XI. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, COUNCIL AND STAFF
Trent Stober, a Fifth Ward resident, spoke regarding Michael Brown, a 45-year municipal
servant who had served in Kirkwood, Missouri for the last 35 years and had passed away
recently, along with his appreciation for all city servants to include those in Columbia,
Missouri.
Renee Carter indicated she was representing Race Matters, Friends, provided a handout,
and spoke about the proposed ordinance to protect LGBTQ identities that had been
discussed earlier as it created an opportunity for the Council to consider the concepts of
equally and equality and to think more widely and broadly in terms of marginalized
identities, the arrests of the Dove Street shooters and the need to understand the root of
shootings between kinfolk and friends that turn into deadly rivalries, the opening of RATI
and the direct action efforts of CoMo Mobile Aid, the need to release all of the ARPA
proposals, and the need to have a mechanism to follow up on domestic violence
situations.
Kanchan Hans spoke about the need to make Columbia a sanctuary city for LGBTQ+
communities and to consider those that are most affected by transphobia, racism, etc .
as they were so marginalized that they did not feel they could speak publicly.
Chriss Jones, a Second Ward resident, spoke regarding the passion and power of the
young people that were in attendance earlier in the meeting when Mel Tully was speaking
about Columbia becoming
a sanctuary city for the LGBTQ community, the lack of
representation at council and other community meetings in terms of people of color, the
unhoused, and others whose voices were not being heard, and the need for the city to
improve its outreach efforts.
Breana Ashcraft, a Third Ward resident, spoke about the comments of Cathy Dolles
earlier in the evening in terms of the challenges with housing credit and income for the
disabled and elderly, the fact that this issue was not limited to those groups as it was an
issue that affected all renters in Columbia, the fact landlords and property management
companies were requesting high deposits and rents causing homelessness, and the
need to address the affordability issue associated with rental properties.
Clair indicated she resided in Southern Boone County and spoke about the Stuart Park
item that was on the agenda as she wondered when the city limits would move out to that
area.
Hasan El-Walid indicated he was a city employee and spoke regarding the need for city
staff to be trained on making the workplace friendly toward the LGBTQ+ populous and his
support for Columbia becoming a sanctuary city.
The Council and staff discussed various topics to include Columbia potentially becoming
a sanctuary city for the LGBTQ+ population, the housing cost issues mentioned by
Breana Ashcraft as that was creating homelessness, the need for outreach to hear the
voices of those that were marginalized, the need to vote at elections.
Mayor Pro Tem Waner made
a motion for the Human Rights Commission and
City staff, specifically the Law Department staff, to review and evaluate the
proposed LGBTQ sanctuary city ordinance referenced earlier this evening. The
motion was seconded by Council Member Lovelady. After discussion, the motion
was approved unanimously by voice vote.
The Council and staff continued to discuss various topics to include the storage and the
enforcement of the storage of roll carts.