Kansas City Council Business Session: Audit Scopes, Advanced KC Update, and Oversight Discussion - September 23, 2021

The Kansas City Council convened on September 23, 2021, for a regular business session. The meeting covered approval of previous minutes, presentations of scope statements for two city audits (illegal dumping and police body worn cameras), an update on the Advanced KC economic development process evaluation, and a detailed council member presentation on tracking of 129 resolutions and the Office of Citizen Engagement. A committee substitute ordinance for a bond issuance was also introduced.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of the business session of September 16, 2021, were approved by unanimous voice vote after a motion and second.

Discussion Items

• City Auditor Presentation: Illegal Dumping Audit Scope – City Auditor Doug Jones presented the scope for an audit of the city's illegal dumping program. The audit will examine how the city can improve community engagement to reduce illegal dumping and measure response times for cleanup. The work will include analysis of response data, review of program plans, site visits, and review of prior audits. The audit will not cover dumping in parks, waterways, or prosecution efforts. The report is anticipated for release in January 2022. Residents' satisfaction with cleanup efforts is at its lowest level in six years. Council members had no questions.
• City Auditor Presentation: Police Body Worn Camera Audit Scope – Auditor Jones also presented the scope for an audit of the Kansas City Police Department's body worn camera program, which deployed over 800 cameras between November 2020 and April 2021. The audit will assess whether access, supervisory review, and record retention comply with department policies and retention regulations; watch randomly selected videos to assess camera use; and compare body worn camera data with dispatch data to ensure all calls are recorded. The report is due by April 2022. Missouri Sunshine Law limits the audit's ability to review certain videos, which may restrict conclusions. Council members had no questions. The same presentation will be made to the police board on September 28.
• Advanced KC Process Evaluation Update – Assistant City Manager Carrie Tyndall presented an update on the council's directive (Resolution 210180) to engage, review, and create opportunities in the Advanced KC incentive process. The project emphasizes equity and uses a 21-member standing committee and a technical advisory committee. The committee has identified ten value statements, including equitable and inclusive tools, transparency, and focusing on addressing historic inequities. A survey of 100% of council members found affordable housing, job creation, blight remediation, and workforce development as key priorities. The committee has explored ideas such as incentive tiering, an equity scorecard, and a housing continuum. Staff requested council guidance on specific targets, thresholds, and whether to focus on the lowest-income housing or a continuum approach. Council members discussed the need for a more objective incentive framework, historic preservation, and the importance of industrial/light manufacturing jobs. Councilman Shields emphasized that historic preservation is more costly and should be recognized in tiering. Councilman Bunge asked how geographic targeting would work with different development types. The mayor encouraged staff to bring forward an ordinance rather than further discussion.
• Councilman Ellington Presentation on 129 Resolutions and Office of Citizen Engagement – Councilman Ellington presented a detailed critique of the city's failure to implement 129 ordinances and resolutions passed during the current council term. He argued there is no tracking system to monitor progress. He introduced an ordinance that would require quarterly evaluations of council directives. He also highlighted the lack of fulfillment of the Office of Citizen Engagement (Ordinance 210140, passed February 2021), including no FTE hires and missing monthly reports. He presented emails showing the city manager had promised to fill a community ambassador role but no action was taken. Volunteer Austin Taylor summarized community engagement work done voluntarily, including partnerships with the public library, Black Hawk Security, and others, which the city was supposed to perform. Councilman Ellington expressed frustration that his office's volunteer intern was told he could no longer serve, and that a youth program was locked out of a community center. He stated he would continue to fight for transparency and accountability. The mayor and other council members attempted to move the discussion along, but Ellington insisted on presenting his facts.
• Committee Substitute on Bond Issuance – Councilwoman Parkshaw introduced a committee substitute to Ordinance 210593, reducing the proposed bond issuance from $1 billion to $750 million and moving the ballot question from November 2, 2021, to February 8, 2022. Director Terry Lees was present to answer questions.

Key Outcomes

• Approved minutes of September 16, 2021.
• Received audit scope presentations; no action taken.
• Advanced KC update presented; council provided feedback on priorities such as industrial development, historic preservation, and transit-oriented development. Staff will follow up with a survey and continue committee work.
• Councilman Ellington introduced an ordinance (to be formally submitted) requiring quarterly tracking of all council directives; the ordinance will receive a committee hearing.
• Councilman Ellington pledged to present a future report on the status of the 129 resolutions.
• Committee substitute for the bond ordinance was introduced for floor introduction; it will reduce the amount to $750 million and move the election to February 2022.