A special assessment projects public hearing, a resolution concerning tennis facilities, and a discussion of the format of future city commission meetings are on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday.
About city meetings
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, city study sessions and commission meetings will take place via Zoom until further notice. You can view the meetings at the City of Salina YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/cityofSalinaKansas.
To participate in the meetings, citizens will need to use the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89275984587
If citizens wish to speak, either during the public forum or when the mayor requests public comment on an item, citizens must raise their hand so that the meeting host can allow them to speak.
Citizens can also send written comments or questions to commissioners via email at citycommission@salina.org. The city requests that in order for commissioners to have an opportunity to review comments in advance of the meeting, citizens should email their comments or questions by 5 p.m. the Sunday prior to the Monday meeting.
Study session
Commissioners are scheduled to begin with a 2:30 p.m. study session. The topic of the study session is Park Fleet Replacement and Park Master Plan Update.
Regular meeting
The regular commission meeting is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. A time for public comment is scheduled near the beginning of the meeting.
Commissioners are scheduled to conduct a public hearing concerning 2020 special assessment projects: Pheasant Ridge Addition No. 3 Phase II, Stone Lake Addition Phase 2, and Nine South Addition. Following are the finances for each project, as provided in the city commission meeting packet.
According to the city information, "the public hearing is intended to receive input from interested parties and particularly property owners within the special assessment benefit district. The primary issue at this point in the process is not whether the special assessments should be levied against the properties. Rather, the issue under consideration at this time is whether the final costs have been properly calculated and distributed."
Following the hearing, commissioners are scheduled to hear the second reading reading of a proposed ordinance levying special assessments for improvements.
Commissioners also are scheduled to consider a resolution "expressing the intent of the Governing Body of the City of Salina, Kansas to the proposal by Salina Net Generation (SNG)," a community group interested in a public-private partnership to enhance the tennis experience in Salina. The proposal includes the construction of a new Kenwood Tennis Center located in the area of the old Municipal Swimming Pool and the adjoining rodeo grounds. SNG's plan for a tennis complex in Kenwood Park is estimated to cost $2.3-$2.6 million, with the city's share proposed to be $864,000.
Additionally, as part of SNG's efforts to revitalize Salina tennis facilities, Salina USD 305 "has inquired about taking possession of approximately 3.66 acres of land that includes the original four tennis courts at Jerry Ivey Park. USD 305 would take over maintenance on the existing courts and develop new courts in the future on the site of the sand volleyball courts. The existing basketball court would be repurposed into a tennis practice wall. The USD proposed financial contribution to this project is $500,000," commission meeting packet information noted.
"Recreation staff is currently looking for a new location to rebuild sand volleyball and the basketball court in Jerry Ivey Park," the meeting information added.
Commissioners also are scheduled to consider transitioning back to in-person commission meetings since the county's latest public health order has increased the number of people allowed to gather in an indoor space from 15 to 50.
"City Staff have worked with County Staff to reconfigure the Commission Chambers in a way that will allow for in-person meetings to take place. The configuration includes measures to allow commissioners, staff, and the public to attend while providing space for social distancing. The Commission Chambers can accommodate commissioners, staff, and approximately 22 members of the public with the ability to host another 10-12 people in room 107B should it become necessary," the meeting packet information noted.
To view the entire Salina City Commission meeting packet (83 pages), click here.