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PILLAR V: COMMUNITY & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Update the City's Comprehensive Plan and Leawood Development Ordinance to reflect evolving community needs and priorities. Strengthen business development efforts in coordination with the Leawood Chamber of Commerce. Explore opportunities for beautification, preservation, and effective use of city rights-of-way and green spaces to enhance community character and livability.

 

Objective Performance

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Goal Update

Performance is strong overall across inclusivity, diversity, and community engagement, with six linked measures and one initiative above target, and four additional elements on target. Results indicate broad momentum in publicizing City and partner events, Sister City engagement, participation by minority-owned vendors, customer service survey performance, and efforts to maintain a welcoming community. Committee-structure review, demographic and geographic representation among applicants, and implementation of REIC recommendations are progressing as planned. However, the number of board and committee applications received, and the diversity in appointment rate remain below plan, while applicant referral-source performance warrants attention. These mixed recruitment indicators temper otherwise positive engagement and outreach results.

The Mayor is currently reviewing the draft ordinance.

Goal Update
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Strengthen ordinance pertaining to unoccupied homes.Codes | Travis Torrez (Codes and Neighborhood Services)

An Abatement Ordinance is in the works. The City Attorney is reviewing it, but their upcoming retirement may push back the timeline.

Goal Update

The Chamber agreement was updated in the Spring of 2025 and approved by the Governing Body. 

Objective
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Monitor health of shopping areas.Administration | Diane Stoddard (City Administration)
Goal Update
Objective
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Explore options to limit and/or remove temporary signs.Codes | Travis Torrez (Codes and Neighborhood Services)

Changes to the Temporary Sign ordinance were considered and reviewed by the Legal Dept.  Ultimately, what has been approved is pretty minor in nature and the plan is to bring those forward with the larger Leawood Development Ordinance update.

Objective
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Explore dispersed and self-managed garden spaces.Parks, Recreation, & Arts | Chris Claxton (Parks, Recreation & Arts)
Objective
Not Defined
Explore options for pollinator gardens and monarch gateway.Parks, Recreation, & Arts | Chris Claxton (Parks, Recreation & Arts)