Kansas City Council Meeting - August 21, 2025

The Kansas City Council convened on August 21, 2025, at 2:00 PM with 12 members present (Councilmember Lindsay French absent). The meeting covered special recognitions, final readings of ordinances, consent and debate dockets, and first readings. Key outcomes included approval of a bike share expansion with an equity study, termination of a longstanding Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plan, and a $3 million infrastructure funding package.

Special Actions

• Resolution 250707 – Recognized Head for the Cure for its 23rd annual 5K raising awareness for brain cancer research. The organization has raised over $30 million since 2003, with the Kansas City event alone raising over $7 million and attracting 80,000 participants. Adopted unanimously (11-0, French absent).
• Resolution 250710 – Honored professional boxing referee Tony Weeks, born in Brooklyn and a 25-year veteran of maximum-security prison recreation before refereeing iconic fights. Adopted unanimously.

Consent Calendar

• Ordinance 250650 – Approved the plat of 9640 North Indiana in Clay County for a two-lot residential development on approximately 10 acres. Passed (11-0, O'Neill and French absent).
• Ordinance 250653 – Accepted a $64,414 Jackson County COMBAT grant for the Municipal Court Truancy Court Program. Passed (11-0).
• Ordinance 250647 – Authorized a five-year lease (with four five-year renewals) with the Waldo Community Improvement District for surfacing parking lots at 74th and Broadway, estimating $19,800 in revenue. Passed (11-0).
• Ordinance 250648 – Similar five-year lease with The Brookside Community Improvement District for lots at 63rd and Brookside Plaza, estimating $36,285. Passed (11-0).
• Ordinance 250649 – Committee Substitute for a five-year lease with Second Presbyterian Church and The Crestwood Shops for parking lots at 318 E. 55th Street, estimating $2,700. Passed as substituted (11-0).

Discussion Items

• 250621 – Music Preservation Resolution (Sponsor: Councilmember Robinson): Recognized Kansas City’s commitment to sustainable development through music preservation, education, tourism, and entertainment. Councilmember Bough noted it affirms the mission of UNESCO and local partner Creative City KC. Passed (11-0).
• 250623 – Winchester Center TIF Termination (Sponsor: City Manager’s Office): Terminated the 1991 Winchester Center TIF Plan and its 14 redevelopment project areas after the 23-year tax redirection period expired. An amendment by Councilmember Curls added a whereas clause to clarify that approximately $127,000 in surplus funds from prior ordinances would be used for blight removal in the 5th District. Passed as amended (12-0).
• 250604 – Bike Share KC Amendment (Sponsor: Director of Public Works): Authorized Amendment No. 1 to the 2025-26 Cooperative Agreement with Bike Share KC, adding $218,000 (total $632,960) for 100 new bicycles and six months of operation. Councilmember Robinson moved an amendment requiring the City Manager to submit a funding plan within 90 days to expand the system equitably, with emphasis on trail connectivity and areas with high transit dependency (e.g., 3rd and 5th Districts). Councilmember Curls raised concerns about the lack of bike share south of 87th Street. After debate, the amendment passed (12-0), and the ordinance as amended passed (11-1, Curls nay).
• 250643 – Surplus TIF Revenue Policy (Sponsor: Councilmember Bough): Enacted Section 2-1972 to direct use of surplus TIF revenue, requiring TIF Commission staff to semi-annually review TIF plans with excess funds and recommend terminations. Passed (11-0).
• 250655 – Brownfields Loan for FC Parade Park (Sponsor: Director of City Planning): Approved a loan from the Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund not to exceed $2,541,318 (increased by $281,168 due to a fire on the property), with conditional approval to the Port Authority and a principal discount up to $500,000. Councilmember Patterson Hazley’s amendment to increase the loan amount passed (12-0). Passed as amended (12-0).
• 250675 – Conflict of Interest Annual Report (Sponsor: Mayor Lucas): Repealed and reenacted Section 2-2024 to meet Missouri statute requirements, allowing the city to establish its own disclosure method. Councilmember Willett abstained. Passed (11-0-1).
• 250631 – Housing Trust Fund Appropriations (Sponsor: Director of Housing): Proposed $6,980,346 in funding agreements. Held on docket after councilmembers Robinson and Patterson Hazley raised concerns about lack of access to full applications and project readiness. City Manager agreed to review. Motion to hold passed (12-0).
• 250651 – Shelter Plus Care Grant (Sponsor: Director of Health): Accepted a $583,444 HUD grant for permanent supportive housing for persons with HIV/AIDS, with a $600,941 contract to SAVE, Inc. Passed (12-0).
• 250669 – Swope Health Village Development (Sponsor: Mayor Pro Tem Parks-Shaw): Authorized up to $4 million from the Health Levy Fund for site preparation and development at 5900 Swope Parkway, waiving Code § 74-12 for extended timeline. Passed as substituted (12-0).
• 250654 – Smart City Contract (Sponsor: Director of General Services): Exceeded the $400,000 threshold for a seven-year contract with Smart City of Kansas City, LLC for temporary utility services at convention facilities, including a $2.3 million network upgrade at Smart City’s cost. Passed (11-0-1, Willett abstaining).
• 250660 – Airport Taxiway B Reconstruction (Sponsor: Director of Aviation): Repealed prior ordinance to accept a $5,358,363 FAA Airport Improvement Program grant at 90% federal share (up from 75%) for design and construction, to be ready for the World Cup. Passed (12-0).
• 250661 – Sensor Network and Watershed Digital Twin (Sponsor: Director of Water Services): Authorized a $2,561,500 contract with D3 Water, LLC for sensor monitoring and digital twin system in Kansas City’s 13 watersheds, a project described as best-in-class nationally. Passed (12-0).
• 250662 – Water Main Replacement (Sponsor: Director of Water Services): Awarded a $6,341,956 construction contract to SHEDIGS IT, L.L.C. for replacing water mains along Southwest Boulevard to Main Street (Phase III). Passed (12-0).
• 250663 – Electrical Switchgear Improvements (Sponsor: Director of Water Services): Approved a $110,000 amendment to HDR Engineering for secondary electrical switchgear at the water treatment plant, extending the contract by 761 days (total 2,660 days). Passed (12-0).
• 250683 – Capital Improvements Appropriation (Sponsor: Councilmember Willett): Appropriated $3,000,033.01 from the Capital Improvements Fund for three projects: Barry and Amity Intersection, Northwest 108th Street Bridge, and Line Creek Parkway, using funds from Platte County. Passed (12-0).

First Readings & Floor Introductions

• 250711 – New Chapter 52 regulating surface parking lots in entertainment districts (Country Club Plaza, Westport, Crossroads). Referred to Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee.
• 250712 – North Oak Trafficway Reconstruction from NE 42nd to NE 46th Street: $5.52 million in capital grants, with a $5.43 million construction contract to Realm Construction and $419,538 inspection contract to Gannett Fleming. Councilmember Rea requested same-day adoption to meet a September 15 groundbreaking ahead of winter and the World Cup. Motion to waive charter requirements passed (12-0); ordinance passed (12-0).
• 250713 – Cooperative agreement with Kansas City EDC Loan Corporation for a multifamily project at 9th and Central, using $2.8 million in surplus TIF revenue. Referred to Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee.
• 250560 – Rezoning of 2 acres at NW Barry Road and I-29 from AG-R/B3-3 to B3-3 for a car wash (companion development plan 250714 introduced by Councilmember French). Councilmember Willett moved to reconsider (passed 12-0), then moved to re-refer to Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee after an amendment to remove the development plan failed due to concerns about rezoning without a plan. Final action: referred back to committee.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted Special Actions: Head for the Cure (250707) and Tony Weeks (250710).
• Passed Ordinances: Music preservation (250621), TIF termination (250623 as amended), bike share amendment (250604 as amended), surplus TIF policy (250643), Brownfields loan (250655 as amended), conflict of interest (250675), shelter plus care grant (250651), Swope Health development (250669), Smart City contract (250654), airport grant (250660), water infrastructure contracts (250661, 250662, 250663), and capital improvements (250683).
• Held: Housing Trust Fund appropriations (250631) – held for two weeks pending review of project readiness and access to applicant information.
• First Readings Referred: Surface parking lot regulation (250711), car wash development plan (250714), 9th and Central TIF (250713), and re-referral of car wash rezoning (250560).
• Same-Day Adoption: North Oak Trafficway reconstruction (250712) passed with 12 votes.
• Closed Session: Council authorized a closed session to discuss legal, real estate, personnel, labor negotiations, and other matters per Missouri law.