City of Ottawa

The meeting commenced with roll call and pledge of allegiance, followed by an invocation. Public comments were noted as none registered. The commission recognized January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month via a proclamation, highlighting local organizations involved in combating trafficking. A significant portion of the meeting involved approving the consent agenda, which included minutes from previous special call and regular meetings. Discussion centered on authorizing a partnership agreement with Live Healthy Franklin County for the Pathways initiative, aimed at paving a section of the Flint Hills Trail between Hickory Street and the wastewater treatment plant to improve safety and accessibility, with funding secured through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. Additionally, the commission addressed a contract update with Confluence, Inc., regarding the comprehensive plan development review process and zoning ordinance update, focusing on development review discussions, finalizing the comprehensive plan, and initiating a zoning code update to address current community needs like data centers and housing opportunities.

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance and an invocation. The proceedings included public comments, which registered none. A significant portion of the meeting involved appointments, proclamations, recognitions, and nominations, specifically issuing a proclamation recognizing February 2026 as Black History Month, which was accepted by a student representative. This was followed by candidate interviews for the City of Ottawa boards, beginning with Kurt Beard's interview for a position on the ORC board. Beard detailed his community service initiatives, including giving away free ice cream and refurbished bicycles, and discussed his views on recreation and the role of an ORC board member. The consent agenda, which included previous meeting minutes and partner agency reports, was approved without objection.

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance and an invocation. Key agenda items included the proclamation recognizing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 19th, 2026. The consent agenda was approved with an amendment, which included minutes from the January 7th, 2026 meeting. The commission addressed the Prairie Paws Animal Shelter funding agreement, clarifying that it is a service contract rather than a community partner funding agreement, with funding structured based on per capita rates. Discussions also covered estate gifts to the city versus the shelter. Finally, an update was provided on the agreement extension request with Lightfield Energy regarding the purchase of Proximity Park, citing slow decision-making by data center developers as a factor. The meeting included a scheduled executive session with the board's attorney.

The meeting began with a Proclamation recognizing February 2026 as Black History Month. Key agenda items included conducting interviews for the Ottawa Recreation Commission and the Planning Commission, resulting in the appointment of Kurt Beard and John Coen, respectively. The Governing Body also considered and approved the High-Risk Urban Roads Program contract with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) for safety improvements at intersections at no cost to the City. Departmental reports for the Fourth Quarter of 2025 were presented, followed by operational updates, including the recent snow event response and traffic study findings for the 15th & Ash Street intersection. Updates were also provided on the 1st and Main Street intersection signal pole delivery and the City Manager recruitment process. The session concluded with an executive session to discuss personnel matters of non-elected personnel.

The meeting included a presentation of the 2025 Year-End Grant Report, which detailed $4.32 million awarded across 35 grant efforts supporting infrastructure, safety, quality of life, and economic development initiatives, aligning with the City's strategic pillars. An update was provided on the Opioid Settlement Funds received under the Kansas Fights Addiction Act, noting a current balance of $99,860 intended for substance use disorder abatement, with initial expenditure recommendations planned for FY2026. Operational highlights included updates on the five-year water rate plan, current open positions, and the City Manager recruitment process. The Governing Body also received an overview of the snow response plan preparations from Public Works.