OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting: May 8, 2025 – Recognitions, Linwood Funding, City Manager Appointment

City Council Legislative Session — Thursday, May 8, 2025
BodyKansas City, Missouri
SessionCity Council Legislative Session
DateThursday, May 8, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:43:53

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Our guest chaplain is local government ministry leader John Sheen of Capital Ministries.

0:06

Would all who were able please stand for the indication and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:12

Thank you.

0:17

My verse of the day is from the book of James, chapter one, verse five.

0:23

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

0:35

Pray with me if you would, please.

0:37

Dear Lord God, creator of the universe and ruler over all, I pray that the city council members will seek your wisdom as they ponder the policy decisions they make today and in the days ahead.

0:51

I ask that you grant wisdom not only to the council members, but also to our mayor and all the staff here at City Hall.

1:01

Send your spirit to speak to them and give all of us ears to hear your voice.

1:07

I also ask that you protect these public servants and those serving as our police officers, firefighters, and first responders.

1:17

Be with their coming and going as you enable them to complete their tests for this great city.

1:24

Be with us now, guide our agenda, and may we bring you glory and honor.

1:30

Amen.

1:40

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

1:46

Thank you.

1:48

Clerk will call the role.

1:50

Yes, sir.

1:50

Patterson Hasley.

1:52

Present.

1:52

Robinson.

1:54

Hey?

1:54

Here.

1:55

But Pearls.

1:57

Present.

1:58

Parkshaw.

1:59

Here.

1:59

Boo.

2:00

Here.

2:00

Duncan?

2:01

O'Neill.

2:02

Here.

2:02

Will it?

2:03

Present.

2:04

Franch.

2:05

Present.

2:05

Rogers.

2:06

Here's 13 members present.

2:09

Will the clerk please call the special action?

2:12

Yes, sir.

2:12

250386, recognizing National Nurses Week and honoring the University Health Nursing staff.

2:19

Amy McTaggart and others are present to receive the special action.

2:31

Gathered all around.

2:46

We need to protect that.

2:52

However, you space.

3:04

We should do them last so we have a big audience that will show you.

3:27

All right.

3:30

And given that she knows much more about health care than me, the mayor pro Tim will handle for us.

3:34

Thank you.

3:37

You know what?

3:37

As you all walked, walked in, I don't know if my colleagues felt the love, but I just felt so warm here, feeling you all walk past us.

3:47

So thank you so much.

3:48

And thank you to the mayor for allowing me to come and lead this.

3:52

Councilman Raya.

3:54

Thank you.

3:56

Appreciate you all joining us this week.

3:57

National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6th through May 12th, ending on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of the Modern Nursing Profession.

4:06

During this week, we recognize the invaluable contributions of nurses as well as the adversity they face, but endure to provide care for building trust with their patients.

4:30

As well.

4:31

And I think you probably comprise the largest share of our health care workforce in the Kansas City area, giving those large numbers.

4:40

With special emphasis on university health as the city's only true safety net hospital, where they employ nearly 2,500 nursing staff members who are essential to critical care for patients who need it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████████████40%
Miscellaneous██████████10%
Public Health████████8%
Education███████7%
Land Use Planning██████6%
Health█████5%
Tourism Promotion████4%
Economic Development████4%
Elder Abuse Awareness███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting: May 8, 2025 – Recognitions, Linwood Funding, City Manager Appointment

The Kansas City Council met on May 8, 2025, at 8:15 PM. The meeting opened with a chaplain and pledge of allegiance, followed by a series of special recognitions. The council then processed final readings of zoning and infrastructure items, engaged in a closed session on legal and contractual matters, and concluded with two major actions: approving $750,000 in funding for the Linwood Shopping Center grocery store and appointing Mario Vasquez as city manager with an 11–2 vote.

Special Recognitions

  • National Nurses Week (Resolution 250386): Councilman Rhea and colleagues recognized University Health nursing staff. The resolution passed unanimously by voice vote.
  • Older Americans Month (Resolution 250387): Councilman Rogers honored older adults and praised senior service organizations. Passed unanimously.
  • University Academy Speech and Debate Team (Resolution 250388): Councilman Duncan celebrated the team’s state championship and fourth-place world ranking. Passed unanimously.
  • National Correctional Professionals Week (Resolution 250397): Councilman Rhea recognized correctional staff, noting the upcoming new detention facility. Passed unanimously.
  • Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive (Resolution 250398): Councilman Curls highlighted the annual drive by letter carriers, which raises over 40 million pounds of food nationally. Passed unanimously.
  • National Travel and Tourism Week (Resolution 250399): Councilman O’Neill presented statistics showing Visit KC generated $4 billion in visitor spending and $280 million in local sales tax revenue in 2024. Passed unanimously.

Administrative Motions

  • Suspension of Council Rule 4.01: Moved by Councilman Rhea to allow more than three special actions at this meeting; passed 9–0.
  • Waiver of Charter Reading Requirements: Passed for several ordinances on the final readings docket.

Consent and Final Readings

  • Rezoning and Development Plans: Multiple items passed, including a 1‑acre rezoning at I‑435 and Cookingham Drive (to allow a communications facility), a 19‑acre rezoning at North Platte Purchase Drive (for 90 residential units), a special character overlay for the Prospect Avenue corridor (covering 855 acres and nine miles), and an area plan amendment for a daycare campus at Prospect and MLK Boulevard. All passed with 10–12 votes.
  • Infrastructure Contracts:
    • Green Infrastructure Project Phase 1 (Mill Creek Park): Authorized a $2,415,000 construction contract with Mega K.C. Corporation and a $1,750,000 design amendment with HDR Engineering. Passed unanimously (12 ayes).
    • Sewer Separation Design (Diversion Structures 56, 58, 62, and 113): Authorized a $6,500,000 contract with Black & Veatch to design sewer separation covering up to 200 green acres, reducing CSO by an estimated 199 million gallons annually. Passed unanimously (12 ayes).
  • Settlement Approval: Approved a $517,636 lawsuit settlement; passed 10–1 (Councilman Willett dissenting).
  • Illuminate KC Initiative: Approved a license agreement with KCTV to light the TV5 tower; passed unanimously.
  • IT Solutions Contract: Allowed exceeding $1 million with Shy International for IT services; passed 11–1 (Councilman Willett dissenting).

Debate Items

  • Linwood Shopping Center Grocery Store Funding (Ordinance 250400): Councilwoman Robinson introduced an ordinance to provide $750,000 from the Linwood Community Improvement District to Community Builders (Midtown Groceries LLC) for security, equipment, and operational support. After a closed session, a friendly amendment added conditions requiring profit and loss statements and documentation of vendor accounts. The ordinance passed 13–0.
  • City Manager Appointment (Resolution 250404 and Ordinance 250405): Mayor recommended Mario Vasquez as city manager with a salary of $265,000. After a straw poll and discussion, the resolution appointing Vasquez passed 11–2, with Councilmembers Pearls and Parkshaw voting no. The employment agreement ordinance also passed 11–2.

Key Outcomes

  • Appointed Mario Vasquez as the next city manager of Kansas City, Missouri, effective upon execution of the employment agreement.
  • Approved $750,000 for the Linwood grocery store with conditions to ensure continued operation, including documentation of finances and periodic reporting.
  • Advanced multiple infrastructure projects, including green infrastructure, sewer separation, and development corridor plans.
  • Recognized several professions and community groups through special resolutions.

Meeting Transcript

Our guest chaplain is local government ministry leader John Sheen of Capital Ministries. Would all who were able please stand for the indication and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. My verse of the day is from the book of James, chapter one, verse five. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. Pray with me if you would, please. Dear Lord God, creator of the universe and ruler over all, I pray that the city council members will seek your wisdom as they ponder the policy decisions they make today and in the days ahead. I ask that you grant wisdom not only to the council members, but also to our mayor and all the staff here at City Hall. Send your spirit to speak to them and give all of us ears to hear your voice. I also ask that you protect these public servants and those serving as our police officers, firefighters, and first responders. Be with their coming and going as you enable them to complete their tests for this great city. Be with us now, guide our agenda, and may we bring you glory and honor. Amen. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Clerk will call the role. Yes, sir. Patterson Hasley. Present. Robinson. Hey? Here. But Pearls. Present. Parkshaw. Here. Boo. Here. Duncan? O'Neill. Here. Will it? Present. Franch. Present. Rogers. Here's 13 members present. Will the clerk please call the special action? Yes, sir. 250386, recognizing National Nurses Week and honoring the University Health Nursing staff. Amy McTaggart and others are present to receive the special action. Gathered all around. We need to protect that. However, you space. We should do them last so we have a big audience that will show you. All right. And given that she knows much more about health care than me, the mayor pro Tim will handle for us. Thank you. You know what? As you all walked, walked in, I don't know if my colleagues felt the love, but I just felt so warm here, feeling you all walk past us.

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