Brian Platt is the City Manager of Kansas City, Missouri, United States. He began his role as City Manager of Kansas City in December 2020, previously working as the City Manager for Jersey City, New Jersey.
Early career and education
editRaised in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, Platt attended Mountain Lakes High School before attending Emory University, where he competed in track and field.[1] He previously served as City Manager for Jersey City, New Jersey. He had served as Jersey City's first Chief Innovation Officer and established the City's Office of Innovation in 2015.[2] His previous work experience includes management consulting with McKinsey & Company and serving as a kindergarten teacher with Teach For America. Platt earned his Master of Public Administration Degree at Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in philosophy at Emory University.[3][4]
City manager of Kansas City
editAs City Manager for the City of Kansas City, Missouri, Platt oversees a staff of 4,500 employees delivering city services to Kansas City's 508,000 residents.[5][6] Platt began his role as City Manager of Kansas City in December 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic while delivering basic services with a shrinking budget.[7][2] He created a 24-hour snow removal strategy that added plows for residential streets and increased salting.[8]
Platt developed a new street maintenance plan that doubled funding for street resurfacing, uses improved technology, and holds contractors accountable when they dig into streets.[9] The city is now resurfacing more than 3.5 times the historic average and broke 500 lane miles of resurfacing in fiscal year 2024.
He also launched the Vision Zero Campaign, with the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030 by improving high-risk intersections and adding 30 miles (48 km) of protected bike lanes in the first 18 months alone.[10][11]
Platt is working towards a more inclusive workplace by creating the Chief Equity Officer position, installing all-gender bathrooms, negotiating a new union contract with the Kansas City Fire Department that works to end past discriminatory practices, and investing in staff training, recruitment, and development.[12][13][14]
Platt's plan to build the largest city-owned solar farm in the country has advanced and is projected to begin construction in 2024.[15][16][17] His other goals include developing new sustainability initiatives to reduce waste, energy usage, and dependence on fossil fuels,[18] creating programs to produce more affordable housing and to address homelessness,[8] and finding new ways to leverage technology to improve city services.[2]
Platt was a finalist for City Manager position in Austin, Texas, but withdrew from consideration to remain in Kansas City.[19] The Kansas City Council subsequently renewed and extended his contract with Kansas City until August 1, 2027.[20]
References
edit- ^ "Emory Athletics". Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Felts, Tommy (2020-12-17). "How Brian Platt's innovation past unmasks KC's potential for newly arrived city manager". Startland News. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ Staff, KMBC 9 News (2020-10-30). "KC City Council approves Brian Platt as new city manager". KMBC. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Heinis, John (2020-10-29). "Jersey City Business Administrator Platt leaving for similar post in Kansas City, Missouri". Hudson County View. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ "City of KCMO Employee Demographics". data.kcmo.org. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ "Kansas City, MO | Data USA". datausa.io. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ "4 The People: Kansas City manager reflects while looking ahead". FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. 2023-06-25. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ a b "From snow removal to housing, Kansas City Manager Brian Platt wants to focus on the basics". KCUR - Kansas City news and NPR. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ "Kansas City, Missouri street resurfacing: update and resources". KCtoday. 2022-10-05. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ "Can Kansas City park its cars and become more walkable?". KCUR - Kansas City news and NPR. 2022-09-26. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ "Vision Zero KC | CITY OF KANSAS CITY | OFFICIAL WEBSITE". www.kcmo.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- ^ "Kansas City council committee to consider expanded focus on racial equity, reconciliation". KSHB 41 Kansas City News. 2021-10-15. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ Augustine, Martin (2021-07-13). "Any new or remodeled KCMO city restroom must now be gender neutral". KMBC. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ "KCFD, city officials take steps to address racism, discrimination allegations". FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. 2021-06-11. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ "Kansas City advances plan for 'largest solar array in the nation'". FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. 2023-08-17. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ Rosenberg, Martin (September 13, 2023). "Evergy to Lead Group Building Massive KCI Solar Farm". Flatland. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ "Solar Array Project at KCI | CITY OF KANSAS CITY | OFFICIAL WEBSITE". www.kcmo.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- ^ "City Manager Brian Platt says Kansas City has 'got to act now' with sustainability initiatives". KCUR - Kansas City news and NPR. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ "Kansas City's city manager, Brian Platt, withdraws from Austin top job consideration". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ "KCMO, City Manager Brian Platt reach contract extension through 2027". KSHB 41 Kansas City News. 2024-03-28. Retrieved 2024-03-31.