Updates and outcomes from MARC's April Board meetings

Board of Directors meeting

Opportunity Zone 2.0

The federal Opportunity Zone program (Opportunity Zones 2.0) is accepting nominations for new designations in Kansas and Missouri. This program encourages capital investments in low-income communities through federal tax incentives. MARC is coordinating regional efforts to align nominations and improve competitiveness in the state selection processes.
 

Tournament preparations

With the FIFA World Cup™ coming up, MARC is supporting shared awareness across jurisdictions through information exchange, coordinated planning and partner engagement. Planning focuses on communications and public information coordination, plus health and medical preparedness and contingency planning to identify region-wide needs, priorities and gaps. The Board authorized MARC to administer $59 million in public security funding through a $400,000 contract with KC2026, reinforcing MARC’s long-standing regional emergency coordination role.
 

Smart Moves

Enhanced transit in the Kansas City region remains a priority for development and access to opportunity. MARC and partners are updating the Smart Moves transit plan to produce investable, locally rooted, regionally connected service strategies with reprioritized recommendations and estimated capital and operating costs. The update also identifies potential local funding mechanisms and includes a benefit-cost analysis, with public outreach expected later in 2026.

E-mobility

E-mobility devices (e-bikes, e-scooters, etc.) are growing in popularity, prompting local concern about traffic safety — especially for children — and a growing patchwork of city ordinances. MARC drafted a white paper to clarify key issues, review local codes, highlight infrastructure principles and share education resources. The paper defines what e-motos are and concludes e-motos should be recognized and regulated as motor vehicles, with education being the best near-term safety intervention. 
 

Comprehensive Safety Action Plan

MARC received a 2023 Safe Streets and Roads for All grant, on behalf of the Destination Safe Coalition, to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan and complete planning activities across the 13-county region. The plan uses a data-driven approach to identify roadway safety issues and recommend strategies, countermeasures, initiatives and programs. The Board approved the plan, which can be used by eligible jurisdictions within the Destination Safe Region that do not have an action plan and/or want to seek a 2026 Safe Streets and Roads for All grant.

Executive director search

David Warm, MARC’s executive director, announced last fall that he would retire in 2026. Johnson County Commissioner Janeé Hanzlick, Chair of the Search Committee comprised of MARC Board members, reported that interviews would begin in May.

Budget and Personnel Committee meeting

At the MARC Budget and Personnel Committee meeting on April 28, attendees took the following actions:

Regional 911 system

MARC’s regional 911 system will complete a 2026 hardware refresh of the VESTA 911 workstation environment to replace end-of-life equipment and maintain reliable emergency call handling across 14 public safety answering points in the 11-county region. The committee approved an agreement with Motorola Solutions for this work, funded by the 2026 Regional 911/Capital Equipment Budget, at an estimated total cost of $469,278.91 for 67 workstations.
 

Playground renovation

MARC serves more than 2,400 children and families through the Head Start program. With the Thomas Roque building transitioning from Early Head Start to serving both Head Start Preschool and Early Head Start, MARC plans to add a playground to provide developmentally appropriate equipment. The committee approved moving forward with a bid with total project costs not to exceed $76,574 and paid through Head Start grant funds.