Committee pauses decision on regional resource‑sharing agreement pending risk‑manager review

Jared, Overland Park's emergency management coordinator, presented the Regional Resource Sharing Agreement administered by the Mid‑America Regional Council and described it as a non‑obligatory framework to allow jurisdictions to share personnel and expensive regional assets in disasters as a last‑resort MOU.

Jared told the committee the agreement does not itself transfer funds between jurisdictions but provides the framework for requesting support and for FEMA reimbursement documentation if jurisdictions borrow resources. He emphasized that the agreement is intended to be non‑obligatory and that signatories retain control over their organic resources.

Council members sought clarification about liability and insurance—who covers injured third parties and whether the city's workers' compensation and tort limitations apply. Council members asked whether the city's risk manager had reviewed the agreement. Staff said the agreement had been revised to include non‑obligatory language and that several jurisdictions had recently signed on; staff agreed to obtain a review from James Whalen, the city risk manager.

Council member motioned to continue the item to the December meeting with a review by the city's risk manager; the motion passed unanimously. Staff said they will return with any suggested edits or clarifications after the risk manager and city legal review.

What happens next: the agreement will return to the Public Safety Committee in December with a risk‑manager review and any recommended contract language changes, and staff will report on potential signatories including school districts and any outstanding liability issues.