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 S...
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