City Commission

Regular Meeting Minutes City Hall Minutes of November 20, 2024 The Governing Body met at 10:00 am on this date for the Regular City Commission Meeting with the following members present and participating to wit: Mayor Skidmore, Mayor Pro Tem Allen, Commissioner Caylor, Commissioner Clayton and Commissioner Crowley. Mayor Skidmore called the meeting to order. Mayor Skidmore welcomed the audience and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Pastor Dakota Smith from Ottawa Bible Church gave the invocation. Public Comments Public comments were received during the items below. Appointments, Proclamations, Recognitions, Nominations and Public Hearings 2024 Employee Service Awards The League of Kansas Municipalities recognizes ’faithful, continuous service” to Kansas communities yearly. This year, the City of Ottawa is proud to recognize 14 employees with a combined total of 165 years of service to Kansas communities. Mayor Skidmore and City Manager Brian Silcott acknowledged the following employees for their years of service: 10 Years 20 Years 25 Years Dane Byerley, Fire Stuart Wolzen, Fire Ed Thompson, Electric Distribution Michael Dunlap, Police Aaron Hedrick, Fire Eric Heiserman, Electric Distribution Mark Higgs, Water Treatment Josh Hinderliter, Streets Ben Jones, Fire Jessica Luft, Municipal Court Greg Morrow, Parks Ryan Murphy, Police Clint Spears, Fire Taylor Zimmerman, Fire Consent Agenda Commissioner Crowley moved to approve the consent agenda, seconded by Commissioner Clayton. The agenda included the minutes from the November 13, 2024 Regular Meeting, the minutes from the September 26, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting, the October 2024 Financial Report and the Regular Meeting agenda. The motion was put to a vote, and all present voted in favor. The Mayor declared the consent agenda duly approved. Declaration No declarations were made. Unfinished Business Request for Approval of Ordinance Allowing the Licensing and Regulation of Massage November 20, 2024 1 City of Ottawa Regular Meeting Minutes November 20, 2024 Page 2 Establishment and Massage Therapists City Attorney Finch presented a revised ordinance to regulate massage therapy establishments and therapists in the City of Ottawa. This ordinance, developed with input from stakeholders and informed by best practices from other Kansas municipalities, establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework to promote public safety, ensure compliance with health and safety standards, and support legitimate massage therapy practices. The proposed regulations include mandatory licensing for establishments and therapists, background checks, proof of education, and adherence to health and hygiene standards. Additionally, the ordinance incorporates updates to address public and industry feedback, balancing safety measures with reduced regulatory burdens. Key updates in the ordinance include extending license durations from one year to two years and adjusting the corresponding fees to $200 for establishments and $50 for therapists, reducing administrative workloads for both businesses and the City. Continuing education requirements have been reduced from 12 hours annually to 10 hours every two years, with the added flexibility of counting CPR and first aid certification hours toward compliance. Operational adjustments include removing locker room requirements for employees, clarifying guidelines for in-office massage services to accommodate workforce needs, and permitting minors aged 14 and older to receive massage services with written parental consent. Self-employed therapists operating as sole practitioners will only need to pay for the establishment license, alleviating financial strain. These updates reflect the City’s responsiveness to community input and its commitment to fostering a safe, professional, and transparent massage therapy industry. Public comment was received by Robert Bowers, 4392 Louisana Road, in opposition to licensing and regulating massage establishments and massage therapists. Commissioner Caylor made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Allen, 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. 4150-24. Request for Approval of Resolution Setting A License Fee for Massage Establishments and Massage Therapists City Attorney Finch presented a resolution proposing fees for the licensing of massage establishments and therapists, aimed at covering administrative and regulatory costs. The fee structure includes $200 for establishment licenses and $50 for individual therapist licenses, each valid for two years, with renewals occurring on a bi-annual basis. Commissioner Clayton made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Crowley, to adopt this resolution. 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. 1968-24. KDOT Urban Area Boundary Resolution Director Neece presented the resolution to establish urban area boundary lines as identified by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). This administrative action, following the decennial Census, aligns Ottawa’s boundaries with KDOT’s Urban Area Boundary Map, November 20, 2024 2 City of Ottawa Regular Meeting Minutes November 20, 2024 Page 3 supporting eligibility for certain federal and state funding opportunities. Mayor Pro Tem Allen made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Clayton, to adopt this resolution. 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. 1969-24. KDOT Urban Functional Classification System Resolution Director Neece presented the resolution to approve the Urban Functional Classification System as identified by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). This system, updated following the 2020 Census, classifies streets within Ottawa’s urban boundary to prioritize infrastructure planning, maintenance, and eligibility for federal funding. Commissioner Crowley made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Clayton, to adopt this resolution. 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. 1970-24. New Business Review of Monthly Reports for October 2024: The Governing Body reviewed the October 2024 Monthly Reports with community support organizations. Ordinance Approving International Existing Building Code Director Neece presented an ordinance to adopt the 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) into the City Code, marking an important step in Ottawa’s commitment to modern safety and sustainability standards. The adoption of the IEBC, without amendments, promotes safe and sustainable practices specifically tailored for the renovation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings. This code is expected to facilitate compliance with contemporary safety standards while addressing the unique challenges posed by Ottawa’s older infrastructure. The ordinance defines Ottawa’s approach to applying the IEBC, which provides flexible guidelines to support innovation in design and construction practices. Notably, the code includes provisions for improving the safety of existing structures while recognizing and preserving their historical and cultural value. By adopting the IEBC, Ottawa aims to streamline regulatory processes, reducing time and costs associated with renovations. This approach not only enhances property values in older neighborhoods but also attracts businesses and residents, fostering economic growth and stability within the community. The ordinance repeals outdated references to Chapter 34 of the International Building Code, which previously addressed existing building standards before the IEBC was established as a separate code. The ordinance also appoints the Chief Building Official, designated by the City Manager, as the enforcement authority for the IEBC. The Governing Body agreed by consensus to place this item for further discussion at the December 4, 2024 Regular Meeting. November 20, 2024 3 City of Ottawa Regular Meeting Minutes November 20, 2024 Page 4 Ordinance Regulating Camping and Storage of Personal Property in Public Space and Right of Way City Manager Silcott presented an ordinance aimed at regulating camping and the storage of personal property in public spaces and rights-of-way within the City of Ottawa. This ordinance is designed to protect public infrastructure, maintain community aesthetics, and support economic development by ensuring public spaces remain accessible and safe for all residents and visitors. The ordinance prohibits camping in designated public areas such as parks, public infrastructure, and within commercial and industrial zones. Additionally, it restricts the storage of personal property in these areas, allowing city officials to issue 24-hour pre-removal notices. If property remains after this notice, it may be impounded by the city. For items posing immediate health or safety risks, such as hazardous waste or contraband, immediate removal without notice is permitted. To reclaim impounded property, individuals must provide proof of ownership and pay a fee, which scales with repeated violations within three years ($25 for the first violation, $50 for the second, and $100 for subsequent violations). The ordinance also includes provisions for record- keeping, and fee schedules, and outlines procedures for both pre-and post-removal notices. Public comment was received by Julie Riggins, 1171 Rock Creek Road, in opposition to the proposed ordinance and recommended collaborating to work on improvements. Public comment was received by Brett Staneslow, 218 S. Maple, in opposition to the proposed ordinance and recommended collaborating to work on improvements. The City Commission reviewed the ordinance and provided comments. The second presentation of this ordinance is scheduled for the December 4, 2024, City Commission meeting. Migration to Tyler Technologies EPR Pro 10 and Municipal Justice Suite 10 Finance Director Landis presented the proposal for migrating the City’s current ERP and Municipal Justice software, which has been in use for over twelve years, to Tyler Technologies’ ERP Pro 10 and Municipal Justice 10 Suite. This migration aims to improve operational efficiency, reporting, and user experience by integrating Financial Management, Municipal Justice, and EnerGov platforms. The migration process includes a Current Future State Analysis (CFSA), which will review and optimize current business processes. It is anticipated that this review will highlight the need for an updated chart of accounts and other processing changes to streamline daily operations. The Municipal Justice Suite will also transition from an on-premise server, which has exceeded its useful life, to a cloud-based server, aligning it with other cloud-based systems used by the City. The financial breakdown for the project is as follows: • CFSA (Business Process Review): $8,370 • Municipal Justice 10 Migration: $16,440 • ERP Pro 10 Financial Management: $57,480 • Funds for this project are included in the 2024 and 2025 budgets, with resources allocated November 20, 2024 4 City of Ottawa Regular Meeting Minutes November 20, 2024 Page 5 from the Equipment Reserve Fund, which has a balance of $944,295. Commissioner Clayton made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Caylor, to authorize staff to proceed with the migration to Tyler Technologies ERP Pro 10 and Municipal Justice 10 Suite. The motion was considered, and upon being put, all present voted aye. The Mayor declared the action duly approved. Project Updates The Governing Body heard from City Manager Brian Silcott, who provided an update on current projects. Governing Body Comments Commissioner Clayton wished Director Landis a Happy Birthday, encouraged participation in Shop Small Saturday, and highlighted the upcoming Mayor Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. Commissioner Caylor also wished Director Landis a Happy Birthday, recognized November as a month of gratitude and expressed appreciation for Ed Thompson, Stuart Wolzen, and all city employees for their years of service to Ottawa. Commissioner Crowley extended thanks to city employees for their hard work and presence in the community, describing their contributions as vital to the city's success. Mayor Pro Tem Allen echoed these sentiments, expressing gratitude to city employees and highlighting a community Thanksgiving meal at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Mayor Skidmore extended warm Thanksgiving wishes to the community, expressing pride and appreciation for the people and the place they call home. Announcements A. November 27, 2024 City Commission Meeting – 4:00 pm, City Hall (Cancelled) B. November 28-29 2024 Thanksgiving Holiday (City Hall Closed) C. December 4, 2024 City Commission Meeting – 7:00 pm, City Hall Adjournment There was no further business before the Governing Body, the Mayor declared the meeting duly adjourned at 12:04 pm. /s/ Melissa Reed Melissa Reed, City Clerk November 20, 2024 5