Meeting Summary
The Shawnee City Commissioners held a public hearing to discuss proposed capital improvement projects totaling $50 million, covering public safety, streets, sidewalks, neighborhood revitalization, and a sports park. After extensive public input and presentations from city staff, the commission voted to defer action on calling an election until February 7, 2012, to allow for further discussion, project refinement, and gathering more public support.
Key Decisions & Votes
Approval of Agenda
02:30The meeting agenda was approved as presented.
Approval of Consent Agenda (minus Item 2e)
03:30The consent agenda was approved, with item 2e being pulled for separate consideration.
Item 2e (Pulled from Consent Agenda)
04:30Item 2e was tabled until necessary information becomes available to the city attorney.
Award of Beard Street Widening Project
36:00The Beard Street widening project was awarded to All Roads Paving Inc. for $367,732.70, which was below the estimated budget.
Shawnee Municipal Authority (SMA) Consent Agenda
40:00The Shawnee Municipal Authority's consent agenda was approved.
Shawnee Airport Authority (SAA) Consent Agenda
41:30The Shawnee Airport Authority's consent agenda was approved.
Calling Election for Capital Improvement Projects
1:56:00The commission voted to continue discussion on capital improvement projects with the intent to consider an election on February 7, 2012. This decision allows staff more time to prepare documents and gather public support, and was not a formal call for election.
Engage Bond Counsel and Financial Advisor
1:59:00The item to engage special bond counsel and a financial advisor for public financing issues was pulled, with no action taken.
Financial Matters
Lake Road Bridge Rehabilitation Project
The lowest bid received for the project was $630,319.30, significantly higher than the consultant's estimate of $458,000. The item was deferred to assess budget availability.
Rehabilitate Runway 17-35 and Construct Connecting Taxiway
Award of this project was deferred as the city is still awaiting the grant award from the FAA.
Beard Street Widening Project
The project was awarded to All Roads Paving Inc. for $367,732.70, which was under the budgeted amount of $450,000.
Proposed Capital Improvement Projects
A total of $50 million in projects is proposed, with $30 million from property tax (Expo, public safety, roads, economic development, aquatic center, neighborhood revitalization, sidewalks) and $20 million from a half-cent sales tax (sports park).
Unfunded Pension Liabilities
A citizen expressed concern about unfunded pension liabilities for non-union employees ($8M-$16M) and police/fire, suggesting the proposed sales tax might be needed for this.
Police Department Facility
Estimated cost for a new police facility to meet current and future needs (36,652 sq ft by 2031).
Public Safety Communications (North Tower)
Estimated cost for an additional tower or repeater on the north side of the county to improve radio signal coverage for emergency responders.
Upgrade Existing Repeater Site
Cost to upgrade the existing repeater site with new base stations.
Upgrade Subscriber Units (Radios)
Additional monies for upgrading radios carried by emergency services personnel.
45th Street (Kickapoo to Harrison) Widening
Estimated cost to widen the 1-mile stretch to four lanes with a turning lane or divided median.
45th Street (Harrison to Bryant) Widening
Estimated cost to widen the 1-mile stretch to four lanes with a turning lane or divided median.
Kickapoo Street (Spur to Highland) Widening
Estimated cost to four-lane this section, including sidewalks and utility relocation.
MacArthur Street (Harrison to Bryant) Widening
Estimated cost to reconstruct and widen to four lanes.
Kickapoo Street (I-40 to 0.5 mile South of Wolverine) Widening
Estimated cost to widen to a three-lane roadway with a turning lane.
West Tech Road Widening
Estimated cost to widen to three lanes, stabilize base, and overlay with asphalt.
Highland Street Reconstruction
Estimated cost to reconstruct to three lanes, including utility relocation and right-of-way purchase.
Kickapoo Street (Highland to Farrell) Widening
Estimated cost to continue four-laning the Kickapoo corridor.
Lake Area Streets Overlay
Estimated cost to overlay all gravel streets in the lake area.
South Side Frontage Road Extension
Estimated cost to extend the frontage road by the Honda facility to Harrison.
Sidewalks and Trails
Allocated funds for implementing the Shawnee Trails Master Plan, potentially yielding 3-6 miles of new sidewalks/trails.
Neighborhood Revitalization
Allocated funds for large-scale blight studies, demolition, and redevelopment efforts.
Public Comments
Citizens expressed a range of opinions on the proposed capital improvement projects. Strong support was voiced for essential infrastructure needs like streets, water lines, and public safety (police facility, communications). Concerns were raised about the high cost of the proposed $20 million sports complex, its economic viability, and whether it should be prioritized over basic services. Several speakers highlighted past unfulfilled promises for downtown revitalization and questioned the timing of an election before economic studies were complete. The affordability of tax increases for residents, especially seniors and those affected by recent utility rate hikes, was a significant theme.
Coming Up
Tabled
- Item 2e (from Consent Agenda)
- Lake Road Bridge Rehabilitation Project (5a)
- Rehabilitate Runway 17-35 and Construct Connecting Taxiway (5b)
Deadlines
- OSU economic viability report for the sports park is expected late October/early November.
- Bond counsel requires a minimum of two weeks to draft ballot language, aiming for mid-November for a February election.
Watch For
- Further work sessions to discuss capital improvement projects, funding, and timelines.
- Answers to public questions regarding project details and economic impacts.
- Discussions with the Expo board and Community Development Foundation (CDF).
- Resolution of Expo deed/lease issues impacting bond structuring.
Announcements
- Bill Jones from the Water Department will receive his Employee of the Month award at a later time.
Agenda Summary
Item number one: Consider approval of agenda
Approval of the meeting agenda.
Item number two: Consider approval of consent agenda
Approval of the consent agenda, with item 2e pulled for separate consideration.
Item 2e (Pulled from Consent Agenda)
Consideration of an item pulled from the consent agenda.
Item number three: Citizens participation
Opportunity for citizens to address the commission on various topics.
Item number four: City Manager's presentation of employee of the month to Bill Jones in the water department
Presentation of the employee of the month award.
Item 5a: Consider bids a lake road bridge rehabilitation project contract number c-o-s-p-w-11-03
Review of bids for the Lake Road bridge rehabilitation project, with the lowest bid exceeding the consultant's estimate.
Item 5b: Rehabilitate runway 17-35 grade safety and construction connecting taxiway aip project 3-40 contract number cos-pw-11-01 award deferred from the august 15th meeting
Consideration of awarding a bid for runway rehabilitation and taxiway construction, previously deferred.
Item 5c: Beard street widening project from feral to north canadian river bridge contract cos pw-10-03
Consideration of awarding a bid for the Beard Street widening project.
Item number six: New business
Opportunity for new business items.
Item number eight: Commissioner's comments
Opportunity for commissioners to provide comments.
Item number nine: Recess board of commissioners meeting to convene special call meeting and public hearing
Recess of the regular meeting to convene a special called meeting and public hearing.
Shawnee Municipal Authority (SMA) Item number one: Consider approval of consent agenda
Approval of the Shawnee Municipal Authority's consent agenda.
Shawnee Municipal Authority (SMA) Item number two: New business
Opportunity for new business items for the SMA.
Shawnee Airport Authority (SAA) Item number one: Consider approval of consent agenda
Approval of the Shawnee Airport Authority's consent agenda.
Shawnee Airport Authority (SAA) Item number two: New business
Opportunity for new business items for the SAA.
Special Called Meeting Item number one: Public hearing to discuss streets sidewalks neighborhood revitalization and public safety for the proposed capital improvement project list
Public hearing for presentations and citizen input on proposed capital improvement projects.
Item number ten: Reconvene board of city commissioners meeting
Reconvening of the regular Board of City Commissioners meeting.
Item number eleven: Discussion consideration and possible action to instruct staff to prepare all documents necessary to call election for consideration of projects included including determining of date projects and funding sources
Discussion and potential action regarding preparing for an election on capital improvement projects.
Item number twelve: Discussion consideration and possible action to engage the public finance law group pllc as special bond council and openheim a division of bosc inc as financial advisor for possible public financing issues
Discussion and potential action to engage bond counsel and a financial advisor for public financing.