Updates and outcomes from MARC's December Board meetings

Jan 07, 2025
| Posted in
News
Board Chair Janee Hanzlick thanks Miami County Commissioner Rob Roberts for his service to the MARC Board of Directors.

Thanks to everyone who joined the MARC Board of Directors and Budget and Personnel Committee meetings on Dec. 17.

We’re sharing selected highlights from the meetings for your awareness and use in regional conversations. 

Board service

Board Chair Janeé Hanzlick thanked and recognized four outgoing Board members for their service to the region: 

  • Cass County Commissioner Ryan Johnson
  • Miami County Commissioner Rob Roberts
  • Leavenworth County Commissioner Doug Smith
  • Platte County Commissioner Dagmar Wood

Budget overview

Board members approved the MARC 2025 Budget and Work Plan, which will advance MARC’s programs and initiatives across the region. MARC’s 2025 budgeted revenues are projected at $119,981,775 – with 72% being passed on to partners in the region.

View the budget and work plan

Regional economic forecast

Board members heard a regional economic forecast from Frank Lenk, director of the Office of Economic Research. The 2024 job market turned out to be much stronger than anticipated – helping the region avoid a recession. However, the region’s job growth has struggled to keep pace with the nation. A bright spot is the new Panasonic plant in De Soto, Kansas, which is expected to bring more than 4,000 jobs to the region.

View slides

Federal policy agenda

Each year, the Board adopts a federal policy agenda, reflecting issues of importance to the Kansas City region. The issues come forward from MARC-convened working committees, member local governments and community partners. The draft 2025 agenda includes a focus on reauthorization of key federal laws and programs, minimizing the costs of extreme weather, and supporting older adults through nutrition and wrap-around services. 

View slides

Short-term rental research

As part of ongoing Regional Housing Partnership work, a recent survey of 43 communities identified 14 with some type of policy or regulation in place for short-term rentals. Nine did not have a policy but were discussing the topic. Most of the surveyed communities are firm that short-term rentals are meant for rental purposes only and not for events. Some communities have rules capping the number of short-term rentals per ward or district. The survey results are summarized on marc.org.

View slides

Ozone season recap

There were two ozone alerts during the 2024 ozone season, which runs from March 1 to Oct. 31. However, ozone concentrations exceeded the federal limit on six days. Overall, this season was better than last year, but the region violated the federal ozone standard. 

View slides

Budget and Personnel Committee

At the MARC Budget and Personnel Committee meeting on Dec. 17, attendees took the following actions:

  • Mental health response — As part of MARC’s ongoing work to coordinate 988 response, committee members approved a request to reallocate $312,309 to support specialized training, education and outreach, and project management among five certified community behavioral health organizations. 
     
  • 911 system upgrades — The committee supported ongoing efforts to safeguard the Kansas City Regional 911 System by authorizing a five-year agreement for cybersecurity monitoring and risk assessment services with Seculore Solutions for $866,400, as well as enhancements to existing firewall protections at a cost of $377,664.
     
  • Community paramedics — Committee members approved $150,000 to support and expand the use of community paramedics, which are specially trained paramedics who can assist in non-emergency response,  often in collaboration with primary care providers, and minimize demand on health care resources. The funding will advance regional efforts to launch and implement community paramedic programs and evaluate success.
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