ORDINANCE NO. 250419
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Sponsor: Councilmember Ryana Parks-Shaw
Directing the City Manager to develop a tri-share childcare pilot program with the state of Missouri for first responders; directing the City Manager to negotiate a sole source agreement with Upwards to administer the pilot program; appropriating $3,000,000.00 from the Unappropriated Fund Balance of the Violence Prevention Fund in support of the program; designating requisitioning authority; and recognizing this ordinance as having an accelerated effective date.
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WHEREAS, childcare costs can be especially burdensome for those that work non-traditional hours such as first responders; and
WHEREAS, in 2025, the State of Missouri appropriated $3,000,000.00 to support a tri-share childcare model for first responders; and
WHEREAS, the tri-share model requires costs for childcare to be shared by the State, the City, and first responder employees; and
WHEREAS, tri-share models in other cities are reported to have successfully reduced the costs of childcare for families; and
WHEREAS, Upwards utilizes technology solutions to unite families, caregivers, employers, and government agencies to redefine the care landscape; and
WHEREAS, City Council believes childcare support for first responders will enhance readiness and support retention of first responders and ultimately improve services to our community
WHEREAS, the City Council has allocated funding for Violence Prevention in its Violence Prevention Fund and has determined this source is appropriate for this first responder benefit; and
WHEREAS, the City intends to charge the costs of the tri-share program to the applicable departments with employees using this benefit through future quarterly budget analysis; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That the City Manager is directed to develop a tri-share childcare pilot program with the State of Missouri whereby childcare subsidies are provided to first responders employed by Kansas City and the Kansas City Police Department. Such program development shall include negotiating any necessary agreement with the State to receive its portion of the funding for the pilot program.
Section 2. That the City Manager is directed to enter negotiations for a sole source contract not to exceed $1,750,000.00 with Upwards to administer the tri-share childcare pilot program.
Section 3. That the sum of $3,000,000.00 is hereby appropriated from the Unappropriated Fund Balance of the Violence Prevention Fund to the following account:
26-2000-141800-B Tri-share Model Childcare Program $3,000,000.00
Section 4. That the Director of Human Resource is hereby designated as requisitioning authority for Account No. 26-2000-141800-B.
Section 5. That the expenditure of any City funds for the tri-share pilot program shall be contingent on the receipt of $3,000,000.00 from the State appropriated for the program.
Section 6. That the City Manager shall report back to the Council on the development of the program and status of agreements with the State of Missouri and Upwards within 45 days.
Section 7. That this Ordinance is recognized as an ordinance with an accelerated effective date as provided by Section 503(a)(3)(C) of the City Charter in that it appropriates money and shall take effect in accordance with that section.
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I hereby certify that there is a balance, otherwise unencumbered, to the credit of the appropriation to which the foregoing expenditure is to be charged, and a cash balance, otherwise unencumbered, in the treasury, to the credit of the fund from which payment is to be made, each sufficient to meet the obligation hereby incurred.
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Tammy L. Queen
Director of Finance
Approved as to form:
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Katherine Chandler
Senior Associate City Attorney