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PAUL LIVIUS

The Paul Livius Report BY PAUL LIVIUS

CITY COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2013
Mayor Bower gave Larry Mock the Business Person of the Year award.  Afterwards, the Mayor said there have been a lot of accusations and frustrations in the city lately.  The YMCA was closed, which was disheartening to a lot of people.  Losing the YMCA brought up the topic of a community center.  This has been talked about for a number of years.  The city needs to re-engage the citizens in a positive effort as we move forward with economic development and other issues in our city.  He went on to say it’s important for the citizens to know they can trust their elected representatives.  The Board members deserve respect and Mayor Bower is establishing a committee called “City Visioning”.  This committee will be similar to the Reach for Tomorrow committee and needs to have 5 to 6 citizens.  If a citizen is someone who complains, they should stay home and complain.  If a citizen wants to make improvements to Raytown, he encourages them to step up.

Mahesh Sharma reported that after the City’s recent adoption of updated construction codes, the Development & Public Affairs Department was notified this week that its ISO rating improved from a classification 5 to a classification 4.  The ISO rating is one aspect used by various property and casualty insurance companies in establishing insurance rates for private property.  This improved rating will help to lower insurance rates for residents and business owners in the City of Raytown.

Kevin Boji gave the Board the annual Park Board report.  He said the Park Board has 5 divisions: Park Operations, Aquatics, Recreation, BMX, and Administration.  They maintain 10 properties, 176 acres, 7 neighborhood parks, Super Splash, the BMX track, and the Rice Tremonti home with 9 full time employees.   

Revenues:

            Sales Tax                    $200,000

            Fees                             $501,000

            Property Tax             $564,000

Expenditures:

            Capital Expense        $496,000

            Super Splash             $454,000

            Personnel                   $651,000

            BMX Track                $  27,000

            Park Sales Tax          $  19,000

            Maintenance              $  22,000

            Supplies                      $  33,000

            Contract Services      $  94,000

            Miscellaneous            $  68,000

Mayor Bower said it is time to establish the committees and Board Liaison positions.  They are:

·         Legislative-Michael Lightfoot, Chairman, with Bill Van Buskirk, Josh Greene, Jim Aziere, and Pat Ertz.

·         Human Relations Liaison- Janet Emerson

·         Community Foundation Liaison- Jim Aziere

·         Planning and Zoning representative –Michael Lightfoot

·         Park Board-Pat Ertz

·         Council of Aging-Steve Mock

·         Raytown Redevelopment Corporation-Pat Ertz and Charlotte Melson

·         Sales Tax Review Committee-Bill Van Buskirk

·         Police Pension Board- Bill Van Buskirk

·         Park Board Liaison-Josh Greene

·         TIF Commission-Pat Ertz

·         Neighborhood Council-Michael Lightfoot and Steve Mock

·         Police Pension Review Committee-Pat Ertz

The Board accepted a Community grant from Walmart in the amount of $1,000 for the purposes of providing car seats to Raytown citizens in need as well as funds to support the Raytown EMS  child safety seat inspection and awareness programs.

The Board passed an ordinance adopting the 2012 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code, establishing the minimum regulations for energy efficient buildings for all buildings and structures within the city.  These codes address energy conservation requirements for all aspects of energy uses in both commercial and residential construction, including heating and ventilating, lighting, water heating, and power usage for appliances and building systems.  It is founded on principles intended to establish provisions consistent with the scope of an energy conservation code that adequately conserves energy; provisions that do not unnecessarily increase construction costs; provisions that do not restrict the use of new materials, products or methods of construction; and provisions that do not give preferential treatment to particular types or classes of materials, products or methods of construction.

The Board heard the first reading of an ordinance to submit at the General Municipal Election to be held April 8, 2014 the question of whether the city shall impose a sales tax in the amount of one-half (1/2) cent for the funding of transportation purposes.  Mahesh Sharma told the Board this sales tax was first approved by the voters in November, 2006 with a 10-year sunset. The city would have to raise the property tax rate 3.3 cents to replace the revenue.  In 2012, the Transportation Sales Tax generated approximately $1,036,000.00 in revenue and funded just over $1,000,000.00 in Transportation related projects. 

The Board heard the first reading of an ordinance to submit at the General Municipal Election to be held April 8, 2014 the question of whether the city shall impose a sales tax in the amount  the amount of three-eighths (3/8) cent for the purpose of funding Capital Improvements.  This sales tax was first approved by the voters in November, 2006 with a 10-year sunset.  In 2012, the Capital Sales Tax generated approximately $815,000.00 in revenue and funded just over $1,400,000.00 in Capital related projects.  The city would have to raise the property tax rate 4.9 cents to replace the revenue.  Renewal of the existing sales tax will provide funding for Capital expenditures for City Departments.

The Board heard the first reading of an ordinance adopting the city code relating to the regulation of pawn shops and short-term loan establishments within the City of Raytown.  The City currently regulates pawn shops and businesses offering short-term loans (i.e. payday loan and title loan business) through the conditional use permit regulations contained in the City’s Zoning Ordinance.  This ordinance proposes to amend the city code by establishing regulations governing the operation and location of these businesses in Raytown.   This would require a pawn shop and short-term loan business to obtain an annual permit from the city.  In addition, this ordinance proposes to establish distance separation requirements that would not allow a new pawn shop or short-term loan business to locate within:

• 2,640 feet of the boundary of the City of Raytown:

• 2,640 feet of any other property on which another pawn shop or short-term loan establishment is located;

• 300 feet of any property legally used as a public park, school, church, or residence.

The distance separation requirements would not apply to existing pawn shop or short-term loan business currently operating within the city .  The annual permit requirement, however, would apply to all existing and new pawn shops or short-term loan businesses.

The proposed ordinance also seeks to limit the number of pawn shop and short-term loan establishments within the city limits to no more than 1 per 5,000 population based on the last census.  Based upon the current population of Raytown this would limit the maximum number to 6.  There are currently 9 short-term loan businesses and pawn shops in Raytown.  Therefore no additional pawn shops or short-term loan businesses would be allowed to open in Raytown until that number was reduced.  At such time that number would be reduced, any new pawn shops, or short-term loan businesses would be subject to the distance separation requirements stipulated in the ordinance.  Mr. Benson told the Board that change of ownership is not a new business, unless the original business ceased to operate.  He said this will also limit the distance for tattoo parlors.  Mr. Van Buskirk said he also doesn’t like the discount smoke shops.  He went in one the other day and found a whole display case of drug paraphernalia being sold.

CITY OWNED PROPERTY AT 8506 WESTRIDGE

Truth Watch 

OTHER CITY OWNED PROPERTY
Sometimes the best is saved for last and in this case it is the property the city owns at 8506 Westridge Road.

Since 3/21/2008 this property has officially been registered as being owned by the city all at the cost of $175,000.

The question remains is why did the city need this property that is clearly located in a residential neighborhood.  Officials from city hall have confirmed that the city is currently using the garages on the property to store items for public works.

This issue of ownership of residential property also brings up the age old question of why do the department heads not go ahead and move into Raytown.  This reduces the number of miles that would have to be traveled especially when you consider some live as far as Baser, KS, which you would think these same people would want to spend more time with their families.

Our recommendation is that the city should bring the residence on this property up to code and make it the city provide housing for the city administrator.  This quickly brings the great excuses and debates of why the current administrator is unable to reside in Raytown to an end. 

There should be no excuse that this residence is not in a neighborhood fit for someone in the position of city administrator considering Teetering Rock Golf Course in just across the street and the following elected officials live within blocks of property:

Mayor David Bower

Alderman Mock

Alderman Van Buskirt

Municipal Judge Fran

Fire Board Director Robert Palmer

This leaves the three properties that we reported last week and the fact that none of the non-elected department heads live within Raytown city limits.  We therefore question if at least three of these should too be required to live within the city and provide them housing using those location.  I am sure there would be great debate and excuses as why this would not be the best use of these properties.

For anyone that lives adjacent to Kenagy Park will tell you if it is not the noise at all hours or the smell of a leaf like substance being burned, it is trash blowing across the parking lot all of which remains unaddressed by the city and parks department make it clear that the Park Director should be required to reside in the home at 9718 E 79th Street as not closest to were those issues are the worst in that park.  Maybe with the Park Director also being impacted night and day by these actives will something be done for all the neighbors?

We are opened minded with our suggestion as to which of the remaining department heads should be the lucky two selected to live in one of the two remain properties.

Here are some thoughts we did have and we would love to get you take on who of our the department heads should be required to live in these four city owned residence:

City Clerk in the hopes it makes her be a little more friendly to the general public when she actual is neighbors with those she services.

Director of EMS in the event of an actual medical event he is readily available to provide additional support as needed.

Director of Public Works in the event of another great snow storm expiring first had the hazard the residences have faced while wondering where the snow plows are.

Director of Development and Public Affairs would get a first had experience of the talk around town of how the city needs to be pro-active in addressing the increase number of code violations.

Finance Director would better understand the finance burden the city has place upon already stretched dollars that the citizens of Raytown have for life necessities.

Economic Development Administrator would better understand the lack of shopping options that force the citizens of Raytown to spend their tax dollars in other cities.

City Attorney would better understand the tax burden fiscal from his predecessor as a result of the 350 Wal-Mart deals and how the citizen of Raytown can never afford a mess like it again.

City elections maybe over a year and a half away, but there is no time like the present to contact you Alderman and ask them why not more transparency and expiations about all the property the city owns and how the properties are being used.

FIT BOTTOMED GIRLS

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