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Leawood swears in four council members, adopts arts policy amendments and accepts $3,565 donation
Summary
At its Jan. 5 organizational meeting, the Leawood City Council administered oaths to newly elected members, proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day, honored two departing council members, unanimously accepted a $3,565 donation for police and fire, and adopted updates to the city’s public art policy.
The Leawood City Council met in its first regular session of 2026 on Jan. 5 and carried out several organizational items: four council members were sworn in, the council accepted a charitable donation for public safety, adopted amendments to the Art in Public Places policy, and handled referrals and the consent agenda.
Mayor Mark Elkins presided over the meeting and administered or arranged oaths of office for newly elected members who were sworn in by the city clerk: Matt Peppas (Ward 1), Mary Larson (Ward 2), Rachel Rubin (Ward 3) and Julie Kane (Ward 4). After taking the oath, each incoming member introduced family and offered brief remarks. Newly seated members and returning councilors then returned to the dais for photographs.
The council amended the agenda to move public comment earlier in the meeting and heard a public comment from Gene Senesak, an Olathe resident and candidate for Johnson County Commission chair, who urged the council and other governments to scrutinize budgets and cautioned that rising property costs are a burden for seniors on fixed incomes. He provided an illustrative example and projected multi-year tax impacts as context for his appeal.
Mayor Elkins reported a $3,565 donation from the Cloisters Homeowners Association intended for the police and fire departments; the council voted unanimously to accept the contribution and to place it into city funds according to existing policy.
The council read proclamations recognizing long-serving council members Deborah Phillip (22 years) and Chuck Sippel (12 years). Deborah Phillip, in parting remarks, thanked residents and family and said, “We The People has really been the motto,” and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve. Chuck Sippel also offered brief remarks reflecting on his time on the council.
On policy business the council received a staff-led recommendation to adopt amendments to the Leawood Arts Council public art policy (Art in Public Places initiative). The amendments focus primarily on maintenance and collection-management language; staff said the city’s updated public art catalog will be printed by mid-spring and available before the FIFA events. The resolution to adopt the policy amendments passed unanimously.
The council also referred consultant selection for a preliminary engineering study on Mission Road (roughly 143rd–151st and 151st from Noel to Kenneth) to the Public Works Committee; staff said preliminary engineering work is planned and noted a target of roughly 2031 for a first-phase construction completion under the current CIP horizon. The consent agenda (with one item, F, pulled for discussion) was approved by voice vote.
The mayor reminded residents that City Hall will be closed Jan. 19 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and moved the next governing body meeting to Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. The meeting then adjourned.
Direct quotes in this story are attributed to speakers as named in the transcript. Where a transcript statement lacked an explicit speaker label, the article paraphrases the point without attributing it to a specific individual.
