the city hall. We call this meeting  to to order today. To provide our   invocation is Pastor Odell Harris Jr. of  Strangers Rest Missionary Baptist Church. Will you join me in bowing your heads? Heavenly  Father, we pause in this moment with humility   and gratitude, recognizing that every good  gift and every opportunity to serve comes   from you today. We thank you for the city of  Witchah, for its people, for its neighborhoods,   its businesses, its schools, and for the  many lives represented in this room. Lord,   we lift up these elected officers today who  carry the responsibility of making decisions   that affect thousands of lives. Grant them wisdom  that is greater than personal interest, courage   that stands above pressure and compassion that  sees every citizen with dignity and worth. Guide   their conversation today so that they are marked  by respect, thoughtful dialogue, and sincere   desire to seek the good of the whole community.  Help them remember that leadership is not only   simply authority but stewardship. We pray for  our city. We pray for Witchah as a whole. That we   will be a place where justice flows freely, where  opportunity is shared, where families feel safe,   and where neighbors look after one another. Heal  the places where there is division. Bring peace   where there is conflict. And provide hope where  there is struggle. Bless our first responders,   educators, community leaders, and all those who  labor daily to strengthen this city. And Lord,   remind us all that strength of our city is  not only found in buildings and budgets,   but in the character, compassion, and unity  of our people. We ask your guidance over this   meeting and over everyone who is here on  tonight. In your holy name we pray. Amen. Thank you, Pastor Odell Harris. Madame  Clerk, please call the first item, awards and proclamations. Sorry. The first proclamation is intellectual  and development disability awareness month. Can we please have the Members of  the Intellectual and Developmental   Disability Awareness Month Ability  Point come forward at this time. The proclamation reads, "The city  of Witchah, Kansas, founded in 1870.   Whereas intellectual and or developmental  disabilities are lifelong conditions which   affect statistically more than 9,000 Wshaw  area children and adults and their families,   many of whom wait on long lists for  needed services and support. Whereas   public awareness and education enhance a  community's acceptance and understanding   of issues affecting youth and adults living with  developmental disabilities. Whereas recognition   of the contributions of individuals living with  developmental disabilities is an effective way to   overcome negative stereotypes and eliminate  physical and barriers to full participation   in all aspects of community life, including  education, recreation, employment, and worship.   Whereas 2026 serves as the 30th anniversary of  the implementation of the Developmental Disability   Reform Act, landmark legislation advancing  inclusion, choice, and opportunities for canons   with developmental disabilities. Now, therefore,  be it resolved that the Witchah City Council does   hereby proclaim March 2026 as Intellectual  and Developmental Disability Awareness Month. Mayor and council members, thank you so  much for this uh proclamation and to the   city of Witchah for years of support  uh in inclusion and accessibility.   Um we have greatly appreciated all that  you have done. Uh to kind of highlight   uh the impact that is making on one of our  families, one of our amazing moms, Alana Carney. Hello everyone. Good evening, Mayor Woo,  Vice Mayor Johnston, Council Council Women,   and Councilmen. My name is Aldana Carney. My  husband Pat and I are the parent guardians   to Neil Carney who is our 31-year-old son with  severe non-verbal autism. Neil is the youngest   of our five children. My councilman JB Johnston  and his wife Veronica have actually watched Neil   grow up. Neil takes the same walking route in  our neighborhood every time we take him for a   walk. And that route takes him right past past the  Johnston's backyard. Our four older children and   the Johnston boys all attended the same parochial  grade school and high school together. Neil has   many complex needs and behavioral challenges, so  he attended Levy Special Education Day School,   which also happens to be in our neighborhood.  However, the Johnson's didn't see the constant   struggle we had to secure supports and services  for our son while he was in school and how those   struggles increased after his transition into  the scary world of adult services. As shared   in the proclamation, the DD Reform Act is 30  years old this year. It is a valuable piece of   legislation that has helped guide the state of  Kansas to provide appropriate services to those   individuals like Neil who have an intellectual  and developmental disability. The DD Reform Act   has helped those with disabilities to live in  their own communities. But it is only through   understanding, acceptance, and inclusion that  they feel that they are a part of their community.   I'm here today to thank the city council for the  commitment towards spreading awareness and for   the support the city has provided to make our comm  community community accessible for all. I would be   remiss if I didn't me mention that today a family  in our community has received a diagnosis or a   baby was born with a developmental disability. The  parents are understandably overwhelmed, stressed,   and scared. In the state of Kansas, there is  currently a wait list for the ID waiver that   is close to 5,000 individuals and an approximate  wait time of eight years to receive services. I'm   also here today to represent those families like  our family who are wanting the best life that we   can for our child with a disability. Thank  you for your commitment to help those with   developmental disabilities and their families  to ensure that they have a voice. Thank you. May please ask Senior Services of  Witchah to come forward at this time. The proclamation reads, "The city of Witchaw,  Kansas, founded in 1870. Whereas the city of   Witchaw is committed to supporting the health,  independence, and dignity of older adults,   recognizing that proper nutrition, and social  connection are essential to aging safely at home.   Whereas Senior Services of Witchah is a local  provider of meals on wheels, delivering nutritious   meals, safety checks, and meaningful connection  to homebound seniors while helping reduce food   insecurity and social isolation. Whereas in 2025  alone, Senior Services of Witchaw served more than   180,000 meals to homebound seniors, demonstrating  a significant impact on health and well-being of   our community. Whereas Meals on Wheels mobilizes  dedicated staff, volunteers, and community   partners in a shared commitment to care for older  adults, reflecting Witchah's spirit of service and   strengthening connections across generations.  Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Witchah   City Council does hereby proclaim March 2026 as  Senior Services of Witchah Meals on Wheels Month. I'm Wyatt Sheeter, executive director of senior  services of Witchah. On behalf of our incredible   staff, volunteers, and community partners  who make the services possible every day,   I thank the city of Witchah for this recognition.  Programs like Meals on Wheels do more than deliver   food. They help seniors remain healthy,  independent, and safe in their homes. How   many of you here know someone that receives Meals  on Wheels? How many of you have been one of our   volunteers? I love to see that. Supporting  our older adults strengthens the health   and well-being of Witchah as a whole. Seniors  are often forgotten as part of our community.   We're grateful for the community's continued  support of seniors that we serve. Thank you. May I please ask Council Member Joseph Shephard  to come forward to read the next proclamation? Transgender Day of Visibility. Thank  you so much. I'm here tonight to read   the proclamation proudly for  Transgender Day of Visibility. As shared in the media today, as a point personal  point of privilege, I would like to share that   I was asked by the mayor to read tonight's  transgender day of visibility proclamation and   I said yes without any hesitation or question.  And I said yes because city policy is clear.   Proclamations are ceremonial documents recognizing  important issues, events or accomplishments   meaningful to Witchah and the lives of my  transgender neighbors are meaningful to this city.   This proclamation celebrates the lives,  achievements, and resilience of transgender   people and acknowledges the hardships that they  face. As a black LGBTQ man who has experiences   the ch who has experienced the challenges tied to  the color of my skin and my orientation, I know   how important it is to understand and respect the  lived experiences of those whose identities may   differ from mine. This is no different from all  the other proclamations that we issue to other   communities that recognize and celebrate the  marginalized identities of those who make up   the fabric of our community. As seen tonight,  the disability both intellectual and physical   as well as Asian-Americans, black, and pride  that celebrates the lesbian, gay, and bisexual   individuals in our community. The transgender  community is no different. This time last year,   I watched as some of the council members actions  hurt our community. Those who are transgender,   their loved ones, their neighbors, their family  members, and simply those who support them. I   will never forget the courage of Representative  Abby Bman, whose leadership continues to inspire.   At the state of our city on Sunday, our mayor  called for the community to unify. And tonight,   I am making sure my actions show her that I am  committed to doing just that by embracing the   beauty of our community's diversity. Doing so is  not just the right thing morally. It strengthens   public health. It grows our economy. It builds our  workforce. It enriches the cultural fabric of who   we are. Inclusion must be more than just words.  It's one thing to say you're invited to the dance.   It's an entirely different thing to say. You can  dance with me once you are there. And tonight,   I want our transgender neighbors to know,  you can dance with me as long as you want to. I want to be very clear to our entire community.  I ran on the issue of working onward together with   everyone. No matter who you are, I make sure and I  want to make sure that our community feels valued.   No matter your ideology, who you vote for, your  race, your socioeconomic status, and yes, your   gender identity, you are my neighbor. You matter.  Your safety matters. Your lived experience matters   in the city of Witchah. Even when it feels like  your life and humanity is under attack, I want   each and everyone of you to know you belong here  in the city of Witchah. You matter and there are   members of this council that have your back and  that support you not just for show but for real.   So, as I get ready to close, I ask that each and  every one of us remember the words of Marshia P.   Johnson. And remember that the P stands for pay it  no mind. What matters is not only what we say or   do, but how we make others feel. Language matters.  And tonight, I want everyone in our community to   feel that they belong and that we as a city are  committed to making this a reality. The question   that I have for each and every one of you tonight,  whether you agree with this proclamation or not,   is simply a question. Don't you want to feel  loved, seen, and valued in the community that   you dedicate your time to? That's what this  proclamation is about. And with that, mayor,   I will read the proclamation. Proclamation of the  city of Witchah, Kansas, founded in 1870. Whereas,   Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual  international day dedicated to celebrating the   achievements and resilience of transgender and  gender non-conforming individuals. And whereas   on March 31st, 2009, Rachel Cran Crocker created  Transgender Day of Visibility to go beyond the day   of mourning and resemblance and move towards  celebrating the lives, achievements, and the   resilience in transgender people. And whereas no  one, and I repeat, no one should have to be brave   just to be themselves. And that transgender people  face an increasing lack of legal protection.   including legislation specifically designed to  prohibit them from accessing public bathrooms   that correspond with their gender identity,  elevated poverty rates, considerable stigma,   employment harassment and discrimination,  higher rates of violence against them,   lack of gender affirming healthc care coverage,  and lack of accurate identity documentation. And   whereas on March 31st, 2026 is a day to celebrate  and lift up the lives of voices of transgender   people throughout our community and to work  towards eliminating violence and discrimination   based on gender identity. Now there now therefore  be a resolve that the Witchaw City Council does   hereby proclaim March 31st, 2026 transgender day  of visibility and it is signed by Mayor Lily Woo. I ask for the supporters of the  transgender day of visibility   proclamation and the supporters  on the city council to join me. Another one. My name is Nat and I serve as president of  Witchaw Pride Incorporated. I stand here   today as a non-binary person who uses any  and all pronouns. A reminder that gender   diversity is not theoretical. It's lived. It is  local and it's part of the fabric of Witchaw.   Hello. Uh, my name is June. I serve Witchaw Pride  as the communications director and I am an out and   proud transwoman who lives, loves, works, and  volunteers right here in the city of Witchaw.   I've lived my entire life in the state of Kansas.  I am as Kansas as they come. I want to take this   moment to go over some quick history to make  sure that everyone is up to date with where we   stand today and how we got here. I'll be brief,  I promise. While I'll be brief, I will say that   our history is not. We have been here since the  beginning of time. Our history is expansive. Our   documented history is expansive. We can go all  the way back to the 1940s where Michael Dylan,   a trans man and physician, wrote the first  medical book on medical transition. Not just   social transitioning, but the medical transition.  World War II vet and actress Christine Jorgensson   underwent her transition in the 1950s. And these  are just talking about people in Western culture.   If we go further back in cultures around the  world, we have been carved out as a part of   society since the beginning of time. If we get a  little bit more recent, 2009 was when we saw the   first trans day of visibility. It was in direct  relation to the trans day of remembrance, the day   that we remember and mourn those that we lost to  violence. We decided that we needed to celebrate   that we are here. Celebrate our accomplishments.  Celebrate what we do every single day. 2015 was when we started to see this modern  fascination with the anti-trans bill. There   were 17 bills proposed that year. 2021 was  when we saw the first major spike with 140   bills introduced that year. 2023 was when we saw a  prominent political personality get on a national   stage and tell us that there is no middle ground  and this whole ideology must be eradicated. 2023   was the same year that Kansas SB80 passed and it  is 370 words of legal jargon trying to explain   my existence. It fails. 2025, we saw the largest  number of anti-trans bills introduced to date with   state and national governments submitting over  a thousand bills trying to say how I can live,   how we can live our lives. 2025 was the  same year that a prominent local politician   got up in front of everyone and told us that  these proclamations segregate the community.   To my knowledge, she still hasn't sat down  with any member of the community to discuss   just how wrong and harmful that statement was. On  January 9th of this year, the Lincoln Institute,   the same institute that carries the name and  the legacy of the man who first coined the term   genocide, stated that they believe that the  United States is in the early to mid phases   of a genocide of transgender Americans.  21 days after that report was published,   the state of Kansas legislation used what is being  coined as the gutandgo method to shove through one   of the most oppressive bans on trans people in a  single day. On February 26th, they doubled down   and instead of allowing any grace period for a  new bill, they chose to upend thousands of trans   people's lives by enacting a brutal and barbaric  new bill overnight. Instead of taking public   comment and listening to the constituents they are  supposed to represent, they chose to ignore us all   and cause harm to our community, they chose  to segregate and isolate a community that is   already historically marginalized and targeted.  And what is the crime of trans canons and trans   people living in the city of Witchaw? What have  we done that our youth cannot participate in   sports that are intended to promote good health,  positive connections, work ethic, and teamwork?   What have we done that doctors and parents can't  make scientifically backed decisions about our   health? What have we done to deserve to lose  the safety to engage in basic human functions in   public spaces with a fear of legal consequences or  violence egged on by those who will never know us? What atrocities have we committed against you  that these politicians are so rapidly trying to   erase us? A community whose whole  existence revolves around love.   authenticity, acceptance, and empathy. Today, we recognize the Transgender  Day of Visibility later this month,   a day that or honors the brilliance, resilience,  and humanity of transgender, non-binary,   and gender expansive people. But here in Kansas,  visibility is not just a celebration. It's an act   of courage. It's an act of resistance. And it's an  act of hope. Across our state, transgender canons   have faced a wave of legislation aimed at erasing  their identities, restricting their health care,   limiting their participation in public  life and undermining their basic dignity.   These bills do not reflect the values of fairness,  compassion, or freedom that canons hold dear.   They do not make our communities safer. They do  not protect our children. They only cause harm.   And yet, despite these barriers, transgender  people in Kansas continue to lead, to create,   to advocate, to parent, to serve, and to thrive.  Their courage is not hypothetical. It's happening   in our schools, in our workplaces, in our  neighborhoods, and right here in Witchah.   Transgender Day of Visibility calls us to do  more than acknowledge the community. It calls   us to stand up for the community. It calls  us to challenge misinformation, to confront   discrimination, and to refuse the narrative  that transgender lives are up for debate.   It calls us to build a Kansas where transgender  people are not just visible, but safe, supported,   and celebrated. As Witchaw Pride, we see the  strength of our transgender community every   day. We see young people navigating a world that  often misunderstands them, yet still choosing   authenticity. We see adults who have fought  for decades to live openly, offering wisdom and   leadership. We see families learning, growing,  and standing fiercely beside their transgender   children. And we see allies who are stepping  forward, ready to do the work. Witchah is at its   best when we choose compassion over fear, truth  over distortion, and community over division. We   have the power to model what a welcoming city  looks like, even when the statewide climate is   difficult. We have the power to say clearly that  transgender people belong here, that their health   care is valid and that their identities are  real and that their futures matter. So today   with this proclamation, we affirm transgender  canons deserve safety. They deserve respect.   Transgender canons deserve joy. And transgender  canons deserve a future in this state. Not in   spite of who they are, but because of who they  are. To every transgender, non-binary, and gender   expansive person in Witchah and across Kansas, we  see you. We honor you. We fight alongside you. And   we will not stop until this state reflects  the dignity you already carry. Thank you. Madame clerk, please call the next item. Public  agenda. We now come to public agenda. The public   agenda allows for up to five speakers to have  five minutes each to address the council. Please   bear in mind that this is not a period of dialogue  with council or a question and answer period. This   is your opportunity to address the city council  with your concerns. I ask that you address your   remarks to the city council as a body and not  to any individual council member. No action   will be taken relative to items on the public  agenda other than referral to the city manager   for information as necessary. Speakers will please  speak into the microphone. Please state their name   and address for the record. A time clock will  display the speaker's remaining time to speak.   Order and rules of decorum will be observed. The  first speaker is Christina Clag, Threeline Roads. Where is the clock? Oh, okay. Okay. Um, I wanted to thank Mr. for that  because um I have trans family members and it's as   a straight woman it's still Thank you. Thank you  for um they don't feel safe and um don't feel like   they can come out and it's hard on all of us.  So um it doesn't just affect trans affects all   of us. Thank you. Um my name is Christina Cly  Jackson. I live at 2307 North um Inwood Circle   near North 21st in Rock and my topic is the um  forced threelane roads the city is doing for   either road diets or the uh stripes of paint for  bike lanes and the problems I see with this. Um   I'm don't understand why the city is purposely  making commutes longer and congesting traffic.   Witchah has been recognized as one of the top  fastest commutes in America and we've been very   proud of that. I hear people, I can drive from  one area of town to the other in 30 minutes or   20 minutes and now the city is purposely creating  threelane roads to slow down traffic or cause it   to go into side streets. U one of the problems  I see is connected to the ozone awareness month.   When you have traffic jams, you're going to have  cars stuck and idling, which is causing more   pollution in the city. A longer commute means cars  are driving longer, which means more pollution in   the city. Um 13th and Broadway is uh to 21st um  around 5:00, especially if there's a train bumper   to bumper from 13th to 21st. I've been there.  And when that happens, um, cars like me, we   drive either, you know, across 17th over to Park  or Maine or Waco, and it puts more traffic into   those residential streets, which makes it more  dangerous for those residents. Um, Broadway is an   arterial street. It was made for large amounts of  traffic. It has businesses, so it's not children   playing in streets where we're adding more  traffic. Congesting or restricting that traffic,   like I said, um causes cars to funnel into  side streets and um like I you know, Broadway,   I've done it myself. So, um 13th you can't turn  right because it's so backed up. you go straight   and you go usually down Waco, which causes more  traffic in that residential street, which is a   three-lane road that was forced. Um, three-lane  roads are dangerous in the fact that people use   that middle lane that's supposed to be a turn  lane to pass, especially when people are going   slow. Drag racing occurs. My mom lives on 18th  and Waco, right when North High gets out. There   are drag races constantly in the street. I've had  personally experienced road rage myself on 13 on   Waco when I backed out of my mom's driveway. I had  my 80-year-old mom in the car and a truck behind   me started honking, blurring his horn, going  around me, and as soon as he got in front of me,   he slammed on his brakes and he was angry because  how dare I got in front of him, you know? But this   three-lane road, he was rushing um up because  there's nothing to stop him from driving fast   down that lane. No cars turning, you know, no cars  turning left. He because they have the turn lane,   so he can just go as fast as he wants. Um, I  also had that at 37 Street one night where I   went I went because the car was going 40 then 35  then 30. I went to go around them and it was like   a Camaro and then they started to drag race me and  I automatically started going faster and you know   it's just dangerous and then when I went back  behind them they slammed on their brakes. So,   I'm sure people here have probably experienced a  similar situation. These three-lane roads aren't   safer. They cause other problems. Um, another  issue I have is where the money is being spent   with the bicycle board and um pedestrian. Um, a  lot of money is being prioritized to the Redbud   trail crossings. uh the $3 million bridge. It's $8  million bridge, but the city of Witchah is paying   three million for a bridge over Rock Road for  people that will bicycle out of Witchah to other   cities. But paint um paint is missing and ADA  signs are missing on many street crossings. One I   know is at 21st and Payatt in front of the Dollar  General um food market. There's no street markings   for cars or people. It has the oldfashioned  crossing. Um, 21st and Rock doesn't have ADA   signage. I sent that in. Street lights are missing  at intersection such at 21st and Oliver where the   WSU students cross. There's a lot of areas where  it needs to be focused on the the bicycle board   gets 12 million in three years and then the city  gave them an extra 50%. So now they're getting $18   million in three years. And a lot of that money  is, you know, lipstick on a pig. Throw down two   stripes of paint, which is the least safest by  federal guidelines. Let's start paying to get like   Waco sidewalk paid. People use that 18th Street  sidewalk paved. Let's pay for that. So, thank you. Thank you, Christina. Y Madame Clerk,   please call the next individual. Allison Bell.  continued deterioration of the Commodore. Hello. Good evening, Mayor and members of of K  City Council. My name is Dr. Allison Bell and   I'm a lifelong Witchah resident, a doctoral level  board certified behavior analyst, and an autism   specialist. My life's work has been dedicated  to Witchah's children, specifically those in   our central corridor who rely on us for critical  medically necessary services. My clinic, New Hope   Therapy Services, is located at 609 North Broadway  immediately adjacent the historic Commodore. We've   intentionally operated in the central business  district and downtown for the last three and a   half years to ensure that transportation is never  a barrier to care for any family seeking services   for their child. We moved 600 feet um to the  north um from Market to Broadway in January. The   Commodore does have a powerful history, but it's  unchecked deterioration and failing ownership has   moved beyond a neighborhood nuisance and is now  a direct threat to the clinical services and the   well-being of the children that I serve. Right  now, the broken window theory is playing out at   our doorstep every single day. The concentration  of blight has created a vacuum for crime. And in   the last week, there has been a shooting and a  stabbing three weeks or three blocks north of us.   Furthermore, I've had to contact law enforcement  several times in the last week, including Sunday   when I had an individual brandished a knife when  I was asking him to leave our parking lot. Last   Friday and today, the fire alarms at the Commodore  were going off for the entirety of the day. When   Witchah Fire Department arrives, they can inspect  the building, but there is nothing that they can   do to silence that alarm. I have to then act as  a liaison calling the realator that's listed for   the auction um to have them and demand that  they call the owner to silence that alarm.   The noise permeates into our clinic disrupts our  sessions and causes unnecessary distress for the   children that I serve. The brick facade on the  building is failing and despite my own efforts   to sweep and clear debris, falling brick and  glass from the unsecured windows constantly   litters our parking lot and the walking pathways.  The current security is just simply razor wire and   haphazardous boarding is not only an eyesore, but  it's also a failure. Since the recent snowstorm,   vents have been pried open and individuals are  actively trespassing in the building to escape   the elements. The data is undeniable. Since moving  to this location just two months ago, my team has   had to contact law enforcement more time in 60  days more times in 60 days than the previous   three and a half years of our operations. We are  working to build futures for the Witchah's most   vulnerable children. while an outofstate investor  treats our city as a line item on a ledger. The   building has gone to auction and failed twice  and is going up for auction again soon. But the   market has spoken and the current situation  is untenable. It is deeply frustrating that   while we struggle to keep our area safe, these  owners continue to profit. They keep the power   on specifically to collect revenue from rooftop  cell towers, refuse to secure the building,   and dodge accountability by rotating registered  agents so frequently that even even MABCD cannot   verify who is responsible. The burden of neglect  has been shifted to the taxpayers through constant   emergency calls and to my small business through  the literal labor of cleaning up their debris and   their crisises. I am a behavior analyst and not  a city manager. I am not just here to complain.   I am here to ask for the enforcement of existing  tools in the pursuit of new ones. Under city code,   owners must name a local registered agent. And  since they have failed to maintain a verifiable   agent, I'm requesting the immediate assessment of  penalties and the forced appointment of a local   agent who can be served legal papers in person.  I'm also requesting that the city exercise its   power to power to professionally board and secure  the perimeter, assessing the cost as a tax lean   against that property. Lastly, I'm asking for  a formal audit of Witchah PD and Witchaw Fire   Department's manhour spent at this location over  the last 36 months and that the city seek cost   recovery from the owners for these preventable  responses. Lastly, I'm urging the city to explore   an injunction redirecting cell phone tower leases  payments um to pay for outstanding code violations   and safety. Witchah's growth depends on a safe and  vibrant downtown. If the current owners continue   to hide behind a rotating door of agents, we must  stop treating this as a negotiation and start   treating it as abandonment. I'm asking that the  city council move forward with towards receiverhip   or condemnation. And if because if these people  will not be a neighbor, they should not be an   owner. We either need to bring the commodor back  to its former glory or clear the way for someone   that will. The children that I serve cannot  wait another year for a safe neighborhood.   Thank you. Thank you, Alison. I have a couple  of council members that want to speak. Council   member Ballard. Thank you, Mayor. Um Allison,  thank you so much for being here. Um, I share   your frustration with the Commodore. Um, Chris  Labram, can I pick on you for a second? Sorry. Couple questions. Has a nuisance letter  ever been sent to the Commodore? So, uh,   good evening, mayor, council members. Chris  Labram, director of MABCD. Uh, so a nuisance   letter specifically being violations and cases or  are you speaking directly to uh Okay. So, uh there   are multiple cases against uh that property. Uh  they have worked to secure it which has made that   a little bit difficult. Uh totally understand  what the uh speaker is talking about. We did we   have put an injunction against permits on the sale  towers. So, they did have to stop work for a time.   We got to the point that we realized that in an  effort to punish the owner, we were also punishing   uh companies that that did not had not done  anything wrong. So, we let them complete the   cell tower work, but uh we are not allowing any  other permits or works to continue on that. Uh we   obviously are very aware that uh the shoring that  the fire department put in place some time ago is   starting to deteriorate. Uh we have not seen um  uh we we haven't seen a more significant fall   of that. Uh trying to keep an eye on that the best  we can. Uh we do have a few engineers reports that   say that while there's obviously some deflection  in the structure that caused that. They are not   seeing structural issues with the building. Um  uh we were like everyone else very hopeful that   something would happen with the sails but it has  not. uh specific to the question of next steps.   Uh it is it has been very recent December that we  had the new uh guidance put in place by you all   that gives us uh extra tools to register this on  uh under title 30 um as a neglected building and   we are working towards that. It is one of one of  a few buildings uh the other one was referenced in   that discussions or in in those words as well that  are moving rapidly towards uh that list. We hope   to serve the owners with that fairly soon. So if  I remember right it's an out ofstate owner. That   is correct. Correct. Yes ma'am. Have they been  difficult to communicate with uh and they have   not been very responsive. they have uh at times  had local agents uh that have contacted us. Uh   recently it has been very difficult to to reach  them. So what is the more aggressive approach   if the out ofstate owner is not participating in  the conversation and there's businesses that are   adjacent that are also you and your staff and fire  and police and everybody is spinning resources.   um that we have plenty of other places that they  could be utilized on properties that are not   participating in the conversation and kind of out  of sight out of mind. Yeah. So, uh when we move   towards registering them under title 30, they will  have to provide us a local owner or face increase   penalties. uh that will add monetary penalties  to the owner that we uh c certainly are helpful   offset um anything else they may be gaining and  will motivate them towards uh doing something   more productive with the building. We will would  also not have to refer to PD and possibly legal   um because obviously these issues with us could  trigger them as a nuisance property. I do not   know if they have been registered or moving  towards registration with PD under uh under   their version of a nuisance and nuisance property.  Okay. City manager, could you please follow up on   the commoder? It's been at least since I've been  on council that the out of state owner kicked   everybody out that was on some type of voucher  program couple weeks before Christmas and nothing   has happened really since. So, um, sorry to put  you on the spot, but I appreciate the update. And   Miss Allison, I will, um, be in touch with you  as soon as I get an update. Thank you for being   here. No problem. And I will coordinate with the  police department as well about uh we we're we're   trying to definitely coordinate the both of those  um ordinances and when we move buildings that   direction and depending on what that looks like  if there's a way to um initiate the nuisance um   ordinance that we just talked about and updated a  couple weeks ago. Um whatever we need to do to get   their attention that it's not fair to everybody  around them. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Council   member Shepard. Thank you, Mayor. I just want to  say, Allison, I agree with you. I think that we   have an ordinance to uh enforce encampments for  homeless people. We need to enforce how to hold   bad landlords and folks accountable as well. So,  we need to do the same thing, two things at one   time. So, I appreciate you coming and asking for  accountability. Council member Hoheisel. Thank   you, Mayor, and thank you, Allison. It sounds  like you uh really know your stuff with the list   there. Um I would just point out also with um to  people who are listening, there's a lot of uh red   tape that's thrown our way as far as being able to  enforce um property management on the state level.   Uh there's a couple of bills that have been heard  here this year and in the future as well. So make   sure you reach out to your state representatives  and state senators and express the issues as well.   and that way we have more tools in our toolbox to  deal with um absentee landlords and owners. So,   thank you for coming today. Madame  Clerk, please call the next individual. See Americaos spending money  on art instead of the drought. Is Mara here? I see none. Madame  clerk, please call the next individual. The next person on the public agenda,  Katherine Kaine, cancelled earlier this   afternoon. That means we have three spots for  any individuals who would like to address the   council. Please state your name and your  address and you will have five minutes. Good evening. My name is Mark Barlo aka Sign  of the Times. I'm running for Kansas House   Representatives in the District 99. Um, I want  to start tonight by reading a Star Trek quote   that I find is pretty applicable to what happened  tonight. Uh, with the first link, the chain is   forged. The first speech censored, the first  thought forbidden, the first freedom denied,   chains us all irrevocably. The first time any  person's freedom is trotten on, we're all damaged.   I want to thank Joseph Shephard for reading  tonight's transgender proclamation. I just   want to point out that it's specifically  the mayor's job to read all proclamations   regardless of their position on that  particular subject that's in the city   charter. She abandons her duties in her office  by abdicating that responsibility and witchins   have noticed her lackluster cowardice. Thank  you to all present here tonight except for   our feckless coke mouthpieces. Witch it talk  can do so much better than you and we will. Thank you Mark. Any other individuals who would   like to address the council? Please state  your name and you will have five minutes. Andrew Crane, guiding pause uh ICT. Well, good  evening council. I am back. Um and uh wanted to uh   say I have uh visited uh a couple DABs uh meetings  and uh each one of your your districts. Um,   I haven't uh been to district 4 yet or district  one uh one yet. Um, and uh I will be coming. But,   uh, I wanted to, uh, let you guys know, um, the,  uh, Guiding Pause is going to be having a grand   opening, uh, on April the 9th, and you guys are  all welcome to come and, uh, and that. And then   another question that I had on the sidewalks  and bus uh, bus stops. Um, and uh that's that's   something that you guys need to look at. Um, and  uh I also got an email um from a u person from the   uh bike bike bike witchah um that uh it needs to  be addressed and curve cuts and and all that. So,   um, and and that so that needs to be, uh, worked  worked out and, uh, to help out the disability   community. Um, because you got you got folks that  are in wheelchairs that are trying to cross the   street and, uh, you got blind individuals that are  trying to cross the street, too. Um, and I I'm one   of them. and uh and that and I have got hit by  a car and I was I was in the right way um and   and that so um that really needs to be looked  at guys. Thank you. Thank you. Any questions? Thank you, Andrew. You're welcome. My name is Nancy Brown. I reside at 11707 East  Crestwood Street here in Witchah in District 2.   I'm here today to speak about how this body could  follow up on the defeat last week of the 1% sales   tax. It's very easy in the face of defeat to  just give up and move on. But in all of my   conversations and all of the meetings I attended,  everyone found at least something in that measure   that they favored, some unmet need that could be  relieved by the the sales tax. Their concerns were   less about what was in the measure and more about  how it came into being and frankly a lack of trust   in the ability of city officials to follow through  on resolutions that were passed to further define   its implementation. As most of you may recall,  I'm very aware of how quickly a resolution can   be overturned by a simple majority despite public  outcry if the right person speaks in favor of its   repeal. And I know I'm not the only one who has  seen resolutions overturned, projects approved,   and relief denied. Despite public sentiment,  every resolution relies on the political will   of the council, and that will can be changeable.  Much good work was done by this council and the   city staff to flesh out the requirements and  guard rails for implementing, aortioning, and   utilizing proceeds from the proposed 1% sales  tax. I propose that instead of letting all of   that good work and all the time spent by all of  you, all the staff, all these stakeholders who met   with you over and over, uh, instead of letting  all of that go to waste, perhaps re retool the   tax proposal to include and codify all of those  resolutions that you've developed. In the process,   additional stipulations as to selection criteria  and rules for the members of the oversight   board and relief programs for our lowwealth and  renter citizens could be developed and included.   The result of this work would be  a fully developed, comprehensive,   and transparent ballot measure with built-in  accountability, binding not only this council,   but future councils for the next seven years or  however long the term was decided to be. Such a   process would take some time, which would address  one of the concerns I heard most, that the measure   was just rammed through in a very great hurry.  town halls on voter education using consistent,   accurate messaging would give residents clarity  and confidence when it comes time to vote,   countering the misinformation issues that  surrounded the recent campaign. Incorporating   the guard rails into the measure would go a long  way toward improving voter trust that promises   made in that measure would be promises they could  watch you keep. You've done so much work in trying   to shore up a vague and a vague ballot measure  with unclear intentions. It would be a shame   not to build on that to develop a proposal  that does the good things that were offered   previously but in the right way in a way that  the voters of Witchah can support. I encourage   you to give this serious con consideration.  Thank you for your time. Thank you, Nancy. Madame clerk, please call the next  item. Consent agenda items 1 through 12. Council members, are there any items to be  pulled? I'd like to pull item number six. Item number six is the contract documents  for main water treatment plant conversion to   emergency use. I don't want to pull this  item. I just want a clarification to be   identified. Can I just ask the clarifying  question? Uh this is consent agenda item   number 10. This is in regards to a boardup.  Um, I wanted to know uh what are the next steps   to the board up at 2430 North 127th Street  East. This would be the Calamar Apartments. Good evening, Mayor. Uh, Chris Labram, MABCD.  So, the um the building is also now fenced and   the owners of that building are seeking a sale. I  know they have a few different interested parties   uh seeking to uh purchase that project and try to  complete the project. So, at this point in time,   we have it boarded. We've assessed that board. Uh  we are keeping an eye on the property. It is also   fenced and uh they are in the process of trying  to sell it and then complete the the unfinished   apartment building. And the board up happened.  I know it's fence, but when is the board up   happening? Uh, so we did board it. Um, that was  it. It had been the project had not been worked   for a while. So going back several months now.  Uh, probably probably close to five or six. the   um when Calamar uh so the bank foreclosed on the  current owner and with that the company who had   placed the fence removed their fence. They were  leasing it to the company so they removed it. At   that point in time we went ahead and boarded the  building uh as a safety measure to uh discourage   any illicit activity there. The once the bank  then again had control they replaced the fence.   Thank you. Thank you, mayor. I see no  other items to be pulled. So, with that,   I will move to approve consent agenda items  without consent agenda item number six.   Second. Motion. Second. Discussion. See  none. Madame clerk, please open the role. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed,  same sign. Motion passes. 70. We are now at   consent agenda item number six. Council member  Johnston. Thank you, Mayor. I know I'm in the   minority here, but I still do not understand  why we have not had a backup water treatment   plant forever in Witchah. I don't see why we need  another one when our new water treatment plant   when operating will have multiple redundancies  to it. So, I will be voting against this. So,   thank you. With that, since the item was pulled,  uh do you want any uh comments from staff,   we will now open it up for public comment if  anyone in the public would like to speak on   this item? I see none. I'll bring it back to  the bench. I will go ahead and move to approve receive and file the contract  documents. Second. Motion.   Second. Discussion. Seeing none,  madame clerk, please open the roll. All those in favor say I. I. I. All those opposed,   same sign. Motion passes 61. Madame  clerk, please call the next item. Board of Bids and Contracts dated March 2nd, 2026. Good evening, Mayor, City Council. Josh  Lober, Department of Finance. Uh the board   of bids and contracts convened yesterday,  March 9th, 2026 for the following items. For engineering, we have  water distribution system,   sanitary sewer improvements, paving to  serve Whispering Creek Edition for Noak   Construction Company Incorporated for  an aggregate bid total of 1,435,98622 subject to your approval of the new  engineers estimate budget authorization.   Just now we have the sanitary sewer  improvements for lift station 4 for   Wildcat Construction Company Incorporated  for an aggregate bid total of $386,170. We have the Witchah Valley Center  Flood Control Project Storm Water   Sewer Repairs for Dutton Construction  Services LLC in the amount of $248,600. We have the real time information  center or Arctic expansion for   constant technologies incorporated for $198,7722. And we have the fire escape kits and  systems change order for all hands   fire equipment LLC for an amended amount of  $58,812.50 estimated annually. For airport,   we have the highspeed runway broom parts contract   for United Rotary Brush Corporation for  an estimated annual usage of $12,371.88 for one year with two one-year options. And we  have the Flex Technical Service Agreement for   Building Controls and Services Incorporated  for an estimated annual usage of 60,000. This   is how to become a vendor with the city. This is  our purchasing calendar with our small business   resource partner events that the city's hosting  or participating. And I'll be remiss if I don't   speak to the staff training that purchasing and  the law department will be hosting on Thursday.   Uh we look forward to speaking with our city  staff on purchasing policies and procedures.   And this is our open public opportunities out  on the street today. And I've been stuck at   two slides historically. And you'll see I'm  starting to pick up traction. So with that,   uh I'll be happy to try to answer your  questions and I recommend your approval.   Thank you, Josh. Questions for staff, beginning  with Council Member Ballard. Thank you, Mayor. Um,   if you could go to slide seven, please. Sure.  Could you just explain um the one bid? Sure. So,   this was the one. I actually had  notes about it during agenda review. Um, so when I talked with the buyer, we worked on  this during our board of bids agenda review. Um,   an email was sent to a a frequent vendor that does  this work, utility maintenance contractors. Um,   they were not able to participate or did did not  express interest. We notified another common firm,   Don Linger, stating previously that they  haven't bidded because they are quote too   busy. So there's lots of work available. Um  and then we had a notification from Wildcat   that they are historically not competitive for  these types of projects and they did not respond   being a rebid project and this uh was confirmed  that this was something uh past six months plus   that we had rejected the bids and put back out.  Can you explain like just receiving one bid like   you guys know the floor I assume where the bids  can be. We've just had questions before on only   receiving one bid on big projects like this. So,  if you could just explain that, please. Sure. So,   how do you gauge the market and the barometer  of what's competitive or not competitive? Um,   a lot of that's going to be with our operating  department ensuring that the engineers estimate   um is in alignment. So the um engineer that is  assigned will have detailed specifications that   they submit for this plan. Um that outlines  the budget, estimated budget that purchasing   staff will not see um until the project  is released and we present it to you.   Um, and the only other thing I'd be  remiss in stating is is um, $248,000   um, for me is a lot of money, but in the in  the broader scheme of the procurement process,   really the dollar thresholds come into play.  You've seen vendors openly express to city staff   that the purchasing thresholds we're engaging  in. Um, I don't have to engage in these types   of services with my my private clients. Um these  are processes that are more difficult for me   um and just some quite frankly declining to  participate. Okay. Thank you. I see no further   questions from the bench. I will move to approve  the board of bids and contracts dated March 2nd,   2026. Second. Motion second discussion. See  none. Madame clerk, please open the role. Motion passes 70. Madame clerk,  please call the next item. Petitions for public improvements. Good evening,  mayor, city council members. I have new petitions   for your consideration tonight. I'm Paul  Gunsman with public works and utilities.   The signatures on the petitions represent  100% of the improvement districts and the   petitions are valid per Kansas statute.  Young East edition located in district   two. The project will provide water storm  water drain sanitary sewer and paving   improvements required for a new residential  development and to cover cost of a private bid. And it is recommended that the city council  approve the new petitions and new budgets,   adopt the new resolutions, and authorize  the necessary signatures. And I will stand   for questions. Questions for staff. I  see none. Thank you, Paul. With that,   I move to approve the petitions for  public improvements. Second. Motion.   Second. Discussion. Seeing none.  Madame clerk, please open the role. Motion passes 70. Madame clerk,  please call the next item. Public hearings considering an amendment to a tax  increment financing project plan 3A. request for   approval of a letter of intent to issue industrial  revenue bonds and approval of a development   agreement for 123 South Market LLC. Honorable  mayor, members of council, Troy Anderson,   assistant city manager. I stand before you today  with a request uh for a um mixeduse project   uh that involves uh couple of incentives. Uh back  in August, you may recall the city council adopted   a tiff project plan for area 3A of the center city  south tiff district. Uh at that time the adoption   of the project plan was for the purposes of a  redevelopment and rehabilitation of a property at   221 South Broadway that was part of a full service  hotel. You may recall that as Hotel Indigo. So   we already have a project plan that has been  identified for this area of the larger district.   Um that project plan based on the introduction  uh last year is set to expire in 2045 or when the   tiff reimbursement has been reached. Since then  we have received a new request. This is for a   property within those boundaries uh located at 123  South Market. Conveniently the name also of the   LLC uh owner and developer of the project. They're  requesting an amendment to that TIFF project plan   area 3A to now incorporate their project as well  and then also use uh industrial revenue bonds for   sales tax exemption on all other construction uh  commodities, furniture, fixture and equipment.   Project consists of a comprehensive adaptive  reuse and vertical expansion of the existing   uh vacant undeveloped building at 123 South  Market. building will be converted into a mixeduse   project with ground flooror commercial and about  50 market rate residential units. Developer will   pay all construction costs associated with the  project. City's not bonding any of this work.   The incremental tiff revenues will then be used to  reimburse the owner developer for certain eligible   expenses based on the pay as you go basis.  Owner developer assumes all the risk. Again,   no risk to the taxpayers in this project. Project  estimated about a $10.7 million capital investment   with TIFF eligible expenses totaling about $2.2  million. In addition, the developer is requesting   again that IRB in an amount not to exceed 8.25  million for purposes of sales tax exemption only.   I'm going to pause for just a second because  again, we bond all of the construction costs   or the total project costs to asssure that all  of those project costs are covered under that   sales tax exemption. So, I want to make sure  that we're communicating to everybody involved   that that $8.25 million is not the incentive  that is being offered up as part of the IRB.   We are simply bonding all of that work to  asssure that the sales tax associated with   any of that work is then sales tax exempt. More  specifically, the actual or approximate value   of the sales tax exemption is really only about  $600,000 in which the city share is approximately   $45,000. The developers requested the use of  tiff on a pay as you go basis. City will not   issue debt for the project. Developer agrees to  pay all costs of issuing the bonds and agrees to   pay the city's $2,500 annual IRB origination fee.  Bonds will be purchased by the developer related   entity. Law departments reviewed and approved the  ordinance resolution and development agreement as   to form. Bond documents will uh ultimately be  prepared by outside outside council. Um final   form will be approved by city's law department.  Additionally, law department will review and   approve um all those bond documents again  prior to the issuance of any of those bonds.   That being said, it's recommended city council  hold a public hearing, close a public hearing,   uh and approve a project plan amendment and letter  of intent as well as a development agreement   resolution, place the ordinance on second reading,  and authorize the necessary signatures. We do have   a representative from the applicant here  today who would like to address council. Good evening, mayor and council members.  Appreciate your time this evening and uh um as we   get to review a project that we're really excited  about. Um 1936 building was built and then in 1939   it took three years to get it open and it opened  as a Sears and Robux store. um little less than a   hundred years ago. Um and so it served WTO well.  Um everybody's seen this building. A lot of us   know it as the Sterling Building downtown. Um it  was a Sears and Robot. It was uh then also a drug   store. It was a bank for a little while. It houses  the Sterling Water Company. Um and for the last   roughly 25 years, it's been sparsely um occupied  and mostly vacant. uh we uh took a shining of the   building, loved the art deco um history behind it,  um but also struggled to figure out a solution of   what could we do with the building. Um and  so somebody on our team had the solution,   maybe we can go vertical with it. And so we put  a project plan together and an ideas and started   investigating to figure out if we could use the  existing building that was there and go vertical   um with additional floors. Uh and so um teaming  with both DC to do a structural review and then   reading back through the Witchaw Eagle. There's  a note in there and I'm not going to I'll spare   everybody at the time, but it talks about how in  1939 when it was opened, they had planned to go   additional floors. So, it was structurally built  to uh sustain additional floors um back in 1939,   but they never did it. Um and so our building is  set downtown with just two floors for nearly 100   years. So, the project that we're proposing takes  that existing building um which has been vacant   for quite some time and it adds two additional  floors to the roof. That's the way we're able   to get 50 apartments uh in the area and then  roughly 11,000 square feet of commercial space   on the first floor. Um it's quite innovative and  different. Um it's about the only way that we can   find um that takes this building and actually um  gives it a future because we get the floor space   without um additional square footage or additional  property. So we're really excited about it   um and ready to go. And so with that, I'll  answer any questions anybody has about it. We'll begin with questions from Council Member  Hoheisle. Thank you, Mayor. Um, so you you talked   about uh market rate um apartments here and I  think this might also be a question for Troy. So   is that locked into the language um market rate?  Like do we do a look back and see if that's part   of the contract if that's um they're adhering  to that or what is that that process look like?   So, I'd go I'd have to go back and double check,  but no, I don't believe anything in the agreement   uh restricts the owner developer from uh  marketing the property and charging rents   uh that are outside of market rents. I don't  know if that answers your question or not,   but no, I don't think there's anything in the  agreement that specifically restricts them   to just market rents. Um, I would imagine  and I'll let Miss Blazeell respond, right,   that they're probably going to set rents at  a rate that's comparable in order to achieve   the desired occupancy. But in in my terms,  market rent is what we can charge for the   apartment to be able to for somebody to be able  to live in it. And so from a market standpoint,   it's really set by everybody downtown. Our goal is  to fill it up once it's filled. No. Yeah, I Yeah,   I get that. I understand. And that's um just some  clarification on the current policy. It might be   something that we revisit here in the next couple  of weeks, especially with our workshop coming up,   kind of tightening up some of these uh rules. We  we all know the the need for affordable housing,   and I'd love to um give more incentives towards  that. But um I did just want to ask that   clarifying question as far as our current policies  go and if that's maybe something we need to look   at in the future. So thank you. I appreciate it.  Vice Mayor Glass [ __ ] Thank you, Mayor. Um Kyle,   a few questions. What is the projected timeline  for the project? Yeah, we would like to start this   summer and then be open before biomed opens in  the fall of 2017. So intentions to develop before   biomed. Yep. Um thank you for looking at city  infill. I think that's always a great thing. Um,   when we're looking at how many tenants are  currently on the first or second floor,   it's empty and it's been empty for years. That  was going to be my second question. The most   tenants we had were the homeless that were in  it that we've had to continue to keep out. Well,   yeah. My second question was, how long has  the building set empty at this corner? So,   from a full-fledged tenant, it's been decades. Um,  a couple people have temporarily occupied it. Um,   I believe King of Freight was in it for a little  while as they were kind of hopping around.   Fidelity Bank used it as overflow when they were  doing some renovations in their office, but it's   been decades uh plural since it was a full  tenant in the whole building. Okay, thank you. I'm going to go back to the market um rents.  Can you tell me approximately the rents? Yeah,   so each unit will be a little bit different  and so from a we look at them at a dollar per   square foot. And so they'll be between that  $1.70 a square foot to $1.90 a square foot. Want to know what's the current property  taxes on this specific property right now? Yes. So, Mayor, uh 2025 the uh general tax  obligation was about $41,000. Uh 2024 about   $38,000. So roughly $40,000 a year and  they would still continue paying those   property taxes without the improvements  but just what it currently is. Is that   accurate? That's correct. Under the TIFF  model, the the base value continues to be   um assessed and tax obligations owed and then  all of the taxing jurisdictions continue to   receive the base value. It's only the increase  in the value above the base value that is then   rebated back to the owner developer over the  next 20 years to repay those eligible expenses. Any other questions, council members? I  see none. Thank you, Kyle. Um, and again,   this council has talked about the need for  housing and knowing that there are 50 new   units that would be within walking distance of  biomed campus. I know is a need. Um, so thank you   for thinking about housing in the community,  especially in the downtown core. With that,   we will open it up for public comment. I see no  one from the public who would like to speak. I'm   going to bring it back to the bench. This is in  council member Shepard's district. Thank you,   Mayor. And I live downtown and so I completely  understand about the need for affordable housing.   And again, right now with the biomedical center  and several new developments coming online, uh,   in regards to housing, we are completely prepared  for that. And so, I think it's important that we   uh, look at not only how we celebrate the good  things coming, but how we prepare for the things   that are coming as well. Right now, downtown is  near 90% occupancy, if not closer. And so, want   to make sure that people have access to housing,  quality housing, affordable housing, and workforce   housing. also agree with uh the sentiments from  council member Hohisel that as we are looking at   incentives in the future. Um given what has been  the status quo prior to my time here um I think is   fine. I will abide by that today. But I do think  city manager we do need to discuss in the retreat.   What does that look like to create guidelines  that as we are providing incentives? What does   it look like to ensure that we have set aides for  those of all income brackets to live in downtown?   because if we say it's everyone's backyard,  it should be available to everyone regardless   of their income. With that being said, mayor, I  would recommend that we close the public hearings   for the tax incre increment financing project  plan amendment and letter of intent, approve   the development agreement, place the ordinance  on second reading, and authorize the necessary   signatures. Second motion, second discussion.  I see none. Madame clerk, please open the roll. Motion passes 70. Madame clerk,  please call the next item. Public hearings considering the establishment   of a community improvement district  request for approval of a letter of   intent to issue industrial revenue bonds and  development agreement for Mammoth Clubhouse. Honorable mayor, members of council, Troy  Anderson, assistant city manager. Stand   before you with another request. This one from  Mammoth Golf Witchah SPV LLC. I'll refer to them   as Mammoth throughout. Um has acquired and owns  property near 1010 North Web and East Witchah.   Mammoth is proposing to construct a multi-purpose  commercial golf, sports, and entertainment venue   that includes a T-line building, clubhouse,  and mini golf facility. Mammoth has requested   a community improvement district uh to assist  in the redevelopment construction of the project   as well as the use of industrial revenue  bonds for that sales tax exemption. The CI   petition is signed by 100% of the land owners. The  estimated investment in the project is about 12.8   8 million. The maximum eligible amount eligible  amount for reimbursement under the C program is   about $2 million. The proposed amount of C sales  tax for the district is um proposed to be 2% uh   distributed on a pay as you go basis for the  next 22 years. No taxpayer dollars are at risk.   In addition, Mammoth has requested the use of IRBs  and an amount not to exceed $7 million for a sales   tax exemption only. Again, that's simply bonding  for the construction cost to asssure that all of   those costs remain sales tax exempt eligible. The  approximate value of that sales tax exemption is   about $252,000 uh to all the taxing jurisdictions  of which the city share is about $18.9,000. Developers agreed to pay all construction costs  associated with the project. City will not issue   any debt for the project. proceeds will be  held by the city and dispersed pursuant to a   development agreement until the maximum amount  identified in the petition. That approximate   $2 million has been either reimbursed or the  22-year term has expired, whichever is earlier.   Um there's been some questions floating around  just for clarification, right? That that once   the facility is open and the sales taxes are  collected from patrons, those sales taxes   are then remitted to the state. The state remits  those back to the city and the city will reimburse   and disperse those uh sales tax proceeds to uh  the developer in accordance with the terms and   conditions of the agreement. So, I just wanted to  make sure that everybody knew and understand kind   of the life cycle of those sales tax dollars.  Mammoth agrees to pay all costs of issuing the   bonds and the city's annual origination fees.  Bonds will be purchased by Mammoth or a related   entity. Law departments reviewed and approved the  ordinance resolution and development agreement as   to form. Again, outside uh council will prepare  the ultimate bond documents prior to issuance,   but law department will will review and approve  the final form prior to any issuance. With that   being said, staff's recommendation uh  city council hold a public hearing,   close a public hearing for the establishment  of the Mammoth Clubhouse Community Improvement   District and approve the industrial revenue  bond, approve the development agreement,   place the ordinance on second reading, and  authorize the necessary signatures. And with that,   we have representatives from the applicant that  would like that would like to address council. Thank you, Troy. Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of the  council, thank you very much for having us here   tonight. My name is Bob Johnson. I'm appearing  on behalf of Mammoth. Mammoth is represented here   tonight by Jason Farren, its president. Uh, also  Tanner Mcklly, the executive vice president of   real estate development is here tonight. U, this  is a very important project to Mammoth. It's their   first foray into Kansas, and they are a Kansas  based company. They're based out of Meridan,   Kansas. uh born and raised Kansas company um  involved in a number of uh sports related projects   in particular um you know they if you watch the  KU games you'll see the Mammoth logo on the field   they do turf installation in high schools and  colleges and things of that nature and have also   uh developed some projects in the sports uh  industry. Um this is um the Mammoth Clubhouse   iteration of their business uh you know product  line and it is again their first investment in   Kansas. They targeted Witchah in particular. It  is the perfect market frankly for what they're   trying to achieve for this facility. Um they've  studied Witchah extensively. They've spent um   countless hours down here with their full team  um boots on the ground uh hiring subs making sure   that they're tied into the community and and it  frankly parlays into their long-term goal which   is to be a long-term owner and operator in this  community. This is not a goal to be out of this   project in a short period of time. Mammoth  is a owner and operator of their facilities   and and that expertise is important here and  it's reflected in the development agreement.   You have approval over future transferes  of that development agreement. We agreed   to that term because we know we can adhere  to that and if if it ever was transferred,   we'd come in front of you and ask for that.  Don't anticipate that happening anytime soon. If we could go to slides. Project as Troy  indicated is at 1010 North Web on North Web   just north of Central. If you could move to the  next slide. Thank you. So these are renderings   of the project. It gives an indication of the  the type of project we're trying to bring here   which is is a unique first market type of  project where you're combining kind of the   unique and elevated putting experience with  the gamified driving range experience which   would be additive and complimentary to other  entertainment opportunities in the city. Um   Witchah has a strong golf community but by  no means do you have to have golfing skill   to come here. This is a facility meant to be  accessible for all. That's the goal. Any age,   anyone can come. It is birthday parties.  It is family gatherings. It is certainly,   you know, corporate events. Uh strong business  community in this area we anticipate will   uh patronize the facility and will be part of  our community at Mammoth. Um, also, you know,   in partnership with that or in line in synergy  with that, young professionals in this community,   this is the type of experiential retail that  young professionals look for in a community. Uh,   so that there is a a wealth of options and things  that they're excited about in their city and we   think we're we're part of that solution. Uh, part  of what you already have, which is excellent,   but we can be additive to that and complimentary  to the entertainment offerings in Witchah.   Um, as you can see, the the putting experience, it  rendering doesn't fully pop out. The uh what what   this will be is really immersive when you're in  it. This is not a 1970s putt putt course. This is   something where the you know the the installation  of both native aesthetics as well as as the kind   of palm tree aesthetic will create a very unique  experience to where when you're in there with your   group you're you feel like you are uh you you  are secluded and doing your own thing there if   you will and and also have the ability to kind of  go back and forth between the different offerings   and also the access the food and beverage options  as well. Um this is of course redevelopment. Um   some may know this site as the former All-Star  Sports uh facility. Um certainly redevelopment   brings some additional costs that are not present  in Greenfield development which is why we're here   before you tonight. um costs, you know, unique  to to redevelopment obviously as everyone knows   and is seen in many projects. Uh would include the  demolition, site work, irrigation, reconfiguration   of the site and in addition the top quality  uh and and frankly expensive features that   Mammoth is going to invest in in the project. uh  including things that maybe don't pop right out as   I said in the the ren rendering like the quality  of the turf and using particularly the particular   grasses that look a lot better um than you know  than the alternative frankly um you know really   night and day better than the existing defunct  site and a and a turnaround of what's there today   uh which of course doesn't produce any sales taxes  as we sit there today and minimal property taxes   I believe it's it's about 32,00 of property taxes  that are there today. We certainly think that once   this project is constructed on the books that  those property taxes will increase dramatically   um all of which will acr to the city and other  taxing jurisdictions. We're not asking for a   property tax incentive. We're not asking asking  for a sales tax incentive uh with regard to the   sales taxes that will be produced by the project  itself. All of those will acrew to the city and   the taxing jurisdictions as well. Um, we believe  that what we're asking for is narrowly tailored to   the type of project that we have here. CD add-on  sales tax is used throughout the state quite   commonly in experiential retail projects. Uh, we  which is again why we targeted that here. That   tax is only on sales on our property. So again,  doesn't add a sales tax beyond the boundaries of   our property. No sales tax on the citizenry of of  Witchah in general. uh if you visit the project   um you're essentially investing in the project  by paying an additional add-on CI sales tax um mentioning that the property taxes and sales  taxes will acrue to the taxing jurisdictions   that leads us to what we believe and what our  intent is is to bring forward a balanced public   private partnership where certainly the  developer is going to benefit and be able   to bring forth this project fruition.  Uh but we also believe that the city,   the public and the other tax and  jurisdictions will benefit here as well   uh through the full fruition of the project.  Uh which again was intentional and something   throughout our our conversations with the city.  Uh we express and and we intend to see through. We're excited to bring this project as I said to  full fruition. And I want to affirmatively and   clearly address uh where we are in construction  um in relation to the incentive timeline that   we started the conversations last fall or late  summer with the city uh on this incentive request.   Construction was not commenced at that time. This  progression those uh discussions progressed well   and have progressed well since that time. um in  meetings, discussions, negotiations, it unfolded   that we Mammoth gained increasing confidence  throughout that process and had confidence they   were on the right track in the process. Now to  be clear, we were never promised anything. All   uh activities on the site have been undertaken  on mammoth risk. They know that they absolutely   uh have taken some minimal risk here at the  upfront to begin some work so that we could   move forward and meet the summer season  for the project. Not ideal that we had to   commence construction in the last month to get  to opening for that summer season. That that did   overlap somewhat here with this incentive  process. But again, increasing confidence   on Mammoth's behalf motivate motivated them to  underwrite the project, motivated them to move   forward with the project with confidence that they  would be able to execute on the project. Again,   want to be clear that we we weren't promised  anything uh in the last month that uh would lead   us to believe that uh we weren't here tonight  asking for your vote, which we certainly are. But that confidence is important in that it  led them to decide to underwrite the incentives   into the proforma. It's a critical  part of the capital stack. Certainly   um it will allow us to move forward and and  bring the project to full fruition. U that's   the vision. And again to kind of reiterate the  point about the timing, the summer season is   when 60 to 75% of the sales for this project  will occur. They couldn't miss that season. It   couldn't start in the fall or the winter opening  the project and falter and start off on the back   foot. That wouldn't have led to long-term success  and certainly could have been um a stumble right   out of the gate and not something that would have  been wise for the project uh overall and and not   a smart business decision and not something that  would have frankly been good uh for for any of us   with the risk that that project could have um been  encumbered with some difficulty right off the bat.   So again, u understanding that we were moving  forward targeting tonight, uh we ask for your   vote, we ask for the ability to see this  project through to its fruition. Uh we are   extremely excited and we I really mean Jason and  Mammoth are extremely excited about the Witchah   market. We want to emphasize that point again as  demonstrated by the commitment to this capital   investment in your community as its first and  and primary target here in the state of Kansas   uh with regard to this this concept. Again,  believe that bringing this concept to life will   be a huge benefit to to the area and and a perfect  fit for Mammoth and to the city. Thank you very   much. And I would stand for questions or could  come back after the public hearing if you'd like. Thank you, Bob. We'll begin with Council  Member Hohisel. Thank you, Mayor. This is more   a question for Troy. First, I'd like to say I do  appreciate the investment in it. I'm going to miss   the batting cages there, but um I'm glad to see  something's being done with this area. Um Troy,   I just um and this is also maybe a procedure  question for the future as well. Are there ways   that we can split this if we're okay with one  part of it but not okay with the other? I have   concerns about the IRB aspect of it even though  it's not a lot. Um but again just looking at   um procedural issues for the future. Uh the C  part of it I am okay with. Is that doable or   so? And again I'm I'm not going to speak for the  applicant. Right. We we have two parties here.   Um obviously any amendments to a development  agreement would have to be mutually agreed   to by both parties. Um which in theory you could  propose an amendment uh if that's the will of the   governing body. I mean we can go back. I'm sure  that the applicant would have their investors   they would have to go back to. So I mean I don't  know. I don't want to speak for the applicant,   but it would just be a procedural. We'd  probably end up laying this over uh and   negotiating alternative terms and conditions.  Okay. I appreciate that. Thank you, Vice Mayor   Glass Cook. Thank you. Maybe I have one question  for you, maybe two for the applicant. Have there   been other public improvements, specials, anything  else that have been applied for by the applicant? No, not that I'm aware of. Thank  you, Council Member Glascock. No,   there have not. I think potentially, if I could  assume what you might be asking, we're the ground   lease tenant of the property. I believe the  land owner is involved in a special benefit   district for some public improvements. That's  not us. And that's a a different application,   and I don't know much more than that. I think  those relate to some of the public improvements   in and around web and maybe sewer. I I don't know  exactly, but that is not us or our application.   I did want to make one point that I did omit which  was that in addition to our CD cap, there will be   a an amount that is dedicated to a public purpose  that we will work with the city in the future   uh to really frankly what the city wants to use  as a public purpose. We're we're going to commit   to that and be cooperative to whatever that amount  and and whatever that allocated use is. Um that is   in our development agreement. It's something we  are agreeing to when we that agreement. So that   will be to a public purpose uh as identified  in the future by the city. Thank you. I want   to echo Councilman Hazel's comments. I'm glad for  investment in Witchaw. Thank you for choosing to   do business here. I did find maybe some things  concerning what you said and so I just want a   clarification that you said that your the  incentives were written into the performer.   That's correct. Correct. And construction has  already begun on the site. Correct. Correct.   What happens if today's vote fails for you all?  Very fair question. A very fair question and I   appreciate the question. I don't have a firm  answer for you and I've of course asked Jason   that and the answer is it is written into our  proforma. We are we would have to go back and   look at what that means and talk to the investors  and and and figure out what it means. I I I can't   tell you it is not something where we have a plan  because it is part of the capital stack that we've   underwritten. Again, that's why I referred to at  our risk. We understand that. Um but I I cannot   tell you what that means today other than that as  part of the proformative for the project. That's   what is underwritten to bring this project to full  fruition. And that's not a statement to say that   we are changing something specific. I don't know  at this point in time. We would have to go back   and revisit that. Okay. I I'll look forward to  maybe discussion from my colleague because I find   that concerning and I'm sorry that maybe you're in  that place where the timing didn't align. Um but I   don't knowing that it probably gives me pause in  supporting the application and so I'm interested   in maybe discussion for my colleagues as well. So  thank you for uh your forthrightness and answering   the questions as well. I appreciate that. Council  member Tuttle. Thank you. This isn't a question   but just a point of clarification. You talked  about the public purpose and I just wanted to   mention it. I was going to mention it when I make  the motion um and some other comments, but we did   have a call last week and one of the suggestions  that Troy and I made and then I have followed up   with um Gary Jansen, director of public works is  that we are going to be doing much needed safety   um upgrades from on Web Road from 13th to Central  um and making sure that um especially the two   schools within that corridor have dedicated  turn lane, have sidewalks, and So that would be   a really great project for the potential public  purpose. So just wanted to highlight that to my   colleagues that we've already had that discussion.  Thank you, Council Member Hoheisle. Thank you,   Mayor Troy. Um when in the process does that  10% for the public good have to be identified?   Um it can be identified at any point. Uh as you  heard council member Total identify a potential   project. Um in all reality that's probably the  project right and I say that in the context that   uh we always want to maintain a nexus right  and given the site location there's probably   not a lot a whole lot of other opportunities  really to make sort of that public investment   that improves the quality of life and quality  of place to the public but also has kind of   that ancillary benefit to the development as  well right there's got to be that nexus Um,   as you heard me describe during my presentation,  the kind of flow of sales tax dollars, right? So,   as the sales tax dollars are collected, they're  remitted to the states. State remits it back to   the city. city will set aside that 10% origination  fee and it will just continue to accumulate and   either be used to reimburse the city for certain  identified eligible expenses or those dollars   can be saved up until such time as a project is  specifically identified. But then uh again the   city will set aside that 10% origination fee and  any of the remaining proceeds will go back to the   developer. Okay. Yeah, I was just questioning uh  Carrie SW in the process because I I guess maybe   my mind's a little slippery here. It's just  everyone that I'm familiar with. We had that   identified before. So, I appreciate the info  here. Thank you. To a question to Troy. Um I   think the applicant mentioned it, but property  taxes on this specific area, what are they now,   and will they still continue to pay those  same property taxes? Yeah. So the we pulled   it before the meeting the 2025 tax billings for  the property is about $32,000 a year and yes that   uh develop owner developer would continue to  pay not only that value of the base value but as   uh indicated by the applicant there's no property  tax abatement or exemption being requested. So   any value that they add to the property above and  beyond what it's appraised and assessed at today,   they will continue to pay that tax bill to  all the taxing jurisdictions as well. And   can you also address um this is a CD, so it's  a 2% C. So only for the individuals who would   participate in attending this venue would  be charged that 2%. Can you address the C?   Yeah. So, appreciate that. Um, yeah, this is 2% on  top of um the base state and countywide 1% sales   tax that's split between uh county and city.  In fact, I ran some numbers a week or so ago,   and a over the course of kind of the 22-year  term, that additional tax that is being   um based on the revenue projections that were  provided, that could generate about $568,000 to   the city over the next 22 years to again continue  to invest back into uh roads and bridges and and   infrastructure based on that countywide sales tax.  But again, that 2% that um is on top of the state   and the local uh countywide sales tax goes back to  uh again rebate uh rebate and reinvest back into   the project short of the 10% origination fee. And  so, as the applicant described, right, that those   folks who are uh are visiting and frequenting  the establishment are the ones that are investing   back into uh the development and no other  properties are going to see that that same tax. I see no other comments from council  members. Thank you to the applicant in   Troy. We will now open it up for public comment. I see no one from the public who would like to  speak. We will close public comment and bring   it back to the bench. This resides in Council  Member Tuttles district. I just want to thank   staff. Um thank you Troy for all your hard  work on this for you and your team. Um also   to thank Mammoth Golf Witchah. We've had several  meetings. We've exchanged uh emails. Had a phone   call last week. So I truly in appreciate you  investing in Witchah. We say all the time,   Witchah needs to grow. And for us to grow, we have  to have attractions. We have to have amenities. We   have to have reasons for people to come and to  play and just to have a vibrant lifestyle. Um,   one of the things that I really like that  you said, Bob, is that we will create more   experential retail opportunities that help  attract and retain talent. And I think that's   exactly what this will do. I also think it's  just great timing with the safety improvements   on Web Road. You could help with that. And then  what happens then is some of that money that's   been allocated in the CIP for that project can  come out of the CIP potentially and help fund   other projects. So lots of benefit for this. So  with that, I will enthusiastically move that the   Witchah City Council close the public hearings for  the establishment of Mammoth Clubhouse Community   Improvement District and Industrial Revenue  Bonds, approve the development agreement,   place the ordinance on second reading, and  authorize the necessary signatures. Council   member, can I interrupt real fast, please? My  fault. Can you also include, if it's your desire,   to include the resolution for the letter of  intent to issue the industrial revenue bonds? Can we add that to to the motion? Yes, if  you would agree to add the words adopt the   resolution. I agree to add the words adopt  the resolution. Did I forget to read it? Thank you. I will second this. We have a motion  and a second. Any further discussion?   I will just add that again this is a 2%  additional sales tax only for this area   and that there will be again uh no property  tax abatement for this property. So they will   have to continue paying property taxes on this  property. Madame clerk, please open the role. Motion passes 61. Madame clerk,  please call the next item. Authorization of second five-year tax  abatement, Gridley Family Foundation. Honorable mayor, members of council, again,  Troy Anderson, assistant city manager. Uh so   this request a little bit different. So, this is  a five-year review of uh an industrial revenue   bond that was previously uh approved by city  council. Um give you a little bit of background.   First and foremost, Gridley Family Foundation.  and you'll hear me uh refer to them as Gridley   throughout. Was founded in 2000 uh by Tracy  Hoover who is with us here this evening and   uh will be available for questions um should  council desire uh and her late husband Kurt Gidley   for charitable and philanthropic initiatives.  Gridly acquired the former printing ink building   as part of some of their early investments  uh with the intention of renovating it into   a co-working event space, office and conference  room, studio and manufacturing labs. All intend to   disperse tech company. You'll hear me refer to the  space as Groover Labs. So, back on December 8th,   2020, city council approved an issuance of an  industrial revenue bond in an amount not to   exceed $3.1 million to fund the project. Uh, and  then Groover Labs opened in late January 2020,   as you all know, just a few weeks before the COVID  shutdown. Throughout that period though, however,   Gridley contributed significantly to the greater  Witchaw metropolitan area, offering collaboration   space, co-working memberships at below market  rates, programming and educational events,   growth of small business startups, and uh  space available for Maker Lab. Gridley provided   an extensive network of service providers  such as attorneys, accountants, marketers,   and other consultant consultants to assist their  members. They also um leverage their investment to   uh pursue other state and federal support. And so  one in particular is uh Gridley was the recipient   of a base grant uh to renovate and attract a  company by the name of Nomadics to establish   a cyber security of excellence at Groover. Cyber  security of excellence addressed challenges in   areas of electronic warfare, cyber solution,  space resilience and security. And based on   that success, Nomadics uh previously announced  that they were going to relocate their corporate   headquarters to Witchah. So, one of the things  that we want to point out is that unfortunately,   Gridley themselves were not able to create uh  the seven net new jobs that you see there on the   left hand side of your screen. The original  projection was that they were going to make   a capital investment of more than $3 million,  create seven net new jobs. They were going to   locate it in a redevelopment area and invest  in entrepreneurship. You tally those up and   they at that point in time qualified for 120%  abatement. We all know you can only receive   100% abatement and uh that was the basis for  which city council at the time recommended it   and approved uh the 100% of base again having  not met the new uh jobs. Uh they did achieve   uh three new full-time equivalent positions. Um  it's kind of a interesting five-year review. If   we had known then what we know now, right, we  would have probably looked at it differently.   Uh we would have used their total capital  investment of more than $6 million. We would   have used the same locating in a redevelopment  area and investing in entrepreneurship,   but then they also would have qualified for  leveraging their investment and utilizing state   and federal incentives. Still would have qualified  at that point in time for 110% or 100% abatement.   Therefore, we are recommending that the uh city  council continue the 100% property tax abatement   or the over the final five years of the term. We  went back to uh Witchaw State University Center   for Economic Development Business Research,  had them run a new costbenefit analysis.   Even with the new figures, the costbenefit  analysis still exceeds the 1:1 threshold. So, other financial considerations, Gridley  continues to agree to pay the annual $2,500   administrative fee for the remaining term  of the bonds. The terms in the economic   development incentives agreement provide the  city council has the discretion to extend   the exemption for a second five-year  period based upon performance. Again,   it's recommended that the city council approve  the second 5-year 100% advalarum tax exemption.   And again, with that being said, we have  representatives from uh Gridley uh that can   answer any questions. Otherwise, I will stand  for questions as well. And I know that we have   a host of folks here that would love to come  up during public comment and say a few words. Thank you, Troy. We'll begin with Council  Member Hoheisel. Thank you, Mayor. Uh Troy,   can we go back to slide 60, please? So, was  um utilizing state federal incentives not   um available during the the first application?  it wasn't contemplated that they weren't sure   at that point in time, right, that they were  going to pursue um or be successful enough that   uh and Tracy can tell you about how the state  awarded uh a grant and the authority to then   disperse that grant among uh sort of subreients.  And so not realizing maybe how successful their   business model was going to be, uh they didn't  contemplate uh pursuing any state or federal   incentives at the time. Okay. So it was an option,  but it just wasn't the option that they wanted to   go with. That's correct. Okay. So that mean does  that mean during the 5-year look back that we   can switch over to something um such as locating  and redevelopment, investing in entrepreneurship,   utilizing uh federal state incentives if they're  not meeting their goal. Are those other options an   option to go with? So council has the discretion  to do sort of whatever they choose, right?   uh the way the guidelines are written, they're  guidelines, right? You're allowed to take whatever   information necessary or prudent in order to u  make a decision, right? We're we're presenting   to you all that that while yes, the original  projection um was not satisfied in the context   that unfortunately while Gridley themselves  were not able to create jobs within the Gridley   Foundation. Um it's also sort of this compelling  story too of all of the jobs that were created   by all of their memberships. Unfortunately,  Gridley did not track that information. So,   um it would be uh a guess at best, but uh the  applicant to speak they have over close to 240   250 members, right? And so there's an anticipation  that probably throughout all of that there was   probably significant job creation amongst their  members. Um but again without having tracked that   we just don't have reliable source for u pointing  to that. So we looked at the original projection   kind of stood it up to this well if we had known  now sort of postcoid what we knew then uh we might   have looked at it differently. Okay. So under  the the old I guess the old benchmarks they would   have been um eligible for 90%. That's correct.  Okay. What what does that look like? uh in terms   of dollars. So theoretically at the time had they  only qualified for 90% we would have entered into   a a pilot payment a payment in le of taxes. We  looked at the numbers um and it's about $5,500 a year uh is what that pilot payment would have   been obligated. Okay. Thank  you. Y Vice Mayor Klask Cuck, thank you. I think Councilman Hohisel asked my  question. My my one question and I just want to   hear maybe the logic to get to it too is when  we had talked in the meeting it was that they   would have qualified for 90% abatement under  the original projections. I understand the   actuals is different, but then I just feel like  we're trying to make it get to 100% instead of   what they would have actually qualified for,  which is 90%. Is that a possibility for next   the next five years to keep it at 90% moving  forward? If your desire here this evening is to   um reduce the property tax abatement from 100%  to 90%, yes. Your action would then be to uh   recommend to staff that we enter into that  payment in lie of tax uh agreement that would   establish what a pilot payment would be over  the next five years. Okay. And so I might have   more questions. That answered my question for now.  Yep. Thank you, Council Member Ballard. Thank you,   Mayor. Couple questions. How do you get  to 120%. Can you help me understand that? You don't. Okay. Right. I'm just making sure I'm  not missing something. Yeah. No, you get to 100%   and then you're at 100%. Right. In the guidelines,  um there are percentages that you can achieve   based on certain things, right? There's a there's  a gradient of capital investment. the more capital   investment you make, the higher percentage. Uh the  more jobs you create, the higher the percentage,   right? And then there's some of these additional  considerations like geographically where you're   investing uh redevelopment area. There's a map  within the guidelines that kind of shows, hey, if   you're investing in this area, you could achieve  up to a 25% abatement. Um, and there's kind of a   laundry list of other things that as you sort of  start additive through that application. Once you   get to 100% you get to 100%, right? We can't abate  more than we're not going to take property. We're   not going to take taxes off the tax role, so to  speak. Um, this just sort of shows the sideby-side   comparison of either the original projection or  had we known now what we know then, they still   would have achieved the 100%. Okay. And I share  the same concern as um Vice Mayor Glascock that   when we met it was 90% and I totally understand  the jobs. I just don't know what happened to   get it to 100. I just want to make sure again we  everything is on the up and up because it seems   strange. No. Um we we wanted to kind of show  city council early on in the process, right,   without looking at what they actually did, right?  Um that yes, if all we looked at was the original   commitment and the original projection, um if  you only looked at sort of the left hand side   of that table, yes, they did not achieve the net  new jobs. Uh, so if you took 30% from the 120%,   they only would have qualified at that point in  time for a 90% abatement. Thank you. Yep. Council   member Shepard. Thank you, Mayor Troy. I have  several questions, so please bear with me. Can   you please explain to me under what circumstances  have job requirements been waved previously? So, that's a great question. Historically, and  I'd have to go back and get you specific numbers,   city has revised their approval and continued  an abatement where jobs were not met, where a   new cost benefit analysis still exceeded  the 1:1 ratio um years ago. And again,   it's it's a practice that we have since tried to  help educate applicants um to to better predict   what and anticipate what their job creation um  was going to actually be. We've had projects   in the past where uh applicants were incredibly  ambitious and they created um an incredibly high   hurdle of creating hundreds of jobs which resulted  in a an extremely high cost benefit ratio and   they didn't meet it. Right? And so again, kind  of coming back to the table and there's some   provisions in the guidelines that allow us to  do this, right? That we come back and go, okay,   what job creation did they actually create? And  had they made that commitment at the time that the   um that the IRBs were approved, would they still  have satisfied the um uh the costbenefit ratio?   And historically the answer has yes. But there's  been maybe a half dozen or so over the years   that council has continued the abatement because  while they didn't achieve what originally they had   projected, the job creation that they did achieve  did still exceed the one to one. Thank you,   Troy. A followup to that and and I asked this  question because I believe that um a lot of people   talk about equal. I I speak to equity because I  think equity refers to an inclusive nature of the   rules and application of how we do things and it  and depends on the consistency of the application   of the rules. In my personal opinion, I have  several minority owned businesses in District   1 that are contributing to uh the economy and I'm  just curious um were these waivers or would these   waivers be granted to similar businesses in in the  district that I reside in? uh given the metrics I   would say yes right given given the metrics can  you explain that to me in other as described in   the guidelines right depending on how much  capital investment you create how many jobs   that you propose locating in a redevelopment area  you could qualify under an industrial revenue bond   for a certain percentage of property tax abatement  yes regardless of general proximity for example we   have requests for industrial revenue bonds that  are outside of the redevelopment area that may   not qualify for the 25%, but they do qualify  for capital investment, job creation, maybe   investing in entrepreneurship, right? And so it  just depends on the project um and exactly what it   is that they're proposing. You mentioned something  really important. You mentioned capital. Yeah, that's I have I struggle with that. Um so my  question is what measurable benefits does the   community receive if the job requirement is waved  because seven was the original three were created   right? Yes. So um three were created. There has  been again kind of capital investment that has   been made. So not only will uh after the 10 years  that the capital investment that's been created   in the site will increase all of the ad valerum  taxes to all of the taxing jurisdictions. That's   one. Um job creation is generally another uh high  sort of when we describe economic development,   we generally describe it as a three-legged  stool, right? Capital investment, job creation,   and improving the overall quality of life,  quality of place. That third component is a   little bit harder to that's the intangibles,  right? That's the where are you investing,   right? Are you investing in entrepreneurship?  I think you're going to hear a lot of testimony   here from a lot of the members uh that are going  to tell you stories about but for Groover Labs,   they may not have had a space in  order to become a business, right?   I would love to hear how many particularly  are minority owned businesses um and and   curious if the job requirement is waved today  what level of accountability measures remain. So the accountability measures are could be  whatever council sets forth, right? But um if you   extend the 100% abatement for the next five years,  you're extending the abatement for the next five   years. At the end of that five years, again,  all of the property comes on to the tax role   for all of the taxing jurisdictions. um unless  council wants to introduce some other sort of   uh condition, right, that then we would then moni  monitor, administer and and track. Um I mean,   we're certainly open to and again I I think  that representative from Gridley is here that   would be more than happy to kind of entertain  and understand. She might have better numbers   on minority owned businesses. Unfortunately, I  don't have that information. I appreciate that.   And my final question, and I want to also  be very clear that I know it makes a lot of   people sometimes uncomfortable when I mention what  needs to be said out loud. Um, but I'm going to   say it out loud. So, my final question for you  is, will there be reporting on the workforce? What was the question? Will there be reporting  on the workforce generated if council decides to   move forward with waving the requirements? We can  absolutely report on um any metrics you want. If   if you want us to gather from the applicant over  the next five years, um jobs that are created,   uh what types of jobs are created, salaries, um  demographics of jobs created, we can collect and   report on what whatever information you want  us to collect. Thank you, Troy. Council member   Johnston. Thank you, Mayor. If the applicant if I  could have a couple questions if you don't mind. Hi, thank you for coming. Uh, a lot of the  discussion has been on jobs and just to be   clear, you've created three new jobs in the  foundation and you promised seven. However,   can you talk about the jobs of the other partners  you brought into the building, how many jobs they   have created? Um, as Troy mentioned, you know, we  don't do a good job of tracking those numbers. We   have over the course of Groover Labs, we've had  about 240 member companies. Um, a fair number   of those are one-person companies, but we do  have others who have outgrown Groover because,   you know, they've added people to their staff.  They've moved on to other places that ac could   accommodate them. Um, Groover also, um, you know,  my husband Kurt Gidley and I work at Groover on a   volunteer basis. I continue to do so. Kurt did  so until he had his final illness. Um, we have   other volunteers. our IT um person who manages our  network does so on a volunteer basis. So we have   very enthusiastic community of volunteers and  members. Can you quantify how many volunteers?   I mean they're taking place of somebody who you  would give a job to. That's true. But you know   Groover I can't afford to pay those all those  people yet. I mean, the intention is to hire an   executive director in the fullness of time. Um,  you know, once I exit from Groover, which is at   some point in the future. Um, you know, I'm I'm  doing that work with a happy heart. Sure. Um, but,   you know, we started and we, you know, we have a  very lean staff. We can do a lot with a very lean   staff and again, we have an enthusiastic community  of volunteers. Yeah. Would would you characterize   your project as an incubator for small businesses?  Um, we wanted to create a place where all elements   of a thriving tech ecosystem could come together  and and rub elbows and collaborate. That's part   of what makes a thriving tech ecosystem. Um, so  we do have elements of an what you might call   an incubator, but it's a community. We've been  building a community these last five years. Okay.   Thank you. And that includes minorities. Yes. In  that in that incubator. Yes, it does. Okay. Okay.   Thank you. I appreciate it. All right. Thank you,  Council Member Shepard. Thank you, Council Member   Johnston, for asking those questions. I appreciate  that context. Um, Troy, why why is it that they   can't is it like law that they can't include that?  I mean that information about the incubator space   even uh the jobs that were created outside of that  space. Why is that not included in the number?   Excuse my ignorance. No, no, no. That's it's a  great question. We would love to have included   it in the number. You're right. Because I know  that um Tracy is probably humble, right? I would   imagine we're talking dozens and dozens of jobs  that have been created as a result of Groover   Labs. Um, in fact, you're in the tech space,  right? There's these are probably really good,   highpaying jobs. Um, I love telling the story  about Nomadics, right? Uh, how but for Groover   Labs, we wouldn't have companies like Nomadics who  have planted their flag here and said that yes,   we are in this cyber security space and this is  going to be our corporate headquarters. Um, and so   the partnerships with McConnell and other, but for  Groover Labs, none of this is possible. Right. So,   I think you're hearing a very humble story here.  We would love to brag on this more, but you're   right. When the original application came in, the  request was, well, how many jobs are you going   to create? they could only commit to and control  the number of jobs that they could control within   Gridly, not really knowing what that ecosystem was  going to look like. Um, they could, right? They   could absolutely from this day forward, we could  uh probably set up a system in which we could   identify, you know, how many of their members have  employees and and what are their salaries and what   are their demographics, those kind of things.  and then we could start better tracking um you   know new employment and job growth within that  ecosystem. That's absolutely it just wasn't part   of the context of the conversation early on. Yeah,  there's no prohibition. We could do it kind of   moving from this day forward but uh unfort it just  wasn't part of the conversation five years ago.   I will add a quick comment to that. I'm part of  Bloomberg Harvard mayors and the city is part of   a thing called data track and I think the lesson  from what I'm hearing amongst all these council   members is we want more data and data is good and  data tracking is good. is not tracking people for   the sake of tracking, but rather to make better  decisions and knowing that there is job creation   within Groover Labs through its collaborators  and that community does make the story about   job creation. While you may not have created the  jobs within Gridley, you created jobs amongst   that community. And I think that's the story we  don't often talk about, but it would be helpful   if that story was talked about through data and  through tracking that information. And I think   that I would appreciate that data driven or data  informed conversation moving forward. And it would   be a challenge back to Groover Labs if you can  start tracking that information so that then this   council can tell a a story about the job creation  that does happen in our community. And I'm so   grateful to that community because that community  includes uh a million cups and many others who are   collaborating but for that space there wouldn't  be these new businesses. So I I would appreciate   more data and it's a challenge back to not just  the community but to the city staff that we   would like to see more data. I think that that's  that's the overarching message from this council. With that, I see no further questions. We  will now open it up for public comment. I'll jump up first. Good evening, Mayor and  Council. Andrew Nave with the Greater Witchaw   Partnership, 505 East Douglas Avenue. Um, I wanted  to jump in first before the team Groover descends   on you and and I'll be brief in my comments,  but I think I can add some additional context.   I appreciate the discussion tonight and the and  the staff's uh great work and analysis on this.   Um I was a part of the the team that kind of  helped your staff five years ago in 2020 bring   this forward and and to the discussion about kind  of the uh kind of where this fits. I think you're   absolutely spot on that this is a little bit of a  kind of a square peg and a round hole that we have   essentially kind of a nonprofit entity and and  and and I won't tell Tracy's story of her family's   legacy and what they've have contributed, but  this is a an entrepreneurial family that that made   great investments and great uh strides in hardware  technology and had what we all want entrepreneurs   to do to have a successful exit and sold that  company and chose to come back to Witchah.   and chose to come back to this place and and kind  of see their kids through school and and get their   kids off to college and then, you know, they were  active and and strong supporters of Witchah State   and remain so, but saw an opportunity to do  something different in downtown and invest   uniquely in their skill sets in the heart of  downtown and so took that nonprofit foundation   resources and energy and effort and passion  and took it to a building that quite frankly   was was vacant and dilapidated for for years and  years and years and and right next to Wave now   that is that part of downtown is so successful.  So, um we're at the Greater Witchaw Partnership.   We're exceedingly proud of the work of Tracy and  her team at Groover. Um Troy stole my thunder on   the Nomadic story, but I I'll add to one to it  that we have nomadics inside Groover Labs inside   the building creating cyber security jobs. We  use Groover Labs. We use them regularly when   we are hosting prospects of all types in Witchah.  One of the most succinct that I remember and most   important visits we had was another headquarters  that we have in downtown Witchah, Nova Coast,   another cyber security company. Ended up leasing  another office building on their second and third   site visits. We hosted events for them to get a  feel, get an essence, a flavor of the Witchah tech   community, a flavor of the ecosystem at Groover  Labs. and the leadership of Nova Coast was blown   away by what we have. I would also remind you  that that our team and and the partnership we led   an effort in 2021 uh called Accelerate Witchah  which was an ecosystem analysis of of kind of   entrepreneurship in Witchah kind of an ecosystem  map of entrepreneurship. A gentleman by the name   of Tom Chapman of Omaha drafted that. He's  kind of a entrepreneurial guru in the Midwest.   He called out Groover Labs more than any other  asset in our community as unique and rare and   something to take advantage of. So much so that  Tracy can again tell you the story better than I   can. He's connected a number of his entrepreneurs  in Omaha back to Groover because they can do at   Groover what there cannot be done in Omaha or  in De Moine and other places. So we have truly   an asset here with Groover Labs. It doesn't  quite fit into our standard matrix. That's   why I so appreciate that it's a guideline for  you all as our elected leaders to look at that   and adapt that uh with with your discretion  as a guideline. So behalf of the partnership,   we uh robustly uh ask for your continued  support of Groover Labs and what they   mean for our ecosystem and and publicly Tracy,  thank you to you and your team for what you've   done for Witchah. So thank you very much. Thank  you Andrew. We'll continue with public comment. Hi council. Thank you so much for this time.  My name is Joselyn Powell and I'm a local   entrepreneur and a very proud member of Groover  Labs. My favorite place in Witchah besides the   Belmont. So um Groover Labs is incredible.  It is magical. It is a place where diverse   folk come with big ideas and they turn them into  reality. Um, my father came here with 50 here to   the US with $50 in his pocket. I grew up on 21st  in Broadway. Um, I had really not much growing up,   but I had a dream of becoming entrepreneur  and starting things and having ideas and   creating good jobs and creating products and  services that were of value to this community.   And um I am proud to say that I have done that  with the support of Groover Labs and their the   community there. Um I own a restaurant, a store,  healthcare training school, and I'm a part of   operating and running two tech companies as  well. Um I met my incredible mentors who are   sitting right there today um through Groover Labs  and they've empowered me with resources, funding,   um encouragement. I've cried in front of them.  They've continued to encourage me in my big   dreams. Um, and Groover Labs is making dreams  possible. So, Groover Labs keeps talent here   in Witchah. It grows our tax base by creating  incredible innovative companies and it turns   Witchins into innovators. Instead of leaving  Witchah to build something, people can build   it right here because Groover Labs provides the  support and the tools uh necessary. I've seen   founders launch companies. I've seen students  find career paths and collaborations that are   magical that happen that would not have existed  without this space. Um, if Witchah wants to   continue growing as a place where innovation and  entrepreneurship thrive, uh, spaces like Groover   Labs are absolutely essential. Um, with that  said, I'm sorry we did not track um how many   jobs have been created, but um I can guarantee  you it is hundreds or thousands just from what I   have seen myself personally. Thank you. Thanks,  Jocelyn. We'll continue with public comment. Hello, council. Thanks for letting me address  you. My name is Mark Jansen. I'm a lifelong   uh tech entrepreneur in Witchah. In 2014, I sold  my company to a company in Seattle and moved out   to the west coast. And while I was there, I uh  read about Groover Labs in the Witchaw Eagle.   And on a trip back here in 2020, I stopped  by, looked in the window, wasn't open yet,   and then Kurt and Tracy came to the front door  and they gave me a tour and told me about their   vision of creating a place in Witchah for tech  entrepreneurs. And I had longed for something like   this my entire career. And I was very, very moved  by their commitment and their vision and what   they were giving back to Witchah. And in the few  months after that, my partner Jessica and I moved   from Seattle back to Witchah. I became an active  member of the River community. I became a mentor,   a teacher. Uh I got to meet many wonderful  entrepreneurs like Joselyn and eventually   started founding more startups here in Witchah. In  the last year, my companies have created four jobs   in River Labs alone and more around the country.  Um, and um, I just want to say like I'm here in   Witchah and not on the West Coast because  of Gruber Labs. Um, I have family here, but   Groover Labs created a place where I'm like these  are my people. This is where the entrepreneurs   are. This is an innovation space I want to be  part of. So, I'm grateful for the opportunity   to be part of Groover Labs. And thank you for  allowing me to talk today. Thank you, Mark. Evening council. Um, you just heard two great  stories of folks who are from this area, stayed   here because of Groover Labs. Mine is a story of  someone who came here because of it. Uh, my name   is James. I am the chief strategy officer of a  brand and technology consultancy called Historic   that mostly serves large nonprofits and social  impact groups like International Justice Mission,   Americaore, um Tibo Group. Um my wife and I moved  here uh from downtown Chicago during CO uh we had   called Chicago home for years. Had no intention  of leaving. Then CO happened. many of the benefits   of living in the city disappeared overnight. We  started to look where we might go. Uh we moved to   Witchah originally for one year just to get some  space spread out a little bit. There was a parking   spot every year we're here which is amazing for  us. Uh one year turned into two years turned into   three years. I'm now proud to say that we're  homeowners in Witchah and as of six months ago   now foster parents in this community as well. Um  when we first moved here though I worked from home   um I became lonely quickly so I started to  look for co-working spaces in Witchaw. I   found Groover. I first came to I don't know if  you know this or not they every Wednesday open   uh free co-working to the community. showed  up to one of those Wednesday events. The   community embraced me. Pretty soon I had my own  office inside of Groover. Um Ger Labs has kept   uh myself, my family here in Witchah. I also  travel significantly for my job. According to   American Airlines, I was in the top 10% departing  travelers from Eisenhower last year. Um anyway,   because of that, I end up working out of  co-working spaces nationally. pick a city in our   country. I've probably been in a co-working space  there. I was in one in Nashville yesterday. Most   of these co-working spaces compete on amenities.  Sparkling water taps, how many IPAs they have on   tap, ping pong tables, stuff like that. And  Groover Labs has some fantastic amenities.   Don't get me wrong. They have this maker space  that they don't let me touch because I would I've   been told I would break things in it. Anyway,  they don't compete on amenities. They could,   but they compete on relationship. I've been in  many of these co-working spaces in our country and   people have headphones on. They're hunkered down.  They're not collaborating. Conversations break out   in Ger Labs. People care for one another. They  collaborate with one another. Groover Labs might   be a co-working space categorically, but Groover  Labs is executive coaching. It's mentorship. It's   It's work therapy in some ways. Um, that's the  contribution that Gerber Labs really makes to this   place. On top of that, there's other executives,  leaders there who are also foster parents. On   top of being business leaders in this community  also check in on me, how my journey with foster   care is going. Groover Labs represents the kind  of work and the kind of people we want in this   community. It's helped my family and I here  and continue to. Thank you. Thank you, James. Hello, my name is Barrett Morgan. I've lived  in Waw and surrounding areas my entire life.   I'm a graduate of Witchaw State University where  I received a mechanical engineering degree and   also learned that I really needed more creative  outlets in my life. Immediately after school,   I became a web design contractor. I hopped around  small offices for a while and finally landed at a   local co-working space where I learned community  is an imperative part of our daily lives. Today,   I'm a remote creative director of an  integrative marketing and creative   design firm called Trailmark Creative. Pardon  me. We have offices in Denver and Witchaw and   we immersed we're we're immersed in a variety of  industries that flood us daily with new challenges   and opportunities. I've been a member of Groover  Labs for almost four years. As a hot seat member,   I work in an open space. We don't have doors or  walls or barriers. Often when someone in the hot   seat encounters a problem, they'll source it  out loud for others sitting nearby. And then   we all try to solve it the problem together.  It's a community of collaboration. This has   helped numerous times when Trail market gets  clients in new industries or clients challenging   our capabilities. We've even been able to find a  contract skilled programmer through Dev ICT group   that meets there at Ger every Thursday morning  at code and coffee. Even though professionally   I didn't continue down the engineering path, I  still use those problem solving skills daily at   Groover. Charged with a learning mindset and never  underestimating my ability to do things myself,   I it has led me down many creative paths  that Groover has helped to facilitate.   Like recently while working in the hot seats,  Gerber Labs at Cell Kansas recipient shared a   problem he was going he was trying to solve with  a piece of physical technology he was prototyping.   He needed help 3D modeling a casing to hold  electronics for his device. And after recently   taking Groover Labs 3D printing class, I stepped  in to help together. We designed and then used   the community 3D printers in the Gerber lobby to  make a working prototype. And to give you an idea   of what we were working on, this particular device  uses proprietary technology to evaluate the health   of components. wind turbines. Ideally, he'll  be able to predict problems within the turbine   bearings before significant problems occur. And  these devices are already out in the field testing   and gathering data. With over 4,000 turbines in  operation, according to the US Energy Information   Administration, wind accounted for 52% of Kansas's  total net electricity, surpassing coal, nuclear,   and natural gas combined. And that's over 9,000  megawatts of power here in Kansas. We've got   a fleet of aging wind turbines that this device  will help keep running. And this is the kind of   collaboration that happens at Groover Labs.  Groover has provided a mission to help grow   the Kansas tech economy. They've provided a  rapid product prototyping lab that members   get to experience firsthand. And they offer below  market rates to benefit early stage founders and   entrepreneurs. They have soundproof call booths  where I can make my Zoom calls with my clients.   And all of these things and more make Groover very  special. And from my perspective and experience,   it's worth the renewal of the IRB so that  Groover Labs and its members can continue   to grow the technology economy in Kansas.  Thank you for your time. Thank you, Barrett. Mayor Council, my name is Oleg Alba. I am the CEO  and founder of Acres Strong. Full transparency,   I'm brand new to your city. I've been here for  eight weeks. I moved here from New York City.   First, let me tell you a little about me.  Eight year eight-year Navy combat veteran.   I did counterdark operations in South America.  I tracked Russian subs in the Baltic Sea. And my   last tour of duty, I was chasing pirates off  the horn of Africa. I started my startup and   what I do is I help municipalities and land owners  structure and get fair energy deals across Kansas.   So, I moved here because of Groover Labs.  I was flying between New York City and   Kansas every two weeks. Now, in eight  weeks, let me tell you what we've done. Because of Groover and the help of the  ecosystem there, I have met with Senate   utilities committee leadership, House Utilities  Committ leadership here in here in Kansas.   We've grown revenue 400%. We just hired our first  employee. I met with leadership from Nomar because   I'm looking for somebody local there. This  is because of Groover Labs. This is part of   this ecosystem. It's exactly what you were told  earlier. You come out into the open space and you   scream, "I got a problem. I don't know what to do.  Give me a hand." And somebody has an idea. They're   going to listen to you and they're going to help  you. Now, this directly impacts Witchah. Moreover,   Council Member Sheepard, humbly and respectfully,  but loudly, Yoso Latino, and the I feel very   included in that ecosystem. Thank you very much.  Thank you. Would anyone else from the public   like to address the council on this topic? I see  none. I want to think that Oh, we have one more. Hi, Steve Faly. Uh, three Crest View  Lakes Estates. Um, Madame Mayor,   council, I am not a member of Groover Labs. Um,  I started my entrepreneurial journey in Witchah,   Kansas. In 1977 in 1995, I was the SBA  Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the   Witchaw District. Had I had some  place like Groover Labs in 1995,   some things that I've done in my entrepreneurial  journey might have been a little bit different.   I've known Baron Morgan for almost 20 years  and he is still plugging away and contributing   and being an active active entrepreneur in this  city and community. Everyone standing back here,   you as a city council, I can just look at the  overall of this and see that you guys have a   chance to plant a flag for entrepreneurship,  which is the DNA of Witchah. And uh I agree   more data could be helpful but as you can imagine  when 2020 happened and COVID happened I'm sure   a lot of things were going through their minds  trying to get Groover Labs off the ground. So I   would encourage you to vote to accept their  proposal and continue the RBS. Thank you. Thank you again. Thank you to the seven  speakers who spoke on behalf of this item.   We will now close public comment and bring  it back to the bench. And we'll begin with   Council Member Johnston. Thank you, Mayor. Uh I  will enthusiastically vote for this. Um Groover   said they would invest $3 million. They invested  $6 million. Um they said they'd give seven jobs.   They've given three through the foundation but  I would say it's probably hundreds of jobs that   have been created uh for them. I know we all  want more data but having run a small business,   small businesses don't have the mechanisms to  gather data that large businesses do. So it's very   hard when you're a small business to gather data.  It costs money. It takes people to gather data. So   I understand your your your problem in gathering  data completely. This is exactly what Witchah is.   This is what it is. We are an entrepreneurial  city. Uh we support people. We want people to   succeed, grow their businesses. This is exactly  what we should be supporting in Witchah. And so   we can chase the big companies all day long and  they'll come and they'll go, but people who come   to Giver Labs are staying in Witchah creating good  sound jobs. So I I will enthusiastically support   it and Tracy, thank you. Um I just like succession  plan. I hope it goes well because we want you   around for a long time. Thank you, Council Member  Tuttle. Thank you. I'll I'll try and be brief. Um,   thank you to staff as always. Thank you Andrew  with the Greater Witchaw Partnership for joining   us this evening. Thank you to the Gridley Family  Foundation. We had a wonderful discussion. I am   the only council member here as on December 8th of  2020 when this originally was brought to us. And   I remember being incredibly curious and excited.  I'm not an entrepreneur. I don't have that part   of my brain developed, but I certainly appreciate  people who do because that's what we're known for   in Witchaw. We are an entrepreneur city. Um,  I also during the meeting mentioned I'm sure   that maybe you haven't met the seven goals, the  seven jobs here, but all of the people who are   involved in Groover Labs have created jobs and  I think that's really important. The one thing   I did want to mention too is I printed off the  Cedric County Witchah City of Witchaw economic   development guidelines. These were adopted in  um 2020. They were updated in 2021 and in 2022   and they are guidelines and one of the statements  they make is the following that it's ours. This is   ours with the county. The following guidelines are  intended to provide a framework for consideration   of incentives and may not be the only factors to  consider regarding incentives. The guidelines are   primary qualitative considerations, excuse me,  quantitative considerations, but qualitative   considerations should also factor in the decisions  regarding the grant of incentives. And real quick,   I'm going to read this as fast as I can.  I don't think they all apply, but I think   most of them do. We're supposed to be looking at  creating and retaining quality jobs, broadening   and diversifying the tax base, encouraging  capital investments, encouraging the regional   global competitiveness, promoting the growth and  welfare of the city of Witchdon and Seduk County,   reducing crime, maybe not as much, improving  community reputation, certainly redevelopment   of key neighborhoods, encouraging regional  cooperation and education of the community about   public benefits. when I look at why we created our  economic development guidelines, this is what I'm   thinking. So, I will be supportive today. Thank  you and good luck. Vice Mayor Class Cop. Thank   you, Mayor. Can we go back to just the slide about  the analysis real fast? And I'll preface with this   is Tracy, thank you for investing in Witchdaw.  Thank you for everybody at Groover for investing   in our community as well. Um, I know there's a  lot of excitement when I've been at the building   before and I know you're doing a lot of good work  for our community as well. And so I don't want to   discount the work because I think you're making  an incredible impact. But uh, not that page,   the other one, sorry. I still have concerns when  we have a standard, we've established a standard,   that standard isn't being met, and the projections  change. when we have a lot of discussions before   the bench, the question is the incentive before  us and whether or not the incentive is good and we   set standards to measure that as a yard stick. And  I don't think this hit those standards and I think   that could be a failure from um the cities as an  institution to make sure that we didn't show maybe   other options like actuals versus projected. But  I also don't want to sat here and make a precedent   that individuals can come back that don't hit our  objectives. When I looked at the I was trying to   find a reason to get to yes. And when I looked at  the projected versus the actual when you looked at   the cost benefit ratio and every single metric  from city witchaw city general fund city debt   service fund central county USD259 in state of  Kansas the actuals are less than the projected   and I still have concerns by that as well.  And so while I wouldn't support full denial   um because I do believe that you have done  good work and you've hit most of the metrics,   I would support something that's a 90% of what  you would have hit with the original projection.   And so while it may not be 100% approval, I think  that moves us in the right direction to be able   to have other people that come before this body  as well that when you don't hit the standard,   we can adjust to what the original  standard was and use that as our   um our measurement. So I'm still interested to see  if there's further collection from my colleagues,   but um I would have a tough time supporting the  100% adorum tax exemption, but I think 90% makes   sense. I think it fits with the standard  of established and I think it also um and   still encourages the work that you're doing every  day and the good work that you guys are encouro with the 100% tax abatement. uh what is the actual  tax abatement amount and what it would what would   it be at 90%. What would that amount be? Oh man,  I unfortunately I don't have that information.   Again, we kind of did um a little bit of back and  napkin math and we came up with I want to say it   was like 5,200 or $5,300 a year as what that pilot  payment would be um for that 10%. So, I mean,   I guess if you multiply that by the appropriate  factors, you would come up with the overall tax   obligation. But if we entered into a pilot for  10%, it would be about 5,200 $5,300 a year if   my memory serves me correctly. And that would be  across all taxing jurisdictions. So, the city's   percentage of that would be what? 25%ish of that  52- $5,300 a year. Isn't the city's portion 39%   or 29% rather? What's the actual amount? City  manager, I believe you did identify that we do   have 29% is a portion. We've do a percentage-  wise based upon all the taxing jurisdictions. Council member Ballard. Thank you,  Mayor. I would be curious to have more   conversation with my colleagues. I am very  conflicted. Um I love all things, you know,   Guru Lab and I love everything that you're  doing, but we also have a responsibility to   um follow the guidelines as well. Um I was a  young entrepreneur too. I would have, you know,   loved the opportunity if I was in the tech  world to to have, you know, um a resource like   like you all are providing. So, um, would  love any more insight from my colleagues, Council Member Shepard. Thank you, Mayor, and  thank you, Council Member Ballard. I too feel   very conflicted about this. I first of all  want to say thank you to Groover Labs. Um,   in my previous job, we did business with Groover  Labs, and so we know the impact of Groover Labs   and I'm not questioning the impact, the purpose,  or the value. I want to make that very clear.   But what I am questioning is the consistency, the  fairness and the consistency in how we approach   these issues. And I know that um I want to name  the big elephant in the room that I I know that   that's what the community has asked us asked of  us is to ask questions and to evaluate fairness   and consistency. And I think that that is our  responsibility. In weighing that out though,   um I am I am really struggling with the part  of the standard in which we created and and   how do we create a clear standard and I don't  know that we have done that so far. So I don't   know if it's fair to Groover Labs to use them as  the litmus test uh tonight but rather to look at   what does it look like to act in good faith and  acknowledging the great works that has been done.   and we have a retreat this week and I think  that can be a part of the conversation of of   establishing that fair and consistent standard.  Um, but in acknowledging the work that has been   done by Gerber Labs, the testimony that has  been given tonight, I see you. Shout out to   the veterans. Shout out to Latinos too who are in  in our community doing great work and supporting   small business and entrepreneurs. Um, so Council  Member Ballard, I hope that that kind of from my   standpoint at least gives you some clarity of of  moving forward in approving this and this week   having further conversation in the retreat about  what that fair and consistent standard might be.   I I do struggle too because tonight we also did  70 vote on tax abatement under the same kind   of circumstances of moving forward we would like  to have clear guidelines on what it takes to get   there but right now we don't really have that  clarity so I think it's only fair to give the   same to Gerber Laps and for quick correction it  is 29% so if the pilot was $5200 a year witchah   would get 29% in property taxes that would be $15  $100. The county would be $1,196. USD259 would be   $2,300 and $52 each to the state of Kansas's  WSU. Just so that everyone understands those   percentages. Council member Johnston. Thank  you, Mayor. I appreciate the concerns from   Council Member Ballard, Glascott, and Shepard.  Um, however, I think the key word is guidelines.   versus standards. If we make them standards, we  have to abide to those. It's set in stone. We have   to abide right now. It's guidelines and then the  community elects us to interpret those guidelines   on a case-byase basis. I think that's what we need  to do. Um I think if it's a small small company   and and data is not always collected in small  companies. I realize that. Um, if that data was   collected, Council Member Glascock, those actuals  would be much much higher than the projected.   They're not. So, um, they just it it's really hard  to to collect that data when you're a small when   you're a small business. It really is. I get it  because you do everything. You sweep the floors,   you you you do it, you do everything. And  so, it's really hard to collect that data.   you you're working probably 50 60 hours a week  you know anyway and then to try to collect data   on top of that is very very difficult so um I  know that because I've come from those shoes   um I just think that this is really what  we want in Witchah and we should take care   of the people who are investing in Witchaw $6  million in Witchaw we've got people coming from   around the country to Witchaw to be here they're  taxpayers. Um, so I think it's very very important   that we take care of this type of incubator for  businesses. That's why I would fully support 100%. Council member Hohheisle. Thank you, Mayor.  I think we're all in agreement here. Um, we   need to look at dusting up some of these um these  standards and making sure that it's uniform just   because we need to stay consistent. we we need to  stay uh consistent across the board. Um the policy   that we have now allows for these exemptions.  Um and and that's fine under the current policy   because you guys are doing great work. Um and I'm  eager to see what you guys have in the future. U   again, yeah, making I guess another little staple  to our um our retreat here in the couple of days   to talk about just cleaning up some of these  incentives. just again make them consistent across   the board so that way we can remain um consistent  and fair. Council member Ballard. Thank you,   Mayor. Is there a motion? Currently, there's  not currently. Okay. I would like to take   the recommended action to approve the second  5-year 100% advorarium tax exemption. Second. motion and two seconds. Which one came  first? Okay. JB Johnston second. Vice Mayor   Glascock. Thank you, Mayor. I would make  a substitute motion that the city council   conditionally approve the second 5-year  100% out of Lauren tax exemption after   entering into a pilot agreement with  the Gridly Family Foundation for 10%. How about this? Is there any way to defer  this item? Um question because I think we   need clarity. I gave numbers that were given  by uh assistant city manager on the pilot,   but those are not they were just guesstimates  which was 5,200 a year. And that would go into   what um Vice Mayor Glascock is asking. We would  need to know those clear numbers and then have   that discussion. Um so I'm going to ask the  city attorney. You you may make a motion,   a substitute motion because this there's not  a second on council on Vice Mayor Glass Cox at   this time. We have a motion and a second to take  the recommended action. If you wish to defer,   then you need to make a substitute motion to  defer to a certain date or a specific date.   This is in council member Ballard's district.  Would you entertain a deferment of this item?   To get further information from assistant city  manager on what that pilot program would be. I'd   rather follow through with my motion. Thank  you for asking. Coun uh Vice Mayor Glascock, Council Member John Sten, thank you. I I respect  that deferring thought, but we seem to defer a   lot of things and the family is all here and I  think they'd like to have an answer and I think   uh we're prepared to give that answer to them  by vote. Council member Shepard. Thank you,   Mayor. I just want to reiterate my support for  Council Member Ballard's motion, and I'll be   supporting her motion tonight. council. There are  two more on the bench. You still Okay, I see no   one else on the bench now. Vice Mayor Glascock,  thank you. One final comment. While the motion   didn't get a second, I still value the work you're  doing. Also, knowing that the votes aren't there,   um I will also be supportive of the abatement.  We should look at the guidelines. We should   move forward. Um, I think that we could have  done 90% um and set a standard, but I think   the standard should be set now when we're at our  workshop this upcoming week and be able to move   forward on a policy, whether it's standards or  guidelines or how we move forward. With that,   we have a motion and a second discussion.  None. Madame Clerk, please open the role. Motion passes 70. Madame clerk,  please call the next item. Contracts for grounds  maintenance of city property. We skipped one. My apologies. Resolution  authorizing the offering for sale of sales tax   special obligation revenue bonds K96 Green Witch  Starbond phase three project. Honorable mayor,   members of council, again, Troy Anderson,  assistant city manager. Um try to run through   this fairly quickly simply because this is uh  authorizing the offering of the uh the revenue   bonds. But little bit of background, December 9th,  2025, council approved the second amendment to the   K96 Grenar uh bond project plan for a multisport  athletic complex. And then on December 16th, 2025,   council approved a development agreement with  Family Destination outlining the rights and   responsibilities of both parties. With the city's  previous approval, city has received notice from   the Kansas Secretary of Commerce of approval of  the Star Bond project plan and the authorization   of bonds in an amount uh to fund a maximum of  $79.5 million of project costs. The resolution   authorizes the issuance of the bonds in one  or more series and the preparation and use of   preliminary limited offering memoranda. Crew and  Associates will be the underwriter for the bonds.   Confirmation of the sale of the bond shall be  subject to the execution of one or more bond   purchase agreements between the underwriter and  the city. City staff will return in April seeking   consideration of an ordinance actually authorizing  issuance of the bonds, assuming there's successful   marketing. Financial consideration. Star bonds  will be issued as special obligation bonds payable   solely from incremental city and state sales tax  revenues received from the retail sales within the   district. Shall not be general obligation bond  debt of the city of Witchto. In other words,   city's not backstopping. These um these are  entirely being uh supported by the sales tax   within the district. Resolution authorizes the  issuance of bonds in an aggre aggregate amount   not to exceed 85.25 million. Resolution and  related documents have been drafted by city's   outside bond council. City law departments  reviewed and approved the documents as to   form. Recommendation is that city council adopt  the resolution authorizing crew and associates   to proceed with the offering for sale of  sales tax special obligation revenue bonds   approving the preparation of preliminary  offering memoranda related to the bonds   and authorizing execution of bond purchase  agreements if specified parameters are met.   And we have a representative from uh the applicant  developer uh who is here to answer any questions   you might have. I also have bond counsel here to  answer any questions you might have and otherwise   I will stand for questions. Thank you. Troy  questions for staff. Can you just remind us   the construction timeline on this? Yeah, I'm  going to defer to the developer on that one. this. Yeah, it was December 16th. So, mayor, council, Marty  Corno, managing partner of FDD. Um, to answer   your question, Mayor, um, we're really anxious to  get these bonds uh, sold and back. Uh we actually   are starting uh we're with engineering groups with  um architects and already in design stage ahead of   the project. So we should have uh shovels in  the ground. I'm going to say mid-spring. So   um we're we're ready to go. Thank you very much.  Thank you. I see no further questions for Oh,   we see council member Shepard and this  is not for the the agent, but Troy,   I just want to clarify that this did come before  the council already, right? Yeah. Yes. December   16th. Yes. That was the development agreement  that I'll go back to. Yes. December 9th was the   second amendment to the plan and then we had  to take that second step in December 16th to   uh approve the development agreement. It was a  two-step process. Thank you. so much. I appreciate   that. I see no further questions from the bench.  We'll now open it up for public comment. I see no   one from the public who would like to speak.  This is in Council Member Tuttles. Thank you   again. Thank you to staff Troy. We've put you to  work today. Appreciate you and your very lean team   right now and everything that they're doing.  So, thank you and keep up the good work. the   one of our pillars of our mission is to grow our  economy and that's exactly what this project will   continue to do. Thank you to Family Destination  Development. Appreciate you willing to invest in   Witchah. Um I've said back in December, I've said  it many times regarding this project. This will   help make Witchah more vibrant. It will help  attract and retain talent. One of the things   I talk about all the time is making Witchaw the  best city in the nation to live, learn, earn,   play, and pray. It's a cooperation with WSU.  It's going to bring jobs. It's going to give   people leisure and recreation of options. So, this  is just a wonderful addition to our community. And   with that, I will enthusiastically move that  the Witchaw City Council adopt the resolution   authorizing Crew and Associates, Inc. to proceed  with the offering of the sale of sales tax special   obligation revenue bonds K96 Greenwich Greenwich  Star Bond project phase three approving the   preparation of preliminary offering memorandanda  related to the bonds and authorizing execution of   bond purchase agreements if specified parameters  are met. Second motion second discussion I see   none. Madame clerk please open the role. Motion  passes 70. Madame clerk please call the next item contracts for ground maintenance of city property. Good evening mayor and council.  Gary Ferris Park and recreation. The department department of park and recreation  is responsible for grounds maintenance for   approximately 5,000 acres of parkland rights way  turf and uh city properties around the building   and landscape areas around town. The city  successfully outsourced grounds maintenance   functions in 2010. Since that time uh contracts  were rebid in 2013, 2016, 2017, 2020, 23 23 and   now 2026. And in 2016, staff began uh developing  plans to transform the grounds maintenance uh   model based on staff working with the team from  what works cities. Uh this effort focused on   transforming grounds maintenance contracting in  effort into a performance-based contract model   with the technical assistance from the what  work city team. staff developed a request for   proposal that outline desired outcomes for grounds  maintenance and the city encourages proposals that   provide outcome measures for turf maintenance and  proposed strategies to achieve those outcomes. On November 10, 2025, city staff issued a request  for proposal for grounds maintenance services. 12   responses were received. Uh the staff screening  and selection committee reviewed the submissions   and interviewed nine vendors on January 20th  and 22nd. Uh in based on performance methodology   proven success on similar projects meeting all  proposal requirements and overall cost, the staff   screening selection committee recommends awarding  contracts to eight vendors based on complimentary   strengths and capacity to meet city needs. Uh  contracts have been prepared accordingly. grounds   maintenance contracts will focus on established  service levels uh service level based outcomes and   to incentivize successful outcomes. The proposed  contracts include a 5% supplemental payment at   the end of June and November for vendors that  provide exceptional performance outcomes during   the preceding time period. A 3% fuel search  charge will be added if fuel prices exceed 5.89   per gallon. Good. Park and recreation determines  the service level for each site based on its use,   visibility, and operational needs. High use or  high visibility areas are mowed more frequently   while low use or underdeveloped uh areas are  placed on an extended rotation. Each site is   evaluated individually and corresponding mowing  frequency is specified in the contract for the   site or service group. During 2026 rebate process,  staff adjusted service areas and responsibilities   to reduce costs while maintaining priority  service levels. Changes included modifying   service levels on non-p park sites, removing  more than 1,900 rightway locations, which   is approximately accounts for 300 acres. That  city code requires adjacent property owners to   maintain and transferring grounds maintenance for  certain facilities to other responsible parties. The total cost of the ground's maintenance  contracts can vary based on mowing rotations,   which is largely impacted by weather, uh,  contractor performance, and fuel prices.   Total expenditures in 2025 were 3.52 million based  on expected mowing rotations. Base bid cost will   be approximately 3.41 million in 2026 from the  park operations budget. If the 3% fuel search   charge and the 5% incentive payments are fully  expended, contracted grounds maintenance cost   could reach 3.68 million in 2026 from the park  operations budget. Uh the 2026 oper adopted budget   includes 3.61 million for these expenses from the  park operations budget. Park Park and Recreation   oversees grounds maintenance for services for  other city operating units with expenses charged   to those respective division or works or codes.  Additional costs beyond the park and recreation   budget are estimated at uh $177,000 in 2026. Staff  will recommend adjustments as necessary in the   2026 revised budget based on the 2026 contract  costs. The law department has reviewed the uh   reviewed and approved the contracts as to form  and the recommended action is for the city council   to approve the vendor selections, approve the  contracts and authorize the necessary signatures.   So with that I'll stand for questions. Thank you  council member Hohiser. Thank you mayor. Um so is   this what all goes into maintenance of property?  Is it 98% mowing? Um what other extra things are   part of the contract? So there's mowing, there's a  litter collection, uh trimming, edging, that kind   of thing. About how many employees at the city  did this would that take to um continue and and   at the the rate that if we did all of it? Yeah.  I want to defer to some historical information   here because we used to Yep. Warren Makowski, park  and recreation. Um, prior to 2009, all this work   was done inhouse and if I recall correctly, um,  when we outsourced, um, we reduced 68 FTEES and around 100 seasonal positions. 68 and  100. six I believe it was 68 FTE full   full-time employees and then around  a 100 seasonal positions. Okay. So,   do you remember perhaps how much savings that did  give the city? I'm sorry I didn't catch all the   questions. How much savings um how much did that  save the city to move to contract account? The   goal at that point was stated that they wanted  to save the city a million dollars a year.   So is that about what you think we are  saving right now? I know I'm asking you   to spitball here every contract the contract  costs have gone up but we also know that just   everything has gone up. U I would not be able to  estimate what our current savings would be. Um,   we sold huge amounts of rolling stock, tractors,  mowers, trucks, trailers, string trimmers,   so on and so forth. Um, the capitalization cost  would be mindboggling if we were to try to put the   wheels back on. I can appreciate that. Um, I would  like to maybe see some figures at some point,   just kind of estimates. We can certainly put  that together for you and if if we were to look   at that, I think a phased approach would be the  most uh realistic approach. Okay. Yep. Again, just   curious about that. Uh the second question I have  is um last year we did get some savings um because   u quite frankly there was a drought and we didn't  need to mow as often. Uh just could you tell me   about the process for that? Um I think we put  most of it towards tree removal if I remember   correctly. So, the savings that I believe that  you're talking about really had to do with   um not watering as much. We had a lot of savings  in uh the fact that we didn't irrigate. Uh   most of the irrigated spaces that we have  within the park and recreation system are   uh not contracted out. And so the spaces that  the contractors are uh contract vendors are are   maintaining are not going to be our irrigated  spaces. So, I don't think that we saved a whole   lot of money in terms of the contract that we  then were able to move over to uh other things,   but we certainly saved money in uh irrigation.  You recall because it was 2024, not 25 when   we attempted to uh pause our rotations. Uh that  turned out to not be a uh cost-saving event. Okay. We also did not pay any fuel charges during the  last fuel search charges during the last three   year. Well, fingers crossed we don't get up to  over $5 a gallon. Yes. Um and that's actually for   diesel fuel. It's based off of the AAA for Witchah  on the day that the contracts were, excuse me,   the proposals were due and then a $2 inflation  on top of that price that TripleA had published.   Okay. Thank you for that information. Thank you  guys. Council member Shepard, thank you. I just   want to make sure that I'm understanding correctly  that does this include um the folks who go out and   clean up the encampments as well? No, it does not.  Okay. Thank you so much. Council member Ballard.   Thank you, Mayor Gary. Question. So, at the  bottom of the green sheet, it says during the 2026   rebid process, staff adjusted service levels and  responsibilities to reduce cost while maintaining   priority service levels in,900 rideaway locations.  Are those like the medians that they like put on   extended rotation and some of the little pieces  of land that the city used to mow that maybe now   property owners are? Do you know what I'm talking  about? Yes, I do know what you're talking about.   Not include medians. Okay. Uh where a uh median  is a space between two lanes of traffic. That's   not going to be included in that uh because we  wouldn't expect a prop an adjacent property in   order to mow that. But did that part get extended  like to three weeks instead of two or something   like that? In some cases, yes. Okay. Uh so the the  properties that got removed off of the list were   where there was a private property adjacent to a  rideway and according to city code, the adjacent   property owner is supposed to uh maintain  that rightway. So to align with city code,   we made that announcement. And so letters went out  for that. Yes. Yes, they did. I feel like I heard   from every single one of them. We certainly heard  from a few. Yes. Yes. Um, also, do you happen to   know how much money we saved by? I don't have that  number in front of me, but I know that I can get   it to you. Perfect. I'd appreciate it. Thank you,  Vice Mayor Klascott. Thank you, Mayor. My comments   are probably questions are more in line with  Councilman Hohheisle's. I I believe there's a role   in function of government and so I think we need  to be cautious of what we outsource some things   or sometimes and if the outcomes aren't exceeding  expectations or the uh cost is not under um then I   think we should be evaluating what we inhouse and  what we don't inhouse. Um and so those would be   really one of my questions. Um, and so I would  love more followup to that in terms of I would   imagine, and this is probably anecdotally, but if  they were city employees, they would probably get   um better benefits than they might in contracting.  And so I just want to make sure that we're not if   we're trying to low bid it by going out and  then people are getting less benefits and we   don't have a cost savings, then I would like to  evaluate. And now the ship has probably sailed   since this has been implemented mentioning  how much that we've um sold of our inventory,   but I would still be interested in that data. So  when we look at outsourcing future things to make   sure there was one line here said the city  successfully outsourced ground maintenance,   but yet I don't have the data to prove that we  successfully outsourced ground maintenance. Well,   we successfully outsourced ground maintenance.  Now to your point, how successful has the public   been in this? and what kind of benefit have they  received? I think that's the question that I'm   hearing you ask. Uh, and are the public getting  the best bang for their buck? Correct. Has has our   performance exceeded since we outsourced versus  when we in-housed? And have our costs decreased   since we've outsourced, since we've in-house.  And if both of those things are met, then I think   we should look at that when we look at further  outsourcing as well, especially given that likely   a lot of these individuals may not be getting  benefits that they would have got with the city. I   look forward to having that conversation with you.  Okay. Thank you, Council Member Hoisel. Thank you,   Mayor. I'm sorry for jumping back in, but Council  Member uh Ballard's question spurred a question.   Is there a protest process for the people who um  we did um we are having them um take care of some   of these properties. Is there a protest ability  for them? Council would help. I'm not sure what   the letter said, but I I would be happy to look at  the letter. I mean, there is probably due process   for someone who does disagree. Um, we are trying  to comply with the ordinance. So, um, we can check   that out and find what processes entailed. Do  you happen to know what the letter said? I just   haven't seen it. Well, it's I can't recite it, but  I can certainly provide it. Uh, but in terms of   making their voice known, certainly we can take uh  the you want to call it a protest, we could take   the protest uh try to answer that. Um, I know that  some people have uh spoken to you individually   uh about it. Uh I know that we've received at  least one uh letter from a attorney represented   individual. Uh so there's different paths like  that. The in terms of a a protest, I don't know   how to exempt someone from following city code. Uh  so I would have to refer to to law on that. Okay.   Yeah. I'm just curious about that process and  if there is an avenue for them to protest. Well,   we we certainly supplied our contact information  so that we can be contacted. Okay. Thank you,   Council Member John Sten. Thank you, Mayor. I  was very interested in this conversation in 2010   uh when it was going on and and uh they did  estimate they would save a million dollars a year.   So that includes uh capital costs, depreciation.  Those 68 full-time employees would be employed for   12 months instead of eight. Um that the mowing  season is about eight eight months. Um so what   do you do with them the other four months? So  there's there's a lot of things involved. I'll   give you another example. Um for years Clark Ends  put on the Merit Waw Marathon and half marathon.   Uh we at Johnson's we partnered with him to put  the half marathon on. Basically I raised the money   for him to do it. And uh when we I don't want to  bash the city too bad, but when the city was in   charge of mowing, we didn't know if Riverside Park  was going to get mowed. If it looked even like it   was going to rain, they did not mow. If it rained  in the last two days, they didn't mow because   the grass was wet. um as soon as they changed it  over to uh contract mowing, it could be raining.   They're out there mowing because they want to get  it done. And so the result was a lot better and we   knew it was going to be mowed and it was going  to look nice. So that's that's another thing   to consider between city staff doing it versus  contracting doing it. Those contractors only get   paid if they mow. So, I I think it has worked  out well. I'd be interested in analysis, too,   if that's still the case, if we're still saving  a million dollars or not. Um, but I suspect we   probably are. Vice Mayor Glascock. Oh, um, I was  just going to say to Councilman Johnston's point,   all that could be accurate. I just want to see  the numbers and be able to see the data behind   that. To to your point, uh, Council Member  Johnston, Riverside has remained inhouse uh,   the entire time. It has not been outsourced. Good  to know. Has it always been even in 2010? Yes,   we've not outsourced it. Okay. We were  told differently at the time. So, yeah. Thank you. Um, I think there was just one  follow-up question that council member Ballard   asked, and it was a question I had on slide number  77. I wanted to know if there was a cost savings   for the 1900 right-of-way locations and if so  what was that cost savings amount? Thank you.   I I do not have that figure with me but I can  certainly email you. I could totally be wrong   but for some reason I feel like it was around  $150,000 because I was like that's it for 1,900   right away. I mean, it just seems like a small  number for a lot of pieces of right away. So,   I could be totally wrong, but I don't  think you're very far off. Did you guys   hear that? Just kidding. Thank you. I see  no further questions from this bench. Um,   we'll now open it up for public comment. I see  no one from the public who would like to address   this item. With that, I will move to approve  the vendor selections, approve the contracts,   and authorize the necessary signatures. Second.  Motion second. Discussion. I see none. Madame   clerk, please open the role. Motion passes.  70. Madame clerk, please call the next item. Police robotic dog. Morning, mayor, council. Jason Kulie,  captain, Witchaw Police Department. Give you a little background on uh this project.  The Witchaw Police Department uses a variety   of of Can you guys hear me? of equipment to  protect staff in the community during emergency   situations. And of that equipment, robotic dogs  are included. I'm sorry, robotics are included.   Uh the Witchaw Police Department relies on  specialized equipment, including robotics,   to effectively respond to emergencies across  the South Central region of Kansas and anytime   and under all environmental conditions. Uh these  robot assets must be maintained at a high level   uh to maintain the reliability and ensure the  safety of both personnel and the community. Uh in a large growing city the size of Witchah,   uh robotic capabilities are essential to  deescalating and mitigating critical incidents.   Uh the absence of this techn technology diminishes  operational effectiveness and increases the risk   to both the public and the responding  personnel during high-risisk situations. Uh the Witchaw Police Department has  experienced the same positive outcomes   observed by other jurisdictions that  also have integrated robotics into their   emergency response operations. Robotics  serves a valuable tool for deescalation,   significantly increasing the likelihood of  an incident concluding safely and peacefully. I want to provide a a little bit more before  I move to the financial considerations   uh regarding the analysis. Uh just want to uh put  out that uh WPD supports deescalation technology   and equipment and believes in providing that to  our police department and our police officers to   help protect the community. uh this deescalation  technology and equipment increases the chances   of a safe outcome for everybody providing this  priceless situational awareness. I want to talk   a little bit more about the actual robot. Uh  the uh proposal for the initiation of funds is   uh actually for the initiation of funds for two uh  robots, same robot, different capabilities. Uh the   robot is uh typically known as spot uh which is  uh manufactured by Boston Dynamics. Originally it   was developed to reduce health and safety risk for  workers and make data driven decisions. Uh you'll   see these robots in uh many um manufacturing  uh plants uh distribution companies. um they   they'll take inventory with them. Uh around the  uh Boston uh bombing incident time frame, Boston   Dynamics started to consider uh what can we do to  maybe help public safety. Over the last six years,   um with some of their partnerships here locally  with WSU Tech, um they have developed Spot.   uh spot at the time um was a yellow inventory uh  dog that most people are familiar with that has   sensors on the front and will you know walk down  the aisles and and scan inventory. Uh, I would say   actually I was out there in either 2019 or 20. So  it probably was six years ago. I was at WSU Tech.   Um, when they were helping design spot, uh, it was  clear it wasn't ready. Uh, it wasn't performing   uh, like it was supposed to. Um, so they continued  to develop that over the last six years. Uh,   SPAT is now ready. Departments have been buying  SPAT. There's over 70 uh police departments uh   local and county departments across the nation uh  who have SPAT already who've been operating SPAT   for many years. Um some of those are Massachusetts  State Police which their spot was actually shot   um and saved those uh state troopers going in.  Uh the Houston Police Department, the uh fire   department in New York actually has a spot around  us. Um there is uh Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. Um   there is Bentonville, Arkansas. Uh those are the  only two closest to us. Outside of that, you got   to start getting into the Houston uh area. Uh some  of the other things I want to discuss in regards   to what Spot actually is and and and what it  can do, the capabilities is we do have robotics.   Robotics isn't new to the police department.  I it's probably not new to many departments   uh in the city of Witchah. Um in fact, we had a  scenario where there was a large I don't know if   it was an abandoned water pipe or what exactly  it was underneath uh over in the Riverside area   and we were trying to figure out between all the  departments in the city who has a robot that can   actually go into that pipe and see what's actually  in that pipe so we can reseal it. So there are   many departments that have robotics. We do have  robotics. Um whether you count drones as robot as   robotics or um we actually have a set of robotics  for our SWAT and our bomb team. Uh however,   spot's different in many ways. Um it does not  use artificial intelligence. Uh it use a stereos   uh scope camera to navigate with IR uh emitters  in the gripper. So it measures everything you're   doing based on your actions of what you're telling  it. Um I don't want to get too deep into the   um technicality of our other robots. I have  uh behind me the subject matter experts,   the SWAT commanders, the bomb commanders, the  crisis negotiator commander. um when we open   it up for questions from um you all if we have  specific ones that I can't answer. I I did bring   the team of subject matter experts for you to  actually be able to describe what our current   robots can and can't do. I can tell you that being  the incident commander on these our current robots   um are on track systems. So going up  and down stairs. Um the video that   uh hopefully you guys all watch where Spot walks  up a flight of stairs and it takes I don't know   5 seconds maybe 10 seconds. That's a 30 minute  procedure with the current robots we have and it's   all navigated by hand by the operator on a tiny  screen controlling the robot to tell it exactly   what to do. If at any moment the arm or the or  the robot becomes offbalance, the robot falls down   and once it's tipped over, it can't self-right  itself. Spot can. Um, we've had incidents where   the robot actually fell down the stairs uh and  was stuck. Our current robot is 250ish pounds,   spot 70. So, our current ones are they're  large. Once it fell to the end of that stairs,   there was no rescuing that robot. That situation  actually uh ended in um the suspect shooting at   our entry team as our SWAT team as they navigated  uh those stairs to go down there. So that is just   one example of why we use robotics. Um if the dog  was to do that same task, that same uh procedure,   it walks down the stairs effortlessly, would  have turned the corner and we could have seen   the individual down the stairs. Instead, the robot  we had tipped over. Was pointless at that moment.   officers did have to go in. They started taking  gunfire, had to retreat and took more gunfire   outside the house. So, that's a little bit about  spots different capabilities. Um, if there are   clothing um inside the residence or a blanket or a  mattress laying down, we're not getting over that.   We can't get over that. Um, we can with a throw.  We do have a robot we throw. that has to be in the   hand of a human being who has to be close enough  to throw it where it needs to go. Um so just you   know kind of think of it as you throwing your  iPhone or phone or whatever as far as you can.   That is your camera. That's the limitations of it.  Um the other robot we have uh cannot navigate over   those clothing. Uh with Spot's uh arm, it is able  to open and close doors and not just normal doors,   push doors, pull doors, uh push bar doors,  doors with handles, doors with knobs,   and it does it all effortlessly. You you uh tap  on the screen, you show it the the door handle,   and it's IR admitters figure out what it needs  to do for that door handle and opens it. We do   have some of that limited capability right now,  but once we open the door, our robots are done.   There is no there's nothing else. You can't send  the robots in. They're out. They don't do anything   else. Spot will open the door and walk in the  door. He can hold the door open itself and walk   in the door and put cameras down range where you  can see what's going on behind that door, who's   there. It opens it up for two-way communication.  So, as our negotiators are going up, you know,   to try and negotiate through a a phone or  whatever, if the robot is stuck because it's only   job now is to hold the door, our communications  break down. So, with spot, that's not a problem.   It opens the door, pushes through the door, and  then walks itself through the door to continues   the communication. And one of those incidents uh  we highlighted here recently uh in a call out we   had in Oldtown, I'm sorry, call out is our term of  a SWAT activation. I apologize for that, but um in   a SWAT activation we had in Oldtown. Uh the video  uh still shot that we posted is uh actual footage   of the SWAT operators going up to the front of  that door to deploying the throw phone. They   are at the front of that door. there is no option  but for us to put live people, human beings at the   front of that door where there could be firearms.  That is the current technology we have. Um, as   time has gone on, um, we continue to evaluate the  technology and the needs for technology. uh you   know, New York City just had a improvised device  thrown at some officers and even though they were   clear and and arrested the individual, something  has to be done with that device. You can't just   pick it up. Um we do have uh containment capsules  where we can put it there, but you got to get it   there. And to get it there, you have to put a  human being in a heavy suit and they've got to   walk with this explosive in their hand. Those  suits do not protect that human being from that   blast pressure. So with our robot capability,  we could pick those devices up and put them in   our total containment vessel safely outside of  harm's way. Uh when I was doing some research   on other agencies that had spot, um I came across  multiple articles. It's about as endless as you   as you want to keep searching. Um but what kept  sticking out in my research was uh LAPD and they   um purchased spot and within 24 hours they found  themselves in an armed engagement in an alley   with an individual. They ended up shooting that  individual and he went down. They sent Spot in,   removed the firearm, went up safely and was able  to save that individual's life. That's what Spot   can do. If not, then we have to send the SWAT  team up to that individual. Uh, coincidentally,   that same week, they had another individual on  a city bus armed with a firearm. Um, as they   cleared off the bus, surrounded the bus, they  waited. The individual appeared to be sleeping.   Spot walked up into the bus, down the bus, picked  up the firearm, and brought it off the bus. So,   they were able to save everybody on the bus and  get the individual in custody off the bus. That's   just two incidents that a quick search will do um  to tell you a little bit about what Spock can do. Uh additionally, I talked about some of the  surfaces in the doors. Um there's a video out   there from Boston Dynamics where they show Spot  walking up a few flights of stairs. Uh I think   he turns on a concrete platform, walks over like a  railroad tie looking thing and then like a bed of   rocks. Um, that capability doesn't exist with  the track robots we have. You You may be able   to navigate up the stairs. Uh, you can turn.  Getting over the railroad tie is going to take   uh some operational skill. And then walking  through those rocks. Um, we're routinely replacing   the the treads and the uh gears on our robots  because they're just not designed to do that.   And then one of the uh last things I want to uh  highlight on spot's capability is the technology   that comes with spot. Uh I think it's safe to say  that we do have a robot that has an arm and can   open a door and then that's it. Uh that arm does  provide a very hard grainy camera to see. With   Spot, you get a highdefinition camera with 30  time zoom with two-way communication inside the   Grappler. I'm sorry, the claw. And on the back of  the device, the back of the device also provides   uh infrared technology. So whether it's dark,  whether you're looking under a bed, whether   um there's a heat source, all those things Spot  can pick up and he can do it with those two   sensors. So, as the negotiators are negotiating  an incident to resolve it peacefully, SWAT can I'm   sorry, Spot can go in there and we can negotiate  through Spot where we can't get phones, where we   can't get any of our other robots. We can send  Spot in there to negotiate. We can deliver food,   we can deliver water. I mean, it's endless  what you can do as long as he can pick it up.   Uh there's been some uh questions on the  difference between the the two spots,   you know, for for lack of better terms, the  the the SWAT spot and the bomb spot. Um, again, we're we're restricted on some of the  stuff we can disclose in reference to the bomb   team uh for FBI requirements. But I will tell you  that uh spot does come with a piece of capability   that we don't have and that's CBRN um chemical  biological radiology and nuclear detection. We   can send spot in can walk wherever whatever event  we have. It can test the air quality for that for   those chemicals for explosives present in those  things. So whether we have an NCAA tournament,   we can walk SWAT, I'm sorry, spot around  inside of the facility and detect the air   quality for a chemical device, an explosive  device, something we do not have right now. I think that's pretty much the the the  highlights and the and the high notes of   uh of the capabilities of the of the of the  robot. Um I will tell you that uh you know on   our last discussion there was some questions on  um maybe for lack of better terms how busy is the   SWAT team or bomb team. Um in 24 uh the SWAT team  was activated 40 times and in 25 was activated 43   times which we talked about uh last time. So just  nine shy of once a week. When we evaluated uh the   bomb team's uh response in 25 they were activated  61 times. And I'll tell you out of those 61 times   37 times there were explosives that our bomb  teams collected. in 26. Here we are on March 10th,   which we just had a bomb activation today. We went  out on a device today. That's our 26th call out   of of 2026 here on March 10th. And we've already  collected 11 explosives from the community just   from March 10th. So that kind of hopefully puts in  perspective, I guess, from management, what we're   asking our SWAT and bomb officers to do to go out  and put themselves in even a higher risk of danger   than what we're asking our police officers to do.  These teams are who we call on when the officers   are stuck, for lack of a better terms, where a  situation does need to end peacefully. These are   the highly trained, highly capable teams that we  call in. So that's why from management uh we try   and look at and evaluate, you know, holistically  on our uh equipment. Is there anything that we   can give them to help save their lives? Because  they're it they're the last line of defense. Is   there anything we can give them to help save their  lives? When they show up on scene, the officers   get to clear back and just direct traffic. At  that point, these other two teams don't get   that luxury. They're relying on Sergeant Inklar's  negotiation skills to end these things peacefully. Uh so with that, the financial consideration  uh for the two uh robots uh is already in   the adopted 26 to 35 capital improvement uh  for 650,000 in general obligation bonds. Um,   I'll I'll stand for questions in reference to  um that financial considerations and uh the CIP   uh request for that. Um, but the recommendation  um today is for the mayor and city council to   approve the initiation of funding and authorize  the necessary signatures. Uh, behind me I do have   uh the team of subject matter experts. These are  the commanders, the firsthand people using these   uh devices. Um, so with that, we'll stand for  questions and if we have specific questions maybe   I can't answer, I'll turn it over to one of the  subject matter experts. Thank you, Captain Kulie.   We'll begin with Council Member Ballard. Thank  you, Mayor. Thank you, Captain Kulie. I have a lot   of questions, but I'll just ask a couple and wait  for my colleagues to chime in. Um, and I'm sorry   if you already covered any of this. What is the  expected lifespan of the robotic unit? So, I don't   know that we know that. Um it's been operational  I would say in the police department world for six   years. Um when I went to a expo uh to see this  robot firsthand before we just you know come   and ask for it for a device whatever it is that we  don't even haven't experienced. Um I actually ran   into uh some other jurisdictions there who have  been operating spot for for many years. um they've   had to replace a few pieces because of their  own uh issues of doing something to it. Uh all   those have been replaced and they told me that it  operates the same as it has three years ago when   they purchased theirs. Okay. Um thank you. Um what  training will operators receive before deployment?   So uh the company that uh uh if selected uh comes  here uh firsthand. These are all uh people who uh   know spot in and out. uh they fly here, they bring  the robots here and they provide um the firsthand   knowledge to every single member of those teams  on how to operate it, what it can and can't do.   Um what to do if it, you know, tips over, how to  upright it, how to tell it to, you know, because   you got to pick is it a push door or pull door.  They walk you through all that. I'll tell you that   uh Lieutenant Goward, the SWAT commander, actually  went to the expo with me and he got to operate   the the robot firsthand. I mean, I'd have to  ask him, but I bet in probably 30 seconds,   he had the dog up the stairs and going through  a door. So, it's very user friendly. Um, all of   that has already been programmed in in the robot,  and that's where they're different. If if I was   to maneuver our current robots to grab this mic,  all of that is gauged by the operator. You know,   a lot of times we're banging in different areas  or something. Spot doesn't operate that way. You   click on the device on the screen and it figures  out what it needs to do. So, it prevents it from   banging into stuff. And um but they fly here.  The short answer is they fly here. They bring   uh the equipment here and they train uh those  two teams before they leave. Okay. Uh two more   questions. Um, what is the operational battery  life and how quickly can it be redeployed? So,   it's 90 minutes on the battery life. Um, sorry  if you already said that. Nope, I did not. Um,   so it's 90 minutes on the battery life. Um, and  you simply bring the robot back to you. Um, I   guess you could go down to wherever the robot is.  Um, but you bring the robot back to you and it's   literally like switching out a leaf blower. If you  have a electric leaf blower, you you um plug one   battery and you plug another one in, you put it on  the charger. Okay. Um last question is um will it   have the capability to connect to the real time  crime center? Yep, it does. Uh so all that stuff   can be streamed to the real time crime center. Um,  and the goal of that is I wish I could put it in   percentage, but I'll tell you we're very, very  close to being able to operate any major event   in the city from the real-time crime center.  So, with all the technology we have, all the   camera streaming possibilities, uh, this uh, can  integrate into the real-time information center.   Yes. Thank you, Council Member Ho. Thank you,  Mayor. Um, appreciate a lot of the questions so   far and I appreciate your work and presentation on  this. Um, AI is not involved in this at all. Nope.   It's a pre-programmed system into the computer.  Um, I even have the specific. It's a stereoscopic   camera to navigate the IR admitter. So, that's  technically what they use to program it. Okay.   Would this be used in criminal apprehension in  any way? Um, it does not have that capability. In   fact, the company prohibits you weaponizing this  uh robot at all. You cannot put a weapon on it.   It's not designed for that. This is a deescalation  uh device all built from the ground up. Um so you   you can drag up to 50 pounds, but you're not  going to it doesn't grip like that. There is no   um arresting somebody with it or holding them down  or it's not designed to do any of that. Okay. I   appreciate that. So, this this was in the budget  in the CIP for 2027, correct? Um, and you guys   want to move it up to 2026. Is there any reason  for that? Um, you have some background on that or   Sure. Thoughts anyways? Sure. Yeah. So, um, the  reason we're asking to initiate it a year early   is because we, uh, keep having, uh, continuous  incidents like the Oldtown incidents where we   keep finding ourselves having to put human beings  in a, in a dangerous, um, life ordeath situation   where they're going up and deploying something.  when we know this technology is available and   could prevent an an officer's death or a death of  the community member um when we know it exists.   That's why we're asking for it early instead of  waiting a year and just praying nothing happens in   the meantime. Okay. So, this would be that's not  a swap. So, it's taking the budget from next year,   adding it to this year's budget, but then  having a savings in next year's budget. um kind of I would say the savings would be after  the 10-year bond is over. So in 20 uh whatever   the math comes out be 2037 roughly. Yeah. Okay.  That at least the first half of it I guess would   be yeah if you're looking at yearly allocations um  then yes it would from the 27 portion of the CIP   uh it would be it would have been initiated a year  early. Yes. So about 300,000 or so. About half of   the I'm about half is what we would pay down in  the CIP. Correct. Half is what you'd pay down.   I'm sorry. I believe so. Pay cash usually in the  CIP. I think that's Oh, are you talking about if   we bond it or cash fund it? Yeah. Yeah. Mark's not  here. I don't know if the man the manager wants to   speak. I can tell you based on some conversations.  Um my my assumption is this is going to be cash   funded, not bond funded. if that's your if  that's the the root of your question. Okay. Um,   now there's two dogs for two different um  scenarios here. One for the bomb squad and one   for SWAT. Now, is is the equipment interchangeable  between the two? Because I know it would take two   different there's two different actions that  they're pretty much performing. So, is it like   the same base dog and then we add equipment to  it? So, the company Boston Dynamics partners   with a separate company. Boston Dynamics designs  just the basic dog. Um, the dog that you can get   to run your factory. Um, it's not uplifted in any  way for any type of law enforcement scenarios. So,   then there's another company that uplifts those  and they install different railing systems along   the dog depending on what you want. So, when we  were having the conversation with them about the   U bomb unit and we found out they actually do make  a chemical detection device, they build the mount   for that to go on the dog. So, they're the only  ones that offer that package for the robots. So,   can that be taken off? It can, but not everything  is interchangeable. So, you know, if they wanted   to store the CBRN in away, that way they're not  damaging it, they could, but they can't take   um some of the uh parts. I mean, some of  these parts can render explosives safe. So,   it's very difficult to take that piece off of one  robot and put it on another one unless we have a   mount all the mounts on both robots. Okay. I  appreciate that. Um a a quick question just   our conversation here has kind of stirred another  question. Um out of the ex the incidents where we   had the bomb squad out and we discover explosives.  How many of these are criminal intent? How many   are undetonated fireworks? Um suspicious things  just kind of found that do have a little bit   of flammability I guess to it. Yeah. Uh invite  Lieutenant Remy up here the bomb commander. Uh,   I'll tell you, uh, and I'm sure he'll he'll  tell you, too, um, is to us an explosive is an   explosive. Uh, whether it's crystallized dynamite  someone bought years ago that's very volatile and   we can't move it and they found it in their shed  when they're cleaning it out or it's an actual IED   uh, that someone is making to create harm. Uh, the  danger and the tactics are the same. But I I'll   invite Lieutenant. Okay. And I appreciate that.  This isn't like just to get the criminals. I'm   just generally curious as far as this goes,  like what's going on in the city with Oh,   okay. Yeah, I see what you're saying. Do  you know any of those figures? Good evening,   Mayor. Good evening, council. Uh, I'd have to pull  those numbers for you um specific um criminal or   uh recovered explosives. Um, we have a lot of uh  rural counties that we respond to. We respond to   19 counties in the south central uh portion  of Kansas. Um, as you're aware, a lot of them   outside of Cedric County are rural districts. Uh,  and up to about 2000 2001, uh, anybody that owned   land or a rock corey could buy dynamite and,  uh, initiators. So, unfortunately, we respond   to a lot of those out in the rural counties as  well. Um, but we do have our our uh call load   where people are making different things. Um,  powders, um, TATP, that sort of stuff. Yeah.   Southside we got Tannerite all over the place.  And, um, so along those lines, is there room? Is   this part of the regional response same to the  um, the vehicle that we purchased last week? it um it is not um this anything purchased  I'm gonna I'm gonna answer because I think   I understand what you're asking here um this  anything we buy from the region is I guess the   freedom of the regions like it's it's it's got to  be uh available to respond to the region anything   that is purchased uh from the city of Witchah  belongs solely to the city of Witchah so It's it's   exactly the same uh scenario that we discussed  last week where that is solely at the discretion   of the chief of police on what items, you know,  he removes from the city for what incident. Um our   objective with these is is not to drive them from  the bomb perspective to all the 19 other counties.   And um the number one priority of our department  is the city of Witchah. Um so and we always   prioritize that. Um however, our bomb team  is a regional bomb team. That is how we get   funded. That is the restrictions that that we're  under. You can't just form a bomb team. Um you're   only slated so many in a specific area. Um so  unfortunately we do have an obligation to respond   to those 19 counties. However, what equipment  goes and when it goes is all at the discretion   of of the city and the police department. Okay.  Any potential funding opportunities there? I'm   just trying to Yeah, dig in the couch cushions.  That's what we were talking about uh last week   with their uh vehicle that needs replaced. They  have two. Um both of them need replaced. Uh one   of them is a regional uh asset. It was purchased  by uh the South Central region. Um it is at end   of life. We've asked for replacement for that.  It's about half a million dollars. We feel like   we're going to get about 200,000. So, the money  isn't even going to go to about half the vehicle,   let alone other gear. Um, I will tell you that um  and maybe I mentioned this last week, a lot of the   items the bomb team has um are purchased from the  South Central region. They're they're very good   to us. So, a lot of bomb suits, which are very  expensive, are purchased from the South Central   region. uh a lot of x-rays, a lot of things  that we don't have to bring in front of this   uh governing body are purchased from the South  Central region because they do understand that   we respond to a lot of calls all over those 19  counties. So, unfortunately, the funding source   of the South Central region uh just isn't what  it used to be. Um which, you know, has brought   us in front of you for many different items  here recently. So, okay, that's all I have for   now. Thank you, Vice Mayor Glascock. Thank you. I  want to try to um keep my question short but also   comprehensive as well. You said we have current  robots in the system. What were what was the   original cost of those robots that are currently  being utilized? So the robot we call the throwot   um little handheld just kind of a RC car style  if you will to get a visual about 20 $25,000.   Um it's an older model. Um, it does the trick if  you can land it where you need to land it. Um,   you've got to get close enough to land it where  you need to land it. Um, the larger robot that we   do have that weighs 250 lbs on tracks, uh, that  was just shy of 300,000. So, they're all in the   same ballpark. Um, spot uh, for the SWAT team is  roughly 315,000. So, we're in the same ballpark.   um we're talking many years ago the other one.  So, you know, with price increases, um I think   when you weigh the price uh increase from the year  that that robot was bought to current and you add   in the just sheer overwhelming capabilities  that Spot has that our other robots can't do, probably, you know, much higher than a 315  value to 270 280 at that time. given that   it's still operable in some capacity, are we  looking at reselling that to other communities,   smaller communities? Uh, we have not had that  discussion. Um, a lot of times we if if we only   have one of something, just to give you kind  of equipment theory here on how how I kind of   operate in our in our budget is if we have one of  something, uh, having two with a backup is always   better than having none. So, if we're able to keep  one as a spare or send it into another operation   or maybe it, I don't know, holds a door because  that's all we need and then spot has to continue   the next level of entrance or something. Um, that  is always more of a value to preserve those pieces   of equipment than to sell them. Uh, and then you  know now we are replacing it with a human. Um,   but we have not had that discussion. Uh I believe  the the bombs robot was purchased by the region.   Uh so that is not an option. We'd have to donate  it. We we couldn't get anything in return uh from   that. Um the um SWAT uh robot they have um that  was bought with a different funding source. I'll   have to check uh there's some state requirements  on that one on the guidelines of what we can   actually do with it. Okay. And I I know you talked  about that the SWAT team one and the bomb squad   one would have different capabilities. Um however,  how often are they deployed at the same time? Uh   so we were having that conversation earlier too.  Um I don't have those stats unfortunately for you.   We were we were just having that discussion.  Um the So I'm the bomb incident commander and   Captain Lemons is the SWAT incident commander. So  when we're deployed at the same time, um you know,   I might be conducting an operation over here  and he's conducting over here and they're   you exclusive from each other. Um on an active  shooter, both of our teams would deploy together   because uh bomb and SWAT are both going to need  to be activated on that for devices and then the   perimeter search. Um but activated at the same  time on a same incident, uh very rarely. Um we do   train together. um activated the same time on two  completely separate incidents. I don't have those   figures. Um but unfortunately, you know, with 43  activations on bomb and 61 on on or I'm sorry,   43 on SWAT and 61 on bomb, the the phones are  busy. We are busy. We are out there. Um but   Lemons and I typically don't coordinate. Hey, I'm  over here for a bomb and I'm over here for SWAT.   We just handle those incidents. So, I don't have  that exact figure for you. Okay. I may only have   like one maybe two more questions. Uh, currently  there's no staffing attached to this this as well.   Like no additional staff that an officer is not  going to be pulled off the street to be able to   operate this that it's currently with staffing.  No additional staff, no additional uh budgetary   increases. There's there's nothing else tied  except purchasing the equipment. Okay. Um,   I know that, you know, we've talked about  multiple times and I will likely probably have   um consideration during council member agenda  about public safety and the staffing that we have   in public safety that I believe that we should  have CIPs to be able to look at public safety   investment in the future and make sure that our  staffing levels fit with what we currently have.   Um, and so that may be coming later as well. Um,  I may have other comments, but that's all I have   right now. Thank you, Council Member Shepard.  Thank you, mayor, and thank you so much for   answering my questions earlier as well. A couple  questions that I have uh as you were giving your   presentation. What is the cost if in the case you  know in a scenario this the robot dog or spot is   is damaged? Would we have to just pay the 300,000  or 325,000 to replace it? So, I've had some of   those conversations with Boston Dynamics. Um, I  will tell you that uh they were very gracious to   the Massachusetts State Police when their when  their robot was was uh shot and disabled. Um,   they didn't disclose exactly what that meant. I  think I'm assuming I know what that means. Um,   that's the only incident that we could really  discover with Boston Dynamics where one of the   robots has been shot. Um, so I don't think that  situation has presented itself to the manufacturer   very often. Um, so I guess the answer would be  I I I think they took care of Massachusetts on   that one. So you actually answered my follow-up  question, which was going to be how much damage it   can withstand, but I I think you kind of answered  that already. So, thank you. I had a couple   questions. I'll start off with maintaining this  new piece of equipment, can you talk about the   maintenance of this um robot? Sure. So, outside of  uh the juris jurisdiction I met um at the expo who   again damaged it themselves um trying to make it  do something it wasn't designed to do um trying to   trying to test its limits to see how far it can  go. Um albeit we appreciate that R&D from other   agencies. Uh that's not something we're looking to  do. We understand its capabilities. The training   has proven itself. Uh these other agencies have  proven itself. Um from from talking to that   individual uh on their SWAT team, uh the cost was  so minimal that it wasn't even a consideration.   And I think Boston Dynamics even helped them out  with that. In fact, I think they were waiting on   a part. And when we were standing there talking to  Boston Dynamics, um she even put a rush on their   part for them to get them to get it there. So,  uh that's the only agency I know that's really   had to even make repairs on this. Uh not saying  there's not others. Um but I couldn't find them   or have contact with them. Is there a warranty  for these robots? If so, what is the warranty?   Yeah. Uh I don't have that uh in front of me. Um  I'd have to I I could check and get back to you.   I wanted to um ask maybe this question is more  for the city manager. Um do you know for a fact   that this will be cash funded or will it be bond  funded? Because I had asked Mark a question about   if this is bond funded there will be an interest  rate that we will have to pay. Can you address   that? Yes. Um so the thought is that these would  be debt financing and so we would um we usually   when we assume uh debt financing for bond and  it's usually over 10 years we are assuming roughly   a 4.5% interest rate that would be um charged  over the course of that. So the interest on that   $650,000 would be about $171,000 over 10 years.  So it' be the 650 for the cost of the two robotics   and then the financing car uh charges would be  171. There is there could still be an option to   do some cash um funding of this, but the initial  approach would be to do bond funding. Uh and I'm   sorry to interject here, mayor. The the uh chief  has informed me that it's a one-year warranty. Another question I had, I know that you  mentioned 43 SWAT callouts, 61 bomb callouts. Um,   would could you talk about more costs per use,  will you be utilizing at every one of these? Um,   if you were obviously in hindsight right now  thinking about spot being part of the department,   would you have utilized spot in all 43  SWAT callouts and all 61 bomb callouts? Good evening, Mayor and Council. Sorry, I'm  Lieutenant Goward. I'm the SWAT commander.   Uh to answer your question in short, uh the idea  resolution for any SWAT call out is for peaceful   negotiation through our crisis negotiators.  That's always our first deployable tactic.   um before we introduce any sort of technology  into a residence or a building or whatever uh to   further advance the call uh it would be because  our negotiations um have come to a cease. We're   not getting any sort of response from this the  person inside or any sort of activity that would   uh further our crisis negotiation tactics and  then introduce that technology. So to answer   whether they would be deployed on every  single call out, the answer would be no   because we have such a high rate of successful  resolutions through our CNT teams. Excuse me.   And then to answer a question we had a little bit  earlier about the uh repairs on these. The the   nice thing about this is Captain Culie mentioned  earlier with Witchaw State University helping   design this thing. Uh they have they are able to  repair some of the some of the the needs that we   would have without actually having to go back to  Boston Dynamics. And just to give you a little bit   of background on our current SWAT robot, it's an  IOR brand which is a Canadian brand. It does have   to have repairs from time to time. He mentioned  tracks, other electronic things that go with it,   camera systems. We've had to order those and  as of recent with tariffs and everything else,   it does take a little bit of time to get the parts  that we need. And this and the shipping is pretty   expensive for that. Even if the part only would  cost $10, the shipping is quite a bit more. So   having a local university here to help us with  some repairs would be very beneficial as well.   And I believe this will be the first one  in the state of Kansas. Can you talk about   um I think you mentioned Arkansas, Bentonville  being the closest as well as Cherokee Nation   in Oklahoma. Would this be the first one in  Kansas? Yes. Um I sorry I confirmed that with   uh Boston Dynamics that this is the first one  in Kansas. Um there are other jurisdictions in   discussion but none of them um have uh this robot  and um just I'm sorry real quick before I forget   they they pointed out some keynotes I forgot  the the the IOR robots the current robot we have   uh you can't negotiate through it. There is no  two-way communication. So even if we take it   up there um we're we're operationally  incapable of negotiating through the   robot. we have to find some other way  to negotiate to resolve it peacefully. And then um you know um I guess the other thing  I want to point out with um us being the first   one um is we are a regional team. So there's  not too many in Kansas. There's only a few   bomb teams. Um and we were contacted by um um not  the last line of duty officer that was COVID but   uh the last uh officer to die from an explosion  which is right before COVID. So it would have been   our last officer in line of duty death. That  widow actually reached out to us and showed   her support for these robotics as her husband  at that time actually died from an explosion   while he was operating in the bomb unit. Thank  you, Captain Killy. Uh, Vice Mayor Glasco. Well,   something that was just said sparked something  in my head, too, especially because it would be a   regional asset. We'd be going out there and using  it in the region. Um, we often apply for state or   federal grants. Were there any grant opportunities  for using this type of technology? Or would we   expect there to be any grant opportunities to use  this type of technology? Especially because we're   covering more than just municipality. It's the  region and then likely um other areas as well. Um,   yeah. two parts there to clarify. Uh this  robotic piece of equipment if purchased by   the city is not obligated to respond to the region  as as a regional asset has you know is obligated   um that's a decision internally if we do do that.  So um but yes uh I oversee our grant um program   for the department as well. Um, we spend all  day scouring what's out there, what's available,   what are we going to apply, can we apply for  it, what's the what's the fine print, what's   is there a match, is, you know, is it 6040, what  what are we talking? Um, we have looked all over   for this. Um, we've had, uh, one other company,  um, actually it's the uplifting company reach out   to me on this and said, "Hey, um, there are grant  opportunities, just so you know, but good luck.   um all these other agencies have tried to do them  um for this and and they're not getting them. Um   we haven't even seen the grant he's talking about.  Um I'll tell you that the uh vehicle that we um   brought to you last week, 10 years ago, grants  were all over the place to buy that vehicle.   Today, I haven't seen one in the time I've been  monitoring grants. They're just not options.   um what we typically use for our equipment uh  the JAG the justice assistant grant um has been   steadily declining the amount of money we get  um in 20 four we got roughly $160,000 and we   divide that over many many pieces of things and it  gets dwindled down uh the 25 grant uh for justice   uh the JAG grant Um we should have been notified  in October. Um we just got notified a few weeks   ago that that is going to be an option. So  everything even the grants that are coming   are six months delayed um to so we don't even  know if there are going to be options anymore,   let alone how much are we going to get in 24. We  got less than we did in 23 and so on and so on.   Can I ask um so I sent an email uh to chief and  this is a he responded uh very very eloquently. I   asked how high on the Witchaw Police Department's  priority priority list are these and how urgent   is the need and I asked can they be delayed and  I think he had very um good commentary regarding   this and I'm a very big supporter of the chief and  the technology that has been deployed within the   Witchaw Police Department particularly the Arctic  the real-time information center and the drone   technology that Even now uh a public uh entity  like um sorry a private entity like Quicktrip   is wanting to buy another drone hive for the  city of Witchaw. So can maybe the chief talk   about technology and how all this integrates  and is this the highest priority right now? Mayor, definitely it is because it involves  keeping my officers safe as well as keeping   the community safe. And that could include someone  that is barricaded after committing a crime. And   it also could be somebody who's in a mental health  crisis, could be a veteran. And it Dave's team,   they work miracles in in terms of negotiating  things that I don't think they're ever going   to be able to negotiate. And they do it. But they  have to be able to communicate with that person.   And as was eloquently stated by the captain, we  don't have robots that enable Dave and his team   to put eyes on the person, be able to hear the  person. The person can hear them. They can look at   his at their verbal and physical cues to better  decide what what direction we need to go. Um,   we're unique here in Witchah. The reason that  these gentlemen are here behind me is because   they command these special units and they command  the men and women that staff these special units.   And every one of them are volunteers. They  all have their day jobs, if you will. They're   full-time assignments, but they take on this extra  responsibility to staff. These units that are,   you know, do a very dangerous job. Uh, you know,  I I know what it's like to be a SWAT operator. I   know what it's like to go through that door with  the unknown on the other side, but I have no idea   what it's like to put on that bombsuit and go  down range to a sus to a suspicious device,   an unknown device and place that X-ray or or or  to go hands on. And yes, it's true. You know,   we we the bomb suits, if it's any kind of a high  order detonation, it's not going to save you. Um,   and this gives this is what we call a gamecher  for us. So, um, the ability to resolve a crisis   situation, to get someone out even after they've  shot at us. Um, last time we were shot at three   times. I mean, last year we we were shot  at three different times, I believe. Um,   and we talked about that with the special vehicle  that we the rescue vehicle we asked for. Um,   drone technology is a great example. If I  come to you for technology, there is a nexus   to deescalation. And uh the drones are a perfect  example of that when you think of you just look at   our well done Wednesdays and all the different  times when we have apprehended someone safely   because we were able to identify where they were  in advance and then we were able to measure our   response based on that intelligence. The more  intelligence that we have, the more likely we   will be able to resolve the crisis in incident  peacefully and safely. You know, we are we're very   proud that we're an ICAT department and that  is is part of our commitment to deescalation   and and that's what IT says. You know, it's no  longer we all go home, it's everyone goes home. The reason that we're asking for these is because  that will enable us to make sure that everyone   goes home. The other thing is, you know, when  when we talk about we we have exhausted other   financing opportunities, but you know, this  morning when when I was sending out my many   emails at 7 o'clock in the morning and I was  looking at Good Morning America and they they   talked about DHS and the many alerts that they  have put out to local law enforcement about to   be on the on the awareness for sleeper cells that  are here and maybe activate it in response to the   crisis in Ira. grant. Um I would say time is of  the essence. Yeah, even grant opportunities even   if we could find them that would be this would  be something we might see next year and it might   be partially funded but there there might be a  match. So grants are really not and this is why   you know Captain Kulie has done a unbelievable job  in in planning out our our work and our purchases   under the CIP but only after he's gotten the  input from throughout the entire department to   identify what the gaps are and then prioritize  those gaps. And the priorit prioritization of   those gaps is why we moved this forward. And we  did it working very closely with Mark Manning to   make sure that the funding was available. Um there  were funds in CIP that were not being utilized. Um   and because we thought this was such a priority  to the safety of our personnel and our community,   uh we decided to move forward working together  with him. And that's why this project was approved   back in August. And I I do I believe uh very  intensely that this is important to the city of   Witchaw and will enable us to continue uh to make  deescalation the the the priority and the hallmark   of this department and continue to allow us to re  resolve very volatile situations peacefully. Um so   again so everyone goes home. Thank you, Chief Vice  Mayor Glascock. This question for the manager. Um,   just one quick question. I know there's I think  maybe been some misinformation, but I think it's   just based on how the process works in terms of  our CIP and in terms of last week's vote and the   funding mechanism for both that um because of uh  the failure of last week's vote that it doesn't   uh that there wasn't funds allocated in the CIP  for this project, that this isn't something that   we've moved forward. Can we just talk about the  the alternative funding mechanism for it? Um,   and that's what the question was addressing,  not uh any necessarily additional needs at the   department. So, I don't know if the chief wants  to take that, the manager wants to take that.   Can we just maybe clarify that CIP process for  individuals? Yes, I'll be glad to. Thank you,   council member. Um, as was discussed even during  the sales tax conversation is we've always had a   plan for public safety. Our plan for public  safety is really encapsulated in our 10-year   plan for a capital improvement program. That  is where we do these large equipment purchases,   where we do nonoperating things, where we do need  bulk money so we can do bond financing or use   some cash reserves for these. And so police,  like every other department within the city,   has identified their long-term needs. And so  police has identified the robotics as some needs   going forward which was identified and adopted in  the budget. So when we shared during the sales tax   discussion funding for public safety, it is this  information that does have the robotics dog but   even we programmed in 2026 which you've already  acted on was the big vehicle rescue vehicle. We   also have other things that we're currently going  to bring before you again still here in 26 some   more equipment but talking about some uh mobile  command vehicles a mobile operations um vehicle   we will bring together some facility maintenance  things that we need to address in 2026 and through   the next 10 years. Um so we do have a lot of  these things outlined that are in the budget   for everyone to see and this has always been the  harder basis. Our approach was can we fund these   earlier through the sales tax initiative. That was  no longer an option. And so thankfully we do have   this plan still outlined. It is our plan B where  we have our CIP funding. We have our debt service   funding. We have some cash to support that. And  so now we are still executing that plan. And that   we'll look to do for the next 10 years. no matter  if we find some other avenues before then we can   do that at expediated rate or accelerated rate.  Um but for now I just want to make sure everyone   understands this has been thought of. It's been  thought out in terms of timing and funding. We do   have the money. There's been some other assertions  made during the discussions about the city being   broke. That is not the case and we can articulate  that in a whole bunch of data. We pay our bills.   We don't owe anyone. We are able to make payroll.  We have 15% reserves for our fund balance. We have   an additional fund for a total of over $90 million  in reserves. We are not broke. I will not submit a   budget that's unbalanced. You have always adopted  a fund balance um as part of our budget. Part of   our strong budget operations has been validated by  our AAA bond rating, by our bond rates that we're   able to get for interest. I can give you more  data about our reserve funds. The policy that   you've adopted about a 15% um fund balance rate  has always been adhered to. Um our budget process   outlines all this. So there's a lot in there that  we can expand upon on the budget process, but   the short answer is this has been thought out by  police. It's been identified for funding through   budget and through your actions with the budget  last year and we have funding to move forward.   That was a much more comprehensive um answer  than I was I know you all like data asked for,   but I appreciate it. I think that's really good  information. Um this would be one question just   for the chief, I promise. Final question. Um we  had talked about today in a one-on-one meeting   about this and about this request about um  needs that the police department um that were   not incorporated in the CIP uh budget. Um, and  so I would be interested in getting that list   of items that you've requested previously that  haven't been put in the CIP. Uh, so we can look   at those as well. Um, and I think that just helps  with the conversation of there are still things   that have been denied that were not put in the  CIP and how can we look at um, how we're um,   maybe holistically how you're looking at policing  of the 21st century uh, maybe in a different way.   We would love to uh provide that to you and always  happy to make any presentation council would like   to see. Um but last year when Captain Kulie was  working this through the departments were asked   to cut some things back and and and we complied.  Um so we're happy to show you. But I mean,   we were very happy with wi with the plan that he  that he came up with because it did represent our   priorities and our most pressing needs. And prime  example is just that when I'm when I'm out some   with these gentlemen while they're resolving  some critical incident that often takes eight   or more hours and sometimes it's awful cold out  there. You know, we don't have a command post   to work out of. But but that's not our priority  right now. Our priority is the tools we need to   resolve the situation. And that's what these bots  are. And if you look at the price of what we have   and the price of these, then you begin to realize  that for the ex for all of the gain capability,   it really is not it. It's it it is a value and we  will have these for several years and using them.   We've shown you the numbers of of the responses,  but it's something that you just want to know that   you have available and you can deploy if you need  to. And yes, there'll be times when we will assist   our partner agencies. Um but that'll be done  judiciously because the priority is ensuring that   Witchah is safe and that is why we would not get  rid of any of our existing robots. So we have that   flexibility so that if part of the team has to  leave the city the city is still covered with with   frontline equipment. Um you know the other there's  a lot going we I talked about Iran but remember we   have FIFA we expect to see crowds from that. We  expect to see watch parties. we have, you know,   the 250th celebration. So, there are a lot of  events that are also going to be require extra   security and extra extra scrutiny this year like  Riverfest because of events that are occurring   overseas. Um, I receive bulletins like this every  single day telling me as the chief of police that   I need I need to pay extra attention to special  events and that that I have to be better prepared   to respond. There have been three uh incidents of  TATP attacks and that's a homemade explosive that   can be well it's very dangerous and very volatile  uh to produce. It's also easy to produce and that   is what you saw at the New York Mayor's residence  uh just this last weekend which also resulted in   an explosive assignment for u law enforcement in  central Pennsylvania. So, I'm keeping all of that   in mind as well. And to me, that has only hastened  this request and and and made this an even greater   priority to make sure that we are prepared here in  Witchaw for whatever may occur. We occur. We hope   nothing occurs. I'd like to think we never need to  use this equipment, but we will. And I don't want   to be in a position where something occurs and we  say I wish we had moved ahead and and gotten that   equipment that we need and everything that we come  after if we get this far and we come to you. This   has gone through extensive conversations. This has  gone through debriefs after critical incidents.   We do debriefs and we talk about what were the  gaps. uh no matter how well something turns out,   you could have always done it better in some  way. Um and we have those discussions to find   out and think about how we can do things better  in the future. And that's kind of like the genesis   of how this began. uh we realized that we had  limitations in our robotics and began to look   at options and that's how I spend my mornings  and and we we found this this product and then   we began that investigation which led the  captain and and the lieutenant to go out and   see it use it touch it in in in person and again  there were these the people that will be using   this equipment this is their part-time obligation  and they're they already know how to use robotics   this is actually going to make their life  easier because it's far more user friendly   than what they're utilizing now. So, there will  be no additional drain on manpower. Thank you,   chief. Thank you, chief. Um, I have just one  question for the city manager. I asked the chief,   is this the highest priority? And he said yes.  Can you city manager tell me where this ranks   uh compared to overall city priorities? Yes,  thank you mayor. Um certainly within the CIP   and again it's hard to boil down city finances in  a sound bite. Um but when you look at the context   of the city budget in the CIP, this is one of the  priorities in the CIP. So clearly within public   safety again we want to show we can do multiple  things. We are planning for a new fire station.   We can also do this robotic purchase. We can  also do CIP for public works. We can also do   CIP for library. So this in the CIP context is a  priority um that will fit within our other budget   operating priorities. We just did our contracts  tonight for lawn maintenance and grounds. All   these things can move in tandem. It's not a  either or choice. Um but we have the funding,   the debt service and availability for  this in this fiscal year and this month. I see no further questions from the council.  We will now open it up for public comment. Faith Martin, District 2. I did not realize I  would need my jammies. Uh, it's pretty late for   me. I have not had dinner yet. Um, I appreciate  the council and mayor being here so late. I know   you guys also haven't had dinner yet. Um, I have  a lot of notes and I was struggling to even find   a way to talk myself around this issue. I've been  getting scads of messages and emails about this   just while we were waiting. Um, the conversation  earlier where all of you were talking about fiscal   responsibility and you were nickel and dimming.  I don't see those conversations being had here.   And I also don't hear anyone asking about securing  the rights of citizens around the uh you know what   are we going to do with footage if there's if  we struggle as public to see body cam footage.   How are we going to get access to footage that's  on a dog when they go into someone's house? It's   not a dog. It's a piece of military equipment.  It's a robot. um protecting our rights should   mean that we have a policy drafted before we're  asking citizens to spend more money and have more   um interest to pay than we even spend on  transit. So when we look at those kind of things,   people are rightfully upset. I mean there are we  you you answered some of my questions, but the   cost per use is a big one. Not having a policy  in place for uh people to look at before this   is approved is a problem, especially when there's  incidents and other communities that have gotten   these and have already removed them. New York  had it for one year and then they got rid of it.   Dallas uh had an issue 10 years ago where a five  officers were killed in a mass shooting and a bomb   they used the robot with the bomb to kill that  person that did that mass shooting. Um we are   struggling to uh get what we need as a public to  understand what's going on. And I understand that   the city is having multiple conversations with PD  and with staff, but the public does still does not   understand. Even with all the conversation here  tonight, I still don't understand. You know,   we have more and more surveillance. We have more  and more flock cameras, more and more listening   devices. Now we have drones, we have risk terrain  modeling, and now we're going to have robots with   cameras on them. And I don't hear any I haven't  heard a single one of you talk about how we're   going to protect citizens rights through this  besides just well it's the law so we're going   to do that. Well the law gets bent a lot and  there's a lot of people that are still waiting   for justice that haven't seen that justice takes  a long time for some people. the citizen oversight   that I would like to see around these. There's  a lot of information out there about citizen   oversight. Surveillance technology should not  be funded, acquired, or used without considering   their financial impact, which we've heard a  little bit tonight. To verify legal compliance,   surveillance technology use and deployment data  should be reported publicly on an annual basis.   There should be a public approval process  for the acquisition and use of surveillance   technologies and that will be limited to val the  limited value unless city council and public can   verify the legal requirements pertaining to its  use including those regarding the protection of   civil rights and civil liberties have been adhered  to. Annual reporting requirements will empower   city council and the public to monitor the use and  deployment of approved surveillance technologies.   It's been a struggle and I appreciate all the  work that uh WPD did when the gunshot detectors   were being rolled out. They did a lot of community  feedback to understand how is this going to affect   you? What does this look like? Whether or not  this technology is going to make a difference,   I think is not the issue right now. It's the  cost. And I know we're not broke. Thank you   for that. Um but the cost and then the use  and protecting our civil liberties. That   is what I like to hear because when I hear  it's a top priority, we put it in 2027 CIP,   but it's a top priority now. When all  through the last special election cycle,   we heard that we can't fund the things that we  need and now we can fund things that we want.   I think the public is just concerned about the  mixed messaging and feels like this is not the   highest priority for the public. I've said  many times before, public safety is not just   the police. Even though they work really hard and  they do a great job, public safety is libraries   and parks and street lights and sidewalks and,  you know, the neighborhood. And I hope that we   focus a little more on community policing and a  little bit more less on technology. Thank you, Council Member Ballard. Thank you, Mayor. Um,   this might be for the chief or Captain Kulie.  Uh, one of my questions that I didn't get to is   what cyber security protections are in place  to prevent hacking and unauthorized access. Just to clarify maybe some of Faith's concerns.  I know that's just a part of it, but it was one   of the questions I had. Um, I'd have to get with  Boston Dynamics on that. um that never came up in   any of the 70 uh jurisdictions that have this or  with Boston Dynamics or at the expo. Um there is   a separate um specialized transmitter slradio that  goes on the back of these robots that transmits a   completely different frequency. Um, but as far  as u the technology of how you hack into that,   I that's out of my realm that's in the IT world. I  I'd have to go ask those questions. Okay. I would   appreciate it just to maybe um make sure that  we're checking all of our boxes with concerns   that the community might have. Thank you. I  assume they're encrypted, but I'll I'll verify.   I appreciate it. Council member Ho Hisel. Thank  you, Mayor. Uh thank you, Faith. I I just want to   say I agree with you as far as public safety.  Um, obviously the men and women of the police   department are the most important factor with  that, but that also talks about how we raise our   children, how we light our roads, how we light our  streets, walkability and whatnot. Uh, maintaining   solid neighborhoods as well and a sense of  community. So, I didn't want to say that is very   much a part of public safety as well. And I think  we up here need to keep that in mind as well. Madam Mayor, council members, my name is Julia  Faly. I'm at three Crestfield Lakes Estates   and I've been on the receiving end of being  in a neighborhood that was basically being   held hostage. And when you're told by the police  that you need to shelter in place and you need   to shelter in a basement or you need to be at  the back of your house away from your windows,   I want my police and they are my police because  my tax pay my taxes help pay them. I want my   police to be equipped with what it takes to try  to deescalate a situation as quickly as they can.   And I don't want to ever be sitting in my house  for 4 hours waiting to see what's happening with   drones flying and officers lining the streets. So  if they say that it's of highest priority, I have   faith in them that it is of highest priority for  their protection and my protection. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor, City Council,  Vince Hancock, District 4. First of all,   I want to thank you again for having an evening  meeting so that citizens can more appropriately   participate. And I don't believe last time I  spoke up here I introduced myself to Joe. My   background professionally is in mass communication  and information technology, something that we're   talking about right now. I can guarantee you we've  got technicians in this town who can add the nose   to the tracked robot without even breaking  a sweat. We've got resources to do this. And   anybody in the tech field who has been under a  rock for five and a half years still knows about   Boston Dynamics and the phenomenal re research  and development that they've been doing on getting   this platform out for a long time. That being  said, did everybody see the slide of spot? Trick   question. As our beloved legal scholarship tell  us, that's evidence not present. They got a better   term for of art than I do. During last week's  discussion about police armored rescue vehicles,   we learned that there have been supposedly 43  SWAT deployments or call outs in 2025. That is   an unsubstantiated fact because WPD hasn't created  an annual report in five years. They rarely denote   SWAT involvement in the incident summaries that  are published in the daily media reports. Trust   can only be built by transparency. On February  2nd at 109 p.m., WPD shut down Oldtown Streets   for supposed hostage situation with a barricaded  suspect. In truth, the victim had safely departed   the scene at 11:00 a.m. WPD knew this by at least  3:30 p.m., yet still chose to activate SWAT uh   within, and I just lost my prompter. uh they chose  to optimate uh swap just within 15 minutes after   that just to find out that the uh supposed suspect  had been asleep. He was mischaracterized as being   an uncooperative suspect. He was asleep. Uh here  we've got it. Um his slumber was lately publicly   dis mischaracterized as being uncooperative and  non-compliant. If you search the WPD website,   you won't find any ev evidence that we have a WXP  SWAT team or EOD team. This is further evidence of   poor transparency. My tax dollars cover $486,000  a year to rent over 195 safety cameras, which   have been hacked publicly online. They're $2500 a  piece annually. Until June of last year, the WPD   had published a transparency portal that showed  the number of devices, hit list totals, investig   investigatory searches, and other things. Now,  they've hidden the portal from the public, blaming   technical difficulty. Yet, Witchaw State, Bair,  Derby, and Park City all have working transparency   portals. Park City even published their flock  contract on their website last December. Again,   trust will be built by transparency. Community  members have complained that our citizens review   board has merely become an extension of the  department due to influence by the union   during creating of the charter ordinance. Every  time they investigate a case, it's done behind   closed doors to supposedly protect the due process  rights of our officers. Just more transparency.   Seven years ago, Chief Ramsey complained, "We  must recognize the incredible scrutiny police   are currently under. Where he saw scrutiny, I  saw accountability in a free and open society,   the freedom of access to information is essential  for our democracy as it informs the public,   hold public, holds power accountable and ensures  transparency in government actions. It helps   our citizens make more informed decisions and  protects against censorship and abuse of power.   At a District 6 coffee, Gordon promised that  transparently marked patrol vehicles would never   be used for traffic enforcement. Last Monday, I  witnessed that promise broken on North Broadway.   This practice does not put local they it puts  local drivers at risk of carjacking by police   impersonators. Transparent markings are not the  transparency that makes us safer. the WPD until   tonight in front of this slide. Do you think that  that dog wasn't on the slide for a reason? It was   planned. Until tonight, they did not release the  manufacturer, the model number of the robots they   intend to purchase, the expected service lifetime,  the annual training and maintenance costs,   nor publish any policy regulating their safe  use. I'm not saying no. I'm saying not yet.   Is it too much to ask that my tax dollars be  invested in a department that has meaning,   oversight, accountability, and transparency?  Any questions? No. Thank you for your time. Thank you to the three speakers who wanted to  address the council on this matter. We will   now bring this back to the bench. Council member  Tuttle. Sorry. Thank you. Um, and city manager,   thank you. I so appreciated your statements and  helping to debunk some of the misstatements that   are often said about our financial status. So  truly, thank you and I I hope you say exactly   what you said many more times. Okay. So, um,  regarding this issue, thank you to the Witchaw   Police Department. I truly appreciate all you  do. I say it all the time. I come from a law   enforcement family, so I understand and and I  appreciate what you do. Chief and I talked a   lot last night. We've talked a couple times today.  Um, thank you for being forward thinking. Um, when   we're talking about police, we're talking about  staffing. We have to be thinking of how we're   going to be a 21st century police department. And  that includes utilizing technology. And what I   think and you know, whether or not I'm supportive  or not, I know that some of my colleagues maybe   need some more information. And I'm hearing that  the community, not just the folks who thank you,   come to speak today, um, on both sides of it, that  they might need some more information as well.   And I know that Chief, you and your awesome  leadership team have a strategic vision for   the city of Witchaw, for our police department,  especially regarding technology. So, I think it   might be an appropriate time to let everyone  else get caught up to speed on what that looks   like. I think it will garner more support for this  initiative and for other initiatives that you have   in the CIP for technology needs. Um, I think a  workshop would be a great place to do that for you   to come and let us know your thoughts, what you're  thinking, how you want to take this department in   the future. So, with that, I'm going to make the  motion that we have a presentation on 21st century   poling and the use of technology at the April 28th  workshop and bring this item back to city council   in May 5th. Vice Mayor Glascock. Thank you. I just  have one question. I know we still have one and I   thank you uh council member Tuttle for that. The  chief has I think expressed um an immediate need   from the department's perspective. I still think  we can have that conversation and so would you be   interested in that we talk about it March 24th?  Absolutely. And because I really want this by   Riverfest I I mean we council vice mayor Glascock  and I told I wish we could have by St. Patrick   say but that's not realistic even if it back today  right because it's only a week away but I would if   if chief feels that he that's ample time for him  I would absolutely accept that friendly amendment   not a problem okay I'll second your friendly  amendment so it' be March 24th and then it would   be presented at a regular meeting on April 7th  because the 31st we have an onbon so by April 7th   is that your substitute motion yes I will second  we have a motion and and a second. Any further   discussion? Workshop on the 24th and regular  meeting on uh April 7th to vote on this matter. I see no further discussion. Madame  clerk, can you please open the role? Motion passes 70. Madame clerk,  please call the next item. Council member agenda, the Rotor Act. Thank you, mayor. Appreciate that. Um, and I  I want to thank the families of of flight 53,   AA 5342 for being here the entire time uh to  make sure that you are able to to speak to this   if you wish, but to more importantly see that  you know what the outcome of this is. Mayor,   if I may, I think it's important to  read this resolution. And as noted,   I want to point out that there's a version  handed in your agenda packet. It's the delineated   version and and it reads for the public's  awareness a resolution of the city of Witchaw   urging the United States House of Representatives  to pass the Roter Act. Where the city of Witchah,   Kansas, the city proudly known as the air capital  of the world, has long stood at the forefront of   aviation innovation, safety, and leadership.  And whereas the safety of passengers, pilots,   crew members, and communities impacted by aviation  activity remains a paramount concern to the   residents of Witchah and to the aviation industry  nationwide. And whereas the Roter Act operations   transparency and oversight reform, Roter Act  proposes enhanced aviation safety standards,   including improved aircraft trafficking  and transparency measures designed to   prevent avoidable tragedies. And whereas  the January 2025 aviation incident involving   American Airline Flight 5342 has been widely  described as 100% preventable, underscoring the   urgent need for strengthened safety safeguards  and modernize oversight. And whereas preventable   aviation tragedies demand responsive action,  accountability, and bipartisan cooperation   to ensure that lessons learned translate into  meaningful reform. And whereas as a national   hub for aerospace manufacturing, engineering,  and aviation workforce development, the city of   Witchaw recognizes that safety leadership  is inseparable from industry leadership.   Now therefore, be it resolved that the  city of Witchaw expresses gratitude to   the members of the Kansas delegation who  have supported the Roter Act and formally   urges the United States House of Representatives  to take immediate action to pass the Roter Act,   requiring both ADSB in, receiving, and ADSB out  broadcasting for all civil and military aircraft   operating in high density airspace class B and C  by 2031 and advance comprehensive aviation safy.   safety reforms. And be it further resolved  that the city of Witchaw calls upon members   of the House Transportation and Infrastructure  Committee to prioritize the consideration of this   legislation and work collaboratively to ensure its  swift passage. And be it further resolved that a   certified copy of this resolution be transmitted  to the United States House of Representatives   and the House Committee on Transportation  and Infrastructure for their consideration.   and witness thereof. This resolution is adopted by  the governing body of the city of Witchto, Kansas,   the 10th day of March, 2026. With that, mayor,  I yield my time. Council members, any questions,   any comments? Was that an official motion to adopt  that and send that? Absolutely, Vice Mayor. I move   to approve resolution 26122A, resolution of the  city of Witchaw, urging the United States House   of Representatives to pass the Rotor Act. Second.  I have a quick matter of procedure. I know that   we have individuals who would like to speak on  the matter and it's under council agenda which   usually does not get uh public comment. How  can I allow public comment in council member   agenda? I think it's really up to you mayor. I  would move to allow public comment during the   council member agenda. Second motion second.  Madame clerk, can you please open the roll? All those in favor say I. I. I. All those opposed,  same sign. Motion passes. 70. Um, and we will now   open it up for public comment before we actually  vote. We will now open it up for public comment. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, council members.  My name is Dean Maxwell. My daughter was Grace   Maxwell. She was on flight 5342. All I really  wanted to do was lend maybe a little perspective   um to what you're bringing to the floor here,  and I want to thank you for doing that. Uh,   one uh this morning I downloaded an app on  my phone uh which actually showed me where   airplanes were in the sky and I looked up and  sure enough there was an airplane right where   it said on my phone and that was uh better  technology than than those pilots had on   that night. Um that technology was first  recommended to uh by the NTSB in 2008.   uh first iPhone came out in  2007. For a little perspective, I the chairwoman of the NTSB said this would  not have happened had they had that technology.   And in that time, the NTSB has recommended  17 times that that technology be in use.   iPhone 17s coming out right now. With regards to the act that's on the  House floor right now, I I liken it to   building a building and they wanted to do a  comprehensive plan that builds the building.   Unfortunately, they're looking  at the foundation and saying,   "Let's figure that out later." That  technology needs to be taken care of now. It does need to be comprehensive. We do need to   be safe, but we definitely need  to get that technology in place. My daughter would still be alive.  The families of PJ Duggins, sorry,   PJ Diaz and Kia Duggins are are also  here with the same sentiment. Thank you. Thank you, Dean. Would anyone else like  to address the council on this matter? Thank you again to the families who are present  at 10:47 p.m. Um, and I appreciate Council Member   Sheepard for bringing this to the body. U, we  will now close public comment. And we do have a   motion and a second. And with that, any further  comments? I see none. Vice Mayor Glasco, I just   have one quick comment. While it's not in the  resolution, it says that a copy of the resolution   should be transmitted to the United States in the  committee on transportation and infrastructure.   I just believe we should directly send it to all  four members of the delegation as well. I imagine   that we probably will, but I just want that as  a direction from the body as well that it goes   to all four members of the House delegation as  well. Council member Shepard, I'm I'm happy with   that. I've also spoken with communications about  making this publicly available online. I think   anything that we can do to add and lend our voices  to this matter is critically important. Um I know   that we tal a lot about being the air capital of  the world. It would make me extremely proud and   I know the families extremely proud to know that  the air capital of the world is also leading the   charge in making airspace a little bit more safe.  Um this is really hard for me. Um, as many people   know that I personally lost someone really close  to me in my life um, in regards to this tragedy,   but it's also a reminder that um, when we failed  to do things after being warned for so long,   there are severe consequences. Um, I've heard the  pain of a grieving mother and father and siblings.   I grieve the loss of my dear friend every day.  And as we witnessed tonight, um heard the pain   in the voice of a father and the family members.  Um so in their honor, I hope that we do everything   that we can to move this forward and to fight  for justice as many of them would want us to. Council member Hoisel. Thank you, Mayor. Um  thank you to the families. I can't imagine. Also,   um just want to direct staff to have  our comm staff reach out. make sure   our lobbyist Jim Davenport in the  NLC, National League of Cities,   um sees this as well. Maybe the NLC can  help put some some um effort behind this   as well and um lobby Congress on behalf of this.  Thank you, Council Member Johnston. Thank you,   Mayor. Some things you never forget, and I'll  never forget Dr. Maurice Duggin. just wondering   if his daughter was still alive and it I'll  never forget that. So, it's very important. And with that, um I just want to echo  the sentiments of the council. I know   that Senator Moran has been an advocate for  passing the Roter Act and he has said in   his communications to us that every day that  the Rotto Act isn't enacted and implemented   represents a failure to learn from the tragedy  of January 29th by making our skies safer.   And I would echo that sentiment from a federal  leader like Senator Moran who is a big advocate   for aviation safety but aviation industry  as a whole. So with that there's a motion   second and no further discussion. Madame  clerk, can you please open the role? Motion passes 70. Thank you to  the families who are here tonight.   Madame clerk, can you please call the next item? Council member, appointments and comments. Council member Hohheisle. I have one appointment  and then circle back. I have a comment. So, um,   I'd like to appoint John Buck to CSBG uh, review  committee. Council member Johnston, you have   to bear with me. I have all my appointments, so  overachiever. Yeah, I know. I'm sorry it's late.   I'd like to point uh reappoint Troy Palmer to the  affording affordable housing and review board.   Jason Albertson, Dr. Jason Albertson to the Animal  Service Advisory Board, Toric and Pedestrian   Advisory Board, Kent Ghost to the Board of Park  Commissioners, uh Sean Balman to the district   advisory board, Dave Sanford to District Advisory  Board, uh Wendy Carter to the district advisory   board, Mary Whiteside to District Advisory Board,  Dennis Clary to district advisory board, Jennifer   Savo to district advisory board, Grace Coin to  district advisory board. Uh, a new appointment,   Andrea Scarpelli, to district advisory  board. Another new appointment, John Oswald,   to district advisory board. Reappoint, uh, Rachel  Thomas Murphy to district advisory board. And   reappoint uh, Lamont Anderson to district advisory  board. Also appoint Anthony Syler to the food and   farm council. uh Celeste Ret to the historical  preservation board. Susie Turnis to the library   board, Andrea Scarpelli also to the library board.  Brian Fry to MAPC and the Witchah Sed County Board   of Appeals. Um Floyd Bess known as Bubba uh to  the Police and Fire Retirement Board. Um John   Oswald to the Transit Board. Mike Green to the  Witchaw Airport Advisory Board. Stephanie Nicks to   the Citizens Review Board. Melinda Walker to the  Witchaw Employees Retirement Board of Trustees.   Randy Timish to the staining ability integration  board. And lastly, Jill Kersonen to the Witchaw   Sed County Access Advisory Board. And I'm done.  Council member Shepard. Thank you, Mayor. Let me   pull out my appointments really quick. I'm joking.  Uh uh I have four appointments I'd like to make   tonight. Uh three of which to the District 1  Advisory Board. I would like to appoint Holly   Danley to the District 1 Advisory Board, Jesse Sho  Soj So S Sojka to the District 1 Advisory Board,   Steve Falner to the District 1 Advisory Board, and  Tiana Kelly to the Wasca Board, which stands for,   let me make sure I say that out loud correctly,  uh, the Witchaw Sedwick County Community Action   Partnership Board. Council member Ballard. Thank  you, mayor. I'd like to reappoint to the district   advisory board Lisa Tatum, Zachary Gingrich,  Gaylord, Scott Lucas, Bill Washburn, Sergio Dora,   Tom James, Joshua Seven, Brian Irwin, and Mark  Baker. I'd also like to thank Representative   Martinez for serving eight consecutive um years um  on the district advisory board. So, she's rolling   off, so appreciate that. And then the community  block grant. Um, I'd like to reappoint K Bell,   Erin Salceto, and Rosa Cisner. And council  members, I sent this via email to all of you. Um,   I am going to reappoint Kathy Mlan to the airport  board. I am going to appoint for the first time   Shane Carter to the Smid board at large seat. In  addition, the MABC has multiple uh individuals.   Uh so I'll name them or can I just say from  the email that was sent to the clerk? Okay,   I'm naming them. Okay. Board of Electrical  Appeals, accept the resignation. Um sorry,   appoint Cole Hawkins as elevator mechanic.  Reappoint Steve Vosman as a jointlyapp   appointed public at large member. Reappoint Brian  Higgins as master electrician. Reappoint Curtis   Mitchell as journeyman electrician for the board  of appeals of plumbers and gas fitters. Reappoint   Larry Doy as the jointly appointed public at  large member. Reappoint John Clark as master   plumber in industrial and commercial. Reappoint  Kirk Soldard as master plumber in installation   and systems. Reappoint Curtis Uncle as master  lawn sprinkler. Reappoint Thomas Wassinger as   mechanical contractor for the board of appeals  of refrigeration air conditioning warm air   heating and boilers also known as the mechanical  board. Accept the resignation of Lucas Parther   as boiler contractor. Appoint Randy Holm as boiler  contractor. Reappoint Randy Freeman as the jointly   appointed public at large member. Reappoint David  Lions as journey boiler. And reappoint Teresa   Jordan as refrigeration contractor. I will save  my appointments till next week. As will I. I'm   sorry I didn't catch all that. Can you repeat  it? I move to approve all these appointments.   Second motion second. Discussion none.  Madame clerk, please open the role. Motion passes. 70. We will now go to council  member comments. Council member Hisel. Thank you,   mayor. Um, I'd like to wish our former vice  mayor, um, current council member Johnston a happy   birthday today. Uh, 54. 54 never looks so good  on somebody. I wish it was 54. Double six. Yeah.   Well, I've only got an hour left of it. Um Yeah.  And also, I didn't know that you had sponsored   that half marathon. I actually, believe it or not,  uh that's the one time I did run a half marathon.   So, I got a Johnston's half marathon medal at  home. I might have to bring up sometime. Good   for you. It was a fun time. Yeah. Six weeks later,  I blew my ACL and I don't think I ran since. So,   Council Member Tuttle, thank you. I I just  want to make a brief comment. I so appreciate   the evening meetings. I'm glad to have community  engagement. When we started doing these quarterly   evening meetings, we did make a commitment that  we would try and keep the content or the agenda   as limited as possible. We talked about having  maybe even just one or two items. I know that's   not always possible, but you know, I have a fear  now that we're sending our staff and our community   members out at 11:00 at night, right? And then by  the time you get home and and so if in the future,   I think we can be more respectful and cognizant  of staff's time and the community members time.   I know many of the staff that are sitting here  and us have 7:30, 8:00 meetings tomorrow and   maybe started their day at 7:00 or 8:00 this  morning. So if in the future we can try and   limit the time frame for this meeting, I think  it would be greatly appreciated by all not only   for you know but for safety is my biggest concern.  Thank you. I appreciate that since I go to bed at   9:30 since I am old. Yeah, Vice Mayor Glasco.  Thank you, Mayor. Um over the last six months   I've been working uh with Ascension and also  Riverlon Church and also the legal department   uh to talk about the safe haven baby box program  and um just wanted to uh make sure that that gets   brought before this body. I know I didn't know  the proper way to do it because we haven't what   I think it probably has to be council member le  and so um for anybody uh paying attention still   at 10:59 at night. Um the safe and baby ox program  this is one sentence I promise provides a secure   uh temperature controlled box at fire stations  where a parent in crisis can anonymously surrender   a newborn immediate immediately after alerting  first responders so the baby can receive safe   care. the state passed um or laws about it earlier  this year. We're trying to create the opportunity.   This would be no um cost to the city or we can  we can talk about that but it uh Ascension and   um the church Riverlon uh has agreed to cover  the cost of this and so I think it's before legal   right now. It'll eventually become the manager's  office and so I just wanted to initiate that from   the council perspective. Thank you. The actual  item will be a lease and use agreement between   the city and Safe Haven Baby Box. Thank you.  Council member. Thank you, Jennifer. Council   member Shepard. Thank you, Mayor. I just want  to give a shout out to Ashton who's here,   been here all night. Um, and I appreciate you,  especially because he is a young leader in our   community who has really been leaning in and  engaging. I know that he had an opportunity to   shadow our mayor. He will then uh soon shadow  me pretty soon. So, we have a fun day planned.   And then also want to give a huge shout out  to Zamaria who did an amazing job moderating   our conversation at the District One breakfast.  uh on Saturday with women leaders where we also   had the opportunity to recognize the first  woman elected to lead the city of Witchah,   Mayor Liy Woo. So again, to all the women in our  city building as well as out in the community,   um happy women's history month. We're grateful  for you and thank you for leading boldly. With that, I move to adjourn at 11:01 p.m. Second.   Motion second. Discussion none.  Madame clerk, please open the roll. No. Uh motion passes. 6 7 0