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