Joplin City Council Meeting - July 21, 2025: Oversight Reports, Homelessness Director, and Property Sales
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Joplin City Council Meeting - July 21, 2025
The Joplin City Council met on July 21, 2025, for a regular session that included presentations from the Kiwanis Club, semi-annual oversight committee reports, introduction of a new homelessness director, approval of a property sale and a sidewalk contract, and a citizen’s request regarding stormwater drainage issues. The council also discussed a potential native landscaping registry program. All votes were recorded with eight members present and one absent (Councilwoman Carlin was excused).
Consent Calendar
- Roll call was taken with all eight present members responding. Councilwoman Carlin was excused by motion (Councilman Lawson moved, seconded).
- The consent agenda was finalized with no discussion and approved unanimously (8-0-1).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made during the public hearing portion. A citizen request (Dr. Spencer) was heard under new business and is summarized below.
Discussion Items
- Kiwanis Club Presentation: The Kiwanis Club of Joplin, founded in 1920 and currently comprising 52 members, provided an overview of their community service, including support for children’s programs, an annual golf tournament, and a flag project. The club is the oldest continuous Kiwanis club in Missouri (105 years). Councilman Douglas Lawson is a member.
- Semi-Annual Oversight Committee Report: Leslie Haas and Nathan Mordeca presented the status of special sales tax projects. Key highlights:
- Quarter-cent parks and stormwater tax: Phase 2 parks projects (10 Cup Trail and Grand Falls Trail) remain; stormwater projects are complete. Phase 3 parks: one project complete (electrical at Mercy Park), with DORA (Dover Outdoor Recreation Area) and the 10 Cup Trail underway. Stormwater ARPA projects at Fifth & Porter and Massachusetts & Murphy are in progress.
- Three-eighths-cent capital improvement tax: Phase 1 complete except for traffic signal upgrades (expected by end of fiscal year 2025). Phase 2 projects include Connecticut Avenue (32nd to 44th) complete, and 20th Street from Schifferdecker to Black Cat and eventually to Central City (using ARPA funds). Phase 3 projects have started but none complete.
- Half-cent public safety tax: All capital expenditures complete, including Fire Station 7; ongoing operations funded.
- Committee members confirmed that all tax revenues are exceeding projections. The city has leveraged over $18.4 million in grant funding for Phase 1 capital improvements, $4.1 million for Phase 2 parks/stormwater, and $2.9 million in ARPA funds for Phase 3 parks/stormwater.
- Homeless Commission Progress Report: Dwayne Dieling, Chair of the Joplin Regional Commission on Homelessness, announced that the commission has incorporated as a 501(c)(3) and formalized a partnership with Economic Security Corporation. The new Director of Homelessness Response, Eric Argenbright, was introduced. Argenbright has 15 years of experience in homelessness services, including leadership at the Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition, where he helped increase annual renewal demand by nearly $5 million and improved the state’s CoC score from among the lowest to above the national average. He is a person of lived experience (homelessness as a child). He started on July 14, 2025 (six days prior). He outlined plans to improve the CoC’s website and pursue high-functioning CoC status within five years.
- Public Information Office News: Lynn Onstott reminded citizens about cooling centers open during the heat wave (City Hall, Health Department, Public Safety Center, Athletic Complex, and others). She announced a blood drive (“Boots, Badges, and Bandages”) on July 25 at the Public Safety Training Center, with a competition among first responder agencies. Also promoted a “Doggy Dive-In” at Cunningham Pool on August 9, requiring proof of vaccinations.
- Council Bill 2025-528 – Property Sale at 911 Pennsylvania: The city received one sealed bid ($2,500) from Legacy Built Properties, LLC, for a 6,160 sq. ft. parcel zoned R3. The minimum bid was $2,218. The property had been offered for sale five previous times without success. Councilman Bard abstained because he and his wife are managers of Legacy Built Properties. The ordinance passed on an emergency basis with seven in favor, one absent, and one abstention.
- Council Bill 2025-129 – Transit Safety Plan: The Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) was approved, now tracking 15 safety metrics (up from four). Incident rates are very low. Passed on first reading (8-0-1).
- Council Bill 2025-131 – Justice Center Sidewalks 2025: A contract for $152,517 with Goyne’s Enterprises for sidewalk repairs at the Justice Center, funded by ARPA and capital improvement sales tax. The low bid was used. The project will include 10% retention and a performance bond. Construction is expected to be completed by fall, with alternative access maintained. Passed on first reading (6-2-1).
- Citizen Request – Dr. Spencer (Stormwater Issue): Dr. Spencer, a resident at 3003 Schifferdecker, described a clogged spillway and culvert system on his property that he believes was inadequately maintained by the city. He showed photos of debris and a blocked culvert, warning of safety hazards. City Manager Edwards indicated he would meet with Dr. Spencer to discuss concerns. No formal action was taken.
- Council Discussion – Native Landscaping Registry: Councilman Koppel asked staff to develop a program for permitting native landscaping (“pocket gardens” or “nature scaping”) to clarify acceptable practices, address nuisance complaints, and support butterfly-friendly initiatives. He suggested a registry with species guidelines and a timeline to have the program ready by spring 2026. Councilman Jackson raised concerns about potential rodent issues, but the city manager agreed to work with staff to propose acceptable standards.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved (8-0-1).
- Council Bill 2025-528 (Property sale) passed on emergency basis (7-0-1-1 abstention).
- Council Bill 2025-129 (Transit Safety Plan) approved on first reading (8-0-1).
- Council Bill 2025-131 (Justice Center Sidewalks) approved on first reading (6-2-1).
- New Homelessness Director introduced and welcomed; Eric Argenbright will begin work immediately.
- City Manager directed to meet with Dr. Spencer regarding stormwater drainage concerns.
- Council directed staff to develop a native landscaping registry program, with a report back by winter 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Want to call to order the regular meeting of Joplin City Council. Eternal God, as we begin another meeting of the Joplin City Council, we ask that you invest in this body, your strength and wisdom to fortify us and guide us so that we may enhance the prosperity of our community and improve the quality of life for those we serve. Amen. Amen. I want to invite forward to the microphone at this time, the Joplin Koanis Club. Come on down. That's pretty much everybody in here. Good, very good. We're prior to our group, so we wanted to have them here. The Kawanus Club was founded in May 17th, 1920, and is currently made up of 52 men and women, each of whom are active in the community. Since its founding, many members have served on the city council and many on the boards and commissions of the city. The club's charitable emphasis is aimed at children and youth and supporting their growth and development. The club meets each Tuesday at noon at the Joplin Elks Club. Its fundraisers include an annual golf tournament and a flag project that places and removes nations' flags on five holidays throughout the year for businesses and private homes. Its charitable programs include annual Christmas parties for selected Joplin Elementary Schools where lunches provided by the club and hats and gloves are distributed. The club also supports several children's programs in the region, including Children's Center, Children's Haven, Joplin Family Y, Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Missouri, Joplin Little League, and Softball, Joplin Little League Softball, Water Gardens, Safe Havens, Baby Box, Lafayette House, Missouri Southern State University Scholarships, Joplin High School Key Clubs, and others. Harvey, if you would take just a moment and tell us about some upcoming events you might be having. Yes, thank you, Mayor, Mayor Cortez, and uh other distinguished members of this body. It's indeed an honor for us all, six to some out of uh one of our members actually is in your body, Councilman Douglas Lawson. Another of our current roster, Dr. Benjamin Rosenberg, is a former councilman, I think, for two or three terms. He was also the school board for a couple. And he's currently on the MSSU board. So over the years, our members have been well involved in public service in the city, the county, or anything near it. Numerous boards, uh, Judge Damont, uh, former judge uh Chuck Brown here at the city, Sharon Democ, president of the school board formerly, presently on the school board, Martha Schroeder, John Hurd, and Riley Heard its president. Matt Harding, the assistant superintendent, is also one of our members. And that excuse me, on the side, while they're not here, they have a real heavy-duty meeting going on right now, analyzing the school uh facilities at the moment. Lots of community activists, such as uh Jim Flyshaker, uh current Joplin Sports Authority Director, uh, Jared Brugman, who was will follow me as president of the next term, uh, David Nierbor, former police chief here, Thomas Ross, former engineer in public works. Uh matter of fact, David is real, real active at the next level. He is the lieutenant governor of Arkansas and Missouri. All those clubs come under his Aegeas. Uh and as we said, as uh as Mayor Cortez act pointed out very succinctly. Uh our mission statement is children, kids always has been since the 20s. Uh, this is the oldest club in the state. We were the third founded, however, St. Louis and Kansas City dropped out for a while, so we're the oldest continuous, 105 years old. Um happened to rest a little bit. We saw a picture of recently. I couldn't help but get fond of it. It was in the 30s of taking a group of kids on a parade and to a picnic at Reading's Mills. So and they came from the orphanage here. There was an orphanage in those days. Uh, we're also involved in helping other clubs in the area last week. We're in nails show up and then refound their their uh their club. Interesting, they had more women than we do. So I said right away, you're ahead of us. That's one of the things I don't see uh council lady uh uh Carlin, but we we're trying to, if you can help us, we'll take more women, as a matter of fact. Uh and next week we'll be filling up backpacks. So that's a little about us. I'll be happy to answer any questions uh that you could have or any specifics.
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