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Record of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting - June 26, 2025: Recognitions, Policy Amendments, and Funding Approvals

City Council Legislative Session — Thursday, June 26, 2025
BodyKansas City, Missouri
SessionCity Council Legislative Session
DateThursday, June 26, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

The meeting will come to order.

0:02

Our guest chaplain is out right now, so I always look to the best boy at uh Catholic school, Kevin O'Neill, to uh give us a short prayer.

0:13

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

0:19

Pastor O'Neill, Father O'Neal, Uncle O'Neill, dear father.

0:26

Um please bless everyone in this room today as we go forward, passing doing business for the city.

0:35

Give us the strength to go through this process the right way and the fair way.

0:41

Amen.

0:43

Amen.

0:44

I pledge through the flag of the United States of America and public one nation.

0:52

One nation under God.

0:54

And of course, invisible liberty justice.

0:59

Well done, Pastor O'Neill.

1:01

The clerk will call the role.

1:03

Patterson Hasley.

1:05

Robinson.

1:07

Raya.

1:08

Yeah.

1:10

Bunch.

1:10

Here.

1:11

Girls.

1:13

President.

1:13

Or X Shaw.

1:14

Here.

1:15

Boo.

1:15

Here.

1:16

Duncan.

1:18

O'Neal.

1:19

Sure.

1:20

President.

1:21

French.

1:22

Rogers.

1:23

Here.

1:24

Lucas.

1:25

Here.

1:25

Two eyes.

1:27

The uh everybody's here.

1:28

Well, not everybody, but a lot.

1:30

Let's go with the special actions.

1:31

Yes, sir.

1:32

250502.

1:34

Recognizing June as Immigrant Heritage Month in Kansas City, Missouri.

1:37

Natasha Bush and others are presence of Reason's special action.

1:45

Thank you, Claudia.

1:46

Thank you for being with us.

1:48

Thanks for being here.

1:58

Hey sir, how are you?

2:03

Hey guys, you can see.

2:05

Thank you, Mr.

2:05

Ting.

2:06

What's up, sir?

2:09

All right.

2:09

You stand right next to me, and then we're gonna let them see just right over just a little.

2:14

And then someone introduced this.

2:16

And that someone is Wes Rogers.

2:18

Councilman Rogers.

2:20

Thank you, Mr.

2:20

Mayor.

2:21

So June is immigrant Heritage Month in Kansas City.

2:24

Immigrant Heritage Month is observed across the United States each June to celebrate the contributions of immigrants, honor the rich diversity they bring to our communities, and reaffirm our commitment to building a more inclusive and welcoming nation in Kansas City.

2:37

Kansas City's long been shaped and strengthened by generations of immigrants who have come to the city to seek opportunity, safety, freedom, and a better future for the families.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Planning█████████████████████21%
Procedural█████████████13%
Public Safety███████████11%
Transportation Safety██████████10%
Immigration Policy█████████9%
Community Engagement█████████9%
Racial Equity█████████9%
LGBTQ History████████8%
Environmental Protection████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting - June 26, 2025

The Kansas City Council convened on June 26, 2025, at 9:00 AM for a regular business session. The meeting included three special actions recognizing community contributions, a consent calendar for routine approvals, and a debate docket with multiple ordinances covering police vehicle financing, grant acceptance, zoning amendments, housing fund reallocations, and transportation infrastructure projects. Several votes were recorded, with most items passing with majority support and some facing opposition.

Special Actions

  • 250502 – Recognizing June as Immigrant Heritage Month: Councilman Wes Rogers sponsored the resolution, celebrating the contributions of immigrants to Kansas City. Natasha Bush (DACA recipient and Development Coordinator at Ivan Immigrant) accepted, expressing gratitude and noting the importance of immigrant communities. The resolution passed unanimously.
  • 250507 – Recognizing Nissar Anthony Masselbo for the "So Keys Was Home" Exhibition: Councilman Jonathan Duncan presented the resolution honoring Masselbo’s archival work on the Black gay bar So Keys. Masselbo spoke, highlighting transit inequities and the lack of Black queer spaces, and called on the city to allocate resources for community needs. The resolution passed unanimously.
  • 250508 – Recognizing Juneteenth: Mayor Pro Tem and Councilman Darrell Baker sponsored the resolution, with support from summer intern Tori Smith. Representatives from ASSET (African American Support, Success, and Encouragement Team) accepted, emphasizing the significance of Juneteenth. The resolution passed unanimously.

Consent Calendar (Advanced Readings)

The following ordinances were read and passed without debate:

  • 250485: Approving plat of Quarry Addition (66 acres, Jackson County)
  • 250487: Approving plat of Envision Addition (22 acres, Platte County)
  • 240472: Authorizing financing for police vehicle acquisition ($6,682,640)
  • 250490: Accepting $100,000 grant from Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund
  • 250491: Amending Chapter 38 to remove government assistance payments as income for housing purposes (one abstention)
  • 250496: Reforming Climate Protection Steering Committee duties (one abstention)
  • 250440: Allowing sign relocation in condemnation actions by the State of Missouri (passed 10-3, with three nay votes)
  • 250484: Rescinding $1,235,999 Housing Trust Fund award for Delano School redevelopment (returned funds)
  • 250495: Rezoning 2.6 acres for warehouse/distribution center
  • 250497: Vacating 27,000 sq ft of unimproved street
  • 250498: Authorizing $1,189,822 for renovation of 14 residential units (Lenwood Boulevard)
  • 250499: Vacating 15,500 sq ft of right-of-way (Monarch Town Homes)
  • 250500: Vacating 7,500 sq ft of right-of-way (Monarch Town Homes)

Discussion Items (Debate Docke)

  • 240472 (Police Vehicle Financing): Councilwoman Boo explained the need for 140 replacement vehicles due to aging fleet. Funded from public safety sales tax. Passed unanimously.
  • 250490 (Financial Empowerment Grant): Councilwoman Boo described the grant to embed financial empowerment strategies. Passed with one abstention.
  • 250491 (Income Source Amendment): Removed housing choice vouchers as protected income due to state legislation and federal injunction. Passed with one abstention.
  • 250496 (Climate Committee Reform): Consolidated climate protection duties into Environmental Management Commission. Passed with one abstention.
  • 250440 (Sign Relocation – Condemnation): Mayor Pro Tem explained the amendment allows sign relocation when the State of Missouri condemns property. Councilman Bunch and Duncan raised concerns about consistency and potential for slowing billboard removal. Passed 10-3 (three nays: Bunch, Curls, Duncan).
  • 250484 (Delano School Funding Rescission): Mayor Pro Tem noted the project exceeded contracting timeline; funds returned for reallocation. Councilwoman Patterson clarified the applicant requested the return. Passed unanimously.
  • 250495 (Rezoning for Warehouse): Rezoned 2.6 acres at Prospect Avenue for a 48,000 sq ft distribution center. Passed unanimously.
  • 250497 (Street Vacation): Vacated unimproved roadway near Blue River. Passed unanimously.
  • 250498 (Residential Unit Renovation): Modified funding for 14 units after fire damage. Passed unanimously.
  • 250499 & 250500 (Vacations – Monarch Town Homes): Vacated portions of right-of-way for development. Passed unanimously.
  • 250442 (Cell Phone Lot at MCI): Councilman O'Neill presented $5.4 million contract for new cell phone lot. Faced opposition; final vote: 8 ayes, 3 nays. Passed.
  • 250477 (Bike Lane Closure Fees): Councilman O'Neill and Bunch explained the ordinance imposes fees for bike lane and sidewalk closures, limiting closures to 15 days without alternative. Passed 10-1 (one nay).
  • 250486 (Construction Contracts): Authorized six $5 million contracts for capital projects. Passed unanimously.
  • 250489 (Arterial Street Impact Fee Funds): Established separate funds and allocated $409,600 for North Mexico City Avenue project. Passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • All three special action resolutions passed unanimously.
  • Consent calendar ordinances passed without debate.
  • Debate docket items passed with the following notable votes:
    • 250440: Passed 10-3 (3 nays).
    • 250442: Passed 8-3.
    • 250477: Passed 10-1.
    • Several items had one abstention each.
  • The council also introduced two late ordinances (250527 and 250528) for referral to committees.

Meeting Transcript

The meeting will come to order. Our guest chaplain is out right now, so I always look to the best boy at uh Catholic school, Kevin O'Neill, to uh give us a short prayer. Would all who are able, please stand for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pastor O'Neill, Father O'Neal, Uncle O'Neill, dear father. Um please bless everyone in this room today as we go forward, passing doing business for the city. Give us the strength to go through this process the right way and the fair way. Amen. Amen. I pledge through the flag of the United States of America and public one nation. One nation under God. And of course, invisible liberty justice. Well done, Pastor O'Neill. The clerk will call the role. Patterson Hasley. Robinson. Raya. Yeah. Bunch. Here. Girls. President. Or X Shaw. Here. Boo. Here. Duncan. O'Neal. Sure. President. French. Rogers. Here. Lucas. Here. Two eyes. The uh everybody's here. Well, not everybody, but a lot. Let's go with the special actions. Yes, sir. 250502. Recognizing June as Immigrant Heritage Month in Kansas City, Missouri. Natasha Bush and others are presence of Reason's special action. Thank you, Claudia. Thank you for being with us. Thanks for being here. Hey sir, how are you? Hey guys, you can see. Thank you, Mr. Ting. What's up, sir?

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