Updates and outcomes from MARC's October Board meetings

Nov 17, 2023
| Posted in
News
Meeting room with people sitting around table listening to presenter

Thanks to everyone who joined the MARC Board of Directors and Budget and Personnel Committee meetings on Oct. 24.

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

Regional climate action plan

Board members heard an update on regional efforts to develop a priority climate action plan — the next iteration of the region’s climate action plan. The priority climate action plan will position the region for federal implementation grants ranging from $10 million to $200 million. To start the process, MARC hosted two half-day workshops to identify regional goals and potential projects to develop comprehensive applications for the new grant funding. 

View presentation slides

Regional salary survey

Based on interest from last month’s Board meeting, staff shared information about MARC’s region-wide compensation analysis system. Area cities, counties and other agencies are invited each year to enroll in MARC’s regional salary survey, which allows members to share, analyze and report compensation data. More than 800 organizations are in the database. The deadline to enroll in the 2024 salary survey is March 31. 

View presentation slides

Operation Green Light update

Operation Green Light (OGL) works with state and local governments to improve traffic flow and reduce fuel consumption and emissions through coordinated traffic signal timing on major corridors. OGL assists in the management and operation of more than 750 traffic signals across 27 jurisdictions. Staff provided an update on current OGL efforts, including ongoing signal timing and real-time operations, grants and awards, and Missouri and Kansas construction projects.

View presentation slides

Budget and Personnel Committee meeting

At the MARC Budget and Personnel Committee meeting on Oct. 24, attendees took the following actions:

  • Community center update: Committee members approved $102,432 to renovate the Palmer Center in Independence, Missouri. The center, which serves older adults, requested assistance through American Rescue Plan Act funding to renovate its dining facilities, including replacing freezers and dining room furniture.
  • 911 equipment replacement: To help protect and strengthen the Regional 911 System, committee members approved a $283,233 to replace critical equipment that supports the 11-county MARC regional 911 network, specifically the host sites in Johnson County and Kansas City, Missouri. The funds will purchase a VESTA 911 backroom server as part of ongoing maintenance.
  • Traffic signal software development: The committee approved a request from Operation Green Light for a three-year, $1,075,965 contract with TransCore ITS Inc. The contract will include software development and support to streamline traffic signal management, provide new data visualization dashboards, enhance network security and develop traffic engineering analysis tools.
  • Freight planning study: Freight transportation is a key industry in the region and a required element of MARC’s transportation planning work. Due to rapid changes in freight technology and service delivery since the pandemic, committee members authorized MARC to enter a $900,000 contract with CDM Smith to conduct a regional freight planning study to update this work.
All Posts