KC World Cup Bid Press Conference Tomorrow

photo courtesy of Thad Bell

Tomorrow at Arrowhead Stadium, the KC World Cup bid committee and Kansas City mayor, Mark Funkhouser will be hosting a press conference. Funkhouser is set to make "a major statement" about the city's bid to host the World Cup in Kansas City. Since the announcement of the press conference was made earlier today, I've been trying to figure out what the "major statement" by the mayor will be. Since the mayor is there, it definitely has to be something involving the city itself. This means it's unlikely to be anything about the World Cup itself or the cities that will be named in the USA's bid, although the USSF is going to be narrowing the bids down to their final 18 in December(slide 6).

I've been doing some research into what it could be, and I found this in my search. What this is, is the Host City Agreement that cities need to sign to be part of the bid process. It breaks down the hosting responsibilities of the city for the World Cup, everything from the selection of the cities, to posters advertising the event, to public transit, to even the base camps for the team (the link above from Hillcrest Road provides a ton of information about KC's bid). It needs to be signed by the city for the city to be considered in the final hosting for the country biding for the World Cup.

I've been able to confirm from a source that this is indeed what the announcement is supposed to be tomorrow, the fact that the city of Kansas City has signed the Host City Agreement. This is a big step for the city and the bid committee in their work to get the city of Kansas City to be one of the final 12 cities that will hopefully host either the 2018 or the 2022 World Cup.

Council Passes 3 Trails TIF

The KC City Council today unanimously passed Lane4 and the Wizards TIF plan for Bannister Mall today, 13-0. As I stated yesterday, the one doubt had been Mayor Funkhouser. Funkhouser again in the meeting today stated his stance on Super TIFs, but then stated that he realized for this redevelopment, a Super TIF was required for it to succeed.

Four members of the city council spoke publicly at the meeting, which was broadcasted live on Kansas City's website. John Sharp, the 6th district (the district the site is in) representative, Terry Riley of district 5, and at large members Cathy Jolly and Cindy Circo all spoke very highly of the project and the impact that it would have not only the district it's in, but the surrounding area.

All is not over yet, though, as the TIF has to get it's state funding. Although, as one Wizards staffer said on bigsoccer, the money is already in the state budget, earmarked for use by a major TIF in the city of KC.

Wizards fans can celebrate the great news tonight and look forward to attending the ground breaking some time next year.

And thanks to the gallery on the Wizards website, we have this great picture of the overlay of the project on the current area.

Full Speed Ahead

The Finance Committee has passed the Three Trails TIF plan today unanimously, putting to the city council for it to be passed. The other good news from this article is the news at the end of the beginning of the fourth paragraph.

But a late amendment that would give the city the opportunity to remain engaged
with the financing of the project while it is being reviewed for state
assistance persuaded the mayor to drop his objections.

So the disapproval that Mayor Funkhouser had stated last week looks to be out the window with this new amendment. For all Wizards fans, this is huge, as Funkhouser had been the big road block remaining in the process, due to his dislike of the possible Super TIF. While there are still hurdles to be passed, it is still a huge step forward in the process to get a stadium.

Below are some pictures of the development.

Big Bannister Week

I've said it before, but this week is a big week for the Wizards, Lane4, Bannister Mall, and the Three Trails TIF. After the Finance Committee tabled voting on the plan last week, it is back on the agenda again for the meeting tomorrow at 8:15 at City Hall.

After that meeting, should all go well, it will go to the full city council for a vote on Thursday, again at City Hall. The meeting will be at 3 pm on the 26th floor of City Hall, which for those of you that don't know, is at 414 East 12th Street in KC.

Then comes the big challenge of trying to get by Mayor Mark Funkhouser, who has already stated he disapproves of the use of the Super TIF on the project. With two members of the council firmly behind this project, there are hopes that they could get the council to override the a veto by Funkhouser.

Bannister NOT Wizards Only Option

One day after Mayor Funkhouser stated that while "excited" about the planned redevelopment of Bannister Mall, he didn't want the plan to use the Super TIF that the plan called for, the developers stated their displeasure in his decision.

The article has quotes from the councilwoman, Cathy Jolly, of the district that includes the Bannister Mall complex. Her and councilman, John Sharp are definitely for this development. To overrule a potential veto by Mayor Funkhouser, Jolly and Sharp would have to get the backing of 6 more of their colleagues to be on board with them. To override the veto, the council would need a 3/4's majority (8 of 12).

Should the plan not pass, it's not like the Wizards will be left out in the cold. As with all good businessmen, OnGoal LLC has a backup plan should the Bannister plan fail. That plan involves the team staying in Kansas and moving down south to Olathe. While the OnGoal still says that Bannister is where they want to play, the city of Olathe has approached the team about using STAR bonds to help build a stadium out in the southern KC suburb.

Mayor Funkhouser Says No Super TIF

Mayor Mark Funkhouser has made his feelings known on the redevelopment plan of Bannister Mall and the surrounding 3 Trails Area. He's excited about the plan. But he is not going to sign off until more discussion has taken place, including the dropping of the Super TIF requirement.

Funkhouser says that the Super TIF will generate "no benefit" for the city with the use of the Super TIF. He says he wants the project to progress though, which is at least one plus. But my question is, how are you going to redevelop that area well enough without help Super TIF. Any project that would look to redevelop that entire area is likely going to need a Super TIF, it's not just this project.

Let's just forget about the fact that the Wizards are involved for a second. This is a large area of land, it's going to need quite a bit of help from city and state officials for anything to happen in this area. I grew up around this area, I went to Bannister Mall all the time as a kid, during the height of it's popularity. I saw it's hard and quick fall into oblivion. Something needs to be done, and without a Super TIF I just have trouble seeing this area being developed by any developer.

Finance Committee Meeting Tomorrow

Kansas City Mayor, Mark Funkhouser, will make have his first public session on the Lane4/Wizards Bannister Mall TIF tomorrow at the Kansas City Council Finance Committee meeting. The meeting is at 8:15 am on the 10th floor of City Hall, at 414 East 12th Street. This is another big hurdle for the plan, as Mayor Funkhouser ran for mayor on a reformation of the TIF platform. Although I've heard that Funkhouser is in favor of redevelopment of some kind in that area, he still remains the BIG hurdle in passing this plan. It is open to the public for people to attend. With approval at the Finance Committee meeting, the full city council will vote on the project Thursday December 13th.