First suburbs Legislative Agenda

The mission of the First Suburbs Coalition is to support the efforts of first suburbs in metropolitan Kansas City in identifying resources and implementing measures or programs that result in the preservation, reinvestment and revitalization of their neighborhoods and commercial areas. The legislative agenda that follows supports this mission and focuses on three key areas: Neighborhood Preservation, Transportation and Collaboration.

Neighborhood Preservation

• Education – Quality schools are probably the number one attribute that make First Suburbs attractive communities and contributes to strong neighborhoods. A top legislative priority is for states to provide full funding of education while maintaining local autonomy.
• In Kansas, the First Suburbs Coalition supports reformulation of the school aid formula and adequate funding to support the formula.
• In Missouri, the First Suburbs Coalition supports full funding of the Missouri Foundation Formula.
• Planning – Since First Suburbs are characterized by older, fully developed neighborhoods they require flexible planning authority that allows them to encourage reinvestment, remodeling and preservation of their housing stock and businesses. This requires state legislation that provides local officials with the flexible new tools and autonomy needed to remake and revitalize older communities.
  • In Kansas, the First Suburbs Coalition supports legislation that would provide governing bodies increased authority in setting planning priorities.
  • In Missouri, the First Suburbs Coalition supports legislation that would modernize the state’s outdated planning and zoning statutes and support the recommendations from the Missouri Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation (MCIC) and the Missouri Chapter of the American Planning Association.
• Community Development Block Grants – CDBG can be a valuable tool for first suburbs in encouraging redevelopment of their communities. However, CDBG is generally directed to large urban cities or rural communities.
  • At the federal level, the First Suburbs Coalition supports administrative or legislative action that would increase the priority given to First Suburbs for CDBG funding.
• Redevelopment Incentives – Redevelopment in first suburbs presents special challenges. The First Suburbs Coalition supports legislative and administrative action that creates special tools and incentives that encourage redevelopment in first suburbs.
  • In Missouri and Kansas, the First Suburbs Coalition supports state programs that allow communities to use tax credits to encourage redevelopment.

Transportation and Other Public Infrastructure

• Transportation – A modern transportation system that effectively and efficiently connects first suburbs with the rest of the metropolitan area is essential in maintaining viable communities. The First Suburbs Coalition supports legislation that provides support to regional transportation systems that serve first suburbs.
  • In Missouri, the First Suburbs Coalition supports improvement to the administration of the Missouri Department of Transportation and improved funding of the department.
  • In Kansas and Missouri, the First Suburbs Coalition supports legislation that would allow citizens of the Kansas City region to establish a metropolitan transit district and regional districts supporting other regional infrastructure.
  • At the federal level, the First Suburbs Coalition supports the continued funding by Congress of the Transportation Enhancement Program.
• Infrastructure Maintenance – First suburbs represent a tremendous investment on the part of our communities in infrastructure. The First Suburbs Coalition supports legislation and administrative action that places the first priority for state and federal funding on maintenance of existing facilities.
  • In the region, the First Suburbs Coalition supports maintenance of existing streets and highways as the first priority for the allocation of federal and state transportation funds.
  • In Missouri and Kansas, the First Suburbs Coalition supports a maintenance first priority for the allocation of all funds for infrastructure.

Collaboration

• Collaboration – An important tool for first suburbs is collaboration with neighboring communities and the larger metropolitan area. The First Suburbs Coalition supports legislation that facilitates such collaboration.
  • In Kansas and Missouri, the First Suburbs Coalition supports legislation that continues to facilitate intergovernmental collaboration.
  • In Kansas and Missouri, the First Suburbs Coalition supports legislation that allows communities in the metropolitan area to collaborate and jointly address regional issues through regional districts and other forms of collaboration.