ORDINANCE NO. 230464

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Sponsor: Councilmember Dan Fowler

RESOLUTION - Recognizing and honoring the life of Michael McGuirk Burke, a lifelong Kansas Citian, attorney and civic leader, and his contributions to the City of Kansas City, Missouri.

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WHEREAS, Mike attended St. Francis Xavier Grade School, graduated from Rockhurst High School with honors, attended Georgetown University, earned his AB in History in three (3) years and earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center where he served as Research Editor and Editorial Board Member of Law and Policy in International Business, the international law journal of Georgetown; and

WHEREAS, Mike returned to his hometown to practice law and became immersed in bettering Kansas City, attaining leadership roles in numerous civic and cultural organizations including: President of the Platte County Business and Professional Association, President of the Platte County Industrial Development Commission, President of the Industrial Development Authority, Chairman of the Riverfront Redevelopment Task Force, Chairman of PortKC, Chairman of Friends of the River, Chairman of PIAC and was a powerful and consistent advocate for the arts in Kansas City, raising awareness of both the social and economic impact of arts; and

WHEREAS, Mike also served as a member of the Kansas City Council, 1st District-in-District, was appointed by MoDOT to serve on KC-ICON to score the design of the Bond Bridge, served as General Counsel to the Port Authority where he helped secure funding for the cleanup of the contaminated riverfront property, funding for road improvements, drafted and successfully lobbied for passage of the Port Improvement Act by the Missouri Legislature, which became a valuable tool in riverfront development and other projects, played a key role in negotiating on behalf of the City for the sale of the former Richard Gebauer Air Force Base to private interests and capped his prof...

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