FEBRUARY 17, 2004 PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES PAGE 19

CITY OF SHAWNEE

PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING

MINUTES

FEBRUARY 17, 2004

7:00 P.M.

Chairperson Pflumm called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. with a moment of silence for Councilmember Sawyer, who is in the hospital.

Committee Members Present / Staff Present
Councilmember Meyers / City Manager Montague
Councilmember Pflumm / Assistant City Manager Gonzales
Councilmember Thomas / Public Works Director Freyermuth
Police Chief Clark
Other Councilmembers Present / City Engineer Wesselschmidt
Councilmember Goode / Finance Director Meyer
Councilmember Newby / Fire Chief Hudson
Councilmember Segale / Parks and Recreation Director Holman

Chairperson Pflumm stated he would empower Councilmember Goode to vote this evening in Councilmember Sawyer’s absence.

Members of the public who spoke were: Item 1 – DAVID MORRIS, 6125 Melrose Lane.

1. PRESENTATION OF THE SHAWNEE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP 2004-2005 WORK PLAN.

Chairperson Pflumm stated that the Chairman of the Shawnee Downtown Partnership will present an overview of the work plan.

DAVID MORRIS, 6125 Melrose Lane, stated he would hit some of the highlights of the presentation. He stated the Shawnee Downtown Partnership (SDP) had a breakfast meeting last Thursday, February 12, 2004. He stated 75 people attended the breakfast. He stated there were business people, residents, as well as people interested in the downtown area. He stated the Shawnee Downtown Partnership has four different subcommittees: Business Association, Beautification, Marketing and Public Relations, and Finance and Business Development.

DAVID MORRIS began with the Business Association stating that they primarily provide opportunities for downtown businesses to network and build relationships. He stated at the breakfast last Thursday, they asked the business owners and others in attendance if they were interested in starting up a downtown business association. He stated there seems to be a fair amount of interest. He stated it will not replace the Chamber of Commerce, but will be focused on downtown issues and helping each other market. He stated they will hold meetings and update each other on what is going on downtown.

DAVID MORRIS continued with Marketing and Public Relations. He stated this committee will work with all the other subcommittees to publicize events in Shawnee, such as the downtown concert. He stated they will try to organize two inexpensive workshops for downtown businesses; ideas include how to market a business and get people in the door on a budget and possibly having a workshop for people interested in redoing their landscaping or facades in the downtown area. He stated this subcommittee also publishes a newsletter. He stated that newsletter schedule is included in the packet. He stated the subcommittee is also exploring joint advertising to help offset some of the expenses of marketing. He stated downtown businesses are cooperating with some of the newspapers around with some other ideas.

DAVID MORRIS stated the Finance and Business Development subcommittee is involved with encouraging and developing new businesses and existing businesses within downtown Shawnee. He stated they are encouraging present businesses to improve their property and landscaping. He stated Dennis Monahan, with Commerce Bank, is co-chairman along with him and they go out and walk the area to listen to the business owner’s needs and interests. He stated this subcommittee is also exploring new businesses interested in coming to the downtown area. He stated they are contacting realtors and developers about any interest in the downtown area. He stated there seems to be some interest and there has been good response.

DAVID MORRIS continued with the Beautification subcommittee. He stated this subcommittee will organize another Clean-Up Day this year. He stated they will also oversee the bid award for streetscape and landscaping. He stated if that is approved at the next City Council meeting, the Shawnee Downtown Partnership will have another meeting open to the public to inform them and get their input on that plan. That meeting will be March 4, 2004. He stated this subcommittee is exploring the possibility of a painted mural in downtown and overseeing the downtown concerts.

Councilmember Thomas stated she would point something out on Page 7 of the packet, under Beautification, regarding the mural. She stated the Shawnee Downtown Partnership should be sure to speak with Planning Director Chaffee and get permission from him. She stated the City just revised their sign ordinance. She gave the example of the Nike mural in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. She stated that was an illegal sign when they put Nike on it. She stated that is advertising and is a violation. She stated the Shawnee Downtown Partnership is doing a great job.

Councilmember Segale stated he thinks these are all good goals. He stated he had one suggestion; when some of these projects get going that received the incentive, that those people put up a project sign that includes some mention of the support that the Shawnee Downtown Partnership gave and also touts the fact that these incentives are available. He stated those signs must have an effect on somebody, because developers and construction people put them up when they perform their work and he thinks it would be good for Shawnee to do the same. He stated whomever sees those signs may act on them and also be influenced by the fact that there are incentives available for this area. He stated they have the logo on the big stone sign, but suggested to also have some kind of logo that is on all the Shawnee Downtown Partnership’s materials which could be printed on the sign as well, along with a phone number, web page, and also mention that it was made possible with Shawnee Downtown Partnership assistance.

DAVID MORRIS stated the Shawnee Downtown Partnership has discussed what Councilmember Segale is suggesting. He stated he believes it is a great idea and they are looking into it. He stated they also thought a small residential sign, indicating incentives, would be a good idea for some of the residential properties that are open in the downtown area.

Councilmember Segale stated another thing discussed one evening was if there were multi-family being developed in an area that is not on the main streets where the design criteria is, that some design criteria be established so these developments look more distinctive and match with the development on the business parts of it as well. He stated he is not talking about individual residences, but if someone wanted to put in a five-unit apartment or multi-family development on a block, the Shawnee Downtown Partnership would require it have certain design features that would blend into the downtown commercial area and keep a theme, instead of looking like something that was built in an Overland Park suburb that did not really fit in with the downtown image. He asked Mr. Morris if the Shawnee Downtown Partnership had talked about something like that. He stated he thinks the work plan is good, with or without these suggestions.

DAVID MORRIS stated the Shawnee Downtown Partnership has discussed what Councilmember Segale is suggesting. He stated there are a lot of people involved in the Shawnee Downtown Partnership that spend a lot of their time working on the subcommittees and donating their time to see the downtown area get improved. He stated he especially appreciates all their help and is excited about the upcoming year, because he believes there are going to be a lot of changes going on in the downtown area, once the weather breaks.

Councilmember Goode stated he was at the breakfast on Thursday and there were a lot of people there who own the downtown properties. He stated that sooner or later the Shawnee Downtown Partnership is going to have to figure out how to get these people interested. He stated when this whole thing is consummated; the City needs to show a great improvement. He stated if a great improvement is not shown, when 10 years rolls by and the City has not increased the valuation and tax base, they will then have to go to the people of Shawnee to bail them out. He stated he does not want to see that happen. He stated this is not an easy job. He stated the ordinary citizen in the City of Shawnee is still down on having spent $65,000 to get this whole thing started. He stated he wants to see this be successful and not drag their feet on it.

DAVID MORRIS stated he likens it to a huge ball that is starting to turn and there is great cooperation between private and public sector and the Shawnee Downtown Partnership. He stated 24 Hour Fitness is on Shawnee Mission Parkway and JoAnn’s is going in too. He stated the two shopping centers down on the east end of Shawnee Mission Parkway have redone their facades. He stated that, hopefully, very soon there will be two new two-story buildings with banks in them on Shawnee Mission Parkway at Goddard. He stated there are a number of things that will actually happen on Johnson Drive with the new streetscape and landscape plans going on in there. He stated VitaCraft and Ray Klein got grants. He stated he hopes the shoe repair store will get some things done soon and Commerce Bank is looking into doing things. He stated they are hoping the theatre will do something. He stated there is a lot of movement and thinks the general public is starting to see it.

Councilmember Thomas stated she thinks the Shawnee Downtown Partnership is missing someone key; Linda Leeper. She stated she would ask the Mayor, or the next mayor, to appoint her to the partnership because since she is vitally involved, not only with the Chamber of Commerce, but with the Convention and Business Bureau as well, who could provide staff who have the skills on how to promote these things. She stated she thinks the Shawnee Downtown Partnership would get some great cooperation from Linda Leeper.

DAVID MORRIS stated he has a lot of communication with Linda Leeper, but there are a lot of rough feelings in the downtown area about the Chamber of Commerce.

Councilmember Thomas stated that is because the Chamber did not office downtown.

DAVID MORRIS stated that is one small part of it. He stated in the past the small businesses have felt slightly left out and sort of not involved in the Chamber.

Councilmember Thomas stated she appreciates Mr. Morris sharing that, but believes with all of the staff Ms. Leeper could bring to this thing; she could really help the Shawnee Downtown Partnership if they put her on board. She stated the Shawnee Downtown Partnership have had a year to get formulated and thinks there was some fear about who would be rocking the boat.

Councilmember Thomas, seconded by Councilmember Goode, moved to send the Shawnee Downtown Partnership’s 2004-2005 Work Plan to the City Council for a full recommendation. The motion carried 4-0.

2. DISCUSSION OF THE FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.

Chairperson Pflumm stated that the 2004 Legislative Program document has been updated based on input from the Finance and Administration Committee and some further research. A copy of the revised draft and an alternative condensed plan are included in the packet for consideration. Information about possible language related to commuter rail follows the two documents.

Councilmember Thomas stated she has a suggestion. She stated she really likes the condensed version and thinks they should focus their work on this version. She stated she had several other suggestions to strengthen the presentation, one being the cover letter. She stated if they would break the giant paragraph in the cover letter into three small paragraphs, it would be easier on the eye. She stated she would suggest that rather than going through her nitpicking editing, she would like to submit her changes to Assistant City Manager Gonzales for consideration. She stated if Assistant City Manager Gonzales agrees with these changes, they could come back to them at the Monday, February 23, 2004, City Council meeting.

Chairperson Pflumm asked if Councilmember Thomas was going to eliminate some of the changes she showed him that he did not agree with.

Councilmember Thomas stated she is not going to eliminate them; she will submit them to Assistant City Manager Gonzales to see if she can get them to fly.

Chairperson Pflumm asked Assistant City Manager Gonzales if she would put Councilmember Thomas’ changes to the document in bold type, so it would be easier to review.

Assistant City Manager Gonzales stated that would be no problem.

Councilmember Segale stated he thought that both the condensed and long versions were very good. He stated he tends to favor the longer version, but if they end up going with the condensed version, that is fine with him. He stated that since the Commuter Rail, which is now called the I-35 Fixed Guideway, was not included, he would ask if he could edit that portion down to fit within the smaller version and be included on Monday night’s agenda as well. He stated first of all, the overall objective of whatever it is, the Fixed Guideway or Commuter Rail, is to provide the needed capacity that they project on I-35 in the future. He stated that since it has almost been ruled out that building more lanes is something that is feasible, just because of the cost, but they are looking at other options; the rail, or the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) for cars or busses. He stated this is the direction KDOT is moving in; something more flexible. He mentioned that in talking with the MARC people and Chuck Ferguson at the County, they are not even sure if they had the rail that they would be able to satisfy the demand. He stated they think there will be a demand, but thinks there may be more of a demand than they could work out with the railroad, who also needs to use the line. He stated that is their thinking in pursuing these other options. He stated if the committee is amenable to that, he would like the opportunity to condense this portion down and submit it for consideration at the City Council meeting on Monday, February 23, 2004.