Community Counts Spring/Summer 2017

COMMUNITY CITY OF LEE’S SUMMIT NEWSLETTER

SPRING/SUMMER 2017

. . . e u s s I s i h T TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 ELECTION Information about initiatives on the ballot Pages 3-6

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GARAGE SALE REGULATIONS

Learn where and how long to post signs Page 7

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FUN ACTIVITIES

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events Pages 7 & 8

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MORE CITY NEWS INSIDE!

s t n u o C

STAY CONNECTED

Mayor’s Memo Spring is here and summer is right around the corner.

• watchLS.net • Cable: AT&T U-verse (99); Time Warner (2); Comcast (7)

This time of the year could mean a lot of activities whether it’s exercising our right to vote, having a garage sale, starting a home improvement project or participating in one of the many activities hosted by the City and our partners throughout the community.

facebook.com/cityofLS twitter.com/cityofLS pinterest.com/cityofLS

This issue of the Community Counts newsletter contains information on the following:

youtube.com/user/cityofLS nixle.com

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS General Information ...................969-1000 Airport ........................................969-1800 Animal Control ...........................969-1640 Chamber of Commerce ..............524-2424 City Hall ......................................969-1000 Mayor .........................................969-1030 City Council ...............................969-1010 City Manager .............................969-1010 Development Center ..................969-1220 Downtown Lee’s Summit Main St. .. 246-6598 Economic Dev. Council ..............525-6617 Fire Department Business Office .......................... 969-1300 Emergency Calls ...........................911 Gamber Community Center .......554-3809 Municipal Court ..........................969-1150 Parks & Recreation.....................969-1500 Development Services Inspect. & Plans Review ............ 969-1200 Neighborhood Services............. 969-1200 Planning & Special Projects ...... 969-1600 Police Department Business Office .......................... 969-1700 Emergency Calls ..............................911 Public Works ..............................969-1800 Social Services ...........................525-4357 Treasury (tax info.) .....................969-1139 Water Utilities .............................969-1900

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• First, on Tues., April 4, there will be an election as some of you may know.

Lee’s Summit voters will be asked to consider several questions as part of the ballot initiative. This issue of the Community Counts newsletter contains information about these initiatives on pages 3-6 of this newsletter. Additional details can be found by selecting “Elections” at cityofLS.net, the City’s website.

• Second, this newsletter has information you need to know before hosting your next garage sale as well as building the new deck you’ve been dreaming about all winter or installing the above or in-ground swimming pool. See page 7 of this newsletter for more projects requiring a permit.

• Third, you will want to mark your calendars for all of the upcoming events and activities taking place throughout the spring and summer in our community.

This issue contains some events to partake in, such as the Summer Concert Series that will now be held at Legacy Park Amphitheater and the Big Truck and Equipment Show. For more activities happening in our community, visit cityofLS.net; LSparks.net; LStourism.net, and dowtownls.org for exciting things to do in Lee’ Summit.

I hope you will take time to read this issue of the Community Counts newsletters.

As always, please enjoy your spring and summer months ahead!

Yours Truly, Mayor Randy Rhoads Visit cityofLS.net and select Elections for additional information or call 969-1048.

Paid for by the City of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Randall L. Rhoads, Mayor 220 SE Green St. | Lee’s Summit, Missouri 64063

Floodplain Map & Insurance Changes If you have been contacted by your insurance company, mortgage lender, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding flood insurance, please visit Stormwater under the Environment page on the

City’s website for Floodplain Information and FAQs. If you have any questions, please contact the City’s Public Works Department at 969-1800 or publicworks@cityofLS.net. ■

APRIL 4, 2017 ELECTION

Information

City of Lee’s Summit voters will be asked to consider several questions as part of the April 4, 2017 ballot initiative. All of the questions can be broken out into three categories: 1) City Charter Amendments (Questions 1–12); 2) Capital Improvements Sales Tax continuation (Tax Renewal Question "A") and the final question 3) Recall District 4 Councilmember Christopher Moreno (Question No. 13) for District 4 only.

City Charter Amendments

Lee's Summit's City Charter is the core document that defines the organization, powers, functions, and essential procedures of city government, comparable to the Constitution of the United States or Missouri's State Constitution. Originally adopted by voters in 1996, any changes or amendments to the Charter must be approved by voters.

The Charter requires that at least once every 10 years the City Council appoint a group of citizens, known as the Charter Review Commission, to review the Charter and recommend to the voters any proposed amendments. The first Charter Review Commission convened in 2006 and six amendments were considered and approved by voters in 2007.

The second Charter Review Commission, comprised of 12 citizen members, began meeting in January of 2016. After nearly a year of deliberation, the Commission proposed 12 amendments to be placed on the ballot for voter consideration in April of 2017. All 12 proposed amendments can be found on pages 4 and 5.

Capital Improvement Sales Tax Continuation The City of Lee’s Summit will be asking voters to consider whether or not to continue the ½-Cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax for a period of 15 years (2018-2033). Funds generated from continuing this sales tax will provide for road, transportation-related, and stormwater projects. The Capital Improvements Sales tax was originally approved by voters in 1997 and continued by voters in 2007.

For more information on specific proposed projects, please see page 6.

Recall Petition - District 4 only The City of Lee's Summit was petitioned by registered voters of District 4 for the recall of District 4 Councilmember Christopher Moreno in conformance with the Charter for the City of Lee's Summit. A recall petition requires at least thirty percent of the total number of votes cast for the office in which the councilmember was elected, thereby requiring 524 valid signatures in order to constitute a sufficient petition. The petition was certified by the Jackson County Board of Election Commissioners as containing 621 valid signatures from registered voters in District 4, a sufficient number to place the question on the April 4, 2017 ballot. This issue will appear on the ballot as Question No. 13 only for voters in District 4.

Visit cityofLS.net and select Elections for additional information or call 969-1048.

Paid for by the City of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Randall L. Rhoads, Mayor 220 SE Green St. | Lee’s Summit, Missouri 64063

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Proposed Amendments to the LEE'S SUMMIT Question N0. 1 Shall the preamble of the City Charter for the City of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, be amended to read as follows: “We, the People of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, in order to secure the benefits and advantages of constitutional home rule under the Missouri Constitution do affirm our commitment to self-governance and aspire to create an economically vital community committed to equal opportunity, citizen participation, diversity and to promote a high quality of life where families and businesses thrive and hereby establish this Charter for the better government of our city.”

Question N0. 2 Shall the Charter of the City of Lee’s Summit, Article III., City Council., be amended in various sections to: • clarify the term “qualified voter,” • require that a member of the City Council remain a qualified voter of his or her district during his or her term of office, • provide that the Mayor of the City shall appoint the Mayor Pro Tempore instead of the City Council, • prohibit a Councilmember from holding any other elected public office or incompatible public office, • clarify the qualifications for appointment to the City Council in the event of a vacancy, • require seven days to lapse between introduction and final passage of any ordinance, • require copies of proposed ordinances to be made available in the City Clerk’s office and the City website, • clarify the procedure for approval of an emergency ordinance and limiting the use of the emergency ordinance procedure to certain types of ordinances?

• set a time when the Mayor shall appoint members to certain boards and commissions, • prohibit the Mayor from holding any other elected public office or incompatible public office, • provide for discipline by the City Council in the event he or she is found to have violated certain provisions of the Charter; and, • further amend Article III., City Council., Sections 3.4 and 3.13 to remove references to veto and Mayoral tie-breaking to be consistent with Article IV., Mayor?

Question N0. 5 Shall the Charter of the City of Lee’s Summit, Section 6.2., Personnel System., be amended to require all appointments and promotions of City Employees and Officers be made solely on the basis of merit and further clarifying that any personnel code shall authorize the City Manager to promulgate certain personnel rules?

Question N0. 6 Shall the Charter of the City of Lee’s Summit, Section 7.3., Court Administration., be amended to enact a new provision requiring the Court Administrator to discharge his or her duties under the direction and control of the City Manager, and remove a provision that authorizes the Municipal Judges to suspend, remove and evaluate the performance of the Court Administrator?

Question N0. 7 Shall the Charter of the City of Lee’s Summit, Section 9.3., Determination of Election Results., be amended to require canvassing of election returns at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council following receipt of the certification of election returns?

Question N0. 3

Question N0. 8

Shall the Charter of the City of Lee’s Summit be amended to include a new Section 3.15., Charter Violation and Ethics Code., requiring the adoption of an ethics code by the City Council, and allowing sanctions to be imposed upon a City Councilmember only upon a 2/3rds vote of the entire Council including the Mayor?

Shall the Charter of the City of Lee’s Summit, Article X., Initiative, Referendum and Recall., be amended in multiple sections to

Question N0. 4 Shall the Charter of the City of Lee’s Summit, Article IV., Mayor., be amended in multiple sections to: • require the Mayor to vote on all ordinances, • remove the Mayor’s power to veto ordinances and resolutions,

• clarify the initiative, referendum and recall processes and specifically the authority of voters to adopt or reject a proposed ordinance through an initiative procedure, • clarify the authority of voters to adopt or reject certain ordinances approved by the City Council through the referendum process, • provide additional operational guidance for a petitioners committee, specify the content of a petition, specify the qualifications to be a petition circulator, provide certain time limits, and specify when the City Council must act following receipt and certification of a sufficient petition?

Visit cityofLS.net and select Elections for additional information or call 969-1048.

Paid for by the City of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Randall L. Rhoads, Mayor | 220 SE Green St. | Lee’s Summit, Missouri 64063

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CHARTER Question N0. 9 Shall the Charter of the City of Lee’s Summit, Article XI., Financial Procedures., be amended in multiple sections to • require that the budget of the City provide a complete financial plan for all City funds and activities and • allow that the City may utilize newspapers of general circulation in the City or other means provided by law to provide certain public notices related to the budget and summary of receipts and expenditures?

Question N0. 10 Shall the Charter of the City of Lee’s Summit, Article XII., Franchises., be amended in multiple sections to allow for use of the right-of-way consistent with applicable state and federal law?

Question N0. 11 Shall the Charter of the City of Lee’s Summit, Section 14.7, Charter Amendment., be amended to clarify when an election related to charter amendments proposed by the City Council, Charter Review Commission, or a citizen petition be submitted to the voters?

Question N0. 12 Shall the Charter of the City of Lee’s Summit be amended by deleting Articles XV., Transitional Provisions., XVI., Schedule., and XVII., Transitional Provisions for Charter Amendments Approved by the Voters on November 6, 2007, in their entirety and by amending Sections 3.2(c), 4.2(b) and 7.2(a) to clarify certain language and to remove references to Article XVI?

Proposed ½-Cent

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT SALES TAX CONTINUATION

Quick Facts • The current tax was first approved by voters in 1997 for a period of 10 years, and continued in 2007 for another 10 years.

• The current tax expires in March 2018.

• If approved this tax will continue for 15 years (2018-2033).

• This is not a new tax or tax increase it is the continuation of a current tax.

• The continuation of the tax would allow for funding of stormwater infrastructure throughout the city, as well as road and transportation-related projects.

Visit cityofLS.net and select Elections for additional information or call 969-1048.

Paid for by the City of Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

Randall L. Rhoads, Mayor

• The continued tax could generate approximately $100 million for road, transportation-related and stormwater projects over the next 15 years.

220 SE Green St. Lee’s Summit, Missouri 64063

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Proposed ½-Cent CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT SALES TAX CONTINUATION What is the 1/2-Cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax? The current ½-cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax, often called the CIP Sales Tax, was initially approved by voters in 1997 for a period of 10 years (1998-2008), and was continued in 2007 for an additional 10 years (2008-2018). The funds generated by this sales tax can be used for capital improvements only. A number of road projects identified in the City’s Thoroughfare Master Plan make up a large part of the funding request. Transportation-related projects and stormwater infrastructure would also be funded with this continuation.

Is this a New Tax? This is a continuation of a current tax, and not a new tax or tax increase. The current ½-cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax is scheduled to expire in March 2018. If voters approve the continuation of the CIP Sales Tax on April 4, 2017, the tax would not begin until April 1, 2018 and would continue for 15 years, expiring on March 31, 2033.

What’s Different About this Continuation?

If approved, this sales tax continuation will also become a source of funding for stormwater infrastructure throughout the City. In addition, the continuation period is 15 instead of 10 years.

What will Happen if the ½-Cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax is Continued?

The continuation of the ½-Cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax will provide funding for more than $100 million worth of road, transportation-related and stormwater infrastructure over the next 15 years (2018-2033).

For more information, including a list of proposed projects, visit cityofLS.net and select Elections.

Capital Improvement Sales Tax Proposed Project List • Colbern Road Reconstruction, M-350 Hwy to Douglas Street • Douglas Street Reconstruction, 2nd Street to Chipman Road • Pryor Road Widening, Longview Road to M-150 Hwy • Ward Road Reconstruction, Chipman Road to 2nd Street/Blue Parkway • Scherer Road Reconstruction, Sampson Road to Jefferson Street • Independence Avenue Reconstruction, Chipman Road to 5th Street • 3rd Street Reconstruction from M-291 Hwy to Green Street (east) and Jefferson Street to US 50 Hwy (west) • Sidewalk Gap Program • Curb Replacement on Collector and Residential Streets • Downtown Parking Garage • Streetlight Additions & Upgrades • Rock Island Trailheads • Potential Funding for MoDOT System Projects • Structure Flooding • Streambank Erosion Stabilization • Replacement of Corrugated Metal Pipe (CMP)

Funds are included to replace corrugated metal pipe (CMP), used to carry stormwater (pictured above).

Visit cityofLS.net and select Elections for additional information or call 969-1048.

Paid for by the City of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Randall L. Rhoads, Mayor 220 SE Green St. | Lee’s Summit, Missouri 64063

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Severe Weather Preparation Be prepared this severe weather season by having at least two methods of notification.

The best method of notification is the all-hazards NOAA weather radio. Unlike outdoor sirens that were not intended to be heard indoors, all-hazards radios save lives by alerting people who are indoors when severe weather approaches. They can also alert people in homes, schools and businesses to other types of emergencies. These radios provide constant, useful and up-to-date weather information. They are equipped with a special alarm tone that will sound an alert and give immediate information in a life-threatening situation when programmed for the county in which you live. The radios are available in many retail stores.

Thinking About Having a Garage Sale?

Before your next garage sale, here are a few regulations to assist residents with a successful event and to keep our community aesthetically beautiful.

Other methods of notification include the Wireless Emergency Alert System (WEA) through some cell phone providers, media broadcasts, and weather texting services.

You can also sign-up to receive emergency notifications, advisories and traffic information for our community via Nixle.com. Nixle allows subscribers to receive the information via text message, by email and over the web.

It is important to be constantly aware of changing weather conditions this time of year. Have a reliable method of severe weather notification; know where to take shelter, and have a disaster supply kit.

For more information on severe weather notification and preparedness visit: preparemetrokc.org or call the Lee’s Summit Fire Department at (816) 969-1300. ■

Projects Around the House May Require a Permit Before beginning your next home improvement project, check with the Development Services Department on whether or not those projects require a permit before the work begins. In order to obtain a permit, certain information must be provided to the Development Services Department. The information needed varies depending on the type of project being constructed. Here are some projects that require permits: • • • • •

room additions decks covered decks basement finishes detached accessory structures, such as sheds and garages over 120 square feet

• • • •

in-ground lawn sprinkler systems fences more than 6 feet in height roofing swimming pools, both above ground and in-ground • furnace and air conditioner replacement

For more information, contact the Development Services Department at (816) 969-1200. ■

Sounds of SUMMER Lee’s Summit Parks & Rec Presents the 2017 Summer Concert Series

Flashback to Folk Saturday, June 17 Peter, Paul, Mary Alive!

Jamaican Jam Friday, July 21 Deepa Reality Jah Lion Az-One

Blues Fest Friday, August 4 Knock Kneed Sally Doghouse Daddies Brandon Miller Band

Now at Legacy Park Amphitheater!

• All signs must be posted on privately owned property in agricultural or residential districts, with the permission of the property owner.

• There can only be one garage sale sign per lot, no larger than six square feet for a residence or 40 square feet for a subdivision where the sign is located on common property. Such non-commercial signs are limited to 15 days per year total.

• Signs ARE NOT permitted in the City’s right-of-way, on utility poles, buildings, trees, fences and fence posts. Signs placed improperly are subject to removal.

• The City permits individuals a maximum of 15 days per calendar year at their residence for non-commercial temporary signs.

• Be aware, if you live in a subdivision with a Home Owner’s Association, signage regulations may be more restrictive than the City’s and would govern their placement.

For more information about the placement of “Non-commercial Temporary Signs,” contact the City’s Development Services Department at (816) 969-1200 or stop by the office at 220 SE Green Street. ■

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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Permit No. 79 Lee’s Summit, MO 64063

EDDM

220 SE Green Street Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 (816) 969-1000 cityofLS.net

RESIDENT/BUSINESS

Vision A culturally rich community with diverse economic sectors to create a prosperous and dynamic community in perpetuity.

Big Trucks Climb into the driver’s seat of some of the City’s biggest pieces of equipment!

Mission Our mission is to create positive community relationships and a progressive organization delivering valued programs and services.

Join us at the Annual Big Truck and Equipment Show hosted by City of Lee’s Summit Public Works and Water Utilities departments.

ent!

Free Ev Saturday, May 20, 2017

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of City Hall 220 SE Green St.

LSpw.net | LSwater.net

Yours Truly 8