Dear resident:
Thank you for subscribing to Insight, my monthly message. I enjoy sharing the latest news on how the City is working for you. Housing update
Since the establishment of the receivership in 2005, the City is getting close to reassuming control of assets from the Housing and Economic Development Financial Corp. To date, the City has:
- Resolved all but one of the 140 claims between HEDFC and recipients of funds
- Resolved all but one of the outstanding compliance audit findings from 2003-07
- Restarted the Beacon Hill and Holy Temple Sites housing developments
- Continued negotiations with a loan servicing contractor to be immediately available when the loan portfolio is transferred.
As ordered by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, the City submitted its Asset Transfer and Capacity Building Transition Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the receiver Feb. 2. Upon HUD's approval of the Transition Plan, the City Council must also approve, and then it will be submitted for the court's review. A Plan Review Conference has been requested for April 20.
Last month, the City Council passed Resolution No. 90075, creating a new Housing and Community Development Department. To build the capacity necessary to meet HUD's requirements, the City also will be hiring highly specialized positions for the new department.
With this tremendous progress, I look forward to putting past difficulties behind us and moving toward a new, productive housing program. The City is dedicated to professionally and efficiently managing federal funds to provide quality, affordable housing and housing services for our residents. Federal Stimulus Dollars
In anticipation of President Obama's Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the City has been working on outlining and prioritizing potential programs to receive funding. Areas of particular interest include economic development, environmental initiatives, water development and housing. As details become available, the City will communicate the information to the public and I will provide updates in future Insights. City's appeal to U.S. Census Bureau nets 25,455 residents
The U.S. Census Bureau recently agreed with the City that the official population of Kansas City, Mo., needed to be adjusted. The population is now officially 475,830, up 25,455 from 450,375.
The adjustment was made after I challenged the Census Bureau number based on a DrillDown study conducted by Project Kansas City Urban Market Assets, which is a group that includes the University of Missouri-Kansas City Bloch School's Cookingham Institute for Urban Affairs and Center for Economic Information, and Social Compact, a non-profit coalition. The in-depth DrillDown study used a multitude of city, state and commercial data records to create a more accurate picture of demographic and economic information in urban core neighborhoods. It's important to have an accurate population count because it affects economic development opportunities and federal funding.
The City also has partnered with the U.S. Census Bureau to provide employment testing for census jobs. Testing sessions are held at the Health Department every Friday and sessions at the Robert J. Mohart Multi-purpose FOCUS Center occur every Tuesday and Thursday. Applicants must call ahead to register and learn what forms of identification are required. Information for the Health Department testing is available at (816) 513-6008. More information about testing at the Mohart Center is available at (816) 977-2121.
2009-10 budget
With the fiscal year 2009-10 operating budget submitted to the City Council, the City has been holding public budget hearings and meetings to offer residents an opportunity to provide input to assist our City in making the hard decisions necessary to provide essential programs and services for our residents. I invite residents to attend any of the remaining public budget hearings and provide your comments prior to City Council adopting the budget on March 26. You also can watch the budget hearing on KCCG-TV2, the City Government Channel, or view the budget hearings online, along with most City Council meetings at www.kcmo.org. New Fire Station 35
Kansas City Fire Department firefighters moved into the City's newest fire station, Fire Station No. 35, this month. The 20,000 sq. ft. station is located at 3200 E. Emanuel Cleaver Blvd., and replaces the old station at 5005 Swope Parkway. Station 35 is the City's second busiest station. The facility also will house specialized rescue and homeland security equipment and serve as Battalion 105 headquarters. The $9 million project was completed on schedule and under budget. A dedication ceremony will take place next month.
Bright Future Employment Fair
The Youth Advocacy Office will hold its fifth annual Bright Future Employment Fair on March 16 at the Kansas City Convention Center. Those ages 15-22 who are interested in paid positions (full-time, part-time, seasonal, etc.) can register for the fair by March 12.
Applicants will have the opportunity to be interviewed and immediately hired by the more than 90 companies and City departments. Nearly 3,000 young people have been employed since the program began in 2005.
As always, I appreciate your feedback. Please feel free to e-mail questions and comments to my office at Insight@kcmo.org. Sincerely,
Wayne A. Cauthen
City manager
City of Kansas City, Mo. |
