Mayor Tyrone Garner Announces Special Committees

Published on January 25, 2022

A picture of Mayor Garner

Updated: 3/30/2022

In January 2022, Mayor Tyrone Garner announced the formation of seven committees, to be led by Unified Government Commissioners and include diverse group of leaders representing various industries and interests. These committees have been formed to support the key community-driven priorities embraced by Mayor Garner and his administration. This administration is taking an unprecedented approach to addressing the most pressing issues with recommendations intended to bring about solutions-driven policy change. 

Committee listening sessions kicked off Monday, March 21, 2022, and committee structures are being formalized by each committee chairperson.

To learn more about each Special Committee and Committee Chair, please review the information below.

“In light of the number of persistent challenges facing our Community, I want to reassure our residents that we are unwavering in our commitment to make Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS a great place to live, work and raise a family,” said Garner. “We have heard the public’s desire for real change. In response, I am focused on fulfilling the commitments that I’ve made to everyone who calls Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS home. As I have communicated consistently, collaboration is essential to bring about the change that we all would like to see in our community.” 

“Therefore, I am proud to say that I have joined with your elected commissioners, as well as several community residents, who have agreed to come together to assist the Mayor’s office in finding real solutions to the most dire issues affecting our County. The time for talk is over and the time for action is now to bring about the real change our community deserves. These committees are charged with crafting recommendations and solutions identified as key priorities of this administration. I am proud to announce the seven committees that have been developed to further improve your government, your neighborhoods and most importantly, people’s lives. Several UG Commissioners have agreed to chair these committees. These leaders bring a wealth of knowledge that we are optimistic will result in positive change by crafting real and actionable recommendations that can be brought forward to the full Commission for policy and ordinance enhancements.” 

Mayor Garner’s Special Committees 

Committee on Our Neighbors in Need/Unhoused Residents

Committee on Our Neighbors in Need/Unhoused Residents

Tom Lally, Hillcrest Transitional Housing, President and CEO, CHAIR 

The goal of the Neighbors in Need/Unhoused Residents committee is to establish minimum standards for wrap-around, community-based services that address local housing costs, rising homelessness, warming stations and shelters, food insecurity and substandard housing. This committee will also address emergent needs and focus their efforts on moving our unhoused population to housing and the impoverished population to a sustainable level of prosperity. 

Tom Lally
Chairperson Biography: Tom Lally
Mr. Lally is President and CEO of Hillcrest Transitional Housing. With the focus of solving homelessness one family at a time, Hillcrest is a transitional housing program that helps homeless families become self-supportive, self-reliant contributors to society. Hillcrest’s primary objective is to move clients from homelessness to self-sufficiency by addressing the total life situation of the homeless families they serve.  At any give time, Mr. Lally and his team service approximately 100 households in their care.  

 


 

Committee on Community Safety and Justice

Committee on Community Safety and Justice

COMMISSIONER CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ, CHAIR 
(District 3)

Following an in-depth exploration of 21st Century Community Reform Models, the goal of this committee will be to reimagine and reconstruct our public safety system where needed and build collaboration with our community stakeholders to address relevant community needs and/or challenges. This committee will also craft recommendations focused on reprioritizing public spending to be in alignment with established goals and strategies.

christian-ramirez To learn more about Community Safety and Justice Chair, Commissioner Christian Ramirez, please visit

Committee on Arts, Culture and Equitable Development

Committee on Arts, Culture and Equitable Development

COMMISSIONER ANGELA MARKLEY, CHAIR 
(District 6)

The goal of this committee is to mobilize the local arts community and support art and culture throughout Wyandotte County more effectively. This committee will also work to advance the steering of public resources to embed these values into the transformation of neighborhoods. The committee will encourage collaborative agreements that target economic and community development initiatives, creative placemaking models, and the use of arts and culture to support equitable policy change across the county. 

angela-markley To learn more about Arts, Culture and Equitable Development Chair, Commissioner Angela Markleyplease visit

 

Special Unified Government Charter Reform Committee (Commissioners Only)

Special Unified Government Charter Reform Committee

COMMISSIONER TOM BURROUGHS, CHAIR 
(At-Large District 2)

The Charter Reform Committee is comprised solely of UG Commissioners for the purpose of conducting a comprehensive review and study of the existing foundational document, the Unified Government Wyandotte County | Kansas City, Kansas Charter Ordinance. This committee will seek out amendments or revisions that are designed to increase efficiency, effectiveness and shared governance that have a profound impact for all residents and stakeholders.

tom-burroughs To learn more about Special Unified Government Charter Reform Chair, Commissioner Tom Burroughsplease visit

 

Committee on Government Efficiency

Committee on Government Efficiency

COMMISSIONER CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ, CHAIR 
(District 3)

The Committee on Special Efficiencies in Government is charged with identifying issues that impact residents and stakeholders, while also studying and proposing more efficient methods of organizational reform. Recommendations from this committee will be forwarded to the respective governing boards and/or administrators for consideration.  

christian-ramirez To learn more about Government Efficiencies Chair, Commissioner Christian Ramirezplease visit

Committee on Business and Economic Development

Committee on Business and Economic Development

COMMISSIONER HAROLD JOHNSON Jr., CHAIR 
(District 4)

The work of this committee shall serve as a support to businesses that, in accordance with the purpose and intent of the County comprehensive plan, are seeking to locate, grow, and prosper within our community. By streamlining processes, curtailing bureaucracy and facilitating responsible and equitable redevelopment, the hope is that equitable opportunity can be realized throughout Wyandotte County. 

harold-johnson To learn more about Business and Economic Development Chair, Commissioner Harold Johnson Jr.please visit

 

Committee on Community Health and Recreation

Committee on Community Health and Recreation

COMMISSIONER MELISSA BYNUM, (At-Large District 1) CO-CHAIR 
COMMISSION Brian McKiernan, (District 2) CO-CHAIR 

This committee will conduct an assessment of health and recreation assets and needs in Wyandotte County. In addition, the Committee will create recommendations for policies ensuring that everyone in our community has access to these spaces, programs and services. The Mayor’s administration recognizes that these spaces and services are vitally important to advancing health equity, improving individual and community-level health outcomes, and enhancing quality of life for everyone living in Wyandotte County. Another key objective for this committee is to ensure that our youth and our seniors have access to health and recreation services critical to their quality-of-life needs.

To learn more about Community Health and Recreation Co-Chairs, Commissioners Melissa Bynum and Commissioner Brian McKiernan, please visit, Commissioner Bynum and Commissioner McKiernan.  

          Commissioner Bynum                                      Commissioner McKiernan
melissa-bynum             brian-mckiernan

 

 

         

Get Engaged 

All of the Mayor’s Special Committees invite public comment, ideas and involvement. Anyone wishing to be involved in any of the Mayor’s Special Committees should reach out to their respective Unified Government Commissioner for more information. If you are interested in volunteering for any of these committees, please complete this short form and we will be in touch! 

Applications for special committees are now closed. If you're interested in the Council of Clergy or the Mayor's Task Force on Environment & Green Energy Task Force and the Mayor's Quindaro Ruins Task Force, apply here