Lee's Summit outlines stormwater sales-tax ballot and residential solid-waste advisory vote

City staff presented two major service‑funding proposals and asked council to consider voter referral for both.

Michael Park, director of public works, reviewed long‑running stormwater needs and recommended a quarter‑cent sales tax on the August ballot to support a new stormwater utility. "We need to add two new crews and equipment ... and we identified a need of about $6,000,000 starting year one to fund that desired level of service," Park said, describing a program that would include operations, maintenance, small capital projects and public education. He said the council passed the ordinance to place the measure on the ballot and staff will prepare public education materials leading up to the election.

On solid waste, staff outlined a market approach: a city contract for residential collection (not commercial) that would go to an advisory vote in November. The proposed model would allow existing HOA‑contracted neighborhoods (roughly a third of the city) to continue their private contracts unless there is a break in service, in which case the option to join a city contract changes. Staff estimated a potential implementation window between July 2027 and July 2028 if voters and the council approve a subsequent contract.

Councilors asked about equity, resident outreach and the timing of implementation. Staff said they had engaged HOAs, haulers and peer communities during study and would carry out broader public outreach ahead of each ballot measure. "There's a lot of benefits to a sales tax — a quarter cent — which is what we are putting on the ballot in August," Park said, adding that a sales tax avoids billing systems and exemption policies required for user‑fee models.

Next steps: public education on both measures and further council consideration; the stormwater sales tax will appear on the August ballot and the solid-waste service question will be submitted as an advisory measure in November.