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"Recently I completed watching a BBC Documentary on “Maths.” The amazing thing about humankind is our ability to learn how to measure observations, translate them into numbers, formulas, and geometry, and use these numerical expressions to convey historical occurrences, current day events and predict the future."

- City Manager Stephen Arbo

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MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Recently I completed watching a BBC Documentary on “Maths.” The amazing thing about humankind is our ability to learn how to measure observations, translate them into numbers, formulas and geometry, and use these numerical expressions to convey historical occurrences, current day events and predict the future. Below this message is an annual “Maths” report on our performance as the City of Lee’s Summit organization. This annual activity report from the city manager is a requirement established by ordinance adopted by the City Council. Although statistical reporting regarding activities, such as the number of building permits issued in a 12-month period, provides knowledge of ”activities,” we need to express what these “maths” mean to you. That is why this annual report is much more than a statistical overview - it is a story of the impact we have made for the community.

As we step ahead into the new “post-COVID” years, we have a new understanding of how important the word “community” is to our success. This begins with the City of Lee’s Summit employees, who are comprised of people committed to serving others. Our employees know their work can have a greater impact than their job title. It is important for each employee to be valued and appreciated. Compensation and benefits are certainly important factors to this goal. However, taking time to say “thanks” and “you are really making a difference” is also necessary. As you read this report, please view it as a statement of the differences our employees are making for this community. The strength of this community has been built on a combination of outstanding, visionary elected officials, public trust between the City and the community, and the ability to attract and retain quality individuals as our employees.

As I near my retirement date (September 14) as the Lee’s Summit City Manager, I want to thank all three of these groups; mayors and councilmembers, community members, and our employees, for the opportunity to enjoy a very long and rewarding relationship. During my retirement years, I will probably watch even more BBC documentaries! Thank you for letting me a part of Lee’s Summit’s journey.

Yours Truly,

Stephen A. Arbo
City Manager

  

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Bill Baird
Mayor

Diane Forte
District 1

Hillary Shields
District 1

Trish Carlyle
District 2

Andrew S. Felker
District 2

Phyllis Q. Edson
District 3

Beto Lopez
Mayor Pro Tem/District 3

Fred DeMoro
District 4

Bob Johnson
District 4

 

 

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

 

The City of Lee's Summit actively engaged the community in the review and update of the City's comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan articulates a series of goals, policies, actions and standards to guide the community’s physical development and programs over a 15 to 20-year timeframe. It serves as the basis for economic development, quality residential growth and general improvements for the protection of the quality of life for Lee's Summit residents and businesses. Community participation was critical in forming the plan to ensure it fulfills our shared vision of a vibrant community ensuring the finest quality of life for all generations. There were numerous opportunities for involvement via focus groups, community discussions and surveys.The plan was presented to community leadership. It was modified and adopted on May 20, 2021. 

To help ensure the comprehensive plan remains current and valid, the City will monitor the progress of ongoing and completed implementation items and conduct a periodic evaluation of the plan. The evaluation will include updates to the City service efficiency maps, the land supply analysis, walkability and other critical information. This evaluation will be presented to City officials along with any recommended policy changes every year. A more complete update to the comprehensive plan will be produced every five years.

Comprehensive Plan

 


FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT

  • The City of Lee's Summit earned the highest rating possible on general obligation bonds (Aaa) from Moody's Investors Services. This reflects a strong fiscal position and manageable debt levels.
BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY

The City of Lee’s Summit is celebrating the renewal of its bronze-level designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Lee’s Summit is one of only nine cities in Missouri to receive the Bicycle Friendly Community designation. The League of American Bicyclists analyzes communities based on investments in bike education programs, regular bike events that promote and encourage people to choose biking, pro-bike policies and bike infrastructure. The City will retain its designation through 2025.

AIRPORT MASTER PLAN

City Council adopted the 2021 Airport Master Plan, which updates the current master plan approved more than 20 years ago. The Airport Master Plan provides long-range planning for the Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport. Phase 1 of the plan assessed airport inventory, economic development near the airport, demand projections and facility requirements to meet those demands.

The airport is an enterprise fund, which supports its operational costs through fuel sales and hangar rental revenues.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
  • Implemented Laserfiche, an enterprise content management (ECM) system, which will serve as a document repository for the organization. Laserfiche uses forms and electronic workflows to automate processes and create efficiencies.
  • Deployed new tools to increase the endpoint security across all devices.
  • Increased the number of mobile devices to address the growth in employees working remotely.
  • Upgraded the timekeeping system to a new cloud platform with mobile device capabilities.

COMMUNICATIONS

Residents can receive communication through a number of outreach platforms. Our reach continues to grow which helps us communicate important community news.  

 

Green Street Beat

5 podcasts recorded
198,761 listeners

 

Social Media Snapshot

14,456 followers
34,433 engagement
2,295,000 impressions

9,750 followers
1,984 engagement
497,600 impressions

3,715 followers
190,536 ​impressions
2,765 profile visits

 29,366 members
   389 engagement
281,723 ​impressions

398 subscribers
17,901 views
117,700 ​impressions

PARKS & RECREATION 

While the pandemic continued to create challenges, Parks & Recreation was able to keep facilities open, programming available and parks accessible for patrons to use for their health and wellness. Parks & Recreation responded with innovative ideas that engaged patrons while keeping them safe including:

  • KC Symphony “Pop-up” outdoor music in Lee’s Summit Parks
  • Holiday Luncheon at Gamber Community Center serving drive-thru lunches
  • outdoor fitness classes with the new outdoor fitness equipment at Lowenstein Park
  • "Unplug & Explore" summer game to encourage visitors to our amenities
  • Summit Ice and Summit Waves

Lowenstein Park
Renovations Complete

Summit Ice
Record Attendance of 49,719

Summit Waves
Record Attendance of 98,268

 

CULTURAL ARTS

The Downtown Sculpture Walk is an outdoor public art initiative now in its second year. All sculptures are submitted via a national call for artists and selected by juried by members of the Arts Council and Downtown Lee’s Summit. Additional sculptures were installed throughout the downtown business district in 2021. 

The project is a partnership between the Cultural Arts Division, Lee’s Summit Arts Council and Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street. Funding support is provided in part by the Downtown Community Improvement District and the Industrial Development Authority.

Campana

Patches

Bobor

 

Curb Replacement

The annual curb replacement program replaced over 11 miles of curb and reconstructed 77 ADA ramps. 

Mill and Overlay

Crews placed over 43,000 tons of asphaltic concrete (43 miles of 24-foot-wide pavement) on streets selected based on the pavement condition index. 

Surface Seal

Sealed 403,664 square yards of roadway (approximately 26 miles of 24-foot-wide pavement).

Third Street Improvements

The City completed Third Street improvements, which included the widening and construction of turn lanes on Third Street from Pryor to Murray, a sidewalk on both sides, a traffic signal at Third & Murray, and additional sidewalk and lighting improvements east of Murray. Primarily funded by the 2007 Capital Improvement Sales Tax, this project enhances safety and operations, and improves pedestrian access along the Third Street corridor.

Street Lighting Improvements

The City completed the installation of street lighting on Shenandoah Drive from Todd George Parkway to Blue Parkway, and Lakewood Boulevard from Anderson Drive to Lee’s Summit Road. These improvements move the City toward a long-term street lighting goal as defined in the City’s adopted street lighting policies and standards. Funded by the 2017 Captial Improvement Sales Tax renewal, these projects support the City’s Livable Streets Policy and improve roadway safety and quality of life. 

ADDITIONAL ANNUAL REPORTS

VISION, MISSION, VALUES

Community Vision

A vibrant community ensuring the finest quality of life for all generations. 

Mission

To enrich lives in our community through collaboration, creativity and commitment.

Core Values

Stewardship, Integrity, Service Excellence

ACCREDITATIONS

American Public Works Association
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies
Commission on Fire Accreditation International
Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies

This report covers the City's 2021 calendar year (Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2021).