The Council and I remain committed to building light rail in Kansas City, and we pledged to put a better plan to the voters by the end of 2008. In the meantime, we also voted to dedicate $200,000 so that the KCATA can do more specific study toward a light rail line. An important part of that contract is to get more information about the possible location and costs of a new transit-only bridge across the Missouri River.

I am continuing to meet with mayors and other officials and business leaders from the metropolitan area in-part to build consensus toward a regionally funded and regionally governed light rail initiative.

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Finance
Bad financial news is becoming a tradition for this monthly update, but the city manager’s five-year financial forecast was presented to the City Council’s Finance and Audit Committee in November. As I had feared, it was gloomy. Specifically, it described a city government that is trying to do too many things with too little money. It says the city is vulnerable to underperforming economic development projects, and that we don’t have enough money in reserve to weather an economic downturn.

This comes as the city manager and Budget Director Troy Schulte are crafting next year’s budget. As he does every year, Schulte plans to hold a series of public forums to get input on the city budget. This year, however, the comments from the public will have a little more importance, thanks to the effort of Councilwoman Deb Hermann and the Finance and Audit Committee. The Council passed a resolution in November that directs the city manager to consider the public comments from these forums as he is crafting the budget.

Neighborhoods/Housing
Last month, I appointed a new member to the Citizen Advisory Committee on Housing Policy. The committee is helping the City implement its housing policy, which is a guide to deal with the problems of neglected housing stock. Too many of Kansas City’s urban neighborhoods are filled with homes in terrible condition, whether because of absentee landlords, lack of code enforcement or the city’s drug trade. My appointee, Alexander Ellison, happens to live in the 3rd District, a district that experiences more than its share of those problems. I think he will be a good addition to the committee and someone who can bring a clear, vested interest in seeing our neighborhoods recover.

Education
I was disappointed, but not surprised, that voters in Kansas City and Independence voted to shift schools from the Kansas City School District to Independence. But I hope we will use it as motivation to rally around our students in the urban core. I’ve been working diligently to organize a summit on education, with the cooperation of the Kansas City public schools. I’ve been reaching out to community organizations and leaders to find out what efforts to improve education are already unde rway and how a citywide summit would complement those efforts. Every indication so far has been that the event would provide a boost to current initiatives, and I hope to formally announce the summit early next year.

Crime
I was honored last month to help dedicate the new police academy in the Northland. I’m told it is as good as any training facility in the country. It does have some very cool and fun things, like a 360-degree video simulator in which officers can be put into near life-like scenarios involving any manner of bad guy. The driving track and sniper range are pretty amazing too. But what I’m more excited about is the quality of officer we can recruit and develop with the help of the facility. Watch a video of the dedication.

Sewers
Last month, the City Council passed an ordinance to create a Water Services Utility Funding Task Force. That group will be charged with helping guide the Water Services Department as it figures out how to pay for the many improvements our aging water and sewer system requires. I am now working on making those appointments.

Citizen Satisfaction
Last month, I received recommendations from Stan Harris and the Public Works Department about how to significantly cut down on the number of metal plates on City streets. I intend to introduce an ordinance within the next few months that would change the way the city deals with these annoying and bone-jarring rectangles of metal.

Council/Downtown
I think the council and I are continuing to learn more about each other and develop a trust that will be important, particularly as we work together on the budget. Hannah Montana came and went. We had our first basketball games at the Sprint Center. And new restaurants continue to open in and around downtown.