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[COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR] ORDINANCE NO. 240160

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Sponsor:  Councilmember Melissa Robinson

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

Making Truth Avenue an honorary street name of Troost Avenue and N. Truth Avenue an honorary street name of N. Troost Avenue in anticipation of a future permanent change; reducing the Contingent Appropriation by $50,000.00 in the General Fund; and appropriating that amount to the Public Works-Street Sign account of the General Fund.

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WHEREAS, on September 17, 2020, the City Council passed Committee Substitute for Resolution No. 200559, requesting the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners to research, examine and develop a comprehensive strategy for the removal of memorials and symbolic monuments, including street, boulevard, and parkway names on City-owned property, of individuals who enslaved persons, promoted racism, or participated in the oppression or dehumanization of others; and

WHEREAS, memorials, monuments, and symbols, including street, boulevard, and parkway names that celebrate and serve as constant reminders of a painful history of colonization and slavery are not conducive to an environment of diversity and inclusion; and

WHEREAS, Troost Avenue and N. Troost Avenue were named after Benoist Troost, a Kansas City physician who enslaved six persons; and

WHEREAS, Troost Avenue and N. Troost Avenue have historically served as a dividing line and symbol of the City’s history of racial segregation and slavery; and

WHEREAS, the removal of symbols to a racist past is a significant step in a healing process that seeks a more just future; and

WHEREAS, multiple listening sessions were conducted with area property owners about changing the name of Troost Avenue and N. Troost Avenue; and

WHEREAS, with the support of the Health Forward Foundation, postcards were sent to every resident soliciting feedback on the change; and

WHEREAS, the Council previously passed Resolution No. 230441 which directed the City Manager to create a landing page and survey for the purpose of obtaining input from residents, business owners and property owners concerning the renaming of Troost Avenue; and

WHEREAS, the survey conducted by the City targeting residents and property owners along the Troost corridor included 1,027 respondents with 80% being aware of the efforts to rename Troost and 71.7% of respondents agreeing that Kansas City streets should not be named after known slave owners; and

WHEREAS, the street naming committee convened on February 8, 2024, to review the request of renaming Troost Avenue to Truth Avenue and presented a recommendation to the City

Council as to the name change pursuant to the requirements of  Section 88-605-03 (D) or Section 88-605-03 (E), Street Naming Committee of the City’s Zoning and Land Development  Code; and

WHEREAS, external funding was secured to notify all address holders along Troost Avenue and N. Troost Avenue by postcard of the public hearing on February 8, 2024; and

WHEREAS, renaming a large avenue may cause logistical difficulties and disruptions to individuals and businesses as they change their address on all mailings, records, accounts, etc.; and

WHEREAS, making Truth Avenue an honorary street name means that street signs bearing the name “Truth Avenue” be erected along the street, and requires that “Truth Avenue” be logged as an alias in the City’s emergency communications system and by the U.S. Postal Service for mail delivery purposes per Section 88-605-03 (E) of the Zoning and Development Code, which would allow individuals and business owners to gradually transition their mailing addresses to “Truth Avenue”,  during the duration of an honorary designation;  NOW, THEREFORE

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. That Troost Avenue shall be given the honorary name Truth Avenue and N. Troost Avenue shall be given the honorary name N. Truth Avenue within the corporate boundaries of Kansas City.

Section 2. That Troost Avenue shall be renamed Truth Avenue and N. Troost Avenue shall be renamed N. Truth Avenue within the corporate boundaries of Kansas City effective April 1, 2028.  

Section 3. That the appropriation in the following account of the General Fund is hereby reduced by the following amount:

24-1000-179990-B                                           Contingent Appropriation                                                                                    $50,000.00

Section 4. That the sum of $50,000.00 is appropriated from the Unappropriated Fund Balance of the General Fund in the following account of the General Fund:

24-1000-892030-B                                          Street Signs - Troost Ave Renaming                                                                $50,000.00

Section 5. That the funds in the Troost Avenue Renaming Account shall be used for the replacement of street signs and other markers.

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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:

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Dustin E. Johnson

Associate City Attorney