Category: Unified Government Commission

The Unified Government plans a special session at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 2, in the fifth floor conference room, Suite 512, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

The meeting will start with a closed executive session to discuss litigation and cyber security.

The executive session will be followed by a special session for a budget workshop.

The special session will be on YouTube and UGTV. It also is available through Zoom.

The public also may view the special session from the fifth floor conference room, Suite 512, at City Hall. The executive session portion of the meeting will be closed under the Kansas Open Meetings Act.

The Zoom link for the meeting is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84337592573?pwd=QnZGaVoxVDcvYTZSYVRxSUdsK0xEdz09#success.

The passcode is 668733.

The webinar ID is 843 3759 2573

Toll-free phone numbers for the meeting are 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499.

A new residential classification for the PILOT fee is on the 7 p.m. agenda for the Thursday, May 26, Unified Government Commission meeting.

Dividing the PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) fee into a residential and “other” classification would mean the UG Commission in the future could vote to set a lower PILOT rate for residents, if they choose.

The PILOT fee is on the Board of Public Utilities’ customer bills. The PILOT fee is approved by the UG Commission. Funds that are collected go to the UG. To see an earlier story, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/proposal-moves-forward-for-separate-classes-for-pilot-fee/.

Also on the agenda is a proposal to expand the senior utility tax rebate program, expanding it to include all ages. See an earlier story at https://wyandotteonline.com/senior-utility-rebate-program-expansion-proposed/.

An ordinance and resolution to allocate ARPA funds for capital expnses, facilities and park improvements as recommended by the ARPA subcommittee also is on the agenda.

Another item is adoption of the 2018 building and fire codes, with amendments.

An ordinance allowing the UG to survey property for the Armourdale Pump Station rehabilitation project also is on the agenda. The location is north of Central Avenue on North 4th Street. The property could be condemned for the project.

Another item on the agenda is approval of $400,000 in reserve funds to address the tuberculosis outbreak.

Several planning and zoning items also are on the 7 p.m. agenda.

At the 5 p.m. UG Commission special session, commissioners will hear a presentation on capital maintenance and improvement projects, followed by a budget workshop.

Other items on the 7 p.m. agenda include:

• 2724 N. 13th St., change of zone from limited business district to planned general business district to operate a sports bar and grill with event space, Vernon Hopkins. Also, special use permit to operate the sports bar and grill.

• 4639 Parallel Parkway, change of zone from limited business district to planned commercial district for auto repair services, Maricela Zamora. Also, special use permit for auto repair services.

• 4141 Joyce Drive, change of zone from single-family district to agriculture district for agricultural purposes, renewal of special use permit for the temporary use of land for “You Pick Berries,” hold classes, apprentices and a farm stand, Regina Compernolle. Also, renewal of special use permit.

• 557 River Park Drive, change of zone from no zoning to planned general business district to construct the Rock Island Bridge Entertainment Venue at 0 Kansas Ave. Also, special use permit for entertainment venue. Also, preliminary and final plan review for the entertainment venue. Also, Master Plan Amendment from nothing to regional commercial, public-semi-public and park-open space.

• 2002 S. 51st St., special use permit for health clinic serving uninsured and under-insured people, Sharon Lee Family Health Care.

• 2618 S. 48th Terrace, home occupation special use permit to sell novelty toy and gift items, Herr Hut LLC.

• 5520 Inland Drive, special use permit to operate used auto sales business, Emmanuel Igbinosun, recommended for denial.

• 10 S. James St., renewal of special use permit for live entertainment at a community motorcycle garage, Hickory Union Moto.

• 3900 Rainbow Blvd., special use permit to continue live entertainment in conjunction with restaurant and drinking establishment, Tanners Bar and Grill.

• 13024 Leavenworth Road, special use permit to keep 40 chickens, Moe Thu.

• 941 N. 74th Drive, renewal of special use permit for live entertainment in conjunction with restaurant, Mason Jar.

• 205 N. Orchard St., vacation of right-of-way.

• 2140 N. 88th St., preliminary plan review for construction of a new entrance, truck scale and stormwater facilities, Wendell Harkins.

• Historic Westheight Manor, Historic District Designation, from Wood and Everett avenues on the north, North 18th on the east, State Avenue on the South and North 22nd and North 25th on the west.

• 9400 State Ave., ordinance rezoning property from agriculture district to planned commercial district.

• 401 Kansas Ave., ordinance authorizing special use permit for an automotive dealership.

• 5124 Sloan Ave., ordinance authorizing special use permit to keep horses.

• 452 S. 26th St., ordinance authorizing special use permit for heavy automotive-truck repair and used auto sales.

• 7250 State Ave., ordinance authorizing special use permit for continuation f a child care facility on the KCKCC campus.

• 901 Minnesota Ave., ordinance authorizing special use permit for a liquor store and convenience store.

• 403 N. 5th St., ordinance authorizing special use permit for a sports bar and drinking establishment.

• 4309 Rainbow Blvd., ordinance authorizing specialuse permit for a short-term rental.

• 3535 Wood Ave., ordinance authorizing a special use permit for transitional housing for youth.

• 3030 S. 63rd St., ordinance authorizing a special use permit to keep a maximum of 25 fowl.

• 700 Kindelberger Road, ordinance authorizing a special use permit for heavy automotive-truck service, repair and mechanics.

• An ordinance authorizing a special use permit for an outdoor multi-use baseball-softball field complex.

• 1501 N. 90th St., ordinance authorizing a special use permit for an outdoor multi-field baseball-softball complex and concession sales.

• 9020 State Ave., an ordinance authorizing a special use permit for site grading for future parking and baseball fields for Homefield Training Center.

• 9020 State Ave., an ordinance authorizing a special use permit for an indoor and outdoor multi-use sports complex.

• 4601 Rainbow Blvd., change of zone from limited business and single-family districts to planned high-rise apartment district for a multi-family residential apartment complex and parking garage, recommended for denial.

• 14140 State Ave., change of zone from planned commercial district to planned general industrial district for a contactor staging area and heavy equipment storage for Remco Demolition. Also, Master Plan Amendment.

• 322 N. 6th St., special use permit for live entertainment in conjunction with an existing drinking establishment, Blake Lostal.

• Flood Plain annual report, 2022 CRS Community Certifications Report.

• Complete Streets ordinance annual report. Presentation by Public Health’s Infrastructure Action Team.

• Kansas City, Kansas, Landmarks Commission annual report.

• A proclamation declaring May 17 as Wyandotte County Sheriff Department Day.

• A proclamation proclaiming May 21 as The First Baptist Church of Quindaro Educational Scholarship day.

• A proclamation proclaiming June 3 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

• A proclamation proclaiming June 10 as MARC 50-Forward Day.

• A proclamation proclaiming the first Saturday in June as Rosedale Family and Friends Day.

• Request for approval of a MARC PSP Grant for a traffic management plan, high accident intersection study and implementation strategy for Rainbow Boulevard Corridor in partnership with neighboring cities.

• Request for state historic preservation fund grant to create a city-wide historic preservation plan.

Several Land Bank items are on the agenda:

Land Bank option applications:
New construction, single-family homes
• 3815 Strong Ave., 3813 H Strong Ave., 1302 S. 38th, Chris Solutions, two homes.
• 1536 S. 49th, Chris Solutions, one home.
• 741 Shawnee Road, Chris Solutions, one home.
• 4015 Coleman Court, Monique Smith, one home.
• 1047 Riverview Ave., Richard Dumas, one home.

New construction, multi-family, 34 units.
• 1305 Ann Ave., 1307 Ann Ave., 1309 H Ann Ave., 1311 Ann Ave., 1315 Ann Ave., 1319 Ann Ave., 1325 Ann Ave., Travis Wilson, 9 or 10-unit townhomes.
• 2110 N. 51st, Raj Bhatia, 24 units.

New construction, commercial, four total.
• 1604 Minnesota Ave., Chris Solutions, co-working office space.
• 3510 Strong Ave., Chris Solutions, co-working office space.
• 6116 State Ave., Chantelle L. Sims, affordable small eat and boutique center.
• 5211 Parallel Parkway, the Dominique Experience Foundation, community center.

Land Bank property transfers
Yard extension
• 2105 R McDowell Lane, Robert Needham.

Property transfers, two.
• 2517 N. 17th St, 2515 N. 17th St., 2213 N. 17th St., OCP Neighborhood Association, park.

• 727 Central Ave., CABA, pocket park.

Vacation right of way.
• 731 H Tenny Ave., Rachel Bichara.

The meeting will be held in the UG Commission Chambers at City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas. It will be on Zoom, also, and is expected to be on YouTube.

The Zoom link is
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83849121369?pwd=emV6QWoxVE4rVk9SaENtU3BUVldwUT09.

The passcode is 561068.

The public also may connect by phone, with toll-free numbers, 888-475-4499 and 877-853-5257.

A Unified Government committee on Monday night moved forward a proposal to amend the Kansas City, Kansas, ordinance for a “Safe and Welcoming” community.

The amendments now can move forward to a full UG Commission meeting. The UG is trying to bring its ordinance into compliance with a new state law.

The amendments to the ordinance were proposed because the Kansas Legislature passed a law blocking parts of the UG’s earlier Safe and Welcoming ordinance, according to Casey Meyer of the UG’s legal department. The new law blocked the UG from prohibiting law enforcement from turning over information to federal immigration authorities. That part of the UG ordinance has been removed in the amended version that is being considered.

However, members of the Safe and Welcoming Coalition, which advocated for the ordinance, said on Monday night that they could not support these new amendments without having a meeting first of the coalition. They asked for more time.

Karla Juarez, executive director of Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation, said the biggest part of the protection piece of the Safe and Welcoming ordinance is going away because of House Bill 2717.

At the UG committee meeting Monday, she said this could make it potentially unsafe for some community members.

Juarez said if the UG chooses to go the route of administering the ID program, it would be expensive, and personal information would not be kept private, therefore becoming a danger to community members.

It took the commission five years to pass a Safe and Welcoming ordinance, working in collaboration with the Safe and Welcoming Coalition, and it is too fast to make a decision on either of two options presented Monday, Juarez said. She asked the committee to delay its vote.

Judy Ancel, president of the Cross Border Network, also a member of the Safe and Welcoming Coalition, said at the committee meeting that she agreed with Juarez.

UG commissioners had wondered at the meeting if they would get any outside applicants now for an ID program, or if the UG would have to do the ID program itself. Ancel named a possible private contractor for the ID program who was outside the city and who does similar ID programs throughout the nation. Ancel thought they could still get applicants for an outside contractor to run the program.

The reason the coalition wants to delay the vote was so they could have a chance to meet, she said.

“Frankly, the members of the Safe and Welcoming Coalition were extremely traumatized by what happened in the Kansas Legislature,” Ancel said. The coalition hasn’t met since the bill was passed and signed into law, she added.

Ancel said she was absolutely opposed to the UG administering any type of ID program under this ordinance.

As an example, Ancel said if an undocumented person with no ID currently gets a community ID with an address on it, that person could be stopped by the police for jaywalking or some other reason, and have to divulge the person’s address through the ID.

It’s not the current practice of the police or sheriff’s departments to inform on immigrants to the federal immigration authorities, but that is not prohibited by the revised UG ordinance, she said.

If the city has that personal information, it’s even worse, Ancel said.

“We really have doubts about whether this program will be popular with the immigrant community, because of House Bill 2717,” she said.

She said the coalition could try to meet and get back to the UG with their response in about 10 days.

The UG committee, however, did not postpone its vote, as it was trying to amend the ordinance and get it done by July 1, when the state law goes into effect. After approval by a committee, the ordinance goes to the full commission for approval. The UG Commission meets on June 9 and June 30. Commissioners felt there would be time for the coalition to meet and then give their response at a full UG Commission meeting.

Commissioner Harold Johnson proposed to amend the proposed amendments to allow the ID program to be administered only by an outside nonprofit group, a 501c3 as originally proposed, and not the UG.

Meyer provided two drafts of amendments for the commission to consider. The first removed any section of the UG ordinance that conflicted with the state law.

The second draft resolved conflicts as well as addressed some commissioners’ concerns from an earlier UG meeting, she said. She had included an option for the administrator of the ID program to be the UG or an outside nonprofit contractor.

Commissioner Christian Ramirez said he remembered a consensus of a committee that the UG should not operate the ID program because of the annual cost behind it.

“I don’t like opening the door for a city department to operate it,” he said. The committee already had been talking about finding extra funds for the sidewalk program, he said, and now if the ID program was operated by the UG, they would have to find more funds for it.

Some of the other, non-controversial amendments proposed, according to Meyer, included a definition added for the program administrator; an expiration term of two years for the ID card; a provision requiring persons to surrender the community ID card when it expires or when the person no longer lives in the county; documentation that was more specific; a section clarifying implementation and acceptance by city departments; the administrator would have the ability to suspend or revoke the cards; and an annual audit would be required or audits would be conducted at the request of the mayor to determine if they are complying with requirements.

At a UG meeting a few years ago, information was presented that estimated the ID program would cost $180,000 to $250,000, according to the UG.