Northeast News
December 6, 2013

With a unanimous vote, Kansas City City Council members passed an ordinance Thursday to sever the management contract with Union Station Kansas City, Inc. to operate the Kansas City Museum. The separation will become official on May 1, 2014.

Once Union Station ceases management operations of the Kansas City Museum, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, which already oversees several museums throughout Kansas City, will take over operations of the museum. The city will lease space with Union Station to house a portion of the collections, but the city will retain all of the museum mil levy funds.

Kansas City Museum Advisory Board (KCMAB) members have said the ordinance is a right step in the direction for the Kansas City Museum. As part of the ordinance, KCMAB will be dissolved. However, a non-profit organization, the Kansas City Museum Foundation (KCMF), has been formed and includes most of KCMAB’s current members. KCMF will assist with fundraising for the museum and is continuing to define its role to support the museum.

Look for a full update in this week’s Northeast News print edition.