Welcome PageFinances and Budgeting Council ReportQuality of Life Council ReportInfrastructure Council ReportCommunity Engagement & Communication Council ReportCommunity & Business Development Council ReportCity of Leawood
Maintain balance between the fiscal support of existing services/ infrastructure, new initiatives and taxes.Enhance the council’s and public’s knowledge and understanding in city finances and financial planning.Maintain Leawood’s leadership in providing an exceptional quality of life by maintaining high levels of city services.Maximize operating efficiency and effectiveness in city services.Enhance community well-being by promoting health through programming.Enhance and maintain infrastructure through planned and coordinated efforts.Create a long-term plan that considers varying infrastructure needs and environmental impact within the community.Ensure physical infrastructure to support city operations is efficient and includes appropriate technology.Explore innovations to support energy resiliency.Implement branding within the City, incorporating the updated City logo and ensure Leawood is visually distinctive from adjacent communities.Enhance public safety by promoting prevention, resilience, and community.Design and implement a community communication plan with a focus on education and participation in civic life.Foster Inclusivity, Diversity, and Community Engagement to support the Leawood community values.Update the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Leawood Development Ordinance.Strengthen Business Development in coordination with the Leawood Chamber of CommerceExplore options for beautification, preservation and utilization of city rights-of-way and green spaces.
Finances and Budgeting UpdatesCommunity Engagement & Communication UpdatesCommunity & Business Development UpdatesQuality of Life UpdatesInfrastructure UpdatesDetermine the needed mill levy to support services. Review needs vs “nice to have” in context of our incredible place to Live, Work and Play.Incorporate the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) into fiscal planning activities to further align budgeting activities.Maintain AAA (Triple A) Bond Rating.Gather data on the balance between specialized taxes (sales and storm water tax) and objective assessments of need and incorporate this info into the budget process.Investigate the need for property tax relief.Review Ironhorse Golf Course Funding (review, operations, contract, finances, personnel, capital planning).Evaluate and plan for fire station & training needs, utilizing station location study, and understanding financial impacts in the context of other needs.Review all city-owned property for opportunities to reduce property holdings, if appropriate.Review Leawood Stage Company funding.Change the budget timeline to enhance early council input into overall budget decisions prior to budget adoption.Incorporate into budget planning information about the long-term implications of investment decisions.Develop and implement a citizen’s communications plan with the goal of educating residents on city finances.Evaluate staffing levels to ensure community needs are met.Identify resident priorities.Explore opportunities for partnership with Homeowner Associations or assisting them to cooperate to enhance resident quality of life.Adopt a master plan for 96th & Lee property, creating a neighborhood gathering place.Explore options to discourage panhandling, such as resident education and partnering with other cities on collective messaging.Explore options for community composting.Explore volunteers and/or community organizations to assist with tasks for elderly/disabled residents relating to the Leawood community.Ensure high employee engagement and satisfaction.Establish a program review processes for revenue generating services to ensure efficiency of operations in relation to service and contribution to city resources that includes a policy review (including fee setting), data on use, duplication with other government offeringsReview Parks and Recreation programs (innovation, reach, participation) in relation to cost and fees.Improve employee health and wellness.Plan for storm water efficiencies and address flooding issues through careful study of solutions and how they fit into overall fiscal planning.Evaluate infrastructure in alignment with core standards to analyze and rate infrastructure health.Carefully consider implications of 135th street widening.Explore improvements to enhance safety on streets for cyclists and pedestrians.Continue the prioritization of street enhancements and communicate about it to the community.Review and improve energy efficiency in city buildings.Investigate options for future alternatives, such as solar generation, co-ops, power storage and micro-grids.As opportunities arise, consider updating monument signs, manhole covers, and transition to branded street signs.Explore partnerships with other communities and organizations to enhance public safety.Include in community communication plan information to educate residents on safety and share info with homeowners’ associations.Regularly review and update the Leawood Emergency Operations Plan, associated documents, and test plans through exercises.Continue to improve city communication efforts through expanded digital platforms and outreach initiatives.Ensure Leawood is a welcoming place for all.Review of committee structure for effectiveness taking into consideration representation and engagement in the community.Develop specific housing objectives relating to diverse housing types including smaller homes, multi-family units, and “missing middle” housing.Pursue strategies that further those housing objectives during the Leawood Development Ordinance update process.Strengthen ordinance pertaining to unoccupied homes.Attract new businesses to vacant storefronts and foster strong collaboration with existing businesses to ensure retention and commercial success.Update Chamber agreement, including reporting requirements & metrics; clarify Economic Development Council’s and Chamber’s roles in recruitment/retention.Monitor health of shopping areas.Improve communication with residents to keep the community informed and engaged about the economic health of the city.Maintain strong relationships with Kansas City Area Development Council and the State of Kansas in business recruitment activities.Create a City-wide tree plan that is forward-looking and accomplishes an understanding of tree inventory.Explore options to limit and/or remove temporary signs.Explore dispersed and self-managed garden spaces.Explore options for pollinator gardens and monarch gateway.
Finances and Budgeting MetricsCommunity & Business Development MetricsCommunity Engagement & Communication MetricsInfrastructure MetricsQuality of Life Metrics# drainage complaints vs. annual rainfall
Community Engagement & Communication Updates
City of Leawood
Goal
Enhance public safety by promoting prevention, resilience, and community.
Goal Update
Objective
Not Defined
Explore partnerships with other communities and organizations to enhance public safety.Communications | Brad Robbins (Police)
Objective Update

Throughout the months of June and July, the police department worked seamlessly with the Prairie Village PD and other partners to provide security for the English National Team while they were staying locally for the World Cup. On Sept. 3 one of our drone pilots responded to use the drone FLIR and assist Overland Park PD officers in locating an auto burglary suspect hiding under a tarp. A week later the OPPD dive team responded to help LPD and a volunteer team recover the car belonging to a missing person from 2016 after it was found in a neighborhood pond.

Q3 FD: The fire department completed EMS training with our county partner Med-Act. Chief staff has been engaged with county partners on updating and creating model procedures to standardize responses to different types of incidents.

Objective
Not Defined
Include in community communication plan information to educate residents on safety and share info with homeowners’ associations.Communications | Beth Breitenstein (Administration)
Objective Update
Objective
On Target
Create a crisis communications plan that ensures citizens have access to what they need even in times of emergency.Communications | Beth Breitenstein (Administration)
Objective Update

The Crisis Communications Plan has been drafted and being reviewed.

Monthly (county) and annual (nationwide) siren testing of all 11 outdoor warning sirens in currently in progress with 100% compliance.

NotifyJoCo testing does occur but is managed by Johnson County Emergency Management.

Social media messaging is used for emergency events. 

Objective
On Target
Regularly review and update the Leawood Emergency Operations Plan, associated documents, and test plans through exercises.Fire | Andrew Grove (Fire)
Objective Update

LEOP was reviewed and confirmed to be accurate to the operations of Leawood. No updates needed.

Goal
Design and implement a community communication plan with a focus on education and participation in civic life.
Goal Update
Objective
Not Defined
Continue to improve city communication efforts through expanded digital platforms and outreach initiatives.Communications | Beth Breitenstein (Administration)
Objective Update

Q3-2026: The police department published 31 social media messages this past quarter, including a human-interest video of a dog leading our officer to his injured owner. This post alone drew more than 100,000 views and 7,100 'likes.' It was also picked up and shown by local tv stations, ABC National News and several other national outlets. Among the PD's other posts were educational messages about e-bike and scooter safety, school zone safety, and speeding on I-435.

Q3-2026 FD: The fire department had over 27 social media posts in Q3. These ranged from highlighting crews training, fire safety tips, and informational updates about activities and department news. LFD was also highlighted on other fire/ems departments social media for providing assistance to structure fires and other events.

Goal
Foster Inclusivity, Diversity, and Community Engagement to support the Leawood community values.
Goal Update

Performance is strong overall across inclusivity, diversity, and community engagement, with six linked measures and one initiative above target, and four additional elements on target. Results indicate broad momentum in publicizing City and partner events, Sister City engagement, participation by minority-owned vendors, customer service survey performance, and efforts to maintain a welcoming community. Committee-structure review, demographic and geographic representation among applicants, and implementation of REIC recommendations are progressing as planned. However, the number of board and committee applications received, and the diversity in appointment rate remain below plan, while applicant referral-source performance warrants attention. These mixed recruitment indicators temper otherwise positive engagement and outreach results.

Objective
Above Target
Ensure Leawood is a welcoming place for all.Administration | Stephen Powell (Administration)
Objective Update

The initiative is performing above target, driven by strong results in community outreach, event promotion, customer service, Sister City engagement, and participation by minority-owned vendors. Board and committee applicant demographics and REIC implementation remain on target. However, overall board and committee applications and diversity in appointments are below plan, while referral-source performance is at caution, indicating uneven progress in converting outreach into broader recruitment and representation outcomes.