Garden City Commission Meeting
Week of October 7, 2026
City manager Matt Allen announces retirement after 25 years
Commission approves letter to congressional delegation over ICE raids
City manager reports over 100 arrests in recent ICE operations
Commission advances incentives for new Hilton-affiliated hotel
City manager Matt Allen announces retirement after 25 years
GARDEN CITY, Kan. - The Garden City Commission unanimously accepted the retirement notice of City Manager Matt Allen during Tuesday's meeting. Allen, who has served the city's workforce for 25 years, plans to retire in the first quarter of 2027, with a target date of Feb. 1. Following an executive session, the commission authorized city staff to issue a request for proposals for a third-party executive search consultant to conduct a national search for Allen's replacement. Mayor Tom Nguyen praised Allen's tenure, stating his leadership has doubled the community's valuation and generated immense economic impact.
Commission approves letter to congressional delegation over ICE raids
GARDEN CITY, Kan. - In response to recent federal immigration enforcement activity in southwest Kansas, the commission authorized Mayor Tom Nguyen to send a formal letter to U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann. Recommended by the city's Cultural Relations Board, the letter outlines the city's legislative platform on immigration and asks the federal delegation to answer specific community questions regarding the sudden operations. The action followed emotional public comments from several residents and a Marine Corps veteran who criticized the city's initial public silence and shared what speakers described as accounts of racial profiling by law enforcement and fear within the community.
City manager reports over 100 arrests in recent ICE operations
GARDEN CITY, Kan. - Providing an update on the federal immigration operations that drew significant community response, City Manager Matt Allen reported that between 104 and 107 arrests were made across southwest Kansas from Sept. 22 to Sept. 24. Allen stated that city staff are working with the federal delegation to clarify the impacts of the operation. Additionally, the city is scheduling a joint meeting between the Cultural Relations Board and the Public Safety Advisory Board to discuss cultural competencies, review lessons learned and formulate future policy recommendations for the city commission.
Commission advances incentives for new Hilton-affiliated hotel
GARDEN CITY, Kan. - A proposed 110- to 124-room Hilton-affiliated hotel moved forward Tuesday after the commission approved a resolution of intent to issue industrial revenue bonds for the developer. The bonds will provide a sales tax exemption on construction materials, equipment and furnishings for the commercial development located at 3210 E. Mary St. The commission also unanimously approved resolutions to set public hearings for Nov. 3 and Nov. 17 to establish a Community Improvement District and a Tax Increment Financing redevelopment plan for the project.
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