Garden City commission approves water, sewer rate increases; OKs CID, tower, cemetery expansion and multiple contracts

Garden City commissioners on March 4 approved a series of ordinances, bids, contracts and nuisance abatements that city staff said will fund infrastructure projects, adjust utility revenue, and clear multiple code violations.

The most significant action was approval of an ordinance to raise retail water and wastewater rates, adopting multi-year increases recommended by a utilities rate study. Commissioners also authorized a 2% community improvement district (CID) sales tax for the proposed Icon Cinemas development, accepted the low bid to build a 1,000,000-gallon water tower, and approved a bid with a change order to expand Valley View Cemetery. The commission approved several nuisance-abatement and motor-vehicle nuisance resolutions, authorized an RFQ release for a construction manager at risk for a planned police facility, and approved architectural services for multiple zoo projects.

Why it matters: The water and sewer rate changes set the utility revenue path for 2025–2029 and are intended to cover operations, capital improvements, and aging infrastructure. The CID and related economic-development approvals enable a privately led entertainment project that the city says may use tax-based incentives. The water tower and cemetery expansion are capital projects funded from existing bond proceeds and dedicated funds, respectively.

Key items approved

Water and wastewater rates: The commission approved an ordinance amending retail water and sewer rates in the city code (ordinance 3008-2025). The increases follow a Professional Engineering Consultants PA study and set a 4% annual increase to the water minimum monthly charge and consumption charge from 2025–2029, and a 6% annual increase to wastewater charges for the same period. Staff cited budget spreadsheets showing a residential base charge example: a 3/4-inch meter base charge rising from $23.72 to $24.67 in year one under the new schedule. The ordinance amends city code sections 90-1-77, 90-2-01 and 90-2-04.

Icon Cinemas CID: The city opened a public hearing and then approved an ordinance creating the Icon Cinemas Community Improvement District and authorizing a CID retailer sales tax of 2% within the district (ordinance 3009-2025). City staff said the CID would have a maximum 22-year duration and that a development agreement between the city and the developer must be executed to finalize terms before the ordinance becomes effective.

Water tower bid: The commission accepted the low responsive bid from Gerard Tank and Steel Inc. for $3,600,000 to construct a 1,000,000-gallon water tower. Staff cited a life-cycle cost analysis over a 60-year period prepared by Wilson and Company that favored a welded composite tower. Funding was identified from proceeds of the 2024 General Obligation Bond Series A (capital projects fund).

Valley View Cemetery expansion: The commission approved the low bid from M and T Excavation LLC for $678,880.29 and approved a proposed change order to increase the contract to $708,880.29 to adopt an 8-inch aggregate base for new roads (up from 6 inches) intended to extend roadway life. Staff said the expansion will add about 2,200 burial plots; the project is funded from the cemetery improvement fund, which staff said has a current balance of about $1.67 million.

Construction manager at risk RFQ for police facility: The commission authorized staff to release a request for qualifications (RFQ) for a construction manager at risk to support planning and construction of a new police facility. Staff noted the RFQ release has no direct cost and that fiscal action will follow when selection or contract negotiations occur.

Zoo projects and architect contract: The commission approved revised Lee Richardson Zoo facility use guidelines and agreement (updates include adding vaping to the no-smoking rule, no drones without director approval, and updated fee language). Separately, the commission authorized the mayor to sign a $108,000 contract with Hutton/GMCN for architectural services to produce designs and construction documents for three zoo projects: bird holding/viewing building, Seventh Street drive-in entrance, and wild-horse and camel holding barns. Staff said an earlier omission in the contract (structural engineer not listed in one clause) was corrected before the vote; staff said the correction did not change the contract price.

Passenger facility charges (PFCs): The commission approved public notice to impose and use passenger facility charges at Garden City Regional Airport; staff said the intended PFC is $4.50 per passenger ticket, of which the airlines retain $0.11 for processing and the airport would receive $4.39. Staff said PFC revenue would be used toward the city’s cost share for Federal Airport Improvement Program projects (the city is eligible for a reduced local share because it is designated economically distressed).

Downtown development fund award: The commission approved a downtown development fund reimbursement for interior remodel work at 501 North Main Street. Staff reported eligible costs of $108,274.76; based on the scoring rubric the project qualified for 6% reimbursement, calculated at $6,496.49.

Nuisance abatements and motor vehicle nuisances: The commission approved a series of environmental and motor-vehicle nuisance resolutions to abate conditions at several addresses across the city (see 'Votes at a glance' below for resolution numbers and property addresses). Staff said the abatement costs would be charged against the affected parcels per city code.

Appointment and consent items: The commission appointed Rocky Saive to the Cultural Relations Board through December 2027, approved consent agenda items A, C and D, and approved other routine contracts and staff recommendations presented on the agenda.

What commissioners said: Commissioners asked staff for examples of the monthly residential impact of the utilities increases; staff pointed commissioners to the fiscal note and rate tables in the packet. On the CID, commissioners asked about duration, transferability and whether additional properties could seek similar CID or TIF assistance; staff said the CID is limited by boundary and term but other properties could pursue their own applications. Commissioners thanked staff for presentations and outreach on the projects.

Votes at a glance (motions approved)

- Ordinance 2582-2025A — Appropriation ordinance (motion passed). (Transcript motion recorded; final vote called by voice.) - Ordinance 3008-2025 — Amend retail water and sewer rates (motion passed). (References: City Code sections 90-1-77, 90-2-01, 90-2-04.) - Resolution 3161-2025 — Environmental nuisance abatement at 2103 N. Seventh Street (approved). - Resolution 3162-2025 — Environmental nuisance abatement at 615 N. Twelfth Street (approved). - Resolution 3163-2025 — Environmental nuisance abatement at 609 E. Santa Fe Street (approved). - Resolution 3164-2025 — Environmental nuisance abatement at 1201 N. Tenth Street (approved). - Resolution 3165-2025 — Motor vehicle nuisance abatement at 209 Wesley Street (approved). - Resolution 3166-2025 — Motor vehicle nuisance abatement at 406 N. Fifth Street (approved). - Resolution 3167-2025 — Motor vehicle nuisance abatement at 609 E. Santa Fe (approved). - Resolution 3168-2025 — Motor vehicle nuisance abatement at 611 E. Maple Street (approved). - RFQ release authorized — Construction manager at risk for a police facility (release authorized; no fiscal action at release). - Gerard Tank and Steel Inc., bid accepted — $3,600,000 to construct a 1,000,000-gallon water tower (accepted). - M and T Excavation LLC — Bid accepted $678,880.29; change order approved to total $708,880.29 for Valley View Cemetery expansion (approved). - Ordinance 3009-2025 — Create Icon Cinemas CID and authorize 2% CID retailer sales tax (approved after public hearing). - Hutton/GMCN contract — Authorize mayor to sign architect services contract for Lee Richardson Zoo, $108,000 (approved). - PFC public notice — Approve public notice to impose and use passenger facility charges at Garden City Regional Airport (approved). - Downtown Development Fund reimbursement — Approve $6,496.49 reimbursement for 501 N. Main Street (approved). - Appointment — Rocky Saive appointed to Cultural Relations Board through December 2027 (approved).

Next steps and fiscal notes: Several items approved will require follow-up: the development agreement for the CID must be executed to finalize tax capture; the RFQ responses for the police facility will return to the commission with recommended selections and associated fiscal requests; construction contracts will proceed to implementation under the funding sources identified in staff reports (2024 GO bond proceeds for the tower, cemetery improvement fund for cemetery expansion). Staff recommended ongoing rate evaluations and another rate study at the end of the 2025–2029 planning period.

Ending: The commission closed the meeting after commissioner reports and adjourned.