Dear resident:

Thank you for subscribing to my monthly e-newsletter. Each month, I enjoy telling you about some of the City's programs that help residents and our community.

Work on budget for fiscal year 2008-2009
Now that the fiscal year 2008-2009 budget has been submitted to the City Council, we will be holding public hearings and meetings to offer citizens an opportunity to provide input to ensure our City continues to move forward in providing the necessary programs and services for our residents. We must be creative in leveraging the success downtown into the neighborhoods and into new resources for the City.

I invite residents to attend a public meeting on the budget on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall in the City Council Chamber. I also encourage you to watch budget hearings on KCCG-TV2 or online on demand at www.kcmo.org. Read the submitted activity budget and the schedule of hearings.

City launches new diversity/harassment training initiative
The Human Resources Department and staff selected two companies to conduct a comprehensive initiative on diversity and anti-discrimination/harassment in the workplace to continually educate City employees and provide a professional work environment. The organizations will work with the City to develop a highly-effective program to help employees deal with these critical issues. The program will begin in March. More

Report potholes to the 3-1-1 Action Center
The winter weather has taken a toll on the City's streets. Because of the amount of snow and ice this season, crews have been working diligently to repair potholes with cold-mix asphalt and more permanent hot asphalt mixes. City crews work to make sure the streets are maintained on about 6,300 miles of pavement. Report potholes to the 3-1-1 Action Center online or by calling 311 or (816) 513-1313. Please provide as many specifics about the location of the potholes as possible.

Council renews downtown Community Improvement District
The City Council unanimously approved an ordinance renewing the Downtown Community Improvement District for 10 years. The ordinance gives the district authority to levy a special assessment against real estate within its boundaries at no more than 38.4908 cents per $100 of assessed value and 9.1334 cents per square foot of land. Revenue from the assessment will total $1.9 million per year. The improvement district and its crews dressed in yellow and black provide security, maintenance, land and streetscape upkeep. Funds also are used for community development, management and operations, and a reserve fund.

City looks for solid waste solutions
Kansas City needs to be proactive in finding solutions to the growing problem of finding space for our waste. If we continue at current levels, local landfill space could be full within the next 18 years. The City has been crafting a Long-Term Solid Waste Management Strategic Plan to address our needs. This plan includes an Eco Center, which would recycle our trash in a LEED green building and substantially decrease the amount of waste disposed at landfills. The program expands on our current recycling efforts, as we continue to make sure we effectively and efficiently manage our solid waste needs for the future. The Solid Waste Division will present this plan to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in early March.

Credit agencies assign ratings for 2008 special obligation bonds
Moody's Investor Services, Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings assigned their "A2," "AA-" and "AA" credit rating, respectively, for the $45.1 million of the City's special obligation and refunding bond series 2008 A&B (the 2008 special obligation bonds) scheduled for issuance Feb. 28. More

Liberty Memorial restoration project wins national award
The Liberty Memorial restoration project received the American Institute of Architects' 2008 Institute Honor Award for Architecture, the profession's highest recognition of exemplary architecture. The project was chosen from more than 800 submissions and will be honored in May. The Capital Improvements Management Office managed the project. More

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.