Kansas City Council Meeting – October 24, 2024: Recognitions, Free Transit on Election Day, Meeting Time Changes, and Debated Software Funding
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Kansas City Council Meeting – October 24, 2024
The Kansas City Council convened on October 24, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. for a regular business session. The meeting included special recognitions, a same‑day adoption resolution to provide free public transit on Election Day (November 5, 2024), permanent changes to council meeting start times, a consent docket of claims and administrative items, and a debated ordinance allocating $300,000 from the Violence Prevention and Intervention Fund for police software. Several infrastructure contracts were also approved.
Consent Calendar
- Settlements: Three claims approved without debate – $125,000 (Rudy Hernandez), $150,000 (Daniel Carter lawsuit), $75,000 (workers’ compensation for Ryan Harris). All passed unanimously (13‑0).
- Advanced Consent Docket (unanimous approvals):
- $666,667 contract with Zolo Communications for aviation marketing/ advertising (five‑year term).
- Fourth amendment to River Market lease (six‑year extension with Planned Industrial Expansion Authority).
- $13,006,500 in financing for citywide fleet replacement vehicles (2025 project), primarily from domestic automakers.
- $8.5 million for Swope Memorial Golf Course improvements (green, tee, and hole upgrades); noted as historically significant course (designed by A.W. Tillingast, hosted 1949 PGA event).
- $300,000 grant from Missouri DESE for the Building Blocks home visiting program.
- Road diet implementation plan and microsurfacing ordinance (Vision Zero support).
- $500,000 construction contract for water distribution system repairs (valve straightening).
- $2.7 million emergency water distribution repairs contract.
- $2,063,294 contract for drinking water service line materials inventory (lead line identification).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made during the meeting. The transcript indicates that extensive testimony had been received previously on the flavored tobacco ban (held off the docket).
Discussion Items
- Honoring Orley McKenzie & Life 360 (Resolution 240925): Recognized the founder for youth empowerment, technology, and cultural preservation. Adopted unanimously.
- Honoring Richard Allen (Resolution 240956): Recognized 25 years of service with Parks and Recreation, highlighting projects such as Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Brush Creek Trail, and Loose Park. Adopted unanimously.
- Free Transit on Election Day (Same‑day adoption resolution): Proposed by Mayor Pro Tem to direct the city manager to collaborate with KCATA, IRIS, and other providers to offer free rides to polling places on November 5, 2024.
- Councilman Willett expressed concern about a previous partnership with the National Pan‑Hellenic Council (whose PAC endorsed a presidential candidate) and asked for committee review. Other members (Mayor Pro Tem, Councilman Curls, Councilwoman Boo, Mayor Lucas) argued the resolution was separate and non‑partisan, noting it could help underserved areas.
- Motion to consider same‑day passed 12‑1 (Willett in opposition). The resolution then adopted 12‑1 (Willett abstained).
- Peregrine Software Funding (Ordinance 240920): $300,000 from Violence Prevention and Intervention Fund for police data software (Peregrine). The police foundation is raising an additional $1.7 million.
- Councilman Raya (sponsor) cited a 40% homicide clearance improvement in Albuquerque. Councilwoman Robinson and Councilman Duncan opposed on principle, arguing the software is a core police function that should be in the regular budget, not a mid‑year ask from a special fund. Mayor Lucas noted the nexus with the focus‑deterrence program (Safe KC).
- Roll call vote: 11 ayes, 1 nay (Robinson), 1 abstention (Duncan). Passed.
- Flavored Tobacco Ban (Ordinance 240897): Mayor Pro Tem moved to hold the item off the docket to allow further collaboration with business owners and health organizations. No vote was taken; the item was held without objection.
- Rezoning for Mixed‑Use Building (Ordinance 240851): Rezone 2.89 acres near Maplewoods Community College to allow a three‑story, 45,000 sq. ft. building with 30 residential units and 15,000 sq. ft. commercial space. Traffic concerns with the college were resolved. Passed unanimously (13‑0).
- Meeting Time Changes (Ordinances 240960 and 240961): First ordinance moved the regular legislative session start from 3 p.m. to 2 p.m. Second ordinance moved the business session start to 1 p.m. Both were adopted unanimously after waiving charter requirements.
- Parking Garage Development Agreement (Ordinance 240962, late docket): Introduced and referred to the Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee for a parking garage serving the 18th and Vine District.
Key Outcomes
- Recognitions: Orley McKenzie and Richard Allen were honored; both resolutions adopted unanimously.
- Free Transit Resolution: Adopted 12‑1 (Willett abstained). Implementation directed to the city manager.
- Peregrine Software Funding: Approved 11‑1‑1 (Robinson no, Duncan abstained). City contribution of $300,000 from Violence Prevention Fund.
- Meeting Time Changes: Both ordinances passed unanimously (13‑0). Starting times changed to 2 p.m. (legislative) and 1 p.m. (business) effective immediately.
- Flavored Tobacco Ban: Held off docket for further stakeholder discussions.
- Consent and Advanced Items: All approved unanimously (13‑0) except as noted.
- Referrals: Ordinance 240919 was referred back to Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee at Councilman Willett’s request (no objection).
- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at approximately 4:45 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Proudest graduate of Bishop Hogan High School, right? Councilman O'Neill will have a special word for us, and then that will be followed by the uh our Pledge of Allegiance. You have been trained through a lifetime. I'll uh I'll say this. Uh this goes out to my dear friend, Councilman Curls. To everyone in attendance first. Thank you for being here, for giving up some time to be here. Um, every day we we do a lot here that goes noticed and unnoticed many times. But I'm just uh I'm glad to serve with these 12 council people and mayor to get things done for this city, and I thank God for all the blessings he's given all of us here, and uh thank you very much. Amen. Amen. My pleasure leads you to the flag of the United States of America to one nation under God. We don't all the time, but really a round of applause for that come around. All right. The uh the priests and nuns along the way would be very proud. Uh Clerk of Colorado, French Present, Roger Patterson Hasley Robinson here, right? Here lunch here curls, president Park Shaw here. Ooh. Here Duncan O'Neill here Willie. President Lucas. Here. 13 members president. Uh the clerk will proceed with these special actions. Yes, sir. 240925, honoring Orley McKenzie and Life 360. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Mayor Pro Tim. Thank you, Honorable Mayor. It is my honor to rise to recognize Miss Orley McKenzie and Life 360. She is the founder of Life 360 and has dedicated her life to empowering Kansas City's youth and fostering community leadership through the integration of education, technology, and cultural preservation. She has uh opened countless doors of opportunity for young people in Kansas City, providing with the tooling them with the tools, confidence, and inspiration needed to succeed in an increasingly complex world. She has uh established partnerships with the Watkins Foundation, Creative City KC Incorporated, the Kansas City Museum, and they have uh significantly contributed to the preservation of our city's rich cultural historical legacy. In collaboration with these organizations, um Creative KC Inc. and uh American Music Apprenticeship Program, they have celebrated and preserved Kansas City's musical heritage, as well as um the with the efforts working with the efforts of Miss Anita Brown Dixon Brown, which we are familiar with in this chamber. Through her visionary leadership and dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion, Miss McKenzie has united our community, building a brighter, more inclusive future for Kansas City, and it is my honor today to honor her and thank you so much for your commitment uh for really working with our youth and helping to elevate them to the level levels of leadership that we know that they are very capable of. And I just uh thank you and wish you much success. Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim. Are there others who wish to speak to the resolution? I want to thank the mayor pro tem for honoring Life 360 and all it does in our community. We say often here that at City Hall, we think about programmatic efforts to improve our community, but it's really people like y'all out on the streets each day doing the work, and so we appreciate you for that. If there are no others wish to speak to the resolution, the resolution is now before council. All in favor, indicate by saying aye. Aye, aye. All opposed. The resolution is adopted. I will just briefly note before I turn it over. We also are blessed to have uh Mr. Jim Nunnley with us, who always wears Mazoo gear.
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