Columbia City Council Regular Meeting — November 2, 2026

The Columbia City Council held its regular meeting on November 2, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at 701 E. Broadway and adjourned at approximately 10:40 p.m. The agenda was amended to allow Councilmember Carroll to abstain on B326-26, remove withdrawn B283-26, move B287-26 from consent to old business, move R198-26 from consent to new business, and move B294-26 through B296-26 from consent to old business. The council recognized two Animal Control Officers, tabled one public hearing, advanced stormwater and roundabout projects, approved a major parkland donation, rejected a short-term rental CUP, directed staff to draft a Power4STL agreement, and received reports on the McKinney Building, mental health commission feedback, the Community Trend Manual, and FY2026 fourth-quarter finances.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the consent agenda as amended. It included final plats for Woodrail Terrace Plat 3, Columbia Insurance Plaza Plat No. 1, and Jefferson Cottages Plat No. 1; a design adjustment for Tuscany Ridge Plat No. 5; a CUP for an assembly or lodge hall at 5605 Pergola Drive (B288-26); a 20 MW solar virtual power purchase agreement with Clean Energy Design Group; storm-drainage easement acquisitions along Braemore Road, Highland Drive, Summit Road, and Fairview Road; FY2027 University of Missouri arts-programming agreements; FY2026 CDBG and HOME award agreements; several public-safety and health grant agreements; a $4.6 million FY2026 end-of-year budget appropriation; and resolutions setting hearings for PCCE #28 and #31, a 161 kV transmission line, Adopt-a-Spot agreements, a Segal pay-market survey, Columbia Neighborhood Watch, and a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for Rock Quarry Park. Galloway Jones voted yes on all consent items except B288-26.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Marcus Richardson, scheduled public comment, presented 2026 Community Trend Manual statistics: the highest-earning 20% of households receive more than half of all household income, the lowest-earning 20% receive less than 3%, and 35 of every 100 Black children live in poverty compared with about 6 of every 100 white children. He asked the council and city manager to make reducing economic hardship a clear priority, work with community organizations, set measurable goals, and provide long-term solutions rather than grant funding; he said he had appeared in April and had heard nothing since. He also acknowledged the recent death of David P. Ballinger and said he stood with the NAACP and SCLC.
• Karen Seeger, a Ward 2 property owner, supported the Glenn/Rhonda/Andy stormwater project, describing severe basement flooding even in minor rains and neighbors shoveling water at 2-3 a.m.; she said the project was a good first step.
• Eugene Elkins raised concerns about roundabout driver confusion and close calls, asking for stronger awareness and signage; Shane Loose supported roundabouts generally but questioned project prioritization, mentioning Providence/Nifong.
• B326 public testimony supported the Frank Morris Trust donation: Rick Matheny, trustee, described the trust’s prior donations and the planned Boone Horizon Trails; Beth Kelly, KOMODA board member, supported city acceptance and noted 450 volunteer hours in city parks year-to-date; Braden Benz and Mike Burden also supported, citing youth and adaptive mountain-biking opportunities. Burden asked supporters in the audience to stand.
• David Switzer, Ward 4 and Water and Light Advisory Board member speaking for himself, expressed strong support for R198-26.
• General public comment: Nick McKay thanked the council and asked that urban-camping concerns from First Ward businesses remain a priority; Eugene Elkins raised affordability, tax, and recycling-education concerns; Dr. Les Gray urged more precise and empathetic language and action on poverty and food insecurity.

Public Hearings

• PH30-26 Creekside Community Improvement District: continued and tabled to December 7, 2026, at the applicant’s and staff’s request while they work through issues; public comment will be available then.
• PH36-26 Glenn Drive, Rhonda Drive, and Andy Drive stormwater project: staff said the mid-1960s subdivision has only two inlets and a single 24-inch culvert, which is inadequate; basements flooded two or three times last August alone. The project includes about 1,400 feet of new stormwater pipe, 20 stormwater structures, a 600-foot rock-line channel, and a 270-foot grass swale; the cost estimate is $700,000. Easements will be required, followed by appraisals and offers. An August 6 informational meeting drew 10 property owners or residents, most of whom seemed in favor. Council authorized staff to proceed with final design by voice vote.
• PH37-26 Green Meadows Road and Bethel Street roundabout: staff said a roundabout reduces vehicle conflict points from 32 to 8 and pedestrian conflict points from 24 to 8; the intersection carries over 1,100 vehicles in the PM peak hour, has had seven right-angle crashes in 10 years, and would improve level of service from D to A. Design speeds are about 20 mph or less; fire truck, school bus, and WB67 semi turning movements were modeled. Staff said Providence/Nifong is a MoDOT intersection outside city purview; this project is in the 2025 capital improvement sales tax, with roundabouts costing about $1 million to $1.2 million and roughly $10 million in public works funds available annually. Council authorized staff to proceed by voice vote. Staff said no rapid rectangular flashing beacons are planned at this time.

Old Business

• B283-26 Fair Lane/Rice Road rezoning: removed from the agenda because the applicant withdrew the request.
• B326-26 Frank W. Morris Memorial Trust donation: staff described an 80-acre parcel on Stanley Poe Road, adjacent to Stewart Park, with 7.85 miles of natural-surface trails, a 40-car parking lot with 38 standard and 2 accessible spaces, a two-stall restroom, cross-country trails, downhill flow trails, an enduro zone, and adaptive beginner and intermediate mountain-bike features. Staff estimated the donation value at $3.8 million; a trustee referred to a $4 million valuation. The trust provided $90,000 for long-term maintenance and pledged $100,000 in trail-maintenance equipment if the city closes by the end of 2026; the target closing was December 15. Staff described Stewart Park as 100 acres at one point and 120 acres later. The park would be named Boone Horizon Trails. Approved 6-0, with Carroll abstaining.
• B287-26 short-term rental at 813 Donnelly Avenue: staff said the request was for a 210-night STR with up to six transient guests in an R-2 single-family home; no established STRs were within 300 feet; the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 7-0. Council discussion focused on density, affordable housing, and issuing a CUP before use. The motion failed 4-3, with yes votes from Hartman, Peters, and Sample and no votes from Buffalo, Carroll, Elwood, and Galloway Jones.
• B294-26, B295-26, and B296-26 JAG and equipment agreements: tabled to December 7, 2026, for additional questions.

New Business

• R202-26 Mayor’s Task Force on the African American Heritage Trail Historic Preservation Overlay: staff said the city owns several original buildings on the trail and that HPO designation is normally initiated by property owners. Council amended the resolution to allow work sessions with the Historic Preservation Commission and Planning and Zoning Commission and to dissolve the task force after council action on an HPO rather than after report acceptance. Passed unanimously. Council members were asked to submit appointment suggestions by the December 7 meeting.
• R198-26 Provenance Engineering water utility maintenance and CIP implementation plan: staff said the $92,820 lump-sum agreement would use water utility funds and was procured through the pre-qualified engineering services list. Public speaker David Switzer supported the agreement. Passed unanimously after discussion of contracting and long-term planning.

Reports

• McKinney Building: staff reported total estimated renovation cost just under $5.3 million, including more than $4 million in construction and $1.2 million in owner’s costs. The city issued an RFEOI for a fundraising and capital-campaign firm; six responses were received by October 16 and are under review. Estimated phase-one costs were $20,000 to $65,000 over 3-5 months; phase-two retainer costs were estimated at $6,500 to $10,000 per month over 18-24 months, potentially reimbursable from campaign proceeds. Council approved moving forward with next steps by voice vote. A question about the building’s exterior wall drew no new update beyond public works monitoring.
• Mental health commission: the public health director reported that three of four consulted bodies recommended adding or converting a mental-health position on an existing commission, while one recommended a freestanding mental-health commission. No immediate action was taken; later discussion led to a broader council review of boards and commissions.
• Business Loop CID FY2026 report: received as information; no CID representative was present.
• Power4STL and Office of Violence Prevention: staff reported that Power4STL, a St. Louis community-health organization focused on trauma and violence intervention, would train local community-based organizations and provide a liaison; the cost was $50,000 per agreement year on a year-to-year basis. Council discussed procurement, sole-source justification, and long-term local costs. Council directed staff to draft an agreement and bring it back for consideration, with estimated future costs included.
• Community Trend Manual: the fifth annual report showed a population projected at around 136,000 by 2030 at 1% growth; overall household income around $66,498; white household income around $68,000 versus African American household income around $45,500; persistent racial disparities in poverty, unemployment, and educational attainment; a median home price of $335,000 and home prices up almost 33% since 2021. Council discussed child poverty, public-health funding, educational attainment, housing, and transit ridership. No formal action was taken.
• Monthly Finance Report: Q4 FY2026 total pooled cash was up 1%; operating cash was down 3% year-to-date but up 4% quarter-to-date; the general fund was down 11% year-to-date and 15% quarter-to-date, with reserves about $18 million over target; restricted cash was down 6% year-to-date and up 2% quarter-to-date; the ARPA balance fell from $15.4 million to $3.2 million and was updated to about $200,000 remaining; capital projects showed the railroad fund at negative $483,000 pending grant drawdown. No action was taken.

Introductions and First Reading

• First reading only: PR203-26 2027-2032 Strategic Plan; PR204-26 2027 state legislative priorities; B302-26 rental certificates of compliance; B303-26 Richland Road and Rolling Hills Road rezoning; B304-26 713 Hunt Avenue rezoning; B305-26 Lake George Senior Living PD revision; B306-26 Marshaye Devereaux-Martin Addition Plat 1; B307-26 Hunter’s Landing Plat 1-A; B308-26 Broadway Farms Plat 13-C; B309-26 Cambridge Place Plat 4 performance contract; B310-26 MoDOT crash-data license; B311-26 landfill expansion engineering amendment and $332,122 appropriation; B312-26 measles vaccination response; B313-26 equitable sharing; B314-26 downtown CID public-safety agreement and $970,000 appropriation; B315-26 airport exit-lane breach control and $438,000 appropriation; B316-26 Office of Violence Prevention coordinator position and $75,000 appropriation. No votes were taken.

General Comments

• Jackie announced a Near East No Cat grief and loss workshop on November 14 from 12 to 3 p.m. at the Beacon of Light Center; acknowledged Rev. Ballinger’s 43 years as pastor and 58-year marriage; and advanced a council discussion on reviewing and restructuring boards and commissions and possibly creating a charter and policy commission. Council voted to increase the Youth Advisory Council from 15 to 17 appointees. Council agreed to wait until the November 16 meeting to appoint a three-member council subcommittee, with staff noting open-meeting and quorum requirements. Steve Sheltmeyer was appointed to the Mayor’s Task Force on the USS Columbia, replacing Ann Clark, with no objections. A council member requested a report on special taxing districts, TDDs, and CIDs, referred to Finance and Audit. Staff comments focused on rebuilding public trust. Adjourned at 10:40 p.m.

Key Outcomes

• Tabled and continued PH30-26 Creekside CID to December 7, 2026.
• Authorized final design for the Glenn/Rhonda/Andy stormwater project and authorized staff to proceed with the Green Meadows/Bethel roundabout.
• Approved B326-26 Boone Horizon Trails donation 6-0 with one abstention; approved R202-26 as amended and R198-26 unanimously.
• Rejected B287-26 short-term rental CUP 4-3; tabled B294-26 through B296-26 to December 7, 2026; approved the consent agenda with Galloway Jones voting yes on all items except B288-26.
• Directed staff to draft a Power4STL agreement; approved McKinney Building next steps; advanced an increase in Youth Advisory Council appointees from 15 to 17; took no formal action on the Community Trend Manual or monthly finance report.