Bus funding in jeopardy, safety improvements to 39th Street, and new apartments at 27th and Troost.
- Beacon Hill
- Berkeley Riverfront
- Crossroads
- Downtown Loop
- East 23rd St PAC
- East Crossroads
- Hyde Park
- Ivanhoe
- Key Coalition
- Longfellow
- Manheim Park
- Martin City
- Northland
- Oak Park
- Old Hyde Park
- River Market
- Santa Fe
- Southmoreland
- South Roundtop
- Squier Park
- Swope Ridge
- Union Hill
- Washington Wheatley
- Wendell Phillips
- West Bottoms
- Westport
- Westside
Transportation, Infrastructure, and Operations Committee
Tuesday, July 29th at 9am
The Transportation, Infrastructure, and Operations Committee is headed by Chairperson Kevin O’Neill and Vice Chair Melissa Robinson, along with Councilmembers Eric Bunch, Johnathan Duncan, and Lindsay French. Vice Chair Melissa Robinson was not in attendance today, and Councilmember Eric Bunch stood in for her position this meeting.
Ordinance 250602 requested authorization of an amendment to a service agreement with WSP Inc. for professional design services in the amount of $695,794.23. This agreement covers the project at Grand Boulevard Bridge in between the River Market and Berkeley Riverfront, adding bike and pedestrian accommodations. Jason Waldron, Director of Transportation in Public Works, and Project Manager Eric Falk presented this ordinance before the Committee.
This bridge project is part of the larger Riverfront Streetcar Extension project. The bike/ped bridge will be parallel to the existing Grand Boulevard bridge for the Streetcar. The Committee moved to recommend authorization of the amendment with little deliberation. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
Ordinance 250603 requested appropriation of $575,000.00 to the Holmes Road – 137th St to Blue Ridge Boulevard Project, in Martin City, using unappropriated funds from the Arterial Street Impact Fee Fund. City Engineer Nicholas Bosonetto and Randy Alewine presented this ordinance before the Committee.
Public Works will use GO Bond money to complete the project, but money is also needed from the City’s right-of-way fund. Roadway improvements will include curb, sidewalk, streetlights, new pavement and infrastructure improvements. The Committee moved to recommend approval of the appropriation with little deliberation. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
Ordinance 250604 requested authorization for the Director of Public Works to appropriate $166,040.00 to be added to the 2025-26 Cooperative Agreement with Bike Share KC.
This ordinance was held by the Committee in advance of the meeting.
Ordinance 250607 requested appropriation of $600,000.00 to the Northwest Barry Rd & North Amity Ave Traffic Signal Project in Line Creek in the Northland. Nicholas Bosonetto and City Transportation Engineer, Sam Akula, presented this ordinance before the Committee.
This project concerns the intersection at Amity and Barry Rd. There is a history of crashes at the location and a signal has been called for as early as 2022. Impact fees would be levied against districts one and two, as the location falls within both areas. The Committee moved to recommend approval of the appropriation with little deliberation. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
Ordinance 250608 requested approval of various Traffic Regulations in compliance with Chapter 70 of the Code of Ordinances. City Traffic Engineers Sam Akula and Monica Kearney, along with Angie Laurie, Assistant Director of Transportation, presented this ordinance before the Committee.
This ordinance concerned installing signage at multiple locations across town for parking, yielding, restricted turns, direction of traffic, etc.
To see where this signage will be added, click the hyperlink attached to the docket item title above (“Ordinance 250608”). Then, on the resulting City Clerk webpage, click on attachment 5 “Traffic Regulations Installations.pdf”
The Committee moved to place this ordinance on consent agenda for Council, recommending it for approval with little deliberation. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
Water Department Update: Water Department Staff gave an update to the Committee about services. Concerns were brought by various Councilmembers about people’s ability to pay their water bill, and ideas were floated regarding expanding forms of payment and locations where one can pay their bill in person. At present, the only in-person site for payment is City Hall. One representative from the department reported that they had been in communication with the Parks Department about possibly installing kiosks for payment in community centers, though this has not been finalized.
Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee
Tuesday, July 29th at 10:30am
The Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee is headed by Chairperson Andrea Bough and Vice Chair Quinton Lucas, along with Councilmembers Crispin Rea, Darrell Curls, and Wes Rogers. Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw and Councilmembers Johnathan Duncan, Melissa Patterson-Hazley, and Kevin O’Neill were also in attendance.
Ordinance 250592 requested accepting a $250,000.00 Capacity Building Grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to provide administrative support for KC BizCare’s Storefront Vacancy Program, entitled, “City of Entrepreneurs” in partnership with Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City. Nia Webster, Assistant Director of Neighborhood Services, presented this ordinance before the Committee.
The program is expected to launch later this summer or early this fall. Interest forms are available for property owners, small businesses, and artists who may qualify. The Committee moved to recommend that Council accept the Grant for this program. The City Council later affirmed this recommendation, accepting the grant on Thursday.
Ordinance 250593 requested authorization of the Manager of Procurement to enter into a one-year contract renewal with Allen, Gibbs, & Houlik, L.C., to perform the annual independent audit of the City’s books and records for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2025. Mayor Quinton Lucas presented this ordinance to the rest of the Committee.
The City Charter requires that there be an independent annual external audit. After the completion of this audit, City Staff will later present the results to the City Council in an open meeting. The Committee moved to recommend authorizing the contract for this audit. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
Ordinance 250594 requested appropriation of $1,500,000.00 from the Liberty Memorial Trust Fund for improvement and repair projects at the Liberty Memorial and the Memorial Museum, near the Union Hill neighborhood. Ryan Droege from Parks and Recreation and Dr. Matt Naylor from the World War I Memorial presented this ordinance before the Committee.
In 1998, citizens voted to approve a one-year, one-half cent sales tax and the creation of the Liberty Memorial Endowment Trust Fund. In 2012, Parks and Recreation entered into an agreement with the Liberty Memorial Association (LMA) for the management and operation of the site. In the agreement, the LMA is to be reimbursed from the endowment for maintenance and upkeep. The endowment has not been used to fund improvements to the Liberty Memorial since 2013, and as of late June 2025 has a balance over $10 million.
This ordinance was brought before the Parks and Recreation Board of Commissioners on June 17th, and was covered in that week’s edition of the blog.
The Committee moved to recommend the appropriation to fund these repairs with little deliberation. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
Ordinance 250595 requested approval to decommission the Twelfth & Wyandotte Hotel Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Plan, in the Downtown Loop, and to terminate the designation of the related Redevelopment Area. David Leader from the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, presented this ordinance before the Committee.
This TIF plan was originally approved in 1992 for various KC hotel partners with properties downtown. Projects 1 and 2 of this plan included renovation of the existing Barney Allis Plaza Hotel and Muehlbach Hotel. Project 3 was set to renovate the Muehlbach parking garage but construction for this project never occurred. Project 4 concerned renovating the Aladdin Hotel and making improvements to the sidewalk and pedestrian tunnel connecting to the Municipal Auditorium parking garage.
The Aladdin opened in 2007 as a Holiday Inn and was closed again in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the hotel is being renovated again by Molzer Development, this time into apartments. Termination of the TIF would reimburse the surplus of any remaining funds to the taxing jurisdictions.
The Committee moved to recommend approval of this ordinance and that it be placed on the Council’s Consent Agenda. The Full Council later followed that recommendation this Thursday, passing the ordinance.
Ordinance 250596 requested approval to decommission the Judicial Square Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Plan, in the Downtown Loop, and to terminate the designation of the related Redevelopment Project Area. David Leader also presented this ordinance before the Committee.
This TIF concerns the property at 1301 Oak, near the T-Mobile Center. The TIF was originally approved in 2003 and included mechanical systems improvements to the building at the site, which now houses professional office space with a restaurant and retail on the first floor. Improvements from the TIF projects raised the assessed value for the property from $420,000 in 2003 to $1.5 million today. As with the previous ordinance, termination of this TIF would reimburse the surplus of any remaining funds to the taxing jurisdictions.
The Committee moved to recommend approval of this ordinance and that it be placed on the Council’s Consent Agenda. The Full Council later followed that recommendation this Thursday, passing the ordinance.
Ordinance 250597 requested approval of a Chapter 100 Industrial Development Plan for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, for the purpose of constructing a project for industrial development located at 1400 Baltimore St in the Downtown Loop and Crossroads neighborhoods. David Leader also presented this ordinance before the Committee.
Leader explained that this project adds 50 new jobs, retains 1150 jobs, and relocates 75 jobs with average wages between $75k-$105k per year.
A 2022 article from Flatland reported on the anticipated move, and provided more information on the development process for this new headquarters.
The Committee moved to recommend approval of this development plan. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
Ordinance 250599 requested to establish Fund No. 3457, the Special Obligation Bond Series 2026B Projects Fund, estimating a revenue of $5,800,850.00. It also requested authorization of two change orders, one with Infrastructure Solutions LLC for $4,056,045.00 and one with Renaissance Infrastructure Consultants for $283,923.15, both for the West Bottoms Phase I Project. Sean Carroll, Manager of Development Finance and Randy Alewine from public works, presented this ordinance before the Committee.
Public infrastructure for this project is expected to come in two phases. These improvements will include water mains, sanitary and storm sewers, streets, curbs and sidewalks, streetscape development, and streetlights.
Carroll also gave updates on project improvements that will be made by Somera Road, the private developer for the project. Renovation of the Moline Plow, Perfection Stove, and Firehouse buildings is expected to be completed by sometime in 2026, which will provide a mix of uses including residential, office, and commercial retail. Construction on Moline and Perfection Stove is expected to begin sometime this August or September. The Crooks Terminal building will be renovated sometime 2027, housing offices and retail. The Avery and Weld Wheel sites are expected to be completed by 2028, providing residential and hotel units along with retail. Finally, by 2030, the Boxing Gym is slated to be finished, providing residential and retail.
The Finance Department provided these renderings of a renovated Moline Plow and Perfection Stove building.
Carroll explained, however, that there are risks with special obligation bonds. Issues that may arise include:
- Private development not occurring as anticipated, impacting TIF Revenues available for debt service.
- Private development not generating the projected TIF Revenues.
- Voters choosing not to renew certain taxes that impact TIF Revenues.
The Committee, after hearing the presentation, moved to recommend approval of the ordinance with little deliberation. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
Ordinance 250600 requested adoption of the Comprehensive Anti-Displacement Plan, and establishment of a commission of the same name. Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw as well as Mary Owens, Deputy Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development, and Samantha Bradfield, a policy specialist for the Housing Department, presented this ordinance before the Committee.
This ordinance grew from the KC Spirit Playbook which directs the City to create an anti-displacement plan and task force. The plan includes ongoing community outreach at a neighborhood level guiding the plan’s recommended actions. It also includes City Staff-conducted stakeholder meetings, a virtual survey, and two in person engagement sessions.
The four overarching goals for the plan are:
- Predict which communities will be at-risk of displacement, and distribute resources accordingly.
- Produce and preserve affordable housing.
- Retain and empower residents against displacement.
- Protect and grow commercial and cultural assets.
Owens and Bradfield also put forth eight critical initiatives that the city should focus on related to this plan:
- Establish an Anti-Displacement Commission to monitor and implement the plan.
- Develop and implement targeted resource outreach to areas at-risk for displacement, including a “community toolkit” of available resources.
- Create a Strategic Code Enforcement program to address distressed and vacant properties.
- Develop a strategic plan for production and preservation of affordable housing stock.
- Establish a Housing Development Corporation to acquire, develop, and manage properties in alignment with City goals.
- Increase tenant protections and provide support for rental property owners.
- Identify designated funding mechanisms for anti-displacement initiatives.
- Improve existing anti-displacement related activities as identified in the Plan.
Staff involved in implementation of this Plan might include those already working on the KC Spirit Playbook Committee and/or in the Housing Department.
The Committee moved to recommend approval of this ordinance. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
Resolution 250601 directed the City Manager to develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the Affordable Housing Set Aside ordinance and to make recommendations to Council within 60 days.
It was brought to the attention of the Committee that the language in the ordinance contained a typo. The words: “and implement” were to be omitted, and were struck from the official language.
Councilmember Duncan requested that the ordinance be changed to ask the Housing Department to make recommendations within 30 days. The Director of the Department reported this would be feasible.
The Committee recommended approval of the ordinance. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the resolution on Thursday.
Ordinance 250606 requested authorizing the Director of the Aviation Department to add $541,179.84 to the Landside Pavement Design contract that the department entered into with Crawford, Murphy, & Tilly. Jade Liska, Deputy Director of Aviation, and Mallie Hare, the Project Manager, presented this ordinance before the Committee.
Current projects under this contract include:
- Airport – B and C Bridges – Rehab Testing Services
- Economy Lot Bridges – Rehab Testing Services
- On-Call Landside Maintenance Services
- Cell Phone Lot Construction Management and Testing
- Airport Campus Signage Design
- Economy Lot Wayfinding Design
The Committee moved to recommend approval of the ordinance. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
Ordinance 250611 requested approval and authorization of a settlement of a lawsuit entitled Kerrie Tyndall v. City of Kansas City, Missouri, Case No. 2316-CV19161, in the amount of $900,000.00.
The Committee moved to recommend approval of the ordinance with little deliberation. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
Ordinance 250613 requested approval and authorization of a settlement for a Worker’s Compensation benefit claim in the amount of $1,065,194.11 filed by Rebecca Ann Brinker, dependent of Kyle Brinker, for injuries resulting from an accident on September 17, 2024, while employed by the City.
The Committee moved to recommend approval of the ordinance with little deliberation. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
Ordinance 250614 requested authorization for the Manager of Procurement Services to execute a $1,000,000.00 contract with Vernon County, Missouri and its Sheriff to house and transport City inmates and detainees, and to execute a separate $830,375.00 contract with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office to house City inmates and detainees.
The Committee held this ordinance in advance of the meeting, to be addressed the following week.
Resolution 250621 requested that the City Council recognize the value and importance of Kansas City’s commitment to sustainable development and direct the City Manager to work with Creative City KC, Inc. to further incorporate Sustainable Development Goals into city policies to benefit and grow local businesses, including the music economy.
The Committee held this ordinance in advance of the meeting, to be addressed the following week.
Resolution 250553 expressed the need for and desire to implement a software grant management system. Jill Lawlor, the Grants Strategy Officer with Mayor Lucas’ office, presented this resolution before the Committee.
Ms. Lawlor explained that the City is currently managing 187 federal awards in the total amount of $800,372,220 with $359,620,120 in unspent funding (as of February 2025). To help deliver benefits across departments and functionalities, Lawlor advised contracting Euna Grant Solutions to help manage the City’s grants.
Discussion from the Committee included integration of a new system with the existing system (PeopleSoft). The Committee moved to hold this ordinance for four weeks to allow staff to provide more information on that transition.
Ordinance 250565 requested amendment of Chapter 2, Code of Ordinances, “Administration,” by repealing and replacing certain sections to establish one new job classification for the Fire Department, titled Division Chief-Rescue Technology. The Fire Department entered into this contract with Local 3808.
The Committee moved to recommend approval of this ordinance. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee
Tuesday, July 29th at 1:30pm
The Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee is headed by Chairperson Ryana Parks-Shaw, Vice Chair Eric Bunch, and Councilmembers Nathan Willett and Melissa Patterson Hazley.
Ordinance 250605 requested approval of the plat of Marketplace 152 (Lot 5), at 3001 NE Barry Rd in the Northland, creating one lot for the purpose of commercial development. This item was on the Committee’s consent agenda, and was recommended for approval with little deliberation.
Resolution 250615 requested approval of the plat of 19th and Locust Townhomes, located at E. 19th and Locust Streets, in the Crossroads and East Crossroads neighborhoods. The resulting development would include 13 lots and 3 tracts for the purpose of residential townhomes. This item was on the Committee’s consent agenda, and was recommended for approval with little deliberation. The Council later affirmed this recommendation, adopting the resolution on Thursday.
Ordinance 250620 requested approval of the plat of Twin Creeks Lots 1-7, located at the southeast corner of Northwest 88th St and North Madison Ave in the Northland. The resulting development would create 7 lots for the purpose of commercial/office uses. This item was on the Committee’s consent agenda, and was recommended for approval with little deliberation. The Council later affirmed this recommendation, adopting the resolution on Thursday.
Ordinance 250591 requested the acceptance of a $250,000.00 Capacity Building Grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation by expanding the City’s Neighborhood Empowerment Grant program to include technical assistance programming for grant recipients. This ordinance is not to be confused with the similar grant ordinance for neighborhoods reviewed earlier at the Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee. Sarah Wagner and Tamara Goff, the Grants Manager and Grants Coordinator, respectively, for the Neighborhood Services Department, presented this ordinance before the Committee.
The Neighborhood Grant Program began as a collaborative effort between Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw, Neighborhood Leaders, and the Neighborhood Services Department. It is now in its 2nd full year of grant funding.
Grants are awarded to non-profit Neighborhood Groups or Associations that are registered with the City, seeking funding for things like community engagement, public safety/crime reduction, blight remediation, beautification efforts, youth programming, etc. In total, 100 grant awards have been distributed to 68 neighborhood organizations.
The Committee moved to recommend approval of the ordinance.The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday. Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw asked that she be added as a sponsor.
Ordinance 250598 requested to amend the funding for two projects at the recommendation of the Central City Economic Development Tax Board. The two projects in question are to be owned and operated by the non-profit organization, Essential Families. The buildings they are seeking funding to construct include an office building and the Francine Marie Kerr Family Center, the latter of which would be located at 2407 Prospect Ave in the Wendell Phillips and Washington Wheatley neighborhoods.
The Committee moved to hold this ordinance for two weeks at the request of the applicant.
Ordinance 250616 requested rezoning and approval of a new development plan for the area located at U.S. 169 and N.W. Barry Rd in the Northland, which includes commercial and residential uses. Staff Planner Genevieve Kohn and Dan Horn, a representative for the developer, IAS Partners, presented this ordinance before the Committee.
A related case to this ordinance was brought before the City Plan Commission on June 18th as CD-CPC-2025-00062 and was recommended by that body for approval. This case was reported on in that week’s edition of the blog.
The applicant for this plan, IAS Partners, seeks to build a new development at the site of the former Metro North Mall, including public green space, medical offices, lodging facilities, and commercial uses.
The former Macy’s building at the site will house two new tenants: the furniture mall of Missouri on the first floor, and NRG adventure park, a kid’s entertainment venue on the second floor. Excess parking attached to the Macy’s will be reorganized to allow for some of the aforementioned medical uses.
The Committee moved to recommend approval of this ordinance. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
Ordinance 250617 Requested vacation of an approximately 2,000 square-foot alley, zoned R-1.5, B3-2, and B4-5 and located 100 ft south of the intersection of E 31st St and Grand Ave in the Union Hill neighborhood. Staff Planner Justin Smith presented this ordinance before the Committee.
This ordinance was brought before the City Plan Commission on July 16 as CD-ROW-2025-00014, where that body recommended it for approval, and was covered in that week’s edition of This Week at City Hall.
In order to illuminate the KCTV Tower, Evergy needs to build under the aforementioned alley, and asked that it be vacated by the city. Smith explained that Evergy plans to replace the alley after underground construction is completed, but that the land its on will remain private, and won’t return to being a part of the public right-of-way.
The Committee moved to recommend approval of this ordinance. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
Ordinance 250546 requested authorizing the Manager of Procurement Services to execute a Central City Economic Development (CCED) funding agreement with Palestine Economic Development Corporation for construction of a 39-bed assisted living facility to be located at 35th St and Prospect Ave near the Key Coalition, Oak Park, and Ivanhoe neighborhoods.
The Committee moved to hold this ordinance for two weeks at the request of the applicant, in order to communicate with KCATA.
Ordinance 250555 requested approval of a major amendment to a previously approved development plan at 2701 and 2702 Troost Ave in the Longfellow and Beacon Hill-McFeders neighborhoods to allow for the construction of two multi-unit buildings, named the Cardinal Crest Apartments. Staff Planner Ahnna Nanoski and a representative for the applicant presented this ordinance before the Committee.
This development plan is an extension of the previously-approved apartment buildings at the sites of 27th and Tracy and 27th and Forest. The proposed development includes three podium apartment structures, with a total of about 152 housing units across all buildings.
One concern from some Committee members included the surface parking lots depicted in the presented plans, as there was worry that their design may contradict with the Troost Overlay zoning district. Nanoski and the applicant explained that the parking depicted for the two sites between Troost and Forest would not be surface, and that the building facade would extend south along both those streets. Entry to the parking facilities for the third site (at the southwest corner of 27th and Troost) would only be accessible via 27th St.
The Committee moved to recommend approval of this ordinance. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
Ordinance 250580 requested to amend Chapter 88, the Zoning and Development Code, by repealing Section 88-445-08, “Additional Requirements for Specific Sign Types in Non-Residential Districts,” and enacting in its place a new section of the same number and subject matter that establishes regulations for digital monument signs.
The Committee moved to hold this ordinance in advance of the meeting.
Ordinance 250586 requested approval of a petition to amend the River Market Community Improvement District. Sean O’Byrne, the Executive Director of the River Market CID, presented this ordinance before the Committee.
Mr. O’Byrne explained the benefits that the CID has brought to the neighborhood, including streetscape improvements, partnerships with RM Overnight Security Patrols and the Beehive, and implementation of $296,000 PIAC funded security cameras. This ordinance extends the term of the CID.
The Committee moved to recommend approval of this ordinance. The City Council later followed this recommendation, passing the ordinance on Thursday.
39th Street Road Diet – Community Engagement Meeting
Wednesday, July 30th at 5:30pm
Public Works held a community engagement meeting at MidtownKC Now this Wednesday evening regarding a road diet to 39th St from U.S. 71 Highway to Main Street, connecting the Ivanhoe, Manheim Park, Troost Coalition, Squier Park, Hyde Park, Old Hyde Park, Southmoreland, and Westport neighborhoods. Uday Manipelli presented this project to the community.
The primary improvement included in this road diet is reducing the number of lanes from four drive lanes with two in each direction, down to two drive lanes, one in each direction, and a center turn lane.
Mr. Manipelli explained that this street is on the High Injury Network for Kansas City, and crash data from his team at Public Works supports this designation. The annual number of crashes for 39th St exceeded 400 incidents until 2019, and continue to exceed 200 today, even in 2024, when streetcar construction closed Main Street at 39th.
Community members expressed several concerns about the existing conditions of 39th St, and offered suggestions for further project phases such as wider sidewalks, improved pedestrian crossings, dedicated left turn signals, and a certain median interrupting the proposed turn lane at certain intervals. Public works has opened a survey for public comment on this project, open until September 15.
Business Session (Full Council)
Thursday, July 31st at 1pm
Ordinance 250622 requested to authorize the Director of Transportation to enter into an agreement with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) in an amount not to exceed $77,892,519.00 to provide transit services for the City of Kansas City, Missouri until April 30, 2026 from funds appropriated in the 2025-2026 Annual Budget.
The ordinance also directed the City Manager to report back to Council with an evaluation of KCATA performance relative to this contract, to provide a plan within 120 days to fund the KCATA in the amount of $93,435,252.00, and to work with KCATA to implement the use of Fountain Cards for bus boarding.
Representatives from the KCATA including President and CEO Frank White III, KCATA Board of Commissioners Vice Chair Bridgette Williams, and Commissioner Deb Hermann appeared at Thursday’s meeting to testify. Chairman of the Board, Reginald Townsend was also in attendance in the audience. They explained that without a new contract, bus services could start being cut as early as two weeks from now, and service may be fully shut down by mid-August. The City Council had approved nearly $47 million of funding in late April of this year, but the KCATA reports they have not yet received any of this. Since then, the KCATA has been operating on a line of credit, but that has since been exhausted, and a new contract is needed to continue service.
After a lengthy business session, the City Council entered into closed session at around 2:15 to discuss the details of the ordinance, returning about two hours later. Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw introduced an amendment to the ordinance, extending the contract from six months to twelve months, which would be more amenable to the KCATA. The City Council was divided on this amendment. Many Councilmembers favored a shorter contract period because they perceive a marked deterioration in quality of service. A shorter term allows the City more ability to assess the ATA’s ability to operate and find long-term solutions. On the other hand, the KCATA may be more willing to sign a twelve-month contract, at a time when the City desperately needs to renew a service agreement or face a total shutdown of bus routes.
Councilmember Melissa Robinson requested to introduce a second amendment to the ordinance, which would have extended last year’s contract until such time as a new one was signed. In order to accomplish this, the Council needed to vote in favor of waiving the Standing Rules, which require an amendment to be in writing for it to be voted on. The Council failed to waive the standing rules, and Robinson’s amendment wasn’t voted on.
The amendment to extend the contract from six months to twelve months, proposed by Mayor Pro Tem Parks-Shaw was then voted on by City Council, with Councilmembers voting as follows:
- Aye: Patterson-Hazley, Bunch, Bough, Duncan, O’Neill, Lucas.
- No: Robinson, Rea, Curls, Parks-Shaw, Rogers.
- Did not vote/not present: Willett, French.
The amendment to the ordinance passed with six votes in favor. The ayes would have numbered seven, but in the confusion of the many amendments, and after the lengthy closed session, Mayor Pro Tem Parks-Shaw inadvertently voted no.
The Council then voted on the ordinance as amended, with Councilmembers voting as follows:
- Aye: Patterson-Hazley, Bunch, Bough, Duncan, O’Neill, Lucas.
- No: Robinson, Rea, Curls, Rogers, Parks-Shaw.
- Did not vote/not present: Willett, French.
The Council failed to approve the ordinance, just one vote shy of the seven votes needed to pass it.
The City Council is not slated to meet until two weeks from this Thursday, coming very close to the deadline for service cuts.
Legislative Session (Full Council)
Thursday, July 31st at 2pm
Resolution 250633 requested to recognize the UnidosUS 2025 Annual Conference: “Beacons of Change.”
The Council moved to adopt this resolution.
Resolution 250634 requested to recognize and honor the nonprofit organization Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR) “for their contributions to immigrant communities in Kansas City and beyond by organizing, activating, and mobilizing immigrant communities and allies through community-driven action, programming, and education.”
Several Councilmembers and the Mayor expressed sentiments of gratitude for the work that AIRR does and advocated for the protection of immigrant communities in the wake of ICE actions in the Kansas City metro area.
The Council moved to adopt this resolution.
Resolution 250635 requested to recognize National Intern Day and celebrate the contributions of interns across Kansas City.
Several City interns were honored at the meeting by the Mayor and Council.
The Council moved to adopt this resolution.
Ordinance 250523 requested approval of an amendment to the KCI Area Plan in the Northland, replacing the Proposed Land Use Map, and updating the land use categories and definitions.
This ordinance was brought before the City Plan Commission on June 18th and the Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee on June 24th and July 15th and was covered in those weeks’ editions of This Week at City Hall.
The Council moved to approve this amendment to the Area Plan.
Ordinance 250570 requested to authorize a $1,005,577.00 addition to the design professional services contract with Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., for the Rocky Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), for a total amount of $1,505,553.00, in the Northland.
The Council moved to approve this ordinance.
Ordinance 250560 requested to rezone the site located at the southeast corner of Northwest Barry Rd and Interstate 29 in the Northland from AG-R and B3-3 to only B3-3, and approve a development plan for that site for a new car wash.
Council adjourned the meeting, and as a result this ordinance was held.
Ordinance 250623 requested approval to decommission the Winchester Center Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Plan, in the Swope Ridge neighborhood, and to terminate the designation of the related Redevelopment Areas.
Council adjourned the meeting, and as a result this ordinance was held.
Ordinance 250632 requested to authorize the Manager of Procurement Services to execute a term and supply contract (EV3960) that will exceed $1,000,000.00 with Weis Fire and Safety, LLC to provide Personal Protective Equipment for the Fire Department. The ordinance also requested to authorize amending and extending the contract and authorize the Fire Chief to expend $1,016,675.00 from previously appropriated funds.
Council adjourned the meeting, and as a result this ordinance was held.
Ordinance 250636 requested to amend the Heart of the City Neighborhood Stabilization Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Plan.
Council adjourned the meeting, and as a result this ordinance was held.
Ordinance 250631 requested to authorize the Housing and Community Development Department to replace and expend $6,980,346.00 by reappropriating that amount from the previously appropriated fund balance in the Housing Trust Fund. The ordinance also requested to authorize the Manager of Procurement Services to execute various related funding agreements.
Council adjourned the meeting, and as a result this ordinance was held.
Ordinance 250637 requested to amend Chapters 48, 56, 34, and 62 of the Code of Ordinances in the following ways:
Under Chapter 48 entitled “Nuisances”:
- Repealing Section 48-1, Definitions.
- Repealing Section 48-30, Rank weeds and noxious plants.
Under Chapter 56, entitled “Property Maintenance Code”:
- repealing Section 56-433, Noxious weeds and enacting new sections of like number and subject matter and by enacting a new Section 56-116, Excessive growth of vegetation, invasive and noxious plants and poisonous plants to the touch.
Under Chapter 34, entitled “Health and Sanitation”:
- Repealing Article VII, Weeds and noxious plants
Under Chapter 62, entitled “Solid Waste”:
- Repealing Article VIII, Nuisances.
Council adjourned the meeting, and as a result this ordinance was held.
Ordinance 250629 requested to authorize a $5,160,000.00 construction contract with Haines and Associates Construction Co., Inc., for the Water Main Replacement in the Area of College Avenue to Norton Avenue, E. 21st St to E. 31st St project, in the East 23rd St PAC, Washington Wheatley, Santa Fe, and South Roundtop neighborhoods, with a maximum expenditure of $5,676,000.00.
Council adjourned the meeting, and as a result this ordinance was held.
Ordinance 250630 requested to authorize a $3,673,700.00 design professional services contract with CDM Smith, Inc., for the Turkey Creek Pump Station Rehabilitation project, in the Westside neighborhood.
Council adjourned the meeting, and as a result this ordinance was held.
Ordinance 250638 requested to amend Chapter 2, Article VI of the Code of Ordinances, entitled “Boards, Commissions and Committees,” by:
- Repealing Division 16, entitled “Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee,” including Sections 2-970.11 and 2-970.12.
- Repealing and replacing Division 18, entitled “Parking and Transportation Committee,” including Sections 2-970.16, 2-970.17, 2-970.18, 2-970.19, 2-970.20, and 2-970.21.
- Creating a new Division 18, entitled “Multi-Modal Transportation Commission,” including Sections 2-970.16, 2-970.17, 2-970.18, 2-970.19, 2-970.20, and 2-970.21, for the purpose of establishing the Multi-Modal Transportation Commission and Parking Policy Review Board to coordinate comprehensive multi-modal transportation planning, policy development, and parking management within the City.
Council adjourned the meeting, and as a result this communication was held.
Communication 250624 notified the City Clerk of the Blue Ridge Crossing Community Improvement District’s Annual Report for the period ending April 30, 2026.
Council adjourned the meeting, and as a result this communication was held.
Communication 250625 notified the City Clerk of the Electric Park Community Improvement District’s Annual Report for the period ending April 30, 2025.
Council adjourned the meeting, and as a result this communication was held.
Communication 250626 notified the City Clerk of the Grey Oaks Community Improvement District’s Annual Report for the period ending April 30, 2026.
Council adjourned the meeting, and as a result this communication was held.
Communication 250627 notified the City Clerk of the Pershing and Grand Community Improvement District’s Annual Report for the period ending April 30, 2025.
Council adjourned the meeting, and as a result this communication was held.
Communication 250628 notified the City Clerk of the West Bottoms Central Community Improvement District’s Annual Report for the period ending April 30, 2025.
Council adjourned the meeting, and as a result this communication was held.
Ben Robinson is the author of This Week at City Hall, and an Urban Planning and Design Student at UMKC. He is a Kansas City native, having lived on both sides of the state line. From a young age, Ben has been interested in neighborhoods, communities, and the built environment, but only discovered the field of Urban Planning in college. He is now committed to a career in the profession, and is excited about using his education to support and grow the city he grew up in.
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