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Record of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting - January 30, 2025: Honors, Zoning Disputes, and Budget Approvals

City Council Legislative Session — Thursday, January 30, 2025
BodyKansas City, Missouri
SessionCity Council Legislative Session
DateThursday, January 30, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

The meeting will come to order.

0:03

Our guest chaplain today is Mr.

0:06

Nathan Willett, Councilman Nathan Willett of Park Hill High School.

0:11

Would all who are able please stand for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:18

Councilman Willett.

0:19

Thank you, Mr.

0:20

Mayor.

0:21

Dear Lord, thank you for bringing us together.

0:23

Um, bless all the folks who come in here today.

0:26

Um, and all the items on our agenda.

0:29

I pray that you watch over our city, continue to make us safe.

0:33

I want us all prayer for the family and victims from last night's tragedy uh in Washington, D.C.

0:39

from a plane that took off here not too far from our home.

0:43

We pray for the families, um, whether it be folks um locally or internationally.

0:49

We pray for comfort, for peace.

0:51

Uh, we appreciate the support of first responders uh responding to the scene and keeping a watchful hand as as they went down and tried to recover some folks.

1:01

I pray uh for safety.

1:03

Um, and I'm definitely gonna be praying for three Pete for our Super Bowl champions, Kansas City Chiefs.

1:09

Um please protect them and keep them safe.

1:12

And uh let's let's win that.

1:14

In Jesus' name I pray.

1:15

Amen.

1:17

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

1:24

One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

1:30

Mr.

1:31

Mayor, I just want to clarify that he's a teacher at Park Hill, not a student.

1:35

Fair enough.

1:36

Often often confused.

1:38

The clerk will call the roll.

1:41

Patterson Hasley, Robinson, Raya, President Bud.

1:47

Here, Earl, President.

1:50

Parkshaw.

1:51

Present.

1:52

Here.

1:53

Thank you.

1:54

O'Neill.

1:55

Here.

1:56

Will it?

1:57

Present.

1:58

Present.

1:58

Roger Lilith.

2:00

Here.

2:02

The clerk will proceed with the special action.

2:05

Yes, sir.

2:05

25081.

2:07

Honoring Doug Jones for 31 years of service with the city of Kansas City, Missouri.

2:11

Doug is present to receive the special action.

2:20

Come on, come on, everybody.

2:23

How are you doing, man?

2:25

Very nice to see.

2:25

How are you?

2:27

Very nice to see you.

2:27

I think again.

2:31

So today we have the opportunity, and in some ways, after 31 years, it's fitting to make Mr.

2:38

Jones wait another hour and a half at a city council meeting.

2:41

It will remind him of who we are and all the work we do and how important his audits have been.

2:48

I'll read a little bit of his bio and then give us a chance to talk about Mr.

2:51

Jones and his service to the people of Kansas City.

2:54

Mr.

2:54

Jones has a degree from Wichita State University and is a certified government auditing professional, a certified internal auditor, holds certifications and risk management assurance and beyond.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████20%
Agriculture and Food Security████████████████16%
Miscellaneous████████████████16%
Land Use Planning█████████████13%
Personnel Matters███████████11%
Arts And Culture██████████10%
Community Engagement████4%
Public Works████4%
Public Safety███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting - January 30, 2025: Honors, Zoning Disputes, and Budget Approvals

The Kansas City Council met on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 2:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting began with a chaplain, pledge of allegiance, and roll call, with all 13 council members present. The council adopted two special action resolutions honoring retiring City Auditor Douglas Jones and Jan Fichman of Seventh Heaven, and debated several zoning and policy items, including a contentious urban agriculture master plan development that ultimately failed. The council also passed a series of budget and infrastructure ordinances.

Consent Calendar

  • Special Action 250081: Resolution honoring Douglas Jones for 31 years of service with the City of Kansas City, Missouri. Adopted unanimously.
  • Special Action 250082: Resolution celebrating Jan Fichman, CEO of 7th Heaven, for over 50 years of contributions to Kansas City’s music industry. Adopted unanimously.
  • Communications: Notices from 30+ Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) regarding proposed April 30, 2026 budgets were received and filed.

Discussion Items

  • 250040 – Surplus TIF Policy: Resolution directing the City Manager to develop a policy for the use of surplus tax increment financing (TIF) revenue from terminated or expired TIF areas, with a report back within 60 days. Sponsor Councilmember Bough explained the need for a consistent policy. Passed 12-0 (Parks-Shaw out).
  • 240599 – Street Vacation on Fremont Avenue: Ordinance to vacate approximately 130 feet of unimproved street north of East 55th Terrace. Councilmember Robinson noted that the Fire Department initially approved but later rescinded, citing a life safety concern. The ordinance failed 0-13.
  • 240879 – Urban Agriculture MPD (Committee Substitute): Rezoning about 13 acres at 5500 Bennington Avenue to allow expansion of urban agriculture uses, including a composting facility. Councilmember Patterson Hazley argued the subscription-based composting company was inappropriate for a residential area, describing potential nuisances from traffic and odors. Councilmember Robinson cited lack of neighborhood cohesion due to proximity of access road to homes. Councilmember Bough moved to amend with additional CPC conditions (height limit on composting structure, setbacks), but the amendment failed 4-9. The ordinance then failed 3-9 (three ayes: Rogers, Rea, Bunch; Bough abstained; nine nays). Councilmember Duncan noted that the Board of Zoning Adjustment had already ruled the composting operation in compliance, so the status quo would continue.
  • 250010 – KCI Area Plan Amendment: Amendment for 59 acres at I-435 and N.W. Cookingham Drive changing land use from mixed use community to commercial and industrial to allow a data center. Councilmember Willett expressed concerns about the proliferation of data centers in the Northland and the need for a citywide plan, but ultimately voted in favor. Passed 13-0.
  • 250044 – Security Services Funding: Authorizing the City Manager to negotiate agreements for off-duty officers and sheriffs’ deputies in areas recommended by the Multidisciplinary Public Safety Task Force, with a $1,000,000 funding request in FY2025-26. Councilmember Bough opposed, stating she preferred the original funding source (violence prevention fund). Passed 8-3 (O'Neill, Willett, Curls nay; Robinson, Bunch out).
  • 250086 – Swope Park Improvements Grant: Ordinance to accept a $4,250,000 National Park Service Outdoor Recreation Legacy Program grant for Swope Park improvements. Passed 11-0 (Bunch out).

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance 250040 (Surplus TIF Policy): Adopted 12-0.
  • Ordinance 240599 (Street Vacation): Failed 0-13.
  • Ordinance 240879 (Urban Agriculture MPD): Failed 3-9 (Bough abstained).
  • Ordinance 250010 (KCI Area Plan Amendment): Passed 13-0.
  • Ordinance 240981 (Parking Services Expansion): Passed 9-1 (Willett nay; O'Neill, Robinson, Bunch out).
  • Ordinance 250043 (Second Quarter Budget Cleanup): Passed 11-0 (Robinson, Bunch out).
  • Ordinance 250044 (Security Services Funding): Passed 8-3 (O'Neill, Willett, Curls nay; Robinson, Bunch out).
  • Ordinance 241065 (Industrial Warehouse on N. Everton): Passed 10-0 (Robinson, Bunch, Bough out).
  • Ordinance 250027 (Data Center Rezoning & Plat): Passed 10-0 (Robinson, Bunch, Bough out).
  • Ordinance 250038 (HOPWA Grant): Passed 11-0 (Robinson, Bunch out).
  • Ordinance 250046 (Residential Rezoning, 283 units): Passed 12-0 (Bunch out).
  • Ordinance 250041 (Blue River WWTP Grit Removal): Passed 11-0 (Bunch out).
  • Ordinance 250042 (Water Main Replacement Phase II): Passed 11-0 (Bunch out).
  • Ordinance 250086 (Swope Park Grant): Passed 11-0 (Bunch out).
  • Closed Session: The council voted 12-0 (Bunch out) to enter closed session pursuant to several subsections of Missouri Revised Statutes to discuss legal, real estate, personnel, and other matters.
  • First Readings Referred to Committees: Several ordinances were introduced and referred to committees, including items on the Local Emergency Operations Plan, a Chiefs Super Bowl celebration contract, a McKinsey consulting contract, and various rezoning and development plans.

Meeting Transcript

The meeting will come to order. Our guest chaplain today is Mr. Nathan Willett, Councilman Nathan Willett of Park Hill High School. Would all who are able please stand for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Willett. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Dear Lord, thank you for bringing us together. Um, bless all the folks who come in here today. Um, and all the items on our agenda. I pray that you watch over our city, continue to make us safe. I want us all prayer for the family and victims from last night's tragedy uh in Washington, D.C. from a plane that took off here not too far from our home. We pray for the families, um, whether it be folks um locally or internationally. We pray for comfort, for peace. Uh, we appreciate the support of first responders uh responding to the scene and keeping a watchful hand as as they went down and tried to recover some folks. I pray uh for safety. Um, and I'm definitely gonna be praying for three Pete for our Super Bowl champions, Kansas City Chiefs. Um please protect them and keep them safe. And uh let's let's win that. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Mr. Mayor, I just want to clarify that he's a teacher at Park Hill, not a student. Fair enough. Often often confused. The clerk will call the roll. Patterson Hasley, Robinson, Raya, President Bud. Here, Earl, President. Parkshaw. Present. Here. Thank you. O'Neill. Here. Will it? Present. Present. Roger Lilith. Here. The clerk will proceed with the special action. Yes, sir. 25081. Honoring Doug Jones for 31 years of service with the city of Kansas City, Missouri. Doug is present to receive the special action. Come on, come on, everybody. How are you doing, man? Very nice to see.

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