Deb Nixon with the JoCo Master Gardeners program introduced Ann Graham, a JoCo Ext Master Gardener, her co-chair at the Wassmer Park Demonstration Garden in Prairie Village. The Garden has been in existence for 3 years now, and the committee applied for and received both the Certified Wildlife Habitat and The People’s Garden national certifications. Ann referred to the USDA’s interactive map, but I couldn’t find it online. If you can find, please let me know. Deb and Ann also thanked PV Public Works for all the help they provide during the growing season.

There are 10 demonstration gardens in JoCo with 450 active master gardeners in the program and 88 signed up to work in Wassmer Park on Monday afternoons where about 12-20 people show up every week. If you’d like to become a Master Gardener, check out the program HERE.

Public Participation

Mayor Mikkelson called residents to the podium one-by-one to speak for three minutes. Here are this week’s speakers:

Hazel Krebs – shared her excitement at the opportunity to serve on the Diversity Committee, and invited everyone to the Diversity Committee Town Hall this Saturday at Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse.
Leon Patton – expanded on his previous comments in opposition to the ad hoc housing recommendations.

Consent Agenda – Consider appointment of committee members

Happy to welcome all of the following Prairie Village residents to our volunteer city committees:

Thank you to all of these folks for volunteering their time and talents to our city!

Committee Reports

UCS Drug & Alcoholism Council

Councilmember Piper Reimer shared that beginning this year the DAC will start disbursing the opiod settlement dollars, and they will have a name change to reflect their expanded mission.

Diversity Committee

Councilmember Cole Robinson reiterated the invitation to the next Town Hall Saturday at 2:00 at Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse. Look for more info on the city’s social media.

The Committee is also undergoing strategic planning next Monday from 4-8pm at City Hall.

Arts Council

I shared info on the Arts Council’s annual call for entry for photographers. Follow the link HERE to learn more!

Mayor’s Report

Mayor and staff met with Congresswoman Sharice Davids and will continue discussing areas where she and her staff may be helpful to the City of Prairie Village navigating several federal grant and funding opportunities for projects we are doing anyway.
Mayor and staff will be meeting with the JoCo appraiser in the coming weeks to get a preview of the upcoming appraisals.
Ribbon-cutting for the renovated US Bank space in US Bank building in The Shops on Tuesday, February 28th at 10:am.

Staff Reports

Administration

Wes Jordan, City Administrator, updated Council on the progress of the Community Center feasibility and interest survey. So far, over 1,200 online surveys and a little over 300 phone surveys have been recorded. Wiese Group is on track to complete on schedule. The deadline for the online survey is March 6th. Citizens who have misplaced their postcards may reach out to City staff to retrieve their personalized PIN to access the survey.

Consider design agreement with GBA, Inc. for the design of the 2023 drainage program

Cliff Speegle, Storm Water Project Manager, presented this item.

This agreement is for the design of the 2023 Drainage Program and contains multiple improvement locations. Construction is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2023.

7150 Village Drive – Replacement of deteriorated storm pipe. This location has received Johnson County Storm Management funds that will fund 50% of the construction cost.
7450 Village Drive – Replacement of deteriorated storm pipe. This location has received Johnson County Storm Management funds that will fund 50% of the construction cost.
Canterbury Street near Chadwick Drive detailed design. This design will determine the final layout of storm sewer improvements to alleviate structure and property flooding along Canterbury Drive between 79th Street and 77th street. Detailed design will determine easement requirements and allow for easement acquisition to begin.

GBA Inc. was selected to be the City’s drainage program consultant through qualification-based selection in February 2021 for a three-year contract.

Council approved this unanimously.

Consider memorandum of agreement with Mid-America Regional Council for participation in the update to stormwater engineering standards and planning guidelines

Cliff Speegle also presented this item which covers public and private projects, and it’s been about 20 years since these guidelines were updated. MARC is facilitating the update, and PV’s cost (determined by population) will be $10,000. Funding will be from CIP project DRAIN-23X.

Council approved this unanimously.

2024 Budget calendar

Jason Hannaman, City Finance Director, presented the 2024 Budget planning calendar. It is very similar to prior years as we follow County data releases and statutory requirements.

Council approved the schedule unanimously.

Agenda Packet for your reference

Closing

Thank you for reading, and please feel free to share this newsletter/post with your PV neighbors!

Please try to stay well and have a great week!

🙂

P.S. The Evergy project on Mission Road will be moving further north soon. After work is complete between 83rd St. and Somerset Dr., construction will move to the section of Mission Rd. directly in front of the Library, between Somerset Dr. and 79th St. We anticipate this work will occur in early March and will require a lane closure of southbound Mission Rd. During this period the Library will only be accessible from northbound Mission Rd. via a left turn through the construction zone.

I don’t want anyone to miss out on picking up their next read! 😜