Dear resident:
Thank you for subscribing to my monthly e-newsletter. I enjoy sharing the latest on how the City is working to improve services for residents. First quarterly Citizen Satisfaction Survey results available
The latest Citizen Satisfaction Survey marked the first time the survey has been done on a quarterly basis, rather than annually. The goal of conducting a quarterly survey is to obtain more immediate feedback in order to address concerns and quickly take action to improve services. The first quarterly results are encouraging and satisfaction scores are up in many areas in which citizens traditionally are most concerned: street maintenance, solid waste collection and code enforcement.
Green Impact Zone Neighborhood Assistance Center opens
Residents and business owners with questions regarding the Green Impact Zone can now speak directly with someone at the newly opened Neighborhood Assistance Center. The center is located at 4600 Paseo Blvd., in the Kansas City, Mo., School Board Retirement Offices. The center is currently staffed by employees from the Mid-America Regional Council and is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Green Impact Zone is a cooperative effort to focus federal stimulus funds on projects in a 150-block targeted area of the City's urban core.
Tow Services Vehicle Impound Facility receives Gold LEED rating
The City recently received official confirmation from the U.S. Green Building Council that the Tow Services Vehicle Impound Facility at 7750 Front St., has attained a gold rating for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The tow lot, which opened earlier this year, is the most environmentally conscious building the City has taken from design to build to operation, and was judged on sustainable site work, water and energy efficiency, emissions and air quality.
City Partners with America's Promise to host Kansas City Dropout Prevention Summit
Just last year, 2,758 young people dropped out of high school in the Kansas City area. The high school dropout rate is something that we as a community cannot afford to ignore. Not addressing this problem endangers future economic development, public safety and a healthy community, because those who drop out are more likely to be incarcerated, and rely on public programs, social services and have inadequate medical care. To bring awareness to the city's alarming dropout rate and help address the problem, the City, along with America's Promise, is hosting the Kansas City Dropout Prevention Summit on Oct. 5 at Pierson Auditorium at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The summit follows a series of dropout prevention forums. These events bring together government officials, business owners, child advocates, school administrators, students and parents to create action plans and develop workable solutions to attack the dropout problem. The goal is to reduce the number of teens who are dropping out and make sure our young people are leaving high school better prepared for college, work and life.
Emmy-nominated documentary to be presented at Dropout Prevention Summit
“Vanessa's Story,” a 30-minute documentary produced by KCCG-TV2, the City Government Channel, operated by the City Communications Office, has been nominated for a Regional Emmy Award by the Mid-America Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The program, which focuses on the plight of a young Kansas City woman whose decision to drop out of high school has left her unprepared to compete in today's society, will be featured at the America's Promise Dropout Prevention Summit on Oct. 5. The documentary also features a high school principal, a social worker and a truant officer who, day-in and day-out, try to work with young people to help them stay in school to receive their diplomas. "Vanessa's Story" is one of three finalists in the Public/Current/Community Affairs - Program or Special category. Winners will be announced at the 33rd Annual Mid-America Emmy Gala on Oct. 3 in St. Louis. The event will be hosted by NBC Today Show Correspondent Mike Leonard.
KC Dream Home program kicks off
The KC Dream Home Program is now accepting applications from first-time homebuyers. The program assists low- to moderate-income first-time homebuyers and displaced homemakers purchase a home of their choice within the city limits of Kansas City, Mo. Assistance will be provided to qualified participants in the form of a second mortgage loan equal to 20 percent of the purchase price, with a maximum of $20,000 per home for down payment and closing costs. The program is open until funds are exhausted.
Middle Blue River pilot project starts
The City recently finalized a $1,061,682 contract with URS Corp. that will involve the design of green solutions to reduce combined sewer overflows within an approximate 100-acre area of Middle Blue River Basin. The pilot project area extends from 73rd Street to 77th Terrace and Holmes Road to Paseo Boulevard. As part of the City’s Overflow Control Plan, the 100-acre pilot project is expected to be the largest installation of green solutions for combined sewer overflow control currently being planned for construction in the United States.
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. |
