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Record of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting – January 9, 2025: Budget, Development, and Winter Weather

City Council Legislative Session — Thursday, January 9, 2025
BodyKansas City, Missouri
SessionCity Council Legislative Session
DateThursday, January 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

The meeting will come to order.

0:02

Our guest chaplain is Officer Jason Cooley of the Kansas City Police Department.

0:07

For a number of years, Officer Cooley helped manage the chaplain's program at KCPD.

0:12

He's somebody who we've all gotten to know well, and I figured we would take this opportunity our first week of the year to hear from him.

0:19

Officer Cooley.

0:24

So he's got a lot of good academics.

0:26

Officer Cool, I know.

0:29

No pressure at all.

0:30

I learned about this 30 seconds ago.

0:33

Just bow our heads.

0:35

Dear Heavenly Father, we just thank you for the stay.

0:38

We thank you for this opportunity to be together and to keep us safe.

0:40

I thank you for the leadership in the city, the mayor, the city manager, all the city elected officials.

0:46

Father, just continue to keep your hand over them, protect them as we work for the betterment of Kansas City.

0:52

We love the city, and we thank you for it, Father, in your precious name.

0:55

Amen.

0:56

Amen.

1:10

Charlie.

1:14

Clerk will call the role.

1:15

Yes, sir.

1:16

Patterson Hasley.

1:18

That's protocol.

1:19

Robinson.

1:20

Thank you.

1:21

Raya.

1:22

President Bunch.

1:24

Earls.

1:26

Parkshaw.

1:27

Present.

1:27

Boo.

1:28

Here.

1:28

Donc.

1:30

O'Neal.

1:32

Will it?

1:33

President French.

1:34

Present.

1:35

Rogers.

1:36

Lucas.

1:37

Here.

1:38

Well, members present.

1:40

Well the clerk please call the special actions.

1:42

Yes, sir.

1:43

250030.

1:45

Recognizing Kansas City achievements of an trip a double A credit rating and congratulating Tammy Queen and the finance department for their diligence.

1:53

Tammy and others are present to receive some charge.

1:57

Hi, everybody.

2:01

We're freaking on all department.

2:03

Nobody's doing anything.

2:04

I'm trying to shake hands with this.

2:06

Pretty solid.

2:12

Okay.

2:13

People can fill in.

2:15

There's space for everybody.

2:24

Oh, all right.

2:32

Oh no.

2:36

I was like a comment there.

2:39

Feel free to come around here too if you want.

2:44

Wow.

2:46

All right, Councilwoman Boo.

2:48

All right, Mr.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Works████████████████16%
Public Safety████████████████16%
Land Use Planning██████████████14%
Fiscal Sustainability█████████████13%
Economic Development████████████12%
Procedural██████████10%
Public Transportation████4%
Racial Equity███3%
Water And Wastewater Management███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting – January 9, 2025

The Kansas City Council met on January 9, 2025, at 2:00 PM in Council Chambers, with all 13 members present. The meeting opened with Chaplain Jason Cooley of KCPD. The council adopted a resolution recognizing the city's AA credit rating, passed numerous ordinances including a solar project at KCI, fund balance policy update, development incentives, and a new traffic ordinance prohibiting vehicles from having fewer than all wheels on the ground. Extensive debate occurred on a PIEA development plan in the South Loop and a resolution regarding snow removal responsibilities.

Consent Calendar

  • 241085: Lease with Giving Hope & Health, Inc. for office space at Robert J. Mohart Center (1 year, two options to renew). Passed unanimously.
  • 241086: Lease with Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness for office space at Robert J. Mohart Center (1 year, two options to renew). Passed unanimously.
  • 241081-241083: Plats for Brighton Plaza, Barry View Townhomes, and Tiffany Square. Passed unanimously.
  • 241095: Acceptance of $10,685 VOCA grant extension for the Prosecutor’s Office. Passed unanimously.
  • 241096: Cooperative procurement legal services contract with Grant & Eisenhofer and Seeger Weiss for PFAS litigation. Passed 13-0.
  • 241098: Contract with SFS Architecture for KCPD Central Booking Facility design ($2,000,000). Passed 12-1 (Duncan nay).
  • 241072: Block 138 PIEA General Development Plan on ~0.84 acres in South Loop. Passed 9-4 (Willett, Robinson, Curls, Duncan nay).
  • 241077: Acceptance of $204,331.25 grant for Maternal Child Health Services. Passed unanimously.
  • 241088: Rezoning 17.24 acres at 11511 Holmes Road to MPD for ~174 residential units. Passed unanimously.
  • 241089: Addition of property to Metro North Crossing Community Improvement District. Passed unanimously.
  • 241092: Rezoning 0.16 acres at E. 34th St. to B1-1 for commercial use. Passed unanimously.
  • 241093: Amendments to zoning code expanding administrative approvals. Passed unanimously.
  • 241104: Major amendment to development plan for quarry/warehouse at 63rd and I-435. Passed unanimously.
  • 241036: Approval of various traffic regulations. Passed unanimously.
  • 241044: Reallocation of bond funds for Grand Ave Bridge bike/ped accommodations ($379,206.49). Passed unanimously.
  • 241053: Modifications to permit fees for streets and traffic. Passed unanimously.
  • 241062: Prohibition of operating motor vehicle with less than all wheels on ground (anti-wheelie). Passed unanimously.
  • 241078: Amendment for Water Services Lab remodel with Whiting-Turner (total $30,012,962) and design contract with Finkle-Williams (total $2,966,000). Passed unanimously.
  • 241079: Design-build amendment for Dr. Jeremiah Cameron Park and Westport Stormwater Improvements (total $9,646,104). Passed unanimously.
  • 241080: Renewal of green infrastructure landscape maintenance contract with Millgoal Enterprises ($521,498). Passed 11-2 (Patterson Hazley, Robinson nay).
  • 241101: Lease amendment with Clean Energy CA Corp for CNG station at 5300 Municipal Ave. Passed unanimously.

Discussion Items

  • Special Actions: Resolution 250030 – Recognizing Kansas City’s achievement of an AA credit rating from Fitch. Councilmembers Bough, Bunch, Willett, Mayor Pro Tem, Curls, and Mayor Lucas spoke in support, highlighting the strong economy, management, and staff effort. Director Tammy Queen and Finance Department staff were present. Adopted unanimously.
  • 241004 – Pre-development agreement with Evergy, Inc. for solar photovoltaic project on KCI property. Passed 11-1 (Willett nay, Robinson out).
  • 241071 – Amendment to fund balance and reserve policy. Councilwoman Bough described the update to simplify language and set targets. Mayor Pro Tem moved an amendment to allow partner agencies with contracts to spend above the policy if already permitted; the amendment passed 12-0. Final ordinance passed 12-0 (Robinson out).
  • 241099 – Adoption of annual budget development schedule for FY 2025-2026. Passed 12-0 (Robinson out).
  • 241094 – Authorizing Chapter 100 industrial revenue bonds for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City (up to $22M) for personal property at 1400 Baltimore Ave. Councilwoman Bough noted retention of 1,150 jobs (avg. salary $105,000), relocation of 75 ($75,000), and creation of 50 ($90,000). Councilman Duncan questioned the abatement value (~$900,000 personal property tax abatement). Councilman O'Neill asked about previous Chapter 100 revisions. Passed 12-1 (Willett nay).
  • 250037 – Resolution directing City Manager to raise awareness of property owner sidewalk snow removal responsibilities and develop a support plan for CIDs, NIDs, and community organizations. Councilman Bunch introduced, citing school closures and dangerous pedestrian conditions. Councilwoman Robinson moved to refer to committee for broader discussion, including snow removal on streets. Mayor Lucas and others argued for a holistic review. Councilman Willett praised public works. After debate, motion to refer to Transportation, Infrastructure and Operations Committee passed 8-4.

Key Outcomes

  • Adopted resolutions: AA credit rating recognition (250030), budget schedule (241099).
  • Approved ordinances: Solar project at KCI (241004), fund balance policy (241071), Blue Cross Blue Shield bonds (241094), PFAS legal services (241096), KCPD booking facility design (241098), Block 138 PIEA (241072), Maternal Child Health grant (241077), Red Bridge rezoning (241088), Metro North Crossing CID (241089), 34th St. rezoning (241092), zoning code amendments (241093), quarry plan amendment (241104), traffic regulations (241036), Grand Ave bridge funds (241044), permit fee changes (241053), anti-wheelie ordinance (241062), water lab and stormwater projects (241078, 241079), green infrastructure maintenance (241080), CNG station lease (241101).
  • Referred to committee: Resolution on snow removal (250037) to Transportation, Infrastructure and Operations Committee; first readings of several ordinances (ethics amendment, Visit KC agreement, housing improvements fund, etc.) to appropriate committees.
  • Communications: Eight Community Improvement District proposed budgets for April 30, 2026, received and filed.
  • Closed session held for legal, real estate, personnel, labor negotiations, bidding, and security matters.

Meeting Transcript

The meeting will come to order. Our guest chaplain is Officer Jason Cooley of the Kansas City Police Department. For a number of years, Officer Cooley helped manage the chaplain's program at KCPD. He's somebody who we've all gotten to know well, and I figured we would take this opportunity our first week of the year to hear from him. Officer Cooley. So he's got a lot of good academics. Officer Cool, I know. No pressure at all. I learned about this 30 seconds ago. Just bow our heads. Dear Heavenly Father, we just thank you for the stay. We thank you for this opportunity to be together and to keep us safe. I thank you for the leadership in the city, the mayor, the city manager, all the city elected officials. Father, just continue to keep your hand over them, protect them as we work for the betterment of Kansas City. We love the city, and we thank you for it, Father, in your precious name. Amen. Amen. Charlie. Clerk will call the role. Yes, sir. Patterson Hasley. That's protocol. Robinson. Thank you. Raya. President Bunch. Earls. Parkshaw. Present. Boo. Here. Donc. O'Neal. Will it? President French. Present. Rogers. Lucas. Here. Well, members present. Well the clerk please call the special actions. Yes, sir. 250030. Recognizing Kansas City achievements of an trip a double A credit rating and congratulating Tammy Queen and the finance department for their diligence. Tammy and others are present to receive some charge. Hi, everybody. We're freaking on all department. Nobody's doing anything. I'm trying to shake hands with this. Pretty solid.

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