Lenexa's 2015 Year in Review

Lenexa is Breaking New Ground 2015 YEAR IN REVIEW

Lenexa has been a forwardthinking place from its earliest days in the 19th century as a wagon train stop along the Santa Fe Trail, a transportation route that helped open new U.S. territories for economic development and settlement.

The city continues to break new ground today in its quest to deliver exceptional public service to 50,000+ residents.

ARTIST RENDERING OF CIVIC CENTER OUTDOOR PLAZA LOOKING SOUTHEAST FROM 87TH STREET PARKWAY AND ELMRIDGE STREET

In 2008, a citizen-led effort to develop a strategic plan for the community — known as Vision 2030 — identified seven key areas that should guide the city’s future growth. The 2015 Year in Review highlights some of the innovative and progressive ways the City of Lenexa is working to achieve this vision:

Community Spirit & Amenities

Education & Learning

Housing & Neighborhoods

Infrastructure & Transportation

Safe & Healthy Community

Sustainable Quality Community Growth Strong Economic Base

Learn more about Vision 2030 at www.lenexa.com/vision

2 • Lenexa is Breaking New Ground

ARTIST RENDERING OF AQUATIC CENTER INSIDE FUTURE RECREATION CENTER

CIVIC CENTER • A new gathering place for Lenexans Lenexa’s long-envisioned multipurpose civic campus broke ground at Lenexa City Center in 2015 and is scheduled to open in mid-2017. The city invited local kids to play a special role in representing future generations during the Civic Center Project groundbreaking event, shown on the front and back covers of this document.

• Fitness facilities, including cardio and weight-training equipment.

This investment reinforces a major goal in Lenexa's 2020 and 2030 strategic visions of developing City Center at 87th Street Parkway and Renner Boulevard as a central gathering place and new downtown area for the community. Consisting of recreational, retail, civic and cultural amenities, and some clearly unique features, the civic campus will be the heart of Lenexa City Center.

• Public art gallery.

Recreation Components • Youth, teen and senior programming; kids indoor play area with arts programming.

• An indoor aquatic center, including a leisure/wellness pool, play structures for children, water slide, lazy river, lap swimming lanes, and deep diving well with rock wall.

• Three multiuse gymnasiums.

Civic Components • 250-seat community forum suitable for City Council and civic meetings, small performances and other events.

• Classroom and office space to be leased to higher education and institutional partners.

• City Hall offices (current City Hall will be converted to a needed public safety center) • Free public parking garage that provides easy access to all buildings and will support other City Center businesses.

Public Gathering Spaces • Community meeting rooms.

• Indoor public market featuring local vendors.

• Outdoor farmers’ market.

• Multiuse outdoor events space and plaza.

• A large indoor walking track (six laps per mile) with great views of the City Center area.

Lenexa governing body members and partners ceremonially broke ground for the Civic Center Project in June 2015 PHOTO BY ED ZURGA

2015 YEAR IN REVIEW •

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• Added a second Movie in the Park night, moved it to a larger park and offered family yard games before the show.

• Attracted thousands of people to City Center for Food Truck Frenzy and Lenexa Art Fair events.

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Not every city has comprehensive master plans for its parks, recreation and open spaces, like Lenexa does.

Our community is steadily implementing its plans, such as building an exciting new recreation center with aquatic facilities as part of the Civic S T TO Center Project. Here are Y TIN several Parks & Recreation highlights from 2015:

• Launched better online recreation registration software.

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Expanded parks and recreation offerings

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COMMUNITY SPIRIT & AMENITIES

• Offered new recreation programs with increased emphasis on family programming, including: Tiny Tots Triathlon • Race Across Lenexa • Family Campout at Black Hoof Park • Tot Soccer League • Adopt-a-Grandparent.

• Improved Freedom Fields ball fields and parking lot.

Also expanded Scouting Park in Old Town area.

• Replaced most of the asphalt trail at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park and added nearly 1,000 feet of new trail. Began installing a trail at Lenexa City Center from 87th Street Parkway to Prairie Star Parkway.

• Installed new monument signs at parks and gateway city entrances.

• Replaced or added new restrooms at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park and Little Mill Creek Park.

• Increased the number of community garden plots at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park and Electric Park by 33 percent.

4 • Lenexa is Breaking New Ground

FOOD TRUCK FRENZY

Engaging through the arts From procuring public art to developing programs, festivals and venues that support artistic endeavors, Lenexa has demonstrated a commitment to cultural enrichment.

The Lenexa Arts Council recently commissioned its first major pieces of public art since 2004. “Frenzied Flight,” by Lenexa artist Robin Richerson, was installed at Central Green Park in May 2015. “Amusing Breeze,” a sculpture by Chris Duh, is currently under construction and will be installed on 87th Street Parkway near the Sar-Ko-Par skate park in 2016.

Unique programs include the Theatre Hike at Black Hoof Park and

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the Art of Lenexa Contest. The city also launched an Outdoor Concert Series, with free concerts held in parks and featuring various music styles.

Volunteers provide vital support to city Lenexa relies on dedicated volunteers to help with everything from clerical tasks and habitat restoration to community festivals. In 2015, people volunteered 12,696 hours of time to the city, a value of $292,877* to help Lenexa provide the best possible service. City staff also custom built a new Web portal that offers easier volunteer signup and better administrative tools. *Source: www.independentsector.org

The pulse of social media The ways people use social media to stay connected to the world continue to evolve. In 2015, Lenexa added the Instagram photo-sharing and Periscope live-video platforms, and the Lenexa Police Department launched a Twitter feed.

From sharing safety information and reminders about upcoming events to resolving issues and giving away Lenexa gear, the city experiments with digital communications tools to enhance customer service and build community pride. Lenexa has one of the strongest government social media presences in the metro.

“Lenexa is an amazing place for families of all sizes and ages. All of the activities are a great way to bring people together and create a sense of community.” • RESIDENT

EDUCATION & LEARNING

Residents “score” with new I Like Lenexa App

participated in the program during the last 20 years.

Getting an inside look at police and fire work

In May 2015, the city launched a free I Like Lenexa mobile app — developed by city staff — to better connect residents to city parks, pools, events and landmarks. App users can learn about amenities, complete the Playground Passport puzzle, and earn points for checking in and completing fun tasks that can be traded in for Lenexa prizes. In 2015, more than 1,830 people downloaded and used the app, logging over 5,170 visits to parks, playground, pools and events.

Lackman Library relocating to Civic Center in future

Lenexa was one of the first cities in the metro to offer residents a chance to go behind the scenes and learn how the Lenexa Police Department keeps the community safe. The popular Citizens’ Police Academy has taught hundreds of people about everything from traffic enforcement and firearms to crime scene investigation. Today, the Police Department recruits many of its invaluable volunteers from this pool of graduates.

Learning About Lenexa teaches next generation The award-winning Learning About Lenexa program turned 20 in 2015. Lenexa was first in the metro to launch such a program, which engages 3rd-grade students from all seven elementary schools in the city.

Over the course of four sessions, the students learn how their local government operates, culminating in a highly anticipated visit to City Hall.

An estimated 14,000 students have

In late 2015, the Johnson County Library Board of Directors approved an agreement with the city to build a new 40,000-squarefoot library branch on city-donated land at 88th Street and Penrose Lane in Lenexa City Center. Plans call for moving the current Lackman Library to the new, larger building, which is projected to be under construction by 2019.

STEAM camp kids tour local software company Lenexa Parks & Recreation debuted a new STEAM camp summer program in 2014 to teach kids science, technology, engineering, arts and math in a hands-on environment. In 2015, the city partnered with Lenexa-based Lexmark Enterprise Software to introduce kids to professionals who use STEAM skills in their careers. Campers got to tour Lexmark’s facility, learn how to code, and see how video games and online programs are built.

“I greatly appreciate the [I Like Lenexa] App and knowing all the specifics of the park before we get there... Love finding parks we didn’t know about.” • RESIDENT

The Lenexa Fire Department is developing a Citizens’ Fire Academy that is slated to begin in late 2016.

The Police School Resource Officer Unit has engaged around 200 students through its Youth Police Academy since 2008. In 2015, 41 students from 18 different schools participated in this hands-on program, one of few offered in the Kansas City area.

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HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOODS More places to call “home” A sustainable city offers housing choices that meet the needs of residents with different preferences and budgets, and at various stages of life. As Lenexa’s population demographics shift, the city is working to fill the demand for diverse housing options, which in turn supports more commercial growth.

During 2015, Lenexa experienced its highest level of single-family home development since 2006, based on the number of new home permits issued. More than 1,000 multifamily units also were either under construction or approved in 2015 at half a dozen developments. Many of these are located in the vicinity of Lenexa City Center, which is planned to have greater population density and mixed-use development. In addition, more than 290 senior living units are anticipated at Dial Senior Living, Benton House and Village Cooperative of Lenexa.

Planning project takes a new look at Old Town The city kicked off an effort to develop an action plan for revitalizing Old Town, the original town site of Lenexa. This historic district includes businesses, homes and churches, some of which are more than 100 years old. The plan will help determine the right mix

6 • Lenexa is Breaking New Ground

OLD TOWN LENEXA

of land uses for the area, update design guidelines, identify how to improve pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and recommend ways to enhance traffic flow and access to Old Town. The project is funded through a $41,000 grant from the Mid-America Regional Council’s Planning Sustainable Places program and a city match of $20,500.

Lenexa receives funds for community improvement Upon reaching a population of 50,000, Lenexa became eligible to receive Community Development Block Grant funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2015. The city had previously gotten a smaller allocation through Johnson County Government as part of the county's program. These federal funds must be used to benefit low- to moderateincome households.

The city is seeking input from residents about priorities for spending approximately $218,000 in annual grant funds to address community needs. Examples include a property maintenance program, public facility improvements, ADA accessibility and support services for the homeless.

Reaching out to homes association leaders Since 2014, Lenexa has hosted spring and fall meetings with homeowners association board members to provide education on important community issues and address resident concerns. In 2015, topics ranged from police crime trends to reimbursement incentives for installing rain gardens. This outreach effort is building a strong bridge between local neighborhoods and the city.

Slowing tree damage from emerald ash borer Lenexa is planning ahead for widespread tree destruction caused by the invasive emerald ash borer beetle. During 2015, the city removed around 150 unhealthy or small-diameter ash street trees, treated another 300 and replaced 120 trees. Lenexa held educational classes and made presentations to homeowners associations about how to help slow the spread of this threat to Lenexa’s urban forest.

Staff also completed 50 residential right-of-way tree inspections and fielded more than 100 reimbursement requests through the Street Tree Replacement Program.

Lenexa was recognized as one of American Public Works Association’s Excellence in Snow and Ice Control Award winners in 2015.

INFRASTRUCTURE & TRANSPORTATION

Roadway maintenance is residents’ top priority according to citizen satisfaction surveys. In 2015, Lenexa experimented with a maintenance technique called ultra-thin bonded asphalt surface (UBAS) to extend pavement life. UBAS costs half as much as milling off and replacing the top few inches of road. It’s also faster to apply, causes less disruption to residents, and lasts twice as long as a microseal surface treatment. Expect to see UBAS applied in more parts of the city in the future.

Lenexa takes vehicle leasing for a test drive As the first municipal test case for vehicle fleet leasing in Kansas, Lenexa aims to cut fleet-management costs through newer, rightsized, low-maintenance and more

Senior Taxi service expanded for residents Lenexa expanded its Senior Taxi Program in late 2015, which subsidizes transportation services for elderly and disabled residents who are unable to drive. Taxi service is now offered by a third-party vendor 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and handicap-accessible vehicles are available to riders.

Tracking assets helps city make smarter decisions The city is always seeking ways to be more efficient with taxpayer

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COMPLETE IN PROGRESS PLANNED 2016 LENEXA BOUNDARY

W 95TH ST QUIVIRA RD

Making roads last longer

In 2015, Lenexa also hired a consultant to collect more accurate data on pavement conditions throughout the city using highly calibrated sensors. This information will be used to help better prioritize future road improvement projects.

PFLUMM RD

• Built or rebuilt 99th Street (Britton Street to Renner Boulevard) and Britton Street (Prairie Star Parkway to 99th Street) near Meritex Executive Park.

Underground storm drain boxes that collect rainwater deteriorate over time and are expensive and labor-intensive to replace if they fail or collapse. In 2015, Lenexa’s Municipal Services Department designed and built a trailer-mounted unit to line older storm boxes with spray-on cement to extend their useful life. Crews can now refurbish a box in 30 minutes for less than $150 rather than pay a contractor more than $2,000 to do the work. The city saved an estimated $75,000 in 2015 by lining 33 storm boxes in-house.

LACKMAN RD

• Cleared land for construction of a new portion of Ridgeview Road from K-10 north to Prairie Star Parkway.

money. The Parks & Recreation Department began using a new electronic system to generate and monitor work orders and plan preventive maintenance. Already used by the Municipal Services Department, this system seamlessly tracks work tasks, personnel, equipment and materials, and is accessible via mobile devices.

The technology helps the city resolve residents’ service requests faster.

Cost-cutting approach to preserve storm drains

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Lenexa invested $59,654,627 of its 2015 Capital Improvement Program in streets and bridges, traffic improvements, public buildings, parks, stormwater projects and major equipment. These two projects in particular will help open up new parts of the city for economic development:

fuel-efficient vehicles.

During 2015, the first full year of leasing 60 lightduty vehicles, the city reduced fuel consumption by an average of 22 percent over the vehicles they replaced.

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Supporting future growth

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The Kansas Department of Transportation's largestever Johnson County Gateway Phase 2 Project made many improvements in Lenexa to the K-10/I-435/I-35 interchange during 2015 to improve traffic flow.

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SAFE & HEALTHY COMMUNITY

FROYO WITH A COP EVENT

a wildland fire attack vehicle, an off-road rescue vehicle, a mobile emergency operating center, and storage pod transport vehicle. This versatility will enhance fire response services, is cost effective, improves efficiency, and will reduce longterm maintenance and replacement costs. Lenexa Fire Department is the first in the metro to explore this “transformer” vehicle approach.

Public safety community outreach and recruiting

Drone offers unmanned advantage for Fire

Technology helps police combat crime

Lenexa’s public safety departments got creative with their efforts to build relationships with residents in 2015.

The Police Department began hosting free Coffee with a Cop events around town so more citizens could chat one on one with officers about police procedures and other issues.

The police also held an open house and career information fair geared for people interested in a law enforcement career.

The Lenexa Fire Department is one of few in the nation to be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration to use unmanned aerial vehicles — commonly known as drones. The city currently uses a remote-controlled drone equipped with cameras for training exercises and to provide images of buildings and roofs, which could be used for reference during a fire. The Fire Department’s trained pilots had to attend ground school in order to operate the drone. In the future, there is great potential to use drones to conduct aerial damage assessments of emergency incidents, monitor safety conditions and assist with rescue operations.

The Lenexa Police Department embraces new tools and technology to help serve and protect the city. It was one of the first local cities to equip officers with body-worn cameras in 2009. In addition to in-car video, the bodyworn cameras record officers’ interactions and provide a perspective from their viewpoint. Benefits include increased transparency, quicker resolution of complaints, and improved citizen and police officer encounters.

Lenexa now serves as a resource for other police departments who are considering this technology.

The Lenexa Fire Department created trading cards that feature photos of the city’s fire stations and trucks, as well as important safety tips. Kids can visit any Lenexa fire station and answer safety questions to collect each card in the set.

In addition, the Fire Department expanded its approach to recruiting paramedics. Instead of only hiring people who have earned fire credentials already, the city now also seeks candidates who are paramedics and trains them as firefighters.

8 • Lenexa is Breaking New Ground

“Transformer” trucks are more than meets the eye Lenexa’s Fire and Municipal Services departments are working to engineer a new type of emergency vehicle to better serve Lenexa residents and businesses. We are outfitting three truck chassis with hydraulic lift arms that allow them to transform from one piece of equipment to another, including

The Lenexa Police Department was also the first law enforcement agency in the Kansas City area to launch a voluntary program for registering privately held security cameras to help detect and apprehend criminals in 2014. When a crime occurs, police can identify nearby registered video cameras that record public areas, and enlist the community to help officers collect video evidence to follow up on leads.

Johnson County NAACP presented Lenexa Police Department with the 2015 Community Prestige Award for active community policing programs.

SUSTAINABLE QUALITY COMMUNITY GROWTH Recycling offered at multifamily dwellings Lenexa has long been a local leader in recycling. (It was the first city in the metro to establish a comprehensive curbside recycling program in 1989!) When Lenexa updated its solid waste regulations several years ago, it became the first Johnson County city to require apartment complexes to provide recycling for their residents, which went into effect in 2015. During the past year, the city has worked with property owners and managers of multifamily complexes in Lenexa to make sure they offer recycling.

This effort prevents significantly more waste from ending up in area landfills.

It pays to improve water quality in Lenexa Lenexa’s Stormwater Cost-Share Program, funded in part by Johnson County, reimburses residents for practices that help absorb stormwater runoff and filter pollutants so they don’t reach our lakes and streams. To

help encourage participation in the program, in 2015 the city boosted marketing efforts and added a local match so that residents can now be reimbursed for 75 percent of project costs for rain gardens, native plantings and rain barrels (up to a maximum amount). These efforts led to a 225 percent increase in participation (from eight residents in 2014 to 26 in 2015).

Advances in e-government Lenexa strives to meet citizen expectations for e-government. For the first time, all types of residential building permits could be submitted electronically online in 2015, and most commercial permits will be available in 2016. Online permitting saves time for owners and contractors. The electronic plans can be retrieved more easily in the future, and records can be kept permanently available.

In 2015, the Lenexa Police Department and Municipal Court also deployed an digital ticketing system. Officers now use a small handheld device to print tickets, and they can easily transfer information to Municipal Court for processing, which cuts costs, increases productivity and is safer for officers.

Growing plants saves city thousands each year Ever stop to appreciate the beautiful landscaping in medians and on other city property in Lenexa?

The Stormwater Division of Municipal Services has developed an

award-winning program to grow native plants for onethird the cost of buying them from a nursery. Staff and volunteers collect native seeds, grow them in the city’s greenhouse (watered from a cistern that collects rainwater), and plant them in rain gardens, bioretention cells, native prairies and streambanks throughout the city. This program has saved the city $31,600 over the past three years.

The Landscape Division of Parks & Recreation also grows approximately 3,000 perennials from seed and 2,000 from plugs each year.

Crews collect seeds from plants on city-owned property and grow them in a polyhouse. Once mature, the perennials are used to beautify street medians and flowerbeds in many Lenexa parks. Compared to purchasing plants from a nursery, the city saves approximately $20,000 per year by growing them in-house.

The city even installed a remote irrigation system, allowing staff to water the plants without having to be on site.

Lenexa is one of few cities in the metro to operate a polyhouse/greenhouse that grows plants at this scale.

According to the 2015 citizen survey conducted by ETC Institute, 86% of residents are satisfied with city services — 30 points higher than the metro average. www.lenexa.com/citizensurvey

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STRONG ECONOMIC BASE Financial overview

Tax supports quality of life

Each year, Lenexa develops a balanced budget that allocates resources to best serve the residents and businesses of Lenexa. The city has a strong financial position, with projected revenues equal to or exceeding projected expenditures for the next five years, as well as appropriate reserve levels.

In 2008, Lenexa residents approved a 20-year 3/8-cent sales tax to help maintain the city’s roads, improve existing park facilities and provide new recreational opportunities. Forty percent of the tax revenues generated are used for roads and 60 percent for parks and recreation.

Lenexa retained top ratings from major credit agencies in 2015. This will save the city thousands of dollars in interest when selling bonds to finance capital projects.

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Development reaches milestone level Business is booming in Lenexa.

During 2015, building permit valuation reached $299 million, the highest volume ever. For the first time in the city’s history, construc-

CITY OF LENEXA 2015 TOTAL BUDGET* = $90,112,832 Sales & Other Taxes 46% Property, Special Assessment & Delinquent Taxes 39%

Revenues by Source

Charges for Services 8% Transfers In/Use of Balance Funds 3% Licenses & Permits 2% Fines & Forfeitures 1% Miscellaneous 1%

Debt Service 17% Community Infrastructure 16% General Administration 13% Transfers to Capital Projects 12% Parks & Recreation 7% Economic Development 5% Transfers 3%

Developers have proposed significant new office and warehouse space at the Lenexa Logistics Center on College Boulevard at Renner Boulevard.

Two other buildings were finished during 2015 at this business park.

A number of new restaurants opened to serve Lenexans in 2015, including: Antojitos del Peru • Brew Gallery • Coney Island • Fasika Ethiopian Restaurant • Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steak Burgers • Hokulia Shave Ice • Moon Wok • Mother Earth Coffee • Papa Murphy’s • Pegah’s Family Restaurant • Saints Pub + Patio • Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

New growth at City Center

Public Safety 27%

Expenses by Function

tion valuation exceeded $200 million for three years in a row. And 312 applications for new businesses were submitted.

Lenexa City Center is a 3.5 million-square-foot mixed-use development that is becoming the city’s new gathering space, as conceived in Vision 2020 and 2030. City Center will include a mix of housing, shops, offices and entertainment venues on more than 200 acres on all four corners of 87th Street Parkway and Renner Boulevard.

* Total budget is made up of multiple funds.

10 • Lenexa is Breaking New Ground

Lenexa was named the Google eCity of Kansas in both 2015 and 2013.

This award recognizes America’s leading cities in the digital economy.

Kansas City Business Journal honored three projects in Lenexa with 2015 Capstone Awards for outstanding real estate and development projects: ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN – Lenexa City Center Gateway Truss; INDUSTRIAL – Amazon MC15 Sortation Center at Lenexa Logistics Centre; OFFICE – Perceptive Software headquarters.

Here's a look at City Center development news from 2015:

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Preliminary plan approved for 27-acre mixed-use development including a three-story physician-owned hospital, 215,000 square feet of retail space and 300 residential units.

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Phase 1 of Penrose Place will include a 124-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott hotel and 5,200 square feet of retail space. Construction expected to be complete in 2016.

City Center North townhomes are under construction, with 61 units planned.

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Shawnee Mission School District to build a state-of-the-art competitive aquatic facility, the first of its kind in the metro. Expected to open by 2018.

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Future Johnson County Library branch is slated to begin construction in 2019.

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Lenexa Civic Center Project campus is under construction and will open mid-2017.

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EdgeWater Apartments construction underway on 276 units.

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Final plan approved for new sitdown restaurant serving American food with Latin flair.

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Hyatt Place Hotel and Lenexa Conference Center will open in the first quarter of 2016.

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Proposal approved for The District mixed-use development including 171 residential units, 44,000 square feet of office and 36,000 square feet of retail space. Will be under construction in 2016.

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The Domain at City Center will open 200 luxury apartments in early 2016.

Lenexa Governing Body TOP ROW Lou Serrone • Council Member • Ward 3 Mandy Stuke • Council Member • Ward 4 Michael Boehm • Mayor Steve Lemons • Council Member • Ward 1 Joe Karlin • Council Member • Ward 1

BOTTOM ROW Amy K. Slater • Council Member • Ward 3 Andy Huckaba • Council Member • Ward 4 Diane Linver • Council Member • Ward 2 Thomas R. Nolte • Council Member • Ward 2

2015 YEAR IN REVIEW •

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12350 W. 87th St. Pkwy.

Lenexa, KS 66215

www.lenexa.com • 913.477.7500 • communications@lenexa.com

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