Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Meeting Votes Summary topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves consent agenda, budget goals, TIF hearing date and generator contract; summary of votes
Summary
At the meeting the council unanimously approved the consent agenda and fiscal year 26 budget goals, set March 31 for a public hearing on an I‑35 TIF expansion, and awarded a $534,249 contract for two backup generators; vote tallies and short descriptions are below.
The Merriam City Council on the evening's agenda approved a set of routine and substantive items by roll call votes, including the consent agenda, council budget goals, a resolution setting a public hearing for a TIF expansion, and a contract award for two facility generators. A summary of votes and key facts follows.
Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (items 1–4): Approved 8–0. Council moved and passed a single motion to approve routine items listed on the consent agenda; no member requested items be removed for separate discussion.
- Fiscal year 26 city council budget goals and objectives: Approved 8–0. Staff presented the annual goals-and-objectives package that will guide preparation of the FY26 budget; council directed staff to refine remote meeting capability wording and tie public-transit coordination to Johnson County Transit planning.
- Resolution setting March 31, 2025 as the date for a public hearing on expansion of the I‑35 Redevelopment District (TIF): Approved 8–0. Community Development Director Brian Dyer outlined the existing I‑35 Redevelopment District and the proposed expansion area near Shawnee Mission Parkway, noting the city had recently closed on properties formerly owned by the Johnson County Library Board; the resolution sets a special meeting date for public comment on the proposed amendment and complies with state timelines for TIF amendments.
- Contract award for purchase and installation of two backup generators (Community Center and Public Works): Approved 8–0. Council awarded a contract to Pro Electric for $534,249. Staff reported the generators are sized to provide uninterrupted full power for 48 hours at peak load; staff recommended Pro Electric despite a non-low bid because the low bidder withdrew an incomplete equipment quote and Pro Electric offered a faster completion date (fall 2025) and planned to minimize service disruptions during installation.
- 40 Ninth Street project (see separate article): The council adopted a resolution of necessity and later an ordinance directing the City Attorney to initiate eminent-domain proceedings if necessary; a procedural waiver of the first reading passed 7–1. (Full coverage appears in a separate article.)
How the council voted
All items listed above received recorded roll-call votes and passed without dissent except the procedural waiver to expedite the 40 Ninth Street ordinance, which passed 7–1 (Council Member Kaldahl voted No on the waiver). No other votes failed or were tabled at the meeting.
What happens next
Staff will proceed with the steps authorized by each action: preparing the FY26 budget guidance, publishing notice and conducting the March 31 public hearing on the I‑35 TIF expansion, contracting with Pro Electric for generator installation, and continuing outreach and legal steps for the 40 Ninth Street right-of-way work. Several items require follow-up mailings or court filings and staff said they will report back to council on progress.
