Progressive changes in the municipal court system, planning for the 2026 World Cup, and development at 18th and Vine.
The following neighborhoods will be directly impacted by topics covered in this edition.
- 18th and Vine
- Washington Wheatley
Transportation, Infrastructure, and Operations Committee
Tuesday, October 29th at 9am
The Transportation, Infrastructure, and Operations Committee (TIO) includes Chairperson Kevin O’Neill, Vice Chair Melissa Robinson, Councilmember Johnathan Duncan, Councilmember Lindsay French, and Councilmember Eric Bunch.
Ordinance 240938 approved a contract renewal with Haines & Associates Construction Company for water meter repairs throughout the city. Haines will be conducting repairs to both outdoor and indoor water meters. The TIO committee recommended approval of this ordinance, and the City Council passed it on Thursday.
Ordinance 240955 approved a contract with Transystems, a local planning and design firm, for improvements on Lee Summit Road. Transystems will be implementings design containing two lanes of car traffic and two, ten-foot multi-modal paths to either side of the road. City Engineer Nicolas Bosonetto presented this ordinance to the committee, explaining why Lee Summit Road’s traffic intensity made the multi-modal paths more desirable than traditional bike lanes. The committee unanimously recommended approval of this ordinance, and City Council passed in on Thursday.
Ordinance 240939 approved a four million dollar contract with Crawford Murphy & Tilly for planning updates around Kansas City International Airport. Jade Liska and Mike Waller, from the Aviation Department, presented the scope of this ordinance to the committee. The contract includes an overall update to KCI’s master plan, an economic impact study, and updated land-use plans. Not only are these updates necessary for the continued growth of KCI, but they will also ensure that Kansas City is eligible for federal grant funding in the future, according to Waller. Additionally, Waller stated that nearly 75% of the plan would be funded by existing federal grants.
Councilwoman Robinson asked about Women Business Enterprise (WBE) and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) goals for the project, which we set at 24%. Satisfied, the committee recommended approval of the ordinance, which was upheld by council on Thursday.
Women Business Enterprise (WBE) and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) are metrics used by government agencies across the US to promote diversity and inclusion. Commonly, federally funded projects are required to establish a certain percentage for their WBE or MBE goals. This means that the project must employ or hire contractors which are considered a WBE or MBE business, up to that established percentage. To be considered a WBE or MBE business, your for-profit business must be at least 51% owned by women or minorities respectively. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, MBE and WBE goals ensure that everyone gets a “fair share” of opportunities.
Resolution 240903 directs the City Manager to create a funding plan, in cooperation with Jackson County, the Parks Board, and other state and federal partners. Jason Waldron, Transportation Director within the Public Works Department, presented this resolution to the committee, and outlined its purpose. Waldron informed the committee that this resolution would assist in finding funding to prepare for “a big event in 2026”, the 2026 World Cup. Waldrum stated that this funding would assist in preparing KC’s infrastructure to handle the major influx of people and travel within the region. Waldron urged the committee to pass this resolution, as the department was already behind in finding that funding.
Councilwoman Robinson questioned Waldron, asking why we needed to continue exploring funding avenues when the City had already devoted a significant amount of money to the World Cup. Robinson stated her concern with the legacy left behind by the games, especially if it placed a tax burden on the residents of Kansas City. Waldron explained several projects which would be funded through this resolution, including a rideshare plaza at Arrowhead stadium, airport connections, and the addition of three hundred buses during the summer of 2026. Several Councilpeople asked about other various modes of transport, including ride-share, pedestrian paths, and more buses.
The committee recommended approval of the resolution, but not before adding an amendment requiring the City Manager to also consider pedestrian and ride-share connections during the World Cup. The City Council passed the resolution on Thursday.
Resolution 240921 directs the City Manager to adopt a funding plan for repairs and improvements to the 18th & Vine Museum and the Robert J. Mohart Multipurpose Center. The committee unanimously recommended approval of this resolution, and the City Council passed it on Thursday.
Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee
Tuesday, October 29th at 10:30am
The Fiance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee (FGPS) includes Chairperson Andrea Bough, Councilmember Crispin Rea, Councilmember Darrell Curls, and Councilmember Wes Rodgers. Mayor Quinton Lucas did not attend this meeting.
Ordinance 240926 approved a financing contract between the city and Bank of America, for the purpose of purchasing twelve ambulances for the fire department. The committee recommended approval of this ordinance, which was upheld by the City Council on Thursday.
Ordinance 240940 accepts a four-hundred thousand dollar grant from the federal Department of Justice. Courtney Wachal, a KC municipal court judge, presented this ordinance to the committee, explaining what it would fund. This grant will facilitate the combination of KC’s drug and mental health courts, which will allow for further coordination within the department. Wachal personally testified her belief that this action would create a more equitable, functional court. Councilman Rea also testified in favor of this ordinance. The committee unanimously recommended approval, and the City Council passed it on Thursday.
Ordinance 240941 accepts another Justice Department grant, this time for establishment of a women’s court. Judge Courtney Wachal also presented this ordinance, with support from Rea. Rea asked Wachal how this court would assist in prevention of trafficking issues during the World Cup. The committee recommended approval of this Ordinance. The City Council passed this ordinance on Thursday.
Ordinance 240948 amends Kansas City’s code of ordinances, adopting an official definition for “domestic assault” and separating it from normal assault cases. Attorney Brianna Zavadil and Kendrea White presented this ordinance to the committee.
Previously, domestic assault charges in Kansas City were considered as regular assault charges with a special designation. This definition ignores the unique nature of domestic assault, and the important considerations that should come with it. The irregularity prevented full prosecution of perpetrators, background checks, and adequate data collection. This ordinance also paired with Resolution 240957, which directs the City Manager to change its policies to provide assistance to victims of cosmetic violence employed by the city. The committee recommended approval of both these ordinances, and City Council passed them on Thursday.
Ordinance 240962 directed the City Manager to create a funding plan for a four-hundred stall parking garage within the 18th and Vine historic district. Councilwoman Robinson presented this resolution, explaining the details to her fellow council people. After construction, the City will maintain 100% ownership of the garage, paying for maintenance with a combination of leases and regular paid parking. Assistant City Manager Mario Vasquez informed the committee that the necessity of the garage was supported by a traffic study done in the area. The garage will be a part of a multipurpose development, and be connected to the future 18th and Vine Museum, multifamily housing, and Robert J. Mohart Multipurpose Center. The garage is planned to be completed in May of 2026. The committee recommended approval of this resolution, and the City Council passed it on Thursday.
Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee
Tuesday, October 29th at 1:30pm
The Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee (NPD) includes Chairperson Ryana Parks-Shaw, Vice Chair Eric Bunch, Councilmember Melissa Patterson Hazley, and Councilmember Nathan Willett.
Resolution 240933 approved an application from the Planning Department to the Environmental Protection Agency. This application is for a four million dollar Brownfields Cleanup grant, which is planned to be used in the Washington Wheatley neighborhood. After cleanup, the site will contain various infill developments, and thirty-two single-family homes and duplexes. The committee unanimously recommended approval of this resolution, and the City Council passed it on Thursday.
Ordinance 240944, 240954, 240898, 160419, and 160421 accepted various amendments from the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDC), including various administrative changes, renaming or adjusting various fund accounts for different projects, including the 87th & Hillcrest Road plan, North Oak plan, and various redevelopment plans. The committee recommended approval of these ordinances after hearing their presentation from David Leader, of the EDC.
The Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDC) is a public-private partnership organization, responsible for fostering economic development in the city. EDCs often act as a facilitator between the city and business actors in the region. From a business perspective, EDC’s act as the people to contact for information about the city, its neighborhoods, and where the best places to do business are. EDC’s are founded to act in the interests of business and the city, creating projects and programs that would not be possible without close collaboration.
Grayson Johnston is the author of This Week at City Hall, and an Urban Planning and Design Student at UMKC. He moved to Kansas City two years ago and has loved it ever since. Grayson became interested in community and neighborhoods while still in high school, when he discovered the field of Urban Planning. As he learned about the theory of walkability, transit, and strong communities, Grayson became committed to going to planning school and starting a career growing his community.
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