Remarks by Larry Fox
36 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 2
A couple of questions on the site, Brian. Yeah. The one on West Anderson out by Blueville seems like way out there and we don't own it. I'm curious about sites like the old fire station at Anderson and Reith. that we don't seem to use for anything. Perhaps part of the Amherst Fire Station site or the land behind that, that someday will be a practice site.
And also I know we have several what are considered park lands out on the west side that Some people don't even know their parks, their land the city owns, but probably aren't used much. Are any of those sites possibly?
I Personally, I think this kind of problem is going to become more and more prevalent because of our zoning changes where we have allowed a smaller corner to corner setbacks or lot line to lot line construction so the only place they can go is out into the street to build these things yes you're spot on big difference from just running a water line out to the street takes a few days they're obstructing the street the entire time of the project so we've got to figure out something to
Well, it is a tough situation, I understand. They need the space. We're trying to speed them up as much as possible, but yet we don't want to add a bunch of cost to the project that's already cost a lot to do. So hopefully we can figure out
But when we come back with the final we can certainly set those rates or whatever you want some I would assume this would not apply to individual say homeowners that... Suddenly have a sewer go bad the sewer lines running out to the street or the water line, so you've got to go out into the street and close it off for a couple of days, or at least one lane.
The lane's out in the middle of the street, so you can't get through one lane. And sometimes that lane is closed for a few days. Sometimes a couple weeks. You wonder why they haven't come back to fill in the holes.
I think it makes sense just to have it for the length of the project, the construction project.
The duration might be the entire length of the project, but the number of days subject to closure might only be a portion of that. That would be designated. You get so many days.
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
I would assume you'd have different lists depending on whether it's a water project or a sewer.
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
So I would just comment that every commercial development of every kind that's ever been done in this city is a risk. Developers take on risks. and most of them, certainly not all of them, but most of them have been successful to date. Certainly downtown was successful. That was a Starbond project that has now been paid off. Others are ahead of schedule. We live and die by the university, and I think we need to be supporting it in any way we can. you know, want to see it more of a partnership kind of thing and not just us handing out, not just money flowing in one direction, but I think this…
So I would just point out to your concern, Karen, that there's a lot of private property going to be within this development that is going to be taxed from inception. all of the private property, the hotel, the restaurants, the condominiums are going to be taxed. Those owners are going to pay property tax. It's what happens to that property tax that's the question. And the question there is just what percentage comes back to the developer, what percentage comes to the city of Manhattan to help us recover some of the costs we've already put in it. On top of that, the special sales tax what is…
So I would move that we approve resolution number 100626B, setting a public hearing for the CID, and resolution number 100626C, setting a public hearing for the tax increment financing redevelopment plan. And resolution number 10062D, setting public hearing for the star bond redevelopment plan for Edge District 3.0.
So I would have to agree with Commissioner Morrison that this is a 233 page document. I read through all the pages and there's a lot of questions in there about the need to educate people on the importance of historical preservation. So clearly some people don't think enough people know about it, so we need to educate people, so whose responsibility is that? Whose responsibility is it to decide what is historically significant, what should be kept, what should not? Just because an old property is old doesn't necessarily mean it needs to be preserved. I've managed a lot of old houses that they…
the city as to the recommendations that are in here and what's already being done by the city in the way of historic preservation. You know, what are we adding to it in this plan? And, you know, maybe we can move forward with it. But also looking at Commissioner Morrison's concerns about, what, a citywide homeowners association referred to it? But anyway, before we, We're asked to approve it. Can we learn a little more about it?
So you are creating some additional turn lanes, some paving.
You're saying those walls would be eight feet tall?
So I would move that we authorize a city-state agreement with Secretary of Transportation, Kansas Department of Transportation, and Resolution Number 100626E for the Casement Road and Hayes Drive Signalization Improvements Project, City Project Number ST2302, KDOT Project Number N082701.
So I said this before at our work session on the budget. First of all, I commend you. I think the three of us are up here because we ran on the idea that we wanted to get the mill levy down, that it increased over almost five mills in the last couple years. We wanted to get it down. I certainly commend you in this budgeting process for getting it down 1.7, but we are off, Personally, I would like to see it at $52,500. And I said that before. And to do that, you'd have to reduce the expenditures by $236,000. Now, where could that come from? In your budget, so last year the cash reserve…
And I certainly understand that. I mean, we've budgeted, like I say, A $500,000 increase in the cash reserve is a pretty good increase. I just, you know, 52.5 versus 52.8. I think when we're going to the public to ask for a sales tax increase, it'd be nice to be able to say we reduced the mill levy two mills.
I would also comment to the lady's point that the state legislature has determined this is how we're all going to be taxed. and how cities are going to gain their revenue is based on the so-called market value of all of our properties. The county is supposed to determine that. If you think your house is way over appraised, then it's your responsibility to go to them and say, argue that it's over appraised. You need to lower it, and many times they do. There are also a lot of houses in this city that are under appraised, particularly when they put them on the market, you'll see they're asking…
First of all, to Gary's comment about the authorized spending of 262 million. When I read that, I was kind of shocked as well. but then discovered that part of that authorized spending is putting $76 million of that into cash reserves. So I guess technically I consider that can't be spent. That's supposed to go to cash reserves. So what we're really spending is $186,600,000 with that. So I would just, I would throw out, I guess, I don't know what other discussion you want to have. I'm going to make a motion here that we approve ordinance number 7839 adopting the 2027 city budget with the…
Yeah, that was going to be my question. Are we adopting the number or the rate?
anyone else would like to make comments this item commissioners do we have a motion before I do that I just comment as well that it is a balancing Act... With with... In businesses and employees government organizations... You know what's the right level of staff what's the right level of pain and I'd like to think that you know we've hired a have a city manager and her staff that hopefully are looking at that and making sure we have the right people in the right places. I would move that we approve ordinance number 7840. Second.