Kansas City Council Meeting: Truth over Trust Survey and Aquatics Plan - August 10, 2023
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Kansas City Council Meeting: Truth over Trust Survey and Aquatics Plan - August 10, 2023
This meeting featured two major presentations: the results of the Truth over Trust survey regarding the potential renaming of Trust Avenue, and the draft Master Aquatics Plan for the city's water recreation facilities. Council members discussed the survey data, community engagement, and next steps for street renaming, as well as options for aging aquatic facilities including Swope Pool, Arbor Villa, and West Side pools. No formal votes were taken, but directions were given for further community engagement and refinements to the aquatics plan.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made at the meeting. Presentations were given by council members, city staff, and consultants.
Truth over Trust Survey Presentation
Councilwoman Robinson introduced the item, noting that a 2020 resolution had requested a strategy for removing memorials to slave owners. Chris Good, a former Parks Commissioner, described his private campaign "Truth over Trust" to rename Trust Avenue after Dr. Benoit Trust, a slave owner. Good emphasized the community engagement efforts: two t-shirts, a mural, a mailer to all corridor address holders, and a petition with nearly 1,800 signatures. Dr. Alec Sitole, the city's chief analytics officer, presented survey results from 1,027 responses (after removing duplicates):
- 76% knew who Trust Avenue was named after.
- 71% believed Trust Avenue is still known as the red line of Kansas City.
- 80% were aware of the effort to rename Trust Avenue.
- 72% thought Kansas City streets should not honor known slave owners.
- 55.5% agreed with renaming Trust Avenue; 44.5% disagreed.
- Of those who agreed, 72% had prior knowledge of the street's namesake, and 77% were aware of the renaming effort.
Council members discussed the need for a statistically valid survey, engagement with Gladstone (the road continues outside city limits), and the recommendation of "Truth Avenue" as the new name. Councilwoman French raised concerns about survey sample size; Chris Good responded that the survey targeted address holders along the corridor (4,000 sent) but was shared broadly, and that awareness was high due to extensive media coverage. The next steps include a potential ordinance to rename, with 14-day notifications to residents using private funds.
Draft Master Aquatics Plan Presentation
Lauren Osburn of Waters Edge Aquatic Design presented the plan, which evaluated the city's 27 aquatic venues (10 outdoor pools, 14 spray grounds, 3 indoor pools). Key findings:
- Six facilities are in poor or very poor condition; four are currently closed (Arbor Villa, Jarbo, Swope, Central Spray Ground).
- Attendance across outdoor pools is about 80% lower than expected (∼100,000 visits vs. expected 400,000+).
- Cost recovery is low: 11% for outdoor pools, 10% for the Bay, 60% for the Springs.
- Public survey (303 responses) and community meetings identified barriers: facilities not well maintained (49%), too far from home (35%), and lack of awareness.
- Six key themes: importance of outdoor pools/neighborhood facilities; interest in maintaining water recreation at Arbor Villa and West Side; desire to reopen Swope Pool; need for indoor competition swimming north of the river; need for operational improvements.
Options presented:
- Arbor Villa (District 6): Option 1 – convert existing wading pool to a circulating, health-code-compliant pool ($750K–$1M). Option 2 – convert to a splash park ($1M–$1.5M). No consensus in the community.
- West Side/Jarbo Pool (District 4): Option 1 – convert Jarbo to a small neighborhood pool ($3.4M–$3.6M). Option 2 – consolidate aquatic service at Tony Aguirre Community Center, expanding outdoor features ($3.3M–$3.5M). Council members raised concerns about Tony Aguirre’s foundation issues and underutilization.
- Swope Pool (District 5): Currently closed after 2019 flood, in poor condition with leaks, structural issues, and floodplain location. Option 1 – decommission pool and consider future expansion east of Kansas City (cost $200K–$400K for demo). Option 2 – decommission but install a splash park (not standalone) as part of a recreational hub. Council members, particularly Councilwoman Booth and Councilman Curls, strongly advocated for refurbishing Swope Pool, citing its historic value and importance to the African American community. The consultant estimated full replacement at $5M–$15M depending on size. Mayor Pro Tem and Councilwoman Robinson also emphasized the need for better public engagement in the fifth and third districts.
Key Outcomes
- Truth over Trust: The council will proceed with a potential ordinance to rename Trust Avenue to Truth Avenue, with further community engagement and notifications per city code. No date was set.
- Master Aquatics Plan: No formal decisions were made. Council members directed Parks and Recreation to:
- Provide a detailed option for refurbishing Swope Pool, including bathhouse restoration and cost estimates.
- Improve community engagement, especially in the fifth and third districts.
- Explore public-private partnerships and fundraising for Swope Pool.
- Present a refined plan addressing the concerns raised. The item will be discussed further in the transportation and infrastructure committee.
- The council noted that the current budget does not include funds for major renovations; deferred maintenance across parks is substantial ($37 billion cited by Councilwoman Robinson, likely a misstatement).
- No other ordinances or resolutions were introduced during the floor introductions segment.
Meeting Transcript
Our meeting will come to order. Our first item is approval of minutes for business session of June 29th, 2023. Is there a motion? So it's second from anyone. All opposed. Motion passes. Our first item today is the truth over Trust survey presentation. Councilwoman Robinson. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. To my colleagues, on September the 17th of 2020, this body passed a resolution requesting the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners to research, examine, and develop a comprehensive strategy for the removal of memorials and symbolic monuments, including street boulevards, and parkway names on city owned property, together with property under the jurisdiction of the Board of Parks Recreation Commissioners of figures that held slaves, promoted racism, or participated in the oppression of dehumanizing of others. So that was in 2020. Chris Good and I served as co-chairs of this work until the parks board got a new director, a lot of other priorities, and could not complete this work. So Chris Good in his private capacity launched an effort, Truth over Truth. And Mr. Good is here today to provide opening remarks. But before he provides those opening remarks, the bulk of our presentation will be given by Dr. Alec Sith Hole. He's the city's newly hired chief analytics officer. And just to provide some orientation for some and to remind others that on May the 25th of 2023, the city manager was directed to create a landing page for the purposes of obtaining input from residents, business owners, and property owners concerning the renaming of Truth Avenue. And that the city manager will report back within 45 days. So Mr. Good. Thank you, Councilwoman Robinson. Hello, everybody. Good to see you all. A lot of familiar faces. I do not feel like a stranger in these chambers. I've been standing on this floor for years now. Um speaking truth. And today is no different. Mayor Lucas, I appreciate this opportunity. All the new council. I wish you all the very, very best. I know it's a battle. I know it's a fight, and so I wish you all well. Um truth over truths. This is a little tough here. Can I move this? All right. Um truth over truce. I started a campaign last June, June of 22. Um, to remove the street name Trust Avenue. Um, at 30th and Truth for years, I was a tenant in our real estate um Black History Month of that same year. Uh we acquired the real estate. Um, ironically, in a place that was way, way, way many, many decades ago, a plantation. Um, not too far from there, which was comprised of an orchard where slaves picked fruit trees. Um I would imagine they were being whipped and sped on and abused and forced to pick fruit trees. We now own the real estate at 30th and truce, where I walked in a kid as the Day Old Bakery. Um, and we get the the very fortunate privilege of serving as the very ever very first ever healthy business on the east side of Kansas City, where we serve fruit juice in a manner that is dignified, that is noble, that is honest, uh, that is just and where the labor costs us money, substantial money.
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