Dear resident:

It's my pleasure to update you about some of the City's accomplishments this month through my e-message.

City analyzes light rail plan
The City is conducting a comprehensive "alternatives" analysis to measure a potential light rail system's environmental, ridership and economic development impact. The analysis also will look at the planning process and the potential impact on the existing bus system. This analysis is necessary in order to secure federal approval and shared funding. The federal light rail process is complicated and must be followed in order to obtain federal participation in Kansas City's future light rail and mass transportation system.

Transit experts Holland and Knight, the City's lobbying firm conducting this analysis, will brief the City Council about the plan on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 1 p.m. Read the agenda and watch the meeting online. Find out more information on the presentation.

Zoning ordinance plan being revised
The City is working on a new plan to revise the current zoning ordinance, which is outdated and contains many deficiencies that do not adequately address the City's zoning needs. The new development plan adds these steps:

• Apply regulations to all development – private and public – within the City, unless stated in the ordinance
• Unify zoning and subdivision regulations into a single development code
• Consolidate many districts into fewer zones
• Clarify existing code with definitions, tables, charts and illustrations
• Include pedestrian street design standards.

More on the new development revision process.

City works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
The City is working to develop recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the area by 2020. An 11-member steering committee is working to establish specific reduction goals and recommendations for the City Council to enact. Those actions will include measures for implementation by the City, organizations and individuals throughout the community.

The meetings are open to the public and individuals interested in participating should contact the City's chief environmental officer, Dennis Murphey, at dennis_murphey@kcmo.org. Find out more information about the Office of Environmental Quality.

Regional police training academy to open in mid-2007
The new police academy is on schedule to open in May. The training facility will include a 500-seat auditorium, administrative offices, classrooms, physical training facilities, an indoor pistol range, rifle range, a 1.1-mile driving track and a situational building to train new recruits. The City is committed to producing an exceptional facility.

The City is excited about the projects we deliver that help ensure the safety of our community, including the opening of the Shoal Creek Patrol Division. Learn more about the Capital Improvements Management Office.

As always, I appreciate your feedback as a citizen. 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.