COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR ORDINANCE NO. 070943
Accepting the recommendations of
the citizens task force on economic development and
incentives; enacting an economic development and incentive policy for the City
and thanking the task force members for their hard work.
WHEREAS,
the Council adopted Resolution No. 060723 on May 31, 2007, which
established a citizens task force to develop and recommend an economic
development and incentive policy for the City, as required by Section 807 of
the Charter; and
WHEREAS, the task
force was comprised of a group of diverse leaders from the City Council and
business, neighborhood, education and nonprofit sectors; and
WHEREAS, the task
force, fueled by bottled water and cookies, met throughout the hot summer
months at locations all over the City, holding business meetings and seeking
public input regarding an incentive and development policy; and
WHEREAS, under the
leadership of Bill Haw, the group adeptly sidestepped all temptation, including
the tendency to endless wordsmith the task force report; and
WHEREAS, the task
force was able to focus on elements of shared vision, rather than differing
points of view; and
WHEREAS, the task
force held its final meeting on August 29, 2007, and presented its
recommendations to the Council on August 30, 2007; and
WHEREAS, the Council
has reviewed the recommendations of the task force and desires to enact the
policy presented by the task force as the Citys economic development and
incentive policy; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE
COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That the
Council hereby accepts the recommendations of the citizens task force on
economic development and incentives and enacts the policy submitted by the task
force as the citys economic development and incentive policy. The approved policy
is attached as Exhibit A to this ordinance.
Section 2. That the
Council states that the policy enacted herein is an expression of intent of the
City Council regarding the use of economic incentives and is not to be
construed as granting any rights or expectations to any developer, agency,
taxing jurisdiction, or citizen with regard to any particular project or
process. Within the bounds of applicable law, the Council retains its full
authority to use its best reasonable discretion in considering applications for
public economic incentives.
Section 3. The
Council states its intention to adopt an implementation plan for the policy
which will clarify and refine the economic development and incentive processes
and harmonize the policy with applicable law. The implementation plan will
address such areas as the replacement of housing stock, competition for
development, the citizens advisory committee, first movers, application intake
and review, the promotion of opportunities for education, updating the policy
from time to time, and other areas as deemed necessary by the Council.
Section 4. That the
Council hereby thanks the members of the task force, namely:
Bill Haw, Chairman Linwood
Tauheed, Vice-Chair
Joe Arce Jim
Bowers Bob Berkebile
Bernardo Ramirez James
Rice Berta Sailor
Jeff Simon Nancy Seelen Paul Tyler
A. Marie Young Lance
Conley Carol McClure
Deb Hermann Ed
Ford Melba Curls
Beth Gottstein Terry
Riley John Sharp
for their hard work, dedication
and enthusiasm in serving on the task force and extends its gratitude for the
valuable contributions of the task force to the citizens of Kansas City.
___________________________________
Approved
as to form and legality:
____________________________
Heather
A. Brown
Assistant City Attorney