Updates and outcomes from MARC's January Board meetings

Feb 06, 2025
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News
Karen Clawson, MARC principal planner/air quality program manager, presents to the Board of Directors about air quality data at the Jan. 28, 2025, meeting.

Thanks to everyone who joined the MARC Board of Directors and Budget and Personnel Committee meetings on Jan. 28.

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

Kansas City Investment Playbook

Board members heard from A.J. Herrmann, director of policy and program innovation with Accelerator for America, about the investment playbook, which identifies 11 projects that could transform the regional economy. The projects focus on high-performance buildings, health care, life sciences and other areas. Board members were encouraged to support the playbook and project entrepreneurs.

View slides

2026 Area Agency on Aging draft plan

As the region’s designated Area Agency on Aging, MARC develops a plan every four years to address the evolving needs of older adults and caregivers. The 2026 plan is available for public comment until Feb. 24. Plan priorities include outreach and education, workforce development, caregiver support and transportation options. 

View slides

Air quality monitor data

The Board authorized MARC to submit letters to the states of Kansas and Missouri regarding designation recommendations  for the PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) 2024  National Ambient Air Quality Standard. The letters concur with each state’s recommendations, including that assertion that 2024 air quality standard violations in Kansas should not result in ‘nonattainment’ designations until sensor biases are resolved by EPA.

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 Board approved the 2025 agenda, which included 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

Regional Leadership Awards nominations

MARC is accepting nominations for the 2025 Regional Leadership Awards, which will be presented at the annual Regional Assembly on Friday, June 13. The awards program recognizes people, organizations and initiatives that have made outstanding contributions to the region. Learn more and submit a nomination at marc.org/awards. The nomination period closes Feb. 10.

MARC Board officers

In January, Board Chair and Johnson County Commissioner Janeé Hanzlick selected former MARC Board Chair and Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog and Raymore Mayor Kris Turnbow to serve as the nominating committee for the 2025 MARC Board officers. The group recommended that all Board officers remain in their current roles until January 2026, which the Board approved. The Board officers for 2025 are:

  • Chair: Commissioner Janeé Hanzlick, Johnson County, Kansas
  • First Vice-Chair: Mayor Pro Tem Beto Lopez, Lee’s Summit, Missouri
  • Second Vice-Chair: Mayor Damien Boley, Smithville, Missouri
  • Treasurer: Councilmember Holly Grummert, Overland Park, Kansas
  • Secretary: Councilmember Dr. Bridget McCandless, Independence, Missouri
     

Budget and Personnel Committee

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

  • Local dues — Local government dues represent less than 2% of MARC’s overall budget, but they are unrestricted funds that provide a foundation for a broad range of regional programs and initiatives. B&P Committee members approved a 2% increase in dues for 2026, similar to previous years, to continue supporting regional programming.
     
  • Double Up Food Bucks — Double Up Food Bucks makes it easier for low-income families to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. The committee approved an expense of $2,755,812, funded by private and state grants, to implement the 2025 program in participating Kansas and Missouri communities. The funds will support contracts with partner organizations and grocery stores, plus administrative costs. 
     
  • 911 workstation upgrades — MARC serves as the coordinating agency for the Kansas City Regional 911 System and contracts with Motorola to maintain 911 workstations and associated devices. The committee approved a cost of $484,582 to replace 57 workstations for 11 public safety answering points (PSAPs) across the region. All regional PSAP workstations are upgraded every four years as part of ongoing maintenance to ensure reliability and effectiveness of this critical system.
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