ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The Liberal City Commission will be kept busy at its next meeting this evening starting at 5:30. This evening’s meeting will be in the commission chambers at the Liberal Recreation Center at 950 S. Grant Ave.
After hearing a legislative update from Watkins Public Strategies, the commission will then be discussing a lobbying services agreement with the company.
“The City of Liberal entered into an agreement for lobbyist consulting services with Watkins Public Strategies (WPS) in August 2023. Since then, WPS has worked diligently with staff to advocate for Liberal's interests at the state and federal levels,” the agenda information noted. “This proposed agreement is a renewal to continue services Watkins has provided for the city, including direct lobbying for Liberal's policy goals and initiatives; preparing written/oral testimony and coaching city leadership to present live committee testimony; connecting city leaders with important legislative and government agency contacts; training in advocacy and legislator engagement; Real-time monitoring and prompt reporting of committee hearing discussions and proposed legislation and policy updates; connecting city staff with appropriate state and federal funding opportunities to assist with key projects; and public relations and community outreach assistance. There is no cost increase over our current agreement, and staff is recommending approval of the lobbyist consulting services agreement with Watkins Public Strategies as presented, to be funded through the Economic Development portion of the 1-cent Sales Tax.”
Up next for the commission will be discussion of a Letter of Intent with Air Products.
“The City of Liberal has been in talks with the Air Products Helium Team for close to a year regarding the purchase of land south of Mid-America Air Museum,” the agenda information noted. “The survey and appraisal have been completed, and the formal Letter of Intent is attached with no revisions. This was tabled at the last commission meeting in order to present it to the Airport Advisory Board prior to approval. City staff requests commission consideration to approve the attached Letter of Intent from the Air Products Helium Team.”
The commission will also be discussion Ordinance No. 4636 concerning a common consumption area.
“The City of Liberal had a special meeting on June 10 to explore the option of passing a Common Consumption Ordinance at the request of local, downtown business owners,” the agenda information noted. “The primary goal of establishing the ordinance is to 1) Address the growth in eating and drinking establishments in downtown Liberal; 2) Allow for customer movement between businesses; and 3) Provide legal structure for special events and block parties to take place with proper permitting by the vendors. At the conclusion of the meeting, there was a consensus to move forward with the drafting of the ordinance. City staff has been working for six months on finalizing a Community Event Planning Guide in order to better inform the public on guidelines for organizing local events. We are excited the Common Consumption Ordinance is the final item that needs to be approved before we publish the guide for the public. We believe this will lead to better communication between the City and the public, with easy access to forms and information via our Web site. City staff recommends the approval of Ordinance No. 4636, which will establish the Common Consumption Area in downtown Liberal.”
Up next for the commission will be discussion of Resolution 2434 concerning the intent to levy a property tax exceeding the Revenue Neutral Rate.
“This resolution would serve as our official notice to the Seward County Clerk of our intention to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR),” the agenda information noted. “This resolution provides an estimated mill rate, and the final mill rate will be determined when we host our RNR hearing August 26.”
The commission will also hear an airport analysis report from ArkStar Group and then be asked to approve the employee insurance renewal.
“The initial BCBS-KS Medical/Vision Renewal was released as an overall increase of +0.8 percent for 2025. The estimated total increase is $27,437,” the agenda information noted. “To mitigate future increases, several options were evaluated during the renewal process, including: self-funded ASO options from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas; changes to the drug formulary; and the addition of a Qualified High-Deductible Health Plan (QHDHP). Dental is an overall increase of +9.2 percent, an estimated increase of $16,531. The dental increase is attributed to high-claims utilization with a projected loss ratio of 105 percent. Group Life AD&D and Voluntary Life AD&D policies with the Standard are under rate guarantee through Aug. 31, 2026. Staff requests commission consideration to approve the recommended city insurance plan as presented.”
The commission will also be discussing the Loraine Ave. improvement appeal.
“The owners of parcels located on Loraine Avenue, which extends north from East 8th Street, are requesting that the Commission waive the requirements and install less than the required street improvements,” the agenda information noted. “The owners have obtained a fill permit from KDHE-DWR to place fill in the floodplain, making the parcels suitable for development. The four parcels and the Loraine Ave. right-of-way are located in a regulatory floodplain. The subdivision regulations require a minimum of a 35-foot-wide concrete or asphalt street to be installed prior to building structures on the parcels. The original improvement plans, provided by the owners, show the installation of a concrete street that meets the subdivision regulations. As Zoning Administrator, I have no option to waive the required improvements. All current project developers on other projects within the city are installing the required improvements prior to building structures. The subdivision regulations do allow for the Commission to waive any improvement requirements if they are not technically feasible or necessary. City staff requests the commission review the attached documentation and make a determination on whether a waiver will be allowed on the street improvements.”
Later in the meeting, the commission will be discussing a KDOT KAIP Grant for the Liberal Municipal Airport.
“The Airport has received a grant through the KAIP from KDOT to replace the PAPI and REIL systems for the crosswind runway,” the agenda information noted. “The amount of the project is $425,000. KDOT will pay 90 percent and the 10 percent City of Liberal portion will be $42,500. We have had to work on the e systems, and we are replacing them with LEDs. We will also be replacing the regulator in the vault with this project. We are hoping to save some costs and have the start of this project coincide with the parallel taxiway project but are not sure if that will happen. City Staff recommends the commission allow the Mayor or City Manager to sign the agreement and all other documents that are associated with this project and that the funds for the project come from the Economic Development portion of the 1-cent Sales Tax in an amount not to exceed $50,000.”
