OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting - March 26, 2025: Budget Adoption, Fire Prevention, and City Manager Suspension Ratified

City Council Legislative Session — Wednesday, March 26, 2025
BodyKansas City, Missouri
SessionCity Council Legislative Session
DateWednesday, March 26, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Committee will come to order.

0:02

Our guest chaplain is Pastor Dr.

0:04

Serena Wright of the Commission to Heal Community Outreach Church.

0:08

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

0:13

Pastor Wright.

0:17

Let us pray.

0:19

Heavenly Father, we thank you for this occasion.

0:21

We thank you for this time.

0:23

I pray for the families that are represented here.

0:25

I pray for this great board that's represented here.

0:28

Each and every individual that has come together.

0:31

I pray, Lord, that you watch over them.

0:33

Lord, that you'll give them the wisdom that they need to make the decisions that they need to make.

0:38

And it is so in Jesus' name we pray.

0:41

Amen.

0:42

Amen.

0:48

And to the revolution.

0:50

One nation.

0:54

With liberty and justice.

0:56

Thank you, Pastor.

0:58

God bless you.

1:00

The clerk will call the roll.

1:03

Hi.

1:03

Robinson.

1:04

Present.

1:06

Bunt.

1:08

Carls.

1:09

Present.

1:09

Parkshaw.

1:10

Present.

1:11

Boo.

1:11

Here.

1:12

Document.

1:13

O'Neal.

1:14

Will it?

1:15

Present.

1:16

French.

1:16

Present.

1:17

Rogers.

1:18

Lucas.

1:19

Here.

1:19

Eleven members present.

1:21

Will the clerk please call the special actions?

1:24

250235.

1:26

Declare the week of March 31st through April 8th, 2025 as seven days of kindness day in Kansas City.

1:32

Stephanie Sullivan.

1:33

Oh, Sullivan, I'm sorry, and others are present to reason.

1:38

We need seven days again.

1:45

Thank you.

1:45

Mayor Pro Tim.

1:47

Thank you, Honorable Mayor.

1:49

I am uh delighted to rise today in recognition of Seven Days, which is a movement of kindness created in response to a tragic act of hate in April 2014 that took the lives of Dr.

2:04

William Corporan, Ray Underwood, and Terry Lamano.

2:08

Seven days inspires people to increase kindness in their daily lives and build bridges between diverse communities.

2:16

The experience encourages you to meet someone new, learn something unexpected, and extend kindness beyond your usual circuits circles.

2:27

Each day has a unique theme that fosters kindness in different ways.

2:32

It begins uh on March 31st with love, uh, which will open with a love day breakfast and encourages small acts of love, writing notes, appreciation, reconnecting with old friends, and sharing warmth with those around you.

2:48

Moving on to April 1st with Discover, a day to explore different cultures, religions, and perspectives, and also on April 2nd, encouraging selfless acts, such as donating supplies, appreciating first responders, and anonymously brightening someone's day.

3:06

It moves on through various days, so I will encourage you all to go to sevendays.org to look at the additional uh days of kindness, and I want to encourage all of us to be a ripple of kindness that someone needs.

3:23

Seven days provides the knowledge and inspiration to make a difference, and I encourage all of us to make a difference, not just for one one week, but 24-7, 365 days.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget Equity Analysis████████████████████████████████32%
Procedural████████████████████████████28%
Community Engagement█████████████13%
Land Use Planning████████8%
Water And Wastewater Management████4%
Public Works████4%
Health████4%
Personnel Matters███3%
Economic Development██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting - March 26, 2025

The Kansas City City Council met on March 26, 2025, at 6:30 PM. The meeting included the adoption of the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget, passage of ordinances concerning water and sewer rates, community resource centers, fire prevention, and several zoning changes. The council also ratified the suspension of City Manager Brian Platt and the appointment of an acting city manager. Special actions recognized Seven Days of Kindness, Women's History Month, and Dr. Diana Clemens.

Special Actions

  • 250235 (Unanimous): Declared the week of March 31–April 8, 2025 as Seven Days of Kindness in Kansas City, a movement inspired by a 2014 hate crime. Councilmembers urged participation in daily themes of kindness.
  • 250240 (Unanimous): Celebrated Women's History Month and International Women's Day, honoring internationally born women employees of the city. Councilwoman Bou and Councilman O'Neill spoke in support.
  • 250241 (Unanimous): Recognized Dr. Diana Clemens for her work with the Future Leaders Irish Network, which has raised over $26 million and reached 391,875 young people with programs on healthy choices and career pathways.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 250138 and others were held off docket as requested.
  • 250232 (Unanimous): Directed the city manager to issue an RFQ/RFP within 60 days for the design of a community resource center adjoining the courthouse to provide mental health, social services, and housing support.
  • 250233 (Unanimous): Directed the city manager to collaborate with the Historic Northeast Coalition to prevent fires after 78 structure fires in the area from November 2024 to January 2025.

Discussion Items

  • 250175 – Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget: Councilwoman Boo presented the budget, thanking finance staff and calling for improved future budget processes. The budget included four amendments (A–D) from committee, plus amendment E introduced during the meeting. Amendment E proposed $5 million for 63rd & Prospect redevelopment, Swope Village development, Swope Park pool, and water infrastructure. Councilman Raya and others objected to last-minute amendments, while Councilman Curls argued the 3rd and 5th districts have been historically underfunded. After debate, the water infrastructure item was moved to amendment A, and the funding source for 63rd & Prospect was shifted ($500,000 from development services fund, $4.5 million from general fund) to maintain reserves above the three-month threshold. The HR portion was moved to amendment B. Amendment E passed 10-3. The final budget ordinance passed 13-0.
  • 250171 – Water Rate Increase: Set a 6% overall revenue increase for water service. Passed 12-1.
  • 250172 – Sewer Rate Increase: Set a 6% overall revenue increase for sewer service. Passed 12-1.
  • 250011 – Popeyes Drive-Thru: Proposed major amendment to allow a drive-thru restaurant at 9806 North Oak Trafficway. Opposed by neighbors and the first district councilmember. Failed 0-13.
  • 250204 – Residential Development: Major amendment for 251 units on Northwest 108th Street. Passed 13-0.
  • 250206 – Rezoning for May Technology: Rezoned 1 acre to allow expansion with landscape buffer. Passed 13-0.
  • 250208 – Retail/Office Development: Development plan for 13.18 acres on North Madison Avenue. Passed 13-0.
  • 250210 – Mixed-Use Rezoning: Rezoned 25.22 acres for residential, office, and manufacturing. Passed 13-0.
  • 250222 – Columbus Park Townhomes: Major amendment for 65 residential units in three phases. Passed 13-0.
  • Health Grants: Ordinances 250223, 250224, 250229, and 250231 accepted federal and state grants totaling over $3.3 million for HIV/AIDS and STD prevention and surveillance. All passed with 12 or 13 ayes.

Key Outcomes

  • Budget Adoption: The fiscal year 2025-2026 budget was adopted with amendments totaling $38.8 million in changes. The general fund reserve remained above the three-month target after adjustments.
  • Ratification of City Manager Suspension: The council ratified Mayor Lucas’s suspension of City Manager Brian Platt effective March 6, 2025, by a vote of 13-0.
  • Acting City Manager: The council ratified the designation of Camiko Gilmore as acting city manager with a monthly salary of $16,701.01, also by a 13-0 vote.
  • Late Docket Items: A resolution (250249) to amend the Heart of the City Area Plan for the Washington Wheatley neighborhood was referred to committee. An ordinance (250250) to finance the city’s contribution to the Northland Workforce Development Center using $29.5 million in bond proceeds was introduced and referred to the Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee.

Meeting Transcript

Committee will come to order. Our guest chaplain is Pastor Dr. Serena Wright of the Commission to Heal Community Outreach Church. But all who are able, please stand for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pastor Wright. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this occasion. We thank you for this time. I pray for the families that are represented here. I pray for this great board that's represented here. Each and every individual that has come together. I pray, Lord, that you watch over them. Lord, that you'll give them the wisdom that they need to make the decisions that they need to make. And it is so in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. And to the revolution. One nation. With liberty and justice. Thank you, Pastor. God bless you. The clerk will call the roll. Hi. Robinson. Present. Bunt. Carls. Present. Parkshaw. Present. Boo. Here. Document. O'Neal. Will it? Present. French. Present. Rogers. Lucas. Here. Eleven members present. Will the clerk please call the special actions? 250235. Declare the week of March 31st through April 8th, 2025 as seven days of kindness day in Kansas City. Stephanie Sullivan. Oh, Sullivan, I'm sorry, and others are present to reason. We need seven days again. Thank you. Mayor Pro Tim.

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