Kansas City City Council Meeting - August 20, 2026

The Kansas City City Council met on August 20, 2026, for a regular session that included final readings, consent items, and a major debate on the Kansas City Royals stadium development agreement. The council unanimously passed several housing-related ordinances and approved a rezoning, while a contentious vote on the Royals deal passed 11-2. Several late-filed resolutions and ordinances were introduced and referred to committees.

Consent Calendar

• Ordinance 260716 (13-0): Directed the city manager to identify funding opportunities to enhance city-funded affordable housing projects, following the August 4, 2026 voter approval of $100 million in general obligation bonds for affordable housing. [Councilwoman Boo]
• Ordinance 260719 (13-0): Authorized the city manager to execute a petition to establish the Riverfront Community Improvement District (CID) and set a policy for including partial tax parcels within CID boundaries when 100% of property owners file. [Councilwoman Boo]
• Ordinance 260717 (13-0): Directed the city manager to review the 21st Century Road to Housing Act and existing city housing policies to identify and implement policy and administrative changes within 120 days, aimed at increasing housing supply and affordability. [Mayor Pro Tem; Councilman Duncan thanked sponsor Patterson Hasley]
• Ordinance 260713 (13-0): Approved a permanent plat for a 7.6-acre residential development (30 lots, 3 tracts) at the southeast corner of NE Barry Road and N. Childress in Platte County. [Clerk's reading]
• Ordinance 260712 (13-0): Rezoned 0.5 acres at the northeast corner of Washington Avenue and Avenida Cesar Chavez from B4-2 to DX-5; no development proposed. [Mayor Pro Tem]
• Ordinance 260740 (13-0): Authorized the city manager to apply for and execute federal and state transportation grants administered by MoDOT, necessitated by a technical change in signing authority. [Councilman O'Neill; Councilman Bunch expressed frustration about last-minute timing]
• Resolution 260745 (13-0): Directed the city manager to analyze traffic, parking, infrastructure, and safety impacts of additional development in Union Hill and Longfellow neighborhoods prior to construction of the Royals stadium. [Councilman Raya]

Discussion Items

• Ordinance 260704 – Kansas City Royals Stadium Development Agreement: The major item of the meeting. Councilwoman Boo presented the ordinance, which authorizes the city manager to execute a lease development agreement, community impact partnership agreement, funding agreement, and non-relocation agreement for a new stadium in the Washington Square Park/Crown Center area. The city commits up to $600 million toward the project, with $20 million in bond proceeds authorized upfront. The ordinance also includes labor protections, community benefits (5% of non-baseball revenue), and provisions for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and youth sports. Councilman Duncan strongly opposed, arguing the deal is incomplete, lacks a financial analysis, and gives away leverage; he moved to delay but was unsuccessful. Councilman Rogers strongly supported, citing job creation, prevailing wages, and long-term economic benefits. Councilman Bunch supported but stressed the need for an ironclad agreement with Kansas City Public Schools. The vote was 11-2 (Duncan and French opposed). The council also noted that the financing package (TIF) and zoning will return in September for separate votes.

Key Outcomes

• Votes passed unanimously (13-0): 260716, 260719, 260717, 260713, 260712, 260740, 260745, and motions to waive readings and advance ordinances.
• Vote passed 11-2: Ordinance 260704 (Royals stadium agreement).
• Referred to committees: Resolution 260746 (city manager directive process audit – Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee); Ordinance 260747 ($3 million appropriation for road improvements – Transportation, Infrastructure, and Operations Committee); Ordinance 260748 (MOU with KC Current for Berkeley Riverfront infrastructure up to $185 million – Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee); Ordinance 260749 ($130,000 feasibility study for youth sports facility – Transportation, Infrastructure, and Operations Committee); Ordinance 260750 ($100,000 design study for potential gym theater expansion – Transportation, Infrastructure, and Operations Committee).
• Councilman Raya's birthday was recognized at the close of the meeting.