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 b...

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