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.
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):
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.
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:
Options presented:
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.