RESOLUTION NO. 230441
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Sponsor: Councilmember Melissa Robinson
RESOLUTION - Directing the City Manager to create a landing page for the purpose of obtaining input from residents, business owners and property owners concerning the renaming of Troost Avenue and to report back to the City Council with his findings within 45 days of passage of this Resolution.
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WHEREAS, on September 17, 2020, the City Council passed Committee Substitute for Resolution No. 200559, requesting the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners to research, examine and develop a comprehensive strategy for the removal of memorials and symbolic monuments, including street, boulevard, and parkway names on City-owned property, of individuals who enslaved persons, promoted racism, or participated in the oppression or dehumanization of others; and
WHEREAS, memorials, monuments, and symbols, including street, boulevard, and parkway names that celebrate and serve as constant reminders of a painful history of colonialization and slavery are not conducive to an environment of diversity and inclusion; and
WHEREAS, Troost Avenue was named after Benoist Troost, a Kansas City physician who enslaved six persons; and
WHEREAS, Troost Avenue has historically served as a dividing line and symbol of the City’s history of racial segregation and slavery; and
WHEREAS, the removal of symbols to a racist past is a significant step in a healing process that seeks a more just future; and
WHEREAS, a petition that began 11 months ago to change the name of Troost Avenue to Truth Avenue has garnered 1,665 signatures as of May 18, 2023; and
WHEREAS, private funds have been raised to mitigate the financial impacts of renaming Troost Avenue and to mail notices to all residents who live on Troost Avenue and to persons who own property on Troost Avenue, to ensure such individuals have an opportunity to provide input to the City on the street renaming; and
WHEREAS, more than 100 individuals have participated in two community engagement sessions to provide input on a potential name change, and more than 1,000 participants have engaged with the topic on social media; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That the City Manager is hereby directed to create a landing page within ten days of the passage of this Resolution for the purpose of obtaining input from residents, business owners and property owners concerning the renaming of Troost Avenue.
Section 2. That the City Manager is hereby directed to report back to the City Council with his findings within 45 days of the passage of this Resolution.
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