[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Good evening and welcome to all of you here at  city hall. We'll call this meeting to order. With   us this evening is Minister Jared Kaigg of Ark  Church to provide our invocation. Following that   invocation, we will have the pledge of allegiance  and we ask that you please stand for both Good evening. It is an honor and a privilege to  be here this evening to open up in prayer with all   you guys. Let's pray. Father, I come before you  with thanksgiving and gratitude tonight. We just   I honor your name, Lord, and I pray for divine  wisdom and guidance for everything that happens   in this room tonight. every council member, every  decision, Lord God, that your guidance is in it.   Lord, I pray for your protection, your peace over  everybody in this room, every council member, God,   over their families, Lord God, your blessing,  Lord God, in this place. I pray for that, Lord.   I bring our first responders, Lord God. Our police  officers, our city workers, Lord God, before you.   I pray for their protection and your blessing  upon their lives and their families. And lastly,   Father, I bring this city before you. I pray for  prosperity for Witchah. I pray for Lord God peace,   Lord God, safety for Witchah. That our economy  would grow and that your favor would shine upon   this city. Father, I pray all these things in the  name that is above every name, the mighty name of   Jesus. Amen. Amen. I aliance to the flag of the  United States of America and to the republic   for which it stands. One nation under God,  indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Minister Jared. Madame Clerk, can you  please call the first item? Approve the minutes   of the regular meeting of July 22nd, 2025. Are  there any corrections to those minutes? I see   none. I move to approve the minutes of the  regular meeting for July 22nd, 2025. Second   motion and a second. Any further discussion? I  see none. Madame clerk, please open the role. Motion passes. 70. Madame clerk,  please call the next item. Awards and proclamations. Today's proclamations   are young professionals week and  national healthcare center week.   May I please ask the chambers w group  to please come forward at this time. It's going to take a while. No, you're  okay. It's going to take a while. I'll   quickly remark that this seems to be one of  our uh wellattended council meetings. So,   thank you all very much for  being here this evening. I've also invited council member Tuttle  to come forward. She's one of the mentors   for the W. The proclamation reads, "The  city of Witchah, Kansas, founded in 1870.   Whereas W a community of young professionals  formerly known as Young Professionals of Witchah   was established in 2005 in response to the  urgent need to attract, retain, and empower   the next generation of leaders in a competitive  talent marketplace. Whereas for 20 years, W has   fulfilled its mission to create opportunities  where young professionals are challenged to grow,   lead, and build a thriving Witchita through  purposeful networking, community engagement,   and innovative programming. Whereas W envisions  a Witchita that is recognized as a city of   choice for diverse young professionals  and forwardthinking organizations alike.   Whereas the voices, talents, and dedication  of young professionals are essential to the   strength and future of Witchah and W's enduring  commitment to diversity, connection, leadership,   and innovation has fostered a generation of change  makers across our community. This 20th anniversary   is not just a celebration of years. It's a  recognition of progress made, lives impacted,   and the ongoing work to build a city where all  young professionals can thrive. Now, therefore,   be it resolved that the Witchaw City Council  does hereby proclaim the week of August 3rd,   2025 as Young Professionals Week in the city of  Witchah, and commends W, a community of young   professionals for its ongoing contributions to  our city's progress and vitality. [Applause]   Good evening, city council and members of the  public. My name is Julie Collier and I'm chair   of the impact team with W. As members of W and as  young professionals across Witchah, we are proud   to receive this proclamation on behalf of our  city. In the early 2000s, the Witchah Regional   Chamber of Commerce recognized the need to compete  for and retain young professionals. And in 2005,   the chamber launched Young Professionals of  Witchah or YPW. Over the years, it provided   opportunities for young talent to build their  networks and skill sets for professional   development. In 2019, YPW rebranded to become  what is now known as W. This update signifies   a modern and inclusive investment in Witchah's  young professionals. Today, W has four diverse   action teams that provide opportunities for over  1700 members to grow their network through social   activities, professional development, and civic  engagement. Young professionals are the future   of Witchah. We are proud to celebrate 20 years  and are grateful for the chamber and the city's   continued investment in young talent. Thank you to  every WNY YPW member, past and present, for your   investment in propelling young professionals  in Witchah forward. Thank you to all of our   volunteers and mentors who have helped develop YPs  through our programs. We recognize the importance   in helping build the next generation of Witchah  and hope you join us in our ongoing work to build   a city where diverse young professionals can  thrive personally and professionally. Thank you. It's not too late. I'm good. I'm back here. All right. [Music] [Applause] Thank you once again to the W for coming here  to city hall and also providing a reception for   uh the community to engage with young  professionals. May I please ask anyone   who is a supporter of national health centers to  come forward, including Vice Mayor JB Johnston. Good evening. The proclamation reads, "The city of Witchah,  Kansas, founded in 1870. Whereas for nearly 60   years, community health centers have provided  highquality, affordable, comprehensive,   primary, and preventative health care in our  nation's medically underserved communities,   delivering value to and having a significant  impact on America's health care system.   Whereas community health centers develop  new approaches to integrating a wide range   of services beyond primary care, including oral  health, vision, behavioral health, nutrition,   and pharmacy services to provide comprehensive  care, allowing each patient to thrive. Health   centers have more than doubled their behavioral  health and workforce in the last decade to meet   America's growing need for behavioral health  services. Whereas community health centers are   locally operated nonprofit organizations  that serve as critical economic engines,   helping to power local economies by generating 118  billion dollar in economic activity and supporting   more than 650,000 direct and indirect jobs  nationally. Whereas the community health center   model continues to prove an effective means  of overcoming barriers to health care access,   including geography, income, and insurance  status, improving health outcomes, and reducing   health care system costs. Now, therefore, be  it resolved that the Witchaw City Council does   hereby proclaim August 3rd through 9th, 2025  as National Health Center Week. [Applause]   Thank you. Um I'm Amy Fimemer, CEO of Hunter  Health and I'm joined by my colleagues from   Healthcore and Grace Met as well representing the  community health centers in Witchah. On behalf of   the community health centers, I'd like to thank  Mayor Liy Woo as well as the city council members   for this proclamation during National Health  Center Week. Since the nation's first community   health center was founded in 1965, community  health centers have understood that where we live,   work, worship, and play impacts our health.  With roots in the civil rights movement,   the visionaries who founded the  earliest community health centers   believe that we could fight poverty, empower  communities with health and opportunity. Hello everyone. My name is Diego and I'm here on  behalf of Grace Med and I just want to thank you.   Today, community health centers play a vital  role in enhancing access to essential primary   care nationwide. We increase access to crucial  primary care by reducing barriers such as cost,   lack of insurance, distance, and language. In  Witchah, the federally qualified health centers   have been instrumental in serving  over 80,000 individuals annually,   providing a comprehensive array of  services, including primary care,   dental, behavioral health, vision,  and pharmacy services. Every August,   we seek to increase the awareness of the nearly  1,500 500 community health centers nationwide. and I'm Dava Gold from Healthcore Clinic. This  year, the theme of National Health Center Week   is celebrating 60 years of progress. Community  health centers in every state, US territoator,   and the District of Colombia serve  as a beacon of strength, service,   and care in our communities by serving  all regardless of their ability to pay.   As we celebrate our employees, board members,  and supporters, we want to extend our heartfelt   appreciation to Mayor Liy Woo and the Witchah  City Council for their recognition and support   of the significant contributions made by community  health centers in Witchah. Thank you. [Applause] May I please invite Council Member Becky Tuttle. Thank you to my colleagues for allowing me to  take a moment and recognize some of our wonder   wonderful early learning advocates. Um if I could  have representatives from childstart and then also   folks who attended our care operation care connect  early learning educators please join us. Is there   just one? Oh, here's another. All right. Thank  you. This is a really unique opportunity. Um,   child care challenges don't stop at our city  limits. They impact every corner of our community,   including our military families, which sometimes  we forget. Child care is not a woman's issue. It's   not a family issue. It's a workforce and economic  development issue, and it's a military issue.   We often find that when our servicemen and women  need to have training, especially on the evenings   or weekends, it's extremely hard for them to  be able to find child care, meaning that then   it impacts our national security. So on July  19th, airmen from McConnell Air Force Base,   the City of Witchah Child Care Licensing Team,  the Witchah Chamber of Commerce, ChildStart,   and 30 early learning child educators convened on  a Saturday morning for a powerful conversation of   how we can better support those who serve  in our US armed sources armed services.   Operation Care Connect provides a unique  opportunity to inform early learning providers on   the need and process of how to care for military  families. There's special requirements. There's   special paperwork. You can imagine anything with  the federal government. Sometimes being an early   learning provider means, as I mentioned, they  have to work for military families. They're going   to have to work in the evenings and weekends,  which is a burden for them and it takes away   from their own families. So tonight we're taking  the opportunity to thank a few of the 30 early   learning providers who attended the oper operation  care connect and the certificate and everyone will   receive a certificate. We'll get the others to  them but the certificate reads the city of Witchah   in recognition of and I'll provide these to each  of the providers issues this certificate for the   dedication and commitment to serving military  families in our community. Their work as licensed   early care and education providers ensures that  the children of those who serve our country   receive the support, stability, and care they  deserve, leaving a lasting impact that honors both   service and sacrifice. So, thank you again to our  providers. The first one who's going to receive a   certificate tonight is Gigi's Child Care Home. And  I've been there. It's a fantastic facility. Thank   you very much. We'll take a picture. And which  one are you? Hood's World. And the next one is   for Some of our folks couldn't make it this  evening, so let me grab it real quick. Kids   World. The next one is Kids World Child Care  Early Learning Center. Thank you. It gonna ask   Mandy with Childart just to come up and say a few  words and then we'll get a photo. So, thank you   again to my colleagues for letting us make some  special recognitions this evening. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Mandy Wah. I am the  early childhood connections program director   at ChildStart. On behalf of ChildStart and the  childare community, I want to sincer sincerely   thank you for recognizing the critical role  child care providers play in supporting military   families. Your acknowledgement means so much not  only to the providers who offer stability and care   during times of deployment or transition, but  also to the families who rely on that support   every day. This kind of recognition lifts up  our providers and reinforces the importance   of their work and strengthening both our  military and our community. Thank you for   your continued support and commitment to those  who care for our youngest heroes. [Applause] Madame clerk, can you please call the  next item? Public agenda. The public   agenda allows for five speakers to have  five minutes each to address the council.   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 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 for today is Mary Dean Delays. just sit there and raise your hand. Good evening. My name is Mary Dean. I've  been here before many times. Uh, in May 2025,   the city of Witchah's own diversity, inclusion,  and civil rights advisory board voted decisively   to advance the reparations ordinance to the  city council for public discussion and full   and a full vote. And yet today, black residents  remain in limbo. No agenda, no response, no vote.   City leadership has chosen silence. City  government has offered no clarity on when this   measure designed to address systemic harm endured  by black residents will be brought forward. What   we have heard though quietly and cautiously is  that political fear now guides public decisions.   City officials are afraid afraid of losing federal  and state funding under mounting pressure from   the Trump administration, which is aggressively  pushing to eliminate any connections to diversity,   equity, and inclusion initiatives. This fear  now overrides justice. And it worked. Because   the mayor and three other council members voted to  eliminate the city's decap board. Business deals   have been struck with just a handshake. Hundreds  of thousands of taxpayer dollars continue to be   spent on corporate ventures, some of which have  failed to deliver promised results or community   benefit. Projects aligned with developer interests  face no delays, but proposals centered on racial   equity, repair, and truth are sheld. Grassroots  organizations doing real work on the ground are   overlooked. While politically connected entities,  those with longstanding relationships and access   or reportedly awarded city, state, and federal  grants. This is not equity. This is an exclusion.   The reparations ordinance calls for the creation  of a formal commission to study the longstanding   documented harms of systemic racism in  Witchah, including racial wealth gaps and   economic marginalization, discrimination  in housing and employment, environmental   injustice targeting black communities, educational  inequalities within USD259, structural disparity,   in healthcare access and outcomes. This is not a  race radical request. It is a civic necessity. The   city's continue in action signals that political  self-preservation now takes precedence over   accountability. As president of Kansas Justice  Advocate, Inc., I demand that Mayor Liy Woo,   the city council, city manager Robert Leightton,  and city attorney Jennifer Magglin answer a   question that can no longer be ignored. When will  this ordinance endorsed by your own advisory board   and vetted by the city attorney's office be placed  on the agenda? Delay is a decision. Silence is   complicity. Justice for Black Witch cannot hinge  on campaign seasons, leadership transitions,   or the political preferences of distant  administrations. Put the ordinance on the agenda.   Let the public speak. Let the truth be heard.  Witchita's legacy will be defined not by what   is avoids but by what it is willing to confront.  That's my statement. Any questions? Any comments? No questions. No comments. So, just let me  say this. I have uh jumped loops and hoops and   everything else to comply with what I was supposed  to do when it came to this ordinance. I've talked   to the city manager. Am I not right? I've talked  to council people. Am I not right? I've talked   to senators and representatives, held uh uh town  halls, did podcasts and and everything under the   sun. talked to the governor, visited other states  that are more progressive than Witchah. Just   had a visit with Tulsa, Oklahoma's mayor. Very  progressive and very supportive of reparations.   Kansas City, Missouri, another. These are just  two states that surrounds or our neighbors. So,   you leave me no choice. my next steps because  it doesn't appear that you're interested when   it comes to the harms that have been subjected to  black people in this city for decades is to file a   complaint with the UN Human Rights Commission for  the harms that have been subjected by black people   in this city. So, the next people you will be hear  from will be them. And I have a letter of support   from Chum's Youth that supports this. Miss Dean,  yes, I understand my time that's on your time, but   you have taken a lot on my time for two years and  not done anything. Two years, Miss Dean, you have   delayed Miss Dean distracted. It's out of respect  for everyone else also. I am respecting everybody.   Thank you, Miss Dean. I have a letter of support.  Miss Dean, can you please I have a letter of   support for what we're trying to do when it comes  to the reparations ordinance in Witchah from the   youth. Thank you, Miss Dean. of the College Hill.  I will have to ask you Methodist Church. On behalf   of this community, please be respectful of the  community. I'm speaking for the community. Yes,   ma'am. Ma'am, can you please have a seat? I'm  speaking for the community. I don't There's a   council member that would like to speak, but you  have to sit down in order for I'm I'mma stand I'm   going to stand right here because I'd like to hear  what the council person has to say. Council member   Johnson. Thanks, Mayor. I was just going to say  I appreciate your continued fight for this issue.   It's one that's important. It's one that I support  and it's one that I think should be addressed.   um given some decisions that have been made, it  probably won't be something that's considered by   this body um at least through December 31st.  But it is something that I think is should be   supported. If we look at the history of the  R city, third most redlin city in America,   what that meant and the impact that  it's had, it's a worthy thing to do. So,   I just wanted to say I appreciate you continuing  to fight for it and I appreciate those words. uh   Councilman because it would appear that some of  the members on this council, including the mayor,   does not take in account on what and who paved the  way for you to sit where you are right now. Ma'am,   can you please sit? I will sit. You want if  you want me to sit, please have somebody escort   me out. I don't care [Applause] cuz I feel  like I feel like I have I feel like I have   been delayed for a a long time when it comes  to what I was supposed to do in making sure   that this reparation issue is before this city  and you chose to delay it. Why? You mandated,   this council mandated me to go to the diversity,  inclusion, and the civil rights advisory board.   I did everything that I was supposed to do. City  manager can address that. Thank you, mayor. Um,   no doubt this has been um we've worked with  Miss Dean for a period of time on this.   I don't think it's news to anyone that um things  have changed in Washington in terms of the federal   uh rules, regulations, and laws. became even more  clear last week uh when we received notice from   the US Attorney General's office that uh using  race, sex or other protected characteristics for   employment, program participation, resource  allocation or simple or similar activities,   opportunities or benefits is unlawful. It's never  been made that clear to us by the administration.   We were dealing with a lot of gray area  previously, but right now that is clear that   this council would if they were to do something  with the reparation ordinance as being asked   that would be in conflict with federal law. You  know, it's really kind of funny how you try to   use that as a way to uh continue to distract  and delay this ordinance because you have you   have attorneys you have attorneys on the city.  What what do they fight? What are they fighting?   I'll ask the city attorney to address uh this  situation right here. As far as the speaker   and the time, there is an ordinance that  provides five minutes per speaker and it's   to be enforced consistently. Thank you very much,  city attorney. Miss Dean, we'll ask you to please   address anything that I asked. Miss City attorney,  out of respect for everyone who is in this room.   What do you fight for? You're not fighting for  the citizens. May please ask security to assist   with the situation. Call security. I don't care.  I really don't because you have violated my rights   when I filed a complaint against you. Mayor  Woo. Security's here. You may also Thank you,   Miss Dean. No, thank me. Thank the people who are  more progressive around. Can you please call the   next doing the rest the best thing and the and  the right thing for the people in their cities?   Michael Austin, citizen le review of Witchaw's  budget and efficiency opportunities. Thank you   very much. Not really. Michael Austin, may you  please come forward. Who do I give this to?   Mayor Woo. To who? You may provide that to the  city clerk. City clerk. Thank you. Here you go.   Thank you for your time, your wasted time, my  wasted time for coming to this body for over   two years to do the right thing for the citizens  of Witchah, especially the black residents of   Witchah, Kansas. And thank you, council members,  for having me. Um, I will do my best to stay   within the five minutes. Yeah, do that. My name  is Michael Austin. I'm a resident of Lawrence,   Kansas, and I am here on behalf of the Witchah  Organization for Government Efficiency Exchange   or simply known as the Exchange. We're a group  of citizens, accountants, business owners,   public uh public figures, policy analysts,  and more who have come together unpaid   uh because we deeply care about this city  and we want to help Witchah succeed. Tonight,   we share with you our final report called Finding  a Better Way, a citizen-led review of Witchah's   budget and efficiency opportunities. It's the  result of months of an analysis, interviews,   public record interviews, and community  outreach. We also conducted a city-wide survey,   Witchah resident survey on city budgets and  efficiencies, which received roughly 300 responses   from residents representing every city district.  The core of our report is built on a triple track   review. One, an economic peer benchmarking review  where we compare Witchah to cities of similar size   and demographics to highlight potential areas of  efficiency. Two, a vendor snapshot audit where we   scan vendor payments and contracts for either  inconsistencies, duplications, or potential   savings. And three, uh an economic development  and contract over uh oversight review where we   uh look at the city's incentives, development  deals, including those that we think fall short   of performance standards. But we didn't just  crunch numbers. We also asked residents for their   input as well. Uh about 300 Wins participated  in our survey and the first three questions we   thought were very telling. We asked where should  the city look to find efficiencies to show up   the general fund shortfall. Most said consultant  contracts, feasibility studies or administrative   overhead. We asked should the city's automatic 2%  annual increase to uh to arts funding continue if   the city faces a shortfall. Over 60% said  it should either be eliminated, reduced,   or temporarily paused. We asked should Witchah  solve its budget shortfall by raising taxes. Over   88% said efficiency measures should come first  or concurrent with any tax increases. We don't   believe that's ideology. We think residents are  generally open to reform, just not at the expense   of higher taxes. From arts funding to vendor  oversight to economic development and downtown   priorities, we learned a lot about what Witchah  values and what it's ready to re-evaluate. So,   what can we do? While the last section of our  report outlines nine specific recommendations   from eliminating duplicate services to auditing  vendor contracts to just rethinking incentive   structures and prioritizing core city services,  you'll find nowhere in our list of recommendations   uh and advocate for cutting jobs or cutting  programs. All of our recommendations are either   a change in the processes or an enforcement of  current current processes. And we know that some   of these ideas may spark debate, but that's  the point. We hope that this effort inspires   uh conversations and constructive conversations  between city leaders and the people that they   serve. Um in a moment uh Celeste uh Reset will  will come behind me and she'll talk through   the findings on economic development projects  including miscollections, incentive deals gone   sideways and areas where the city has taken on  unnecessary risk. We will also, if we're willing,   uh, go through our vendor analysis and share  why better contract enforcement and procurement   practices could save the city millions. Um, and  we'll, of course, talk about how these reforms   could avoid future tax hikes. We love Witchah, and  that's exactly why we did this. We're not asking   the city to do everything, but we are asking the  city to do what it can, so that we can never again   have to choose between broken budgets and broken  promises. Thank you so much for this time. Thank   you so much for your service to this city and  I would love to leave my remaining time and any   other time you would allow for questions. Thank  you, Michael. And I know that there are several   individuals that are going to come forward to  speak um regarding your findings. And again,   this was not paid for by the city of Witchah.  These are volunteers who decided that they wanted   to help out with seeing some efficiencies in this  community. Um, and the communitywide survey was   publicized on your social media outlets as well  as through other individuals. Is that correct? Uh,   that's correct. We since we're all a diverse  uh group of individuals, some are Democrats,   some are Republican, some are progressive, some  are conservative, we all work through our own   respective networks to uh get as many folks as we  could to respond on this survey. If there is any   selection bias, I would probably guess that the  selection bias is that we have a lot of people who   care about Witchah. Um because you'll see from the  reports and our conversations that there are a lot   of passionate opinions out there. And then yes, uh  Madame Mayor, you are exactly right. We are sadly   unpaid. Thank you for your volunteer service.  Council member Johnson. Thanks, Mayor. Appreciate   you. Um Mr. Austin, just a quick question just  so everyone else who may not have seen the report   uh knows, how many people took that survey? Uh we  had roughly 300 respondents. Okay. Okay. And then   um the one question I asked you cuz I've had  it asked me a couple times, so you've already   told me the answer, but can someone take that  survey maybe like 70 times or so? Uh technically,   yes. So, one thing that we did was we looked  at our uh IP addresses of respondents. Um IP   addresses while there are specific, they're  not necessarily individual to a person, they're   individual to a network. So, um, our thought  process was we would allow two IP addresses,   uh, thinking that it could be a husband  and wife on their Wi-Fi, but if there was,   uh, if but if it was over two IP addresses and  we saw that, um, maybe they only took 30 seconds   to fill out this five-minute quiz, um, then we  removed it because we, uh, expected that that   that was furious. So, we did what we can to try  to make it as unique individuals responding to   the survey as possible. Cool. Thank you, Council  Member Glascop. Thank you, mayor. Uh, Michael,   thank you for your work on this and I know that  I had asked the public and to invite community   members to engage in our budget process. Often,  we have very little engagement and I'm glad a   group of citizens independent from me uh selected  themselves, organized this group in a bipartisan   way and I'm very thankful for your report. If even  1% of your recommendations are true, this could   save the city $720,000 annually or $720,000 even  if one% of your report is true. So, I'm thankful   for the work that you did and the bipartisan  group um did as well and I specifically did   not involve myself in this process because I want  to be held accountable from this group and this   organization as well. So, thank you for caring  about our community. I wanted to just highlight   um two different things in the report that as  you can tell I have plenty of sticky notes that   have been tried to engage and if anybody in the  community wants an update I have um PDF version   that uh had just been sent out that I would be  happy to share as well. There's a quote on page 26   uh that I think is very important. Witchaw  residents expect transparency and measurable   efficiency improvements before any increase in the  financial burden on taxpayers is considered. And   I appreciate this line for policymakers. This  provides both a mandate and a roadmap. Reform   first, justify second. And I'm thankful for that  none of your recommendations were cut of services   to our community. Um because uh we have a lot  of things that are offered in our community. I   also want to go to page 30 so when people look at  this later, these are some of the recommendations   offered by the group that I don't think are  controversial and I don't think are political.   And there may be some debate about which reforms  should be made and which shouldn't. But some that   I want to highlight include implement C  centralized purchasing accounts payable   and receivable controls through the finance  department. I met with the manager earlier today   and because of the budget savings that we did from  this bench last year, we're going to be looking at   proposals of that in the near future as well. Um  require competitive bidding for purchases over   $50,000. No exceptions. I don't think that's  controversial. Consolidate PECard and one-time   vendors in a formal contracts for dup duplication.  I don't think that's controversial. Conduct   quarterly reviews of contract utilization to flag  over budgeting or over or underuse. I don't think   that's controversial and these are things we can  debate from the bench oneonone in the future as   well. Enforce clawbacks within six months for  underperforming developers. I think every single   one of us from the bench has said that we need  more clawbacks for underperforming developers.   Require developer debts over 50,000 be disclosed  in public finance reports. prohibit deals with   vendors or developers who are in litigation  with the city. Publish an annual efficiency   audit highlighting contract utilization, clawback  enforcement or compliance. I can continue to go   on, but I'm thankful for those recommendations  that I don't think are controversial to our   public. And um I appreciate your time and your  effort in this and I look forward to hearing   from a couple other members of the committee as  well. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Glascock.   Council member Johnson. Thanks, Mayor. Um, I I  too am always appreciative when folks get together   to to look into things for the city, whether it's  budget or programs, whatever it might be. But I I   also want to highlight um while these were some uh  some of these were some really good suggestions,   we also were already doing some of this work as  well. And I won't go down that list, but I will   say centralizing some of the finance work is  something that the manager proposed two years   ago. So, as it's good that this is happening and  it's good that people have made recommendations,   but we also have been talking about some of these  things as well. And it's great to see when those   things align with groups that are doing that, but  um some of these things were also already being   worked on by this body. So, it's good to highlight  all of that and not just um it being led by this   because this has been talked about some of these  things for some time now. Thank you, Councilman   Johnson. That was our thought process as well  in having conversations with the uh with the   finance department. We wanted to prov we wanted  to provide um either guideposts or recommendations   that hopefully we thought were not going to  be political or controversial. Now, of course,   we can't affect every opinion. You know, that's  not necessarily our job. Our job is to present the   report and hopefully you take something from it  and can can act on it. But our thought process was   what are certain process changes can we make that  you guys could politically easily adopt. Um so we   wanted to keep that in mind. We didn't want to  make it necessarily difficult for you. We wanted   to give you lowhanging fruit. Um and fortunately  the budget the general fund shortfall while of   course it is present it is manageable that I  think with these process changes you can shore   it up. Again Michael thank you very much. And I  know that this PDF can be available to anyone who   would like to see. Um, is that correct? Yes. And  we have physical copies here after uh after I head   back to my seat. I'll be back and if anyone wants  a physical copy, just find me and hopefully I'll   have some left. And again, thank you, Michael.  Um I know that when people come to public agenda   oftentimes they have one specific thing that  they want to talk about and these are multiple   recommendations and so it would take again  multiple uh conversations to get to some sort of   uh conclusion or a step forward. But I appreciate  again that a group of volunteers decided to spend   time look at our budget and see what else could  be improved so that it could be a more efficient   government. And that's exactly what I see here in  this room. More people attending a city council   meeting, being engaged and caring. So thank you  again for caring along with the other volunteers.   Thank you, Madame Mayor. Madame Clerk, can you  please call the next individual? [Applause]   Celeste Ret, Witchaw 2026  Budget Savings Efficiency Study. Good evening, Mayor Woo and City Council Member  Celeste Ret. Thank you, Councilman Glascock,   for initiating this citizen-led review of  Witchaw's budget. I am actually very proud of the   work this bipartisan Democrats Republicans did. My  focus in particular was on economic development,   which is part six of the report. The hardest part  of evaluating finances is lack of transparency.   I have a bachelor's of science in accounting, was  an FDIC bank examiner, and won awards for my fraud   investigations, but getting answers from the city  tested my ability. It is really hard drilling down   on city finances. When I found a $23,000 pass  due water bill for the Striker Sports Complex,   I tried to search on the city's website for  the signed contract, but couldn't find it. I   called economic development staff who told me to  search on Google, but we couldn't find the signed   contract there either. I had to file a Kora, a  Kansas open records act, and pay a fee to get a   copy of the signed agreement. Contract documents  should be searchable on the city's website. And   when a problem is found, instead of cooperation,  sometimes push back occurs. When I discovered   these past due water bills for the Striker Sports  Complex, no one in city hall checked to see if   there were more. I had to file more cororus  and pay more core fees to find six years of   water bills that had been erroneously paid for  by the parks department. Tax increment financing   districts, tiffs, have been misused. Kenmar  developers received two and a half million in   taxpayer loans. When the L loans became passed due  in 2020, seven more taxpayer funded projects were   approved for these men, including the Riverside  TIF, which gave $700,000 in taxpayer funds for a   luxury patio home development. These developers,  Dave Wells and Dave Burke, were also involved   in the Ball Stadium deals. Please continue the  lawsuit to recover 1.9 million and don't renew the   OldTown Witchaw Police Department lease. Community  improvement district CIDs are also a mess. Spot   checks and Junes revealed missing CD tax notices  and uncollected taxes in multiple areas. Deleno   Catalyst, Downtown Witchah, K96 and Greenwich,  K96 Star, and Spaghetti Works CI indicating a   weak revenue management system. Some retailers  are collecting the tax, some are not. Some post   the required CI tax notice, some don't. There is  no accountability. Economic development website   should post the CI revenue collected for each site  on their website. There's a potential for probably   $800,000 in missed sales tax revenue. Private  management of public property is another area of   lost revenue. Striker Sports Complex is privately  managed by the Witchaw Sports Forum. Collect for   those utility bills that were erroneously paid for  by the parks department. Witchah ice rink center   was privately managed by Genesis Gyms Rodney  Steven. The city collected only one payment   on a 10-year loan. Please continue fighting the  lawsuit to recover $1 million. Tourism business   needs to be competitively bid and offices moved  into a public building. Tighten up funding to   realize 2 million in potential savings. Visit  Witchah Chairman Jim Corick was given taxpayer   funding for his Fairfield in hotel. This debt was  erroneously labeled as storm water utility and   debt payments were falsely labeled as being for  convention center project. pay this callable debt   early and save $640,000 in interest. Taxpayers  lost 13 million in Oldtown parking garage revenue.   Continue this contract review by internal audit.  They're doing a great job. Taxpayers cannot afford   upkeep for a no city park for a developer Jay  Russell. He should pick up the tab for the planned   $9.5 million Crystal Prairie Lake Park as part of  his own housing subdivision costs. When irrigation   is turned off in our downtown park, a price  woodard, and flower beds are overrun with weeds,   then it is apparent parks resources are stretched  too thin. We cannot afford a $9 million new park   on the northwest side of Witchaw. Weak oversight  has allowed developers to profit without repayment   of debt. Public resources have been diverted  in no bid private management agreements,   leaving taxpayers with infrastructure burdens.  You can save two million next year just by   ensuring compliance with agreements. You can  save another two million by bidding out tourism   service services and putting tourism offices in  a public building. If lawsuits are successful,   another 4 million will be realized. Thank you  for initiating this effort to improve city   operations. This is a step in the right  direction to restore trust in city hall.   I hope our hard will hard work will inspire you  to speak up and take action to implement best   practices in the city. I will stand for questions.  Thank you again. I loved working with this group   of folks. Thank you again, Celeste. And again,  thank you to all the volunteers who helped with   this report. Council member Glascock. Thank  you, Celeste. I know there's a lot in this,   so I'm not going to go over everything. There is  one in particular that stands out that I just have   a quick question about processes for the manager  regarding CD tax compliance. Compliance is handled   by the state. Correct. That is correct. What  happens if we are aware of somebody being out   of compliance? For example, I was at a business  today that I know is out of compliance. How can   citizens or how does staff let the state know that  we're out of compliance? We have to report it to   the Department of Revenue and they indicated to  us they will do a follow-up with the business.   Do we have somebody on staff that makes sure that  individuals are in compliance or is that just if   somebody approaches us then we go and we report  to the state or can individuals also report to the   state if they see a business out of compliance?  At one point we had a person who did uh occasional   checks that person is no longer with us and  we are training a new person to be able to do   that. Signage is the first thing to look at. more  difficult part is collection and again we have to   rely on the department of revenue to get someone  to actually collect. There is a monthly report   that the finance department receives that has a  list of all retailers. It wouldn't be that hard   to compare the retailers that we're collecting tax  from and the retailers in a C and have someone on   your internal audit staff go after them and work  with the state department to start collecting.   I'll need to visit with staff. I'm not quite  sure the level of information that Department   of Revenue is shares with us, but we'll work on  that. Well, thank you uh Celeste. Thank you for   the time that you spent on this. I know we met for  an hour and a half or two hours talking about this   report. Um I do want to particularly thank staff  uh and the staff um that have uh corresponded with   community members and sent them information and  sent them requests. Um and I also want to give a   special shout out to our auditor for the city, uh  Christina Rose, has an amazing job. Um, and I'm   very thankful for her work. So, thank you. I know  this is the start of the conversation. Um, do you   know if the group has sent the recommendations  to the manager, the assistant city manager of   finance? Have you received all the recommendations  yet? I didn't receive them directly, but uh,   council members have sent me the most recent  version, which I think came out yesterday maybe,   if I remember correctly. Thank you. And I I  know that we'll be working with staff on a   lot of the recommendations and maybe getting  some more information about particular um,   items and doing a deeper dive. We'd love to share  information at any time with staff. We're It's   been a very collaborative effort and that's the  first time I've seen this, so I'm very excited   about this effort. Awesome. Thanks, Celeste. Yep.  Council member Ballard. Thank you, Mayor. Um,   just a quick question for Bob. Um, many people in  the community probably don't know what C is or um,   certainly what um, areas of town might have those.  So besides a tiny sticker that they might not see,   is there any without going to the Witchaw  website, you know, um I mean how how would   someone know to turn it in unless you're Celeste  and know where they are or something like that?   I mean there is uh in the ordinance there's a  requirement that uh it be posted that notice   be posted I believe by the cash register and or  it can be at the doorway, one or the other. Uh,   so that's probably the simplest way for someone to  to learn. Um, you said not going to our website,   but our website does include information on all  the districts. Okay. Thank you, Council Member Ho   Heisel. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, thank you, Celeste.  Thank you guys for coming up here today. Um,   I I hear you when you guys talk about a lot of  deals that have gone wrong in the past. Um the   last couple of years, at least as long as I've  been on council, we have been uh giving more   scrutiny to it. We have hired an internal auditor.  We've pivoted away from taking on debt, making   sure a lot more of these incentives are pay as you  go. So, we're going to continue to look at this   um continue to look at ways to guard the taxpayers  in the future. Um so, I do appreciate that and   um yeah, just we're going to keep working. I have  a couple questions for the city manager since uh a   couple of things were specifically pointed out. Uh  can you address the striker $23,000 past due bill? Yes, mayor. The um actually that's not a correct  number. Um there was a delinquency. Uh there was   concerns about whether there was a leak in the  system and so the uh uh current pro uh the excuse   me the operator of the facility Witchaw Sports  Forum uh delayed payment until we could check the   system make sure it operated uh appropriately.  The is there that was been paid and they are   um current on their account. Uh there was an issue  there has been there have been longstanding issues   with the irrigation system um that was installed  in 2020 I believe 2019 2020 uh during the period   of time when we were working to get the issues  uh resolved with the contractor we did take the   bills because it was unfair to turn over a system  to the provider that wasn't fully operational that   we were having problems with same time we switched  the turf from fescue to warm water uh warm weather   turf. And uh during that process, that was our  decision and we paid for those expenses. Once that   was done and we turned the system over to them,  uh the one thing that Celeste talked about that is   accurate is that they we were delayed in getting  the billings to the operator for the period of   time. There was a one about a one-year period  of time. There's about $8,500 uh in expenses   that they will owe us as a result of that. And  now they are current current. When was the last   payment then? Um I think we they I they resolved  it last 30 or 60 days if I remember correctly. So   I want to just point out thank you Celeste. She  did point that out um to us about 30 days ago. Um   and we started asking questions and I wanted to  make sure that there was a resolution. Um again,   this is how uh the community knows about  issues. Uh council members can point them out,   community members can point it out and then the  city manager uh usually is the one that we funnel   those questions to and he gets the bottom of it.  So, thank you city manager for that. One last one   that I wanted to also address uh is the Oldtown  Police lease. Can you please address um where   we're at with that lease um and also where we're  headed? Uh Mayor, you and I have had multiple   discussions about this. The technically the lease  is still in effect for about another year until   next summer if I remember correctly. However, we  have put the uh landlord on notice that we wish   to move from that facility and do it before the  end of the lease period. Um and we're working on   u making that happen now that we have control of  the building that our traffic bureau is in. We   have space for those um employees. They that's not  meant to be a storefront um location as we used to   have and when they were located in Oldtown parking  garage space. Now it's really just an office and   we can locate that almost anywhere downtown.  And so we are in the process of working with the   landlord get out of the the lease obligation.  Thank you again, city manager. And again,   Celeste brought this up uh to us multiple  times and we did follow through and asked   uh this body actually uh decided to move forward  with buying the central um building, central   police station building and so now there is space.  So those individuals will now move um from Oldtown   to the space that has been bought by the city of  Witchaw. So thank you again. Um I we appreciate   again when you bring up issues we want to follow  through and provide resolutions. Madame clerk,   can you please call the next individual? Mayor,  I was made aware right before the meeting that   Devon and Pat Lucia are not available tonight. So  we have two available spots. Would anyone from the   community like to come forward? You have up to  five minutes and you can address. You can move. Good evening, honorable Mayor Liywoo,  members of Witchaw City Council and   citizens of Witchah. I'm Denise Morowski  of Southeast Witchaw and I'm speaking on   behalf of Deb and Pat Lucia who also  worked on the Witchita budget team. Pat Lucia spent over 30 years in the chemical  industry, 15 of them leading lean manufacturing   initiatives. Deb Lucia spent 22 years working  for the automotive industry as an industrial   engineer focusing on process improvement and  lean manufacturing. The key to excellence in   manufacturing any industry or government  is standard processes, parts, procedures,   and best practices. You've already heard from  Michael Austin who covered the overall report   and from Celeste Ret. Pat and Deb's focus was on  vendor data. The city of Witchah's website lists   21 different departments. Multiple departments  have additional divisions within them. When we   looked at vendor data for the city of Witchah,  we found there are no standardized procedures.   There is no standardized sequence of events to  follow for completion of projects. For example,   departments have their own accounts payable which  could be in could be a part-time or full-time   role. on and how invoices are handled varies  by department. We could not find a consistent   project management process. There are projects  with change order after change order and these   requests are just accepted by the city and we pay  the additional costs. We could not identify who   is responsible for making sure projects stayed  within the awarded amount or pushed vendors to   stay within the quote. projects running over  estimated bids in a significant part of the   city's expenses. There is consistent overspending  in the millions on awarded projects. Additionally,   the city spent over 13.5 million on pecards,  employee credit cards for small or lastminute   expenses. Some of these expenses should have been  purchased through current bundled contracts at   lower costs. Government should always be looking  to be better, be more efficient and more effective   to improve the quality of life for Witchans. We  believe the city of Witchah needs standardization.   Standardization is the basis for continuous  improvement. Standardization of processes   eliminates redundant work and makes identifying  refinement opportunities much easier and makes   it easy to see when things are out of order or  line. We do not mean eliminating redundancy and   efficient inefficiencies equates to eliminating  people. People resources can be trained or moved   to address other immediate issues such as ensuring  projects are delivering promised results. Costs   are managed and contained and vendors are held  accountable for providing acceptable acceptable   service on time and within budget. While  standardization and reallocating resources   requires change that can be challenging, doing so  would address shortfalls uncovered by our study.   The city also needs to hold vendors and employees  accountable. Someone has to be responsible and   accountable for watching the processes and  financial outlays to make sure our tax dollars   are are being spent wisely and on the services  we need and expect. Implementing standardization   will address contract inefficiencies,  procurement inconsistencies, vendor   consolidation opportunities, and areas lacking  competitive bidding. Finally, providing the   muchneeded accountability and oversight. We are  optimistic that the city of Witchah can improve   its processes and we believe Witchah can be a  leader in the state at becoming an efficient and   effective city government that others will want to  emulate. Thank you Deb and Pat Llucha. Thank you,   Council Member Glascock. Thank you, Mayor. Um,  specifically to Councilman Johnson's point,   um, just a quick question for the manager. Can you  talk about accounts receivable, accounts payable,   what we did last year to set oursel up uh for  uh trying to centralize those services? Yes,   thank you, council member. Um we recognize that  we had an opportunity to tighten up our procedures   um and also potentially save money by  consolidating or centralizing our accounts   payable and accounts receivable. think we'll be  uh in a better position when that uh is taken   um when when we implement that new process. The  council had us look at that last year at the end   of the after the budget process is over. We  did that work over the winter and made that   recommendation to the council and in fact next  week we'll bring to the council a contract for   assistance in ha having us um implement that  um in terms of what the reorganization will   look like not just in finance but throughout  our organization to make sure that we have   proper proper o financial oversight in every  department and so you'll see that uh next week city manager uh in this recommendations uh  portion. It's specific to pro procurement   and vendor oversight. Uh one of those areas  that was mentioned was require competitive   bidding for all purchases over $50,000, no  exceptions. Can you address that? Actually,   I'm going to ask Mark Manning to talk about that. Good evening, mayor, members of the city council.  Mark Manning with the Department of Finance.   uh our city code right now uh section 2.64 I  believe uh does uh basically require competitive   uh processes for any purchase over $50,000. Now  there are exceptions in city code in certain areas   for example if it's a sole source provider if it's  a security concern. So there are a few exceptions,   but generally speaking, procurement in the city  of Witchaw over $50,000 is competitive and it's   competitive under 50,000 for that matter.  It's just a slightly different process. And   I will note that those exceptions that Mark's  referencing that has to go through an approval   process. A department cannot unilaterally  say that they have an exception and follow   a process that's not competitive. That has to be  approved by at least by the finance department.   Thank you. Madame Clerk, can you  please call the next Oh, actually,   we have one more spot for anyone who  would like to address the council. Good evening. John Whitmer. I live in District 4.  Uh, Councilman Glascox's, my council member. Um,   I know a number of you. I've disagreed over the  years with a number of you. Um, surprisingly,   I've disagreed with a number of the people on this  very committee. Uh, I'm a registered Republican.   I'm the chairman of the Cedric County Republican  Party and a conservative talk radio host. And yet   Henry Helgerson, who's a Democrat, and Celeste,  who's a Democrat, and I came to common ground   on many issues on this report. And and I'll tell  you why. When when we looked to build this report,   we came to a consensus, and it came from something  rather interesting that we found since 1997,   property tax revenue has increased by two. City  Witchaw property tax revenue has increased by   228%. That's more than doubled the combined  rate of inflation and population growth. Just   since 2019, property tax collections are up  41% or nearly $48 million. And so when we   came together to kind of present this to you,  we wanted you and we I know you all know this.   I know everyone up here has knocked doors like I  have. You know, people are suffering. You know,   people are struggling to make ends meet. We just  wanted to provide you a resource. I've been an   elected official. I know it's hard sometimes  to find cuts. And so, we wanted to try and   provide you some cuts. Some of these are hard.  Some of these I wouldn't make. And you know,   I would make a lot of cuts. There are some here  that I probably wouldn't even do. You don't have   to do them all. But there are some that are  lowhanging fruit. There are some that might be   easy. There are opportunities here that you could  find that we hope you might be able to find to   make cuts to the budget so that you don't have to  raise taxes again. And I think that was our goal   in all of this was to provide you a resource,  something that you could look at and say, "Hey,   here are some ways that we can cut our budget and  cut our spending and not have to go back to the   Witchita taxpayers who are frankly taxed enough  already." And that was our goal. That was the only   thing we were hoping to do. We are we wanted to  present this to you as a resource. whether or not,   and I loved what Dalton said earlier, even if 1%  of this is accurate, then that's $720,000 that   you can find in cuts. I hope we've been able to  provide you a little bit of resource information.   And for that, I I'll stand for questions. Uh  Michael's the expert here. I'm more of a policy   guy, but thank you for your time. And that's the  other thing I wanted to tell you. I wasn't able   to sit down with with a few of you, but I want to  thank the staff for their willingness to work with   us and for every one of you for willing to being  able to sit down and willing to meet with every   one of us. We appreciate that. So, thank you very  much. Thank you, John. I see no further comments.   Um, I'll just close out by simply saying thank you  again to people who care, people who care about   our community. um people who donated their time  to research, donated their time to put together   a report, and donated their time to come here  today and make a decision to speak during the   five minutes and then have council members  ask questions of you. Uh we appreciate that.   That is what public agenda can be used for and we  appreciate again the volunteerism that people in   our community choose to make and it's really to  invest in our community and make sure that we are   a great community and a local government that can  be held accountable and is transparent and so I do   encourage people to look at the witchaw.gov gov  website on multiple departments you can see um a   tab that talks about transparency whether it's the  Witchaw Police Department's transparency portal   to even the city council and the transparency of  our travel there are more transparent ways that   we're trying to communicate with the community  about what how government works and again we work   for you the people and so we appreciate when the  people bring suggestions and recommendations And   um I'm really grateful that council member um  Glascock uh just called out individuals and said   who would like to create something and he just put  it out to the community and to see the individuals   come together as you have mentioned from that  microphone bipartisan. Um really grateful that   you wanted to just look at the numbers and provide  some recommendation. So again, thank you for your   volunteerism. Madame clerk, can you please call  the next item? Consent agenda items 1 through 14. Are there items to be pulled? Council member  Hohisel. Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to pull   item uh 24B and uh delay that until the August  19th regular meeting. I just want to make sure   that all council members have time to get all  pertinent information regarding this item. Item number 24B to be delayed with no  comment or with comment. I know that   there are several individuals here  that wanted to speak on that item. Uh on this particular item, uh we'll ask city attorney Magna if we pull  an item for delay, do we just pull the item   without comment, public comment? If the intent is  to defer it to a second meeting or later meeting,   it needs to be voted on as a deferral if  that was the intent. Is that your intent,   Council Member? to delay it till the  19th. Yeah, that's fine. We'll need a   motion. Second. Motion from council member  Hohheisle. Yep. Move. And a second from   council member Johnson. And then I see uh  we can vote on just that item number 24B. Point of clarification. Are we still opening it  up to public comment or are we just motioning to   defer from the start? It looks like the intention  was just to delay it. So, no public comment. Quick   question for the attorney. If I were to vote no  just because there could be public comment on this   motion and if somebody's here in an evening  meeting, I'm interested in hearing what they   have to say. Would that fail? So, if it comes  back, would we have to take an up or down vote   on it this evening or could there be a motion to  table after that subsequently? Let me make sure I   understand. If if it fails to get enough votes to  be deferred, correct? And so, if it fails to get   enough votes to be deterred, we open it to public  comment, would we have to vote on it tonight or   would we be able to motion to defer following  public comment? No, I think you've already made   that motion and it's failed. So, I think it has  to be voted on tonight. Okay. Thank you. Council member, Vice Mayor Johnston. Thank you,  Mayor. Uh, legal, could Jennifer, could we,   uh, if we vote on this, could we make another  motion to allow public comment after it is   delayed for public comment tonight? If it's  not an agenda item before you, there won't   be public comment. That's not really provided  for in the ordinance. If you're not taking it   up for consideration tonight. Okay. Okay. Can I  make a substitute motion to allow public comment?   On the motion to defer. On the motion to defer.  Yes. Okay. I'll make the motion to allow public   comment before we vote on the motion. Second.  Second by council member Glascock. So, we have a   substitute motion which takes the president. So,  uh, Council Me Vice Mayor Johnston and Council   Member Glascock, we can put that to vote. Wish  people would have said something. I had it. Yeah,   that's fine. Let's do that. I think we still  have to vote on it. Council member Johnson,   sorry. Yeah, just a point of clarification.  So, the motion is to defer, but the substitute   motion is to allow public comment. To  defer and allow public comment. Okay. Motion passes 70, which now allows the  opportunity for public comment on item   number four 24B. Would anyone from the  community like to speak on this item? I see none. No one wants to speak on this item.  Okay. Okay. We will move on. Um I move to approve   the consent agenda without item 24B. Excuse me,  miss. Excuse me, mayor. The underlying motion,   it goes back to the motion to defer. Now,  my apologies. We're now back to the original   motion from Council Member Hohheisle, seconded  by Council Member Johnson to defer this item to   this August 19th meeting. Motion in a second. No,  nobody else. Madame Clerk, please open the role. Motion is now deferred to the August  2nd meeting passing 70. Madame clerk,   please call the next item. Actually,  sorry. Now I can go to my motion. I   move to approve the consent agenda  without item 24B. Second. Motion and   a second. Any further discussion? I see  none. Madame clerk, please open the role. Motion passes. 70. Madame clerk,   please call the next item. Board of Bids  and Contracts dated August 4th, 2025. Good evening, Mayor, City Council, Josh Lober,  Department of Finance. The Board of Bids and   Contracts convened August 4th, 2025 for the  following recommendations. Uh before I start off,   I need to rescend this recommendation. This  item had a low bid that was withdrawn by   the bidder. So, I was not able to catch this  before I presented it to the advisory board.   We'll be rescending this to bring it back to  you for a full rejection uh because none of the   bids are within the engineer's estimate. So,  this item will be uh pulled for engineering.   We have the storm water system number 808 2025  storm water ditch grading and covert cleaning   program for Dutton Construction Services  LLC for an aggregate bid total of $184,343. We have the 2025 outsource pavement  preservation program CIP concrete street   affairs phase 6 for PPJ construction  incorporated for an bid awarded within   the engineers estimate of 330,000  from the original bid of $299,754. We have the 2025 outsource pavement  preservation program CIP Concrete   Street Repairs phase 7 for PPJ  Construction Incorporated for   a bid within the engineers estimate of  $365,000 from the original bid of 315,754. For purchasing, we have the snowplow blades, nuts,   and bolts for the vendors listed at the estimated  annual usage. We have the kitchen remodel for   Fire Station 14 for Multicon Incorporated  for an aggregate bid total of $129,481. We have sodium hypocchlorite for Laugh T. Williams   and Associates Incorporated for an  estimated annual usage of $522,8855 for one year with two one-year options to renew.   We have liquid feric sulfate for Penco  Incorporated for an estimated annual   usage of $215,70 for one year with two  one-year options to renew. We have the   kitchen equipment for Brewer Community Center  for AAA Restaurant Supply LLC for $229,780. We have the 16,000 gross vehicle  weight cabin chassis with mini   dump bed for Rusty Ford for an  aggregate bid total of 254,422. We have the video surveillance systems botanical   parking lots for Santa for Engineering  and Controls Incorporated for 78,333.778. The exempt exemption to competitive bending under   a sole source of supply. We have the  laserfish annual software renewal   for governmentframeworks.com  incorporated for $130,6825 under the exemption for competitive bidding  under high technology. We have the multiband   portable radios for Homeman Electronics LLC  for $63,9959 under the competitive exemption   to competitive bidding of high technology. We  have the NEOGV human resource and application   tracking system annual software renewal for  government jobs incorporated for $77,55123 under competitive exemption for  bidding under sole source of supply.   We have borine flexer hoses for hose  solutions incorporated for $73,95.39 exemption to competitive bidding under sole  source of supply. And we have the trash and   recycling containers and collection contract  change order for the change of estimated $1,9748 per month for I'm sorry, excuse me, for  per year estimated annual cost. We have   the pre-employment physical examinations  and substance abuse screenings for contract   change order of work safe physical  therapy incorporated requesting the ex   authorization to accept additional rates. And  for airport, we have the airport multitasking   snow removal vehicles M-B Companies for  an aggregate bid total of 2,34,883.72. We have the high-speed rotary snowplow vehicle  for M-B Companies for base bid of $895,730. We have the airport terminal modifications  for Macau Gordon for 5,51,483. We have the window cleaning services for  eh technical solutions incorporated for an   estimated annual usage of $25,25 for one year  with two one-year options to renew. This is   how to become a vendor with the city of Witchah.  This is our purchasing calendar of events with   our small business resource partners that the  city will be hosting or participating in. This   is our calendar of uh open public opportunities  out on the street today for projects and I'd be   happy to try to answer any of your questions and  I recommend your approval of the recommended. Thank you Josh. Any questions for staff?  I see none. I move to approve the board of   bids dated August 4th, 2025. Second motion  and a second. Any further discussion? I   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. Paul  Gunzelman, public works and utilities. For the   record, I have a few new petitions as well as one  revised petition for your consideration tonight.   The signatures on the petitions represent  100% of the improvement districts and the   petitions are valid per Kansas statute.  Turkey Creek fourth edition located in   district 4. The projects will provide water  improvements, sanitary sewer improvements,   and paving improvements for a new residential  development for multiple phases. Schulty Johnson   second edition again located in district 4.  The project will provide drainage improvements   required for a new residential development  and to cover the cost of a private bid and   revised petitions. Salty Johnson second edition  located in district 4 on September 22nd, 2020.   In February 25th, 2025, city council approved  water improvements, storm water improvements,   drainage improvements, and paving improvements  required for a new residential development,   and to cover the cost of a private  bid. The developer has submitted   revised petitions with revised budgets to  rec to reflect current market conditions. And it is recommended that the city council  approve the new and revised petitions and budgets,   adopt the new and amending resolutions, and  authorize the necessary signatures. And mayor,   I might remind folks that these will be paid by  special assessments. Thank you, Paul. Questions   for staff? I see none. I move to approve the  petitions for public improvements. Second   motion and a second. Any further discussion? I  see none. Madame clerk, please open the role. Motion passes 70. Madame clerk, please call the   next item. Contract for executive  search services for city manager. Good evening, Mayor and Council.  Pam Pennington, human resources. So,   I'm here this evening to present the contract  for the firm um to conduct the city manager   search and want to just go through a couple  of slides with you. I will tell you that   um getting to work with this selection  advisory committee already has been wonderful.   they are very dedicated citizens wanting to be  very involved in this process. So that has been   wonderful and um we are in the process of we've  done our chair uh nominations and selection and   Jennifer McDonald has been selected by this  committee to be the chair. So she is here with   me to this this evening and I'll have her come up  in a few minutes. We are currently trying to do   vice chair so but some of them are on vacation so  we will get that uh finished as soon as possible. So, we have been busy um as a group um  and this is just a quick rundown of the   timeline so far. Um 20 RFPs were received  by the city for firms wanting to have act   uh an an option to do this search for us. Um  I think that's kind of unprecedented. Um and   it was quite great to have that many uh that were  interested. uh June 27, uh the selection advisory   committee did receive those 20 and started  their review of every one of them. On July 9th,   um and I've abbreviated it as SAC, so excuse me  for that. Short listed those firms down to three   um that we would conduct interviews uh with.  on July 21st is we held the interviews and   the committee unanimously selected um  CPS HR consulting. July 22 through 30th   um was was spent uh preparing the contract  and having legal review uh of the contract   and then we are here this evening um to  bring this contract to you for approval. So why CPSHR consulting? So I'm  not going to do this part of the   presentation. I've asked Jennifer  McDonald to come tonight and she   is here. So I'm going to let her as  the new chair um give her comments. Thank you, Pam. And good evening, mayor and  city council. So, I'm Jennifer McDonald,   the newly elected chair for the selection  committee, and I just wanted to share some   comments around why we selected CPS HR  Consulting. So, after thorough evaluation   of the proposals and interviews, we did select  CPS HR Consulting as the most qualified firm   for the city search of a new city manager. And  I kind of narrowed it down to five key reasons.   So the first one is just their proven experience  and expertise. So they bring over 40 years of   experience in the recruitment field including  25 years specializing in public service agency   searches which I thought was really key.  Their team is led by a former city manager   which I thought was important for them to  really understand that deep understanding   um for the unique challenges faced by city  governments. The second reason is their strong   track record of success. So they have high success  rates within city manager searches with a 95%   retention rate which I thought was really strong.  Their strategic approach ensures that candidates   not only meet the technical requirements but  also align to the culture and values of the   city which I thought was very important. The  firm has demonstrated consistent success in   placing candidates who stay in the role for five  to seven years which we also thought was key for   that retention and longevity. So the third reason  is their comprehensive and transparent process.   So the firm's recruitment process is robust and  transparent, emphasizing thorough citizen and   stakeholder engagement. So we thought the citizen  engagement piece is going to be really important.   And their approach includes information gathering,  a detailed candidate profile and pre-screening   process to ensure that only the most qualified  candidates are considered, which we thought was   key. And then um the fourth reason would be kind  of client satisfaction and ongoing support. So CPS   HR consulting's committed commitment to client  satisfaction is evident through their ongoing   evaluation process which includes check-ins  with clients six months after placement to   ensure satisfaction. So this continued support  is critical in maintaining a positive working   relationship and ensuring that the city's needs  are fully met for the long term. And then lastly,   they have a competitive cost structure. So their  fee structure was um very competitive and it also   guaranteed a one-year guarantee. So just making  sure that we have the right candidate in the right   placement and it was competitive compared to the  other firms that we interviewed. So in conclusion,   CPS HR consulting pre proven experience and  comprehensive transparent process makes them   the most qualified firm to conduct the  city manager search. Their track record   of success combined with their ability to engage  stakeholders and citizens and providing ongoing   support will assure that the city's needs will be  met and the best candidate will be presented to   you all for consideration. So therefore, our  selection committee highly recommends CPS HR   consulting. Thank you. Any questions? Thank  you Jennifer and thank you Pam. question. Can we ask the city clerk  to please clear the board? I don't have any way to clear the board.  I don't show that there is any speakers. We'll start with council member Glascock.  Thank you, Mayor. Uh Pam, I just have a   few quick questions for you. I'm going to  be supportive of this and I want to thank   uh Jennifer. Thank you. Uh congratulations on  your leadership role now and appreciate all   the work that you've done. I've spoken with um my  appointee about this, Josh Sharter. Uh he was also   um very much in favor of this. There was  one quick contractual question I had. So,   our green sheet said that they have the ability to  meet this by the December uh first uh deadline. Um   I went back just on the document on page 19  of their proposal. It lists like month one,   month two, month three and month four and it lists  the appointment at the end of month four which   would be November and we are already what seven  days into August and so are you still confident   about the timeline of December 1st being met or  should that be revised? So far they are confident.   Um we will meet with them tomorrow hopefully.  uh if this goes well this evening um to confirm   that. Okay. But they are very confident. Okay.  So a continuation of that question too on page   two of the contract it talks about the term. It  says the term of the contract should be effective   from the execution agreement for one year. In  the green sheet it also talked about uh that if   for some reason a candidate had to resign in the  first year then they would still be on call. Does   that term length cover it beginning on December  1st, 2025 when they select a candidate or does it   begin on August when they've started the process?  When is that one-year term of this contract? From   date of hire. From date of hire. So, August 1st.  So, through August 1st next year. No, it would be   the date the candidate is hired. Oh, the date  the candidate is hired. So, through December,   whatever. Okay. Correct. Um, I think there was one  small thing I just had to and you're answering all   my questions very well. So, thank you for that.  Um on page 20 they had listed um a $5,000 budget   for reimbursement for candidate travel. I know  on the first page we had talked about it list   as an estimated 2500 per candidate but in the  proposal it said that we want them to give us six   to 10 candidates. So can you just explain that?  Sure. six to 10 candidates for the first semi-   finalist group and then we would select those that  would come on site from the probably two to three   theoretically. Correct. So in in our proposal it  was we pay for the travel. Um we would not ask   the firm to do it. That's a little steeper than  what we would uh usually do. So we've estimated   four. Okay. That at at the high end it would be  four candidates that would come on site. Awesome.   Just from an estimate. Thanks for answering all my  questions. I appreciate it. Sure. Council member   Hohheisel. Thank you, Mayor. Mayor Mayor, if I  could just just a second. I think if you push on   the floor on your panels, that'll get you back to  where you need to be. That's not up at this time.   I don't have it. You don't have that on yours?  No, just says voting in progress. Okay. Sorry. Okay. Uh yeah, thanks. Um thank you. Um uh just  one quick question more it's on process under the   scope of services it has interview participation  and public form at what point will we be giving   um kind of our desires I I know we want robust  public engagement especially with neighborhood   people um and people who have vested interest in  seeing you know the access advisory board people   like that as well. So what point in the process  will we uh be getting that or having that input?   So the first meeting we will have with them um  they will go through all of that with us and then   I think their very first call is to meet with  all of you. Okay. And then does it have to be   a majority of council in order to direct for a  certain amount of public meetings or a certain   um designated group that we want to we want  to necessarily attract to those meetings.   I think what the vendor will do is give us  multiple options because they have multiple ways   of doing citizen engagement and we can identify  which way we want to go for certain groups or   how we want to do that as a whole. Whether it's a  public forum, a survey, uh stakeholder meetings,   however we want to do it, we get to decide, but  they're going to tell us their best practice and   what works the best and then we can decide what  works best for us. All right. I appreciate that.   Thank you, Council Member Tuttle. Thank you.  Thank you, Pam, for your work on this. I really   appreciate it. I also want to thank Jennifer so  much um for being my appointment. You served on   my DAB. I knew you were a fantastic representative  and so appointed to this and now you're chair. So,   congratulations. I also just want to thank the  committee in advance. I know that we have a   timeline that we have to meet, right, to be able  to have someone hired by the end of the year. So,   um I wish you all the best and and looking  forward to being involved in the process. So,   congratulations, Jennifer. Vice Mayor Johnston.  Thank you, Mayor. I just have a few questions. You   said 95% retention rate. What period of time is  that 95%. I believe it was over a two to threeyear   period. So far, they've got 95% retention. Okay.  Um to follow up on Councilman Glascock's question,   you stated that was a date of hire. I presume if  it's an a city city manager they'll have to give   x number of days notice. Um so would it be the  date of hire or the start date that the the year   would begin? Those are the same thing for us. Same  thing. Okay. Yes. The day that they are sitting in   the office chair in the office. Okay. Not the  date that you we announced. No. Not that we we   presented a a contract. No, it would be the actual  date that start the hire. Okay, thank you. And   last question is you said if the candidate resigns  within the first year, I don't think it'll happen,   but what if the council doesn't want the services  of that person within the first year? Does that   count too? Yes. One-year guarantee. One-year  guarantee both on both sides. Yes. Okay. Thank   you. That was another benefit. Okay, thank  you. I have one question for Jennifer. Again,   congratulations on becoming the spokesperson  and chair of this committee. Um, can you give   us a little insight in regards to the interviews?  Uh, but more specifically, the question would be,   um, this firm obviously got unanimous approval by  the committee. Um, and one of the things I looked   at on pages five and six are the roles that they  have hired, helped hire, they have helped with the   two assistant city managers of Oklahoma City,  Oklahoma. Um, and one of the reasons why you   mentioned this firm was selected among the five  reasons was their familiarity with the region,   meaning the Midwest, uh, heartland. Can you  address maybe some of those questions that   were asked during uh that process that helped  them become the actual um recommendation? Yeah,   absolutely. So, we did ask about um their  experience working with cities our size and within   our region. And so they actually helped fill the  Arvado, Colorado city manager position, which we   thought was um impactful. A little bit farther to  our west was Sacramento, but that was going to be   somewhat similar size or a little bit bigger than  Witchah, but they felt like they had ties to the   Kansas and Witchah kind of community and were  familiar with the culture and the values that   we have as a city. So, they felt really good about  finding a candidate that aligns to those values.   Thank you, Jennifer. I see no further questions  for Jennifer or Pam. Okay, we have a couple more   slides if you're okay with that. Um, because I  think we do want to address the city size issue   because I know that was something uh Brandon  Johnson brought up when we were doing the RFP.   Um and so this was a a big piece for us because  um a lot of the firms had city manager roles but   they were in much smaller populations and so  we felt very good about their experience in at   least our size or at least bigger. So I think they  understood the role of city manager very well. So   I just wanted to point that out for you as well.  And then they have a really interesting approach.   Um it's a very good approach and what really stood  out I think from the interviews was they're they   very much understand your role in this process  and so they were very excited uh about getting   to work with all of you but they they very much  understood that. So uh that was a big um piece   for them on the mayor and council um stakeholder  involvement. Um and then the city's needs um they   have a a unique process. they wouldn't divulge  all of it to us about helping us define what does   this look like? And so I think that's going to  be something when we um uh did reference checks.   Um we did get a reference check from uh Phoenix,  Aurora, Colorado, and Oklahoma City. And what was   very interesting was they all talked about this  process. And in fact, all of them have now hired   at least five additional positions using the same  firm. So that was a great bonus for me to know   that they keep being reused at the same cities  over and over. So I think that's going to be very   good for us um in the process. Uh they are very  high communicators. So that was the number one   thing that came through on the reference checks as  well. Um and they really talked about their robust   uh recruitment process. So that's why I think they  can feel comfortable meeting the deadline. Um and   then community stakeholder engagement was a big  part of the conversation in the interviews because   that is very important to us. Um and they were  very excited to get to do that. So there are three   phases which I think you've seen in the in the  proposal but just for uh purposes of this evening.   Phase one um was when we start the key stakeholder  process. Phase two um they will then tailor the   process to fit us um and to meet our deadline.  And then phase three they will continue to work   with mayor and council for customized interview  and selection process. So, it's going to be fast   once it begins, but um it's very well- definfined  process. And then kind of at the the last is the   the timeline and the cost is it is a 14 to 16 week  process. So, if we started effective Monday, um   that would get us to November 24 if all goes well.  Um it is a flat fee of $30,000 and um it includes   everything. um with the exception of possibly  if we decided we wanted to do additional paid   advertising somewhere else, that would be on us,  but they've already got what they would like to   do and they'll get us that for review. Um but it  will, you know, that would be an additional cost.   And then we put in four people coming on site  at 2500 for a total estimated cost of $42,000. So, our recommendation is um to have council  approve and execute the necessary signatures   for CPSHR consulting as the selected vendor  to conduct the city manager search. Thank you,   Pam. And again, thank you, Jennifer.  I see no further questions from this   bench. We will now open it up for  public comment regarding this topic. I see none. I'll bring it back to the bench.   I will move to approve the contract with CPS  HR Consulting for executive search services   for the city manager position and authorize  the necessary signatures. Second motion and a   second. Any further discussion? I see none.  Madame clerk, please open the role. Motion   passes. 70. Madame clerk, please call  the next item. Oage Park Improvements. Good evening, Mayor and Council.  Uh Reggie Davidson with Parks and   Wreck. Here today to talk with you about  Oage Park Improvements. Want to give a   little bit of history on the background  on this. Uh the National Fitness Council   NFC is a wellness uh consulting firm  that provides the uh fitness court and   outdoor fitness facility enclosed within a  small footprint. On November the 7 of 2023,   city council approved the funding and installation  of a fitness court at Pat Garcia Veterans Memorial   Park in District 6. Uh data acquired from that  MSSE and ind indicates that Pat Garcia fitness   court was wellreceived in the community and  usage level were above national average. So, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas is the  sponsor of the Kansas uh fitness court network   and offered a 40,000 grant uh $40,000 grant  for NFC towards the Sack Fitness Court here   in Witchah. Uh Department of Parks and Recreation  uh recommend a uh discounted price for uh NFC and   Park and Rec has selected Oage Park as a location  for the Sack Fitness Court. Uh Oage Park is   uh is 18.45 acres. uh neighborhood park  with a variety of amenities which include   a softball field, basketball court, tennis and  pickleball court, a splash pad, a playground,   and has a former rec center that's currently  being operated by catch for programming for   adults with intellectual and developmental  disabilities. Adding a fitness court to this   part would add to the hub of amenities  available to South Witchah residents. And for the financial considerations for this, the  price for the fitness court is $170,000 which will   be offset by a $40,000 discount provided through  NFC grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas   and staff recommended approval of the agreement  with NFC in the amount of $130,000. Funding is   available in the Pony Perry Park improvement  project account which was initiated from the   2024 to 2033 capital improvement program and  legal considerations uh and recommended action.   The law department has reviewed and approved the  purchase agreement as to form. The law department   has concluded that the reasonable basis exists  for the procurement to proceed as a sole source   selection under section 2.62.020B 020B of the  municipal code and it is recommended that the city   council approve the purchase an ordered agreement  and authorize the necessary signatures and I'll   stand for any questions. Thank you Reggie. We'll  begin with council member Glascock. Thank you.   Only a few questions Reggie and thank you for  this presentation. Um regarding the Ponyie Prairie   budget, it was 800,000 to start. Correct. That  is correct. for security enhancements and we've   been under budget on one of the projects which is  demolition of the pavilion. Do you remember how   much that was? Sure. So, we initiated $400,000  that was in the budget for uh 2024 and there's   currently $300,000 that's left over from that  particular budget and this portion of the 134   this particular project will come from that which  will leave an additional $170,000 in that budget   and then an additional $400,000 will be initiated  for the upcoming this current year that will   be available as well. And then additional  funds we use to repair the flooring at the   um Osage Center as well. That is correct. So part  of the funding that was initiated in 2024 was used   for a flooring project at Oage Rec Center because  it was in disrepair and a safety concern and then   the demolition cost was the other cost that we're  using as part of that funding source. Well, thank   you for being a good steward of the dollars and  now because of um the enhancements we made at Pony   Prairie, we're able to enhancements at other parks  in South Witchaw as well. Um, specifically, I know   uh, Councilman Hohheisle's on the board as well,  but given that this is a former recreation center,   I think this is another amenity in the southside  and I know I was at the opening with council   member Ballard of the Packarcia Park and it's been  today I drove by and there are people using it   today and I've driven by multiple times and every  time I drive by somebody's using it and so I think   it's a um, needed amenity in this area especially  with the aging population in the neighborhood. So,   thank you for the time on this and thank you for  Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas for also stepping   up to help and partner with us. Council member Ho  Heisel. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, thank you, Reggie.   Uh, just quick couple quick questions. First, I  love Oage Park. It's uh I used to go swim in there   all the time, play baseball there all the time.  So, I'm uh really happy to see this going in over   there. Another amenity down there. Um, has there  been any issues as far as equipment maintenance   or anything at the Pat Garcia Park over the last  year or so? There haven't. We actually looked into   that. It was part of one of the requests that  the mayor had previously as well and we had two   incidents that was there. One was graffiti that  we addressed and then the other one was a piece   of equipment and we found that it was there  on site and was reinstalled. So, the location   has been really well used. uh the it exceeds the  national average of number of participants that   are there on a daily basis. It uh goes at 500 is  the national average and we're at 630. So we're   exceeded what the average is for uses at that  particular location. Sounds good. And if you guys   need a name, I'm obviously the picture of fitness.  So the Michael Heisle Fitness Center would be fine   as well. Thank you, Reggie. Reggie, I actually  asked those questions also regarding the number of   visitors and you just uh answered that. Uh can you  also address the two questions I asked which were   um what was the cost of investment by the  nonprofit versus the city of Witchah regarding   Pat Garcia? So, uh with that particular  project, uh the project is uh it's $170,000   is what we're uh paying for the fitness court  itself. 40,000 of it is coming through uh the   uh the funding that we're actually getting from  Blue Cross Group Shield. So it leaves a balance   of $130,000 that we're paying towards the project.  And for the Pat Garcia one, the Pat Garcia one   was 155 and for the fitness court itself and  we actually got $50,000 for uh towards that   particular one for the previous project. Thank  you. And last question was um are there any future   locations for a possible next fitness center.  We now will have one in district six and this   is a proposal for district four. Um are there any  future plans? Sure. Part of what we did with the   n national fitness council is looked at other  locations throughout the city that we can look   at in each of the districts and we've identified  some other areas that will be considered in the   future from their uh research that they did. So  in district one we're looking at potentially at   uh Dr. to Glendai Park as a location. Uh, district  two is Harrison Park. District three, uh, Plane   View Park or Human Hill Park. Uh, district four,  South Lake as a potential second location. Uh,   and district five, Buffalo Park, Sunset Park  or Harvest Park. And then for a second location   potentially in district six will be uh, Municipal  Park or either at the Keeper or the Plains. So   part of their analysis was looking at other  locations that we can have throughout the city   in each district. Thank you very much, Reggie. I  see no further questions for staff. We'll open it   up for public comment. I see none. We'll bring it  back to the bench. This resides in Council Member   Glascock's district, but I think Council Member  Ballard would like to speak first. Thank you,   Mayor. Just to um add a little food for thought  for your question about other areas of town that   might be looking at a fitness court. As soon as we  opened up the Pat Garcia Park, McConnell Air Force   Base had reached out to me and was interested.  So, I think they're having conversations with um   the National Fitness Group to potentially add um  some of the courts and some of their facilities. Council Member Glascock. Thank you, Mayor  Reggie. Thanks for encouraging healthy   living in the community. And with that,  I move that the city council approve the   purchase order agreement and authorize  the necessary signatures. Second motion   and a second. Any further discussion? I see  none. Madame clerk, please open the role. Motion passes 70. Madame clerk,  please call the next item. 2026   annual operating budget and 2026 to  2035 capital improvement program. Good evening. My name is Elizabeth Goldry. I'm  the budget officer for the city of Witchah and   I am presenting the item on the budget in the  CIP. This is the second of four public hearings   about the budget and CIP. This and it's the  but it's the only one that's in the evening. The development of the proposed budget in the  CIP was guided by contributions from residents,   the city council, and employees. Resident  involvement in the budget included responding   to the community survey last fall, DAB meetings  that were held in May, and creating budgets in   the online simulator. The city council has been  engaged in the budget process in monthly workshops   since January which resulted in the strategic plan  that guided budget recommendations. And finally,   employees were involved in developing developing  tactics that will result in implementation of the   strategic plan. Between the workshop in  late May and mid June, the budget office   collaborated with each department to connect  the strategic plan to the budget document that   you have today, which is evident in the  department section of the budget book. The community survey is now conducted annually  and topline results are summarized on this matrix   which plots quality on the Y or the left axis and  then importance on the X axis at the bottom. The   visualization has guided strategic planning as  well as the budget and CIP document preparation.   And to zoom in, this quadrant is the lower left  quadrant of this community survey results. And   these are services that residents have rated as  being of high importance but of lower quality   than other services. Strategies and tactics in the  strategic plan really focus on these service areas   um on addressing items like homelessness,  affordable housing, economic development,   street repair, and crime prevention. In most  case, in most cases, these tactics capture   cross-dep departmental efforts that pre that  build on previous service delivery approaches. The online budget simulator was launched um  when the DAB meetings started in early May.   Um and it's available through August 19th. And  um we could strike the around because when I   last looked there were exactly 800 responses to  date. Um the increases and decreases are based   on both priorities of people completing the  survey and also the financial impact of each   of these options. As a reminder, participants can  increase or decrease the higher priority services   on the right side of the matrix, but only can they  can only decrease lower priority services in the   um budget simulator. So in the survey  for example, residents were asked about   services without regard to the budgeted cost  of them. But the added challenge of the budget   simulator is that some services like police  and fire, as we'll see in a later pie chart,   cost considerably more than other services. At  this point, um the largest increase in higher   priority services are to street repair, parks, and  libraries. And in the um lower priority services   which you can only one could only reduce the um  smallest decreases are in municipal court and   sidewalk maintenance. So we'll provide  you with an update once um it closes. So the budget workshops this year were heavily  focused on strategic planning. Um as a reminder   um the strategic plan is available as its  own tab in the budget document. and it's   also in the appendix of the CIP. The strategic  plan was built in layers and everybody moved   rather quickly so that the tactics were  affirmed in late May at that workshop and   then those could be included in the budget and  CIP. Um I think that this table is a helpful   illustration of the different layers of the  strategic plan. Um each um of the pillars,   the goals, the strategies and the tactics. So each  pillar outlines a desired outcome for the city   of Witchah through its programs and services.  And so that was the first step was to develop   um statements for each of those pillars. Um  then goals in turn were developed and then   finally strategies and tactics at the were the  last layer um to be developed in this hierarchy. So, I guess it wouldn't be a budget without  the numbers. So, here are the all funds summary   charts. Um, the city of Witchah budget has  about it has three dozen funds this year. Um,   and these funds are each included in the financial  plan section of the document. These two all funds   pie charts summarize all revenues and expenditures  across the organization. One thing that's unique   about these pie charts, you'll notice that charges  for services is the largest revenue source for   all funds and that's largely due to utility the  utility funds that the city of Witchah operates. Um, compared to the all fund summary, the general  fund revenue summary shows that property tax is   the largest source um the largest slice on the  pie chart followed by franchise fees and then   sales tax. And then there are two pie charts  for the general fund on the expenditure side   of the budget. Um the general fund pie chart um  by department demonstrates that about three4s of   general fund expenditures are for services  that residents rate as a high priority in   the community survey. Those um are many  cases very high priority. Police, fire,   and public works. And then likewise salaries  and benefits are also 756% of the budget.   when you look at the general fund budget by type  of expenditure. Um, and that being the case,   it's always important to keep in mind  that changes to salaries and benefits   have a greater impact on the general fund budget  than they do for budgets and some other funds. As I mentioned two slides ago, property  tax is the largest source of revenue for   the general fund. Um and there are  two funds that receive property tax,   general property tax. Those are the general  fund and the debt service fund. Um overall the   um the overall mill levy for the city of Witchah  will be 1 half mil lower in 2026 than 2025.   And as a reminder with regard to the  mil levy, um the action at the meeting   on July 15th set the maximum taxes to be  levied for each of these two funds in 2026. Oh my gosh, it happened again. I thought I tried  everything to make this work. I'm so sorry. So,   um just to these are the general fund long-term  financial plan, which thankfully is in the budget   document with the correct titles at the top. Um  it's 2025 revised on the left, 2026 proposed,   27 projected, and then 28 and 29 projected. Um  the general fund is expected to be balanced in   2026 and 2027 as a result of adjustments to the  budget, which I will describe in a little bit.   um due to uncertainty in the remainder of the  planning period. So that's the the two on the   right side, a deficit is projected in 28 and  29. The fundamental reason for this imbalance   is that growth in wages and benefits  is expected to outpace revenue growth.   Um as we talked about quite a bit during the  workshops, one of the um headwinds on revenue   growth is expected decreasing interest  earnings during the planning period.   Um, again, we continue to update projections as  more information is made available. And typically   at budget workshops early in the year, we  start with this projection that was in the   budget the prior year and then we make updates  to that and continue through the budget process. Um so concern concurrent with the development  of the strategic plan and providing updates on   the financial projections at workshops there was  also a considerable amount of discussion about   efficiency and process improvement. So in February  the focus of the workshop was on research topics.   There were an extension of the budget adoption in  the previous year in August. So the city council   considered a number of options and then provided  feedback to staff. Um and then in May there was   another round of options that were considered  and an updated list was provided in June. So some examples of the types of things  that are included in the budget. Some of   the accelerated process improvements are related  to street maintenance, park maintenance, court,   and the inequitable management model.  And um one thing a lot of those services   in the first bullet point have in common is  that they're areas in which there have been   um a high amount of vacancies. And then the budget  reduction options in the second bullet point   um are ones that are expected to have limited  impact on residents andor improve efficiency. I'm holding my breath. It's another table. Um,  this one works. So, um, the in this table, this   summarizes, um, the impact of those adjustments,  which is in the third row, what that impact on the   bud adjustments was on the budget. So, the first  row here is what the general fund financial plan   was and the budget that was adopted last August.  Um the second row is a cumulative of a lot of   um adjustments and changes to the base budget that  occurred throughout the year. And then the third   row is um ideas um concepts that were discussed  during workshops and have been included in the   budget document. And um with that we are balanced  in 2026 and 2027 and the slight surplus in 2025.   um as a budget grows um the slight surplus is  used um to meet the fund balance reserve policy. So um transitioning into what is what are the  things that are in the budget. There's a lot in   the budget. So I just have some quick highlights  of items that really connect back to the strategic   plan because we talked so much about that. Um one  of them um is a cost recovery study. We've already   started working on that. Um there's already been  a lot of discussion this evening about centralized   financial services. Um another um tactic that will  be underway is an um development of a community   engagement blueprint. Um additionally impleation  implementation of a comprehensive supervisory   development program will be kicked off next  year and then a review of employee benefits. So,   those are all items that you could find in the  strategic plan that connect with the well-run   city goal. And then keep witchah safe goals.  Some highlights um in our slides are developing   an EMS pilot program with Sedwick County EMS,  implementing the drone as first responder program   um leveraging real time information  center data for the city of Witchah but   also collaborating with others um using that  data for collaboration um using risk terrain   modeling and to um address causes of crime and  then seeking to establish a behavioral response   partnership in collaboration with municipal  court and housing and community services um and grow our economy. Um this pillar  includes includes a variety of strategies   across departments to foster innovation,  attract investment and support local businesses.   So the cultural funding program um will be  updated and that was in identified in the   cultural arts strategy plan that was presented to  the city council in the past. The transit network   upgrade will expand transportation options  that connect residential areas to employers   and educational institutions. And then finally,  another one being highlighted is that there's a   lot of affordable housing strategies across  the different pillars, but in this pillar,   affordable housing strategies are related to  planning, zoning, and permitting. Independable   infrastructure. The water reuse study will is  being pursued to continue strategies related   to water conservation and a decision support  tool for park infrastructure similar to the   decision support tools for other types of in  um assets will be developed. And then finally   in living well which these include goals related  to achieving a sense of belonging and well-being.   Um early childhood reading readiness activities  will be provided with early learning partners.   Emergency sheltering, wraparound services, and  supportive housing will include staff training,   data collection, visualization, and workforce  development. It's very comprehensive. And then   the comprehensive plan um funding was included  in the budget, the 2025 adopted budget to   um update the comprehensive plan. There have  been a lot of changes in the last 10 years.   So these tactics from across the pillars whether  funded by the general fund other city of witchah   funds or grants are integrated into the operating  budget. Linkage to goals can be found throughout   the department in the division pages. So it is  I it's remarkable we've made it to this point.   It's great that we have it in the budget. So I'm  just grateful that all the support of the city   council to get to this point. Um so quickly  on the self-supported municipal improvement   district which is also called the Schmid. It's  located downtown. Um each year the Witchah   downtown Witchah Schmid advisory board requests  a budget makes a budget request to the city of   Witchah. This year they have requested 10 mills to  implement implement their clean and safe program.   So notices related to the formal RNR meet hearing  for this district have been published online and   submitted to the Witchah Eagle. Property owners  will receive notice of this impact in the budget   hearing date and time by the Seduit County Clerk.  So just some technical information about that and   on to the capital improvement program or CIP  which is a 10-year program for capital assets.   Um very quickly um the CIP receives projects in  the CIP are funded by a variety of sources of   revenue. the largest being um water utilities. Um  on the expenditure side of the CIP um the projects   that when we're discussing the development of the  CIP and capacity for the CIP, most of the focus is   on the general obligation at large projects which  it should be on this slide. Well, so geo at large   is over here, but then the geo art funds um those  are the projects that receive the most discussion   and that would be public facilities, public  safety, park and wreck and heavy equipment. As a reminder, um the debt service  mill re mill levy rate will be seven   in 2026 and then.17% will be um shifted  to the general fund starting in 2027. Um,   in addition to a lot of financial  considerations, of course, the CIP is   guided by the community investments plan, which  is the comp plan for Witchah and Cedric County,   which I just mentioned will be updated soon,  as well as the city of Witchah strategic plan. Um, just like the operating budget, the strategic  plan guided the development of the CIP. Um,   for example, the CIP includes funding for  public safety facilities, which that links   to police and fire being um in the community  survey as being very high priorities. Um,   maintenance of cultural facilities as well  as a variety of different asset groups.   Just very briefly some highlights of what's in  um the CIP. Police and fire station replacements,   replacement of fire apparatus, and then the  addition of a police training facility and   a new facility. Um lots of maintenance for city  facilities, um bridge repair and rehabilitation,   um the local portion of K96 expansion, which will  be a partnership project. And then a number of   a variety of street improvements and a few are  highlighted here. Um in the living well pillar   um there's actually a highlight issue in the  CIP if you're interested on cultural facilities   maintenance as well as um I know there's a lot  of activity and um regarding the Dr. Glendai   sports complex at that park. So those are some  things if you're there's a lot of projects in   the CIP. So maybe they'll get people excited  about checking out more of them. So the budget   processing calendar. So August is the month that  the budget and CIP will be adopted. Um in addition   to the hearing this evening, there will be two  more hearings. Um on August 19th, there will be   a hearing during the city council meeting at 9:00  a.m. And on that day, the budget simulator will   close. August 26th, the final and official public  hearing is determined by action at the meeting on   July 15th. So that's the one that's published in  the public notices um and also in the mailings   that will be distributed by the county clerk.  At that meeting, there will be three separate   hearings just to prepare everyone. I guess there  will be three separate hearings for the Schmid   revenue neutral rate, the Witchah revenue neutral  rate, and the adoption of the budget. And the CIP   is the last one. That meeting is also a 9:00 am  meeting. So I thank you so much for your attention   and just your participation in the budget process  this year. It's been really interesting journey   and um it's a great budget and that concludes my  presentation. Thank you very much. Questions for   staff beginning with Council Member Ho Heisel.  Thank you mayor. Um thank you Elizabeth. Uh I   ask this every time. I'm just always wanted to  make sure. Um, what's the projected assessment   increases for our future budgets? Oh, goodness.  I have it's in the budget document. Someone I   think it's around I think it it the plan  is for it to level off in the future. Um, so so you can find that on page 76 of the budget  if anyone were interested. Um, for 2027,   we're expecting 5.6%, 28 4.4, and then  29 3.9. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome,   Council Member Johnson. Thanks, Mayor. Um,  thank you for the presentation. Will future   presentations have pie charts or have we decided  to remove those? The pie charts? Yeah. I My goal   right now is just to get rid of the jumbly  jumbly numbers. That was for Bob. Oh. Any further questions for staff? I have several.  Uh, can we go back to slide number 70? Okay. Here we are. Thank you. You're welcome.  Can you um so that community members that   may not have the booklet um which by the way  you can also uh look at these documents on   witchaw.gov/budget and it is the printed  ver or the PDF version of this printed   um document. Um can you talk about how much in  property taxes is actually collected because it   does not cover the entire general fund budget. Is  that correct? Yes. the so if I if I might go back   a slide um so property tax um it is the largest  revenue source in the general fund but the general   fund all things being said is relatively well  diversified. So property tax is about 38% of   general fund revenue. So if you were to it's  you know about 132 million for property tax   and if you were look for example at the fire  department property tax revenue is less than   um expenditures for the police department and  that's our largest department. So we do receive   other sources of revenue such as sales tax,  franchise fees, um charges for services and   what have you. And also if I may add the budget's  available as a printed copy at all of our library   locations. So sorry, but thank you Elizabeth.  And then can we go to slide number 82, please? Okay, I just want to um address the clean and  safe program. Um, I really am very appreciative   of now retired airports uh employee Dean who is  part of this current pilot program for clean and   safe and it is a clean and safe program for the  downtown Witchah area. Uh, this is an individual   that connects with uh community members that  may have questions, also helps clean up,   collects trash. Um, and so I'm looking forward  to this clean and safe program expanding beyond   uh just Dean himself. And so I I do support  this uh in particular, but I wanted to highlight   that Dean is the one who currently is wearing a  yellow uh vest and he's around downtown Witchah.   I have one more question and that is the CIP  didn't appear to have any dollars allocated   for the renovation or the maint maintenance of the  former central library. Can you address that? Yes.   Um so there are there's some city facilities  projects that have general titles for city   facilities maintenance. Um, it's one of the one of  the many things that's in my job is I do approve   requisitions as they go through workflow. So,  for example, the roof at the library I think is   being replaced or repaired at this time. And so,  that was charged to one of those city facility   projects. Are there any other dollars that will be  allocated to the former central library? There's   not I there's not an itemized central library  project, but those that general city facilities   project has been used for major maintenance like  B I think more not improvements but maintenance   type activities. Thank you, Elizabeth. I see  no further questions. We will now open it up   for public comment. Each member of the public can  have up to five minutes to speak on the budget. Madame Mayor, members of the Witchaw City Council,  Mr. manager. Sometimes I think it is a it's a good   thing to kind of step away from the nitty-gritty  and the details and kind of take a a longer   perspective look at what's happening in our city  and what we need. My name is Harold Schlechwig and   I live in the district in the Deleno district at  351 North Fern Street. I am the chairman of the   board of the directors of ICT trees. We are  dedicated to the preservation and expansion   of Witchaw's urban tree canopy. Our vision is a  greener, healthier, and more sustainable future   for Witchah. I am here to encourage and to urge  you to adopt a budget that initiates a vigorous   program of tree planting, maintenance, and removal  on our streets and in our parks and public places.   Witch shade trees are not an amenity. They are  a necessity. They are not a want. They are in   need. On a time of steadily rising temperatures  that threaten the health and safety of citizens,   the most coste effective solution is to  plant trees. This can be done strategically,   but the goal is to improve the tree canopy  citywide. ICT trees is in its terrible twos.   We were founded in March 2023 or to use another  metaphor perhaps more suitable uh for the air   capital. We are in the process of building the  airplane while flying it. We have benefited   during the process from the tremendous outpouring  of support we've received from citizens. Their   support has enabled our all volunteer organization  to make substantial progress over the past two   years. Our purpose is to educate citizens and  policy makers as to the value of the urban forest   to plant trees in available spaces and to assist  residential and other property owners to plant   and maintain trees. To accomplish this purpose, we  have sponsored educational tree walks, distributed   educational materials, and weighed in on policy  issues directly affecting the health of our tree   canopy. With support of grants and individual  donors, we've sponsored free tree distribution   events for homeowners, churches, and businesses,  distributing more than 100 trees. This spring,   we'll do it again and because of the need,  increase the number of trees we distribute.   These free tree distributions are strategically  targeted to neighborhoods most at risk from   rising temperatures. In 2023, the city of  Witchaw published a joint study with NASA   identifying tw 17 census tracks most at risk  from rising temperatures. These neighborhoods   are located within or near what are called  urban heat islands. Dense infrastructure,   concrete, roads, and buildings cause temperature  to be significantly higher in some neighborhoods   than others. The outside temperatures difference  between neighborhoods with lots of trees and those   that lack them can be as much as 10 degrees.  Witchah residents living in or near these   heat islands face higher risks of heat related  illnesses. These neighborhoods often lack tree   cover and green spaces compounding the heat  stress and reducing residents ability to cool   their homes affordably. Our temperatures, which  are increasing and projected to increase over   the next three decades, can be daily deadly. We  got a preview of this July 2024 when 115 people   were treated for heat related illnesses at the  McConnell air show. We need to act now to make   sure our children and their children don't  suffer from our shortsightedness. ICT trees,   its donors and volunteers will continue to  do our part. We appreciate the support we've   received so far from city government, but we  can't do it alone. The city needs a vigorous   urban forestry program addressing our street  trees, parks, and public property. It is a need,   not a want, a necessity, not an amenity. Thank  you. and if you have any questions. Thank you,   Harold. Council member Ballard. Thank you,  Mayor. Uh, Harold, I just want to say thank   you for continuing to advocate for our community  and um I think we're making the right taking the   right steps um to try to repair some of  our tree canopy. And I appreciate you and   Elizabeth and all the other members of um ICT  Trees to to help us make that possible. So,   I appreciate you continuing to come forward and  make sure that we know it's still a priority to   the community as well. And we've had excellent  support from the city and we've heard good   things from everybody in the community and the  neighborhoods. So, we very much appreciate that. Thank you, Harold. You can just step forward  if you would like to speak. Madame Mayor, city council members, my name is  Elizabeth Bishop and I also am with ICT trees.   So, this is a bit of a continuation of Harold's  presentation, but I would kind of like to focus   on the drought and the need for water and  the health of trees. So, I have a handout. I'll get my agenda back from you later, Council  Member Hoisel. One of the things that um is true   in Witchah is that we're losing more trees than  we're replacing. I believe that we are really   beginning to wrap our arms around that fact and  the fact that we need to do something about it.   this in 2023 or 2024 20 2024 we finally the city's  uh forestry division of the park department along   with a lot of volunteers including ICT trees  planted more trees than we removed first time   in decades this year it has been because of the  drought but very disappointing that as far as I   know, and if I'm wrong, please correct me. I would  be delighted to be wrong, there have been no trees   or shrubs planted in parks or public spaces,  and there will not be for the rest of the year.   We have another plant or um yeah planting season  coming up as the uh the weather cools towards the   end of September and on into well it can go  all the way through January is a good time to   plant trees. So we would like to encourage the  planting and trees and in that regard to focus   on the city's approach in terms of being a model  for private citizens. I'm going to talk about how   you can water a tree effectively with water as  much water conservation as we can get to with   using a five gallallon bucket and address it to  the tree twice. This is a five gallallon bucket   with a hole, not in the bottom, but towards the  bottom of the bucket. And if you take this bucket,   fill it with water or take it and place it  where you want it, and then fill it with water,   which is what I have to do, or otherwise I would  slosh it all out on my way to the tree. If you   do that twice, once on either side of a tree,  a young tree, that's good for the next week.   That's true even when the weather is hot. And  that what many professionals will tell you is   that more most people overwater a newly planted  tree and will kill it from having too much water   because root rot sets in. We hope that maybe we  can have some tree planting in the city in public   spaces in 2025. We are a tree city USA. We're  very proud of that. We've had that distinction   for 40ome years and I hate to see one year  when we do not plant a single tree. Thank   you. If anybody has any questions, I'd be happy  to hold forth some more. Thank you very much,   Elizabeth. Council member Tuttle. I was just  gonna thank you for being here. I appreciate it.   Um, I know that on July 8th, city manager  sent an email to some other constituents   about planting. And I know you're talking about  this year specifically, but um, city manager,   could you maybe address um, 26 and 27 regarding  that? Yeah. Thank you, Mayor. Um, yes, council   member. Um, good question. Actually, I'm going  to address 25, 26, and 27. Um the original budget   uh uh presented to the council during workshops uh  did not have uh funding for trees in 2627 based on   feedback from the council during workshops.  That money was restored. So there's about   $180,000 I think for the purchase of trees um  in both of each of those years. Uh in 2025,   we had not anticipated that we would be out of the  drought and that we'd be planting trees. However,   um not to give you too much of a preview, but  um on the 19th, August 19th, we're going to be   bringing to you uh ordinance change related  to um permanent conservation measures. Um,   we also will have an estimate for you on when we  think that we will be able to implement that and   actually go back to stage one. Um, and that may  mean that we will have a fall planting season. Um,   that will depend on how you talk about it and  also on the input that you get from staff. So,   there is a possibility that we'll be planting  some city trees in 2025 as well. Thank you, city   manager. Council member Glass Glasco. Thank you,  Mayor uh Representative. I just want to say thank   you for being here. Thank you for your advocacy.  I agree with you. We should be planting trees. I'm   encouraged by the hopeful news of the manager  and uh thankful for the budget recommendations   moving forward that tree planting was included.  I am so happy to know we will not have a zero   planning year. Amen. Thank you. Thank you, Council  Member Ballard. Thank you, Bob. What will those   uh qualifications will say be or how will they  decide if we are able to plant the trees that we   have um purchased already? Well, the first thing  is to be able to get to a point where we can allow   sufficient watering um of the new trees and other  plant material. And that's what we're going to   talk about on the 19th. Um what we are comfortable  with in terms of what moves us from stage two to   stage one. And again, part of that will be you  adopting an ordinance on um every uh every other   day uh watering or three day a week watering.  Thank you, Vice Mayor Johnston. Thank you, Mayor.   I I'm very excited that we will plant trees in  Witchah next year. I appreciate I really excited   about that, but also private citizens planting  trees. I think it's a great thing. So, uh very   much a tree supporter. So, thanks for your work.  When we give away trees, every recipient gets the   bucket lecture. Council member Hoheisle. Thank  you, mayor, and thank you, representative, uh,   my former representative. So, always a pleasure to  see you up here, ma'am. Um, what is the deadline   to really get the trees in the ground? Is it  mid November before it starts getting to where   it's just not a good idea for the year? Or if the  month has an R in it, it's a pretty decent month.   All right. Well, I appreciate that. Thank you. I  would like to thank uh echo uh what Harold had to   say and thank the park department, especially the  forestry division. Um they've just been marvelous. Thank you very much. Hello. Um, Holly Danley. I participate in  the ICT trees and I got involved because I   moved to a neighborhood that a zip code that is  the heat island. And so I started receiving the   trees and I'm just so thrilled to be a part of  it and their hard work, Harold and Elizabeth and   everyone involved. Um and I enjoy my new trees and  um I want to play a part in beautifying Witchaw. I   think it's very important. I walk at the park  every day. I walk my dogs and I look at the   canopy of the park. Hi, Reggie. And um I just last  night I was observing how beautiful the canopy of   the trees are at this park. Um how widespread it  is. And these are the older Elm streets on the   street or in the neighborhoods that have seen  their lifetime, you know. Um, so I'm looking   forward to helping be involved beautifying  city of Witchto. Thank you. Thanks, Colleen. Good evening, Diana Tedlock. The community survey that was done last November,  December is the matrix was shown earlier where   it's the low and high priority items are shown  in a matrix of four quadrants. Um I'm sure that   many people and that and that is used repeatedly  has been as the basis and justification for the   direction of the council. I'm sure many people  don't realize that only 461 individuals actually   answered that community survey out of 400 a  population of over 400,000 individuals. So the   input of 461 individuals has led the city council  to determine animal welfare is a low priority   to our city and community. The simulator is  reflective and restrictive based on that community   survey. It only allows increases and decreases to  the high priority items. The low priority items,   you can only make a decrease to the budget. So,  this purposely restricts constituents and makes   it harder for their voice to be heard that they  want to see an increase in those items because   they would have to come to a meeting and speak and  or call or email their uh representatives. Per the   city goals for 2026 budget process,  they it was stated on the simulator   uh wording that the process would continue to  focus on the high priority quadrants. Therefore,   the city has made it known they really have  no intention of addressing the needs and   concerns at the Witchaw Animal Shelter,  which has become a high kill facility.   In fact, at the June 24th meeting, city council  meeting, it was stated there was not one tactic   in the budget for animal control, animal services.  And as a political ploy, the chief of police even   suggested defunding both animal control and animal  services. The city hired Emily Hurst and promised   changed. It is now time to see those promises  be made a priority and included in the budget.   We need additional budget for the marketing of  animals, volunteer program, a foster program,   enrichment of the animals, employee training,  outdoor area for the animals, new pressure   washers, and a washing area for blankets and  toys. The 2025 revised budget had an increase of   almost $25,000 and the 2026 proposed budget had an  increase of $339 $27 increase for animal services.   All these increases were to accommodate wages  and benefits with no increase to the equivalent   full-time positions. There has been no increase in  the full-time equivalent position since 2023 and   it continues to remain at 31. The Witchaw Animal  Shelter Management has reported to a captain in   the Witchaw Police Department literally for years.  That position was not previously reflected in the   animal control services budget, but has changed.  They have now moved the captain position under the   animal control services budget while leaving the  equivalent full-time heads at 31. So effectively   reducing heads by one. The accomplishment of  the shelter restructure announced in October   of 2024 did not increase heads. In fact again  it actually reduced by one by the movement. Um,   all the restructure accomplished was an increase  in management wages and making the facility more   topheavy. Don't be fooled by the appearance, says  into thinking the city is actually investing more   in animal control services. They are not. They're  just moving funding from one bucket to another.   This is for appearances only. And let it not  be mistaken, even though the budget for the   captain is now under animal control services,  he is not devoted full-time to animal welfare   welfare. He has received training and is  involved in the city's new drone project,   and I'm not for sure what else he's doing. Um,  however, for any time spent that is not directly   related to animal services and animal control,  he should be loaning into those departments   for transparency and accountability to the  public. as his wages plus benefits equate to   approximately $225,000 annually. So, I guess  that's my time, but any questions? Thank you,   Diana. Council member Ballard. Thank you, Mayor.  Diana, thank you for continuing to advocate for   um animal control. My question is for city  manager. Can you speak to any of the concerns   about I know council member Hohisel um asked for  u more positions I think last year and they were   put in the budget and do we know those have not  been filled? I know there was they were moved to   full-time instead of part-time. Do you have  any updates or that you can share with that? police representative. I so I don't have the exact  details. Um Emily is in the one position that was   created for uh management of the facility. I don't  remember the clerical position and how that was   handled. Animal control position was reclassified  to the admin position and so the lieutenant   position basically began. I think that's accurate,  but I'd want to double check that. Okay. Yeah,   if we could get that information, that'd be great.  Thank you. But the equivalent headcount still   stayed at 31. It's been the same since 2023.  So, there was no increase in the equivalent   headcounts. They did take the kennel tax and  transferred those from part-time to full-time,   but the equivalent headcount has remained at  31. And that now includes the captain, which   it didn't before. So, it's actually a reduction.  Council member Ho Heisel. Thank you, Mayor. Um,   so is that the the kennel techs? Were they folded  into the position or was that an animal officer   control officer into the clerical position? I  think it was an officer if I remember correctly. I can't see it. two part times to reclassify as there was one animal control officer that  was reclassified to administrative aid in   this year and it was a position  that we hadn't been able to fill.   That's it's it was vacant and had  been you know consistently vacant. Okay. And again, a reminder,  when we did this reorganization,   the idea was to try to get duties away from the  kennel techs and the animal control officers   so they could focus on their work and also  we could be more effective in getting back   to residents with their complaints  and we could process those quicker. Good evening, Margaret Wheeler Shabbass.  Um, as I was going through the papers and   listening to everything tonight, um,  first off, I would like to thank you,   GlassC, for initiating the volunteers  of to audit through the finances. Um,   but I did have a few questions about why did  it take the volunteers to uncover over half   a million dollars of unresolved issues of  the striker complex. Why weren't CI taxes   discrepancies caught or questioned sooner?  Residents have raised these concerns for a   while. I've been reading them in the newspaper  for a couple of years now. Who approved paying   the water bill for the facility within leak with  leaks? Known leaks. My household had leaks and the   city didn't pay my bill. I just got a discount.  As you plan next year's spending, how can we   trust the process without public accountability  when no one stood up and said anything until now? Council member Hoisel. Thank you,  mayor, and thank you, Margaret,   for coming up and expressing your concerns. Um,  one of the things I spoke about it earlier that   we had done was hire an internal auditor  to be able to go through and she has been   finding a number of these issues with  past contracts and whatnot. Um, also,   um, I do believe that we do forgive a water  bill a one-time um one-time forgiveness if   there are water leaks. So, I'm I'm not  sure if that's what you're referencing. It's discounted. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Well, let's check into that. Thank  you, Council Member Tuttle. Thank you. And   and city manager, I may ask you to address  this just informally, but regarding Striker,   it isn't a $500,000 cost. um the water they  have paid their past water bill. There was   a discrepancy of $8,500. They will be paying  that in the future. The other part of that is   there's some misinterpretation of sponsoring  rights. Um so I'd be happy to sit down and   reach out if you would like to reach out and  and to anyone and to explain that there isn't   $500,000 potential savings from Striker or city  manager. Would you like I think I think without   getting a lot of detail, you summarized  it accurately. Council member Glascop,   thank you for speaking. Um, I know that we'll be  going over a lot of the items presented. This is   the first time it was released to the public  today. And, um, I think it shows that when   we have community engagement, we'll listen and  when citizens bring something, we hear them and,   you know, we'll investigate what's truth  and maybe what needs more research. And so,   um, I know that this is just the  start of many other conversations. Hello, Faith Martin. Uh, proud member of district  2. I'm going to try to get through all of these.   I have a lot of notes, but uh, first I wanted  to mention the simulator. I was actually pretty   disappointed with our inability to select certain  areas, uh, of what's important and what's not   important. When I look at the the general budget,  there's like 14 different line items for budgeting   for policing. So, traffic enforcement administr  there's a lot of things. We were not allowed to   give any comment on that on the simulator. So,  I'd like to see the simulator either get some more   robust public engagement when it's being developed  next year or just break it down a little farther.   It may take longer to take it, but I don't mind  taking a long survey. Um the strategic plan,   it's always nice to see uh a robust strategic  plan. What I don't understand is why any of   these goals that are given here are um smart  goals. I don't see any time bound on any of   these goals. It's great to have goals, but is it  going to be completed Q4 of 2025? Is it 30 years   from now? It's hard to understand in our strategic  plan when there's no goals for or no dates on any   of these goals uh benchmarks for the community  to hold you accountable. I'd like to see that   included because one of them is uh you know like  infographics are under strategy 2.11. Well, is the   infographic really uh a strategic measurement of  that goal? I don't really think so. I'd like to   see a little more thought um put into those. Um  the CIP, honestly, I don't really find much wrong   with the CIP. I really appreciate uh the nine  fire stations and the equipment. All of that is   great. It's sorely needed. I'd like to make sure  that that doesn't go away and get reallocated   somewhere else that that those fire equipment  and those stations are really needed. I would   also like the council to re look at the um art set  aside for the CIP when we're in a budget downturn.   It would be nice if there was flexibility for the  council to say, "Hey, maybe this year if projects   already in place, we keep that rolling,  but since we're going to have a shortfall,   we're going to pause that amount that we're going  to put into art projects for a year or two. And   then when we're back on our feet, then we put the  art funds back in there. I don't think it's that   we don't love art. If we have to tighten belts, I  think that that's a good place to look. At least   putting the flexibility into that ordinance is  something to look into. Um the general budget,   I made some comments or I made some calls today  trying to find out about community policing. Big   fan of community policing. One of the reasons why  I liked choosing the um police chief that we have   is because he said community policing was so very  important to him. There's 20 uh community policing   slots, but it looks like patrol north didn't  answer. Um patrol east had three and one rotating.   Patrol south had three, patrol west had four with  one that rotates. For there being a large city,   the fact that we have 20 slots that aren't  filled and they rotate out, I don't know how the   community is supposed to build any relationships  with these policing officers. My neighborhood has   had four different people in the last year and  sometimes they don't come to meetings. They don't   come to DAB meetings. I think we need to make sure  that if we're budgeting for community policing,   they need those resources. Let's give them the  help they need to make community policing as   robust as we say it is. Um, oh my gosh, so many  things. Um, when I looked at the general budget   on complaints, uh, police services and crime  prevention, all of those metrics have not met,   um, the standard, and they have the standards  listed in the budget. And yet, I see that we keep   raising the police budget. There's things that  they need. They need equipment. They need shields.   They need all of those things. But when the Jensen  Hughes recommendations, we are two plus years past   Jensen Hughes recommendations still not being uh  implemented and no updates given since the last   time I came before this body in December when uh  this body gave them raises and bonuses. I think   it would be good transparency for the community to  find out before we give more budget to policing,   have we met those Jensen Hughes recommendations  from multiple years ago, multiple administrations   ago? um tiffs. Um so in the short term a tiff  can seem like a good idea. In the long term uh   we as taxpayers may have to take on uh additional  taxes or the city may have to take on additional   debt when those projects aren't viable. And  so I think when we look at the long term,   the uncertainty of tiff performances creates too  much risk if the projects aren't doing well. So,   I'd like the city to have a little more structure  uh around when we give out tiffs because taxpayers   already have exorbitant property taxes. We  shouldn't have to also bear the brunt of   projects that aren't working well. Speaking of  property taxes, oh gosh, 12 seconds. Um, so we   all know that assessments have gone up. We know we  have a housing shortage. I'm looking through the   budget and I am sorely disappointed when people  say over and over that homelessness and housing is   a huge priority and we have almost nothing in the  budget funded by this community. We know HUD is   going to potentially have a lot of issues. Federal  funding is almost gone. This community needs to do   more than the MAC when we know we're 70,000 units  short of housing and property taxes are going to   continue to have higher appraisal rates and we're  going to be priced out of our homes if we don't   step up and figure out how to handle this housing  shortage. I didn't get through all of my notes,   but I just want to say thank you to all of you  and thank you to staff for putting together   such good documentation. Thank you. Thank you,  Faith. Council Member Ballard. Thank you, Mayor   Bob. Was there an opportunity to get any type of  updates on Jensen Hughes in a public setting? Um,   we surely can. Um, I believe since Faith talked,  she said since last December, I believe there have   been updates to the um, uh, dashboard because  we've had we had a series of discussions with   the union to resolve some issues and I know when  those were resolved that we changed the dashboard.   So, I'll need to go back and take a look at uh  where we are, but a majority of those Jensen   Hughes recommendations have been implemented. Be  more than happy at some point to go through that   with council maybe at a workshop if that's who  we'd like and we could highlight um everything   that's been done and those actions that are still  pending. I think that would be beneficial for   everybody just since it's been two years um in the  works. I think that would be beneficial at least   um I think so. Uh, the other thing I wanted to  mention, um, Faith mentioned, community policing   officers. I can only speak to my conversations  that I've had with the chief, and I know, um,   in some of the areas of district 6, the community  policing officers were absorbing two beats,   uh, while we've been short-handed, um, with the  officers. So, I know that the um the current   classes that have been graduating and and the one  that's uh working currently to become an officer   um I believe about the first of the year, the  chief said that we would be able to kind of   divide those back out um at least some so that  they didn't all have two beats. It's probably   very difficult to um do one beat, let alone  two. It's a pretty big area to try to cover and   build relationships and community with with one  officer. So, I do know that that's a priority. Um,   and I've talked to him about it several times.  So, I'm hopeful that after this la next graduating   class that we'll be able to um get the um  community policing officers back to one beat. So,   thank you for asking. Thank you, Council Member  Ballard. I do want to point out that on witchaw   police.com if you click on transparency um there's  also another button that talks about Jensen Hughes   there have been updates since December including  on in March as well as in April of 2025 so   uh according to this dashboard 81% has  been implemented um of the Jensen Hughes   report council member Ro Heisle. Thank you,  Mayor. Um, yeah, just a couple points. Um,   I think we are serious about getting back filling.  Uh, we do have a recruiting class around 40,   so that's going to go a long way towards actually,  um, filling a lot of the vacant positions. I know   some in my district actually got filled here after  this last recruiting class. So, we'll continue to   work on that one. Um, as far as housing goes,  um, I I agree. I we are looking at some options   um in order to possibly look at some affordable  housing funding. So it's touch and go as we go.   Um so we can't overpromise and underdel but it  is something that we are actively looking at   the options that we have. Thank you. If I could  just address two other issues that Faith brought   up because I do think they're important. one  has to do with measures and that's really the   last piece of our work. Um, you've approved a  strategic plan that has goes all the way down   to the tactic level, but what we're now doing is  developing performance measures so that you can   have a dashboard and track what we're doing on  the tactics, the strategies, and the goals. So,   that's ongoing work. and she's right that that's  that's the most meaningful when you actually have   outcomes outcome measures. Uh the other thing  I do think is an important point to bring up   and council member Holheisle made a reference  to something similar earlier in the meeting   regarding TIFFs. The council's um position on  tiffs is very different than it was 10 years ago.   right now uh I believe all if not a majority if  not all of our tiffs that we've brought forward   on a on a pay as you go basis. So we don't  have that liability should there not be enough   tiff generated or enough increment generated to  support a project that falls on the backs of the   developer not of the city. And so I think it's  an important distinction to make and it's been   a marked departure or change in our economic  development policy over the last few years. I will follow up with that very comment. Uh  you mentioned it's been a decade since those   changes or because I think a lot of community  members still remember some of the past and I   don't believe anyone on this council was in those  conversations back then. My question then is can   we have either on the website um those poor  performing uh tiffs or tiffs that have that   didn't have this new criteria for transparency  purposes. We need to be transparent of what   has happened in the past and that it is different  now. Uh, mayor, our quarterly financial report has   information on the financial performance of each  tiff and we do I believe those are posted online   um as well. So that and that's pretty good  detail on each of the tiffs. Mayor Village, Miss Margaret, you can you can address  that um at a different point in time,   but I think what the city manager is is saying  is the information is available. However,   I would like to see it be more accessible uh  not just within those quarterly financials.   Um I think that it would be very  helpful for community to see again   what has been previously done versus what it  currently is. Um and how they are different. And then to just address one more point that  Faith mentioned um she was talking about the   art set aside. Right now it's a 2% um per  for arts. Can you address what would need   to happen in order for this council to have  more flexibility in times when we do have a   budget shortfall? My recollection is it  would take an ordinance change. Um that   uh measure or that um action is not recommended in  26. It's it's shown in the 27 budget. Um and that   won't be finalized by this council until next  year. But it showed uh one path to get to a ba   balanced budget for 27. What would be required if  we wanted to in move it up to 2026? An ordinance   change this year. So um this I'm just speaking  on my behalf. I would like to see a proposal that   uh shows how much would be saved if we  did implement that in 26 versus in 27. We'll continue with public comment. Hi, I'm Julie Robinson. Hello, mayor and council  member, city manager. Um, so I'm relatively new   to Witchah. I'm just looked up. I'm in District 1.  Um, and so I'm very anxious about being up here.   It's my first meeting and so I'm not as familiar  with all the budgeting and all the terms that you   all are tossing around. But part of why I moved  here and have chosen to stay here is the arts and   um the things that happen here in the community.  Um I have season tickets to a number of different   things. I participate in museums and art  council, festivals, music, theater. Um,   and it's part of what has drawn me here and keeps  me here. And I would be saddened if that was   uh less of a priority. I know it's not a huge  portion of the budget, but I would hate to see it   go anywhere but up. Thank you. Thank you, Julie.  Council member Johnson. Thanks, Mayor. Julie,   welcome to city hall and glad to see you. So,  representing district 1, I'm glad to have you   here and also glad to hear your support of the  arts. I'm definitely supportive as well. uh I   wouldn't be supportive of changing the ordinance  because I think the arts are important and   um while some see flexibility and that I see it  as a number of things that is opportunity for uh   young people, adults, folks who um just continue  to make our community better and you know that's   a big part of crime prevention as well is just  providing those opportunities. So welcome. Glad   to see you here and I'm definitely very supportive  of the arts. Vice Mayor Johnston. Thank you, Mayor   Julie. I don't know. Do you have tickets to Music  Theater of Witchah? Not yet. You should. This year   is is amazing. The cast is absolutely amazing. All  three shows have been absolutely fantastic. So,   I recommend you go. There's a couple more left. Uh  buy some tickets and go. And uh all of Witch has   support it. It's a really really outstanding cast,  director and everything. So, highly recommend it.   Thank you. I will just ask city manager to  just address what is the 2% for art. This is   not for all cultural arts. It is a specific  set aside. Can you explain the 2% for art? Yes, ma'am mayor. Uh, based on city code, uh, we  allocate 2% of local funding sources in the CIP   for art. And then each year we meet with the  design council and they make recommendations   on which projects to allocate that to. And  that total somewhere in the neighborhood,   it varies obviously each year, but it's somewhere  in the neighborhood of $1.8 million. And it's,   again, this is the capital improvement  side of our cultural arts program. Again,   this is not from the general budget, but the CIP  itself. So, new projects. Uh, a good example would   be the water treatment plant. Can you address how  much the water treatment plant received in the 2%   for art? And again, this was something that was  for a new build. Uh, the water treatment plan,   I believe, was in excess of a million, but that  actually did not come out of the 2% for arts.   The 2% for arts is generally uh I think more  police stations, fire stations, the bridges,   muna bridge that we've done artwork on, uh the  brewer center, that's typically what that money   is used on. So the water treatment plant did  not get any 2% for art. It had arts funding,   but that part of the funding was incorporated  into the plan cost of the treatment plant. Thank you, Council Member Hoheisel. Thank you,  Mayor. Um, Mark. Sorry. Yes, sir. Yeah. Um,   okay. So, for the 2% for the arts, is that cash  or is that bonded out? We have the authority to   do either. Uh, it kind of depends. Uh, if it's  incorporated with a total project, it's not   uncommon for us to bond that. Uh, but if it's  a standalone, we typically would cash fund it.   Okay. Flexibility to go either way. So, if  it's bonded out, it's not savings that we   would immediately um realize. It's it's  savings from future debt. Essentially,   probably the most efficient way to uh produce  savings initially would be there are projects   in the 2026 CIP that are recommendations for the  design council for art on a particular projects.   Uh those some of those have not been initiated  yet. That would probably be the uh route to reduce   arts funding in 26 if that was the objective.  Okay. So, whatever we have cash or whatever we   haven't allocated yet and would be paying for in  cash probably. Yes, sir. Okay. Thank you, Mark. We'll continue with public comment. Good evening, man. Lana Deshaser, District 1.  Just a quick question. We went over the budget.   There was some CIP items listed, but not like  year or or dollar amount. And I was interested   in the Dr. Glenn Dy Sports Complex, like when  is that supposed to happen, and what is the   price tag for that project? Thank you. Thank you,  Lwanda. Council member Johnson. Thanks, Mayor. The   price tag for phase one and two is about $38  million for all outdoor football fields and   indoor track. And that project would initiate next  year upon um having all of the funds collected. Thank you, Council Member Johnson. City  Manager Leighton, a follow-up question   to that is how much of city dollars will  be spent on the Dr. Glenn Day complex? Right now, it anticipates um $500,000  of city money for the design of the   facility and the CIP shows all  private funding at this point   for in 2029 for the sports complex. Thank  you. We'll continue with public comment. Sorry, you've already spoken once, but it's  on a different subject. It's the budget. Anyone else in the audience who would  like to speak regarding the budget? I see none. We'll bring it back to the  bench and thank all eight individuals   who spoke during public comment. Council members, Council Member Glascott. Thank you, Mayor. Um,  I want to thank staff for working on the budget.   I think there's a lot of great things and I  think with the reduction of the mill levy,   we're moving in the right direction uh  to support the community. We've talked   about this at a previous workshop and I  wanted to bring it for consideration and   see what the process would  be for staff to look at it.   Um could we go to the budget presentation item  number 70 or page number 72? Is that possible? Okay. Yep. This is the page I was looking at.   Um I know that this might be hard to read. Uh  but when we're looking in the future, we are   still looking at projected deficits. Obviously  that changes. We have higher interest earnings.   There are ways that that can consolidate as a  whole. Um when we had a previous uh workshop uh   regarding um some of the upcoming deficits, one of  the considerations that the manager had discussed   was the creation of a Witchaw local sales tax. Um  I'd like to continue that conversation. We had an   executive summary posted on May 27th, 2025. And  I just want to highlight a few of those things.   The city of Witchaw is one of only two first class  cities in Kansas without a sales tax. Um the other   one would be Newton, if I remember correctly, and  they actually get a higher amount of their county   sales tax. So they do have more revenue coming  in from sales tax than we do as a municipality.   Um, part of that executive summary continues and  saying this is largely that Witchaw's portfolio is   largely dependent on property taxes because of a  lack of a city sales tax. It continues by saying   that the general fund revenues have greater annual  variation because of a lack of a city sales tax.   Some other points um that I have on page three  of that document, it says that this makes a sales   tax well suited for capital expenses. And there  is a in this presentation and in the suggestion   um one of the uh aspects and this is on page seven  is that one half a percent of a sales tax over   the course of five years would bring in $33.2  million to the city's revenue. If you look and   break that down by 2027 2028 2029 30 we start with  an estimated mill levby reduction if we tie that   sales tax to millie reduction by 4.8 8 mills. That  increases by 2023 to 6.9 mills. To break that down   in terms of monetary value, that would allow cash  funding of infrastructure projects at 22.9 million   in 2027. It would allow for the stabilization  of current service delivery which I think   is incredibly important in this as well at 5.9  million and by 2020 or by 2031 that balloons out   to 6.3 million and that gives us some leverage of  being able to stabilizate stabilize the reserves   and then the most important is that it the  reduction and the taxes levied in property taxes   is 28.9 million in 2027 for our citizens. I think  every single one of us hears from citizens about   the burden of property taxes, but we also heard  today that we want continuation of services and   we want to make sure that our budget is stabilized  in the future. I am supportive of this proposal.   This would also if this were to move forward, it  would take a vote of the citizens, which I think   is also important when we're moving forward  with this consideration. So, quick question   for the manager. Let's say we have a few months  to investigate this to see if this makes sense   for the body as a whole. If we were to, let's  say they bring this up in October or November   regarding us voting on putting this on the ballot,  could that be on the ballot by spring of 2026,   which allow us to have capture by the time we  face maybe any challenges, allow stabilization,   and be able to reduce the mil levy for citizens? I  I believe that's the case based on our preliminary   understanding of the current state law and how  and when special elections can be called. Okay.   Another quick question. I know when we had  originally talked about it, 30% of estimated   revenue from sales tax would actually come from  outside of their community. Correct. Correct.   Correct. So that means right now citizens outside  of our community are using Witchaw services when   they're driving on our infrastructure, our roads.  They're using a lot of the amenities in the city   and they're not paying anything for it. Meanwhile,  I could go to Goddard, I could go to Andover,   I could go to Maize, and I'm gonna be paying  a sales tax in those communities. But if they   come to Witchah, they're not paying a sales tax. I  think this would help reduce the burden on Witchah   taxpayers, be able to help encourage us to be able  to stabilize our reserves. So, I'm supportive of   looking at this um and I want to hear from my  colleagues if they would be interested because   I think this is a win-win for challenges we're  facing in the future. Reduce property taxes for   individuals and also make sure that we maintain  current service levels and be able to preserve   that moving forward. Vice Mayor Johnston. Thank  you, Mayor. Uh I would definitely support that.   Also, either half percent or 1%. It would allow  us to reduce property taxes, but also cash fund   uh public safety, police stations, fire stations,  and everyone knows if you pay cash for a house,   you don't have that debt over a period of 20,  30 years. And that would also help our budget   in future years. So, very much in favor of it  and do want to reiterate that up to 30% of that   comes from outside of Witchah. Um, all the bedroom  communities around Witchaw are using our streets,   our facilities. They drive in here. If they have  a wreck, our police department responds to it. Our   fire department responds to it and uh they're not  they're not paying for that. So, I think it'd be   more equitable and it would reduce the burden for  Witchaw taxpayers. Council member Johnson. Thanks,   Mayor. Um, I am supportive of keeping the  conversation going. Of course, I would prefer   to see investments in quality of life. Um, also  everyone who comes to Cedric County does pay an   extra 1% tax and we get half of that for roads and  bridges. So, that that part is covered, but the   other things I think um that would be good, but  happy to have the conversation. more interested   in quality of life things and other projects um  because the projects that we are talking about   in regard to public safety already in the CIP,  but I think we could make more investments in   um quality of life and one great example happened  earlier today on the panel when we were talking.   It was a few of us talking to Leadership Witchah  and the superintendent was there and he talked   about how beneficial it was when investments  from ARPA were helped used to um get the wow   just forgot the name of it future ready center  done quicker. So that was a five-year plan that   happened in one year and now you see that benefit.  So when you make investments like that really   quickly, you can really improve things for the  community. And I think there's a lot of strategic   investments we can make. Supportive of this, but  again would love to have the conversation and   add in some quality of life amenities as well as a  sunset to the sales tax. Council member Ho Heisel.   Thank you, Mayor. I I agree with Council Member  Johnson on a lot of his points. Um I'm interested   in continuing the conversation. Um but you did  Council member Glass mentioned a lot of people   are struggling right now. Um so I I think a lot of  that is dependent on whether or not we can get the   um food sales tax exempted on the state level.  That that's something um avoid taxing necessities,   avoid taxing the the working people and the poor  who are just barely making it as it is. So, um   it's an interesting conversation we can continue,  but that is something that I definitely would   have problems with if again cuz um the state did  eliminate their uh sales tax on food, but it still   held us to it. So, municipalities, all of ours,  uh food is still being taxed at 1% sales tax. So,   uh let's see how that conversation goes with the  state. They've never let us down before, right?   All right. Thank you, Council Member Glascock.  Thank you. To Council Member Hohisel's point,   I would support lobbying the state to make sure  that uh food would be excluded from any sales tax. I see no further comments.  With that, I will move to   Receive public comment on the 2026 proposed  budget and the 2026 2035 proposed capital   improvement program. Repeal existing ordinances  and approve first reading of ordinances to   implement the budget with second reading  set for Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Second   motion and a second. Any further discussion? I  see none. Madame clerk, please open the role. Motion passes 70. Madame clerk,  please call the next item. approved that pursuant to section 204090,  Mayor Woo travel expenses as estimated on   the travel authorization and expense form  to attend the Kansas correction the League   of Kansas municipalities annual conference in  Overland Park, Kansas October 9th and 10th,   2025 for the purpose of representing the city of  Witchah consistent with AR3.1 be approved. Upon   return from travel, actual expenses shall  be reported to the controllers's office. This travel again is because I am a  board member of the League of Kansas   Municipalities representing the largest city  in the state of Kansas. I will May I do that?   I will move to approve uh the travel for Mayor  Woo as estimated on the travel authorization   and expense form to attend the League of Kansas  Municipalities annual conference in Overland Park,   Kansas October 9th 10th, 2025 for the  purpose of representing the city of   Witchaw consistent with AR 3.1 be  approved. Upon return from travel,   actual expenses shall be reported to controllers's  office. Can you read that again? I can't second   motion and a second. Any further discussion? I  see none. Madame clerk, please open the role. Motion passes. 70. Madame clerk, please call  the next item. Council member appointments and   comments. Council members, any appointments?  Council member Tuttle. Thank you. I would   like to appoint Braden McCertie to  the affordable housing review board. I would also like to appoint Nick Stab with  for the design council and I would like   to appoint Larry Burke senior to the Cedric  County Community Corrections Advisory Board. I will move to approve the recommended  appointments. Second motion and a second.   Any further discussion? I see none.  Madame clerk, please open the role. Motion passes. 70. Madame clerk, please call  the next. Sorry. Council members, any comments? Council member Hisel. Thank you, Mayor. Um just  a shout out to um PD and their work with the um   working in collaboration with the sheriff's  office and the federal officers as well. Um   some major bust a couple of days ago. Um we see it  all the time on the streets. This is a major step   forward to cutting off the flow of especially  meth into our community. So thank you to the   to WPD and everybody who worked on that one. Uh  second point, uh we will be having at district   breakfast this Saturday the best breakfast  in the city of Witchah. 9:30 in the morning   at the Christian Faith Center. Uh special guest  Gary Jansen. He will be talking about uh sewage   treatment plant BNR upgrades and odor control.  So um love to have a full house out there. Again,   it's a great breakfast 9:30. I'll be coming from  a neighborhood cleanup right before that. So,   I'm sure I'll be bringing some of that odor  with me. So, Council Member Johnson. Thanks,   Mayor. Actually, this Saturday, the best breakfast  is going to be in District 1 with Chief Snow and   Deputy Chief Duff over at Atwater at 9:30.  So, that that'll be the best one. Also want   to shout out Neighborhood Night Out next week. Um,  I think District 1 when I counted, I think we had   14 parties to to go to. I will try to get there to  all of them. We don't normally make all of them,   but we will get there. Eat as many hamburgers  and hot dogs as possible, but looking forward   to getting out to the community for that. Um, and  then also we're going to have a WPD town hall on   August 19th at the center, which is like 11th in  Minneapolis. So, that will be at 6:00 p.m. until   8:00 p.m. Hope to see you at all of those. Vice  Mayor Johnston. Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to ask   city manager if we could may possibly have a a  workshop maybe September October on second light   and how it relates to housing and what's being  done um all the way from actual what's being   done to the marketing and media for it. I think  the meeting this morning was very interesting   and enlightening. I I think that information be  good for all the council members and the public. I will tag along that um request by also  asking for an update regarding the ordinance on   illegal camping and the amount of um the amount of  trash as well as uh orders that have been placed   through the report and issue app. We need to  see that data and I think it would be a good   time to see it in full. Uh it was implemented  earlier this year and so I think that we have   at least half a year's worth of information  that uh can be shared during that workshop. And lastly, oh coun uh Vice Mayor Johnston, just  to tag on to that too, I don't think anybody wants   to just sweep the streets and throw everybody  into the MAC. Uh there has to be a housing   plan and this morning great plans, pilot plans  on getting people directly to housing because   everybody doesn't want to go to a shelter. So I  I think there's some good alternatives they're   working on. Uh housing department is doing a great  job. Sally and her team doing a great job. Um   seems to be successful, but we'll have to have  more data on it. But I think an update on that   would be really good, too. and uh it interfaces  directly with enforcement, but uh we have to   make sure we're ready for enforcement and we're  just not throwing everybody in into the MAC. So, I see no further comments. I'm just going  to say that today was National Purple   Heart Day and the Veterans Memorial  Park had its first commemoration at   um the park itself. And so one quick um question  I have really is for the city manager. I know that   it's a partnership with veterans uh parks helps  maintain this park as well. Um but I have seen   uh that it does still need some love including  uh graffiti removal on some of the plaques. So,   I would really like to see that  park, the Veterans Memorial Park,   um, really taken care of, especially when  it comes to some graffiti on the plaques. I see no further comments. With that, I  will move to adjourn. Second. Motion and   a second. Any further discussion? I see  none. Madam clerk, please open the role. The two people who would like to stay can stay,  but it passes 5 to 2. Have a nice evening.