Kansas City Council Meeting - March 21, 2024

The Kansas City Council met on March 21, 2024, with 13 members present. The meeting included special recognitions, approval of multiple tax increment financing (TIF) plans, water infrastructure contracts, a new employee home ownership assistance program, and the establishment of an alternative response program (REACH) for non-emergency quality-of-life calls. Most ordinances passed unanimously, with two dissenting votes on the REACH program and one on the I-29 & 435 TIF plan.

Recognitions

• 240266: Honoring the Junior League of Kansas City for 110 years of service, raising over $18.5 million and providing 2.5 million volunteer hours. Adopted unanimously.
• 240300: Honoring former Health Department CFO Vicky Watson for her 19 years of service and fiscal stewardship. Adopted unanimously.

Consent Calendar (Routine Items Passed Unanimously)

• 240272: Appointment of successor directors to the I-435 and Bluegrass Cutoff Community Improvement District. Passed 13-0.
• 240280: Appointments to the TIF Commission (Michael McGee, Tom Porto, Mario Vesquez, Morgan Holichek). Passed 13-0.
• 240236–240239: Four water main design professional service contracts (totaling approximately $2.4 million) with HTB Corporation, Wilson & Company, Lamp Rynearson, and Jacobs Engineering Group to improve distribution system reliability, hydraulic conveyance capacity, and fire protection. Passed 13-0 each.
• 240293: Resolution directing the city manager to develop a plan for transportation and job access supports for neighborhoods with high poverty rates, report back in 180 days. Passed 13-0.
• 240257: HVAC building automation system contract with Control Services Company (indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, may exceed $1 million). Passed 13-0.
• 240261: Renaming the "Silver Hair City Council" to "Senior Citizens Advisory Council." Passed 13-0.
• 240285: Termination of the Northwest 112th Street Community Improvement District (single-owner district, no assets). Passed 13-0.
• 240278: Contract amendment with Gary & Associates Insurance Agency for health care trust advisory services. Passed 13-0.
• 240217: Rezone of 0.3 acres at 4511–4521 Summit Street from R-1.5 to R-0.75 to allow a 16-unit apartment complex (protest petition filed; concerns about stormwater and parking addressed). Passed 13-0.
• 240045: Establishment of a Clay County TIF Commission to comply with recent state law changes. Passed 13-0.
• 240092: Acceptance of a $4 million ARPA-funded violent crime reduction grant from the Missouri Department of Public Safety, plus $100,000 from public safety sales tax for an investigative analyst program. Passed 13-0.
• 240252: Assignment of the South Loop design contract from the Port Authority to the city (using previously appropriated $10 million). Passed 13-0.
• 240281: Grade changes and street dedication for NE 48th Street improvements. Passed 13-0.
• 240282: Electrical maintenance and repair services contract (indefinite delivery, may exceed $1 million). Passed 13-0.
• 240283: Sidewalk, curb, and traffic calming device installation contract (indefinite delivery, may exceed $1 million; 15% MBE, 16% WBE goals). Passed 13-0.

Discussion Items

• 240190 – 9th and Van Brunt Athletic Field Renovations: Appropriated $3 million from the park sales tax fund for synthetic turf, locker rooms, lighting, scoreboards, press box, and bleachers. An amendment (passed 13-0) required the parks department to retain ownership, budget $42,000 annually for field maintenance for 15 years, implement a use policy prioritizing affordable youth programming and neighborhood access, and establish a nine-member advisory committee that meets at least twice a year (including two members from the Lykins Neighborhood Association). Passed 13-0.
• 240258/240259 – Historic Northeast TIF Plan and Redevelopment Area: Approved a TIF plan for a 389-unit multifamily development (322 units reserved as affordable housing for tenants earning ≤80% of Kansas City median household income), plus 13,000 sq ft retail, 30,000 sq ft daycare/after-school program, and 500 parking spaces. The project area is bounded by Parvin Road, Van Brunt Boulevard, East 23rd Street, and I-435. Passed 13-0.
• 240260 – I-29 and 435 TIF Plan: Approved a TIF plan for a covered airport parking facility on 30.5 acres, with an accessory office building, retail, convenience store, gas station, drive-through restaurant, and roundabouts. Later amendments may include 200,000 sq ft commercial space and two hotels. The plan includes $5.5 million in capital improvements for the Northwest Cookingham/North Ambassador Drive project. Passed 12-1 (one dissenting vote).
• 240277 – Employee Home Ownership Assistance Program: Established a pilot program with $750,000 from the Development Services Fund. Provides loans up to $30,000 for down payment assistance and $5,000 for closing costs, plus financial counseling. The program is based on a survey where 51% of employees indicated they would seek homeownership with assistance. The city manager must report back in one year. Passed 13-0.
• 240284 – Kansas City Alternative Response Program (REACH): Established a program in the health department to respond to non-emergency quality-of-life calls via 311, providing immediate shelter, basic needs, outreach, and case management. The program aims to divert individuals from the criminal justice system. Councilman Duncan noted that 1.2% of police calls are crisis-related, and a frequent utilizer case cost $40,000 per month. The program was developed from the Alternatives to Incarceration Commission. Passed 11-2 (Councilmen Rogers and Willett dissented, expressing concerns about moving too quickly and the need for a detention center).
• 240255 – Safe Roads and Streets for All (Vision Zero) Planning: Authorized a $1,119,192 contract with Burns & McDonald Engineering (14% MBE/WBE) funded by an $880,000 federal grant. The project will create a streets design guide, update the major street plan (last updated 2011), perform a comprehensive speed limit review, and update the traffic engineering manual with a Vision Zero focus. In 2023, Kansas City had 61 fatalities and 305 serious injury crashes on city streets. Passed 13-0.
• 240271 – Streetcar Main Street Extension: Authorized three contract amendments totaling $3.2 million for design, vehicle engineering, and construction administration services. The project remains on time and on budget. Passed 12-0 (one member absent).

Key Outcomes

• All ordinances listed in the Consent Calendar and Discussion Items were adopted or passed, as noted.
• The charter requirement for reading ordinances on three separate days was waived for first and second readings, allowing items to advance.
• One item (240160 – honorary street naming) was pulled from the docket and will be placed on the semi-annual docket for possible future consideration.
• The next meeting was announced for March 28, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. (Royals Opening Day).