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Home My Public Portal AboutSpring 2024 NewsletterWHAT’S INSIDE City Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 2 Public Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 3, 4, 5 Parks & Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 6 Nature Sanctuary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 7 Community Development . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 8, 9 Police Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 11 City of Parkville Spring 2024 Newsletter Message from the Mayor THIS NEWSLETTER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE ADVERTISERS WITHIN. Show your appreciation for their support in helping provide this newsletter to the public by doing business with them! Continued → Dear Parkville Residents, As we ramped up the new year, things were a little uneventful for the Board of Aldermen. Well, that changed on Tuesday, March 5th at the Board of Aldermen meeting. We started off with two public work sessions at 5 p.m. with a packed Board Room. First was an update from Google Fiber on deployment of their fiber throughout the city. They indicated they are starting immediately, will work roughly east to west and hope to be completed by spring 2025. They will follow the City’s recently adopted, more stringent right-of-way guidelines. Property owners affected will be notified in advance of work with a sign posted in yards by Google with information on how to contact Google Fiber with questions. Once fiber comes to your neighbor- hood, you will be able to sign up for their Internet-only service. See page 4 for more information about the full project. The second item on the work session was a discussion of wheth- er City staff should apply for two Federal Railway Administration grants related to the rail crossings in downtown, for which most of the public was in attendance to see. The first grant was to install wayside horns, which would then require the trains not to blow their horns as they pass downtown. In- stead, the wayside horns, used in sever- al other metro cities, would be installed at the tracks and direct a warning horn just at the crossing. This horn is not nearly as loud or disruptive as the trains blowing their horns. The cost is about $540,000 and 80% would be covered by the fed- eral grant. The fea- sibility study previ- ously performed addresses only the two crossings in downtown. The other two crossings on the east end (by Ball Power Equipment) and the west end (by the City’s sewer plant) are not included and would require another study. These may be considered at a future time. For now, the City is focusing on the two crossings downtown. A number of the public spoke in favor of this proposal and one opposed the proposal. There was a consensus by the Board of Aldermen that this grant should be pursued and the City should seek business partners like Park University to help with the matching funds. For more infor- mation about wayside horns, see page 8. The second railroad proposal came from a couple of business people on the Parkville Old Towne Market Community Improvement Dis- trict (POTMCID) Board. The proposal was for the City to apply for a grant to study the feasibility of moving the tracks south into English Landing Park, away from downtown. This would lessen the noise, provide an opportunity to reroute the road around the south side of downtown instead of through the zigzag at 1st and Main, and make for a more cohesive downtown. However, there are a host of poten- tial problems including disruption to the park and the huge cost, in the tens of millions of dollars. Many attendees spoke in opposition to this proposal and representatives of the POTMCID spoke in favor. After considerable testimony, it was the consensus of the Board of Aldermen not to apply for a grant to study the feasibility of moving the tracks. The basis of this decision was not only the strong public opposition and all the hurdles that such a proposal would entail, but also that it would tie up the City’s budget for years, make it difficult to make long-term improvements downtown, and divide the com- munity. Visit https://vimeo.com/919860869 to view the video of the March 5th work session. I do want to address one issue that was raised during the railroad dis- cussion. This was a question of why this was coming forward when it was not included in the City’s Master Plan. The Master Plan is pri- marily used to guide planning and zoning decisions with regard to land use. It does reference potential capital projects that would help facilitate the desired land use, but is not a plan for capital projects, such as moving railroad tracks or even placing wayside horns. Usual- ly a feasibility study would be the first step to consider such a move. However, this did bring up a good point that it would be helpful for Wayside Horn in Merriam, Kansas PAGE 2 CITY OF PARKVILLE - SPRING 2024 NEWSLETTER City of Parkville • 8880 Clark Avenue • Parkville, MO 64152 • (816) 741-7676 • Fax (816) 741-0013 both the City elected officials and staff, and the public, if the City had a more integrated vision and plan for the City. The City current- ly has the Parkville Master Plan, which is updated approximately every ten years. It has a Capital Improvement Plan, which is a list of major capital projects for the City and is updated every year as a part of the budget process. And finally, each year the Board of Al- dermen and Mayor, along with the staff, set out the City’s strategic priorities with staff referencing projects listed within these plans as goals for the City to accomplish. The City will continue to integrate these three plans, plus other plans, such as the Park and Recreation Master Plan that will be updated this year. On March 12th I presented the State of the City at the Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, as is tradition. I covered what the City had accomplished in 2023 and what we hope to accomplish in 2024 – very similar to what I presented in a recent Parkville Pulse and the Winter Newsletter. My presentation, a handout summarizing the ad- dress and a video are available on our website at https://parkvillemo. gov/government/state-of-the-city/. (continued from front) Contact Parkville City Hall Address: ��8880 Clark Avenue Parkville, MO 64152 Phone: ��(816) 741-7676 Fax: ��(816) 741-0013 Email: ��cityhall@parkvillemo�gov Website: ��parkvillemo�gov Facebook: ��@CityofParkville Twitter: ��@parkvillemo Instagram: ��@parkvillemo64152 City Hall SIGN UP FOR OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER Every month the City issues the Parkville Pulse, a monthly e-newsletter e-mailed to everyone signed up on the City’s website� Visit http://parkvillemo�gov/email-signup to sign up today! To stay informed, sign up for our text and/or email notification updates. z E-mail updates: http://parkvillemo.gov/email-signup/ z Text notifications on your phone: http://parkvillemo.gov/ departments/policedept/emergency-management/ Sign up for E-mail and Text Notifications Like Parkville on Facebook (@CityofParkville), Twitter (@parkvillemo) and Instagram (@parkvillemo64152) for news and more! PAGE 3 CITY OF PARKVILLE - SPRING 2024 NEWSLETTER Public Works New to Parkville? Check out the Parkville Resident Guide on the City’s website or pick one up at City Hall. City implementing new software to map sewers, private utilities and much more In 2023, the City purchased ESRI’s ArcMap software, a powerful Geographic Information System (GIS) tool that will enable staff to better manage, analyze and map all types of data of the City, perform data analysis and display information to the public. Staff is working on the initial stages of the mapping system and have been in contact with multiple nearby jurisdictions and businesses about sharing information, which will help staff track where items are located within Parkville – from storm sewers to private utilities and much more. Any geographical information can be tracked with ArcMap to create maps to display data, which will eventually be shared with the public. ArcMap is one of the first steps in creating an asset management system. While GIS systems grow organically over time based on needs, the City has already used it to display the 2024 pavement anal- ysis, sewer system, Missouri American Water systems, and even the location of City-owned fiber. As the system continues to develop, a public facing side of ArcMap will be available on the City’s website. Public Works plans large capital projects this spring and summer Public works has multiple upcoming capital improvement proj- ects that supplement maintenance work performed by the Streets crew. The work typically requires more specialized equipment that the City does not own and serves as an important step in our regu- lar infrastructure maintenance. Below is a list of projects and their expected timelines: z Street Sweeping – Each year in the spring, the City hires a contractor to sweep the streets and City-owned parking lots to help remove road grit and debris left over from the winter. The City requests that residents refrain from parking vehicles on public streets and parking areas so the streets can be thoroughly cleaned. z Asphalt, Curb, & Sidewalk Maintenance – The project involves patching and re-surfacing City streets and replacing damaged curb and gutters throughout Parkville. The locations are primarily determined by an assessment performed in an effort to be as efficient as possible to maximize the funding available. Maintenance is expected to occur throughout the summer and finish up in the fall. z Street Striping – Pavement markings, including linear markings along some streets and symbols like turn lanes, wear out over time and require regular replacement. As they wear out, the reflectivity and color diminish from vehicles driving over them. Pavement marking is expected to be completed in the summer. z McAfee Pump Station Rehabilitation – Pump stations serve as an important link in the sewer collection system to ensure that flow is maintained and drains to our wastewater treatment plant. The project will rehabilitate the aging pump station, which requires a larger re-construction to maintain function. The project is currently being designed and is expected to be constructed this summer and fall. PAGE 4 CITY OF PARKVILLE - SPRING 2024 NEWSLETTER City of Parkville • 8880 Clark Avenue • Parkville, MO 64152 • (816) 741-7676 • Fax (816) 741-0013 Public Works Google Fiber is expanding to Parkville Google Fiber is expanding into Parkville this year and intends to provide high-speed fiber Internet to a majority of Parkville, starting from the east and working to the west. Work will involve placing small utility cabi- nets that are flush with the ground near the City curb and boring cables within the right-of-way. As part of their expansion, Google will be plac- ing lawn markers, like the one shown to the left, prior to starting work near a residence, shortly followed by crews moving through the area to build the network. The markers will provide a direct line to Google’s customer service that can track and resolve issues if construction causes a disturbance. The project is expected to continue into spring 2025. Spring Cleanup – Saturday, April 13 The Spring Cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, April 13th at Rockridge Quarry, located at 6105 NW River Park Drive. This event is open to Parkville residents only, proof of residency will be required. No com- mercial waste will be accepted. Items collected include small limbs, leaves and grass (no plastic bags), used batteries, scrap metal, water heaters, auto parts, metal products, air conditioners without the compressor, washers and dryers with- out motors, tires, furniture and household debris. Yard waste must be bagged/bundled and limbs must not exceed four feet in length. Items not collected include paint, air conditioner compressors, washer/ dryer motors and household hazardous waste items. Household hazardous waste items can be dropped off at the Household Hazardous Waste Center at 4707 Deramus Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. Mobile events will be available throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. Visit https://parkvillemo.gov/residents/recycling- waste-disposal/ for more information. Extended Yard Waste Drop off – April 15 through May 24 The City will host the annual extended Spring Yard Waste Drop Off from April 15th through May 24th. Parkville residents can drop off their yard waste at no charge at Rockridge Quarry, located at 6105 NW River Park Drive. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Yard waste does not have to be bagged. Proof of residency will be re- quired. Sorry, no business yard waste will be accepted. Additional opportunities will be available in the fall for residents to drop of their yard waste. Information will be included in future news- letters, as well as on the City’s website. Electronics recycling and paper shredding events – first Saturdays in June, August and October Throughout the year, the City hosts electronics recycling and paper shredding events in Platte Landing Park on the first Saturday of the even numbered months, except for December. z Electronics Recycling: Electronics recycling is open to everyone from 9 a.m. to noon in the parking lot near the dog parks in Platte Landing Park. Accepted items include electronics, computers, phones, televisions, large and small appliances… basically anything with a cord. Most items are recycled for free, but there is a fee to recycle some electronics. z Paper Shredding: Paper shredding events are for Parkville residents only from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the parking lot near Friends Shelter in Platte Landing Park. Residents are asked to limit shredding to two boxes per event. Proof of residency may be required on-site. Cleanup Check In and Yard Waste Drop Off Site Like Parkville on Facebook (@CityofParkville), Twitter (@parkvillemo) and Instagram (@parkvillemo64152) for news and more! PAGE 5 CITY OF PARKVILLE - SPRING 2024 NEWSLETTER Public Works Engineering design for Route 9 and Bell Road improvements The City selected consultants to begin the early stages of two large improvement projects – Bell Road and Route 9 downtown. As part of the on-call Request for Proposals process, McClure Engineer- ing was selected for the Bell Road sidewalk expansion and George Butler Associates for the Route 9 Downtown redesign. Both projects will involve public engagement and a majority of the design work will take place in late 2024 and 2025, with construction starting shortly thereafter. Both major projects will help improve pe- destrian and traffic movement and enhance safety. Be on the lookout for ways to be involved in the process. Route 9 Improvements Downtown PLATTE CITY 816-858-5687 PARKVILLE 816-741-9007 LIBERTY 816-792-2600 KANSAS CITY 816-454-6800 CAMERON 816-632-3200 z Microbrew Fest is Saturday, April 27th 11am-5pm Tickets are available online here: https://parkvillemicrobrewfest.com z First Cruise Night is April 6th z 4th of July: Parade at 10am Fireworks at 9:30pm PAGE 6 CITY OF PARKVILLE - SPRING 2024 NEWSLETTER City of Parkville • 8880 Clark Avenue • Parkville, MO 64152 • (816) 741-7676 • Fax (816) 741-0013 Parks & Recreation Construction began on Gateway Park Gateway Park is Parkville's newest park in progress. Located near the entrance of Pinecrest neighborhood on Route 9 and 62nd Street, it will include a drinking fountain, seating area, landscaping, bike rack and bike fix-it station. Gateway Park will be a resting stop along the Main Street Trail and provide residents with more outdoor space for passive recreation. Parkville Parks & Recreation looking for volunteers for Earth Day event on April 22nd Celebrate Earth Day in Parkville Parks! The Parks & Recreation De- partment is hosting an Earth Day volunteer work day on April 22nd from 1-3:30 p.m. and volunteers will meet at Sullivan Nature Sanctuary in Platte Landing Park. Work will include planting trees, mulching and re- moving invasive plants. Participants should wear comfortable clothing to work outside and closed toe shoes. No registration is required. Parks & Recreation Master Plan Kick-Off held on March 19th SWT Design was hired by the City to conduct a Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The City held a joint Board of Aldermen and Community Land & Recreation Board work session on March 19th to kick off the project. The City has a page on the website dedicated to the Master Plan and you can follow the page to see updates on community en- gagement opportunities, public meetings, provide direct input online using Social Pinpoint and follow all the progress. You can learn more about the Master Plan Process at https://parkvillemo.gov/government/ city-plans-studies/parks-master-plan/. Gateway Park from Route 9 Like Parkville on Facebook (@CityofParkville), Twitter (@parkvillemo) and Instagram (@parkvillemo64152) for news and more! PAGE 7 CITY OF PARKVILLE - SPRING 2024 NEWSLETTER Nature Sanctuary Parkville to host Deep Roots Callery Pear/Bradford Pear Buyback Program Event on May 4 Deep Roots has been proud to be a part of the Missouri Invasive Plant Council’s Callery Pear/ Bradford Pear Buyback Program and they are hosting four native tree giveaway events this spring. Events will be held in Topeka and Fairway, Kansas and Lee’s Summit, Missouri on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Parkville will host an event on May 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Friends Shelter in Platte Landing Park. Registration is open from March 15-April 15 through the Deep Roots website. If you remove an invasive Callery Pear/Bradford Pear from your landscape, take a photograph of it and go to https://deeproots.org/callery-pear-events where you will be able to register to receive a free native-species tree to replace it! Space is limited to 100 registrants per event so be sure you are 100% able to attend the in-person event on the dates listed. Nature Sanctuary Volunteer Work Days z May 23 – Garlic Mustard removal day with Wayne z May 23 – Pollinator garden work day z May 31 – Final Garlic Mustard removal day with Wayne z June 2 – Stream Team Water Quality Monitoring z July 12 and 19 – Science Friday z Aug. 17 and 29 – Ghost Stories planning z Sept. 13 and 19 – Ghost Stories planning z Sept. 27 – Ghost Stories, Haunted Trail work day z Oct. 10 – Ghost Stories, Lil Goblins Hour work day z Oct. 19 – Ghost Stories planning z Oct. 23 – Ghost Stories, Scout Shelter work day z Oct. 24 – Pumpkin prep for Pumpkin Carving z Oct. 25 – Ghost Stories set-up and dress rehearsal for Haunted Trail z Oct. 26 – Ghost Stories z Oct. 27 – Ghost Stories clean-up z Dec. 13 – Luminary set-up Visit https://parkvillemo.gov/nature- sanctuary/#events for more information about each of the volunteer work days. Reminder: No dogs, cats or any pets/animals allowed in the Parkville Nature Sanctuary Spring is here and it is crucial to remember that no dogs, cats, or any pets/animals of any sort are allowed in the Parkville Nature Sanctuary. We do not allow any domestic animals as they are not native to the ecosystem. The scent of a dog, or cat, or any domestic animal has the potential to frighten our resident wildlife causing unnecessary stress to the ani- mals. Parkville has many places that you CAN bring your pets, including the riverfront trail extending all the way from Platte Landing Park to English Landing Park. If you want to socialize, your pup you can visit either the large or small dog park located in Platte Landing Park. If you are looking for a more quiet area, the Sullivan Nature Sanctuary is located just north of Platte Landing Park along Rush Creek. Honoring one of the nature sanctuary’s true friends — Jeanne Pyland Jeanne Pyland, outgoing president of the Friends of Parkville Nature Sanctuary, was honored during a recent FOPNS board meeting for her outstanding leadership of the non-profit organization. Pyland took over as president in the fall of 2016, just a year after the fundraising group was formed. During her seven years in the leadership role, she led the way for many projects that will have a lasting effect on the nature sanctuary. She designed the Bob Fluchel Memori- al Butterfly Garden and came up with the idea of selling commemorative bricks to honor friends and family members. Those bricks then were arranged in a way that they served as a patio for the garden. Pyland also helped design the colorful in- terpretive signs that were placed along the trails, helping visitors to understand the flora and fauna they encountered at the nature sanctuary. In addition, she was instrumental in form- ing the monthly photo contests that have brought public attention to the beauty of Parkville’s jewel, the nature sanctuary. Jeanne decided to step down last fall to take more time to enjoy her retirement from the Missouri Department of Conservation. But she will remain on the board. Dan Day, a volunteer at the nature sanc- tuary, starts 2024 as the new president of the Friends group. We’re excited to see the path he takes our fundraising group on. Dan Day, president of the Friends of Parkville Nature Sanctuary, presented former president Jeanne Pyland with an honorary plaque. PAGE 8 CITY OF PARKVILLE - SPRING 2024 NEWSLETTER City of Parkville • 8880 Clark Avenue • Parkville, MO 64152 • (816) 741-7676 • Fax (816) 741-0013 Community Development Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter – Rescuing Hearts for 25 Years Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter (FOPAS) is in its 25th lifesaving year. We have come a long way from humble beginnings by the railroad tracks and there is more work ahead. Our dedi- cated volunteers, donors, vet- erinary teams, and communi- ty supporters ensure the an- imals who find their way to FOPAS receive the best pos- sible care. Services include adoption, pet lost and found, education, information resources, and more. We invite you to support this humane effort by joining us for fundraisers throughout the year. There is something to interest every- one. Coming April 27 is our Purse Dogs & Cat Clutches Luncheon, which includes ex- citing raffle and auction items, as well as a few surprises. From May-September, be on the lookout for FOPAS Yard Sales. In addi- tion, on the 25th of each month we will post a social media fundraiser. For each $25 you donate that month, you will re- ceive one entry for a monthly drawing. Each month, we will draw 2 tickets from the entries and the winner will receive an artist rendering of their pet. With each monthly fundrais- er, we start over. In December, in the spirit of giving, we will draw 3 tickets. That’s 25 portraits, celebrat- ing 25 years of rescue. When you’re ready to welcome home your best friend, please choose rescue. Volunteers organize FOPAS Adoptions on Saturdays (10am-12pm for dogs; 11am-2pm for cats) or by appointment during the week. Thank you for your friendship and support! DON’T LITTER: SPAY/NEUTER parkvilleshelter.com • facebook.com/FOPAS In 2022, the Board of Aldermen held several work ses- sions to review the process for establishing a quiet zone in downtown Parkville, which led to a diagnostic assessment of the railroad crossings on Main Street and East Street to examine the existing conditions of the crossings, immedi- ate safety concerns and future infrastructure improvements. The assessment determined that wayside horns were the best option to reduce the volume of train horn noise at both crossings. Wayside horns replace the noise from train horns and are positioned at railroad crossings to direct sound down at the road. In order to use wayside horns, crossings are required to still have flashing lights, gates, constant warning time de- vices and power out indicators. While they do not eliminate warning noise, they are less costly and noise is greatly re- duced over the train’s horn. Train noise assessment in downtown Parkville Spring into Clean! Get ready for the season with our Spring Carpet Cleaning Special! “Say goodbye to winter's dirt and hello to fresh, vibrant carpets. Book now for a revitalizing clean at unbeatable prices!" 816-500-5075 Like Parkville on Facebook (@CityofParkville), Twitter (@parkvillemo) and Instagram (@parkvillemo64152) for news and more! PAGE 9 CITY OF PARKVILLE - SPRING 2024 NEWSLETTER Park Hill Elementary School No. 12 celebrates groundbreaking On August 29, 2023, the Board of Aldermen approved a preliminary development plan for Park Hill Elementary School No. 12, a two-and- a-half story, 74,410 square foot elementary school to be built near the southwest corner of the intersection of NW Brink-Myer Road with NW Brush Creek Parkway. It will include public transportation improve- ments to the adjoining roadways, as well as pedestrian connections to the newly constructed Brush Creek Trail. A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held on February 29. The school is scheduled to be constructed and completed by July 2025. Community Development PAGE 10 CITY OF PARKVILLE - SPRING 2024 NEWSLETTER City of Parkville • 8880 Clark Avenue • Parkville, MO 64152 • (816) 741-7676 • Fax (816) 741-0013 The Parkville Living Center 819 Main Street, Parkville, MO 64152 Come by for coee, computer lab, conversation, or one of many community events & programs. Give us a call (816)741-6824or visit https://parkvillelivingcenter.org Coee Cafe | Tech Connect | Pet Power Story Time | Community Town Hall Forums Community Groups | Community Meals Open Monday - Thursday7:30am - 2pm Come CelebrateCommunity! P A R K U N I V E R S I T Y Congratulations to our 2023 Spring and Fall nursing graduates!100%100%NCLEX pass rateNCLEX pass rate (National Council Licensure Examination) park.edu/nursing Like Parkville on Facebook (@CityofParkville), Twitter (@parkvillemo) and Instagram (@parkvillemo64152) for news and more! PAGE 11 CITY OF PARKVILLE - SPRING 2024 NEWSLETTER Police Department Look, Light & Lock! Many crimes are crimes of opportunity, the Parkville Police Depart- ment encourages all residents to lock their vehicles when parked outside; make sure their garage doors are closed during the over- night hours and always call 911 if they see something unusual. Spring has sprung and with it comes the much-anticipated return of our beloved Parkville Farmers Market! We are excited to announce the grand opening of the 2024 season, which begins Saturday, April 27th and runs every Saturday from 7am - noon through Saturday, October 26th. Additional Wednesday afternoon markets begin June 12th and run every Wednesday from 1-4pm through September 11th. Get ready for a feast of locally-sourced produce and meats, deli- cious baked goods, artisanal crafts and more. This year we will also be participating in a brand new Market Passport proram that allows visitors to stamp their passports and earn free prizes. With opening day on the horizon, we're gearing up to highlight each of our vendors and their unique offerings. Make sure to visit our Facebook page (@ParkvilleFarmersMarket) for an exclusive look at the personalities behind our diverse array of vendors. City of Parkville 8880 Clark Avenue Parkville, MO 64152 Phone: (816) 741-7676 Fax: (816) 741-0013 E-mail: cityhall@parkvillemo.gov Like Parkville on Facebook (@CityofParkville), Twitter (@parkvillemo) and Instagram (@parkvillemo64152) for news and more! Spring 2024 Resident Newsletter See what’s inside!City Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 2 Public Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 3, 4, 5 Parks & Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 6 Nature Sanctuary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 7 Community Development . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 8, 9 Police Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 11