Columbia City Council Meeting - September 2, 2025

The Columbia City Council met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber at City Hall. The meeting was adjourned at 11:25 PM. All seven council members were present: Don Waterman, Betsy Peters, Barbara Buffaloe (Mayor), Valerie Carroll, Vera Elwood, Jacque Sample, and Nick Foster. The agenda was adjusted by moving Bill B218-25 from the consent agenda to old business and Resolution R128-25 from consent to new business due to a needed amendment.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda, as adjusted, was approved unanimously. It included numerous items such as amendments to zoning fees (B207-25), conditional use permits (B208-25, B209-25), planned developments (B210-25, B211-25), rezoning (B212-25, B213-25), sidewalk waivers (B214-25), final plats (B215-25), antenna agreements (B217-25), airport parking (B219-25), budget amendments (B220-25, B221-25), streamgage agreement (B222-25), utility conveyances (B223-25), tourism sponsorship (B225-25), health department agreements (B226-25 through B229-25), air services agreement with United Airlines (B230-25), and resolutions setting public hearings (R118-25 through R120-25), grant applications (R121-25, R122-25), NCAA event agreement (R123-25), K-9 donation (R124-25), support for low-income housing tax credits for Spartan Pointe II and Gentry Estates IV (R125-25, R126-25), preliminary plat approval (R127-25), and other routine items. All were approved by a 7-0 vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Carrie Gartner, Executive Director of the Business Loop CID, presented the CID's 2025 annual report, highlighting partnership with the city on a $2 million planning grant, hiring an engineer for shovel-ready projects, a road safety audit, a small uptick in sales tax, the CoMo Cook Shared Kitchen (51 clients in the past year), and scholarships for two minority-owned businesses.
• Dr. Les Gray, a First Ward resident, expressed concerns about the Flock automatic license plate recognition system, including lack of control over data stored on third-party servers, unclear partner agencies, inappropriate search terms (e.g., "daytime search for best result" appearing 116 out of 866 searches), the disappearance of search reasons from the transparency portal between July and August 2025, and the potential for abuse. He argued that constant surveillance does not make him feel safer and asked whether the council and city manager were aware of the portal issue and whether policy could be amended.
• Rev. Marcus Richardson discussed economic disparities for the black community based on a recent report, citing a $34,400 median household income gap between blacks and Asians, a $22,000 gap with whites, and a $15,000 gap with Hispanics. He noted the income gap increased by $11,100 over a five-year period, implying pay inequality. He called for proper job training, livable wages, and community collaboration to close the gap, stating that economic inequality drives crime, drug use, and poverty.
• Jen Bryan (Brooks Subdivision) and Terry Haupt (1224 Shore Acres Loop) voiced concerns about the proposed Ashford Place development, scheduled for Planning and Zoning Commission consideration on September 4. They argued it would concentrate dense multi-unit apartments accessible only by local streets, cause traffic and safety issues without roadway improvements, and rely on variances for small lots, inadequate parking, and floodplain greenspace. Haupt noted the developer plans to retain ownership of all units, making them essentially triplex apartments, not homeownership opportunities.
• Public Hearing on FY2026 Budget: Multiple public comments were made, including:
  • Traci Wilson-Kleekamp (Race Matters, Friends) requested better budget narratives, demographic data by ward/police beat, and consistency in language (e.g., affordable vs. attainable housing).
  • Tanya Heath (Fourth Ward) suggested council members with union endorsements recuse themselves from the budget vote due to conflicts of interest, and expressed concern about using reserves for raises.
  • Ken Rice (Second Ward) echoed concerns about union endorsements creating conflicts, called for charter reform to allow recusal, and urged better budget transparency.
  • Eugene Elkin (3406 Range Line Street) expressed shock at the closing of Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church, which housed Turning Point overflow services, and asked for clarity on how the city tracks mobile home park ownership.
• General Public Comments (after agenda items):
  • Harry Castilow (Fifth Ward) disagreed with earlier speakers implying council members lacked integrity due to union endorsements, noting unionization helps close income inequality gaps for minorities.
  • Traci Wilson-Kleekamp reiterated need for better data on poverty and housing stock to address structural barriers.
  • Eugene Elkin emphasized treating homeless people with dignity and urged the city to investigate mobile home park ownership.

Discussion Items

Special Items

• Recognition of Youth Delegation to Hakusan, Japan: Mayor Buffaloe honored five CPS students (Jack McRae, Josie Ross, Isaac Beary, Cole Donigian, Caitlin Collins) who participated in a cultural exchange trip. Students presented gifts from the Hakusan mayor, including items made from Ushikubi Tsumugi silk.
• Recognition of CVB Reaccreditation: The Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau received DMAP reaccreditation through December 2030. Director Amy Schneider acknowledged Megan McConachie's role.

FY2026 Budget (PH26-25 / B183-25)

• Staff presented the proposed budget: total revenues $558 million, operating expenditures $539 million, capital improvement projects $59 million. General fund revenues of $132.9 million, expenditures of $136.5 million, leaving a $3.5 million deficit. Cash reserve target (20% of expenditures) resulted in about $18-19 million above target after a $14 million lump-sum payment. Finance Director Matthew Lue and Budget Analyst Meganne Montesinos presented amendments in four categories: corrections (28 amendments), encumbrances (8), new items (17), and personnel changes (21). Council voted to approve all 74 amendments in four separate voice votes, each 7-0. The budget is continued to the September 15 meeting for final adoption.

Old Business

• B184-25 (Electric Utility Rates): Utilities Director Erin Keys explained a 2% increase across customer, energy, and demand charges (44 cents/month for residential customer charge). The rate is lower than the 2.4% recommended by the Water & Light Advisory Board. Staff noted the cost-based customer charge is $30.19, currently $22, proposed $22.44. The increase generates $300,000 annual fixed revenue. Passed 7-0.
• B205-25 (Parking Meter Rates): Staff proposed raising downtown rates from $0.60 to $1.00 per hour and absorbing app fees. Council tabled the item to September 15 at the request of Downtown CID representative Nickie Davis, who said the board had not reviewed it.
• B206-25 (Transit Fare Suspension): Staff recommended continuing fare-free transit for FY2026 due to lack of modern fare boxes (estimated $250,000 for installation). Council voted to maintain fare-free status. Passed 7-0. Nickie Davis withdrew a previous request to table after discussion.
• B216-25 (Transportation Grant Agreement): Staff requested an amendment to correct a rounding error in the federal/local match split. Council approved the amendment and the bill. Passed 7-0.
• B224-25 (Police RMS Software): Police Chief Schlude presented a SaaS agreement with Tyler Technologies for a cloud-based records management system. Council confirmed data ownership and security. Passed 7-0.
• B218-25 (Closed Records): City Counselor Nancy Thompson explained updates to Chapter 2 to align with state sunshine law changes, including new exceptions for security measures, tip lines, and juvenile information (permissive). Council Member Elwood moved to table to September 15 for further study, citing concerns about broad language and potential impacts on public access. Motion passed 6-1 (Peters voted no).

New Business

• R128-25 (Union Contract Amendment): Human Resources Director Kathy Baker presented a fifth amendment to the collective bargaining agreement with Laborers’ Local 955, correcting a formula error in pay grade 106. Council approved an amendment to the resolution and passed it 6-0 (Carroll absent).

Reports

• Proposed 2026 Legislative Priorities: Stacey Weidemann presented updates based on council feedback, including splitting infrastructure and economic growth priorities, and adding short-term rentals and state transit funding. The priorities will come back as a resolution at the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Electric rates (B184-25) approved with a 2% increase effective FY2026.
• Parking meter rates (B205-25) tabled to September 15.
• Transit fares (B206-25) suspended for FY2026 (fare-free).
• Transportation grant (B216-25) amended and approved.
• Police RMS software (B224-25) approved.
• Closed records ordinance (B218-25) tabled to September 15.
• Union contract amendment (R128-25) amended and approved.
• Budget amendments (74 items) approved; final budget vote set for September 15.
• Council requested a memo from the Violence Prevention Administrator about staffing needs; further discussion expected in January 2026.
• Staff will monitor the Flock transparency portal from the public side for ongoing accuracy.
• The next meeting on September 15 will include final budget adoption, parking meter rates (tabled), and closed records discussion.

Meeting date: September 2, 2025. Adjourned at 11:25 PM.