Pittsburg City Commission meeting recap – July 14, 2020

PITTSBURG, KS – The following actions were taken during the Pittsburg City Commission meeting held on July 14, 2020:

Commissioners approved the following items under the consent agenda:

• The June 23, 2020, City Commission Meeting minutes.
• Staff recommendation to submit an Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) application to the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation for $302,754 for homeless services including prevention, rapid rehousing and day shelter services.
• The recommendation of the Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) to forgive the loan payment in the amount of $15,000 for Silvercreek Medical Reimbursement Solutions, as the required thresholds for forgiveness have been met.
• Appropriation Ordinance for the period ending July 14, 2020, subject to the release of HUD expenditures when funds are received.

The following items were removed from the consent agenda for further discussion:

• Commissioners approved Ordinance No. S-1068 levying a special assessment against lots or parcels of land on which refuse matter was located to pay the cost of making the premises safe and hygienic. Jamie Clarkson asked that section 5 of the ordinance be expunged as the taxes for that parcel have been paid.
• Commissioners approved Ordinance No. S-1069 levying a special assessment against lots or parcels of land on which existed weeds or obnoxious vegetable growth to pay the cost of cutting or removing said growth.
• Commissioners approved Ordinance No. S-1070 levying a special assessment against lots or parcels of land on which a public nuisance was located to pay the cost of abating the nuisance. Commissioners discussed the city’s process for acquiring blighted property for the purpose of rehabilitating or demolishing dilapidated structures.
• Commissioners approved staff recommendation to accept an Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) in the amount of $317,891.70 to support homeless services within our community, for the grant period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. Commissioner O’Bryan asked about the communities served by the grant. Community Development and Housing Director Quentin Holmes said the program formerly served 11 counties, but now only serves residents in Crawford County.

Special presentations:

• PRESENTATION OF THE CITY MANAGER’S SUBMITTED 2021 BUDGET – City Manager Daron Hall and Director of Finance Jamie Clarkson presented the submitted city budget for 2021. The budget uses conservative revenue projections due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 budget includes the design of a multi-million-dollar wastewater treatment plant, the expansion of East Quincy, the renewal of a street sales tax program, no property tax increase and no utility rate increases. Next year’s budget does not include any increases to employee health insurance premiums and no furloughs of city staff. Download 2021 Submitted Budget Document
• SALES TAX REVOLVING LOAN FUND UPDATE – Director of Finance Jamie Clarkson provided a financial update on the Sales Tax Revolving Loan Fund. Clarkson gave a five-year projection showing the balance in the fund for the years 2020 – 2025. Clarkson said the fund is in a very healthy fiscal condition.

Commissioners approved the following items on the agenda:

• PAYTON’S HAMLET PROJECT – Commissioners approved the recommendation of the EDAC to contribute up to $44,000 in funding to cover the cost of extending the infrastructure inside the Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID), including concrete streets, to serve the Payton’s Hamlet development.
• TURNKEY DEVELOPMENT – CREEKSIDE EAST PROJECT – Commissioners approved the recommendation of the EDAC to contribute up to $356,000 in funding to cover the cost of extending the infrastructure inside the Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID), including concrete streets, to serve the Creekside East development. Turnkey Development will receive 50 percent upon completion of the road and the remaining 50 percent upon completion of phase one.
• GRANT REQUEST – ALISSA ROGGE – Commissioners approved the recommendation of the EDAC to provide a nonrepayable grant to Alyssa Rogge for 10 percent of the redevelopment cost for the property located at 514 North Broadway, with the grant amount not to exceed $11,000.
• PURCHASE AND DEMOLITION – 525 SOUTH BROADWAY – Commissioners considered a recommendation from the EDAC to utilize up to $122,000 from the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) for the acquisition and demolition of the property located at 525 South Broadway (the former Whirlpool building). The commission voted 3-2 to approve the purchase and demolition of the property, with commissioners McNay, O’Bryan and Fields voting in favor of the purchase. Commissioners Munsell and Brooks voted against the decision.
• CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUEST – Commissioners voted to approve the recommendation of the Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals to deny the request submitted by Joe Newlin of Pittsburg, Kansas, for a Conditional Use Permit under the provisions of Article 30-104.9 of the Pittsburg Zoning Ordinance to allow a contractor shop and/or yard, including construction equipment and/or material storage area to be located at 1200 East 20th Street.
• CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUEST – Commissioners voted to approve the recommendation of the Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals to deny the request submitted by Randi Wickham for a Conditional Use under the provisions of Article 30-104.22 of the Pittsburg Zoning Ordinance to allow a kennel to be located at 601 North Georgia.

Non-Agenda:

• BI-MONTHLY BUDGET REVIEW – Deputy Finance Director Larissa Bowman provided the June 30, 2020 bi-monthly budget review. Sales tax collections from April are down by only 0.31 percent despite the economic shutdown. Bowman credited an increase in the “use tax” (Compensating Use Tax) collections for online purchases, which compensated for lower sales tax revenues during the stay-home order, as well as the tendency during this time to shop locally, which greatly strengthens our economy.
• FIRE DEPARTMENT – City Manager Daron Hall shared with the commissioners that some of the city’s firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19. The city continues to monitor symptoms closely, and follows health and safety guidelines to mitigate the spread of the virus. Shifts are being filled through rescheduling and overtime.
• MASKS – Commissioner Munsell mentioned that he received calls from citizens asking if the city would be mandating masks. Hall said that while some cities around the country have health departments, Pittsburg does not, and the power rests with Crawford County. City Attorney Henry Menghini stated that according to Kansas State statute, the authority to issue public health orders is the county’s responsibility.

City Commission Meetings:

The Pittsburg City Commission meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm, inside the Beard-Shanks Law Enforcement Center courtroom.

City commission meetings are broadcast live on the City’s local government access channels (Cox channel 6 and Craw-Kan channel 406) and on YouTube. To subscribe to the City’s YouTube channel, go to www.pittks.org/youtube. To learn more about the Pittsburg city government, city commissioners, or to view meeting agendas and minutes, visit pittks.org/city-government/city-commission.

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The mission of the City of Pittsburg is to provide exceptional services, facilities and activities with integrity, professionalism, excellent customer service and a commitment to economic vitality.