By SALINA POST
A workforce development update, Municipal Court security and indigent counsel services, and proposed city code changes 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 can also send written comments or questions to City Commissioners by visiting the City of Salina’s website at www.salina-ks.gov and using the “Email City Commission” icon on the home page.
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 study session at 3 p.m. The topic of the study session is a workforce development update from Imagine Salina, a program of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and the Salina Community Economic Development Organization. For more information about Imagine Salina, visit imaginesalina.com.
The study session information noted that since 2018, there has been more than $1 billion in public and private and private infrastructure and business investments, with an additional $300 million in the pipeline.
Six months ago, there was a projection of 1,200 jobs over the next five years in the county. According to Imagine Salina, that estimate has now risen to closer to 2,000.
Additionally, wage growth has gone from $18.27 per hour in 2020 to $20.66 per hour in 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In the labor market, the October workforce participation as at 30,366 and unemployment was 2.5 percent. Indeed, the unemployment rate has stayed below 3 percent since August 2021, when it was 3.3 percent, according to the meeting packet information. Monthly job listings continue to be approximately 2,500 per month, with the highest need in warehouse/distribution, retail/restaurant, hospitality, and healthcare.
According to information in the study session meeting packet, 91.5 percent of the local workforce both live and work in Saline County. Just over 6,300 workers commute into Saline County from throughout the region. Additionally, just over 2,200 people live in Saline County and work outside the county.
To see the full study session meeting packet for Monday, click here.
Regular meeting
The regular meeting is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
Commissioners are scheduled to consider two items involving the Salina Municipal Court.
The first would be to consider approving a proposed resolution that would authorize the city manager to enter into an agreement with 1st Choice Security, LLC, for security services at Salina Municipal Court.
The second would be to consider approving a proposed resolution that would authorize the city manager to execute an agreement with Julie Effenbeck to provide indigent counsel services for Salina Municipal Court.
Other items on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday include the following.
●Consider awarding the contract for the Markley Road Trail project at Berkley Family Recreational Area to T&R Construction, Inc., of Salina in the amount of $61,805.33, with a five percent ($3,090.27) construction contingency and consider authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with T&R Construction, Inc.
●Consider approving a proposed ordinance on first reading that would annex a 20-foot strip of land in Schilling Subdivision No. 5, that was inadvertently omitted in prior annexations.
●Consider approving a proposed ordinance on first reading that would change the zoning district classification from C-1 (restricted business) to PC-2 (planned neighborhood shopping) for property located at 1001 Schippel Drive to allow a former veterinary clinic to be converted to a beauty salon.
●Consider approving a proposed ordinance and a proposed resolution concerning special events permits.
●Consider approving a proposed ordinance on first reading that would amend the Salina City Code pertaining to the permitting and regulation of horse-drawn vehicles, outdoor merchandise areas, and minor sidewalk dining areas in the Downtown Arts, Commerce and Entertainment District.
●Consider approving a proposed resolution that would authorize the submission of an application by the City of Salina to the Kansas Department of Commerce for the issuance of a non-competitive sub-award for the city to administer the Economic Expansion Rural Housing Grants; authorizing the reservation of funds by the city necessary to meet the required match for the first disbursement of grant funds; and authorizing the city manager to execute a grant award agreement and to take any actions necessary regarding the distribution of grant funds and administration of the grant award agreement.
To see the full Salina City Commission meeting packet for Monday, click here.