Ward 1 Councilmember· 2024-01-01–2028-01-01; month-level start: January 2024, seat filled at the Nov 2023 general election per Johnson County Post election coverage; month-level end: January 2028, four-year staggered terms per the olatheks.gov Schoonover page which gives that term as January 2024 to January 2028
Robyn Essex
Olathe
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 18
- Total speaking time
- 29:51
- Avg per meeting
- 1:40
- Segments
- 532
Want every word Essex has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Essex said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
Residences at Heritage Park multifamily rezoning
Unknown — no cost or tax figures were included in the published agenda.
2027 Proposed Budget
No mill levy increase, but rising property values push individual tax bills higher; fees like the $40 transfer-station minimum also rise.
Scannell Properties industrial facility
Up to $55 million in bonds issued on the company's behalf through the city's industrial revenue bond program.
Johnson County Aggregates quarry expansion and SUP amendment
Not specified.
Santa Fe Street reconstruction (Ridgeview to Mur-Len)
Federal grant money of about $100 million sits on top of state KDOT funding; the state contribution was shown at $65 million.
Density and neighborhood transition
Residents fear the apartments will hurt their property values; the commission chair argued residential development would help values more than light industrial.
Dillons at Sunnybrook rezoning
A major new commercial anchor that should add sales tax revenue and retail services in west Olathe.
Traffic and safety at 143rd Street and St. Andrews
Expect possible city costs for signs and enforcement, plus rerouting costs for trucking firms—while drivers may see fuel or time savings if congestion eases.
Unified Development Ordinance update
About $300,000 in consultant fees over 18 months.
2026 revenue bond sales
$19 million in GO bonds and $173 million in temporary notes at multi-year low interest rates.
Pflumm Road capacity and safety
Widening Pflumm would require a cost-share agreement with Johnson County; no funding is currently identified.
Cooper Ridge residential development
Future development of the school district tract would trigger a traffic impact study paid through the development process.
Cedar Creek industrial revenue bonds (sales tax exemption)
No direct city spending — the exemption reduces sales tax the developer would otherwise pay on construction materials.
2027 state legislative agenda
Raising the frozen 21.5-cent excise tax could shift significant road costs to new development — staff will bring revenue estimates in December.
Martin Marietta Lone Elm quarry wind-down
The applicant agreed to dedicate right-of-way within 30 days for future widening of 151st Street.
Goal of raising commercial share of assessed valuation to 40 percent
Starfish Project special use permit at 135th & Brougham
The two-year SUP itself carries no direct city cost, but enforcement monitoring and periodic reviews fall on city staff.
Brougham Drive street improvement benefit district
The agreement covers utility relocation costs as part of the road project; the amount was not stated.
Industrial revenue bond and tax phase-in requests
Property taxes on these sites will be phased in rather than paid at full rate immediately.
Fire department breathing apparatus grant
Federal grant funds would offset the cost of new SCBA equipment.
Decisions during term (425)
Recorded while Essex was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Executive session — 159th Street and Lone Elm Road land acquisition
Authorize right-of-way acquisition — 159th Street, Brougham to Black Bob (PN 3-C-003-25)
Authorize right-of-way acquisition — Lone Elm Road, 119th to Harold (PN 3-C-040-25)
Consent agenda (items less C and H)
Resolution No. 26-1094 — land swap with USD 233
Supplemental Agreement No. 5 with HNTB — Santa Fe, Ridgeview to Mur-Len design
Ordinance No. 26-56 — special assessments for Broom Drive
Ordinance No. 26-57 — $5M industrial revenue bonds for TSSOL Real Estate (Third Street Social)
Park sales tax transfer — Two Trails Park Improvements (PN 4-C-032-26)
Agreement with VarietyKC — inclusive playground funding
Consideration of approval of the City Council minutes of the October 20, 2026 meeting.
Consideration of new and renewal license(s) as recommended by the City Clerk.
Consideration of Resolution No. 26-1095 adopting the City’s Investment and Cash Management Policy.
Consideration of Resolution No. 26-1096 for the Assignment and Assumption of Lease Agreements and Bond Documents from Sealy West 167th Street, LLC to SRRT 2261 Industrial, DST
Consideration of the Consent Calendar.
Consideration of award of contract to Waste Management Inc. for the disposal of biosolids from the City’s wastewater treatment facilities.
Consideration of the acceptance of a regional Department of Homeland Security (FY2025) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for the purchase of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).
MN26-1012: Approval of October 12, 2026 minutes
MP26-0008: Dalington, 3rd Plat minor final plat
FP26-0001: Prairie Canyon, Third Plat final plat
Voting record (254)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Executive session — 159th Street and Lone Elm Road land acquisition
Authorize right-of-way acquisition — 159th Street, Brougham to Black Bob (PN 3-C-003-25)
Authorize right-of-way acquisition — Lone Elm Road, 119th to Harold (PN 3-C-040-25)
Consent agenda (items less C and H)
Resolution No. 26-1094 — land swap with USD 233
Supplemental Agreement No. 5 with HNTB — Santa Fe, Ridgeview to Mur-Len design
Ordinance No. 26-56 — special assessments for Broom Drive
Ordinance No. 26-57 — $5M industrial revenue bonds for TSSOL Real Estate (Third Street Social)
Park sales tax transfer — Two Trails Park Improvements (PN 4-C-032-26)
Agreement with VarietyKC — inclusive playground funding
Fire Station No. 1 Critical Remediation (Res. 26-1084)
1432 Ironwood/Garden Level City Hall Build-out (Res. 26-1085)
Rehabilitation Policy Loan Program Amendment (Res. 26-1086)
Stormwater System Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2026 (Res. 26-1087 / Ord. 26-49)
Water and Sewer System Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2026 (Res. 26-1088 / Ord. 26-50)
Industrial Revenue Bonds for Scannell Properties #798, LLC (Ord. 26-51)
approve item D as presented.
approve the consent agenda as presented minus items D, E, F, and P.
approve item F as presented.
approve Ordinance No. 26-51.
approve Resolution No. 26-1083.
approve Ordinance No. 26-50.
approve Ordinance No. 26-49.
recess into an executive session for consultation with the City Attorney to discuss matters deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship regarding the Olathe Housing Authority pursuant to the
authorize the City Attorney to finalize and the Mayor or City Manager to execute a real estate contract with Overland Property Group, LLC.
approve item P as presented.
approve Ordinance No. 26-52.
approve item E as presented.
approve Resolution No. 26-1084.
Executive session on Olathe Housing Authority
Real estate contract with Overland Property Group, LLC
Consent agenda approval (minus items D, E, F and P)
UDO update professional services agreement (UDO26-0002)
Resolution 26-1080 — 2027 fleet vehicle purchases
Resolution 26-1081 — expired permit fee
Animal Shelter design contract amendment (SFS Architecture)
Ordinance 26-49 — annex 6.98 acres near 167th and Ridgeview
Ordinance 26-50 — Frontier Trails Logistics rezoning to M-2
Ordinance 26-51 — annex 70.12 acres for Johnson County Aggregates
Ordinance 26-52 — Johnson County Aggregates rezoning to AG
Resolution 26-1083 — quarry expansion special use permit (SU26-0007)
Resolution 26-1084 — existing quarry SUP amendment (SU26-0009)
approve Ordinance No. 26-48
Authorize Second Amendment to Development Agreement with Loretto Commercial Development, LLC
Authorize agreement for acquisition of downtown Olathe real property
Ordinance No. 26-45 (RZ26-0009) — Sunnybrook Commercial Development rezoning
Ordinance No. 26-46 (RZ26-0006) — College & Sunnybrook Multifamily rezoning
Ordinance No. 26-48 — 2027 City of Olathe Budget
Residents are concerned about rising property taxes and whether they can afford to stay in Olathe.