Overland Park approves 2026–2030 five‑year financial plan and CIP; amendment to delay Blue Jacket Pool demolition fails

The Overland Park Committee of the Whole approved the city—s 2026–2030 five‑year financial plan, the capital improvement program (CIP) and the maintenance program on March 24, 2025, after rejecting an amendment that would have delayed demolition of the Blue Jacket Pool until after adoption of Playbook OP.

City Manager Laurie Curtis Luther told the committee the packages remain unchanged from staff recommendations: the 2026–2030 CIP totals $344,695,000 and the 2026–2030 maintenance program totals $224,635,000, with 2030 ending cash estimated at about 30 percent. Luther said the items were being approved for public hearing scheduling, with adoption to follow staff—s recommended dates in April and May 2025.

Councilmember Cheatham moved an amendment to postpone demolition of the Blue Jacket Pool "until after the adoption of Playbook OP in 2025 in the approximate amount of $150,000 with the funding source remaining as operating contingency," and asked that the change be reflected on page 105, project number PR3113 (Bluejacket Park design). Cheatham said neighbors had been surprised by the demolition timeline and that postponing would preserve community trust in the Playbook OP process, avoid removing options prematurely and could save money if the site is reused in a future plan.

Several council members opposed the amendment, arguing the existing pool structure and underlying soil and piping cannot be reused and pose a safety risk. Councilmember Mosher urged prompt demolition and measures to secure the site, saying demolition would allow the city to proceed safely and put the site in a condition ready for future planning. City Manager Luther said staff did not intend to convey a removal of options through earlier communications and reiterated that, while a future replacement pool could be built at the site if the council later so directs, the city cannot reuse the existing pool or the underground piping.

The amendment to postpone demolition failed on the roll call that followed (members recorded in favor included Healy, Cheatham, Trishan and Moralesa; recorded opposed included Rummert, Wright, Mosher, Reese, Passer and Eunice). After discussion, the committee approved the 2026–2030 five‑year financial plan, CIP and maintenance program in a subsequent roll call with the majority voting in favor and one member recorded as opposed.

Councilmember Healy stated on the record that, while supporting the goals of the Metcalf pedestrian trail project, he could not support the CIP recommendation because the current Metcalf design does not adequately mitigate removal of mature trees and does not include street trees called for in Vision Metcalf. Healy urged staff and council to pursue alternatives such as lane narrowing, roadway reclassification and extending form‑based code to preserve the urban tree canopy while meeting pedestrian safety goals.

The schedule advanced by the committee places the CIP and maintenance program before public hearings and subsequent council adoption according to staff—s calendar. The city manager and staff remain available to answer technical questions during the upcoming hearings.

Minutes and staff materials identify the Blue Jacket Pool project entry as PR3113 (Bluejacket Park design) and list the approximate demolition funding as $150,000 from operating contingency; final funding and project details will be resolved through the public hearing and adoption process.