OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting – October 27, 2023

City Council Legislative Session — Friday, October 27, 2023
BodyKansas City, Missouri
SessionCity Council Legislative Session
DateFriday, October 27, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

The meeting will come to order.

0:02

Our guest chaplain is Pastor David McDaniel of the Holmeswood Baptist Church.

0:08

Would all who are able please stand for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:18

In recent days, those in the Jewish tradition have celebrated Rosh Hashanah, which is the beginning of a new year.

0:26

Those in the Muslim faith yesterday celebrated Milad Unabi, the remembrance of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.

0:34

Central to the Christian tradition is the notion of resurrection, a continual renewal of life that's paradoxically found through death.

0:42

And this great council is still in the first quarter of the first year of a four-year commitment of leadership and service to Kansas City.

0:51

And so whatever your faith tradition is, or if you have no particular faith, I invite you to center the your mind, your body and soul to the notion of newness.

1:00

Would you please join me in prayer?

1:02

Creator and sustainer, we lift up this great council to you.

1:08

They are beginning the new days of leadership, and what we name and recognize is that leadership is hard.

1:14

Leadership is tiring.

1:16

To lead is to know the suffocation of isolation.

1:20

So in the moments when this council is worn out, we pray that hands apiece hold them.

1:25

In the moments when they are unsure of what steps to take next, we pray divine wisdom guides them.

1:32

In the moments when they make mistakes, because they will make mistakes.

1:39

And when it feels like there is no good choice in a vote or decision that they must make, we pray for the confidence that they err on the side of new possibilities that lead to a new reality of a more hopeful and inclusive future.

1:54

God of new beginnings and continued stories.

1:57

May your ways of hope, peace, love, and embrace find their home in this council and in this great city.

2:05

All of this we pray.

2:07

Amen.

2:18

Under the role.

2:23

Thank you, Pastor.

2:25

The clerk will call the role.

2:29

See you, yeah.

2:30

Roll.

2:31

Here.

2:32

Willie.

2:32

President French.

2:34

Here's Rogers.

2:37

Patterson hasn't.

2:38

President.

2:39

Robinson.

2:40

Here.

2:41

Raya.

2:42

Yeah.

2:43

Bunch.

2:45

Present.

2:46

Here.

2:47

Ooh.

2:48

Thank you.

2:48

Duncan.

2:50

Lucas.

2:51

Here.

2:51

Twelve members present.

2:53

Will the clerk please call the special actions?

2:55

230838.

2:58

Congratulating the Twin Citians Club for its 80th anniversary.

3:04

If you are here for that resolution, come on up.

3:07

We usually need to show you all.

3:49

Councilwoman Patterson has welcome to the Twin Cities Club and welcome to almost all of Kansas City here in the chambers today.

3:58

The Twin Cities Club was founded on January 9th, 1943, when 24 young professional women, most of whom were teachers from Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas, came together to form a social club based on friendship with the club being predominantly in African American social life in the 40s and 50s, with many of the social events taking place in the historic 18th and Vine Jazz District.

4:26

The idea to form the Twin Cities Club, bringing together women from both Kansas and Missouri was an inspiration of Inez Kaiser.

4:35

The Twin Cities Club will officially mark its 80th anniversary on Saturday, September 30th, 2023, and its 80th anniversary friendship luncheon.

4:46

Under the current leadership of Club President Marceline Cooley, the Twin Cities Club has an active membership of 26 women who meet monthly to socialize, continue the bond of friendship, and participate in the Kansas City community.

5:02

Congratulations on your 80th anniversary and thank you for being here.

5:13

Are there others who wish to speak to the resolution?

5:16

Herring now the resolution is now before council.

5:18

All in favor indicate by saying aye.

5:20

Aye.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Planning██████████████████18%
Community Engagement█████████████████17%
Procedural█████████████13%
Public Engagement███████7%
Personnel Matters██████6%
Disability Rights█████5%
Historic Preservation█████5%
Cultural Celebrations████4%
Waste Management████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Kansas City City Council Meeting – October 27, 2023

The Kansas City Council met on October 27, 2023, at 7:30 PM CT with 12 members present. The meeting opened with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, followed by roll call. The council adopted several commemorative resolutions, passed a consent docket, and debated a range of ordinances, including a historic designation, short-term rental restrictions, and a chapter 100 bond project that was held for further review.

Special Actions (Resolutions Adopted)

  • Resolution 230838 – Congratulating the Twin Citians Club on its 80th anniversary. The club was founded January 9, 1943, by 24 young professional women. Councilwoman Patterson spoke in favor. Adopted unanimously.
  • Resolution 230839 – Honoring Patty Hildebrand on her retirement after 26 years of service to Kansas City. Council members O'Neill, Bunch, Robinson, French, and Willett praised her engineering leadership and community focus. Adopted unanimously.
  • Resolution 230840 – Declaring September 2023 as National Service Dog Month. Councilman Rogers noted that 64 million adults and children in the U.S. have a disability and there are 16,000 accredited service dogs. Adopted unanimously.
  • Resolution 230868 – Recognizing September 2023 as National Good Neighbor Day. Mayor Pro Tem highlighted the five pillars (connection, invitation, celebration, awareness, availability) and honored neighborhood leaders from every district. Adopted unanimously.
  • Resolution 230869 – Honoring the Northland Community Cleanup Organization. Councilman Willett noted the group has collected over 15,000 bags of trash. Adopted unanimously.
  • Resolution 230870 – Recognizing Raquel Garcia for her service as a registered nurse and community health educator. Councilwoman Robinson praised her work during COVID-19. Adopted unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Marceline Cooley, president of the Twin Citians Club, thanked the council and noted the club’s legacy of black professional women.
  • Patty Hildebrand thanked the council and noted she would become director of public works for Harrisonville.
  • Shelley Shetley, representing service dog organizations, highlighted the importance of ADA access.
  • Linda and other neighborhood leaders expressed gratitude for recognition and emphasized partnership with council.
  • Raquel Garcia thanked University Health for allowing community health outreach in English and Spanish.
  • Nancy Gordon of Northland Community Cleanup described their “war on trash” and announced a nonprofit fund to support other volunteer groups.

Discussion Items

  • 230705 – Rezoning 0.9 acres at 4526 Ward Boulevard from RS5 to RS5-HO to designate the George B. Witcherson residence as a local historic landmark. The owner filed a protest petition, requiring a two-thirds vote (9 of 12 present). After roll call, the ordinance passed with 9 ayes (O'Neill, French, Rogers, Patterson, Raya, Bunch, Curls, and two others) and 3 nays (Robinson, Park Shaw, Lucas? The transcript shows 9 ayes and 3 nays but names are unclear). Passed.
  • 230817 – Amendment to the Midtown and Plaza Area Plan to allow a short-term rental at 3244 Paseo Boulevard. The committee recommended do not pass; the applicant later expressed willingness to withdraw. The ordinance failed with 12 nays.
  • 230707 – Authorizing negotiations with 816 Solar Consortium for a solar array at Kansas City International Airport. Passed unanimously.
  • 230824 – Directing $2,268,752 from the Health Levy Fund and $2,631,247 from the Opioid Program Fund to expand medically assisted treatment, safe haven beds, and respite beds for substance use disorder recovery. Passed unanimously.
  • 230828 – Authorizing a $1,081,308 contract with Community Builders of Kansas City for Ivan Hill Gardens rent collection, funded from the Shared Success Fund and Housing Trust Fund. Passed unanimously.
  • 230826 – Industrial development plan for a 35‑room boutique hotel at 1108‑1110 Grand Boulevard, with issuance of up to $18 million in Chapter 100 bonds. Council members O'Neill, Duncan, and Curls expressed concerns about waiving prevailing wage under the historic preservation exception and about MBE/WBE provisions. A hold was requested, and the ordinance was held without objection for one week.

Key Outcomes

  • Votes on Resolutions: All six resolutions (230838, 230839, 230840, 230868, 230869, 230870) adopted unanimously.
  • Historic Landmark Designation (230705): Passed (9 ayes, 3 nays) – required two-thirds majority due to owner protest.
  • Short-Term Rental Denial (230817): Failed (12 nays) – committee recommendation upheld.
  • Solar Array at Airport (230707): Passed unanimously.
  • Tax Levy Adjustment (230719): Passed unanimously.
  • Ambulance Financing (230804): Authorized $4,999,000 in lease financing for 13 ambulances. Passed unanimously.
  • Water Revenue Bonds (230813): Appropriated $93 million for water system projects. Passed unanimously.
  • Substance Use Disorder Funding (230824): $4.9 million allocated. Passed unanimously.
  • Ivan Hill Gardens Contract (230828): $1.08 million approved. Passed unanimously.
  • Various Zoning and Plat Approvals (230808, 230809, 230812, 230819, 230820, 230825): Passed unanimously.
  • Second Reading of Chapter 100 Hotel (230826): Held for one week due to council concerns over prevailing wage and MBE/WBE requirements.
  • The council also approved the advance of consent and debate dockets with procedural waivers.

Meeting Transcript

The meeting will come to order. Our guest chaplain is Pastor David McDaniel of the Holmeswood Baptist Church. Would all who are able please stand for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. In recent days, those in the Jewish tradition have celebrated Rosh Hashanah, which is the beginning of a new year. Those in the Muslim faith yesterday celebrated Milad Unabi, the remembrance of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Central to the Christian tradition is the notion of resurrection, a continual renewal of life that's paradoxically found through death. And this great council is still in the first quarter of the first year of a four-year commitment of leadership and service to Kansas City. And so whatever your faith tradition is, or if you have no particular faith, I invite you to center the your mind, your body and soul to the notion of newness. Would you please join me in prayer? Creator and sustainer, we lift up this great council to you. They are beginning the new days of leadership, and what we name and recognize is that leadership is hard. Leadership is tiring. To lead is to know the suffocation of isolation. So in the moments when this council is worn out, we pray that hands apiece hold them. In the moments when they are unsure of what steps to take next, we pray divine wisdom guides them. In the moments when they make mistakes, because they will make mistakes. And when it feels like there is no good choice in a vote or decision that they must make, we pray for the confidence that they err on the side of new possibilities that lead to a new reality of a more hopeful and inclusive future. God of new beginnings and continued stories. May your ways of hope, peace, love, and embrace find their home in this council and in this great city. All of this we pray. Amen. Under the role. Thank you, Pastor. The clerk will call the role. See you, yeah. Roll. Here. Willie. President French. Here's Rogers. Patterson hasn't. President. Robinson. Here. Raya. Yeah. Bunch. Present. Here. Ooh. Thank you. Duncan. Lucas. Here. Twelve members present. Will the clerk please call the special actions? 230838. Congratulating the Twin Citians Club for its 80th anniversary. If you are here for that resolution, come on up. We usually need to show you all.

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