The Liberal City Commission met on Tuesday evening and after hear a report on lobbying services from the Watkins Public Strategies Group, approved continuing with the lobbyist consulting services agreement with Watkins Public Strategies as presented to be funded through the Economic Development portion of the 1% Sales Tax.

Commissioners tabled the Letter of Intent from the Air Products Helium Team.

Discussed and passed by the Commissioners was Ordinance No. 4636 – Common Consumption Area in Downtown Liberal. The primary goal of establishing this ordinance is to:
1) Address the growth in eating and drinking establishments in downtown Liberal
2) Allow for customer movement between businesses
3) Provide legal structure for special events and block parties to take place with proper permitting by the
vendors

The City will publish the guidelines for the public.

With Budget sessions coming up, the Commission adopted Resolution 2434 – Intent to Levy a Property Tax Exceeding the Revenue Neutral Rate
This Resolution would serve as the City’s official notice to the Seward County Clerk of their intention to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR). This Resolution provides an estimated mill rate, and the final mill rate will be determined when the City holds their RNR Hearing on August 26.

Keeley Moree, Chief Communications Officer presented the Commission with the ArkStar Group Airport Analysis Report
Notable metrics included:

• A 14% increase in outbound passenger enplanements compared to May 2024.
• The year-over-year May total percentage of seats filled (outbound load factor) has increased
by 7 points.
• Across a recent four-week span, Liberal Airport ranked 41st out of the 79 Essential Air
Service (EAS) markets (second quartile) for passenger throughput. In the prior four-week
span, we placed 53rd out of 79 markets, showing fast improvement.
• Across all EAS airports where SkyWest operates, Liberal Airport placed 23rd out of 33
locations for passenger throughput.
• 95% of the top 15 market destination airfares were lower than or competitive with
neighboring airport pricing.
• Liberal Airport’s Q4 2024 average one-way fare was 26% lower than GCK (Garden City), 9%
lower than ICT (Wichita), and only 3% higher than MCI (Kansas City).
• Liberal has a 100% controllable completion factor rating from Jan-May (no maintenance or
crew resource cancellations).

Commissioners approved the City’s Insurance Plan and approved the Agreement for Adventure Bay Family Water Park Assessment with
Waters Edge Aquatic Design for an amount not to exceed $11,000.

The waiver on the Lorraine Street improvements did not pass.

City Commissioners approved to replace the air conditioning unit for the Liberal Police Department Evidence Building in an amount not to exceed $12,500. For the airport, the Commission voted to to replace the PAPI and REIL systems for the crosswind runway. The amount of the project is $425,000. KDOT will pay 90% and the 10% City’s portion will be $42,500.

The Commission approved the contract from Earles Engineering for an amount not to exceed $100,000 to start the design stage of the cemetery expansion. This contract will cover the
topographic survey, street design and space, and headstone aprons.