Category: Unified Government Commission

The Unified Government Commission will hold a budget workshop and set the maximum mill levy at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25.

On the 7 p.m. Aug. 25 UG Commission agenda, the commission is scheduled to vote on an ordinance and resolution to accept $55,383,872 in federal American Rescue Plan funds to the city of Kansas City, Kansas, and $32,132,644 to Wyandotte County from ARPA funds. Much of the funding, $31 million for the city and $11 million for the county, will go toward replacement of local government losses due to COVID-19, according to the proposal.

About $11.74 million is proposed to be spent on immediate needs. Those immediate needs include $5.9 million for public health; $2.37 million for negative economic impacts; $1.6 million for disproportionately impacted communities; and $1.92 million for online processes and technology investment.

The UG has a few years to make decisions on how to spend the remainder of the ARPA funding.

Also on the 7 p.m. agenda is a resolution to allocate $1.85 million in local fiscal recovery funds received by Wyandotte County to be used to address and prevent housing insecurity and other negative economic impact from COVID-19 as part of the ARPA.

Several planning and zoning items also are on the 7 p.m. UG meeting agenda Aug. 25, including:

• 1201 N. 98th, change of zone from agriculture to planned commercial district for construction of Camping World.
• 8919 Leavenworth Road, change of zone from single-family and limited business district to planned general business district for a proposed gas station and convenience store, recommended for denial.
• 609 and 611 S. 75th St., change of zone from single family to twofamily district for an existing duplex.
• 617 and 619 S. 75th St., change of zone from single-family district to two-family district for an existing duplex.
• 7852 Leavenworth Road, special use permit for temporary use of land to park salt plow trucks, Loyd A. Clay.
• 2003 ½ to 2005 N. 5th St., renewal of special use permit for live entertainment, Jeffrey E. Hollinshed.
• 5917 N. 123rd St., vacation of electrical utility easement.
• 4501 Douglas Ave., preliminary and final plan review for office warehouse with initial use a laydown area, Mike Sanders with Nampara Properties.
• 4605 Shearer Road, preliminary and final plan review for an office warehouse with the initial use a laydown area, Mike Sanders with Nampara Properties.
• 88 S. 7th St. Trafficway, ordinance rezoning property from single-family district to two-family district.
• 2716 and 2718 S. 53rd St., ordinance rezoning property from single-family district to two-family district.
• 3860 Bell Crossing Drive, ordinance rezoning property from single-family district to agriculture district.
• 5837 Leavenworth Road, ordinance vacating right-of-way.
• 415 and 417 Stine Ave., ordinance vacating an alley.
• 1110 Merriam Lane, ordinance authorizing aspecial use permit for continuation of a performance auto service shop.
• 3847 and 3848 N. 123rd St., ordinance authorizing special use permit for continuation of a short-term rental – air BNB.
• 4449 Rainbow Blvd., ordinance authorizing a special use permit for a short-term rental – air BNB.
• 734 S. 76th St., ordinance authorizing a special use permit to keep two cows on the property.
• 11827 Marxen Road, special use permit for a home occupation short-term rental – air BNB.
• 3800 Weaver Court, ordinance authorizing a special use permit for continuation of a Homestead Montessori Farm school within a residence.
• Resolution designating UG depositories and eligible institutions for purposes of receiving UG funds for investment and receiving requests for bids for investment of its idle funds.
• A resolution adopting the fourth amendment to the downtown campus development agreement in the 5th and Minnesota area. The amendment reduces the square footage of the Reardon Center, prioritizes the distribution of CID proceeds and extends the deadline.
• A resolution approving the fourth amendment to the KC Foodie Park development agreement, extending planning and construction deadlines. This project is at the former Indian Springs property near 47th and State.
• A resolution approving two agreements on the Historic Preservation Fund Grants. The agreements are with the Kansas Historical Society and State Preservation Office. One grant to the Downtown KCK Historic Commercial District of $21,000, will include $12,500 from the state with federal grant funds, and a local match will come from the UG planning department’s long-range planning budget, including in-kind contributions. Another agreement is for $30,000 for a Downtown KCK Historic Churches Multiple Listings Designation. Of that amount, $18,000 will be from the state with federal grant funds, and a local match will be from the UG planning department’s long-range planning budget, including in-kind contributions.
• The Land Bank includes many properties to be considered at this meeting. The properties are on Hallock, Valley, Lafayette, Stewart, Lathrop, 75th, Freeman, 7th, Troup, Quindaro, Cleveland, Minnie, and 6th. To see a complete list of the properties, see the agenda at https://civicclerk.blob.core.windows.net/stream/WYCOKCK/aa6f9c8fe9.pdf?sv=2015-12-11&sr=b&sig=g2zYjO14v5kk5LaWoqCisHRIKpPNA0K8pOy%2FqCuaYGo%3D&st=2021-08-25T16%3A24%3A12Z&se=2022-08-25T16%3A29%3A12Z&sp=r&rscc=no-cache&rsct=application%2Fpdf.

The 5 p.m. special session and the 7 p.m. meeting will be conducted through a Zoom internet meeting, wit public access available through Zoom, telephone, and from the lobby of City Hall, 701 N. 7th St. The meeting will be shown on UGTV cable television and on YouTube.

The 5 p.m. session is on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82359399700?pwd=aVNDNTZSdFQ5WmxMcXVXbGdHdzB4UT09.
The passcode is 113265.
The Webinar ID is 823 5939 9700.
To connect by telephone, call 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499.

The 7 p.m. Zoom meeting is at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85117594728?pwd=QnN3eXl0cGYwM2dHRjFMZ0l2SHl0UT09.
The passcode is 702899.
The Webinar ID is 851 1759 4728.
To connect by telephone, call toll-free 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499.

The UG 7 p.m. agenda is online at https://civicclerk.blob.core.windows.net/stream/WYCOKCK/aa6f9c8fe9.pdf?sv=2015-12-11&sr=b&sig=g2zYjO14v5kk5LaWoqCisHRIKpPNA0K8pOy%2FqCuaYGo%3D&st=2021-08-25T16%3A24%3A12Z&se=2022-08-25T16%3A29%3A12Z&sp=r&rscc=no-cache&rsct=application%2Fpdf.

Two Unified Government committees will meet on Monday, Aug. 23, starting at 5 p.m.

The Public Works and Safety Committee will open at 5 p.m.

On the agenda for the PWS Committee:
• A resolution authorizing agreements between the Unified Government and Turner and Piper school districts to provide a school resource officer at the two districts;
• The 2021 fireworks report;
• A Fire Department quarterly update; and
• A presentation of honorary street signs for Pandarama Pre-schools on Nebraska Avenue between 7th and 8th streets.
The UG Administration and Human Services Committee meeting will follow.

On the agenda for the AHS meeting:

A records management policy; and
An update on external and internal communications, and an action plan.

To connect to the meetings on Zoom, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86407945756?pwd=NHVYL1ZweWozVjVvV1lLR0F5Q2djQT09.
The passcode is 528349.
The Webinar ID is 864 0794 5756.

To connect by telephone, call toll-free 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499.

The meetings also are expected to be on UGTV cable television on Google at Channel 141 and Spectrum at Channel 2.

The meetings are also on YouTube and at http://74.62.126.113:8081/CablecastPublicSite/watch/1?channel=1.

Unified Government Administrator Doug Bach proposed a UG budget of over $400 million on Thursday night.

The budget was bolstered by about $42 million in federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) loss replacement funds.

Bach emphasized a “Road to Recovery” theme in his presentation to the UG Commission. Last year, during the pandemic, he said, was a difficult budget where they reduced their operational budget, reduced cash spending, froze employee salaries, furloughed some non-public safety employees, slowed down hiring, and reduced maintenance.

Their view last year was to take a one-time hard hit and keep from depleting their reserves, he said. The UG slowed down its spending, he said, and at the same time, revenues did not decline as much as they forecast. They were left in a position of being able to recover more quickly from the pandemic.

Last year, Health Department operations were expanded as never before, and targeted at the underserved population, he said.

At the same time, it was a good year for economic development here. Around $1 billion was announced in new commercial and residential projects in 2020 for Wyandotte County, he said. He listed several investments east of I-635, including the Merc Co-op grocery downtown; Donnelly College’s new building; Splitlog Coffee and Slaps’ expansion on Central Avenue; and a new Menards store off I-35. In addition, he mentioned the Y Lofts, Boulevard Lofts, Lanier’s downtown project at 5th and Minnesota, the Yards 2 apartments, and the Rock Island Bridge destination project.

There is a new focus on residential development, he said, with growth in housing starts.

The new budget recommendations include continuing anti-blight efforts, long-term planning for infrastructure, focusing on infill housing, addressing UG workforce issues, stabilizing the UG’s fiscal position and setting priorities for ARPA spending.

The budget details are contained in a budget book of almost 1,000 pages online at https://xfer.wycokck.org/public/file/XwtZzjJiCUWudaJv1Z2WUw/Unified%20Government%202021%20Amended%202022%20Proposed%20Budget.pdf. There is also a slide presentation about the budget online at https://www.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/finance/documents/2022-administrators-budget-presentation.pdf.

This budget doesn’t really focus on the $87 million in ARPA funds, and the commission will look more at the bulk of the ARPA funding in the coming months, Bach said. There are some areas in this 2022 budget that use ARPA funding, however.

Some ARPA funds currently are proposed to be used in the general fund and other funds to build up the reserves. The reserves are proposed to go over the target of 17 percent for a few years, and then to come back down to around the 17 percent level.

Bach said the UG also will continue its fight against COVID. The Health Department, which was budgeted $13.6 million in 2020, is proposed to receive $16.9 million in the 2021 amended budget and $10.1 million in the 2022 budget, according to budget documents.

Bach proposed a flat mill levy rate of 77.79 for the combined Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte County, the same as last year. The proposed Kansas City, Kansas, mill levy rate is 38.47, while the Wyandotte County proposed mill levy rate is 39.327.

The UG had reduced the mill levy rate for three consecutive years previously, he said, resulting in a city property tax rate that was almost 15 percent lower. He suggested that the UG might consider another mill levy reduction in 2023 or 2024.

If property owners’ assessed valuations remain the same, they will see the same tax amount as last year, but if their assessed valuations increased, they may see an increase in the amount owed on their property tax. The real estate market here saw higher prices this past year, causing valuations to rise in general.

According to the detailed budget information, Wyandotte County’s assessed value was a 4.2 percent increase for the 2021 budget over the previous year’s assessed value. The total assessed value in the county was $1.58 billion. According to budget documents, the 2021 county assessed valuation for the 2022 budget was estimated to rise by another 3.9 percent.

A Kansas City, Kansas, resident who lives in the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools district would see the same amount of property tax on a $100,000 home this year as last year, if the valuation stays the same, and if the school district and other governmental bodies do not change the mill levy rate. An estimated total property tax bill in that district would be $1,880.76 for the 2021 budget and 2022 budget, according to UG information.

To the average resident, one mill means about $23 on a $200,000 home, Bach said. To a business, it means $125 on a $500,000 commercial property.

But to the UG, one mill would mean 10 miles of a lane of street overlay, or 14 police officers, he said.

According to UG officials, the budget included revenues of $403.1 million and expenditures of $420.2 million.

UG officials had talked earlier about restoring some of the jobs that were cut or went unfilled during the past year. The UG stated that in July, there were 323 unfilled positions. According to officials Thursday night, there were 173 positions that were unfilled. This budget fills 48 key positions, according to officials, leaving about 88 positions unfilled.

In answer to a question from Mayor David Alvey about why 88 are unfilled, Bach said they did an analysis on the priorities, reclassified some positions and decided to fill additional ones. The 88 positions are not aligned closely with the commission’s highest priorities, Bach said.

Public safety will be addressed through community-based programs, according to UG officials. Twenty-seven of the 48 key positions to be filled will be for the Police Department, through its academy. The public safety category is 55 percent of the UG’s budget.

Bach said $10 million has been built into the proposed budget to address workforce culture and compensation within the UG.

The proposed budget also includes a stormwater fee increase from the current flat fee of $4.50 a month for all categories, to $6 a month for residential customers and $14 a month for nonresidential customers. According to UG officials, the UG Commission will be discussing a stormwater fee plan for later years.

When Commissioner Mike Kane heard that there was a 25-cent contractual increase proposed for the trash collection fee, he said the UG needs to get it to where the company performs its job function, “and they’re not.”

Trash hasn’t been picked up in three weeks from a residential area by Wyandotte County Lake, Commissioner Kane said. He said he would hate to see the company get an increase until it’s doing its job the way it’s supposed to.

Commissioner Gayle Townsend asked about Parkwood Pool, which is currently closed. Next year, there is a proposal for an outside contractor to run the pool. According to UG officials, the company will run the entire operation, and it is their intent to operate with maximum levels of lifeguards next year, but they can’t guarantee it due to the shortage of lifeguards in the Kansas City area.

Commissioner Kane requested that students in Kansas City, Kansas, area schools be recruited to be the lifeguards. Commissioner Townsend said they had tried to do that in the past, but it was difficult because in the past there was not appropriate staffing or facilities to teach swimming. They will continue trying even though it was difficult.

The proposed budget will be discussed by the UG Commission, which has been holding meetings on it since March. Future budget meetings include Aug. 26 and Sept. 2, with budget adoption on Sept. 9. Aug. 26 also is when the UG Commission is scheduled to discuss ARPA grant funds and adopt the ARPA immediate needs budget.

The UG budget hearing will be at 5 p.m. Sept. 7 at the fifth floor meeting room at City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

The bulk of the federal ARPA funding is in a separate process from the UG’s budget; about half of the $87 million has already arrived and half will arrive next year. The UG is considering some of the ARPA funds for “immediate needs.” The UG has a few years to decide how the rest of the ARPA funds will be spent. Residents who would like to comment on how the UG should spend ARPA funds may send an email to [email protected]. A UG website on ARPA funding is at www.wycokck.org/ARPA.

The budget presentation, with much more detail, is online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afsetZCc38M.