City Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening. Welcome to the February 3rd, 2026 city commission meeting. Um, city clerk, will you please call the role? Mayor Adam Track, present. Commissioner Mcola, yes. Commissioner Fox here. Commissioner Morrison here. Commissioner von Lentil present. Mayor, we have five commissioners present. The quorum of three is met. Thank you. Will you please rise and join me in saying the pledge of allegiance.

I pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the for it stands one nation with justice for all. Thank you. Um, we have an opportunity for comments from the public for any item which is not related to anything on the agenda tonight. Um, we will not discuss those items or debate them. We will not make decisions based on those during this time. Please address all comments to the commission and each person will be limited to one speaking opportunity for three minutes um with an initial period of 30 minutes for each item on the agenda. So is there anyone who would like to make comments on anything not on the official agenda? All right, seeing no one approaching the podium, we will close that as that part of public comments. Commissioners, do you have any comments to make? Commissioner von Lintil,

um, get your sleep. That's important. Um, but hey, I'm leaving now. I'm glad to see democracy in action and um, yeah, it's good to see everybody here. Commissioner Marson, I have none. Commissioner Fox. Uh, I have no comments, uh, regarding the consent agenda. I would point out in the minutes. Okay. We're not quite there. Uh,

nothing. Thank you. Um, I would like to acknowledge that um, your commission this afternoon completed two very intense days of a retreat um, where we discussed a number of items regarding um, current activities underway in the city as well as laying out our strategic goals for the year to come. Uh, we will be discussing those further as uh, the year uh, unwinds. Commissioners, I was very pleased at the level of consensus that we achieved on quite a number of the items. So, I appreciate that you were all engaged with that and uh didn't come to blows. Um I'd also like to point out that the city has just recently released its 2025 year end report. Um I believe there are copies out in the lobby if you are interested. I think there was a copy on everyone's chair today. Um, this is certainly a pretty high level report, but I think it gives you an a pretty good idea of what we did accomplish in the past year. Um, I'd encourage you not to just throw it out, but to read it and share it around and let people know what what we've accomplished. Okay. Um, we will move on to the consent agenda. These are items of a routine and housekeeping nature or items which have been previously reviewed by the commission and may be approved in one motion. Um, commissioners may request an item be removed for separate discussion or may uh indicate some corrections are necessary. Um, we will allow public comment on the consent agenda. Is there anyone who has any

Go ahead with corrections. All right. Um Larry, you had a correction. I'd point out a correction in the minutes that it says after roll call, the city clerk announced there were five commissioners present. Uh there is the number three behind that five, but it was three. Three present. Yeah. And didn't it also say we Okay. Something about the vote was one to two or so. Yeah. All right. Uh any comments from the general public on the consent agenda? Seeing none, we will close public comments. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? I move we approve the consent agenda with its correction.

Second. All right. Uh, Chelsea, will you call the role, please? Commissioner Mcola, yes. Commissioner Fox, yes. Commissioner Morrison, yes. Commissioner Von Lentil, yes. Mayor Adam, yes. Motion carries 5 to zero.

All right, we will move on to the general agenda. The first item on the general agenda is to consider ordinance number 7810 reszoning 21214 Levvenworth Street and 300 North Thirdrd Street from planned unit development to community commercial district and ordinance number 7811 amending marketplace unit 2 PUD. D. Uh, commissioners, before we um before John proceeds, do we have any exparte information to uh report on this item?

Thank you, John. Whenever you're ready.

Uh, good evening. Uh we have two lots here that are part of the Manhattan Marketplace unit 2 PUD planned unit development. Uh they want to redevelop one of the units or one of the buildings on the lot and then make the other lot marketable, the one that's been vacant for quite some time. They want to reszone to community commercial in order to make that marketable. Um I'm not sure what else I have to add. the uh planning board uh uh recommended uh adoption of this at 6 on their meeting on December 15th. And I'm happy to take any questions.

Um I one concern I would have would be if if there potentially was a drive-thru in that in that location. And I assume we'd be able to take care of how that was set up with the plat, right? Yes. Um in fact the plat itself um has a restriction of no access along here along Third Street and along here. So they would have to work out a cross access agreement with the other properties in order to set up a drive-thru. Okay, that makes a lot of sense. Okay,

any other questions for John commissioners? Does anyone from the public have a comment on this particular item? If not, do we have a motion to approve? A second. Um, if I'll So, I will move I will move to approve ordinance number 7810 resoning attractive land from plan unit development to community commercial and approve ordinance number 7811 amending the Manhattan marketplace unit 2 PUB. Now, I'd like to second. Okay. Chelsea, would you call the role again, please? Commissioner Fox, yes. Commissioner Morrison,

yes. Commissioner Von Lentil, yes. Mayor Adamra, yes. Commissioner Mcola, yes. Motion carries five to zero. Thank you. Um, our second item on the agenda is to consider ordinance number 7812 amending the professional place planned unit development. Commissioners again are have you had any exparte con communications considering this item? Thank you. Um don't have a present I'm sorry we're that's the next item.

I know there is no presentation prepared for this. Uh they wanted to add a particular use um to planned unit development that includes massage parlors and other personal services. Okay. And that's it. Hair salons. Hair salons. Yes, that was it. I think there's a different word besides massage parlor that we use. Okay. Can't remember what it is, but entities that offer massages. I suspect if that was the use, we probably wouldn't approve the uh the TR massage therapy. Yeah. Some Okay.

Uh okay. Any comments from the audience? I move we um I'm Did we see anybody? Yes. Oh, sorry.

Hi, good evening. My name is Jasmine Thompson. I am one of the owners of Stone and Spark Collective. And I am Lori Remmer. I am also one of the owners as part of Stone and Spark Collective.

First, I'd like to thank uh the Urban Development Committee for reviewing and recommending approval of this amendment. We truly appreciate the time and consideration that has already gone into this process. We are here tonight simply asking for it to be amended to include personal services so that our business can operate within compliance of city code. While the terminology may be classified as personal services, I would like to emphasize that our professions are licensed. They're regulated and highly professional. Each provider within our building operates independently, carries liability insurance, maintains city um and state lensure, follow strict sanitation standards, and contributes to local economy of small businesses. Um we are home to massage therapy, aesthetics, nails, and hair. Um we are all service- based appointments. Um we do not generate heavy traffic. We do not generate noise, late night activity or high volume, high volume retail flow. Our clients come individually and buy appointment and then they leave. So we don't have a lot of impact in that area. What we do provide is economic contribution through small business ownership, support for other local businesses through cross referrals, a professional well-maintained space and inviting environment that enhances the vitality of the corridor. Our goal has always been to operate transparently and responsibly and in alignment with city regulations. That's why we're here tonight, not to bend the rules, but to make sure we're following them correctly. Um, we care deeply about our community. Many of our clients are long-term Manhattan residents, and we're raising families here, and we invest back into the city. Um, this amendment simply allows our building zoning language to reflect the modern reality of small business today. Service based entrepreneurs, especially in health, wellness, beauty, and hair services, and we're a growing and legitimate part of a local economic development. We respectfully ask for your approval so that we can continue operating responsibly and contributing respon positively to Manhattan's Melbour um business community.

Thank you. That was an excellent statement. Please um sign in over with Chelsea. I would just like to add that as the massage therapist, prior to uh the city having us be licensed within the city of Manhattan, there were massage therapists working in that planning development already as well as nails. Um, so it's kind of on my part a little ridiculous that now it's it seems to be an issue, but at the same time it was already there prior to and so I just ask that it can be continued. Thank you. We didn't we need her name and address. She's Oh, sorry. Come back. Would you give us your name and address, please? Uh, my name is Lori Remer. Thank you. Thank you.

Address. Um, okay. Any comments from the public on this item? Okay. Now, I will move that we approve ordinance number 7812 amending professional place unit development. Second. Chelsea, will you call the role? Commissioner Morrison, yes. Commissioner Von Lentil, yes. Mayor Adam, yes. Commissioner Mcola, yes. Commissioner Fox, yes. Motion carries five to zero.

Thank you. And I Good luck. And I appreciate that you want to be in compliance with our regulations.

All right. Item number C. Do we have a drum roll? Uh, consider ordinance 7813 reszoning 2005 Hunting Avenue from low density residential RL to RL with University Fringe overlay. Um, O UF commissioners, any exparte communication on this item? So, I would acknowledge that shortly after the election, I had uh visits with the neighbors. I visited their house and saw toured a couple of the houses. Uh also last fall, I had conversations with the architect about the project. So, uh I've had conversations on both side of the topic.

I've had no contact from either the applicant or the others other than long time. I grew up in the neighborhood. I'm well familiar with those that were built, not built, and where we played basketball when we had time at least school or acacia and that was in the 1950s. Andrew, um I have visited the neighborhood back in November. Um everything that I heard there I watched again on the public um comment from the urban planning board um in December. Karen. Nope.

Um, I also visited with members of the neighborhood. Uh, you may recall that I recused myself from voting on this the first time it came before us and I will do so again tonight. Um, John, would you like to make the comment or presentation?

Sure. Thank you. Uh, John Adams, assistant director of community or planning and development. Um last year this lot here was replatted to include this portion that was there. After that they applied to extend the overlay that they currently have which is the university fringe overlay which is on their primary which was on the original lot to extend it onto this portion here. On December 15th, 2025, Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board heard this proposal. Um they took testimony and then there was a motion to approve or recommend approval to the city commission. It failed on a 3-3 vote. Um and so that is what is before you tonight. And I think um city attorney oh and the sorry the planning board members who voted in the negative cited factors 3, four and six for the reasons for uh recommending denial and I believe

could you expand on what 3, four and six are? Three is adequacy of services and infrastructure for the uses allowed in the proposed district. Four is the character of the neighborhood, including the zoning and uses of nearby property. And six, the proposed change addresses a community need identified in an adopted plan. Sure. I think the city attorney has something. Yeah. John, I have one question. Can you go back to your previous slide?

Yes. um the university overlay. So it it only covers the fraternity the current fraternity property or the that piece. So does not cover the two adjacent homes that are owned by the fraternity.

No, that's correct. Um we it's bad practice to extend any kind of zoning including an overlay over land that would have split these two lots with a zoning designation. So we advised them to replplat the lot to add this portion here to this primary lot if that makes sense. After that then we had a legal description an area that we could distinctly say let's extend it onto that. They didn't choose to try to extend it over the other two lots that they own on there. Thank you. Katie, do you have something to add? Okay.

Yeah. Right.

Okay. So, uh permitted uses uh in RL remain the same. When you have the uh the university fringe overlay, you can add child care home. That's a conditional use. You can add dormatory, sority, and fraternity. That's a outright permitted use in the OUF. Cultural facility or place of assembly is a conditional use. Medical clinic, general office is an outright permitted use in the OUF. And then the other two live work and mixeduse buildings would require a special kind of subdivision type which is not likely to happen given the small area of this. That's more like a green field development type of development.

Thank you.

Okay. Good evening, mayor and commissioners. Katie Jackson, city attorney. Due to the due to this the popularity of this item, we wanted to review a couple things that are unique about it. Um, this is a quasi judicial decision, which is the same as the prior two PUD decisions tonight. Um, I will pull up the seven factors, but the facts that you hear tonight, you'll be applying those to the seven factors in the zoning. um a qua it's a quasi judicial decision which means this decision has limited effect on the subject property and not a broader city impact. Uh we would offer a fair open and impartial review no prejudgment. If you have had conversations or you have had a site visit that will impact your decision just be sure to disclose those as the mayor has asked for exparte communication. Be sure you disclose that in the meeting. Um the options you'll see here tonight I wanted to go through. We have a unique situation because we do have a valid protest petition on this property. The first consideration by the commission. It doesn't change the votes because the planning board did not approve the reasonzoning. So these are the correct um options for you on this phase for the city commission consideration. The minimum votes are there. These options are from the statute 12757. You'll have to do one of these things tonight as a majority. If you are unable to get the votes to adopt or override, then our recommendation is for you to vote to remand it back with guidance to the planning board on what information you would need to be able to come to a decision. I am going to pull up the factors. Um, as you do take in the information tonight and when you provide your input on your vote and decision, it would be beneficial to relate to the factors. Um, let's I'll pull them up here. They are also in your packet on the AIS, but

it's helpful to see them. So, we'll have those available to flip between as well. Um, so also for the public's information, these are the factors that the city commission considers as it receives information tonight and it renders its vote with the statutory options. Katie, can you increase the um size so that people can read it more easily? Yeah. Um no, that's smaller. I I don't know what going to make it bigger. Okay.

Thank you. Thank you. Any questions for me before we begin? Thank you. All right. We have um 16 individuals signed up for public comment. Please remember that um you're limited to three minutes. Um if you are going to repeat a comment made by the person who spoke before you, please try to be a little bit brief. We will extend the usual 30 minute limit to accommodate the remaining comments. So settle in. We'll have a little bit of discussion for a while. Uh Rex Fowls is the first person up.

I'm sorry. Do you have a question? Sorry. Uh uh yeah. Yes. All right. Yes. Go ahead.

Um who is presenting on your behalf? Mayor, members of the commission, I've got concise notes that I will read and they address the seven points that you're here to consider. I'll also introduce the president of the Acacia board, Derek Dos, who will follow my brief comments. Thank you. My name is Bruce McMillan. I'm president of Baker McMillan Architects, 555 Points Avenue, Manhattan. The Acacia board, Olsen Engineering, and our firm have appreciated the staff support and guidance provided over the past 20 months that this project has been in development. The planning board and commission's unanimous vote of approval for the recent property replant in August set in motion the steps to follow, including this reszoning request for extension of the UF University overlay on lot three of acacia edition one. The replot was approved with the apparent understanding by both the planning board and commission that acacia will be using it for its own planned purposes. In your packet is supporting documentation provided to the planning board addressing all seven criteria for review outlined in the Manhattan Development Code to be met. As noted, criteria three, four, and six were cited in the split vote from the planning board. For further clarification, the following supports the fact that indeed three, four, and six were specifically addressed as the

meeting requirements of the Manhattan Development Code. Item three addresses infrastructure. It is specifically noted in application information that added utility easements are provided as designated by Evergy and a storm water detention structure is planned as part of the parcel to be zoned to control runoff. It has been designed by Olsen Engineering and approved by city staff review as pertinent and acceptable as part of infrastructure site improvements. Criteria four addresses character of the neighborhood including zoning and uses of nearby property. The mid-century modern character of the neighborhood is specifically enhanced by the existing acacia structure built in 1956 and one of the original designs establishing the neighborhood character. Images with a proposed addition and parking that are either minimally or not visible from other properties are shown in attached information in your packets. and I have copies to distribute if you care to see those. Zoning remains RL single family residential for the parcel and the entire neighborhood. It does not change. Several nearby properties are owned by sororities or fraternities in the neighborhood with UF overlays. Everything east of Lee Street is OUF University overlay. This is not an isolated ownership or zoning in the neighborhood. Criteria six, excuse me. The proposed UF zoning

addresses a community need as identified in an adopted plan by the city. The MHK housing market analysis states that housing needs must be met by community partners. KSU is listed as a community parter partner, thus allowing Acacia to provide additional housing for students who wish to join and meet this criteria. Criteria one, two, five, and seven were not cited as concerns by the planning board. As noted in the staff report, this parcel is certainly eligible for the requested UF zoning as it abuts the existing OUF in lot. All criteria as they relate to the ARL zoning district, Lee Elementary School neighborhood historic district and comprehensive plan are addressed, including responses to comments at the October 30th, 2025 neighborhood meeting. And finally, staff recommends approval. The board Olsen Engineering and our firm have worked closely with staff to bring this project forward and seek your approval to allow it to progress. We will be glad to stand for questions, but I would allow Derek Daws to address the commission at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Bruce. Thanks, Bruce.

Uh, good evening, commissioners. Um, my name is Derek Dos. I'm the current I serve as the current board of uh directors chairman. Uh I live in Greta, Nebraska, which is Omaha. So um I appreciate the opportunity opportunity to speak to you tonight. Um we engaged Baker McMillan, the preminent preeminent architecture firm here in town to follow the procedures and process to the letter to get us here tonight. Our fraternity has been located at 2005 Hunting Avenue for more than 70 years. While our current facility has served generation of students well, it was designed for a different era and now requires significant modernization and upgrades. Our goal with the proposal is simple. Enhance student living experience while preserving and harmonizing with historic and residential character of the neighborhood while we're proudly been part of for decades. Over the past decade, our undergraduate members have achieved extraordinary success earning numerous local and national awards and being recognized multiple times by our national organization as the top chapter in in the country. Um many of them here tonight. Our focus on scholarship, leadership, and service has created a winning model, and we are eager to continue building on that tradition with facilities to support the our mission and values. A case is among the oldest and most respected attorneys on Kansas State. We have six buildings on campus named after our alumni. Our alumni include a Kansas governor, a Manhattan mayor, a US senator, multiple KState presidents and faculty members, and now a Hall of Fame football coach. The deep legacy connects our members past and present to our chapter house and to the city of Manhattan. Our alumni network spanning multiple generations is fully behind this initiative. They have contributed multiple significant resources to make this project possible and are committed to ensure that the chapter's physical home continues to reflect the integrity and excellence that defined Acacia. This proposal represents a multi-million dollar investment in the property, one that both preserves historic integrity of the property, enhances the overall character of the neighborhood. The improvements will also contribute to

increase property values and tax revenue for the city, benefiting the broader community. We understand that some of our neighbors have concerns and we've taken those concerns to heart. Our design and planning process has included thoughtful steps to minimize impact and address feedback. We've committed to being a positive and responsible partner in the community, ensuring that our renovation not only serves our members, but adds value to the entire neighborhood. Our alumni board has remained actively engaged for more than two decades with strong leadership continuity and a long-term vision v vision of stewardship and accountability. Just as we teach our undergraduates, we practice our alumni governance the same, ensuring that our project and our organization remain vibrant well into the future. Our proposal does not seek to add incremental or new use simply to extend the existing use to an 80 foot replatted area. We are infilling our property. The 80oot reszone will be parking and completely out of sight from any view and happens to back up to lease schools parking lot. So parking lot to parking lot. Um I won't take any more time. Thank you for your time considering our proposal. We are here fully committed to see this to fruition and thank you for your time. We'll answer any questions.

Thank you. Commissioners, have you any questions for the applicant?

Um the So you cannot put the parking lot in with the existing um zoning. As we understand from staff that we need to include the parcel in the OUF. I asked the question twice planning for this eventual movement and it was thought at that time that the reasonzoning would transfer with the replant to only be informed shortly before that we went for the replat that indeed the did not extend with the replat. So we we intended all the way up to the replat date that the UF would continue with that process to find out that it was not going to. So to be clear, the you're requesting this zoning not to put the parking lot in so much as to add the addition to the 20 additional beds

in order Yes, sir. in order to add the additional space to the building to accommodate an additional occupant load. the parking requirements increase as well and we can accommodate all of the required parking on site as it pertains to the development code with this extension.

It's not 20 additional. So the house was originally designed for 47. We want to get to 52 members on that 2005 replatted site. That's our that's our target. We the the development code requires 50% parking capacity for the house occupant load and we can we can certainly meet that and exceed it. Actually,

I'll let Derek address another item here. We've reconfigured our current uh 2005 property with less beds to accommodate the needs of the new students as they um you know more amenities and so forth. So from our original 47 beds I think we're down to 30 38. So we want to go back up to 47 plus five more to get to 52. So I counted 37 in the existing house. 47 was the original design of the original 47's original. Currently, it's 37 and then 20 in the addition. That would be the maximum occupant mode, right? Okay. 37 + 15 52.

I want to make sure my eyes aren't lying. The new zoning would not include the residents on the north half of those lots. Is that correct? That is correct. They remain RL. When the replat was done, all of the setbacks, all of the lot requirements, lot coverage, lot dimensions, all of that was specifically designed so that all of those properties stay within the RL zoning district and meet all of the minimum requirements to remain RL.

Well, even though the quesa apparently owns those lots now, correct? has control of them. They do understand that by reszoning this, it may be a handicap to the value of the property on the north of that side because of this parking lot. In other words, it may come back to buy them if they ever want to sell houses and they have this overlay at the back of the property is I mean, I'm just wanting to make sure everybody understands it does have a handicap once they do that. That has been discussed. Thank you. Karen, thank you both gentlemen.

Thank you.

Okay. Um, I will now open public comment period. As I indicated, we have about 16 people. I will take you in the request you come up in the order in which you signed in. Uh, Rex, you're the first. Good evening, mayor, commissioners. I'm Rex Fowls. I live in the historic district at 2048 Hunting Avenue. I also enjoy researching the history of this neighborhood. The question tonight is one of reszoning, not for or against any particular project. and the seven criteria are all that matter to your decision as to whether to upzone this land. So, we will focus on the review criteria. I will use my time to address criteria number one. Regarding existing use of the property, it is currently used as the backyards of two single family homes. The property is very suitable for its current uses as shown by the current owners frequently using the property for the yard games, barbecues, meetings, and other events. As far as the zoning history, the staff the staff report is missing a couple of important events. In 1952, land west of Sunset was being annexed into the city primarily to build a new hospital which is now Lefine Health Center. This is a couple years before the fraternity was even built. Two neighbors protested to the city commission that per legal advice all the land was to be downzone to residential and then go through the zoning process to be upzoned. Even so, the report the Mercury reports that at the next meeting the commission nevertheless approved changing the entire area to commercial.

Learning that Acacia didn't have to go through the zoning process when two neighbors protested makes me want to pause and thank our city staff uh the planning board and this commission for allowing this democratic process of allowing both sides to present their opinions. Fast forward to 1960. According to the local paper, Acacia received a setback on a proposed expansion project when neighbors protested to the commission against granting a variance for the project. According to Aacia's centennial history, the fraternity sought to add room for 16 more men and a wreck room. We also learned that the money had been raised, yet it was never built after the neighbors protested. My point is the zoning and development of 205 hunting has been contended by neighbors more than once and a previous expansion pro proposal in 1960 was turned back giving you precedent to do the same tonight. Thank you for your time.

Thank you Rex Danny Develin. Good morning or good evening. Um my name is Danny Develin Mertz and I live at 2020 Hunting Avenue. Um and my home resides directly across the street from uh the third property that Aca um lives in. Tonight I want to address review factor number two, consistency with the comprehensive plan. Staff report points out that on the future land use plan the property's designation is RLM allows for and I quote in appropriate cases complimentary neighborhood scaleup supporting land uses such as retail service commercial and office uses in a planned neighborhood setting. The staff report goes on to imply that because Acacia has been on the block for 70 years, this is an appropriate case for such uses. Commissioners, the applicant is proposing to build a 37 car parking lot on the reszoned portion of the lot. They have drawings that show this is possible. Per Manhattan Development Code, they therefore could have as many as 74 people living on the lot, whereas the current house is designed for 44 residents. That's a 68% potential increase in capacity. It is easy to see that going from 44 to 74 people would in fact change the relationship between the fraternity and surrounding neighborhood. As my neighbors will point out, the streets were not designed for it. Also, the noise created next door to an elementary school and the backyards of Jay and Cornelia Courts is incompatible with low and medium density residential living.

Yes, the applicant says they will increase the capacity of the house by 10 students, not 30. But this resoning request is not tied to any proposed development. You must make your decision considering all uses made possible by the by extending OUF on this block. And as the applicant's drawings show, extending OUF allows them or any future owner to use this lot much more intensively than they currently do. Any private club, social service, mixeduse, commercial, or urgent care could bring 68% more traffic to the block as compared to what's been happening since 1956. Concluding that this change is okay by the comprehensive plan presumes that reszoning a small piece of land will make no difference in how intensively Aacia or any other future owner could use the lot, which of course is exactly why they want the resoning to use the lot more intensively. Thank you for your time tonight.

Thank you, Danny. Uh Jay Banks Barks Good evening. Uh my name is What did I do? That was

That was scary. Sorry. Uh my name is Jason Banks and I live at 2008 Hunting Avenue, directly across the street from the proposed development. I am here tonight to address the third of the seven criteria for the comprehensive plan. I want to start by saying there is no animosity toward the young men of 2005 Hunting. You will no doubt and have heard that they are decent young men and that is no doubt true. However, there are grave concerns about the proposal before you today. If this resoning is allowed to go through, it will have serious delletterious effects on the standing infrastructure. First, we must acknowledge that this neighborhood, this historic district of a neighborhood is a product of its times. Curved streets and setbacks are all indicative of the atomic age, which this neighborhood is a shining example of. Thus, its historic designation, but that infrastructure was of an age. It was not designed to deal with a oneperson, one car world, which is our modern problem and unfortunately the situation we're currently dealing with. But that age deserves to be protected as both the neighborhood and the developer in public record have agreed. The reality of the situation is that this request is part of a school zone, one with which in recent memory was the beneficiary of a large portion of a 97.5 million bond, an investment in our infrastructure that cannot be and should not be easily dismissed. Additionally, and I think just as importantly, the proposed reszoning is directly adjacent to a school pickup location. That means that every car that is added to this neighborhood reduces sight lines and creates danger for those who are most at risk and thus diminishes the effectiveness of our infrastructure investment. It must also be noted that this is not only that not only is Lee Street a bus route, so too is hunting, which is often reduced in one-way traffic. The developer has proposed a potential solution to that problem. However, the proposed solution is not actually a solution but a hindrance. The proposed development, which includes an addition that will significantly increase the number of residents in a low density neighborhood, does not ameliate the issue, but exacerbates it. By approving this request, you will not decrease the impact on our infrastructure, of which we must give special consideration to the elementary school, which abuts it, but actually increase it. The developer's current plan of a parking lot claims that it removes 37 cars, but what is not clearly

stated is that those future spots are merely a replacement for the developer's already existing parking in the project as proposed with a substantial addition will in fact raise the number of cars parked on the road. Therefore, if the developer's plan is allowed to go through, the strain on city streets will actually increase, not to mention an increased danger to most uh important piece of infrastructure, public education. In conclusion, the developers plan put before you does not decrease the pressure on our infrastructure, but in fact increases it. Thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you, Jay.

Ashley Ferman, 2000 Hunting Avenue. Good evening. I'm here to focus my comment specifically on review factor 4, the character of the neighborhood. My partner and I have lived directly across from Acacia for over three years, and we have never experienced a neighborhood as welcoming or as committed to preserving its historic character as much as this one. Neighborhood character is often discussed in terms of architecture, landscaping, or overall vibe, but it's equally important to consider who those characteristics attract. People are an extension of a neighborhood's character, and this neighborhood truly is a microcosm of Manhattan. We have renters and owners, young families and retirees, college students and professionals, all living and interacting in harmony. We have affordable housing, high-end housing, a school with a playground, a school bus stop, a strong sense of community, and we have all of this in a centrallylo and highly desirable part of town. I share this not to give you a warm and fuzzy sales pitch, but to demonstrate appropriate zoning in action. As the staff report accurately states, our neighborhood is quote considered stable and suitable for the uses to which it is presently zoned. The key words being presently zoned. Neighborhood character isn't just about what exists today. It's about the expectations zoning creates over time. The RL zoning district sets clear, predictable expectations for homeowners about the scale, intensity, and types of uses that belong there. That predictability is a central part of what makes our neighborhood stable. Expanding the university fringe overlay, even incrementally, is a direct threat to our neighborhood stability and thus its character because it drastically changes what is allowed on this property in the future and affects the value of neighboring properties regardless of current intentions. Stability is why my neighbors are here tonight, and it's why my partner and I invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into remodeling a mid-century home down the block.

Without stability, our neighborhood will fail to retain long-term residents and recruit new ones, and we'll lose the very character that makes this area worth protecting. I want to be clear, this is not opposition to the fraternity's contribution to our neighborhood's character or their continued success. However, if the out of town developer had the neighborhood's best interest at heart, they could renovate their main house and the two single family homes they own. They could even work out a campus parking plan to reduce the amount of cars or traffic on the street. They could have purchased a former frat house complete with a parking lot not even half a block away in an area that already has the university overlay, all without reszoning. For these reasons, I implore you to uphold the planning board's decision and deny the request for resoning so that our neighborhood's character is preserved and remains stable. Thank you.

Thank you, Ashley. Abram.

Hello, my name is Abram Mertz. I live at 2020 Hunting Avenue and I'm going to focus my comments on review factor 5, the compatibility of the proposed zoning district with nearby property. I feel uh uniquely uh qualified to talk about this because I'm a member of Delta Uplon fraternity. And if you have paid attention to Manhattan zoning history, you know that Delta Upselon upzoned an annex, knocked it down, and created a larger parking lot. Now, I was not in the house when this happened. This happened shortly before me, but I was the beneficiary of a a larger parking lot, which for our dry house allowed us to throw parties, smoke, drink, uh, and generally corral outside of our dry house. To the best of my knowledge, I don't believe anything has changed since I was co I was in college. But the relationship between these fraternities and and the surrounding neighborhoods can be a fickle thing. And one thing I noticed while I was in college was this steady drought of single family homes in our neighborhood. And by the time I had left, we had Mrs. Converse. And Mrs. Converse was the old lady who lived across the street and was the only non-renal across the street. And sure, we did great things for Mrs. Converse. I I guess I and I should say I think that was her name. I don't know why we call it might not have been, but we did great things. We we rad uh occasionally mowed, but we did this because we understood that we destroyed the neighborhood to grow our own house. And to me, I'm a believer in the fact that history repeats itself. We let Delta do that probably 25 years ago, maybe 30 years at this point, and

it destroyed that neighborhood around University Drive. And to think that the same thing won't happen again is absurd. And I would also like to point out that um the staff report suggests that this lot will always be used by acacia. And to quote the report, university fringe overlay is not expected to change the relationship between the fraternity and surrounding neighborhood. But of course we know that under this um OUF use it could become many many other things and that is in fact going to happen right down the street in another fraternity. So there's a lot at stake for this neighborhood. And what I would leave you with in my final 25 seconds is you're going to hear from as many as seven of our neighbors tonight who are all adamantly opposed to this upzoning. consider which one of them might be the miscon converse of this neighborhood because it's gonna happen. Thanks.

Okay, Abram, sorry. Before you leave, could you do me a favor and just lift that microphone up a little bit more like this? Yeah, perfect. Thank you. Uh, Rosemary, I probably don't need to be calling you. I imagine you all know your number and coming up in order. Good evening. Um, I'm going to address my comments to review factor number six. Oh, sorry. Please, your name and address. Rosemary Romano, 7:30 Canfield Drive. Thank you. And review factor number six.

And I also live in the notification area. As a longtime Kansas State employee who's lived on Canfield Drive since 19 Okay. since 1992. I want to see Kansas State and its students thrive. I also know how important it is for the city um to for the city to support Kansas State. However, as several different documents and adopted plans indicate, this resoning proposal does not address a Kansas State need any identified Manhattan need. First, after 10 years of decline, Kansas State has seen modest increases in total and undergraduate enrollment for the past three years. However, senior administrators understand that based on pure demographics, the traditional student population served by Greek houses will not increase in the coming years. Kansas State is instead relying on non-traditional, non-deree, online, and graduate learners to increase enrollment to its 30,000 learner goal. The Kansas State strategic employment plan for 2025 through 2030 says it best, and I quote, "While some undergraduate growth is expected, particularly in undergraduate online, transfer in, and non-deree populations, Kansas State will primarily focus on stabilizing undergraduate enrollment to offset local, regional, and national demographic declines, particularly for undergraduate in-person students entering as freshmen. This is also why the adopted housing market analysis on page 14 clearly states that reduced need for student housing increases opportunities for transitioning existing homes out of the student rental market and into needed workforce housing. To quote the plan directly, there's adequate rental housing stock to accommodate increases

in enrollment enrollment from current levels. While Acacia has every right to up to operate 2015 and 2023 hunting as student housing so long as they abide by the four unrelated occupants rule, it really is a shame because these are the type of houses that Manhattan needs for the workforce. In some while it's entirely possible and perhaps even desirable for Acacia and other fraternities to increase their enrollment all evidence indicates that they will be doing so by capturing more students already at Kansas State rather than increasing student enrollment and it is unnecessary for the city to support the creation of more student housing for Greeks to meet these goals. Rather, city actions can best help Kansas State by encouraging affordable and desirable housing close to campus for university workforce. Arguably, expanding UF so far from campus in the middle of a stable residential neighborhood actually works against this need since residents want predictability and zoning and uses. Thank you for your attention,

Mick. Good evening, commissioners. Mayor Mick Charnie, 1420 Waterford. I'm speaking with respect to review criterion 7, additional matters. Hunting Avenue encapsulates in just one city block middle class aspirations of the post-war, post 1951 flood, coming of age period of Manhattan. an 1850s frontier town that in the 1950s was barely 100 years old and yet was declared by the National Civic League in 1952 before any other Kansas town to be one of the 10 all-American cities and then in 1953 the all-American city of all the all-American cities. Hunting Avenue catalogs an impressive array of mid-century modern house styles that found inspiration in earlier precedent setting works by architects of national and international renown. This district includes a significant number of houses designed not by builders but by architects with such foresight and so attuned to the latest progressive architectural developments and possessive of the same enlightened pioneering spirit as Manhattan's founders including Dr. Amory Hunting that Hunting Avenue became yet another exemplary first for our city. Its stylistic cohesiveness is also a rarity. It should be treasured and saved intact as an architectural showpiece, an outdoor museum. It derives its uniqueness, ambiance, and character not from the dwellings alone, but also from its challenging topography, landscaping, and holistic integration of dwellings with their building sites, which is too often overlooked as a fundamental defining component of post-war modernism. As an example, please direct your attention to the bone break house.

In the staff report that accompanied the historic district nomination form among guidelines proposed to govern future design reviews, there is a statement on appropriate site alterations to site alterations should balance historical design and use with needs of current users, giving preference to the former, that is to say to the original design intent. Above all, we must remember that Hunting Avenue is a duly registered historic district. Therefore, you are obligated, as are we all, to safeguard its original design intent and not cannibalize those features that give it design distinction and historical importance. And so, your decision is a consequential one. Whatever you decide, the repercussions will be farreaching, either bolstering the city's historic preservation movement or setting it back and potentially jeopardizing Manhattan's special status as a CLG, certified local government, one of only 17 in Kansas. CLG affords our city preferential access to state preservation that other cities do not enjoy while it simultaneously and categorically commits us to preserving and protecting the past for future generations. Thank you. And if you want copies of what I've just presented, I have some extras I can distribute. It's up to you. But thank you anyway.

Thank you. Okay. Thanks,

uh, Colleen. Good evening. Colleen Lind 2048 Hunting. I just want to make one point in regard to um a point that was made earlier tonight and then summarize the comments that my neighbors have made previously. Um Mr. McMillan mentioned this again tonight and it's in a letter that's in your packet tonight. And since um many of you are new to this uh commission since this issue came before uh the commission back in August, I just wanted to clarify that any apparent understanding that Aacia intended to use it for its growth purposes um connected with the replat. Uh there was there was no understanding that night back in August when the replat was voting on that somehow um this project would necessarily be what would happen there just as we have trying to been trying to be emphasizing now that this resoning is not necessarily tied to any particular project. So, I just want to allay you of any concerns that as a commission just because the replat was uh unanimously voted for doesn't necessarily mean that you've been committed to any kind of um resoning. Now, we greatly appreciate as was assured us that night that there would be a separate hearing and process for the resoning question which is before you now. And also, as I recall from that night, commissioners were encouraged or reminded that the only way they could not vote for the replatting was if they were not willing to accept responsibility for the easements. Essentially, the question was asked, as I recall, several times by members of the public, why are we even having a vote if we can't not vote on this? Um, long story short, don't read too much into that unanimous vote. Um overall what I hope that you will have heard over the last uh 20 minutes or so is that um the staff recommendation in

favor of this resoning relies very heavily on the 70year history of acacia on the block. We've tried to make the point that it's always it had that Acasia has been there for 70 years, but this resoning would change qualitatively the nature of the possible uses of the building and therefore could change the nature qualitatively of the relationship between uh Acacia and the neighborhood. Secondly, um the applicant wants us to accept that acacia is um a strong fraternity with a good history that has committed well to the community. These are all things that we absolutely accept. But once again, the reasonzoning is not tied to this particular project. Even if it were, I have to point out that um every owner occupant in the notification area signed a protest petition. So, unfortunately, they just don't see it as the positive benefit to the community that the applicant has presented it as. As a matter of fact, three um absentee owners also signed the protest petition. Long story short, um many of us of us have listened to considered this proposal. We are not in favor of it both because of the proposal but also because of the potential future uses with the resoning.

Thank you. Thank you, Colleen. Um Joseph Thomas.

Good evening. My name is Joseph Thomas. I'm a 2005 graduate of K State with a bachelor's and masters in architectural engineering. U I live in Ottawa, Kansas. My wife and I own a residential development construction company and uh I'm a proud alumni of Aacia fraternity. Uh having worked on many residential projects where we renovate andor build homes in established neighborhoods, I I truly do appreciate the importance of ensuring projects fit in well and respect the needs of the neighborhood. Uh, for instance, we only build even in uh neighborhoods where traditionally there's only a onecar garage, a older um neighborhood, we'd only build homes with two-car garages to help reduce the impact of cars on the streets and what was referred to earlier as a, you know, we're in a new paradigm in in society where it's a, you know, one occupant, one car or one car per occupant homes. Uh there are a few things to me that are less or more off-putting than going through a neighborhood where you uh we might build a home or think about a family moving into a neighborhood and seeing it crammed full of cars where you have to weave in and out of cars. And so um I think for that reason I'm a strong proponent for reasonzoning of our parcel at 2005 Hunting. Uh approving the resoning for this project makes sense for a variety of reasons and addresses many concerns. This expansion of parking to be located behind 2015 hunting will allow our members to um park on our property predominantly instead of along the street. This will allow much improved streetscape. The lack of overflow vehicles being on the street will allow anyone passing through the neighborhood or who might specifically come to view the Lee Elementary neighborhood historic district to more fully appreciate the residential lots, deeper setbacks, and curve linear streets. Those are all elements that are distinguishing characteristic that made the neighborhood worthy of being a historic neighborhood district. Secondly, there's no negative impact on

this uh street site landscaping of the parcels. We'll still use our same in ingress and egress into the parking lot that we've always used. Uh there'll be an increased safety for pedestrians walking through the neighborhood. And I know that was another point. Um, and I think that's one of the the big points. You know, not having a bunch of cars on the street is is going to be uh additive to safety and not detracting. Um, I personally live immediately next to an elementary school. We share a fence line with the u along the uh the playground and I walk two of my girls to school every single day. And I can tell you if I lived there, I would be such a huge proponent of being able to remove cars off the street where I'm trying to take my kids to school. Um, fourth, it's an increased safety for vehicles. Obviously, if you take less um objects on the roadway or if there are less objects on the roadway on parked along the street and move them to a parking lot on an owner's property, that should result in uh increased easier vehicular uh passageway through the neighborhood. Also, uh certainly increased property values. if you come to buy a home in the neighborhood uh and not having it crammed full of cars. If we can move our cars onto our property, I can only see how that would be a cruel to property values. Thank you.

Thank you, Joseph. Blake Gamber.

Hello. Good evening. Uh I'm Blake Gabber. I am a May 2025 grad of Kansas State University with a bachelor's in management information systems. um proud alumni of fraternity and I currently serve our fraternity at the international level um as an undergraduate counselor. Um 2005 Honey Avenue has long served as a university affiliated residence that fits naturally within the neighborhood's character and history. Um you guys have heard it multiple times. We've been in the Manhattan community since 1913 and have been at Hunting Avenue since 1956, a house built by an occasion. And for more than a century, our chapter has been defined by one thing, and that is service to the community we live in. Human service is our motto, and we we live by that. Um, one thing, if you actually Google Kansas State Acacia fraternity, you will not find a negative headline. Uh, side you'll find, and I quote, KState chapter of Aacia wins top international chapter. That's now the third time in 14 years we've won that. And a personal favorite of mine, uh, a WIBW news story, KState fraternity aims to raise awareness of men's mental health. um something I made my personal mission when I was president of fraternity these past few years. Um we even brought uh NAMI the National Alliance of Mental Illness. Um we brought them to Kansas State University through these guys back here. This was I brought it, they drove it. I couldn't be more proud. Um and that's kind of what this is all about. We we we relish being a quiet, respectful neighbor and being a pillar of change in our community. Um, with mental health being kind of one of our biggest pillars right now, we want to see that change within our community and we want to see it led by the youth of our fraternity. Um, we we hold our members to a high standard, an extremely high standard, more than most fraternities. Um, we have always integrated seamlessly into the neighborhood. We don't create disturbances. We do not generate police calls and we do not bring the challenges that can be associated with fraternity housing. We are very proud of that. Um we understand u we recognize um that the

resoning acknowledges the reality of how property has functioned for decades. Um Greek life is getting more competitive. Um we are struggling to compete with other fraternities and an opportunity like this would provide us to stay competitive in this day and age to continue our mission to create better men in our communities. I think that's something that everyone can get behind. Um, so with our documented track record of being a positive force in Manhattan, um, we're committed to continuing that tradition for centuries to come. Um, thank you for your time. Thank you for your dedication to this community and I hope you guys approve. Thank you. Thank you, Blake. Quinton, please state your name and address.

Hello, my name is Quinton Hoppy and I live at 2005 Hunting Avenue. Uh, as I just said, my name is Quinton. Uh I'm currently the president of our undergraduate chapter of Acacia and I'm here today to share what makes our fraternity exceptional and why we are in need of resoning. Uh Acacia is not the fraternity that you see in the news or the movies. It's not Animal House by any means. Uh we are very committed to our core value of human service, serving others in our community. Uh one of my favorite examples of this is us going out into the community and uh cleaning up a river bank my freshman year. It was very a fun, but also we got to do something meaningful for the community of Manhattan. Another one is uh we do something every winter called acacia clause where we go out and solicit food so that we can donate to cats covered for people that struggle with food insecurity in our community. These are all things we're very proud of and we want to keep doing them, but we're hindered by our house. It's an aging house. Personally, my I have had family members that have lived in that house since the 1960s. It has not changed very much. It is affecting our quality of life and it's affecting our ability to recruit and compete with other fraternities. As Blake mentioned, uh, if you ask me, I believe that the best way you guys can help us continue to benefit the community and help us flourish is to approve this reszone. Uh, that's all I have. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Clinton. Trish. Trisha.

Good evening and thank you very much. I have the most unique experience. Sorry name and address.

Oh, Trisha Cash and I'm representing 2005 Hunting on that which as we know is a caseia fraternity and I have the privilege of serving as the house mom and have been there for nine years on that and I'm going to change the remarks that I actually started out tonight because you have heard all of the stories of this. Acacia was obviously constructed in the 1950s on that part of it and since that time it has never diminished the property value of of any of those houses in that neighborhood. In fact, they had to drive by occasion in order to even look at the houses to purchase those homes. So, they knew that a fraternity was sitting there. You know, we can all talk about bricks and mortar and parking lots and all of this, but what also factors in importantly and particularly in today's world is the intrinsic value that we have the responsibility of protecting for our young people. Acacia is a strong fraternity. It has always um been a leader and um on campus. As I said, campus buildings are named after acacians on this. They they pride themselves on building character. And if there's anything we need in today's world is young people who are going to be capable leaders with character. We actually put great emphasis on you've heard all of the community things that we do, but you'd also don't know our guys are scholars. Um you know we on top tier gradepoint averages are be 3.57 over half of the members are engineering students we have every facet um of uh majors represented Manhattan is a university town has always been a university town if we don't support the students that come to Kate how are we

going to make it be a stellar university which it is which we all live in the community and appreciate appreciate if we don't support the students that then come to this. The Greek houses provide about a third of the student um enrollment at K State. We need to be able to update just as residents need to be able to update their personal homes on that and that's what this is all about on that. The difference is we happen to have a few more men living in this than what lives in a regular house. But those residents also drove by acacia before they purchased those homes on that. And as I say, property values have only increased on this part of it. I think we as citizens have an obligation to put our energies where we can support the positive development of leadership and intrinsic values of our young people. because where are we going to be when we put more value on on brick and mortar than what we put on our young people? So, thank you very much.

Thank you, Trish. Um Lucas writes,

"Hi, thank you. My name is Lucas Rens. Um 2820 Nevada." No, that's all right. Um I currently serve as the president of the alumni interraternity council here at Kate. We consist of a group of KState alumni from all different fraternity chapters. Um most of our members serve as adviserss, mentors for the respective chapters while also serving in this very similar role for the inner fraternity council and more or less looking out for the best interests of our fraternity community as a whole at K State. As you're aware, uh, the city of Manhattan has always had a close relationship with the university. Uh, when K State is thriving, the city of Manhattan obviously benefits from that success. And a major part of the success success of Kate is our Greek community. Uh, again, over a quarter of the student body at Kate is a member of a fraternity or sorority. uh a large portion of the student leadership at Kate, thinking student government, uh clubs, organization leaders, homecoming committee, uh they all come from members of our Greek community. Uh the GPA of fraternity and sororities is consistently above the all university GPA each year. Uh they're producing thousands of volunteer hours in our community. Uh they're hosting philanthropy and service events that serve and donate to many of our charitable organizations right here in Manhattan. uh they play a large role in the weeklong events of homecoming uh week each year, not to mention the months of prep work and the economic impact that that has on our community. Uh obviously the Acacia fraternity is no different. You've heard from several, you'll hear from more uh students and alumni of Acacia. While I'm not an alumni of the Acacia fraternity, I can confirm that Acacia has had a long-standing and positive relationship with the university and our Greek community. Uh, one of the things that our fraternities and sororities have to do is modernize and adapt to new generations of students. Uh, that includes not only maintaining their

property, but upgrading, renovating, expanding. Um, when again, when our Greek community is thriving, it attracts more students not only to fraternities and sororities, uh, but to the university and our Manhattan community. Um, you'll hear from people more qualified than me on this, but I believe this year we had our uh highest membership in fraternity and sorority community. Um, between tuition, housing, dining, each student is spends well over $20,000 a year to attend K State. They spend money at our local stores. They eat and drink at our restaurants. They get their groceries from our grocery stores. Uh, all while funding their own inter mural recreation and other events that our tax dollars don't need to fund. Our fraternities need to be equipped uh with the space and the resources to provide these students with a membership experience that will allow them to succeed and to continue to be a benefit to our community. Um I'd ask you all to consider the city's relationship not only with Acacia but the fraternity and sorority community as a whole. Uh they're producing leaders in our community as you see here today. They're raising money and volunteering uh for organizations in our community. they're producing successful alumni that stay engaged um with the fraternity and the university. Thank you.

Thank you, Lucas

Tim. Good evening. I'm Tim Lindmuth. I live at 500 Denison Avenue for 48 years. I'm president of the Eugene Field Neighborhood Association, which is southwest of the KState campus, immediately south of the alumni center. Um, we are a neighborhood of 65 owner occupied homes. We have three sororities, we have two fraternities, and we have one scholarship house, Smith House. And um, we're we're very historic as well. I the the neighbors made a beautiful presentation about their history. Our neighborhood was the Ingram House neighborhood, one mile west of the city of Manhattan at the time. Uh the Stonehouse is still there, 1867. Uh my neighborhood was replatted. Uh the south part of the main KState campus was part of the Ingram Farm. So it is a very historic neighborhood. Um you may know of Bridget Everett, the TV personality. She grew up on Fairchild Avenue. She and her brothers delivered my Manhattan Mercury when they were children living there and I still living to remember them. Um, in the years that I've been there, my neighborhood has very uh very kindly the the Lambda Kai Alphas and the Theta Zer kindly allowed our neighborhood association to use their dining rooms for our neighborhood association meetings. We don't have a place big enough in in the in the neighborhood. So we we have gone to these fraternity houses for that. Uh Theta Zai, Lambda Kai, Cappa Capagama, and AZ have all improved their houses. Uh not only um renovated, but they've

also added additions onto their houses. um they've built parking lots and the neighbors when we came to these uh to the zoning and to and to the city commission. Um we've always said we we'd like landscaping and landscaping was added uh and it's today you can see it. It's the the landscaping is beautiful. Uh shielding uh some parking uh on the 700 block of of 1800 block of Fairchild. Um and so um the the neighbors uh and and the students uh and the this groups uh we have we have de developed a beautiful relationship uh together. Uh and um they come over and they'll help neighbors clean gutters um shovel snow and so forth like that. Um and and so uh I'm encouraging the neighbors and the fraternities to look at Eugene Field at what we have accomplished and how we have been able to live together and and the Greeks have been able to improve their properties and and and so uh I would encourage you also to u take that in consideration uh with this and I um I also um your colleague over here is going to make uh copies of our neighborhood booklet. Uh she's going to give you copies later, but I I've got three copies for the neighbors and two copies for the fraternity. Um

thank you, Tim.

Thank you, Tim. Uh D. Hawks.

Good evening, commissioners. Uh my name is E. Hawk. I serve as the director of fraternity and sority life at Kansas State University. And this is my colleague HC Dutar. Uh works in our office as well. I think he's listed on there as well. Um so uh I also I live at 2011 Silo Place. You guys can come shovel my lawn next. Um, good evening. I, uh, like I said, I serve as the director of fraternian and sority life at Kansas State. I am here to provide some information related to a few points that were raised during, uh, previous conversations and meetings. Uh, specifically, undergraduate enrollment projections at Kansas State University and participation trends within fraternity and sorority life at Kansas State. Uh, regarding enrollment, it is important to clarify that Kansas State University is not projecting an overall decline in undergraduate enrollment. Publicly available information from the university's upcoming strategic enrollment plan indicates a projected four to 5% increase in total undergraduate enrollment between now and 2030. This growth is expected to be driven primarily by expanded transfer pathways, which we've heard some others talk about, growth in some of our online programs, and continued investment in student retention and student success initiatives, growth in plans, which have been in place for the past uh few years since I've uh since I was hired at Kansas State two and a half years ago. At the same time, consistent with national and regional demographic trends, including a projected decline in the number of high school graduates, the university does anticipate a gradual increase in firsttime firstear student enrollment over the next several years. This distinction is important as it reflects a shift in enrollment pathways rather than an overall reduction in

undergraduate population. While all of this information is correct, we also know the FSL, the fraternian sority life community, does not see the same impact due to the population that we often serve. With respect to fratern and sority life participation, the data does not indicate a decline at all. Since reaffiliation with the university, uh, since my hiring in June of 2023, the fraternity and sorority life community at Kansas State has grown by 11 and a half% and currently includes over 3,500 students across 45 organizations. During that same period of time, our new member interest has increased by nearly 17% in three years. This reflects a sustained and growing student engagement population at Kansas State University. Uh my final piece is just to state that we are here to provide some accurate and current data as it relates to Kansas State University and our fraternity life community just to ensure that that becomes part of the public record. Thank you.

Thank you. Um, that concludes all people who had signed up previously. Are there anybody else? Is there anybody else? And Lauren, you will you can follow. And Chelsea, do you have another signup sheet at the

or good evening. My name is Kurt Roberts. I live in St. George, Kansas. I serve as the KSU faculty adviser and a board member of Acacia fraternity. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you tonight in support of the request of this resoning to the university overlay district. You've heard all the key points. Fraternity wants resoning. Neighbors oppose it. Parking and congestion. All of this is true, but what I'd like to provide tonight is the part that's not been included in the public debate. The tension between a neighbors did not begin with this reasonzoning request. It began back in 2018 when a former board president took steps to acquire two nearby residential properties. At the time, he did not disclose his affiliation with the fraternity, and neighbors believed he was being deceptive about his intentions. Understandably, that caused alarm and speculation that the homes would eventually be torn down to expand the fraternity blueprint. That fear led neighbors to organize and in 2021 they were successful getting city approval to create the Lee Elementary Neighborhood Historic District, which now requires historic resources board approval to remove structures, an approval that would never be granted. Fast forward to 2024. Rather than fight the neighborhood, the current board began working with a highly respected local architect on a common sense plan to modernize the facility while operating within MDC and HRB guidelines and more importantly to address legitimate issues like on street parking and congestion. That effort led to the unanimous approval by both the planning board and city commission of a replat which has been discussed previously in 2025. And that's replat is

what brings us here tonight. The reasonzoning request is straightforward and practical. It con concerns the use of property and does not introduce a new use. Approval would allow a caseia to develop additional off- streetet parking with appropriate screening and proceed with HRB review of final designs for a necessary renovation of fraternity house which was built in the 1950s. And yet, despite nearly two years of good faith effort and transparency, the opposition has returned in part because some have vowed to fight this to the end, largely due to a lingering distrust of one past individual. I want to give credit where credit's due. The neighbors are good people and they've been organized and resourceful in navigating the process, but at this point, what we're seeing is less about zoning and more about a vendetta. And their position seems to be the only acceptable solution is for Acacia to leave the neighborhood entirely. That's not a reasonable or beneficial solution for anyone. A caseacia has been part of the neighborhood for more than 70 years and they intend to continue being a responsible, stable, and positive pres presence long into the future. So, I will close with this. This resoning is not about taking from the neighborhood. It's about investing in it. It reduces street congestion, improves safety, and ensures the long-term care of an aging historic property. Thank you and I respectfully ask for your support.

Thank you, Kurt. Lauren.

My my name is Lauren Clement. I live at 725 Midland Avenue, just three blocks due west of this particular site. Um I'm a registered landscape architect in Kansas. I taught at Kate for about 40 years in that program and I feel compelled to ask you to distinguish landscaping from what landscape architecture really is. George Kesler, a landscape architect, laid out Kansas City with its parks and boulevard system. Frederick Claw Homestead laid out a lot of Brooklyn, New York parks and boulevards, largecale planning. My interest is campus planning and all the systems that go into it. Um, after teaching for a number of years, I went to to law school at KU and became a an attorney in Kansas with a particular interest in land use, water, natural resource, and so forth. Um, I taught I decided to keep on teaching at Kate and uh, I know Monty Weedle was here earlier for a hearing. I was on the county planning board for 23 years serving with Monty Weedle who I learned a lot from. He said previously, "You really don't have enough uh information to make this decision to the Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board when there's that hearing. I think we all need to listen very carefully to Monty Weedle and what he says with his perspective. I'm retired now, but I intend to remain an engaged citizen and a long-term resident and community member here. I probably should apologize to my professional colleagues and some friends who are supporting this request. I am very much opposed to it. I take open space very seriously. Uh green spaces and systems are key components of neighborhoods and towns should not be taken for granted in city planning and design decision- making. Whether it's parks, boulevards, or residential areas under discussion, especially in designated historic districts. The lawn

and treat areas of subject houses is are are green and not paved. There are key components as has as been mentioned of the spatial composition of this neighborhood and why the houses are so important at mid mid-century modern marvels. As a lawyer, I take language and procedure very seriously. My students will tell you that words matter, procedures matter. From my perspective that the proposed quote the proposed zoning is not anticipated to change the relationship between the fraternity and surrounding neighborhoods. That's in the staff report. That is substantively irresponsible in my opinion. in land use function, physical, ecological, visual and aesthetic terms of the proposed resoning absolutely would allow distillarious changes in this low density, somewhat congested and very historic district. From a procedural standpoint, this application should fail because it has not been reviewed by the city's historic resources board. They absolutely should be part of this process. I'll conclude with the insightful few lines from Joanie Mitchell's song Big Yellow Taxi, her soulful comm community commentary on urban design improvements. Don't it always seem to go? You don't know what you've got till it's gone. They they've paid paradise and put up a parking lot. That's exactly what's happening here. Thank you very much for listening.

Thank you, Lauren. Can you please sign in, Lauren? Yes, please. Thank you. Yes, I do.

Is there anyone else who would like to make a comment? Hi, my name is Diet Swanson. Um, I live in Kansas City. Um, these are my two boys. Um, and I am a proud mother of these two boys and I also had another son who is a graduate of Kate, is also an acacia. My brother was an acacia and my father was an acacia. So, I've had long-standing history knowing Acacia and um what I want to say really quick um I know a lot of people are talking about the house and everything. What I think when my boys were going through the process of trying to figure out what fraternity if they wanted to do a fraternity and everything um once they started looking at it, they saw that Aacia was a a smaller fraternity, great community. They um they were able to uh know more people instead of the larger fraternities that are around. And that's what's nice about the fraternity is it's a small community and these guys have gotten to know so many, you know, different people. And I'm going to tell you honestly, my two boys here have learned a lot of things from their fraternity brothers, leadership positions that I didn't think that to be honest, I didn't I didn't know if they would ever get involved in that stuff. And now they are involved in it. So I'm like, wow. you know, this not not not bragging on my kids, but it's one of those things where it's like they're they got, you know, from their fraternity brothers, they got the, you know, extra oomph to go and do it. So, it's it's, you know, the camaraderie of all of them and everything like that. And what drew them is it's a small, like I said, it's a small community and it's been here for 70 years. But I know that one thing I have to laugh because when my brother was here, I was I had started as a freshman when he was a senior and the house is basically the same as when he was there. Not a lot has changed, but they're trying to make updates and upgrades to make it more, you know, conducive for the students and the living facilities that they have. Um, adding on would also bring in potential

a few new members, but it would still keep the integrity of the small house. Um, if you look around, if you notice, all these young men are here tonight being very respectful to everything. They were here to come and, you know, be here for their fraternity and and represent the fraternity. And all I the what I what I end on is I I'm very happy and proud of what all of these boys have done um as a result of getting to know all the people in the community. They give back to the community. They're very involved in everything on campus. all of these boys around here, young men. Um, you've got kids who are in the band, who are in the pep club, you may have a few um mascots in the house potentially over the years, things like that. So, I I can honestly say that this has done so much for my own kids. Not and not that's not even saying all what everything else done for these young men here. So, in conclusion, I I would really hope that to be competitive with some of the other fraternities are in, obviously, they're still a small enough fraternity, but to be able to um be competitive with them, there needs to be some upgrades. And this is a great opportunity to get make that upgrade for those those students, the the future of Aacia. These guys probably won't see it because he's graduating and he's a freshman. So, but it's just for the future generations for Acacia. So, thank you for your time.

Thank you. Thank you. Sign in

over here. Okay. Going once, going twice. Thank you, Blade. Uh good evening, mayor, commissioners. My name is Blade Mages. I live at 2000 Hunting, uh right across the street. Um just wanted to hit a couple last things you heard from our neighborhood. Um kind of think you feel like you know our stance on all seven points. Uh just to reiterate the position of the neighborhood. We we love the occasions. Uh they are a great source of joy in the neighborhood. When the snow day happened this weekend, whoever hit the ramp on the table, are you here? This guy knows what I'm talking about. Somebody knows what I'm talking about. Um they're they in many ways they're a great addition to the vibrancy of the neighborhood. A lot of what's been communicated is either demonstrabably irrelevant or demonstrabably false. Comments were made that, you know, things haven't affected the property values in the neighborhood. If you actually look at 2015, the Bone Breakak House, which is one of the houses whose backyards that we would be turning into a parking lot, and yes, they've met the easements and requirements, but just to put it into context, that backyard would be about the distance to me and the fire alarm at that point. That house actually decreased in property value by 1.2% last year. I just kind of checked that when we were sitting in the back. So, uh, we heard from the previous, uh, speaker that, uh, I come from a marketing and branding world. You know, how you position things really matters. It sounds like part of Aacia's competitive competitiveness to date has been the fact that they're smaller, has been the fact that they're maybe a little bit harder to get into. Um, you know, I I think that that could be leveraged uh even better. Kind of sounds like that's what makes them appealing. So growth seems anothetical to that idea. Uh the only other note I guess I wanted to add um is really this the context of of the fraternity in and of itself and the members and the composition of of uh the fraternity and these young men and who they are and their character that

doesn't have any consequence on the decision that's before you all tonight. Uh really it comes back to these seven criteria and ultimately the decision that you make will go on to affect that land use indefinitely. And so I would just ask that we keep that in mind. Um uh and again as it was mentioned just just previously, not a lot has changed with the house. And so we as a neighborhood do have fears that these might be great plans. But can any of these things actually materialize? And then if not, and if the demographic cliffs that we do hear about coming, you know, actually come, where does that leave us other than with a pair of otherwise wonderful single family homes, which we do have a need for with no longer having backyards. So, thank you guys for your time tonight and as Rex mentioned, for allowing the democratic process to play out. Appreciate it.

Thank you, Blade. Gareth, are you glad I'm on a firstname basis with all of you here, sir? We will we'll you will next.

Good evening, mayor, commissioners. Uh my name is Garrick Baker, 209 COP Drive. I am the baker of Baker McMillan. Um I'm also the chair of the historic resources board. I'm not going to speak to either side of those. I am here as a private citizen at the moment and somebody who has sat in a lot of these meetings before. One key that I think kind of got glossed over during the planning board meeting and city staff can correct me if I'm wrong. that lot does not meet the minimum lot requirement sizes for another building to go in there. Meaning that lot can only be a parking lot or grass or a pond. The one the one that would be reszoned.

So I think the neighbors and I would have the same fear if I lived in that neighborhood too. What would happen if that addition didn't go through? Well, nothing can go in there because the lot's not big enough. So, at that point, it would either have to go back to the residences or the um fraternity would have to move out. And if that happens, somebody wants to move in and open up maybe a dentist clinic. They can't build another building back there either. So, that would have to be a parking lot. So, I think there's been a lot of fear of what would happen if that addition or the parking lot didn't happen. Um, so I hopefully can kind of clear that up a little bit there. Um, then, um, just as kind of a history buff myself, the historic resources board does not oversee planning matters. That's why we have the planning board. Um, whenever the Commerce Bank came up, that was not in a historic district. So, there was nothing we could do. Um, and again, that was more of a planning thing than anything. Then if we're also going to be considering history, um if the fraternity is being asked to move out to another house, um what happens to their history? They are the longest serving resident in that neighborhood. Um so if we're going to be considering history, consider the historic person that has been there. And then I also come from a very small town. Um it was 1,200 people whenever I left there. Now it's down to,00 people stopped investing in that. we're now a main street community and now people are starting to reinvest again. So if you think of kind of that neighborhood as a small community in and of itself, you have one of your neighbors going to be considerably investing in that neighborhood. Otherwise, is it just going to maybe go down, lose residents, lose interest in that area? So those are just my personal comments. Again, not on behalf of the

firm, not on behalf of the historic resource. Thank you. Thank you, Eric. Sir, did you want to make a remark?

My name is Don Daw. I live at 420 Rosewalk Place, Manhattan here. I'm proud to stand before you and brag a little bit about the case fraternity. I was one of the first members that lived in 20005 hunting fraternity house. So that kind of tells you how old I am. Uh I've had the privilege of watching case to continue grow and uh through the years and the organization and supported support a lot of the familiar things around the campus and also the neighborhood up there. Uh the the request before you tonight, the reasonzoning uh proposal is not simply just add on to the house. What it is is going to uh add on to quesa improve safety, provide much needed space for educational programming and continue to foster more uh more active uh citizens. As alumnists from the decades ago, I could say this uh evolution represents exactly what we hoped would become, a living, growing part of the community fabric. I urge you to see this modernization not just as a physical project, but as an investment in the next generation of leaders who will go on to serve the city and beyond. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you. Um,

is there anyone else who would like to make any remarks?

Uh, all right. Our public comment is now closed. Uh, would the applicant like to make any final comments? Commissioners, I'll remind you this is the last opportunity to ask questions of the applicant.

Thank you, mayor. Uh simply, we appreciate the dialogue that has occurred this evening. We appreciate uh everyone's interest in seeing uh this project proceed. And I'll let Derek make any further comments at this point. And if we uh need to stand for questions, we'll be glad to do so. Thank you, Bruce.

Um just a few clarifications, I guess, on numbers. We originally the house was designed for 40 47 people. We want to get to 52. That's with an addition. Um so that's the number. Um I don't know where 20 and all these other numbers came from. So um currently we've got 37 living in house because we've reconfigured rooms. So uh what else? did did a cursory research of the assessor's office records for the last four years. Um, our neighbors property values have increased 19% over those four years according to the assessors. Uh, Zillow shows a 10-year growth of 67% in property value in our neighborhood. So, I don't know that uh property value is an issue.

I do have a handout. If you do not have this information in your packets, I'll be glad to distribute that for your use.

So, question or clarification while you're there, either to you or the city folks. Uh, I want to clarify the parking requirement in this zone for a fraternity. It's my understanding it's 75% of the members you have to provide parking. Or is it 50% that you have to provide on-site parking? I will also let staff answer that commissioner but there is a dual criteria there but as I understand the criteria that is being used is 50% of the occupancy in the house 50%. Yes.

And I will John is that uh accurate? Thank you Bruce. Thanks. I had one more. I had a question for Bruce. Um, so is it true that this this land would not be it would it's too small to actually build on build a house on or build any sort of structure

at this time. This parcel, and that's what we're referring it to as a parcel, there there is no uh access to a right ofway at any location on this parcel. So, to build an individual building on this parcel, and staff can correct me if I'm wrong, there is no public access other than the existing acacia lot. So my my question would be can the addition be added into this area this university overlay area or the proposed pl uh parcel can the building itself is that your question commissioner

is it is the parcel only going to be allowed for grass or parking lot at this time the planned use is for expansion of the required amount of parking. Yes. At this time, Bruce, but can it be in the future? You just said at this time it's planned for just parking. Yes. But is it possible in the future it could be reszoned again or something into anything? That I imagine it could be. I don't know, Commissioner. Okay. Really? Because right now the

the size of building Mhm. that we are proposing maxes out the other components. It's a domino effect. Okay. Does that make sense? Yeah, that makes sense. Um I have a question. I'm a little concerned about um how are we going to retain runoff from that? Because I look at it, there's this paved surface that's running right right into lead school and I don't see any detention ponds or retention ponds or

there is and and Paul Parish with Olsson Engineering is here this evening to address that question. But there is a uh retention detention pond. that is within the parking lot area that is being expanded. And uh there and we we can provide a a a diagram to you if if necessary. Staff has that information where I mean not paved here. I mean, this is just the handout that I prepared before the meeting,

but it's the other stuff I looked at. I But all of the the planning board information packet, if you have the planning board packet information, it shows Okay. the detention pond. Yes, ma'am. Okay. And and so can you just tell me where the detention pond? Can we bring up a a site plan or do we not have that? I don't I don't have a site plan. Uh detention is an underground facility. It's not an open air pond. It's under the parking. Think you're going to have porous parking or no? No. It would have an it would have be grading to accept water. It would be occupied or it would be sloped to retain or take the water and then put it into the city system.

Okay. It just looks like we're paving an awful lot that's going to run onto Lee school. You know, I'm sorry, but that's what it looks like. This has been designed by Olsson Engineering. Paul Parish is here to address that question. So, it's an underground detention. Uh, there's inlets that would accept the water from the parking lot and then it drains I'm sorry. Can you speak up? There's inlets in the parking lot that then send it to the underground detention into the city sewer system then. No, there's no storm water area. Uh, it actually drains to the east. It drains east. East. the underground. Yeah, it's an underground detention chamber and underneath the parking lot. So there was

Where does it go? I mean once we detain it, we have to take it someplace. Correct. It there's a existing drainage through the wall to the east. That is where it would be collected. Is that able to handle a real heavy rain? Yes. Yeah. the the proposed would be less than the existing uh and it actually would be uh there's additional requirements for the water quality. Thank you.

So it's a it's a series of tubes under the parking lot basically storage I'll call them storage tanks that eventually drain. So what's the capacity of those tanks? the total capacity I don't have that like if we had a six inch rain on top of it what would happen it it would be less than currently when it exits yes commissioners I would caution us against getting into the design or what is going to be built um just as a reminder we don't consider that when we consider resonings because once it's resoned uh we really don't know uh what could go there

but one of the golden rules is infrastructure and you know number adequate storm water. Yeah, I would adequacy of services and infrastructure and I'm concerned about the infrastructure. I understand. I would just cautious. A lot of paved surface and the water that has to go someplace. Commissioner, I mean, I'm sorry. Yeah, this design has been reviewed. If I'm Okay. You know, I just didn't see that that was brought up. So, no, that's fine.

If I can interject real quick. I've dealt with this on a lot of different projects working with my own towns and other towns we build in. So it's an underwater system and then so what the engineer does is they calculate in a 100-y year rain event.

Yeah. About a hundred-year rain event. So worst worst case scenario, we calculate how much water is going to fall in that area. And then we have to provide enough volume to capture all that water and then have it have it be released into the storm system in a in a no greater of a volume than what would have been put in there if it was still left un unpaved. And so what what our designer is doing is actually retaining even more water than what would fall. So the the discharge to the storm sewer system is actually less than what it is in its current format. So we're actually improving the u the um the demand we're decreasing the demand on the infrastructure. Therefore we're uh actually increasing the adequacy of the existing infrastructure that the city has.

So does that help? That helps a lot because you know we really do have some issues in that part of town. I understand. We've had to come in and some of those streets, you know, we have solved many of those issues, but it still gets flooded. Yeah. And that's why we'd want to be really thoughtful about this about being able to retain all the storm water that would fall on the um because usually when you get a peak demand, it's right after a heavy rain when the systems demand or, you know, overflowed. And so then the idea with these systems is that you take in a bunch of water, do a retention area, and then slowly leak it off into the system once the main event's gone past. Thank you.

As well, Commissioner, the the city's storm water uh management office has reviewed this design and has approved it. Okay. Okay. I didn't see that. One last question, Bruce. uh without this resoning you could still build the parking lot. Is that correct? You just couldn't add on to the building. They go in tandem. And so if we there's no reason to build I think I think

there would be reason to build the parking lot because you have 37 members and you have 20 parking spaces. We, as I mentioned a moment ago, this is a domino effect that all all conditions intertwine. And so the the purpose and the use of this parcel is to accommodate the added space for the building. Yes. Does that answer the question? Commissioners, any more questions for the applicant you had questions? Uh, Mr. Fox, the parking ratio is 0.5 per bedroom within the UF and within a certain range of campus. And then the other question that I can answer definitively is well not definitively but the rear setback in this district is 25 ft. Um the interior side setbacks are 8 ft. So you have an 80 foot span. You probably could fit a building but then you have the reciprocal issue of how are you going to park it if you build a new building. I mean I think as Mr. Mr. McMillan said you can't do one without considering the other one. And at some point we say you need to put parking in it.

Well, we refer to this as a parcel, but it really isn't a separate parcel at this point. It's part of the fraternity lot. So, it's all one big lot. It is. It's just this parcel we're Yeah. having to reszone. So, yeah, it's it's just an extension of the UF over to the remainder of the parcel that was replatted. Um, what would be what's the current maximum population for this a lot? We don't calculate things that way. I'd have to run some numbers. I just don't know that off the top of my head. And how much more would it you think it'd be if if this was a

Andrew, this is uh we're not meant to be considering the purpose of the expansion. Um, do commissioners, do you have any other questions of staff? Uh, Katie, um, did you want to weigh in on that historical resources board? Um, like the Yeah, they don't have jurisdiction over reasonzoning.

It might have been nice to run it past them and hear their opinion, though. Thank you, John. Sure.

Um, does city at one time we anticipated that we would be completed with the HRB. However, due to some delays in the process, it was determined that the last board that we would approach would be the HRB. Had this session been held uh last commission meeting. We were scheduled to go to the HRB on the 26th of January. Since it was postponed, we do not yet have a rescheduled date for the Historic Resources Board. We need to get that established after approval of this this evening. My apologies, Bruce, for not being here. I u was stuck in an airport for a very long time.

We we know that and we're sorry that occurred. Thank you. Thank you.

I do think though you came to us in in the in August and I wish we'd gotten historical resources board did not meet for a couple months because there was nothing on the agenda as I understand. So, it's really our fault as a city not to get you heard. Um, staff, any additional comments for the commissioners? All right. Katie, would you just come up one more time and remind us of our options regarding motions? And commissioners, I'll point out that this is in your uh binders. So, I think I I wanted to show this slide real quick. Um this is the slide that shows Sorry, that's really small. Just a second. Um, see if that's any better. This is the slide that shows the differences in this zone with the resoning. So, the permitted uses in the OUF, those are the differences if the resoning was approved. I'm just referencing this back to the city manager's comment that what we're reviewing is the change in the zone and the possibility that any of these uses could be permitted. That doesn't mean that the lot is appropriate for all of them. they can meet all the other requirements that this is the evaluation. Then you're taking the information that you've received tonight and in the staff report and any other information that you've had and applying it to the factors we've had on the screen. So reviewing these uses and the information tonight, these are your statutory options. The votes that are up there do include consideration of the valid protest petition at this phase in the process.

Um because the MUAPB did not pass the resoning adopting the recommendation, which sounds weird because it was a tie, but the if you did number one, that would not reszone this parcel. It would remain the same as it is now. Number two is overwriting. That would be reszoning the parcel as requested by the applicant. And number three is to remand it back to the MUAPB. As a extra note there, the statute does say to give guidance back to the planning board as to what information you want them to consider or obtain for you to reconsider it. Thank you.

Commissioners, any discussion you'd like to have amongst ourselves? Well, I'll start us off here. Uh first of all, this is my four-week anniversary sitting at this chair and you've really put me between a rock and a hard place. Uh on the one side, uh we've got a the architect of this project is a good friend. I have breakfast with him every Wednesday morning. Uh the house mother of the house is a good friend. We serve on the zoo board together. The Acacia fraternity was the very first fraternity I ever had any contact with as a high school kid back in 19 71. Be careful.

But I am also a supporter of older single family neighborhoods and and I've witnessed and been a part of encroachment of of uh non-s single family development into those neighborhoods. So I just touch on some of these factors we're supposed to address regarding number one the existing use of the property. Uh I've just written down here despite despite the current platting of the site the existing use of the property is the backyard of two single family residential properties in an RLz zoned area. That use would be eliminated with this resoning. Uh with respect to number two, the consistency with the comprehensive plan, uh the plan for that neighborhood is RLM. Uh so low to mid density housing in a single family type neighborhood. Um, prior to prior to the acquisition uh of the two residential homes at 2015 and 2023 hunting, the fraternity had 37 members and provided 20 parking spaces. So, they had 17 cars uh potentially out in the streets. uh you know when they uh you know your members took it on yourselves to acquire the two houses to the west uh by doing so you you added eight members uh those houses probably at most provide four additional parking or four car spaces. So, you put a few more cars out in the street. Uh, with the authority of this reszoning, uh, it doesn't solve that

issue at all. It it may even add to the parking in the street. Um, I know you put in there that your fraternity's proposed bylaws require that freshmen park over in the KState parking lot. Uh I don't I don't see that as enforcable in in any manner. Uh certainly uh RCPD couldn't do anything about that. Uh KState campus couldn't do anything about if if your guys don't want to park over there, they want park in the street. I don't see that there's anything you can do about that. Um so in short for number two this this resoning brings uh 15 to 20 new residents to the neighborhood and as many as uh you know 20 uh 15 to 20 additional cars. That's a big change. Um adequacy of services and infrastructure. Uh uh I I didn't see major issues there, but character of the neighborhood, including the zoning uh uses of nearby properties. Um staff reports make no comments as to the advisability of adding 20 new highdensity housing residents to the existing stable neighborhood and how that would affect the character of the neighborhood. Um I I I certainly believe it would be impacted adding uh 15 I'll say new new residents uh compatibility with the proposed zoning district nearby properties. Um as I said it allow 15 to 20 new residents. The increased capacity will likely result in longer delivery times for goods and services to the house, which will result in longer street blockages by delivery trucks. Um, and I think one

of my biggest concerns is that you you've shown that you'll acquire you can acquire neighboring properties to expand. So, what's to prevent the next step? and that is to purchase 2050 JC Court uh which provides then physical access from your parking lot over to JC Court uh and further expansion of your site into the neighborhood. Um, so as I see it, this this is a gradual expansion of a multifamily uh development into a single family uh well-developed neighborhood. And it's it's just something I I can't support. Uh you know, if you really want to help the neighborhood, you'd go ahead and build the parking lot. you'd fix up the two houses uh and provide more off- streetet parking for your your members and make it easier for them. I'm I'm sure those 15 that park in the streets would prefer to park on your own site. So, uh that would that would go a long ways towards uh improving your relationship with your neighborhood, I'm sure. So, those are my comments.

Go ahead, Karen. Um, first of all, may I say I do really respect acacia and I wish you were an animal house fraternity that I could be upset with or anything like that, but I know I've worked with students. I I was the assistant to the dean of the library and so I had all kinds of acacas and others and there are some fraternities that really stand above and you do. Second, Tim Lindamoose pointed out um how the the neighborhood could work with um fraternities and the two fraternities across the street from Tim have been very good. He's the president of of Eugene Field and I'm the president of City Park West and we've done things with those fraternities. Having said that, I think it's really important that we keep the balance. we h to to make it a stable neighborhood. As someone who lives in the older neighborhood area, it's important to keep the right balance. Too many students, too much parking, things go back and forth. Um I I agree with with Larry on the characteristics and the compatibility. And I would say to the balance issue, um, while the the two fraternities that Tim pointed out have been exemp exemplary, the ones on Sunset have not been quite so exemplary. And there really are significant problems with parking on Fairchild Circle. Laram Street from 18th Street up has really gone from owner occupied to rentals that aren't well kept up. So I you know I just feel that we have to

protect that that very very tight balance and I would have to um acquies to what the planning board said.

Jim Well, I'm not as eloquent as those two. I want to make sure in case she understands I heard not a n a negative word about you as a group organization from your neighbors. On the other hand, I totally disagree with Mr. Fox. I do not see anything in the proposal that is offensive. Acacia was there early. That doesn't mean they win. Neighbors came late. That doesn't mean they win. Everybody knew what they got when they got it. And so my consideration is as to the three points that have been made. Um I don't see any real concern compatibility. Um if anything, the caseia owning the one house for sure has been an improvement in the neighborhood. They cut all the trash down, the trees down, cleaned it up. It actually looks like a home and not a hu. Having said that, um I believe they're entitled to have the modifications. So, I would probably in intend and will propose the acceptance of the requested ordinance change, but um I need to remind you, your neighbors never said a bad word about you, and that's to your credit. um house mother. I assume having had a fraternity experience with a house mother that was probably of your ilk. It was a godsend to have you around. And I'm disappointed a lot of fraternities and sorities don't have house mothers anymore because they need to be taught manners. They need to be taught how to play bridge and how to be pleasant gentlemen.

Okay. I'm sorry. How many of you guys know how to play bridge? All right. But they do know manners and how to set the table properly.

So I guess the question is um services and infrastructure. It appears the plan has addressed every one of those issues. The compatibility of the zone. Um there aren't many parts of this town that are what they were when either of the properties on either side of the street were built. And so consequently, that is part of the price we have in a changing society. So, um, contrary to Mr. Fox and apparently, uh, Vice Mayor, um, there will at least be one positive vote for the process to get it approved.

Um, so I I would pretty much echo Larry. Um, I I just think overall that the neighborhood already has is already congested and I think adding more will make it make that problem worse. And so for that reason, that's how I'm going to vote. Commissioners, do we have a motion? For one second, I guess I need to say because of reasons, two, consistency with the comprehensive plan, and five, compatibility of the pro proposed zoning district with nearby property. Mayor, I think we are you going to address this, Katie, or you just giving us the issue?

Well, I wanted to show the options because if the motion that's going to occur is not to approve the resoning, that's not featured in the AIS. It would be number one would be the motion. If you do not want to reszone, the the motion that you would make would be to adopt the recommendation to deny the reasonzoning. in the AIS the action item is to approve ordinance number um to approve the reasonzoning. So I'm just supplying you with another motion if that's the way the commission the motion the commission wants to make. Sort of a two negatives to make a positive. Yeah. Yeah. So if you want to if we want to follow what the planning board said we do number one.

Number one. Madam Mayor, I'd like to make a motion that the commission adopt ordinance 7813 reszoning portion of 205 Hunting Avenue from low density residential to RL with University French Overlay. Um, can I just clarify, Katie? Can we vote on this motion? Has to have a second. Just hang on. Uh sir just no if if you if you have recused yourself if the question was if you can second you can

no no no I no I do we use the language that you just proposed in this option or do we use the language that is on our agenda and vote in opposition to it. Um, and I'm speaking collectively, no. Yes, I understand. The motion in the agenda is to approve the ordinance that would override the planning board. Number two, it's okay if it gets a second to take that vote. If you do not want to reszone, you would vote no. If you do want to reszone, you would vote yes to that motion. And then if that motion fails, another motion can be made.

Thank you. Okay. Do we have a second for Jim's motion? Um you we so the motion would rule well the motion would fail for lack of second. Yes. Uh is there an alternative motion that someone would like to put forward? So I move that we adopt the MUAPB's recommendation by a majority vote to deny to you majority. I'm just reading on option number one here on the second. Chelsea, would you call the role please?

Commissioner von Lentil. Yes. Mayor Adam Track. Abstaining. Recused. Commissioner Mcola. Yes. Commissioner Fox, yes. Commissioner Morrison, no. Motion carries 3 to one to one. Thank you all for your presentation. Thank you for your very civil uh participation tonight. Mayor Adam, uh I recommend we take a fivem minute recess. Uh we will take a five minute.

Thank you for

Thank uh Trey, could you do me a favor and close the yours. Isn't that his name?

Didn't see him.

Thank you. We will reconvene and begin with item D on the agenda which is to consider Manhattan Housing Authorities Sunflower Flats project. Oh, sorry.

Yeah, you're good.

Thank you, mayor, commissioners. Um, we are here this evening to amend a couple documents. uh Sunflower Flats, the action taken on that project um last year has realized um they weren't able to start construction and close on the property in the time frames identified in the prior agreements. Um Aaron Esbrook is here this evening to talk to you about the project if you do have questions about it. The memo does highlight three different dates that we need to change within the two documents that are attached. The land transfer and development agreement. There is a closing date that is being modified from January 31st to March 1st. They will then commence construction no later than April 1st. In the resolution itself, we also talk about a completion date and this gives them till December 31, 2027. Again, traditionally, we probably would have had this on consent with three new commissioners, the item being so much debate and discussion over the last three or four years. If there are questions surrounding Sunflower Flats, transfer of our parking lot at Fifth and Pierre or these dates, uh, I can do my best. I know Katie Jackson, city attorneys, also worked on this extensively over the last four years. And as I mentioned, Erin Esbrook is in the audience to answer any questions you may have. I do believe they anticipate closing soon and they anticipate starting construction soon. It just wasn't by the initial dates of January 31st. Questions?

Well, claiming four weeks of partial experience, I'd like to have readers digest version of what the whole project was and what it's to accomplish and how's it being financed. Just readers digest. I mean, I've got information. I kind of looked at it, but it is somewhat confusing.

It is. I'm going to let Aaron really give you an overview of the 62 unit housing. Uh they have leveraged uh quite a few resources. Uh obviously approached the city about the use of the city parking lot at Fifth and Pierre. It's been that way for quite some time. Uh and that was on the cusp of changing and we believe it will be changing soon. Aaron,

good evening. So the project itself is essentially replacement housing for Garden Grove 1 and two because of the floods in Labor Day of 2018. Th those residents will be moving into Sunflower Flats. Um Sun Sunflower Flats is set to close next Tuesday. We just missed the window by about 10 days. Um so that is the the hold up. there was a change in guaranurs and that put us back about three weeks and we didn't hit that window. But the the simple version is it's replacement senior housing for garden 1 and two located downtown five stories 62 units subsidized through federal in federal uh low-income housing tax credits and state 9% tax credits along with abode. Um the abode construct or abode grant was delivered to us or awarded to us through the department of commerce, Kansas department of commerce as a um one of the ARPA uh COVID uh projects for senior housing and that was 1.5 million. So the total project is right near 17 million. Um and we have it fully ready to go. Just need to close on it um next Tuesday.

And and commissioner, I would just add that u additional delays were incurred due to the six week federal shutdown because um I wasn't so concerned about I was just wanting to make sure I had a concept who, what, why, when, and where this project is. And apparently there's not a replacement for Carlson Plaza. No. Carlson Plaza will be across the street. We're going to call that Sunflower Crossing. So, this is Sunflower Flats. Sunflower Crossing will be across the street. We've applied for tax credits to rebuild there. And you'll you'll get a full briefing on all of that as we get closer. And is it the expectation Carlson Plaza will be instructed and rebuilt? Is that it? Yes. Okay.

Yep.

All right. So, this is basically a housekeeping issue in my opinion. If we uh concur, we've been shephering this project through the process of m much of the last year. Um, I think Aaron has done a great job with uh jumping through all the hoops that were necessary to obtain the supplemental funding to to bring this forward. So, um I will uh make and so commissioners, we need to do this in two motions. So, I will move that the we authorize the city administration to finalize and the mayor and the city clerk to execute a land transfer and development agreement with Manhattan Housing Authority and Sunflower Flats owner LP and authorize the mayor and the city clerk to execute other related documents.

Second. Thank you. Chelsea, would you call the role? Mayor Adam Track. Yes. Commissioner Mcola, yes. Commissioner Fox, yes. Commissioner Morrison, yes. Commissioner Von Lentil, yes. Motion carries 5 to zero. Thank you. Um, I will also move that we approve resolution number 020326- authorizing the transfer of city property to the Manhattan Housing Authority. Second, Chelsea. Commissioner Mcola. Yes. Commissioner Fox, yes. Commissioner Morrison, yes. Commissioner von Lentil, yes. Mayor Adam, yes.

Motion carries five to zero. Thank you. All right. Um we will be moving along to item E. Consider a construction contract at Highlands at Grand Mayor unit uh four improvements ST 25509 WA2509 SS2509.

Yes, mayor, commissioners, Brian Johnson, director of public works, city engineer. Public works actually has two items for you tonight. The first one is this construction contract for a subdivision out in Grand Mir. This is the last piece of the several subdivisions that have been occurring in this area over the last couple of years. And it's this parcel right here. This piece will be the final piece for water, storm, sanitary, and streets to connect the future Willis edition, the current cypress and village uh prairie village editions with Grand Mar Parkway and the east side over here uh the other parts of Grand Mar the Highlands. Uh these petitions were approved in September or October of last year. They include street, water, sewer, and paving. Uh the developer is also the general contractor and that is why we're bringing forth this construction contract to you to turn them loose for public infrastructure. With that, I will stand for questions.

Brian, I don't have a question about this, but are we ever going to connect Grand Mayor and Marlat? That's a great question. Uh so we've we've talked to the county about it historically. Um that is actually a township road. So there's some townships that have there's not you can't even get through though, can you? Oh yes, you can. Oh yeah, there's a there's an easement up here for a future connection. But it's a township road and we can't just connect to it without some discussions about who's for what.

It's in the long range plan. It's in the Grand Mir long range plan. But until we get across this parcel and then across this parcel, those discussions are out in the future. We did do a study about three or four years ago, a connection study that looked at the connection Grand Mir Parkway back to Marlat and kind of what that route would look like. So, we do have some preliminary concepts of what that route looks like. Okay. Thank you. Sorry for getting off this. No, that's okay. It's a great question. So, does Grand Mir Parkway extend far enough north to connect with this McBrain?

Yeah, Parkway will end right here at the property line. Okay.

Anything else? Other questions for Brian? Is there any comment from the public on this action? Do we have a motion? Commissioners, on item E, I'd move that we approve awarding of a contract for 1,373,829. And if they're that accurate, 50ent. Yeah. To Schulz construction for the Highlands at Grand Mir unit 4 improvements. Second. This is this the the Manhattan Area Housing Partnership?

No, that's that's a different There is a subdivision out there that is, but it's not this one. Okay. Thank you. This connects the dots. I I knew Schulz was doing that. Yeah. Yeah. This connects the dots between the two. This is the centerpiece. Chelsea. Commissioner Fox. Yes. Commissioner Morrison. Yes. Commissioner Von Lentil. Yes. Mayor Adam. Yes. Commissioner Mcola. Yes. Motion carries. Five to zero. Yay. We're just zipping along here.

All right. Uh, real quick, uh, if I could just make a comment. Um, this is something that we were traition traditionally have put on the consent agenda, but just with the new commissioners, uh, we put it on general. So, just as we kind of work through some of these items, um, keep in mind that the option to put them on consent is out there and we would as staff appreciate feedback if you would like to see items like this moved back to the consent. Thank you. Thank you, Daniel. Item F on tonight's agenda, consider contract amendment number one and agreements for Fifth Street and Levvenworth Street pedestrian improvements projects PD2102.

Yes, commissioners, uh, mayor, again, Brian Johnson, director of public works, city engineer. This project actually goes back quite a ways. It's probably 12 to 15 years old. public works received a lot of complaints in this area about lack of pedestrian ability to get to the post office and out of the post office as well as to be able to get to the housing authority on the northeast corner. Uh there's three items to this one. The first piece is a design services amendment for a request for a bus stop paid for by FHATA. Piece two is an agreement between the city and FHA ATA that details that funding and how they're going to pay for us and reimburse us. Piece three is an RFP for grant monitoring that will be paid by CDBG. It will have Davis Bacon and by American. We don't have people on staff that are well trained at that. And because it's federal dollars, we want to make sure we dot all the eyes and cross all the tees. So this project goes back again like I said about a decade ago uh due to multiple pedestrian complaints about access at the intersection. Public works identified a project by 2012 2013 but we didn't have a funding source. So we put it on the shelf and then about 2022 community development was kind enough to offer us some CDBG money if public works could fund the design. Uh this design started at that time but again it was put on hold because FHATA requested adding a bus stop on the northeast corner. FHATA has offered to fund all the cost with that request. So real quick uh project management is Karen Becker. She really actually runs everything in the city. Uh project overview primary ADA compliance sidewalks and ramps. We also have a little bit of a water main extension. We're going to actually extend a fire line uh out of Levvenworth Street

towards the uh uh aging or area for partnership there, the northeast corner there uh so they can sprinkle their building. Uh we also are adding a public transit bus stop now and then we also got some storm water improvements as we redesign that intersection. So again, northeast corner bus stop is going to set somewhere in this area here. some bulbouts here. Fall of 2022, design begins. 23, we had field check completed. 23, uh October 23, uh we started looking at a bus, possible bus stop there. Then August 25 had the FTA grant ward for FHATA. This is what the improvements would look like. You can see we've narrowed down that intersection. We put in better ADA ramps that meet current ADA design. And then we have crossings are much much shorter because of the bulbouts. Uh in order for the bulbouts to work, we have to add storm sewer system. Remember downtown everything's running from west to east. Everything's going from 17th street trying to get to Third Street. So we got to put some inlets on the west side to help pick up that water. Then also on the north and south legs. So this is the bus stop concept. little bumpout here for future ATA buses or whatever buses would uh go there and pick up residents, take them to their doctor's appointments, those sorts of things. Again, the professional services agreements with the original 80,000 in city funds, everything you're looking at tonight, there's zero dollars from the city in it. It's all CDBG or it's all FHATA. Zero zero additional city dollars. Here's kind of the spreadsheet of what it looks like. Again, we had the original 80, but now everything else is between CDBG and the FTA grant $5307. So, with that, I will stand for questions

if you should have any. Um, usually with with add um dollars, we have to have some match. So, there's no match. I mean when we did the intersection at points and Juliet and add a bus came up with a whole lot of dollars for us. So there's no add a bus is just doing the whole thing. I mean correct. Yes. That's really great. Yeah. So these are 5307 dollars are a little bit different than I what you're talking about. Uh these are dollars that they get back every year. That must be nice. Yeah.

Yeah. I think they get around Is it 350 Karen? I believe it's about 350 a year they get back from federal government and they can spend it on pedestrian improvements.

Yeah. We don't pay for the match. Okay. Correct. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Because I thought they usually got 90% you know. Yeah. The match is being paid through CD. So our investment in Attabus at 200,000 plus a little bit is really comes back to to pay their own way. It's almost an exact wash. Yeah, it's almost to the dollar a wash. I'd make a motion we approve item F, noting that I'm a gas that the total cost that taxpayers pay, not us, but taxpayers generally pay yes $1,114,570 for this. But since we only are having to cough up 80,000, I move that we approve that.

Okay. Um, Commissioner Marson, would you be so kind as to read the entire action state? Oh, sorry. Is there anyone from the public who would like to make a comment? Okay. Uh, Commissioner Morrison, would you please read the entire motion? Oh, all right. Never mind. Our city manager says you don't have to. Second. Okay. Chelsea. Commissioner Morrison. Yes. Commissioner Von Lentil. Yes, Mayor Adam. Yes, Commissioner Mcola. Yes. And my I just noticed that Kansas gets back $185 for every tax dollar they send to the federal government.

Commissioner Fox. Yes. Motion carries five to zero.

Thank you. Item G on our agenda tonight. Consider the Prairie Paws animal shelter renovation project and services agreement. Good evening, mayor, commissioners. Uh just as a little bit of background, Prairie Paws has been operating the city's animal shelter uh for the last couple of years. Uh they are in a position where they'd like to extend that contract and they've also approached us about a renovation upgrade within the facility. So just as a bit of background, in June of 23, we were authorized to seek proposals. Prairie Paws was selected and we started negotiations and they began operating the animal shelter in December of 2023. It is a city-owned facility as I mentioned. They are responsible Perry Paws for utilities maintenance um and specific projects. They may request funds from us for larger maintenance and construction projects. We have participated in others in the past including a roof. Uh, as I mentioned, they have a three-year term. They're just over two years into that term, and we put the agreement back into um negotiations to see if we couldn't land Prairie Paws for a little bit longer. Initially, we did agree to some transition services fees, core service fee of 350K, and then an escalator in years 25 and 26. They do retain donations they receive on behalf of the shelter. Uh we do have a fund that is within the city of past donations that we can utilize for the animal shelter which I'll highlight at the end here. So we've negotiated an agreement through 2031. Uh we have an annual fee that's

capped with no escalator at 367 and some change. Um, we did give them it's an annual, so it's it's a five-year um, but the one-year term extends through 2031. They will also continue to retain those donations. They have approached us about a physical upgrade to the site. Um, they're looking to improve the safety and welfare of their animals. Uh, there are some existing concrete block kennels. If you've been in the shelter, it's beyond the entry. Uh you get through the hallway in the back end of the building, uh where they let the dogs run and come in into the kennels. It's in need of uh replacement. They have a lot of rusted and damaged doors. Uh and they are dealing with some issues with drainage out of those kennels. They're also trying to raise funds for outdoor adjacent cover to allow the run to have some artificial turf and it be covered so there's not mud as they enter into the facility. So they have a $353,000 project they'd like to do within the site. We have basically proposed to split that. We have half of it in our current trust fund uh within city coffers. They have agreed to raise the other half. We have an agreement that's also part of this item tonight that would obligate Prairie Paws to that $176,917. We have also went to our on call service program. Uh this is a policy that was adopted back in 23. We went through an open process to select project management. We had four firms locally apply and the commission approved those

in 2024. Uh I called Brian to ask him who's next. He said Macau Gordon is next. Uh public works manages that particular on call service. Uh we got a hold of Macau. They met with us. Riley Construction. Riley was brought to us by Prairie Paws. They have an a relationship with Perry Paws and past work that has been done at the shelter. U and we have put these two things together to come up with a project just under $400,000. Our share again 176 being paid from the trust fund. we would pick up the 27709 out of the general fund general services um portion of the budget for um professional services this evening. Looking for the mayor and the clerk to execute agreements with Prairie Paws for that operations and lease for the next five years. We would look for a funding agreement with Prairie Paws to participate in this improvement out at the animal shelter. And then we would also look to authorize the manager to execute the service agreement with Macau Gordon for project management.

I'd be happy to answer any question. Is that management fee just a percentage based on a percent?

I think Zach's in the audience. He can speak to how account got to that total. Um they're we are asking them to be out on the site on a weekly basis meeting with Riley Construction monitoring the project from a perspective of anything that may go wrong or anything that needs to have clarity in terms of hey we found this problem now what would you like us to do ripping out physically the kennels themselves they may run into some subgrade issues issues we're just not aware of because they can't see them they know they've got a drainage issue uh they are Riley is approaching that. Um but as a reflection back into the policy, we typically hire that professional service. We are not experts in vertical construction. If the commission didn't want to hire Macau, I would be looking back to Aaron and having probably Alfonso or someone on his staff helping us with this project. Uh but these are the types of projects that the policy was created for for us to oversee vertical construction areas where we just don't have a tremendous amount of expertise or time. So that's why the on call service was created.

Yeah. I I just was curious. You said you had four different companies. You kind of rotate through them and there must be some kind of a preset fee structure for I don't believe there's a preset, Brian. They just react to each project. qualification for it, right? Yeah. And like I said, Zach, he he can come up and speak to his fee.

I would assume before they brought you the project for 200 and some thousand, whatever it was, somebody had drawn up some plans and somebody looked at them and somebody thought they were competent. I don't know the current people at Riley Construction, but I know of them over the years. Do they need to be supervised for $27,000?

It's a I've watched projects of less go arai even in this building and and we've wrestled around with issues with a contractor uh in our auditorium in the foyer as we were working with the peace memorial folks who raised a lot of local money. We didn't have a ton of skin in the game in the foyer. Um, and we were going to manage that. We ran into a lot of issues. Managing on-site vertical construction. Again, you don't have an expert in this organization for it. We typically hire to make sure what the contractor is telling us is valid. Well, does the city have any backside protection if they find something that's another $20,000 that we don't pay or are we stuck with half of the new 20? If they find something they didn't anticipate, we'll have an expert on site to validate and verify that is actually the case. If it comes back and in and Prairie Paws and the city agree that it's something that needs to be taken care of, we'll be back in front of you all to see how you'd like us to proceed.

So, we've gotten a bid from Riley and we really don't know what we're getting other than we can see a concrete floor and some kennels and everybody's shooting craps on the rest. They know that drainage system backs up on them. They want to replace that and the kennels themselves don't function. the ones they have identified to be ordered would function a lot better. And I think Prairie Paw has some experience with the kennels they've picked out in other facilities and so they utilize this other than whatever the general maintenance and responsibilities are. They're using the facility that they were given by us under some theory of lease. They are leasing the site. Yes.

And do they pay for the lease or is it dollar a year? We pay them to operate our shelter. The the question was, do they pay rent? And the answer is no. No. And we do pay them for operating at this 376,000. Correct. In the future. Okay. If you'd like to get into the challenges of running an animal shelter, I'd be happy to have that conversation with you at some point. No, it's just interesting. the priorities of animal care seem to exceed cost of child care at times in humanity for other things, but we got to take care of the fuzzies. I understand. Thank you.

Um, Commissioner Marson, I'd suggest that you look at the prairie pause report that's on our SharePoint uh site to have an idea of how many animals they are handling on a routine basis. Um they're a no kill shelter and so they've they've uh done a lot and as well as their free clinics for vaccinations and chipping. So to move forward,

I do think I keep thinking that we should do a better job of making sure people get their rabies shot and their tags because that would go a long way to helping us pay for the prairie paws and we we don't really follow up with that. And I see no reason why the vets in town couldn't help us with that. You go get your regular shots for your dog and you could just get your little tag. Then with AI, we can do it. Uh, go ahead.

I would move that we authorize the mayor and city clerk to execute a new service agreement with Prairie Paws Animal Shelter and Inc. for animal shelter operations and lease of the animal shelter facilities. Should I do all three of these? We can actually do a single motion for all three items. If you just want to say uh there's there's a motion to a approve the Prairie Paws animal shelter renovation project and services agreement. We can do it with one motion. So moved for all A, B, and C listed here. Second. Second. Second. I don't know if you have any public comment. Oh, sorry. No.

Anybody for public comment on the prayer pause? Thank you. Chelsea, can you call the role? Commissioner von Lentil, yes. Mayor Adam Track, yes. Commissioner Mcola, yes. Commissioner Fox, yes. Commissioner Morrison, yes. Motion carries five to zero.

Thank you. Moving right along. Item H, consider the purchase of robotic mowers and equipment. Good evening, mayor and commissioners. Um, today, uh, I'm bringing back, uh, the robotic mowers for, uh, steel and pipe supply ballpark. Um, this item was tabled at our last legislative, uh, and had some, uh, uh, questions about, you know, what these machines are and how we are implementing them. So, first, these are the uh, the four machines that we are purchasing as robotic mowers. You have the 520 EPOS. That's kind of the small area mower. It's does half an acre a day, a little over. Uh the 550H, which is one of our primary machines, does about two and a half acres a day. These are the ones that you're going to see in the outfields at Twin Oaks Sports Complex. 535 all-wheel drive uh is one that we're bringing on I that we've identified to be able to mow slopes. Um and then the Siora 546, that's our large area mower. You'll see the current deployment out at uh Annenburgg soccer fields. Uh and we use those to cut uh large areas. Uh cutting widths are identified below. The 520s and the 550s are 9.45 in. Uh the 535s 8.7 and the seoras are the 26.8. Some of the uh other amenities that are included in this purchase are uh mower fence door. This is a uh a door that is triggered by the mower that opens up and allows the mower to pass through a fenced or gated area. Um and then when the mower comes back out, we have a nice secured uh fence line. So in particular for ball fields, this is really important because the last thing you want is gaps in your fencing uh for balls to get through the APOS reference

station. So a lot of people may under understand these to be a guide wire mower. There is a guide wire option. We t we use the EPOS which is a reference station GPS locate. Um so they don't have a guide wire. They are uh we travel them out. We map the area and they mow from there. And then uh to the right there is a picture of the charging station. Our initial p purchase uh this was the first thing we did. It was our test case was to go out to Annenburgg and purchase two Seioras at soccer main and soccer south. uh the five 550s that cut the four ball fields at Twin Oaks and the interior of that complex and then Collie has two 550s that cut the outfield. So uh the the A joint maintenance facility also had a project running alongside of it and uh to mow out in front of that facility. We did add uh one that mows inside the fencing of the JMF and one that ms outside. So the uh grant that was received that was the $17,000 no match grant and I I recognize we paid 117 because we had a mower in there that ran us over that 117,000 but the grant itself didn't require a match. Um, so this is what was purchased and brought in last fall with the idea that there would be a deployment this year. Um, so we're adding the all-wheel drives to Annburgg to cut in kind of those ditch area spaces. Bless you.

The uh Discovery Center area. Uh, one's the all-wheel drive to help mow the slope. Um, and then the 528 uh in that area uh as well. um the depot, Blue Earth Plaza, Douglas Park, Colorado Park, Griffith Park, Steel and Pipe Supply, which is before you today. So, these are the existing ones we have. Um and then we were looking to add the ones today. And then Truth Park and Norville. Uh 23 mowers in total out of this uh will be deployed next year. And what's highlighted there is what is currently contracted mowing. And we are estimating that we're going to save about $36,000 over the 10 acres. So what are the types of contract mowing that we do? So we have defined eight service levels in that contract. Number one being improved athletic fields. We do not contract. We do that in internally. Uh that is the highest level of care. Improved park is the second highest level of care. high uh traffic rightway, riderway flail, open space, vegetation management, levy and weed control. And typically the amount of mowings that are required reduce as you go down that list. Uh overall mowing contract is 191 locations, 295 acres, and has a budget of $239,000. In 2025, our actual was 203500. Again, I want to be clear, preliminary numbers. So, those haven't been finalized, but uh um and the reason for that is we actually did not get the contract approved, so we had a little bit of a late start on it. city parks uh portion of that uh our budget was 7948 in 25 our actual was 5954 584 again because of the late start and we have

con uh contracted 94 uh 94 acres almost 95 so Erin sorry your previous slide had 10 acres is that the amount that would be saved by using the robotics

yes so 10 acres with 36,00 000 because what we're doing is removing uh level twos which are that improved higher maintenance area and putting robotics in there versus the mowings that are once a month every 3 weeks to maybe it's only annually. So again athletic fields that's our highest standard of care. It requires two to three mowings per week from a traditional mower. um must be maintained at two inches or lower. Uh natural turf surface uniformity is key for playability. Um it's also safety and in injury prevention. Uh our athletic fields are a primary economic driver for the community. They do serve a large economic impact and then parks our second highest standard of care. Typically one mowing a week try must be maintained at 2.5 to 4 in. uh you can have some deviation in the uniformity of the ground um but not the finished cut. So uh these are the requirements that are kind of put into that contract and what the expectation is from our contractors when they mow these types of areas. Uh also parks are a big economic driver. Uh and think of Blue Earth Plaza where we get a lot of events and um uh tourism coming in. So here are kind of the other service levels. Again, it drops as you go two weeks for high traffic right away. Um, then you go to three, two to four times a year for open space. Uh, vegetation is kind of annually. We kind of spoke about that. Um, you know, that could be goats. So, goats could be mowing that uh eventually. So, levy we're doing one to two mowings a year typically and then we're doing spray. So, traditional mowers, our inventory, we have four 60inch with a bagger. We

have a a single 72 in with a bagger. Those two operate at our cemeteries uh or those two sections. And then parks are three 72 in. Those have baggers. Our three 11t mowers. Those are our typical athletic field mowers. Um and then the one 14in also can be used on bigger open spaces such as soccer fields. Uh we have a slope mower and a small area mower. The uh Toro 4000D is kind of that athletic field park mower below um and has an 11inch deck. And we'll cut Sorry, 11 inch or 11. Oh, excuse me. 11 foot deck. Yeah. And actually, you'll need to unlock your iPhone first.

I didn't know that was talking to me. And that was my city phone. Um, Erin, I was struck, sorry, when you gave us the dimensions of the automated mowers. Some of them were only eight inches. 9 in and Yeah. and 26 and we're That's a big shift.

Yeah. Um, so I'll kind of get into that. So maintenance, these require daily cleaning, uh fueling, fluid checks and inspections. Uh hourly maintenance uh requires fluid changes such as oil, hydraulics, uh you know, uh blade sharpening, etc. Um they have a lot more moving parts. A lot more things can go wrong over the lifespan. And we mainly road to location. So we drive them over the road, which is even harder on those machines. Um, and then they're tailored to towards locations based on the type of cut that we're doing. So, robotic mowers, blade changes every two to three weeks. And this is a good picture of a blade. Um, this is one for a Sora uh to imagine one for a 520 or 550. They almost look like those old school shaving razor blades. Um, we get huge packs of them. Uh, we do weekly cleaning. Uh we do wheel replacement as needed. Um this is uh it's not a new technology, but it hasn't been around long enough to establish a really good hard deadline on when those batteries will will need to be replaced. So the the running estimate right now is every 3 to 5 years. Software updates as needed, uh usually annually. Um they do require winter storage inside. Um, one fun fact about these is the ones in Annenburgg, assuming the fences are open, you can call them to the maintenance shop to work on them and then send them back to their docking station. So, we don't actually have to go to each location and service them. You can bring them in, service them, and send them back out versus

Huh.

Yeah. into a shop location. So, we have we have a Oh yes. Yeah. We're not traveling them out to JMF. It's it's it's literally the shop that's at Annenburgg. You can call them in. They will drive themselves to the shop. You can do your maintenance performance and you can send them back. So these mowers, these robotic mowers mow all the time. And that's the difference is we start the mowers at 11:00 p.m. at night and they mow overnight and through the day. And it's continuum mowing except for when they're charging or when we've got it blocked out for usage. So the smaller deck size, even though it's smaller, it runs longer and more frequently. So a charge time on a mower, give or take, is about 30 minutes, 30 to 45 minutes. The bigger ones take a little bit longer. Um, looking at both, just comparing them based on athletic fields, which is our highest care of maintenance, the 4000D is a $100,000 mower. We would need to trailer it if we are strictly looking at a single replacement versus these replacement of uh the robotics. 5 to 10 year lifespan, 9.6 acres an hour is what they suggest. The reality is you cannot move that fast when you're making turns unless you're in big open spaces. So it does go back down to that more like six acres an hour, but that doesn't count the time in between fields. Uh estimated about 2.2 gallons uh per hour of work. Uh a 40hour week operation for 36 weeks. The annual cost again about 10,100 a year if you broke out that initial cost over the mower over 10 years.

That's not each mower. Yes. For the traditional to Toro. Yeah. Yes.

Um typically need an upsized truck if we're going to trailer it around. Um that increases your gas and fuel consumption. Uh routine maintenance is about $3,500 a year. Thinking about oil, blade maintenance, hydraulic fluid. Staff member is about 30,000 a year. That's at our starting wage of 2110. That uh includes travel, mowing, and the maintenance. And then our annual cost, we're looking about 45, uh 384 robotic mowers. Again, pricings vary on sizes. I have them all here. The big ones are right around 25,000. The others are that four to $5,000 mark. Same lifespan 5 to 10 years.

Sorry, Aaron. The uh you have includes supporting hardware is that the docking station and the correct the monitor the EPOS and so one EPOS station serves multiple mowers. I think you can actually put like 40 of them on one. realistically your your coverage uh you you wouldn't get to that many. So, um but they they do support a a large number of uh mowers on a single EPOS system. Do you have a traffic jam when all four of them show up at once?

No, they they're good little robots. They go in order. So, as you can see, the price differences. The Sioras, which are the big ones, uh are the more expensive ones. Uh the acreage varies. I kind of covered that earlier. They use 75 kilowatt hours a year. So uh mow daily for 36 weeks. Uh we do require a staff member about eight hours a week and that's to bring in those blades and do the checks and we do want to keep them clean. Um we've had good experience even with our traditional mowers about maintaining them very very well and making them last past their lifespan. We anticipate the same with these. So we would be looking at seven seoras which include the uh steel and pipe supply ballpark 21 550h's 535 uh at the ballpark as well. Annual cost of the mowers breaks down to about $28,000 a year. Our routine maintenance is about 1820. Uh so back on that that's 28,000 for all 36

for all of all the ones listed down here. Yes. So per mower it's

so in this particular model it's 28 mowers. It breaks down to that $28,000 based on the type of mowers that we have in there. Um, so, uh, electricity works out in total about 24, uh, $240 a year, and that's for all of them. Basically, about $11 a year per mower is what it breaks down to. staff member again uh six a little over $6,000 annual cost uh $36,000 um is is the estimate. So it's about $9,000 savings over the traditional in the long term. Um, if you start adding things like salary escalation in that, especially if you're having to put somebody on that mower overtime at 40 hours a week, you're probably looking at that 44500 in additional salary dollars spent over a 10-year lifespan. So, it's a difference estimated at 106,000. So,

so how many people do we get to lay off so we can use economy?

We've already done it. So, we've reduced our park staff force by 20%. And so, we don't actually have the person on that would need to mow SECO. So, we we were intentional about this. And I'll I'll kind of get to the design piece. So, we do want to be strategic, right? Automated mowers are not made for everything. Um, so athletic fields, open parks, open areas are good deployment areas. the more you put things like trees and a lot of amenities in their way, they actually don't work well. So, for example, cemetery, they will not work in a cemetery because you have too many things out there and they're just not efficient. So, uh cost savings, primarily the savings is the reduction of staff and consumables in fuel because even though fuel's cheap today, it's not always cheap. Um so, reduce maintenance The biggest thing for us is they have a much higher quality of cut just because they are so consistent. And if you think about especially on an athletic field, that grass is the same height every day, which is very consistent. Tournaments love that. Um I think our there is an appreciation from our existing uh leagues that have now seen the difference out at Anenburgg and to um they don't call in sick. They can mow in the rain. They can mow in the irrigation. They run overnight when the facility is not being used and they provide that consistent cut. So here's a kind of a picture of the seco dugout

and this is where we designed those mowers to be docked in this storage area. So there is actually shelving in here as part of our storage. And these mowers actually dock in the base of that where we showed that door would be right here to where they automatically deploy themselves out to the field and cut overnight. And so this is kind of uh the top view in that dugout looking down at that storage area. So again, the the item before you the cost is $67,500. uh it is paid from the quality of life sales tax. We did design the facility for this. We do have some of those mowers already and um we are looking for that high-end cut especially at SECO uh in the steel and pipe ball uh ballpark. Lot less maintenance on these and that allows us to take the resources we have and deploy them in other locations. Now, I know I don't have a slide and I know I mentioned it yesterday, but just so we have it uh because I know Commissioner Fox, you asked me for what that fund balance was. So, revenues generated to date uh 27,000 or 27,879,585. We've expended $25,825 $825 and1 leaving us a current balance of 2,54,584. Now what's that been spent on? Trails to date $685,897. The rec centers in total were $17,818,432. The SECO project to date is 7,320672.

That totals 25,825 and $825,1.

Yeah. So that the forecast remaining is uh we anticipate for SECO 10,221,110 trails. So that was Marlat Warner Park and some of the others that we talked about. We have $2,419,63. Excuse me. Our total forecasted expenditures are 12,640,173. We do have uh some reimbursements coming from USD 383 and the USA and USDA Missouri Valley grants which total we will inject that fund with $582,05 and then the tax generated revenue and we're assuming a one and a half increase. We've seen up to four, but we want to be conservative is uh 10,435,953. So, a total forecasted revenue of 11,7,958. As I said yesterday,

a lot of members, what's the net? What's a lot of Yeah. Is that a positive or a negative balance? We are at a We are currently at a positive. Okay. That leaves us with an anticipated positive uh net of $432,369. Okay. And we'll put this on paper for you. I just didn't have it time to get it in the presentation. Be good. So, other questions? Commissioners, just so you're aware, when we educated on that sales tax, it was 8 and 1/2, 8 and 1/2, 8 and 1/2, and two. So we were eight and a half at each of the rec centers which Aaron gave you a number 17 million

that's a change and we we knew being 10 years out or eight years out of SECO 8 and a half million probably wasn't going to get it done but 2 million for trails which Aaron highlighted at 2.4 four. We'll go to three total. Be close to three. We're real close. SECO is the only one that obviously just waiting eight years to start construction. You really didn't know what it was going to cost, but 8 and a half was the bogey for all three of those major initiatives plus the 2 million in trails. When we were educating in 2016 and 2017, just FYI. And had we built in 2020, it probably would have been close to that number.

Yeah. So, I feel like your your cost comparisons here are they're not something's a skew. With the traditional mower, you look at one very expensive mower and show what it costs per year. with your robotic mowers, you're looking at all of the mowers. So, are all of these mowers doing the same job as one? Yes. $100,000 mowers. That would be the comparison if we used one mower to cut all athletic fields. We currently have uh three of those.

Say now you have more than one of these big mowers. Yeah, we currently have. And so, part of this is the replacement plan. And actually what we're doing is cycling one out in order to use these. I feel like in the end you're you're saving more than what you're showing on paper here. But well, I would rather save more and tell you I'm going to save less, but then show you that I save more. That usually works. The other way does not work out well for us. No, it doesn't. That doesn't. So the the 23 mowers in your in your page here labeled robotic mowers. 23 mowers is mowing 10 acres. You're back up there. This one. Yep. So those

23 are doing 10 acres. No, the highlighted ones there are taking on that contracted 10 acres. Okay. To reduce the contract which sorry I put it on two different pages. That wasn't smart of me. But which would reduce what we have budgeted uh that 79,948 our our anticipated reduction in that is 36,000 because the places we're putting them are that high level of care which cost us more in a contract just as it would paying a staff member to do it. Right. So these four we're getting you're wanting to buy now will be at at SECO. These are these the yeah the ones that are in this item are specifically for SECO. These have already been purchased.

Yeah. As part of that grant. Where was the grant from? Uh it was federal grant the EECBG grant. uh and it had to do with uh electronic efficiencies and because we were uh we identified the electric mowers and the original grant required uh them to be deployed in a justice 40 area um which you can see that we're doing quite a bit of that and and it had a requirement there and so we thought it would be a good one to qualify for and we received it. So

So you're still going to need for the cemeteries for city park? Yes, we won't get away from traditional mowers completely. Again, these we're looking at speci specific deployment areas. Yeah. Um what um how receptive was the park and rex department when you presented this? Howard board? How receptive of the board? Uh that has been one of our uh move MHK goals which they adopted and approved uh both years. We reported it back. You didn't specifically give them this report. I didn't I did not give them this particular item because it was part of that bigger move MHK automation and

Yeah, but we didn't have numbers with that. I mean Okay. Okay. I mean, they knew about the grant and they knew about this piece for sure. Uh the other one was uh done earlier. So my only other comment, I know these are new and with these additional four, you'll have 36 of these things running around. I can't imagine it's just one staff member one day a week maintaining all of those, monitoring them and yeah, chasing them down. It seems like a lot, but again, it helps when they come to you and you don't have to chase them down. So we'll we'll look for a report Yeah.

next fall on how they did. Um, so just like just so when you talk about like how you go about sharpening blades on a on a range wing that has at least nine blades on it and the time it takes to get that up. Even the decks come up that it's it's actually not too hard when the decks come up the way they do. Uh these you take a little power screwdriver and they pop off and pop on and you're done with it in a matter of minutes. So um blade changes more frequent but easier to do. Do we have GPS or something on them if somebody comes in the night?

Yes. Yeah. So, if you decide that you want to take one home, then uh we're we're going to send some friends of ours to show up at your doorstep and talk to you about it and u So, yeah, they're GPS located. We actually know if you touch them. Okay. So, we get a notification. Andrew, do you have a comment?

Uh commissioners, do we have a motion? So, I was very skeptical about this in the beginning, but it if it saves what it looks like, it looks like it ought to be a good deal. So, yeah, I know it's experimental and see how it goes. So, I would move that we approve the purchase of Husqavarna robotic mowers and equipment from on-site or site one landscape supply for 67,48755. Second. Chelsea, would you call the role, please? Mayor Adam, yes. Commissioner Mcola, yes. Commissioner Fox, yes. Commissioner Morrison,

uh, no. Commissioner Von Lentil, yes. Motion carries four to one. Thank you, Aaron. Moving right along. Item I on the agenda tonight is to consider the purchase of portable pitching mounds and field protection for steel and pipe supply ballpark. Yeah. So this is um part of the FFN of outfitting the park and sorry FF.

Yeah. So all the equipment that goes into it, the extras that's not part of the construction. So, like everything from tables and chairs and furnishings and yeah.

Um, so, uh, I'll just run through these really quick. Uh, you have a 6inch mound, an 8 inch mound, and a 10-inch mound. Um, you're probably like, why do we need so many mounds? Well, it they're different sizes. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but those are different size players that are on those mounds. Um, and I'll just give you an example. for my own family. My son is actually taller than I am. Uh, and he was that way last year, and if he tried to throw off a 6-in mound, he's going to overstep it. So, he needs to be on a 10-inch mound. And so, these are not included, but uh these are what we would bring out during tournaments based on level of play. Uh, and we would select the, uh, appropriate mound based on that age group. So, uh, to kind of put it in perspective, six and under works pretty much from, uh, 10U and down. Uh, you can even get in to some 11 U, 12U, you're pushing it. 12U, 10, 11U, 12U should really be using the 8 in. And then, uh, anything above that should be using a 10 in.

So, what you're saying, the field isn't playable without these, not for baseball. And we knew that but we didn't provide for it earlier. We Yes, we knew that. And this the intention was to always purchase these. This was discussed when we this this has been discussed before you Commissioner Commissioner Morrison. Do you mean instead of like a permanent mound on the field?

Do you mean instead of like putting a permanent mound on the field? Yeah. So the reason is this allows us to use that for softball or baseball. It allows the flexibility to move the mound based on the distance because each one of them has a different distance. So it ranges on baseball from 46 feet for the youngest kids up to 60' 6 in for the for the oldest kids. Do we where do we store them? I mean so that's that picture of that dugout with the the other shelves was designed and are they really heavy? I mean, how do we move them?

So, you can kind of see we intentionally buy, you can kind of see this line right here. They come in two pieces, so we can actually separate them so they're a bit lighter. And they do lock into each other pretty well. So, we we intentionally buy the two-piece to make them easier to move and store.

Probably not one, two could. One could one could move it from position on the field, but um especially if you get in the bigger ones, they're they're a little awkward to carry. It's not that they're heavy. Um I've carried a full-size one with another person over 400 feet and it wasn't challenging and they they're they literally call it porterite for a reason. So by doing this, have we restricted the enjoyment use of the public of that pole park? What do you mean? If I take my 10-year-old kid out there, he ain't going to have a pitching man, can we go play ball on it anyway?

So, the the fields themselves will be secured and available either through the program or rental. Um, they're not necessarily always open to the public. The warm-up area in that space, uh, which has eight batting cages and five pitching areas, uh, would be available to the public generally speaking at all times except for things like tournaments and program nights. So again, more protective equipment. Um, so the on deck circle, uh, the pitching mound protector, and then the softball pitcher mat. Again, this is to help increase the longevity of the turf that is on the field. So we do not have to come back and replace that as often. These imple areas. So, as a softball team practices, they'll roll that mat out rather than using the field itself and it protects the turf under it. Same thing with pitching mound protector. Of course, the on deck circle anytime you have games um helps uh provide additional uh protection against uh heavy use in a particular spot. Catcher mat, batter's mat, same thing. Again, we're trying to reduce how much we have to cut turf out and reso it together. uh that becomes very expensive and um it's just better if you can keep it as one continuous piece longer. Um and then the particular reason why we like portalite is the spike tech. We've tried other companies and it ends up sliding on the turf. And so uh portalite specifically has the spike tech that digs into that turf and prevents that sliding. In fact, at Annenburgg last year, we had a different brand and the high school softball coach wouldn't use it because it kept sliding as their pitchers tried to pitch off of it. So, we knew this existed. That's why we're u kind of particular about this particular iron.

So, backing up to that. Yep. That that batter's mat looks if you have a runner coming from third and he slides a little too early. Not not for game play. Oh, it's not for gameplay. These are not for gameplay. These these are for everything else. So game play you'll play on that surface. Okay. And it's meant to protect that surface while we're doing practices and not having games. Oh. So yeah, we'll these peel off and then the exception to that would be obviously the on deck circle. Yeah.

So So total cost 69,31940. Uh again, this is paid out of the same quality of life sales tax fund. These numbers were included in the numbers I rattled off earlier. Um and the intent is long-term protection of the facility and uh particularly using the spike tech to uh be a safer substance. Questions? Well, it's all pretty fancy stuff. You might as well be playing ball in your living room, you know, come a long way from dirt fields. So, agreed.

Uh, but I have seen had experience with the mounds. I mean, I have grandsons. They've come up through the the grades and the mounds get a little bigger as they grow older. And with the artificial turf, I guess you have to have those. So, well, you'll see us use those even on a uh a skin surface. I mean mound built-in mounds are kind of a thing of the past just because it restricts the use of that particular field against any and all. So the infield is also artificial correct. Yes. The outfields are natural grass.

Any other questions for Aaron? Is there any public comment on this item? All right, seeing none, do we have a motion? So, which one are we here? So, I would move uh we approve the sole source purchase of portable pitching mounds and field protection for the steel pipe supply ballpark from port Portoite pitching mounds for 69,31940. Second. Uh, Chelsea, we have a motion and it has been seconded. Will you call the role, please? Commissioner Mcola, yes. Commissioner Fox, yes.

Commissioner Morrison, no. Commissioner Von Lentil, yes. Mayor Adam Czech, yes. Motion carries four to one. Okay, Erin, we have one more item for you. consider the purchase of a mobile digital screen. Would you like to present this item?

So, one of the things that uh we explored and we we saw this at national conference and we intentionally went and looked for it because of some of the things that we want to try to do this year um from a programming standpoint. Um this item is what they call a MAX 169 digital screen. It's a digital screen on a trailer 16 by9. So, think of that as a big TV. Uh, it's fully outfitted with the production box, the speaker assembly, the on trailer generator, and signage package. So, literally to deploy this, you drive it to a location, you drop the drop the trailer and balance it out and raise the screen. It has an 11-year warranty. Five years uh for labor, but 11 years for parts, free freight, and it has the uh GSA purchasing agreement discount on it. So why would we want something like that?

What is it? GSA purch

that's just a cooperative purchasing kind of like source well. So um so community uh events is ranked as a high priority. It has the PI rating of 152. Um and so we really see this item really enhancing existing events, our festivals, our tournaments, our concerts. Uh it could be races and it could be parades. So, um, and then really want to deploy it in new events. Now, long term, we're the easiest thing to do is movies in the park. And so, we really have this intent to try to bring more community special events. We believe that this is an easy pickup to start doing that through movies in the park. Um, and this year in particular, one thing and why we're interested in this year now is because we'd like to do World Cup watch parties. And so we've already worked with uh uh some of our uh there's a local group that's talking about the World Cup and what to do with it. Um and one of the things we've come up with is when the US opens their uh tournament play. Uh and I'm not trying to bag on the US. Who knows how long they'll make it in that tournament, but we want to be there on the first day. We've actually got one of our local soccer groups that wants to host a small tournament and then we would do a watch party at the end of the night. So, um, really kind of this year it was identified to do several World Cup events where we would like to do somewhere between three and four, but we also want to add in the dive-in movies, potentially drive-in movies or just movies in the park. We uh there are other items that I think we would bring along with programming in courting like e-gaming, um, fitness classes. There was a watch party on Points Avenue last year for K State. Those are opportunities. Um, and of course there could be certain STEM events, things like that. And what I have in my head is maybe a local

version of Battlebots um that you could then display. So it's really this bigger enhancement uh to our existing festivals, existing concerts, tournaments, but also allows us to expand our programming. Uh I will my suggestion is we don't do enough of this as parks and wreck as these community style events that are kind of free to the public. We do have arts in the park. It's not like we don't have anything, but I'd like to see us expand that. And so kind of what does the financials look like on that? The revenue opportunities are sponsorships and advertising. We do uh anticipate generating about 18,000 in revenue through those uh sponsorships and advertising. An annual expense uh would be about 14,720. If you break that trailer over that 11-year cost, then and add about 6,000 for that. Looking at the lifespan, you're you're going to subsidize this by about $71,000. So that's a cost recovery rate of about 74. Typically in these types of events, um, so that's kind of an ROI on this. Um, typically in these kind of events for cost recovery where we would place them for a community event, we're trying to recover around 0 to 30%. 0 to 35. So I think this exceeds that um, as a piece of uh, the event. It does cost, and that's included in there, uh, rights to things like movies. They're anticipated about $1,500 a movie, and I've done that in my past work. Uh, so there is a cost to put events on with it. Um, it is, considering uh what it could bring, it is relatively cheap uh at $107,000.

I know that doesn't sound cheap to people. Um, but we've done a lot of work in parks and wreck over the past year to reduce costs. So, the subsidy piece of that, uh, which actually wouldn't come out of the general fund because what we're proposing is we pay for this out of special parks and wreck, which is the alcohol fund, alcohol by the drink. Um, so it doesn't affect the general fund, but even if it did, uh, over the past two years, we've reduced our subsidy by over a million dollars. We can easily absorb this with still being within the window that we even talked about this weekend. So, I think it's a good addition. It comes out of special uh, parks and recck fund, which is liquor by the drink. So, that's what would actually purchase the trailer. And so then it would just be the operational cost within the general fund and we would absorb that in our normal operations.

Aarin, the um expected revenue is that from ticket sales to events or is that from selling that um sponsorship mug of beer that we talked about

sponsorships and advertising would be that 18,000. If we start ticketing for events, that changes the licensing on what we're displaying. And typically, it's exponentially more expensive on the licensing. We're better off, to your point, trying to do advertising and sponsorships. Um, let me just wheel back up. It doesn't show it in this one, but there are actually two wings that go on here that are panels that can be sold as a sponsor. And and so those are the opportunities for revenue. I do believe there's a and and know of sorry that's an

uh and know of several entities that we would be looking to partner with to try to bring these new events on and so I think there's opportunities to help fund this through that and that's where that 18,000 comes from. Do I do I remember when you um demoed this that there was also a crawl across you could do a crawl across the bottom of the screen.

Yes. So it it really it's a HDMI cable into a computer. So any kind of um uh you're getting out of my wheelhouse with audio visual, but any kind of uh setup that you would want to do where you could run a ticker across the bottom. Uh that was an opportunity. I think about movies and the ability to show advertisers prior to the start of the movie where it's rolling through. Um, so that would be kind of that advertising piece and then the sponsors are the more bigger that are permanently uh displayed on the the unit.

I I really liked the modular construction of this. Um, I don't know if anyone else in the commission had a chance to take a look at this, but the screen is composed of multiple small units. So, should there be any damage to a single part, um, it's doesn't require replacing the whole screen, it's one of those components. Erin, have you talked with Eric Norris at the library at all about possibly using this? I I haven't, but I think we would I think the intent for us in the immediiacy is the World Cup events. Sure.

With movie and backed with movies in the park, but I think we're open to exploring all parts. You know, I could see using it at um the Everybody Counts event, having it down at the Douglas Center, having movies down there. Um commissioners, I don't know if you all saw, we did receive a letter of support in our um emails from Gina Snyder at the downtown uh business district. uh very much endorsing this for possible events at Blue Earth Plaza um at the Mall Plaza if that should become redeveloped as it's hoped. She did uh express some reservation about not having events on point such that um traffic would be closed off,

which I thought was a fair uh when her and I talked, we talked primarily about Blue Earth Plaza and that kind of area. Um, I mean, wouldn't it be cool to have this at the um the tree lighting to have a better different perspective on drones flying, you know, to be able to to show them as well.

I think the tree lighting has so many people, it probably be difficult. I can see the problems with, you know, trying to ticket this because, you know, it's a big screen. how you going to stop people from, you know, um, and I do think that the World Cup, you know, particularly the opening one in Kansas City with Algeria versus Argentina, I mean, those are two soccer giants and they have two of the so best soccer players in the world and and

I know people can't get tickets to it. So, um, so what what did the park and Rex board say about this? So, ironically, we were bringing this to the commission quickly because of a proposed discount. Um, what happened in between there, they honored the discounts and it got delayed. Uh, but originally there was a about a $17,000 discount if we had moved quickly on it prior to the end of the year. What happened is Musco Lighting actually bought out Insane Impact and so but they continued to push that discount forward. So, this was actually just pushed so it never went in front of the park board.

Erin, you've got a board that's very supportive. You've got to come to us telling us that they really want this. I mean, we have to look at all kinds of different things. You've got a board that you can use and they need to be included in these things. And when you just come and say, "Well, the park board didn't even see this." That's it's very difficult for me. Okay. I have a more worthless question. I see it's on a trailer. You're not going to come back and say, "We need to buy a truck to pull it, do you?" No, we currently have a uh we have a 3/4 ton that would pull this.

And the second one is, do the annual expenses include the driver and the setup and the maintenance of the the deal, or is that going to be another add-on we pay? The the annual expenses include the staff member that it takes to set it up and run it. the labor for hauling it out, putting it up, run in the franchise fees for the soccer games. Is that including the expenses?

Uh, yes. As a general, not necessarily the World Cup. Uh, we don't have a good beat on that. Uh, when I programmed that out, I used what I knew with movies, which was $1,500 a licensing fee. That change, that's an average that changes depending on what kind of movie you get. I would think if you aren't charging for things, if I can see it on my TV at home, like the World Cup, they have they have very specific rules and the World Cup themselves are very adamant about enforcing it. Um, in fact, not even, you know, certainly don't use their logo or say that without their permission. My guess is that they're going to be about twice as expensive.

They're changing the neighborhood, the name on Arrowhead. Um what about funds perhaps also from the CB the convention and visitor bureau uh amount of money that we you know we pass out every year the convention and visitors bureau the tg yeah the visit Manhattan yeah we give them you know um we have quite a pot of money there and and they use it well I'm not saying that's not but I would just think that this would be under traction ction that you know some of these small towns around do you think Trey is here from Visit Manhattan? Yeah.

Uh that will speak at I mean are you proposing that we lease this to other communities? Are you proposing that we ask them to pay for part of it? I'm asking them to pay for part of it in that it might bring people to um to Manhattan to see you know if I live in Omeago and you can show me Algeria versus Argentina, I'd drive over. Um, at least if I'm a soccer mom.

Well, it's not in their budget for this year. I don't I I think it's uh I don't think it would be appropriate to ask them to cover this expenditure when um we have already authorized their um that budget.

Well, I think they could play part of it, but Okay. So, I guess I with all of the needs we've talked about for the last two days, all the expenses that are facing us, I have a really hard time uh getting right in my mind $107,000 TV on wheels. Um, you know, in this bid, I mean, we're paying $42,000 just for the trailer to drive it around. Um, and I I just I've been generous I've been generous on the mowers.

What do you mean? The the trailer is trailer frame. It's part of the bid here. It says trailer frame 42,500. Oh, yeah. Sorry. Yes. 337. Yes. Yes. Part of that. I'm with you now. Um, but that it's a specialized trailer that also has storage for the the spare parts for the cables that are needed. Um, additional equipment, those wings that that Aaron mentioned, you know, it's not just a stock trailer that you would purchase.

Well, no, I wouldn't think so. So, I I just I have a hard time with this one. Would we feel more comfortable if it was coming from the quality of life sales tax? I don't I don't believe that would qualify, would it? The quality of life sales tax was specifically for the um the the trails, the seco park improvements and the rec centers. Erin, can you remind us what the um special alcohol sales tax, liquor by the drink, um that has specific uses for parks and recck, too. Can you please um spell that out for the commissioners?

Yeah. So, I Well, I'll tell you how we generally use this fund is for items of a capital nature um and some reinvestment. I mean, we do trail maintenance out of there. We do some of those other things. Um but we we certainly um uh have the capacity to take this on uh within that fund. Um it's uh it's gener it's identified by the state just like there's a portion that they talked about today at the retreat that the commission has discretion on and where they can take that. The city keeps a portion of those alcohol sales and that's the special parks and recck fund and it has to be used in some sort of form for parks and wreck um that typically has to do with improvements or equipment purchases such as this would qualify. So it generally does not support operations as far as like paying for people things like that generally.

And and the funds are available now for this purchase.

Again, I mean I I just ran some math like again it comes out of that fund. So this is kind of this isn't the equivalent, but when you consider the fact that uh if you look at it from a subsidy standpoint, if we were purchasing it out of the general fund, uh it would basically be point if at a 7200 a year subsidy, it would basically be 0.1% of our subsidy. If you looked at it, if you even doubled that to more like 14,400 a year, it would be 0.19% of our subsidy. Not even of our expense budget of our subsidy, the actual tax dollars that runs it. Now, everything we're talking about, we're purchasing out of special parks and recck. So, it actually doesn't like it doesn't affect the general fund. But just to kind of put put that in perspective of how that falls within there. And again, I I'll reiterate, we were over we have saved in the general fund over a million dollars over the past two years compared to where we were in 23. And so I don't approach these things with light-hearted as far as just spending willy-nilly. In fact, I'm very much the opposite. And so I see this as an investment in our community. cost recovery has increased prices in certain areas. There are areas where we need to impact our community in ways that allow them to come out and participate in things in free. And I'm 100% behind our scholarship fund. Again, I think that's allowed uh people and I believe you've got that report, but adding events like this, not only is it desired from the community as highlighted here, but it allows for us to attract visitors to town, but also gives our locals

something to do within town. So, I do see this as a huge value ad for the next 11 years. The fact that it's warrantied for 11 years gives me a lot of confidence. I think you have some really good points and um I was in Pasa Robles in California one time for a wedding and um they have in the city park everybody comes in their jammies and they show a movie and it was really wonderful to see the the whole community, you know, um show up and and just do a family thing together that's free.

Yeah. And commissioner, I'm glad you brought that up because I ran movies in the park in Garden City and we used an inflatable screen and a projector. And one of the challenges with that is we had to wait till 9:30 at night. And typically what we show is movies geared towards youth um just because you get into too much trouble, you get into a PG-13 and R obviously. So, but part of what the detractor from attendance was is because of the late hour, they would not keep their kids up.

When it's a screen, and we tested this out in direct sunlight, we could start that at 7:30 and be done by 9:30. And so, I would anticipate we would see more participation because we're falling in that bedtime hour, which uh I will tell you as a dad is extremely important. And I'm sure most of you know that. Thank you, Erin. Uh, I will once again ask if there is public comment. Yay.

Let's see. Good evening, Madame Mayor and Commissioners. I'm Trey Kman. I'm the external affairs director for the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. This is my first time speaking before you, and this is day 22 at my current position, so go easy on me. you got your breath.

Um, but I wanted to note that the uh Manhattan Area Ch of Commerce and our Visit Manhattan team um is very interested and would love to collaborate uh with uh numerous event planners um and actively promote the use of the screen and attendance of the screen for events if you were to go forward with this purchase. um because this would enhance um the quality of life and the overall experience of events in Manhattan for both its residents and visitors alike. Um and with that, that's all I have to say. I know you all had a very long and rigorous day. And to echo um Commissioner Von Lintil, I hope you get well and rested sleep. Thank you.

I have a question. If the chamber's so excited about it, are they willing to pay half of it so they have access to it? because he's wanting to sell advertising. Hell, that'd be the best advertising you can get. You pay half of it. Now, Commissioner Mull, this Commissioner Morrison, this is day 22 for me. I cannot speak on budget matters. Uh I don't know that well enough at this time. I'm still on training wheels. Um so I can't answer that. Commissioners, do we have a motion? I have a motion. And I move that we approve the purchase of a mobile digital screen from Insane Impact for 107350.

Second, Miss Chelsea. Commissioner von Lentil. Yes. Mayor Adam. Yes. Commissioner Mcola. Yes. Commissioner Fox. All right. Yes. Yes, Commissioner Morrison. My all right is no. Motion carries four to one. All right. Do we have a motion to adjourn? Sorry. Sorry. Oh, do we have a briefing?

Any I I feel like I've talked to you all enough the last two days. Thank you. I do appreciate your time um that you've spent the last two days. I appreciate your time and attention this evening. Um day 28. Um and you are certainly not getting paid by the hour. So, thank you. Truly appreciate it. Um, do we have a motion to a motion? I Okay. All in favor? All in favor say I.