City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes  
City Council  
City Hall  
Conference Room  
1A/1B  
Monday, February 2, 2026  
5:00 PM  
Pre-Council  
701 E. Broadway  
Columbia, MO  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor Buffaloe called the meeting to order at approximately 5:00 p.m.  
7 - Buffaloe, Foster, Waterman, Peters, Carroll, Sample, and Elwood  
Present:  
This item is open to the public: State of the Court  
Judge Cavanaugh Noce provided information on the community support docket. He  
shared anecdotes about success stories related to the docket. He highlighted the  
expansion with Divert.  
He noted the property services docket had expanded. Examples of cases on this docket  
include junk in the yard, tall grass, or any other building maintenance issues. He noted  
that these cases very rarely go to trial.  
He noted that the four-day work week for Court employees is a benefit. He stated it was  
critically important to some staff.  
He noted Municipal Court has 8.75 FTE, but are currently operating with 7 FTE due to a  
retirement. He noted that their caseload was growing, and that was something the Court  
had no control over.  
Noce discussed the 2025 Community Survey, specifically the results related to Municipal  
Court.  
Council member Nick Foster asked about the community support docket growing.  
Cavanaugh shared some anecdotes, including a recent one at Project Homeless  
Connect. He noted that the volume issues aren’t necessarily related to individuals feeling  
like the municipal court system would work with him. He added that increased policing  
also plays a role.  
He noted that the community support docket was nearing capacity.  
This item is open to the public: Motion for the City Council to go into  
closed session to discuss:  
-Legal actions, causes of action or litigation involving a public  
governmental body and confidential or privileged communications between  
a public governmental body or its representatives and its attorneys  
pursuant to Section 610.021(1) RSMo.  
-Leasing, purchase or sale of real estate by a public governmental body  
where public knowledge of the transaction might adversely affect the legal  
consideration therefor pursuant to Section 610.021(2) RSMo.  
-Hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting of particular employees by a  
public governmental body when personal information about the employee  
is discussed or recorded pursuant to Section 610.021(3) RSMo.  
-Preparation, including any discussions or work product, on behalf of a  
public governmental body or its representatives for negotiations with  
employee groups pursuant to Section 610.021(9) RSMo.  
-Sealed bids and related documents, until the bids are opened; and  
sealed proposals and related documents or any documents related to a  
negotiated contract until a contract is executed, or all proposals are  
rejected pursuant to Section 610.021(12) RSMo.  
-Individually identifiable personnel records, performance ratings or  
records pertaining to employees or applicants for employment pursuant to  
Section 610.021(13) RSMo.  
At approximately 5:27 p.m., Mayor Buffaloe made a motion for the City Council of  
the City of Columbia, Missouri, to immediately go into a closed meeting in  
Conference Room 1A/1B of City Hall to discuss legal actions, causes of action or  
litigation involving a public governmental body and confidential or privileged  
communications between a public governmental body or its representatives and  
its attorneys pursuant to Section 610.021(1) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri;  
leasing, purchase or sale of real estate by a public governmental body where  
public knowledge of the transaction might adversely affect the legal  
consideration therefor pursuant to Section 610.021(2) of the Revised Statutes of  
Missouri; the hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting of particular employees by a  
public governmental body when personal information about the employee is  
discussed or recorded pursuant to Section 610.021(3) of the Revised Statutes of  
Missouri; the preparation, including any discussions or work product, on behalf of  
a public governmental body or its representatives for negotiations with employee  
groups pursuant to Section 610.021(9) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri; sealed  
proposals and related documents or any documents related to a negotiated  
contract until a contract is executed, or all proposals are rejected pursuant to  
Section 610.021(12) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri; and individually  
identifiable personnel records, performance ratings or records pertaining to  
employees or applicants for employment pursuant to Section 610.021(13) of the  
Revised Statutes of Missouri. The motion was seconded by Council Member  
Peters.  
7 - Buffaloe, Foster, Waterman, Peters, Carroll, Sample, and Elwood  
Yes:  
This item is closed to the public: Closed Meeting.  
At approximately 5:29 p.m., the City Council went into closed session in Conference  
Room 1A/1B pursuant to RSMo Sections 610.021(1), (2), (3), (9), (12), and (13).  
II. ANY OTHER ITEMS COUNCIL MAY WISH TO DISCUSS  
None.  
III. ADJOURNMENT  
The closed meeting adjourned at approximately 6:50 p.m.