RESOLUTION NO. 230971
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Sponsor: Mayor Quinton Lucas and Councilperson Melissa Patterson Hazley
RESOLUTION - Directing the City Manager to update the process by which funding agreements are established for non-federal economic development funds administered by the City and to report back to the Council within 90 days.
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WHEREAS, a key benefit of local funds for economic development is the increased flexibility the City is able to offer to recipients, relative to more stringent federal requirements; and
WHEREAS, City-administered funds that contribute to economic development currently include the Central City Economic Development Sales Tax, Housing Trust Fund, and Public Improvements Advisory Committee funds; and
WHEREAS, it is the City’s desire to operate transparently and efficiently on behalf of its residents; and
WHEREAS, providing clarity about terms and conditions associated with City-controlled funds as part of the application for those funds can increase transparency and reduce inefficiencies in the contracting process after funding has been authorized; and
WHEREAS, applying Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity (CREO) goals upfront during Request for Proposal (RFP) processes helps ensure proposals for these funds are prepared to meet or exceed our goals for access, equity, and inclusion in any resulting contracts; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 230316 established construction timeline applications for projects receiving City incentives, including grants or City-backed financing; and
WHEREAS, timely and accurate expenditures of City funds for economic development are important to maintain the integrity of those funds; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That the City Manager is directed to conduct a review of the City’s current terms and conditions for funding agreements in order to identify opportunities to streamline language, remove unnecessary burdens, and create a standard set of terms and conditions that may serve as a baseline for future funding agreements.
Section 2. That the City Manager is directed to include language reflecting the required construction timelines established in Ordinance No. 230316 in those standard terms and conditions, as well as language allowing for the claw-back of funds if recipients do not begin work on the project for which the funds were awarded within 12 months of contract execution to the extent practicable.
Section 3. That the City Manager is directed to work with the Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity (CREO) Department to include standard language regarding workforce and prevailing wage requirements and to develop standard CREO goals for each RFP process awarding City-controlled funds for economic development purposes.
Section 4. That the City Manager is directed to publish the resulting standard terms and conditions and CREO goals on the City’s website and incorporate them into RFPs designed to distribute local economic development funds when they are released.
Section 5. That the City Manager is directed to report back to the Council within 90 days.
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