City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes  
City Council  
City Hall  
Conference Room  
1A/1B  
Monday, April 6, 2026  
5:00 PM  
Pre-Council  
701 E. Broadway  
Columbia, MO  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor Buffaloe called the meeting to order at approximately 5:01 p.m.  
7 - Buffaloe, Foster, Waterman, Peters, Carroll, Sample, and Elwood  
Present:  
This item is open to the public: McKinney Building Feasibility Study  
Attachments: Presentation  
Amy Schneider, Convention and Visitors Bureau Director, presented on the McKinney  
Building Feasibility Study, noting that the presentation was shared with the Mayor’s Task  
Force in February.  
A representative from SOA Architecture summarized the steps to develop the design.  
She shared a time frame for the project, noting that they were currently at the big picture  
stage. Their initial steps included reviewing the building for ADA compliance, as well as  
safe exiting. She shared some structural integrity issues in a few areas of the building.  
She noted that all these issues would need to be resolved. Council member Foster asked  
about how economically the issues with the facade could be addressed. The  
representative shared that it was currently stable enough to move forward. The approach  
involved rebuilding the wall while the interior work was going on. She acknowledged that  
this created an issue for the neighboring church.  
She reviewed some additional exterior improvements to the building. She emphasized  
maintaining the look of the building, as approved by the Mayor’s Task Force. Expanding  
the ADA ramp would cause the loss of 4 parking spaces due to the sidewalk expanding.  
She showed a proposed planter with seating space.  
She walked through the floor plan of the two floors and proposed uses. She showed some  
potential renderings to provide a better visual of the layout.  
The Mayor asked about securing the upstairs space. The representative noted that it was  
currently open. Council member Waterman asked about the catering kitchen. The  
representative noted that nothing would be prepared on site, but there would be a way to  
warm food brought in by a separate caterer.  
She shared a visual that helped show the size of the space, showing how it compared to  
the Conference Rooms 1A and 1B.  
The total project cost would be around $5.3 million, as of December 2025. She showed  
the breakdown of that estimated costs, including HVAC. The Construction cost would be  
around $4.1 million and Owner’s cost would be around $1.2 million and would include  
anything that is not attached, such as chairs, technology, etc.  
Council member Elwood asked about the wellness room. The representative shared that  
it was primarily used for lactating mothers, but that it was also a space for someone with  
a migraine or someone who had a difficult interaction. Elwood noted a safe syringe  
disposal may be helpful for anyone who may need to administer medicine throughout the  
day. Council member Sample asked about an adult changing table in the restroom - the  
representative noted that it was not currently part of the design.  
De’Carlon Seewood, City Manager, asked for Council to provide direction on this.. He  
noted that the City would apply for some state level grants, but that it would not be  
enough. Waterman asked if the Office of Cultural Affairs would administer the office -  
Seewood noted that they would. Sample asked if programming was looked at at the  
same time as funding. Seewood noted that it needed to be reviewed through both lenses.  
Foster asked about the garage space. Shane Creech, Public Works Director, stated that  
it was currently being used for snow removal equipment, but that it also needed some  
improvement. Carroll asked if the budget included repairs to the garage - the  
representative noted that the roof had some damage, and that it was included in the  
December 2025 budget estimate.  
Seewood noted that, in order to apply for grants, the cost estimate and design were  
needed. Elwood shared a concern about not knowing where all the funding would come  
from. Seewood noted that the City would need to pull a few different pieces together,  
including Neighborhood Assistance Program grants. He noted that there would need to  
be further conversations with the community related to use.  
The Mayor asked about a realistic time frame for an update on the funding process, and  
about potential community partnerships for long term rentals.  
Council member Peters asked about identifying potential grants, as well as how to  
market this to the community. Seewood reiterated that this is still early in the process.  
Peters asked about time frame. Schneider noted that staff wanted Council’s approval on  
the concept before taking next steps. Sample asked about structural integrity - Creech  
noted that Public Works had been monitoring. Elwood asked about what would happen if  
no grants were awarded. Seewood noted that flexibility was necessary. Carroll asked if  
this contingency was included in the discussions with the Task Force. Schneider noted  
that it was not, and that the Task Force did not do any fund raising.  
Waterman asked for an update on next steps in four to six months.  
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.  
-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.  
At approximately 5:50 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,  
the 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, and 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) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. The motion  
was seconded by Council Member Waterman.  
7 - Buffaloe, Foster, Waterman, Peters, Carroll, Sample, and Elwood  
Yes:  
This item is closed to the public: Closed meeting in Conference Room  
1A/1B.  
At approximately 5:51 p.m., the City Council went into closed session in Conference  
Room 1A/1B pursuant to RSMo Sections 610.021(1), (2), and (12).  
II. ANY OTHER ITEMS COUNCIL MAY WISH TO DISCUSS  
N/A  
III. ADJOURNMENT  
The closed meeting adjourned at approximately 6:55 p.m.