Council Work Session 5/18/2026

The City of Raymore held a Council Work Session on May 18, 2026, focusing primarily on the financial status and future plans related to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district at the Galleria. Officials reported that the TIF bonds are being paid off two years ahead of schedule due to extraordinary surplus funds, including a significant early bond redemption of over $1 million. The city has been fully reimbursed for surplus payments, and remaining bond principal stands at approximately $2.4 million. The council discussed recommendations to allocate these surplus funds into a reserve revenue fund, with potential near-term use for trail repairs and a longer-term plan to fund an expanded watershed study and a comprehensive update to the Unified Development Code (UDC). The expanded watershed study, priced competitively, would address updated hydrology concerns due to increased rainfall and stream bank stabilization, while the UDC rewrite is estimated not to exceed $150,000. The meeting also touched on potential grant opportunities from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to support future stormwater projects. No formal motions or votes were taken during this session, but the council was informed of upcoming resolutions and budget considerations related to these initiatives.