City of Columbia, Missouri

Meeting Minutes

City Council

City Hall

Monday, October 20, 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, October 20, 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 VALERIE CARROLL, Council Member VERA ELWOOD, Council

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

WATERMAN, Council Member BETSY PETERS, and Mayor BARBARA BUFFALOE

were present. City Manager De’Carlon Seewood, Deputy City Counselor Rebecca

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

were also present.

Mayor Buffaloe explained the October 6, 2025 meeting minutes were not yet completed.

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

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

II. SPECIAL ITEMS

None.

III. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

BC10-25

Board and Commission Applicants.

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

the following Boards and Commissions.

BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

Sharp, Paul, Ward 6, Term to expire November 1, 2030

CITIZENS POLICE REVIEW BOARD

Castilow, Harry, Ward 5, Term to expire November 1, 2028

Zug, Charles, Ward 4, Term to expire November 1, 2028

COMMISSION ON CULTURAL AFFAIRS

Aker, Greg, Ward 2, Term to expire October 31, 2028

Hobart, Ryan, Ward 1, Term to expire October 31, 2028

Howard, Sarah, Ward 4, Term to expire October 31, 2028

Nolte, Kate, Ward 1, Term to expire October 31, 2028

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

Cook, Trey, Ward 1, Term to expire September 1, 2027

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

Ritter, Mitchell, Ward 2, Term to expire November 1, 2028

Shaw, Rebecca, Ward 5, Term to expire November 1, 2028

Webb, Alexandra, Ward 3, Term to expire November 1, 2028

SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION ADVISORY COMMISSION

Khanna, Vinita, Ward 5, Term to expire October 31, 2028

Leykamp, Paul, Ward 6, Term to expire October 31, 2028

Mayor Buffaloe explained the appointment to the Tobacco Retailer License Review Board

would be delayed in order to obtain clarification as to what was meant by “citizen”

member, i.e., a City of Columbia resident, a United States of America resident, etc.

IV. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT

SPC46-25

Tyler Travers - Illegal gambling machines.

Tyler Travers explained there was a proliferation of illegal slot machines, which preyed

upon the most vulnerable and were essentially within every gas station and liquor store in

town, suggested banning these machines as Springfield had done in 2024 and Kansas

City was currently considering, cited a recent decision by a circuit court judge to uphold

the Springfield ban and another finding by a jury in a federal case that indicated the

machines violated state gambling laws, understood law enforcement agreed that these

machines preyed upon at-risk communities and resulted in an increase in related crimes

during the overnight hours, and encouraged the Council to be emboldened by these

recent court cases and other municipal actions in banning these illegal machines.

SPC47-25

Jonathan Asher - Vidwest Studios volunteer story.

Jonathan Asher, a Third Ward resident, stated his comments were in response to a letter

indicating the City did not plan to fund Vidwest Studios in the manner they had over the

last five years, explained that Vidwest Studios was a publicly accessible media center

that provided people with the opportunity to learn how to utilize audio, video, and

photography equipment from experts to apply to their careers, noted some of the

equipment utilized was property of the City from the old CAT-TV days, and asked the

Council to direct staff to fund Vidwest Studies as it had in the past as he felt the return on

the investment was high.

SPC48-25

Susan Renee Carter - Speaking truth to power: what's our role?

Susan Renee Carter, Race Matters, Friends, stated “speaking truth to power” was a

nonviolent political tactic employed by dissidents, explained people were choosing not to

speak up for numerous self-centered reasons, such as the fear of losing their job, friends,

or status, or being shunned, perpetuating the authoritarian nature of our system, which

allowed employers to silence speech, legislators to change voting maps to suit their

needs, judges to make rulings that deeply affected black and brown people, the

unsheltered, and the lowest paid community members, believed they were at a tipping

point as the economy, government, families, and most vulnerable were reaching a level of

insurmountable obstacles for survival, felt now was the time to look critically at the

choices being made, even when in the name of safety or planning, when it targeted the

black and brown community, the unhoused, the LGBTQ community, and women, and

asked the community to find the courage to change this course and stop the destruction

of the community, state, and country.

V. PUBLIC HEARINGS

None.

VI. OLD BUSINESS

B256-25

Granting a design adjustment relating to the proposed Final Plat of

Meadow Lane Plat 1 located on the north side of Meadow Lane and east

of Anderson Avenue to waive right-of-way dedication; granting a waiver

and design adjustment for sidewalk construction along the south side of

Meadow Lane (Case No. 216-2025).

Discussion shown with B257-25.

B257-25

Approving the Final Plat of “Meadow Lane Plat 1” located on the north side

of Meadow Lane and east of Anderson Avenue; authorizing performance

contracts (Case No. 216-2025).

The bills were given second reading by the City Clerk.

Community Development Director Clint Smith provided

a staff report, and he and

Development Services Manager Pat Zenner responded to Council questions and

comments.

Jay Gebhardt, a civil engineer with A Civil Group, representing Jared Zillig and Mike and

Jewel Keevins, provided a list of uses for R-2 zoned properties, pointed out each R-2

zoned lot in the neighborhood was entitled to an ADU, i.e., a second structure, by right,

without going through any other process, explained they were required to go through the

platting process because the subject property did not meet the definition of a legal lot

since it had been subdivided by survey in 1971, which might not have been legal at that

time, noted the existing lot line went through an existing garage and this platting process

would correct that issue, stated the initial intent by the Keevins was to renovate the

home, but the foundation had been in really poor condition, indicated they planned to

remove the structure and develop a two-family structure, and commented that they would

be stuck if their request was denied.

Laura Mitchell, President of the West Ash Neighborhood Association, explained they

lived in an old and quirky neighborhood platted between 1931 and 1937, noted there were

18 homes on Meadow Lane, including the two being discussed tonight, stated concern

for traffic congestion as Meadow Lane was narrow with its narrowest part being about 16

feet wide, and displayed a photo showing the traffic congestion.

Carol Rogers, 111 Anderson Avenue, wondered how the new building would impact car

and pedestrian safety as well as stormwater as homes on Aldeah Avenue, which was

east of Meadow Lane, had feces in their basements when there was a lot of rain,

explained 105 Meadow Lane could access Broadway as the Keevins’ owned all of the

property affected, agreed the Keevins’ could do what they wanted with their property but

they should then also be the only people inconvenienced by the extra traffic associated

with the duplex development, and suggested the Council ask staff to readdress vehicle

access on Meadow Lane and fix the stormwater issues on Aldeah Avenue as this would

make that situation worse.

Gary Martin, a resident of Meadow Lane, provided a handout, explained Meadow Lane

was only three cars wide so two passing cars had to maneuver their way down the street,

stated trash trucks had to honk to make people move their cars in order to get through,

pointed out a fire truck would have difficulty getting to something important or fast as had

been illustrated recently when the firefighters had to leave the truck to access the area for

what ended up being a non-emergency event, noted it was more than inconvenient as it

was a dangerous situation, and believed the roadway would be even more congested as

the driveway would likely not accommodate the vehicles of the tenants and their guests.

Kathy Newton, a resident of Meadow Lane, explained her home was built in 1939 as a

single-family home and she had bought her home in 1987 as a single-family home, noted

the neighborhood was walkable and affordable with a high rate of ownership compared to

Columbia as a whole, stated it remained a pleasant single-family home residential street

with the exception of one duplex, did not believe they wanted the problems of the East

Campus Neighborhood on this little street, felt the owner could build another house on the

lot instead of a duplex, and implored the Council to vote no.

Davika Thomas, 411 W. Walnut Street, stated she lived close to Aldeah Avenue where it

was common to smell sewer when outside, noted her home was one house away from

the drainageway that carried water to Flat Branch, which had previously overflowed into

her neighbor’s basement causing damage, suggested the issues on Aldeah Avenue be

addressed, asked the Council to not approve the 20-foot driveway, which was as big as

the street that connected Meadow Lane to Anderson Avenue, nor the plat that would

allow two big buildings and more impervious surfaces.

Christine Gardener, 112 Anderson Avenue, stated the current UDC put them at risk,

suggested the Council direct staff to develop a protective set of codes to address the

problems they and other central city neighborhoods were experiencing as their homes

were built before anyone had imagined development codes as they existed today, noted

they had R-2 zoning on small R-1 sized lots, increased developments with building out of

size and character of the neighborhood, narrow streets and courts, the largest number of

short-term rentals, and aging and failing infrastructure, and asked that they start thinking

outside of the box to fix these problems one by one instead of waiting for a multi-million

dollar capital project.

James Birchler, a resident of Meadow Lane, read a poem essentially stating concern with

the development of duplexes due to stormwater, traffic, concrete, and noise pollution,

indicating it would not be low-cost housing as rents would be high, questioning the ability

of one to affect the calm of others, and asking the Council to not support this request.

Jewel Keevins explained, from her viewpoint, she and her husband had purchased an R -2

lot and were asking for this plat to be processed as an R-2 lot, pointed out nothing could

be done until the lot was changed to a legal lot as it was now nonconforming, indicated

they would do whatever the City asked in terms of the 10 or 20 foot driveway, stated it

was a platting issue and not a zoning issue, felt that traffic concerns could be addressed

with yellow curbs eliminating some on-street parking or by widening the street with the

neighbors giving up the amount of space they were giving up, noted the roof of a

single-family home could be as large as a duplex and the number of cars associated with

a duplex could be the same as with a single-family home, and asked that they not be

held hostage to the infrastructure problems.

Traci Wilson-Kleekamp wondered why the City did not use an environmental impact

process for stormwater, traffic, etc., i.e., by looking at the infrastructure impacts up front,

collecting money up front, and not burdening neighbors with infrastructure neglect.

The Council asked questions and made comments.

B256-25 was given third reading by the City Clerk with the vote recorded as

follows: VOTING YES: FOSTER, WATERMAN, PETERS, BUFFALOE. VOTING NO:

CARROLL, ELWOOD, SAMPLE. Bill declared enacted, reading as follows:

B257-25 was given third reading by the City Clerk with the vote recorded as

follows: VOTING YES: FOSTER, WATERMAN, PETERS, BUFFALOE. VOTING NO:

CARROLL, ELWOOD, SAMPLE. 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.

B258-25

B259-25

B260-25

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to Amber and Mark

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

11 S. Heather Lane; providing a severability clause (Case No. 274-2025).

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to Black Dog Enterprise,

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

1501 Paris Road; providing a severability clause (Case No. 277-2025).

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to Matthew and Michaela

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

103 Parkview Drive; providing a severability clause (Case No. 280-2025).

B261-25

B262-25

Accepting a conveyance for temporary construction purposes; directing the

City Clerk to have the conveyance recorded.

Authorizing an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for

installation of a habitat improvement project in a stormwater basin located

on City-owned property at 515 Hickman Avenue.

B263-25

Authorizing and ratifying application to the Missouri Department of Health

and Senior Services for the Missouri Substance Use Disorder Grant

Program; authorizing a grant agreement with the Missouri Department of

Health and Senior Services for preventing adverse childhood experiences

(ACEs) for families impacted by substance use program services.

B264-25

R140-25

Amending the FY 2026 Annual Budget by appropriating funds in the

amount of $50,000 associated with the Eighth Street and Cherry Street

municipal parking structure stairwell tower painting project.

Authorizing a contract with Event 1, Inc. to designate the City’s Convention

and Visitors Bureau as the third-party vendor for event merchandise sales

at the 2025 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I

Men’s and Women’s Cross Country National Championship event to be

held at Gans Creek Recreation Area.

R141-25

Authorizing license agreements with Discovery Office Park, L.L.C.,

Discovery Office Park North, L.L.C., and Eurofins BioPharma Product

Testing Columbia, LLC for temporary usage of parking areas associated

with the 2025 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I

Men’s and Women’s Cross Country National Championship event to be

held at Gans Creek Recreation Area.

R142-25

Authorizing a convention agreement with Endeavor Hotel Group, d/b/a

Wyndham Executive Center, for the 2026 Columbia Values Diversity

Celebration event.

R143-25

R144-25

Authorizing FY 2026 agreements with various arts and cultural

organizations for arts programming or services.

Authorizing a master equipment lease purchase agreement with

Community First National Bank for four (4) front load refuse trucks;

authorizing a service agreement with Elliott Equipment Company for the

maintenance of four (4) front load refuse trucks.

R145-25

Authorizing a CDBG agreement and a first amendment to a HOME

agreement with Central Missouri Community Action associated with the

construction of fourteen (14) affordable housing units within the Providence

Landing Subdivision located on the northeast corner of Hickman Avenue

and Providence Road.

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

Clerk with the vote recorded as follows VOTING YES: CARROLL, ELWOOD,

SAMPLE, FOSTER, WATERMAN, PETERS, BUFFALOE. VOTING NO: NO ONE. Bills

declared enacted and resolutions declared adopted, reading as follows:

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

R146-25

Granting Radar Hospitality Company, L.L.C. a temporary waiver from the

requirements of Section 16-185 of the City Code to allow possession and

consumption of alcoholic beverages and Section 16-258.1 of the City

Code to allow amplified sound exceeding a distance of 300 feet for the

area along a portion of the alleyway located north of Locust Street and

between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, on October 31, 2025 and

November 1, 2025 for outdoor events.

The resolution was read by the City Clerk.

Convention and Visitors Director Amy Schneider and Convention and Visitors Assistant

Director Julie Ausmus provided a staff report, and responded to Council questions.

R146-25 was read by the City Clerk, and the vote was recorded as follows:

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

VOTING NO: NO ONE. ABSENT: PETERS (Council Member Peters stepped out

during the vote on this item). Resolution declared adopted, reading as follows:

IX. INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING

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

given first reading.

B265-25

Amending Chapter 14 of the City Code to add provisions related to the

rights and duties of motorists and pedestrians in major corridor roadways

and intersections.

B266-25

B267-25

Amending Chapter 12 of the City Code relating to mediation and dispute

resolution.

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to the Germond-Eggener

Family Trust to allow the operation of a short-term rental on property

located at 1506 Windsor Street; providing a severability clause (Case No.

290-2025).

B268-25

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to The Bank of Missouri

to allow the establishment of a drive-up facility on property located on the

southeast corner of Nifong Boulevard and Bethel Street (310 W. Nifong

Boulevard) in an M-N (Mixed Use - Neighborhood) zoning district (Case

No. 288-2025).

B269-25

B270-25

B271-25

B272-25

B273-25

B274-25

Approving the Final Plat of “Bluff Creek Estates Plat 1-A” located on the

southwest corner of Wild Plum Court and Bluff Creek Drive; authorizing a

performance contract (Case No. 300-2025).

Accepting conveyances for sewer, utility, and temporary construction

purposes; accepting a Stormwater Management/BMP Facilities Covenant;

directing the City Clerk to have the conveyances recorded.

Authorizing an agreement with The Curators of the University of Missouri,

on behalf of its University Concert Series, for FY 2026 arts programming

funds.

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

of Health and Senior Services for sexual violence prevention and response

program services.

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

of Health and Senior Services for fetal and infant mortality review program

services.

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

of Health and Senior Services for disease intervention specialist workforce

program services.

B275-25

B276-25

Authorizing a first amendment to the affordable housing funding agreement

with the Housing Authority of the City of Columbia associated with the Blind

Boone Apartments project.

Authorizing a second amendment to the affordable housing funding

agreement with the Housing Authority of the City of Columbia and

Providence Walkway Housing Development Group, LP associated with the

Providence Walkway development project.

B277-25

B278-25

B279-25

Authorizing an award agreement with the Missouri Department of Public

Safety - Office of Homeland Security, as part of the Missouri Blue Shield

Grant Program, for the purchase of protective equipment for the Police

Department.

Authorizing federal award agreements with the U.S. Department of

Housing and Urban Development - Office of Community Planning and

Development for FY 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds.

Authorizing a consultant agreement with Avenu Insights & Analytics, LLC

for short-term rental monitoring and identification services; amending the

FY 2026 Annual Budget by appropriating funds (Case No. 182-2025).

X. REPORTS

REP51-25

REP52-25

Strategic Plan Quarterly Report - Quarter 3.

Assistant to the City Manager Stacey Weidemann provided a staff report, and she along

with Diversity Equity and Inclusion Administrator D’Andre Thompson, City Clerk Sheela

Amin, City Manager De’Carlon Seewood, and Public Health and Human Services Director

Rebecca Roesslet responded to Council questions and comments.

Monthly Finance Report.

Assistant Finance Director Jim McDonald and Finance Director Matthew Lue provided a

staff report along with a handout, and responded to Council questions and comments.

XI. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, COUNCIL AND STAFF

Jay Gebhardt with A Civil Group stated the legal lot status had changed at least five

times in the past 35 years, each time being more restrictive, understood the public need

for the dedication of easements and rights-of way, but it was at a point where almost

everyone had to plat, which was costly as tonight’s action was $15,000, provided an

example of another property on Lakeview, which had been demolished due to being

unsafe after a fire and the owner being unable to build another home due to its non -legal

lot status, explained he was working with staff on the application of street standards in

terms of sidewalks and additional rights-of-way as he believed the UDC already had

language associated with it, and pointed out the legal lot status affected everyday people,

including those residing on Anderson Avenue protesting tonight’s platting item, which

would create issues when needing to obtain a building permit for a new roof or other item.

Chriss Jones, a Second Ward resident, stated her disappointment with the Council when

discussing accessibility needs in terms of fiscal responsibility or having even longer

meetings, and pointed out they were elected officials that had signed up for this work.

Eugene Elkin, 3406 Range Line Street, explained someone could be healthy today but

disabled tomorrow, understood there were A-frame homes and Quonset huts in the area,

wondered if a subdivision of those types of developments could be build more cheaply

and whether people would live there as everyone deserved to have a home, stated

appreciation for the work of Council with regard to the homeless, and stated concern in

hearing people blaming the homeless for crime.

Bonnie Steinmetz, representing the CoMo Renewal Project, referred to the CBB

Transportation report associated with B265-25, which was introduced tonight, as that

report indicated it should not be assumed that areas adjected to roadways were safe for

pedestrian use unless specifically designed and designated as

a pedestrian area,

medians, at least six feet wide, could serve as place of temporary refuge for

pedestrians to cross while waiting for a gap in traffic, law enforcement and ordinances

could help to ensure pedestrians were not lingering in or near medians or roadways

longer than necessary to directly cross the street, and the percentages of pedestrian

deaths or severe injuries were 13-73 percent based on speeds of 20-40 miles per hour,

and suggested the proposed ordinance be standardized across all medians and

intersections within the City as entire medians were not consistent in size, it was

confusing to single out specific medians based on the three criteria of speed, number of

vehicles per hour, and the size of the medians, and it was unsafe regardless as medians

were not designed for people to linger.

Traci Wilson-Kleekamp, representing Race Matters, Friends, believed the records

associated with a records request recently released would be a great archive for the State

Historical Society as it showed the types of correspondence received as well as the

types of issues the Mayor faced, thanked the City Manager for meeting with her regarding

concerns with sustainability and a sales tax, expressed frustration about the superficial

concern over medians when public policy at the federal level was harming people with

disabilities, children, and senior citizens, likely causing more homelessness, explained

that when the Mayor spoke, she spoke as a white woman in a place of privilege and

position of power, which sounded differently than if D’Markus Thomas-Brown or someone

without that same privilege spoke, and suggested that instead of people checking on the

Mayor, they should have been checking on the family of Aiyanna Williams.

Grace Conrad did not feel they should pretend the discussion about medians was about

pedestrian safety as it was about the homeless and banning panhandling, suggested

they not criminalize acts of homelessness because it made them uncomfortable and

instead address the issue by building systems that helped people not get into cycles of

poverty, abuse, depression, etc., pointed out that almost no one chose to be homeless,

and many panhandled to survive as it was their right to free speech, and expressed

frustration about people saying homelessness was bad when not doing anything to help

prevent people from becoming homeless.

The Council and staff discussed various topics to include the comments of Jay Gebhardt

regarding the number of non-legal lots as well as the issues that created, the fact staff

would discuss the legal lot issue in order to try to clarify the information Council Member

Carroll and others wanted, requesting the Public Works staff review and make

recommendations regarding parking on Meadow Lane, asking for the Law Department to

bring forward an ordinance banning illegal video gambling machines in Columbia, an

expression of sympathy to the family and friends of the cyclist who was fatally injured at

I-70 and Range Line today, the upcoming community classroom discussion on October

28 at 12:00 p.m. in City Hall regarding the snow removal process, the upcoming Ward 2

Let’s Talk Local on October 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the Molly Thomas Bowden Neighborhood

Policing Center at which they would discuss the Office of Violence Prevention, a timeline

on the report regarding outsourced jobs, which City Manager De’Carlon Seewood thought

would be the second meeting in November, a desire to place information regarding public

comments on the City’s website to help clarify procedures and expectations, such as

responses to questions, etc., which staff indicated would be discussed, thanking the

police, organizers, and demonstrators for facilitating

a peaceful event this weekend,

directional truncated domes being the gold standard, implementing a process for front line

workers to report issues needing to be addressed, such as trash trucks being able to get

down narrow streets like Meadow Lane, and the need to discuss locations for

southwest water tower.

Council Member Waterman made a motion for a closed session to be held in the

near future to discuss locations for southwest water tower. The motion was

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

The Council and staff continued to discuss various topics to include a visible police

presence downtown between the Columbia Police Department, the Missouri Highway

Patrol, and the Boone County Sheriff’s Department and its positive impact, an assault

that had occurred while Council Member Waterman was participating in a ride-a-long

involving someone from out of town, which was not uncommon, the fact that violence and

homelessness were two separate issues with different approaches and solutions along

with the need to communicate clearly that they were two separate issues, the fact this

level of police presence could not be sustained without more police officers as well as the

need for more staffing in the Fire Department, wondering if those advocating for increase

police support would support it with increased revenues, such as through a public safety

tax as it would likely require at least

a 25 percent budget increase, the need to

pre-identify budget work sessions dates for July, whether they wanted to cancel the July

6 council meeting, the fact the groundbreaking for the Burrell Behavioral Crisis Center,

which would allow for 24-7, 365 day crisis care, would be held tomorrow, and delaying the

second read and vote on B265-25 to the November 17, 2025 Council Meeting, which

would allow for discussion on pedestrians on major road corridors and intersections to

involve all council members since Mayor Buffaloe would miss the November 3, 2025

Council Meeting.

Mayor Buffaloe made a motion to delay the second read and vote for B265-25 to

the November 17, 2025 Council Meeting. The motion was seconded by Council

Member Foster, and approved unanimously by voice vote.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned without objection at 9:57 p.m.