First Suburbs Coalition Meeting Summary
September 7, 2007

The First Suburbs Coalition met on Friday, September 7, 2007 at the MARC Conference Center.

Michele Williams of Community America Credit Union and Dean Katerndahl of MARC provided the coalition an update on the home remodeling loan program. As of September 64 loans have been completed totaling just over $1.25 million. The loans are scattered throughout the first suburbs. A majority of the loans are going to persons with credit scores above 700. There was interested in working to reach out to families with lower credit scores. The average value of homes in the program is under $135,000.

Michele and Dean told the coalition that loan activity was directly related to marketing efforts, especially appearances in newsletters and newspapers. They encouraged each city to try and run at least a short article on the program each time a newsletter goes out.

Dean recommended that the coalition, in partnership with Community America, send out a survey to loan recipients asking them to report how they have used the money and how the program has operated for them. The coalition agreed with this recommendation.

The home remodeling finance committee recommended that the First Suburbs Coalition recommend to MARC that they extend the contract with Community America Credit Union for one year. No additional funds will be needed by the participating cities, but they will be notified. The First Suburbs Coalition voted to request that MARC execute an extension of its agreement with Community America Credit Union for one year.

Dean Katerndahl presented the First Suburbs Coalition legislative agenda from 2005. There was a discussion about how the First Suburbs Coalition wanted to proceed. It was decided that Dean would collect the legislative priorities of the first suburb members and then convene a working group to see where there are common interests and identify specific initiatives that the coalition can advocate for. A report will be presented at the December 2007 First Suburbs Coalition meeting. There was also a request to convene a meeting between HUD and first suburbs to see if there are any avenues open to improving first suburb access to CDBG funds.

Mayor Laura McConwell of Mission and Mike Scanlon, Mission city administrator presented information on the US Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Center and its national conference November 2 in Seattle and a parallel local meeting in the metro area. At that local meeting it is hoped that a number of mayors will join the climate protection effort and sign the Climate Protection Agreement. The First Suburbs Coalition voted to be an official sponsor of the local November 2 event.

Tom Gerend, assistant director of MARC’s Transportation Department, presented the coalition with an update on regional transit planning and light rail planning in Kansas City, Missouri. Citizen engagement meetings, 25 in all, start this week. More information can be found on the One KC Voice web site.

Haley Rees of Habitat Restore presented information on how Restore is a resource for building materials for folks undertaking rehab projects and is a resource for tear-downs. They can be reached at 816-231-6889 or www.restorekc.org.

Jim Rice, executive director of Northland Neighborhoods, Inc., presented information on a grant they have received, along with MARC, from the Northland Community Foundation. The grant funds will be used to develop information and strategies regarding the development of work force housing in proximity to employment centers.

Dean Katerndahl reported that there will be a meeting in October at the National League of Cities offices to develop a staff level, first suburbs network to exchange ideas, programs, and successes. This initiative will work closely with the NLC First Suburbs Task Force. Dean plans on attending this organizing meeting.

A delegation from the First Suburbs Coalition, including our co-chairs, will travel to St. Louis later in September to spend a day meeting with officials and explaining the work of the First Suburbs Coalition, particularly around housing. The day will culminate with a meeting at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, to be attended by 150 to 200 officials, staff, and private parties.

Dean, along with two or three first suburb representatives, will be making a presentation in November to the Missouri Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) on the activities of the First Suburbs Coalition.

The next meeting of the First Suburbs Coalition is Friday, December 14, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. at the MARC Offices.