City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
City Council  
Boone County  
Government Center  
801 E. Walnut, Room  
301  
Wednesday, October 23, 2024  
8:30 AM  
Joint Work Session  
County Commission & City Council  
Columbia MO.  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
The meeting was called to order at approximately 8:37 a.m.  
Present: Kip Kendrick (Presiding Commissioner), Janet Thompson (Commissioner),  
Justin Aldred (Commissioner), and Joanne Nelson (Director - Boone County Community  
Services Department).  
City Council members Valerie Carroll (Ward 1), Lisa E. A. Meyer (Ward 2), Roy Lovelady  
(Ward 3), Nick Foster (Ward 4), Don Waterman (Ward 5 - arrived at approximately 9:00  
a.m.), and Mayor Barbara Buffaloe (arrived at approximately 9:00 a.m.).  
Also present were De'Carlon Seewood (City Manager), Matt Unrein (Deputy City  
Manager), Carol Rhodes (Assistant City Manager), Kristina Wolf (Assistant to the City  
Manager), Becky Thompson (Housing and Neighborhood Services Director), and D'Andre  
Thompson (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Administrator).  
6 - Buffaloe, Foster, Lovelady, Waterman, Meyer, and Carroll  
1 - Peters  
Present:  
Absent:  
II. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS  
Commissioners, Council members and City staff introduced themselves.  
III. TENTATIVE TOPICS OF DISCUSSION  
Boone County and City of Columbia Housing Study Report  
Attachments: Boone County Housing Study  
Dr. David Boston with Amarach Planning Services, LLC presented the group with the  
findings and results from the Boone County Housing study. This housing study assesses  
current housing market conditions, and investigates affordability challenges.  
According to Dr. David Boston, this housing study was conducted to provide a  
comprehensive understanding of housing market conditions, community housing needs,  
and the gaps between housing supply and demand that should be addressed to  
strengthen the local economy and improve peoples’ lives in Boone County, Missouri and  
the City of Columbia. The study area includes the entirety of Boone County with results  
sometimes displayed against the State of Missouri and comparable counties, or split into  
smaller regions, such as the City of Columbia, for analytical and policy making purposes.  
Dr. Boston discussed where his firm collected information from. Some of those include  
Census Bureau, HUD, Federal Reserve, BLS, and private data sources such as Esri and  
RealPage to name a few. Public survey results were also collected in addition to five  
public community meetings and interviews with 40 + key stakeholders.  
Foster asked if there were any areas that were missed. Dr. Boston indicated 80-85% of  
respondents were within the City of Columbia.  
Dr. Boston went on to discuss key challenges. Some challenges include lack of housing  
options across income levels, particularly affordable housing for low-income households,  
Rising housing costs, workers commuting into Boone County, infrastructure and utility  
capacity limits, NIMBYism and discretionary review processes and limited public  
transportation.  
Those in attendance discussed further in depth.  
October 24, 2024 Housing Summit and Follow-up Meeting  
Student Housing  
Dr. Boston went on to discuss household formations which include population growth and  
headship rates. Headship rates are people in the young age brackets moving out of  
parents’ homes or with roommates. He also discussed student housing and the demand  
for more student housing. Dr. Boston indicated an opportunity for collaboration with the  
transit system. Student housing is running into issues, such as being marketed as  
student housing, but not affiliated with the Universities. Some individuals within these  
housing units include individuals that may not be students.  
Student housing has also increased substantially over time.  
Senior housing  
Senior housing has had some purpose-built housing and also has shuttle services  
separate from the City transit system. Senior housing is lacking small units in Boone  
County.  
Workforce housing and starter homes  
People are typically looking for smaller homes than the ones on the market. Dr. Boston  
suggested preserving existing housing.  
Gentle density (duplexes, tri-plexes, etc.) housing options  
Typically, off on their own and not near high density areas. Surplus of these homes.  
Dr. Boston discussed future targets for development for Boone County from 2025-2050.  
The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:20 a.m.  
IV. ADJOURNMENT