OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Kansas City City Council Meeting Summary - Dec 11, 2025

City Council Legislative Session — Thursday, December 11, 2025
BodyKansas City, Missouri
SessionCity Council Legislative Session
DateThursday, December 11, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:08:14

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Meeting will come to order.

0:02

Our guest chaplain is Pastor Dr.

0:04

Sarita Wright and Commission from Commission to Hill Community Outreach.

0:09

All those who are able to stand, please stand for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:20

Let us pray.

0:21

We gather today with gratitude for the opportunity to serve the people of Kansas City.

0:27

May wisdom guide our decisions, clarity shape our discussions, and compassion anchor our actions.

0:33

Grant us the humility to listen, the courage to lead and the unity to work for the common good of every resident in our community.

0:43

May this meeting be marked by integrity, respect, and a shared commitment to building a stronger and more vibrant Kansas City.

0:51

We give you praise and glory and honor.

0:54

Amen.

1:18

Will the clerk call the special actions?

1:20

Well, I'm sorry.

1:21

We got to call the roll.

1:23

Rhea.

1:25

Bunch.

1:27

Pearls.

1:29

Parkshaw.

1:30

Present.

1:31

Boo.

1:32

Here.

1:32

Duncan.

1:33

Here.

1:34

O'Neil.

1:35

Willet.

1:36

Present.

1:37

Brent.

1:38

Here.

1:38

Rogers.

1:39

Patterson Hans Lance.

1:41

Robinson.

1:43

Kiss.

1:44

He just wanted to be a support.

1:45

Here.

1:46

11 members present.

1:48

Will the clerk call a special actions?

1:51

251062.

1:52

Honoring Michaela Mays on her retirement after 32 years of dedication to the city of Kansas City.

1:58

Michaela's present to receive a special action.

2:03

Didn't mean to say this.

2:38

Colleagues, it is my honor to recognize Michaela Mays on the retirement after 32 years of her of dedicating her life to the city of Kansas City.

2:52

She began her career with the city back in 1993 through 94 as an equipment operator in wastewater and served as labor leader pipeline from 94 to 98.

3:05

She was promoted to General Supervisor Pipeline in 1998 through 2006.

3:12

She was awarded as woman's first award winner as the first black woman general supervisor in the water service.

3:21

In years 2006 through 2014, she was engineering technician lead three in public works.

3:31

She moved to the water department to serve as the customer service supervisor and administrative officer in dispatch division for 15 years.

3:41

She returned to public works as principal engineering technician to complete her final years of service.

3:47

And we are so grateful to have the opportunity to recognize Miss Mays for 32 years.

3:53

That's a long time, a long commitment.

4:05

This is her baby sister.

4:07

So I tell you, service runs through in the family for sure.

4:10

So Miss Mays, we thank you so much.

4:13

Is there anyone else to offer recognition?

4:17

Okay.

4:18

If there's no further discussion, all in favor, please say aye.

4:22

Aye.

4:22

Any opposed?

4:23

Okay, that motion carries.

4:28

Well first, I want to give honor to God for allowing me to be here on this day and for me to work the 32 years of service.

4:37

Because if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████23%
Land Use Planning███████████████████19%
Economic Development████████████████16%
Transportation Safety██████████10%
Environmental Protection███████7%
Public Safety███████7%
Personnel Matters████4%
Arts And Culture████4%
Engineering And Infrastructure████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Kansas City City Council Meeting - December 11, 2025

The Kansas City City Council convened on December 11, 2025, to address the honoring of retiring employee Michaela Mays, adopt several resolutions for immediate recognition and code updates, and advance multiple ordinances regarding development, public safety, and infrastructure. The meeting concluded with the waiver of reading requirements for first-read ordinances and the late introduction of two new items.

Consent Calendar

  • Honoring Michaela Mays: The Council unanimously honored Michaela Mays for 32 years of dedicated service to the City of Kansas City. Mays began as an equipment operator in 1993 and served various roles including General Supervisor, Engineering Technician Lead, and Principal Engineering Technician in Public Works and the Water Department. Mays expressed gratitude for her family's support, her father's encouragement, and the value of acquiring diverse skills beyond her initial job description.
  • Honorary Resolutions: The Council passed resolutions to celebrate Hanukkah with a menorah lighting ceremony at City Hall and to adopt several TIF plan amendments, project progress determinations, and director appointments for various CIDs (Community Improvement Districts) without debate.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Michaela Mays: The honoree spoke about the adversities she faced as a woman in a male-dominated labor field in the 1990s, the importance of continuous training, and her desire to inspire others. She credited her father and family for her work ethic.
  • Councilman Duncan: Raised concerns regarding the lack of investment in the Housing Trust Fund within the 800 Grand TIF agreement and the need to critically analyze the cumulative impact of tax incentives on school funding, referencing a recent school bond passage.
  • Councilman Bunch: Argued that the 800 Grand project provides a "pilot schedule" that protects the school district from revenue loss for the first 10 years and generates significant future revenue, countering the argument that the city is purely redirecting school taxes.
  • Councilwoman French: Clarified the removal of Ruskin Heights from the violence prevention ordinance, noting that additional committee discussion was required for that specific neighborhood before proceeding.
  • Councilman Duncan (Re: Ruskin Heights): Noted the late introduction of the Ruskin Heights ordinance (251063) and requested it be placed on the docket.

Discussion Items

  • Energy Conservation Codes (Resolution 2025-251035): The Council directed the City Manager to develop recommendations to align Kansas City's Chapter 18 with the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and surrounding municipalities.
    • Positions: Councilwoman Bunch and Councilman Ray supported the directive to ensure regional alignment. Councilwoman French emphasized a forward-looking approach to adopt 2024 codes rather than reverting to 2021 standards. Councilman Duncan expressed concern about the 45-day timeline, noting it was insufficient for a comprehensive review and preferred a holistic discussion of all regional codes, including the 2024 revisions which some municipalities had rolled back.
  • 800 Grand TIF Plan (Ordinance 251042): Council debated a resolution approving an amendment to the 800 Grand TIF plan, authorizing up to $11.98 million in city contributions to reimburse redevelopment costs for a hotel and music hall project.
    • Positions: Councilwoman Boo expressed full support for the economic development but cautioned against a lack of vigilance regarding 30-year tax commitments and the need to assess total incentives across projects to protect school funding.
    • Positions: Councilman Rogers argued that tax incentives are necessary to convert vacant, unsafe buildings into tax-generating properties and create jobs, urging the Council to look at the "big picture" of safety and activation.
    • Positions: Councilman Bunch clarified that the school district is "held harmless" for the first 10 years and will receive over $12.4 million in net revenues over 30 years if the project proceeds, contrasting this with the foregone revenue if the project does not move forward.
    • Positions: Councilman Duncan questioned the absence of affordable housing mandates in the agreement, asking specifically about contributions to the Housing Trust Fund. Staff confirmed a $1.7 million contribution to the fund.
  • ERP System Modernization (Ordinance 251043): Discussion centered on replacing the 2004 legacy PeopleSoft system with Workday.
    • Positions: Councilwoman Boo expressed strong support, stating the current system is outdated, difficult to support, and limits HR/financial functions, making the modernization a necessity.
  • Violence Prevention Contracts (Ordinance 250941): Council discussed amending the ordinance to exclude Ruskin Heights while approving contracts for four other neighborhood organizations (Independence Plaza, Northtown, Fort Creek, Marlborough Heights, Ivanhoe) to prevent violent conflict.
    • Positions: Councilman Curl stated the amendment was necessary to allow other neighborhoods to proceed while Ruskin Heights is discussed separately in committee due to specific neighborhood questions. Councilwoman French confirmed this approach to avoid delaying the broader initiative.
  • Rezoning and Development: Various rezonings were discussed for commercial use (electronics wholesaler), a wastewater treatment facility in the Northland, and infrastructure improvements.
    • Positions: Councilman Willett expressed appreciation to staff for community engagement and adjustments made to the wastewater treatment facility site, noting it resolved previous controversy.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution 2025-251062: Passed unanimously (12-0) honoring Michaela Mays on her retirement.
  • Resolution 2025-251047: Passed unanimously (12-0) celebrating Hanukkah.
  • Resolution 2025-251035: Passed unanimously (12-0) directing the City Manager to review energy codes and report back within 45 days.
  • Ordinance 2025-251042: Passed unanimously (11-0) approving the 800 Grand TIF plan amendment with a $1.7 million Housing Trust Fund contribution.
  • Ordinance 2025-251043: Passed unanimously (11-0) authorizing the Workday ERP system implementation.
  • Ordinance 2025-250941: Passed unanimously (11-0) as amended to authorize $1.6 million in contracts for four neighborhood outreach teams (excluding Ruskin Heights).
  • New Ordinance 2025-251063: Added to docket post-meeting to authorize a $400,000 contract for Ruskin Heights for the same violence prevention program.
  • New Ordinance 2025-251064: Added to docket post-meeting for a $40,000 digital connectivity grant.
  • Ordinances 250984, 251020, 250977, etc.: Passed unanimously for various project progress determinations, rezonings, and infrastructure contracts.
  • Procedural Motions: The Council waived the three-day reading requirement for second-read ordinances and waived the requirement for first-read ordinances, scheduling them for next week's final readings or committee referral (specifically moving Ord 251048 from TIO to MPD/Water Services).

Meeting Transcript

Meeting will come to order. Our guest chaplain is Pastor Dr. Sarita Wright and Commission from Commission to Hill Community Outreach. All those who are able to stand, please stand for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Let us pray. We gather today with gratitude for the opportunity to serve the people of Kansas City. May wisdom guide our decisions, clarity shape our discussions, and compassion anchor our actions. Grant us the humility to listen, the courage to lead and the unity to work for the common good of every resident in our community. May this meeting be marked by integrity, respect, and a shared commitment to building a stronger and more vibrant Kansas City. We give you praise and glory and honor. Amen. Will the clerk call the special actions? Well, I'm sorry. We got to call the roll. Rhea. Bunch. Pearls. Parkshaw. Present. Boo. Here. Duncan. Here. O'Neil. Willet. Present. Brent. Here. Rogers. Patterson Hans Lance. Robinson. Kiss. He just wanted to be a support. Here. 11 members present. Will the clerk call a special actions? 251062. Honoring Michaela Mays on her retirement after 32 years of dedication to the city of Kansas City. Michaela's present to receive a special action. Didn't mean to say this. Colleagues, it is my honor to recognize Michaela Mays on the retirement after 32 years of her of dedicating her life to the city of Kansas City. She began her career with the city back in 1993 through 94 as an equipment operator in wastewater and served as labor leader pipeline from 94 to 98. She was promoted to General Supervisor Pipeline in 1998 through 2006. She was awarded as woman's first award winner as the first black woman general supervisor in the water service. In years 2006 through 2014, she was engineering technician lead three in public works. She moved to the water department to serve as the customer service supervisor and administrative officer in dispatch division for 15 years. She returned to public works as principal engineering technician to complete her final years of service. And we are so grateful to have the opportunity to recognize Miss Mays for 32 years. That's a long time, a long commitment. This is her baby sister.

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