City Council

MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF MISSION HILLS, KANSAS February 10, 2025 The City Council of the City of Mission Hills, Kansas held a meeting on February 10, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. PRESIDING: Mayor David Dickey PRESENT: Councilpersons Bill Bruning, Gregg Davidson, Barbara Nelson, Eden Thorne, Andy Weed ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: Jennifer Lee, City Administrator; Meghan Woolbright, Assistant City Administrator; Spencer Jones, Treasurer; Jill Clifton, City Planner; Jason Nickles, City Clerk; Anna Krstulic, City Attorney; Deputy Chief Major Eric McCullough, Prairie Village Police Department (PVPD); Aaron Thomas, Intern VISITORS: Tim McQuaid, Mission Hills and Mike McQuaid, Fairway, KS; TJ Homan; Stinson; Lauren Davis, Stinson; David Battey, Fairway, KS; Gary Matthews, Fairway, KS; Larry Washington, Extenet; Joe Milone, Extenet; Ted Jacobson, Extenet; Mike Burke, Extenet; Anna Rivas, CBIZ; Dalton Blaine, Prairie Village, KS CALL TO ORDER Mayor Dickey calls the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and the pledge of allegiance was recited. GREETINGS AND INTRODUCTIONS Mayor Dickey greets visitors and notes that the meeting would be recorded for the purpose of meeting minutes. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING – January 13, 2025 Councilperson Nelson moves to approve the minutes of the January 13, 2025 meeting. Councilperson Bruning seconds. Approved 5-0. PUBLIC SAFETY A. Police Report Chief McCullough greets the Council and reviews the January report, highlighting a serious crime that occurred last month where a Facebook Marketplace exchange turned into the robbery involving a juvenile. Chief McCullough adds the department issued social media posts and a press release following the incident highlighting that there is a designated Internet Exchange 1 Zone in the police department parking lot, marked by bright green spots and signs. This zone is monitored by cameras, offering a safer place for transactions. Regarding other crimes in January, Chief McCullough highlights an incident of an officer’s vehicle being rammed in the Carriage Club parking lot as officers responded to a hit on a stolen license plate in Mission Hills and located the vehicle in the employee parking lot. Chief McCullough adds that the suspect initially evaded contact by ramming the patrol car four times, injuring the officer slightly and the pursuit ended with the arrest of two suspects with multiple felony warrants. Chief McCullough notes the vehicle and license plates were both stolen, the injured officer is fine, and the patrol car will require minor repairs. The collaboration with Kansas City, Missouri partners resulted in successful arrests. Chief McCullough highlights the video of this incident is available on their Facebook page. Lastly, Chief McCullough notes there was one rear-end accident on the 6500 block of Mission Road, resulting in a citation. Councilperson Nelson asks for elaboration on the response to the robbery and asks whether one should call the police and request to meet at the designated spot, or if no call is needed at all. Chief McCullough states that these publicly available spots in the police department parking lot are there for use 24/7 and while it cannot be guaranteed that someone will be watching every transaction, the spots are marked and close to the police department. He added that the spots are clearly seen by surveillance cameras, so if something happens, it would be on video. Chief McCullough notes this setup is common for police agencies, including Shawnee and Overland Park, which also have safe Internet exchange zones. Councilperson Thorne also mentions that the buyer does not know the seller's home address when an Internet Exchange Zone is used. Of the police chase, Mr. Tim McQuaid inquires whether the police department is taking over custody and if the suspects will face proceedings in Johnson County or Jackson County Court. Chief McCullough states the initial crime occurred on the Kansas side, leading to an aggravated battery charge against a law enforcement officer in Kansas. When the suspects were captured in Missouri, Missouri initially takes custody and lodges them in jail for a certain period. The District Attorney’s office is informed, and arrangements for extradition are made. In this case, the suspect has Jackson County felony warrants, so that may be handled first. Chief McCullough notes that it takes time, but if things go smoothly, the suspect should not be released and will be transferred unless they fight extradition. He adds it is not uncommon for Kansas to take someone into custody for Missouri and vice versa. Mayor Dickey asks the Chief if the assault & battery charge in the report is this case to which Chief McCullough states yes. Chief McCullough reviews the 2024 year-to-date report, noting an increase in thefts primarily due to stolen cars and emphasizes the importance of locking vehicles, removing valuables, and keeping key fobs at a distance to prevent theft. Chief McCullough also highlights the rise in online scams and frauds, which are becoming more sophisticated with the use of AI. Chief McCullough advises caution when receiving calls or emails that appear to be from illegitimate sources and recommends verifying by contacting the institution directly and 2 mentions instances of scams involving Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, which are difficult to recover once transmitted. Councilperson Weed humorously apologizes for interrupting Chief McCullough's presentation at the annual meeting and expresses appreciation for Chief McCullough's participation and acknowledges the excellent job done by him and his associates. CONSENT AGENDA A. Claims Ordinance No. 1670 Councilperson Nelson moves to approve Claims Ordinance No. 1670. Councilperson Bruning seconds. Approved 5-0. B. Additional Time & Material Contracts Councilperson Nelson moves to approve Additional Time & Material Contracts. Councilperson Bruning seconds. Approved 5-0. FINANCIAL REPORT A. January Financial Report Ms. Lee mentions the monthly financial report, noting that the January report typically has limited information but provides a sense of the start of the year and proposes moving on to the 2024 year-end report if there are no questions. Mayor Dickey asks Ms. Lee the cost for snow and ice removal from the storms in 2025 to which Ms. Lee states $136,956 and notes $107,000 was from the significant snow event January 6-7 and the remaining costs were from subsequent smaller events. B. 2024 Year End Report & Recommended Encumbrances Ms. Lee took a preliminary look at the encumbrances, which involve reallocating money from savings or projects that were not fully needed and programming it for future expenditures. Ms. Lee notes she made a few small changes, initially setting the Eisenhower Pond project at $400,000 and adjusting the remaining balance in the stormwater accounts to $350,000. Ms. Lee notes she added $500,000 for the Indian Lane wall failure project which was discussed in late summer as a section of old stone and mortar wall failed north of 65th Street on Indian Lane, affecting a potential trail. Ms. Lee adds the City secured federal funding for the trail but needs more funds due to the wall failure, noting that the failed section can no longer support the trail, and the wall of either side of the failure also needs replacement. Ms. Lee adds the City has requested $300,000 for the middle section of the wall and $500,000 to $600,000 to cover the whole stretch and are awaiting funds before getting pricing. Ms. Lee adds that the initial grant from Mid-America Regional Council for connectivity and pedestrian/bike enhancements was awarded partly for the school route to Mission Road. Councilperson Nelson asks for a map to help visualize to which Councilperson Bruning agrees and asks if the City has an assessment of the wall. Ms. Lee notes there is an ongoing project to digitize the infrastructure, approved a couple of months ago, and mentions that this project is a top priority, involving the digitization of all information on walls, culverts, and past projects. Ms. Lee highlights the research process to identify ownership of various spots, determining whether they are City-owned, privately owned, or have never been addressed by the City. Ms. Lee mentions other items included in the report 3 from the previous year and highlights that the surplus from 2024 is mainly due to increased sales tax, late payment from Kanas City, MO for their portion of State Line Road improvements, investment income, and a strong year for building permit activity. Ms. Lee notes this resulted in about $700,000-800,000 in additional revenue, coupled with cost savings and projects that were postponed to this year. Ms. Lee asks if is there are any questions which Councilperson Nelson asks if the City has received a bid for the 63rd Street sidewalk to which Ms. Lee states we have a quote from LMCC of around $58,000 and construction will begin in the spring. OLD BUSINESS A. Repeat Nuisance Properties Ms. Woolbright mentions that the report in the Council packet, the cover sheet, and the repeat nuisance chart is up to date. Councilperson Bruning asks if there is an update to the home on 68th Street to which Ms. Woolbright notes that the trial has been pushed to March at the homeowner's request, and as noted in the January meeting it pertains to citations received in 2024. Councilperson Weed asks if the project is on hold to which Ms. Woolbright confirms that the permit for the driveway has been issued and noted the work started before the permit was issued. Ms. Woolbright mentions a second notice of violation and stop work order for the pool and accompanying items still stands, so that permit is on hold until a new tree protection plan is submitted to Ms. Lee by February 22. B. Resolution No. 2025 – D: Master License Agreement with Extenet Mayor Dickey mentions that Mr. Milone reached out and spent time with Ms. Lee and him to discuss their experience with a large, well-known service provider. Mayor Dickey expresses confidence in the provider's potential to be a good partner for the City, while emphasizing the need for them to prove their commitment. Ms. Krstulic notes that a provision was added to the agreement requiring annual attendance at a Council meeting to provide an opportunity to address any concerns or issues that have been noticed over the course of the year. Councilperson Nelson questions the implications for other companies that may want to place items on the poles, expressing uncertainty about whether this event is a one-off or could become a trend. Mayor Dickey explains that the same agreement must be offered to others and suggests that if other companies decided to join, they could co-locate with the existing equipment on the poles, saving money and benefiting from the already established team. Ms. Krstulic notes that there is a limit on how many items can be placed on one pole, and any additions would be subject to an application process like other requests. Councilperson Bruning asks whether the ordinance allows for the flexibility to move from using an existing pole to installing a new one if needed to which Ms. Lee states that any additions would have to go through the same approval process, including the Architectural Review Board. Councilperson Bruning reiterates concern from the last meeting that some of the poles are already overloaded and asks if, once on the ground, they find they cannot add equipment to an existing pole, whether they could place another pole next to it. Ms. Krstulic states that the seven locations have already been approved and does not anticipate any deviations from those locations. Mr. Milone explains that the process started in May with Ms. Lee’s assistance, and they assessed the poles to avoid overloading, and most selected poles are empty streetlight poles, with two being wood utility poles and five metal City streetlights. The poles will be changed to sturdier, more decorative ones as directed by the ARB 4 and the new poles are designed to accommodate the approved equipment, addressing concerns about overloading. Councilperson Nelson asks if the company is part of a large corporation or if they are independent contractors and requests information about past problems, liens against the company, and background details. Mr. Milone introduces Extenet Systems as a privately held company with corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas. The company provides fiber-based small cell networks for all wireless carriers and often co-locates other carriers on their network and poles, and they are known for dominating the market with their fiber infrastructure. Mr. Milone adds that they are working in nearby cities of Olathe, Lenexa, Overland Park, Shawnee, Kansas City, Missouri, Lee’s Summit, and Prairie Village. Mr. Milone expresses pride in their track record with jurisdictions, considering them partners, and mentions their sole responsibility is to ensure smooth operations with the businesses they work with and emphasizes their collaboration with local jurisdictions to develop acceptable designs. Mr. Milone recognizes the pride communities take in their jurisdictions and the dedicated team that addresses concerns and meets local needs. Mr. Milone acknowledges past issues with poles falling or landscaping damage but emphasizes diligent efforts to resolve problems. Mr. Milone describes the project as high visibility due to its location in Mission Hills and its significance to their primary customer T- Mobile and states a willingness to attend meetings and check in annually to ensure the project's success and maintain good relations with the City and customers. Councilperson Weed raises concerns about health issues related to radiation from the equipment and inquires whether the City is indemnified or protected against any future liabilities. Ms. Krstulic confirms that the agreement includes standard insurance requirements and indemnification provisions and states that the potential perceived effects of RF emissions cannot be used as a basis for the City's evaluation or review according to the State statute. Councilperson Weed asks if future claims can be referred to Topeka expressing concern about potential risks and uncertainty while acknowledging the best intentions of all parties. Ms. Krstulic states that the agreement requires compliance with all applicable standards, which would include updates if there were changes in science. Mr. Milone emphasizes that they already comply with FCC requirements. Ms. Lee adds that third parties were hired to review both the structural analysis and radio frequency analysis, and both were confirmed by outside parties. Councilperson Nelson moves to approve Resolution No. 2025 – D: Master License Agreement with Extenet. Councilperson Bruning seconds. Approved 5-0. NEW BUSINESS A. Request from David Battey (5739 Windsor Drive, Fairway, KS) to Consider Change to City Policy/Ordinances Governing Fans at Country Clubs Mayor Dickey discusses a request from Fairway resident Mr. David Battey to consider a policy change related to fans of the country clubs. Mayor Dickey expresses the need for staff to conduct more research into approaches taken in other communities to provide a consistent approach and suggests the Council is not equipped to make this decision without additional information. Mayor Dickey recommends staff to do more research and adds that he does not believe the Planning Commission needs to be involved. Councilperson Bruning raises questions about Mission Hills' obligation to residents regarding the topic, noting the noise ordinance is not directly relevant and asks about the number of impacted Mission Hills lots and seeks to understand the impact and obligations to residents. Councilperson Nelson argues that clubs have been given special treatment, allowing them to inconvenience neighbors with fans or other amenities and emphasizes that residents should not have to endure such disruptions and suggests 5 implementing regulations to address these issues. Mayor Dickey acknowledges the unique nature of golf courses in the community, which have different rules than residential properties but supports additional research on how other communities address these issues. Councilperson Weed notes of an enforcement issue to which the Mayor agrees and notes of the need for clarity on whether ordinances should be firm or nuanced. Mayor Dickey mentions the proposal's focus on distances from property lines versus residential structures and emphasizes the need for more information. Councilperson Bruning opines living near a club and being able to hear a fan from a distance and agrees with the need for more information and expresses support for the proposal. B. Resolution No. 2025 – E: Contract for Insurance Coverage (Property, Liability, Workers Compensation) Ms. Rivas from CBIZ Services explains that they have been working closely with staff to create a process and strategy for the City's property insurance program and recently, they met with staff to discuss the 2025 insurance renewal, as outlined in the packet and the additional outline provided CBIZ recommends that the City move its insurance program to the Midwest Public Risk pool. Ms. Rivas states that year over year cost are estimated to be $5,000 less and the wind and hail deductable is substantially more favorable for the City in the event of a loss. With MPR, the wind and hail deductible are a flat $25,000 making it easier for budgeting. Ms. Rivas adds that the City already has a relationship with MPR on the employee benefits side. Mr. Jones notes that the building coverage for rebuild has a difference at $4 million for Travelers and MPR at $3.2 million. Ms. Rivas notes that the difference is that Travelers is bundling both buildings and their contents whereas MPR is splitting out the buildings and contents into separate buckets. Ms. Rivas notes that these values include inflationary increases. Council Bruning asks what the ratings are for MPR as he saw a rating for Travelers but not MPR. Councilperson Weed adds that he noticed that MPR is not a part of the Better Business Bureau. Ms. Rivas explains that the coverage is pooled, and they go out to companies that are rated. Councilperson Weed expresses concerns about pooling insurance with a co-op type consortium, mentioning difficulty finding client listings for other cities in Kansas and Missouri, but notes smaller cities like Gladstone, Peculiar, and Gardner. Councilperson Weed emphasizes that Mission Hills is unique due to its real estate, artwork, and assets, and is concerned about locking into a consortium of insurance with other communities. Ms. Rivas assures the Council that the fine arts and certain other items will remain insured with Travelers, as MPR's coverage does not fully meet the City's needs for those items. Councilperson Weed expresses discomfort with the current climate of insurance companies cancelling coverage and leaving markets and appreciates Travelers' service, especially with a recent claim. Councilperson Weed feels uncomfortable moving for a $5,000 savings, fearing it may hurt the City's relationship with Travelers and create a reputation for hopping between insurers and requests an explanation of the strategy behind the move and what benefits the City would gain. Ms. Lee provides a brief history, noting the City left Travelers 10- 12 years ago due to premium increase issues and temporarily switched to One Beacon and then returned to Travelers when premiums were lowered. Ms. Lee shares that Travelers is trying to exit the property insurance business, noting a high deductible of $250,000 in renewal. Councilperson Weed expresses difficulty understanding the advantage of moving carriers noting that the premium increase was $3,700 after a substantial claim with zero deductible last year. Councilperson Nelson admits to sharing concerns about leaving Travelers due to their exemplary representation and feels the potential savings are not monumental and suggests leaving the decision to staff. Mr. Jones describes the nature of shopping for insurance, emphasizing the importance of premium and coverage comparison and notes that better hail coverage could be 6 more beneficial, especially for roof damage, and stresses the emotional comfort and safety insurance provides. Ms. Rivas clarifies that the stance of Travelers, observed nationwide, is to move away from property insurance due to catastrophic losses, such as the fires in Los Angeles and indicates that Travelers prefer liability over property insurance and based on the City's size, it is better to move the entire program to another carrier. Mr. Jones highlights the benefit of using a broker, like CBIZ, to explore multiple options, and they are the City’s advocate. Councilperson Weed expresses curiosity about whether joining a pool of municipalities will result in the loss of their individual claims history and questions if MPR will be able to extract their specific data when they market themselves again, or if it will be lost in the aggregated data. Ms. Rivas explains that the data is pooled to buy better rates for everyone, but each City's specific claim data is individually maintained and easily extracted. Ms. Lee highlights the benefit of CBIZ managing and monitoring claims, providing an additional layer of oversight. Ms. Rivas assures that this support will remain whether they are with Travelers or MPR and expresses confidence in CBIZ role as an advocate in the claim process, understanding they know the details better than they do. Councilperson Weed asks Ms. Lee if she has experience with other City managers in northeast Johnson County regarding MPR to which Ms. Lee states that she does not have a list of other communities covered by MPR but mentions that some smaller cities have similar coverage and believes cities like Mission, Westwood, and Roeland Park may have MPR for their property and liability, but she will need to verify with MPR what communities are in the pool. Mayor Dickey notes the current coverage ends on March 1, 2025 and suggests obtaining more information and holding a special meeting next week to revisit the topic. Ms. Rivas offers to return for a more detailed discussion on specific coverage, the state of the market, and insurance trends in the area and across the country. Councilperson Thorne asks for clarity on where to find details of fire coverage to which Ms. Rivas clarifies that fire coverage is not separate and would be covered in the deductible on the property. Mr. T. McQuaid asks if the coverage is 25% above the $4 million on the structure and whether it is a guaranteed replacement cost policy to which Ms. Rivas states that with MPR, the coverage is 100% of the building's value, with an additional margin of 15%. Mr. T. McQuaid explains that with construction costs being hard to track, a guaranteed replacement cost policy would pay the full cost of a loss, even if it exceeds the insured amount and, in this case, the coverage is $4 million plus 15% above, which is the maximum they will pay. Mr. Jones adds that in areas affected by hurricanes or flooding, the need for rebuilding can result in many people requiring coverage, impacting insurance claims and costs. Councilperson Bruning asks if Travelers offers guaranteed replacement cost coverage to which Ms. Rivas states Travelers is replacement cost and needs to double-check if there are any limitations with Travelers' replacement cost policy, noting there may be some conditions, and will follow up with the details. Mr. T. McQuaid warns that in the event of a total loss, the current coverage plus 15% may not be sufficient. Mayor Dickey suggests another approach might be to ask for a higher limit on the building's coverage to which Ms. Rivas affirms that the quoted value includes an 8% inflationary increase and that they are relying on the provided value and agrees to look into increasing the building's value. Ms. Rivas adds that MPR conducts evaluations every few years to assess the value of their members' properties as part of the program. Mayor Dickey asks what would happen if the valuation was higher to which Ms. Rivas proposes increasing the value through a stair-step approach to manage the significant premium increase. Mr. Jones references the Travelers plan and notes a blanket replacement cost to which Ms. Rivas clarifies that "blanket" coverage means combining the value of all buildings and if the total value is $4 million and only one building is lost, the full $4 million is still needed for that loss. Councilperson Weed asks whether MPR has established its 7 reputation in the health sector and if they are relatively new to the property and casualty side of the business. Ms. Lee provides a brief history of MPR, mentioning it started in the 1980s under the Mid-America Regional Council due to large increases in City insurance costs. MPR initially started on the Missouri side and has since expanded to around 135 members between Kansas and Missouri. Employee benefits were always accessible to members of the Mid-America Regional Council, and in the last 10-12 years, MPR expanded statewide in Kansas with both employee benefits and property and liability coverage. The property and liability pool in Kansas is not as large as on the Missouri side, but MPR remains a single entity. Councilperson Weed expresses concern that MPR might not be as robustly funded on property and casualty side and notes that a severe weather event could lead to claims exceeding MPR's ability to pay. Ms. Rivas agrees to double-check the lost contributions and pooling sources and states that while any insurance company could face a catastrophic loss, it is not believed to be a concern in this case. Mayor Dickey requests further clarification on MPR's use of reinsurance or brokering with other insurance companies. Mayor Dickey expresses concern about the limited timeline and suggests either conditionally approving one option or obtaining additional information and having a special meeting next week. Councilperson Thorne supports a special meeting to have their questions answered. Councilperson Nelson questions whether Travelers will continue coverage, noting they seem to be reducing some of their offerings and stresses the importance of having excess information. Councilperson Davidson expresses support for approving with conditions and obtaining answers to questions. Mayor Dickey asks if there is sufficient support for a conditional approval of the recommendation, pending additional information over the next week, and suggests setting a tentative date for a special meeting if needed. Councilperson Weed expresses appreciation for the work done on their behalf but reiterates concerns about whether MPR is robust enough to handle the more complicated issues related to their assets in Mission Hills. Mayor Dickey suggests tabling the discussion and setting up a special meeting over lunch hour either late next week or early the week after to gather more information from insurance companies and discuss the financial robustness of the limits. Councilperson Weed moves to table Resolution No. 2025 – E: Contract for Insurance Coverage (Property, Liability, Workers Compensation) to a Special Meeting. Councilperson Nelson second. Approved 5-0. C. Park Use Application – Wedding at Verona Columns (June 6, 2025) Mr. Nickles shares with the Council that Mr. Blaine is in attendance tonight for a Park Use Application for a wedding ceremony at Verona Columns. Mr. Nickles adds that the applicants are Prairie Village residents and plan to use the park for an hour to an hour and a half and are expecting 170 attendees and 70 vehicles. Mr. Nickles adds that letters were sent out to park neighbors on January 31, but no responses have been received. Councilperson Weed expresses that he finds the couple requesting to use the park sweet and acknowledges it looks like a nice couple but questions whether 70 cars is too many and suggests considering parking on one side of the street to ensure emergency vehicles can get through. Ms. Lee explains that the City Staff would typically collaborate with the police department to put out no parking signs for an event and in some instances, the Council requires event organizers to hire an off-duty officer to manage issues during the event or oversee parking. Councilperson Thorne adds that while having cars in the City for an hour or an hour and a half is acceptable, cars staying overnight might need to be addressed to prevent any issues. Councilperson Bruning agrees with Councilperson Weed, expressing that the event is lovely and appreciating that people want to hold such events but asks whether the individuals organizing the event have any connection to Mission Hills. Mr. Blaine explains that they are residents of Prairie Village, not Mission Hills, but have taken their 8 engagement photos at the park and love it. They have seen photos of other ceremonies held there and believe it would be a beautiful place for their ceremony. Mr. Blaine express appreciation if the Council is willing to accommodate their request. Councilperson Bruning expresses concern about setting a precedent, noting that events typically have a Mission Hills connection and questions whether the Council should allow anyone to use the parks for such purposes and is concerned about the frequency of such events to which Mayor Dickey explains that the Council has previously allowed events without a Mission Hills connection and notes the fee schedule varies for residents and non-residents. Councilperson Burning asks if the Council is required to allow private events on public property that exclude the public, even if requested to which Ms. Krstulic states that while the Council is not required to allow private events on public property, if you are going to allow it for some, you have to be consistent in how you allow it. Ms. Lee explains that they would typically collaborate with the police department to place no parking signs on the side of the street with fire hydrants to keep them accessible in case of an emergency and will follow the same procedure for this event and work with an off-duty officer to ensure the parking signs are adequate, preventing any issues for the event. Mayor Dickey points out that the space has several radiating streets, such as Mission Drive and Overhill Road, which helps distribute the 70 cars. Councilperson Nelson raises concern about insurance coverage and asks for verification that the event organizers have insurance to cover potential accidents to which Mr. Blaine confirms plans to purchase liability insurance in the amount of $1 million. Councilperson Bruning emphasizes the importance of the policy identifying the City and requests a copy of it. Councilperson Nelson moves to approve the event request with the requirement that an off-duty officer be employed and the purchase of liability insurance. Councilperson Thorne second. Approved 5-0. D. Executive Session: Potential Acquisition of Real Property Councilperson Bruning moves to enter an executive session, stating “I move that the City Council recess into executive session for preliminary discussion for the potential acquisition of real property for public use, pursuant to K.S.A 75-4319(b)(6). The Executive session will include the City Administrator, Assistant to the City Administrator, City Clerk, and City Attorney. The meeting will resume in the City Council chamber at 7:20 p.m.” Councilperson Nelson seconded. Approved 5-0. The Council reconvened in open session at 7:20 p.m. Councilperson Bruning states that no binding action was taken during the executive session. Councilperson Bruning moves to enter an executive session, stating “I move that the City Council recess into executive session for preliminary discussion for the potential acquisition of real property for public use, pursuant to K.S.A 75-4319(b)(6). The Executive session will include the City Administrator, Assistant to the City Administrator, City Clerk, and City Attorney. The meeting will resume in the City Council chamber at 7:32 p.m.” Councilperson Nelson seconded. Approved 5-0. The Council reconvened in open session at 7:32 p.m. Councilperson Bruning states that no binding action was taken during the executive session. Councilperson Bruning moves to enter an executive session, stating “I move that the City Council recess into executive session for preliminary discussion for the potential acquisition of real property for public use, pursuant to K.S.A 75-4319(b)(6). The Executive session will include the City Administrator, Assistant to the City Administrator, City Clerk, and City Attorney. The 9 meeting will resume in the City Council chamber at 7:40 p.m.” Councilperson Nelson seconded. Approved 5-0. The Council reconvened in open session at 7:40 p.m. Councilperson Bruning states that no binding action was taken during the executive session. REPORTS OF CITY STAFF A. City Clerk Mr. Nickles shares that the Council Calendar has been provided highlighting the addition of the retreat as discussed at last month’s Council Meeting. B. City Administrator Ms. Lee states she does not have any additions to her report. Councilperson Thorne states for the record that the traffic improvement at 63rd Street, Belinder Road, and Overhill Road is a crosswalk. MAYORS REPORT Mayor Dickey shares the newly assigned Council Liaison Reports. Mayor Dickey asks the Council about their availability for a Special Council Meeting. The Council and Mayor decide to meet on Tuesday, February 18th at 4:00pm. Mayor Dickey mentions the upcoming spring newsletter and having the annual crime stats to include. COUNCIL LIASION REPORTS Councilperson Thorne notes that the ARB agenda was short with two items, the Extenet project and the other a residential project. Councilperson Thorne adds that she has enjoyed the ARB and has learned a great deal. Councilperson Thorne adds that she will still be assisting with the Community Engagement Committee Councilperson Nelson notes that the BZA did meet and mentions a resident, represented by their lawyer, appeared at the meeting to discuss fines. The lawyer apologized for providing the wrong time and date previously and the couple had been working on their house for a long time and had not organized the necessary permits, leading to a snowball effect over the past four years. Councilperson Nelson mentions that the BZA gave them until April to sort out the amount owed with staff and identify any extenuating circumstances related to the property. Ms. Krstulic clarifies that the owner has paid the extension, ensuring consistent treatment for everyone and mentions that there is not a payment plan involved. Ms. Krstulic notes permit fees have been paid as the City would not allow further work to be completed. Councilperson Bruning notes that the Park Board did not meet but they are setting up a meeting to discuss parkway trees and City trees. Councilperson Weed states that he has nothing to report and mentions that there will be a community engagement committee meeting next week. Councilperson Weed notes that they will start work on the ARB as soon as tomorrow 10 Councilperson Davidson shares that the Planning Commission did not meet. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. /s/ Jason Nickles 11