Proposed Community Center - Will Always Run in the Red

At the 2/11/19 council meeting the chart below was submitted but not listed in the Quick Reference Guide.  Maybe by now it has been.

anyway, what this chart show is that for the first five years the community center is projected to be in the hole for $1.5 million.  These are funds that are not covered by the mill levy increase (the $38 million in bonds).  These are funds that will need to be subsidized by the general fund.  Which city services will be curtailed to account for these funds?  Just projecting forward , that could be as high as $6 million for 20 years.  And that could go up with inflation, salary increases, utility costs, building and equipment maintenance etc.  Membership and program fees will not cover operating costs and expenses.

Click on the image to see a larger version

 

Vote "NO" on the May 2019 mail ballot

Vote "NO" to the Taj Majal on Woodland

 

 



A Bunch of Us "Told ya So" - Let's Learn From This

Well, after only three years in business Nuts and Bolts at the Shawnee Parkway Plaza is closing.  Some folks are going to get upset by what I am about to say.  It was the ownership of this Nuts and Bolts that were the owners/force behind the shopping center's redevelopment.  Tough.

When this project came up for approval there were many folks that were concerned about the amount and number of incentives.  Also did we really need another hardware store to compete with Ace Westlake, Hartman, Lowes, Home Depot, and yes even Wal Mart?  And, why was the council actually paying for this company to compete against existing businesses? 

On a positive note, the shopping center does look better than before the remodeling.  Ironically, Nuts and Bolts was almost the last business to occupy its spot.  Also the two businesses that seem to be the most prolific are Johnny's Tavern who moved from across the Parkway to a larger venue and Savers which was in the shopping center before the center was sold to the current owners.

Now, let's look at two other projects that are still in the works.

Belmont Promenade:  When first presented to the city the developer regaled everyone with tales of how the proposed center would have upscale retail and dining establishments.  He even paraded a group of HS students to the podium who just gushed about how fortunate they would be to have local jobs instead of having to work at Village West/The Legends.  Then the plans change and now the developer wants to make it a multi-use project.  What happened to those upscale retail and dining establishments?  Now it appears that any retail and dining will be common and ordinary.  That is if the council goes along with the massive economic incentives.  And why has the developer never revealed what establishments have committed or expressed an interest in the project.  Ahhh, that's confidential.  Horse patootie.  Other developments in the metro have indicated who they are bringing in ahead of their municipalities' approving funding.

Westbrooke Green:  OK, the positive thing about this project is the potential to redevelop a very large, dormant shopping center at the intersection of two major thoroughfares in Shawnee.  But what has transpired.  Again, we were regaled with overt pomposity about upscale merchants and eating establishments in this proposed multi-use development.  A local citizen even addressed the council saying she could name class restaurants in Overland Park but not Shawnee and this would bring those types of establishments to Shawnee.  I say horse patootie to that one too.  In December 2017 when the project came for a vote before the council, the council was asked to table it for 30 days?  Why?  Because in January the new council would be seated (3 seats were changing) and it was felt by some that those voting on this project (regardless of what that vote was) should be around to be held accountable.  Couldn't be done.  It was important to move forward quickly as that would throw the timetable off.  Couldn't delay 30 days.  Demolition of the existing center was to begin October 2018.  So, what happens?  The developer asks for an extension of the demolition to August 2019.  So much for saving time.  Why the extension?  According to the developer's attorney the financial stack had not been completed.  Interpret that to mean they had not been able to arrange financing.  Strange, since this developer we were told had an extremely positive track record.  And again, there is no indication of who the retail and dining establishments would be.  Anyway, I challenged the council to a bet that demolition would not begin in August and that the developer would be asking for another extension.  Nobody on the council accepted the challenge but the developer's attorney did.  Dinner at the Hereford House is the challenge.

Going forward it has been suggested to council that developers produce letters of commitment or intent from merchants before votes are taken on approving any financial incentives.

Clarifying Misinformation Regarding Council Action For Vote on Proposed New Community Center

Based on correspondence that I have received there is an apparent misunderstanding about the city council's vote on Monday 2/11/19.

The council did NOT vote to approve the new proposed community center.  The council voted to put it on an election ballot and let the citizens of Shawnee make that decision.

There are many who oppose this monstrosity, this Taj Mahal on Woodland.  Efforts must be made to inform the citizens of the realities of how bad this project is.  Efforts must be made to also monitor whatever information city staff puts out as part of the "education" process.  How forthcoming will that info be?

Let's start with this.  The bond amount is $38 million.  The payments are $2.7 million for 20 years.  Where I come from 20 x 2.7 equals 54.  Yepper, $54 million.  But, none of the documents or info sheets presented mentioned that.  How many folks glanced over that without doing the math?

More info on other aspects of this project to come:  Vote "NO" on 5/21/19 for the Taj Mahal on Woodland.  Remember, it is a mail ballot.  Ya don't even have to put a stamp on the return envelope.  Just vote "NO", put it in the envelope and give it to your carrier.

VOTE "NO" On 5/21/19

 

 

 

 





Ballot Question Gets A Revision - Proposed Community Center

Last night at the council meeting the proposed new community center was on the agenda.

The concept of leaving the decision to the voters is good, but, the original question that was proposed to be on the ballot was extremely deceptive.  The original question indicated that the project would cost $38 million and be covered by a bond issue. 

What was disconcerting about the original wording was that it did not say where the money was coming from.  A last minute change to the wording indicated that it would come from a mill levy increase.  That is a more honest approach.

The people of Shawnee need to know the good, the bad and the ugly about this project.

They need to know that if it passes:
1.  There will be a mill levy increase
2.  It is not a free use facility, fees to use it will be charged (on top of the mill levy increase)
3.  It will not be self sufficient as far as continuing operations.  The cost of running the facility will be in the negative in excess of $200K a year.  that money will come from the general fund and take away from needed services.

Sidebar:  The gentleman Eric Danielson who spoke as the representative for a citizen's involvement group could have been more forthcoming.  Even though he is a Shawnee resident, I feel that he should have mentioned that he is an employee of J E Dunn who has an interest in this project.  As a citizen of Shawnee he has every right to speak on this item.  But, being employed by a company with a stake in the project should have been mentioned. 

Taj Mahal Relocates From India to Shawnee

On Monday 2/11/19 the City Council will vote to put an item on a mail ballot election.  This item would be to issue $38 million in bonds to construct a new Community Center in west Shawnee.  The repayment of the bonds plus interest would be covered by a mill levy increase.  Dose Shawnee really need this?  Does Shawnee really need the debt?  Especially since the Community Center is estimated to lose over $200K a year (operating expenses vs revenues).  That means the center would have to be subsidized from the general fund.  Monies which could go to other items that need to be addressed.

Come to the meting at City Hall Monday night 2/11/19.  It starts at 7PM.
And when the item shows up on the ballot................vote NO

Does Shawnee really need this?

Park Board to Preview Presentation of Proposed Community Center

It's really simple, the Park and Recreation Advisory Board will get a preview of what the council will get at the next council meeting.

The Park Board meeting is on Thursday Feb 7 at 5:30PM
The Council meeting will be Monday Feb 11 at 7:00PM
Both meetings are at City Hall 11110 Johnson Drive.

Regardless of your position on this project it might be a good idea to attend these meetings and see what is going on.

The city is looking at a possible mail in election for May to increase the mill levy to finance a potential $34 million dollar project.

Don't put yourself in the position where you wind up asking,  "How did/didn't this happen?"

Show up, pay attention, become informed.  The public will be able to comment at the Council meeting.

Council Meeting Feb 11, 2019 - Proposed New Community Center

As of right now it appears that certain items relative to the new proposed community center will be on the agenda.

These would include:
A.  Final cost factors
B.  Proposed wording of the ballot question for the May mail in ballot regarding the mill levy increase.

Will the ballot wording include the fact that the mill levy increase has no expiration date?  Will it include the information that traditionally facilities like this do not, thru fees and memberships, cover yearly operating expenses?  Just look at those factors for our existing swimming pools.  And that any annual shortfall would have to be covered by the general fund.

Unfortunately we will not find out that info until Feb 7, 2019, four days before the meeting.  That is the statutory requirement for that info to be published to the public.  Is that really enough time for citizens to absorb what is probably going to be a lengthy document(s)?

I urge the city manager and staff to get that info out to the public prior to 2/7.  I doubt if you will be waiting until the last minute to have all of your info together.  Give the public the real time needed to absorb the info and be able to comment intelligently.