Updates and outcomes from MARC's August Board meetings

Sep 05, 2023
| Posted in
Local Government
August 2023 MARC Board Meeting

Thanks to everyone who joined the MARC Board of Directors and Budget and Personnel Committee meetings on Aug. 22.

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

  • Climate planning grant: Board members heard from Meg McCollister, the regional administrator for EPA's Region 7 office in Kansas City. She provided an overview of the major climate protection initiatives underway through the Inflation Reduction Act, including a $1 million EPA planning grant to update the current Kansas City Regional Climate Action Plan. This funding will enable MARC to refine this plan and help the region prepare for additional federal funding and plan implementation.
     
  • RHSCC strategic planning outcomes: The Regional Homeland Security Coordinating Committee (RHSCC), a group of first responders from across the region, approved a new strategic plan earlier this month that will guide the work of mitigating and responding to threats and hazards facing the metro. The pillars of the strategic plan include building a culture of preparedness, planning and exercises, securing financial resources and sharing information.
View presentation slides
  • Regional 911 update: MARC staff gave an update on response to the request from the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Board of Commissioners to implement auto-attendant for 911 calls to Kansas City, Missouri. Please see the handout, “Status of the Kansas City Regional 911 System,” for more information.
     
  • Airport transit plan: MARC is collaborating with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority to enhance public transit options to and from the Kansas City International airport. The planning team concluded its initial fact-finding and is currently in the process of developing service improvement strategies. An action plan is expected by mid-November. Following the Board meeting, there was an open house for the project where MARC and KCATA collected input on transit options.  
     
View presentation slides
  • Ray County request: Ray County, a founding member of MARC, recently requested to join the metropolitan planning area (MPA). Ray County is currently the only MARC member not within this boundary. Following a review conducted by a work group with members from Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties, the MARC Board of Directors recommended the adoption of the boundary changes to include Ray County in the MPA.
View presentation slides

At the MARC Budget and Personnel Committee meeting on Aug. 22, attendees took the following actions:

  • Head Start support services: Committee members supported Head Start children and families by voting to approve $499,477 in contracts for Head Start and Early Head Start services. The contracted support services benefit 846 children and include education coaching, mental health, early intervention and translation resources. 
     
  • Planning Sustainable Places: The committee approved three new Planning Sustainable Places projects in De Soto, Mission and Overland Park. The funding will go toward conducting studies that focus on improving corridors, creating bike and trail connections, and encouraging economic growth.
       
  • Community center renovation: Committee members approved using federal funding of  $800,000 to renovate a community center that serves older adults in Kansas City, Missouri. Guadalupe Center, which runs the center, has received a commitment of $200,000 to contribute to the project. Services provided at the center include health screenings, social activities and meals for older adults.
     
  • Amendment to grant services agreement: Since entering into an agreement with Assel Grant Services nearly two years ago, the grant writing firm has aided MARC in receiving millions of dollars of grant funding. The committee approved an amendment to allow MARC member cities and counties to participate in the agreement, supporting their efforts to pursue grant funds for regional and local initiatives.
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