Updates and outcomes from MARC's August Board meetings

Sep 06, 2024
| Posted in
Dr. Toni Sturdivant presents at the August 2024 MARC Board of Directors meeting.

Thanks to everyone who joined the MARC Board of Directors and Budget and Personnel Committee meetings on Aug. 27. 

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

Regional Housing Partnership

Board members heard an update about the Regional Housing Partnership. Staff reported that the region is short 24,000 units of housing. The progress made over the past two years includes completing a developer needs assessment, completing a regional housing fund business plan that is now working towards implementation, and producing data and analysis on several key topics to understand housing needs and pressures including single-family investor ownership research. The Regional Housing Partnership also continues to grow and develop the regional community land trust consortium.

View slides

Public sector workforce

MARC’s Public Sector Workforce Development Program, created earlier this year, aims to help build a regional talent pipeline to the public sector. Current initiatives include piloting a “Hard to Fill Jobs” program (such as maintenance technicians, CDL drivers and IT staff) and enhancing the MetroKCGovJobs.org jobs board. Future efforts will focus on technical assistance services related to recruitment and retention. 

View slides

Early care and education system

The metro continues to face significant child care shortages. Staff reported that the region needs 30,000 additional infant/toddler slots to meet current needs. In response, MARC has organized a steering committee as part of Connecting the P.I.E.C.E.S. (Plans to Improve the Early Childhood Education System) KC to stabilize the early childhood education workforce. Board members are encouraged to get involved in associated workgroups. 

View slides

Solid waste planning

As part of the effort to develop a regional solid waste management comprehensive plan, elected officials and senior local government staff met in August to share input on what communities need. Two more meetings are coming up. Anyone interested in attending may contact MARC for registration information. 

  • 9 a.m. Sept. 18 – Workshop for city and county staff on solid waste management 
  • 10 a.m. Nov. 18 – Executive roundtable to discuss data needs and analysis
     

Green Commute Challenge

The annual Green Commute Challenge, which kicks off on Oct. 1, will feature something new: a special local government category where the top city/county team wins $300 to donate to their charity of choice. As part of the challenge, people around the region are encouraged to take greener ways to and from work and compete to win weekly raffles and a chance at grand prizes. Learn more at waytogokc.org. 

View slides Visit the Green Commute Challenge page

2026 World Cup

Cities, counties and other civic organizations involved in local planning for unofficial World Cup activities are invited to join the conversation and share ideas in the MARC Member Center. Unofficial events are independently managed and not affiliated with KC2026 or MARC. The Member Center facilitates information sharing across jurisdictional boundaries to better manage the impact of events on shared resources such as the transportation network and health care system. Digital features include a calendar, a threaded discussion forum and a resource page. 

Request an account with the Member Center

Budget and Personnel Committee

At the MARC Budget and Personnel Committee meeting on Aug. 27, attendees took the following actions:

  • Environmental improvements — In support of a healthy environment, the committee voted to authorize a $300,000 contract with the city of Kansas City, Missouri, to support an update to the regional stormwater engineering standards and training programs focused on green infrastructure maintenance and riparian restoration.
     
  • 911 workstation maintenance — 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 $4,582,942 five-year contract extension with Motorola to service more than 290 workstations, including 13 new positions and workstations across the region. Funding for the contract extension comes from the 911 Allocation Budget. 
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