OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Joplin City Council Meeting - April 7, 2025

City Council — Monday, April 7, 2025
BodyJoplin, Missouri
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, April 7, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Joplin City Council meeting on this Monday, April 7th.

0:08

Please stand.

0:12

Mrs.

0:12

Forsyth.

0:14

Gracious God, as we come to you this day, to begin another session of the Joplin City Council, we ask that you impart upon us your wisdom and guidance that we may promote justice, assist those in need, and provide for the overall well-being of the citizens of Joplin.

0:27

Amen.

0:28

Amen.

0:29

Mrs.

0:29

Carlin, you have special guests for us this evening.

0:31

Yes, I do.

0:32

You'll hear more about April is fair housing month in a minute.

0:36

In the meantime, I'd like to invite the winners of the poster contest to come forward and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:42

It's Caden Warren, Lakeland McCleary, Ben Lee, Rylan Reeves, and Chase Taylor.

0:51

Thank you for leading us in the pledge.

1:12

Thank you.

1:18

Roll call.

1:19

Mr.

1:20

Bard.

1:21

Present.

1:23

Ms.

1:23

Carlin.

1:24

Present.

1:24

Mr.

1:25

Coppel.

1:26

Present.

1:26

Mr.

1:26

Ditar.

1:27

Present.

1:28

Dr.

1:28

Farnham.

1:29

Present.

1:30

Mr.

1:30

Jackson.

1:31

Mr.

1:32

Lawson.

1:33

Present.

1:33

Mr.

1:34

Shaw.

1:35

And Mayor Cortez.

1:37

Present.

1:38

Mrs.

1:39

Carlin.

1:41

Mayor.

1:42

I'd like to make a motion to excuse Mr.

1:45

Jackson and Mr.

1:46

Shaw from this evening's meeting.

1:48

Motions made and probably segmented for the excusal of Councilman Ryan Jackson and Councilman Gary Shaw.

1:54

Please vote.

1:58

Motion passes with seven in favor and two absent.

2:02

Presentations.

2:03

Fair Housing Month Proclamation.

2:11

Is this Mike Hawk?

2:51

All right, outstanding.

2:52

Good evening, Mr.

2:53

Walters.

2:55

This is a proclamation complaint proclaiming April 2025 as Fair Housing Month.

3:01

Whereas the passage of the United States Fair Housing Law, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 was amended, establishing the right to equal housing opportunities for all citizens.

3:11

And whereas the law guarantees that housing throughout the United States should be made available to all citizens without regard to race, color, religion, sex, family status, disabilities, or national origin.

3:24

And whereas citizens in our community should continue to work together to uphold the fair housing law and the principle of equal opportunity on which it is based.

3:32

Now, therefore, I, Keenan T.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Regulations█████████████████████21%
Public Safety███████████████████19%
Affordable Housing██████████10%
Procedural█████████9%
Public Engagement███████7%
Floodplain Management███████7%
Water And Wastewater Management██████6%
Public Works Update█████5%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Joplin City Council Meeting - April 7, 2025

The Joplin City Council met on Monday, April 7, 2025, for a regular meeting. The meeting included proclamations, recognition of first responders, public comments, and several public hearings on zoning changes for new housing developments, as well as resolutions and ordinances. All votes were taken with seven members present and two absent (Councilmembers Jackson and Shaw were excused).

Presentations & Proclamations

  • Fair Housing Month Proclamation: Mayor Cortez proclaimed April 2025 as Fair Housing Month. The city's representative on the Community Housing Resource Board (CHERB) highlighted the poster contest winners from the Boys & Girls Club.
  • VFW Life Saving Awards: VFW Post 5293 recognized Driver Engineer Brad Gillian (firefighter) and Corporal Andrew Marino (police) for their service, with details on their accomplishments.
  • Arbor Day Proclamation: May 3, 2025, proclaimed as Arbor Day; a celebration themed "May the Forest Be with You" will be held at Wildcat Park.
  • Mike Seibert Recognition: Proclamation honoring Mike Seibert for 43 years at Bristol Myers Squibb and 10 years on city council, including service as mayor and post-council volunteer work.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Kathy Martin: A mental health provider, expressed frustration with homeless issues but advocated for supportive housing solutions. She cited a charity evaluation showing rents increased by 200% and emphasized the need for housing-first approaches. She urged support for small housing and transitional housing initiatives.

Public Hearings & Zoning Changes

  • Council Bill 2025-261 (American Ramp Company): Rezoning from R1 to M2 at 601 S. McKinley Ave. for a new building. Approved 7-0.
  • Council Bill 2025-262 (Schubert Mitchell): Rezoning from M2 to R2 at 1517 W. A Street for a new single-family home. Approved 7-0.
  • Council Bill 2025-266 (Watered Gardens): Rezoning from M2 to MP (Manufactured Home Park and Small Format Home District) for approximately 7 acres between E. 12th and 14th Streets, east of Iowa Ave. This is for a planned tiny home community for ultra-affordable housing. Discussion included floodplain concerns, security, and design. Approved 6-1 (Councilmember Dr. Farnham voted against) with two absent.
  • Council Bill 2025-265 (Vita Nova Village): Rezoning from M2 to MP at 1201 S. Byers Ave. for a transitional tiny home community with 16 units and a community center. Approved 6-0 with one abstention (Dr. Farnham abstained) and two absent.
  • Council Bill 2025-263 (Carrie Clark): Rezoning from C3 to R1 at 707 S. Sergeant Ave. for a single-family home sale. Approved 7-0.

Discussion Items

  • Council members discussed the MP zoning district, emphasizing that these tiny home projects are not typical mobile home parks and will have strict design standards. Dr. Farnham expressed concern about setting a precedent and urged caution. Councilman Ditar suggested a moratorium until zoning code updates. City Manager Troy Pugh noted that any future site plans must come to council for approval.

Resolutions

  • Resolution 2025-004: Amended council rules to require in-person comments, reduce speaking time to 3 minutes if more than 10 speakers, and exempt former council members from time limit. Approved 7-0.
  • Resolution 2025-005: Blue Shield resolution demonstrating commitment to public safety to qualify for state grants. Approved 7-0.

Ordinances (Emergency and First Reading)

  • CB 2025-350 (2722 E. Rawls St. demolition): $7,950 to USA Demolition. Approved 7-0.
  • CB 2025-351 (302 S. Connor Ave. demolition): $10,000 to Nelson Enterprises; property owner may demolish themselves. Approved 7-0.
  • CB 2025-512: Budget amendment for $6,000 for Flex Platoon office modifications. Approved 7-0.
  • CB 2025-114: Out-of-town sewer agreement with Cedar Crest Investment LLC. Approved 7-0 on first reading.
  • CB 2025-115: $2,050,500 contract with GNG Construction for filter media installation at Turkey Creek WWTP. Approved 7-0 on first reading.
  • CB 2025-610: Lease of three vehicles for police Flex Platoon ($14,945.33). Approved 7-0 on first reading.

Key Outcomes

  • All agenda items were approved with at least 6 votes in favor.
  • The council voted 7-0 to go into closed session for legal matters.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Joplin City Council meeting on this Monday, April 7th. Please stand. Mrs. Forsyth. Gracious God, as we come to you this day, to begin another session of the Joplin City Council, we ask that you impart upon us your wisdom and guidance that we may promote justice, assist those in need, and provide for the overall well-being of the citizens of Joplin. Amen. Amen. Mrs. Carlin, you have special guests for us this evening. Yes, I do. You'll hear more about April is fair housing month in a minute. In the meantime, I'd like to invite the winners of the poster contest to come forward and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. It's Caden Warren, Lakeland McCleary, Ben Lee, Rylan Reeves, and Chase Taylor. Thank you for leading us in the pledge. Thank you. Roll call. Mr. Bard. Present. Ms. Carlin. Present. Mr. Coppel. Present. Mr. Ditar. Present. Dr. Farnham. Present. Mr. Jackson. Mr. Lawson. Present. Mr. Shaw. And Mayor Cortez. Present. Mrs. Carlin. Mayor. I'd like to make a motion to excuse Mr. Jackson and Mr. Shaw from this evening's meeting. Motions made and probably segmented for the excusal of Councilman Ryan Jackson and Councilman Gary Shaw. Please vote. Motion passes with seven in favor and two absent. Presentations.

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