[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6554759,"mediaKeyId","5019412-9bba2ce1bab61a8a75331a8257f26ab2","parentId",5019412,"title","Council approves professional services agreement for Cedar Creek sanitary sewer hydraulic study; one abstention","audioSeconds",63,"startMs",1817000,"endMs",1880000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019412-9bba2ce1bab61a8a75331a8257f26ab2&start=1817&end=1880","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019412-9bba2ce1bab61a8a75331a8257f26ab2/thumbnail_1817000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6554759/Olathe/Johnson-County/Kansas/Council-approves-professional-services-agreement-for-Cedar-Creek-sanitary-sewer-hydraulic-study-one-abstention","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6554759-6f67842b6ea6d9f30f8b5e358856b048/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146848&Signature=GEkgvKtnapRfOxZsLPZFp5wlm3jDEVT-jYy5wCthnuxFEbKFsgRwKisLxWyZWjUK6hSH8sZiQBdnKwzSSZNAWz3gFDvSnly07hZl9RNObep8haKW85av0K8rRj0OJfV5~KtF8MI6LWFS9ZqX5MpUAauMs0BGTK8ORIlVRyGKW7KVLP046h8M3gBeXb5i8aeHanzX9kN24ADXlizy508f3Bb1czwFObYyQ4SJfNDvJjXxoYv4tlrOfZHxtwg16s~3kUOR7mcBIfYmSWhPlwafZZ2WS3Fa779qPgjB6PS-zRPInaHUrooY9eaebZVOG8nBmE3vcNGVUwkgSsC4lGJY7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Olathe","date","2025-06-17T17:00:00Z","article","The Olathe City Council on June 17 approved a professional services agreement with Freese & Nichols Inc. to perform the Cedar Creek Sanitary Sewer Hydraulic Study (project PN1‑CD‑009‑24). The item was pulled from the consent agenda by Councilmember Schoonover, who said the matter represented “the rare intersection of professional and public life,” and announced an abstention from the vote. The subsequent roll call showed four affirmative votes and the motion passed 4‑0.

The study item had been set on the consent agenda as a routine professional services agreement. After Schoonover removed the item and explained the abstention, the council proceeded to consider the item separately and approved the contract by motion and roll call. The agreement will direct the consultant to evaluate hydraulic capacity and related issues in the Cedar Creek sanitary sewer system, staff said on the record.

Vote and next steps
- Contractor: Freese & Nichols Inc. (professional services agreement)
- Project: Cedar Creek Sanitary Sewer Hydraulic Study, PN1‑CD‑009‑24
- Council action: Motion to approve passed 4‑0; Councilmember Schoonover abstained

Ending
Staff will proceed under the approved agreement; the council did not provide additional direction during the separate consideration beyond approving the contract and recording the abstention.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Olathe - City Council on 2025-06-17 7:00 PM - Jun 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved a professional services agreement with Freese & Nichols Inc. for the Cedar Creek Sanitary Sewer Hydraulic Study (PN1‑CD‑009‑24); Councilmember Schoonover removed the item from consent and abstained because of a potential conflict, and the motion passed 4‑0.","taxTitle","Olathe, Johnson County, Kansas","taxId",3606,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6554763,"Olathe approves $25.5M in GO bonds and $154.1M in temporary notes to fund streets and capital projects",382,1884000,2266000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019412-9bba2ce1bab61a8a75331a8257f26ab2&start=1884&end=2266","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019412-9bba2ce1bab61a8a75331a8257f26ab2/thumbnail_1884000.jpg","/articles/6554763/Olathe/Johnson-County/Kansas/Olathe-approves-255M-in-GO-bonds-and-1541M-in-temporary-notes-to-fund-streets-and-capital-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6554763-19ed89b62c7a9800b3e43396a115097a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146848&Signature=ZMy3WX9l-SKRiXIaHlj1gqk8MKDx8E-gX9YTQxCZ44JsewIkrrjz-TUtmEISZ02tBtpf4NuW64Fk55wrJQov44ES8C-av26IxCm1UM-IBb6~8WZMCxO9~Z~acTTpqLaHHnvLIZiZSRa6VgISEWCJcgxm1HVzj02YY~trrjnSMGEWhShrfjDUEr9YyWRVBdy3MPRvbK083ohCVtnMPiAPhIlq-KVDof3WNYUhsvRSvoQn3ppXnnrqgeEnUu8LsgD1Mz66SmO4IsTPOBOvg4eGLGLLUBJXnXgiev3V6U3lQgk1WPCKeRqHHbu9YjyEpNI2EDdt7KiX50KCqUdGJ1UNnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Olathe City Council on June 17 approved the issuance of general obligation improvement bonds (Series 2025A) totaling $25,500,000 and authorized temporary notes totaling $154,100,000 to finance a package of capital projects.

Jamie Robichaud, the city’s director of economy, told the council the city’s credit ratings were reaffirmed—S&P gave a “AA+” rating and the city’s short‑term rating on temporary notes was also reaffirmed—and that the bond and note sales attracted multiple bidders. Robichaud said the low bidder on the GO bond sale produced a true interest cost of about 3.559 percent, and JPMorgan Securities was the low bidder on the temporary notes with a rate of about 2.995 percent.

Proceeds and intended projects
Robichaud summarized projects identified to receive proceeds from the GO bonds and temporary notes, though he noted the lists were not exhaustive:
- GO bonds (approx. $25.5M): Plum Road, Clare Road, 130th & Plum geometric improvements; annual street reconstruction program
- Temporary notes (approx. $154.1M): Santa Fe Ridgeview to Merlin, Fire Station 9, Woodland to Northgate, animal shelter and other large projects

Robichaud said the city received a high number of bids for both sales, which the city viewed as competitive. He also said the city paused a separate revenue bond issuance until later in the summer because the revenue bonds depend on final utility fund balances and the city had not completed final financial statements required for those sales.

Council action
The council approved Resolution No. 25‑1057 and Ordinance No. 25‑18 authorizing the GO bonds and approved Resolution No. 25‑1058 authorizing the temporary notes. All three votes passed 5‑0.

Why it matters
City officials said the funding will cover large capital projects and help accelerate work identified in the capital improvement program. Robichaud emphasized the city’s conservative budgeting and rapid debt retirement as reasons the city received a strong credit rating.

Quote from staff
Robichaud said on the record: “We did our annual rating call with S&P two weeks ago and got our credit rating of double A plus reaffirmed as well as our SP‑1 plus rating on temporary notes.” He called the interest rates “competitive for the city” and noted that proceeds will fund street work and other priorities already planned in the city’s CIP.

Votes and formal actions
- Resolution No. 25‑1057 and Ordinance No. 25‑18 authorizing issuance and delivery of General Obligation Improvement Bonds Series 2025A (approved 5‑0)
- Resolution No. 25‑1058 authorizing issuance and delivery of General Obligation Temporary Notes Series 2025A (approved 5‑0)

Ending
Robichaud said staff will continue to manage timing for a separate revenue bond sale and bring it back to council later in the summer once final financial statements and utility fund balances are complete.","The council approved the issuance of $25,500,000 in general obligation improvement bonds (Series 2025A) and temporary notes totaling $154,100,000; staff said strong credit ratings and competitive bids produced favorable interest rates and proceeds will fund street and facility projects.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6554768,"Olathe council approves MOU with Johnson County and authorizes City Hall parking garage project",3499,2267000,5766000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019412-9bba2ce1bab61a8a75331a8257f26ab2&start=2267&end=5766","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019412-9bba2ce1bab61a8a75331a8257f26ab2/thumbnail_2267000.jpg","/articles/6554768/Olathe/Johnson-County/Kansas/Olathe-council-approves-MOU-with-Johnson-County-and-authorizes-City-Hall-parking-garage-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6554768-0ac9fbefe5a21a5a2fa6b2dd3a1fa864/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146848&Signature=MhKtHOyTxY8o4aYVszIbBuKueredOjcwdOyX7p~FsnYXDEoSmUL6lupqG4v1E9Oc~sCmRgRQf0OiO-xYqic2OIbxEe7OsMV9Ld-QpzV~lTcQ7kVa9PYI0s8ctInRav65hMf7MwBD2D4YRhA9GjaxdPc8Rieos-h2o5UN35GPbSEot2anqnGBKllmF-JMVI5HWZmSiUcbrVMZKfOsRIqJiU29bF50D9owWx5ivNvqzKIJKi9iKIwWmp0yZktxDCTLkO9IGmlUFOPfmKLTx1pCGLQOBPJ8a5lJvuWxvHrbg0hzwJAjSmGrI5c4aWEMMgep4MujjSLr1wriGrFMeYZUXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Olathe City Council on Tuesday approved an interlocal cooperative agreement with Johnson County and authorized the City Hall parking garage project, a downtown parking structure the city estimates will cost about $22,500,000 and add roughly 225 net new parking spaces.

The council voted 5-0 to approve the interlocal agreement and, separately, to authorize the project. The county approved its portion of the agreement June 5 and is committing $11,000,000 toward the work, city staff said.

City staff said the project responds to a long-running downtown parking shortfall identified in updated consultant work by Walker Consultants. Deputy Director of Infrastructure Zach Hardy told the council the “proposed project has about 380 total parking spaces with about 225 net new parking spaces if approved,” and that the team plans to issue a design-build RFQ in July and return to council with a recommended award likely in October.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said the garage is intended to support the county courthouse, City Hall, the library and downtown development north of Santa Fe Street. Council members pressed staff for more detail about alternatives, cost per space, construction impacts and aesthetics before design is finalized.

Key project details
- Draft budget presented to council: $22,500,000 (includes two years of inflation and additional project costs)
- County cost share: $11,000,000 (per MOU)
- Estimated total stalls: about 379–380
- Estimated net new stalls: about 225 (staff noted earlier consultant alternatives ranged from about 155 to 370 net new, depending on layout)
- Structure: three levels, ~128,000 sq. ft.; design-build procurement planned; timeline estimate by consultant: 14–18 months construction, target opening mid‑summer 2027 if schedule holds
- Project code: PN6-CD-003-25

During discussion, council members raised cost and scope questions. Infrastructure Director Mary Yeager said Walker used about $40,000 per parking space as a baseline for the alternatives and that when aesthetics, security and technology are added the per‑space estimate grows to a $45,000–$49,000 range. Yeager said the earlier 2024 capital improvement program included a $30,000,000 figure; staff later revised estimates as the consultant updated assumptions.

Councilmember Dean Felter pressed staff about the structure’s footprint and asked staff to consider acquiring adjacent properties rather than siting the garage immediately up to existing front yards: “I just don't like the idea of a big 3 story garage going right up into the front yard of 3 existing homes which are historic and have been there a long time,” he said, asking staff to study options to move the footprint north or otherwise reduce impacts on existing homes.

Councilmember Ron Gilmore asked whether the council was ready to approve the MOU and move forward with procurement. City staff said approval authorizes the RFQ and committee process; the city will own and operate the garage after construction and the MOU gives the county a seat on the project committee.

Design and procurement issues
Staff emphasized the RFQ/design-build stage will refine many open issues, including:
- construction method (cast-in-place concrete versus precast, which has different durability, aesthetics and cost tradeoffs);
- ADA capacity and how the facility will serve courthouse and City Hall users (the MOU requires staff-to-staff review with the county on ADA parking every two years);
- EV charging infrastructure, including conduit for future expansion and the possibility of DC fast charging if cost and partners support it;
- site staging and short-term parking impacts during construction.

Deputy Director Hardy said the Walker study provided a range of six alternatives (labelled A–F), noting Alternative A would have produced about 524 total spaces (370 net new) and Alternative E about 279 total (155 net new); staff selected an option within the middle of that range after accounting for expected near‑term downtown projects.

Next steps
If council’s authorization stands, staff will issue an RFQ in July and form a joint city–county selection committee. Staff said they expect to return to council with a recommended design-build award later in the year and bring preliminary designs to the council for review before construction begins.

Votes and formal actions
- Interlocal cooperative agreement with Johnson County for design and construction of expanded and new parking facilities in downtown Olathe (approved 5‑0)
- Resolution authorizing the City Hall parking garage project PN6‑CD‑003‑25 (approved 5‑0)

Ending
Council members repeatedly said they wanted the final design to be high quality and complementary to the courthouse and library architecture; several asked staff to study whether additional lands to the north could be incorporated to increase capacity and reduce impacts on nearby homes. The city will move to procurement and return with a recommended design‑build team and preliminary designs for further council review.","The Olathe City Council on June 17 approved an interlocal agreement with Johnson County and authorized a roughly $22.5 million City Hall parking garage project intended to add about 225 net new spaces downtown; the council and staff said a design-build RFQ will follow and the county will contribute $11 million.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves professional services agreement for Cedar Creek sanitary sewer hydraulic study; one abstention

Olathe approves $25.5M in GO bonds and $154.1M in temporary notes to fund streets and capital projects

Olathe council approves MOU with Johnson County and authorizes City Hall parking garage project