Garden City Commission Meeting
Week of September 16, 2026
City approves additional funds for moderate-income housing project
Commission grants parking waiver for fitness facility
Hunters Glen street renamed to honor Steve Cottrell
City approves closure, admission fee for Boo at the Zoo
Downtown Garden City braces for massive Fall Fest crowds
City schedules open town hall meeting for late September
Hospital leadership briefs commission on state of local healthcare
City approves additional funds for moderate-income housing project
GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The Garden City Commission unanimously approved a second amendment to a Moderate Income Housing (MIH) grant agreement with the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, securing an additional $97,832.66 for a residential development at 1801 Palace Drive. The project, being developed by Garden City Partners I, LLC, was initially awarded $2 million in MIH American Rescue Plan Act funds and $1.22 million in state housing investment tax credits. Commissioners also approved a corresponding agreement with Garden City Partners I, LLC to pass through the additional funds.
Commission grants parking waiver for fitness facility
GARDEN CITY, Kan. — Commissioners approved a parking waiver for a new physical fitness center moving into a multi-tenant commercial space at 1213 Fleming St. Under current zoning regulations, the gym's square footage and employee count — combined with existing tenants including a church and a chiropractor — required 89 total parking spaces on a lot that only has 60. A representative for the fitness center noted that the gym's peak hours do not conflict with the church's services, making the current lot sufficient. The waiver passed unanimously, with one commissioner recusing themselves from the vote.
Hunters Glen street renamed to honor Steve Cottrell
GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The commission unanimously passed an ordinance to rename Carpenter Avenue to Cottrell Avenue within the Hunters Glen Phase 3B subdivision. The name change honors Steve Cottrell for his extensive work in developing the subdivision and his long history of involvement in Garden City development projects. City staff noted that while townhomes are currently under construction on the street, no certificates of occupancy have been issued yet, making it the ideal time to notify the post office and utility companies of the address change.
City approves closure, admission fee for Boo at the Zoo
GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The Friends of the Lee Richardson Zoo received unanimous approval from the commission to host the 2026 Boo at the Zoo event. The city's approval includes permission to close the zoo to the general public on the day of the event for setup and allows the nonprofit organization to charge an admission fee for event attendees.
Downtown Garden City braces for massive Fall Fest crowds
GARDEN CITY, Kan. — Commissioners highlighted the upcoming Fall Fest, scheduled for this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Garden City. The annual community event is expected to feature numerous local vendors and draw an estimated 11,000 to 13,000 people. Commissioners praised the festival as a tremendous economic and social boost for the downtown area.
City schedules open town hall meeting for late September
GARDEN CITY, Kan. — Garden City will host a public town hall meeting on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. to hear directly from residents. Commissioners encouraged the public to attend the evening meeting, emphasizing that it provides a critical, accessible line of communication for citizens to share concerns and ideas with their local government officials.
Hospital leadership briefs commission on state of local healthcare
GARDEN CITY, Kan. — During Tuesday's pre-meeting, healthcare executive Jason Justus presented to the commission regarding the state of CommonSpirit St. Catherine Hospital – Garden City and healthcare access across southwest Kansas. Justus serves as president for CommonSpirit's St. Catherine Hospital – Garden City, St. Catherine Hospital – Dodge City, and Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital. Commissioners expressed appreciation for the transparent dialogue, noting that the preliminary discussions opened the door for future collaborations between the city and the hospital to ensure sustainable medical services for the region.
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