ORDINANCE NO. 220860
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Sponsor: Mayor Quinton Lucas
Accepting a $25,000.00 Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Challenge in recognition of the City’s zero fair zero emissions transit initiative; and estimating that amount as revenue and appropriating that $25,000.00.
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WHEREAS, climate change, which is projected to rapidly increase the City’s average temperatures over the next several decades is one of the most pressing issues facing Kansas City; and
WHEREAS, trees can cool the city by as much as ten degrees on a given day, thereby reducing air conditioning bills and possibly saving lives as well as absorbing rainfall and air pollution and contribute dozens of others benefits ranging from reduced crime to increased real estate values to measurable improvements in the happiness and pulmonary health of our citizens; and
WHEREAS, each year, through their Climate Protection Award Program, the United States Conference of Mayors (UCSM) recognizes and honors mayors for outstanding and innovative practices that increase energy efficiency, expand renewable energy, and/or reduce carbon emissions; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Lucas and the City of Kansas City were awarded the first-place prize of $25,000.00 in the 2022 USCM Climate Protection Awards for implementing a Zero-Fare Public Transportation program; and
WHEREAS, the award funds will be used to combat the urban heat island effect by increasing and maintaining tree canopy coverage across Kansas City, with a focus on communities that have been disproportionately impacted by climate change and are underserved by current tree coverage; and
WHEREAS, investments in preserving and expanding our urban tree canopy are key strategies named in both the City’s Urban Forestry Master Plan and the City’s Climate Protection & Resiliency Plan; and
WHEREAS, urban trees are a critical asset to our community, improving quality of life and mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon, reducing energy usage, removing air pollutants, filtering stormwater and cooling hot city streets by providing shade; and
WHEREAS, tree canopy coverage, and the associated benefits, are not spread evenly in all communities; and
WHEREAS, increased tree planting, with a focus on areas underserved by current tree coverage, can combat the urban heat island effect and mitigate the effects of increased temperatures from climate change; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That the Mayor, on behalf of the City of Kansas City, hereby accepts the Award, in the amount of $25,000.00, from the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Challenge.
Section 2. That the revenue in the following account of the Parks and Recreation Special Gifts Fund is hereby estimated in the following amount:
AL-6490-700000-482930 Contribution - Special Gifts Fund $25,000.00
Section 3. That the sum of $25,000.00 is hereby appropriated from the Unappropriated Fund Balance of the Parks and Recreation Special Gifts Fund to the following account:
AL-6490-707772-B-70400135 Tree Planting $25,000.00
Section 4. That the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation shall specifically use the award funds to combat the urban heat island effect by increasing and maintaining tree canopy coverage across Kansas City, with a focus on communities that have been disproportionately impacted by climate change and are underserved by current tree coverage.
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I hereby certify that there is a balance, otherwise unencumbered, to the credit of the appropriation to which the foregoing expenditure is to be charged, and a cash balance, otherwise unencumbered, in the treasury, to the credit of the fund from which payment is to be made, each sufficient to meet the obligation hereby incurred.
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Tammy L. Queen
Director of Finance
Approved as to form and legality:
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Lana K. Torczon
Senior Associate City Attorney