Kansas City Council Meeting – February 1, 2024
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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.
Meeting Transcript
The meeting will come to order. Our guest chaplain is Bishop Frank Douglas of Beth Judah Ministries. And by the way, we thank you for your patience. Would all who are able please stand for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Let us pray. Lord, there is none like you. No, not one. From the darkness of this first day of February at 1201 toward the sunrise at 724 to this very present 15th hour. You are worthy to be praised. Holy and sovereign Lord, your name that rules over Kansas City and the trillions of suns and galaxies under your heavenly throne. Lord, spare Kansas City that we might repent from our sin, wickedness, evil, nefarious activities that may occur in the name of good intention for fellow neighbors. In your name, Jesus, I rebuke any diabolical and clandestine activities disguised as commerce and progress between city hall and business to do enterprise that deliberates within the corridors for profitable future endeavors, but may not be beneficial to the righteous advancement of Kansas City. Lord, fasten our community's forensic eye of accountability towards these budget reviews with our mayor and council to understand we all are standing in the light of God. Prompt every beloved law-abiding citizen to review our expenditures and be present these next three months when the mayor and council address and celebrate our good and great accomplishments and discontinue any detrimental policies for the next fiscal year. Lord, anoint the mayor and council to work together and present a righteous budget for the next fiscal year. Lord, thank you for never sleeping on Kansas City and those who believe and follow your son Jesus. We cast down vain imaginations of homelessness, poverty, child abuse, evil, violence, and murder, and command they cease and desist. We ask this all in your son Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you so much, sir. Have a lesson. Clerk will call the role. O'Neill. Here. Will it? President Franch. Thank you. Rogers. Patterson Hasley. Robinson. President. Bunch. Here. Carls. Here. Parkshaw. Here. Boo. Here. Duncan? Here. Lucas? Here. Ten members present. Well, the clerk please call the special actions. Yes, sir. 2024 0095, honoring Cheryl Hampton on this J 20, January 25th, 2024, on her retirement from 20 years of service to the city of Kansas City, Missouri, and the health department. Cheryl's present to receive the special action. Hello? Thank you so much for having us.
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