Sept 22 – Clean Air Action Plan Stakeholder Meeting. Meeting to discuss updating the Clean Air Action Plan to reduce ground-level ozone and other pollutants and comply with federal standards. For more information contact Amanda Graor.
Oct 8 – Managers Luncheon. Featuring lunch at the Kansas Speedway and discussion of Unified Government strategies for development in the area. RSVP to Beverly Wilson or register online.
Academy for Sustainable Communities |
2010 Academy Leadership Series Calendar
September 10 - Leading the Revolution.
October 8 - Sustainable Communities.
For information on the Managers' Roundtable or the Government Innovations Forum, or to subscribe to this newsletter, contact Dean Katerndahl
August 2010
Abbreviated summer edition, perfect for reading at the beach
Regional News
Stallings named interim Overland Park city manager
Kristy Stallings, current deputy city manager for Overland Park, has been named Interim City Manager while the city looks for a replacement for outgoing City Manager John Nachbar. Stallings has indicated that she is not seeking the permanent position.
Zacharias contract renewed
Hannes Zacharias, Johnson County manager, received a one-year extension on his contract.
Sales taxes and bond issues fare well
Most communities had favorable results in renewing sales taxes and bond issues. This included Gladstone, Greenwood, Independence, Raytown and Grandview. Similar results have occurred on the Kansas side over the last few months.
Other regional news
Following the recommendations of a county task force, Jackson County voters approved a change to the charter that tightens up procedures and processes including how complaints are handled and requirements restricting the use of no-bid contracts.
Rich Caplan, a planning and economic development consultant to many local governments over the last 20 years, has accepted a position with Parsons. His first assignment is work with Saudi Arabia on the development of a new community on the Red Sea.
Johnson County has appointed its START (Strategic Transit Recommendation Taskforce) members. START, approved by the Board of County Commissioners in May 2008, calls for a comprehensive transit system to serve Johnson County including new routes, funding strategies, organizational structure, transportation infrastructure and linear amenities.
Cass County and Kansas City, MO, have new websites.
MARC News
Work begins on Clean Air Action Plan
MARC has begun work on development of a Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP). The work will start with a stakeholders meeting on September 22. The goal of this work is to help update the region's voluntary air quality protection plan based on the community's vision of sustainability. The update of the Clean Air Action Plan, first developed in 2004, will facilitate community implementation of priority policies, plans and programs that would reduce ground-level ozone and other pollutants. The new CAAP will help our community meet stricter new federal ozone standards. For more information contact Amanda Graor.
Call for CMAQ and STP and BR projects
MARC has issued calls for CMAQ, STP (surface transportation) and BR (bridge projects). Local, regional and state government agencies, and not-for-profits may submit proposals for federal fiscal year 2011–2012 Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds for projects and programs that improve air quality by reducing emissions from on-road vehicles. Eligible counties are Johnson and Wyandotte in Kansas, and Clay, Jackson and Platte counties in Missouri. MARC anticipates programming $3.5 million in Kansas and $2.5 million in Missouri in 2011 and 2012. Most projects require a minimum 20 percent cost share.
Local, regional and state government agencies may also submit proposals for federal fiscal year 2013–2014 Surface Transportation Program (STP) and Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program (BR) funds. The STP Program provides flexible funding for a variety of projects on federal-aid highways classified as urban collectors or higher. The BR Program provides funds to help replace or rehabilitate deficient highway bridges and to seismic retrofit bridges located on public roads. In addition to the counties eligible for CMAQ funds listed above, projects may also be submitted in Leavenworth County, Kan., and Cass County, Mo. MARC anticipates programming approximately $27 million in Kansas and $34 million in Missouri for the two-year period. Most projects require a minimum 20 percent cost share.
The deadline for both programs is August 20, 2010.
Other MARC news
HUD, with MARC's assistance, is hosting a Sustainable Housing Conference August 12. The conference will focus on development and redevelopment of environmentally sustainable housing. More information and registration are available on the website.
The Academy for Sustainable Development has two fall programs. The first, Sept. 10, features Eban Goodstein on Leading the Revolution, about leadership in the sustainability revolution. On October 8 Susan James will discuss Sustainable Communities — how to build a sustainable community from the ground up.
State and National News
ICMA issues report on applying smart growth to rural communities
ICMA has just issued a report Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities. The report is based around three complementary strategies: protecting the rural landscape, maintaining existing assets, and building new, vibrant places. The report is available to be downloaded.
Other state and national news
Kansas GFOA has its annual meeting scheduled for October 13–15 in Overland Park. For conference information visit the website.
Urban Land has an interesting interview with six experts on housing on where this important element of our community is heading.
St. Louis County has adopted the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code.
GIF News
MARC lays out strategy for Sustainable Communities grant
MARC has met with local governments, nonprofits, business organizations, and other potential partners for its application for a HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning grant. The grant application is due to HUD August 23. The basic thrust of the grant is to bring $3–$5 million into the region to support work to implement sustainable development initiatives around the recently adopted nodes and corridors strategy. MARC will work with local governments and other partners to develop new tools, practices, and policies and then help local governments apply them to local priorities. For more information contact Dean Katerndahl.
Other GIF news
MARC and KCPL will convene 26 smaller cities that are participating in the Smart Lights for Smart Cities high-efficiency streetlight project on August 27. The meeting will discuss how the program will operate and begin assessing the inventory of lights to be replaced. This project will install 4,000 high efficiency street lights in these communities and will be a large scale demonstration of this new technology. For more information contact Dean Katerndahl or Georgia Nesselrode.
The Kansas City Regional Purchasing Cooperative (KCRPC) and MARC just issued two contracts for clean diesel retrofits. KCRPC also recently renewed its paper contract with Clayton paper and surveillance camera contracts with two vendors. If you are interested in any of the many coop contracts available through KCRPC, please contact Rita Parker.
MARC is coordinating a survey of local government infrastructure for RITMA (Regional Information Technology Managers Association). The survey results will be used to develop colloborative initiatives around information technology. For more information contact Dean Katerndahl.
The October 8 Managers Luncheon will be held at the Kansas Speedway and will feature a discussion of the strategies used to develop the area by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan. RSVP to Beverly Wilson or register online.