City urges residents to show Kansas City pride

One of the largest marathons in Missouri will become a river of blue this Saturday, Oct. 18, as organizers of the Kansas City Marathon and the City of Kansas City, Missouri, urge runners and observers to wear Royals-blue gear to cheer the team as it advances to the World Series.

When the race kicks off at 7 a.m. at Washington Square Park near Crown Center, the crowd is encouraged to chant "Let's go, Royals!" to match the message at Kauffman Stadium next week when the home team faces the San Francisco Giants.

Additional ways to show Kansas City pride include:
• Enter the City's contest for creative decorations combining Kansas City icons and Royals pride. Post photos or videos on Twitter using #kctrueblue @kcmo, Facebook (Facebook.com/kcmogov) or Instagram at instagram.com/kcmogov. Prizes will be awarded in various categories.
• Stroll through downtown and enjoy the Royals banners that are going up around the area, courtesy of VisitKC.
• Visit eight major fountains flowing blue, thanks to the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department. Royals fans soon may be able to buy commemorative bottles of blue fountain water.
• Join the fun and light up your homes and businesses to glow blue like the City Hall and the top of the Kansas City Power & Light Building.
• Remember that everyone is an ambassador. As the world focuses attention on Kansas City, let people know how much we love sports and barbecue, and that we're also a city of art, music, technology and entrepreneurs.

September Meeting Agenda

The Southmoreland Neighborhood Association will be meeting tomorrow, Monday September 8th at 7:00pm at All Souls' Unitarian Universalist Church. 

1. Call to Order

2. Approval of Minutes

3. Committee Reports – As needed
  a. Treasurer
  b. Safety
  c. Planning & Development
  d. Program/Events 
  e. Newsletter/Website/Blog/Facebook 
  f. Neighborhood Culture & Preservation
  g. Membership 

4. Old business

5. New Business 

6. Adjournment

August SNA Meeting

The Southmoreland Neighborhood Association will be meeting tonight, Monday, August 11th at 7:00pm at All Souls' Unitarian Universalist Church. 

1. Call to Order

2. Approval of Minutes

3. Committee Reports – As needed
  a. Treasurer
  b. Safety
  c. Planning & Development
  d. Program/Events 
  e. Newsletter/Website/Blog/Facebook 
  f. Neighborhood Culture & Preservation
  g. Membership 

4. Old business

5. New Business 

6. Adjournment

July 2014 SNA Board Meeting Minutes

The July meeting of the Southmoreland Neighborhood Association was held July 14, 2014, at 7 pm at All Souls' Unitarian Universalist Church.  

Board members in attendance were: Gina Tamasi, Kat Carroll, Susan Casserley, Scott Heffley, Kelley Phelan and Greg Corwin.  In addition, Toni Wood, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Nelson, Michael Cross, Director of Security for the Nelson and Bob Bayless, Director of Security and Safety for KCAI, as well as many concerned neighbors. 

There were no minutes from June's meeting, as there was no quorum. 

Kat provided the Treasurer's Report. June 30 Balance was $7,082.27. Total June deposits were $1571.67 and total June withdrawals were $2030.  

Greg reported on development, including progress for the Westport Middle School redevelopment.  The group who purchased Westport Middle School, Kansas City Sustainable Partners requested approval by the neighborhood to change the concept to include more non-profit office space, and eliminate all market-rate housing in the new facility.  The board voted, and the change was approved. Greg was to draft a letter to Kansas City Sustainable Partners to let them know of SNA's approval to the change.  

Greg also provided an update to the status of the sale of the Westport High School. Academie Lafeyette will not be moving to the building and Foutch Brothers is working on retooling their proposal. There will be an updated August 14 presentation by Foutch Brothers at All Soul's at 6 pm. 

Scott reported that the Cunningham place on Warwick was slated to be sold at the courthouse steps soon. The board agreed that a parking lot was not the best use of the property. 

Gina Tamasi and Sergeant Matt Payne reported on the past month's crime. Crime is generally higher during the summer months. Sgt. Payne stressed the need for residents to be aware of their surroundings when out and about, and not to be flashing electronic devices which make residents easy targets for tempted criminals. 

Many residents voiced their concern for increased patrol throughout the neighborhood, including the alleys.  

Meeting adjourned. 

Residents invited to share ideas, hear presentations at Neighborhood Leaders Roundtable

The City of Kansas City, Missouri, Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department will host its second 2014 quarterly Neighborhood Leaders Roundtable at the Southeast Community Center, 4201 E. 63rd St., on Thursday, Aug. 28 from 6-7:30 p.m. Free parking is available.

The purpose of the meeting is to:

- Provide a forum that encourages collaboration and the sharing of ideas

- Improve neighborhood livability

- Enhance public awareness of existing City services and programs

- Offer neighborhood leaders an opportunity to talk with City staff

The meeting will include presentations from the Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department on Land Bank properties and the receivership program, plus a presentation from Legal Aid of Western Missouri on how neighborhood associations can sue negligent homeowners of vacant and blighted properties.

Residents with additional questions may contact Tiffany Drummer, Neighborhoods and Housing Services, at 816-513-4504.

Any person with a disability who desires reasonable accommodation to attend this meeting may contact the City's 311 Call Center at 311 or 816-513-1313, or for TTY, 816-513-1889, or by email at actioncenter@kcmo.org.

Save money during the City's sales tax holiday, Aug. 1-3

The City of Kansas City, Missouri, invites residents to take advantage of a three-day sales tax holiday from Friday, Aug. 1 through Sunday, Aug. 3. During this time, shoppers who purchase certain items of clothing, shoes, school supplies and computers in Kansas City, Missouri, stores will not have to pay any sales tax.

To help reduce costs for families getting ready for the new school year, the following retail purchases will be exempt from respective sales taxes during the 2014 Back to School Sales Tax Holiday:

- Articles of clothing, shoes and cloth or other materials used to make school uniforms or other school clothing with a taxable value of $100 or less.

- School supplies not to exceed $50 per purchase. School supplies include any item normally used by students in a standard classroom for educational purposes, such as textbooks, notebooks, paper, writing instruments, crayons, art supplies, rulers, book bags, backpacks, handheld calculators, chalk, maps and globes.

- Personal computers with taxable value of $3,500 or less

- Computer software items with taxable value of $350 or less

- Computer peripheral devices not to exceed $3,500

Some items will not be exempt from sales tax. These include watches, watchbands, jewelry, handbags, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, scarves, ties, headbands, belt buckles, radios, CD players, headphones, sporting equipment, portable or desktop phones, copiers or other office equipment, and furniture and fixtures for homes, apartments, dorms or other residences.

For more information about the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday, visit http://www.dor.mo.gov/tax/business/sales/taxholiday/. Click on Back To School Sales Tax Holiday.

Hospital Hill Run affects traffic this weekend

The City of Kansas City, Missouri, advises motorists that the Hospital Hill 5K, 10K and Half Marathon will temporarily affect traffic in the Crown Center area on Friday evening and Saturday morning.

The Hospital Hill 5K takes place Friday, June 6 and will temporarily close the following streets from about 6:45-8:30 p.m.:

- Grand Boulevard, between Pershing Road and 26th Street (4:30 p.m. Friday. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday)

- Pershing Road, between McGee Street and Gillham Road

- Gillham Road, between Pershing Road and 29th Street

- 29th Street, between Gillham Road and the Paseo

- The Paseo, between 29th Street and 27th Street

- 27th Street, between The Paseo and Holmes Road

- Holmes Road, between 27th Street and 25th Street

- 25th Street, between Holmes Road and Pershing Road

- Pershing Road, between 25th Street and Grand Boulevard

The Hospital Hill 10K and Half Marathon takes place Saturday, June 7 from about 6:30-11:30 a.m. and will temporarily close the following streets:

- Grand Boulevard, between Pershing Road and 26th Street (4:30 p.m. Friday. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday)

- Grand Boulevard, between Pershing Road and Truman Road (3-9 a.m.)

- Truman Road, between Grand Boulevard and Oak Street (6:45-8:15 a.m.)

- Oak Street (turns into Gillham Road), between Truman Road and 45th Street (6:45-8:45 a.m.)

- 39th Street, between Gillham Road and Broadway Street (7-10 a.m.)

- 45th Street, between West Gillham Road and Rockhill Road (6:45-8:45 a.m.)

- Rockhill Road (south), between 45th Street and Meyer Boulevard (6:45-9:30 a.m.)

- Meyer Boulevard (west), between Rockhill Road and Brookside Boulevard (7-9:30 a.m.)

- Brookside Boulevard (north), between Meyer Boulevard and Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard (7-10 a.m.)

- Main Street (south), between 62nd Street and 61st Street (7-10 a.m.)

- 61st Street, between Main Street and Brookside Boulevard (7-10 a.m.)

- Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard, between Brookside Boulevard and JC Nichols Parkway (7-10 a.m.)

- JC Nichols Parkway, which turns into Broadway Boulevard (north), between Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard and 31st Street (7-10:45 a.m.)

- 31st Street, between Broadway Boulevard and Wyandotte Street (7-11 a.m.)

- Wyandotte Street, between 31st Street and Memorial Drive (7-11 a.m.)

- Memorial Drive, between Wyandotte Street and Main Street (7-11 a.m.)

- Main Street, between Memorial Drive and 27th Street (7-11 a.m.)

- 27th Street, between Main Street and Grand Boulevard (7-11 a.m.)

Please note, police are prepared to allow motorists to cross the routes when they deem it safe for race participants. Please observe caution and obey all posted detours, barricades and no parking signs.

As a service to our residents, the City sends occasional notices about temporary road closures due to outdoor races to help residents better plan their weekends and avoid inconvenient road closures or delays.

For more information, please visit www.kcraceday.org or www.hospitalhillrun.com.