Kansas City City Council Meeting Summary: April 24, 2025

The Kansas City City Council met on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 2:00 PM in the Council Chambers. Councilmembers Kevin O'Neill, Nathan Willett, Lindsay French, Wes Rogers, Melissa Patterson Hazley, Melissa Robinson, Crispin Rea, Eric Bunch, Darrell Curls, Ryana Parks-Shaw, Andrea Bough, and Johnathan Duncan were present; Mayor Quinton Lucas was excused and did not vote on most items but participated in the discussion on IRIS. The meeting opened with an invocation by Pastor Rick Hawkins and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Council adopted numerous resolutions and ordinances, including several ceremonial recognitions, land use changes, and major infrastructure contracts. A significant floor debate centered on the future of the IRIS microtransit service, resulting in the withdrawal and referral of related legislation to committee.

Ceremonial Actions

• Take Your Kid to Work Day (RES 250349): The Council declared April 24, 2025, as Take Your Kid to Work Day. Adopted unanimously (11 ayes).
• Honoring John Sharp (RES 250350): A resolution honoring former State Representative and Councilmember John Sharp for his decades of public service and community leadership. Adopted unanimously (11 ayes).
• Denim Day 25th Anniversary (RES 250366): The Council celebrated the 25th anniversary of Denim Day and honored the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOSCA) for their work. Adopted unanimously (11 ayes).

Consent Calendar

(Items on the consent calendar were approved by a single vote without debate on April 24, having been previously recommended by committees.)

• Community Improvement District (CID) Director Appointments (RES 250302–250311): Appointed successor directors for ten CIDs, including Flintlock Shoppes, Old Foundation, Landing Mall, InterContinental, Uptown, Flintlock Plaza, Skelly, Creekwood Commons, Wornall Village, and Kansas City International Airport. All passed 9–0 (three members excused).
• Performance Audit of City Communications Office (RES 250338): Directed the City Auditor to perform a performance audit of the City Communications Office within 90 days, assessing policies against best practices for transparency and accessibility. Passed 10–0 (Lucas excused; Robinson and Curls out).
• Line Creek Valley Area Plan Amendment (RES 241057): Changed recommended land use on 1.5 acres at NW Barry Road and NW Winter Avenue from low-density residential to mixed-use community. Passed 11–0.
• Rezoning at NW Barry Road (ORD 241058): Rezoned 1.5 acres from B3-3/R-2.5 and R-7.5 to B3-3 for commercial uses. Passed 11–0.
• Heart of the City Area Plan Amendment (RES 250328): Changed future land use on 1.8 acres at Brooklyn Avenue and E. 20th Street from residential low-density to medium-density. Passed 12–0.
• Barney Allis Plaza Reconstruction (ORD 250272): Established Fund No. 3456 and appropriated $30,000,000 in taxable special obligation bonds for reconstruction; authorized a $27,092,347 fourth amendment (GMP-4) with McCown Gordon Construction, total contract $118,487,608, for plaza level improvements, perimeter construction, and one-story retail. Passed 12–0.
• Firefighter Job Classifications (ORD 250332): Established six new job classifications, retitled one, and enacted pay scales per collective bargaining agreements with IAFF Local 42 and Local 3808; adjusted salary for elective judge positions. Passed 12–0.
• Linwood Shopping Center CID Amendment (ORD 250342): Authorized the City Manager to negotiate a lease amendment with Midtown Grocers, LLC, and reduced a contingent appropriation by $1,000. Passed 12–0 (Willett out).
• Animal Control Insourcing Side Letter (ORD 250319): Authorized the City Manager to enter into a side letter agreement with AFSCME Local 500 waiving certain requirements for potential insourcing of code enforcement work for animal control services. Passed 11–0.
• Emergency Care Hospital at Research Medical (ORD 250326): Approved a major amendment to a development plan for a new 25,000-square-foot emergency care hospital at 6735 Holmes Road. Passed 11–0.
• Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and Hotel (ORD 250329): Rezoned one acre at 18th and Paseo from M1-5 to DX-5 and approved a development plan for a museum and boutique hotel. Passed 12–0.
• Assisted Living Facility (ORD 250331): Rezoned 1.2 acres at Montgall Avenue and E. 35th Street to UR for an assisted living facility. Passed 12–0.
• Brooklyn Avenue Townhomes (ORD 250336): Rezoned 1.8 acres from UR to R-2.5, enabling 29 townhomes. Passed 12–0.
• Rezoning at NW 79th Street (ORD 250337): Rezoned 0.8 acres from R-80 to R-2.5. Passed 12–0.
• Fleet Vehicle Contracts (ORD 250255): Authorized cooperative procurement contracts exceeding $1,000,000 for the purchase of fleet vehicles from multiple vendors. Passed 12–0.
• 31st Street Connector Sidewalks Phase 1 (ORD 250296): Authorized a $2,887,595 design-build contract with Gunter Construction Company for sidewalks from Main Street to Gillham Plaza. Passed 12–0.
• Grand Boulevard Bridge Bike/Pedestrian Accommodations (ORD 250297): Authorized a $15,391,961.95 construction contract with Radmacher Brothers Excavating Co. for bike/pedestrian improvements. Passed 12–0.
• Street Resurfacing Contracts (ORD 250301, 250313, 250315): Three contracts totaling approximately $24.3 million: from 63rd Street to South City Limits ($9,138,372.50), north of the Missouri River ($10,190,515.00), and from the Missouri River to 63rd Street ($9,486,892.50). Each authorized up to 30% change orders. All passed.
• Citywide Pavement Sealing (ORD 250314): $4,703,500 contract with Vance Brothers, Inc. Passed 11–0.
• Water Infrastructure Contracts (ORD 250320–250324): Contracts for water treatment plant improvements, ADA compliance (Odimo, LLC, $310,780 amendment), water main replacement at Downtown Airport (SHEDIGS IT, LLC, $7,298,184), redundant feed to Downtown Airport (Burns & McDonnell, $949,936 amendment), and emergency transmission water main repairs (Leath & Sons, $1,650,000). All passed.
• Various Plats (ORD 250317, 250318, 250333, 250334): Approved plats for 29 Forest townhomes (0.5 acres, 9 lots), Skyview Crossing Residential (24 acres, 102 lots), State Line Station Unit 4 (8.6 acres, commercial), and Marketplace 152 Lot 4 (1 acre, commercial). All passed.
• Traffic Regulations (ORD 250299): Approved various traffic regulations per Chapter 70. Passed 12–0.
• Route 9 Sidewalks Project (ORD 250312): Adjusted revenue estimates and appropriations, including $156,900 in capital improvements grant funds and $319,795 from the City of Platte Woods, for the Route 9 Prairie View Road to Platte Woods sidewalks project. Passed 12–0.

Discussion and Debate Items

• IRIS Microtransit Service Continuation (RES 250368, introduced late): Councilmember Wes Rogers introduced a resolution directing the City Manager to identify funding for IRIS service and negotiate a continuation for 60 days in the upcoming KCATA agreement. The resolution sparked extensive debate:
  • Councilmember Rogers expressed concern for approximately 250 IRIS drivers who would lose income on May 1 without action.
  • Councilmember Melissa Robinson offered a friendly amendment reducing the extension to 15 days, which was accepted, and introduced a separate ordinance (ORD 250369) appropriating $2,750,000 to KCATA for maintaining current bus headways, intended to also cover IRIS.
  • Director of Public Works Michael Shaw clarified that the previously appropriated $46.7 million for KCATA did not include IRIS; continuing IRIS would cost $500,000 per month and reduce the period bus services could be funded. Finance Director Tammy Queen stated that $2.7 million remaining in the fiscal year 2025 contingency fund could cover a short extension, but urged caution.
  • Several councilmembers expressed confusion, having voted for the KCATA ordinance believing it fully funded “service as is,” including IRIS. Mayor Quinton Lucas suggested the matter be handled in committee.
  • Councilmember Rogers withdrew his motion for immediate adoption, allowing the resolution to be referred to the Transportation, Infrastructure and Operations Committee alongside Councilmember Robinson’s ordinance for comprehensive discussion.
• Floor Introductions:
  • Towing Practices (ORD 250367): Councilmember Curls introduced an ordinance amending Chapter 76 regarding vehicle towing, including a Towed Vehicle Owner Bill of Rights and reporting requirements within 30 days. Referred to the Transportation Committee.
  • KCATA Headway Funding (ORD 250369): Councilmember Robinson introduced an ordinance appropriating $2,750,000 to KCATA to ensure current headway times for all routes. Referred to the Transportation Committee.
  • Other First Readings: Several other ordinances and resolutions were introduced and referred to committees, including land use amendments for development at N. Platte Purchase Drive, Broadway/W. 45th Terrace (278 units), Taliaferro & Browne Prospect Summit Townhomes, health center contracts, a VOCA grant extension, industrial development at Stadium Drive, and zoning changes for communications establishments and day care expansion.

Key Outcomes

• The Council adopted all items on the consent and debate dockets, as listed above, with most votes passing 12–0 or 11–0.
• The IRIS resolution (250368) was withdrawn from immediate adoption and referred to the Transportation, Infrastructure and Operations Committee.
• A new ordinance (250369) appropriating $2.75 million for KCATA headways was introduced and also referred to the Transportation Committee.
• Communications regarding easements and election results were received and filed. The Council also noted a closed session for legal, real estate, personnel, and other matters.