Garden City Commission Meeting
Week of October 28, 2026
Commission selects Garden City Arts for State Theatre contract
Zoo approved to host new holiday light show event
City urges participation in Safe Routes to School survey
Pats Drive rezoning for credit union parking lot passes 4-1
City backs tax credit application for 38-unit townhome project
Commission approves $13.6 million in bonds for wastewater improvements
Airport parking lot nears completion; taxiway project delayed
City to look internally for interim city manager
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran supports city's push for DHS office in southwest Kansas
Commission selects Garden City Arts for State Theatre contract
GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The Garden City Commission selected Garden City Arts to enter into contract negotiations for the future use of the historic State Theatre at Tuesday's meeting. After reviewing seven proposals and hosting a public town hall where applicants presented their visions, the commission unanimously chose Garden City Arts based on a formalized scoring matrix. City officials emphasized the project's potential to enhance downtown revitalization and bolster the visual arts scene for both youth and the wider community.
Zoo approved to host new holiday light show event
GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The commission unanimously approved a request from the Friends of Lee Richardson Zoo to host the "Wild Lights Holiday Light Show" in December 2026. The approval allows the zoo to close to the general public for the day of the event on Dec. 12 to accommodate setup and teardown. It also grants the organization permission to charge an admission fee for the new event, with all proceeds slated to support future zoo improvements.
City urges participation in Safe Routes to School survey
GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The city encouraged residents to participate in a community survey for the Kansas Department of Transportation's Safe Routes to School program. Garden City was recently awarded a KDOT planning and programming grant to develop policy and project recommendations that will make walking, biking and rolling to local schools safer. The ongoing survey asks families to map out how students travel to school to help the city identify and improve hazardous routes.
Pats Drive rezoning for credit union parking lot passes 4-1
GARDEN CITY, Kan. — In a 4-1 vote, the commission approved an ordinance rezoning four vacant lots at 1720, 1722, 1724 and 1726 Pats Drive from a multiple-family residential district to a neighborhood shopping district. The rezoning will allow Golden Plains Credit Union to construct an employee parking lot on the site, which previously housed four single-family homes. Prior to the vote, a neighboring resident submitted a public comment raising concerns about long-term commercial encroachment into residential areas, traffic flow and the loss of potential affordable rental housing.
City backs tax credit application for 38-unit townhome project
GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The city commission unanimously passed a resolution supporting a Kansas Housing Investor Tax Credit application for the Community Garden Townhomes. The proposed development, located at 1010 Bernice Ave., aims to build 19 duplexes, totaling 38 units of moderate-income housing. While the developer applies for the state tax credits directly, a resolution of support from the local governing body is a requirement for the application.
Commission approves $13.6 million in bonds for wastewater improvements
GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The commission authorized up to $13.625 million in general obligation bonds to fund major improvements to the city's wastewater and water reuse systems. The project includes the design and construction of a new influent pump and headworks facility, replacing the current 69-year-old infrastructure and doubling its channel capacity. The bonds will also cover a local obligation to match a $19.1 million Environmental Protection Agency grant, which includes acquiring pipeline infrastructure currently owned by Wheatland Electric Cooperative.
Airport parking lot nears completion; taxiway project delayed
GARDEN CITY, Kan. — City staff provided an update on ongoing construction at the Garden City Regional Airport, noting that the new parking lot project is slated for completion by Dec. 19. However, the planned Taxiway A pavement project will be pushed back to March or April of next year. Staff explained that winter weather conditions would prevent the contractor from maintaining the necessary operational phasing to safely open and close the runway during the colder months.
City to look internally for interim city manager
GARDEN CITY, Kan. — With City Manager Matt Allen set to retire early next year, the city commission unanimously voted to solicit internal candidates for the interim city manager position. Instead of seeking an external candidate or contracting with an executive search firm for the temporary role, the commission opted to prioritize candidates already familiar with the community and municipal organization. City staff will now develop a timeline and process to solicit interest, conduct interviews and make a selection to ensure a two-month overlap before Allen departs.
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran supports city's push for DHS office in southwest Kansas
GARDEN CITY, Kan. — City Manager Matt Allen reported that U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran responded to the city's recent correspondence regarding the lack of naturalization services in southwest Kansas. According to Allen, Moran acknowledged the city's adopted policy statement and has since issued a public request to the Department of Homeland Security. Moran is asking the federal agency to establish a full-time, permanent office in southwest Kansas and reestablish monthly mobile services in Garden City, Dodge City and Liberal.
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