have a streamlined process for those next two phases as a amendments to this lease. and then they'll can extend out the term of those new leases but will all the old leases will fall off if that makes sense. So this particular lease will terminate in 2028. It's just again for the construction process. And then lastly,

this public hearing is only dealing with the apartments uh the the apartment LC plan. There is a second ordinance after this one that is dealing with the garage the Paragon Star garage LCA plan. So I just that's not the subject of this public hearing, but I did want to note you will be seeing that. That plan again was approved in conjunction with the original LCA plan for the apartments in 2022. This is closing the loop on that plan. There's not an amendment to the garage plan. We're just implementing the lease. Um and very quickly that lease ends in 20. And because it's already in a tiff, doesn't really have any impact on the taxing jurisdictions because that tax revenue is already being reallocated to the developer if it was generating any. So this was at the request of the developer. The way they're doing this, it was really just if anything, this kind of has more of an economic effect on the developer themselves. So with that, if you have any questions, I'll be here.

Okay. Oh, dang it. Every time I have to enter the list of exhibits, please. How many? I believe we've got one through eight. Please enter into the record exhibit exhibits 1 through eight. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Questions for the applicant or or staff? Council member Funk. Probably for staff presentation. You were kind of discussing the lease. So there's only a lease to build phase one of this project,

correct? At the current moment. Yes. Because the lease has to it goes with ownership. They're only purchasing phase one, I believe. Can I say that they're they think that's going to happen in April that they're going to purchase a property and we'll execute that lease, but they have a right of first refusal on phases two and three for the property for those. And so we can't execute leases associated with those phases until they have that property under contract. And so once that happens, I believe it's section 13.2 in the lease, we drafted in that as long as it stays the same substantially, they can execute that amendment to lease and then those can kind of just go through and amend that lease, extend it out for the term for that particular phase and and just be kind of a more streamlined, easier process.

But also what could happen is phase one gets done and nothing else happens. Correct. That absolutely that that is a possibility. But also it's important to note too that this particular lease ends in 2028, right? So if phase two or phase three isn't purchased within that timeline, we will have to come back with a new lease for you guys cuz once this document terminates, this lease terminates, we'll have to do a new one.

So what's the I guess why aren't we just developing the whole thing? You're asking for everything right here with all the LC and everything. Why don't you just develop the whole thing? Um the market has changed quite a bit since 2022. A lot more apartments have come on. So this is our um approach of being more responsible with the development. Um if if it leases out super quick, we'll start immediately on phase phases two or three. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, mayor. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? Council member Shields.

Thank you, Mayor. And the the leases that we're talking about, that's um just to effectuate the tax exempt status. Is that right? That in order to basically to get the tax exemption, the city technically owns it and then leases it back to them. But we have all the normal protections and and all that. And so the lease on the apartments are short-term because it's just during construction so they can be uh tax exempt on the sales tax and then correct. The lease on the garage is longer cuz that's for the tiff for the tax during the time of the tiff. Right. Correct. They have abatement on that second one, so that's why it's longer, but that is correct. Okay. I just wanted to clarify. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other questions for staff or the applicant? Is there anyone here that wishes to speak in favor or in opposition to the application? Please come forward. Debbie Giddings. Um, again, going back to 2016, that's unbelievable to try to research about this project. The one thing that does stick out to me, which kind of goes back to the ordinances that you're looking at reading secondly that you just read first, is that Tracy wrote a letter about the PDP being approved in I think 2021. If I understand correctly, that is a 2-year allowed process. So that would be 20 24 2023 and we're at 2026. Was there a plan PDP submitted in 2024 besides the one that uh she refers to in the letter? And also that's very difficult to even find. The other thing is that uh you all discussed the monuments to the city the last time I was here or at least I was online. You chose the one I liked. By the way, the first thing you're going to see after you pass that monument coming into Lee Summit are 400 apartments. Is that what we really want to be known for? Because the citizens are already clamoring about the number of apartments that are being built in this city. We

are at the 15% that the Ignite plan uh asks for that's on this on the website. So, I'm I'm just saying we want to have a nice entrance to our city. And right now, there are apartments almost on every corner. There's still some to be built that have been approved. I I feel for the people in Lakewood because the RLDS land that's going to be coming is, I'm sure, going to be apartments. So, it's already started. Um, anyway, I'm I'm just curious about those two things as far as uh where is the PDP and how does this LC tie in? I can't even understand those. So, I'm going to be coming to city hall. Thank you.

All right. Thank you. I'm pretty sure Miss Alers can explain the two-year process. Miss Albert, is she here? Yeah, Miss Alers. Good evening, Tracy Alers, Development Services. Uh, the letter in question references the PDP. Um, the PDP was approved and the applicant did go through the process of filing an FDP and the FDP, I believe, was approved in 2019, which basically vests that development right. But what that letter is in regard to is overarching consistency and concurrency with the adopted Ignite comprehensive plan. Um but that explains again why we're talking about the PDP in the letter. Um but subsequent to that the FDP was considered and approved.

Okay. Well, she's talking about typically you have to um you're saying that they're vested, but usually after two an approval has to be plans have to be submitted and such within that two years. I believe that they did or they executed the final development plan in all likely submitted it in advance of that expiration date.

Gotcha. Okay. Um I think that was the I think those were the two questions she had. All right. Um Council Member Prior, do you want to jump in before I ask for any other speakers? I I do just have a question that I kind of wanted on the um I believe a roundabout and some other infrastructure commitments were um supposed to be done with the city. Can can we get a status on where you guys are with the roundabout and any other infrastructure commitments?

She's talking about the 470 interchange. Um yeah so I can I can answer a little bit about where the status of the infrastructure is associated with the overall Paragon Star project. Uh so the interchange is uh about 90% complete uh associated with that. Uh there is uh final surface of asphalt striping additional cleanup that needs to be done for that to be finished. Uh I know that the Paragon Star team is is working on that. that that project itself is actually permitted through the state uh and is not a city permit. Uh there are several roundabouts that have been completed uh associated in that area and there is the additional infrastructure on the interior of the site um that has been completed for um some of it has been completed but there are other pieces of it that have not been completed yet such as you know the interior parking lots and and things like that that are supposed to come with the development as they go go forward. So, uh the the big piece though uh with this whole entire area is uh no certificates of occupancies are allowed to be issued for anything within the village area and that's the area that we're talking about right now until that interchange is uh 100% complete. But we do it does allow for construction to occur in that area. You just can't have a certificate of occupancy until it's open.

Is did you give a timeline? Do you know if they have a timeline or if anyone has a timeline on that last 10%. I know I get the question a ton. Last I have heard, um, mid to end of April. Um, but again, that's just the last I' I've heard at that point. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Shields. Thank you, Mayor. This is probably a followup to Mr. Elum. Um, you mentioned that they won't get certificates of occupancy until that work is all done. What happens if they occupy the property without those cos?

Uh then they're in violation of municipal ordinance. Uh and it goes through um if they are if they are occupying it, we red tag the building and then there's continued violations and it goes through municipal court process. Okay. Um is there any clawback of incentives if they're not complying with those city ordinances? Uh the overall incentive structure does require filing uh following all of the city ordinances and there is a process that could be undergone to start to unwind those. Okay. Do do I recall correctly did there were there some issues with that with some of the fields being used without cos?

There was. Were there any consequences related to that? I would say that there was no consequence as extreme as unwinding uh of the incentive structure. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Elum. Thank you.

Okay. So, we were in the public uh format or the I'm sorry where we were asking for public speakers. So, is there anybody else that would like to speak in favor? Yes, sir. Mine's more of a question than a comment. Um, I I echo what Debbie says about the apartments that it's no secret. I'm not a fan of them. I think we've done more than the Ignite plan calls for. Uh, the way it was presented though, it sounds like even if we decline this, it's not going to stop the apartments. They just have to do them all in one phase now. So, we, you know, if we approve it, we'd be prolonging the suffering instead of just taking them all now. Is that correct? I can ask. Yeah,

Mr. Elum.

So, the the apartments themselves um have been approved through zoning. Uh they have submitted a final development plan. So, there there is the entitlement associated with the ability to build those uh those apartments. Um what we're talking about this evening uh with the incentive structure does not change the fact that those apartments could be built on that site in that location uh in their current state. The only thing that this uh public hearing is related to is whether or not the LCA plan, the land clearance for redevelopment authority uh incentive structure that was previously agreed upon and set in motion uh still applies uh in order for the the project to occur. So it's this is purely related to the the financial incentive asking um does not change the fact that apartments could be built there in that location. Now the marked question as to whether that'll happen or not that's not not what I'm talking about.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. Miss Volener,

Teresa Volenwider, 5201 Northeast Maybrook Road. If I recall correctly, there was an easement issue with this development. And I'm wondering, is that still what may be holding up uh 470 and the interchange and view high? I believe it was an easement with uh the H Heartland Nursery folks. So my question is postdevelopment were you're still you know are you still trying to get easements? What about these easements? Have all the easements have all has all the land been acquired that you need to do the work on View High? Yeah, the answer is yes. But Mr. Elim, I'll let you answer it.

The answer is yes. Okay. When they've been completed for quite some time. That's how that interchange got started. So, it's just not completed. 10% to go. It's a painful 10%. Mr. Elo. Yes. uh just prior to any construction on the interchange happening. Uh part of the state requirements, all of the easements and property necessary for the project must be uh must be acquired prior to permit being issued. That didn't happen. All right. Anybody else speak?

All right. Then is there any uh other questions from the council? Council member Hodes. Thank you. Um, so in regard to this project, I just believe that, you know, when public incentives, we're still in the public hearing. You want me to I thought you asked for comments. Uh, questions almost. Ah, just kidding. I'll come back. That's fine. I'll be I'll be I'll be to that point in a moment. Um, does the I need to give the applicant uh opportunity to speak. Uh, do you want to make any further comment?

Yes. Uh thank you. Uh I I would like to state that we are not Paragon Star. Um we are Grayson Capital and we are doing the multif family and this is a request for a first read on um transferring the LC um steckum approval that already happened in 2022. I'd also be curious to know if our apartments are counted in um the current apartment count for Lee Summit since they were approved back in 2019. So, this actually isn't adding to it. It's just completing apartments that were already supposed to be online. Thank you. Thank you,

Miss Andrea. What's your last name? Young. Young, can you come back up? the the issue that you might be feeling is that we're we're waiting for this development to get done and it's been in the works a long time and now we're making another decision on this. Right. I completely understand. Yeah. And so I just wanted to make sure for everyone in the room that that's not us. So Right. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Shields.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, this is probably a question for our council. Um, so what we're what we're talking about tonight, what we're considering is approving a change in the developer of the apartments and a change to the phasing. What What are the appropriate um grounds to make this decision on? Like sometimes we talk about like the factors that we can take into account in different settings of of approving or or not approving a request like kind of what's the the framework that legally we're supposed to be using tonight. So, the framework for approving this amended and restated plan is is the same the same findings that you made back in 2022 um that I said and I'll just redo it. So, is it blighted? Right? We have to reaffirm that it's a blighted area. Um is it consistent with the comprehensive plan? Um which again that's why we had had Tracy do that um consistency letter. And then is it is it a necessity? So again, this is the same benefit that they're asking. They're not asking for any more.

Right. I guess I I guess what I mean more is like sometimes we hear words like quasi judicial or like like is this more of a just we we say yes it meets these requirements and therefore it's almost a rubber stamp or is it more discretionary? Are you looking at their ability to complete the project? Like like what kind of factors are we supposed to take into account when we decide whether or not to approve this? I just because I know there's been some discussion about different issues. I just want to understand what we're supposed to be kind of

right thing. Um, I would say I mean what if they meet the requirements that you required under the LC act then yeah it's not necessarily obviously a rubber stamp but if they meet those requirements then yeah you have the authority right and the the ability to approve this beyond just you know do you think um this developer can do it exactly um I I guess Mr. Dinger Mr. head. Do you kind of know what I'm asking? Sweet. We've touched on these issues before.

Maybe I could I could help a little bit. It's it's not the same but similar in the sense that when we enter into uh tiff contracts and there's provisions in there saying that if the the tiff contracts with developer A and then down the road developer A wants to sell to developer B there's processes in place where you know we can consider does developer B have the financial wherewithal and the experience to deliver on a project. And so when we talk about incentives and structures of that nature, we get to that we can get to that level of, you know, are we comfortable with the developer uh and that they will produce and deliver on on the projects. So I don't think it's the exact same in this case, but I do know that in tiff agreements and things of that nature, you can get to that level of detail.

Yeah. And and if I could take a stab at answering the question directly, this is purely a legislative decision. Uh so it's it's purely up to the the body's legislative discretion. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, mayor. Thank you. Okay. Miss Young, um can you Are you guys excited about this project?

Yes, very much so. I I think it has the potential to be an amazing project, especially let me see if I can

So, right now the parking garage is already standing and our first phase will wrap the parking garage. Um, and then as far as the view from the highway, there's this office building is already there. Um, with the density being built out, I think it has a really great potential to attract people and get them to stay there for the nature aspect. It's close to trails. I think it offers something that a lot of the more um urban core apartment complexes don't really offer um with the nature component and and the ideas that they have for the buildout, I think would be great for our tenants. Um, and then as far as attractability, I I think with how close it is to the highway and to downtown Kansas City and Lee Summit, it's a really great location.

The buildings right there where your cursor was right there. Those are those the ones that are up right now that you can see from 470. Yes. And then um next time you drive by, if you look, you should be able to see this parking garage is actually already standing, too. Okay. And our first phase will wrap the parking garage. So, it's you're not just seeing a parking garage. You'll see apartments and then we'll have the street density to support this retail and commercial component over here. Thank you. Yes.

Any any other questions before I close the public hearing? Hearing no further testimony, I'm closing the public hearing and reopening the regular session. Is there any council discussion on this application? Council member Prior.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, so I'm actually torn on this. I know that she stated that the apartments are completely separate from Paragon Star. Um, and I know a certificate of occupancy cannot be issued until um, the roundabout is complete. I'm just torn. I'm hesitant to vote yes on this knowing the roundabout's not complete and we did the groundbreaking back in October or the ribbon cutting back in October. So, I I'm having a hard time like I'm having a hard time really navigating like if I if I don't vote yes on on the LC, is that fair to them? Even though because I'm I'm you they stated they're separate from Paragon Star. So I'm just having a hard time kind of navigating that. Do you have any insight? I guess I mean I don't

we can put it up for council discussion and talk it through. I mean is it is that something that they could maybe even come back after the inter like I don't know that there's any incentive to get the interchange. It's taken so long and there are so many people so many people that are reaching out to us that if it I don't know but yeah. Okay. Thank you.

They do realize that they can't put anybody in those apartments until that interchange is done. So I do know that. Um but let's go around for discussion. Council member Hodes.

Thank you. So, I I understand what Council Member Prior is saying. However, um at the end of the day, this is still a Paragon project. Um and I feel like we've been through the ringer with a lot of the stuff that they brought to us, not completed, and have, as Council Member Shields brought up, that whole situation. And I just feel like, you know, when public's incentives are involved, um, I believe council has a responsibility to periodically re reevaluate whether a project is progressing in the way that it was promised or not. Um, and so I just I strongly feel that we shouldn't be incentivizing anything further in regard to any of this project until promises that were made are completed. Um, and once we start seeing that, then I think yeah, bring stuff back to us so we can discuss things once we see completion of things. Um, but I feel like we've given a lot of trust in in in this project on different issues and we've kind of been screwed, so to speak, um, in those instances and I don't think we should put ourselves in that position again. And again, I I do understand this is a different company, so to speak, but it's still a Paragon project and it's a part of that whole development. So, I will be a no on this because I think we need to hold them to a higher standard and say, you promise us this, this will get done and then we can talk about the rest later. So, I think we need to stick with more accountability and um not let them drag it out more. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Funk. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I think my fellow council members have said several things that make sense with the the long time coming on the interchange and we've we've phased everything on this project and I'm not for phasing a multif multif family housing unit on this. So, thank you. Okay. Thank you, Council Member Shields.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, I'm torn on this one, too. Um on the one hand generally for most projects I wouldn't have a big issue with you know subbing in a new entity that's if they have a proven track record and you know changing how you want to phase something it's not a huge deal but in this development like trust has been broken multiple times and I understand some delays are avoidable but some things like operating without a certificate of occupancy are completely avoidable and our choices that were made and I am kind of past the point of just trust us we'll get it done and I would be much more comfortable having this come back after those um commitments are actually completed. So, I have a really hard time with that because I hate voting no on housing. Like, that makes me really unhappy. But if you've driven me to that point, then there's an issue. So, thank you.

You talking about the like finishing the interchange? Yes. Okay. Thank you, Mayor Tim Lopez.

Thanks, Mayor. Um, yeah, I won't uh repeat what's already been said. Um, it's nothing against you all, Greystone. um you know your credibility and your expertise I think it just comes down to credibility and it's timing for you all just the timing of it there's pending uh items as part of the development current master plan development that are just not met yet and until those things are met I would agree with my colleagues I think it's just it's not responsible for us to just kick the can down the road until our partner the devel master master developer fulfills their obligations So, I I won't be in support of this either, Mr. Dunning. Um, let's see. No, Miss Miller, where'd she go? Oh, there you are. Um, if this didn't if this didn't um pass tonight, um, they'd have to start the process all over to come back through.

Yeah, we have to submit a new plan. Is that right? Correct. Yeah. just this process. They'd have to resubmit the plan and yeah, we'd have to notice up another public hearing and and go through the go through the process again. It's correct. Would Yeah. Um can we continue it, Miss Miller? If if um if the applicant was willing. Yeah, absolutely. You can you can continue it. I'm just trying to get options on the table rather than Yeah. No, I I appreciate everyone's feedback. It's It's good to know. Um, is a is a a continuence amendable to you?

Um, yeah. When uh are you saying to like next week or are we talking when when the interchange I'm hearing complete? What I'm hearing from council members and this discussion is not over by any means, but I'm hearing the interchange is, you know, right, needs to be completed for them to feel supportive. It might I mean I'm thinking that's um part of the part of it a big part of it. Um I think I need to get there but before I get discussion around that I want to make sure that's even an option you would um yes uh it's something we would definitely be open to.

Okay. Thank you. So council members um I I mean for for you to say for for some of you to say you're not going to support this and vote no. Um, one one possible solution is to continue it, get, you know, have some um, yeah, time to do the interchange plus a little bit of um, I don't know, just it's Say it again. Show what's going on.

Yeah. Um, maybe get maybe get an update. Um, like Mr. Mr. Elim went out on a limb and said April, end of April a lot. You know, as far as finishing that interchange, I think that might be a good thing, too, is in the meantime getting a an update, a status update. A more official one than Mr. Elim saying end of April, probably. Um, what are what do the rest of you? One, two, three. Yeah, we've this is this is headed towards a no unless we continue this everyone. So, thoughts Council member Rder,

I think that we should continue it. I would just hate for it to start all over again. So, um I think that would be a I think that would be a fair and um opportunity for them to work on getting the interchange finished. Thank you, Council Member Hodes.

Um I'm just going to be very blunt. I just I think it should a no should be a no. Um, again here we sit up here and talk about and again this has nothing to do with this developer but the master developer. We get up here and we sit here and say, "Oh, we just we've given so much grace and we've been we've been screwed over by them and then, you know, we give a little and then we realize we shouldn't have and then we're kind of doing it again." So, I feel like I I don't know. I just feel like we keep saying it but we don't keep holding them accountable and I don't know why. And I get that they'll have to go through it again, but that's just the price that they have to pay for what's what's been going on. Like we can't control what they they've caused this. We aren't causing that to them. They've caused this to this developer. So we as much as we want to feel bad about the position they're in, that's not our fault. We've done a lot of giving grace and then we're going to sit up here and kind of do it again. I'm not against it, but we've done it so many times and then we're going to complain again when it's like, "Oh, they didn't meet their deadline." Well, we kind of knew that was going to be the case. I mean, I hope they do, but at the end of the day, they've kind of not met any deadline they've given. So, why would we expect this to be any different? So, that's kind of where I'm at. I'm my no is a no for today. So, that's that's my position. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Carlo. Thank you, Mayor. And I completely understand what council member Hodes is saying. Um, but I think I don't think it's fair to Grayson Capital to take out frustrations of Paragon Star on them. So, I would be happy to move this to a different date to allow this to come back through to get an update for the roundabout or the MODOT project, whatever that project is called. I don't know what it's called. It's not a roundabout. something DDI DDI the DIG the virgining diamond

when it will be finished um so that we're not just hanging Grayson capital out to dry here. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Funka.

Thank you, Mayor. I'm I understand everybody's frustrations um as well as what's not complete, but I'm I'm not dead set on the idea that there's lease agreements and different things that have to be met from phase one to phase 2 to phase three. I think that should be a discussion if we continue this. Um, I think the master developer and Grayson need to have a conversation about these lease agreements that there's definitely some insurance that all three phases will be complete if we're going to go through this again. Okay. Thank you.

Okay. So, let's let's talk about I I definitely heard Council Member Hajes and Council member H P F P F P F P F P F P F P F P F P F P Funk just now um kind of clearly where they are, but if the rest of you or if others want to do a continuence, someone's going to have to um make that more make that in the form of uh a motion and then we can discussion and then we can discuss it. So, um to reopen the public hearing to do that? No, we don't need to reopen the public hearing. Mr. Head, mayor, I have a point of point of parliamentary procedure that rarely ever comes up.

All right. Um, this council is facing a snee die uh coming up the end of of April. Any item that is placed on the table as of today will fall off of the table and die at that snee die. So, if you do wish to continue this item or to uh table it to a date fate certain in the future, it must if you wish to consider it, it must be prior to your siny die. I I I know what the agenda looks like and that's not really a much of a possibility. I mean, next meeting is um it's it's stacked. It's our last meeting basically before the election. There is another meeting in April, but that's not the appropriate time to be making decisions as a council right before you hand off to a new council. So I'm very much opposed to anything of any kind of significant um being on the April 14th agenda. So it would have to go to the 24th agenda, March 24th agenda. And I'm telling you all that that is a an absolutely stacked agenda. Yeah, we're not going to have answers by two weeks probably with regard to a lot of these things. So I don't know if continuing is going to work. Council member Shields. Mr. Elim first. Go ahead.

Uh yeah. Um just kind of on the uh procedures and parliamentary procedures and things like that. We were just discussing that if if no action is taken on this application uh for example or it's continued and it falls to the floor uh essentially that would only mean that we would just have to we would renotice a public hearing with a new council and have a new new public hearing um with the new council. Whereas, if this was voted on uh and recommended and not passed, then that would kick it back to the beginning of the LC process. Uh if that makes some sense, because right now the LC board has reviewed it and approved it and made a recommendation to the city council for approval on that. And your affirmative feedback on that either positively or negatively um would be the the final decision on that. So if it's continued or no action is taken tonight that kind of and I'm kind of looking at Brian and David and all the legal stuff kind of freezes it in this position where it is postlc recommendation uh and precounsel decision.

Okay, Mr. Head, when he says take no action versus continue it, there's a difference. There absolutely is a difference. I I think you can just move on and not take action if you want to. We don't do that very often with this uh with this body, but um you're not required to act on an item just simply because it comes in front of you. Typically though, uh the council likes to give direction as to where something needs to go and and where it lands. I'm not real comfortable.

Not council member Carlile keeps asking me if we continue to date not certain. You absolutely can uh realistically that there are two separate motions. One would be just simply to table without a date specified. You you absolutely have that ability. Is that the same as not taking action? It's not the same as not taking action, but it would have essentially the same effect.

All right. Is it is it um does it die at the siny die? It does, but the item that's pinning in front of you, the ordinances that are pinning in front of you die, but as as Ryan said, the hear you will have had um you've already have the approval of the LC. So, you would just simply be uh publishing a new public hearing. Um and you would go through that portion of the process. Um I'm not sure about the LC process. I saw I'm talking to David, so I have some faith in that. Um but I um but as far as what happens at the council, it just means that the ordinances that are were tabled um do die, drop to the floor, and we would have to come back and do an additional public hearing.

All right, council members, I don't know if you buzzed in or if you're just if I just forgot to clear you. Council member Shields, do you have a comment?

Yeah. Um I think that is fine. like just either table it or take no action. And then if they want to come before the next council and have a new public hearing and present their evidence and and show the progress they've made, then the next council can make a decision. And that's I mean that's fine with me. Doesn't kick it all the way back to the process, but they still have to redo this public hearing, which would be appropriate because it'd be a new council deserve to have this information. So, um I don't think there's any great options tonight, but that seems acceptable. Thank you.

Thank you. Other other discussions on not taking action, Council Member Rider. I would just agree with Council Member Shields. Thank you.

Council member Carile agrees. Well, I'm I want to give Yes, we can, but I want to make sure the people there's some people that feel strongly about this that if they want to say something now or I can put the motion on the table and we can debate that one. So, we can Why don't we do that? Let's put the motion on the table and then we'll debate the motion. Council member Shields, make the motion, please. I move to table bill number 26-039, an ordinance approving the amended and restated Paragon Star Apartments Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, LCR, redevelopment plan and approving the redevelopment contract and lease agreement for the project in connection therewith. Second. All right. You said that fast. So I move to table bill 26039. Thank you.

Yes. Uh council member Levelville. Uh I I have to recuse myself in this vote, which is why I've remained quiet during this, but I won't be able to vote due to conflict. So just keep that in mind.

Thank you. Okay. Now we're on the uh tableabling it. And let's just be clear since there's been a lot of discussion around this. By tableabling it, it will fall the ordinances that you see on the agenda will fall off of the um they will they will die at the passing of the of the siny die. um for the public sin die means that's when we transition from the new council the this council to the new council this mayor to the new mayor. So, um, with that the ordinances go away. But if by not taking action, it does keep, um, it keeps the LC incentives for Grayson Capital in play. And um with regard to not having to start all the way over, but simply um you've got a an approval from the LC and a recommendation from the LC board that has recommended that we uh allow for this transition and the transition is to the developer and the and the phasing as well. So So let's debate or discuss. I'm sorry, debate's kind of a strong word, but let's just discuss this allowing the next council to make this decision. Council member Shields.

Thank you, Mayor. I think I've already kind of stated my reasoning. Um, I just wanted to clarify the decision on bill 26040 about the garage would be a separate decision. Correct. That would is that part of the same public hearing? So, you list them together, but they're kind of separate issues, right? Yes. So, the on the garage lease that is not subject to this public hearing. It is a separate bill. So yeah, that'll be a separate discussion, same development. Okay. Yep. So yeah, it's just all in the same they came in together. All part of the same general area, right? Okay. Um, so yeah, I would support tableabling bill 26039. Thank you. I'm sorry, Miss Miller. What you're saying it's separate and then so as soon as we make it

Sorry, you you are tableabling the bill that is approving the amended um LT plan for the apartments and those documents. So the next bill is the garage in the center there that's already standing. So that plan has been approved in 2022. This is the lease for the garage which is with Paragon Star. So it is a separate bill. That's just Should should these have been in one public hearing? Well, there's no public hearing needed for the garage lease because you held the public hearing in 2022 when you approved the plan. Should these have been uh should this ordinance that we're about to read on the parking garage been moved to later in the agenda, Mr. planning.

It It could have moved to later in the agenda. Mayor, I think we just pulled that up since we're talking about the Paragon Star overall development. Okay. Okay. All right. So, we're back to the discussion on tableabling this. Um, I've heard from a couple council members. Anybody else want to chime in before we vote? Mayor Tim Lopez.

Mayor, I just I'll just repeat what I said. I think there's there there are items that are outstanding by the master developer. if they come come back and and there's definite dates of completion or it is complete, I said I would be supportive of this, but until we know that, you know, it's up in the air. And so I'm okay with the the u the stated motion um to table it and let's see what the new council does. Well, I think that council member Funk's point was he also would like the developer to consider one phase, but um that's for the developer to think through the the next time through. So, right. Okay. I'll just come back next time with that.

Y council member Funk. Thank you, Mayor. Yes. I I hope to have the developer um work with the master developer to figure out this lease stuff and we have one phase of a project when it comes back. Thank you. Thank you.

Okay, I'm not seeing any further discussion. I'm I'm about to call for the vote in case anybody wants to say anything else. Council member Prior, there's a lot of stuff still to figure out and I don't have high confidence that the roundabout's going to get done anytime soon. Um I I guess I'm not completely against tableabling it, but I just want to make it known that that does not mean that I will be a yes vote next time at all. If so, this one Yeah,

that's fair. There's no assumptions in this one. Okay. I think it's guidance though for the developer to hear from the rest of us that hey this is what's going on here from the the applicant I should say this applicant today anybody else so this is a motion to table we have a first we have a second we've discussed motion to table please cast your vote All votes are in. Please record the vote. It It's tabled with a 7 to one with one recusal. All right. Now, I think this next one should have gone later instead of right here because it's not technically a part of the public hearing. Is this is that correct, Miss Miller? It's not part of the public hearing. We There's no exhibits. Yes, you know, it's just it just happened to be a good spot to put it on the agenda because we just had a discussion about Paragon. So, this has this is a Paragon star of um uh where is it at here?

Yeah, it's on my next page. This is bill number 26-40. And this has to do with the LC LC and the parking garage. That is correct. That is correct. Okay. All right. Thank you, Council Member Hodgeges. I think this is yours. This would be bill number 26-040. Would you please read that to go to second reading?

I advance to second reading. Bill number 26-040, an ordinance approving a lease agreement for the Paragon Star Village garage land clearance redevelopment authority redevelopment plan. Thank you. You have a motion to move to second reading. Bill number 26-040 by Council Member Hodgees, seconded by Council Member Carlile. Discussion. Yes, Council Member Shields. Okay. So, we kind of touched on this during the public hearing, but the idea with this one, this is sort of the just the effectuating documents for an incentive that's already been approved and a project that's already been built. Is that correct? Correct. Okay. Um, and that's why there's no public hearing. This is just almost administrative. Yes. Okay.

This is just closing the loop that we started in 2022 with the approval of the plan.

Okay. So, I would vote in support of this even though I do have a lot of reservations about development because I think it's really important that when we make a commitment that we honor that commitment and we've and we already approved this incentive. They already built the garage. It's already done. And I think it would erode a lot of trust if we said we're not going to do our effectuating documents after you complete something you're supposed to complete. Like I do have all of my other reservations about the overall development and the infrastructure and all that, but I think it would be a bad precedent to not do something that basically is just an administrative task at this point. So it I see this as very distinct from what we were considering previously. So I would support it. Thank you.

Okay. I mean, the same argu argument can be made about the last one though that it was more administrative, but I understand what you're saying. So, I question right Yeah, you did twice and they real Yep. You you did good, Council Member Prior.

Thank you. Um, okay. So, I'm a little confused. You said the parking garage is up. Who So, now that we're putting the other thing off, the phase one, well, the LC, but who's parking in this? And ultimately, when there if there are apartments, will it be extra for the people with the apartments to park in this garage? So, this is this is for the tax exemption, right? But so the garage is already up. Who's parking there? Like is this can this be used for everyone? Mr. Elim, go ahead.

So I'd actually um looked to the Paragon Star team to answer that question. Okay. Sure. Could you repeat the question? Um, Council Member Prior um is is requesting to know is the garage being utilized? Are you going to charge people to park there? Um what was there was another park there.

Yeah. So, is it going to be open to the people that of Paragon that go to Paragon for the games or like what's the plan with the garage? Sure. The plan is that there would be a lease agreement, a long-term lease agreement with uh the multif family developer for a certain number of parking stalls. The rest of it would be open to the public. I think you're looking at 1.3 uh per unit type of ratio. that would be uh uh earmarked and identified for the multif family residents with the balance of that being available to public for public parking. Okay. We would not be charging for the parking not even the people from the apartments.

Well, I don't know what their agreement h how they'll uh include the cost of that lease in their uh rental rates or how they might approach it, but we don't plan on charging any any public parking fee.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. So, we've got a motion on the floor. Second, and we're in discussion. Discussion on the LC for the parking garage, the lease agreement. Okay. I'm not seeing discussion, so I'm going to call for the vote. Please cast your vote.

All votes are in. Please record the vote. It passes 7 to one with one recusal. All right. Yeah. Um I'm going to take a quick break. Everybody's we've got we've got a long night ahead. This council does. Um, so we're going to have to pace ourselves. I'm going to be recusing on this on this next one, too. So, I just want to get that out when I'm not commenting or asking questions. Okay. Thank you. Yes.

Ever wondered how the city budget works? The total 2026 budget is over $380 million, which includes funding for daily operations, capital improvements, debt service, internal service, and enterprise operations. For example, the general fund is the foundation for the city's day-to-day services and investments like road maintenance, public safety, and fire protection. The general fund is supported by property taxes, sales taxes generated by local businesses, franchise taxes, and other sources like licenses, permits, and fees. For every dollar citizens pay in property tax, the city receives 18. This means the city receives $845 a year in property taxes for a median single family house. These taxes provide public safety, park maintenance, infrastructure, and the best services to keep Lee Summit going and improving. One of the community's top priorities is infrastructure investment, which is reflected in the capital improvement plan. $113 million of the 2026 budget is invested into the capital improvement plan. The 2026 capital improvement budget includes investments like the 291 and 50 highway interchange, third street, warden, and purseles intersection, and prior road. The budget process includes guidance from the city council, citizen input, and critical success factors from the city's Ignite strategic plan. To learn more about the city's budget, visit city of ls.net/budget. When the person called on the phone, she said that uh that there was a dinosaur walking down her road. Of course, we had to go out check that out. We get out there and it was a big African tortoise, probably 60 lbs, walking down the road. When they walk, they really stand up tall. So, I could see why she thought it was a dinosaur. I'm Rodney Wagner. I'm the manager of Leisum Animal Control. So, as you can see, we get all sorts of animals here.

You have some guinea pigs off to the side. All the windows up here are animals that are adoptable right now. Every one of these dogs is ready to go and ready for adoption. And the same thing with our cats over here. A lot of cool cats in here now. So, so this is our 3acre lot we have out back and this is where we do all the walking of dogs, exercise. We also have a sideyard off to the side over there so we can let them run loose. they can run together and then we have what's called playgroups. Kind of like having a bunch of kids.

Here's our our vet room. We have a vet comes out twice a week. This is our sally port where we bring the animals into. This is one of our animal control trucks and we can hold up to six animals. We have a lift on the other side to put big animals in. We actually have temperature gauges in here and in the truck to tell us how hot it is. Once it gets to a certain temperature, we bring all the animals back here immediately. So this house actually has traps in it, but we do a lot of wildlife trapping. I mean a lot. So bats, pot belly pigs, horses, cows, emus, a lot of reptiles. We had a a citizen one time that had over 200 reptiles in his basement. Cayman's and alligators in here that are four or five ft long. You can't keep those. And people do and they're surprised when they can't keep them. I'm like, really? You're surprised you can't have an alligator in

your house.

Our main goal here is public safety and also the safety of the animals. And we have very dedicated people back there and they definitely stay here for the love of the animals, which also includes getting them adopted out. We'll have about uh 4,000 impounded animals a year. Probably about close to 2,000 are dogs and cats. the cats and dogs when they get impounded here, they go on a five-day hold and then after the five days, if the owner doesn't show up, then we can put them up for adoption. Adopt the animal here is actually really simple. You just come in, look whatever animal you're looking for, find the right pick. You have you go to the adoption room up there and see if you get along with them. You spend as much time as you want to in there. From that point on, it's just a matter of uh making sure they're spay or neutered and all their vaccinations up to par and they're good to go. We have a very high adoption rate because we try everything in our power to get animals adopted out. We have Harve America Humane Society that we do a lot of adoptions through. And then we also have other groups. We have some people that literally will just look all over the country for somewhere for a dog to go and we sent dogs up into South Dakota, North Dakota, Washington State. So, it's actually it it's a huge united effort to get all these animals home.

Tarzan's got lots of energy. Hazel's got a weird bell. She wants nothing to do with the other cats. She'll kind of get her grumpy face going.

And the good thing about the people here is that they get all their friends to get animals, too. All of us have probably the limit of all the animals that we can have at home. You know, they are huge animal lovers. If it was up to the people here, we'd have 15 cats running around in here. We had a citizen one time out there and he was bathing his two uh 9 foot long boa constrictors in the front yard. Apparently I was I was garnering some some attention and so we went out there and had to talk to him about that. Why do I do this job? Oh dude, I love this job. I grew up on a farm and taking care of that many animals, you can't help but like animals. This is just like fancy farming, you know? You're just bringing animals in here, taking care of them and and find them homes and uh yeah, absolutely animal lover.

This is the best place to work. I love working here. I feel very blessed. I love it here. I look forward to coming to work every day, being a part of this team. Like a family away from home where everyone feels like everybody knows their name. A city that supports you. We see that with our benefits. A pension, vacation days, job security. Being able to be heard. We feel valued. We feel respected. Lee Summit is a very progressive city. It's growing. It's thriving. We have this drive towards not just doing a job, but doing it with a spirit of excellence. I had the opportunity to continue to grow regardless of 30 plus years doing this kind of work. It's more than just dollars and cents. We're here really to give back.

Providing a service to better a community to go out and serve people to be a part of something bigger than yourself. If I would have known what I know now, years ago, I would have been here much sooner.

Traditionally, we think as police officers, those responding to law enforcement needs within the community. But honestly, we are there to serve our citizens and our citizens do go into crisis. They do have mental health crises and we're being called to those scenes on a regular basis. In order to help serve those citizens better, we did initiate the crisis intervention team program. These are officers that are specially trained to deescalate crisis situations. Recently, we've brought co-responders onto the scene, licensed qualified mental health professionals housed within our police department, and they respond with those officers directly to those scenes where a crisis is occurring, so they can interact with that citizen and get them the help they need right there on that scene. The co-responders are either a bachelor or master level in a behavioral health related field. They wear plain clothes. They don't carry weapons or anything like that. I have a police radio that I listen to all day. Listen for, you know, those key words, mental health, behavioral health, crisis.

There's a lot of officers that just call for me. I have my own radio number. I also have the ability to self-dispatch to them and say 982 is in route. Officers in route 914. So, typically I arrive after they've made it safe. I'll make contact and get kind of the rundown and then I just kind of jump right in like, "Hey, you know, my name's Alison. I'm a mental health professional. I'm here to help you. I'm not here to take you to jail or arrest you."

Sometimes all a person needs is a voice, someone neutral, someone outside that you know can listen. I do a lot of safety planning, including family, their support network, who's close to you. So, can some if they're home alone, who can come over and hang out with you today? Can we lock away your sharps? Can we put up your meds? Do you need meds? Can we get you over to the urgent care to get you assessed for your medications? Some of them also are like, "Oh, I'm so glad you came. This made me feel so much better." Our main goal as co-responders is to one get people connected to the services that they need and also divert from emergency rooms and jails

and they almost get a different view of the police responding. That lets me know you care and the officers care. Someone, please, how can I help you? My husband had

in 2020, we had 722 mental health related calls for service. 2022, by that time, 1,479. These mental health related calls for service are increasing. How we're responding to that is increasing the number of crisis intervention team officers we have available as well as the number of co-responders we have available to respond on these calls. So, what I think is important for the community to know about the co-responder program is that we're here. We exist. All you have to do when you call 911 is ask for us. You know, say, "Hey, I want a co-responder to respond to this this crisis." And we'll go. I was really struggling about 8 years ago. My personal journey with mental health and I met some amazing social workers and amazing programs that have helped me get to where I am today. I really couldn't see myself doing anything else. We want to help and that's that's what we love to do.

So I had a client we got a call she had some suicidal ideations and she really felt that she had nobody and you know and getting to know her story and getting to know who comes around and sees you. Well then we found a support person and they responded immediately and we made a plan. I called back and checked on her in an hour and then I checked on her in 2 hours. We were able to get her into additional services to where she talks to someone every week or more. I just took a person that really just thought they had nobody and nobody would show up for them and show them you do. And you'll be amazed who is in your corner if you just simply say, "I need a little help. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.

Everyone, we're going to bring this meeting back to order. We are on um public hearing still. Um so we're going to go to agenda item 5C. Uh this is we're going to close the regular session and open the public hearing in the matter of a reasonzoning from a to RP1, RP4 and CP2 and preliminary development plan. Legacy Ridge 815 Southwest Hook Road, Griffin Riley Property Group is the applicant. Would all those wishing to speak to this matter please rise to be sworn in by the city clerk? I do.

Thank you. Does the applicant have a presentation? Here we go. Okay, got it. Mr. Mayor, council, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to speak with you guys tonight. I'm Jake Loveless with the Griffin Riley Property Group. Uh, our address is 21 Southeast 29th Terrace, Lee Summit, Missouri. Um and and over the course of the past 20 years, our principles um have been involved in Lee Summit development and uh with projects such as Woodside Ridge, Hawthorne Ridge, Bailey Farms, Echelon, and Blackwell Living. Um Legacy Ridge that I'm here to talk with you guys about tonight is is an opportunity for us to kick off um you know, long awaited first PRI opportunity for land improvements. and and we envision a true master plan community that's going to support Lee Summit's long-term growth plans. So, this this first slide is intended to be an overview on the location of the property and the property sits at at Southwest Hook Road and Southwest Ward Road. Um it's approximately 131 acres and then there's also a couple of uh detention basins that are currently managed by the city that um will end up having ultimate management with um the HOA of the property. The current zoning that exists out there um similar to um similar to with other PRI you know property grounds um is is all agricultural in nature. Um currently uh the entire area surrounding it as far as with the PRI ground is also agricultural in nature. Our plan that we have at Legacy Ridge, it does align with the comprehensive plan and um is supported with the single family properties and the attached

multifamily properties that we have um in this in this uh corridor here. and we have a slight a small amount about 10 acres that we have um of commercial that sits on the uh sits on the corner there. So I I know that you guys are all extremely familiar with Ignite and um and the housing choice discussions that we've had here in Lee Summit. Um being part of the community and and being involved in the development that we have here in Lee Summit um we've heard about housing options and Lee Summit and know that that's a priority, right? Um, we've planned this community in accordance with those discussions. We've heard what the community leaders in Lee Summit have said and we've responded with this project providing six different unique product types because we do agree with you all that that is critical for housing a healthy housing ecosystem here in Lee Summit. So, we've been discussing this project here for uh a few months now and and I'm excited to bring you guys this updated plan that we'll have in front of you here tonight. So, uh we started out this project um with one concept and we we met with neighbors and we listened to the feedback that we had from the neighbors. Um, and then we we we met with planning commission and we received their feed their feedback and their input. And then we we circled up with with you all and uh you guys confirmed that that was the direction that you guys wanted to see as well. And so from there we we actually went back and we held a second good neighbor meeting. We met with all the neighbors again. Um and then we took that conversation and and and those um ideas that were shared with us and we brought that back to planning commission after reshaping the entire development. Um and at the last last planning commission meeting that we had um we received broad and general unanimous support for this project with the current concept that we're bringing to you guys tonight. So the themes that

we heard from the neighbors and from planning commission and and then you guys all um you know by extension was that um people wanted more ownership opportunities. Um they wanted less density. Uh they did not want apartment buildings. Um and on the commercial side, they prefer that we only show pad sites for products that we would be building ourselves. Um rather than depicting specific other end users um with the exception of course um with uh every development if we could bring in Starbucks then we were welcome cart blanch just to move that through right away. Right. Um, so the version that we present to you guys tonight is is an effort to be responsive to all the feedback that we've received up to this point in time and and show that we took that feedback very seriously and that we intend to be really good neighbors to everybody that's out there in the surrounding area. So before um before you tonight is is our updated plan. And what the plan incorporates is is commercial on the hard corner um town homes for rent, active adult villas for rent, but then also town homes for sale and then three different segments of of single family that we'll have for sale. um three different lot dimensions so that we can hit six different unique product categories out in this 135 131 acre community. Um so previously the plan included 737 total residential units with 541 of those units actually being for rent and 196 units being for sale. So today, because of the feedback that we heard, we've modified the concept to reduce the total unit count to by 231 units. The majority of the remaining units that we now have are for sale. Uh we're proposing 284 homes for sale with 288 town homes for sale and 90

market rate town homes and 132 active adult villas. Our goal was straightforward. We wanted to create more home ownership opportunities to be able to help address the missing middle that we continue to hear about from council. We wanted to reduce the overall density on the project. And then we still wanted to be able to provide the same highquality amenities that make the development attractive and also also viable. If you'll give me just a minute, um I have a video here to be able to show how we intend on this community coming together. Whoops. Maybe control.

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Okay. All right. So, that's the community. Like I said, um, six different product types that we have out here. um being able to address all these different housing opportunities and choices here for our residents in Lee Summit. Um the next slide that I have here is fairly straightforward, but I thought it was important to show um the adjustments that we made to this project because of the feedback that we heard from neighbors and from from you all. So um we increased the homes for sale as I mentioned before from 197 to 283. We decreased the units for rent from 541 to 222. The total units on this project were decreased by 233. This next slide is intended to show the building. I'll start to show the building elevations, but also the materials that are going to be involved in this project. So, just exactly what type of materials and finishes are we going to have out here in this community. Um, we've selected durable, aesthetically pleasing materials that you see in all over the rest of town. Um, between masonry, wood panels, cement, fiber board, uh, board and batten, LP smart panels, um, stucco, um, stucco, ephus, rain screening, all the high quality, um, materials that you guys are used to seeing all around Lee Summit. This uh slide is intended to show one of the different pods that we have. So I mentioned that we had three different single family detached housing uh types in this community. So this one is our pod A, our 50 foot wide lots. And um and what these show is is examples of elevations that we would expect to be built out there with the construction materials that I just referenced for you. Uh pod B is our is our 60 to 62 foot wide lots.

Pod C's are 40 foot wide lots. And this is for our our active adult um two-car garage singlestory homes that are uh villa style. And then this last is for our twocar garage town homes. So, circling back to the the conversation that we were having about about commercial and and why commercial on this corner. Um, so Warden Hook is is the intersection of two major or a major arterial and a minor arterial road. And we attempted right here with this rendering that we're showing to kind of outline exactly uh the quadrants that we have in the southern part of Lee Summit. Um and so you know the location that we we placed this small um bit of commercial was was because this is a signalized highly visible corner um that's designated to carry significant traffic and serve a broader area of Lee Summit. As this part of Lee Summit continues to grow. I I think what we're going to see here is what we've seen elsewhere which is that you know this intersection is only going to become more active. Um we're adding a stoplight just to the south of this intersection and there's going to be road improvements, significant road improvements that are required as part of the Hook Road um development. So from a planning standpoint and perspective, this is this is exactly where you would expect to see neighborhood retail and and small commercial. Um it's not the ideal long-term location for residential front doors to be facing a corner that's that active, right? Um because of the traffic volumes, the turning movements that you have. Um uh ultimately this is the right location to be able to have for small scale retail that's going to serve the surrounding rooftops in that area. Um so again summarize 130 140 acre development that we have here 13.5 acres of of

commercial that's going to be designated on the corner as our phase 2. Um this is not a regional retail or big box location, right? This is a neighborhood serving, you know, commercial placed at a logical activity node right here in this area that fits into the um the character of what you see or what you will see in the future as this area develops out with the PRI ground um that's coming online. Um and furthermore, I mean, this is really consistent with what we've seen in other parts of Lee Summit, right? Um as the residential builds out around the area, demand follows. And we've seen that pattern across the city that residents that live in that area want to be able to have services that are close closely available to them in those locations. Um so you know for this project I wanted to make sure to make a note for you all that um we are making significant improvements to this site to make it viable for all these different uses that we have here right um including future improvements to Hook Road as part of this development and um the commercial phase and then the addition of the traffic signal that we'll have on on Ward Road um associated with the residential development. So, as soon as we start the first phase of this development, we'll add that that um that traffic signal there on ward and that's to help out improve the existing condition of that road today. Um because this is PRI ground that's been discussed with you all at a later date once you've finalized the program for which you established theou, we will request the opportunity to be able to participate in the PRI infrastructure improvement plan. We will come back to you guys at a later date for that request. So, the next slide that I have here, we talked about the the um you know, small neighborhood commercial, and this is an example of a small neighborhood commercial center that we built in 2018 along 50 highway in Todd George, and we still actively own and and um and

operate this this retail center that's there. We have a handful of them in in the community, but this is one of them that we developed ourselves. And this is similar to what we would expect um in a location like that. So I I did want to circle back to the residential portion of this because it is um the majority of this project, right? And um so how does this align with the comprehensive plan in Ignite just to look at some of those different statistics and figures. So um Legacy Ridge was designed to help close the housing gap by offering a different range of options um for our residents, right? So single family homes, villas, and town homes. Um and this this approach supports housing uh diversity options and sustainable growth here in Lee Summit. And importantly, as we're working through to establish that, the proposed densities remain and even come in under what was posted as being our targeted goals. So in category 1 and category 2, we come in under the outlined range as far as units per acre, people per acre. Um and this is keeping us consistent with what the the plans are for long-term growth in Lee Summit. So, outside of what Ignite says, what what does the market say about what's needed in Lease Summit today? Um, this this slide is intended to show you all the amount of inventory that we have on market today in Lease Summit. So, um, on the 131 acres, it's a very large site, right? And if you only build one product at one price point, you limit the pool of customers that you have available to you. There are only so many people that are shopping in any single price point in Lee Summit at any given time. Um, and when demand softens in that one single price point, if you don't have any other price points to be able to um to offer to folks in your community, then your absorption is going to stall. Um, to that end, I mean, we've seen that happen locally, right? like um you guys have even seen some projects recently that have come back in front of us because of

absorption stalling over time um you know so long so I mean decades where infrastructure that was actually built into the ground um it it it goes obsolete right it has to be replaced because one product type wasn't able to absorb in a specific location um the graphic above is is attempting to explain that in in a broader context for you all. So, historically, if you have under six months of inventory, which that's this area right here that I'm talking about, if you have under six months of inventory, um, then it's considered that you are in a um you're in a in an under supplied market. Okay? If you have over six months of inventory, then it's considered an overs supplied market. Um, today the average listing price in Lee Summit is, drum roll, $620,000. The average sales price in Lee Summit is right around $600,000. So our goal with this project is to create more ownership opportunities between that 300,000 and 600,000 price point that you guys see right here, which the market shows is absolutely what it needs. Expand the buyer pool, support steady, sustainable absorption across the entire community. We've talked about the missing middle and what that means. I I heard um actually the city comment and I don't want to speak for them, but if you guys ask the question again, I'll let them answer. But um I've heard before that the missing middle to the city or from the city's perspective is offering different housing choices. Um sometimes attached housing choices, right? Um, and I I would agree with that. But I would also say um that if you try to look at this from a you know purely a numbers standpoint, if the average income in Lee Summit is is around $100,000 for the household income, um, and industry average is that a mortgage should be roughly 33%

of of that of the income that a household brings in. um that's $2,750 per month, which equates to a $416,000 home purchase price in today's in today's environment. So again, if we're trying to if we're trying to establish price points in that $300 to $600,000 range, we're we're falling firmly in the mix of that and we're we're addressing, you know, the um some of the strongest markets that exist in Lee Summit as far as as far as lack of inventory supplied. So, at the end of the day with with this project, our our goal was simple, right? We wanted to deliver a thoughtful but financially stable community that responds to the market, respects its neighbors, and supports the long-term growth of Lee Summit. We've listened. We've adjusted this plan. We've reduced the the density. We've increased the homeowner opportunities. We've refined the commercial approach. The plan in front of you reflects all of the input that we've received and how we've acted upon that. We would respectfully ask for you guys' support in moving this forward tonight. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. We'll do staff's presentation. Hector Jr., Senior Planner, I'd like to enter into the record exhibit A, list of exhibits 1 through 24. Please enter into the record exhibit A 1 through 24. So, in the interest of time, I'll try not to be very repetitive or redundant.

Oh, you're going back to that comment I made earlier. No, no, no. I was just trying to get through an a long I mean that took a while just to get through it without going into details. So, you know. All right. Um I don't know.

Okay. So, as Mr. Lus had already gone through, uh the project before use 131 acres here at the southeast quadrant of Hook Road and Prior and Ward Road, sorry. Um so he's mentioned a few times that um there have been changes to this plan. So there's effectively been three iterations of this plan that have been um submitted to the city. This is your first time officially seeing anything. Um but between staff and planning commission, this is effectively a third iteration. Um, and there have been some recommendations that that I'll get to here a little bit later. Um, that are a little bit deviations of what the applicant has asked for that the planning commission has recommended and the we'll discuss what some of those recommendations are and what this body can um can do in response to those recommendations. So, the existing property is is zoned agricultural. Uh it sits adjacent to some existing single family development to the south and to the southwest which is zoned pix for the arbor walk which is down on here the lower right hand left hand side um and there's single family development immediately south on this site. Um overall you could see the ground never been developed historically been used for for agricultural purposes and the applicant is now moving forward with an application for a what I call a horizontal mixeduse residential development with um a bit of a commercial piece there at the at the hard corner at the signalized intersection. This is um what I'll try to stress here a little bit is kind of some of the zoning that the applicant is requesting and then the action that was taken by planning commission. So effectively the the development has what I'll call like three bands of development as you're

moving across kind of horizontal bands. So on the furthest south end, you've got kind of a kind of a turmeric color there. Uh moving north and all the land uses kind of intensify as you're moving south to north as you would expect as you're getting closer to the intersection of the two arterial streets. So in the middle section you've got the cantaloupe color that the applicant application was for requesting for RP4 zoning. Now the title of the RP4 zoning is planned apartment. It doesn't mean that apartments have to be built there. It basically describes kind of the upper limit of the residential development that could be approved there based on a plan. So within that RP4 range, you can develop anything from detach single family residential up through apartments. But again, everything is tied to a plan. Um then as you move forward to the the corner, you got the carmine color there. That's a zone CP2 planned community commercial. And um I'll go through a little bit of detail where there has been a little bit of a change um that the applicant made right before the planning commission meeting. Um and it that's site plan is included in your in your packet. I'll go through some of those details later. So overall the the project will have 505 total dwelling units uh broken down between single family detached single family attached and um just attached town home units what we'll say uh the overall density is 4.6 units per acre and they're about 73,000 square feet of commercial area. Now again kind of going through back some of the earlier iterations. The the earliest iteration is the image on the left um comparing it to the the most current iteration here on the right. And Mr. Love has touched on some of the differences here. Um the primary difference that was made

in response to planning commission comments and concerns and comments also from the public were primarily um located here kind of closest to closest to Ward Road. And what was originally a conceptual plan with 300 dwelling units in apartments is now being proposed as town home units, which is basically an expansion of what was previously shown um through this through this middle band. So what they've effectively done is just removed the apartments and kind of shifted over some of the attached single family dwelling units into that into that middle area. So far southern band you would have detached single family um this turquoise area down at the far end that would be single family detached but it' be very small lot 40 foot wide lots. Everything else in the middle would be an attached single family product. Um the middle section they're calling more of an active adult section. Um flanked by two town kind of more fourunit and some three-unit town home buildings. Um, like I said, the biggest changes from this original iteration as it relates to the commercial is that initially it was a convenience store that was proposed for the hard corner and now they've replaced that with a multi-tenant commercial building that mirrors um the same type of building that they were proposing just immediately south of that. Um, so we got two images here. everything. The image on the lower left is kind of providing just references to where we're talking about. So the southernmost part again would be detached single family 50 and 60 foot wide lots. Um with the RP1 area with the one pod

closest to to Ward Road, there would be a modification request. Um under the RP1 zoning, the minimum lot width is is 60 ft. This particular pod has 50 foot wide lots. So the applicant is requesting a modification to allow 50 foot wide lots where normally 60 foot wide minimum is required. Again this area is the again also detached single family area the narrower 40ft wide lots. Um, under the applicant's original request for RP4 zoning, the standard lot here meets all of the requirements of an RP4 zoning district. It satis it doesn't exceed the minimum or the maximum allowed density and it meets the minimum um lot width for a single family residence which is at 35. So, this one being at 40, it's above the minimum standard. Um, this particular drawing is just intended just to show a little bit of a difference between the previous planning commission meeting, the first and second version where there's there's been a little bit of a rearrangement of the street here to provide some additional connectivity to the town home area to the to the west. See, cycle through some of these. This is the active adult area to which there's been no change from the original iteration that's been brought forth. Then this is the the area closest to to Ward Road that I previously spoke of. Um, so again, this area we reduce the density of what was originally proposed with the apartments at 17 units per acre and by replacing that with town homes, they were able to reduce that all the way down to 5.1 units per acre.

Again, here's here depicts the change from sea store to multi-tenant commercial building. So the overall square footage of what of the building to go on the site is about 8,000 square feet larger, but it's a much less intense land use that's being projected here as you can expect with a sea store, a lot of traffic uh a big traffic driver, but a multi-tenant commercial building that could range from professional offices to um general retail would have significantly less traffic in the area. With the most recent iteration, this project is shown as being as two phases. Um certainly there'll be some subfasing within the larger residential phasing. Um but everything's essentially being looked at as two phases between residential and commercial. Uh the elevations the applicant has already gone through. These are typical commercial elevations as well. A number of road improvements are going to be required with these that are called out in the traffic impact analysis and are included as a condition of approval in the ordinance as currently written. So as Mr. Level had mentioned, this particular area in the comp plan is is an area where there's kind of a coming together of different uh recommended land uses. You've got some residential two that's depicted here um on the on the right hand side more of our residential one which is your standard single family development. Um on the on the west side um off the screen here across the street to Hook you see some um activity center area in for the PRI property. Um the overall range of the uses that are being proposed with this development do generally fall within the recommended doing the housing typologies that you do find in the in the recommended land uses of residential one and residential two.

So the areas u so here are the recommended approval conditions. Um in black are the conditions that um needed to be amended. Um and I will call attention to condition number two. So during the course of the uh the planning commission public hearing, there was some concern regarding um the the requested RP4 zoning for that middle swath. Um under the original plan, there was that apartment component which would have been captured under the RP4 zoning district that was being requested. And uh I believe in in response to some of the concerns from area residents and to perhaps provide a little bit more of a backs stop as to what type of land uses could be done could be developed in that middle swath. The um the planning commission recommended swapping out the RP4 zoning that the applicant originally requested with RP3 zoning. With RP3 zoning, it removes the possibility of of apartments. Um, but in doing so, there is a little bit of a trade-off in that in doing so, the RP3 zoning district has a a slightly higher threshold for your minimum lot sizes, which the town home area specifically as proposed would not be able to meet and therefore needs would need a modification. Um, so here you could see that the with the proposal modification would be needed to require 3,640 square ft of lot area per individual dwelling unit. um versus the RP4 standard the RP3 standard which requires a minimum 4,000. So they would just be right under the 4,000 foot minimum threshold. Therefore, if we've uh if you would decide to take up the planning commission's recommendation to swap out the RP4 for RP3 zoning district, we will need a modification as

written here under number two. Um number three here reflects the planning commission's u recommendation to again replace RP4 with RP3. Um the other bolded areas are just reflected with some newer plan sheets that were provided just before the planning commission meeting that was that was held on February 26th. So uh with that I will yield to any questions you may have and staff's recommendation is for approval subject to conditions one through seven. All right. Thank you. questions for staff or the applicant? Council member Prior.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, so I personally am more comfortable with the RP3 zoning with with modifications, but I just wanted to ask, do you plan on building apartments here? I'm asking because I've gotten a lot of people reach out to me and call me and um I just want to know, are there any plans of doing apartments here at all? No. So I mean the initial concept that we had right that was we had a conceptual apartment use that was there in that location that was abudding to ward right we heard we took the feedback we listened to the feedback we came in it was staff's recommendation that we use the RP4 zoning because of the the lesser modification requirements but what we said at planning commission is the same thing that I would say to you guys which is that we're fine with RP3 as long as you guys are okay with the modifications. We we intend to build out the plan that we presented to you guys tonight.

Okay. Thank you. I just kind of wanted it on record so I can refer people back to the meeting of you saying that you have no plans of apartments right there. Okay. Thank you very much. Okay. Thank you, Council Member Shields. Thank you, Mayor. So, the RP4 zoning allows all of the uses up to multif family. So like you can do single family, duplex, triplex, forplex or or multif family. But since it's a plan zone, it would have to come back through with a new PDP if they wanted to build something that's not shown on here. Is that how it works? That is correct.

Okay. So the but the RP4 by right would allow for a little bit less square foot. Like it's I was just flipping through the zoning code because that's what I do for fun. Um the 3500 square feet versus 4,000 square feet minimum. That is correct. Yes.

Okay. So RP3 would allow the use of the town homes, but it would need those modifications. So I guess um it looks like maybe a little bit more flexible setback requirements and things like that. So it's it seems like RP4 is maybe a better fit because it is designed to allow for those town home uses, but with those smaller lots that we've kind of talked about when we've gone through um a lot of discussion actually at this body with with changing minimum lot widths and lot sizes and things like that. So, I mean, if if the developer if it doesn't make any difference, I I guess it doesn't really matter to me, but it just seems like it makes more sense to zone it for a zone that's designed for this particular kind of project rather than trying to give a bunch of modifications to a zone that doesn't quite work for it since again that zone allows for town homes and they would have to they would have to come back through a city council process for a PDP change if they want to do the apartments, Right. It's not like they just go and modify it,

right? Um depending on what those modifications are, then yes, they may not have to come through here again, but like if they wanted to change from town homes to apartments, that would require a new PDP. That's a pretty significant change. That would Yes. Yeah. Okay. Um so I guess I think I just wanted to make sure I understood kind of the differences. Um Okay. I think those are all my my questions. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Council Member Rder.

Thank you, Mayor. I have several questions and I think it's for the applicant Mr. Loveless. Uh first of all on your you made the um on your commercial you said you were going to put Ephus on the you're just talking about commercial. You're not talking about on the residential properties. Correct. Yeah. the Ephus is is that that was a um that was a product that was used on the on the property that I used as an elevation reference and yeah, we had so the the property that's there on that I showed you the elevation from that's on 50 highway and and Todd George has Ephus as a component there along with a lot of those other different ones that I showed as well

because you know we know what Ephas does on residential causes problems. Okay. Yeah. Um when you're selling them um Okay. Okay. So, while we're on the commercial, uh, did you have any at this time? Do you know of any commercial businesses that you think Okay. I I do not. I mean, so we we showed with a use, so the only one that we showed an elevation from was a use that we knew we would likely be building out there. Um, and the other ones we we went on ahead and showed placeholders so that we could produce an effective traffic study for you all. Um, but but we don't contemplate those other uses. Yeah. And so you you commented that you said that we you would be coming back for the PRI improvement plan. Correct. And what what is that?

Uh it's the um the theou that I understand you guys um have worked through with the PRI ground on the presentations that they've had um for the northern ground and that they're visiting with LC and coming back through on the southern ground. That that incentives. We're talking about incentives. Correct. Yep. The improvement plan. Yep.

Okay. Um so um let me see how I want to ask this in the order I want to ask it so it makes sense. Um let's see my curiosity is have you done this kind of a project with this kind of a layout with rental inside of a for sale properties? Have you done that before anywhere? Um I mean this is a little bit different project as far as the uses but we've we've emulated so we we were strategic in in the locations of where we have the for rent project versus where we have the for sale project. Right. So so how it's contemplated is that the for sale is a budding the neighborhood to the south of us that is also primarily for sale units that are down there. We have the active adult that's the center that you were talking about there in the middle and then we have the other four rent product that's there a budding ward. So, um, ward in the commercial. So, again, it's a buffer from the commercial that we have on the corner and then it's a buffer, um, to ward to Ward road that we have there. So, we're reducing the density as we get away from those hard corners and and work back towards um, the other residential uses that are in the area.

So, you know, being in real estate a long time, you know, here was my here was my question about this

um, and concern for for your the success of your project as well. So, it's just like how I I just in my years of doing this, it's just like there's been a lot of um uh resistance to for people that are buying homes to be next to uh rental properties, especially if there's not much of a buffer. So let you know Arborwalk for instance um in Arborwalk you've got the town homes and all the different styles of houses which is really awesome but then they put their they put their town homes that are rental back toward the uh the east of their west of their property back there. So that's why I kind of wondered why you if if you had had success on this in the past because you are combining rentals with for sales and it seems like it could be it might be it could be a problem for selling those properties. This this is an observation just as as a as a professional in that business with you know people are saying I don't want to do that. not necessarily that they're town homes because people own town homes and they buy just like in Oaks Ridge and other places like that. So,

sure. I mean, our our group has sold more homes in in I mean outside of agents, right? We've never been on the agency side of things, but um obviously we have extensive history as far as selling homes in Lee Summit. I would guess that we've our group has been a part of selling more homes in Lee Summit than um than any other group that's probably been in the history of Lee Summit. So to that end um we've evaluated this pretty thoroughly and we feel like um at the price points to the you know the um the image that I shared earlier on with that chart about what is in demand and exists in Lee Summit. We feel like that a thoughtfully well planned community like this that has significant community amenities that are going to be there and available for everybody that that we will have no problem finding demand for for this product for all the product type that we have out there.

And what you just said was was exactly what I was thinking because you know you have built single family homes and forale homes in the past and so I was just curious as to why you wanted I get the senior piece but why you wanted to do rentals in in that space as well instead of just being all for sale properties. Yeah. Just just again getting back to that absorption you know discussion that we were having. Absorption. Y absolutely.

Okay. Um let's see. I think that um okay so how will you guarantee the residents and um you know this city that those properties that you are putting for sale will stay for sale. Um, I mean, all I can tell you is what we are going to be developing out and the so the lots that we are going to sell in there to individual builders to be able to build homes just like exists all over um all over the Lee Summit community. Um, the only two uh areas that we intend to build out and hold and and and own are the the two areas out there that would be for rent. The other four areas that we're discussing out there, um, those would all be for sale. So I mean there will be HOAs that out there that will ultimately um they will dictate what the you know the governance is of those and and then obviously Lee Summit UDO but uh but we'll we'll abide by all those different things but otherwise that's that's our intention with how we're setting up the formatting in this community.

So you're going to hold on to the town homes and you're going to manage the for rental the rent home onto those. That's our intention. Yep. Um, okay. And then just one comment about the RP4. I watched the planning commission and you agreed to the RP3. And I'll tell you why I I really liked that because once it's zoned RP4, we can put apartments in there. If you guys don't if you guys don't see this through, something happens. You know how that goes. Then when you're when you put it out of the RP4, it is open for apartments. And I'm ju I'm just making a I'm just saying that I like that the I like the fact that you put it in as an RP4 three because and the reason is kind of addressing what uh council member Shiel said was important because RP4 is that highest use of density there

and and I think it's a good idea that since it is uh a concern of our community with so many rentals and I appreciate what you did very much in changing that to a to a town home um that it is it is actually a good idea and it was a um good decision on the planning commission's part and you as the developer to to agree to that because then that way it's it we won't ever have that very very high density in there. I mean I know things change but typically that's you know that's a good good going forward.

Yeah. Well I appreciate the comment very much. We we understood staff's position, you know, that if if there were ever a change in the plan that it would have to come back through the PDP process, but at the same time, and to the question that Miss Prior asked, um, you know, we intend to build out what we're showing you guys tonight. So, we to that end, if it were you guys' perview that you wanted to make that adjustment, we have no issue with that. Okay. Very good. And I think you basically told us what price range you're going to be in. Yes, ma'am. What are you going to rent those town homes and the seniors for? Do you know

the seniors? Um the seniors are going for I mean cuz we have we have reunion at Blackwell right now which is it's the same concept right and and so those are those are between 2400 and $2,900 a month. Yep. And then um the I would expect the twocar garage um you know um again high quality town homes that we have over here are going to be you know probably 20 22 2300 and up um a month. So, I would think probably two 22 to 3,000 a month. Um, and it's interesting because you you look at the difference in the cost of home ownership versus the cost of renting. And so, you guys hear these these figures, right? And they're big figures. I I think they're big figures, right? Um they're certainly, you know, it's um it takes a high income to be able to to be able to lease out these homes, right? Um, but the reality is is that if if you take, you know, the cost of home ownership and you add that on top of what is already a high interest rate, excuse me, high interest rate environment, you know, the cost of home ownership for a $415,000 house could be, you know, could be pushing north of $4,000 a month. So, it it's just important to be able to provide options so that we can attract as many high-quality residents to Lee Summit as possible.

Sure. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Council Member Carlo. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I think my comments are my questions are going to be probably for staff. Thank you, Hector. So, first my question is in this lower quadrant closest to Ward Road where the lots back up to each other, what is that space in between there? Um, is it just green space or is it It's It's open. There's There's a pipeline that runs through. There's a I believe it's a gas pipeline that runs through there. Um, so

Okay. So, it's somebody's right ofway. Yes.

Okay. Gotcha. Thank you. Sorry, that was just really bothering me. Okay. Second of all, the RP3 versus RP4, I I get and I completely understand why RP4 is scaring people. Aside from having that number two exception, um, if we make it RP3, are there any other unintended consequences that might come forth that we're not thinking of right now? I would just hate to say, "Yeah, let's do this." And then down the road, we're like, "Uhoh, we can't do this in RP3. We need it to be RP4." And then them have to come back. No, there wouldn't be.

Okay. No. Okay. Um Okay. And then the PRI improvement plan. That's the first time I've ever heard of that. So, somebody

I have no idea. I've never heard of it.

Uh good evening. Ryan Elum, assistant city manager. So, the infrastructure improvement plan that's being referenced, if you recall back in August, um August 12th, uh actually, we had a uh conceptual incentive presentation from the land reserve group, land reserve and property reserve group, uh that put together what we called an infrastructure financing plan that was primarily focused on the north side uh that thousand acres up up north. Uh at that time the the discussion was that okay this is the framework um we have theou that says we're going to be working together framework got thumbs up on the framework now we're coming back with the implementation documents associated with that and the thought process was that a similar structure would be presented for the southern piece as well to cover

so is something we've even seen for this that is correct I thought I was losing my mind I was like I have no idea that is all coming up very soon uh as as we work through the next couple of months. Okay. Thank you. Thank you for that. Okay. The rest I have are just comments. So, thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Council Member Shields.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, I guess I not to keep harping on this, but I I just do want to like understand, right? So, if it was zoned RP4, it would it would still require an action of council to change to apartments. And if it was zoned RP3, an action of council could reszone it to RP4 and allow apartments. Like it seems like maybe it just is a non-issue because any a future council can undo what we do, but there's there's nothing regardless of whether they do RP3 or RP4 today that would just allow apartments to go in there without f further consideration by this body. Right.

Right. So we do not have conventional zoning. We have planned zoning districts. So if we had a conventional zoning and you would essentially instead of an RP4, you would have R4, right? And in communities that do have more of an R4 conventional zoning district. Once that zoning district is in place, you by right can hypothetically, right, come in tomorrow, pull a permit to build apartments and there you go. Um, with this with the planned component that the city le summit has,

you were tied to the plan. So even though it has RP4 zoning, which on paper says you hypothetically could have apartments, the plan that's currently presented to you has no apartments. Therefore, they could not just come in and Right. And that's not an administrative change. That would No, that is that would that would come through the whole public hearing process. Yes.

Um and then also kind of for clarity tonight, what we're talking about is a zoning and a land use decision. It's not a decision about corporate structure, ownership rights, anything like that. Like we that's outside of our purview. We just decide can you build a townhouse there or not. Correct. Like what goes what the four walls of the building look like, the size of the lot, that kind of thing. But that's that's kind of the limits of our authority. Correct. These are land use decisions here. Okay. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Council Member Prior.

Thank you. Um, so when council member Carile said the unintended un unintended consequences, which I know is level's kind of term, but um I guess maybe not. You said there wasn't really any if we zoned at RP3, but I guess my my hesitation. So if we did if we did the RP4, what is the biggest unintended So if we went ahead with the RP4, what's the biggest unintended consequence? It would just be that if they don't end up developing this out and it another developer comes, then it's already zoned apartments and then at that point they would come before council and possibly get apartments approved because it's already zoned that way, right? Is that the biggest unintended consequence of going with the RP4 zoning?

Um, yeah. All it would do is that you would already on on a map you would already have zoning that could allow for apartments. It would ultimately be a city council decision whether or not that body feels that apartments would be the highest and best use of of of that of that property. But we fall back on zoning a lot. So I feel like but yeah. Okay. But but again the RP4 zoning it it's not a mandate. I mean it says apartment you can do apartments and say it has to be apartments. It could be anything from detached single family up to apartments. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Thank you council member Rder.

Oh thanks mayor. I just had one more question for the applicant really quick. I forgot to ask. Well, I don't know if there's any residents here this evening, but um did you have much push back from the residents on the rental piece?

You know, interestingly, um we didn't even the very first meeting, we didn't have very much push back from the neighborhood on the on the rental piece. at at our first planning commission meeting, we had some some neighbors out there that weren't at our good neighbor meeting um that that spoke to not wanting to have um the the uh you know four-story apartments next to next to the road there at Ward. The other comment that we got from them was that um they didn't want to have a convenience store even even shown uh on that on that corner. And so those were really the two um comments that we were working hard to address for the neighbors. And so, um, even though we didn't hear him at the good neighbor meeting, um, we did hear it at planning commission and so that's what we went back to address again and and then met with the neighbors again and and, um, look, I mean, everybody everybody wants this to remain a beautiful field forever and we get that too, right? But, um, but I think everybody understood that we worked really hard to be able to come up with a concept that, you know, hopefully was good for everybody.

Okay. Thank you. Thanks, Mayor. Thank you. Any other questions for staff or applicant? Mr. Loveless, do you um on the you had mentioned the absorption were you you were referencing the fact that you're trying to hit different price points and meet the demand versus supply. Yeah, exactly. Okay.

Yep. And then you you alluded to the missing metal and it sound like you were saying you had a little bit broader um in your minds you guys have a little bit broader description because you know by if you Google things like missing metal it's going to tell you town homes it's going to tell you it's going to the the meaning has changed over the last 15 years. So 15 years ago it meant uh the house that you buy after you sell your house, your entry level home. And so you're yes, you're doing the missing middle with the town homes for sale, but you're also doing the original missing middle, which is your second home, right? Is that is that accurate?

Yeah. Yeah. And I think you're exactly right. It seems like it's been a moving target. So, we tried to provide a little bit of context for all those different explanations as far as how we arrived at saying, you know, based on what we've heard, it sounds like this is the missing middle to us. And again, it's it's my interpretation, right? I I I'm told all the time that I'm wrong. So,

well, there's a there's the there's a $300,000 split entry home in Lee Summit that an owner needs something to move to and they're going to go, you know, maybe up to 450 and that's that's the price point you're going to meet on a single family. And then there's the one that's living in an apartment that might want to buy a town home. That's they're going to be there. I guess you're going to call that the missing middle. That's what they that's what the definition is these days. they're going to buy a town home because you're going to try to meet a price point of I don't know I think you were shooting for 300 or less. I I listen if if we could hit under 300 I would I would be doing you know um yeah hops around the around the room right it's a challenge but but that's the reason why we're trying all these

anybody doing it right now not in a suburb like this but they're above 300 at this point but okay um very good I'm going to at this time ask if there's anybody here that wishes to speak in favor or in opposition to the application Miss Giddings.

Um, I just have a couple of things. I think this is a good example of where your conceptual plan is necessary because the citizens found out apartments and a gas station. And before they really did the whole plan and brought it for you, they changed it. They changed it because the residents wanted it. I wholeheartedly support the RP3. Uh just an example of Paragon. They ran away and now you've got somebody coming in who's going to develop it, but because of the zoning, they can do what they want with it. I don't know how you can prevent a gas station. Um it's own commercial. He says he's not going to put in a gas station. How do you how do you accomplish that? Um, and with regards to the RP3 zoning, this council supports amendments and modifications all the time. So, I don't think that's a real big deal, especially since the developer says that he's in favor of it. Um, I will say one thing. I live out by the Blackwell development. And I don't mean to say anything bad, but on the houses he showed you, the Avalon and the Sunflower have those black slanted roofs. I don't know what you were talking about as Esus or whatever that was. Um,

Ev, what is that? Okay, that's what I thought, but I wasn't sure. Anyway, I I encourage somebody to go out and drive around that Black Wall area from 50 highway. those black roofs just don't look good at a slant. It's like what in the world is down there? So, um yeah, those are my comments that uh a conceptual plan really helped with this development and I wholeheartedly support the RP3 and uh I'm not sure how you can prevent a gas station. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anybody else that would like to speak? Yeah, Mr. Alish. I'll start by saying what I like. Um, I like the apartments being taken out. I like the affordability focus. I I like the active adult. My only concern here is, you know, they remove the apartments and then they're putting in town homes that are so dense that we have to have like some in between zoning. Um, and so the density seems like it still is a problem. Uh, and you know, I think back to the Kensingtonian farm project and and it started out very very or started out, you know, less dense than this project is here. The the residents said, "No, it's too dense." They went to single family homes. I think we've got kind of an anchor point effect. We started out with so much density that even though we switched apartments or town homes, we were taking that as a win. But if they started with this, you know, it would be problematic. We would say, "Hey, that's too dense." So, I think we should be cautious of that. In terms of the zoning, um I think any RP4 should be off the table. Uh that indicates apartments and I know it's associated with plans, but plans change. Um and we don't want to zone these to set them up for apartments. Uh you know, obviously we we've had plans talked about. Ignite says we have enough, the committee says we have enough. So let's give them RP3 and and maybe the plan should change to make these actually fit the RP3 instead of us changing the RP3 to fit the plans. Just my thoughts.

Thank you. Anybody else? Yep. Missing water.

I'll need Hector's survey. You had a survey that you put up there that had Anderson Survey Company uh surveyed those two, I guess, detention areas. And are those are those detention areas going to be part of this resoning or what what are those going to be zoned? Um I'm talking about this area and this area. Um, considering that I this this particular drawing looks like it's off the survey because the gist shows this coming all the way down here. So, can you get me that? Yeah, this Yeah, this is the So, is is this a signed and sealed document? Miss Volen Wider, I'm going to give you just a little bit of latitude here, but this isn't a back and forth, so please go ahead and ask your question, Mr. Please.

Is this a signed and sealed survey? Is this a snippet of a signed and sealed survey? If you notice, it says Anderson survey on there, and that's not part of this PDP plan. That's not part of the development.

Okay. Is water going to end up there? Where is all the water from? Where is all the runoff from this? This looks like a turkeyy's head or something here. I mean, it's a a strange shape. I'm kind of trying to figure out how did we get to this particular shape for reszoning. Um, but do these same people own this land? Okay. And that is where all the runoff is going to go, but it's going to be left zoned a

Miss Fallen White, you definitely know enough about surveys and land to know that they don't come all in boxes or squares or rectangles. Sometimes they're shaped like this. And that piece that's not outlined down there is not part of this development. And as far as the water retention goes, we can follow up as soon as you get done. We can follow up with them and talk to them about where the water's going to go. Yeah. I mean, there's contours on some of these drawings. Yeah, there's contours.

I mean, it it's this was labeled as a detention area on one of the drawings. These two spots were mentioned as detention areas. So, is water runoff from this going there? It was a prelim preliminary development plan, right? Well, well, I'll I'll follow up and ask. And was that signed and sealed? I guess I'm wondering there. I mean, you can always do revisions and then sign and seal the revision. We never see, you know, we never see the signed and sealed document. We just see these snippets.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Innesota I don't those are not part of the development is that correct

so right now those areas are they provide some additional um storm water mitigation areas that are currently owned owned by the city. Um, as part of this project, there will be some improvements done to u those areas to incorporate um to help incorporate these into the project for to provide the the required storm water mitigation. Um, right now those two pieces are zoned agricultural. Um they they could stay agricultural um or or they could also we could also extend the boundary just to make it all uniform um to kind of square it off so to speak.

All right. Just just so the whole world understands. Okay. Do you see the picture on the right there? Yes. Do you see the bottom left hand corner of where you're saying is city owned property? All of that right there. Yes. Mhm. water goes down towards that up I should say goes up north towards that pond. That's the way water's flowing right now. Is that correct? Would you assume just from your experience as a Yeah. as a planner? I mean

that's where the water is going now. And when people when developer develops, they're going to they're going to change that elevation. They may use that in their design and they probably did if we go compare it side by side. There are engineers that do this for a living that actually design these out and make sure that they're not fighting gravity too much. They try to use gravity and then they try to disperse the the uh the water so that it doesn't flow too quickly. Sometimes they provide detention and and retention areas. And so that's how it works. Is that correct, sir? Correct. All right. Next question she had was Somebody help me. Council members, what was one of her questions?

Was it signed and sealed? Yes. Those properties when this develops and we and this is platted with this PDP plan, there will be signed and seal drawings at that point. That's correct. Correct. At that point. But right now, they're not going to put a stamp on it until we approve this zoning and this PD plan. Is that correct? That is correct. All right. Any other have revisions and signing. All right. I'm going to keep going. Council member Prior, I'm about to come to you. So,

oh, sorry. Is this the area we kind of touched on at public works a little bit regarding storm water or did we not at all?

Michael Park, director of public works. Could you maybe give a little more detail to that question? No, because I don't remember. I mean, okay. So, I remember I don't know if it was this area that got brought up that there's that there's planning for storm water. So, currently there are two detention basins that are serving more of a regional purpose for storm water. Uh it's my understanding and working with the applicant that's before you tonight that they would like to uh meet the storm water requirements of their development using these two city basins and in doing so they would expand those basins to meet their storm water uh requirements and take over the ownership of those because they would then be having them for that private development purpose.

Okay. So this is not what we talked about at public works. That's good to know. Yeah. Okay. Good. Thank you. And Trish was right. She told me it's not but I didn't. Yeah. Thank you. Okay. All right. Anybody else like to speak about in favor or in opposition? Okay. Any further uh questions for staff of the applicant from council? Council member Rder. Um m mayor.

Yes. How will we handle the RP3? Will we just change it on this when we read the if we decide how how are we going to go about that? We decide to put it to RP3. Yeah, we'll get out of the public hearing. Okay. Um but currently this is in front of us as RP4. Is that correct, Mr. Sto? Currently the ordinance reflects RP4. If we follow suit with the planning commission, we would make a motion to amend this to RP3. To RP3, correct? Okay. And the applicant obviously is willing to do that. Yes. All right. Thank you.

Thank you. Um does applicant care to make any further comment? You have any additional questions? Okay. Then uh hearing no further testimony. I'm closing the public hearing, reopening the regular session. Is there any council discussion on this application? Council member Prior.

Thank you. I wanted to start by saying I really appreciate your uh you modifying your plan. Um I had several people reach out to me when when the apartments after the apartments had been proposed and they were very concerned. Um I personally feel like as kind of a good faith measure, I would like to see it RP3 with modifications um just as a good faith measure that I heard my constituents and that um so that's what I would personally like to see. But thank you. I I um I'm very grateful for the developers that modify plans and listen to people. Thanks. Okay. Thank you, Council Member Carlile.

Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to say that well, it's gone now, but I like the look of the plan. Um I appreciate that there are many levels of ownership options and rental all in the same area. So, it covers all the bases except for apartments um in one area. So, I think that's great and I think it'll really be great for the development. Um I appreciate your willingness to go to RP3 um as was asked by the planning commission. Um oh, the commercial. So, I do know that people do love coffee and ice cream. So, if you can get those two things there, they'll be happy as ever. And that's all I have. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Hodes. Thank you. I also wanted to just say that I really appreciate the fact that you guys listened to um the community and also council's feedback and got rid of the apartments. Um I like the plan. I think it looks great. Um yeah. No, I just want to say I just have a lot of respect for developers who actually take the time to listen to the community and want to be good partners um and good neighbors. So, thank you for that. Thank you, Council Member Shields.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, you know, I love having a project that has different housing types all mixed together. That's um one of the reasons why like I live where I live. Um, we specifically chose a neighborhood that had big houses and little houses close together because we wanted my mom to be able to live nearby and she does. She lives five five minutes away from us and is has my son every weekend. It's great. It gives families the ability to have, you know, different generations, different people, different phases in their life all close together. And I think that's that's really nice. Um, so I definitely support this. Um, obviously the whether it's RP3 with modifications or RP4, it doesn't seem to really make a material difference. I do think just on principle like we went to all this trouble to modify the RP4 zoning to allow for these smaller lots and these narrower lots that are specifically designed for this kind of development that we ought to use it. like we went to the trouble to amend our code to make this kind of development possible, but um if we'd rather do RP3 with modifications, whatever, it's fine. So, thank you, mayor.

Thank you, Council Member Punk. Thank you, mayor. Um guys, thanks. I mean, this shows good partnerships. You listen to everybody. Um you came back with a great plan and and I too with the RP4, RP3, I I don't really have a preference. Um, we worked hard, as Council Member Shields said, to work through our code to make these type of things work in RP4. So, just again, thank you guys for everything you did to make this come through. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Mayor Pam Lopez.

Thanks, Mayor. I'll just keep the same uh consistent type of of reaction and responses. Uh, thank you guys for for listening. Um, you came back, you you heard planning commission, you worked with staff, you heard neighbors, residents about concerns and and that is the partnership that we look for in this city and you guys know that. Um, so thank you. The variety of product is, you know, I think is that's what we want. We want our citizens to have options and our future citizens, prospective citizens. The RP3, thank you for being open to to that. Um, and I like the commercial. I think that area, that's a perfect spot for commercial. I'm a commercial-minded person, so I like that. Thanks. Thanks, mayor.

Thank you. Okay. Um I too um appreciate the effort you went of different incomes. Um so that's great. And then the neighborhood I I call it a neighborhood center. We need these neighborhood centers um in our community. I I think of areas that develops so fast with single family that they didn't have neighborhood centers, certain districts that that it's it's nice to be able to have um high quality neighborhood center um that people can can get to and access uh and then they don't have to drive, you know, cuz hey, it's a big town. Sometimes you have to drive 10 or 15 minutes just to um to get to places. So, um I think that's a that's a good feature and but you didn't overdo it. So, it would it's very tolerable and digestible for everyone. So, good job. Um all right, with that said, I'm going to call on Where am I?

Oh, Council Member Hodgees, it's you. Yep. Uh yeah, bill number 26-022. Would you please read the second reading? I advance to second reading. Bill number 26-022, an ordinance approving reszoning from district A agriculture to district RP1 planned single family residential, RP4 planned apartment residential and CP2 planned community commercial and preliminary development plan on approximately 131 acres of land generally located at the southeast intersection of Southwest Ward Road and Southwest Hook Road. All in accordance with the provisions of chapter 33, the unified development ordinance of the code of ordinances for the city of Lee Summit, Missouri.

Thank you. We have a motion to move second reading bill number 26-022 by council member Hajes. Seconded by council member Carlilele. Could I get an amendment from someone please for the RP3? Council member Shields. Carile. Council member Carile. I'll do it for you. Thank you, mayor. I would move uh bill number 26-022 um be amended to replace RP4 with RP3. I have a motion to amend it to RP3 by council member Carlile. Second. Second by council member Rder. Um, anything else I need to add to that, Mr. Sto? Is that the only uh modification

modification the planning commission made? Isn't that correct? Yeah, that it would be modification number two that's on the screen in front of you. All right. Add that. Oh, we need to add uh modification number two to the to the um to our Okay. If it's an RP3 zoning, then yes, it needs that modification number. Okay. Sorry, Mayor. Hold on a second. Hold on a second. Council member Rder, would you please withdraw your second? I withdraw my second. Would you withdraw your amendment? Withraw my amendment. Thank you. Council member Carlile, would you please make um an amendment?

Thank you, Mayor. I would move bill number 26-022 be amended to replace RP4 with RP3 and add modification number two from staff's approval conditions. Is this a letter? Is it in a letter or is it just in this? Um there's a staff memo in from staff's memo of March 10, 2026.

Okay. Will that work, Mr. Head? Thank you. I have a motion to amend to RP3 as and add the modification for the widths and minimums square feet by council member Carlile. I need a second. Seconded by council member Rder. Discussion. Okay. This is the motion on the amendment first. Okay. So for the amendment, please cast your vote. All votes are in. Please record the vote. It does pass 7 to one with one recusal. Um then we then now we need to vote um continue discussion on the ordinance amended ordinance. I believe Miss Devin you do have um the motion. We already have a motion person and a second. Do you guys remember who it was? First it was the motion to to adopt this was by council member Hodgeges and the second was

second for second reading. I mean yeah I have council member Carile. Is that correct? That's correct. Thank you. Any more discussion? Okay. Please cast your vote on the motion to second reading as amended. All votes are in. Please record the vote. It does pass 8 to zero with one recusal. All right, we got through it. I got a warning sign that the that the thunderstorm's possibly coming here. No, you get longer. You're going to get a warning sign. Just go ahead and shut it down. Yeah. Um, we're going to do public comments before we take a break. Oh jeez. Okay,

we still got public hearing. Okay. going to close the regular session and open the public hearing in the matter of agenda item 5D sewer rates and charges. But all those wishing to speak to this matter, please rise to be sworn in by the city clerk. The truth. All right, Mr. Thank you, mayor, members of council. Uh Scott is, chief counsel of infrastructure and recreation. Um, I'd like to start by moving to admit into evidence city's exhibits number one through three. Those were previously published um with the agenda made publicly available.

Um, you want to enter enter into the record the exhibits what? One through three. One through three. Please enter to the record exhibits one through three.

So, as most of you are aware, we come before you every year with our annual sewer rate public hearing. Uh this annual sewer rate public hearing is required under Missouri statute before we establish any sewer charges. We try to bring this every year in the same time frame as we bring forth the schedule of fees. However, we have to start planning for this in December and publish in January. So sometimes we can't quite hit that date um exactly. Uh that's what happened here today is we're not going to have the schedule of fees also before you today. That will come at a later meeting I believe next month. But we still usually proceed with this this hearing on the sanitary sewer rates um today. So there's nothing to vote on today. Uh the schedule of fees is what will be what will contain these sanitary sewer rates. So there will be nothing to vote on today. It's just a matter of having this public hearing today. So the sanitary sewer rates are set by water utilities to sustain the utility. It's a utility used by all the citizens and businesses here with inside the city. and the methodology used is based upon the strategic plan, the wastewater master plan and the city's comprehensive plan. To briefly summarize the changes that are going to be made, um there's going to be two changes that are made, and they're the same two changes we usually see every single year. The first one is going to be the sewer tap fee. The sewer tap fee is a one-time charge that is charged to somebody when they first connect to sanitary sewer services or they increase the capacity of their sanitary sewer services. It is not an ongoing fee. It's a one-time fee that somebody uses to basically buy into our system in order to offset the investments that are made by other users in the system uh to build out our system. That sewer fee will go up approximately 4%. So to give you an example, it's currently set at $2,938 for a common 5/8 by 3/4 in sanitary sewer water line and it'll go up to $2,948

or $100. uh that will be in effect um come January 1st of next year. Um we also have this the discharge rates for sanitary sewer. So discharge rates are what's charged every single month along with the set um minimum fee when it comes to the sanitary sewer rates. So the way the city works with those is the same way with water. We plan those five years in advance. So the rate that we're coming forward with you today that will be within the schedule of fees that comes before you next month are going to be actually set for 2023. So five years out is when they're going to be set for those rates are proposed to increase by 4% 2033

in 2030 excuse me 2030 mayor. So those are set to increase by 4% um over the 2029 rates and all of these changes have been previously approved by the water utilities advisory board earlier this year. So with that information, I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Questions for Mr. or Steph. Okay. Um, seeing no questions, are there any uh is there anyone that wishes to speak in favor or against this? Miss Giddings. I'm not really speaking for or against this. I know prices have to go up. It goes back to my harping fact is that I didn't even know about this type of proposal before you until I found the agenda online for this meeting. And then I tried to dig to figure out where this came from and the water committee met in January. I thought it was something recent and as he said, I guess they're a little off schedule, but how is it that people are going to learn about things in Lee Summit? I suggested on the main page of the website to put where the meetings are each week and let the people then see if they wanted to find out about the meetings and dig through all the paperwork to find out what's going on. But other than coming to city hall, which is where this notice was posted, I'm not sure where else I would have found out about it for the first water committee meeting that did this. And those meetings are held at 1:30 in the afternoon. How's the average citizen going to be able to attend those meetings? I'm sure it's convenient because it's a work day and they can just go to the meeting during their work time, but most meetings are not at 1:30 in the afternoon. So, that's that's the only thing I have to say. It's it's I know prices are going to go up. Water prices went up already. Sewer prices are going to go up and you're requesting a storm water

retention tax to be passed in this next election. It's It's going to be a lot for citizens to absorb. So, thank you. Thank you. Anybody else?

Terresa Volen Whiteer. I recall in February, I didn't come to this meeting, but I watched it online. February of 2025, Jeffrey Thorne coming up here and telling the public works committee that um you were the head of that um that the city was going to pay for private the repair of private lines that go under roads because it's hard for people to find contractors to do that. And with the gist map and all the lines are on there, we should be able to know how many households that is. Because my question becomes, is part of this raise in these rates in these tap fees going to fund that that because I feel like that's wrong. Residential lines, private lines should not be repaired by the public. If you can put a line under a road, if you can pay for that, having that board under the road or having the road cut to put that line in, then you can pay to fix it and you can find a contractor to do it. So, I'm my concern is that this increase is part of what they need to pay for those private lines that go under roads when that shouldn't be the public paying for that. Mr. Thorne, would you um do we pay for private lines under roads for uh

individual homeowner?

The city enacted a policy uh the water utilities department enacted a policy uh this past year to uh review the repair of private sewer laterals when they are underneath the road pavement. Uh the repairs of lines underneath the road pavement are disruptive to the pavement, the subbase, and the city's infrastructure. It's also an area where there's many other private utilities that people have to dig around and deal with. The local plumbers and those types aren't really great at this. So, as part of that, the city does have a policy that we do a budget for uh to uh repair this. Our budget in total on that is $250,000. Last year, we spent zero dollars on it. We had none that qualified. Uh it has to be a structural failure in a lateral line underneath the pavement for it to qualify for us to repair. Uh we didn't have any that came forward with that. We have had one that we're looking at now. So we might actually do one here uh this year, but last fiscal year we did zero. That is not why we are increasing our our rates. Uh we received a notice that we're going to get a 5 and a half% increase from Kansas City water. We're getting a 6% increase, almost 6% increase from Little Blue Valley Sewer District. Uh our other purchasing partner in Independence just raised their sewer rates. We anticipate their water increase will be on the horizon. Uh and we're covering for that. We've also seen increases in fuel costs, chemical costs, and uh also approved a union labor agreement this last year. Uh all those are rolled into our costs. Uh the quite honestly in our uh $50 million budget that $250,000 is not the biggest deal. Uh what we don't want to have to do is have a private citizen go out there and try to repair the street to the level that we want it. We want to be able to control that asset and control that right away. That's why we're doing it.

Thank you, sir. Yes, sir. Council member Prior. Thank you. This is actually unrelated to that, but um I know we're not voting on it tonight, but what happens if we don't approve what what happens if we didn't approve the increase in fees, which I'm not saying that's what I want to do. I just want to know what happens if

you're looking purely on the legal side of what would happen. So, this would come forth in the full schedule of fees. Are you looking for a quality of service answer? Okay, Jeff's best for that. Uh what we do is uh we we we we go through what we call a cost of service study, right? So we take the cost that it takes to run a business. We are an enterprise fund within the city. We take no taxes. We're not part of the general fund. All of our work, everything that we do is based on the fees that are charged. Those fees come in two groupings. They come in the user rates, which is the the the one that's at 5 years out that we're approving, and then the tap fees. The tap fees are basically system development fees. What that does for us is it makes development pay for development. All right? So you put in a subdivision and you hook up hook up a bunch of new houses on that thing. What it does is if we have to do capacity improvements, if we have to buy more water capacity, if we have to build more storage, if we have to upsize lines to support that, that is paid for by the cost of those new houses, not the existing residents. So that's the tap fee side of it. Our user fees are done for system maintenance, rehabilitation, and that kind of stuff. We have a goal to replace 2% of our water lines a year. We've seen an increase in cost and materials and labor on those. With our current funding levels, we're actually about 1 one and a half% of our system per year. That's pretty hard for us. It increases our break rate and lowers our level of service. So by not improving uh rate increases to try to keep on pace with those costs which are creeping up on us also it lowers our level of service and our ability to complete our projects.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you council member Council Member Rder. Thanks Mayor U. Mr. Thorne. Sorry. Uh I I couldn't yell at you. Oh just really quick. Are the water utility uh board meetings public?

They are public and uh this year's was at 1:30. They haven't traditionally always been that early. Uh we have a hard time get we meet once maybe twice a year when we were doing our strategic plan. We had a series of meetings trying to get quorum for a group of folks that get together once a year to look at our our cost of service, what projects we've completed, how we're progressing on our strategic plan and those kinds of things. Hard to do. When we reached out to them, they said we could meet a little earlier and so we did, but we did notice it just like we would any public meeting. It was on the website. It was posted. Uh if there's more that you guys would like to see done with that, we'd be happy to. Are they recorded? Yes.

Okay. Cuz I was going to say it's just a matter of getting on to water utilities in the of the comm of the board. They're recorded on audio in ours. We don't have audio, but I was going to say to look for those. there you if you go into boards and commissions I believe probably I'd have to look the audio recording has been posted up there. Yeah, I probably need to look into that. Okay. All right. Thank you. You bet. Thanks, mayor. Thank you. Anybody else wish to speak tonight?

All right. Any additional questions from council? Mr. Ice and Mr. Thornne, do you have any further comment? Thank you. Hearing no further testimony. I'm closing the public hearing and reopening the regular session. Is there any council discussion? Well, I I do appreciate that the process is in place because otherwise if you don't make these kind of adjustments then and you wait 10 years and then you make massive increases on people, they freak out and we're trying to make up for a lost time and it it it doesn't go well. It's better to stay in alignment with inflation and and your expenses rather than um than avoid avoid the the smaller increases. So, okay, now we will go to public comments. Quite a few tonight.

Let's go with Miss Giddings. getting my stuffs in tonight. Um, one thing I want to know because it's referred to all the time is the Ignite plan. I looked online after a lot of digging and it appears that that plan either 2020 2021 is supposed to be reviewed every five years. Do you have that in the plans? Is it going to be publicized so that people know when it's going to happen and um who actually does the deciding? So, those are questions that I hope somebody reaches out to me and asks. Um the other thing you talked about having a heavy heavy agenda on March 24th. Obviously, you all know what's going to be on the agenda, but the citizens don't. And so, if they have questions or concerns, you don't know what it is yet.

No, they don't, Miss Giddings. I I set the agenda and I have to believe me, it changes every week, and it depends on what comes through planning commission and it comes through and you've got a transition with a council coming. So, with that, please stop our time. Thank you. Uh, with the transition with council, we're we're trying to get trying not to hand things off midstream. understand that. So, it's going to be a packed agenda on the next meeting, just like tonight's a packed agenda. Correct. I understand that. But I don't know why things couldn't be done before. Oh, believe me, I'm here every night with you till 9:30 or 10 or 11:00 at night. So, I'm I'm putting the time in. I promise that.

Yeah, I understand. Um, that's that's really all I have to say. Um, appreciate all of you that are maybe up for election, try to get elected. Um yeah, somebody get back to me on the I can get back to you on the strat plan right now. Okay.

Yeah. Um the strat plan was done like you said in 2021 and um I lived through that and it was extensive and there were um tremendous hours and was brutal about that one as COVID happened also in the middle of it. So I was on Zoom meetings till 10:00 at night trying to get through a strategic plan and it was tough. We even include planning commission and we just gr grinded through it for 12 to 14 months um with the comp plan behind it and such. But the thing is after that we had a new council come on board and we've got some people up here that weren't really a part of that process. So we then went back to a retreat and we did a big retreat and we said okay what are the what have we made progress on? What have we what have we what steps have we taken? And staff gave us all these updates and we went through this retreat and we're like okay what are the big rocks? What are the what were little rocks, big rocks? We put them all in categories.

I read all of that.

So then we So then we said, "Okay, now we've identified all the big rocks. Let's focus on the big rocks." And then every month we'll have staff, Mr. Dunning, and I put on the agenda to get that those people over there in that corner to put on the agenda items to talk about. And we bring them up here and we talk about the big rocks. The big rocks being the ones that we really got to make sure we stay focused on and keep them moving forward. The little rocks, we hope that, you know, we can get to them and and such, but the big rocks we got to keep prioritizing. We got to keep revisiting it. And they were things like housing, which we continue to talk about every single week, month, year, but that was a big that was a big rock. I don't remember the other big rocks. Storm water was a big one. Um, you know, so we constantly um are looking at the plan and and we have to because guess what? next month, new council members. All a bunch of new council me. Guess what? We're going to have to start over. We're going to have to go back to the big rocks. We have to say, "Hey, here's here's what we've done with the Ignite plan. Here's where we are. When's our next plan coming?" Doesn't mean we just sit around and wait for the next plan to to get approved. We actually have to keep talking about it. They have to bring forward to us the big rocks and they have to keep the conversation going and it's going to, you know, it's it's never ending just like you're saying. So,

well, my my question is you refer to that plan all the time and it was back in 2021 and there's been a lot that has changed in this community and it says that it's supposed to be reviewed every 5 years. So, I know it probably is a very minuscule rock in the grand scheme of things, but since it's being referred to all the time, when is it going to be reviewed? I just told you, I'll say it again. We did a retreat and we talked about the strategic plan. It was public. We then took the big rocks, the middle, little little rocks, the medium-sized rocks. We then brought it forward. We met. We've talked about all of these things in council meetings in the past. Help me out. Help me out, Mr. Dunny. When is it going to be redone?

I think that's for the next council. Decide when it's going to be redone. Re when you're going to redo the plan. It's coming right up. I mean, if you think about that, it got done in 2020. We started that plan in 2019. So we're three years away from being 10 years out, right? So this this next council and mayor have to decide, you know, it takes the staff a year just to prepare for an event like that. They have to start pulling information together. They have to start. So like they actually the next council needs to start talking about when the next strategic plan will be. Okay, that answers my question. Yep, they really do. Thank you.

Thank you. All right. Who's next? Mr. Floyd. So, city council mayor, uh, city manager, Mr. Dunning. This concerns the entire city. My name's Chip. Uh, recently I posted several comments online regarding the change in the camera angle during public comments. This spawned off several other comments from sever several other people. So, what am I talking about? Uh, recently the city manager, Mr. Dunning, made a decision to prohibit the usage of the front-facing camera during public comments indefinitely. We're only filmed from the far rear. And if you haven't noticed that, then you'll you'll notice it tonight. How was I made aware of this? I ran across it uh on my candidates's uh Facebook page. He noticed the camera angle and uh I follow several candidates pages as well as both mayoral candidates pages. It was posted online and that's where I saw it. So why do I care? The camera situation for me is a first amendment issue. The every member of the council and the mayor has to swear an oath to the constitution and that's why I care. I posted several lengthy comments online that are very critical of Mr. Dunning's decision. He is wrong to do this in my opinion. By indefinitely banning the public's faces from being shown, I believe he is marginalizing and diminishing the expression of every citizen of Lee Summit. He made this decision away from the public eye and he did it, I believe, to spite one individual, just one. The entire council is aware of my objections and that's not an accident. And this this part's important. I only posted my comments online after I sent them to

every member of the council, the mayor and the city manager. I didn't go behind anybody's back. Since then, I've had dialogue with a few council members and the city manager, and they have been respectful, and as far as I'm concerned, I haven't made any enemies. They gave me their perspectives. I haven't changed my mind, but I understand their positions. The council can vote to reverse this decision. Of course, Mr. Dunning could reverse it right this moment, but he has laid it at the council's feet. I know this because he told me so, and the council is also aware of this. I believe it's up to the mayor to actually hold that vote. So, if if you care public and you want this reversed, then tell your rep and tell the mayor. I believe the council and the mayor should tell the city manager to to reverse this decision and to do it tonight. Finally, Mr. Mayor, I owe you an apology. Several weeks ago, I posted a personal insult of you online. It wasn't warranted and it wasn't fair. So, to you, Mayor Barrett, I apologize for that. And that's it.

You certainly didn't make an enemy out of me tonight. That's for sure. Thank you. I don't I don't know what to say. I'm not used to that. All right. Thank you. Yeah. It's very nice. Um, I had when you were talking, um, Council Member Shields chimed in, so I'm going to, she may have something to this. Council member Shields.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, you know, I appreciate these concerns from the public. I have heard a couple of them. But I think it's really important that we distinguish between a citizen's first amendment right to share their opinions and to speak publicly and the and to have those comments be part of the public record, which they are regardless of the camera angle. They're still recorded. They're still available. People can listen to them online. But there's a a difference between that and the use of city resources to create um essentially social media content. And responsible use of taxpayer dollars to me isn't to generate professional videos for private use. It's to broadcast these public meetings including public comments um so that we maintain transparency with the public. So I can I can understand and respect the objections. But I think that the current policy is a good balance of the need for transparency, the need for um the ability of the public to address their elected officials, but also to responsibly use those taxpayer resources. So, um I just wanted to state that for record. Thank you, Mayor.

Might I briefly respond? Um yeah, I'm I'm going to give you a little because I gave latitude. It's it's one of those nights I'm trying to make sure that you know we're being transparent and I do want to maybe uh ask Mr. Dunning to make a comment, too. So, just so you know, I'm going to do that after you're done. So, uh so maybe it's a temporary thing. Maybe it's just to thwart social media comment purposes. I I I hope so. I can't make it so, but maybe that is the case. And I'm done.

Thank you, sir. I do appreciate you working with staff though afterwards to engage because sometimes people don't do that as well. Mr. Dunning, um obviously this has come up. He's he's obviously wellversed. He's conversed with you. He's he's seen um some some verbiage from you as far as the email that um that you sent out. Um how do you how do you want to frame this conversation?

Uh well, I'll say this. The decision to to make that change was entirely mine. Right. after hearing concerns from many of you and many uh constituents uh that we serve. Um so I I put together a memo that I understand has been shared publicly and and that memo was crafted in an effort to allow that to be uh shared publicly. Um, as a city manager and as staff, we take our roles very seriously. And when we're in election season, we hold candidate uh,formational sessions and we try to help folks understand we as staff are I'll say, you know, it's our role to I'll say referee uh, political campaigns in the sense of we regulate signage, we regulate a lot of things to try to create the most neutral platform as possible and treat everyone fairly. And in this sense, um, we switched that because I felt that, uh, yes, the city resources were being utilized for personal interests, uh, campaign purposes, and we try to, uh, maintain the most neutral ground that we can here at the city. And so, I'll I'll stand on my memos. I know I've shared that, and I I have had interaction with citizens who have inquired of me as to what the decision was and why it was made. And so, I will continue to do that. I'll be respectful and respond uh, to those inquiries. I recognize that it's differences of opinions. Uh but I I take that this role responsibility very seriously and so I don't I don't know what else to say. Mayor, happy to share any memos that I can share.

That's fine. Thank you. I know that there's various this one's got a a very broad swath. There's people that feel I think everybody wants to be a first amendment person but sometimes it it varies in the degrees that people are willing to go. So

yeah that that spurred you know part of the thought behind this is yes this is a public forum and citizens are absolutely entitled to talk to you uh elected officials candidate about candidates about whatever is on their mind but in this setting this is the council's meeting to do the to do the business of the city and while this is a public forum it's a limited public forum and I've shared this information and there's protocols there's rules mayor you chair this meeting you call people when they're out of order we need to be mindful of that as we go about the the city of Lee Summit's business. And so, you know, that's part of our role, too, is to make sure that we're taking care of the business of the city. Okay. And Mr. Head, you're in agreement with all this.

Um, Mayor, I don't I don't see any issues with this this particular uh item. Council member Prior, I just wanted to speak just for a a second on how the city really does try to keep it neutral during um campaign season. We do a lot of town halls. I know we're we're a big fan of them in district one. By we, I mean me and then I drag her along with me. Um but even during campaign season or anything like that, we're not allowed to do town halls just so it can level the playing field. So they they try really hard to keep that level playing field um during campaign season for everyone. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Floyd. You got us talking. Oh, never mind. Council member Levelville.

Well, just to add maybe my contrarian view. Um while I um I think to the point and what Mr. Floyd makes is very important here is that is this an isolated situation or is this a consistent rule moving forward? And just for the record, whether I'm right or I'm wrong, I believe what we say and do up here is a public record. how we address the public, how we address issues. I believe that people that make public comments um that this is a recorded item that that should and could be used in a lot of different ways. Um because if I want to be educated about the people I'm electing, I want to be ed educated about the people and I don't think having their face on camera recorded or posting that or using that any other way because in any other fashion you record something, you put it out there in a public record. So I it's my personal opinion that it should just be for public consumption and I think the best way to counter bad speech is with better speech and I don't want to hide anything. So I'm not saying we're hiding anything because the voice is still there. But, um, I certainly would expect if I got up here and said something stupid, which I do all the time, um, that someone could take that clip and someone could post that clip and someone could say, "I'm running against this person. Look at their ideas because we need to know as constituents who who's making those statements, whose ideas those are, and I need to make an educated decision on it." And I just think that that's my personal opinion on it. So, um I I've heard protocols and all that and that's fine, but I just think it creeps it just creeps the door open um for further stuff down the road that just concerns me. Um whether that's censorship or whatever. So, anyway, that's my personal opinion. Thanks.

Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Hodes.

So, don't we have something, Mr. Dunning that says that for during camp or candidates cannot use things that have the city logo or city. So we have that out there. So we I know we have that out there but what's to prevent somebody from doing that because it I mean it's clearly happening. So are there repercussions for that or like what's the point of it being out there if it can be done anyway? I guess is my question. Yeah, I'd need to look. I I I recall what you're you're talking about and it kind of ties in the same space of uh council rules and council ethics as to what's what's uh permitted and what's not. And so that's codified. Um so if if ordinances are being violated, then that's a municipal offense um which works its way through municipal courts. But when we get into, you know, use of uh city logos and um you know, a good example might be if I'm out at a a civic event and and I'm talking with a candidate and then then they take my picture and I'm in the picture and it shows up in the campaign ad, right? We try to avoid that. We try to educate people that that appears that you're using a position to influence and that's a no no as well. Repercussions for that, I don't I don't know. I'd need to dig deeper into how we would handle something like that.

Okay. Yeah. And I to address the um the camera angle, um I don't I honestly don't see anything wrong with it. First amendment rights not being broken when we're still hearing the words that you're saying. I feel like change usually comes in any situation when um someone's abusing the freedom that we had originally with that. So I don't find any problem with it. We're not shutting down opinions, voices, any of that. If we did, I would have a problem with that, but we're not. So, I think we we are confusing the whole amendment because that's about freedom of speech, not getting three minutes of fame for um having your face shown. So, thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Shields.

Thank you, Mayor. Um I think kind of to tack on to what Council Member Mahajes and um Council Member Prior both said, it's it's really about city resources. Like that's why we don't have town halls close to election season. It's um it's why we can't have creative services design campaign flyers for a candidate because those are city funded taxpayer funded resources. It's not that you can't do a campaign flyer and put it out with your own money. It's that we don't use the taxpayer resources that we are stewarding for promoting candidates. And so for the same kind of logic to me is why we don't use it to produce videos for that. So I respect everyone's right to free speech whether you're an elected official or a constituent or running for office, but it's just we have to be very careful with how we use those those taxpayer resources and make sure that we're um not abusing them. So thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Rder.

Thank you, Mayor. So, aside from um uh commenters using video for their campaigns or whatever, I guess my question is that are we are we discussing at this point whether or not we are uh going to angle the cameras back to face facing the the commenters, the public commenters when they come up or is that something that we'll discuss? I mean, is that something that's on the table or is it a decision because it's it has come up? We've all we all know, we've seen it that uh that some people have felt that we needed to make sure that people we saw their faces when they were speaking. So, is this the time that we're having this discussion right now about

I've pretty much made it the time that we're discussing and everybody's giving their opinion. So, right. So, go for it. What's your opinion? My opinion is that we need to turn the cameras back around to face people. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

Thanks, Mayor. Um I I feel old talking I like literally a dozen years ago I'm on the school board uh advocating for videotaping u meetings and was pushed back on. And so I find it ironic that this is I'm having a conversation about the camera angle. Now um because I do believe in vide taping or video recording um meetings. I I I think Mr. Snook can even vouch for me that I pushed really hard when I became mayor for videotaping the park board meetings because they're making decisions about taxpayer dollars. So I'm certainly an advocate for recording meetings. Um but I also uh understand Mr. Dunning's um his the reasons he gave in his in his um what do you want to call that email that you did? You know, the

is more of a memo with

the memo. Um and I I definitely am a first amendment person, but I don't believe that um we should be attacking and and u saying just anything we want um without any kind of limit. Um, so I think that that's where I that's where I lie. Uh, I don't know that I really care about the camera angles. Um, I care more about what's coming out of uh the persons that's speaking, what they're what they're uh actually communicating and is it fair and just and right. So, um, I'm fine with doing just about anything to uh keep things civil so that we can have good discussion and debate. Um therefore, um I just need support to do that when we're in the meetings. And right now, I'm going to I'm going to support Mr. Dunning and and his uh decision unless council pushes me and says they want to change. So,

all right. Um where am I at? Mr. Florida. I was going to tell you earlier, you got us talking and I don't think this conversation's going away. So stay tuned. All right, Mr. Good. You're up.

Well, this is the third week in a row that I've spoke, so I'm fine with the camera angle. I'm here to speak to you all, not the audience out there. And if I wanted to talk to them, I guess I would turn around and talk to them the whole time. But no, I'm here to talk to you guys. Um, and specifically, I'm here to dealing in fear with misinformation and lying. Is it incompetence or calculated? Council member Rder, why did you lie about crime going up in Lee Summit? Even when you were informed that it went down, you repeated the lie multiple times. Also, you've said crime has gone up because of apartments. Our police chief has said that is there's no evidence of that. Have you always lied or is this something recent? Is it incompetence or calculated? Why did you lie about our schools declining? Have you always lied or is this something recent?

Mr. Good. Like they're opinions, sir. I know.

They're opinions. They're not necessarily lies. Maybe maybe she doesn't believe the information in front of them. Maybe she that's that's being presented by the chief. Maybe it's a lack of trust. I there's there's all kinds of reasons, but can you bring this temperature down just a tad, please? I wasn't the one that has raised the temperature in the but I will glad I I wanted to say well I'm trying to bring down the temperature but uh recently you have said your four incentives but then you've also said you want market rate either way how can we believe you because you've flip-flopped on everything. Is that your leadership style? How many deals have you done with developers such as Drake? I'm I'm aware of one. How many other deals have you done? You say one thing and your actions and votes have said something else. Actions speak louder than words. You flip-flop on your statements with no plan to better the city. Have you always been a flip-flopper? Well, I'll I'll try to lower the temperature here,

please. You had 50 people You had 50 people uh say that you called about the single trash hauler. You you represent over 20,000 in your district. Is that really a consensus? As you've told us, you've shown a pattern of misinformation and and supporting people that are also putting out misinformation. I again my opinion is it incompetence or is it calcul when will we know how will we know honestly I don't think we should care the dishonesty shows that I I don't think you're suited for being on this das in any capacity that's it

all right thank you thank you may I respond on Mr. Mayor. Yes.

Um on the property crime comment, I made that comment during a um justice uh seniors for justice which uh mayor pro Tim Lopez was in attendance to that. So he was probably the only one that knew about that except for the seniors. When I made that comment, I based that off of the uh previous now previous crime report. So, I was accurate at the time that I made that because there was no crime report that had come out until that next Tuesday when you made your comment, Mr. Good, about the property crime. Um, I don't know where you got the 50 number on the trash, but I will tell you this. When that survey was done, when they when we did our town hall surveys on the trash, 65% of those people did not want the single hauler trash. There were several people that reached out to me on email saying they didn't. I talked to people in person. There were not very many people that wanted it that I spoke to. I sent all of that information to Mr. Park. So, he has everything that I have. Um on the incentives, um I have said that I didn't want to uh continue to in incentivize apartments. However, uh you know, residential was always off the the the the plate as far as um incentivizing in the past, but we seem to be incentivizing it with apartments. And so is this like, well, if we're going to do that and we have to do that, then perhaps we need to look it look at doing it for single family as well. And you had one more that I I didn't write down, but pretty much that is that is um I don't lie. Um I tell the truth. I don't have a reason to lie. I do. And I thank the mayor for saying these are opinions, but that those weren't opinions. They were they were truths that I told

no. All right. That that's okay. Schools declining. That is a false that is a absolute false statement. I never said that. I I work as a real estate agent. Do you know how we bring people to Lee Summit? Because of the great schools. And I've done it for 32 years. I never said that schools were declining. If you ever heard me say anything, it was population of school is declining, which everyone knows that had that report that the school district even said that. So although I appreciate you coming and speaking and I'm glad that you have the opportunity to speak, please in the future make sure that when you speak they are truths and you can prove them.

Thank you. Thank you.

Let's just get through the public comments and then I'll make some comments about all of this. But Mr. Ellson, Holy cow, it's 10:00. It's a late night past my bedtime. Hoping my wife has my kids in bed. Um, honestly, thanks for all the late nights that all of you put in. It's a lot. Um, and as tonight has occurred, previously spoke on citizens being heard, uh, you've done fantastic tonight and candidly, more than I would expect. Kudos. So, unfortunately, I need to speak on an agenda item later tonight. take up even more time. So, good evening, mayor and council. My name is Andrew Ellison. I live at 504 Northwest Timber Ridge Trail. I'm here to testify in opposition to Bill 26-041. I want to note for the record that I shared my concerns via email with the rules committee and the city attorney regarding this change. Despite many of you frequently stating that you are available when emailed, I received no replies to that outreach with the sole exception of council member Funk. Thank you. to discuss further codifying restrictions on the public voice when direct outreach is already being met with silence goes against the very idea of engaged and available city council. I want to point out language in this bill that is fundamentally unfair. It states that the applicant and staff shall be giving such time as may be required to fully present the item. How is that fair? Staff and developers who already spent months or years vetting these projects are granted unlimited time by law. Yet the residents are being kept at exactly 180 seconds to respond. I've advocated for a 5-minute target, one that can go longer when necessary because it recognizes that if a developer gets such time as may be required to pitch a project, the neighbors deserve a fair window to address the impact on their community. Instead of more restrictions, we need resources. I previously proposed that a city provide plain language, point of entry, quick reference guide in both

printed and digital formats to help residents understand how to participate effectively. Let's help people be concise by educating them on the process rather than just cutting them off with a gavvel. Codifying a strict limit via bill 26-041 is unnecessary. We need to trust the leadership of the mayor to run the meeting. The mayor already has inherent authority to manage the floor and run an efficient meeting. We should rely on that leadership rather than locking a rigid, inadequate time limit into our city code. Furthermore, I ask that the city council table any changes to public comment rules until after the April vote. A decision that fundamentally alters resident participation should not be rushed through right before an election. Let the incoming council and voters have their say. A public hearing is a form for representation, not an adversarial proceeding to be managed for speed. I ask that you choose engagement over expediency. Please vote to table or vote no on bill 26-041 tonight. Thank you.

Thank you.

I definitely am a believer that you don't want to make decisions right before you hand it over to a new council. But I also know this. I know what it's like with a new council and you don't necessarily want um I don't know just you just got to be careful what you do what you wish for because a new council might not be make the decision that you that you would want. So um but I'm I've done I've done pretty good of pushing things off. You can ask Mr. Dunning. There's just many things that have people have tried to get done over the last uh few months and I'm like absolutely not. We're not going to be making any decisions before the next council comes in. That's for this next council. They're going to have to step up and make decisions. The next mayor has to do these things. They have to, like you said, they'll have to manage the meeting. And let me tell you, it is not as easy as what people think. And um and new council members, they're not as seasoned. So, it's it's, you know, I believe in leadership change. I believe in term limits. I believe in things like that. Just know that there's going to be a lot of educating that needs to be done when the new council comes in and it's going to take time, too. So, you'll have to give them a little bit of time to adjust. But I appreciate your comments. They were good. Um, all right, Miss Kaufman. Hello, my friends. You are all such special people and you work so hard tonight. I was almost going to walk out before I said anything because it's been a long night already.

Sorry.

No, that's all right. No, I think I can't tell you much how much I respect all of you in each one of your positions to state your beliefs whether it's what I believe or not. It's not important, but it takes a lot for you to go through everything that you've gone through and make the intelligent statements you made and do what you've done. And here's some some other things. Several years ago, I ran for city council. My opponent was the incumbent Rob Benny, an astute and talented man who knew a great deal about real estate in our community. I decided to run not because of any personal disagreement with him, but because I believe every seat in government should be contested. Healthy democracy depends on having choices. Throughout the campaign, we never threw stones at each other. We respected one another too much for that. I did not spend very much money on my campaign. Put out about three signs, I think. Well, Rob Benny had strong support throughout the community. On election night, something remarkable happened. For the first two hours of the vote count, I was ahead in the vote. And then at the very end, Ron won by about four or 500 votes. I don't remember the exact number, but the experience stayed with me. Because I believe there was always the ch possibility of winning. I prepared carefully. I met with the city's finance director and to be to better understand incentives and economic development. I participated in the development of the city's strategic plan, the 2000 strategic plan. I studied the 2020 census to better understand the makeup of our community. I also re reviewed school statistics and research many other aspects of our city. That

experience confirms something I strongly believe. You can run for office without attacking anyone who are or contradicting anyone by name. People may disagree about statistics or about how to approach issues, but disagreement does not require disrespect. When we treat one another with respect, it's possible to run a clean campaign. And when campaigns are conducted with integrity, the entire community is better for it.

Yes. Thank you, Miss Kaufman. Um, just so you know, she's the there's a reason that she got the the lifetime achievement award for the Lisa character lease cares uh character awards. So, and she didn't even win that race and she won that. Council member Hodgees. No, I just want to say thank you for coming to speak that we, you know, we tend to comment on the other people who are more combative and I just want to say thank you because you're bringing wisdom to this um dis and I just appreciate you sharing your words of wisdom and knowledge of the city and um bringing positivity here um not just because you say oh we're doing great things but because you make statements like we don't have to agree on everything but we can still be civil and be kind. So, thank you for taking the time that you do and staying late um because it's much appreciated and I appreciate the character that you bring here. So, thank you.

Thank you. She speaks for all of us. So, thank you.

Yep. Okay. One more public commenter. Miss Fallen Wider. Sorry. Right after this. Right after this. Teresa Volenwer, 5201 Northeast Maybrook Road.

I want to call.

All right. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Now you're stepping on my foot. Get off my foot. I can't help it. Don't you dare. I told you to stop repeatedly.

I didn't learn what that was, how I went down on the ground like that until I read um Officer Culie's report. My background is in exercise physiology and athletic training. So when I read that he used what was called an armbar on me, I was shocked. That is like taking this say this is my elbow there and doing that to somebody's elbow. Now we act like or you all I feel act like signing and sealing documents is not an important thing and that seeing that sign and seal that signature and that seal on those documents when they're put up on the screen is not a big deal. Just maps are not to be used to determine property lines. That is what was used this day. And Mr. Bushek would remember my appeal that he had a flash drive that had four maps on it. One of those maps showed the intersection of a 40ft rideway with the quarter quarter line as my boundary line. Where did he get that? Well, he got that from a document that was turned into the city

that was not signed and sealed and did not have a preliminary watermark on it and had nothing about that document was not to be used. They used it. So there are documents being turned in to this administration that are turned in without signatures and without seals. It's the click of a button, the click of a radio button that removes that on somebody's drawing. And the city can do that. This is me on the ground. surveyor, professional surveyors and professional engineers first obligation is to protect the welfare, health

Yep. and safety of the community of the public. All right, Miss Later, your time's up. And that is not happening. And it's because of the administration and the tricks that they are playing. All right. Thank you. Before we take a break, Council Member Hodes,

so every week we sit here and we have to watch videos like this, but is this also the same video where you bit a police officer? Because we're only getting halftruths here and I think it's super disrespectful and I'm talking so please do not interrupt. And I'm also tired of seeing videos of your poor neighbor that has to put up with this. And I think you are slandering her publicly in a limited public form. And I think that needs to stop. We will listen to you all day long every week for whatever it is that you want to say about boundary lines, surveys, and all that. That's fine. But I think what you do to your neighbor is unacceptable. And we have to sit up here and listen to it. And I don't want to have to see it anymore because I think it's wrong. It is wrong. And I feel so sorry for your neighbor that has to put up with that. And I think it needs to stop because I don't think it's right what you're doing.

Put up with what? Quite frankly, you I think it's unacceptable. What? What you're doing to her in public? It needs to What is that? What am I doing to her in public? Respecting your neighbor. And I don't think you have that right to constantly be coming to a a limited form to be doing that. You need to My neighbor has a right to be here as well and I would welcome welcome that. Okay. Well, I think you need to stop being but I want to at least address you talking about me biting my neighbor or biting the biting the police officer.

Well, either way, it's unacceptable. I want to bring I want to respond to that. I'm going to give you I'm going to give you 30 seconds.

It's not fair for her to bring that up without me responding to it. There's a thing in your brain about the size of a peanut. It's called the amygdala. It controls your emotions. When you're scared and when you feel fear and you feel uncertainty, that system kicks in. and it takes over because it is what keeps you alive. It is a survival mechanism. Mine worked. Mine did what it was supposed to do.

I'm here today. I'm sorry. A lot of people aren't here today because of that. I heard this argument this week on TV and you know what? They used it as justification for a crime. We're done tonight talking on the public comments that I understand that kind of reaction. I understand instinct and people make what it is.

People makes mistakes in the middle of instinct, but that doesn't that doesn't mean it's right. So, we're going to take a recess. Ever wondered how the city budget works? The total 2026 budget is over $380 million, which includes funding for daily operations, capital improvements, debt service, internal service, and enterprise operations. For example, the general fund is the foundation for the city's day-to-day services and investments like road maintenance, public safety, and fire protection. The general fund is supported by property taxes, sales taxes generated by local businesses, franchise taxes, and other sources like licenses, permits, and fees. For every dollar citizens paying property tax, the city receives 18 cents. This means the city receives $845 a year in property taxes for a median single family house. These taxes provide public safety, park maintenance, infrastructure, and the best services to keep Lee Summit going and improving. One of the community's top priorities is infrastructure investment, which is reflected in the capital improvement plan. $113 million of the 2026 budget is invested into the capital improvement plan. The 2026 capital improvement budget includes investments like the 291 and 50 highway interchange, Third Street, Warden Purscell's intersection, and Prior Road. The budget process includes guidance from the city council, citizen input, and critical success factors from the city's ignite strategic plan. To learn more about the city's budget, visit city ofls.net back/budget.

When the person called on the phone, she said that uh that there was a dinosaur walking down her road. Of course, we had to go out check that out. We get out there and it was a big African tortoise, probably 60 lbs, walking down the road. When they walk, they really stand up tall. So, I could see why she thought it was a dinosaur. I'm Rodney Wagner. I'm the manager of Leisum Animal Control. So, as you can see, we get all sorts of animals here. You got some guinea pigs off to the side. All the windows up here are animals that are adoptable right now. Every one of these dogs is ready to go and ready for adoption. And the same thing with our cats over here. A lot of cool cats in here now. So, so this is our 3acre lot we have out back and this is where we do all the walking of dogs exercise. We also have a sideyard off to the side over there so we can let them run loose. They can run together and we have what's called playgroups. kind of like having a bunch of kids. Here's our our vet room. We have a vet that comes out twice a week. This is our Sally port where we bring the animals into. This is one of our animal control trucks and we can hold up to six animals. We have a lift on the other side to put big animals in. We actually have temperature gauges in here and in the truck to tell us how hot it is. Once it gets to a certain temperature, we bring all the animals back here immediately. So, this actually has traps in it, but we do a lot of wildlife trapping. I mean, a lot. So, bats, pot belly pigs, horses, cows, emus, a lot of reptiles. We had a a system one time that had over 200 reptiles in his basement. Cayman's and alligators in here that are

four or 5t long. You can't keep those. And people do, and they're surprised when they can't keep them. I'm like, really? You're surprised you can't have an alligator in your house? Savannah.

Our main goal here is public safety and also the safety of the animals. And we have very dedicated people back there. And they definitely stay here for the love of the animals, which also includes getting them adopted out. We'll have about uh 4,000 impounded animals a year. Probably about close to 2,000 are dogs and cats. The cats and dogs when they get impounded here, they go on a 5-day hold. And then after the 5 days, if the owner doesn't show up, then we can put them up for adoption. To adopt the animal here is actually really simple. You just come in, look what forever animal you're looking for, find the right pick. You have you go to the adoption room up there and see if you get along with them. You spend as much time as you want to in there. From that point on, it's just a matter of uh making sure they're spay or neutered and all their vaccinations up to par and they're good to go. We have a very high adoption rate because we try everything in our power to get animals adopted out. We have Harve America, a Humane Society that we do a lot of adoptions through. And then we also have other groups. We have some people that literally will just look all over the country for somewhere for a dog to go. And we've sent dogs up into South Dakota, North Dakota, Washington State. So, it's actually it it's a huge united effort to get all these animals home.

Tarzan, but lots of energy. Hazel's got a weird bell. She wants nothing to do with the other cats. She'll kind of get her grumpy face going.

And the good thing about the people here is that they get all their friends to get animals, too. All of us have probably the limit of all the animals that we can have at home. You know, they are huge animal lovers. If it was up to the people here, we'd have 15 cats running around in here. We had a citizen one time out there and he was bathing his two uh 9 foot long boa constrictors in the front yard. Apparently I was I was garing some some attention and so we went out there and had to talk to him about that. Why do I do this job? Oh dude, I love this job. I grew up on a farm and taking care of that many animals, you can't help but like animals. This is just like fancy farming, you know? You're just bringing animals in here, taking care of them and and find them homes and uh yeah, absolutely animal lover.

This is the best place to work. I love working here. I feel very blessed. I love it here. I look forward to coming to work every day, being a part of this team. Like a family away from home where everyone feels like everybody knows their name. A city that supports you. We see that with our benefits. A pension, vacation days, job security, being able to be heard. We feel valued. We feel respected. Lee Summit is a very progressive city. It's growing. It's thriving. We have this drive towards not just doing a job, but doing it with a spirit of excellence. I had the opportunity to continue to grow regardless of 30 plus years doing this kind of work. It's more than just dollars and cents. We're here really to give back.

Providing a service to better a community to go out and serve people to be a part of something bigger than yourself. If I would have known what I know now, years ago, I would have been here much sooner.

Traditionally, we think as police officers, those responding to law enforcement needs within the community. But honestly, we are there to serve our citizens and our citizens do go into crisis. They do have mental health crises and we're being called to those scenes on a regular basis. In order to help serve those citizens better, we did initiate the crisis intervention team program. These are officers that are specially trained to deescalate crisis situations. Recently, we've brought co-responders onto the scene, licensed qualified mental health professionals housed within our police department, and they respond with those officers directly to those scenes where a crisis is occurring so they can interact with that citizen and get them the help they need right there on that scene. The co-responders are either a bachelor or master level in a behavioral health related field. They wear plain clothes. They don't carry weapons or anything like that. I have a police radio that I listen to all day. Listen for, you know, those key words, mental health, behavioral health, crisis.

There's a lot of officers that just call for me. I have my own radio number. I also have the ability to self-dispatch to them and say 982 is in route. officers in route 914. So, typically I arrive after they've made it safe. I'll make contact and get kind of the rundown and then I just kind of jump right in like, "Hey, you know, my name's Alison. I'm a mental health professional. I'm here to help you. I'm not here to take you to jail or arrest you."

Sometimes all a person needs is a voice, someone neutral, someone outside that, you know, can listen. I do a lot of safety planning, including family, their support network. Who's close to you? Can some if they're home alone, who can come over and hang out with you today? Can we lock away your sharps? Can we put up your meds? Do you need meds? Can we get you over to the urgent care to get you assessed for your medications? Some of them also are like, "Oh, I'm so glad you came. This made me feel so much better." Our main goal as co-responders is to one get people connected to the services that they need and also divert from emergency rooms and jails.

And they almost get a different view of the police responding. That lets me know you care and the officers care. Please, please, how can I help you? My husband. In 2020, we had 722 mental health related calls for service. 2022 by that time, 1479. These mental health related calls for service are increasing. How we're responding to that is increasing the number of crisis intervention team officers we have available as well as the number of co-responders we have available to respond on these calls.

So what I think is important for the community to know about the co-responder program is that we're here. We exist. All you have to do when you call 911 is ask for us. You know say hey I want a co-responder to respond to this this crisis and we'll go. I was really struggling about eight years ago. My personal journey with mental health and I met some amazing social workers and amazing programs that have helped me get to where I am today. I really couldn't see myself doing anything else. We want to help and that's that's what we love to do. So I had a client we got a call she had some suicidal ideations and she really felt that she had nobody and you know and getting to know her story and getting to know who comes around and sees you. Well, then we found a support person and they responded immediately and we made a plan. I called back and checked on her in an hour and then I checked on her in 2 hours. We were able to get her into additional services to where she talks to someone every week or more. I just took a person that really just thought they had nobody and nobody would show up for them and show them you do. And you'll be amazed who is in your corner if you just simply say, "I need a little help."

Okay, welcome back everyone. We're going to bring this meeting back to order. Oh, I just texted. So, uh, bringing the meeting back to order. We are on agenda item 7A. We're making great progress. We're grinding through. We are um How fast can you talk? Well, really fast. If you want to go. Oh my. Miss Lake, Miss Fargo, and who do we have on Zoom? Miss. Yes. All right, Miss Horn's on Zoom with TC DCI. Go ahead, Miss Lake.

Sure. Donna Lake, assistant city manager. We're here to provide an update on the pay and growth plan. Uh, as mayor stated, Stephanie Horn is online on Zoom and then Jennifer Bargo will be um helping do this presentation. Just a quick recap. Um, so you guys remember we did attraction, satisfaction, and retention, what we call our ASR initi initiatives that began in 2023. They were based off of five employee driven teams. You can see um the different areas of of focus that we had within those teams. Tonight we're here to talk about work done by the salary and benefits team. Some of the initi initiatives that we've done um related to overall attraction satisfaction and uh retention were things such as having a physical career fair annually. um removing barriers to place replacing minor office equipment, added some holidays, but really today we're talk here to talk about developing the pay and growth plan including career ladders and development opportunities. So I'll let Miss Vargo talk about the objectives. Jennifer Vargo, HR. Um so at as we went through uh the competitive bid process last summer to pick a consultant to help us, we put some project objective objectives in place uh that we hope to achieve. And those include to modernize our job title structure and our job descriptions, define our core principles, objectives and priorities for the implementation of this. uh develop career progression plan which are career ladders for those positions that would trend towards such um a competitive pay structure for compensation compared to our peer labor markets. Um also look at our performance management process and perhaps um go to a pay per pay for performance model. Um we thought it was very important to ensure employee buyin and engagement and

along with that transparency and then finally to um establish an effective paying growth plan uh that would be effective and sustainable for the city. And before um Miss Horn begins her part of the presentation, I just want to remind her to take her put her camera on and make sure she's unmuted and then rem make another reminder that while there was full representation on many of those um on those five employee driven teams really the pay and growth plan is talking for talking about pay and growth plans for our core general or those that are not represented by a union contract. Uh Miss Horn, are you there? Yes. Okay. Thank you, Donna and Jennifer. Thank you.

And just tell me when you want to move slides.

I will. Okay. Great. Uh, thank you, mayor, and uh, members of the council. Appreciate you having me here. Um, so just a recap of the pay and growth plan. We educated and discussed modern compensation processes with the city of Lee Summit's management team. We then conducted surveys and focus groups with the non-represented employees. And based on that information, we determined that the top two uh pay priorities for the city employees were um to be competitive with other local agencies as well as to base some paid decisions upon individual performance. Next slide, please, Donna. Okay. Uh so the process flowed as follows. We conducted a job descript a job description questionnaire process, a classification structure. Um then job description development and then we're going to be moving into the market comparators and parameters for the selection.

Next slide. Okay. So um the first step as I mentioned was to send the job description questionnaires out to the employees and they came back in the fall. The supervisors then reviewed all of the responses of the employees who participated and it was um about 94 95% of the uh inscope employees who did respond. So we appreciate that uh engagement. Then we analyzed the responses and provided draft job descriptions back to the city. So currently the management team is reviewing the job descriptions and we've also started to have discussions to identify the competitive labor markets. Next slide. Okay. So the uh the description of the job description process overview was we worked with the city to develop a job description template. We then developed and programmed the survey into a platform called Qualrix. We conducted employee information sessions. So, uh we actually came on site in September and spoke with the employees and answered all of their questions. Then we launched the survey and the employees and supervisors uh completed the JDQs. We then analyzed the responses. Um so we reviewed the both the employee and the supervisor responses for accuracy and completeness and we identified the prevailing job duties, responsibilities, knowledge, skills and abilities as well as the minimum qualifications um work environment and physical demands. Those are all um part of what you evaluate when you're determining the value of each job um in an organization. We then drafted job descriptions with

the information that I just described. Um, we determined that providing draft job descriptions rather than raw data back to the management team would make it easier for them to evaluate it. Okay. And uh, as I mentioned the CL Oh, go back one second. Sorry.

No, it's okay. I know I talk fast, but you were faster. Um so uh management team and department heads are currently reviewing those job descriptions and then once we have the um feedback on those job descriptions we'll be able to finalize the job classification structure. Okay. Okay. Um so the process uh in in terms of putting the responses together um was that multi-step process where employees completed the information. The supervisors provided additional feedback. Then we took the job duties that were less than 5% of the time. The instructions were if there are duties for the job that are less than 5% of the time, then they do not belong on a job description. Um while each department can maintain position descriptions, job descriptions are broader and would just reflect the major job duties. Okay. And then for the compensible factors, if there were multiple incumbents with different answers, we took the prepundonderance of the results into consideration. Then we placed the information in the job description template. And then internally um each job description underwent a multi-level review process which um was conducted by our team of industrial and organizational psychologists as well as our team of compensation consultants. So each job description was reviewed uh at for at multiple levels and then we provided those job descriptions back to the city. Okay. Okay. So next we uh worked with the management team and the cabinet to define peer employers. So once we have a

classification structure we then have to move into the compensation or gathering the market data for the salaries for each of those positions. So um that that information was gathered. We defined uh for the city who who the peer employers could be. So we defined that we need to um determine what the labor market is. So essentially a labor market is where you're drawing talent from and where you are losing that labor to when people leave. So that is going to be in the case of a city the local metropolitan area. Um we also want to take into account organizations that are as similar as possible. So entities with similar population size, budgets, service portfolios and workforce scale as well as employers that have geographic and economic similarity. So similar cost of living, similar economic condition and we tried to keep that within a 50-mi labor market radius where possible. So um when we gathered this information, there were some um that were aspirational. So for example, city of Lee Summit um may aspire to be like certain maybe larger metropolitan areas, but we um worked with the city and we explained that that while that could be aspirational, that does not necessarily produce an accurate or act or actionable assessment of the current labor market for the city. Okay. Um so the team went back and they narrowed down the peer organizations. Uh

we recommend between 12 and 15 to produce a consistent reliable uh and credible analysis for you. Okay. Okay. So this is where we landed. Um we have obviously a lot of local cities. We have it um sorted by distance from the city of Lee Summit. We've also um added the median household income, population, and budget size in order to uh show you how it relates to this uh to the same factors for the city. The other things we needed to take into account was if these locations have an airport and or a water service because obviously those are two important um uh departments for the city. And uh we have we are required in order to provide data we're required to have at least five data points in order to have reliable data. So you can see here um we have 1 2 3 four um airports for example. So we requested some additional airports be added. Um there was also a desire to include water one and some private sector organizations to the analysis also. So those will be in consideration as for market comparators. Okay. And this is just a map to show you, you know, we made a good faith effort to try to keep it within 50 miles of the city. Obviously, in order to um have enough data points, we had to extend it a little bit further. Um but the bulk of

the data will be coming from organizations and and agencies within 50 miles of the city. Okay. So in terms of next steps, we will be working with the city to identify benchmark jobs for this compensation study. And uh when we conduct a compensation survey, sending that information to the 12 to 15 peer organizations, we do not send them 250 job titles. Then um organizations will not respond to those surveys. Um, so we're trying to narrow it down to 50 to 75 benchmark jobs. And essentially what a benchmark job is, it's a job that is common across many organizations. It has a clear and well- definfined scope. They are generally widely used in the market which ensures that reliable pay data will be what comes back to us from these surveys. Okay. So, we are going to use these benchmark jobs as reference points to um set up pay for the organization. Jobs that are not going to be benchmarked will still be slotted in appropriately. Um even though we don't have direct data, you can still slot the jobs and come up with salary ranges for all of the positions. Okay, any questions?

All right, thank you. Thank you. Questions for staff or Miss Horn?

Yeah, I think seeing the comparator cities was interesting. Um, yeah, the just the the different sizes and populations and such. It's a pretty diverse council member level. Um so is and just trying to pay attention to all this keep it together. It's a lot of information.

Yeah. Well, it's late. Uh the uh so it'll we be comparing like in like each division within cities like like pay comparisons. So like is that part of the benchmarking? Yes. Yes. So like public works versus and then that's that's exactly right. Okay. So we on public

we would like representation from all the city departments and um there's like a whole bunch of me on the screen. Um so representation across as well as we want to make sure that multi-incumbent positions are covered and in the case where there are a job series like different levels we select the journey level so the the the fully um competent level so not the entry level not the top level and then is the idea what's the recommendations

is it is it an average the salary. Is it an average salary that you try to arrive at compensation? Yeah. So, what we're going So, what we're going to do is we we request the entry salary, the maximum salary, and the actual salaries. And then um we will provide the city with the 25th percentile, the 50th percentile, and the 75th percentile because we won't know what the compensation philosophy of the city is until we see where you fall against the competitors.

And then do do we factor in benefits or anything like that as part of the compensation package or is just just salary comparison? So, we're going to finalize the survey with the city. We can certainly ask benefits related questions on the survey. Um, that will help determine which level of competitiveness you're looking for. Well, I do think it's important to peg it against. So, we find that the city Sorry,

that's all right. I was just say I think that would be an important metric. You know, just something we've gone through this last year with our benefits is to try and understand kind of where we are. The other the other thing it's um you know with data and I don't know how you account for this but you obviously look at comparator cities but like if you have different departments and you know I guess it's also dependent upon how much data you can get. So if you're just dividing by the number of surveys you get, you know how or let's say another comparator city like they have a particular department and that department has far fewer employees than we do but their pay is higher. You see what I'm saying? So like the the data I think it might be important in that metric to know well how big is your department? Now, if that's compared, like it's hard to quantify how many employees they should have in that department versus us, but in theory, if you had a group that had, you know, half the amount of employees in that department, they could be making a lot more because they also have a lower number of employees in that department. So I think that's kind of important data too potentially because we're trying to, you know, we're trying to land on something that is fair and equitable against market rate and trying and trying to measure some sort of weight between like I know we go by population and some of those other things. But that might be because that that could skew numbers too. But anyway, those are just some thoughts that I had. I mean, I I'll probably be long gone by the time this thing comes back, but um anyway.

Oh, no, I appreciate that. But it's also important to note that um we're going to be providing definitions for each job, for each title. So if there's um in another city, if the incumbent performs that those duties and several other duties, it may not be a match and they wouldn't respond with that um data point for that role. Well, I'm sure you'll get a lot of data points and you get to put it all together in a nice package for us. But thank you. That's all I got, Mayor. Appreciate it. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay. I guess um I just have kind of a general kind of question. Um is this where you also Mr. Dunning and Miss Lake, do you and Miss Fargo especially um where you look at how we're how we are supervising with regard to feedback to the employees and and things of that nature. Is that part of this process too?

Yeah, I think uh you know through the ASR initiative that was one of the items is you know what's our evaluation process look like? Do we need to retool that um to to recognize merit and pay for performance? Yeah. Yeah. Employee evaluation processes. Okay. Yeah. I think that is like kind of that iterative that third phase of it. So is is looking at um you know obviously we went to workday and and we're setting up our employee performance just as we have it now. But that is a part of this entire contract as a third iteration is to work on performance.

Okay. because I just think it's um I know one of these bullet points are was leadership development and training and growth opportunities and you just can't you can't be successful at that unless you're really engaged with your employees um and including including um you know your evaluations and you know using your evaluations as growth opportunities.

Correct. that and we also um as part of the ASR initiatives have a mentoring program that we initiated and then also um have a work a group that's working on supervisor training as well and and looking at um what's out there in the market for or other cities what they're doing and seeing how we can leverage those things. So that's a separate ARS initiative that isn't part of this presentation per se but okay but it all kind of wraps up together. Okay. Well, I think this is the first time we've done this in quite some time. I think 2018 we we were in 27. It wasn't into 2018.

Yeah. But that was 2018 when we did this was we did it in house. We didn't, if I remember right, uh we didn't we didn't hire a professional to we did have a consultant uh that provided information and then we took that work and then uh I'll say massaged it. Oh, so we we took it in house after the consultant handed it off. Yes. I see. I wasn't a part of that then the the consultant part. Yeah, it was prior to your tenure here, but it started in a lot of work afterwards because our jobs, Miss Horn, didn't exactly match up with other cities jobs. You know, the the job descriptions weren't the same. So, we had to

we had to really calibrate calibrate. Are you Is Miss Horn going to be a part of that? A part of the calibrating the employee positions to account for the differences between job descriptions and duties? Yes or no? Did you hear that question, Stephanie? I think the intent is for them to be part of that. Yes. So, they they they're the ones that are going out and doing all of that survey.

I think that's helpful to have the consultant be a part of that process. We took that inhouse last time and it was, man, it was tough cuz um but to have someone, you know, that does this, you know, 365 days a year, that's that's good. Okay. Very good. Any last questions before I move on? Miss Horn, thanks for staying up late with us tonight. Mayor here in New York.

Yeah. The purpose of presenting our comparators was to see if we are on target with uh with you all because this next level of war work will be very intensive and very, you know,formational and we want to make sure that we're hitting the target. So if if if there's no objections, we'll move forward with these comparators. I think they're they're competitors in lots of ways, but they're cities that we compete with for jobs. Yep. I mean, Yep. I might Thank you. I might move to Springfield, you know, and it's a nice town. All right. Thank you again, Miss Horn. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Stephanie. Appreciate you sticking with us. Thank you. Have a good evening.

No, I know. That's why it's just a free-for-all. Okay. Um, resolutions. Agenda item 8A. Miss Devin Cox, would you please read resolution 26-02? Resolution 2602, a resolution establishing a procedure for filling a vacancy on the Charter Review Commission and further establishing a procedure for the appointment of an alternate for the Charter Review Commission for the City of Lee Summit, Missouri. Okay, we have a motion to adopt this resolution by Council Member Shield, seconded by member Tim Lopez. Discussion.

All right, not seeing any discussion. So, please cast your vote. All votes in. Please record the vote. That resolution is adopted unanimously. Thank you. That takes us to proposed ordinances forwarded from committee. Council member Shields, would you please read bill number 26-041? Thank you. I move for second reading bill number 26-041, an ordinance amending article 2, Council Division 2, procedures for the conduct of business by repealing rule 13 of section 2-49, rules of order and section 2-50, procedural rules for public meetings and public hearings conducted by video conference and amending section 2-45 to provide transparency related to the conduct of meetings in the participation of the public therein.

Thank you. We will have a motion to move to second reading bill number 26-041 by council member Schill, seconded by council member Carlile. Discussion. Yes, council member Funk.

So, Mr. Head, is this specifically for the length of time in a public hearing or is this establishing just the length of time in public comments or both? You know, this is specifically um primarily about um public meetings and public hearings. Uh I'll pull the uh pull the document up here. It does establish a specific time limit for for public uh the public to provide testimony during public hearings. There was no time limit that was established by uh just sort of um practice. Uh the same time limit was generally used, the 3minut time limit that was used for public comment. Um but we heard a number of comments about there not being a time limit and and some issues like that. Also, uh this bill attempts to address some of the questions about well where does where is this at? We can't find it. Uh it was in three separate sections. So realistically, uh 98% of this bill is exactly the same language that you had before, but it's all been moved into one section in the code so that it's much easier to find. Um see, um and it was it's all moved into uh section 2-45. Um, it does allow, as was stated earlier tonight, um, if we are establishing t time limits, we we have to make some sort of a statement about how long it will take an applicant or staff to to make a presentation. Um, and I I think our discussion in the rules committee was that sometimes it takes a significant amount of time for an applicant to make sure that everyone understands um, what's in front of the

council during that public hearing. Um, so I've also heard mentioned uh at different times that the rules are somewhat technical and that they look like court rules. Well, there's a good reason for that. Uh, about 70% of the time when you are going into a public hearing, you are sitting as a judge and jury. You are sitting as a court in a quasi judicial setting. um in those instances you kind of have to have sort of technical rules that deal with um all the various aspects of a public hearing. So um all that being said, we did try to address some of the comments that we had heard um related to the various subjects, but this is primarily just bringing everything into one section so that it's in one place and it's much easier to find. uh with a couple of amendments related to a threeminut time limit and um allowing staff and the applicant to have have the time necessary for the council to be able to understand the item.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Any other comments, discussion? Okay. Please. That's okay because we did address it at rules. Um, but I think Mr. Head when we also

this is a this is a a guide and it's a a set of rules that allows us to set some sort of parameters upon public hearings. It doesn't mean it has to be hard and fast like a judge or whatever. We would have the opportunity to extend flexibility or more time. But what by not you guys okay over here by not having something you open yourself up to filibuster or just ongoing talk or so in this is cleans this up. It is 3 minutes but as you've done in the past you can extend your time to other people or you can give people more time. It gives us that framework. So I think it's a good way to clean things up. give us some ability to rain things in. Although we probably should rein them in even more after the last few weeks. Uh anyway, that's it.

Yeah, thanks. No, I think I mean you can't you can't set a rule for every single situation. So, you just have general guidelines and you try to abide by them and be fair and consistent. That's the hard part is there is a little bit of subjectivity um when you're the chair of a meeting like this. That was me. Yeah. Okay. Um I'm going to go ahead and call for the vote, please. I'm missing one vote. Okay. All votes are in. Please record the vote. Um it passes 8 to one. Okay. Um where we at? Flip the page. Flip the page.

Do you want me to Oh, second reading. Yes. Council member Shields, would you please read for adoption? Thank you. I move to adopt bill number 26-041, an ordinance amending article 2, council division 2, procedures for the conduct of business by repealing rule 13 of section 2-49, rules of order and section 2-50, procedural rules for public meetings and public hearings conducted by video conference and amending section 2-45 to provide transparency related to the conduct of meetings and participation of the public therein.

Thank you. A motion to adopt bill number 26-041 by council member Shield, seconded by council member Carlile. discussion. Please cast your vote. All votes are r. Please record the vote. It passes 8 to one. Thank you all. Next is council member Rder, would you please read bill number 20? No. Council member Levelville, would you please read? No. Council member all of them. Council member objects. Okay. Council member um Shields, would you please read bill number 26-042?

Thank Thank you. I move for second reading bill numbers 26-042 and ordinance approving amendment number three. The budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 is adopted by ordinances 10132, 1013, 10136, 10137138 by amending the authorized expenditures for the city. Thank you. A motion to move to second reading bill number 26-042 by council member Shield seconded by council member Hodgees. Discussion. Seeing none, please cast your vote. All votes ran, please record the vote. It does go to second reading unanimously. Council member Shields, would you please?

I move for adoption of bill number 26-042, an ordinance approving amendment number three. The budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 is adopted by ordinances 10132133 10136 10137 10138 by amending the authorized expenditures for the city. Thank you. Motion to adopt bill number 26-042. Council member Shields, seconded by council member Hodgees. Discussion, please cast your vote. All votes are in. Please record the vote. That bill is adopted unanimously. Thank you, Council Member Shields. Bill number 26-04. Oh, senda. Council member Rder, would you please read bill number 26-043?

With pleasure. I move to second reading bill number 26-043, an ordinance authorizing the city of Lee Summit, Missouri to wave the Lee Summit uh housing authorities payment in lie of tax pilot taxes pilots for the authorities fiscal year ending September 30th, 2025 in the amount of $27,3854. Thank you. A motion to move to second read bill number 26-043 by Council Member Rider, seconded by Council Member Carlile. Discussion. This is something we do uh pretty much every year uh for as long as I've been here for sure. That's correct, Mayor.

Thank you. Please cast your vote. All votes are in. Please record the vote. The bill goes to second reading. Council member Raider, would you please? I move for adoption bill number 26-043, an ordinance authorizing the city of Lee Summit, Missouri to wave the Lee Summit Housing Authorities payment in le of taxes for the authorities fiscal year ending September 30th, 2025 in the amount of $27,3854.

Thank you. We have bill number 260043. Um seconded or motioned by council member Rder for adoption, seconded by council member Carlau. Discussion, please. Please cast your vote. All votes are in. Please record the vote. That bill is adopted unanimously. Thank you. Council member Shields, would you please read bill number 26-044? Thank you. I move for second reading bill number 26-044, an ordinance approving a purchase order by the city of Lee Summit to Missouri to municipal emergency services mees for structural firefighting gear in the amount of $23,562.40 and authorizing city manager to execute all documents necessary to effectuate the same buying on behalf of the city.

Thank you. Do we have a motion to move to second reading bill number 26-044 by Council Member Shields, seconded by Council Member Hodes. Discussion. Seeing none, please cast your vote. All votes are in. Please record the vote. It goes to second reading unanimously. Council member Shields, would you please? Thank you. I move for adoption bill number 26-04, an ordinance approving a purchase order by the city of Lee Summit to Municipal Emergency Services Mes for structural firefighting gear in the amount of $23,562.40 40 cents and authorizing city manager to execute all documents necessary to effectuate the same binding on behalf of the city.

Thank you. Have a motion to adopt bill number 26-044 by council member Shield. Seconded by council member Carlile. Discussion. Please cast your vote. Please record the vote. That bill is adopted unanimously. Thank you. Council member Shields, would you please read bill number 26-045? Move for second reading bill number 26-045 an ordinance approving an amendment to the contract number 2025-076 to perform an operational review of the municipal courts to Raft Telus Financial Consultants Inc. for a total of $79,50 and authorizing city manager to execute the same for the city.

Thank you. We have a motion to move to second reading the limit 26-045 by council member Shield seconded by council member Hodgeges. Discussion. Seeing none, please cast your vote. All votes are in. Please record the vote. That bill goes to second reading 8 to zero with one recusal. Council member Shields, would you please? I move for adoption bill number 26-045, an ordinance approving amendment to contract number 2025-076 to perform an operational review of the municipal courts to draft Telis Financial Consultants, Inc. for a total of $79,50 and authorizing city manager to execute the same for the city.

Thank you. We have a motion to adopt bill number 26-045 by Council Member Shield, seconded by Council Member Hodes. Discussion, please cast your vote. All votes remain. Please record the vote. It passes 80 with one recusal. Thank you, Council Member Shields. Bill number 26-046, please. Thank you. I move for second reading. Bill number 26-046, an ordinance approving the use of a public safety association cooperative purchasing contract with Striker Sales LLC for the purchase of 11 Expedition Powered Stair Chairs from Striker Sales LLC in the amount of $191,37856.

Thank you. We have a motion to move to second reading bill number 26-046 by Council Member Shield, seconded by Council Member Carlile. Discussion. Seeing none, please cast your vote. All votes are in. Please record the vote. Goes to second reading unanimously. Council member Shields, please. Thank you. I move for adoption of bill number 26-046. An ordinance approving the use of public safety association cooperative purchasing contract with Striker Sales LLC with and purchase of 11 expedition powered stair chairs from Striker Sales LLC in the amount of $191,37856.

Thank you. Thank you. We have a motion to adopt bill 126-046 by council member Shields. Seconded by council member Hajes. Discussion. Please cast your vote. All votes are in. Please record the vote. That bill is adopted unanimously. Thank you. That takes us to proposed ordinances. First reading. Council member Shields, would you please read bill number 26-047. Mayor. Mayor. Yes. We're hitting the 11:00 rule. So, if we can have a motion to continue business, if you would like to go forward, that would be appropriate. Council member Shields, would you please? I move to continue business even though it is 11:05 p.m. Second. We have a motion uh to continue past 11

by Council Member Shield, seconded by Council Member Hodes. Discussion. Seeing none, can I get a roll call vote? Uh, council member Prior. Hi, Council Member Carlile. Hi, Council Member Shields. I council member Hodges. Hi, Council Member Levelville. I, Council Member Rider, I, Council Member Funk, I, Mayor Prom Lopez. I, Mayor Baird, I thank you. Uh, Council Member Shields.

Yep. I move for second reading bill number 26-047 an ordinance authorizing the city of Lee Summit Missouri to issue taxable industrial development revenue bonds and a principle mount not to exceed 9,975,000 in connection with the Lakewood Business Park project building 2 and authorizing certain documents and actions in connection therewith. Thank you. Have a motion to move to second reading bill 26-047 by council member Shield seconded by council member Funk. Discussion. This is um Mr. Dunning. This is an approval that we made a few years ago at this or not a few but maybe a couple years ago, year and a half to two years ago. That's correct. It's implementation of that approved project. This is administratively an implementation. Council member Rder.

Uh thank you, mayor. That I was That's what I was going to ask for clarification. Thank you. It's an implementation of um um industrial building that we approved a few years a couple years ago. Um, seeing no further discussion, please cast your vote. All votes are in, please record the vote. It does pass unanimously. Thank you all. Uh, Council Member Shields, bill number 26-048. Take a deep breath.

It's a novel. Okay. Bill number 26-048. I move for second reading. An ordinance authorizing the purchase of 182 Axon body four cameras with hardware refreshments upgrades. 45 Axon fleet 3 incar cameras with hardware refreshments upgrades. 82 Taser 10 for SK uh Skyo X10 drones prepared 911 software Axon assistant software unlimited Axon storage digital evidence unlimited third-party storage digital evidence CAD RMS autotagging Axon respond software redaction assistance software community request public evidence submission Axon investigate input ACE Axon auto transcribe data migration services and nine Axon interview room with hardware refreshment through the use of an approved soul source and authorizing the city manager execute all related necessary documents for the city of Lisa Missouri.

Yep. Thank you. We have a motion to move to second reading bill number 26-048 by Council Member Shields. Seconded by Council Member Carlile. Discussion. Yes, Council Member Shields. Um, yes. Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to ask I actually emailed earlier and I don't believe I saw a response as to why this didn't go through committee and I apologize if I'm if I missed something earlier because they probably Yeah, we can we can address that. It's a a timing issue with a a um reduction in costs that we could take advantage of and so working it through our procurement process as quickly as we could. We just couldn't hit finance and so I can have uh Deputy Chief Bunker speak to that if that would be helpful. Is it going to be awesome for public safety?

It's Yes. All right, let's go. It's a bunch of very effective and upgraded tools that will equip them. Okay. Thank you. All right. Uh seeing no further discussion, please cast your vote. All votes are in. Please record the vote. It does move to second reading unanimously. Thank you. Council member, I can do it. Shields, would you please read bill number 26-049?

Thank you. I move for second reading bill number 26-049. Ordinance approving lease agreements for project 2 east village within the redevelopment area for the 291 south regional land clearance redevelopment author authority redevelopment plan. Thank you. A motion to move to second reading bill number 26-049 by council member Shield. Second by council member Hodgees. Discussion. Seeing none, please cast your vote. All votes in. Please go the vote. That passes 8 to one with Yep. 8 to one. It doesn't pass. It goes to second reading. My apologies. Mayor, you need to recuse. We need to step back. And Mr. Levelvel, Council Member Levelville is a recusal.

Can you change that to 71 with one recusal for the record? 71 with one recusal. All right. Thank you. Um, okay. We're on council member Shields bill number 26-050.

Thank you. I move for second reading bill number 26- 050 an ordinance determining and declaring the necessity of acquiring for public use certain right of way for roadway utilities and additional infrastructure facilities other public improvements and all work in incidental and subsidiary. There are two associated with the proposed Valley Garden Drive public improvements. Authorizing city manager and his designates to negotiate for the purpose of acquiring the necessary interest in land. and authorizing city attorney and his designation to institute condemnation proceedings of such incined land cannot be acquired by purchase through good faith negotiations. Okay, thank you. We have a motion to move to second reading bill number 26-050 by council member Sheila, seconded by council member Hodes, Mr. Park.

Yes, Michael Park, director of public works. I just want to make sure that we mention this particular capital improvement project. This public improvement is a necessary improvement related to the collapse of Corey Park Road. provides access to some of our residents and improve safety uh for those residents in the area. Will connect Banister Road to what is Old Nolan Road via an existing private roadway called Valley Garden Drive and then some additional construction uh between where that private road and uh existing Old Nolan Road exists within our our ride ofways. And so uh with that, I'm happy to answer any questions u with regard to that project. Is this are you are it's it's good to finally be here at this point. It

it is good that we're finally at this point and we're doing so in step with the city of Kansas City. Yep. It's been a long time you've been working on this one. Council member Carlo. Thank you, Mayor. Just one question, Michael. Um the you said that the drive that connects them private. Is that going to be public and then will we maintain it or is Kansas City going to maintain that or how's that going to work?

So, as part of the the acquisition um to build the improvements, it will include the acquisition of the private road that is Valley Garden Drive. Um and under our terms of agreement that city council executed with city of Kansas City to carry out this project, we would then be responsible for maintaining all of the road, even that portion that's within the city of Kansas City's jurisdiction

of the new road that private, but we'll thank you. All right. Thank you. All right. Uh, seeing no further discussion, please cast your vote. All votes are in, please vote. It does go to second reading unanimously. Thank you. Now we're on proposed ordinances, second reading. Council member Shields, would you please? Thank you, Mayor. Move for adoption of bill number 25-005, an ordinance approving the redevelopment project one for the Olden Village Tax increment financing plan and activating the collection of tax increment financing revenues therein.

Thank you. Have a motion to adopt bill number 25-005 by council member Shields, seconded by council member Hajes discussion. This is um this was first first read January 7, 2025. So therefore this is another implementation or they are um initiating the tiff. Very good. You okay? I was looking at you this time. Oh, good. Please cast your vote.

I need one more vote. All votes are in. Please record the vote. It passes 80 with one recusal. Thank you. Oh my goodness. Committee reports.

Council member Hodes just saying that we have CDC meeting tomorrow at 4 p.m. Finishing strong.

All right. Council comments. Council member Prior. Thank you. Do we Is tonight a good night or is it too late? I know we have a lot to do still, but I know that I want the information out there just because it's there's a lot of misinformation being spread.

Yeah, I can I can hit the high points from a pretty detailed uh memo that we provided to all of you. And this is in regard to providing resources and training and support to our employees specifically within public safety more specifically fire department. Um so we do have a peer support team that is uh really managed and and implemented through our employees the members of the fire department and highly and heavily supported by leadership in the in the city. So those those uh opportunities are there. They we have 24 trained certified peer support members within the department. And so that's a huge asset that we have. Everything from education, the peer support, the professional counseling, even a faith-based uh approach and support that is offered to the members. Um even coffee talks at shift changes. We do twice annual visits to every station and to every shift. We have three uh employee assistance uh providers uh and programs in place. We also have a partnership with call 42 cares. So that's uh local 42 uh represented union. They have a specific program that we can lean on. We have partnerships with them. We have um a chaplain program within both police and fire. Um there there are so many things that we are doing in that space that I know Chief is extremely proud of and I'm proud of everybody that that provides that level of uh care in that space. Uh with regard to some of the state uh requirements, um we do uh annual wellness checks. We offer annual wellness checks to all of our public safety. The state requirements are more along the lines of three to every 3 to 5 years. We do those annually if those employees would like to take advantage of those. And then with regard to uh critical illness pool, I know Chief Snyder was heavily involved in that legislation at the state and uh that's another resource that's available for PTSD type uh situations and we do take

advantage of that and and we monitor that every year. And so uh abundance of resources available to employees and and uh thank you for sh allowing me the time to at least highlight some of those. And if you'd like greater details in any of those, Chief Snder and I'd be happy to provide you more information.

Thank you. I mean, I can speak as not a firefighter, but a firefighter's wife that my husband's always felt supported and I know that Chief Snyder goes to to say like we aren't implementing as like anything that came from the state level. Chief Snyder goes to Jefferson City regularly and is very involved at the state level um and even at the national level. So to say that yeah, it's just not true. But thank you.

Thank you. Uh I just want to commend you know some of you are saying um the right things when it comes to that uh we can debate and discuss things and and disagree um and still be civil and it's what makes us special here. It's what makes this council and this community special. You see, um, we've always been able to rise above this, you know, rhetoric that is really can be hostile and create, um, difficulties. And for us to keep going and still be this community of character that role models, we have to continue um rising above this and working together and you know collaborating and I'm telling you from someone that has talked to so many mayors and so many other leaders, elected officials, you know, council members and such for quite some time. Not all cities have this and we've got something special here and we need to fight to pres preserve it. Fight like as in not physically or you know be be more difficult or or contentious but but say what we need to say to preserve a civil decorum. And I feel like I'm walking into what I walked into eight years ago, right? like it was I'm saying the same things and we've I've I've had a really great ride. Eight years of civil decorum because we everybody embraced it and that's what we've done and that's what that's how we got here. That's how we made so many decisions. We have these late meetings. These other cities don't have these late meetings like not this late at least not every week. Um, and if they do have a late meeting,

it's it's because it's something that's, you know, not probably good. So, we get to make good decisions because of, you know, the the good things in front of us. We are uh backed up with lots of decision- making. Um, and and just so the public knows, it's like this been like this for the last few years. I would say five years, four or five years now. We've been going this hard, this fast, this long at night. And that doesn't even count all the committee work that you do and all the time that I spend outside of this. I've got a full day tomorrow. Wednesday is supposed to be my day outside of city hall. supposed to be. I got to be here at 8 in the morning and I'm not a morning person and I'm going to I have to end my day with other mayors in a very important meeting for us for us this community trying to make sense to other people that don't have the best intentions for cities, you know, and it's like it's it's it's a grind. And the one thing that keeps me going most of the time is knowing that it's it's worth it. You know, the fight's worth it, the battles are worth it because we're making good decisions. So, um, we have 28 days left of this type of thing and we have one meeting where I where it's going to be a lot of business next, you know, this month. And so let's let's finish strong. That's what I said a minute ago is we're going to finish strong. Let's finish strong and and find a way to be better than everybody else around us. Cuz you know how I like winning and I like being competitive. And the way we win is we we we do it better than everybody else. And I know that I'm not talking down on our

sister cities and such. I'm just saying we have to be the role model. So, um, I appreciate all of you. We got to go back here and do some close session stuff. So, for all of you, if you thought tonight was weird, now we get to go back there and be friendly. And it's it's not that hard. They're they're such a good group of people up here, all of them, every single one of them, that we will we'll be fine. But it's it's not easy um grinding through all this stuff. So, um we do appreciate the nice comments we got tonight. We really do. Seriously and sincerely. With that said, staff round table. Two two quick items. Uh March 15th, there's a wellness fund fair over at Green Street that uh the whole community is invited to from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. They'll have things like of course wellness resources, local resources, free fun activities, yoga, fitness classes, mini golf prizes, and that is a initiative coming through our wellness commission. So, uh, March 15th, 2:00 to 5:00, and then the very next day, uh, March 16th, the Charter Review Commission will hold their listening session from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Green Street. So, citizens are invited to come learn about their work and, uh, share any ideas they may have with the Charter Review uh, commission members. That's it, Mayor. Thank you.

You know what? Yesterday morning, I got to go over to Green Street. They had me um, come over to Was that yesterday morning or was that today? Anyway, I went over to Green Street because Main Street was having the um all the Missouri Main Street people. So, all the cities around Missouri came over to see the Main Streets in all across Missouri and got to speak to them and that was kind of cool. You know, they sitting in farmers market that so many cities dream about and we did it. Got that done. So, council member Shields, would you please?

If you really want. All right. pursuant to section 610211 of the revised statutes of the state of Missouri pertaining to legal actions causes of action or litigation involving public governmental body and any confidential or privilege communication between public governmental body or representative sentence attorneys pursu section 610212 of the revised statutes state of Missouri pertaining to the leasing purchase or sale of real estate by a public governmental body where public knowledge of the transaction might adversely affect the legal consideration. And therefore, in pursuant to section 610211 of the revised statutes, the state of Missouri pertaining to specifications for competitive bidding until either the specifications are officially approved by the public governmental body or the specifications are public are published for bid and pursuant to section 6102112 of the revised statutes of the state of Missouri pertaining to sealed bids and related documents until the bids are opened and sealed proposals and related documents or any documents related to negotiated contract until a contract is executed or all proposals are rejected and pursuant to section 6102113 of the revised statutes of the state of Missouri pertain to individually Identifiable personnel records, performance ratings, or records pertaining to employees or applicants for employment. I move to enter close session.

Second. Thank you. We have a motion to go into close session by council member Shield. Seconded by Council Member Hodes. Discussion. Roll call vote, please. Council member Rder. I. Council member Funk. I. Council member Hodgeges. I. Council member Levelville. I. Council member Shields. Hi. Council member Carlile. Hi. Council member Prior. Hi. Mayor Prom Lopez. Hi. Mayor Baird.

Hi. Everybody have a good night. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat.