OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Joplin City Council Meeting: February 2, 2026 - Transit Study, Memorial Hall MOU, and Financial Updates

City Council — Monday, February 2, 2026
BodyJoplin, Missouri
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, February 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:02

Good evening and welcome to the Joplin City Council regular meeting on this Monday, February the 2nd, 2026, Mrs.

0:10

Nosh.

0:11

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.

0:23

Amen.

0:24

Amen.

0:26

Mrs.

0:26

Carlin, you have special guests with us this evening.

0:28

Yes, I do.

0:29

This evening I'd like to welcome forward to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, the Student Senate of Missouri Southern State University.

0:40

This body of student student leaders are the governing body of the university for their student body.

0:52

They were originally organized in 1937, so they're keeping the tradition going.

0:57

The Student Senate has been given the responsibility of things like appointing members to university committees, student members, to serve as liaison with administration of the university to encourage and help and establish new campus organizations and support and continued programs to promote campus activities that stimulate scholarship and participate as well as participating in activities such as sports and homecoming.

1:29

So you do a lot.

1:50

So we will welcome this evening the hardworking members of the MSSU Student Senate to lead us in the pledge.

2:02

I fled the United States of America.

2:17

Thank you.

2:21

We'll be holding some of these seats for you up here in a few years.

2:26

Ladies and gentlemen from Missouri Southern State University.

2:30

Thank you for being here this evening.

2:32

Roll call.

2:33

Mr.

2:33

Bard.

2:34

Present.

2:34

Ms.

2:34

Carlin.

2:35

Present Mr.

2:36

Coppel.

2:36

Present.

2:37

Mr.

2:37

Ditar.

2:38

Present.

2:38

Dr.

2:38

Farnham.

2:39

Present.

2:39

Mr.

2:39

Jackson.

2:40

Present.

2:40

Mr.

2:41

Lawson.

2:41

Present.

2:42

Mr.

2:42

Shaw.

2:42

Present.

2:43

Mayor Cortez.

2:44

Present.

2:45

Presentations?

2:46

Financial update.

2:57

Good evening, Mrs.

2:58

Haas.

2:59

Good evening, Mayor.

3:00

Council.

3:05

Tonight I'm going to present to you the January sales tax.

3:11

You can see, and so January represents sales from November generally speaking.

3:18

You can see we had a really good month.

3:21

We were up 9.3% compared to the same month last year.

3:26

But you can also see last month we were down about 9.8%.

3:33

So for the year, we're essentially flat uh with last year.

3:38

Uh at the next council meeting, we will see what December brings us, which of course will hopefully capture the holiday sales.

3:47

And then use tax for January.

3:52

Not quite as good a month for January.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████14%
Transportation Safety█████████████13%
Zoning Regulations██████████10%
Budget Equity Analysis█████████9%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████8%
Public Engagement██████6%
Data Center Regulation██████6%
Marketing and Outreach█████5%
Tourism And Marketing████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Joplin City Council Regular Meeting – February 2, 2026

The Joplin City Council met on Monday, February 2, 2026, at City Hall for a regular meeting. Key agenda items included a financial update from the Finance Director, a final presentation on the AOPP transit study, a recycling education campaign launch, and a lengthy discussion on the Memorial Hall Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), including the composition of the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) advisory board. The council also heard public comments on homelessness, a proposed data center, and street safety, and approved several resolutions and ordinances.

Consent Calendar

  • Finalized consent agenda approved unanimously by eight votes, with one absent.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Amanda Beardon (Advocates for the Underresourced) criticized council decorum, stating that unsheltered residents are constituents and that the city has not done enough to prevent deaths from exposure. She called for housing-first solutions and thanked Police Chief Pearson for cooperation. A council member noted she is not a Joplin resident (lives in Carl Junction) and questioned her focus on Joplin issues.
  • Maurice Philson (824 Vermont Ave, Joplin) expressed frustration with street safety and reckless driving, urging the council to address traffic issues.
  • Cheyenne Zhang (Joplin resident) thanked the council for behind-the-scenes work but raised concerns about a proposed data center (ABITS from China). She cited minimal job creation (10 jobs in 36 months), 15-year tax abatement, water usage (2 million gallons/day), and minimal grid upgrades, urging a delay to allow better evaluation.
  • Chris Hammer criticized the data center project, stating it would bring only 10 non-guaranteed local jobs and outdated technology, and questioned the need for mass surveillance and treatment of homeless advocates. He also opposed the data center's 100% tax exemption.

Discussion Items

  • Financial Update (Leslie Haas, Finance Director): January sales tax revenue was up 9.3% compared to the same month last year, but year-to-date is flat. Use tax up 2.8% for January; marijuana sales tax down 33% due to timing. First quarter (Nov-Jan) results showed mall/restaurants flat, discount stores slightly up, construction/home improvement down. General fund operating revenue is under budget by $575,000, but expenditures are under by $1 million. Net gain positive by $160,000. Presented the new Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for the first time, designed to be more accessible.
  • AOPP Transit Study Final Presentation (Tony Edwards & David Johnson, TransPro): Presented a plan for a regional public transportation system. Key recommendations: form a nonprofit to own/operate the system and a Transportation Development District (TDD) funded by a half-cent sales tax. Proposed district expanded from prior version, including unincorporated Jasper/Newton counties and cities like Webb City (new trolley service). Service would increase from 3 to 8 fixed routes, 30-minute frequency (from 60 minutes), and add Saturday service. Estimated federal funding available up to $6 million. Future steps: create nonprofit, confirm partnership (Jasper County recommended), and potential election in 3–5 years. Council member Copple expressed strong opposition, citing the sales tax burden and labor issues.
  • Recycling Education and Outreach Campaign (Drew Douglas): Launched a marketing campaign for recycling Joplin, with ads on billboards, TV, radio, and social media. Tagline “Recycle. It’s How We Roll.” Campaign will run throughout the year, targeting adults 25–54 with children.
  • CVB Review of Memorial Hall Proposal (Patrick Tuttle, CVB Director; Josh Shackles, CVB Board Chair): Opposed the MOU’s requirement to restructure the CVB board (from 11 members to a majority hotelier). Advocated for a 9-member board (as proposed in 2019) with 4 hoteliers. Stated that the board split 4-4 on several restructuring options. Council discussed the issue at length, with some members supporting a 57% hotelier majority. Councilmember Lawson supported the Memorial Hall project, noting that hoteliers haven’t proposed alternative uses for increased lodging tax.
  • Rezoning for Specialty Foods Truck Parking (Council Bill 2026-258): Approved rezoning of property at Industrial Park Road and Kennedy Lane from R1/C3 to M2 Planned Development for off-site truck parking. Applicant confirmed all truck traffic will use Industrial Road, not Kennedy Lane. Approved on first reading.
  • Other Ordinances:
    • 2026-108: Purchase of land for Grand Falls visitor parking area ($ not specified, but included in budget). Approved on first reading.
    • 2026-109: Rehabilitation of Turkey Creek UV disinfection system ($136,164.92). Approved.
    • 2026-110: 7th Street sewer relocation project ($2,738,795.92). Approved.
    • 2026-111: On-call infrastructure and utility cuts contract awarded to ATS Contractors (not lowest bidder Goings) due to performance issues with Goings. Approved after bid protest discussion.
    • 2026-254/255: Final plats of Cottages at Emerald Glades (Phase 1: 42 lots, Phase 2: 40 lots). Approved.
    • 2026-603: Purchase of full-body scanner for jail ($181,500). Approved.
  • Memorial Hall MOU (Council Bill 2025-017 – Second and Third Reading): After debate, the council amended the MOU to change the CVB board composition to 57% hoteliers (instead of simple majority). Approved 7-1 on third reading.
  • New Business: Councilmember Jackson requested a review of citizen comment rules, expressing concern about non-Joplin residents speaking. City attorney will research possible changes. Other members noted value of public input.

Key Outcomes

  • The council approved the rezoning (2026-258) and all first-reading ordinances as listed.
  • The Memorial Hall MOU (2025-017) was approved on third reading with an amendment to set CVB board composition at 57% hoteliers (7 yes, 1 no, 1 absent).
  • Resolution 2026-002 (Police/Fire Sales Tax Citizens Committee) was approved with an additional member (Chris Stockton).
  • Resolution 2026-003 (naming Grand Falls trailhead after Dr. Mark Matlock) approved.
  • Resolution 2026-004 (free transit rides on February 6, 2026, and annually for five years) approved.
  • The council will explore options to revise public comment policies at a future work session.

Note: The meeting date is February 2, 2026. The President’s Day meeting will be moved to February 17 at Corley Auditorium.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the Joplin City Council regular meeting on this Monday, February the 2nd, 2026, Mrs. Nosh. 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. Mrs. Carlin, you have special guests with us this evening. Yes, I do. This evening I'd like to welcome forward to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, the Student Senate of Missouri Southern State University. This body of student student leaders are the governing body of the university for their student body. They were originally organized in 1937, so they're keeping the tradition going. The Student Senate has been given the responsibility of things like appointing members to university committees, student members, to serve as liaison with administration of the university to encourage and help and establish new campus organizations and support and continued programs to promote campus activities that stimulate scholarship and participate as well as participating in activities such as sports and homecoming. So you do a lot. So we will welcome this evening the hardworking members of the MSSU Student Senate to lead us in the pledge. I fled the United States of America. Thank you. We'll be holding some of these seats for you up here in a few years. Ladies and gentlemen from Missouri Southern State University. Thank you for being here this evening. Roll call. Mr. Bard. Present. Ms. Carlin. Present Mr. Coppel. Present. Mr. Ditar. Present. Dr. Farnham. Present. Mr. Jackson. Present. Mr. Lawson. Present. Mr. Shaw. Present. Mayor Cortez. Present. Presentations? Financial update. Good evening, Mrs. Haas. Good evening, Mayor.

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