Trisha Fowler Arcuri

The Comprehensive MS4 Stormwater Management Plan for the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri, outlines the city's strategies for managing stormwater quality and quantity. It details a Stormwater Management Program built upon six Minimum Control Measures (MCMs): Public Education and Outreach, Public Involvement, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination, Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control, Post-Construction Stormwater Management in New and Redevelopment, and Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations. The plan's objective is to refine stormwater management practices, improve water quality, and manage stormwater quantity within the city limits, supported by ongoing funding and associated ordinances.

The meeting covered the approval of the agenda and an action letter. The main topic involved a public hearing for Application PL 2026-038, which concerns a comprehensive plan amendment for the Thoroughfare Master Plan for the city of Lee Summit. The staff engineer presented background and rationale for the proposed amendment, which focused on aligning thoroughfares in the southwest corner of town near Shear Road, necessitated by new capital improvement projects and the development of PRI land. The presentation detailed how alignments were determined based on topography, drainage, environmental concerns, stakeholder engagement (including PRI and the school district), and avoiding existing developments like the Rock Island Activity Center. Specific cross-sections were proposed for the new Shear Parkway (four-lane arterial), Long View Boulevard (four-lane section), and the existing Shear Road section (three-lane section), incorporating pedestrian and multi-modal facilities. A commissioner recused themselves from voting on this specific item.

The meeting included discussions on general interest items, noting the cancellation of the Missouri Municipal League event due to snow. The council officially welcomed a new council member for District 4. Proclamations were read, declaring February as Human Trafficking Awareness Month and March 2025 as March for Meals Month to support Meals on Wheels. Key discussion points included infrastructure needs (water, sewer, roads) due to rapid growth, the importance of a diverse economy to attract well-paying jobs, and community collaboration efforts such as the Downtown Farmers Market and the Diversity and Inclusion Commission. The Mayor expressed gratitude for the citizens' passage of a use tax that supports revenues, public safety, and employee welfare. The council proceeded to agenda item B1, following the approval of the agenda and consent agenda.

The regular session focused primarily on a public hearing for Agenda Item 4A, a preliminary development plan for Harbor Walk West, a four-acre parcel involving three proposed uses: a Learning Experience daycare, a Casey's General Store gas station, and a conceptual oil change center. Discussion covered site layout, proposed materials (stucco, brick, glass for the daycare; brick, stone, glass for Casey's; EFIS, brick, glass for the oil change center), compliance with the Ignite Comprehensive Plan and M150 corridor sustainability requirements, and traffic flow modifications, including median extensions. Council members also discussed stormwater management for the site, confirming drainage plans and that development triggers the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of MO 150 and Arbor Ridge Road. Earlier in the session, the agenda and consent agenda were both adopted.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and pledge of allegiance. Key discussions included the approval of the agenda and consent agenda. Council members provided updates on local activities, such as congratulating Boy Scouts and acknowledging the success of the Legacy Blast event and the 30th-anniversary gala for the One Good Meal nonprofit. The primary business involved a presentation by the City Engineer and partners on the ongoing Little Blue Valley watershed study, which focuses on flood risk mitigation and ecosystem restoration across seven local communities. The presentation previewed tentative selection plans regarding nonstructural buyouts, forest and herbaceous plantings in Lee Summit, and proposals for reintroducing meanders to the river channel downstream. Council members also highlighted the city's economic strength, high median income, and the need to attract well-paying employers.