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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

City Council Conducts City Manager Finalist Interviews - May 1, 2025

City Council Legislative Session — Thursday, May 1, 2025

BodyKansas City, Missouri

SessionCity Council Legislative Session

DateThursday, May 1, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 4:34:39

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

That our colleagues catch all of your presentation, even if they're not around for us.

0:04

We have three city manager interviews today.

0:07

Our first is with our deputy city manager Kamiko Gilmore.

0:10

We'll go in the following order as we had discussed previously.

0:13

Miss Gilmore has 10 minutes to kick off up to 10 minutes, by the way.

0:18

You can use as much as you would like or not.

0:20

And then we'll have council questions going in in order.

0:23

Although you don't need to leave the clock on up.

0:26

It's just let us know.

0:30

That feels pressure.

0:33

And then we'll how about just given how we're rolling in, we'll go reverse council order.

0:39

So questions starting in the 6th in district for a five minute period for each council member, and we'll keep going around until we've exhausted our time.

0:48

Our plan is still for this to be about an hour and a half.

0:51

Mr.

0:51

Mayor, I'd just like to make one comment.

0:53

I think we should add the 10 minute whenever Darrell starts questioning.

0:57

Just are there any um instructions for the audience?

1:04

There are no instructions for the audience.

1:06

This is a no audience participation type of arrangement.

1:11

So it's uh more of a work session of the sort for city council is how we we mark it.

1:18

All right.

1:18

So uh with that, I think we're good to go, and we look forward to hearing from you.

1:23

Thank you, Mr.

1:24

Mayor.

1:24

Good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.

1:29

I want to begin by expressing my deep appreciation to the mayor and city council for entrusting me with the opportunity to serve as interim city manager.

1:38

It has been a privilege to step into this role at such a critical time, and I believe wholeheartedly in the promise of Kansas City and the people who call it home.

1:48

What drives me every day is a simple but powerful belief.

1:52

Government should make people's lives better.

1:54

And when done right, it can.

1:57

Our work is isn't an abstract.

2:00

It shows up in whether a child can walk safely to school, whether a senior can stay in their home with dignity, whether a small business can thrive, and whether a neighborhood feels seen and supported.

2:14

As city manager, I view my job as making sure goals, the goals that you set as elected officials become real, measurable outcomes for the people of Kansas City.

2:24

I bring over two decades of leadership in public service, and what has sustained me in every role, whether operations, facilities, or community engagement, is a steady commitment to collaboration, accountability, and transparency.

2:39

I believe in servant leadership.

2:41

That means listening first, leading with empathy, and making space for others to succeed.

2:46

It means lifting up the people doing the work, especially those closest to the challenges.

2:52

And it means staying laser focused on results, not just reports.

2:56

When I accepted the interim role, I made commitment, I made a commitment to two things right away.

3:01

First, to keep the city running smoothly through transition, and second, to stay focused on the long game, building trust, delivering on the council's vision for a safer, more equitable, more vibrant Kansas City.

3:14

I'm proud of what we've already accomplished.

3:17

We've stabilized internal operations, strengthened cross-departmental communication, and made sure key initiatives are continuing to move forward without disruption.

3:26

But I know this is this isn't just about holding the fort.

3:30

This is about what's next.

3:32

That's why I will launch the Kansas City Conversations Listening Tour, because the best plans come from the ground up.

3:39

Over my first 100 days, I will be meeting with neighborhood leaders, small business owners, faith communities, and city staff.

3:46

I will ask questions, take notes, and most importantly, listen.

3:51

This is important because people want to know that City Hall sees them, values them, and is working for them.

3:58

Our role at the administrative level is to ensure that happens and to bring a bias for action to every conversation.

4:06

We have to move faster, partner better, and communicate more clearly with the people we serve.

4:25

Each of you champions causes that matter deeply to your constituents and to the future of Kansas City.

4:32

From public safety and affordable housing to infrastructure, sustainability, health equity, labor rights, economic inclusion, and good governance.

4:42

Your priorities are broad, but they are rooted in a shared goal, building a city where every resident feels safe, supported, and seen.

4:51

As city manager, my job is to align city operations with your priorities, to bring focus and execution to the policies you advance.

5:00

I'm committed to making sure your goals translate into real world outcomes that improve daily life in every zip code.

5:09

Looking ahead, I believe the next chapter for Kansas City will be defined with three things.

5:14

First, execution.

5:16

We must get back to the basics and get that right.

5:19

And that means better project delivery, tighter performance management, and a culture of doing what we say we will do.

5:26

Second, engagement.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Economic Development███████████████████19%

Personnel Matters██████████████████18%

Procedural████████████████16%

Public Engagement███████████11%

Community Engagement█████████9%

Public Safety██████6%

Workforce Development███3%

Housing and Community Development███3%

World Cup 2026 Planning██2%

Summary of Proceedings

City Council Conducts City Manager Finalist Interviews - May 1, 2025

On May 1, 2025, the Kansas City Council held a public work session to interview three finalists for the position of city manager. The meeting took place from approximately 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The three candidates were Deputy City Manager Kamiko Gilmore, Planning and Development Director Mario Vasquez, and former Aviation Director Pat Klein. Each candidate gave an opening statement and then answered questions from council members. No public comments were heard. The council did not make a final selection; supplemental written questions are to be submitted by May 2, 2025, with further discussions expected.

Discussion Items

Kamiko Gilmore – Deputy City Manager

Gilmore emphasized servant leadership, collaboration, accountability, and transparency. She stated, “Government should make people's lives better.”
Her first 100 days would include a “Kansas City Conversations Listening Tour” to meet with neighborhood leaders, small business owners, faith communities, and city staff.
She identified three client groups: residents, the city council (13 bosses), and city staff. She said she is “100% for affordable housing” and committed to equity.
Gilmore expressed strong support for the council-manager form of government, calling herself a “purist.”
On economic development, she said Kansas City is “open for business” but that the council's policies must be followed. She noted the importance of listening to neighborhoods and adhering to area plans.
She addressed workforce morale, employee retention, and the need for trust. She stated she would “run towards the fire” in times of crisis.
She discussed her experience with the Linwood CID and the Homesteading Authority, and acknowledged challenges with houselessness and food insecurity.

Mario Vasquez – Director of Planning and Development

Vasquez has 28 years of city service. He stated that his approach is collaborative and that he brings integrity and honesty.
His top three priorities in the first 90 days would be: (1) building trust through community engagement, (2) assessing the management structure and department heads, and (3) addressing immediate needs such as World Cup preparedness and critical vacancies (Office of Emergency Management and Fire Chief).
He advocated for stability and coaching rather than large-scale changes. He said, “This city manager has to come into this position with the mindset of a coach.”
On pay equity, he emphasized periodic market studies and alignment of classifications.
He identified the renewal of the earnings tax (April 2026) and the Central City Economic Development Tax as critical revenue sources.
Vasquez supported the council-manager form of government and pledged to work for all 13 council members.
He highlighted his work on the Linwood shopping center project and stressed the importance of basics like home renovation and infrastructure in disinvested areas.
He noted that the city’s housing supply is flat despite rising prices, and called for fixing delivery of housing units.

Pat Klein – Former Aviation Director

Klein led the $1.5 billion KCI airport project, which he said was delivered on time and on budget. He emphasized relationships, communication, and data.
He proposed a 30-day “current state analysis” covering the budget, World Cup preparations, and major projects (jail and LID). A 90-day action plan would follow.
He committed to monthly one-on-ones with each council member, monthly meetings with department directors and union leaders, and quarterly meetings with business and community groups.
Klein stressed “relationship-driven transparency” to restore trust, including an open-door policy for employees.
He would use resident satisfaction surveys and data cross-referencing to guide budget priorities.
On economic development, he said he would be a “tough negotiator” on behalf of taxpayers and would work to reduce reliance on subsidies over time.
He expressed concern about the budget given federal tariffs, recession risks, and potential loss of grants. He noted that the city may face a reduction in force if revenues drop.
Klein supported the council-manager form and said his role is to implement policy set by the council.

Key Outcomes

The council interviewed all three finalists and heard extensive responses on trust, economic development, workforce morale, public safety, and fiscal stability.
Council members may submit supplemental written questions to the candidates by 9:00 AM on May 2, 2025. Candidates will provide written responses.
No city manager was selected during the meeting. The council will continue deliberations and expects to make a decision in the near future.

Meeting Transcript

That our colleagues catch all of your presentation, even if they're not around for us. We have three city manager interviews today. Our first is with our deputy city manager Kamiko Gilmore. We'll go in the following order as we had discussed previously. Miss Gilmore has 10 minutes to kick off up to 10 minutes, by the way. You can use as much as you would like or not. And then we'll have council questions going in in order. Although you don't need to leave the clock on up. It's just let us know. That feels pressure. And then we'll how about just given how we're rolling in, we'll go reverse council order. So questions starting in the 6th in district for a five minute period for each council member, and we'll keep going around until we've exhausted our time. Our plan is still for this to be about an hour and a half. Mr. Mayor, I'd just like to make one comment. I think we should add the 10 minute whenever Darrell starts questioning. Just are there any um instructions for the audience? There are no instructions for the audience. This is a no audience participation type of arrangement. So it's uh more of a work session of the sort for city council is how we we mark it. All right. So uh with that, I think we're good to go, and we look forward to hearing from you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. I want to begin by expressing my deep appreciation to the mayor and city council for entrusting me with the opportunity to serve as interim city manager. It has been a privilege to step into this role at such a critical time, and I believe wholeheartedly in the promise of Kansas City and the people who call it home. What drives me every day is a simple but powerful belief. Government should make people's lives better. And when done right, it can. Our work is isn't an abstract. It shows up in whether a child can walk safely to school, whether a senior can stay in their home with dignity, whether a small business can thrive, and whether a neighborhood feels seen and supported. As city manager, I view my job as making sure goals, the goals that you set as elected officials become real, measurable outcomes for the people of Kansas City. I bring over two decades of leadership in public service, and what has sustained me in every role, whether operations, facilities, or community engagement, is a steady commitment to collaboration, accountability, and transparency. I believe in servant leadership. That means listening first, leading with empathy, and making space for others to succeed. It means lifting up the people doing the work, especially those closest to the challenges. And it means staying laser focused on results, not just reports. When I accepted the interim role, I made commitment, I made a commitment to two things right away. First, to keep the city running smoothly through transition, and second, to stay focused on the long game, building trust, delivering on the council's vision for a safer, more equitable, more vibrant Kansas City. I'm proud of what we've already accomplished. We've stabilized internal operations, strengthened cross-departmental communication, and made sure key initiatives are continuing to move forward without disruption. But I know this is this isn't just about holding the fort. This is about what's next. That's why I will launch the Kansas City Conversations Listening Tour, because the best plans come from the ground up. Over my first 100 days, I will be meeting with neighborhood leaders, small business owners, faith communities, and city staff. I will ask questions, take notes, and most importantly, listen. This is important because people want to know that City Hall sees them, values them, and is working for them. Our role at the administrative level is to ensure that happens and to bring a bias for action to every conversation. We have to move faster, partner better, and communicate more clearly with the people we serve.

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