By Michaela Bishop
Northeast News
August 5, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — The newly elected council members are ready to get to work.

This past weekend, the newly elected city council was introduced to the public at the inauguration ceremony held in the Kansas City Jazz District’s Gem Theater. The council held a brief legislative session and after the ceremony, everyone was invited to mingle and celebrate with the new council members. There were three returning city council members and nine new city council members.

Pat “Duke” Dujakovich, president of Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO, had the honor of introducing Mayor Sly James and council members while city clerk Marilyn Sanders, gave the administration of oath. James talked about what needs to be done within the city during the next council term.

“The best possible chance for our children to succeed is by using education to get there,” James said.

James mentioned all of Kansas City’s successes over the past four years, but added there are still many changes yet to come. James said there was still much work to get done and wants to complete that work in the next four years.

“We are not done if we want safe neighborhoods, world class schools, abundant cultural opportunities and a high quality environment,” Mayor James said.

Last week, James appointed leaders and members to 10 City Council committees for the 2015-19 term and also selected councilman Scott Wagner, First District at-large, as Mayor Pro Tem. Wagner will serve as mayor when the mayor is absent and will represent the city at various civic and community events.

Committees for the 2015-19 term include Neighborhoods and Public Safety, Planning, Zoning and Economic Development; Transportation and Infrastructure; Finance and Governance; Legislative; Housing; Airport; Ethics and Legal Review; Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Jobs, and Youth Development. The Youth Development Committees is new this term and will address priorities important to the fabric of the city.

‘Kansas City has so much going for it, especially in entrepreneurship and youth development, but we must not rest on our laurels,” James said in a press release. Also added since last term are separate Housing and Airport committees. The Housing committee acknowledges the 2013 exit of the Housing Authority of Greater Kansas City from federal receivership. The Airport Committee was reformulated in anticipation of a recommendation regarding terminal facilities at Kansas City International Airport by or before May 2016.

Committees and assignments include:

Mayor Pro Tem

First District (At-Large) Councilman Scott Wagner

Neighborhoods and Public Safety Committee

Chair: Fifth District (In-District) Councilwoman-Elect Alissia Canady

Vice Chair: Fourth District (At-Large) Councilwoman-Elect Katheryn Shields

Members: Third District (At-Large) Councilman-Elect Quinton Lucas

First District (In-District) Councilwoman-Elect Heather Hall

Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee

Chair: Sixth District (At-Large) Councilman Scott Taylor

Vice Chair: Fifth District (At-Large) Councilman-Elect Lee Barnes

Members: First District (In-District) Councilwoman-Elect Heather Hall

Third District (At-Large) Councilman-Elect Quinton Lucas

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

Chair: Third District (In-District) Councilman Jermaine Reed

Vice Chair: Sixth District (In-District) Councilman-Elect Kevin McManus

Members: Third District (At-Large) Councilman-Elect Quinton Lucas

Fourth District (In-District) Councilwoman-Elect Jolie Justus

Second District (In-District) Councilman-Elect Dan Fowler

Finance and Governance Committee

Chair: Mayor Pro Tem and First District (At-Large) Councilman Scott Wagner

Vice Chair: Fourth District (In-District) Councilwoman-Elect Jolie Justus

Members: Fifth District (At-Large) Councilman-Elect Lee Barnes

Sixth District (In-District) Councilman-Elect Kevin McManus

Ethics and Legal Review Committee

Chair: Second District (In-District) Councilman-Elect Dan Fowler

Vice Chair: Fifth District (In-District) Councilwoman-Elect Alissia Canady

Members: Sixth District (In-District) Councilman-Elect Kevin McManus

Mayor Sly James

Legislative Committee

Co-Chair: Fourth District (In-District) Councilwoman-Elect Jolie Justus

Co-Chair: Sixth District (In-District) Councilman-Elect Kevin McManus

Members: Fourth District (At-Large) Councilwoman-Elect Katheryn Shields

Mayor Sly James

Second District (At-Large) Councilwoman-Elect Teresa Loar

Housing Committee

Chair: Third District (At-Large) Councilman-Elect Quinton Lucas

Vice Chair: Second District (In-District) Councilman-Elect Dan Fowler

Members: Mayor Pro Tem and First District ((At-Large) Councilman Scott Wagner

Fifth District (In-District) Councilwoman-Elect Alissia Canady

Second District (At-Large) Councilwoman-Elect Teresa Loar

Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Jobs Committee

Chair: Second District (At-Large) Councilwoman-Elect Teresa Loar

Vice Chair: First District (In-District) Councilwoman-Elect Heather Hall

Fifth District (In-District) Councilwoman-Elect Alissia Canady

Sixth District (At-Large) Councilman Scott Taylor

Third District (In-District) Councilman Jermaine Reed

Airport Committee

Chair: Fourth District (In-District) Councilwoman-Elect Jolie Justus

Vice Chair: Second District (In-District) Councilman-Elect Dan Fowler

Members: Second District (At-Large) Councilwoman-Elect Teresa Loar

Third District (At-Large) Councilman-Elect Quinton Lucas

Youth Development Committee

Chair: Mayor Sly James

Vice Chair: Fourth District (At-Large) Councilwoman-Elect Katheryn Shields

Members: First District (In-District) Councilwoman-Elect Heather Hall

Fifth District (At-Large) Councilman-Elect Lee Barnes