City of Shawnee Shawnee Estab Fall 2015 Pop. 64,680 Interactive Map Showcases Shawnee s Spike in Investment

Transcription

1 Shawnee Estab Fall 2015 Pop. 64,680 Interactive Map Showcases Shawnee s Spike in Investment Shawnee remains one of the fastest growing cities in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area and the State of Kansas. And that is no secret to those looking for a place to establish or grow their business here. More and more Shawnee is becoming the answer for business owners and developers who are in need of expanded space and opportunity. And now citizens can witness the results of this positive growth themselves through a new online tool developed by the Shawnee Economic Development Council (SEDC). In the past four years, Shawnee has received over a quarter of a billion dollars in committed investment. This covers projects in all areas of the community and in a wide variety of sectors from industrial (Westlink Business Park) to residential (Village Cooperative) to commercial (Shawnee Parkway Plaza). A total of nearly 1,800 new jobs will come to Shawnee as a result of these projects. The largest portion of these investments has come from the industrial sector. To help further educate and inform the public about ongoing development, the SEDC has launched an interactive map that allows citizens the opportunity to get an up close look at what is taking place across the City. Those who visit the online map have the ability to click on each specific development and view pictures of the project, in addition to getting indepth details, such as the total capital investment and the number of new jobs tied to the project. We think this map tells a great story about the recent success we have had in our community, said EDC Director Andrew Nave. What this clearly shows is that our City has PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Olathe, KS Permit # not only been growing in a positive fashion, but that the potential for even larger growth in the future is there. To view the map, visit www. shawnee-edc.com and click the profile/stats tab, then click the interactive map link. City of Shawnee Johnson Drive Shawnee, KS 66203

2 A Good Word from Mayor Michelle Distler Dear Residents, In April, you gave me the distinct honor of electing me as your Mayor. As a lifelong resident of Shawnee, I am humbled by the trust that you have placed in my hands. Many great people have held this office and I hope to follow in their footsteps so that Shawnee remains a growing and vibrant community. The City is fortunate to have a dedicated staff who care deeply about Shawnee and its future. Since taking office, I have been working closely with our City Manager and staff to look at ways to build off of our many successes as well as looking into a variety of ideas on how we can improve service to our citizens. One of my biggest goals as your Mayor is to make sure that we continue to be as open, transparent, and accessible to our citizens as possible. That is what all of you should expect and it is what you deserve. To help accomplish this important goal, we allow for and encourage comments from the public at all City Council meetings. Agendas and detailed minutes are posted on the City s website for anyone to see and citizens who sign up for our Listserv service receive regular updates on City Council meetings, City events, and other important City news. If you haven t already, I encourage you to sign-up for this free service by visiting our City website at Additionally, in July, we will begin a new event called Third Thursdays with the Mayor. Join me at 9:00 a.m. on the third Thursday of every month at the Shawnee Civic Centre for a cup of coffee and conversation about our City. I am excited about the opportunity to meet our residents and hear about the issues that affect them most. Another important way of measuring our success as a City Government is through our Citizen Satisfaction Survey which will be administered this fall. This survey asks a random selection of residents from each ward about their experience with a variety of City services as well as our long-term goals. If you are contacted to participate in this survey, it is important that you do so. The information we receive from your answers helps us with long-term decision making so that we remain focused on the goals and priorities that are most important to you. If you are not randomly chosen to participate, we will be offering an on-line version of the survey on our City website so that all residents have the opportunity to voice their opinions. I encourage you to let us know your thoughts. It is an exciting time to be in Shawnee. By working together and striving to be our best, we can continue to make our City a great place to live, work, and play. Sincerely, Michelle Distler Mayor Page 2

3 Your Tax Dollar$ at Work What does it cost to run the City of Shawnee? How are your tax dollars used? Each year, City staff works with the City Council to lay out a budget that will help our community take care of its priorities and meet its long-term goals. 80% - Portion of the City s budget supported by citizen s tax dollars Stats listed below are from % - *OTHER 8% - Parks and Recreation Maintain 400 Acres of Parkland 800 Recreational Programs 2 Aquatic Centers 2015 Budgeted Expenditures $68 Million 4% - Economic Development 34% - Public Safety Police - 22,145 calls Fire - 5,638 calls Court - 9,789 charges filed Emergency Management 18% Payments for previously completed projects Examples include: Justice Center/Fire Station 72 Old K-7 Highway Construction 51 st Street Improvements 25% Public Works 785 lane miles of snow/ice plowed 2,699 Potholes filled 3,000 Citizen Service Requests *Includes Community Development, City Council, Finance, Information Technology, Communications, Human Resources, City Planning, Neighborhood Revitalization, and Administration Page 3

4 Good Times Saturday, August 29 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m Mill Valley High School 5900 Monticello Road Crank up the accordions and head on over to the annual Oktoberfest. Hosted by the Shawnee German- American Club, this year s celebration is set for Friday, October 2 at the Shawnee Civic Centre (13817 Johnson Drive) from 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Admission is FREE for the whole family. This fun and festive event will feature authentic German food and beverages, along with live music from The Willie Kirst Band, a Bavarian polka band that has been performing in and around the Kansas City area for many years. There will also be performances from the Blautaler Schuhplatter dancers of Kansas City and traditional German folk dancing from the authentic Bavarian Dance Troupe. Then step outside and watch the Dixie Cadillacs perform country western, oldies, and contemporary hits. Children will be able to enjoy a variety of games, a moonwalk, and Kinderhall from the Shawnee Town Museum. All in attendance will also have the opportunity to win multiple prizes by buying raffle tickets that benefit a local charity. German or not, this event is wunderbar! John Glaser 5K Run/Walk Sunday, October 4 Mark your calendar and save the date! The John Glaser 5K Run/ Walk is scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. at the John B. Glaser Fire Station (6501 Quivira). Visit for more information. Join us on Saturday, December 5 to celebrate the holiday season with Christmas Around Town and the Mayor s Christmas Tree Lighting. For more information, visit Page 4

5 Start Here Celebrate the autumn season at the 10 th Annual Scarecrow Festival, presented by the Shawnee Downtown Partnership at City Hall (11110 Johnson Drive) on Saturday, October 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This family-friendly event is free and has something for everyone to enjoy, including activities for the kids, a Farmers Market, and seasonal displays. Downtown Shawnee will be transformed as businesses and merchants participate in a scarecrow contest. Come and check out all of the creative displays along Johnson Drive and in front of City Hall. Kids can get into the act as well by building their own scarecrow and decorating pumpkins. Supplies and decorations will be provided at no cost. For you chefs out there showcase your skills by participating in the baking contest, which includes categories for pumpkin pie, fruit pie, and pumpkin bread. Winners in each category will receive a $50 prize. Samples of the delectable desserts will be available for purchase at the conclusion of the contest. For more information about the Festival or to get a contest entry form, call Don t miss out on the opportunity to be a part of this great event! WHEELS & DREAMS 10 th annual car, truck & bike show Pre-Registration $20 or $25 on Event Day sunday, September 13 11:00 A.m. - 4:00 p.m. Johnson Drive and Nieman Road First 300 entries receive a free goody bag Door prizes Trophies Grand Prize - $500 cash Money collected will benefit Shawnee Families in need. Pick up pre-registration forms at : Page 5 Hartman Hardware Johnson Drive Shawnee, KS Encore Johnson Drive Shawnee, KS Presented by:

6 What s Being Built in Shawnee? There are many exciting construction projects taking place throughout the City that will help bring new amenities and businesses for our citizens to enjoy. Below is a snapshot of some of our projects that are underway. For the most up to date information on these and other construction projects, visit Erfurt Park 20 Acre Park at 71 st and Gleason Park will feature a pond, a large shelter with a stone fireplace, a playground, and walking trails Named in honor of Shawnee's Sister City - Erfurt, Germany Public Dedication Ceremony on Saturday, October 10 Erfurt Park Hotels Three hotels being built near Interstate 435 and Midland Drive Holiday Inn Express, Comfort Inn Suites, and Fairfield Inn will add 253 hotel rooms in Shawnee Prairie Pines Townhomes Located at K-7 and 55 th Street 222 Townhomes - 2 and 3 bedroom units with finished basements and attached garages Fairfield Inn Westlink Business Park 80 Acre business park on 43 rd Street, east of K-7 Highway Potential for 7 buildings on the site Full build-out would total 1.1 million square feet of leasable business space First building completed and fully leased Construction on second building has begun This fall, the City will partner with ETC Institute of Olathe, Kansas to administer a survey to help us gauge citizens opinions on City services and priorities. A random number of Shawnee residents from each ward will be contacted by either mail or over the phone and will be asked a series of questions which will cover a wide variety of topics. The City will also offer the survey on our website ( so residents who aren t directly contacted will have the opportunity to share their thoughts. It is important that citizens take the time to complete the survey as the results help the City in long-term planning decisions. If you have any questions about the citizens survey, contact the City s Communications Manager at Page 6 Westlink Business Park Citizen Satisfaction Survey

7 Join Mayor Michelle Distler on the third Thursday morning of each month at 9:00 a.m. for a cup of coffee and discussion about what's going on in the City. Mayor Distler will provide an update on City news and take questions from residents. Third Thursdays will take place at the Shawnee Civic Centre (13817 Johnson Drive) and is open to all Shawnee residents. There is no charge to attend and coffee will be provided. Shawnee CityRide The City partners with 10/10 Taxi to provide discounted transportation to seniors (65 and older) and the disabled with rides anywhere inside the Shawnee city limits, as well as the Shawnee Mission Hospital complex, the Merriam Nutrition Center and the Johnson County Transit facility in downtown Mission. This service is available 24 hours, 7 days a week. Each one-way trip is only $2.00 using a pre-paid, reloadable card, that is available for purchase at City Hall (11110 Johnson Drive). For more information, contact the City Clerk s Office at or visit $2.00 One Way - Available 24/7 Operation Secure Shred and Prescription Drug Take Back Get ready to protect your identity, prescriptions, and the planet! Join us on Saturday, October 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the parking lot at Splash Cove (5800 King Street) for the City s 6 th Annual Fall Shredding Event. Held in conjunction with America Recycles Day, PROSHRED will be on-site to safely dispose of your confidential documents. All shredded documents are then recycled. The service is free, but there is a recommended donation of $5 for a regular file box and $10 for a large file box, which helps offset the cost of shredding. Any remaining donations will benefit the Mayor s Christmas Tree Fund. The Police Department will also be on hand to ensure the safe disposal of any unused prescription drugs. Anyone coming to the event should enter the parking lot at 57 th Terrace and King where someone will direct you to the appropriate line. Recycle Your Glass Did you know that recycling just one glass bottle saves enough electricity to light a 100-watt light bulb for four hours? This is one of the reasons why the City is committed to making it easy and convenient for you to recycle your glass containers. Help us help the environment by dropping off your glass at one of the four Ripple Glass bins located throughout the City. Locations: Splash Cove, 5800 King Street Central Bank of the Midwest, W. 67 th Street Price Chopper, W. 66 th Street Johnson County Landfill, Holliday Drive Visit for more information. Page 7

8 August 3 Planning Commission - 7:30 p.m. 4 Council Committee - 7:00 p.m. 6 Parks and Rec. Advisory Board - 5:30 p.m. 7 Summer Concert - 7:00 West Flanders Park 10 City Council - 7:30 p.m. 17 Planning Commission - 7:30 p.m. 20 Board of Zoning Appeals - 7:30 p.m. 24 City Council - 7:30 p.m. 27 Shawnee Downtown Partnership - 6:00 p.m. 29 Bike Rodeo - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 30 Tour de Shawnee - 8:00 a.m. September 3 Parks and Rec. Advisory Board - 5:30 p.m. 7 Labor Day - City Offices Closed 8 Council Committee - 7:00 p.m. 9 Planning Commission - 7:30 p.m. 13 Wheels & Dreams - 11:00 a.m. 14 City Council - 7:30 p.m. 17 Board of Zoning Appeals - 7:30 p.m. 19 Shawnee Town Craft Fair - 9:00 a.m. 21 Planning Commission - 7:30 p.m. 25 Great Grillers BBQ - 6:00 p.m. 26 Great Grillers BBQ - 10:00 a.m. 28 City Council - 7:30 p.m. October 1 Parks and Rec. Advisory Board - 5:30 p.m. 2 Oktoberfest - 5:30 p.m. 3 Scarecrow Festival - 9:00 a.m. 4 Glaser 5k Run/Walk - 9:00 a.m. 5 Planning Commission - 7:30 p.m. 6 Council Committee - 7:00 p.m. 12 City Council - 7:30 p.m. 15 Board of Zoning Appeals - 7:30 p.m. 17 NeighborWood - 9:00 a.m. 19 Planning Commission - 7:30 p.m. 24 Holiday Treasures Craft Festival - 9:00 a.m. 24 Historical Hauntings - 6:00 p.m. 26 City Council - 7:30 p.m. 29 Shawnee Downtown Partnership - 6:00 p.m. November 2 Planning Commission - 7:30 p.m. 3 Council Committee - 7:00 p.m. 5 Parks and Rec. Advisory Board - 5:30 p.m 9 City Council - 7:30 p.m. 11 Veterans Day Holiday - City Offices Closed 11 Veterans Day Celebration - 4:00 p.m. 16 Planning Commission - 7:30 p.m. 19 Board of Zoning Appeals - 7:30 p.m. 23 City Council - 7:30 p.m. 26 Thanksgiving Day Holiday City Offices Closed 27 Thanksgiving Holiday City Offices Closed Citizen Police Academy The Citizen Police Academy is returning this fall and we re inviting you to take part! This is an opportunity for people who live and work in Shawnee to learn about the role of law enforcement in the community. Classes in this 11-week program are designed to allow you to meet and interact with officers and see what it takes to keep our community safe. Classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. beginning on September 10, There are two classes, however, that will be scheduled for a Saturday. The academy will end with a graduation ceremony on November 19. To be eligible to participate in the Citizen Police Academy, you must: be at least 18 years of age have no criminal record pass a background check live or work in Shawnee There is no cost to participate but the Academy will be limited to 20 participants. If you have any questions, contact Sergeant Jessie Perez at Visit the Police Department s page at to view a video about the program and to get an application. Page 8 Volunteer Program Helps Those in Need Each week, City staff is contacted by residents who need help with basic tasks that many of us take for granted. That s when the City s Volunteer Program jumps into action. The goal of this program is to connect citizens with one another so neighbors are helping neighbors. Each year, hundreds of citizens give their time to help with a variety of causes, whether it s shoveling snow off of someone s driveway or helping to clean up a City park. If you are interested in getting involved, visit and click on volunteer opportunities on the left hand side of the page. You can also contact the City s Volunteer Coordinator, Elizabeth Griffith, at or egriffith@cityofshawnee.org. Community Volunteering Starts Here.

9 St rmwater Flood Safety While lightning and tornadoes get the majority of headlines, more deaths actually occur each year due to flooding. That is why it is important for you and your family to be prepared. Here are a few common sense guidelines to help you avoid the dangers of flooding: Do not drive through a flooded area. More people drown in cars than anywhere else. Do not drive around barriers. Do not walk through flowing water. Currents can be deceptive. Six inches of water can knock you off your feet. Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. If your house is about to be flooded, turn off the power at the service box. Electrical current can travel though water. Electrocution is the second leading cause of death during floods. Be alert to gas leaks. Turn off the gas to your house before it floods. If you smell gas, report it to a City official or your gas company. Do not use candles, lanterns or open flames if you smell gas or are unsure if your gas has been shut off. Keep children away from the flood waters, ditches, culverts and storm drains. Flood waters can carry unimaginable items that have dislodged themselves. Culverts may suck smaller people into them rendering them helpless. Clean everything that has been wet. Floor water will be contaminated with sewage and other chemicals which pose severe health threats. Look out for animals, especially snakes. Small animals that have been flooded out of their home may seek shelter in yours. Do not use gas engines, such as generators, or charcoal fires indoors during power outages. Carbon monoxide exhaust can pose serious health hazards. Special Animal Permits Special Animal Permits are required if you have more than two dogs or cats over the age of six months. A permit is also required for large animals, chickens, domestic hares, rabbits, ferrets, bees, or domesticated rodents. Permits are good for one year and must be renewed annually. If you are considering adding a new pet to your family, it is important to check with your Homes Association first. If you have questions or need more information, contact the City Clerk s office at or visit us on-line at Choose Your News Get free updates from the City of Shawnee. Find out about upcoming projects, road closures, job openings, City Council agendas, as well as City events. The best part is that you get to decide the news you want to receive so you are in control. It s easy to sign-up for this free service. Just go to and click on e-subscribe on the left hand side of the page. Fall Lawn Care Tips Fall is the best time of year to fertilize your lawn and control weeds. In fact, healthy lawns help area lakes and streams. Thick grass prevents soil erosion and absorbs rainwater. By soaking up rainwater, lawns decrease the amount of stormwater runoff funneling pollutants into lakes and streams. Here are some simple tips on how to keep your lawn healthy this fall. Mow your grass at a height of two to three inches. Water your lawn responsibly. Even though it is cooler in the fall, lawns still need regular watering to maintain plant health and survive winter conditions. Water until the ground begins to freeze. A soil test is a good idea, especially when concerned that a lawn may need phosphorus. Call the K-State Research Extension Office at to find out if you may qualify for a free soil test! September is the best time of year to treat dandelions, plantain, clover, and creeping charley. Limited numbers of weeds should be removed by hand or spot-treated with herbicide. Sweep up and reuse lawn care products that fall on streets, sidewalks, and driveways For more information about healthy yard practices, visit and plan to attend the Healthy Yards Expo on March 26, Page 9

10 Agendas - Meetings Animal Appraiser (County) Athletic Field Reservations Building Inspections Burning Permits Business Licenses Car Tags Chamber of Commerce City Clerk City Council City Hall City Manager Civic Centre Code Enforcement Deck Permits Development Services Driver s License (State) Engineering Fire Department Garage Sale Regulations Health Department (County) Job Hotline Junk Vehicles Odor Complaints Mayor Paint Disposal (County) Pavement Police (Non-Emergency) Police Emergency 911 Parks and Recreation Program Information Line Planning Public Works Purchasing Recycling Questions Road Construction Shawnee Town Shelter House Reservations Sign Permits Solicitors - Suspicious Street Lights Tall Grass - Weeds Town Hall Rental Traffic Tickets Voter Registration Mayor Michelle Distler mdistler@cityofshawnee.org Ward I Dan Pflumm Jim Neighbor dpflumm@cityofshawnee.org jneighbor@cityofshawnee.org Ward II Mike Kemmling mkemmling@cityofshawnee.org Eric Jenkins ejenkins@cityofshawnee.org Ward III Jeff Vaught jvaught@cityofshawnee.org Stephanie Meyer smeyer@cityofshawnee.org Ward IV Mickey Sandifer msandifer@cityofshawnee.org Brandon Kenig bkenig@cityofshawnee.org City Manager Carol Gonzales cgonzales@cityofshawnee.org The CityLine, an official publication of the City of Shawnee, Kansas, is published three times a year and mailed to residents in Shawnee under the direction of the Communications Manager. Readers comments are encouraged and may be directed to: Communications Manager Johnson Drive Shawnee, Kansas By phone or dferguson@cityofshawnee.org This document, meeting agendas and packets, and other information about the City of Shawnee are available on our website at Any individual requiring an accommodation to participate in a public meeting should contact the Deputy City Manager at or call the Kansas Relay Center, at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting time (if possible) to make arrangements. Live and recorded audio of City meetings through the City's website. Page 10