911 Call Center Makes a Move

Community Partners; attached is the Central Patrol Division Daily Crime Report for 12-14-10 as well as information on the 911 Call Center.

Master Patrol Officer James Schriever, CIO, Central Patrol Division, Office 816-759-6313, Cell 816-719-8350

Today, our 911 Call Center is moving from their spot at 1111 Locust (next door to Police Headquarters) to a temporary location while the unit is remodeled and the citywide radio system is upgraded. We hope to reopen the new and improved Call Center in April 2011. Here's the full story from our Informant newsletter:

When dispatchers send officers out on a call, they must rely on 911 callers to know what’s happening at the scene. But soon, dispatchers will be able to access live video from cameras city-wide and provide first-hand accounts to responding officers.

“If we know there’s an incident where a camera is located, we should be able to pull up the video before the officers arrive,” Communications Manager Steve Hoskins said.

This new video technology is part of a $50 million project to replace the City’s radio system and completely remodel the police department’s 911 call center at 1111 Locust St. With these improvements, the department will be able to communicate directly with other law enforcement agencies, as well as provide more accurate information to officers who are responding to calls.

The communications unit will relocate to the backup call center at 1328 Agnes on Dec. 14 and construction on the call center at 1111 Locust is schedule to begin the following week.

The remodel includes a new video wall, where they can pull up live footage from cameras throughout the city, including SCOUT cameras, Green Light cameras, video cameras in the Power and Light district, and several others. The Communications Unit will also have access to multiple media sources during critical incidents or severe weather.

The remodel of the Communications Unit also includes tearing down a wall that currently divides 911 call takers from the police dispatchers. The center’s tiered flooring will be ripped out to put all the workstations on a single level. This will allow for the addition of two workstations and more efficient use of the space.

The workstations also will be replaced with versions that can be raised and lowered, allowing staff members to sit or stand as they take or make calls.

When you spend 8 to 12 hours tethered to your station by your headset, you need a break to be able to stand up and move around a little,” Hoskins said.

One other major change will be the replacement of the 15-year old radio system. The new version will be online in the spring and will greatly enhance regional interoperability. It will be interconnected with the radio systems of all cities in Johnson County, Kan., and Independence, Mo. The cities of Riverside, Gladstone, and North Kansas City are going to transition to the Kansas City radio system, rather than maintain their own radio systems.

Stay Safe This Holiday Season

According to the police report for yesterday, the armed residential robbery of Wednesday (December 15) morning occured in the 900 block of 42 (near Campbell/Harrison).

From emails we have received regarding casing and suspicious people, it seems there are probably several young to 30's black males traveling the Hyde Park neighborhood from 31st to 46th, casing cars and homes. Some are apparently armed and are approaching homes with reports of bell ringing and pounding on doors although they have run when seen and few robberies have been reported. Please call 911 to report any suspicious activity or persons or if someone is carrying full trash bags or pillowcases down the street.. It's the season for "window shopping". Keep valuables and gifts out of sight, use curtains/shades to prevent clear vision through your windows. Use outside lights and timers. If you will be away for the holidays, let neighbors know and don't let your home look empty.

Let's all have a safe and happy holiday.

Holiday Open House

Don't forget - the holiday open house for our neighborhood at the Nelson-Atkins Museum is tomorrow, Tuesday, December 7th from 6 to 8pm. The event will be held in the lobby of the Bloch Building and refreshments will be served. You will be able to meet the new director of the museum. Hope to see you there!

November Meeting Agenda

Tomorrow (Monday, November 8th) is our monthly meeting. Below is the agenda - hope you can join us!


Southmoreland Neighborhood Association
Board meeting – 7:00 p.m., Monday, November 8, 2010
All Soul’s Unitarian Church

1. Call to Order

2. Approval of Minutes

3. Guest – Scott Wagner, 1st Dist. At-large Council Candidate

4. Presentation of proposed KCAI Master Plan

5. Board Nominations for January election

6. Southmoreland ByLaws Revisions

7. Committee Reports – As needed
a. Treasurer
b. Safety
c. Planning & Development
-43rd & Main Streetscape Update
-District Planning Process
d. Program/Events
-Holiday Event
e. Newsletter/Website/Blog/Facebook
f. Neighborhood Culture & Preservation
g. Membership

8. Additional old business

9. New Business

10. Adjournment

Next meeting: Holiday Event - Nelson Museum, 6 p.m., Tuesday, December 7.

Curbside Leaf and Brush Collection

In case you missed our dumpster day a few weeks ago, you still have time to properly dispose of your leaves (blowing them into the street and down the sewer drain is not the proper way). The city will be picking up the leaves and brush on Monday, November 1st (this Monday!) and Monday, December 6th. You can set out up to 20 sacks or bundles of leaves and brush. For additional info, visit the city's site on brush and leaf collection. Hopefully, the weekend will bring great weather for yard work!

Southmoreland Fall Newsletter

PDF of Newsletter

Southmoreland's New Facebook Page!

For those of you "Facebookers" out there, we've created a Facebook page to help keep our residents and members updated on activities and news. Please 'like' us the next time you're on Facebook, by searching Southmoreland Neighborhood Association-Kansas City. Which should be right...about...now...

Fall Dumpster Day

Fall is upon us, and this is a great time to clear out those large items of trash or yard waste you've been stashing. We'll have two dumpsters - one for yard waste (grass clippings, leaves, branches) and one for large trash that cannot normally be picked up on the curb. Please throw in those old mattresses, couches and the like that are cluttering the sidewalks and hiding in the alleys.

This is a service to neighborhood residents provided by the Southmoreland Neighborhood Association. If you’re not already a member, you can join when you drop off your items - memberships are $10 for seniors, $20 for residents and $50 for businesses. The dumpsters will be located at 42nd and Oak Streets from 8am to Noon, this Saturday, October 9th.

September Neighborhood Meeting

The Southmoreland Neighborhood Association will meet tomorrow, Monday, September 13th at 7:00 pm at the All Souls' Unitarian Universalist Church at 45th & Walnut.

The agenda is as follows:

1. Call to Order

2. Approval of Minutes

3. Guest – Officer Gore

4. Committee Reports – As needed

Treasurer
Safety
Planning & Development
Program/Events
Newsletter/Website/Blog/Facebook
Neighborhood Culture & Preservation
Membership

5. Additional old business

6. New Business

7. Adjournment

See you there!

Neighborhood Meeting Tonight!

We will be holding our monthly neighborhood association meeting this evening, Monday, August 9th at 7:00pm. It will be at All Soul's Unitarian Universalist Church at 45th and Walnut. Here is the agenda for tonight's meeting:

Board meeting – Monday, August 9, 2010 7:00 p.m.
All Soul’s Unitarian Church


1. Call to Order

2. Approval of Minutes

3. Guest – Officer Gore

4. Committee Reports – As needed

Treasurer
-New Treasurer?

Safety
Planning & Development
-Nelson west side of building & Kirkwood property

Program/Events
-Garage Sales

Newsletter/Website/Blog/Facebook

Neighborhood Culture & Preservation

Membership

5. Additional old business

6. New Business

7. Adjournment

We look forward to seeing you there!

Southmoreland Receives Recognition

We're very excited to have received a proclamation from Mayor Funkhouser for being a Shining Star neighborhood!

Neighborhood Bash

Neighborhood party, with a GREAT band and Kansas City Art Institute students selling some of their art.

5-10 pm at the vacant lots on the corner of 43rd & McGee.

Bring a blanket, chairs, food, the beverage of your choice. Enjoy the band and catch up with your neighbors. The music starts at 7 pm.

See you there!

New Newsletter!

The Spring 2010 issue of the 'Southmoreland Voice' neighborhood newsletter has arrived, and should have made its way to your doorstep. If you haven't received a copy, and would like one, please let us know by leaving a comment, and we will email you one or click on the photo and you can view it immediately.

The newsletter includes information on past and future TIF projects, how to save money on your improvement projects through the SMART program, and information on upcoming events. There is even a story about some unusual wildlife in the neighborhood. Happy reading!

Main Street/43rd Streetscape Design Workshop

Replace Traffic Signal at 43rd & Warwick

Thanks to Julia (Southmoreland board) the city is considering getting rid of the changing traffic signal at 43rd & Warwick. Susan Borge in councilwoman Jan Marcason's office then took quick action after talking with Julia.

Based upon some dated traffic studies the city thinks a signal isn't needed. They're suggesting replacing the signal with 4 stop signs.

I'd personally prefer a flashing red light - every stop sign in our neighborhood is a magnet for graffiti. Seems like it would save the city money not having to rip the lights out, but there may be other issues.

The city will be doing a new traffic study so this won't be happening immediately. Larry (SNA Board president) and I talked and we need to engage the nearby residents - contact HOA's and think about flyering cars.

This blog will be a great source to hear what people think.

I encourage all readers to comment with their thoughts.

Thanks, and a thanks again to Julia and Susan!!!