OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting - October 3, 2024

City Council Legislative Session — Thursday, October 3, 2024
BodyKansas City, Missouri
SessionCity Council Legislative Session
DateThursday, October 3, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

The meeting will come to order.

0:04

Our guest chaplain is Pastor Dale Schwitzler of Dave Spring Pentecostal Church.

0:09

Well, all who are able, please stand for the invitation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:20

Father, we come before you today to seek your wisdom and guidance, for we are your servants.

0:26

This is your city.

0:27

Government is instituted by you, and we your servants need your guidance, your wisdom for your you are the great counselor.

0:34

So my prayer today, Father, is that your will to be done and wisdom would be imparted upon those who here today gathered to serve you to do your will.

0:42

That the city would be guided in justice and truth and love according to your plan.

0:47

May your blessing and may your favor and your presence be in this room.

0:51

I bless and I pray and thank with Thanksgiving for all these men and women and all the city in Jesus' name.

1:12

Thank you, Pastor.

1:14

Usually Council Let's The Clerk will call the roll.

1:21

Present.

1:22

Rogers, Patterson Hasley, Robinson.

1:27

Raya.

1:29

Bunt Carols.

1:31

Present.

1:31

Parkshaw.

1:32

Present.

1:33

Boo.

1:34

Here.

1:34

Duncan.

1:35

Here.

1:35

O'Neil.

1:37

Will it be a good question?

1:38

Lucas.

1:39

Hi.

1:41

Members present.

2:07

Oops.

2:13

Okay.

2:16

All right.

2:16

Thanks.

2:17

Well, the clerk please call the special actions.

2:19

Yes, sir.

2:20

24087 designating the month of October 2024 as part of a benchmark and recognizing the week of October 6th through 12th as National Fire Provision Week in Kansas City.

2:30

Constant Meyer and others are present to receive the special action.

3:31

The Mayor Pro Town, go right ahead.

3:33

Thank you, Honorable Mayor.

3:34

I rise today to acknowledge and designate the month of October, 2024 as fire prevention month, and recognize the week, October 6th through the 12th, as National Fire Safety, uh Fire Prevention Week, excuse me, in Kansas City.

3:50

Fire is a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally, and homes are the locations where people are at greatest risk from fire.

3:59

Home fires have killed more than 2,700 people in the United States in 2022, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

4:08

And fire departments in the United States responded to three thousand or so excuse me, 360,000 home fires.

4:16

Roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke smoke alarms.

4:25

Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires almost in half.

4:31

Smoke alarms send smoke well before you can, alerting you to danger in the event of fire in which you may have as little as two minutes to escape safely.

4:41

Fire prevention week, the theme this year is smoke alarms, make them work for you.

4:47

Serves to remind us the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home.

4:53

You may have less than two minutes.

4:55

I'll say less than two minutes to escape from a home fire after the smoke alarm sounds.

5:00

Planning is one of the best ways to protect you and your family.

5:04

I want to thank our first responders as they exhibit great dedication to reducing the occurrence of uh fires in homes.

5:12

And I'll just have to say uh my freshman year of high school, our our house actually caught on fire.

5:18

We were struck by our house was struck by lightning.

5:21

And literally those those minutes are seconds, it goes so quickly, and fortunately we all made it out safely, and every everybody was okay, but I am honored to be able to stand here today to remind people uh because I'll I'll I'll say this as I'm looking in the mirror today, to remind you many times we get tired of hearing that beep when the battery's dead, and some people, like in my house, take that battery out and then don't replace it.

5:48

So let this be a reminder to all of us to make sure we we replace our batteries in your smoke detectors.

5:54

If you don't have a smoke alarm, please make sure you get them.

5:57

Thank you so much.

5:59

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim.

6:00

Councilman O'Neill.

6:01

Every year once a year, I get a chance to stand up on behalf of my cousin Ray Wen, who passed a couple years ago, and I know many of you doing, and I know what what what you guys, what the fraternity meant to him, and how much he uh passed from uh probably carcinogen delivered on the job.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Land Use Planning██████████████14%
Public Safety████████████12%
Transportation Safety███████████11%
Urban Agriculture████████8%
Economic Development███████7%
Public Works███████7%
Community Engagement█████5%
Racial Equity████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting - October 3, 2024

The Kansas City Council met on October 3, 2024, to consider a range of legislative items including special recognitions, street vacations, zoning changes, and infrastructure grants. Key debates centered on a street vacation and master plan development related to an urban farm, which were held for six weeks to allow further discussion. The council also adopted resolutions proclaiming Fire Prevention Week and honoring local social enterprises.

Special Recognitions

  • Fire Prevention Month & Week (Resolution 24087): The council designated October 2024 as Fire Prevention Month and recognized October 6–12 as National Fire Prevention Week. Councilmembers shared personal stories and cited national statistics: 2,700 home fire deaths in 2022, three out of five deaths in homes without working smoke alarms. Battalion Chief Costa Meyer reported that KCFD has visited 275 homes, installed 700 smoke alarms, and distributed 984 smoke alarms in 2024. The resolution was adopted unanimously.
  • Social Venture Studio (Resolution 240888): Honored seven startups—Story Taylor, Civic Saint, Co-Build, Integrity Capital Management, Connectivities, Good Oak, and Base Academy of Music—for completing the 2023 Social Venture Studio accelerator program. The program has helped create over 1,200 jobs and attract $400 million in investment to Kansas City. Resolution adopted unanimously.

Discussion and Debate

  • Street Vacation (Ordinance 240599): Proposed vacation of approximately 130 feet of street on Fremont Avenue north of East 55th Terrace. Councilmembers Robinson, Patterson Hasley, and French opposed, citing fire safety concerns flagged by the fire department. After discussion, the council voted 9-4 to hold the item for six weeks to allow additional community dialogue and compromise.
  • Master Plan Development (Ordinance 240879): Rezoning of approximately 13 acres at 5500 Biddington Avenue from R-80 to MPD for urban agriculture. The council voted 12-1 to hold the item for six weeks. Councilmember Patterson Hasley noted racially charged communications and requested a cooling-off period. A subsequent motion to re-refer to committee was withdrawn, and the item will return to the council docket in six weeks.

Other Legislative Actions (Approved)

  • Southwest Boulevard Transportation Plan (Resolution 240885): Approved $1.7 million for first phase, funded by Hotel Phillips TIF closure, including traffic calming, transit improvements, and pedestrian safety. Unanimous.
  • Urban Tree Canopy Grant (Ordinance 240882): Accepted $2 million USDA grant to increase tree canopy in climate-vulnerable communities. Unanimous.
  • Swope Health Village Campus (Ordinances 240850 and 240876): Approved area plan amendment and rezoning for multi-unit senior/mental health housing and medical office at 3427 E. 59th Street. Unanimous.
  • West Bottoms Street Improvement (Ordinance 240862): Authorized $793,620 contract for infrastructure improvements, phase one lasting 18 months. Unanimous.
  • Montgall Pedestrian Path (Ordinance 240874): Accepted $1.9 million federal grant for sidewalk and pedestrian safety improvements. Unanimous.
  • Utility Markings Code (Ordinance 240871): Amended code to require temporary markings that can be removed within a certain time, improving street appearance. Unanimous.
  • Settlements and Plat Approvals (Ordinances 240866, 240867, 240872, 240868): Approved claims settlements and a residential plat. All passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinances 240599 and 240879 held for six weeks; will return to council docket on approximately November 14, 2024.
  • Ordinance 240851 (rezoning at NE Barrie Road) re-referred to Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee for further traffic study discussion.
  • Ordinance 240863 (cooperative agreement with Leewood) passed unanimously after clarification, despite an initial request for a one-week hold.
  • Late ordinances introduced: 240902 (prohibiting employee influence), 240903 (transportation fund development plan), 240904 (police retirement board appointment), referred to respective committees.

Meeting Transcript

The meeting will come to order. Our guest chaplain is Pastor Dale Schwitzler of Dave Spring Pentecostal Church. Well, all who are able, please stand for the invitation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Father, we come before you today to seek your wisdom and guidance, for we are your servants. This is your city. Government is instituted by you, and we your servants need your guidance, your wisdom for your you are the great counselor. So my prayer today, Father, is that your will to be done and wisdom would be imparted upon those who here today gathered to serve you to do your will. That the city would be guided in justice and truth and love according to your plan. May your blessing and may your favor and your presence be in this room. I bless and I pray and thank with Thanksgiving for all these men and women and all the city in Jesus' name. Thank you, Pastor. Usually Council Let's The Clerk will call the roll. Present. Rogers, Patterson Hasley, Robinson. Raya. Bunt Carols. Present. Parkshaw. Present. Boo. Here. Duncan. Here. O'Neil. Will it be a good question? Lucas. Hi. Members present. Oops. Okay. All right. Thanks. Well, the clerk please call the special actions. Yes, sir. 24087 designating the month of October 2024 as part of a benchmark and recognizing the week of October 6th through 12th as National Fire Provision Week in Kansas City. Constant Meyer and others are present to receive the special action. The Mayor Pro Town, go right ahead. Thank you, Honorable Mayor. I rise today to acknowledge and designate the month of October, 2024 as fire prevention month, and recognize the week, October 6th through the 12th, as National Fire Safety, uh Fire Prevention Week, excuse me, in Kansas City. Fire is a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally, and homes are the locations where people are at greatest risk from fire. Home fires have killed more than 2,700 people in the United States in 2022, according to the National Fire Protection Association. And fire departments in the United States responded to three thousand or so excuse me, 360,000 home fires. Roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke smoke alarms. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires almost in half. Smoke alarms send smoke well before you can, alerting you to danger in the event of fire in which you may have as little as two minutes to escape safely. Fire prevention week, the theme this year is smoke alarms, make them work for you. Serves to remind us the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home. You may have less than two minutes. I'll say less than two minutes to escape from a home fire after the smoke alarm sounds. Planning is one of the best ways to protect you and your family.

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