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City updates: CDBG extensions, Elephant Park construction, sidewalks, IT upgrades and planned October credit card fees
Summary
City Manager Mark Westhoff reported Department of Commerce approvals for CDBG extensions, a planned October construction window at Elephant Park, sidewalk project progress, imminent IT contract recommendations, and a planned October start for credit-card convenience fees.
City Manager Mark Westhoff provided a batch of routine communications to the commission, including grant updates, construction timelines, technology procurement, and a planned change to payment processing fees.
Westhoff said the Kansas Department of Commerce granted the city three extension requests for local Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects; Commerce raised no concerns. Work at Elephant Park is planned for final construction in October. Sidewalk work at the Twelfth Street intersection is complete and other sections on Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets are nearing completion.
Westhoff said staff conducted a walkthrough with three finalists for technology upgrades and IT services; the city expects to bring a staff recommendation and a proposed agreement to the next City Commission meeting. He said the project-side costs would likely use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and that the recommended IT contract will be presented for commission consideration.
On payment processing, Westhoff said the city plans to begin charging credit-card convenience fees on Oct. 1 and is negotiating with processor companies. Based on initial discussions, staff believes the fee can be kept below 4 percent and that it will likely be implemented as a convenience fee that applies to debit cards as the processors handle those transactions that way. Westhoff reminded residents the city offers free automatic bank drafting as an alternative and that forms are available on the city website.
Other notes: The Lions Pool bridal day is Friday, Aug. 8 (announced as a community reminder). Staff will post the traffic study discussed in the meeting online. No formal votes were taken on these communications; the items were for information and staff follow-up.
