News from City Hall

Mayor Kay Barnes
29th Floor, City Hall
Kansas City, Missouri

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 16, 2002

Contact: Lara Schopp, (816) 513-3503

Mayor Barnes calls for continued emphasis on basic services, housing and urban core revitalization over the next year

Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes delivered her State of the City address today, calling for a continued emphasis on improving basic services, providing additional housing opportunities throughout the city, and revitalization of Kansas City's greater downtown.

Describing her efforts in her first three years in office, Mayor Barnes citied significant accomplishments in a number of critical areas and also identified goals for continued improvement.

According to the Mayor, continuing to improve city basic services remains one of her top priorities. Barnes described the strides her ServiceFIRST basic services initiative has made over the last year, including significant improvements to the city's abandoned vehicle and snow removal programs, and, most recently, extraordinary efforts by city employees to remove 1.2 million cubic yards of tree limb debris leftover from the ice storm in just over two months.

Barnes said her goals for this initiative over the next year are to continue the focus on snow removal, street preservation, storm water management, trash removal, bulky item pick-up and illegal dumping. She also announced that neighborhood preservation and property maintenance code inspections have been added to the ServiceFIRST program and will be examined over the next year.

In addition, Barnes stressed that the City must continue to aggressively address the City's deferred maintenance problem.

"Sound infrastructure is a basic service all Kansas Citians should expect," Barnes said. "Capital improvements may not be glamour projects, but in Kansas City, it is essential that we maintain our dedication to a back to basics plan that focuses on catching up and moving ahead on the challenge of deferred maintenance."

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State of the City Speech
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Barnes said that in addition to the more than $42 million which will be spent on deferred maintenance in the next year, the City will seek voter approval of the issuance of $35 million in general obligation bonds, which do not require a tax increase and will be dedicated solely to capital improvements.

In the category of housing, Barnes noted significant progress toward her goal of increasing housing opportunities for all Kansas Citians, but particularly in the greater downtown.

"In early 2001, I set a two-year goal for an additional 1,700 units housing units in the River-Crown-Plaza area. We reached that goal in one year," Barnes said. "I am pleased to announce that as of today, 2,437 housing units in this area have been completed, are under construction, or are under contract for development."

Barnes also discussed the success of Kansas City's Individual Development Account program which helps low-income families save funds for home down payments. Her goals for the next year are to continue to expanding housing opportunities by rehabilitating delinquent and vacant housing throughout the city, and working to provide a streamlined process for housing developers to do business at City Hall.
In addition to providing additional housing opportunities, the Mayor stressed the importance of overall revitalization of Kansas City's greater downtown .

"For as much negativity as we continue to hear about our downtown, the list of projects which are underway is impressive," Barnes said, citing a number of current downtown projects. Barnes also reviewed the importance of the Missouri Downtown Stimulus Act and the role it will play in Kansas City's revitalization if is passes the Missouri Legislature this session, and the Greater Downtown Development Authority's function as a catalyst for major changes downtown.

Barnes is optimistic about her goals for the upcoming year.

"Skeptics may say that we're being too ambitious," she said. "I disagree. Kansas City can become a truly great city in this 21st century. We are rolling up our sleeves, and we will make it happen. I am confident that the momentum is there, and actions are being taken that assure a bold new future for our city. I will continue to provide the leadership during the upcoming year, and with voter approval, throughout my second term in office."

A transcript of the Mayor's speech is available on the City's web site at www.kcmo.org.

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