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Augusta council approves code updates, schedules budget hearing and holds city manager evaluation in executive session
Summary
Council adopted the 2025 standard traffic ordinance (22-55) and the 2025 Uniform Public Offense Code (22-56), scheduled a Dec. 15 public hearing on proposed 2025 budget amendments, and held a 30-minute executive session to evaluate the city manager; no action was taken in session.
Augusta’s city council carried several routine but consequential actions during its Nov. 17 meeting, including adopting updated city codes, scheduling a budget-amendment hearing and conducting a closed evaluation of the city manager.
On the consent side, the council approved the meeting minutes from Nov. 3 and adopted an appropriation ordinance number 11 dated Nov. 5, 2025. Staff then asked the council to schedule a public hearing on proposed amendments to the 2025 budget for Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 at 7 p.m. at City Hall; Speaker 6 moved to schedule the hearing, the motion was seconded and carried.
City staff presented the League of Kansas Municipalities’ 2025 model documents that serve as the standard traffic ordinance and the Uniform Public Offense Code (UPOC). Police Chief Ackerman told the council the changes were largely minor wording edits and a few small item changes; the council voted to adopt the 2025 standard traffic ordinance as ordinance 22-55 and to adopt the 2025 UPOC as ordinance 22-56. During questions, the mayor raised a concern about a utility vehicle with a roof-mounted LED bar that was blinding to oncoming traffic; Chief Ackerman said officers may ticket vehicles that have colored forward-facing lights or lights mounted too low under the adopted codes and noted the city posts the ordinances online.
Later in the meeting Speaker 2 moved the council into a 30-minute executive session to discuss an individual employee’s performance under the nonelected personnel exception KSA 75-4319(b)(1) — a quarterly check-in and annual evaluation for the city manager, Josh Shaw, who was asked to join the session. The council reconvened at the specified time and voted to exit the executive session, stating that no action was taken.
The meeting closed with community announcements, including a notice of the 12th annual Generous Hearts of Augusta Thanksgiving luncheon on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27, 2025) at the Augusta Senior Center, 640 Osage Street; doors open at 10:45 a.m. and serving runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (11/03/2025): motion carried by voice vote. - Appropriation Ordinance No. 11 (11/05/2025): motion carried by voice vote. - Ordinance 22-54 (rezoning Redbud Ridge): adopted by roll-call vote, seven "yes" votes (see separate article). - Ordinance 22-55 (2025 standard traffic ordinance): adopted by roll-call vote; councilmembers recorded yes votes and the ordinance carried. - Ordinance 22-56 (2025 Uniform Public Offense Code): adopted by roll-call vote; councilmembers recorded yes votes and the ordinance carried.
What to expect next: staff will post the adopted ordinances online, the planning department will return the PDO and final plat for Redbud Ridge to council for final PDO approval, and the council will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2025 budget amendments on Dec. 15, 2025.
