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Record of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting – December 7, 2023: Recognitions, Legislative Priorities, and Infrastructure Approvals

City Council Legislative Session — Thursday, December 7, 2023
BodyKansas City, Missouri
SessionCity Council Legislative Session
DateThursday, December 7, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:40:35

Original source
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0:00

The meeting shall come to order.

0:02

Our guest chaplain is Bishop Keith Tribett Senior, Vic of Victory Temple Christian Life Center.

0:08

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

0:19

Let us bow our head for a word of a moment of silence for former mayor uh Richard Berkeley, the longest serving mayor in our city.

0:37

Father, we thank you for your goodness and your grace.

0:41

Your mercies have been extended toward us.

0:46

Extensively, Father, and we thank you.

0:49

We pray right now for this city, for the members of this council.

0:55

We pray for the leaders of our city as they continue to lead us into green pastures.

1:02

We pray right now for blessings over their lives, over their families in this holiday season.

1:09

In your son's name we pray.

1:12

Thank God.

1:13

Amen.

1:15

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States for America and to the Republicans.

1:23

One nation, undergrads with liberty and the clerk will call the roll.

1:36

O'Neil.

1:37

Will it?

1:37

President Franch.

1:39

Here.

1:39

Rogers.

1:40

Patterson Hasley.

1:42

Robinson.

1:43

President.

1:44

Raya.

1:45

Here.

1:46

Funch.

1:47

Curls.

1:48

Present.

1:49

Parkshaw.

1:50

Present.

1:50

Boo.

1:52

Alas there.

1:53

Duncan.

1:54

Lucas.

1:55

12 members present.

1:58

All right, the clerk will call the special actions.

2:00

Thank you, sir.

2:00

231023.

2:02

Congratulating the Center for Neighborhoods for his dedication and service to the community.

2:06

Dina Newman is present to receive the special action.

2:36

All right.

2:37

Councilmember O'Neill.

2:40

There she is, one of the graduates.

2:57

That I don't know if any other cities have it, but man, our neighborhoods are so well represented on this, and there's a lot of facts here, but I just want to say thank you guys for all the things you do over there because they're so important to our city that everything we do is based on a lot of the things you give us and what you teach so many of the neighborhood leaders in our city.

3:20

So with that said, I want to discuss a little bit about the center was established in the spring of 2017 by a Dr.

3:27

Jacob Wagner.

3:28

I don't think he's here, is he today?

3:30

Okay.

3:31

Um assistant professor of urban development at UMKC.

3:36

Uh, and then Missouri represent state representative Kiki Curls, who we all know and love.

3:43

Um the center was established to train and support neighborhood leaders in Missouri this past fall.

3:49

CFN held their 13th cohort.

3:52

All cohorts and other training that the center receives are Freedom Missouri residents.

3:58

Neighborhood leaders for Kansas City, Missouri have attended cohorts, but also members from Raytown, Grandview, and Independence.

4:06

The cohort is based on four pillars leadership, governance, technology, and healthy neighborhoods, and community development, with a fifth pillar being added this spring.

4:19

After graduation, the center continues to support and encourage and provide training.

4:31

She wants all the leaders up north to attend this.

4:34

So the center has trained approximately 250 neighborhood leaders and over a hundred neighborhoods.

4:40

This fall at their annual breaking bread event that celebrated neighborhood leaders.

4:45

They honored 23 neighborhood leaders as legacy leaders.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████25%
Community Engagement███████████████15%
Education██████████████14%
Public Works██████████████14%
Water And Wastewater Management████████8%
Public Engagement███████7%
Land Use Planning██████6%
Affordable Housing███3%
Public Safety███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting – December 7, 2023

The Kansas City Council met on December 7, 2023, at 9:15 AM. The meeting opened with an invocation honoring former Mayor Richard Berkeley, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a roll call showing 12 members present. The agenda included two special recognitions, adoption of consent and debate docket ordinances, and the addition of a late-filed rezoning item.

Special Recognitions

  • Resolution 231023 – Center for Neighborhoods (CFN): The Council congratulated CFN, established in spring 2017 by Dr. Jacob Wagner and former Senator Kiki Curls. Dina Newman accepted on behalf of the center. CFN has trained approximately 250 neighborhood leaders and over 100 neighborhoods, with cohorts based on four pillars (leadership, governance, technology, healthy neighborhoods/community development) and a fifth pillar upcoming. Multiple council members praised CFN for building neighborhood capacity and demystifying local government. The resolution passed by acclamation.
  • Resolution 31031 – Honoring Michael Williams: The Council honored Michael Williams for his service as Chairman of the Board of Curators for the University of Missouri system. Council members cited UMKC’s impact through KC Scholars (over 400 students), the Health Sciences District, and partnerships. Chairman Williams thanked the council; Chancellor Agarwal noted record highs in student retention, graduation rates, freshman enrollment, research expenditures (doubled in five years), and fundraising. The resolution passed by acclamation.

Consent Calendar

The following ordinances were passed unanimously (12-0) without debate:

  • Settlement authorizations (230989, 230990)
  • Condominium plat vacations (230995, 2300, 23101, 23102, 23103, 231004, 231005, 23106)
  • Lease agreement with Aviation Department (230983)
  • Grant agreement for transportation programs (231007)
  • Classification and compensation plan amendment (230953)
  • Financing for golf course equipment ($880,000) (230999)
  • Second amendment to development agreement for 63rd & Prospect (231011)
  • Rezoning for digital menu board sign (23091)
  • Development plan for hotel addition near KCI (230992)
  • Development plan for two hotels near KCI (23093)
  • Major amendment for townhomes in Steep Chase development (230994)
  • Vacation of right-of-way at UMKC (231013)
  • Sunshine law amendment creating Records Request Commissioner (230954)
  • Calendar amendment (230974) – amended to remove January 1, 2024, cancellation (see Discussion Items)
  • Development agreement for 18th & Paseo properties (231012)
  • Tax redirection agreement for 14th & Vine project (231018)
  • Design services for North Brighton Avenue improvements (230950)
  • Amendment for North Green Hills Road project (230964)
  • Bike Share KC agreement (230966)
  • Todd Creek water facility land acquisition (230975)
  • Aviation fund for parking garage HVAC/glycol facility (230981)
  • Water main replacement contracts (230984, 2979, 230986, 230996, 230997)
  • Water and sewer revenue bond issuances ($105M and $120M) (231009, 231010)
  • 75th & Warner Road improvements (231014)

Discussion Items

  • 230998 – Public Engagement Plan: Councilman O’Neill introduced a resolution directing the city manager to develop a comprehensive public engagement plan and report back in 90 days. The Neighborhood Planning & Development Committee recommended do pass. Councilman Willett acknowledged an amendment ensuring equitable citywide participation. Councilman Curls supported increased engagement. Unanimous approval (12-0).
  • 230938 – 2024 Missouri Legislative Priorities: Councilwoman Robinson presented the annual legislative agenda, including opposition to undermining the earnings tax, support for exempting diapers and menstrual products from sales tax, equitable broadband distribution, clearance title reforms, higher education savings programs, and $2M for an innovation hub. Councilman Willett voted no, stating some priorities are outside local government’s lane. Passed 11-1.
  • 2309 through 9 – 2024 Kansas Legislative Priorities: Councilwoman Robinson introduced a resolution establishing regional priorities, including World Cup, fixed rail transit, homelessness prevention, affordable housing, and decriminalization of marijuana (amended from legalization). Councilmen O’Neill and Willett opposed, arguing it exceeds the city’s scope; Councilman Rogers also voted no. Passed 9-3.
  • 230974 – 2024 Council Calendar (Amended): The original calendar canceled meetings on January 1, 2024, among other dates. Councilwoman Boo noted that due to holidays falling on Mondays, the city would have three consecutive weeks off. An amendment was adopted by unanimous consent to remove the January 1 cancellation, ensuring committees could meet if needed. The calendar as amended passed 12-0.
  • Late-Filed Ordinance 231041: Councilwoman Boo requested introduction of an ordinance to rezone about 250 acres at the northwest corner of Missouri Route 150 and Box Road from M2 and M3 districts to MPD, with a development plan for 2.5 million square feet of commercial/manufacturing uses. The ordinance was referred to the Neighborhood Planning & Development Committee.

Key Outcomes

  • All consent and debate docket ordinances passed, most unanimously.
  • Notable votes: Missouri legislative priorities (11-1, Willett nay); Kansas legislative priorities (9-3, O’Neill, Willett, Rogers nays); Calendar amendment unanimous.
  • The public engagement resolution and late-filed rezoning were referred to committee.
  • Council wished a happy Hanukkah to those celebrating.
  • Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

The meeting shall come to order. Our guest chaplain is Bishop Keith Tribett Senior, Vic of Victory Temple Christian Life Center. Would all who were able, please stand for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Let us bow our head for a word of a moment of silence for former mayor uh Richard Berkeley, the longest serving mayor in our city. Father, we thank you for your goodness and your grace. Your mercies have been extended toward us. Extensively, Father, and we thank you. We pray right now for this city, for the members of this council. We pray for the leaders of our city as they continue to lead us into green pastures. We pray right now for blessings over their lives, over their families in this holiday season. In your son's name we pray. Thank God. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States for America and to the Republicans. One nation, undergrads with liberty and the clerk will call the roll. O'Neil. Will it? President Franch. Here. Rogers. Patterson Hasley. Robinson. President. Raya. Here. Funch. Curls. Present. Parkshaw. Present. Boo. Alas there. Duncan. Lucas. 12 members present. All right, the clerk will call the special actions. Thank you, sir. 231023. Congratulating the Center for Neighborhoods for his dedication and service to the community. Dina Newman is present to receive the special action. All right. Councilmember O'Neill. There she is, one of the graduates. That I don't know if any other cities have it, but man, our neighborhoods are so well represented on this, and there's a lot of facts here, but I just want to say thank you guys for all the things you do over there because they're so important to our city that everything we do is based on a lot of the things you give us and what you teach so many of the neighborhood leaders in our city. So with that said, I want to discuss a little bit about the center was established in the spring of 2017 by a Dr. Jacob Wagner. I don't think he's here, is he today? Okay. Um assistant professor of urban development at UMKC. Uh, and then Missouri represent state representative Kiki Curls, who we all know and love.

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