eNewsletter May 25, 2011

From City Council . . . to the Business Council

Prepared by Rich Groves, Executive Director, North Kansas City Business Council

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Recent topics from City Hall (and Jefferson City) as of May 25, 2011…

• Developer for Mixed Use Project Approved
• State Legislators’ Update
• Northgate Retail Development Alternatives
• Smokin’ Guns Expansion
• Children’s Fountain Proposal
• Implications for liNKCity from Google/KCMO/KCKS plans

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Developer for Mixed Use Project Approved

In a special session May 17, City Council approved a proposal by LADCO Development, Inc. to proceed with pre-development activities for the planned mixed-use development project in the land bordered by I-35/I-29, Armour Rd and Railroad Ave. These activities would include layout design, identification of potential tenants and rates to be used, create a development budget and community outreach. A news release from the City of North Kansas City and LADCO Development with more details can be found at the following link: http://www.nkc.org/newsView.aspx?nid=79.

Approval of this project by the City Council enabled City Administrator Matt Shatto and LADCO Development to discuss the project with potential partners at the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) conference in Las Vegas the week of May 22-25.

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State Legislators’ Update

Six legislators from Clay County and an aide representing State Senator LuAnn Ridgeway gave updates at the May 17 Clay County Economic Development Council information meeting. They gave insights about recently-enacted and uncompleted legislation at the state legislative session that just ended. Participating were State Senator Bill Stouffer and State Representatives Jerry Nolte, Myron Neth, T.J. Berry, Bob Nance and Ryan Silvey. Mike Morris spoke for Sen. Ridgeway who is on vacation.

A historic achievement was a re-districting vote overriding the Governor’s veto in response to the 2010 census which mandated reduction of one U.S. Representative district. Very few veto overrides have ever occurred while legislature was in its regular session. The result for this area was the inclusion of North Kansas City and most of Gladstone in District 5, currently represented by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. The rest of Clay and most of north Missouri was assigned to District 6, currently represented by Rep. Sam Graves. District 5 includes most of Jackson County and all of Lafayette, Ray and Saline counties as well as the portion of Clay County. In exchange, District 6 inherited a portion of Independence, Blue Springs and Lee’s Summit.

Progress was made in the last session on issues like right-to-work, fair tax, small business regulatory fairness, economic development and job creation. Issues passed included a budget that was below the Governor’s request and voter photo ID and early voting (both of which will be presented for voter approval) and support for the Ford Motor Claycomo Assembly Plant at an earlier special session. Kansas City Job Retention incentives sponsored by Rep Nolte to cope with Kansas’ efforts to recruit Missouri businesses did not reach a vote. Progress was made on economic incentives for a major China import-export hub at Lambert St. Louis Airport. Representative T. J. Berry help form the Kansas City area caucus to allow all 31 representatives in the 4-county area to communicate and cooperate better. Representative Ryan Silvey was chairman of the Budget development process.

It was reported that MODOT is down-sizing to perform only in a maintenance mode with no funding for construction projects. Sen. Stouffer expressed the opinion that Missouri has a "100 year decision opportunity" concerning the development of a transportation infrastructure to take a more significant role as a freight transportation hub by making major investments in widening I-70 and I-44 to 8 lanes with 4 lanes for trucks only.

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Northgate Retail Development Alternatives

Assistant City Administrator Mike Smith and Jeff Berg from Lane 4 Property Group explained some of the challenges that have prevented further development of the Northgate Retail property along North Burlington. They presented recommendations from the TIF Commission that the City Council consider easing three current restrictions: allow a grocery store, particularly as specialty grocery store; allow a liquor store; and allow medical office use. The last alternative seemed to have the most consensus. Although medical offices would not generate sales taxes, they might make a better overall financial contribution to the economy of North Kansas City. Approval by both the City Council and the TIF Commission is needed for any amendments to prohibited uses.

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Smokin’ Guns Expansion

City Council approved a proposal on May 24 to combine 5 lots owned by Phil and Linda Hopkins to facilitate the planned expansion of Smokin’ Guns BBQ. This new area, with the name of "Barbeque Alley" will allow Smokin’ Guns to be at least 4 times larger than it currently is, plus add space for off-street parking.

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Children’s Fountain Proposal

Anita Gorman, a respected Northland civic leader and former President of the Kansas City, MO Parks and Commissioners, updated the City Council about needs related to the famous "children’s fountain" at the Y-intersection in North Kansas City at the north end of Burlington. She requested that North Kansas City consider donating $15,000 to be matched by MODOT and added to by the City of Kansas City to install a protective steel cable fence and rain garden to prevent future damage by drunk drivers. Two serious incidents have occurred in the past, resulting in significant repair costs and near misses, luckily avoiding the valuable statues themselves.

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Implications for liNKCity from Google/KCMO/KCKS plans

Expansion of the Google project into Kansas City, MO, is exciting. liNKCity’s fiber-optic infrastructure reaching to the Midwest Internet Hub at 1102 Grand in downtown Kansas City, MO, and throughout North Kansas City positions it as a "technological gateway" to the Northland. The increased attention to and demand for high-speed, high-capacity broadband services such as those already being provided by liNKCity, along with the promise of next generation applications and technological advances, should present new opportunities for the liNKCity network.

In other news about liNKCity, City Council approved an amendment to an encroachment agreement with KCMO in 2006 in order to complete construction in downtown KCMO for the liNKCity fiber-optic network. Over the last year, liNKCity and KCMO have been in discussions regarding amending that agreement to allow for sharing of assets of their respective fiber-optic infrastructures at 1102 Grand and Oak Towers. More recently, KCMO and NKC Police Departments have independently entered into contracts with the REJIS Commission for the purpose of obtaining criminal justice data service and technology services from REJIS through its network. The proposed sharing of assets is needed in order for both Police Departments to access this network.

Scheduled City Council meeting dates for May 31 and June 7 have been reversed in order for Tom Asp with Columbia Telecommunications Corporation to present the findings of the liNKCity Business Performance Evaluation Study on May 31. There normally is not a City Council meeting on a 5th Tuesday. The June 7th meeting will be cancelled because of the unplanned meeting on May 31.

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What is this?

This is the 7th in a series of e-newsletters that will bring to you, twice a month, any relevant news for the business community from the City Council meetings that I attend each week, as well as other happenings at City Hall.

Why do we do it?

This communication is intended to be an additional Benefit of Membership for members of the North Kansas City Business Council. If you know of other businesses who are NOT members – but who probably would benefit by being a member – please let them know this is one thing they are missing.

If you have good "leads" for prospective new members, please let me know. Call 472-7700 or e-mail richard@nkcbusinesscouncil.com.