City of Columbia, Missouri

Meeting Minutes

City Council

City Hall

Monday, March 3, 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, March 3, 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 BETSY PETERS, Mayor BARBARA BUFFALOE, Council Member

VALERIE CARROLL, Council Member NICK FOSTER, and Council Member DON

WATERMAN were present. Council Member LISA E.A. MEYER and Council Member

ROY LOVELADY were 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 February 17, 2025 were approved unanimously by

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

The agenda, including the consent agenda, was approved unanimously by voice vote on a

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

II. SPECIAL ITEMS

SI2-25

Resolution of Appreciation - David Sorrell, Utilities Director.

Mayor Buffaloe asked Utilities Director David Sorrell to join her at the podium, and

presented him with a resolution of appreciation signed by the City Council.

SI3-25

Recognition of Current and Former Parks and Recreation Directors.

Mayor Buffaloe asked former and current Parks and Recreation Department Directors

Mike Hood, Mike Griggs, and Gabe Huffington to join her and City Manager De’Carlon

Seewood at the podium in recognition of the respective honors they had received from the

Missouri Parks and Recreation Association (MPRA). Mayor Buffaloe noted Mike Hood

had been inducted to the MPRA Hall of Fame, Mike Griggs had received the MPRA

Retirement Service Award, and Gabe Huffington had earned the MPRA Distinguished

Fellow Award.

III. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

None.

IV. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT

SPC8-25

Bonnie Steinmetz - The Council's response/solutions to the top concerns

relayed by Columbia residents in the 2024 city survey.

Bonnie Steinmetz understood survey satisfaction scores had been down in every

category and that the open-ended comments involved issues surrounding the homeless,

crime, and litter, and suggested the community only provide resources to those from

Columbia or Boone County, enforce existing ordinances, provide real data for outcomes

from money spent on homeless-related services, focus on mental illness and substance

use, consider supported employment, and shift support and resources to public safety,

families at high-risk, and high-risk youth as she felt enabling the homeless was not the

best action.

SPC9-25

Jacque Sample - Discussion of the Texas vs. Becerra lawsuit and the

potential impact on Columbia.

Jacque Sample, a Third Ward resident, provided a handout and explained that although

the Texas vs Becerra case was on pause, it was still an active threat because it had not

ended and Missouri had not pulled out of the case, and asked the Council to speak out in

support of its citizens and students that relied on Section 504 services by asking

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey to pull out of the lawsuit.

SPC10-25

Chriss Jones - The lack of transparency at City Hall.

Chriss Jones,

representative of Hold CoMo Accountable, stated the lack of

transparency was one of the biggest reasons for the lack of trust by community members

and provided the lack of meeting minutes being available to the public, the lack of

measures and goals for meeting and surpassing regulatory requirements, pre-council

meetings not being recorded, and not allowing virtual participation for council meetings as

examples of that lack of transparency, and asked that the Council to suggest ways for

the City to become more transparent.

V. PUBLIC HEARINGS

PH7-25

Proposed installation of traffic calming devices on Rollins Road between

Fairview Road and Stadium Boulevard.

The public hearing was read by the City Clerk.

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

Operations Manager Richard Stone responded to Council questions and comments.

Mayor Buffaloe opened the public hearing.

Jim Loveless, 2404 Topaz Drive, explained those on foot or on a bicycle could not see a

car coming from Stadium Boulevard until it was at the crest of the hill, and believed this

plan would effectively slow traffic so that those trying to cross Rollins Road near that

location could do so safely.

Alison Kaiser, 805 Hulen Drive, commented that she had benefited from the speed bumps

on Hulen Drive, agreed with the plans for Rollins Road, and suggested the advisory sign

that said 20 mph due to a turn ahead near the Eastlake Drive intersection be moved

further west so people would see it as she felt it was currently too far away.

Pat O’Gorman, who resided at the corner of Hulen Drive and Rollins Road, indicated his

opposition to this project as he did not feel there was an issue, asked for the average

speeds along with the location of those readings, believed they needed to ensure bushes,

trees, and fences were where they should be, and felt speed bumps were hard on

vehicles and would cause problems in bad weather since the roadway was already hilly.

Chriss Jones, a Second Ward resident, stated she went through speed tables on a daily

basis at the appropriate speed, and speed tables were not hard on her car.

Sarah Smith, 908 Martin Drive, provided a handout, indicated she has never felt unsafe on

Rollins Road, even when walking with her children back and forth to Fairview Elementary,

and believed three traffic calming devices within a few hundred feet of each other near the

intersection of Martin Drive and Rollins Road was too much.

Colin Burgess, 806 Martin Drive, asked that the pinches at Martin Drive and Rollins Road

not be installed as the roadway was already narrow for those traveling westbound,

suggested the installation of street lights to improve the visibility at the crosswalk, felt the

worst part of the roadway was toward the far right side of the section shown on the

second map from the top, and suggested speed bumps on both sides of that curve versus

at the locations proposed because cross traffic could not be seen there.

Anh Braddock, 2304 Rollins Road, explained her home was near the proposed

crosswalk, noted she did not feel there was a speeding problem or a problem crossing

the street there, and suggested the speed bumps be placed near lake or the house

identified as 717 in the area of the bush instead of the proposed location.

Josh Wexler, 801Martin Drive, did not feel the proposed plan was sufficient to solve the

problem if there was a problem, believed the speed bumps were not proposed on the

portion of the road that was the most dangerous, which was along the lake as it narrowed

to a tight curve and had shrubs at a height that would block views, and felt the proposed

location of the speed bumps would not stop speeders.

Carlye Foley, 2406 W. Rollins Road, stated he was not a fan of speed bumps but felt

they were necessary as proposed in this situation for the safety of the children attending

Trinity Lutheran due to the fact the average speeds were 39 mph when the speed limit

was 20 mph, meaning some were likely going faster than 39 mph, and noted the Council

might have inadvertently caused this problem with the installation of the roundabout at

Fairview Road and the extension of Rollins Road to Scott Boulevard as it had created a

shortcut for those wanting to avoid traffic near Hyvee and Walmart.

Joshua Fraser, 2701 Bayonne Court, felt the current traffic calming program, which

primarily involved speed bumps, only pushed the problem to another road, wanted to

ensure the City was looking at this issue holistically, and asked what the expected

volume and speed reductions were for this traffic calming project.

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 installation

of traffic calming devices on Rollins Road between Fairview Road and Stadium

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

by roll call vote with Council Member Peters, Mayor Buffaloe, Council Member

Carroll, Council Member Foster, and Council Member Waterman voting yes, and

Council Member Meyer and Council Member Lovelady being absent.

PH8-25

Proposed annexation of property located on the north side of Highway KK

and west of Villa Wood Court (5961 S. Highway KK) (Case No. 96-2025).

The public hearing was read by the City Clerk.

Community Development Director Tim Teddy provided a staff report.

Mayor Buffaloe opened the public hearing.

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

The Council made comments.

VI. OLD BUSINESS

None.

VII. CONSENT AGENDA

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

Clerk.

B24-25

B25-25

B26-25

B27-25

Rezoning property located on the northeast corner of North Cedar Lake

Drive and John Garry Drive from District M-N (Mixed-use Neighborhood) to

District R-MF (Multi-family Dwelling) (Case No. 64-2025).

Granting a design adjustment relating to the proposed Final Plat of

Tuscany Ridge, Plat No. 4 located west of Ravello Drive and Brown Station

Road to waive a utility easement dedication (Case No. 198-2024).

Approving the Final Plat of “Tuscany Ridge, Plat No. 4” located west of

Ravello Drive and Brown Station Road; authorizing a performance contract

(Case No. 198-2024).

Approving the Final Plat of “Lake Broadway, Plat No. 2A” located on the

southeast corner of Gary Street and Pershing Road; authorizing a

performance contract (Case No. 156-2024).

B28-25

B29-25

Approving the Final Plat of “Boone Prairie Village, Plat No. 2” located on

the northeast corner of Brown Station Road and Blue Ridge Road;

authorizing a performance contract (Case No. 224-2024).

Approving a major amendment to the “Fresh Karma” PD Plan located on

the west side of Cinnamon Hill Lane and east of U.S. Highway 63 (1407

Cinnamon Hill Lane); approving a revised statement of intent (Case No.

62-2025).

B30-25

B31-25

B32-25

Authorizing construction of renovations to the existing structure located at

1020 S. El Chaparral Avenue to provide office and interim fire crew spaces

associated with the design and construction of Fire Station #10; calling for

bids through the Purchasing Division.

Authorizing construction of the Richmond Avenue Private Common

Collector Elimination (PCCE) #35 sanitary sewer improvement project;

calling for bids through the Purchasing Division or authorizing a contract for

the work using a term and supply contractor.

Authorizing an amendment to the development agreement with Jack and

Kay Wax to establish public infrastructure obligations relating to the

extension of a sanitary sewer to property located at 709 Russell Boulevard

and 1811 Rollins Road and associated future construction of City’s

Oakwood Court Private Common Collector Elimination (PCCE) #31

sanitary sewer improvement project; directing the City Clerk to record the

amendment to the development agreement.

B33-25

B34-25

Authorizing agreements with Mid-Missouri Radio Control Association and

Boone County, Missouri relating to licensure and operation of recreational

remote-control aircraft in designated areas.

Authorizing a real estate contract with the Columbia Housing Authority for

the acquisition of property located on Eighth Street to be incorporated into

the Cullimore Cottages development project.

B35-25

R22-25

R23-25

Authorizing an agreement with Boone County, Missouri for 2025 public

health services.

Setting a public hearing: consider the 2024 Consolidated Annual

Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER); establishing a comment period.

Authorizing an agreement with Brycer, LLC for “The Compliance Engine”

software services to track and maintain code compliance for fire protection

systems.

R24-25

Authorizing a first amendment to the social services provider agreement

with Community Playground of Columbia, Inc. associated with out-of-school

programming services.

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

Clerk with the vote recorded as follows: VOTING YES: PETERS, BUFFALOE,

CARROLL, WATERMAN. VOTING NO: NO ONE. ABSENT: MEYER, LOVELADY,

FOSTER (Council Member Foster stepped out during the vote on these items).

Bills declared enacted and resolutions declared adopted, reading as follows:

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

None.

IX. INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING

The following bills were introduced by the Mayor unless otherwise indicated, and all were

given first reading.

B36-25

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 and reassigning classifications;

amending Chapter 19 of the City Code relating to unclassified service

positions.

B37-25

B38-25

B39-25

B40-25

B41-25

Voluntary annexation of property located on the north side of Highway KK

and west of Villa Wood Court (5961 S. Highway KK); establishing

permanent District R-1 (One-family Dwelling) zoning (Case No. 70-2025).

Granting a design adjustment relating to the proposed Final Plat of Arcadia

Plat 10 to allow direct driveway connections to Roger I. Wilson Memorial

Drive (Case No. 63-2025).

Approving the Final Plat of “Arcadia Plat 10” located on the northwest

corner of Brown School Road and Roger I. Wilson Memorial Drive;

authorizing a performance contract (Case No. 63-2025).

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to Courtney Pulley to

allow the operation of a short-term rental on property located at 5406

Gemstone Way; providing a severability clause (Case No. 68-2025).

Authorizing an agreement for professional engineering services with

George L. Crawford & Associates, Inc., d/b/a CBB, for a street and

intersection pedestrian safety study; amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget

by appropriating funds.

B42-25

Authorizing a subrecipient monitoring agreement with Boone County,

Missouri relating to acceptance of the FY 2024 Justice Assistance Grant

(JAG) Program Award to purchase replacement radios for the Police

Department.

X. REPORTS

REP13-25

Board of Equalization City Representative Appointments.

Mayor Buffaloe suggested Council Member Peters and the Finance Director or his

designee, which was currently the Assistance Finance Director, Jim McDonald, serve as

the City’s representatives on the Board of Equalization, and asked if anyone objected. No

one objected.

REP14-25

Disabilities Commission Annual Report.

Jacque Sample, Chair of the Disabilities Commission, provided a report.

XI. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, COUNCIL AND STAFF

Eugene Elkin, 3406 Range Line Street, suggested potential budget cuts, including food,

council wages, going back to diesel buses, and traffic calming projects with speed

bumps as they could damage vehicles.

Chriss Jones, a representative of Hold CoMo Accountable, spoke about the lack of

transparency, asked Council to indicate how they could do better individually and as a

City, explained a large group of people had come to the meeting to discuss a project

involving speed bumps due to transparency, and noted transparency was need for other

types of issues as well.

Sutu Forte indicated she spoke for the Gans land, displayed a video of the Gans Creek

Recreation Area, and asked for an amendment to the ordinance previously passed to

remove the 10.5-mile bike project from the Gans Creek area to another location.

Reece Bader asked the Council to reconsider or allow more time for input on the

Douglass Park improvements, specifically the basketball courts, and to ensure they did

what was best for the kids and the space while honoring the history of that area and the

families involved with that Park.

The Council and staff discussed various topics to include the fact the City was accepting

additional input with regard to the Douglass Park basketball improvements,

a new

resident indicating pleasure with the True/False Film Festival, the status of placing the

minutes on the website, the fact the City was working to improve community engagement

via the community connectors, BeHeard, SeeClickFix, town hall meetings involving the

budget, and the Let’s Talk Local events, the Council taking the community survey

comments seriously, being unsure as to how to improve the impacts of homelessness

without spending money and allocating staff to help alleviate homelessness; the fact they

had approved a rezoning from M-N to RMF, which would allow for higher density zoning in

an area with

walkable atmosphere that was close to employment; suggesting

community members report issues via SeeClickFix, calling 573.874.CITY, etc. as staff

was responsive; Columbia being a growing community and the need to be proactive in

thinking and planning, March 14 being the date of the first Columbia Police Academy

graduation, the status of the City’s growth master plan, which was also known as

Columbia Imagined, the fact the City had master plans for its various utilities, April 12

being the date of the citywide trash clean up event, appreciation for the additional work

sessions to allow for discussion of items before they came to the Council on a regular

meeting agenda, and the status of improvements to the Council Chamber and Conference

Rooms 1A and 1B, which would likely be impacted by the costs of those improvements.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned without objection at 9:10 p.m.