Kansas City Council Meeting – February 22, 2024: Library Anniversary, Language Access Office, and Post-Shooting Mental Health Resolutions
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Kansas City Council Meeting – February 22, 2024
The Kansas City Council convened on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 9:45 AM. The meeting included special recognitions, resolutions addressing the recent Valentine’s Day shooting at Union Station, establishment of an Office of Language Access, and approval of multiple funding ordinances.
Consent Calendar
- All ordinances listed as committee advances were approved unanimously (13-0) after waiving the three-reading requirement.
Special Actions & Recognitions
- 240204 – Kansas City Public Library’s 150th Anniversary Council declared November 5, 2023, to December 4, 2024, as the 150th anniversary year. Multiple council members and Mayor Lucas shared personal stories about the library’s impact. The resolution passed unanimously.
- 240214 – National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (Feb 26 – Mar 3, 2024) Councilwoman Boo, noting that eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate and affect 28.8 million Americans, shared a personal family story. The resolution passed unanimously.
- 240226 – Honoring Elizabeth Lopez Galvin and Victims of the Valentine’s Day Shooting Mayor Lucas introduced the resolution, expressing condolences. Council members described the community loss and the need for continued support for victims and first responders. The resolution passed unanimously.
Discussion Items
- 240215 – Mental Health Impacts of Mass Shootings Councilwoman Patterson-Hasley introduced a resolution recognizing the traumatic effects of the Union Station shooting, urging city employees and the public to use resources like the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Council members shared personal trauma experiences. Adopted unanimously.
- 240165 – Office of Language Access Mayor Pro Tem presented an amended ordinance to establish the Office of Language Access within the Office of City Communications. The amendment directs staff to engage KCPD on a language access plan and report in one year. Councilman Willett’s amendment adding Missouri’s sanctuary policy prohibition failed (3-10). The amended ordinance passed 12-1.
- 240200 – Support for EDA Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs Application The council authorized a local match of up to $4 million for a biomanufacturing grant application that could bring $40–70 million in federal funds and create 10,000 jobs paying at least $24/hour. Councilwoman Robinson successfully amended the motion to prioritize inclusion of BIPOC communities and federally recognized Justice40 communities. Passed unanimously.
- 240662 – Blue Ridge Boulevard Street Impact Project An ordinance waiving certain procedures and appropriating $800,000 from the Southern Arterial Impact District Fund for preliminary designs of Blue Ridge Boulevard from 87th Street to Manister Road. Passed unanimously.
- 240199 – Grand Boulevard Bicycle Pedestrian Bridge Grant Council expressed support for a $9.76 million federal RAISE grant application, requiring a local match of $2.44 million from the Public Mass Transit (PMT) fund. Funding was previously included in the Capital Improvements Plan. Passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent ordinances (settlement, park spray ground, airport project) all passed 13-0.
- Budget and bond ordinances (240228, 240230, 240231, 240232) were introduced late and referred to the Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee.
- Item 230741 was held for one week at the sponsor’s request.
- All votes recorded; no opposition on most items except the Willett amendment on the Language Access ordinance.
Meeting Transcript
The meeting will come to order. Our guest chaplain is Bishop Frank Douglas of Beth Judah Ministries. And thank you for your patience, sir, throughout this month. Would all who are able, please stand for the invocation, remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Sir Lord, today I humbly pray to you before this great witness of fellow citizens and elected officials and their expert staff to seek guidance from heaven above. God of love, mercy, salvation, and peace. Lord forgive me and Kansas City for our sins that are causing us to deal with the reflection of our disguised hatred and vitriol toward our neighbors. Over the course of four weeks from our law enforcement's mishandling of a citizen in the Power and Light District to last week's vile animus display in the loss of life of our dear sister, Lisa Lopez Galvin, and senseless injury and harm and traumatic foreclosure to future leaders of our community, which are our youth. Lord forgive us for parading intoxication and idolatry and rivalry, fits of anger and strife instead of a sober celebration of gratitude for the opportunity to compete and have triumph in the national sport of American football to our local team winning the Super Bowl. Lord, you have given me and fellow Christian believers a mandate as we serve this great city to love one another. As we go throughout this great city, let us do so with loving kindness that reflects you, Jesus. Without a demonstration of your love, it is of the devil. Please, Lord, help our mayor and council and most importantly, my fellow citizens respectfully hold our elected officials accountable for the allocation of tax dollars that do not respect brotherly love at the very least for all Kansas City families. Finally, Lord, your holy word says, by this will all know we are disciples of your son Jesus, that we show heaven's love one towards another. Amen. Amen. Which stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Message. Clerk will call the roll. O'Neill. Here. Willet. President French. Here. Rogers. Here. Patterson Hasley. Here. Robinson. Here. Rhea. Here. Bunch. Here. Here. Parkshaw. Here. Boo. Here. Here. Here. Members present. Well, Clerk, please call special actions joined. 240204, declaring November December 5th, 2023 to December 4th, 2024, as a Kansas City Public Library's 150th anniversary year. Pete Brown and others are present to receive the special action. Brown on every board. Here it is. Oh my gosh. I can't think that. Sorry.
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