Manhattan City Commission Summary
Week of September 23, 2026
Fort Riley Safe Passage program paused following ridership spike
Safe Passage rideshare modifies hours to stretch expanded budget
City staff commended for $285,000 savings on wastewater plant repair
K-State clarifies enrollment projections amid development debate
City to pursue historic designation for Sunset Cemetery
Residents advocate for Sexton's House historic preservation
KSU Foundation pitches public financing for $304 million Edge 3.0
Commissioners push for larger city share in Edge 3.0 TIF district
Proposed Edge 3.0 hotel draws skepticism from commissioners
Fort Riley Safe Passage program paused following ridership spike
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Fort Riley Safe Passage rideshare program is temporarily on hold after a surge in September ridership exhausted its funding. Jared Tremblay with the Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization told the Manhattan City Commission that the program, which subsidizes Lyft rides to prevent impaired driving among soldiers, saw usage jump from under 200 rides per weekend to 448 in September. The program is expected to restart Oct. 1 with the beginning of the new federal fiscal year.
Safe Passage rideshare modifies hours to stretch expanded budget
MANHATTAN, Kan. - When the Fort Riley Safe Passage program resumes Oct. 1, it will operate with reduced hours to prevent the premature depletion of its funds. The program will now run Thursday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m., targeting peak impaired-driving hours. Despite the reduction in operating hours, the program's overall budget will increase from $100,000 to $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 to better accommodate the 6,400 soldiers currently signed up for the service.
City staff commended for $285,000 savings on wastewater plant repair
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Manhattan city staff saved taxpayers nearly $285,000 by finding an internal solution to a major Manhattan Wastewater Treatment Plant repair. Mayor Susan E. Adamchak announced Tuesday that an initial repair estimate, originally projected to cost upwards of $300,000, was ultimately completed for just $15,000. The announcement followed recent municipal budget hearings where residents strongly urged the city to find internal cost savings and reduce taxpayer burdens.
K-State clarifies enrollment projections amid development debate
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Concerns over the feasibility of Kansas State University's aggressive enrollment goals were addressed Tuesday during a presentation on the Edge 3.0 development. Following skepticism from a commissioner regarding the university's stated goal of reaching 30,000 students, KSU Foundation CEO Greg Willems clarified the demographic breakdown. He noted that the target includes 23,000 physical, on-campus students and 7,000 online or non-degree learners by 2030, clarifying that the community should not expect an influx of 8,200 physical residents.
City to pursue historic designation for Sunset Cemetery
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Manhattan City Commission directed staff to begin the nomination process to place Sunset Cemetery and the Landmark Water Tower on the Register of Historic Kansas Places and the National Register of Historic Places. The designation would make the properties eligible for state historic trust fund grants and tax credits. While active burials will not be affected, ground-disturbing projects within the district will require historic review by the local Historic Resources Board.
Residents advocate for Sexton's House historic preservation
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Several Manhattan residents spoke at Tuesday's meeting to urge the inclusion of the Sexton's House in the Sunset Cemetery historic nomination, despite legal ambiguities surrounding the property's title. Proponents highlighted the house's unique status as a rare surviving caretaker residence and its deep ties to early Manhattan architects.
The historic Sexton's House will be excluded from the initial Sunset Cemetery historic district nomination until its ownership is legally clarified. Due to long-standing ambiguities in the property's deed, the Manhattan City Commission directed staff to initiate a quiet title action in Riley County District Court, a process expected to take a year or more. Once ownership is firmly established by a judge, the city may seek to amend the historic boundary to include the structure.
Residents argued the city's current maintenance and insurance of the property should be sufficient proof of ownership to proceed with the nomination.
KSU Foundation pitches public financing for $304 million Edge 3.0
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The KSU Foundation presented its Edge 3.0 development plan to the Manhattan City Commission, seeking approval for Sales Tax and Revenue bonds, Tax Increment Financing and a Community Improvement District. The $304 million project in the North Campus corridor includes an agricultural innovation center, an indoor track, a multi-use arena and commercial spaces. KSU Foundation CEO Greg Willems noted that public financing tools would cover 17 percent of the total capital stack, which he argued places the development risk entirely on the foundation and its private partners.
Commissioners push for larger city share in Edge 3.0 TIF district
MANHATTAN, Kan. - A proposed 80-20 split of Tax Increment Financing revenues favoring the developer in the Edge 3.0 project faced pushback from the Manhattan City Commission. Commissioners Andrew Von Lintel and Larry Fox expressed a desire to negotiate a 50-50 or 60-40 split, arguing the city needs additional funds to pay down existing North Campus debt and relocate a fire training facility. City staff and the KSU Foundation will negotiate the final terms before a formal development agreement is brought forward for a public hearing on Nov. 17.
Proposed Edge 3.0 hotel draws skepticism from commissioners
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The inclusion of a 140-to-150-room hotel in the proposed Edge 3.0 development raised concerns among some city commissioners. A commissioner questioned the viability of a new hotel, citing a reported 62 percent average hotel occupancy rate and anticipating increased competition for existing local businesses. Foundation representatives defended the hotel as a crucial economic driver, stating the on-site lodging is necessary to support the projected 100,000 annual visitors attending extended events at the new university facilities.
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