City of Columbia, Missouri

Meeting Minutes

City Council

City Hall

Monday, April 21, 2025

7:00 PM

Regular

Council Chamber

701 E. Broadway

Columbia, MO

I. INTRODUCTORY ITEMS

The City Council of the City of Columbia, Missouri met for a regular meeting at 7:00 p.m.

on Monday, April 21, 2025, in the Council Chamber of the City of Columbia, Missouri. The

Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and the roll was taken with the following results:

Council Member JACQUE SAMPLE, Council Member NICK FOSTER, Council Member

DON WATERMAN, Council Member BETSY PETERS, Mayor BARBARA BUFFALOE

and Council Member VALERIE CARROLL were present. Council Member LISA E.A.

MEYER was absent. City Manager De’Carlon Seewood, City Counselor Nancy

Thompson, City Clerk Sheela Amin, and various Department Heads and staff members

were also present.

The minutes of the regular meeting of April 7, 2025 were approved unanimously by voice

vote on a motion by Mayor Buffaloe and a second by Council Member Foster.

The minutes of the special meeting of April 17, 2025 were approved unanimously by voice

vote on a motion by Mayor Buffaloe and a second by Council Member Peters.

Mayor Buffaloe explained staff was requesting that REP20-25 be removed from the

agenda as a resolution asking the Council to approve a contract would come forward at a

future council meeting.

Mayor Buffaloe made a motion to remove REP20-25 from tonight’s agenda. The motion

was seconded by Council Member Peters and approved unanimously by voice vote.

Mayor Buffaloe stated B88-25 would need to be added to the agenda under new

business, and explained it was an emergency ordinance that would allow for the

suspension of some services due to the damage from recent weather events.

Mayor Buffaloe made a motion to add B88-25 to the agenda and to place it under new

business. The motion was seconded by Council Member Foster and approved

unanimously by voice vote.

The agenda, including the consent agenda, B88-25 being added to the agenda under new

business, and REP20-25 being removed from the agenda, was approved unanimously by

voice vote on a motion by Mayor Buffaloe and a second by Council Member Waterman.

II. SPECIAL ITEMS

None.

III. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

BC4-25

Board and Commission Applicants.

Upon receiving the majority vote of the Council, the following individuals were appointed to

the following Boards and Commissions.

BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN COMMISSION

Heitmann, Tom, Ward 4, Term to expire July 31, 2026

BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

Rogers, Kittie, Ward 3, Term to expire May 1, 2030

LIQUOR LICENSE REVIEW BOARD

Flores, Sydney, Ward 4, Term to expire May 1, 2028

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI EXTENSION COUNCIL OF BOONE COUNTY

Hicks, Michael, Ward 4, Term to expire March 1, 2027

IV. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT

SPC16-25

Drew Shattuck - Frustrations with 6th ward mapping and annexing as many

people who came to vote in the April election had negative feelings

regarding having a Columbia address and being unable to cast their vote

for mayor.

Drew Shattuck, a Third Ward resident, stated the polling place he had worked at during

the April 8 municipal election included many voters with Columbia addresses that were

unable to vote for the mayor because they were not located within the city limits, felt

there were holes of unincorporated land surrounded by the city limits, many of which

included mobile home parks whose residents were of low income, and suggested the City

not pick and choose who to serve and to annex the areas that were surrounded by the

city limits.

SPC17-25

Christine Doerr, Sierra Club - Trail construction in the intermediate section

(Green) trail of Gans Rec area soil shows no best practices to protect the

area with no efforts to lessen erosion further impairing Gans Creek,

including improper culverts, dumping removed soil into the stream, and

excessively wide path of destruction.

Christine Doerr, 2510 Brookside Court, felt the trail being constructed at the Gans Creek

Recreation Area was not what had been promised in terms of its size with the amount of

space cleared and due to its design flaws that risked long-term erosion, environmental

damage, and a poor user experience, and suggested the work be paused in order to build

it right.

SPC18-25

SPC19-25

Susan Renee Carter - Election results lessons and messages.

the memorial service, which would be held tomorrow, believed the November election

showed voters that candidates could dishonestly present as caring even though they only

cared about winning an election; felt there was an attempt by those at the state and

federal level to overturn the will of the people, thought the April municipal election showed

that voters in Columbia did not like fear and hate tactics, and suggested winning

candidates recognize that although many voted for them, others voted against the

fundraising tactics of their opponents.

Traci Wilson-Kleekamp, PhD, Race Matters, Friends (RMF) - Guns, police,

state violence and community violence; the case for mending; prevention +

reconciliation, interventions = trauma & repair.

Mayor Buffaloe explained Traci Wilson-Kleekamp had notified the City she could not

attend tonight and would reschedule.

V. PUBLIC HEARINGS

PH11-25

Proposed construction of storm water improvements on Chadwick Drive,

between Royal Lytham Drive and Fallwood Court.

The public hearing was read by the City Clerk.

Interim Utilities Director Erin Keys provided a staff report.

Mayor Buffaloe opened the public hearing.

There being no comment, Mayor Buffaloe closed the public hearing.

Mayor Buffaloe made a motion authorizing staff to proceed with the final design

for the proposed construction of storm water improvements on Chadwick Drive

between Royal Lytham Drive and Fallwood Court. The motion was seconded by

Council Member Peters and approved unanimously by voice vote.

PH12-25

Proposed construction of street and sidewalk improvements along Garth

Avenue, between Texas Avenue and Thurman Street.

The public hearing was read by the City Clerk.

Public Works Director Shane Creech provided a staff report, and he and Engineering

Manager Allison Anderson responded to Council questions and comments.

Mayor Buffaloe opened the public hearing.

Renee Carter, a Second Ward resident, understood speed bumps were problematic but

wondered if other ways to slow traffic without affecting emergency response times could

be implemented since Parkade Elementary School was located along this route.

There being no further comment, Mayor Buffaloe closed the public hearing.

The Council asked questions and made comments.

Mayor Buffaloe made a motion authorizing staff to proceed with the construction

of the Garth Avenue improvement project. The motion was seconded by Council

Member Waterman and approved unanimously by voice vote.

PH13-25

B55-25

Proposed construction of a parking lot improvement project at the

Columbia Regional Airport.

Discussion shown with B55-25.

Authorizing construction of a parking lot improvement project at the

Columbia Regional Airport; calling for bids through the Purchasing

Division.

The public hearing was read by the City Clerk, and the bill was given second reading by

the City Clerk.

Airport Manager Mike Parks provided a staff report, and responded to Council questions.

Mayor Buffaloe opened the public hearing.

Lily White Boyd, Vice President of External Affairs at the Columbia Chamber of

Commerce, indicated they wanted to voice their support for continued improvements to

the Columbia Regional Airport.

There being no further comment, Mayor Buffaloe closed the public hearing.

The Council made comments.

B55-25 was given third reading by the City Clerk with the vote recorded as

follows: VOTING YES: SAMPLE, FOSTER, WATERMAN, PETERS, BUFFALOE,

CARROLL. VOTING NO: NO ONE. ABSENT: MEYER. Bill declared enacted,

reading as follows:

PH14-25

Proposed voluntary annexation of property located on the northeast corner

of Old Plank Road and Bethel Church Road (Case No. 73-2025).

The public hearing was read by the City Clerk.

Community Development Director Tim Teddy provided a staff report, and he and City

Counselor Nancy Thompson responded to Council questions and comments.

Mayor Buffaloe opened the public hearing.

There being no comment, Mayor Buffaloe closed the public hearing.

VI. OLD BUSINESS

B51-25

Voluntary annexation of property located on the east side of Wyatt Lane

and north of Mule Deer Drive (4100 N. Wyatt Lane); establishing

permanent R-2 (Two-family Dwelling) zoning (Case No. 86-2025).

The bill was given second reading by the City Clerk.

Community Development Director Tim Teddy provided a staff report, and responded to

Council questions and comments.

Jay Gebhardt, 3401 Broadway Business Park Court, indicated he was a civil engineer

and land surveyor representing the property owner, Adam Kopriva, explained this

development would impact the neighbors like their development, which was built within

the last 20 years or so, had impacted others, explained they could not go to the Board of

Adjustment (BOA) for approval of the cottage standards without R-2 zoning, noted they

planned to ask the BOA to allow the house to be 20 feet off of the rear lot as long as the

patio and roof could project out to the 10 foot minimum, would come back to Council with

a preliminary plat that would reflect what the BOA allowed, and pointed out pushing the

home further away from the rear yard lot line would create the need for a two-story home,

which was also a concern of the neighbors.

Denise Ferguson, 5401 Axis Court, stated she hoped the Council read the email she

sent, noted concern about the setback between her home and the three homes that

would be built behind her property, understood the owner would be selling the property so

the development might be different than depicted, felt the process for cottage homes

should be reexamined, and explained that this location was not accessible to public

transportation or services, such as grocery stores, as they were 3-4 miles away.

The Council asked questions and made comments.

B51-25 was given third reading by the City Clerk with the vote recorded as

follows: VOTING YES: FOSTER, WATERMAN, PETERS, BUFFALOE, CARROLL.

VOTING NO: SAMPLE. ABSENT: MEYER. Bill declared enacted, reading as

follows:

VII. CONSENT AGENDA

The following bills were given second reading and the resolutions were read by the City

Clerk.

B52-25

B53-25

B54-25

B56-25

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to Mark Silveria to allow

the operation of a short-term rental on property located at 100 Gipson

Street; providing a severability clause (Case No. 85-2025).

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to KSBF Properties, L.P.

to allow the operation of a short-term rental on property located at 1510

Marylee Drive; providing a severability clause (Case No. 93-2025).

Approving the Final Plat of Fellows Addition # 8 located on the south side

of Fellows Place and west of Rock Quarry Road (1300 Fellows Place);

authorizing a performance contract (Case No. 77-2025).

Authorizing a transportation enhancement funds supplemental agreement

with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission associated

with construction of the St. Charles Road (Clark Lane to Demaret Drive)

sidewalk project.

B57-25

B58-25

B59-25

Accepting conveyances for drainage purposes; accepting a Stormwater

Management/BMP Facilities Covenant; directing the City Clerk to have the

conveyances recorded.

Amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget by appropriating grant funds

received from the State of Missouri - Missouri State Council on the Arts in

support of 2025 Juneteenth events.

Authorizing a cost and licensing agreement for project enhancements with

the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission associated with

the Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63 connector reconfiguration project;

amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget by appropriating funds.

R43-25

R44-25

Setting a public hearing: proposed design and construction of sanitary

sewers to serve the Henderson Branch Watershed.

Setting a public hearing: proposed construction of interior and exterior

renovations to the Waters House located in the Waters-Moss Memorial

Wildlife Area to expand recreational programming and facility rental

spaces.

R45-25

R46-25

R47-25

Authorizing application to the Missouri Division of Tourism for the FY 2026

Cooperative Marketing Program to broaden countywide destination

marketing efforts.

Authorizing application to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources

for a grid resilience formula funding program grant to be used for the

replacement of electric transmission poles.

Authorizing a HOME investment partnership program developer agreement

with Show-Me Central Habitat for Humanity for the construction of an

owner-occupied affordable housing unit at 3017 Milkweed Loop.

R48-25

R49-25

R50-25

Authorizing a special event operations agreement with FPC LIVE, LLC for

a Central Bank Downtown Live outdoor concert event on Ninth Street.

Authorizing additional agreements with arts and cultural organizations for

FY 2025 arts programming or services.

Authorizing Amendment No. 2 to the agreement for professional

engineering services with Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, Inc.

associated with construction of a vehicle wash bay facility at the City of

Columbia sanitary landfill.

R51-25

R52-25

Authorizing an agreement for professional engineering services with

Engineering Surveys & Services for a boundary, topographic and utility

survey associated with the extension of an electric distribution feeder

circuit from the Perche Creek Substation to the City’s Wastewater

Treatment Plant (Brushwood Lake Road loop closure).

Authorizing an agreement for professional engineering services with

Engineering Surveys & Services for a boundary, topographic and utility

survey associated with the extension of an electric distribution feeder

circuit from the Perche Creek Substation to Westbury Subdivision and Old

Hulen Substation.

R53-25

R54-25

Authorizing an agreement for professional engineering services with

Engineering Surveys & Services for a boundary, topographic and utility

survey associated with the extension of an electric distribution feeder

circuit from the Perche Creek Substation to the intersection of Fairview

Road and Broadway.

Authorizing an agreement for professional engineering services with

Engineering Surveys & Services for a boundary, topographic and utility

survey associated with the extension of an electric distribution feeder

circuit from the Bolstad Substation to the Blue Ridge Substation.

The bills were given third reading and the resolutions were read by the City

Clerk with the vote recorded as follows: VOTING YES: SAMPLE, FOSTER,

WATERMAN, PETERS, BUFFALOE, CARROLL. VOTING NO: NO ONE. ABSENT:

MEYER. Bills declared enacted and resolutions declared adopted, reading as

follows:

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

R55-25

Authorizing the temporary closure of sidewalks and vehicular lane shifting

along portions of Fifth Street and Stewart Road to facilitate repairs to the

University of Missouri power plant.

The resolution was read by the City Clerk.

Public Works Director Shane Creech provided a staff report, and responded to Council

questions and comments.

R55-25 was read by the City Clerk, and the vote was recorded as follows: VOTING

YES: SAMPLE, FOSTER, WATERMAN, PETERS, BUFFALOE, CARROLL. VOTING

NO: NO ONE. ABSENT: MEYER. Resolution declared adopted, reading as follows:

B88-25

Supporting the declaration of a state of emergency by the City Manager

due to a severe weather event; ceasing recycling operations; suspending

bioenergy plant operations; providing for conflicting provisions; declaring

an emergency for enactment.

The bill was given first reading by the City Clerk.

City Counselor Nancy Thompson and City Manager De’Carlon Seewood provided a staff

report, and responded to Council questions and comments.

Mayor Buffaloe made

a motion to waive the rule requiring consideration of this

ordinance at two separate meetings and to place the bill on its second reading.

The motion was seconded by Council Member Foster and approved unanimously

by voice vote.

The bill was given second reading by the City Clerk.

Renee Carter, a Second Ward resident, suggested the City develop a plan so they had a

framework to work from if this ever happened again as the recovery would be faster and it

would make things easier on staff.

Eugene Elkin, 3406 Range Line Street, stated Columbians wanted their recycling options

and suggested the City not let this issue drag on.

Steve Spellman, 2312 Katy Lane, stated the direction to place everything in the trash was

disconcerting to

a number of people and suggested the City have a good public

communications plan along with a Plan B that involved thinking outside of the box,

especially when it came to recycling metals and other valuable products, as he believed

they could have a sanitation issue if people hoarded recycling in their garages for a period

of time.

The Council made comments.

Mayor Buffaloe made a motion to amend B88-25 by removing “and bioreactor

landfill” from Section 4 of the proposed ordinance. The motion was seconded by

Council Member Peters and approved unanimously by voice vote.

B88-25, as amended, was given third reading by the City Clerk with the vote

recorded as follows: VOTING YES: SAMPLE, FOSTER, WATERMAN, PETERS,

BUFFALOE, CARROLL. VOTING NO: NO ONE. ABSENT: MEYER. Bill declared

enacted, reading as follows:

IX. INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING

The following policy resolution and bills were introduced by the Mayor unless otherwise

indicated, and all were given first reading.

PR56-25

B60-25

B61-25

Rescinding Policy Resolution PR 116-21 and Policy Resolution PR

125-23A associated with the City of Columbia Strategic Plan; adopting

and reaffirming a vision statement, mission statement, core values and

strategic priorities for the City of Columbia, Missouri Strategic Plan.

Voluntary annexation of property located on the northeast corner of Old

Plank Road and Bethel Church Road (201 E. Old Plank Road);

establishing permanent R-2 (Two-family Dwelling) zoning (Case No.

74-2025).

Rezoning property located on the south side of Vandiver Drive and east of

US 63 from District A (Agriculture) to District PD (Planned Development);

approving the PD Plan and Preliminary Plat of “Centerstate East

Subdivision”; approving a statement of intent (Case No. 89-2025).

B62-25

B63-25

B64-25

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to Kelso Holding LLC to

allow the operation of a short-term rental on property located at 206 Third

Avenue, Unit 100; providing a severability clause (Case No. 97-2025).

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to Grant Ln, LLC to allow

the operation of a short-term rental on property located at 2107 Grant Lane;

providing a severability clause (Case No. 95-2025).

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to The J A M Group, LLC

to allow the operation of a short-term rental on property located at 2301

Primrose Drive, Unit 7D; providing a severability clause (Case No.

98-2025).

B65-25

B66-25

B67-25

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to Spence Investments,

LLC to allow the operation of a short-term rental on property located at 504

Campusview Drive; providing a severability clause (Case No. 104-2025).

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to JLT Reeves LLC to

allow the operation of a short-term rental on property located at 801

Norman Drive; providing a severability clause (Case No. 105-2025).

Rezoning property located on the south side of Chapel Hill Road and west

of Forum Boulevard (1710 Chapel Hill Road) from District PD (Planned

Development) to District M-N (Mixed-use Neighborhood) (Case No.

100-2025).

B68-25

B69-25

Approving a major amendment and the PD Planned Development of “Lot

1A of Providence South Plaza, Plat 3 and Lot 2 of Providence South Plaza,

Plat 1” located on the northeast corner of Green Meadows Road and

Carter Lane (3101 Carter Lane); approving a statement of intent (Case No.

102-2025).

Approving the Final Plat of “Fike Subdivision, Plat 1A” located on the north

side of Prathersville Road and east of Highway 763 North; authorizing a

performance contract (Case No. 58-2025).

B70-25

B71-25

B72-25

Authorizing construction of a sidewalk along the south side of Vandiver

Drive between Oakland Gravel Road and Parker Street; calling for bids

through the Purchasing Division.

Authorizing the acquisition of easements associated with the construction

of a sidewalk along the south side of Vandiver Drive between Oakland

Gravel Road and Parker Street.

Authorizing construction of interior and exterior renovations to the Waters

House located in the Waters-Moss Memorial Wildlife Area to expand

recreational programming and facility rental spaces; calling for bids for a

portion of the project through the Purchasing Division.

B73-25

B74-25

B75-25

B76-25

B77-25

Authorizing an amendment to the pole attachment agreement with Socket

Telecom, LLC associated with the installation and maintenance of

telecommunications facilities.

Accepting conveyances for drainage, temporary construction, and

underground electric utility purposes; directing the City Clerk to have the

conveyances recorded.

Authorizing the City Manager to execute a right-of-way easement to Boone

Electric Cooperative for the installation of underground electric service to

approach lights at the Columbia Regional Airport.

Authorizing a second amendment to the software as a service (SaaS)

agreement with Locality Media, Inc. for the "First Due" records

management system for the Fire Department.

Authorizing agreements, promissory notes, and deeds of trusts with

Housing Authority of the City of Columbia, Missouri and Park Avenue

Housing Development Group, LP associated with the replacement of

downtown public housing units on Park Avenue; directing the City Clerk to

record certain documents.

B78-25

Amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget by adding positions in the Fire

Department, Parks and Recreation Department, and City Utilities

Department; amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget Appendix - Authorized

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) position identification summary; amending the

FY 2025 Annual Budget by appropriating funds; amending the FY 2025

Classification and Pay Plan by adding, reassigning, closing, and retitling

classifications; providing for a pay adjustment; amending Chapter 19 of the

City Code as it relates to unclassified service.

B79-25

B80-25

Authorizing Amendment No. 2 to the contract with the Missouri Department

of Health and Human Services for HIV case management program

services; amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget by appropriating funds;

amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget by adding positions in the Public

Health and Human Services Department; amending the FY 2025 Annual

Budget Appendix - Authorized Full Time Equivalent (FTE) position

identification summary.

Authorizing a contract with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior

Services for disease intervention specialist workforce program services.

B81-25

B82-25

Authorizing a contract with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior

Services for local public health agency accreditation assistance program

services.

Authorizing a contract with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior

Services for sexual violence prevention and response program services;

amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget by appropriating funds.

B83-25

B84-25

Authorizing Amendment No. 1 to the contract with the Missouri Department

of Health and Senior Services for rural PrEP clinic program services.

Authorizing Amendment No. 2 to the contract with the Missouri Department

of Health and Senior Services for overdose data to action program

services.

B85-25

B86-25

Authorizing Amendment No. 1 to the contract with the Missouri Department

of Health and Senior Services for high impact HIV prevention and

surveillance program services.

Authorizing acceptance of a notice of award from the Department of Health

and Human Services - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration - Center for Substance Abuse Treatment for the Boone

County community paramedic program; amending the FY 2025 Annual

Budget by appropriating funds.

B87-25

Authorizing a contract with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior

Services for fetal and infant mortality review program services; amending

the FY 2025 Annual Budget by appropriating funds; amending the FY 2025

Annual Budget adding a position in the Public Health and Human Services

Department; amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget Appendix - Authorized

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) position identification summary; amending the

FY 2025 Classification and Pay Plan by adding a classification.

X. REPORTS

REP21-25

Downtown Community Improvement District (CID) Board of Directors -

Membership Changes Due to Resignations.

Mayor Buffaloe suggested John Gilbreth, Erica Pefferman, and Ray Hall be appointed to

terms ending on February 6, 2026, and that Tanner Ott be appointed to a term ending on

February 6, 2027, as had been recommended by the Downtown CID, and asked if anyone

objected. No one objected.

REP22-25

REP23-25

North 763 Community Improvement District (CID) - FY 2026 Annual

Budget.

Mayor Buffaloe understood this had been provided per a State Law requirement, and City

Counselor Nancy Thompson explained the Council would receive something in the future

regarding the North 763 boundary as they were requesting that Burrell be removed.

Monthly Finance Report.

Mayor Buffaloe noted this could be discussed as part of staff comments later in the

meeting since staff was not available at the moment to provide a report.

XI. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, COUNCIL AND STAFF

Alex Reznick, 4002 Lamar Court, felt there were a lot of short-term rental properties,

asked for the definition of short-term, pointed out Columbia did not have affordable

housing as she was paying $1,300 per month and knew of others who could not afford

rental properties, and wondered why the City was not capping what landlords could

charge for rental properties.

Eugene Elkin, 3406 Range Line Street, spoke about the homeless and issues

surrounding those that are homeless and later find housing due to increasing costs.

The Council and staff discussed various topics to include sidewalk closures associated

with construction projects when the sidewalk closures were not submitted as part of the

plans, public inconvenience fees kicking in after seven days, the City’s process of

educating the offender of the sidewalk closure requirements but the prosecutor ’s office

being willing to receive a complaint from the inspector if the offender would not come into

compliance to determine if there was enough evidence to file charges, the process

utilized in the North William Street instance of a citizen bringing it to the ADA coordinator

and the ADA coordinator then working with City staff for compliance being an acceptable

method to address similar situations, addressing being determined by the post office

serving the community, i.e., people being given a Columbia address if they were served

by the Columbia post office even when the address was not within the city limits of

Columbia, the value of boards and commissions to the community, encouraging people to

look for opportunities to serve on boards and commissions they might find appealing,

discussions at the pre-council meeting of how the work of boards and commissions could

be improved and better supported; acknowledging that 70 percent of voters did not vote in

the April election and the need for community involvement, the fact that boards and

commissions were an opportunity for one’s voice to be heard, but that one would need to

apply in order to be considered, the status of the Ash Street improvement project as the

Council was continuing to receive comments from residents, the status of the requests

for CATSO to consider a traffic corridor project involving Ash Street, Walnut Street, and

Broadway and the reclassification of Ash Street, understanding they would likely know

more after the CATSO meeting in May and after Public Works staff had the opportunity to

review the comments from the third interested parties meeting, the request for a report

regarding the status of the Opportunity Campus, the letter the City Council had received

from the Bicycle/Pedestrian Commission to advocate for pedestrian facilities as they

were getting ready for the next section of I-70 improvements, the fact staff was meeting

with MoDOT representatives monthly with regard to the I-70 improvement project and that

the municipal agreement should include the necessary wording for the expectations

surrounding the pedestrian facilities as that would be used for the RFQ when hiring the

design/build contractor, the option for staff to draft a letter for the Mayor and/or Council to

send to MoDOT and others if necessary, Earth Day being tomorrow and the Earth Day

celebrations being held this weekend, the definition and regulations surrounding

short-term rentals, i.e., they were short-term rentals if less than 31 days and there were a

lot of regulations associated with them, which could be found on the City’s website,

noting that cities were pre-emptied by the State of Missouri from establishing rent control

policies for regular market-priced rentals which were privately owned and not federally

subsidized, the difference in the Q1 24 and Q1 25 use and sales tax numbers being

dependent on how it was accrued in the system in terms of the fiscal year tied to October

payments, explaining the mid-year or Q2 use and sales tax numbers, which would be

provided at the second meeting in May, would help clarify the revenue situation, a status

report on the impacts of the tornado that hit the Columbia area yesterday evening as six

major electric circuits had been down causing more than 4,000 customers to be without

power, the fact the that number had been reduced to just a few hundred by midnight and

was down to 68 now, all of this work being done by the electric staff after they had

already spent most of their Easter Sunday fixing an electric line that had fallen on

Highway 63, pointing out that more than 20 transmission power poles, which were the

really large poles, had been blown over along the COLT railroad behind the businesses

along Route

and that the City’s emergency contractors, Power Electric, had

dispatched five crews to rebuild those poles, the fact that the remaining 68 customers

would continue to be without power until those poles were repaired, which would likely

take another couple of days, the importance of replacing transmission poles that were

past their useful life as actions like the $3 million grant application approved by Council

tonight would allow them to do, understanding that there could have been more outages

had this event occurred during high load times, explaining the Public Health and Human

Services Department and the Red Cross were coordinating with residential customers

that would be out of power for multiple days, the fact the material recovery facility (MRF)

had been completely demolished, metal siding had been wrapped around trees, utility

poles, and the gas flare at the landfill gas generating facility, and the power lines and

communications fiber lines that served the scale house and the Solid Waste buildings

had been torn down causing there to not be any power or internet for operations, the

resiliency and helpfulness of staff, i.e., the Sewer Utility had helped with the landfill

leachate pump station, the Water Utility had helped turn off the valve for the fire

sprinklers, the Electric Utility had worked all night and part of this morning to get the

power back to the scale house to allow Solid Waste employees to pick up residential

trash for its customers, the Electric Utility along with mutual aid from Rolla and Macon

continuing to work at the landfill site to get power and communication fiber to the

remaining Solid Waste buildings, the communications staff updating the community last

night with regard to the cancelation of residential recycling and the closing of the drop off

sites, the Solid Waste administrative staff reporting to work at City Hall with help of IT and

laptops, a Solid Waste worker whose house caught on fire the night before reporting to

work this morning, the Public Works staff ensuring the Utility staff could obtain fuel at the

Grissum Building since the fueling station at the landfill did not have power, the Human

Resources and Parks and Recreation Departments staff helping to find ways to keep

MRF employees working while they hopefully built a new MRF, the Purchasing staff

increasing p-card purchase limits and providing other emergency procurement services so

the City could respond and recover more quickly, and the Risk Management staff being

on-site today to assess the situation so they could work with the insurance company on

coverage issues, asking for grace with regard to recycling operations as the first order of

business was to power communications to the buildings so the City could keep

everyone’s trash services operating, including those that were not the City’s own since

many vendors outside of Boone County brought trash to City facilities, explaining that the

City would continue to evaluate how to collect refuse and recycling, knowing at this time

everything would go to the landfill, reminding the public that the solid waste charge was

for everything that was picked up and handled, that the charge was not split between

trash and recycling, and that everything would continue to be picked up, the fact this

would provide an opportunity to build a new MRF, which was scheduled to be discussed

at the June 2 pre-council meeting and would require community engagement, engineering

design, equipment procurement, financing, and construction, and pointing out that staff

would look at opportunities to phase back in some recycling or partner with other

organizations in the area, which would take time to evaluate because it likely would not

be a free or perfect solution that would make everyone happy.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned without objection at 9:35 p.m.