City Commission

Regular Meeting Minutes City Hall 101 S Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas Minutes of September 20, 2023 The Governing Body met at 10:00 a.m. this date for the Regular City Commission Meeting with the following members present and participating to wit: Mayor Crowley, Mayor Pro Tem Skidmore, Commissioner Caylor, Commissioner Clayton, and Commissioner Graves. Mayor Crowley called the meeting to order. The Mayor welcomed the audience and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Father Kenneth Clem from Sacred Heart Catholic Church gave the invocation. Consent Agenda Commissioner Graves made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Clayton, to approve this consent agenda to include minutes from the August 28, 2023 Study Session, September 6, 2023 Regular Meeting, September 11, 2023 Study Session; receive and file financial reports for the August 2023 and this Regular Meeting agenda. The motion was considered, and upon being put, all present voted aye. The Mayor declared the consent agenda duly approved. Public Comments None offered at this time. Declaration None given. Proclamation—Constitution Week Commissioner Clayton read a proclamation recognizing September 17 - 23, 2023, as Constitution Week. Constitution Week is an official week to commemorate the anniversary of the creation of the world’s longest-lived written Constitution. April Jenkinson, Daughters of the American Revolution, accepted the proclamation and thanked the Governing Body for the recognition. Ordinance Amending Zoning Regulations to Allow City Agriculture The Governing Body heard from City Manager Brian Silcott, who reviewed ordinances regarding agricultural activities and discussed the following: • The City has received requests to review its current regulations regarding the conducting of low-intensity agricultural activities within the city limits • Desired activities include keeping chickens for egg production, keeping honeybees for honey production, and gardening with the ability to sell animal and plant products at the farmers’ market • Ordinance to add City Agriculture as an accessory use in residential areas of the City 1 September 20, 2023 City of Ottawa Regular Meeting Minutes September 20, 2023 Page 2 • Ordinance is a text amendment to the City’s Zoning Regulations delineating low- intensity agricultural activities from home occupations and allowing for these activities under certain conditions Mayor Pro Tem Skidmore made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Graves, to approve this ordinance. The motion was considered and upon being put, all present voted aye. The Mayor declared this ordinance duly approved, and the ordinance was duly numbered Ordinance No. 4117-23. Ordinance Allowing the Keeping of Bees The Governing Body reviewed an ordinance to allow the keeping of bees in the City. This ordinance regulates the keeping of bees and is based on ordinances from surrounding communities to balance the activity of beekeeping with the need to protect the health, safety, and welfare of surrounding property owners and the bees. Commissioner Clayton made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Skidmore, to approve this ordinance. The motion was considered and upon being put, all present voted aye. The Mayor declared this ordinance duly approved, and the ordinance was duly numbered Ordinance No. 4118-23. Ordinance Allowing the Raising and Keeping of Female Chickens The Governing Body reviewed an ordinance to allow the raising and keeping of not more than five female chickens. This ordinance contains all the conditions the City Commission indicated it wanted to see in an ordinance to allow for the keeping of chickens in residential areas with a primary goal of egg production. Commissioner Clayton made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Graves, to approve this ordinance. The motion was considered and upon being put, all present voted aye. The Mayor declared this ordinance duly approved, and the ordinance was duly numbered Ordinance No. 4119-23. Resolution to Set Fee for Permit to Keep Chickens The Governing Body reviewed a resolution to set a biennial permit fee of twenty dollars for keeping chickens in the City of Ottawa. The consensus was to waive the permit fee until January 1, 2024. Commissioner Graves made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Skidmore, to adopt this resolution and waive the permit fee until January 1, 2024. The motion was considered, and upon being put, all present voted aye. The Mayor declared this resolution duly adopted, and this resolution was duly numbered Resolution No. 1940- 23. Request for Adoption of 2023 Standard Traffic Ordinance The Governing Body heard from Police Chief Adam Weingartner, who reviewed an ordinance revising the 2023 Standard Traffic Ordinance (STO) and stated electronic September 20, 2023 2 City of Ottawa Regular Meeting Minutes September 20, 2023 Page 3 copies will be available for the 2023 UPOC and 2023 STO after adoption. Commissioner Caylor made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Graves, to approve this ordinance. The motion was considered and upon being put, all present voted aye. The Mayor declared this ordinance duly approved, and this ordinance was duly numbered Ordinance No. 4120-23. Request for Adoption of 2023 Uniform Public Offense Code The Governing Body heard from Police Chief Adam Weingartner, who reviewed an ordinance revising the 2023 Uniform Public Offense Code (UPOC). Commissioner Caylor made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Skidmore, to approve this ordinance. The motion was considered and upon being put, all present voted aye. The Mayor declared this ordinance duly approved, and this ordinance was duly numbered Ordinance No. 4121-23. Agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation for K-68 Access Management Plan The Governing Body heard from City Manager Brian Silcott regarding the KDOT agreement for the K-68 access management Plan from North Spruce to I-35 Interchange and discussed the following: • Most recent K-68 corridor management plan was completed in October 2009 • Identified the K-68 corridor from North Spruce St to I-35 as an area for commercial and light industrial development • The access management plan serves several important purposes aimed at optimizing the flow of traffic, improving safety, and enhancing the quality of life for the surrounding community • The plan will provide guidelines and policies to manage points where drivers can enter or exit a highway or road, which impacts a broad range of factors, including road capacity, speed and vehicular and pedestrian safety • Given the strategic importance of K-68, the successful execution of this Agreement has the potential to improve traffic management, safety, and economic development significantly • Agreement authorizes the creation and execution of a traffic study focused on an access management plan on K-68 from the intersection of North Main Street to the I-35 interchange by the Kansas Department of Transportation and the City with George Butler Associates as the contract engineer • KDOT is responsible for the Study, including its administration, producing reports, and payment management • Project is included in the 2023 Revised Operating Budget and is allocated to the Economic Development Fund under the Other Contractual Services line item • Budgeted amount is $35,000, which includes a $15,000 project contingency • City’s cost is $20,000, to be remitted to KDOT within 60 days of the Agreement's effective date September 20, 2023 3 City of Ottawa Regular Meeting Minutes September 20, 2023 Page 4 Commissioner Caylor made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Graves, to approve the Kansas Department of Transportation agreement for the K-68 Access Management Plan. The motion was considered and upon being put, all present voted aye. The Mayor declared this agreement duly approved. City Manager’s Comments City Manager Brian Silcott updated the Governing Body on the water tower project at Proximity Park and the Law Enforcement Center roof project. Commissioner’s Comments Commissioner Caylor expressed her concerns regarding passing policies without looking at additional funding for the additional tasks. Commissioner Clayton commented on the importance of Constitution Week. Mayor Pro Tem Skidmore thanked his fellow Commissioners for the great conversations regarding agenda items and congratulated the community on a great car show. Mayor’s Comments Mayor Crowley stated he appreciated the conversation regarding the agenda items and encouraged the community to share any concerns or thoughts. Announcements Mayor Crowley made the following announcements: A. September 25, 2023 Study Session - 4:00 p.m., City Hall B. October 2, 2023 Study Session - 4:00 p.m., City Hall C. October 4, 2023 Regular Meeting - 7:00 p.m., City Hall D. October 7-9, 2023 League of Kansas Municipalities Annual Conference - Wichita, Kansas Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Governing Body, the Mayor declared the meeting duly adjourned at 10:53 a.m. /s/ Melissa Reed Melissa Reed, City Clerk September 20, 2023 4