Kansas City Council Meeting - April 3, 2025

The Kansas City Council convened on April 3, 2025 at 8:15 PM with 13 members present for a meeting that included multiple special recognitions, a contentious debate over a six-month transit funding contract with KCATA, and passage of bond ordinances. The meeting also featured the honorary designation of a street for retired federal Judge Howard F. Sachs and recognition of retiring city employees.

Consent Calendar

• 250239: Appointing Curtis Cirrus and Stephanie Porter as directors to the 4840 Committee Improvement District (passed 12-0).
• 250244: Appointing Mark Joe DeMarco and Jason Sorce as successor directors to the 1111 Grand Community Improvement District (passed 12-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

No public comments were recorded during the open session.

Discussion Items & Special Actions

Honors and Recognitions

• Ordinance 250243: Honored Judge Howard F. Sachs with the honorary designation "Honorable Howard F. Sachs Road" on West 68th Terrace between Ward Parkway and Valley Road. Councilwoman Boo sponsored the ordinance, citing Sachs' 99 years, 202 days of service including WWII Navy service, drafting the Swope Park Pool desegregation opinion, helping draft the 1962 public accommodations ordinance, and 45 years as a federal judge. The ordinance passed 11-0 after a waiver of three readings.
• Resolution 250220: Recognized Gerald Windsor for 34 years of service in multiple city departments (finance, neighborhoods, fire, water services, public works). Adopted by voice vote.
• Resolution 250281: Congratulated the Oak Park Northmen boys basketball team for winning the Class 6 Missouri State High School Championship with a record of 31 wins, 1 loss (won last 30 games), scoring 74 points per game. Adopted by voice vote.
• Resolution 250253: Honored EKisha Ruff for 15 years of service as a 311 manager and founder of the African American Support Success and Engagement Team (ASSET). Received Exemplary Service Award.
• Resolution 250262: Recognized Janet O'Hagan on her retirement after 19 years, 5 months in the Convention and Entertainment Facilities Department.
• Resolution 250282: Recognized Krista Morrison for her service as a budget officer and deputy director, noting her role in priority-based budgeting. Adopted 13-0.
• Resolution 250283: Honored Chris Arrera for 30 years, 11 months in Water Services Department, including management of 90 water/wastewater projects. Adopted by voice vote.
• Resolution 250284: Declared April 7–13, 2025 as National Public Health Week, recognizing the health department's work despite federal challenges. Dr. Jones accepted. Adopted by voice vote.

Major Debate: KCATA Transit Funding Contract (Ordinance 250247)

The council debated a substantial committee substitute for a six-month contract (May 1 – October 31, 2025) with KCATA for transit services at $46,717,626. Key provisions included:

• Requiring headway/route changes to come back to council.
• Directing KCATA to reduce overhead and administrative redundancies.
• Requesting at least $2.5M from Kansas state government, at least $6.8M from Missouri (a 53% increase), and at least $11M from federal government; also to renew requests in next budget cycles.
• Implementing use of city fountain cards with chips for fare collection (with a plan for functionally free fare).
• Requiring a report within 120 days on a funding plan for the remainder of FY26.
• A motion to remove Section 5 (the funding plan) passed 11-2 (aye: Patterson Hasley, Raya, Bunch, Curls, Parkshaw, Boo, Duncan, O'Neal, Willett, Franch, Lucas; nay: Robinson, Rogers).
• The amended ordinance then passed 13-0.

Other Legislative Items

• 250226: Authorized purchase of one new aircraft rescue firefighting vehicle for the airport at an estimated $1,739,840. Passed 13-0.
• 250228: Expended $487,600 from refugee assistance account for emergency housing and case management via Della Lamb and Jewish Vocational Services. Passed 12-0.
• 250242: Amended administrative code to add two job classifications, including budget officer. Passed 13-0.
• 250246: Authorized a one-month extension for animal campus management with KC Pet Project ($232,222) plus renewal for FY26 at $3.8M, contingent on CUP approval. Passed 13-0.
• 250245: Approved appointments to the Board of Zoning Adjustment. Passed 12-0.
• 250249: Approved Heart of the City Area Plan amendment for Washington Wheatley neighborhood redevelopment. Passed 13-0.
• 250218: Updated liquor license employee requirements by removing redundant Missouri/Kansas background checks and protecting employee personal information. Passed 12-0.
• 250237: Accepted $9 million DOE grant to fund building performance standards and energy audits. Passed 11-0.
• 250173 & 250174: Bond ordinances for Question 1 (31.85 million), Question 2 (88.08 million), and Question 3 (1.01 million) for general obligation bonds. Both passed 11-0 after waiving three readings.
• 250260 (same-day adoption attempt): Authorized $5 million ARPA-funded contracts for Blue River restoration. Motion to waive three readings failed 7-5 (needed 9). Referred to Neighborhood Planning Committee.

Key Outcomes

• Passed: Honorary street naming for Judge Sachs, multiple retirement recognitions, basketball champions, public health week, consent items.
• Passed (amended): Six-month KCATA contract with oversight provisions after debate; Section 5 removed.
• Passed: Bond ordinances, building performance grant, liquor license reforms, animal contract, refugee assistance, airport fire truck.
• Failed: Same-day adoption for Blue River restoration (250260) – sent to committee.
• Referred to Committee: Several late-filed ordinances including zoning amendments, a use tax review resolution, a construction contract for 18th Street Pedestrian Mall, and affordable housing project modifications.
• Closed Session: Council voted 11-1 to enter closed session under RSMo 610.021 (subsections 1, 3, 13) for personnel matters (Councilman O'Neill voted no).