[{"_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",6132627,"mediaKeyId","5719932-2b914834652f6d73e52c4adaf05adfaa","parentId",5719932,"title","Manhattan commission roundup: consent agenda, multifamily bond resolution and other votes","audioSeconds",223,"startMs",1631000,"endMs",1854000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5719932-2b914834652f6d73e52c4adaf05adfaa&start=1631&end=1854","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5719932-2b914834652f6d73e52c4adaf05adfaa/thumbnail_1631000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6132627/Manhattan/Riley/Kansas/Manhattan-commission-roundup-consent-agenda-multifamily-bond-resolution-and-other-votes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132627-3aea7758dbad4a4e28bc8fd19b34e98a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773630893&Signature=e7uqObg2jR1-BEzWjFdBb~ZsB9fBP3~-IcnhxAZ9pgJwVfEFmze-JI5axTTaH6ajiLuB~x74YVimmpJvwMB6FSIbuk4GiYK4PNls1Ad6w8Ide9D9QrROHwaWkX-y46Q34r1siwgkd0aG7IGowpbCdGOySvnbD5VoiT1ctCZaKHP3cJjlHcT5TmtrOqO6Rk06ka-K0DotgRpEqimKDGMKJAXqfpKLTHVw2K72KWyRFdU6jwVTM9oFpDtRRRStKxrRgUYbnJiWXrVby1-3ws0orqANeqp98Kb0Ms-cUMB37nxwtC2-5qnfJcbb-TCyz~-EinDdtyUi4ruS6Nap4pSU5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Manhattan, Kansas","date","2025-09-03T15:58:45Z","article","The Manhattan City Commission on Sept. 2 recorded several formal actions summarized below.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (routine items except E-1 removed for separate consideration): Approved on a 4-0 roll call (one commissioner joined after the vote). The consent agenda included routine housekeeping and previously reviewed items; staff responded to questions on several consent items before the vote.

- Resolution (Consent item E-1) — Multifamily housing revenue bonds: The commission moved the item from consent for discussion and then approved the resolution (motion carried 5-0). Commissioners discussed whether to adopt a policy to restrict projects that begin construction before applying for sales tax exemptions; the commission indicated intent to review workforce housing policy at a future retreat.

- Consent detail — Manhattan Fire Department project authorization (part of consent): Commissioners asked whether authorization was to issue temporary notes and later wrap costs into general obligation bonds. Staff said the authorization allows issuance of temporary notes and eventual general obligation bonds, and confirmed cash funds are available in the fire equipment reserve to pay costs if the bond route is not used.

- Ordinance No. 7771 — Condemnation authority for Fort Riley Boulevard sidewalk gap (PD-2201): Approved 5-0. The ordinance authorizes acquisition by condemnation only if negotiations and appraisal processes fail; staff said federal grant conditions require compliance with the Uniform Act and acquisitions should be completed by November for January bidding.

- Executive session motion: The commission voted to recess into executive session to receive privileged legal advice under K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(2); motion carried 5-0.

No ballot measures or tax increases were approved at the meeting. Staff said a $19,000 contract with ETC Institute to conduct a registered-voter survey on indoor aquatics had been signed under the city manager's spending authority; the commission may direct staff to stop the survey effort in open session if three commissioners instruct staff to do so.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Manhattan City Commission Meeting 09/02/25 ","oneSentenceSummary","At its Sept. 2 meeting the Manhattan City Commission approved routine business on the consent agenda, separately approved a multifamily housing revenue bonds resolution, and adopted an ordinance authorizing condemnation authority for a sidewalk project. The commission also authorized an executive-session recess.","taxTitle","Manhattan, Riley, Kansas","taxId",4219,"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},6132631,"Commission hears detailed critique of indoor-aquatics survey plan as staff readies $19,000 contract with consultant",4423,2184000,6607000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5719932-2b914834652f6d73e52c4adaf05adfaa&start=2184&end=6607","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5719932-2b914834652f6d73e52c4adaf05adfaa/thumbnail_2184000.jpg","/articles/6132631/Manhattan/Riley/Kansas/Commission-hears-detailed-critique-of-indoor-aquatics-survey-plan-as-staff-readies-19000-contract-with-consultant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132631-e5ba0bd794fd72628ec17f18c47f3c99/orig.mp4?Expires=1773630893&Signature=R2LDcXFq17GoBMlLmGLMoPWpWeVcl3dZuEfd4DJODtjmTvNMl0bKGKwqHJiPMogrCliET3cn81vIkxtC7nZNOOpvrw7Btg9N1-s7T6hqcqeuXjn-7ACLVfdm1gG3BykFWXcvyw6PqwajTVQl1wewaSkR8SUUT5gBXwuI0Dt--fTf6zaXP8GUJdbCuqW49eaQT9ruLLeFn5KG8iX60Xql4C~zNu4huZX65dHDR699Txf1MDwAfOQ86lLKnoxSlY-GhXHCV3yo8E1koJjm~ea5EMEED7LAKnU6lBykFIS8DmqVeU-Ko2RtwxGf3JqB40mCpJZBtneQqBYH4S9m9qq3JA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff and a retained survey consultant outlined plans on Sept. 2 to survey registered Manhattan voters about an indoor aquatic facility and broader SECO Park priorities; commissioners and residents pressed for clearer language, alternate cost scenarios and funding transparency.

Aaron (city parks staff) presented the draft questionnaire and said the city hired the ETC Institute to administer a stratified mail/online survey targeting 400 completed responses to achieve a 95% confidence level with a ±5% margin of error. He said the city will mail roughly 3,000 invitations to achieve that 400-sample target and that the city signed a contract with ETC for about $19,000. \"The first question is: how many people are in your household just to get a sense,\" Aaron said as he reviewed the draft.

Jason Rondo of ETC Institute described administration steps and quality controls: \"Our goal is to receive at least 400 completed surveys. As Aaron mentioned, we'll mail the survey to about 3,000 households... As we're getting surveys completed, we'll be checking the demographics of survey respondents. If we're not getting enough surveys from a certain group, we would do additional outreach to that group,\" Rondo said.

The draft asks respondents to weigh construction and operating scenarios for a notional $60 million facility, offering property tax and sales tax options with example impacts on households. Commissioners and public commenters repeatedly urged clearer, narrower wording and asked for smaller-cost alternatives. Commissioner feedback included requests to clarify that SECO Park is jointly owned by multiple entities, to separate high-level SECO Park priorities from a focused aquatics poll, and to present a range of facility sizes and amenity tradeoffs (for instance, lap/diving pools versus leisure elements such as lazy rivers).

Staff said the MoveMHK study influenced the $60 million estimate and that the survey's purpose is to test financial appetite and preferred funding mechanisms. Several residents urged presenting a lower-cost option and more precise operational assumptions; one resident recommended a two-stage approach: a high-level SECO Park priorities poll followed, if appropriate, by a focused pool-amenities and funding survey.

Rondo confirmed methodological safeguards to protect validity: households taking the online survey must provide a home address so results can be matched to the random sample; non-random responses would be reported separately and not used in the primary, statistically valid sample. He also confirmed that administration and analysis are included in the quoted cost and that the vendor will present findings in person as part of the contract.

City Manager Doolin told commissioners the contract was executed under the city manager's spending authority but that the commission could direct staff to stop the effort in open session if three commissioners so instruct. Staff said they will take the commission's feedback and return in October with a revised draft after briefings to the school board and Riley County Commission.

Public comment at the meeting reflected wide disagreement: some speakers supported an indoor pool as a quality-of-life investment, while many raised objections to proposed tax scenarios, questioned the $60 million figure, or urged postponement given other city budget pressures. No formal vote to place a ballot measure occurred at the Sept. 2 meeting; staff said the survey results would inform whether a ballot question should be considered next year.","City staff explained a planned statistically stratified survey of 400 registered voters to gauge public appetite for an indoor aquatics facility and financing options. Commissioners and residents raised concerns about survey wording, cost scenarios and timing; consultant ETC Institute described methodology and sample protections.",{"_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},6132636,"Commission approves ordinance clearing legal path for Fort Riley Boulevard sidewalk gap project",350,1865000,2215000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5719932-2b914834652f6d73e52c4adaf05adfaa&start=1865&end=2215","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5719932-2b914834652f6d73e52c4adaf05adfaa/thumbnail_1865000.jpg","/articles/6132636/Manhattan/Riley/Kansas/Commission-approves-ordinance-clearing-legal-path-for-Fort-Riley-Boulevard-sidewalk-gap-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132636-16d96a0bd90a35f64efb7d5cce29c78c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773630893&Signature=ivFnmadYi9IWWk5B0xDnAib8XHIvd~zBgsQ9Z6Zb4C1Ix3Wuq9D3zNuHnx4ot7Ml1fumE~YxgX7n2Z4m7ksoH7UT--lLgySjegfOm~RZM6IzyQ13DovT3uNZDwAFtOViJVBy6pVnkM4IWgtnfAr1e442negWjHSyFHE87fomUlGl9lbChE9t-b~bvEt5Twq8jnFH~tub5Jc1p9cS8kOMZurgdOQaQKqENBgdmP8dJLHvLp-UecLXCgA8~HSClo4LriBUz4a-8lccFCTCU76TjGuZ3wQ59djzAxRZe9aq93iwA2lNzSxdykUVquemTMJQs-gljOd2zEfiVtAuJ~X-EA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Manhattan City Commission on Sept. 2 adopted Ordinance No. 7771 authorizing the city to acquire property interests by condemnation if necessary to complete the Fort Riley Boulevard (K-18) sidewalk gap project.

Brian Johnson, director of public works and city engineer, told commissioners the project will connect sidewalks from Martin Luther King Drive and Yuma to Westwood and Fort Riley Boulevard and that the city received a $1,250,000 federal grant in 2022 to build it. \"With passage of this ordinance, we'll continue to work with the affected owners to secure the needed easements. However, if negotiations fail to finalize, this ordinance will allow us to then move towards the final court date for condemnation,\" Johnson said.

The city reported it has secured five of seven necessary easements and has verbal agreements on the two remaining parcels. Johnson described one temporary five-foot easement and a permanent easement shown in project maps; temporary easements are to be restored after construction. He said federal grant conditions require the Uniform Relocation and Acquisition Act procedures; \"these are federal grants, so they're Uniform Act,\" he told the commission.

Commissioners asked procedural and design questions about temporary impacts — including replacement of landscaping and whether retaining walls or driveway changes would be involved. Johnson said disturbed areas would be replaced \"in kind\" and confirmed that part of the project design could close a driveway if required for safety and traffic flow; that driveway closure is reflected in appraisal work and negotiations.

No public comment was offered on the item. Commissioner motion and roll call produced a unanimous vote. Chelsea (city clerk) recorded votes in favor and the chair announced \"Motion carries 5 to 0.\" The ordinance provides the city authority to move to condemnation proceedings only if required after negotiations and appraisal steps are exhausted.

The project is scheduled to go to bid in January; staff said acquisitions should be complete by November to allow the Kansas Department of Transportation to issue an easement release.

The commission did not discuss construction timelines or contractor selection at the meeting; those details were deferred to future staff updates.","The Manhattan City Commission voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 7771 authorizing condemnation if needed to acquire easements for the Fort Riley Boulevard sidewalk gap project, a federally funded $1.25 million grant to fill a key pedestrian connection.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Manhattan commission roundup: consent agenda, multifamily bond resolution and other votes

Commission hears detailed critique of indoor-aquatics survey plan as staff readies $19,000 contract with consultant

Commission approves ordinance clearing legal path for Fort Riley Boulevard sidewalk gap project