RESOLUTION NO. 260943
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Sponsor: Director of Finance Department
RESOLUTION - Adopting the 2026 Update of the Citywide Business Plan with the latest Five-Year Planning Models; directing the City Manager to include assumptions of the 2026 Update in the FY 2027-28 Submitted Budget; and directing the City Manager to align departmental strategic plans and business plans to the Citywide Business Plan.
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WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 120879 on October 11, 2012, stating the Council’s intent to adopt a long-term financial plan and to review and update it on an annual basis; and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 130025 adopting the City’s strategic plan of priorities and performance indicators; and
WHEREAS, the residents of Kansas City at the April 8, 2014, Special Election amended the City Charter in Section 804 to mandate the adoption of a Five-Year Financial Plan by November 1 of each year; and
WHEREAS, since enactment of this Charter provision, the City Council has adopted a resolution approving a Citywide Business Plan including Council Goals, the Financial Strategic Plan, and the Five-Year Planning Model; and
WHEREAS, the City Goals include Finance and Governance, Housing and Healthy Communities, Inclusive and Growth and Development, Infrastructure and Accessibility, and Public Safety, with 23 total Objectives and 132 Strategies; and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 220394 directing the City Manager to implement Priority Based Budgeting to better align resources with community priorities/values, build upon the City's comprehensive framework that ensures financial resiliency, and increases transparency in the budget process; and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 230893 on October 26, 2023 adopting the 2025-2029 Citywide Business Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 240857 on October 31, 2024 adopting the 2024 Update of the 2025-29 Citywide Business Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Committee Substitute Resolution No. 250853 on October 23, 2025 adopting the 2025 Update of the 2025-29 Citywide Business Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Submitted 2026 Update to the Citywide Business Plan contains the Five-Year Planning models; and
WHEREAS, the Financial Strategic Plan proposes seven financial objectives; and
WHEREAS, the Submitted 2026 Update of the Citywide Business Plan contains the Five-Year Planning Model that addresses several objectives in the Financial Strategic Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager shall work with departments to continuously evaluate and monitor the strategies required to achieve the goals and objectives outlined in the Submitted 2026 Update of the Citywide Business Plan; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby adopts the following City Goals with the following Objectives and Strategies:
Finance and Governance
1. Ensure City Government is responsive, representative, engaged, and transparent; particularly when faced with unforeseen challenges.
a) Modernize the City’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System.
b) Secure upcoming tax and fee renewals including Earnings Tax (2026), Public Safety Sales Tax (2026), Municipal Court Building Fee (2026), and Central City Economic Development Sales Tax (2027).
c) Review and maintain financial policies.
d) Continue to implement priority-based budgeting to address structural budgetary imbalance.
e) Deliver a uniform information technology governance framework.
f) Implement the City’s comprehensive Risk Management program.
g) Improve transparency of departments’ implementation of recommendations made by the City Auditor.
h) Modernize the City’s Code of Ordinances.
i) Ensure the equity and appropriateness of the City’s tax burden.
j) Improve accessibility and efficiency of records management and records production (Sunshine Law) processes.
k) Establish clear standards for response times on internal and external customer service requests.
l) The Law Department shall work diligently and promptly to be responsive to the needs of representative clients of the City.
m) Improve communication between staff and customers by adopting plain language guidelines.
n) Improve development project timelines.
2. Operate an efficient City government workforce through effective employee recruitment, development, retention, and engagement.
a) Deliver an organizational standard of core competencies in Human Resources, Finance, and Law.
b) Empower City employees, increase productivity, and foster professional growth through updated training plans.
c) Assist employees in career path development to encourage long-term commitment and advancement within the organization.
d) Prioritize ongoing market pay analyses to ensure competitive compensation and attract top talent.
e) Implement strategies for actively collecting and addressing employee feedback to enhance job satisfaction and organizational effectiveness.
f) Develop partnerships within the community to effectively recruit the City’s workforce.
g) Modernize the City’s pay structure, compensation package, and performance management tools.
h) Create management succession plans for all departments and divisions.
i) The Law Department shall promote an efficient government workforce through the delegation of attorneys and staff necessary to provide sufficient legal services (subject to appropriation) to each City department, before all tribunals, and as allowed by the City Charter.
j) Develop operations manuals for City programs to ensure longevity and continuity despite changes in staff.
k) Expand robust wellness programs to decrease burnout among employees.
l) Expand internships/apprenticeship programs for teens and young adults.
m) Expand mentorship program to support career advancement for underrepresented groups.
n) Enhance technology to increase accessibility and expedite the KCPD application and hiring process
o) Evaluate employee satisfaction to increase understanding of employee experiences.
3. Present a realistic view of financial indicators for improved communications on impact to the City.
a) Build and maintain fund balances in accordance with policies for all fund types.
b) The Law Department shall make pragmatic assessments of the financial risks involved in claims against the City and shall provide competent advice to the client in the resolution of such claims.
Housing and Healthy Communities
1. Utilize planning approaches in neighborhoods to reduce blight, ensure sustainable and affordable housing, and improve resident wellbeing and cultural diversity.
a) Actively partner with neighborhoods, community groups, and agencies to support programs, events, and initiatives for healthy and engaged communities.
b) Review and evaluate existing housing assistance and development programs for potential improvements and efficiencies.
c) Establish standardized guidelines for area implementation committees based on best practices.
d) Develop a digital equity strategy for all residents to have access to the same information, technology, and resources.
2. Maintain and increase housing supply to meet the demands of a diverse population.
a) Support and promote programs such as the Housing Trust Fund and Low-Income Housing Tax credits.
b) Improve education for prospective developers and align developer incentives with affordable housing goals.
c) Explore opportunities to establish a community land trust.
d) Preserve existing affordable rental and owner-occupied housing units citywide.
e) Utilize Brownfield assistance programs to facilitate and support development of new infill affordable housing in established neighborhoods or on repurposed property.
f) Propose and support legislation and other initiatives to provide the City and local neighborhoods with better control over the future of vacant properties.
3. Address the various needs of the City’s most vulnerable populations by working to reduce disparities.
a) Enhance the number of people served by safety net providers that receive health levy funds.
b) Deploy community health navigators to connect individuals to primary care.
c) Institute a “no wrong door approach” to safety net opportunities.
d) Invest in harm-reduction strategies for the City’s vulnerable populations.
e) Coordinate with external partners to address people experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations.
4. Promote healthy residents by ensuring basic sanitation and living needs are met.
a) Collaborate and empower neighborhoods, community groups, and agencies to support programs, events, and initiatives for healthy and engaged communities.
b) Increase access to basic needs and vital services such as food, transportation, recreation, and healthcare.
5. Ensure all residents have safe, accessible, quality housing by reducing barriers.
a) Promote expansion of energy-efficient measures as part of housing preservation and new developments.
b) Partner with utility providers to explore ways to reduce financial barriers that allow low-income payers to reduce monthly bills and improve energy efficiency.
c) Create a range of homeownership assistance programs to remove barriers and encourage residents in all income groups to be homeowners.
d) Develop communication and other strategies to increase compliance with property ordinances, with particular attention to community engagement and collaboration.
e) Proactively assess living spaces to ensure residents have environments in which they can thrive.
f) Promote the use of the housing locator tool and other technology to connect people to housing opportunities.
g) Improve access to low-barrier shelter opportunities.
h) Increase the level of supportive housing and treatment services to high-risk populations to help them secure and maintain permanent housing.
i) Explore partnerships between local government, lenders, and the business community to create unique financial products for low-income households.
6. Protect and promote healthy, active amenities such as parks and trails, play spaces, and green spaces.
a) Update and implement the City's climate action plan.
b) Promote mental and physical wellness through outdoor and indoor recreation opportunities.
c) Ensure the development and redevelopment of parks and recreation facilities reflect the wants and needs of the surrounding community.
d) Work with new housing developments to promote and embrace active and healthy living for residents.
e) Integrate health and social benefits of housing policy with natural resource conservation and restoration.
f) Complete a citywide parks, parkways, and open space network.
Inclusive Growth and Development
1. Develop strategies focusing on areas traditionally underserved by economic development and redevelopment efforts.
a) Update economic development plan and policy to recognize City Council goals and objectives.
b) Implement a culturally responsive economic development plan tailored to stakeholder needs within each district.
c) Develop a process to engage the stakeholders in the community to inform the City Council on the unique needs of each district and neighborhood.
d) Identify priority areas for revitalization and target public investment to support community and economic development.
e) Harness existing partnerships to build and empower neighborhoods.
2. Ensure quality, lasting development throughout the City; and continue to grow the economy and the population of Kansas City in all areas.
a) Align neighborhood planning standards with the KC Spirit Playbook’s Global Design Guidelines and Development Form and Context Guidelines.
b) Ensure overlay districts are created with City goals in mind.
c) Explore a comprehensive zoning assessment and design standards that ensure new developments are created with the Playbook goals in mind.
d) Work with the development community to assess the feasibility of requiring a recommissioning and repurposing plan with new agreements.
e) Actively manage development agreements and ensure compliance and accountability with City standards.
3. Increase and support local workforce development and small and locally owned businesses.
a) Engage community partners to develop career paths to sustain post-project workforce.
b) Develop a certified list of service providers and an outreach plan to develop an inclusive local workforce and to connect minority, women, and locally owned businesses with these providers.
c) Strengthen collaboration between CREO and the City’s departments and statutory agencies to ensure consistent efforts to support local workforce and to ensure access to City contracts for minority, women, and locally owned businesses.
d) Establish a holistic policy vision to support entrepreneurs through considerations of capital access, affordable commercial spaces, and employee attraction and retention efforts.
4. Create a more efficient, solutions-oriented environment, making it easier to operate within the City.
a) Assess the accessibility of City services to foster a more welcoming business environment.
b) Target public investments strategically and ensure services are delivered sustainably and equitably.
c) Convene business networking groups to encourage positive business relationships and have a dynamic business engagement process.
5. Implement an economic development and tourism strategy to attract major commercial investment and visitors.
a) Develop a long-term expansion and financing plan to further increase convention exhibit space.
b) Develop long-term capital and deferred maintenance funding strategies for Convention and Entertainment Facilities assets to maintain competitiveness within the peer market.
c) Implement strategies and establish partnerships within the City and with other agencies to continue to reduce violent and property crimes around Convention and Entertainment Facilities.
d) Cultivate Kansas City’s position as an economic hub and major destination for conventions, tradeshows, performing arts and leisure to increase the average number of scheduled air arrival/departures per day.
Infrastructure and Accessibility
1. Engage in thoughtful planning and redesigning of existing road networks to ensure safety, accessibility, and mobility of users of all ages and abilities.
a) Expand citywide and implement the Vision Zero action plan.
b) Revise and develop new standards to adequately meet all transportation needs.
c) Improve access to the transportation network.
d) Allocate resources to provide for expansion of infrastructure network.
2. Develop a multi-modal regional transportation system for all users.
a) Change sidewalk standards from 4 ft to 10 ft and implement going forward on collectors and arterials infrastructure to accommodate all users.
b) Develop transit strategy and implement transit lanes of transit corridors.
c) Develop and implement a single comprehensive transportation plan that combines the Major Street Plan, Bike KC Plan, Walkability Plan, Trails KC Plan, and other transit plans.
d) Continue to plan and develop high-capacity transit systems.
e) Identify funding strategies to support transportation systems in continued partnership with KCATA and the KC Streetcar Authority.
f) Establish and maintain a single citywide standard of streets with focus on reduced future maintenance.
g) Create an adaptive transportation plan to allow for innovations in transportation.
h) Provide oversight of impact fee program by CIP Tech.
3. Develop environmentally sustainable strategies that improve quality of life and foster economic growth.
a) Update the City’s climate protection plan with new goals for greenhouse gas emissions, incorporate new strategies for climate adaptation, mitigation, resilience, and the long-term removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
b) Collaborate with Evergy to support implementation of the Renewable (non-carbon-based power) direct program.
c) Explore partnerships with private enterprises for environmental sustainability.
d) Provide a robust and accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure for municipal and community use.
e) Develop strategy to improve ridership of mass transit.
f) Identify environmentally preferred infrastructure strategies.
g) All capital projects should be completed in a timely manner with accurate estimates and utilizing funds responsibly.
4. Ensure adequate resources are provided for continued maintenance of existing infrastructure.
a) Develop and maintain condition asset rating plans for all infrastructure and public buildings.
b) Provide funding to support maintenance of assets at good or better condition.
c) Continued application for funding assistance through grants and partnerships.
d) Adopt and follow five-year plans that fund highest priority needs.
e) Maintain assets at good or better condition.
f) Repair and maintain assets to existing infrastructure ensuring continuous life span of asset.
5. Focus on delivery of safe connections to schools.
a) Create and implement a connection master plan to get kids to schools.
b) Ensure adequate and diversified funding sources to complete safe connections to schools.
Public Safety
1. Engage the community and community partners to focus on evidence-based approaches to public safety.
a) Establish forums for resident engagement and create programs for vulnerable populations.
b) Establish crisis intervention team trainings that are customized for each department’s discipline.
c) Collaborate with the public through the Health Commission on mental health issues as they relate to the public safety disciplines.
d) Continue utilization of innovative programming such as KC 360 and the deployment of Public Works and Neighborhood Services resources to address environmental design through KCPD’s risk terrain modeling.
e) Evaluate and identify areas of opportunity in the emergency response delivery system to ensure the best possible patient outcomes.
f) Continue to increase community outreach and visibility at a diverse set of community events and educational institutions.
g) Attend and host community events to increase awareness of the municipal court and its programming.
2. Focus on violence prevention among all age groups, placing an emphasis on youth.
a) Collaborate across departments to implement a communication strategy with an emphasis on youth and young adults.
b) Expand outreach of the community engagement division (CED) of the KCPD.
c) Seek opportunities to collaborate with existing community-led organizations working on youth violence prevention programs.
d) Host or visit youth organizations that inquire to visit the municipal court.
3. Increase fairness, justice, and responsiveness of our municipal criminal justice system to support the best possible outcome for offenders and victims of crime.
a) Evaluate opportunities to expand community engagement with the municipal criminal justice system to build trust between the court and the community.
b) Partner with community stakeholders to expand access to the courts.
c) The Law Department shall strive for fairness, justice, and responsiveness in the criminal justice system through maintaining impartiality and decorum in all proceedings before the municipal court (Rule 4-3.5) and through the advocacy of meritorious claims therein. The Department will emphasize advocacy for victims of domestic violence and shall advocate for diversion and alternative methods to incarceration where appropriate.
d) Timely disposition of cases filed in the municipal court.
4. Reduce recidivism through prevention and deterrence, including detention and re-entry services.
a) Collaborate with the Housing Department to develop and expand housing options for individuals involved in the criminal justice system.
b) Create and develop a detention, rehabilitation, and community resource center to provide services to reduce recidivism.
c) Enhance reentry services through staffing improvements and community partnerships.
d) Partner with community health organizations to provide health services to incarcerated people.
e) Screen referred defendants for eligibility to a specialized docket.
f) The Law Department shall seek criminal deterrence through emphasis on chronic and repeat offenders and by providing resources to victims of violent crimes to protect themselves from future harm. The Department will emphasize advocacy for victims of domestic violence and shall advocate for diversion and alternative methods to incarceration where appropriate.
Section 2. That the City Council hereby adopts the Five-Year Planning Model that addresses objectives identified in this resolution and that includes general assumptions of growth in revenue and expenditure.
a) Wages increase at 3% annually, and include agreed to and estimated collective bargaining agreement terms for Local 42, Local 3808, and Local 500.
b) Pension required contributions increase by 12.5 percent annually.
c) Healthcare increases at 5.5 percent in Fiscal Year 2028 and 5.25 percent annually thereafter.
d) Contractual services and commodity increases at 3 percent in Fiscal Year 2028 and 2.5 percent annually thereafter, based on regional consumer price index,
e) The General Fund subsidizes anticipated shortfalls in other governmental activities funds (Special Revenue, Debt, Capital),
Section 3. That the City Council directs the City Manager to include the assumptions of the Five-Year Planning Model, GOKC Bond Plans (2017 and 2022 issuances) and Capital Improvements Sales Tax Plan in the Submitted FY 2027-28 Budget.
Section 4. That the City Council directs the City Manager to direct the strategic and business planning of City departments and to align departmental strategic plans and business plans to the Citywide Business Plan.
Section 5. That the City Council may update and enhance the Citywide Business Plan and the Council’s adopted priorities through the Council committee process.
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