By SALINA POST
Salina City Commissioners are scheduled to consider repealing the city's mask ordinance, approving a service agreement with OCCK, and appointing a new commissioner during Monday's regular meeting.
About the meeting
Study sessions and city commission meetings will take place in–person in room 107 of the City-County Building, 300 West Ash Street, and via Zoom until further notice. Meetings also can be viewed at the City of Salina YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/cityofSalinaKansas.
To participate via Zoom, citizens will need to use the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89275984587.
The meeting also can be accessed by phone at 1-346-248-7799. Enter Meeting ID:892 7598 4587 when prompted.
If citizens wish to speak, either during the public forum or when the mayor requests public comment on an item, citizens attending via Zoom must raise their hands so that the meeting host can allow them to speak. Those who attend the in-person meeting will have the opportunity to speak at the podium.
Citizens also can send written comments or questions to city commissioners via email at [email protected].
In order for the commissioners to have an opportunity to review comments in advance of the meeting, please email your comments or questions by 5 p.m. the Sunday prior to the Monday meetings.
Study session
Commissioners are scheduled to begin with a 2 p.m. study session. The topic of the study session is Housing - A strategic framework. See the study session presentation here.
Regular meeting
The regular meeting is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Monday.
Commissioners are scheduled to consider a proposed ordinance that would repeal the city's current facemask ordinance. Commissioners were scheduled to revisit the facemask issue at their May 24 meeting, however, the issue was moved ahead a week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance on Thursday that allows fully vaccinated people to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings. Shortly afterward on Thursday, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced that the state would adopt the new CDC guidance.
If approved by the commission, the ordinance repealing the city's facemask ordinance would go into effect after it has been published once in the official city newspaper, according to information from the city.
To see the proposed ordinance, click here.
Commissioners also are scheduled to consider appointing a new city commissioner. Eleven people have submitted expression of interest forms in the hopes of being selected to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Rod Franz. Those who submitted expression of interest forms include the following.
Douglas K. Alt
Jacqueline (Gaschler) Cairo
Kay Crawford
Peter Earles
Chad Farber
Randall Hardy
Joe Hay
Norman Jennings
Luci Larson
Matthew Newbanks
Aaron Peck
To view their applications and other information concerning the appointment of someone to fill an unexpired city commission term, click here.
Other items on the city agenda for Monday include the following.
●Consider proclaiming the week of May 16-22, 2021, as National Public Works Week in the City of Salina. Heidi Black of the Public Works Department is scheduled to read the proclamation.
●Consider proclaiming the week of May 16-22, 2021, as Emergency Medical Services Week in the City of Salina. Fire Chief Kevin Royse, is scheduled to read the proclamation.
●Consider approving the purchase of 20 Stalker Radars, ancillary equipment, shipping, warranties, and equipment installation.
●Discuss a Campbell Plaza redevelopment/acquisition request.
●Consider authorizing the city manager to sign a service agreement with OCCK, Inc. for 2021.
●Consider approving Charter Ordinance No. 40 exempting the City of Salina from the provisions of K.S.A.12-1697 and providing substitute and additional provisions on the same subject relating to the promotion of tourism and convention, authorizingthe levying of a Transient Guest Tax by cities, and repealing Charter Ordinance No. 35.
To see the full city commission meeting packet for Monday (184 pages), click here. (You also can open agenda items individually.)