The Hall Monitors

Catch the latest Council update from the September 17th meeting.
 
Topics include:
Rezoning land at Astra Enterprise Park to Light Industrial
Adoption of the 2027 Budget, including a lower mill levy and added services
Industrial revenue bonds for the second phase of Residences at Lexington
A request to add approx. six acres to the Limestone Development Residential Housing Incentive District
 
September 17th meeting agenda and materials: https://ow.ly/3YPq50ZO57I
 
00:00 Welcome and Recap00:12 Constitution Week00:25 Consent Agenda Highlights00:34 Astra Rezoning Decision01:30 2027 Budget and Mill Rate03:11 Budget Investments Overview03:35 Lexington IRB Approval03:58 Limestone RHID Update04:33 De Soto Days Thanks04:47 Closing Remarks

Catch the latest Council update from the September 2nd meeting.
 
Mayor Walker shares a quick overview of the proposed 2027 Budget, including a proposed mill levy reduction and some of the key considerations behind the budget.
 
Other highlights include:
Hunger Action Month and the De Soto Food Pantry donation barrel at City Hall.
An update from the latest Johnson County Sheriff’s Office report.
The review process for proposed changes to City codes, zoning regulations, and other policies.
 
September 2nd meeting agenda and materials: https://ow.ly/hvUP50ZHocE
 
00:00 Welcome and Recap00:11 Hunger Action Month00:37 Consent Agenda Highlights00:50 Sheriff Office Update01:20 Code and Policy Overhaul02:22 Budget Review and Taxes03:47 Closing Thanks

Over the past several months, a variety of questions have been raised about data centers in De Soto. This special Mayor's Minute series takes a closer look at those questions, one topic at a time.
 
Part 2: What about the noise?
In this episode, Mayor Walker explains where data center noise comes from, how the City’s current noise standards apply, and the role distance, site design, acoustic modeling, and other mitigation measures can play in addressing potential impacts.
He also discusses the City’s next step in selecting an independent industrial noise and acoustics expert to review existing regulations and advise whether additional standards may be appropriate.
 
Learn more, explore project documents, and find additional FAQs: https://www.desotoks.us/465/Data-Centers
 
0:00 Noise concerns
0:32 Sources of data center noise
0:57 De Soto’s noise standards
1:38 Low-frequency noise and infrasound
2:37 Independent expert review
3:34 Acoustic modeling and mitigation
4:20 Health concerns and the City’s approach

Mayor Rick Walker is back with a recap of the August 20th City Council meeting. 🎧
Highlights include:
A KDOT grant agreement to help fund a citywide roadway safety plan
Policy proposals related to environmental health oversight, economic development NDAs, and private well permitting
A proposed 2027 Budget that would lower the mill levy without increasing the amount of property tax revenue the City collects
August 20th meeting agenda and materials: https://ow.ly/Wvo150ZB1xE
 
00:00 Welcome and Recap
00:09 Consent Agenda Highlights
00:27 Sunflower Road Trail Upgrade
00:47 Safety Action Plan Grant
01:19 Development Policy Proposals
01:50 Environmental Health Oversight
02:36 NDA Ordinance Debate
03:10 Work Session and Outreach
03:36 Meeting Date Change
03:53 Budget and Mill Levy
04:22 Closing Thoughts

Catch the latest Council update from the August 6th meeting. Topics include:
Design plans to replace Well 12
An update to the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s stormwater pollution prevention plan
An initial TIF incentive request from Digital Realty
Discussion of additional environmental oversight for large-scale industrial projects
 
August 6th Meeting Agenda and Materials: https://ow.ly/sGEP50ZwjXP
 
00:00 Welcome and Intern Kudos00:29 Consent Agenda Highlights00:44 Water Well 12 Replacement01:10 Wastewater Stormwater Plan01:24 Digital Realty Data Center TIF03:33 Environmental Oversight Proposal04:24 Advisory Reports and Road Update05:05 Future Data Center Policy Talks05:37 Meeting Wrap Up and Links

Mayor Rick Walker is back with a recap of the July 16th City Council meeting.
 
Topics include:
Next steps for an independent review of the City’s industrial noise standards
Creation of a TIF district for a proposed memory care facility on Commerce Drive
Discussion of a shared fire prevention officer position with the Northwest Consolidated Fire District
Continued work on potential service and capital enhancements for the 2027 Budget
 
July 16th Meeting Agenda & Materials:https://desotoks.us/AgendaCenter
 
00:00 Welcome and Meeting Recap00:12 Permits and Street Overlays00:35 Grant for Public Art00:53 Industrial Noise Study01:46 Rezoning for Commercial Growth02:05 TIF District for Memory Care02:38 Shared Fire Prevention Role03:20 Economic Development Update03:48 2027 Budget Discussion04:20 Closing Thanks

Over the past several months, Council has received many questions about data centers in De Soto. This special Mayor's Minute series takes a closer look at those questions, one topic at a time.
Part 1: How did the Beale data center become larger than what the City Council originally approved?
In this episode, Mayor Walker explains what the Council approved last August, why the proposed data center is larger than originally presented, and what that does – and does not – mean for the project.
Learn more, explore project documents, and find additional FAQs:
Data Center Hub: https://www.desotoks.us/465/Data-Centers
Beale Project Page: https://www.desotoks.us/496/Beale-Data-Center
 
00:25 How Council Handles Comments
00:44 Series Goals and Scope
01:26 Why the Project Grew
01:36 What Was Approved Last August
01:57 Site Plan Still Under Review
02:38 Buildings vs Power Capacity
03:04 Water Saving Cooling Design
03:22 Compared to Warehouses
04:07 Impact Summary and Next Steps
04:30 Wrap Up and Resources
 

Mayor Rick Walker provides a brief recap of the July 2nd City Council meeting.
Topics include:
Next steps in the sanitary sewer easement process
The 99th Street water main project for the Beale site and updated water system plans
Continued discussion of the 2027 Budget and the revenue neutral rate
Check out the full meeting agenda and materials: https://desotoks.us/AgendaCenter
00:00 July 2 Meeting Recap
00:10 Consent Agenda Highlights
00:24 Riverfest Park Events
00:37 Noise Consultant RFQ
00:54 Eminent Domain Easement
01:22 99th Street Water Main
01:38 Reduced Water Demand Update
02:06 Water System Upgrades
02:29 2027 Budget Discussion
02:43 Revenue Neutral Rate Explained
03:09 Residential RNR Strategy
04:05 Closing Thanks

This week’s Mayor’s Minute covers highlights from the June 18th City Council meeting.
This episode includes improvements to Wells 11 and 17, rezoning for future Arbor Ridge development, updates to De Soto’s residential building code, continued work to select a noise ordinance consultant, and 2027 Budget discussions focused on water and sewer funds
Mayor Walker also previews a separate upcoming episode that will address comments and frequently asked questions raised during the recent Calls to Public.
Check out the full meeting agenda and materials: https://desotoks.us/AgendaCenter
00:00 Meeting Recap Intro00:09 Routine Approvals00:30 Residential Building Code Updates00:48 Arbor Ridge Rezoning01:03 Noise Ordinance Consultant Search01:23 Weed Violation Hearing01:44 Water and Sewer Budget Focus02:03 Data Center Q&A Episode Preview02:23 Wrap-Up and Thanks

In this edition of Mayor’s Minutes, Mayor Walker recaps the June 4th City Council meeting, including plans for the annual Fourth of July fireworks show, the 89th Street Culvert Replacement Project, and the first major discussion of the 2027 budget.
Beginning at 4:53, Mayor Walker takes a closer look at Digital Realty’s introductory presentation and their early plans for a proposed data center development within Astra Enterprise Park.
View the full meeting agenda and materials: https://ow.ly/B9Xe50Zc605 
Watch the full City Council meeting: https://ow.ly/RkwH50Zc606 
Hear the full presentation from Digital Realty: https://ow.ly/BJ6C50Zc604
 
00:00 Welcome and Meeting Recap00:11 Gun Violence Awareness Day00:27 Consent Agenda Highlights01:10 Digital Realty Introduction02:33 Culvert Project Agreement03:01 Parade of Hearts Proposal03:29 First Look at the 2027 Budget04:53 Deeper Dive on Data Centers10:11 Closing Thanks and Sign-Off