Kansas City Council Meeting – June 12, 2025: Pride Proclamation, Staley Baseball Recognition, and Multiple Ordinances Approved
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Kansas City Council Meeting – June 12, 2025
The Kansas City Council met on June 12, 2025, at 8:15 PM (UTC) to consider a wide range of items including proclamations, consent agenda items, and debated ordinances. The meeting opened with an invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, and roll call (8 members present initially, later 10). The council adopted two special actions and passed numerous ordinances, most by unanimous votes.
Special Actions
- 250493 – LGBTQIA+ Pride Month Proclamation: Declared June 2025 as Pride Month, honoring the 50th anniversary of KC Pride Fest. Councilmember Boo highlighted the work of the KC Pride Employee Resource Group, liaison Jared Gorman, and the LGBTQ+ Commission. A representative from R Spot KC accepted the proclamation, noting the 9th anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub massacre and calling for year-round commitment to equity and funding. Vote: Unanimous (10-0).
- 250494 – Staley High School Baseball Team Recognition: Recognized the team for a 38-4 season, district and conference championships, and state runner-up. Eleven players signed to play collegiately. Head Coach DeAndre Josenberger thanked the council. Several council members offered congratulations. Vote: Unanimous (10-0).
Consent Calendar (Advanced Readings – Consent)
The following items were approved without debate (all 10-0):
- 250444: Plat of Village View, 22 acres, 80 lots for residential development, Clay County.
- 250445: Plat of Orchards at Shoal Creek, 26 acres, 32 lots, Clay County.
- 250470: Plat of Bristol North Town Homes, 10 acres, 3 lots, Clay County.
- 250471: Plat of Northland Workforce Development Center, 19 acres, 1 lot, Platte County.
- 250478: Acceptance of a $20,000 Advanced Economic Mobility Rapid Grant from the National League of Cities for underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Discussion Items (Advanced Readings – Debate)
- 250479 – Progress Rail Services Corporation: Authorized issuance of up to $38 million in Chapter 100 bonds for purchase and installation of machinery and equipment at 5600 Stillwell Street. The project will retain 2 jobs (avg. $70,000) and create 85 new jobs (avg. $55,694). Councilmember O'Neill questioned the city's benefit; Councilmember Boo explained it is a tax abatement tool for personal property only, with the abatement value estimated at $3.5 million over 10 years. Vote: 10-0.
- 250483 – Assistant City Manager Salary Adjustment: Amended salary grade to align with department directors. Finance Director Tammy Queen stated the restructuring would be budget neutral. Vote: 10-0.
- 250443 – HIV Prevention Grant: Accepted a $631,890 (approximate) contract with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services for comprehensive HIV prevention and surveillance. Councilmember Bunch noted added language making funding contingent on federal appropriations, citing potential risk. Vote: 10-0.
- 250447 – CCED Tax Board Recommendations: Approved $19,026,782 in funding for approximately a dozen projects (community amenities, housing) from the Central City Economic Development sales tax. Vote: 10-0.
- 250448 & 250449 – Street Vacations for HALO Village: Vacated 0.14 acres and 1.25 acres of unused street rights-of-way (East 52nd Street Terrace and White Avenue area) to allow development of housing for homeless youth. Vote: 10-0 each.
- 250450 – Fairway Market Amendment: Major amendment to development plan at 1307 West 79th Street for additional loading zones and screening. Councilmember O'Neill asked about adjacent land; Councilmember Bunch confirmed two buildings will be built sequentially. Vote: 10-0.
- 250451 – Rezoning for Single-Family Home: 25 acres at NW Old Tiffany Springs Road and North Amity Avenue from M2-3 to R-80. Vote: 10-0.
- 250452 – Midway Ford Storage Expansion: Major amendment to development plan to expand outdoor vehicle staging lot. Vote: 10-0.
- 250453 – Additional Housing Trust Fund for Blue Hills Townhomes: $300,000 for retaining wall repair at 5015 Garfield Avenue. Vote: 10-0.
- 250454 – Additional Housing Trust Fund for Forest Hill Village: $550,000 for unforeseen water infrastructure issues at 3500 Broadway Road, developed by Synergy Services. Vote: 10-0.
- 250459 – Acceptance of Park Land: 14.7 acres near Line Creek Parkway for future trails. Vote: 10-0.
- 250462 – EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant: $4 million from EPA for cleanup of polluted sites. Councilmember Patterson Hasley credited staff for the grant and noted plans for Washington Wheatley area. Vote: 9-0 (one member absent).
- 250465 – Signage Plan for KCI-29 Logistics Center: Approved signage for the logistics park. Vote: 10-0.
- 250466 – Lease of City Parking Lot: 15-year lease (with renewal option) of 1216 Linwood for $1,620/year estimated revenue to Mayfair Partners for affordable housing parking. Lessee responsible for maintenance. Vote: 10-0.
- 250469 – EPA Supplemental Revolving Loan Fund Grant: $2 million to capitalize the Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund. Councilmember Bunch cited past successes (e.g., Hardesty Renaissance site). Vote: 10-0.
- 250473 – Brownfields Loan Repayment Revenue: $1,560,942 estimated program income from loan repayments. Vote: 10-0.
- 250474 – Rezoning for Multiplex Residential: 6.47 acres at 7800-7744 North Oak Trafficway from R-7.5 to R-1.5. Vote: 10-0.
- 250475 – Development Plan for 60 Units: 10 six-unit residential buildings at 20 West Linwood Boulevard. Vote: 10-0.
- 250446 – Water Treatment Plant Basin Cleaning Contract: $1,039,588 contract with Departmental Works for cleaning at Briarcliff plant. MBE/WBE goals: 11/11. Vote: 10-0.
- 250455 – Stormwater Improvements Design Contract: $950,150 with Crawford Murphy Tilly for Westport flooding mitigation (three packages). MBE/WBE goals: 10/10. Vote: 10-0.
- 250456 – Water Main Replacement Design Contract: $585,504 with Carver LLC for Riverfront Road to Independence Avenue area. MBE/WBE goals: 14/14. Vote: 10-0.
- 250457 – Water Main Replacement Design Contract: $761,725 with Protector Text for West 20th to East 39th Street area. MBE/WBE goals: 14/14. Vote: 10-0.
- 250458 – Street Right-of-Way Establishment for Topping Avenue: Established grades and right-of-way for North Topping Avenue improvements. Vote: 9-1 (one nay).
- 250463 – Water Main Replacement Design Contract: $1,024,363 with HTB Corporation for East 61st to East 75th Street area. MBE/WBE goals: 14/14. Vote: 10-0.
- 250464 – Water Main Replacement Design Contract: $766,785 with Lamp Rynearson for East 27th to East 40th Street area. MBE/WBE goals: 14/14. Vote: 10-0.
- 250467 – Sewer Repairs Construction Contract: $1,743,843 with Sarai Construction, with 20% contingency. MBE/WBE goals: 15/15. Vote: 10-0.
- 250476 – Ice Chemical Truck for Airport: $684,000 for a second Tyler Ice chemical truck for de-icing at KCI. Vote: 10-0.
- 250468 – Sidewalk Repairs Construction Contract: $1,267,785 with Sarai Construction, with 20% contingency. MBE/WBE goals: 15/15. Vote: 10-0.
First Readings
The council waived the three-reading requirement and introduced the first reading ordinances to the designated committees. (Motion passed 10-0.)
Key Outcomes
- All ordinance items passed, with 10-0 votes except for 250458 (9-1) and 250462 (9-0 due to one absence).
- The council recognized Pride Month (50th anniversary) and the Staley High School baseball team.
- Multiple infrastructure, housing, and economic development projects were approved, including brownfields grants, water main replacements, and affordable housing support.
- The council noted upcoming recesses: no meeting the week of June 19, and the Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee will be out for three weeks in July. Councilmember Curls' birthday and Juneteenth were acknowledged.
Meeting Transcript
The meetings have come to order. Our guest chaplain is Pastor Gantt of Nubid, beginning apostolic. All who are in please stand for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Let us pray. Lord of heaven, we're grateful for you today for blessing us to be here. We're asking today, Lord, that your divine favor and blessings and wisdom and understanding will be present in this place today. And we will give you all the glory and the honor in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Pledge allegiance. United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands for one nation, under God, the indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. The clerk will call the role. Patterson Hasley. Patterson Hasley. President Robinson here. Raya. Bunch. Present. Parkshaw. Here. Boom. Here. Duncan. O'Neal. Will it? Franch. Present. Rogers. Lucas. Eight members present. Will the clerk call the special actions? 250493, declaring June 2025 as LGBTQIA plus Pride Month, honoring the 50th anniversary of KC Pride Fest, celebrating the Kansas City LGBTQ Plus community and the work of R Spot KC. Authorizing City Manager display flags honoring the LGBQIA Plus Pride Month. James Moran and others are present to receive the special action. Council Member Boo. While it may look like we're going to sing a trio here, we're not going to. It is something we have done. I I think I've done this for my six years on the council here, and it is something that I uh take great honor in doing. Um but before uh my interns get to the resolution, I just want to take a few moments to recognize our partners uh within the city. Um KC Pride Employee Resource Group. Um they support Kansas City's progressive momentum by ensuring that we have a workforce that is inclusive and supportive of LGBTQ plus employees. They meet monthly to plan activities, discuss city and community engagement opportunities, and ways to support the LGBTQ plus employees in the workplace. Also, our own city employee Jared Gorman, who is our liaison to the LGBTQ commission. Um, in addition to his responsibilities as creative director, he advocates for his community inside and outside of City Hall, and I want to thank him for his amazing talent, his creative talent, um, that he uses to uplift his community and for the ways he sacrificially gives his time. Also, our members of our LGBTQ plus commission. They assist the city leadership by advising the mayor, council, and city manager on LGBTQ plus matters by recommending legislation, policies, programs, and administrative actions that advance social, economic, and political equality for the community. Um we have, I believe, some new members of the commission uh with us today. So welcome and thank you for your service.
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