Kansas City Council Meeting – February 1, 2024

The Kansas City Council convened on February 1, 2024, at 10:00 AM. The meeting opened with an invocation and pledge of allegiance, followed by roll call (10 members present). The council adopted a special action honoring a retiring health department employee, debated a park funding appropriation, and passed numerous ordinances including a pregnancy accommodation policy, a grant to a local credit union, and funding for a potential Chiefs Super Bowl celebration.

Special Action: Honoring Cheryl Hampton

• Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2024-0095 recognizing Cheryl Hampton’s 20 years of service at the Kansas City Health Department. Councilman Duncan praised her work as an educator, author, and advocate. Ms. Hampton gave remarks thanking her family, her director, and her team.

Discussion Items

• Parks Sales Tax Funding (Ordinance 24031): The council debated a motion to re-refer a $5.525 million appropriation for Ashland Square Park, 9th & Van Brunt Soccer Renovations, Bruce R. Watkins Connector Community Park, and the MLK Square Park Pedestrian Bridge back to the Finance Committee. Councilwoman Robinson (Third District) requested more time to codify protections for neighborhood use of the 9th & Van Brunt field, citing concerns about pay-to-play and displacement of existing youth teams. Councilwoman Boo, as committee chair, argued for additional community input. After discussion, the council voted to re-refer the item (except the MLK bridge) back to committee, and separately passed a same-day adoption for the $1 million MLK Pedestrian Bridge.
• Truman Plaza Area Plan (Ordinance 231052): Approved an amendment to the Truman Plaza area plan (including a blight finding) and rezoning for high-density residential use. The Planning Commission recommended denial, but the council adopted the ordinance after a vote of 13-0.
• Airport Demolition Contract (Ordinance 24027): Authorized a $19.2 million contract with Spartas Wrecking Company for demolition of aviation buildings at KCI. Councilman O’Neill clarified that local labor requirements would be met. Passed 13-0.
• Pregnancy Accommodation (Ordinance 24082): Enacted a new ordinance prohibiting discrimination and requiring reasonable accommodation for pregnant employees. Passed 13-0.
• Credit Union Grant (Ordinance 24086): Authorized a $125,000 grant (five annual payments of $25,000) to KC Unital Federal Credit Union to support financial literacy and a physical location. An amendment replaced the word “subsidize” with “grant.” Passed 12-1 (Councilman Rogers voted no).
• Other Ordinances: The council voted on a series of consent and debate items, including: a second-quarter budget adjustment (24093), alley vacation in West Bottoms (24080), condominium plat vacation (24056), MODOT I-70 reimbursement agreement (24056), development services fund transfer (240063), Hodge Park land sale to North Kansas City School District (240071), sensor network contract (24074), and sludge hauling contract (24088). All passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• The council re-referred the contested parks funding (except MLK bridge) to the Finance Committee for further discussion on community protections.
• A separate ordinance (240166) appropriating $1 million for the Martin Luther King Jr. Square Park Pedestrian Bridge was introduced and passed on the same day.
• All other ordinances on the advanced docket passed, mostly with 13-0 votes.
• The meeting concluded with a recognition of Black History Month and a tribute to the late Bill Curls.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the council meeting itself. Testimony was heard earlier in committee on the parks item.