Funk's Front Porch

Ruskin Hills Town Hall Meeting

    The Ruskin Hills Home Association hosted a Mayor's Town Hall meeting on June 24 at the Symington Elementary School in the Hickman Mills School District.  Kansas City residents were engaged and clearly interested in learning about issues affecting their neighborhoods.

    Following Mayor Mark Funkhouser's introductory remarks, participants posed numerous important questions.  Some of those questions, along with the Mayor's responses follow. 

Q.  Why are businesses leaving Kansas City, and shouldn't we be concerned about that?

    The Mayor responded that businesses leave Kansas City for economic reasons that are related to the loss of population.  He explained that businesses move into and stay in locations where the population and associated income can support them.  Since 1970, Kansas City has lost 100,000 people from the city core, and the city's proportional share of metro income has shrunk from 40% in 1970 to 18% today.  When the population and income base declines, business can no longer grow or remain viable and must leave the City.  He said that he is very concerned about this issue, and has built his administration's policies around trying to combat the conditions that have led to the City's declining population.  Central to this effort are the City that Works Initiative and the New Tools Initiative.

Q.  Why does it seem like only the business and moneyed interests in Kansas City are reaping the benefits of our tax dollars?  Neighborhoods like Ruskin Hills are suffering while the City Council is doing things like giving a $600,000 loan to a Trolley Company and $500,000 to a consultant for building a thousand-room hotel in downtown.

    The Mayor said that he shares the neighborhoods' frustrations, and has made economic development throughout Kansas City a priority of his administration.  He pointed out that one of his first actions after being elected was to develop and implement an Economic Development Plan for the City, which had never been done up to that point.  The plan lays out strict requirements for how and where tax financed programs such as TIF can be used, which is designed to help prevent over-exposure of the City's financial system.  He stated that the Ordinance authorizing money for the consultant was approved during his absence.  He will remain watchful on the thousand room hotel issue, and should a tax incentive be sought for building such a hotel, he will insist that the Economic Development Plan be followed and on being presented with solid financial proof that such a project will actually benefit the City.  He will also keep track of the Trolley loan to make sure that all the terms are met, he said.

Q.  What is happening to all the money that is being collected by the city in the form of fines for people who run the newly installed red lights at certain intersections downtown?

    The Mayor responded that the red lights were not installed in order to collect money, but for safety reasons.  Far too many people were running red lights and putting themselves and others in danger of being killed, he said.  He explained further that the money goes into the City's general fund to be used for funding City services, and that the money being collected from the fines is not great enough to cover the cost of enforcing the fines and installing the lights.  He sees this as a cost associated with keeping residents safe.

Newsletter

Dear Folks,

This Week's City Business

The US Conference of Mayors in Providence, Rhode Island was a grand success. The Mayor is getting to know the other Mayors and is learning a lot from them. The main lesson that he walked away with this time is that he needs to be much more involved with this organization. Together, they are a lobby group in Washington, D.C. - a force to contend with as far as bringing dollars and programs to their cities. Also, they help shape policy for local governments. Our Mayor has been invited into the inner circle and he is going to go full steam ahead with that.

While the Mayor was at the conference in Rhode Island the council advanced and passed a resolution allocating more money, this time to the tune of $500,000 to study the thousand-room conference hotel idea again. The Mayor has grave reservations about spending hundreds of millions of citizen tax dollars and being able to get any kind of monetary gain to show for it. Further, it concerned him that the money for the study was found so quickly and easily, yet the three million dollars needed to properly fund our police force still cannot be found. This bothers him, as he knows full well that the citizen's highest budgetary priority this year is police funding.

Many of the Mayor's boards and commission seats are coming open due to their terms expiring and he would like to fill them with supporters who will help him look after the city's best interests. Some of the most pressing openings are on the Health Commission, the Ethics Commission, the MAST board, the Housing Technical Committee, PIEA, and the TIF Commission. If you would like to consider serving on one of these boards or on any of his other boards, please call the Mayor's Boards and Commissions staff member, Brandon Dial, at 513-3500. Brandon can explain the board requirements and will quickly walk you through the application process.

Both of the Mayor's education initiatives have moved to the top of the Mayor's priority list, as the only true way of making Kansas City into a world-class city is by having a world-class education system. Taking into consideration all of the city's other amenities, if our schools are top quality, then we will have no problem getting people to move back into and remain living in our city. And once we do that, we will have much greater tax pool to draw from to address the needs of our other basic services that have been long-neglected due to a shortage in tax revenue.

On a More Personal Note

Funk and I took three days on the back end of the conference to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. It wasn't quite the celebration we were hoping for, as we couldn't turn off work-mode to fully enjoy ourselves. We've never had that problem before, but we do now. But I guess when we're both in rocking chairs we'll have that much more to talk about. Hey, you've got to think positive.

The Next Town Hall Meetings When: July 1, 6:30 p.m. Where: TBD Who: TBD When: July 29, 6:30 p.m.Where: Wexford Place, 6500 N Cosby Ave. Who: Wexford Place
The Mayor's Public Appearances This Week Sunday June 28th 5:15 p.m. Night Kicks Kick-Off - Community America Ball Park 1800 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, KS Monday June 29th 5:00 p.m. Shanin and Parks Show KMBZ Studios, 7000 Squibb Road Mission, Kansas 66202 Wednesday July 1st 6:30 p.m. Town Hall Meeting - Northland Neighborhoods Inc. 3015 NE Vivion Road, Kansas City, MO Friday July 3rd 7:40 a.m. Fridays with Funk 710 KCMO

In faith,

Gloria & Mark

You can respond by email to this newsletter at funksfrontporch@gmail.com.

If you'd like daily news updates, please check the Mayor's blog site at www.funksfrontporch.com.

The Mayor's top ten priorities:

1. Establishing a good working relationship with the Council
2. Getting the City's finances in order
3. Making downtown work
4. Tending to our neighborhoods
5. Implementing the Housing Policy task force recommendations
6. Improving the perception and the reality of public education in Kansas City
7. Reducing Crime
8. Repairing our sewer systems
9. Establishing an excellent regional transit system, which includes light rail
10. Improving citizen satisfaction with City services

Mayor Calls for an Education Summit

    For a long time, you've heard me talking about the need for an Education Summit, an event that would engage a large number of Kansas City citizens in a dialog about how we can do a better job of educating all the children of our City.  Like many other cities, Kansas City needs a supportive and invested community of stakeholders to ensure that all young people are empowered to reach their full potential.

 

    Along the way, I've encountered a lot of people who believe that public dialog is just a waste of time, or who say that our education system is too broken to ever be fixed.  But I rejected those arguments, and I didn't give up.  Now, I'm glad I didn't give up, because I've discovered numerous individuals out there who are as concerned about the future accomplishments of Kansas City's children as I am, and who are willing to give of their time, talent and money to make the Education Summit work.

 

    In fact, I am now so convinced of the level of support for this project that on June 4, I put the issue before the City Council so that I could formally introduce Council Members to the conceptual framework of the Education Summit.  My purpose was not to ask the Council for funding, since the Summit will be privately funded, but to acknowledge their position as city leaders and encourage their participation.  In general, the Council was supportive.

 

    I also wanted to introduce the Council to two of the people who have taken up the mantel of leadership and are heading the project -- Janice Ellis and Crosby Kemper.  Both Ms. Ellis and Mr. Kemper are well known in Kansas City for their accomplishments in business and for their dedication to improving the quality of life for Kansas City residents.  I am grateful to have such highly skilled and highly motivated individuals leading this project.

 

    Kansas City is divided in so many ways, and education is one of our most divisive issues.  But I believe that education can unite us.  I was recently told by Jim Nutter, a businessman and civic leader, that he is not convinced that the Summit will work, but that if I am willing to take the risk to do it, he is willing to take the risk to support me.  And, he said, 'If we pull it off, it will be the most important thing to happen to Kansas City in the past hundred years."  With his help, and with the help of all of you in our diverse communities, we will pull it off.

 

    

Newsletter

Funk's Front Porch

12 June 2009

Dear Folks,

This Week's City Business

The Mayor is currently giving a presentation at the United States Conference of Mayors in Providence, Rhode Island. This will be his second time in attendance at this particular conference. The group meets twice yearly. The Mayor was asked to give the presentation regarding federal support for clean water systems for the Mayors Water Council. This is a real honor because with only two years under his belt he is still considered to be a rookie by many of his colleagues - especially by those who aren't affected by term limits and have served in the capacity of Mayor for decades. He will update you on the highlights of the conference when he returns. (Last minute update: The Mayor said that his presentation went very well and that the room was packed.)

The Providence branch of the International Association of Firefighters is protesting the conference and the Providence Mayor because of a local contract dispute between city hall and the firefighters union. The issue is not unique to Providence. The economic situation has created contract issues with labor groups for many cities across the country. But the Obama administration opted out of attending the conference because of the situation. Our Mayor took the issue seriously. He had Chief of Staff Kendrick Blackwood speak with union officials both in Kansas City and nationally and with officials from the Conference of Mayors.

The Mayor talked as well with Fire Chief Smokey Dyer. The fire chief said the situation was an informational protest rather that a strike. The Chief said that skipping the meeting would deprive the Mayor of the opportunity to learn best practices from other mayors across the country. More importantly, he would miss an opportunity to share Kansas City's own labor story with those other mayors, particularly the way labor and management work together in Kansas City. It was a difficult decision, but ultimately, our Mayor took the advice he received from all involved and chose to participate.

The Mayor has been busy working with Janice Ellis, Tony Oppenheimer and representatives of AmericaSpeaks for the past two weeks to raise private money for the Education Summit. This is not an easy task, especially because of the economy, but educating the children of this city is more than worth the Mayor's time. The Summit is expected to draw between one and two thousand people on the actual day of the summit (the number depends on the amount of money that he can raise) but there is much work that will be done within the community before the seminal event takes place. Again, having a dynamite educational system for our children is one of the key ways of bringing prosperity back to Kansas City.

Last Friday the Mayor held a daylong retreat for his staff at the Kauffman center. He is fine-tuning the operations within his own office so that he can be even more responsive to citizens needs and do an even better job of pushing his agenda forward on their behalf. The staff does a great job helping their Mayor serve, and the retreat gave them an opportunity to give their input on how his office can run more efficiently and effectively. There wasn't enough time to get through the agenda for the day; so another half-day is scheduled as soon as the Mayor returns from Providence.

On a More Personal Note

The other day we received the most beautiful email from a woman who said that, "Kansas City has come to life through Mayor Funkhouser's administration." She went on to say that she wanted to know how she could help with not only the Mayor's re-election campaign, but in helping him to serve the city. We were deeply touched by the confidence she has in this Mayor and by her offer to help. While her sentiments aren't unusual, the timing of her offer was. You see, her sister had just passed away from breast cancer the week before, and she herself is a breast cancer survivor. Women truly are the civilizers of the world, aren't they?

The Next Town Hall Meetings WHEN: June 24, 6:30 p.m. WHERE: Symington Elementary School, 8650 Ruskin Way. WHO: Ruskin Hills Homes Association WHEN: July 1, 6:30 p.m. WHERE: TBD WHO: TBD WHEN: July 29, 6:30 p.m.WHERE: Wexford Place, 6500 N Cosby Ave. WHO: Wexford Place

In faith,
Gloria & Mark

You can respond by email to this newsletter at funksfrontporch@gmail.com.

If you'd like daily news updates, please check the Mayor's blog site at www.funksfrontporch.com.

The Mayor's top ten priorities:

1. Establishing a good working relationship with the Council 
2. Getting the City's finances in order
3. Making downtown work
4. Tending to our neighborhoods
5. Implementing the Housing Policy task force recommendations
6. Improving the perception and the reality of public education in Kansas City
7. Reducing Crime
8. Repairing our sewer systems
9. Establishing an excellent regional transit system, which includes light rail
10. Improving citizen satisfaction with City services

Mayor Focuses on Programs to Help Rebuild the City's Tax Base

       In his "State of the City" presentation, delivered at City Hall on May 28, Mayor Mark Funkhouser told residents that in order for Kansas City to remain viable, actions must be taken to repopulate the City's urban core, and to reverse the dramatic decline in the City's tax base.

    "Within a five-mile radius south and east of this building, there are 100,000 fewer people than there were four decades ago," the Mayor said.  "In 1970, Kansas City residents earned a substantial forty percent of the income in the metropolitan area.  Since then, that proportion has dwindled to a mere eighteen percent."

    This is a subject the Mayor often addresses when he speaks with neighborhood residents during his Town Hall meetings.  Then, he uses maps to graphically illustrate the areas where population has been lost, and population gained.  He points out that distressed areas of the City continue to lose population, while the population of Downtown and the Northland has increased.

    Repopulating the City

     "We have to encourage this population growth, and help it continue so that it can help rebuild the City's tax base,"  the Mayor says.  He points out that, while Northland population has increased, the related increase in tax revenue is not yet adequate to offset the increased cost associated with building necessary infrastructure.  "Much of the Northland is underdeveloped," the Mayor notes.  "And when new development occurs, the City must start from scratch to provide streets and sewers and other infrastructure needs.  That costs a lot."

    The Mayor believes that in order to draw people back into Kansas City, and to retain current residents, city leaders must spend tax dollars wisely, and in ways that will address the underlying causes for loss of population.

    "Today thee are three reasons that cause Kansas City residents to move out, and that keep new residents from moving in," the Mayor said.  "These reasons are:  dissatisfaction with basic city services, crime and the fear of crime, and concerns about education."  To address these issues, the Mayor has introduced several new programs.

City That Works Initiative

    The City That Works Initiative is designed to address problems related to the delivery of basic services, such as trash removal and flood control, and to improving basic infrastructure, such as roads, bridges and sewers.  Because these services are handled at the operational level by city departments that report to the City Manager, and are funded by the City Council, the Mayor has engaged all these city leaders to help fashion a resolution.

    "Each Tuesday I sit down with the City Manager, a City Council member, and a Department Director to find innovative ways to become more efficient in the delivery of services and more effective in the use of our resident's tax dollar," the Mayor notes.  "This program will only deliver better basic services if we are open to alternatives, and if we leave excuses behind."

    The City that Works meetings are open to the public and are available for viewing on the city's website.

    Funding the Police Department

    In order to address the public safety issue, the Mayor has taken a strong position on the necessity of full funding for the Police Department.  He refused to sign the most recent budget because the City Council cut too much Police funding.  He feared that officers would be taken off the street, and that the current graduating class of police recruits (one of the most diverse) could not be hired.

    "Perhaps the most immediate impact this Council can have on public safety is to show, once and for all, that we put safety among our highst priorities," the Mayor said.  "In the next few weeks this Council will have the opportunity to restore enough funding to make sure that this academy class will be hired and that the next two classes will start on time."

    While some Council members continue to point out that the City has no more money to devote to the Police Department, other Council members, along with the Mayor, believe that adequate funding for Police is a matter of how existing funds are prioritized, and that by re-evaluating priorities, money can be found.

    New Tools for Economic Development in Distressed Areas

    Economically distressed areas of the city are also those with the highest crime rates.  Because of this, and because the Mayor wants to improve the overall quality of life for residents in those areas, he has introduced the New Tools Initiative.  New Tools is designed to find new methods of economic development that will work in distressed areas.

    "The New Tools Taskforce will set a strategic direction for increasing the population density of Kansas City by creating economic opportunities for people and businesses.  We need to find new ways to help people earn more and to help companies hire more workers.  Doing so will increase property values, rebuild the City's tax base and lead to safe, livable neighborhoods," the Mayor notes.

    Education for Kansas City's Children

    To address the education issue, the Mayor is taking a more proactive role than previous Mayors.  He is calling for a City-wide "Education Summit," and for Kansas City to compete with other cities for the opportunity to pilot a program in the city core that is similar to the "Harlem Children's Zone."  The Obama administration encourages cities to implement the HCZ program, which has proven successful in dramatically increasing the graduation rate among inner-city children.

    The Mayor acknowledges that the Education Summit and Harlem Children's Zone are huge undertakings that will require the full support of Kansas City residents, as well as numerous community leaders.  Toward that end, the Mayor has established several working groups composed of highly accomplished citizens who will be spearheading these efforts.

    "Kansas City is a city divided in so many ways, and education is one of our most divisive issues," Mayor Funkhouser says.  "But education will unify us.  Jim Nutter [a noted community leader and businessman] told me that he is not convinced the Summit will work, but if I am willing to take the risk to do it, he is willing to take the risk of supporting me.  And, he said, 'If we pull it off, it will be the most important thing to happen to Kansas City in the past one hundred years.'  With his help, and yours, we will absolutely succeed."

 

Mayor's Statement on the City Clerk's announcment on the recall petition

    Every day since I have been elected has been a challenge.  Every issue I have tackled has had opponents.  As I said in my State of the City Address, change is hard.  My critics, the organizers of this effort, clealy do not like the status quo being challenged.  But that is the reason I was elected to begin with.  I plan to continue carrying out the agenda I laid out in my State of the City.

    To those of you who signed the recall petition, I pledge to work harder to gain your trust.  I hope you understand that I am doing my best to fulfill my election promises and to do what I believe is right for the City of Kansas City.

Mayor's State of the City Speech

Attached is a link to the Mayor's Speech

http://www.kcmo.org/cco/2009%20State%20of%20the%20City.pdf

Mayor Announces 2009 State of the City Details

Mayor Mark Funkhouser will formally address the State of the City as required by the city charter today at 1:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the 26th floor of City Hall.

"I will present my analysis of the state of the city to our residents. I plan to address the areas in which we shine, as well as the areas in which we need to improve." said Funkhouser. "I have listened to a broad range of people while preparing for this year’s address and I am looking forward to sharing what I have learned with all residents of Kansas City."

Following the State of the City address, light refreshments will be served in the lobby of City Hall on the 1^st floor.

For more information contact Kendrick Blackwood in the Mayor’s Office at 513-3513 or

kendrick_blackwood@kcmo.org

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Mayor to Welcome New Director of Missouri Department of Economic Development, Linda Martinez

Today, May 27, Mayor Mark Funkhouser will formally welcome Linda Martinez, the new Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Martinez, appointed by Governor Jay Nixon, will serve as the Department’s first female Director and the highest ranking Hispanic female in the State of Missouri.

"I am honored to welcome Director Martinez to Kansas City," said Mayor Funkhouser. "I think she will be interested in what we are doing here in terms of economic development."

The reception will be hosted by the Consulate of Mexico and the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The reception will take place at the Consulate of Mexico, 1600 Baltimore at 4:30 p.m.

For more information contact Kendrick Blackwood in the Mayor’s Office at 513-3513 or

kendrick_blackwood@kcmo.org

.

 

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Mayor Announces 2009 State of the City Details

Mayor Mark Funkhouser will formally address the State of the City as required by the city charter on May 28, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the 26th floor of City Hall.

"I will present my analysis of the state of the city to our residents. I plan to address the areas in which we shine, as well as the areas in which we need to improve." said Funkhouser. "I have listened to a broad range of people while preparing for this year’s address and I am looking forward to sharing what I have learned with all residents of Kansas City."

Following the State of the City address, light refreshments will be served in the lobby of City Hall on the 1^st floor.

For more information contact Kendrick Blackwood in the Mayor’s Office at 513-3513 or

kendrick_blackwood@kcmo.org

.

 

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