*This is the Prairie Village City Council meeting recap for Monday, December 16th, 2019. You can see the full agenda and board packet HERE.

Council members present at roll call: Herring, J. Nelson, Schermoly, R. Nelson, Poling, Wang, Myers, Morehead, Runion, McFadden, Odell, and Gallagher.

Last Council meeting of 2019!

Last Council meeting where I’m just a spectator! Woot woot!! 🎉

The Swearing-in of new Council members is Monday, January 6th. Feel free to join us in Council chambers or tune in online on the day of.

Here are the highlights of this meeting:

Consent Agenda

Watershed Organization Agreements

I’ve written here before about stormwater issues in our neighborhoods and the areas Prairie Village has identified as the most flood-prone, and Council also received a presentation about this Watershed Organization plan back at the September 20th City Council Meeting (See ‘Stormwater Management Update’). So I wanted to highlight this approval for you.

Moving forward, each city in Johnson County will be able to participate in the Stormwater Management Program by becoming members of “watershed organizations” that their City is in. Prairie Village will be in Watershed Organizations 1 and 2 as shown on the boundary map below. Starting in 2020, the Watershed Organizations will be the means by which cities will participate in the Johnson County Stormwater Management Program. In order to have projects considered for funding for 2021 and beyond, a city must be a participating member of a Watershed Organization.

The Prairie Village City Council unanimously voted, via Consent Agenda, to enter into watershed organization agreements with Johnson County Stormwater Management Program and neighboring cities.

Committee Reports

Civic (Community) Center Ad Hoc Committee

Councilwoman Myers shared that Wiese Group recently completed the phone surveys and will be wrapping up the online surveys in the next few days.

Teen Council

A few things Teen Council has done so far:

• Completed a tour of the Prairie Village Police Department and learned more about how the police operate.
• Volunteered at the Prairie Village Foundation’s Gingerbread House event.
• Attended an Environmental Committee meeting and listened in on some future policy ideas.
• Collected donations for the PV Foundation at the Corinth Tree Lighting ceremony.

Prairie Village Foundation

Brooke Morehead noted that Sunday marked another successful year for the Gingerbread House event, and they made a special point to recognize Mely, from Mely’s Frozen Yogurt in Corinth, as her last year with her shop. Mely did promise to keep making the gingerbread houses for decorating each year though. 🙂

Environmental Committee

Jori Nelson, Environmental Committee Chair, noted that the committee began initial discussion on single use plastic bags and will be bringing something forward to City Staff for vetting soon.

Mayor’s Report

• Mayor attended the annual Connecting for Good breakfast in KCMO. Their mission is digital inclusion for the region’s most needy families and neighborhoods which is internet access for families that can’t afford it.
• Attended the JoCo/WyCo Mayor’s Annual Holiday Social along with many current and newly elected councilmembers and their plus-ones.
• NEJC Coffee at Meadowbrook Clubhouse
• LEED Building Seminar which Wes Jordan, Jamie Robichaud, Jori Nelson, Tucker Poling, Keith Bredehoeft, Dan Runion, and I (Bonnie) attended. Very timely with upcoming Public Works building.
• Attended the Prairie Village Volunteer Appreciation Event at Meadowbrook Clubhouse.
• United Community Services annual breakfast was attended by councilmember-elect Piper Reimer, and she will give us a report in January.
• Lathrop & Gage held a legislative update
• NEJC Chamber Legislative breakfast strongly attended by councilmembers and staff last week.
• Attended the GKC Chamber Public Policy workshop
• Public Works First Snow kickoff with food and ride-alongs by Councilmembers Poling, Schermoly, Runion, and the Mayor.
• Upcoming events
  • Climate Action KC – Playbook Introduction, 12/17
  • Planning Commission to discuss Village Vision 2.0, 12/17
  • Mayor meeting with Governor Kelly, 12/19
  • PV City Issues Legislative Forum, 1/8
  • Reschedule – Growing Days Ribbon Cutting TBD
• City Offices will be closed on Christmas & New Years Days
• Will be honoring distinguished outgoing council at next meeting and swearing in new councilmembers, January 6th.

Staff Reports

Police Department

Chief Schwartzkopf said Shop with a Cop went off without a hitch. PVPD officers took children on a $250 shopping trip to Target for the child and their family gifts. The PVPD staff really enjoys that event each year, and it’s only possible through donations from PV residents and patrons.

I didn’t want to post a photo with any kiddos in it, but also, this is just my favorite picture from the night:

Public Works

Keith Bredehoeft, Public Works Director, noted another great turnout for the skate park, and that it’s great to have the local skaters involved in the Skate Park design process as they narrowed down the concepts, and they’ll meet again in January to comment.

For the First Snow event, thank you to Field Superintendent James Carney for reaching out to everyone for the opportunity to participate, and to everyone who took him up on it and for supporting what Public Works does.

Jori Nelson thanked Keith for the amazing work on our streets for this snow, and asked about the 67th Street Study as she and Chad Herring have both received letters from residents asking about it. Keith let council know that TranSystems is doing that study and he will forward the results as soon as it is complete.

Ted Odell thanked Keith for his teams’ paying attention to shoveled sidewalks as they plow streets (i.e. plows not pushing all the street snow right onto the just-shoveled sidewalks).

New Business

City Treasurer Appointment

Mayor Mikkelson requested the City Council ratify the appointment of, and introduced in person, Courtney Kramer to serve as the City Treasurer. (26 applications were received.) The appointment was ratified unanimously.

2020 Legislative Platform

Jamie Robichaud presented the final 2020 Prairie Village legislative platform as amended for Council consideration.

See the November 19th Council Meeting Recap for Changes/Adds from 2019 Legislative Platform.

Councilmember Wang stated that there are some issues on the platform that are not integral to our purview in city government, and also issues are included that are not backed by science…

… or financial analysis. He would vote against.

Councilmember Morehead stated her objections in particular with Dark Store Theory and Medicare for All…

(the latter of which isn’t in the platform)

… and in general that the platform is overreaching. She would vote against.

The legislative platform passed by one with the Mayor breaking a tie.

Council Committee of the Whole

PVPD Camera System Replacement

The current PVPD In-Car video platform is nearing the end of its life and experiencing more maintenance and repair issues, so over the last year, the Police Department researched various vendors of in-car video/body-worn camera systems. They obtained three different quotes and decided that the Watch Guard system best fit the needs of the Department.

Sergeant Travis Gray presented the upgrades that are up for consideration, and Council voted unanimously to approve the replacement not to exceed $120,000.00.

Council Actions

• Approved the regular City Council meeting minutes – December 2, 2019
• Approved food composting and glass recycling pilot program agreements
• Approved an agreement with Berberich, Trahan & Co., P.A. to audit the City’s 2019 financial statements
• Passed Resolution 2019-18, approving the Prairie Village Arts Council Monthly Artist Receptions in 2020 as Special Events Promoting the Arts to allow the serving of free alcohol
• Approved a custodial services three-year contract
• Approved a bid award for plumbing services
• Approved a bid award for tree removal and emergency services
• Approved a bid award for weather services
• Approved entering into watershed organization agreements with Johnson County Stormwater Management Program and neighboring cities
• Approved Construction Change Order #1 for 2019 concrete repair program
• Approved Construction Change Order #1 for 2019 residential street rehabilitation program to include ARTS0001
• Approved the appointment of Courtney Kramer to serve as City Treasurer
• Approved the 2020 Prairie Village Legislative Platform

Upcoming Events

• Christmas Day – City offices closed
• New Years Day – City offices closed
• January 6th – City Council Meeting, New Member Swearing-In, and Reception to Commemorate and Honor the outgoing councilmembers
• January 8th – PV Legislative Forum at Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse, 6:00 p.m.

👋

Take care and have a SAFE and Happy New Year!