Kansas City Council Meeting: July 16, 2026 - Honoring Sam Hennenfett and Approving 11 Ordinances
Kansas City Council Meeting: July 16, 2026
The Kansas City Council convened on July 16, 2026, at 8:15 PM. The meeting opened with an invocation by Pastor Dale Schwartzler of Day Spring Pentecostal Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call confirming 10 members present. The council honored a student athlete, passed 11 ordinances, advanced items to final reading, and cleared the semi-annual docket.
Special Action
- 260635 – Honoring Sam Hennenfett: Councilman O'Neill introduced and the council unanimously adopted a resolution honoring Sam Hennenfett for his academic and athletic achievements. Hennenfett is a senior at Staley High School, ranked #1 in a class of 500 with a 4.75 weighted GPA, a two-time Missouri State champion in the 500-yard freestyle, and a three-time USA Swimming Scholastic All American. He will attend Duke University to study biomedical engineering. Multiple council members spoke in support and encouraged him to return to Kansas City after college.
Consent Calendar
- 260630 – City Auditor Review of Boards and Commissions: The council passed an ordinance directing the city auditor to perform a review of the city's various boards and commissions to determine redundancy and quorum issues, with a report due within 60 days. The vote was unanimous (10 ayes).
- 260376 – Westport Overlay District Amendment: The council passed an ordinance amending the Westport Overlay District to allow a special use permit for a drive-up (pickup window only) facility, with no new curb cuts, no call boxes, and no menu boards. The vote was 8 ayes to 3 nays. Councilmembers Curls, Park Shaw, and Lucas voted no. Staff had recommended against the change, but the Neighborhood Plan and Development Committee recommended approval.
- 260582 – Central City Economic Development Tax Board Funding: The council approved accepting the recommendation of the Central City Economic Development Tax Board to approve $1.5 million in funding for the 1815 for sale project. The vote was unanimous (10 ayes).
- 260573 – Northeast Vivian Road Streetscape Project: The council allocated $550,000 from the Capital Improvements Fund to address a funding gap for the Northeast Vivian Road Streetscape Project. The vote was unanimous (12 ayes).
- 260584 – ACOM Technical Services Contract Amendment for Lead Service Line Inventory: The council approved a $2,079,984 contract amendment (total contract $5,922,278) with ACOM Technical Services for a Drinking Water Service Line Material Inventory Project to comply with federal and state lead service line regulations. The vote was 11 ayes.
- 260618 – Contract Negotiations with United Way for Expanded Fountain Card Program: The council directed the city manager to negotiate a contract with the United Way of Greater Kansas City for administration of an expanded fountain card program (reloadable prepaid debit card and municipal identity platform), with a report back within 90 days. The vote was 10 ayes.
- 260614 – Music Hall and Little Theater Restroom Renovations: The council authorized a $1,657,866 contract with Basquez Commercial Contracting for restroom renovations at the Kansas City Convention Entertainment Facilities Music Hall and Little Theater, with up to $250,000 contingency. The vote was unanimous (11 ayes).
- 260628 – Stabilization and Redevelopment of 1815 for Sale Property: The council authorized the city manager to negotiate agreements for the stabilization and redevelopment of property located at 1815 for sale, which was acquired by the city on February 9. The vote was 11 ayes.
- 260634 – Housing Trust Fund Board Funding Recommendations: The council accepted the Housing Trust Fund Board's recommendations totaling $16.4 million for housing projects. The vote was 8 ayes.
Committee Advances
- The council approved a motion to waive the charter requirement for reading ordinances on three separate days for committee advances, allowing them to proceed to final reading. The vote was 11 ayes.
- The council approved a motion to waive charter requirements for second readings, placing items on the docket for next week. The vote was 9 ayes.
- The council approved a motion for first readings to be introduced as listed to the designated committee. The vote was 9 ayes.
Additional Business
- Semi-Annual Docket: After no member requested that any ordinance remain in committee, all ordinances and resolutions more than six months old not acted on by the council were released from the docket and deemed lost.
- New Introduction – 260638: Councilman O'Neill introduced a new ordinance (260638) establishing the Kansas City Deficit and Transparency Task Force. The task force will develop recommendations regarding the planning, regulation, and operation of data centers, including policies for transparency, utility ratepayer protection, regulatory updates, workforce development, community benefit guidelines, and municipal revenue options. The ordinance was assigned to the Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee.
Key Outcomes
- 11 ordinances passed: 1 special action resolution honoring a student, 1 audit directive, 1 zoning overlay amendment (8 ayes to 3 nays), 1 economic development funding approval, 1 capital improvement allocation, 1 water services contract, 1 program authorization, 1 contract approval for renovations, 1 property redevelopment authorization, and 1 housing trust fund acceptance.
- The council advanced multiple ordinances through the three-reading process.
- The semi-annual docket was cleared, removing all stale legislation.
- A new task force ordinance was introduced and assigned to committee.
Meeting Transcript
Our guest chaplain is Pastor Dale Schwartzler of Day Spring Pentecostal Church. Would all who are able please stand for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pastor. Good afternoon. Can we follow we come to you this day in prayer for this session of City Council? I lift up to you, the mayor, the members of this council, their staff and families. May your compassion, your mercy, your grace be upon them all. To you we give thanks and blessed for your blessings that you have given and bestowed upon this great city and for these men and women who have sacrificed to serve this great city. Grant this city revival and peace, prosperity, righteousness, and truth. Grant the police and fire and other services, your protections and blessings. Show this council your path and lead them in your truth. Teach them your ways. Grant wisdom and insight to this council, for you will grant those that seek and ask. Enable these great people to serve this city with integrity and righteousness and in truth. Protect them from evil, corrupt influences, and grant, Lord, your way and your will shall be done here today. May this session be fruitful and blessed with your presence. We pray with thanksgiving in our hearts towards you in the name of Jesus. Amen. The clerk will call the roll. Curls. Present present. It's a dunking. O'Neill. Sir. O'Neill. Willie. French. Present. Rogers. Patterson Hasley. Robinson. See you. Ray. Eric. Bunch. Lucas. Here. Tim Members present. Ten members present. Yes. Yes, sir. All right. The clerk will proceed with the final readings, debate doctors. Special action. That's a oh, I'm sorry, there's a special action. Yes, sir. My bad. I got so excited. Well, 260635. Honoring Sam Hinefett for his outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments.
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