Kansas City, Missouri City Council Meeting – June 6, 2024
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Kansas City, Missouri City Council Meeting – June 6, 2024
The Kansas City Council met on June 6, 2024, at 9:30 AM, presided by Mayor Quinton Lucas. The meeting began with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, followed by roll call (12 council members present). The session included multiple special actions honoring deceased city employees and community contributions, adoption of resolutions, and consideration of ordinances related to housing, transit, development, and city operations. All votes were unanimous or near-unanimous, with several items passed by voice vote or 12-0 to 13-0 tally.
Special Actions
- 240478 – Posthumous Honor for Nollie Knighton: Recognized Nollie Knighton for his 35-year career at the Water Department (1989–2024). Adopted by voice vote.
- 240480 – Posthumous Honor for Alberta Harold Hudson: Recognized Alberta Harold Hudson for 24 years of service in the Revenue Department (1999–2023). Adopted by voice vote.
- 240479 – National Caribbean American Heritage Month: Recognized June as Caribbean American Heritage Month and honored Julie Mango (comedian, mental health advocate). Adopted by voice vote.
- 240501 – 55th Anniversary of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Kansas City Alumni Chapter: Adopted after a motion to suspend council rules (passed 11-0) to add this item. The chapter has awarded over $1.8 million in scholarships.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Family members of honorees (Betty Knighton, Raquel Harrell) expressed gratitude.
- Representatives of Caribbean American community (Andrew Sharp, Julie Mango) thanked the council and highlighted contributions.
- Dion Greenfield, president of Delta Sigma Theta alumni chapter, thanked the city for recognition.
Resolutions for Same-Day Adoption
- Pride Month Resolution (no number given): Recognized June as Pride Month and directed the city manager to raise the Pride flag over City Hall. Passed 12-0.
Final Readings & Debate
- 240360 – Affordable Housing Study: Directed city manager to research sustainable funding for affordable housing and report within 30 days. Passed 12-0.
- 240417 – Vine Street CID: Directed city manager to execute petition adding city property to the Vine Street Community Improvement District. Passed 12-0.
- 240402 – Regional Transit Plan (amended): Directed city manager to determine best practices for regional transit and cost of an updated plan, report within 30 days. A friendly amendment clarified that the city manager should “determine how to develop a regional transit funding plan” (instead of “develop”). Amendment passed 12-0; resolution as amended passed 12-0.
- 240465 – Workers’ Compensation Settlement: Approved $59,435 settlement for Felicia Madden. Passed 13-0.
- 240460 – Classification Compensation Plan: Retitled job classifications and adjusted pay ranges. Passed 13-0.
- 240461 – American Jazz Museum: Authorized $760,000 annual contract amendment for management/operation of 18th Vine project. Passed 13-0.
- 240477 – Starlight Theatre Funding: Authorized a $3.5 million bridge loan (reimbursement agreement) for improvements. Council members asked about impact on bond rating and the city acting as lender. Staff explained urgency and public-ownership structure. Passed 13-0.
- 240431 – Rezoning (12 acres near N. Chouteau): Rezoned from R-2.5/B2-2 to B3-3 for future sale. Passed 11-0.
- 240451 – CID Assistance Fund: Appropriated $120,000 to help establish new Community Improvement Districts. Passed 13-0.
- 240467 – Streetcar Improvements: Appropriated $11.5 million for Second and Grand track improvements. Passed 13-0.
- 240473 – Barney Allis Plaza Construction: Authorized $21.7 million amendment for McGowan Construction and $599,000 for Weldon Architects; total project cost $25,964,000. Discussion on MBE/WBE goals. Passed 13-0.
Discussion Items
- Starlight Theatre Loan: Councilman Duncan questioned why the city is acting as lender; Mayor Lucas explained urgency and that the property’s public ownership required city involvement. No effect on bond rating noted.
- Permitting Audit Resolution (240503): Introduced late by Councilman O’Neill. Directs city auditor to review residential single-family building permit processing (Jan 1, 2023 – April 2024) and report within 90 days. Council members debated scope, data variables, and frustration with slow development. The auditor stated the scope will be narrow and requested 90 days. Motion for immediate adoption passed 12-0; resolution adopted unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- All special actions, resolutions, and ordinances listed above were adopted unanimously (voice vote or roll call with 11–13 ayes).
- The council suspended rules (11-0) to add a fifth special action.
- 240503 (Permitting Audit) was adopted after immediate adoption motion.
- 240504 (2024 Action Plan for CDBG, HOME, ESG, etc.) was introduced as a first reading and referred to committee; the meeting then moved to closed session (motion passed 12-0).
Meeting Transcript
The meeting will come to order. Our guest chaplain is Bishop Stan Gleason of the Life Church. Would all who are able, please stand for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, Mayor. Shall we pray? Almighty God, I thank you for the honor to lift our voice in this house. I call down your blessings today on our honorable mayor and this august buddy of City Council members. I pray your kingdom come collectively to our minds and hearts and understanding. We thank you for our great city that we love and our people, Lord, that we love. Your word declares, Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it, except the Lord watch the city, they keep it in vain. We know, Lord, that at the end of our best efforts that you are superintending us and you are watching over us. This is a magnificent city that you have set on a hill, and it cannot be hid. I pray that your kingdom will come, your will will be done in this house today. Let honor, justice, and truth rule in these walls. We ask it and we speak it and declare it in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, and everyone said amen. Under God with liberty liberty and justice for all of us at the hospital today. Madam Clark. The clerk will call the roll. Thank you. I appreciate you coming, Dave. Rogers, Patterson Hasley here, Robinson, present. Rhea, Bunch, Curls, Artshaw, here. Duncan? O'Neil? Here. Willet. Present. Lucas. Okay. Here. Well, members present. We will proceed with the special actions. We'll start with the uh pickle. That's Globe. All right. We'll go in order, actually. So let's start with an order. Miss Knighton. You do have that one ready? Yes, sir. Yeah, thank you. Okay. 240478. Celebrating the posthumously honoring Nolly Knighton for his dedicated service to the city of Kansas City, Missouri. Betty Knighton and others are present to receive the special action. Y'all waited. Come on up. Just watch this. I know what I need to do. Honoring you.
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