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

PILLAR I: FINANCES & BUDGETING

Promote fiscal responsibility through balanced investment, fair taxation, and enhanced financial transparency and education for the Council and the public. 

 

Objective Performance

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Goal
Maintain balance between the fiscal support of existing services/ infrastructure, new initiatives and taxes.
Goal Update
Objective
Completed
Determine the needed mill levy to support services. Review needs vs “nice to have” in context of our incredible place to Live, Work and Play.Finance | Jeremy Willmoth (Finance)
Objective Update

During the FY 2027 budget process, it was discussed and decided by the Governing Body to keep the mill levy rate flat with prior years to fund ongoing and future operations of the City. This will be an annual discussion and decision point for future Governing Body deliberations.

Objective
Completed
Incorporate the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) into fiscal planning activities to further align budgeting activities.Finance | Jeremy Willmoth (Finance)
Objective Update

The capital improvement plan (CIP) approval process has been realigned with the budget approval process. Staff is currently refining long-term forecasts for capital needs along with operational forecasting.

Objective
Completed
Maintain AAA (Triple A) Bond Rating.Finance | Jeremy Willmoth (Finance)
Objective Update

The City's Aaa bond rating was reaffirmed for the 2026 issuance.

Objective
Completed
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.Finance | Jeremy Willmoth (Finance)
Objective Update

During the FY 2027 budget process, the County determined that the existing 1/8-cent sales tax would no longer be sufficient after County Public Safety Sales Tax III expired. In response, staff presented a proposal to the Governing Body to place a 5/8-cent sales tax measure on the March 2027 ballot.

Objective
Completed
Investigate the need for property tax relief.Finance | Jeremy Willmoth (Finance)
Objective Update

During the FY 2027 budget process, it was discussed and decided by the Governing Body to keep the mill levy rate flat with prior years to fund ongoing and future operations of the City. This will be an annual discussion and decision point for future Governing Body deliberations.

Objective
Not Defined
Review Ironhorse Golf Course Funding (review, operations, contract, finances, personnel, capital planning).Parks, Recreation, & Arts | Chris Claxton (Parks, Recreation & Arts)
Objective Update
Objective
On Target
Evaluate and plan for fire station & training needs, utilizing station location study, and understanding financial impacts in the context of other needs.Fire | Andrew Grove (Fire)
Objective Update

The project remained paused until Fire Chief Andrew Grove started in position. During the month of September the plan was being reviewed by fire department leadership and being scaled to meet expected budget. The plan is to meet with WSKF architects in October to review the plan for the fire station build at the Justice Center and start the timeline for progress to cost projections of the design.

Objective
On Target
Review all city-owned property for opportunities to reduce property holdings, if appropriate.Public Works | David Ley (Public Works)
Objective Update

During the Summer of 2026, the GIS intern mapped all city-owned property in ArcView. Staff is beginning to identify any potential properties that could be sold in the future.

Objective
Completed
Review Leawood Stage Company funding.Parks, Recreation, & Arts | Chris Claxton (Parks, Recreation & Arts)
Objective Update

This objective is complete.

Goal
Enhance the council’s and public’s knowledge and understanding in city finances and financial planning.
Goal Update
Objective
Completed
Change the budget timeline to enhance early council input into overall budget decisions prior to budget adoption.Finance | Jeremy Willmoth (Finance)
Objective Update

This objective is complete.

Objective
Completed
Incorporate into budget planning information about the long-term implications of investment decisions.Finance | Jeremy Willmoth (Finance)
Objective Update

This objective is complete.

Objective
Not Defined
Develop and implement a citizen’s communications plan with the goal of educating residents on city finances.Communications | Beth Breitenstein (Administration)
Objective Update