Bond refunding, outdoor dining, and Salina Media Connection are among the items on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday.
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.
Regular meeting
The regular 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 consider refunding bonds from 2013 ($4,330,000) and 2014 ($7,570,000) that were originally issued to finance a number of projects including E. Magnolia Road improvements, part of the Fire Station No. 1 remodel, improvements at Tony's Pizza Events Center, North Ohio grade separation, Magnolia Hills improvements, S. Ninth Street and W. Cloud Street improvements, downtown lighting, landfill improvements, and Pheasant Ridge and Quail Meadows Phase 5 improvements.
According to information in the commission meeting packet, the total principal amount of the bonds the commission is to consider issuing is $6,500,000. If the bond refunding is approved, the city could save $740,000, according to preliminary estimates.
Commissioners also are scheduled to discuss the Campbell Plaza guaranteed maximum price proposal. On May 13, commissioners approved a transferee agreement and license agreement with Wheat State Hospitality concerning development of the property at 123 S. Santa Fe Avenue that adjoins Campbell Plaza on the north. The transferee agreement provided Community Improvement District funding toward the redevelopment of the property as the Prickly Pear Restaurant. The license agreement formalized the terms under which the Prickly Pear could use part of Campbell Plaza as an outdoor dining space.
"The license agreement solidified months of discussion about possible redevelopment of Campbell Plaza including relocation of the overhead structure in Campbell Plaza to a new stage location in a public parking lot located in the southwest corner of Santa Fe and Ash Street which has been informally referred to as the Ad Astra stage" the commission meeting packet information noted.
City staff prepared with the assistance of Wheat State's contractor -- Restore Construction -- a budget for the redevelopment of Campbell Plaza and the development of the new stage location.
City staff has been working on aspects of both projects since then.
"Admittedly, progress has been slow and the City process can be cumbersome," the meeting packet information noted. "Wheat State has indicated that the Campbell Plaza project is vital to their business model and they need the Campbell Plaza project to progress in order to be comfortable proceeding with their investment in redeveloping the building at 123 South Santa Fe. In an effort to coordinate timelines and expedite all three projects (Campbell Plaza, Ad Astra Stage & the Prickly Pear restaurant redevelopment), Wheat State Hospitality and their contractor Restore Construction has proposed that the City could enter in to a Guaranteed Maximum Price contract with Restore Construction to complete the elements of the Campbell Plaza and Ad Astra stage projects for the original budget estimates previously provided to the City Commission."
Other items on the city agenda for Monday include the following.
●Consider authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation for the Magnolia Road sidewalk project accepting up to $422,892 of federal funds.
●Consider authorizing the mayor to execute Amendment No. 1 with Overland Contracting, Inc., for Phase 1B of the wastewater treatment plant improvement project.
●Consider approving an ordinance allowing Feast on the Fe as a special event and authorizing the consumption of liquor within the boundaries of the barricaded public areas at the event.
●Consider authorizing the city manager to execute a sidewalk café license agreement with Chuck's, Inc., doing business as Paramount Bar, authorizing the placement and construction of an outdoor sidewalk dining area in front of the Paramount Bar at 219 N. Santa Fe Avenue.
●Consider approving a resolution adopting the Salina Housing Policy.
Commissioners also are scheduled to meet in executive session to discuss with legal counsel the legal aspect of the city's rights and remedies relating to enforcement of the agreement between the city and Community Access Television of Salina, Inc., doing business as Salina Media Connection.
To see the full Salina City Commission packet for Monday (295 pages), click here. (You also can open agenda items individually.)