RAYMORE, MISSOURI2015 Annual Report

A YEAR OF GROWTH & PROGRESSWhen we talk about growth in our community, we mean much

more than just the number of residents who call Raymore

home.

We talk about the strides our City has made in improving the

quality of life for all residents. We talk about the smoother

and safer roads built under the leadership of our Public Works

Department.

We talk about the new Parks and Recreation opportunities

that keep our families active all year. We even talk about the

new faces who have joined our professional staff at City Hall

who will push our community to the next level of service.

2015 was an exciting year in Raymore and we only expect

bigger and better things for our residents in the years to

come.

Jim FeuerbornCity Manager

REIMAGINE RAYMOREAt the beginning of 2015, signs began to appear around our

community asking residents to Reimagine Raymore.

It was a small campaign used to highlight the work of one

department, but it grew into something bigger. It tapped

into a desire to reimagine the future of what our community

could achieve or become. It asked residents to challenge

themselves to look creatively at what could be possible in the

coming years.

It became the theme for Public Works campaigns as the

City improved vital infrastructure. It was used as a creative

centerpiece for the Festival in the Park. The City’s strategic

planning process adopted the phrase as a way to energize

residents and engage them in a process that was going to set

a course for the next decade.

As we look back on 2015 and take stock of those

accomplishments and successful projects, it is easy to see how

Reimagine Raymore propelled everyone in the community to

think bigger for our community.

The City’s staff and leadership took the reins of the now city-

wide slogan and ushered in an unprecedented number of

public works projects, new housing developments and new

businesses into the community.

In this annual report we hope to capture some of those great

projects and highlight how each effort and initiative pushed

Raymore closer to what our residents were already imagining;

a quality community in which to live, work and play.

In 2015, we asked residents to reimagine the

future of our community. As our city continues

to grow, we remain dedicated to being a quality

community in which to live, work and play.

In 2015, residents ranked many of Raymore’s city services and programs to

be very satisfactory. In fact, of those who responded to the spring survey,

more than 80 percent said the level of service provided by Raymore was

excellent or good and 81 percent of respondents said they continued to

have a positive perception of the City of Raymore.

Additionally, 100 percent of survey respondents said they agreed

or strongly agreed that Raymore was doing a good job of creating a

community where residents feel safe.

It is a positive sign in a city that continues to undergo a tremendous amount

of growth and change over the past couple of years. As more residents

continue to move to Raymore, City Manager Jim Feuerborn said it is critical

that City staff keeps up with demands while also ensuring that Raymore

continues to offer quality services and programing.

Setting the benchmark

Raymore’s commitment to using an outside, independent surveying

company also means the City can compare survey responses with similar

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONSRaymore continues to serve as a regional benchmark for resident satisfaction scores

AREA OF OPPORTUNITYIn these areas, the number of survey respondents indicating they were satisfied or very satisfied decreased as compared to previous years.

AREA OF SUCCESSIn these areas, the number of survey respondents indicating they were satisfied or very satisfied increased as compared to previous years.

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OVERALL SATISFACTIONThe Satisfaction Index measures the overall satisfaction of residents with City services. Starting in 2006, it measures if the overall satisfaction has improved based on average individual service ratings.

responses in other cities in the Kansas City metropolitan region. This gives

the City a unique perspective into how well Raymore delivers services as

compared to similar suburbs in the area.

According to the survey, Raymore rated 24 percent higher than the

national average and 25 percent higher than the KC average in the overall

quality of City services provided.

Raymore also rated above the national average and the KC average in 41 of

the 50 areas (parks, public works, public safety, etc.) that were compared.

FEELING OF SAFETYPercent of respondents who said they felt safe or very safe in the community during the day, after dark and on city trails or biking paths.

VERY HIGH PRIORITY

1. Flow of traffic and congestion management

2. Overall maintenance of city streets

HIGH PRIORITY1. Overall value

received for your tax dollars

MEDIUM PRIORITY

1. Enforcement of codes for buildings/houses

2. Parks & Rec programs & facilities

3. City Communication

4. Stormwater management

5. Emergency preparation

6. Public Safety services

7. Service from City employees

8. Maintenance of City buildings

PRIORITY CITY SERVICES

2006 2008 2010 2012 2015

This summer, Raymore’s City Council took a big step forward in advocating

for the arts and culture through the community. In August, the Council

voted to officially create the City’s first Arts Commission.

The seven-member commission brings a wealth of artistic knowledge

and experience as they look to guide and advise the Council on projects

and initiatives that could bring more artwork and performance to our

community.

As part of their official charge, the commission has been tasked by the

City Council to engage citizens to cultivate art in the community and

promote close cooperation among the City, residents, businesses and

other organizations so that all arts resources within the community may be

coordinated to maximize promotion and support of the arts.

In its first few months, the Commission hosted several public strategic

planning sessions with residents to discover what kind of art and cultural

initiatives the Commission should set as a priority.

The Commission also sponsored and helped judge the Tri-County Art

League’s Artsfest student art contest where students from across Raymore

displayed their artistic talents.

Learn more about the Arts Commission at www.Raymore.com/Arts

REIMAGINE ARTS AND CULTURERaymore introduces its first commission dedicated to the arts in the community.

DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS: POLICE AND PARKS & RECREATIONRaymore’s Parks & Recreation saw another year of successful

programming and parks beautification. With new staff and expanded

professional development opportunities, the Parks & Recreation staff

has never been more prepared to invite residents to Play More In

Raymore.

• Nathan Musteen returned to Raymore as director. Previously, he served as a Recreation Coordinator in Raymore for 10 years.

• The City Council dedicated The Depot at T.B. Hanna Station, the city’s newest park amenity (photo below).

• The Recreation division expanded its basketball program by adding new age groups (K-3rd Grade). This allowed 110 more youth to participate in the program.

• In October, contractors finished resurfacing of the tennis courts at Memorial Park and Recreation Park as well as the basketball court at Recreation Park. The project was completed under the $85,000 budget.

• Contractors finished phase one of the ball field renovations at Recreation Park. Fields 6 and 8 fences, backstops and dugouts were removed and replaced. The project had a budget of $125,000 and was completed for $123,000.

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The men and women of the Raymore Police Department continued their

service not only to protect our community, but to also act as community

leaders in our city and throughout the region.

• The City Council approved and the Police Department began conversion of the entire patrol and administrative fleet from Dodge Charger passenger vehicles to Ford SUV’s.

• Lieutenant Aly Abdelgawad attended the 10-week FBI National Academy Executive Leadership program in Quantico, Virginia. Selection for participation in this very prestigious training program is by invitation only.

• The Raymore Peculiar School District agreed to provide $50,000 in funding for one full-time law enforcement position to serve in a school resource capacity in Raymore schools and the East Middle School in unincorporated Cass County.

• Emergency Management hosted the largest group to ever participate in the basic Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training course. There were 24 graduates who remain actively engaged in the CERT program.

MUSTEEN

ABDELGAWAD

These projects, completed throughout 2015, are just a small sample of

on-going projects that directly improve our community.

Sidewalks on Undeveloped Lots Program

The Sidewalks on Undeveloped Lots program, initiated in 2014, was

continued in 2015 with the installation of sidewalks on 45 undeveloped

lots. An additional 13 undeveloped lots were determined to meet the

requirement to have sidewalks installed in 2016. Under the program

if the property owner does not install sidewalks, the City will install the

sidewalks and levy a special assessment on the property. The program

helps the City to achieve the goal of providing a continuous sidewalk

network throughout the community.

City receives Gold Level recognition

as a Solar Ready Community

Raymore became the first City in the Kansas City metropolitan region to

receive gold level recognition as a Solar Ready Community, acknowledging

the community’s commitment to facilitate solar energy installations.

Interactive City Maps available on City website

In 2015 the City introduced interactive City maps on the City website

to provide basic information for users about zoning, parks and trails,

wards, and recent development projects. The information is available at

www.Raymore.Maps.ARCGIS.com.

139 Single Family Detached Home Permits Issued

In 2015 a total of 139 permits were issued for single-family detached

homes. This is the highest annual total since 2007.

REIMAGINE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENTThe success of our City relies heavily on Public Works and Community Development departments

to provide solid infrastructure and careful planning throughout the year.

RAYMORE WELCOMED FIVE NEW BUSINESSES TO THE COMMUNITY IN 2015

Taco Bell

Keller Williams

Benton House of Raymore

Ridgeway Villas (multi-family residential)

Foxwood Springs Bistro

The City of Raymore shepherded several ambitious Public Works projects

along Johnston Drive in the Silver Lake neighborhood this summer and fall.

The goal was to complete as many of these projects in one summer as

possible to create the smallest window of disruption—rather than have

crews working on projects for several years in the area.

As work finished in December, it was clear that the extensive planning,

execution and on-going management made this project stand out as one

of the best infrastructure improvements in the City in 2015. Here are the

highlights from the construction season in the Silver Lake neighborhood.

Johnston Drive Reconstruction ($330,000)

Unlike a typical overlay project, the reconstruction of Johnston Drive

involved the complete removal of the street and dirt below to rebuild the

foundation that was ultimately failing under the street. Once completed,

the new street is smoother and safer to drive. The reconstruction will also

lengthen the life of the roadway.

Curb Repair and Replacement ($145,000)

Contractors, as part of the City’s overall curb replacement and repair

program, worked along North Lakeshore Drive, South Lakeshore Drive,

Lakeview Place, Bayview Drive and Shoreview Drive to replace deteriorating

curb and gutter. This project directly impacted stormwater management

in the neighborhood, which is important for residents living in Silver Lake.

Water Main Replacement ($260,000)

In July, contractors began installing new water lines along Johnston Drive using

trenchless technology to replace an aging and undersized water line. This

meant crews are able to install the new water main without having to trench

across every property. This, in turn, saved money as crews are not required

to replace driveways, sidewalks and reduced the amount of disruption.

Stormwater culverts ($70,000)

Completed in 2014, but vital to the overall project completion

This project was done following the failure of a stormwater culvert in

the neighborhood. The City recognized the importance of improving the

stormwater management in the area, which improves the water quality in

Silver Lake. Rather than replace the 15-inch culvert, the City installed two

24-inch culverts to help better manage stormwater from the area.

REIMAGINE JOHNSTON DRIVE

It was a year of change and new faces at the City Raymore as the city

welcomed 12 new full-time employees in 2015. Of those 12, the City

welcomed three new members to the leadership and management

team.

Communications Manager Mike Ekey joined the

City in July with Economic Development Director

Matt Tapp following shortly in September.

Ekey is responsible for the communications and

public relations efforts by the City to ensure

residents are engaged with City Hall and help

tell the City’s story as we head into a year of

unprecedented growth and expansion.

Tapp is tasked with revitalizing the City’s economic

development efforts to attract top new employers,

commercial opportunity and development interest

throughout Raymore.

Parks & Recreation Director Nathan Musteen returned to Raymore in

the spring.

Engagement and education

For Ekey, communications from City Hall to its residents needed to be

more than just press releases and public notices. It needed to include

a robust online and social component where residents could engage

directly with City staff on a variety of topics.

In 2015, the City’s Facebook page alone saw an explosion of posts, likes

and shares from residents. By December, the page had well over 2,100

followers and more than 16,000 shares from a variety of posts and photos.

The goal was to create content and share information on a regular basis

that was engaging — yet, still informative — for residents. From day one,

for Ekey, it was about building a presence online that could be trusted to

be a two-way conduit for information and conversation about Raymore.

At the center of the Raymore’s communications strategy is the City’s

website. Recognizing how cluttered and outdated it had become,

communications partnered with Vision Internet to begin an extensive

study that looked at how residents used the site. This data is currently

being used to redevelop and redesign the site to make it more user

friendly and engaging.

REIMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES FROM CITY HALLThe professional staff at City Hall work to make sure Raymore meets the high expectations set by our residents.

Administrative staff work together to deliver the support our departments need to do their jobs.

EKEY

TAPP

The Google shift

At the beginning of 2015, City Hall made the decision to move away from the

traditional Microsoft Office software and instead jumped onto a growing

trend of cities and non-profits using only Google’s cloud-based software.

In January, employees were introduced to the new Google word processor,

spreadsheet and other programs that can more easily be shared through

Google Drive to improve collaboration among departments and staff.

To help train employees, Human Resources and Information Technology

staff hosted a Google Week with training opportunities, games and other

activities to get employees acclimated to the new software quickly.

Preparing for the worst

The worst disasters are ones you do not prepare for. In 2015, the entire

management team at City Hall participated in monthly trainings and drills

that covered a variety of disasters and weather emergencies that Raymore

could encounter in the near future.

The trainings were designed to identify gaps in department resources or

planning that could prove devastating during a real emergency. The year-

long effort culminated in a full drill where staff were called in to respond to

an emergency as if it were unfolding in real-time. It meant, for many, the

first time seeing what our City’s Emergency Operations Center looked like

when fully established.

It also gave staff another opportunity to talk through their own

responsibilities in the case of a real disaster in Raymore.

2015 - 2016 BUDGETRaymore’s annual budget is the guiding document that not only outlines the City’s goals and ambitions

for the coming year, but also communicates and explains to our residents where the City is allocating its

resources each year.

The City is planning for a modest increase of 4.4% in its revenues from

2015 to 2016. Still, the City continues to operate from a position of

fiscal responsibility to ensure resources are used where they are most

needed and where they will make the greatest impact. The biggest

change to this year’s budget was the adoption of a Step System that

will dictate compensation for all City employees.

CITY CONTINUES TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND PARKS

The 2015-2016 budget did include several expansion items to

enhance the City’s parks and bolster infrastructure. Several items

were necessary to allow Public Works staff the ability to perform

regular maintenance without needing to contract out work, which

will save the City money over time.

INFRASTRUCTURE• Two maintenance workers (to replace a retiring supervisor)

• A mud-jacking system

• A concrete mixer

• Itron remote for water meter reading

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS• Enhanced lighting and other amenities for The Depot

• Recreation Park field renovation

• Hawk Ridge Park ADA fishing dock

• Municipal Circle Community buildingFor a full copy of the 2015-2016 Budget

as approved by the City Council, visit

www.Raymore.com/Budget

GENERAL FUND REVENUE

The City primarily operates from the General Fund, the Enterprise Fund

and the Parks Fund. While the General Fund is used for administration

and other costs, the Enterprise Fund is used exclusively to operate the

City’s water, sewer and trash programs. Along with regular maintenance

of the water and sewer system, the Enterprise Fund also pays for the

ongoing conversion of its meters from touch-wand to radio-read.

There are approximately 1,500 meters left (out of a total of 6,875) to be

converted city-wide. Approximately 300 will be converted again in FY

2016, at a budgeted amount of $82,908. Full conversion is expected to be

completed by 2020.

ENTERPRISE FUND REVENUE

PARKS FUND REVENUE

The Park Fund is supported primarily through property taxes and use

fees associated with sports and class registrations.

Peter KerckhoffMayor

Jeffrey StevensWard 1

Kevin KelloggWard 1

Derek MoorheadWard 2

Joseph Burke IIIWard 2

Jay HolmanWard 3

Kevin BarberWard 3

Charlene HubachWard 4

Sonja AbdelgawadWard 4

CITY COUNCIL, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONSRaymore is led by a dedicated group of elected council members and a number of other volunteer

boards and commissions. These individuals help shape and guide our city with each decision they make.

City Council

Planning and Zoning Commission

Jerry Faulkner (Chair)Kelly Fizer (Vice Chair)

Charles Crain (Secretary)Eric Bowie

Donald MeuschkeJoseph SarsfieldLeo Anderson

John Berendzen

Park BoardWilliam Manson (Chair)

Bryan Harris (Vice Chair) Sheldon Castleman

Eric EastwoodJeni Cipolla

Melinda HoudyshellJim Heath

Michelle Hiles-Seimears

Board of AdjustmentDavid Woste

Tom O’ConnorTom BuechlerGerald Jenkins Michael Vinck

Stephen Grube (alternate)

License Tax Review CommitteeDerek MoorheadMeredith Hauck

Gib GoodKerrie O’Connor

Jack Hopkins

Board of AppealsMike Cox

Chad BuckRandy ReedLloyd Brown

Dick MaynardMeredith Hauck

TIF CommissionMike Gnefkow (Chair)

Todd Holsman (Vice Chair)Dale Jacobson (Secretary)

Patrick ClarkJanelle Biernbaum

Tom McVeyStephanie Como

Ruth JohnsonDr. Kari Monsees

Pam ShipleyBob Huston

Arts CommissionSharon Parys (Chair)

Harriet Lawrence (Vice-Chair)Heather Gambrell

Rebecca MartinRobert Berry

Desiree CanovicPatricia Setser

Tree BoardJenny Riggs

William RustPaula Diaz

RAYMORE, MISSOURI

100 Municipal CircleRaymore, Mo. 64083