Columbia City Council Meeting August 17, 2026: First All-Female Council, Budget, Parking, and Building Codes
Columbia City Council Meeting – August 17, 2026
The Columbia City Council met on Monday, August 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber at 701 E. Broadway. The meeting extended until 12:33 AM the following day. Key actions included the swearing-in of the first all-female council, a 6-1 vote on property tax rates, approval of a series of building code updates (deferring the energy code to September 21), and adoption of parking rate changes with Saturday garage parking kept free. The FY2027 budget public hearing was continued to September 8 and 21.
Consent Calendar
- B206-26 – Amending conflict of interest and financial disclosure procedures.
- B207-26 – Amending membership requirements for the Climate and Environment Commission.
- B221-26 – Parking provisions on Locust and Waugh Streets.
- B222-26 – Cost apportionment agreement for I-70 and US 63 safety enhancements.
- B223-26 – Easement acquisition for stormwater improvements on Crestridge Drive.
- B224-26 – MOU with Missouri Department of Health for birth/death certificates.
- B225-26 – Amendment to utility billing software agreement.
- R155-26 through R164-26 – Setting public hearings for various infrastructure and improvement projects (sewer, roundabout, CID, annexation, election results, engineering services, airport projects, and special event closures). All consent items were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jalen Parker (2106 Carroll Drive) – Expressed full support for funding community media (Vidwest), arguing it provides opportunity, skills, and careers for residents. He urged the council to see creativity as an investment, not an expense.
- Nickie Davis (Downtown CID) and Lara Pieper (CID Board Chair) – Requested the city develop a clear, enforceable urban camping ordinance, emphasizing compassion, safety, and clarity. They asked for research on best practices and a tiered enforcement model. Davis noted downtown businesses are struggling with sanitation and safety issues.
- Krista Murray (Ward 1, Get the Flock Out of Columbia) – Opposed the Flock camera contract, arguing AI-driven surveillance undermines privacy and community trust. She cited the city’s 2018 principles of community and asked the council to bring the contract back for a vote and reject it.
- Heather Hargrove (Ward 5) – Reflected on the narrow passage of Proposition 1 (public safety sales tax), urging humility and disciplined stewardship of taxpayer dollars. She emphasized the need for difficult budget conversations and accountability.
- Multiple speakers during budget public hearing: Diana Moxon (Cultural Affairs Commission) supported arts funding; Stacy Ford (Human Services Commission) opposed a 10% cut in social service funding; Tom Rose (Housing Commission) presented CDBG recommendations. Several residents spoke against Saturday parking fees and for transparency, social services, community media, and against surveillance.
- On building codes: Several speakers urged adoption of the full 2024 codes including the energy conservation code; one attorney requested a transition period for implementation.
- On the Old Hawthorne easement: Property owners Jim and Deborah Propes and others testified they were not informed of the pedestrian trail easement and asked for its vacation. They argued the city’s error should not result in loss of privacy and property value.
Discussion Items
- Oath of Office for Ward 4 Council Member – Sharon Geuea Jones was sworn in, marking the first all-female Columbia City Council. The mayor acknowledged past female leaders including Betty McCaskill and Mary McCollum.
- Appointments to Boards and Commissions – Roll call votes appointed Bridget Krause (Board of Health), Joseline Hernandez Arroyo (Board of Health general interest), Christopher Howe (Building Construction Codes Commission), Julia Thomason (Climate and Environment Commission), Andrea Kaiser (Dangerous/ Aggressive Animal Advisors Board), Stephen Bibee and Clarissa Easton (Historic Preservation Commission), and Tom Menhall (TIF Commission reappointment).
- Traffic Calming on Whitegate Drive – Public Works Director Shane Creech presented: 85th percentile speed of 39 mph, 2,600 vehicles/day, recommended three speed humps ($25,000). A roundabout at Town Drive and Whitegate was discussed but not part of this project. Council approved unanimously.
- Phase 2 Integrated Management Plan for Wastewater and Stormwater – Utilities Director Aaron Keys explained the community-driven plan focuses on nutrient removal at the wastewater plant, continued lining projects ($2.7M/year), and flood management. A customer survey and public meeting were held. Council approved unanimously.
- Property Tax Rates 2026 – Finance Director Matthew Lew: rate set at 0.3918 per $100 assessed valuation (up from 0.3907), generating ~$12.2M for general fund. The rate is below the ceiling of 0.4136. Council approved 6-1 (Hartman voted no).
- FY2027 Annual Budget – Staff presented the $133.8M general fund budget, including staff amendments (net revenue increase $7.3M, expense increase $3.8M). Council amendments proposed: security systems for council members ($35,000), street barriers ($1M), and utility assistance increase ($200,000). No votes were taken; the public hearing was continued to September 8 and 21. Proposition 1 revenue will be added via future amendment.
- Parking Rate Changes (B164-26) – Ordinance to increase hourly parking garage rates from $1 per 2 hours to $1 per hour and end free Saturday parking. After discussion, an amendment to keep Saturday parking free passed 5-2 (Hartman and Peters opposed). The effective date was changed to January 1, 2027. The ordinance then passed 6-1 (Peters opposed).
- Columbia Senior Living Community (B178-26, B179-26) – Approved a PD plan for a 181-unit continuing care retirement community with design exceptions for height and parking (additional spaces for independent living and villas). The developer, O’Reilly Development, noted 65-75 FTEs and $3M annual payroll. Traffic study showed no need for a slip lane; water capacity was sufficient. Council approved unanimously.
- Building Codes Update (B210-218-26) – Nine 2024 International Codes adopted (Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, Residential, Property Maintenance, Fuel Gas, Existing Building, Fire). The 2024 International Energy Conservation Code was deferred to September 21 for a separate ordinance following BCCC recommendations. Council approved all nine codes unanimously and directed staff to bring the energy code forward on September 8 for intro and September 21 for vote.
- Power Cost Adjustment Procedure (B219-26) – Increased the cap on recovery from 15% to 20% of residential tier one rate to address $16.8M in unrecovered costs. Approved unanimously.
- Easement Vacation on Old Hawthorne North (B220-26) – Vacated a pedestrian trail easement (and rededicated utility/drainage easements) where a trail was not constructed due to an early certificate of occupancy issuance. Council voted 7-0 to vacate, citing the hardship on homeowners and the city’s error.
Key Outcomes
- Swearing-in of Sharon Geuea Jones, Ward 4 council member.
- Property tax rate set at 0.3918, adopted 6-1.
- Parking rate increase approved with free Saturday garage parking retained; effective January 1, 2027. Vote: 6-1.
- Columbia Senior Living Community approved (both PD plan and final plat), unanimous.
- Nine building codes adopted; energy code to be considered September 21.
- Power cost adjustment cap increased to 20%, effective immediately, unanimous.
- Old Hawthorne trail easement vacated, unanimous.
- FY2027 budget public hearing continued to September 8 and 21; no vote.
- Urban camping ordinance – Staff directed to research and bring options back; no formal action.
- Flock camera contract – Council requested consideration of future discussion; no immediate action.
Meeting Transcript
All right. Well, good evening. I'm gonna go ahead and call to order the Monday, August 17th, 2026 Columbia City Council meeting. I'll ask the city clerk to go ahead and call roll. And I'll remind everybody speaking uh from the diocese that you have to push the microphone to talk into it. They're no longer all hot. So that's my warning for everybody. All right, Sheila. Uh Miss Buffalo. Miss Buffalo here. Miss Carroll, here. Miss Elwood, here, Miss Sample, here. Miss Galloway Jones. Oh shoot, that's right. Ums Hartman here. Miss Peters. All right, and then I'll invite all those who are able to please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the United States of America. And to the Republic of which one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All right. If this is your first time coming to a Columbia City Council meeting, you'll notice we have some upgrades, including a new podium. Uh if you need any um uh adjustments to it, there is an up and down button. You can do that as well as moving the microphone closer to you. Um if you need any assistance, just request. Um so a quick overview of city council agendas. Um first, the items that are under the consent agenda. There's not normally a presentation on those items, and there's not uh opportunity for public comment for items under introduction and first read that have an asterisk, they would be on a consent agenda at the next meeting. Um items under intro do not have um that do not have an asterisk could be public hearings or on the old business at the next meeting, and then that means they would have a presentation and an opportunity for public comment. Um our rules for public comments are um you there are multiple opportunities to speak at Columbia City Council meetings. Uh you can talk during um public hearing, old business, and new business portions of the agenda. I do ask that people keep their comments to the agenda item being discussed. Um and I'll remind you of that the comments start to veer off. Uh general comments and other topics can be allowed at the end of the council meeting under public comment. Uh we ask that you state your name and your ward so that we can um get it in the minutes correctly. Uh individuals are allotted three minutes and groups affected by the legislation can request a five minutes. I ask that you let me acknowledge that so that um we can adjust the timer that is there on the podium showing you how much time you have left. Um I ask people to respect the time limit so that everyone has an opportunity to speak, and we're not here till Tuesday, uh unlike two weeks ago. Uh we we also ask that people we want them to have as many opportunities to speak. So please avoid demonstrations that might intimidate your neighbors from speaking. Uh we address issues, not individuals, so please know personal attacks, including on city staff. Uh disruption would be addressed with a warning and if necessary, removal and recess. Okay, so getting into our agenda for today. The first item we have is we don't have minutes to approve because uh we're still working on those from that meeting. Uh are there any changes to the agenda tonight? Okay, seeing none, I'll make a motion to approve the agenda as posted. Do I have a second? Second, second, seconded by Jackie. All those in favor, push your microphones and say yes. Are I? Yes, I'm up first is our first special item.
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