Waters, Steele, and Wimer Reelected to Serve Second Terms

Congratulations to David E. Waters for being reelected for a second term as Mayor of Westwood and to Laura Steele and Holly Wimer for being reelected to the Westwood City Council, each for their second term. All three will serve a four-year term, through 2028.

To view full election results, including for Shawnee Mission School Board and other races, please visit the Johnson County Election Office website by following this link.

Feature Park Planning Steering Committee - Call for Interest

Following the Westwood Governing Body's October 12th approval of the rezoning and development plan for Karbank's proposal to build a mixed-use development on Rainbow Blvd. between 50th and 51st Streets and to provide for a new City Park three times (3x) larger than Joe D. Dennis Park and nearer to the new Westwood View Elementary School, we are in the midst of making preparations for the planning process of the City's future park!

The City Council will hold a 6 PM work session at its regular City Council meeting on December 14th to review and consider a process to plan and design the new park. In preparation for this work session, we are conducting a call for those interested in serving on a steering committee to guide the planning process for this exciting project. It is anticipated that this group of around 10 or 12 individuals will aid the City in the following ways:

• Review a Request for Qualifications and scope of work for a park planning consultant to transform the community's vision for the park into an actual design;
• Provide input on mapping out a broader community engagement effort to ensure anyone and everyone in the community has multiple opportunities to share their vision, hopes, and dreams for the park;
• Guide the park planning consultant's work over the next year; and
• Ultimately make a recommendation to the Planning Commission and City Council on the best design and amenities for the park.

The best candidates to serve on this park planning steering committee will:

• Be able to commit to one meeting a month for the entire calendar year of 2024;
• Represent strategic audiences the park is intended to ultimately serve including:
• parents of young children and tweens
• teenagers and young adults in their 20s
• single adults without children
• families
• seniors or recent empty-nesters
• residents with impairments
• residents with experience in park design, landscape architecture, or other related field that could lend expertise to the process
• residents with experience in strategic communications, engagement, and facilitation or other related field that could lend expertise in the process

Interested individuals should submit a statement of interest or cover letter/resume to Abby Schneweis, City Clerk, either electronically to abby.schneweis@westwoodks.org, or in-person at Westwood City Hall, 4700 Rainbow Blvd., by Sunday, November 26th. The statement of interest should include the following information:

·    Name, address, phone number, and email address;

·    Reasons for interest in serving on the park steering committee;

·    Length of residence in Westwood and applicant's goals for the park; and

Depending on the volume of interest, candidates may be invited to interview further with Mayor Waters, other members of the Planning Commission or City Council, and/or City staff. Submittal of a statement of interest may not necessarily result in an invitation to proceed further in the selection process.

Questions may be directed to City Clerk Abby Schneweis by phone (913-352-1550) or email (abby.schneweis@westwoodks.org).

Mayor's Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 30th

Grab your most festive holiday gear and help us celebrate the beginning of the season by attending the Mayor's Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony! This event will be held on Thursday, November 30th at 6 p.m. on the grounds of Westwood City Hall. This event will be held completely outdoors. There will be fire pits, refreshments, and Santa will be stopping by to wish everyone a Happy Holiday.



If you have any questions about this event please contact City Hall at 913.362.1550 or by email.

2023 Leaf Pickup Happening Now

The 2023 leaf pickup program began on Wednesday, November 1st. Westwood Public Works will conduct leaf pick up operations in Westwood the entire month of November through early to mid-December of 2023.

Stormwater Utility Fee Increase Planned for 2024  

In 2024, residents and businesses will see an increase in their Stormwater Utility Fee. This fee is collected as an assessment on the property tax bills, in the same manner as the residential solid waste fees are collected. The Stormwater Utility Fee was first enacted and collected in 2014. Since its enactment, the fee increased once, in 2020, from $1 per 500 sq. ft. of impervious surface on a property to $1.25.  

During the 2024 budget process, the Governing Body approved increasing this fee again, to support the City’s curbside leaf pickup program and increasingly expensive maintenance costs for the City’s curbs, gutters, and other stormwater system needs. The new fee of $2.50 per 500 sq. ft. of impervious surface ensures repairs and maintenance needs will save residents money in the long term.  

Interested in being a member of the Mid-America Regional Council's Climate & Environment Council?

The Mid-America Regional Council and Climate Action KC are looking for new members to join the 2024-2026 cohort of the Climate and Environment Council (CEC). 

The membership of the CEC will include 25-30 individuals who collectively represent the Kansas City region with a diversity of viewpoints, backgrounds and expertise. Individuals on the council promote the interests of the entire region. To be considered for CEC membership you must be a resident of Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte or Ray counties in Missouri, or Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami or Wyandotte counties in Kansas. 

New members will serve two-year terms starting January 2024. CEC meets on the fourth Friday of each month at 9 a.m. in the MARC Board Room located at 600 Broadway, Ste. 200, Kansas City, MO 64105.

Application forms are due by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. 

MARC deeply values inclusion from across the Kansas City region. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Do you know someone who would add valuable insight to regional environmental planning? We want to hear from them! Please share this email with anyone you feel would be a good fit. 

For assistance filling out this application, please call Kate Ludwig at 816-701-8270.

Other questions? Please contact Karen Clawson at kclawson@marc.org or 816-701-8255.

Calling All Those Interested in Westwood's History and Helping to Celebrate It!

The 75^th anniversary is known as the traditional diamond anniversary based on the diamond’s ability to withstand scrutiny along with its well-deserved appreciation. What better way to celebrate the city’s contribution to our citizens’ enjoyment of life than to profile its people, its history, and its progress since 1949 and to gather for that well-deserved show of appreciation. 

To do all this, we need your help and ideas. We will be collecting pictures and stories of Westwood’s past, and for a celebration in 2024 via email at westwoodks75@gmail.com.

It’s our diamond anniversary! Let’s sparkle!

Westwood Foundation - Call for Director to Serve on the Board

The City of Westwood, Kansas, is currently accepting applications of interest for appointment to the Westwood Foundation.

The Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, was founded in 1974 to provide charitable, educational and benevolent support to the greater City of Westwood, Kansas (the “City”) community. The Foundation has one principal mission: providing financial assistance and support to projects and endeavors that benefit the City, the immediate surrounding area and, ultimately, the citizens of those communities. The short-term objectives of the Foundation are varied. These objectives range from land acquisition/development to providing revenue to the City to offset unexpected expenses and offering educational scholarships to members of our community. Broadly, any financial obligation the Foundation selects to support aims to fulfill its principal mission.

The Bylaws of the Westwood Foundation provide that appointments to the Foundation's Board of Directors—whether as a result of vacancy or term expiration—are made by the Mayor and confirmed by the Westwood City Council. Following an amendment to the Foundation Bylaws this summer, a resident of the City shall be appointed for a term expiring on May 31, 2025 (the Mayor being an ex officio non-voting Director as provided in the amended Bylaws);

Interested individuals should submit a statement of interest or cover letter/resume to Abby Schneweis, City Clerk, either electronically to abby.schneweis@westwoodks.org, or in-person at Westwood City Hall, 4700 Rainbow Blvd., by Sunday, November 26th. The statement of interest should include the following information:

·    Name, address, phone number, and email address;

·    Reasons for interest in serving on the Foundation;

·    Length of residence in Westwood and applicant's goals for the community; and

·   Qualifications for, or relevant experience with, service in local government, foundations, not for profit entities, fundraising, or investment management.

Interested candidates may be invited to interview further with Mayor Waters, other members of the Foundation or City Council, and/or City staff. Submittal of a statement of interest may not necessarily result in an invitation to proceed further in the selection process.

Questions may be directed to City Clerk Abby Schneweis by phone (913-352-1550) or email (abby.schneweis@westwoodks.org).

The 47 Foodie Fest - 2024 Event Planning Volunteers Wanted!

With the finishing touches being made to transform 47th Street from Rainbow Blvd. to Mission Rd. into a Complete Street, we're looking forward to celebrating the more walkable, bikeable, and attractive corridor of homes and businesses that it is!

We'll begin within the next few weeks to plan for a 2024 Foodie Fest - as was held in 2019 and 2022 - and are looking for volunteers to help the business community organize this event to celebrate the 47th St. businesses. If you are interested - or know of a friend or neighbor in our area who might be - please email or call City Clerk Abby Schneweis at abby.schneweis@westwoodks.org or 913-352-1550 to be placed on the communications list for upcoming planning meeting opportunities, which we anticipate will begin in December.

Westwood City Calendar

For information regarding formal meetings, schedule changes, announcements, and City information, please consult the city website, contact City Hall (913-362-1550), or reach out to any one of your Councilmembers or the Mayor. City Hall is the formal communication hub for City News.