OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting February 26, 2026: Resolutions, Riverfront Park Lease, and Bond Referrals

City Council Legislative Session — Thursday, February 26, 2026
BodyKansas City, Missouri
SessionCity Council Legislative Session
DateThursday, February 26, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 29:17

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

The meeting will come to order.

0:02

Our guest chaplain is pastor, Dr.

0:04

Serena Wright of Commission to GOP outreach.

0:14

We're all working for legislature.

0:24

Let us pray.

0:26

Great mighty God.

0:30

Thank you for those great people from the great people from the God.

0:38

Father, I pray today that you'll govern every decision that's made.

0:41

Father, you'll be in every question.

0:43

You'll be in every issue that comes up.

0:46

Father, we just thank you right now.

0:48

We give you praise and glory and honor.

0:50

And it is so.

0:52

Amen.

0:54

Congratulations to the president of the United States of America.

0:58

And to the Republic for which you say one nation under God.

1:07

Good to see you.

1:08

So absolutely.

1:10

The clerk will call the roll.

1:12

Right?

1:13

President.

1:17

Present.

1:19

Here.

1:21

Thank you, Pastor.

1:22

Duncan.

1:22

Here.

1:23

O'Neill.

1:25

Will it French?

1:26

Present.

1:27

Rogers.

1:29

Roger.

1:30

Here.

1:30

Patterson Hasley.

1:32

Present.

1:33

Here.

1:35

Here.

1:35

11 members present.

1:38

Will the clerk please call the special action?

1:41

Yes, sir.

1:42

0234.

1:44

Honor in recognizing Reva Simmons on her retirement from the Water Services Department after many years of distinguished and dedicated service to the city of Kansas City.

1:52

Reva's presence for receipt action.

2:02

Thank you all for saying.

2:20

Everybody good.

2:21

All right.

2:21

Councilwoman French.

2:23

Thank you, Mr.

2:24

Mayor.

2:25

Today we recognize Miss Riva Simmons for her many years of distinguished and dedicated service to the city of Kansas City.

2:33

Reva's career with the city reflects a true commitment to public service.

2:37

She began in the finance and revenue department and later served in the former Capital Improvement Management Office, where she quickly became known for her professionalism, reliability, and strong work ethic.

2:49

From the very beginning, Reva demonstrated she was someone the city could depend on.

2:53

She later served as legislative aide in the city council office, providing steadfast support to Councilmember Melba Curls and Councilmember Sandra McFadden Weaver.

3:04

And even assisting the office of Councilman Jermaine Reed, which we know he needs a lot of assistance whenever needed in each of these roles, Reva ensured excellence and responsiveness in serving the citizens of Kansas City.

3:20

In 2015, Riva then transferred into the water supply and treatment division of the Water Services Department, where she served as a senior administrative assistant until her retirement this February.

3:34

Once again, she exemplified dedication, integrity, and unwavering commitment to doing her work at the highest level.

3:40

Beyond her professionalism and responsibilities, Reva brought heart and energy to everything she did.

3:46

She proudly represents the city in corporate challenge events, volunteered her time, encourage employment and engagement.

3:54

She also generally generously gave back to the broader community through organizations such as Freedom Inc.

4:00

NA and AACP and the National League of Cities.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████████████40%
Personnel Matters█████████████████████21%
Housing and Community Development█████████████13%
Mental Health Awareness██████████10%
Pending Litigation█████████9%
Environmental Protection███████7%
Summary of Proceedings

Kansas City Council Meeting - February 26, 2026

The Kansas City Council met on February 26, 2026 at 2:00 PM in Council Chambers at 414 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, MO. Eleven members were present (Councilmember Kevin O'Neill excused). The meeting began with a prayer from guest chaplain Pastor Dr. Serita Wright and the Pledge of Allegiance. The council adopted two special resolutions, approved several ordinances and consent items, held two items for further consideration, and referred multiple first-reading items to committees for review by March 3, 2026. Councilmember Ryana Parks-Shaw also made a personal statement requesting an ethics investigation regarding media accusations.

Special Actions

  • Resolution 260234: Honoring Reva Simmons upon her retirement from the Water Services Department after many years of service. Councilmembers French, Patterson Hazley, Robinson, Curls, Rea, Duncan, and Mayor Lucas expressed gratitude for her dedication, professionalism, and positive spirit. Adopted unanimously.
  • Resolution 260251: Declaring the week of February 23 through March 1, 2026 as National Eating Disorder Awareness Week in Kansas City. Councilmember Bough shared a personal story about her daughter's recovery and encouraged those struggling to seek help. Adopted unanimously.

Councilmember Statements

  • Councilmember Parks-Shaw: Addressed "the elephant in the room," referring to media accusations. Stated she had not been contacted by federal officials, would cooperate fully, and requested an ethics investigation. No formal action was taken.

Consent Calendar (Final Readings)

  • 260216 & 260217: Resolutions appointing successor directors to the 1200 Main/South Loop Community Improvement District and the Ward Parkway Center Community Improvement District. Councilmember Bough recused. Passed with 11 ayes and 1 abstention.
  • 260214: Authorizing collection of the annual special assessment for the Westport Special Business District for FY27, appropriating $40,000. Passed unanimously.
  • 260215: Consenting to the rate of front foot special assessment for the Union Hill Special Business District, appropriating $65,000. Passed unanimously.

Debate Docket

  • 260064 - Riverfront Park Lease Agreement: Authorized the city and Parks and Recreation Department to enter into a lease with the Port Authority of Kansas City for further development of recreational space on the riverfront. Councilmember Bough offered an amendment clarifying that authorizations are subject to approval by the Parks and Recreation Board of Commissioners. Amendment passed 10-1 (Robinson nay). The ordinance as amended passed 11-1 (Robinson nay).
  • 260076 - Department of Community Safety: Creating a new Department of Community Safety. Held on the docket for two weeks per Councilmember Willett's request.
  • 250876 - Digital Signs in Residential Districts: Amending zoning code to allow digital signs for institutional and office uses in residential districts. Held for one week per Councilmember Willett's request.

Committee Advances (Debate)

  • 260094: Approving the Second Amendment to the Southwest Boulevard Redevelopment Area General Development Plan, extending the estimated completion time to 15 years. Councilmember Parks-Shaw recused. Passed with 10 ayes and 2 abstentions (Parks-Shaw, Bough).
  • 260218: Approving the 25 Campbell PIEA General Development Plan on approximately 2.32 acres, declaring the area undeveloped industrial and authorizing tax abatement. Councilmember Willett abstained. Passed 11-0-1.
  • 260194: Accepting Housing Trust Fund Board recommendations to reappropriate $2,979,450 from previously appropriated fund balance for housing programs. Passed unanimously.
  • 260195: Approving removal of two parcels from the Crossroads Community Improvement District. Councilmember Bough abstained. Passed 11-0-1.
  • 260196: Amending floodplain management code to maintain FEMA Community Rating System class A rating. Passed unanimously.

First Readings (Referred to Committees)

All first-reading items were referred to the designated committees with a due back date of March 3, 2026. Key items include:

  • 260235: General Obligation Bonds Series 2026A up to $56,000,000 for capital projects.
  • 260237: Taxable General Obligation Bonds Series 2026B up to $15,000,000.
  • 260238: Special Obligation Bonds Series 2026 up to $150,000,000 for various projects and refunding.
  • 260239: Lease agreement with Wolfe Garage LLC for a restaurant space at 1124 Oak Street.
  • 260247: Establishing a Sister City relationship with Accra, Ghana.
  • 260248: Extending estimated completion time for East Bannister PIEA to 20 years.
  • 260249: Resolution directing City Manager to take actions supporting the homeless community within 30 days.
  • 260250: Creating Retail Alcohol Impact Areas to address public safety impacts.
  • 260252: Reducing Health Commission voting members from 17 to 11.
  • 260240-260246: Various zoning, plat, and infrastructure items.

Floor Introduction

  • 260253: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for a Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for sewer separation and green infrastructure projects at 63rd Street, Daniel Morgan Boone Park, MoDOT Right-of-Way, and Dunn Park. Councilmember Curls added as co-sponsor. Adopted unanimously.

Communications

Multiple communications were received and filed, including: easement releases, successor director selections for various Community Improvement Districts, budgets, temporary traffic regulations, and a notice of intent for the Metro North Veterans Clinic PIEA project.

Miscellaneous Business

  • Authorization for a Closed Session under Missouri law to discuss legal, real estate, personnel, labor negotiations, competitive bidding, and security matters.
  • The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Meeting Transcript

The meeting will come to order. Our guest chaplain is pastor, Dr. Serena Wright of Commission to GOP outreach. We're all working for legislature. Let us pray. Great mighty God. Thank you for those great people from the great people from the God. Father, I pray today that you'll govern every decision that's made. Father, you'll be in every question. You'll be in every issue that comes up. Father, we just thank you right now. We give you praise and glory and honor. And it is so. Amen. Congratulations to the president of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which you say one nation under God. Good to see you. So absolutely. The clerk will call the roll. Right? President. Present. Here. Thank you, Pastor. Duncan. Here. O'Neill. Will it French? Present. Rogers. Roger. Here. Patterson Hasley. Present. Here. Here. 11 members present. Will the clerk please call the special action? Yes, sir. 0234. Honor in recognizing Reva Simmons on her retirement from the Water Services Department after many years of distinguished and dedicated service to the city of Kansas City. Reva's presence for receipt action. Thank you all for saying. Everybody good. All right. Councilwoman French. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Today we recognize Miss Riva Simmons for her many years of distinguished and dedicated service to the city of Kansas City. Reva's career with the city reflects a true commitment to public service.

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