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Commission approves tax levy ordinance, CID hearing date, UAB map and multiple service contracts
Summary
The commission approved an ordinance to levy a 0.5% retailer's sales tax (ballot‑approved) to fund transportation projects, set a Dec. 17 public hearing for a proposed CID at 401 E. Kansas Ave, approved an updated urban area boundary map for federal classification, and approved multiple task orders and contract actions including a traffic study, fleet master lease authorization, legal-services rate amendment, and downtown development funding.
At its Nov. 19 meeting the Garden City Commission approved a package of ordinances, resolutions and contracts intended to support city operations, development and infrastructure.
Key approvals and actions
- Retailer’s sales tax ordinance: The commission approved ordinance number 3000‑2024 to levy a 0.5 percentage‑point city retailer’s sales tax for 10 years beginning as soon as the Kansas Department of Revenue can collect (target 10/01/2025). Staff said the levy, which voters approved in August, is intended to stabilize ad valorem property taxes and finance transportation construction and maintenance.
- CID public hearing set: The commission approved resolution number 3139‑2024 to set a public hearing on Dec. 17, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. concerning a petition to create a community improvement district at 401 E. Kansas Ave submitted by 4 A Properties, Inc. The proposed project could include retail and personal‑services tenants.
- Urban Area Boundary (UAB) resolution: The commission approved an updated UAB map (resolution 31240‑2024) so the Federal Highway Administration and KDOT can proceed with functional classification reviews; staff emphasized this affects federal funding apportionment and bridge/maintenance priorities.
- Task orders and contracts: The commission approved a Wilson Engineering task order for a Northeast Garden City traffic management plan ($84,845); authorized a Burns & McDonnell design task order for the Water Reuse Project (see separate article); authorized the mayor to sign a master services agreement with Kimberly Horne & Associates for electric distribution engineering; and authorized a master equity lease agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management to pursue pricing (with future governing‑body approval required for actual trades or leases).
- Other approvals: The commission approved nuisance abatement resolutions for multiple properties, awarded a downtown development fund reimbursement ($31,129.44) for a remodel at 105 W. Grant Ave, approved purchase of two fire apparatus units for Station 3 (total $817,679.36, funded from GO bond sales tax), and approved amendments to the city’s legal‑services agreement to increase the assistant city attorney hourly rate to $170 effective Dec. 1, 2024.
Votes were taken by voice for each item and all motions recorded in the meeting passed on the record.
What this means
The approved sales tax ordinance implements a voter‑approved funding mechanism for transportation projects and keeps the city’s sales tax rate level as the prior levy expires. The UAB and CID actions advance planning and economic development steps; the traffic study and engineering agreements position the city to manage growth in the Northeast development area.
