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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Business Session – June 26, 2025

City Council Business Session — Thursday, June 26, 2025

BodyKansas City, Missouri

SessionCity Council Business Session

DateThursday, June 26, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:24:55

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

Item is approval of minutes for business session of June 5th, 2025.

0:04

Is there a motion?

0:06

Motion.

0:07

Is there a second?

0:09

It's been moved and second.

0:10

All in favor indicate by saying aye.

0:12

Aye.

0:13

All opposed.

0:13

All right.

0:14

Motion passes.

0:15

We will start with our friends at the uh at the housing department.

0:20

I know we call it the office of unhoused solutions.

0:23

It just seems like the solutions themselves are unhoused.

0:26

It's always been a an interesting turn of phrase, but nonetheless, they're very housed, our housing directors here for this is scary.

1:11

Good afternoon, uh Mayor Lucas and Council members.

1:14

My name is Blaine Proctor.

1:16

I'm the director of housing and community development.

1:18

I'll have my colleague introduce herself.

1:21

Good afternoon.

1:22

I'm Mary Owens.

1:22

I'm the deputy director of housing.

1:26

So this this afternoon we're going to be giving you an update on Zero KC, which is uh is the strategic plan for ending homelessness.

1:39

Our agenda is uh to do a quick review of um the current status of homelessness in Kansas City and then uh the role of um the Office of Unhoused Solutions and the progress uh that they and we are making in ending homelessness in Kansas City, as well as some recommendations on actions that are needed that we feel are needed to address homelessness.

2:03

Just a couple of um high level highlights.

2:06

Uh since 2023, um the city has uh decommissioned 170 encampments.

2:14

Um we're seeing great community efforts.

2:17

Uh we have we currently have 125 low barrier shelter beds that were a continuation of the cold weather plan.

2:26

And then last week we launched cool KC, which is in response to um to extreme heat uh uh heat extreme heat response.

2:37

Um and then uh later in the dis in the discussion we'll be uh talking about uh the fact that are we happy to announce that we're moving forward with the home are home ARP funds.

2:53

Currently, we um according to uh the 2024 housing and urban development AHAR, uh we uh Kansas City has around 2,181 people experiencing homelessness.

3:07

That is according to the annual point in time count.

3:11

Um estimates, um uh casual estimates um are that there are actually probably closer to 4,000 homeless people in Kansas City.

3:22

Um of those uh 95.7 are chronically homeless and unhoused, uh, which is the highest rate in the nation.

3:31

Unsheltered homelessness has increased 170 percent in Kansas City since 2018.

3:37

Since the start of zero KC since the adoption of uh of the plan in August of 2022, uh 3,362 individuals have been housed.

3:51

This chart shows uh give it gives us a national and local comparison in homeless trends.

4:00

The blue graph is national uh national trends, the top line are national totals, and the bottom line are national uh unsheltered numbers.

4:14

Uh the red graph is Kansas City's totals on the top line, and the second line are Kansas City's unsheltered numbers.

4:24

Um Kansas City compares basically compares um uh is in step with uh national homeless trends.

4:33

Um where we really differ is the unsheltered in Kansas City is rising faster than uh the national trends are the first bullet point here uh speaks to the trends in Kansas City.

4:52

Um excuse me, in in the United States.

5:00

After COVID 19, homelessness in the United States increased across all household types due to increased housing costs, lack of affordable housing, wages not keeping up with rising rents, as well as people losing employment.

5:14

The next bullet points really speak are what are unique to Kansas City.

5:19

Kansas City rent is rising, is one of the fastest rising rent trends in Kans in the United States.

5:34

Rent growth has outpaced wage growth in Kansas City, making housing unaffordable for many of our residents.

5:42

The feds in 2020 2015 deprioritized funding for emergency shelter and transitional housing in favor of permanent housing solutions, thinking that if if unhoused uh people could go straight from um from being unhoused into housing, that they would there would be less need for emergency shelter.

6:08

Um but uh how housing in Kansas City, we we lack um affordable housing stock, so it's difficult to make that model work.

6:19

As we know, um even with a housing voucher in hand, many people who um are homeless uh are unable to find a unit that they can afford or a landlord who will accept accept them.

6:33

Without adequate shelter or housing options, individuals experiencing homelessness have nowhere to go, resulting in more and more people living in camps, vehicles, um couch surfing, and other unseltered conditions.

6:49

As a result, unsheltered homelessness has increased by over a hundred and percent, 170% uh in Kansas City since 2018.

6:58

Lack of low barrier shelter also adds to this.

7:02

With that, I'll turn this over to Mary Owens.

7:05

Thank you.

7:05

So Kansas City has sought to address homelessness through the Office of the Unhouse Solutions and through Zero KC, which is the strategic plan to end homelessness.

7:15

Our office has three core functions coordinating homeless efforts through strategic partnerships, providing community and street outreach, and then uh providing grants and contracts for housing and services.

7:28

We are not a service provider, however.

7:31

Uh we don't enforce laws, and we do not receive the majority of homeless assistants in Kansas City.

7:39

That is the COC and the housing authority.

7:41

We also don't manage the city's homeless management information system.

7:52

Oh, sorry.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Homelessness███████████████████████████27%

Education██████████████████████22%

Detention Facilities██████████████████████22%

Affordable Housing██████6%

Public Safety██████6%

Workforce Development████4%

Procedural███3%

Data Management███3%

Economic Development███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Business Session – June 26, 2025

The Kansas City Council held a business session on June 26, 2025, beginning at 7:15 PM. The meeting covered three major presentations: an update on the Zero KC homelessness strategic plan, an overview of Metropolitan Community College (MCC) and its infrastructure needs, and a report on a proposed modular jail facility as an interim detention solution. The session concluded with a vote to enter closed session for legal matters.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes: The council unanimously approved the minutes from the business session of June 5, 2025.

Discussion Items

1. Zero KC Homelessness Update

Presenters: Blaine Proctor, Director of Housing and Community Development, and Mary Owens, Deputy Director of Housing.
Key Statistics:
- 2024 point-in-time count shows 2,181 people experiencing homelessness; estimated true number is ~4,000.
- 95.7% are chronically homeless – the highest rate in the nation.
- Unsheltered homelessness increased 170% since 2018.
- Since Zero KC launched in August 2022, 3,362 individuals have been housed.
- 170 encampments decommissioned since 2023; 33 remain active.
- Office of Unhoused Solutions budget: $6.4 million, with $5.3 million for contracts (primarily low barrier shelter).
Recent Actions:
- 125 low barrier shelter beds continued from cold weather plan.
- Cool KC extreme heat plan launched last week.
- Zero KC grants announced: $800,000 for youth homelessness.
Future Recommendations:
- Improve data systems (fractured and out of date).
- Continue investing in low barrier shelter. An ordinance to deploy Home ARP funds (adding 36 beds) expected soon.
- Explore a master lease program (citing Milwaukee’s 91.8% reduction in unsheltered homelessness over five years).
Council Discussion:
- Councilman Patterson Hasley requested clarification on the definition of low barrier shelter and expressed concern about potential concentration of services. She also asked about the Houseless Advisory Commission – it has not met due to leadership changes. Mayor Lucas suggested possible consolidation with the Housing Trust Fund Board.
- Councilman Ray asked about the status of Home ARP funds ($7–8 million) and was told an ordinance to contract is forthcoming.
- Councilman Duncan urged inclusion of private partners and cautioned against over-reliance on consultants for the master lease program.
- The housing department stated a pilot program for master leasing could use redirected funds from the source of income discrimination ordinance (land medication fund) and may attract philanthropic support.

2. Metropolitan Community College (MCC) Presentation

Presenters: Larry Rideau (Vice Chancellor), Dr. Kim Batty (Chancellor), and others.
Impact: MCC serves 8,000+ students from Kansas City zip codes (2022–2025), supports 1 in 78 jobs in the metro, and contributes $699 million in added income.
Infrastructure Needs: $98 million in deferred maintenance district-wide, including $39 million at Penn Valley and $19 million at Maple Woods. Immediate request: $2 million for technology and $8 million for facilities.
Council Questions:
- Councilwoman Patterson Hasley asked about a bond issuance (MCC has not raised its bond in over 50 years). Mayor Lucas noted possible election timing (e.g., April 2026) but MCC can only go to voters in August or November.
- Councilman O'Neill praised MCC’s work.
- Mayor Pro Tem suggested incorporating the request into the budget process.

3. Modular Jail Facility Report (Resolution 250393)

Presenters: City architect Roxana Reyes and Corrections Administrator Megan Case.
Background: Response to Councilman Rogers’ resolution. Proposed interim modular jail at 7750 East Front Street (tow lot) to provide 130 beds (25 for KCPD holding, 105 for detention). However, Water Services notified the city on July 1, 2024, that the site is needed for a federally mandated treatment plant expansion, jeopardizing the location.
Cost Estimates:
- Modcore: $20–$30 million (custom-built, permanently attached).
- ADS (Springfield): $11.5–$12.5 million (more temporary, trailers tied to foundations).
Timeline: 12–17 months depending on product. Modular units can be purchased or leased; leasing may require returning units in original condition.
Staffing: Additional ~100 staff needed; current corrections officer wage is $19.27/hour; increase likely to compete with Jackson County.
Funding: From public safety sales tax, with ~$14 million remaining from the 8th floor project (originally $16 million, ~$2 million spent on design).
Council Discussion:
- Mayor Lucas noted the tow lot site may still be viable if water services does not need the entire parcel.
- Councilman O'Neill stressed urgency for the 2026 World Cup and suggested parallel processing to shorten timeline.
- Councilman Curls asked about funding gap (costs up to $30 million vs. $14 million available).
- Councilman Duncan recommended an RFP to get firm numbers and noted that Green County, Missouri (a model) had an existing jail for support spaces, making their modular solution cheaper.
- City Manager suggested building a smaller facility (e.g., 100 beds) to speed up and reduce cost, with the permanent facility adding 250 beds later.
- Staff indicated council could pass a resolution or ordinance to waive certain steps to expedite the process.

Key Outcomes

Approval of Minutes: Passed unanimously.
No formal votes on presentations: The Zero KC update, MCC presentation, and modular jail report were informational, with council direction to continue work.
Modular Jail: Staff will present further details to the Finance Committee in July; council may take action to expedite the process.
Zero KC: The housing department will bring an ordinance for Home ARP funds soon. The Master Lease pilot will be explored.
MCC: The city will consider the $10 million request as part of budget discussions.
Closed Session: A motion to go into closed session under RSMo 60.021 for legal matters and litigation was moved, seconded, and passed (with Councilman O'Neill voting no).

Meeting Transcript

Item is approval of minutes for business session of June 5th, 2025. Is there a motion? Motion. Is there a second? It's been moved and second. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. All opposed. All right. Motion passes. We will start with our friends at the uh at the housing department. I know we call it the office of unhoused solutions. It just seems like the solutions themselves are unhoused. It's always been a an interesting turn of phrase, but nonetheless, they're very housed, our housing directors here for this is scary. Good afternoon, uh Mayor Lucas and Council members. My name is Blaine Proctor. I'm the director of housing and community development. I'll have my colleague introduce herself. Good afternoon. I'm Mary Owens. I'm the deputy director of housing. So this this afternoon we're going to be giving you an update on Zero KC, which is uh is the strategic plan for ending homelessness. Our agenda is uh to do a quick review of um the current status of homelessness in Kansas City and then uh the role of um the Office of Unhoused Solutions and the progress uh that they and we are making in ending homelessness in Kansas City, as well as some recommendations on actions that are needed that we feel are needed to address homelessness. Just a couple of um high level highlights. Uh since 2023, um the city has uh decommissioned 170 encampments. Um we're seeing great community efforts. Uh we have we currently have 125 low barrier shelter beds that were a continuation of the cold weather plan. And then last week we launched cool KC, which is in response to um to extreme heat uh uh heat extreme heat response. Um and then uh later in the dis in the discussion we'll be uh talking about uh the fact that are we happy to announce that we're moving forward with the home are home ARP funds. Currently, we um according to uh the 2024 housing and urban development AHAR, uh we uh Kansas City has around 2,181 people experiencing homelessness. That is according to the annual point in time count. Um estimates, um uh casual estimates um are that there are actually probably closer to 4,000 homeless people in Kansas City. Um of those uh 95.7 are chronically homeless and unhoused, uh, which is the highest rate in the nation. Unsheltered homelessness has increased 170 percent in Kansas City since 2018. Since the start of zero KC since the adoption of uh of the plan in August of 2022, uh 3,362 individuals have been housed. This chart shows uh give it gives us a national and local comparison in homeless trends. The blue graph is national uh national trends, the top line are national totals, and the bottom line are national uh unsheltered numbers. Uh the red graph is Kansas City's totals on the top line, and the second line are Kansas City's unsheltered numbers. Um Kansas City compares basically compares um uh is in step with uh national homeless trends. Um where we really differ is the unsheltered in Kansas City is rising faster than uh the national trends are the first bullet point here uh speaks to the trends in Kansas City. Um excuse me, in in the United States. After COVID 19, homelessness in the United States increased across all household types due to increased housing costs, lack of affordable housing, wages not keeping up with rising rents, as well as people losing employment. The next bullet points really speak are what are unique to Kansas City. Kansas City rent is rising, is one of the fastest rising rent trends in Kans in the United States. Rent growth has outpaced wage growth in Kansas City, making housing unaffordable for many of our residents. The feds in 2020 2015 deprioritized funding for emergency shelter and transitional housing in favor of permanent housing solutions, thinking that if if unhoused uh people could go straight from um from being unhoused into housing, that they would there would be less need for emergency shelter. Um but uh how housing in Kansas City, we we lack um affordable housing stock, so it's difficult to make that model work. As we know, um even with a housing voucher in hand, many people who um are homeless uh are unable to find a unit that they can afford or a landlord who will accept accept them. Without adequate shelter or housing options, individuals experiencing homelessness have nowhere to go, resulting in more and more people living in camps, vehicles, um couch surfing, and other unseltered conditions. As a result, unsheltered homelessness has increased by over a hundred and percent, 170% uh in Kansas City since 2018.

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