The public has been waiting for that large two-story neon sign that was promised for the 18th and Vine Jazz District. The wait for the sign promised in May 2008 will continue a while longer. </p><p>Wayne Cauthen, city manager of Kansas City, said the delay now involves liability issues that McCormack Baron Salazar Inc., the developer, and the city are trying to work through. </p><p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;re saying, &lsquo;Suppose this sign falls?&rsquo;&ensp;&rdquo; Cauthen said. &ldquo;Who&rsquo;s going to be responsible? Those kinds of legal entanglement are being worked out before it gets built.&rdquo;</p><p>Last July, officials broke ground on an $800,000 project for a sign heralding the 18th Street and Vine Jazz District and a terrace at the northeast corner of 18th and the Paseo.</p><p>The terrace includes benches, trees and a stage from which musicians can perform. The sign will be atop the building.</p><p>&bull;&bull;&bull;</p><p>Progress is being made in restarting Kansas City&rsquo;s Housing and Community Development Department. Now all that remains is to convince a judge presiding over the case that the city of Kansas City has done what it can to re-establish its housing program. </p><p> Cauthen said the housing transition plan was approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the receiver in late July. </p><p>On Aug. 14, the judge overseeing the case took the transition plan under advisement. </p><p>&ldquo;Now he wants to see how well the plan is implemented before he totally ends the receivership,&rdquo; Cauthen said. &ldquo;Rather than taking it and saying it&rsquo;s approved, he&rsquo;s saying, &lsquo;Let me see the city do what they say they&rsquo;re going to do in the plan.&rsquo;&ensp;&rdquo;</p><p> In August, Cauthen appointed Shirley Winn as the director of the city&rsquo;s Housing and Community Development Department. She had served as the acting director since last year. </p><p> &ldquo;After going through all the necessary hoops to jump through, I think she deserved the position,&rdquo; Cauthen said.</p><p>&bull;&bull;&bull;</p><p>The 2009 Smart Wealth & Lifestyle Conference will be held in Kansas City in October, with an emphasis on high school students. </p><p>The two-day conference will be held Oct. 15 and 16 at the African Centered Education Campus in the Kansas City School District.</p><p>The conference is partnering with Q.C. Holding Cos., Mazuma Credit Union and other financial institutions to facilitate the FDIC Money Smart workshops. The conference is free to the public. </p><p>&ldquo;Our goal for the participating students is to offer them a variety of promotional offers, gifts and giveaways starting with financial services,&rdquo; said Ron Hunt, executive director of the Meet Me in the Middle Peace Coalition.