This Week at City Hall (May 23 – May 27)

This Week at City Hall – May 23 – May 27

In case you missed it:

City Council approves changes to ‘failure to obey laws’ by a vote of 9-1, with Councilmember Ellington casting the lone no vote. The changes are the result of a federal lawsuit brought by three women who were arrested during the 2020 summer protests on the Plaza. The City did not have to pay monetary damages, but per the terms of the settlement, Council was mandated to amend its failure to obey laws so that witnessing or recording the actions of police officers are not a violation of city law unless the offender is substantially impeding the officer’s duties.

The Missouri legislature passed a bill that requires the City of Kansas City, MO to give more money to the Kansas City Police Department. The bill requires that the City fund KCPD at levels equal to 25% of the City’s budget. Back in March, Council approved the 2023-2024 budget which has allocated $269 million to the police, an amount that exceeds the prior state mandated amount of 20% of the City’s budget. It is unclear whether this bill is constitutional, and Council has vowed to fight it, having previously set aside $450,000 to be used for attorneys’ fees should it pass.

Updates from last week:

City Planning and Development staff planners presented an update to the Infill Residential Development Ordinance, which seeks to make changes to Chapter 88 of the Zoning Code. According to City staff, this ordinance makes strides toward accessible and affordable housing option, reduces barriers for first time and small-scale developers, simplifies the development process for property owners, encourages development on land with existing infrastructure. City Planning staff has been conducting public engagement sessions over the past month and half and there is reporting as to how those sessions went in this presentation. There have been concerns from folks concerned that the engagement does not go far enough as well as potential negative consequences of these changes.

If you’re interested in watching the replay, you can watch the presentation here. The presentation begins at the 1 hour 50-minute mark.

Upcoming this week:

Energy Code Update Public Information & Input Session – Wednesday, May 25^th @ 4:00pm

Councilwoman Andrea Bough and City staff will host a Public Information and Input Session on the proposed adoption of the new International Energy Conservation building code (the IECC 2021), ordinance #220364.  There will be a staff presentation on updates to the building code outlined in the ordinance, how the code interacts with the proposed climate change plan, and an opportunity for public testimony.

Click links below for docket information. You can join some of these meetings via zoom (information provided on docket) or view on Channel 2, which can be found on the City’s YouTube page.

Transportation, Infrastructure and Operations Committee – Wednesday, May 25 @ 9:00am

Ordinance #22042 — Declaring the City’s support of balanced energy options that achieve climate goals inclusive of natural gas and renewable natural gas strategies, its commitment to considering the inequities of higher energy costs upon marginalized communities and its opposition to legislation or policies that eliminate energy options for local energy consumers by mandating certain fuel sources or energy-specific technologies.

Finance, Governance, and Public Safety – Wednesday, May 25 @ 10:30am

Ordinance #220394 RESOLUTION – Directing the City Manager to implement Priority Based Budgeting to better align resources with community priorities/values, build upon the City’s comprehensive framework that ensures financial resiliency, and increases transparency in the budget process.

Neighborhood Planning and Development – Wednesday, May 25 @ 1:30pm

Ordinance #220440 Authorizing an application to the Missouri Development Finance Board for

the authorization of state tax credits in the amount not to exceed $6,000,000.00 to make possible the development of the Kansas City Current Stadium in the Berkley Riverfront district, in Kansas City, Missouri; and authorizing the City Manager to execute a tax credit agreement in the event that the application is approved.

City Council Business Session – Thursday, May 26 @ 2:00pm

City Council Legislative Session – Thursday, May 26 @ 3:00pm