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Record of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Business Session: June 13, 2024

City Council Business Session — Thursday, June 13, 2024
BodyKansas City, Missouri
SessionCity Council Business Session
DateThursday, June 13, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

We will get started today with our business session.

0:05

The first item is approval of minutes for business session of June sixth, twenty twenty-four.

0:10

Is there a motion?

0:13

Second.

0:13

So we moved and seconded that we approve the minutes.

0:15

All in favor indicate by saying I.

0:18

All calls the motion passes.

0:20

I believe we will have a re we have a request for a closed session.

0:23

We'll go ahead and start over with Councilman O'Neill.

0:25

Mr.

0:25

Mayor I move we go into close session to discuss legal matters, litigation, or privilege communications with attorneys pursuant to six one oh dot zero two one dot one to discuss matters personal matters pursuant to six one oh and dot oh two one dot three and thirteen in confidential communication with auditors pursuant to six one oh two one one seven of the revised statutes of Missouri.

0:51

Well said, Counselor.

0:52

Is there any discussion on the motion?

0:56

O'Neill.

0:56

I Willie.

0:58

French.

0:59

I Rogers.

1:02

Hi.

1:02

Robinson.

1:04

Raya.

1:07

Earls.

1:09

I boo.

1:11

Duncan.

1:12

No.

1:13

Lucas.

1:14

I'm present.

1:16

Caution passes.

2:58

Our baby foxes in the garden.

3:01

Oh, rain, sweet, sweet, lovely mother rain.

3:04

Let's look for the earth that flows the stream that flings the sky and drain the blue.

3:29

The little group of level of has come to tell us this look at the double rainbow.

35:00

When there are other men with eyes of our own to see great.

35:27

Have you been if it's just a fair person?

35:43

On the other hand.

35:50

It's not through us.

35:53

Oh, do you think that we all have to be fool?

36:01

And I am a fool.

38:25

Have you been my every kiss with the other hand?

38:43

I am faithful to you.

38:47

It's not through a sense of duty.

38:53

So there's too beautiful.

38:57

There is a human right after the beauty.

53:15

All right, we are back in business session.

53:19

Welcome to all of our guests.

53:21

This is what we will do for planning purposes.

53:23

We will hold the health department prevention update for a later meeting.

53:32

Um discussion.

53:33

That being said, we have a special uh guest a group of special visitors that are coming from far away.

53:39

Uh Miss Pugh, I'm going to ask you to lead everybody up to the dice behind us so we can introduce them, recognize them, because I'm told that everyone has to leave somewhat soon.

53:49

So come on up, we'll celebrate you, and we'll celebrate our fire department's diversity and inclusion efforts.

53:59

Quickly, quick, come on up this way.

55:00

We're gonna go just a little bit out of order to make sure that we recognize our guests from Xi'an, China.

55:05

And I know the mayor pro Tim has had a good opportunity to get to know everyone.

55:09

Unfortunately, they have a schedule that's going to require them to leave us sooner than you might think.

55:14

So we wanted to take the opportunity to say hello and welcome you.

55:19

This is the Kansas City, Missouri City Council, a group of folks who are very happy and excited about the strong relationships that we're able to have with all of you.

55:29

We also want to thank both our ethnic uh enrichment commission, our sister cities organizations, and all of those who make sure that we have great cultural understanding here in Kansas City.

55:40

I also want to make sure I recognize Joan Pugh, who for some odd reason retired from this city after years and years of service.

56:09

So, sir, please.

56:11

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Miscellaneous████████████████████████████████████████40%
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Racial Equity██████████████████18%
Public Safety███████████11%
Community Engagement█████5%
Closed Session██2%
Tourism Promotion██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Business Session: June 13, 2024

The Kansas City City Council held a business session on June 13, 2024. The meeting included approval of minutes from June 6, 2024, a closed session vote, recognition of a delegation from Xi'an, China for the 35th anniversary of the sister cities relationship, and a detailed presentation from the Kansas City Fire Department on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Council members asked questions about metrics, training, and follow-up on previous concerns. A same-day adoption ordinance regarding severance and certain city employee issues was introduced.

Consent Calendar

  • The council unanimously approved the minutes from the business session of June 6, 2024.

Discussion Items

  • Closed Session Motion: Councilman O'Neill moved to go into closed session to discuss legal matters, litigation, privileged communications with attorneys, personnel matters, and confidential communications with auditors, citing Missouri statutes. The motion passed, with Councilman Duncan voting no.
  • Recognition of Xi'an, China Delegation: The council welcomed a delegation from Xi'an, China, Kansas City's sister city, to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their relationship. Mr. Mike Wood of the Society for Friendship with China introduced the delegation. Mr. Ma, director of the sports authority in Xi'an, spoke through a translator, thanking the council and noting the milestone of 35 years of exchanges in sports, culture, education, and more. The delegation participated in the 20th Dragon Boat Festival on the Plaza.
  • Kansas City Fire Department DEI Initiatives: Chief Krista Harris, Captain Donnell Roberts, and Chief Equity Officer Dana McCullough presented an overview of DEI efforts since 2022. Key initiatives included:
    • Mentorship program: 159 cadets with mentors, 63 mentors.
    • Extended CPAT preparation from 8 to 16 weeks.
    • Critical thinking testing program for EMT.
    • Tutoring, refresher training, and financial support for cadets (payroll deduction for Fire 1 & 2 courses).
    • Fitness trainers for CPAT training.
    • DEI training for academy instructors.
    • Professional development: Captain Academy, Battalion Chiefs Academy, DEI training class (completed April 2024), OJT reinstated.
    • Safety changes: policy to stop at all stop signs/lights, women-specific protective gear, shaving accommodations for natural hair.
    • Station renovations: full remodels for Stations 47, 30, and planned for others; bunk room remodeling with floor-to-ceiling walls and doors by 2025.
    • DEI council created to review policies through an equity lens.
    • Zero tolerance policy reinforcement, elimination of shift trades outside seniority bidding process, women-specific uniforms.
    • Recruitment: lateral transfers for credentialed cadets, career development manual, partnerships with MCC and others, new hiring and promotional test vendors, career exploratory courses in high schools, partnerships with PrEP KC, FEC, Great Jobs KC, UMKC, and military.
    • ERGs encouraged but not yet formally established; groups forming with at least 20 members each from various cultural backgrounds.
  • Council Questions:
    • Councilmember Mayor Pro Tem asked about the status of 10 points raised previously by the Black Firefighters Association; no immediate answer, follow-up requested via email.
    • Asked about ERGs; none formally established yet, but groups are forming unofficially.
    • Questioned the DEI council's scope and how it ensures staff can raise concerns. Chief Harris noted the council reviews selected policies, but scope may need expansion. Chief Equity Officer Dana McCullough noted that equity capacity building has not yet occurred and recommended it before policy review.
    • Councilman Duncan asked for tracking metrics; currently no metrics exist, but a plan is needed. He requested metrics be developed.
    • Councilman Ram expressed appreciation for the department's diversity efforts, citing participation in the Pride Parade.

Key Outcomes

  • The health department prevention update was deferred to a later meeting.
  • The council requested additional information on the status of previous concerns from the Black Firefighters Association and on DEI metrics and training strategies.
  • A same-day adoption ordinance relating to severance and certain city employee issues was introduced for floor discussion.
  • The council stood adjourned to begin legislative session.

Meeting Transcript

We will get started today with our business session. The first item is approval of minutes for business session of June sixth, twenty twenty-four. Is there a motion? Second. So we moved and seconded that we approve the minutes. All in favor indicate by saying I. All calls the motion passes. I believe we will have a re we have a request for a closed session. We'll go ahead and start over with Councilman O'Neill. Mr. Mayor I move we go into close session to discuss legal matters, litigation, or privilege communications with attorneys pursuant to six one oh dot zero two one dot one to discuss matters personal matters pursuant to six one oh and dot oh two one dot three and thirteen in confidential communication with auditors pursuant to six one oh two one one seven of the revised statutes of Missouri. Well said, Counselor. Is there any discussion on the motion? O'Neill. I Willie. French. I Rogers. Hi. Robinson. Raya. Earls. I boo. Duncan. No. Lucas. I'm present. Caution passes. Our baby foxes in the garden. Oh, rain, sweet, sweet, lovely mother rain. Let's look for the earth that flows the stream that flings the sky and drain the blue. The little group of level of has come to tell us this look at the double rainbow. When there are other men with eyes of our own to see great. Have you been if it's just a fair person? On the other hand. It's not through us. Oh, do you think that we all have to be fool? And I am a fool. Have you been my every kiss with the other hand? I am faithful to you. It's not through a sense of duty. So there's too beautiful. There is a human right after the beauty. All right, we are back in business session. Welcome to all of our guests. This is what we will do for planning purposes. We will hold the health department prevention update for a later meeting. Um discussion. That being said, we have a special uh guest a group of special visitors that are coming from far away. Uh Miss Pugh, I'm going to ask you to lead everybody up to the dice behind us so we can introduce them, recognize them, because I'm told that everyone has to leave somewhat soon. So come on up, we'll celebrate you, and we'll celebrate our fire department's diversity and inclusion efforts.

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