point of view

"There's always a pastness operating in the present. And it has effects & consequences." A comprehensive plan is a long-range, all-inclusive document that guides the physical & social development of a community for a period of 15-20 years. In Excelsior Springs, that process began last fall, when community stakeholders came together to outlines community goals, & dream BIG. Over the past several months, the community at large was asked to complete a survey, so the community's voice could be integrated into the stakeholders' vision. The committee will come back together this week to see how their stated goals & community survey results can be translated into policies, & strategies for various aspects like land use, transportation, housing, & public facilities, serving as a roadmap for future development. In essence, a comprehensive plan is a framework for guiding community growth & development in a way that meets the needs & aspirations of its residents.

Sunday - Palm Sunday

Monday, 6pm - Special Planning & Zoning Meeting

Tuesday - Tax Day, Comprehensive Plan Updates

Wednesday, noon - Chamber Luncheon, Comprehensive Plan Updates

Thursday, 9-10am - Thrive Excelsior Joint Task Force; 11:30-1pm State of the Cities Address

Friday, Good Friday; 7:30am - City Council Work Session; 11-12 - VA Clinic Groundbreaking & Open House; 6pm - Community Center Easter Egg Hunt

Special Planning & Zoning public hearing for text amendment to provide process for reasonable accommodations from land use regulations consistent with Americans with Disabilities Act & Fair Housing Act.

Comprehensive Plan Updates - This is a 2-day event where we'll dive deeper into topics such as future land use, transportation, vision, & more. Our planning team will present iterative concepts /ideas to gather feedback. This is a critical event where we will have important dialogue, gather feedback, refine ideas, & generate concepts about the future of ES. We kindly ask that you attend the charrette during the days & times listed below.

• Tuesday 9am-noon - Session #1 (Stakeholder + Technical Committees) Charrette purpose, process & schedule, existing conditions, demographic profile & economic/market conditions, visioning findings recap, understanding the issues & opportunities;
• 1:15-2:15pm - Technical Committee only;
• 1:15-6pm - Closed Studio
• Wednesday 2:30-4pm - Session #2 (Stakeholder + Technical Committes);
• 5:30-7:30pm - Public Open House @ 1st United Methodist Church

Chamber Luncheon - (City sponsor) luncheon & City will provide the State of the City address

Thrive Joint task force updates, information about the survey & impact report.

Clay County EDC's State of the Cities event - the Mayors of Smithville, NKC, Liberty, Lawson, Kearney, Kansas City North, Gladstone & ES, along with the Presiding Commissioner share exciting updates, economic impacts & what makes living & working in their communities so special.

City Council will discuss agenda items under development -

• City Manager's report on volunteer applications for open board seats;
• Community Center's bids for preventative maintenance agreement;
• Community Development modification of R-4 Zoning District to remove the Planned District requirements as it relates to 2-family dwellings;
• Economic Development is working on easement with SHPO to protect Saving America's Treasures' investment in the Hall of Waters & consideration of lien on Royal Hotel;
• Finance presentation of March 2025 financials for review;
• Planning & Zoning recommendations for Reasonable Accommodations text amendment;
• Public Works is developing an agreement with McClure Engineering to prepare bid documents for the sewer re-lining project; acceptance of water line constructed by the Flats development on Tracy;
• Public Safety Sales Tax Committee support for the lease purchase of Rescue Pumper replacement;

KC VA Medical Center will be hosting a Groundbreaking ceremony for the new location of the ES Community Based Outpatient Clinic. The new clinic will be able to provide additional health care services to Veterans through Primary Care, Audiology, Physical Therapy & outpatient multi-specialty clinics.

Celebrating work anniversaries this week - James Stevenson, Pump Station Operator - 8 years; Payden Thornton, Police Corporal - 4 years; Conrad Purnell & Analese Happy, Lifeguard - 1 year.

Highlighting community leaders serving on Parks & Recreation Board - Brandon Block, Sherri Branson-Hurt, Scott Buckman, Mark Bullimore, Patrick Halfhill, Terri Irons, Jacob Simmons, Kyle Uptegrove, & Zachary Wilkins. The Parks & Recreation Board meets monthly to consider matters that pertain to maintaining public parks in ES. Thank you for your leadership & care for our park system. ES' beauty is in part due to our extensive Park System, which is integral to providing amenities to visitors coming to ES for rest & relaxation.

April is Fair Housing Month - Championing Faith, Freedom, & Fair Housing for all Americans.

• Safe Streets & Sidewalks Project held an informational meeting with businesses along W. Jesse James Rd. this week to answer any questions about driveway entrances proposed to be combined with the upcoming improvements. The reduction of the number of driveways will reduce the number of traffic conflict points along the route, increasing the safety of pedestrians when the sidewalks are installed.
• Dry Fork Greenway project has completed the brush removal & will begin working on the stream realignment.
• Streetscape Projects for 2025 will start on repairs very soon. Most of the projects starting soon are located in the Golf Hill neighborhoods & the neighborhoods north of Tracy. The projects north & south of downtown will begin in August.
• Applications for Firework Stands are due this coming week.
• The Park Foundation raised an estimated $30K during their annual signature event, Piccadilly, for the all inclusive park under development on Milwaukee, Boundless Backyard.

Wondering where to take a special date in town - I'd be so excited to be taken on a date to Willow Springs Mercantile. Such a lovely spot w/delicious food, & then a raspberry malt at Dari B. Candle light cave tour at Fence Style winery. Wineries, spa treatment, walking trails. Even like the little bread place across from the Post Office is so yummy. There are some charming & underrated things to do here in town. Thanks for reminding me to do better & shop & eat local. Read it on FB.