Kansas City Council Meeting - May 21, 2026

The Kansas City Council met on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 2:00 PM in Council Chambers, 414 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, MO. The meeting included special recognitions, approval of a major Tax Increment Financing plan, rezoning for the Country Club Plaza, placement of multiple bond questions on the August 4, 2026 ballot, and a contentious debate over flying the America 250 flag. All 13 council members were present. The meeting adjourned after approximately 3 hours.

Consent Calendar

• Resolution 260488 (Adopted unanimously): Recognized Exceeds Expectations for its 10 years of financial literacy and wellness programming.
• Resolution 260489 (Adopted unanimously): Declared May 17-23, 2026 as National Public Works Week in Kansas City.
• Resolution 260501 (Adopted unanimously): Honored Sherae Honeycutt, retiring from the city’s communications office.
• Resolution 260502 (Adopted unanimously): Honored Director Michael Shaw upon his retirement after 28 years of city service, with extensive remarks from council members.
• Consent Docket ordinances (All passed with one nay from Councilmember Willett on most items): Approved grants, plats, and routine administrative matters including HIV surveillance funding, Countryshire Third Plat, Central Bank Sporting Complex plat, and annual action plans for HUD programs.

Public Comments & Testimony

• On the Country Club Plaza rezoning (260443): Multiple members of the public submitted written testimony – Nadja Karpilow, Janice A. Allen, Allen A. Ternent, Nickolas Buitink, Diane Capps, Maggie Wood, Mohammad Shehada (letter of support), and Amelia McIntyre. Their specific positions were not read aloud but noted in the record.
• On the affordable housing bond (260484): Geoff Jolley provided public testimony; content not detailed in minutes.
• No other public oral testimony was recorded during the meeting.

Discussion Items

• 435 & Soccer Drive TIF Plan (260363): Approved as a committee substitute. The TIF Plan covers infrastructure for a large mixed-use development (single-family, townhomes, multifamily, retail, hotel, office, sports facilities) in Clay County. Councilmember O’Neill highlighted its long-term phased development. Passed 13-0 (Willett, Curls, Parks-Shaw out).
• Country Club Plaza Rezoning (260443): Rezoned 23.5 acres at 4710 Jefferson Street from B4-5 to Master Planned Development (MPD) to allow redevelopment and enhancement of the Plaza. Included design guidelines and height increases. Passed 13-0.
• Plaza Overlay Amendment (260486): Removed two parcels from the Plaza Bowl Overlay to resolve conflicts with the new MPD plan. Passed 13-0.
• America 250 Flag Display (260444): Originally proposed a $15,000 (later rumored $300,000) display. After debate, an amendment was adopted to fly a standard-sized Betsy Ross flag atop City Hall for seven days before and after July 4, 2026, at no additional appropriation. Passed 12-1 (Councilmember Willett nay on the amendment; final ordinance passed 12-1 with Willett nay).
• Conversion Therapy Repeal (260453): Repealed Section 50-234 banning conversion therapy for minors and created an exception regarding preferred pronouns in discriminatory accommodation practices. Councilmembers Bunch and Bough voted no in protest despite acknowledging litigation risk. Passed 7-5 (Lucas, O’Neill, Willett, Robinson, Curls, Parks-Shaw, Duncan aye; Rogers, Patterson Hazley, Rea, Bunch, Bough nay; French out).
• Late-Night Alcohol Service Expansion (260504): Amended previous ordinance to include Zona Rosa area, allowing bars to operate until 5:00 AM with a security plan. Passed 10-1 (Councilmember Curls nay).
• Vacant Property Registration Fee Ballot (260498): Proposed to place a question on August 4, 2026 ballot to establish semi-annual fees for vacant properties. Referred to Special Committee for Legal Review after Councilmember French requested more work.

Key Outcomes

• Bond & Tax Ballot Questions (August 4, 2026): Five ordinances were passed to place the following on the ballot (all passed 12-1, with Willett nay on each):
  • 260484: $100 million General Obligation bonds for affordable housing (Housing Trust Fund).
  • 260483: $100 million GO bonds for convention facilities and pre-1950 buildings.
  • 260485: Renewal of the 1/8-cent central city economic development sales tax for 10 years.
  • 260482: $750 million waterworks revenue bonds for water system rehabilitation.
  • 260481: $750 million sanitary sewer revenue bonds for sewer system improvements.
• Legal Settlements:
  • 260457: Approved $400,000 settlement in Kenya Mitchell v. City (case 2516-CV05992). Passed 12-1 (Willett nay).
  • 260474: Approved $500,000 settlement in Andrea Dorch v. City (case 2416-CV06268). Passed 9-4 (O’Neill, Willett, Rogers, Patterson Hazley nay).
• World Cup Contingency (260503): Appropriated $400,000 from the Capital Improvements Fund to a contingency account for 2026 FIFA World Cup expenses. Passed 10-1 (Willett nay; French and Bough out).
• CID Term Extension (260378): Amended Chapter 74 to allow Community Improvement Districts using special assessments for blight removal up to 27 years (previously 20). Passed with Councilmember Willett abstaining.
• Other Approvals:
  • 260443: Plaza MPD plan passed.
  • 260432: Parking garage at 46th & Pennsylvania passed.
  • 260438: Rezoning for Mean Well Power Solutions expansion (30,000 sq ft) at 6655 Troost passed.
  • 260468: 30-year lease for a 163-room hotel at KCI Airport (Terminal C) passed.
  • 260476: $1.5 million fund swap for street resurfacing and 31st & Van Brunt project passed.
• Resolutions Adopted: Business survey (260359), health discount program (260408), Swope Area Plan amendment (260437), Planning Sustainable Places applications (260439), housing policy evaluation (260454), Prospect-Hickman Mills Vision Plan (260475), and others.
• First Readings Referred to Committees: Multiple items including 800 Grand TIF amendment, blight finding for 114 W. Linwood, rezoning for daycare expansion, honorary street naming, vacant property registration fee, peer-to-peer car rental tax, water system contracts, street closure standards, Welcoming KC Commission, and electric bicycle regulations.