The Columbia City Council met on Monday, March 2, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber. Mayor Barbara Buffaloe presided with Council Members Jacque Sample, Nick Foster, Don Waterman, Valerie Carroll, and Vera Elwood present. Council Member Betsy Peters was absent. The meeting included a financial audit presentation, public hearings, discussion on animal ordinance amendments, and passage of a World Cup bar hours regulation. The meeting adjourned at 9:38 PM.
Jonathan Nibarger (AGH) presented the audit. The city received an unmodified opinion (highest) on financial statements and single audit reports. One significant deficiency was noted: the city’s preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) needs strengthening. Finance Director Matthew Lue responded that extensive training and mid-year reconciliations will be implemented. Council asked about an internal auditor position; Lue noted an external contract is more cost-effective.
Utilities Director Erin Keys reported the Phase 2 project will replace failing stormwater infrastructure (collapsed pipe and undersized inlet) with 180 feet of new pipe and four structures. Estimated cost $130,000. One resident attended the November 2025 information meeting. No opposition. Council voted unanimously to proceed with final design.
Parks Director Gabe Huffington described replacing a 26-year-old playground, adding a rubber safety surface, a single-table shelter, and trail improvements including invasive species removal. Park sales tax funding totals $200,000, with an additional $40,000 appropriation. Community input was gathered via an on-site event (Sept 9, 2025), online comments, and a Parks and Rec commission meeting. Council unanimously approved the ordinance (6-0).
Staff presented changes to Chapter 5: new definitions, updated quarantine procedures, animal neglect charge, tethering rules in inclement weather, dangerous/aggressive animal hearing process, a permit for exceeding four pets with an annual $50 fee per additional animal, and streamlined feral cat colony permits. Public comment raised concerns about the $50 fee, fostering exceptions, and the permit system for TNR. Council discussed referring the fee and foster issues back to the Board of Health. After debate, Council voted unanimously to withdraw B38-26 with the understanding that two separate ordinances would be drafted: one with non-controversial changes (not requiring further Board review) and another covering fee and foster provisions after Board of Health re-evaluation.
Convention and Visitors Director Amy Schneider proposed opting out of state law (HB 1041) that would allow 6 AM to 5 AM bar hours throughout the World Cup. Staff recommended a special event permit process. Police Chief Jill Schlude raised concerns about public safety and staffing, noting that late-night bar hours strain resources. Council amended the bill to: (1) permit one application per $100 fee listing all requested dates (limited to dates with late-start World Cup matches), (2) allow extended hours only on those dates, and (3) set the last call/take away time at 2:30 AM. The amended bill passed unanimously (6-0).
Public Works Director Shane Creech presented the resolution to close portions of Stewart Road sidewalk and parking lane, and a section of Fifth Street sidewalk, from March 9 to November 1, 2026, for roof replacement. University of Missouri owns adjacent property. Council member Sample asked about an exemption for governmental entities; City Counselor Nancy Thompson explained the ordinance exempts other governmental entities from paying. The resolution passed unanimously (6-0).
All right. Well, good evening. I'm gonna go ahead. Hi. I think we're hearing one A and one B in our speakers. That was fun. I'm gonna go ahead and call to order our March 2nd, 2026 Columbia City Council meeting to order. Sounds like they're having more fun in the back room, but we'll let them come out here soon. All right, um, and I'll ask all those who were able to please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic from which stands one. One nation under Doctor Individual with Liberty and Justice First. Sheila, will you please call roll? Ms. Sample. Here. Mr. Foster. Here. Mr. Waterman. Here. Ms. Peters. Ms. Buffalo here. Ms. Carroll? Here. Miss Elwood? Here. Well, good evening and welcome. I'll I do a quick little overview of our agenda for those of this is their first city council meeting. Uh and I'd like to give a quick special uh welcome and shout out to some of our visiting scholars visiting with Mizzou's uh Asian Affairs office. So welcome to us. You don't have to stay till the end, but I sure hope you appreciate it. So on our city council agendas, you will find um multiple opportunities for people to speak. Uh one note I do say is that there's a part of the agenda called the consent agenda, and those are items that we don't usually have presentations on, uh and they're usually then just consent approved at the end. Um and then I'll point out the items that are under introduction and first reading, the ones that have an asterisk would be on consent at our next meeting. The ones that do not have an asterisk would be on old business at the next meeting. And I say that to say people have multiple opportunities to speak at Columbia City Council meetings. You have opportunities during our um scheduled public comment, during old business, during new business, uh, and then at the end of the council meeting as well. Um so one of the items that I'll talk about is that uh when you are speaking under public hearings, old business or new business portions of the agenda. Um keep your remarks to the specific item being discussed. At the end of the city council meeting, you can talk about anything you want to talk about. Uh and then we'll ask people to state their name and their ward or address when speaking, so we have it for the minutes. Individuals are allotted three minutes for speaking each item. Uh and representatives of organizations um can request five minutes if they're uh addressed by the the legislation being discussed. We do ask to limit one speaker per group for that five minutes, but multiple people from a group can speak, but they would just get three minutes each. Um I ask people to respect the time limits for fairness to give everyone an opportunity to speak. Um we do these rules so that as many people that want to speak can speak, uh and so that I'm not keeping you here till Tuesday.