city scope winter 2011-12
DESCRIPTION
Quarterly Newsletter for the Lee's Summit community.TRANSCRIPT
Winte
r 2011
-2012
Mayor’s Memo
Happy New Year!Lee’s Summit has celebrated
many successes. Achievements, such as the Advanced Law
Enforcement Accreditation received by the Lee’s Summit
Police Department; the Gold Medal Award for the Lee’s Summit Parks & Recreation Department; the City’s “Aaa” bond rating, completion of several goals and strategies associated with the Lee’s Summit 360°: Charting Tomorrow (LS360°) strategic plan; and several initiatives and programs of departments, all make me proud to call Lee’s Summit home. Read about our recognitions and awards at cityofls.net | Main | Awards | Recognition.This year will be another exciting year for Lee’s Summit as we continue to work toward the vision set forth in LS360°. In coming months, our City will have a “community-wide brand” to showcase our unique characteristics to residents and potential visitors. Other exciting projects are the annexation of a portion of Unity Village into our community and the construction of a new building downtown to house Licata Flowers and other tenants. Both of these projects and other economic development and redevelopment goals are detailed in this issue of the City Scope.Also new for 2012 is a reconstituted Human Relations Commission (HRC) that will begin meeting in February to continue efforts of promoting diversity awareness and understanding in our City. Together individuals from the business, faith and educational communities will continue the great work of the HRC that began in Lee’s Summit in 1993. The work of those involved from the City’s boards, committees, commissions and task forces are essential to the City's success and will continue to be so in the future. Thank you to all who have served and currently serve the City in this valuable capacity. Thank you as well to those individuals working daily to help the City reach its program, initiative and service goals.If you would like to learn more about the City’s programs and the work of the boards, commissions, committees and task forces: visit cityofls.net | Main or call (816) 969-1000.
Mayor'sMemo 1
CityCouncilAdopts 2-3 WaterUtilitiesStrategicPlan
Development&Redevelopment 4 Efforts Underway
EarnedIncomeTaxCreditAssistance(EITC) 5
2012Dr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.Celebration 5
NewDistrictBoundaries 5
Mayor&CityCouncil 6
WorldTradeCenterArtifact 6 PermanentlyDisplayedinCityHall
CommunityofCharacter 6
2010NoTaxIncreaseBondProjectsUpdate 7
WinterWeatherTips! 7
ArtistEvent-FeaturingRonHoyle 8
2
TheLee’sSummitCityCounciladoptedtheStrategicPlanfortheLee’sSummitWaterUtilitiesDepartmentanddirectedstafftoadjustthewaterrateasrecommendedintheplantoaddressneededsystemimprovementsandincreasingoperatingcosts.ThedecisionwasmadeduringtheCityCouncilmeetingonDecember15inLee’sSummitCityHall.
ThisistheCity’sfirstwaterrateincreasesince2006.TheadjustmentwillbecomeeffectiveApril1,2012fortheCity’scommercialandresidentialwaterservicescustomers.Sanitarysewerservicesrateswillremainunchangedin2012,butarerecommendedtoincreaseinsubsequentyears.
ThestrategicplanwastheresultofacomprehensiveassessmentandstrategicplanningprocessinitiatedbytheWaterUtilitiesDepartment.Duringtheassessmentprocess,theutilitywasevaluatedonoperationalpracticesandprocedures,long-termplansforinfrastructureimprovements,andfinancialviabilityincomparisontoindustrystandardsandbenchmarks.Feedbackfromcustomerandemployee
surveysaswellastheCommunityAdvisoryGroup(CAG)wasalsoapartoftheassessment.TheCAGiscomprisedofresidential,businessandcommercialcustomers.
Asaresultofthecomprehensiveassessment,theutility’sstrengthsandopportunitiesforimprovementemergedtohelpguidefuturedecisionsandpractices.Highmarkswerereceivedbytheutilityforproductquality,customersatisfaction,operationresiliencyandwaterresourcesadequacy.
Theassessmentalsorevealedtheneedto:
• Establishappropriatepoliciestoaddressfinancialchallenges;
•Developaprogramforrenewalofexistingagedundergroundinfrastructure;
•Improvecustomerunderstandingandrelations;and
•Addresslong-termneedstoensuretheutility’ssustainability.
Whilealloftheseareasareimportant,twoopportunitiesforimprovementemergedasthemostcriticaltoaddressnow.Thoseareas:ratemanagementpolicyandinfrastructurestability.
TheCity’sWaterUtilitiesDepartmentpurchaseswaterfromIndependenceandKansasCity.Thecostforwaterhasincreasedduringthelastseveralyears,butthedepartmenthaschosentoabsorbtheseincreasesinsteadofpassingthemontocustomers.However,thishasimpactedtheoperatingreservesofthedepartmenttoapointtheassessmentidentifiedaneedtoaddressthiswithaseriesofminorrateincreasesduringthenextfewyears.Sewerrevenueisalsonotinalignmentwithwastewatertreatmentcosts.Thecostoftreatingwastewaterisexpectedtograduallyincreasemorethan75%duringthenext10yearsaccordingtoprojectionsbyLittleBlueValleySewerDistrict.
City Council AdoptsWater Utilities Strategic Plan
A sewer line with visible cracks.
3
Duringthelast12months,therewereanumberofwaterandsewerlinebreaks–approximately190resultinginservicedisruptionsandcustomerinconveniencesacrosstheCity.Theselinebreaksandfailuresrepresentanincreasingproblemduetoourcommunity’sagingundergroundinfrastructure.
Repairstowaterlinesinourcommunityhavemainlyconsistedofpatchingwherethebreaksoccur.However,thisisconsideredatemporarysolutiontoaproblemthatwillcontinuetoincreaseinfrequencyandseverityiftheselinesandpipesarenoteventuallyreplaced.
ThestrategicplanincludesarecommendationfortheCitytoadjustthewaterandsewerratestohelpfundrisingcostsforwaterpurchases,sewagetreatmentandforfuturesystemimprovements.Adjustmentstothemonthlycombinedwaterand
sewerbillsarenotexpectedtoexceed6%.Withtherateadjustment,Lee’sSummitcustomersareexpectedtocontinuepayingamongthelowestratesforwaterandsewerservicesinthemetro.
Forexample,thecombinedsewerandwaterrateincreasemonthlyin2012wouldonlyaddanestimated$2.91tothemonthlywaterbillforresidentialcustomersusing5,000gallonsofwaterpermonth.Bythefifthyearoftherateprogram,customersusing5,000gallonsofwateramonthwouldpayan
estimated$3.87moreamonth.
In addition to implementing the rate adjustment, steps are being taken to:
•CreateaWaterUtilitiesAdvisoryCommittee,whichwouldbeanexpansionoftheexistingWaterTapFeeCommittee
•InitiateaCostofServiceStudytohelpdeterminefuturerateadjustments
•Implementthegoalandstrategiesofthestrategicplaninthenext6monthsto1year
FormoreinformationabouttheWaterUtilitiesStrategicPlan,call(816)969-1900.Downloadthereportatcityofls.net | Utilities | Publications and Reports.YoucanalsoviewtheDecember8strategicplanpresentationtotheCityCouncilatcityofls.net | Main site.
* Johnson County includes the following cities in Kansas: Leawood, Lenexa, Merriam, Mission Hills, Mission, Overland Park, Prairie Village, Roeland Park and Shawnee.
A water main break last year in Lee’s Summit.
$300.00
$400.00
$500.00
$600.00
$700.00
$800.00
$900.00
$1,000.00
$1,100.00
$1,200.00
$-
$100.00
$200.00
WATER SEWER AVERAGE - TOTALAnnual Cost of Water & Sewer(based on monthly consumption of 5,000 gals.)
4
Development & Redevelopment Efforts UnderwayEconomicdevelopmentandredevelopmentremain
prioritiesintheCity’sefforttoattractcorporationsandbusinessestoinvest,re-investandexpandinLee’sSummit.Agrowthinourcommercialbasewhetheritbeadditionalsalesorpropertytaxes,allowstaxingjurisdictions,suchastheCity,schoolandlibrarydistrictstohavelessdependenceonresidentialpropertytaxes.Workhasbegunonseveralsuchprojectsthatwillhaveapositiveeconomicimpactonourcommunity.
Licata Building
Thereisanewbuildingunderconstructiondowntownon3rdStreet.LicataFlowerswillbeoneofthetenantsofthisnewbuildingthatwillhave5,000squarefeetofcommercialspaceand4,000squarefeet
ofresidentialspaceupstairs.TheprojectwasmadepossiblebytheLandClearanceforRedevelopmentAuthority(LCRA)programthatassistswiththeredevelopmentofbuildingsorpropertiesthathaveapotentialofprovidingahighereconomicvaluethanitscurrentuse.TheDowntownMasterRedevelopmentPlanadoptedin2004encourages“mixed-use”developmentsthatcombineretail,officeandresidentialactivities.Thegoalistocreateplacesthathaveaconstant“buzz”ofactivitiesinourdowntown.ThenewLicatabuildingsupportsthesemasterplangoals.
OtherareasoftheCitycurrentlystudiedfordevelopmentandredevelopmentpotential:
•SouthM-291and50Highwayarea,includingAdesssaAutoAuctionandtheCalmarpropertysites
•NorthM-291HighwayCorridorbetween50HighwayandInterstate470
•M-150HighwayCorridorfromDocHenryRoadtojustwestofPryorRoad
Infrastructureneeds,bestlandusepracticesandcostestimatesforimprovementsareapartoftheanalysisofthesecorridorsfordevelopmentandredevelopmentpotential.
Unity VillageInlateDecember,theCity
incooperationwiththeUnityVillageSchoolofChristianityapprovedtheannexationanddevelopmentofapproximately300acresoflandsouthofColbernRoadbetween350HighwayandDouglasRoad.Residentialpropertiesarenotincludedintheannexationatthistime.Asapartofthedevelopmentphase,thepropertycouldcontainanestimated2.2millionsquarefeetcapacityfor"ClassA"andothercommercial-orienteddevelopmentuponfullbuild-out.Atractofapproximately25-30acreswithinPhase1wasdonatedtotheCityforusebytheLee’sSummitParksandRecreationsystem.ContinuetowatchforupdatesontheseprojectsinthisnewsletterandtheCity’sWebsite,cityofls.net | Development | Redevelopment.
The annexation area is outlined in yellow.
5
2012 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
January 16, 2012Pre-show
at 5:30 p.m.Celebration
at 6 p.m.Makeplanstoattend
thecommunity-wideDr.MartinLutherKingJr.celebrationonMonday,January16,2012inthePavilionatJohnKnoxVillage,520NWMurrayRoad,Lee’sSummit.
“StoneofHope”isthethemeoftheeventthat
willincludemusic,dance,songsandaculturalextravaganzaonstage.Thecelebrationbeginswitha5:30p.m.pre-showfollowedbythecelebrationat6p.m.
Amongtheperformers:HeritageDanceMinistry;NartanAcademyofDance;ElGrupoAtotonilco;Lee’sSummitWestHighSchoolAirForceJuniorROTCColorGuard;Lee’sSummitHighSchool;Lee’sSummitWestHighSchoolDrumline;andPleasantLeaMiddleSchoolBlack&GoldChoir.
AninspirationalmessagewillcomefromPastorArmourD.StephensonIIIofCityofTruthChurchinKansasCity,Mo.Therewillbeavideotaped“Reflection”byCongressmanEmanuelCleaverIIaboutDr.KingandthesignificanceofthemonumentbuiltinhishonorinWashington,D.C.Fox4ReporterTerraHallwillserveasthemistressofceremonies.
This is a free event and the community is encouraged to attend and bring friends to help
us celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King.
Save the Date!
TheCityofLee'sSummit,inpartnershipwiththeLee’sSummitChamberofCommerceandUnitedWayofGreaterKansasCity,isconductingFREEtaxpreparationservicesforqualifyingLee’sSummitresidents.
TheEarnedIncomeTaxCredit(EITC)isarefundablefederaltaxcreditforlow-incomeindividualsandfamilies.Toqualify,youmustmeetcertainrequirementsandfileaU.S.IndividualIncomeTaxReturn.TheamountofyourEITCdependsonwhetheryouhavechildren,thenumberofchildrenyouhave,andtheamountofyourwagesandincome.
Earned income and adjusted gross income (AGI) must each be less than:
•$43,998($49,078marriedfilingjointly)withthreeormorequalifyingchildren;
•$40,964($46,044marriedfilingjointly)withtwoqualifyingchildren;
•$36,052($41,132marriedfilingjointly)withonequalifyingchild;
•$13,660($18,740marriedfilingjointly)withnoqualifyingchildren
Visitwww.irs.govorcallUnitedWayat(816)472-4289formoreinformationortaxrelatedquestions.
ThesefreetaxpreparationserviceswillbeheldeveryTuesdayinFebruaryfrom6to8:30p.m.atCityHall,220SEGreenStreet.Call(816)969-1011forweather-relatedcancellationnotification.
TheCityCharterrequiresdistrictboundariestobereviewedfollowingeachdecennialcensus.Afterthe2010Census,theCityCouncilestablishedaRedistrictingCommitteecomprisedoftwocitizensfromeachofthefourdistricts,torevisethedistrictboundariestoreasonablydistributethepopulationbetweentheexistingdistricts.
Toviewthenewdistrictmapvisitcityofls.net | Main site | Elections
New District Boundaries
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C.
2011 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
FREE Tax Preparation Assistance
66
ViewtheWorldTradeCenterartifactMondaythroughFridayfrom8a.m.to5p.m.across
fromtheTreasuryDepartmentonthefirstfloorofLee’sSummitCityHall,220S.E.GreenSt.Theartifactisastructuralsteel“I-beam”removedfromalargerportionofasteelbeamfromaWorldTradeCentertower.
District1JamesHallam
3996SEDocHenryRd.(64082)
(816)[email protected]
MayorRandyRhoads1060NWHighPointDr.(64081)
(816)[email protected]
District1KathyHofmann
1011SWOrringtonPl.(64081)
(816)[email protected]
District2BrianWhitley
4544SWGullPointDr.(64082)
(816)[email protected]
District2AllanS.GrayII
612SWWaldenLane(64081)
(816)[email protected]
District3JosephC.Spallo
5502NEOaksRidgeCr.(64064)
(816)[email protected]
District3Forrest“Ed”Cockrell
4000Cimarron(64064)
(816)[email protected]
District4BobJohnson
1000NERemingtonCt.(64086)
(816)[email protected]
District4DaveMosby
352SEWilliamsburgCt.(64063)
(816)[email protected]
Mayor & City
Council
Community of CharacterThe City of Lee’s Summit is designated as a Community of Character. Each month, a character trait is highlighted. Join us in celebrating the following traits:
• January –Courage
• February –Cooperation
• March–Honesty
World Trade Center Artifact Permanently Displayed in City Hall
77
Progressisbeingmadewiththepublicsafety,infrastructureandroadimprovementprojectsapprovedbyvotersinNovember2010fortheNoTaxIncreaseBondElection.Thefollowingisanupdateabouthowthepiecesarecomingtogetherfortheseprojects:
• Emergency Services Radio upgrade: $2 million. Withtheplanningphaseofthisprojectcompleteandsomeequipmentpurchased,implementationis
scheduledtobeginJanuary2012.UponcompletionoftheimplementationinMay2012,theradiosystemwillhaveseveralpublicsafety-ratedcomponentsinplace
toprovideastrongersignalandmeettheFederalCommunicationsCommission(FCC)mandatetoreducethebandwidthto12.5MHzbytheyear2013.
• Police Facilities Upgrade: $8 million. Thedesignphaseforboththepolicetrainingfacilityandthepolicedetentionfacilityiscurrentlyunderwayandwillconcludethiswinter.Thebidphaseistentativelysettostartinthespringof2012andcontractorselectionisscheduledforcompletionbyAprilof2012.Theconstructionisscheduledtotakeplacefromsummer2012throughfall2013.
• Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program: $2.5 million. ThroughouttheCity,anumberofAmericanwithDisabilitiesAct(ADA)rampswerebroughtuptocurrentstandards.Inthespring,bidswillbeacceptedtorepairverticaloffsetsmeasuring½-to1-inchandtoaddressadditionalnon-compliantADAramps.
• Curb Replacement Program: $9.36 million. Twocontractshavebeencompletedthatreplaced235,000linearfeetofdeterioratingcurbsandguttersonresidentialstreetsin20neighborhoodsbuiltwithinthelast20years.Atleasttwoadditionalcontractswillbidinearlyspring2012
• Strother Road Improvements: $3.675 million. Currently,theCityisindiscussionswithmultiplepropertyownersaboutright-of-wayacquisitionfortheprivatelyownedpropertieslocatedbetweenInterstate470andLee’sSummitRoad.
• View High and I-470 Improvements: $1 million. Transportationimprovementswillhappentoaccommodatedevelopmentwhenitoccursinthecorridor.
• Tudor Road Improvements: $10.8 million.Thisproject,toprovideaccesstolandforfutureeconomicdevelopment,isbeingdesignedintwophases.ThedesignofPhase1,fromDouglasStreettoapproximatelyMain,isnearingcompletionandtheright-of-wayisbeingacquiredinordertoreceivebidsinspring2012.ThePhase2designoftheproject,fromMaintoWardRoad,isunderwayandwillinvolvecoordinationwiththeUnionPacificRailroadtoconstructabridgeoveritsmainline.
•Stayup-to-dateonwinterweatherandroadconditionsviatelevisionandradionewscasts
•Sign-upfortheCity’sfree,snowremovalupdatesvia www.nixle.com
•Removevehiclesfromstreetstopreventadelayandtoimprovethesnowremovalprocess
•Shovelsnowtothesideofyourdrivewaytolessentheamountofsnowleftattheentranceofyourdriveway
•CalltheSnowDeskat969-1870.Normalbusinesshoursare7a.m.to3:30p.m.MondaythroughFriday.Duringwinterstormevents,theSnowDeskoperates24hoursaday.
Winter Weather Tips!
2010 No Tax Increase Bond Projects Update
8
City of Lee’s Summit220SEGreenStreet
Lee’sSummit,MO64063
(816) 969-1000www.cityofls.net
PRSRTSTDU.S.POSTAGE
PAIDPermitNo.79
Lee’sSummit,MO64063
ECRWSS
RESIDENT/BUSINESS
Important Community Phone Numbers
CityHall...............................................(816)969-1000ChamberofCommerce......................(816)524-2424DowntownMainSt.,Inc...................(816)246-6598EconomicDev.Council......................(816)525-6617GamberCenter....................................(816)969-1580LSSocialServices...............................(816)525-4357OATSBus.............................................(816)380-7433MetroflexDowntownBus.................(816)346-0802
Phone Numbers General Information .................... 969-1000 Animal Control .......................... 969-1640 Administration............................969-1010 Mayor........................................969-1030 CityCouncil..............................969-1010 CityManager............................969-1013 Codes Administration Inspect.&PlansReview..........969-1200 NeighborhoodServices...........969-1200 Fire Department BusinessOffice.........................969-1300 Emergency Calls .................... 911 Municipal Court..........................969-1150 Parks & Recreation.....................969-1500 Planning & Development..........969-1600 Police Department BusinessOffice.........................969-1700 Emergency Calls .................... 911 Public Works Airport.......................................969-1182 Engineering..............................969-1800 Operations(Streets).................969-1870 ResourceRecoveryPark..........969-1980 Recycling..................................969-1804 Treasury Dept.(taxinfo.)............969-1139 Water Utilities Operations.........969-1940 CustomerService(billing).....969-1900
Artist Reception Featuring Ron HoyleChat one-on-one and view portraits and drawings!
ArtworkwillbeondisplayinCityHallfromJanuary19
throughmid-April2012.Exhibit Hours: Monday-Friday,8a.m.-5p.m.
Lee’s Summit City Hall220 SE Green St.
Thursday, January 19, 20125:30-7:00 p.m.
Enjoy light refreshments and wine sampling.Corner Photo
Courtesy of Jeanne
Bucey