Alex Welch Blattner
@alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
I'm a YIMBY sharing my thoughts on local Shawnee, KS politics and live skeeting city council meetings. she/hers #BlackLivesMatter Reskeet =/= endorsement.
Several members of the public are speaking about their support for the bike aspects of the park. The meeting adjourns.
November 11, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Several members of the public are speaking about their support for the bike aspects of the park. The meeting adjourns.
Daniel Estes is speaking from the public but I don't think his mic is on so I couldn't hear what he said :( the next person speaking from the public is Jonas, the executive director of Donderdag who gives some details about the young people they work with.
November 11, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Daniel Estes is speaking from the public but I don't think his mic is on so I couldn't hear what he said :( the next person speaking from the public is Jonas, the executive director of Donderdag who gives some details about the young people they work with.
Lecuru: we don't know, we have to select a master plan first. We do have money budgeted in 2026 for design.
Knappen: I can't really tell anything from this. Can we get a plan in more detail next time this comes before us?
Knappen: I can't really tell anything from this. Can we get a plan in more detail next time this comes before us?
November 11, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Lecuru: we don't know, we have to select a master plan first. We do have money budgeted in 2026 for design.
Knappen: I can't really tell anything from this. Can we get a plan in more detail next time this comes before us?
Knappen: I can't really tell anything from this. Can we get a plan in more detail next time this comes before us?
The firm is presenting two possible options for the park. Next steps include an archaeological survey, costing/finance conversations, and choosing/refining a master plan.
Councilmember Knappen: what is the timeline for starting on phase 1?
Councilmember Knappen: what is the timeline for starting on phase 1?
November 11, 2025 at 2:04 AM
The firm is presenting two possible options for the park. Next steps include an archaeological survey, costing/finance conversations, and choosing/refining a master plan.
Councilmember Knappen: what is the timeline for starting on phase 1?
Councilmember Knappen: what is the timeline for starting on phase 1?
Parks & Rec Director Tonya Lecuru with an update on Rail Creek Park. They have been contracting with a firm who has been engaging with the public to obtain feedback and create a master plan for the park.
1200 people responded to their online survey and 65% of them are active bike riders.
1200 people responded to their online survey and 65% of them are active bike riders.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Parks & Rec Director Tonya Lecuru with an update on Rail Creek Park. They have been contracting with a firm who has been engaging with the public to obtain feedback and create a master plan for the park.
1200 people responded to their online survey and 65% of them are active bike riders.
1200 people responded to their online survey and 65% of them are active bike riders.
Knappen: I know we were working on being able to be self-insured, what's the status on that?
Rocco: before this comes back before you on December 8 we are going to review our options and CBIZ will hopefully be able to get quotes from other carriers because this is not what we planned for.
Rocco: before this comes back before you on December 8 we are going to review our options and CBIZ will hopefully be able to get quotes from other carriers because this is not what we planned for.
November 11, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Knappen: I know we were working on being able to be self-insured, what's the status on that?
Rocco: before this comes back before you on December 8 we are going to review our options and CBIZ will hopefully be able to get quotes from other carriers because this is not what we planned for.
Rocco: before this comes back before you on December 8 we are going to review our options and CBIZ will hopefully be able to get quotes from other carriers because this is not what we planned for.
In short, premiums are estimated to go up about 21%.
Councilmember Knappen expresses astonishment at the increase.
CBIZ: it could actually be a lot worse.
Councilmember Knappen expresses astonishment at the increase.
CBIZ: it could actually be a lot worse.
November 11, 2025 at 1:44 AM
In short, premiums are estimated to go up about 21%.
Councilmember Knappen expresses astonishment at the increase.
CBIZ: it could actually be a lot worse.
Councilmember Knappen expresses astonishment at the increase.
CBIZ: it could actually be a lot worse.
Finance Director Sean Rocco now giving an update on the city's Property & Casualty Insurance renewal.
CBIZ went over some of the challenges faced including general market headwinds and the city's loss ratio which is suffering due to a catastrophic incident where a fire truck was totaled.
CBIZ went over some of the challenges faced including general market headwinds and the city's loss ratio which is suffering due to a catastrophic incident where a fire truck was totaled.
November 11, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Finance Director Sean Rocco now giving an update on the city's Property & Casualty Insurance renewal.
CBIZ went over some of the challenges faced including general market headwinds and the city's loss ratio which is suffering due to a catastrophic incident where a fire truck was totaled.
CBIZ went over some of the challenges faced including general market headwinds and the city's loss ratio which is suffering due to a catastrophic incident where a fire truck was totaled.
Councilmember Knappen: I like that these are a lot more boiled down and focused and that they don't address social issues that are better addressed at the state level.
November 11, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Councilmember Knappen: I like that these are a lot more boiled down and focused and that they don't address social issues that are better addressed at the state level.
Councilmember Whitted: Happy to see multimodal transit in here, I think that will be increasingly important as we continue to grow.
November 11, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Councilmember Whitted: Happy to see multimodal transit in here, I think that will be increasingly important as we continue to grow.
Councilmember Stiens: I love that we have been able to lower the mill levy. I'm glad that the state got rid of their property tax. I think the county and city need to do more of the same.
November 11, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Councilmember Stiens: I love that we have been able to lower the mill levy. I'm glad that the state got rid of their property tax. I think the county and city need to do more of the same.
For the city's legislative priorities - the draft staff put forward is pretty much identical to last year's. I don't see any controversial items on there.
Councilmember Kemmling: like I said last year, I don't like the statement about economic development and I don't think we should include it.
Councilmember Kemmling: like I said last year, I don't like the statement about economic development and I don't think we should include it.
November 11, 2025 at 1:12 AM
For the city's legislative priorities - the draft staff put forward is pretty much identical to last year's. I don't see any controversial items on there.
Councilmember Kemmling: like I said last year, I don't like the statement about economic development and I don't think we should include it.
Councilmember Kemmling: like I said last year, I don't like the statement about economic development and I don't think we should include it.
The first agenda item is the 2026 legislative priorities. Dick Carter from the Carter Group gives an overview of the KS State legislature in 2025 and what to expect in 2026.
November 11, 2025 at 1:10 AM
The first agenda item is the 2026 legislative priorities. Dick Carter from the Carter Group gives an overview of the KS State legislature in 2025 and what to expect in 2026.
SHAWNEE COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING
November 10, 2025
The meeting is streaming at the same Youtube link as above. Councilmember Gillette did have to leave, but everyone else is still there.
November 10, 2025
The meeting is streaming at the same Youtube link as above. Councilmember Gillette did have to leave, but everyone else is still there.
November 11, 2025 at 12:51 AM
SHAWNEE COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING
November 10, 2025
The meeting is streaming at the same Youtube link as above. Councilmember Gillette did have to leave, but everyone else is still there.
November 10, 2025
The meeting is streaming at the same Youtube link as above. Councilmember Gillette did have to leave, but everyone else is still there.
They will pick back up with council committee in about 5 minutes!
November 11, 2025 at 12:44 AM
They will pick back up with council committee in about 5 minutes!
Councilmember Gillette: it's been an honor to serve Shawnee. Thanks staff.
November 11, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Councilmember Gillette: it's been an honor to serve Shawnee. Thanks staff.
Kevin Manning: we are close to being done with Shawnee Mission Parkway. On the Monticello project there were delays due to weather and utilities but we hope to have that done by the end of the week.
November 11, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Kevin Manning: we are close to being done with Shawnee Mission Parkway. On the Monticello project there were delays due to weather and utilities but we hope to have that done by the end of the week.
Finance Director Sean Rocco giving an update on the city's recent bond sale.
Misc. Council Items: Councilmember Whitted highlights repair cafe at Shawnee Town town hall this weekend.
Councilmember Knappen requests an update on Shawnee Mission Parkway construction and Mill Valley sinkhole repair.
Misc. Council Items: Councilmember Whitted highlights repair cafe at Shawnee Town town hall this weekend.
Councilmember Knappen requests an update on Shawnee Mission Parkway construction and Mill Valley sinkhole repair.
November 11, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Finance Director Sean Rocco giving an update on the city's recent bond sale.
Misc. Council Items: Councilmember Whitted highlights repair cafe at Shawnee Town town hall this weekend.
Councilmember Knappen requests an update on Shawnee Mission Parkway construction and Mill Valley sinkhole repair.
Misc. Council Items: Councilmember Whitted highlights repair cafe at Shawnee Town town hall this weekend.
Councilmember Knappen requests an update on Shawnee Mission Parkway construction and Mill Valley sinkhole repair.
Semimonthly claims pass unanimously.
November 11, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Semimonthly claims pass unanimously.
Councilmember Burchfield: I like the steps you took to ensure safety here. What do the community education efforts look like?
Duffy: we haven't really started community education on this but we can. We do want people reaching out to Amazon with concerns, though.
Duffy: we haven't really started community education on this but we can. We do want people reaching out to Amazon with concerns, though.
November 11, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Councilmember Burchfield: I like the steps you took to ensure safety here. What do the community education efforts look like?
Duffy: we haven't really started community education on this but we can. We do want people reaching out to Amazon with concerns, though.
Duffy: we haven't really started community education on this but we can. We do want people reaching out to Amazon with concerns, though.
Councilmember Knappen: I heard the average time was a lot less than an hour.
Assistant City Manager Duffy: yeah it can be a lot faster.
Councilmember Stiens: I think these are really cool.
Assistant City Manager Duffy: yeah it can be a lot faster.
Councilmember Stiens: I think these are really cool.
November 11, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Councilmember Knappen: I heard the average time was a lot less than an hour.
Assistant City Manager Duffy: yeah it can be a lot faster.
Councilmember Stiens: I think these are really cool.
Assistant City Manager Duffy: yeah it can be a lot faster.
Councilmember Stiens: I think these are really cool.
Next item is an informational update from city staff on Amazon Prime Air (their drone delivery system.) Discussing how they have collaborated with emergency services to ensure safety.
November 11, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Next item is an informational update from city staff on Amazon Prime Air (their drone delivery system.) Discussing how they have collaborated with emergency services to ensure safety.
Councilmember Knappen: does the $1.7 million for this program include the money from the Reserve Reduction Program?
City Manager Paul Kramer: no, most of that money is going towards SMAC projects.
This item passes unanimously.
City Manager Paul Kramer: no, most of that money is going towards SMAC projects.
This item passes unanimously.
November 11, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Councilmember Knappen: does the $1.7 million for this program include the money from the Reserve Reduction Program?
City Manager Paul Kramer: no, most of that money is going towards SMAC projects.
This item passes unanimously.
City Manager Paul Kramer: no, most of that money is going towards SMAC projects.
This item passes unanimously.
The extension passes unanimously.
Now onto final plans and bid authorization for the 2026 Stormwater Pipe Repair program (which is comprised of 26 smaller projects.)
Now onto final plans and bid authorization for the 2026 Stormwater Pipe Repair program (which is comprised of 26 smaller projects.)
November 11, 2025 at 12:24 AM
The extension passes unanimously.
Now onto final plans and bid authorization for the 2026 Stormwater Pipe Repair program (which is comprised of 26 smaller projects.)
Now onto final plans and bid authorization for the 2026 Stormwater Pipe Repair program (which is comprised of 26 smaller projects.)