[1:59] Yeah, that's right.

[2:21] » Good evening. We will now open the Tuesday, August

[2:25] 18th, 2026 meeting of the Manhattan City Commission.

[2:30] Uh Chelsea, will you please call the roll?

[2:34] » Mayor Adam Chuck. >> Here.

[2:36] » Commissioner McCulla. >> Here.

[2:38] » Commissioner Fox. >> Here.

[2:40] » Commissioner Morrison. >> Here.

[2:42] » Commissioner Von Lintal. >> Here.

[2:44] » Mayor, we have five commissioners present. The quorum of three is met.

[2:48] » Great. Thank you. Will you please rise and join me in saying the Pledge of

[2:51] Allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

[2:56] United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation

[3:01] under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[3:07] » Thank you. Um we will open the floor for public

[3:12] comments. Is there anyone who would like to make any remarks on an item not on

[3:18] tonight's agenda?

[3:23] Seeing no one approach, we'll close public comments. Commissioners, do you

[3:28] have comments or observations? >> Um I was actually going to ask the mayor

[3:32] about board appointments, if we have like um if we're getting enough

[3:35] applications for the boards and >> We do have uh several, and the mayor has

[3:41] been somewhat remiss in the last month or so of not reviewing them in a timely

[3:45] way. And that was discussed today in my uh

[3:49] briefing, and I will be getting on that. Um I would certainly still encourage you

[3:54] to uh when you speak with your

[3:56] constituents, having board participation is a great way for people to become more

[4:01] engaged in what we are doing with the city. Some of the boards also do have

[4:07] um uh

[4:10] qualifications such as they have to be within the city limit or have a

[4:15] particular professional background and we don't always have enough people with

[4:21] meeting those qualifications. So, if you have any boards in particular

[4:26] that you're uh concerned about, please let me know.

[4:29] » I actually have have one individual that's kind of interested in just

[4:32] whatever, so that's kind of where I'm trying to find a find a spot for them.

[4:36] » So, what I'd suggest is, you know, going on to the website and looking at the

[4:41] listing of the board, seeing what might uh

[4:45] You do have to apply for a specific one. There's just There isn't a whatever

[4:50] » category. Thank you.

[4:52] » All right. Thank you. Uh Commissioner Morrison, anything?

[4:57] Commissioner Fox. >> So, I would just point out what a great

[4:59] time of the year it is uh this time of the year here in Manhattan with the the

[5:03] students returning and if you live anywhere near the campus, every night

[5:08] you get to be entertained by the band practicing and uh it it's just a an

[5:13] exciting time of the year. Looking forward to football season and

[5:18] so and not being able to find a place to park.

[5:21] But that's okay. >> Um

[5:24] Okay. And I have nothing either, so we will move to consider items on the

[5:29] consent agenda. Uh Commissioners, do you have any

[5:33] queries about the items on the consent agenda this week?

[5:37] » Um I'd like to move D off. >> Which Sorry.

[5:40] » D. >> D as in the ordinance?

[5:43] » Mhm. >> Okay.

[5:46] Any other requests? >> Yeah, like to move E1 off so we can

[5:52] just learn a little more about it. >> Okay.

[5:58] Anything else? In that case, do we have a motion to approve the remaining items?

[6:03] » I move we approve the consent agenda minus item E1 and item D.

[6:09] » Second. >> Thank you. Chelsea, will you call the

[6:11] roll, please? >> Commissioner McCullah.

[6:14] » Yes. >> Commissioner Fox.

[6:17] » Yes. >> [clears throat]

[6:18] » Yes. >> Commissioner Morrison.

[6:19] » Commissioners, before we finish the roll call vote, can we please take public

[6:23] comment on the consent agenda items that were approved?

[6:26] » Yes, thank you. Thank you for the reminder. Is there anyone who would like

[6:29] to comment on the consent agenda items that are not

[6:35] removed?

[6:39] All right. I think we can Let us resume the

[6:43] roll call. >> Sorry, Chelsea.

[6:45] » No, you're fine. Sorry, I didn't catch that.

[6:48] Uh Commissioner Morrison. >> If not, I say yes.

[6:52] » Okay. Commissioner Van Lentil.

[6:54] » Yes. >> Mayor Adamczak.

[6:57] » Yes. >> Motion carries 5 to 0.

[7:00] » Uh Jason, are you going to discuss item D, the ordinance?

[7:05] » Happy to answer any questions or provide any information the commissioners are

[7:10] looking for here. These are uh franchise agreements that have been

[7:14] in place for 20 years with Evergy and Kansas Gas. We're

[7:18] looking to renew those as we discussed uh a few meetings ago. Our current rate

[7:25] at 4% um we have included 6% in these agreements.

[7:31] I would stand for any questions. >> Um I just

[7:34] think that we often raise rates on

[7:40] small amounts that we don't will really um

[7:43] harm people. But I'd point out that we're raising

[7:47] those rates 30%. And that's

[7:51] that's a you know, that's a lot. Um whereas, you

[7:55] know, if we add 1 mil to your your tax bill, it will be 1% more.

[8:01] So just can't support always putting these dollars, you know,

[8:05] I know people who live in rentals that are there's they're four plexes and they

[8:10] pay for 1/4 of their um they play privately for their

[8:16] » [snorts] >> energy. And so they're going to get hit

[8:19] much more than somebody who um can well afford to pay it that lives

[8:23] in a big house someplace else. So that's I just can't support raising the

[8:29] franchise fees. >> Appreciate that perspective. I would

[8:32] offer um

[8:35] I'm not aware of an entity that can escape a franchise fee.

[8:39] » No, no, no, no, I didn't I don't think there's any

[8:41] » But I wanted That's just part of my education whereas property taxes and

[8:45] sales tax, there are a lot of exemptions within the community that don't have to

[8:50] pay those which puts a burden back on those who can.

[8:54] » Yes. No, I'm I'm not arguing at all. I'm just saying that those people who

[8:59] live in low rent places but have houses that probably aren't adequately cooled

[9:03] and heated without losing the heat and the cool. And there we're looking at a

[9:08] you know, a big jump in their in their thing. It

[9:11] could they could go from $100 a year for that to 150.

[9:17] » Appreciate that. Any other comments or questions?

[9:23] I might want to take public comment. >> Is there Thank you for the reminder. Is

[9:28] there anyone who would like to make public comment on this topic?

[9:35] Seeing none, we will close public comments and I will take an uh motion to

[9:39] a >> I I would move we approve item D,

[9:44] ordinance number 7835, entering into a franchise agreement with Kansas Gas

[9:48] Service, and approve ordinance number 7836,

[9:52] entering into a franchise agreement with Evergy Kansas Central.

[9:56] » Second. >> Thank you. Chelsea.

[10:02] » Commissioner Fox. >> Yes.

[10:05] » Commissioner Morrison. >> Yes.

[10:07] » Commissioner Von Lintal. >> Yes.

[10:10] » Mayor Adam track. >> Yes.

[10:13] » Commissioner Mekola. >> No.

[10:15] » Motion carries 4 to 1. >> Thank you.

[10:18] Uh

[10:21] And Randy, are you going to present on the construction contract? Um

[10:27] Commissioner Fox, would you like to raise your concerns? You're

[10:29] » Uh yeah, I just want a little more information. It says this project is for

[10:33] the design and construction of the various planned capital improvement plan

[10:38] projects. So, I have a whole page here list of the CIP projects for the water

[10:44] department. So, I'm just curious as to which ones

[10:48] uh this is going to take care of. >> Sure. Um

[10:52] thank [clears throat] you, Commissioner. We'll uh

[10:54] Let me pull up the item here and I can

[11:06] » [snorts]

[11:11] » So, pulling up the previous agenda from when we

[11:16] authorized the original engineering services agreement,

[11:20] uh provided a a pretty detailed list of what those capital improvement projects

[11:25] were. Um

[11:28] I can give you a description of of any one of these, but and we we've added, as

[11:33] I mentioned in the AAS, um

[11:36] a seventh project, which would be to replace the security gate at the water

[11:40] treatment plant. Um

[11:42] we these are these are just

[11:46] multiple capital improvement projects that in lieu of us going out and trying

[11:50] to um

[11:52] solicit these improvements individually, we will

[11:55] hire a consultant to to do the design for the cumulative projects.

[12:01] And uh BG Consultants is working on that design for us.

[12:06] Um we have several different construction

[12:10] types within this project, and so because of that and because of some

[12:15] delays in the design of other portions of the project, we've broken this into

[12:21] um at least one bid, which we're looking to award for uh the building

[12:25] construction to Schultz Construction, and we'll have subsequent bids coming up

[12:31] at later dates once we receive all permitting and complete the design for

[12:35] the remainder of the CIP projects. So, um we can I can detail any specifics on

[12:40] these individual CIP projects you'd you'd like to talk about, but that's

[12:44] kind of the sum of the nature of this. >> Yeah, I just I I could have gone back

[12:48] and looked at that myself. >> Okay.

[12:51] » So. It'd be good just to get it out in the

[12:53] open as to what we're doing here. So.

[12:58] » So, your curiosity is satisfied? Okay. Thank you, Randy.

[13:03] Uh do we have public comment on item E1 regarding the authorization of a

[13:10] construction contract?

[13:14] All right, we will close public comment. Uh do we have a motion to approve item

[13:20] E1? >> I'd move we approve item E1.

[13:26] » Second. >> Thank you. Chelsea, will you call the

[13:29] roll again, please? >> Commissioner Morrison.

[13:32] » Here.

[13:36] » Oh, Commissioner Morrison. >> Here.

[13:40] » Yes. >> Yes.

[13:41] » You say yes. >> Yes.

[13:43] » Say yes. >> Yes.

[13:46] » Commissioner Von Lint tell. >> Yes.

[13:49] » Mayor Adam Chuck. >> Yes.

[13:51] » Commissioner McCulla. >> Yes.

[13:53] » Commissioner Fox. >> Yes.

[13:57] » Motion carries 5 to 0. >> Thank you.

[14:01] Um we will move on to the item that we're considering tonight on our general

[14:08] agenda, which is to consider approving a resolution that authorizes and provides

[14:13] for the calling of a special question election in the city of Manhattan for

[14:19] the purpose of submitting to electors the question of authorizing the

[14:24] imposition of a general citywide retailer's sales tax of 0.5%

[14:30] for street maintenance for 10 years. >> Yes. Thank you, Mayor Adam Chuck and

[14:36] city commissioners for the opportunity to bring this forward for your all's

[14:39] consideration this evening. Uh we have talked at length at our July 14th work

[14:45] session as well as our August 11th work session regarding how we wanted to

[14:50] address the sunsetting of our current dedicated sales tax for streets of 0.2%.

[14:57] Uh we have presented um a uh

[15:03] We have presented detailed information in a presentation uh last week regarding

[15:07] the condition of our roads and what kind of investment we need to see over the

[15:11] next um 5 to 10 years in our streets to bring our pavement condition index from

[15:16] a 60 to a 70. Uh we did bring forward a plan, a 5-year plan, and understanding

[15:22] that that 5-year plan uh as what year one

[15:26] rolls off, we would start working with that seven that sixth year plan and have

[15:30] a rolling 5-year plan of what streets that we need to do maintenance on. So,

[15:37] um just as a reminder, that plan does

[15:41] include having 6 million of the 8 million that would be generated by a

[15:45] half-cent sales tax going to repair and rehabilitate streets in our local

[15:51] streets and neighborhoods. And then 2 million would be used on our minor

[15:56] streets as well. So, this $8 million is planned to be in

[16:00] addition to what we already have in the general fund as well as the special

[16:04] street and highway. We showed a chart that demonstrated that

[16:08] we do need $8 million a year to raise our

[16:13] PCI to a 70. And so, happy to answer any questions

[16:18] that you all have. If we do approve to put this

[16:22] on the ballot, it would be on the November 3rd

[16:25] election. And of course, we will start doing our education efforts

[16:30] immediately once this is approved this evening.

[16:36] » Commissioners' questions or comments for Danielle.

[16:41] Um so, I would just suggest if this is

[16:45] approved that Brian presented us this map

[16:51] last meeting with work that has been done.

[16:55] I was first going to suggest lists of streets and what all's been done, but in

[16:59] reviewing this map he did, it it's very telling of what's been done

[17:04] over the last 10 years. It might need a little

[17:09] uh more clarification for the public, but I think it's something that ought to

[17:12] be uh

[17:15] made available to the to the public through the newspaper or whatever, but

[17:19] it's very telling on what's been done to date

[17:25] and also what could be done. >> Yeah, I appreciate that feedback,

[17:28] Commissioner Fox. Um no um

[17:32] no offense to our city engineer, uh Director Johnson, but uh we do plan on

[17:37] tapping our local expert, uh Vivian Laiva, our communications director, to

[17:41] help us start putting together um maps, presentation materials, graphics, really

[17:46] helping us communicate how important this is uh for our community.

[17:54] One of the things I was remiss, I did want to um

[18:01] go back and just remind everyone of what the ballot language will be. So, the

[18:05] ballot question will read, "Shall the City of Manhattan, Kansas be authorized

[18:10] to levy a 1/2% special purpose citywide retailer sales tax for the street

[18:15] infrastructure maintenance? If approved, such sales tax shall take effect on

[18:18] April 1st, 2027, the day following the expiration of the existing special

[18:23] purpose citywide retailer sales tax implemented on April 1st, 2017, or as

[18:28] soon thereafter as permitted by law, and shall expire

[18:32] 10 years later." Um

[18:36] as far as uh city sales tax question scope, this is one of our least

[18:40] complicated ones. So. Yes, Commissioner McCool.

[18:44] » Do we have a budget for the education program?

[18:48] » Um no, I do not have a budget, but I do not

[18:52] ex- >> [snorts]

[18:54] » plan on spending uh an exorbitant amount of money. I would anticipate being able

[18:58] to put together our uh materials that the city will be doing um for less than

[19:04] $250. >> Okay.

[19:08] » I think a lot of our efforts will be um getting out um hopefully we will be

[19:13] invited to Rotary clubs. Hopefully we'll be invited to Optimist Club. Um,

[19:17] hopefully we'll be, um, I'm happy to attend HOA meetings, um, any kind of

[19:22] club that is out there to help share and educate on this topic.

[19:27] » Well, you'll probably need some giveaways, too, and that probably

[19:32] 250's pretty >> We have to be very careful, um, in

[19:35] making sure that we are not, uh, lobbying and advocating and that we are

[19:38] in an education. >> Mhm.

[19:40] » So, uh, perhaps some printed, um, rack cards, um, that we could share as

[19:45] handouts, but, um, I think we'll have a pretty limited

[19:49] » Okay.

[19:52] Commissioners, any other comments or ideas for Danielle?

[19:57] » Well, the lobbying will probably be some or all of us five

[20:01] because we aren't prohibited from lobbying.

[20:04] » Uh, >> You all can advocate.

[20:06] » is also educational. >> And I actually do have a public speaking

[20:12] invitation already for next week, so this will be one of the topics that I

[20:16] will be covering.

[20:18] And I have several in September, as well.

[20:25] All right, thank you, Manager Dulan. Is there public comment on this topic?

[20:43] » Good evening, Madam Mayor and Commissioners. My name is Trey Cockman.

[20:46] I'm the External Affairs Director for Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce.

[20:49] Happy to stand before you today to speak on behalf of the Chamber, uh, in support

[20:53] of the resolution and the proposed measure of a 0.5%

[20:57] sales tax for road and street maintenance.

[21:00] Reliable and well-maintained roads are an essential part of the daily movement

[21:04] of employees, customers, residents, visitors,

[21:08] and goods throughout the community. Uh this is an important investment to

[21:12] the Manhattan's to Manhattan's economy and to its quality of life.

[21:17] This increase of the sales tax from 0.2% to 0.5%

[21:21] puts us closer to the peer communities when it comes to the investment they

[21:25] make in their roadways. And we support the city's comprehensive

[21:29] plan to improve our roadways over the course of the five the next five years,

[21:33] and this measure dedicates the funding towards.

[21:37] For these reasons, the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce believes the

[21:39] proposed sales tax is a responsible and necessary measure

[21:43] and is uh

[21:46] a critical resource to street and road maintenance.

[21:50] With it, the community can protect its core public assets and support continued

[21:54] economic growth and ensure Manhattan remains a safe, accessible, and

[21:57] competitive place to live, work, visit, and to do business in. Happy to stand

[22:02] for any questions. Um otherwise, thank you for your time.

[22:07] » Thank you, Trey. >> I guess I have one question like uh what

[22:10] was what was the vote total with the chamber? Was it pretty much unanimous or

[22:14] » Yes.

[22:18] » And Trey, I would just clarify that although that the sales tax will be um

[22:24] we will be requesting for it to be in effect for 10 years, the current plan is

[22:28] has been developed for five with a rolling uh

[22:33] continuation over the the subsequent five years.

[22:36] » Right.

[22:39] » Thank you. Are there any other comments from the

[22:42] public?

[22:45] All right, we will close public comment. Commissioners, any last thoughts?

[22:51] Otherwise, I'll entertain a motion to uh consider approving these two

[22:57] resolutions. Or this single one resolution, excuse

[23:02] me. >> I move we approve resolution number

[23:06] 081826A.

[23:10] » Second. >> Thank you.

[23:13] And Chelsea, will you once again call the roll, please?

[23:16] » Commissioner Von Lintel? >> Yes.

[23:20] » Mayor Adam Track? >> Yes.

[23:23] » Commissioner Makola? >> Yes.

[23:25] » Commissioner [clears throat] Fox? >> Yes.

[23:27] » Commissioner Morrison? >> Yes.

[23:30] » Motion carries 5 to 0. >> Thank you.

[23:34] Um Manager Doolin, do you have anything any

[23:40] updates for us that we need to be aware of?

[23:42] » Just to share with the commissioners that you all have next week off.

[23:46] So. >> And thank you for that.

[23:48] » Make make big plans on a Tuesday evening.

[23:50] » Uh this week is Third Thursday. The the uh city will have a booth downtown.

[23:58] Uh tell your friends. Stop by, have a good time.

[24:02] Uh commissioners, you're certainly all invited to stop by as well and represent

[24:06] the city. Um

[24:09] I don't think there's anything else to announce in that regard. Do we have a

[24:15] motion to adjourn? >> So moved.

[24:17] » Second. >> All in favor, please say I.

[24:21] » I. >> I.

[24:21] » I.

08/18/26 City Commission Meeting

Agenda

Transcript