A Monthly Message to Residents Aug. 22, 2008 Dear resident: Welcome to another edition of my monthly e-newsletter. Thank you for reading about the latest news in our City. Missouri tops nation for manufacturing, study shows A new study confirms what the City already is capitalizing on: Missouri is the best state for manufacturing and logistics, according to the 2008 National Manufacturing and Logistics Report Card by Ball State University. Kansas City is a great manufacturing and shipping center with tremendous distribution corridors throughout North America. The future growth of our city's economy lies in expanding our manufacturing and shipping bases of employment. Growth at KCI and at the South Kansas City Intermodal facility will keep Kansas City and Missouri in the lead as the best area for manufacturing and shipping. Subscribe Sign up to receive monthly e-messages Read previous messages Bulky items collection now requires appointment Beginning Sept. 1, the bulky item collection program will change to an appointment-based system. Residents should call 311 or (816) 513-1313 to schedule an appointment at least 48 hours in advance. Collection will no longer automatically occur without an appointment. The program accepts refrigerators, freezers, stoves, couches, televisions, lawn mowers and other large household items. City adopts Climate Protection Plan The City Council adopted the Climate Protection Plan and will incorporate findings from the intensive report into City policy and operations. As part of this plan, the City will strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from government operations by 30 percent below year 2000 levels by 2020. In order to have a healthy government, our operations must be more environmentally conscious and responsible. The Climate Protection Plan is another step toward ensuring our City is more sustainable for the future. City revises LEED ordinance to require silver ratings on projects Because it's a priority to be a certifiable green city, we recently revised the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ordinance to require the silver standard be used. This means any City facility built under this standard will have lower green house gas emissions, be energy and water efficient and essentially operate at a lower cost! It's another example of how the City is incorporating green solutions into our policies, projects and programs. EPA awards $1.5 million grant for water infrastructure in Beacon Hill The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded nearly $1.5 million to the Water Services Department to replace or relocate drinking water mains, sanitary sewers and stormwater sewers as part of the Beacon Hill Redevelopment Project. The project includes green stormwater infrastructure to make sure water resources are clean, safe and sustainable for residents. Aviation Department issues $28.6 million in general airport refunding bonds The Aviation Department on Aug. 13 issued $28.6 million in general improvement airport refunding revenue bonds to refund Kansas City International Airport’s outstanding series 1997A bonds. The refunding transaction generated a net present value savings of approximately $1.9 million of the refunded bonds. The City achieved a true interest cost of about 3.7 percent on the bonds. The airport maintained its underlying ratings of A1/A+/A+ by Moody’s Investor Services, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings, respectively. Grand ballroom at Convention Center wins national awards The new grand ballroom at the Convention Center has been honored with several awards, including: Honor Award, Design and Community Impact Categories, Kansas City Business Journal Capstone Awards Gold Award, Government Category, International Interior Design Association Mid-America Design Awards Award of Excellence and Sustainability Award, International Association of Lighting Designers Outstanding Project of the Year, $30-$100 million, Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards, National Council of Structural Engineering Associations Honor Award, American Council of Engineering Companies of Missouri Chapter Engineering Excellence Awards We are pleased this world-class facility continues to receive recognition.   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.