eNewsletter August 31, 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 the Levee District) as of August 31, 2011 . . .

Centennial Celebration Planning

The City Council heard a presentation from Glynda Jacobson, Centennial Committee chairman, about plans for North Kansas City’s Centennial celebration throughout 2012. The City Council then passed a resolution in support of the Centennial Committee and its plans.

The first event will be at the January 26 Membership Luncheon of the North Kansas City Business Council. A video celebrating the centennial being developed by Times Two Creative, in cooperation with the committee and other helpful sources, will be first shown at that luncheon. It will be available throughout the year on the Business Council website and on DVDs for other groups that wish to use it. The cost of the video production is being shared by business offspring of two of North Kansas City’s early businesses – National Starch, owned by Corn Products International, and Cook Composites & Polymers, one of the businesses evolving from Cook Paint & Varnish.

Gaming Fund Budget Amendments

Budget amendments were requested and approved at the August 30 City Council meeting for three projects:

• Additional costs for the public safety radio system that were due in a different fiscal year than originally anticipated. $83,190.
• Final payment to a contractor for construction of the 13th Avenue parking lot project. Additional drainage work was required and was approved at a previous City Council meeting. $23,000.
• Additional costs for traffic signal repairs due to an unanticipated number of problems. One was a $23,000 repair and replacement at Armour and Fayette caused by a hit-and-run driver. Although insurance was used, the policy requires a $20,000 deductible for each event. $7,000.

Increase in Municipal Tax Rates

City Finance Manager, Shirley Land, described the impact of declining property assessment values and recommended actions to replace some of the lost funding that derives from assessed valuations. Since 2010, real estate assessed valuation has declined 10.8% and personal property values have declined 3.4%. Railroad and utilities increased, however, by 36%. The full report can be found on the City website as an attachment to the agenda for the August 30 Special City Council meeting.

Estimated tax revenue from General Fund tax assessments is expected to rise by $305 thousand – primarily because of the decision at a previous City Council meeting to collect the General Fund portion of personal property taxes which had not been collected since 1995. Other components of property tax revenues are expected to decline by $115 thousand. Although rates have been increased, some property owners may experience a decline in dollars owed – except for the General Fund assessment – because of lower assessed values on their property.

LiNKCity Staff Changes

Paula Brooks, who has been one of the key managers at liNKCity since its beginning almost six years ago, resigned recently to take a position with an engineering firm in North Kansas City. Mike Smith, Assistant City Administrator, is supporting the administrative functions of liNKCity until a new Director is selected and on the job.

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What is this?

This is the 10th 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.