Kansas City Council Meeting - September 18, 2025

The Kansas City Council met on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 2:00 PM in the Council Chambers at 414 E. 12th Street. Eleven council members were present (Melissa Robinson absent). The meeting opened with a chaplain, a moment of silence for labor leader Dave Coleman, and three special actions. The council then processed a consent docket, debate docket, and floor introductions, including controversial resolutions on a modular detention facility and a legal dispute with the firefighters' union.

Consent Calendar

• Appointments to 51st & Oak Community Improvement District: Resolution 250715 appointing Ryan Hackenmiller, Jessica Rutland, and M. Grant Harrison as successor directors was adopted unanimously (11-0).
• Opioid Settlements: Ordinance 250787 authorizing settlements with Sandoz, Purdue Pharma/Sackler, and secondary distributors, and negotiations with Missouri over the city's share, passed unanimously (11-0).
• North Oak TIF Progress: Ordinance 250791 determining satisfactory progress of the North Oak Tax Increment Financing Plan passed unanimously (11-0).
• Health Grants (6 items): A series of one-year grants from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services for the Cities Readiness Initiative ($190,160), Perinatal Hepatitis B case management ($83,850), HIV surveillance ($125,944), Public Health Preparedness ($166,690), Tuberculosis control ($71,149), and Children/Youth with Special Health Care Needs ($130,699.60) were all passed unanimously (11-0 or 12-0).
• Plat Approvals: The Trails at Ambassador (Ordinance 250795) and later Fountain Hills 13th Plat and Tiffany Square Apartments (first readings) were approved or referred.
• Other Unanimous Consent Items: Several ordinances regarding contract amendments, cooperative agreements, and rezonings listed on the consent docket were passed without debate.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public testimony was noted in the minutes for items 250536 and 250537 (Midtown/Plaza Area Plan amendment and rezoning) as "S.Legg Opposed." No additional public comment was recorded from the transcript.

Discussion Items

• Midtown/Plaza Area Plan Amendment (250536): Resolution amending the land use recommendation on 0.6 acres at 3809 Roanoke Road from residential low density/mixed use neighborhood to mixed use neighborhood. Councilmember Bunch noted the companion rezoning (250537) would require nine votes due to a valid protest petition, but the neighborhood had rescinded opposition. Passed 11-0.
• Shoal Creek Valley Area Plan Amendment (250668): Resolution changing land use recommendation at NE Shoal Creek Parkway and Maplewoods Parkway to residential high density. Councilmember Willett highlighted traffic concerns near a school zone and promised future resolution. Passed 11-0.
• Digital Kiosks (250680): Ordinance authorizing a 20-year agreement with Ike Smart City LLC for digital kiosks on city property. After a closed session, the item was re-referred to the Transportation, Infrastructure and Operations Committee due back on 9/30/2025.
• Metro North Mall General Development Plan (250682): First amendment extending completion time to 20 years. Passed 12-0.
• Tax Levy Rates (250793): Ordinance adjusting levy rates for FY 2025-26 based on new assessed values. The new levy is $1.5073 per $100 assessed value. Passed 12-0.
• Fire Trucks Purchase (250801): Authorizing a $1,121,408 purchase order for brush trucks from Spencer Manufacturing. Passed 12-0.
• Downtown Airport Lease (250808): 30-year ground lease with two 10-year renewals to Airside Innovation Missouri, LLC for development of aprons, hangars, offices, fuel farm, and parking. Described as last developable space. Passed 12-0.
• Economic Development Policies (250811): Ordinance amending city codes to conform policies on tax increment financing. Passed 12-0.
• Bond Reappropriation for Bike Lanes (250812): Ordinance reallocating funds from various bond and sales tax funds to construct the Broadway Bike Lane (31st to 43rd) and a Southwest Blvd (31st to Broadway) study. Total reallocated approximately $1.9 million. Passed 12-0.
• Rezonings and Development Plans:
  • 3809 Roanoke Road (250537): Rezoning to B3-3 for 69-unit multi-family with limited commercial. Required nine votes; passed 12-0 despite valid protest petition.
  • Shoal Creek Cottages (250674): Rezoning for 177 cottage homes on 30 acres. Passed 12-0.
  • Guadalupe Centers (250802): Rezoning at 13th & Summit (old FBI campus) for school, entertainment, and sports uses. Passed 12-0.
  • Longfellow Infill (250803): Rezoning to DR-1 for five single-family units. Passed 12-0.
  • Colorado Avenue Right-of-Way Vacation (250805): Vacation of 1.07 acres for industrial development. Passed 12-0.
• Aviation Contracts:
  • Taxiway B Reconstruction (250727): $7,368,806.50 contract with Ideker Inc. for Downtown Airport. Passed 12-0.
  • Water Purchase Agreement (250799): 25-year renewal with Consolidated Water Supply District #1 of Platte County for up to 2.7 million gallons per day. Passed 12-0.
  • Water Bill Printing Services (250800): $1,705,000 contract amendment with Doxim Utilitec for one-year extension. Passed with 11 ayes (Curls absent).
• Roy Blunt Luminary Park (250809): Ordinance estimating $15,080,817.20 in bond proceeds and appropriating to the park project, authorizing agreements with Port KC, Downtown Council, and multiple contract amendments. Assigned to third read calendar.
• Closed Session: The council entered closed session under several state statutes. Outcome: Item 250680 re-referred to committee.

Key Outcomes

• Modular Detention Facility Resolution (250839): The council adopted a resolution reaffirming commitment to develop a temporary modular detention facility and a permanent facility. The City Manager reported two vendor proposals for modular units and that a new department would be needed. Passed 10-1 (Duncan nay).
• Firefighters Union Lawsuit Resolution (250840): The council affirmed the city’s legal position in the case arising from a 2021 fire truck crash that killed three people. The arbitrator had awarded three months suspension and back pay; the city is challenging the ruling. Passed 9-0-3 (French, Rea, Curls abstained).
• Border War Tax Abatement Repeal (250841): Ordinance repealing the 10-year term limit on property tax abatements for jobs relocating from Kansas counties, aligning with the expired truce. Passed 12-0.
• Floor Introductions: Several first-reading ordinances were introduced and referred to committees, including a ban on certain electronic gaming machines (250832), vacant property receivership for Paul Robeson Middle School (250838), and multiple grants and contracts.
• Special Actions: Three resolutions were adopted:
  • Honoring Manny/Vivian Lopez family (250817)
  • Declaring National Good Neighbor Day (250821)
  • Declaring Hispanic Heritage Month and authorizing flag raising (250833)
• Miscellaneous: Seven community improvement district annual reports were received and filed. The council approved a closed session motion and adjourned.