Kansas City City Council Regular Meeting – September 23, 2024

The Kansas City City Council met on September 23, 2024, to consider a range of special recognitions, consent agenda items, and legislative ordinances. Key actions included honoring local businesses and organizations, approving funding for various projects, and debating a $16 million downtown booking facility.

Special Recognitions

• Resolution 240834 – Honored Cascone's Italian Restaurant for its 70th anniversary. Council members praised the restaurant as a Northland staple. Adopted unanimously.
• Resolution 240835 – Honored the Warchowski Astronomical Teaching Observatory's 50th anniversary. Director Joseph Wright spoke about the observatory's outreach. Adopted unanimously.
• Resolution 240836 – Declared September 13–22, 2024 as Welcoming Week 2024. Councilman Rogers highlighted the contributions of new residents. Adopted unanimously.
• Resolution 240858 – Recognized Hispanic Heritage Month and contributions of Latino/Hispanic employees and residents. Councilman Duncan and Councilman Rey spoke. Adopted unanimously. The flag-raising was postponed due to weather.
• Resolution 240859 – Honored the 2024 Black Achievers and the Black Achievers Society of Greater Kansas City (50th anniversary). Councilwoman Robinson sponsored. Adopted unanimously.
• Resolution 240860 – Honored the life of Kansas City Firefighter Paramedic Kyle Brinker, who died at age 33 after a medical emergency during a training exercise. A moment of silence was observed. Adopted unanimously.

Consent Calendar

• Final Readings on Consent (CID Appointments): Appointments to the Wall Street, Wagon Trails, Broadway Area, Westport, Waldo, Convention Center, and Tiffany Square East Community Improvement Districts were approved. (Roll call: 9 ayes – exact breakdown not fully recorded; motion passed.)
• Advanced Consent Docket:
  • 240802 & 240803 – Workers' compensation settlements for Jonathan Gyer and Joe Watson. Finance committee recommended pass. (Roll call: 7 ayes; passed.)
  • 2409798 – Acceptance of a $41,000 grant from MARC for violence prevention. (Passed.)
• Final Readings on Advanced Consent:
  • 240827 – Surplus property declaration and pre-development agreement for an 81-unit mixed-income affordable housing development at 2500/2526 Campbell Street. Councilwoman Boo highlighted a tenant grant fund. (Roll call: 11 ayes; passed.)
  • 240831 – $105,000 appropriation for vacant property registration software. (Roll call: 13 ayes; passed.)
  • 240832 – Reallocation of $145,657 for client advocacy services under the Save KC violence reduction grant. (Roll call: 13 ayes; passed.)
  • 240738 – $668,259 grant from Missouri DHSS for public health functions (immunization, lead testing, etc.). (Roll call: 13 ayes; passed.)
  • 240797 – $5,700,000 from park sales tax for various park projects (Cleveland Park lighting, Gregory Blvd design, Swope Park trails, etc.). (Roll call: 12 ayes; passed.)
  • Housing Trust Fund – $6,762,549 appropriation for affordable housing projects (dozens of units). (Roll call: 12 ayes; passed.)
  • 240820 – Major amendment to development plan for an adult high school by Goodwill at 5000 E Bannister Road. (Roll call: 12 ayes; passed.)
  • 240823 – Waiving code section for Historic Northeast Lofts TIFF plan. (Roll call: 12 ayes; passed.)

Discussion Items

• 240696 – Equitable Economic Development Definition: Councilwoman Robinson's ordinance adopted a definition of equitable economic development. Councilwoman Boo introduced an amendment to add a $30,000 local consultant, but later withdrew it after discussion. The ordinance passed as originally drafted (roll call: 12 ayes; passed).
• 240821 – School Zone Safety Review: Directed the city manager to include all elementary, middle, and high schools in school zone location reviews, report back in 90 days, and incorporate findings into the Traffic Engineering Operations Manual. Councilman Willett explained the need for intentional review. Passed (roll call: 11 ayes; passed).
• 240807 – Downtown Booking Facility: Authorized $16 million from the public safety sales tax to construct a booking facility at KCPD headquarters (144 capacity, 55 overnight beds). Councilman Willett offered an amendment adding a whereas clause that the council views this as one step and continues to see a need for a detention and rehabilitation facility. The amendment was adopted (roll call: 11 ayes). Extensive debate followed: Councilman Duncan argued the cost would be a floor and queried operational costs and staffing needs (28–40 additional officers); he moved to hold the ordinance until a full fiscal analysis was provided, but the motion lacked a second. Councilman Curls supported moving forward quickly. Councilman O'Neill emphasized the need for accountability. Councilman Rey noted this booking function is necessary regardless and doing it now reduces the scope for a future detention center bond. Councilwoman Patterson Hasley cited rising crime around 31st and Prospect and argued minor offenses have serious community impacts. Councilman Duncan countered that the facility does not address root causes and highlighted underinvestment in prevention. The final vote on the ordinance as amended was not captured in the transcript.

Key Outcomes

• Six special recognition resolutions were adopted unanimously.
• Consent and advanced consent ordinances were approved with large majorities.
• The equitable economic development definition was adopted without the additional consultant funding.
• School zone safety review was ordered with a 90-day report back.
• The downtown booking facility ordinance was amended and debated; the final vote was not recorded in the provided transcript.