OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Columbia City Council Regular Meeting - April 20, 2026

Video Archive — Monday, April 20, 2026
BodyColumbia, Missouri
SessionVideo Archive
DateMonday, April 20, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:51:36

Transcript — Verbatim
0:10

All right.

0:10

Good evening.

0:11

Go ahead and call our Monday, April 20th, 2026 regular Columbia City Council meeting to order.

0:18

I'll ask all those who are able to please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:25

Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:30

And to the Republic for which one nation under God, indivisible liberty, and justice for all.

0:41

Sheila, we please call roll.

0:43

Miss Peters.

0:45

Here.

0:45

Miss Buffalo.

0:47

Here.

0:47

Miss Carroll.

0:49

Here.

0:49

Miss Elwood?

0:50

Here.

0:51

Miss Sample.

0:52

Mr.

0:53

Foster.

0:54

Here.

0:54

Miss Hartman.

0:56

Here.

0:57

And a welcome to our newest council member, Ms.

1:00

Hartman.

1:00

Welcome.

1:01

Good to have you here.

1:02

All right.

1:02

So just a quick overview of council agendas in case this is your first time coming to a Columbia City Council meeting or your 90th time.

1:10

And our multiple opportunities for the public to speak on city council items.

1:15

So items that are listed under consent agenda are typically adopted all at the same time, and there's not usually public comment on those unless it's been pulled from consent.

1:23

Similarly, items under introduction and first read do not have a public presentation at the council meeting, and there's no conversation on them.

1:30

Items on the intro and first read that have an asterisk are scheduled to be on consent at the next city council meeting.

1:36

Items that do not have an asterisk on intro and first read are scheduled to be on old business, which means there would be a presentation and public comment at them at the next meeting.

1:45

And then the rules for public speaking are that you can speak under public hearing, old business, new business.

1:56

Because at the end of the council meeting, you can say whatever you want to say for three minutes, as long as it's within polite company, hopefully.

2:02

I ask people to respect the timelines for fairness so that everyone has an opportunity to speak.

2:07

We want to make sure that everyone has that opportunity and that they feel welcome to speak.

2:11

And so in that light, we ask not to attack people.

2:14

We can talk about issues, not to attack our neighbors, and that includes city staff.

2:18

If there are interruptions, uh we might do a re a recess and delay, and if it escalates, um person might be asked to leave.

2:26

All right, so that's just a few of the rules on that one.

2:28

Moving on when we get to the minutes.

2:31

So I'll make a motion to approve the April 6th, 2026 regular meeting minutes.

2:36

Do I have a second?

2:37

Second.

2:38

Second by Betsy Peters.

2:39

All those in favor of the minutes say aye.

2:41

Aye.

2:42

Any opposed?

2:43

All right.

2:44

Moving on for adjustments to our agenda.

2:47

Um, so uh councilmember Carroll, I think you indicated to request for R 7326 to be moved from consent to new business.

2:56

Is that the correct one?

2:57

I think so.

2:58

I think so.

2:59

I did request to move one.

3:01

Let me open it up again.

3:02

Okay.

3:03

Um, and then also um staff has requested for a bill 8126 to be withdrawn from the agenda.

3:10

All right, right.

3:11

7326.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing████████████████████████████28%
Public Engagement████████████████16%
Historic Preservation███████████████15%
Community Engagement███████████11%
Transportation Safety████████8%
Procedural███████7%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%
Campaign Finance Reform████4%
Community Development█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Columbia City Council Regular Meeting - April 20, 2026

The Columbia City Council met on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber at City Hall. The meeting included scheduled public comments, a consent agenda, a debated new business item regarding a lease for city-owned property, introduction of numerous bills, and reports. The meeting was adjourned at 8:52 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved unanimously (6-0, Council Member Sample absent): All consent agenda items, including:
    • B80-26: Amending Chapter 5 of the City Code relating to animals and fowl.
    • B82-26: Approving the PD Planned Development Plan and Preliminary Plat of “The Vantage” (Case No. 49-2026).
    • B83-26: Rezoning 1801 Hanover Boulevard from R-1 to R-2 (Case No. 78-2026).
    • B84-26: Rezoning property from PD to M-C (Case No. 76-2026).
    • B85-26: Approving Final Plat of “Centerstate Plat 7B” (Case No. 77-2026).
    • B86-26: Approving Final Plat of “Totolmajac Villages” (Case No. 54-2026).
    • B87-26: Approving Final Plat of “Crosscreek Center Plat 2” (Case No. 181-2025).
    • B88-26: Conditional use permit for short-term rental at 202 Old Highway 63 North (Case No. 84-2026).
    • B89-26: Vacating sewer easement at 1101 E. Nifong Boulevard (Case No. 87-2026).
    • B90-26: Financial assistance agreement with MoDNR for Benton-Stephens Historic Survey Phase II.
    • B91-26: Sidewalk improvement project on West Broadway (south side, Maplewood to West).
    • B92-26: Acquisition of easements for sidewalk project.
    • B93-26: Appropriating $42,800 for landfill expansion permitting (Weaver Consultants).
    • B94-26: Storm water improvements on Chadwick Drive.
    • B95-26: Accepting conveyances for utility and stormwater purposes.
    • B96-26: Contract with MoDHSS for public health accreditation.
    • R69-26: Setting public hearing for Fire Station #5 reconstruction.
    • R70-26: Setting public hearing for removal of tracts from North 763 CID.
    • R71-26: HOME agreement with Habitat for Humanity for two units on Ramble Drive.
    • R72-26: Second amendment to HOME agreement for 3017 Milkweed Loop.
    • R74-26: Aviation consultant agreement with Burns & McDonnell for exit lane breach control at airport.
    • R75-26: Supplemental agreement for passenger boarding bridge design.
    • R76-26: Supplemental agreement for Airport Drive reconstruction design.
    • R77-26: Amendment to NEOGOV agreement for PowerReady module for Police.
    • R78-26: Agreement with Red Cross for CPR/AED training.
    • R79-26: Recognizing Columbia Police Civilians Association as representative unit.
    • R80-26, R81-26, R82-26: Temporary closures and waivers for Rader Hospitality events.
    • R83-26: MOU with Urban Sustainability Directors Network for heat resilience in Whitegate.
    • R84-26: Accepting NTMP 2025 Year End Report; authorizing traffic calming on Whitegate Drive, Hoylake Drive, Highlands Parkway, reinstallation on Bodie Drive, and continued Level 1 projects.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Trevor Harris (1120 Sunset Lane) requested the Council include $105,000 annually in the FY 2027 budget for community media (Vidwest), comprising $60,000 for operations and $45,000 for a full-time employee. He highlighted Vidwest's services: media training, low-cost gear rental, accessible education, and collaboration opportunities, noting over 270 paid members.
  • Devon McTye (2507 S. Providence Road) urged the Council to revisit campaign finance reform for local elections. She noted a motion passed in May 2025 to study municipal contribution limits but no action had been taken. She expressed concern about tens of thousands of dollars spent in local races decided by a few thousand voters, including a large donor from a Chicago PAC, and requested a report on options.
  • Randy Cole (CEO, Columbia Housing Authority) celebrated the CHA's 70th anniversary, highlighting $55 million in renovations and expansions across 165 housing units (including 43 new units), a Family Self-Sufficiency participant graduating with $43,000 in savings, and a study by Raj Chetty showing that children in revitalized public housing earn more as adults. He called for continued partnership and scale in affordable housing.
  • Marcus Richardson (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) expressed concern about the process for leasing 200 N. Garth Avenue to Love Columbia, noting the property is on the African American Heritage Trail in a historically Black neighborhood. He felt other organizations should have had the opportunity to submit proposals.
  • Traci Wilson-Kleekamp (Race Matters, Friends) criticized the lack of public process for the Love Columbia lease, calling it a repeat of past inequities. She requested an inventory of city-owned housing stock (including vacant and rental properties) with characteristics, and a transparent, equitable process for property disposition.
  • Eugene Elkin (Second Ward resident) suggested the City increase loans for low-income housing (not just houses but also mobile homes) and cited the success of United Credit Union, which grew from $1 million to $310 million. He urged the City to boost revenues rather than consider new taxes.
  • Renee Carter (Second Ward resident) announced a community discussion on April 29, 2026, featuring Doug Linkhart of the National Civic League on the Civic Index, a self-assessment tool for community problem-solving.
  • Diane Davis (Highfield Acres resident) questioned the approval of The Vantage development, noting it is partly in a floodplain and will add traffic to two-lane roads without shoulders. She asked why infrastructure improvements were not completed before approval.

Discussion Items

  • R73-26 – Lease Agreement with Love Columbia Corp. for 200 N. Garth Avenue: Council Member Carroll pulled this from the consent agenda for discussion. The resolution authorizes a 15-year lease (with four optional one-year extensions) for Love Columbia to use the historic Dr. Leroy McAllister house as transitional housing for participants in the Homeowner Readiness Residential Program. Love Columbia would invest $168,000 in renovations. Council members debated the lack of public process for soliciting interest from other organizations. Housing and Neighborhood Services Director Bill Rataj explained the city had approached Love Columbia after the property was donated by Compass about a year ago. Public Works Director Shane Creech noted the property was originally considered for a future roundabout, but that is not in the current CIP. Council Member Hartman voted no, citing the need for a fair and transparent process. The resolution passed 5-1 (Hartman opposed; Sample absent).
  • Process for City-Owned Property: Following the vote, Council discussed the need for a standardized process for evaluating, leasing, or disposing of city-owned property, especially historically significant sites. The City Manager indicated staff would bring back a report on the process, including how to incorporate public input and intent (e.g., affordable housing).
  • Introduction of B119-26 – Public Safety Sales Tax Election: The Council introduced a bill calling a special election on August 4, 2026, for a 1% sales tax increase (estimated $38 million/year) to fund public safety improvements, including fire station rehabilitation, new stations, more police and firefighters, and pension issues. This will be discussed further at the next meeting.
  • Traffic and I-70 Construction: Public Works Director Creech provided an update on the Improve I-70 project, noting that multiple bridges (Midway, Stadium, Providence, Paris) will be reconstructed, causing significant traffic disruptions. The City is working with MoDOT on signal timing. Council Member Peters appreciated the updated phone menu for the 874-CITY line.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: All items passed unanimously (6-0).
  • R73-26: Approved 5-1 (Hartman no; Sample absent).
  • Appointments: Ann Marie Gortmaker appointed to the Bicycle/Pedestrian Commission (Ward 3, term to July 31, 2026). Glyn Laverick and Justin Riley appointed to the Downtown CID Board (terms ending 2027 and 2028, respectively).
  • B81-26: Withdrawn from the agenda by staff request.
  • Direction to Staff: The City Manager will prepare a report on the process for evaluating and disposing of city-owned properties, including public involvement, intent, and procurement methods, to be presented to Council.
  • Public Safety Sales Tax: B119-26 introduced and will be discussed at the next meeting (first read).

Meeting Transcript

All right. Good evening. Go ahead and call our Monday, April 20th, 2026 regular Columbia City Council meeting to order. I'll ask all those who are able to please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which one nation under God, indivisible liberty, and justice for all. Sheila, we please call roll. Miss Peters. Here. Miss Buffalo. Here. Miss Carroll. Here. Miss Elwood? Here. Miss Sample. Mr. Foster. Here. Miss Hartman. Here. And a welcome to our newest council member, Ms. Hartman. Welcome. Good to have you here. All right. So just a quick overview of council agendas in case this is your first time coming to a Columbia City Council meeting or your 90th time. And our multiple opportunities for the public to speak on city council items. So items that are listed under consent agenda are typically adopted all at the same time, and there's not usually public comment on those unless it's been pulled from consent. Similarly, items under introduction and first read do not have a public presentation at the council meeting, and there's no conversation on them. Items on the intro and first read that have an asterisk are scheduled to be on consent at the next city council meeting. Items that do not have an asterisk on intro and first read are scheduled to be on old business, which means there would be a presentation and public comment at them at the next meeting. And then the rules for public speaking are that you can speak under public hearing, old business, new business. Because at the end of the council meeting, you can say whatever you want to say for three minutes, as long as it's within polite company, hopefully. I ask people to respect the timelines for fairness so that everyone has an opportunity to speak. We want to make sure that everyone has that opportunity and that they feel welcome to speak. And so in that light, we ask not to attack people. We can talk about issues, not to attack our neighbors, and that includes city staff. If there are interruptions, uh we might do a re a recess and delay, and if it escalates, um person might be asked to leave. All right, so that's just a few of the rules on that one. Moving on when we get to the minutes. So I'll make a motion to approve the April 6th, 2026 regular meeting minutes. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Betsy Peters. All those in favor of the minutes say aye. Aye. Any opposed? All right. Moving on for adjustments to our agenda.

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