City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes  
City Council  
City Hall  
Monday, February 16, 2026  
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, February 16, 2026, 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 VERA ELWOOD, 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.  
City Manager De’Carlon Seewood, City Counselor Nancy Thompson, City Clerk Sheela  
Amin, and various Department Heads and staff members were also present.  
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES  
The minutes of the regular meeting of January 20, 2026 were approved unanimously by  
voice vote on a motion by Mayor Buffaloe and a second by Council Member Elwood.  
Mayor Buffaloe explained the February 2, 2026 regular meeting minutes were not yet  
completed.  
APPROVAL AND ADJUSTMENT OF THE AGENDA INCLUDING CONSENT AGENDA  
Mayor Buffaloe explained there was a typographical error on the agenda in that B39-26  
was listed as R39-26 under Introduction and First Reading and needed to be corrected.  
Mayor Buffaloe made a motion to correct the typographical mentioned. The motion was  
seconded by Council Member Peters, and approved unanimously by voice vote.  
The agenda, including the consent agenda along with the change of R39-26 to B39-26  
under the Introduction and First Reading section of the agenda, was approved  
unanimously by voice vote on a motion by Mayor Buffaloe and a second by Council  
Member Foster.  
II. SPECIAL ITEMS  
SI2-26  
Life Saving Ribbon Award and Commendable Performance Recognitions.  
Police Chief Jill Schlude explained the Columbia Police Department (CPD) had been  
asked to assist in the search for a missing four year old boy in Sturgeon, Missouri on a  
very cold December 4, 2025 night, and recognized those involved, which included  
Lieutenant Anthony Bowne who had been responsible for allocating CPD resources that  
evening, Officer Tristan Alvarado, who found the boy and received the Life Saving Award,  
and Officers Dalton Alvey, Alexander Doster, Liz Hammond, Kaleb Landreth, Jordan  
Payne, Noah Robertson, Colton Sayre, Collin Simmons, and Jake Waldrup, who had all  
helped in the several hour search and received a Commendable Performance Ribbon.  
III. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS  
BC2-26  
Board and Commission Applicants.  
Upon receiving the majority vote of the Council, the following individuals were appointed to  
the following Boards and Commissions.  
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION CODES COMMISSION  
Kirby, Joseph, Ward 4, Term to expire August 1, 2028  
COMMISSION ON CULTURAL AFFAIRS  
Scheppers, Jamie, Ward 5, Term to expire October 31, 2026  
COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS  
Davis, Mary, Ward 5, Term to expire March 1, 2029  
Jefferies, Joseph, Ward 3, Term to expire March 1, 2029  
FOOD COUNCIL  
Daily, Shannon, Ward 4, Term to expire February 28, 2029  
Johnson, Tish, Ward 4, Term to expire February 28, 2029  
Saunders, Adam, Ward 1, Term to expire February 28, 2029  
PARKING ADVISORY COMMISSION  
Moyes, William, Ward 2, Term to expire February 1, 2029  
PUBLIC TRANSIT ADVISORY COMMISSION  
Facteau, Joseph, Ward 4, Term to expire March 1, 2029  
Mink, Bry, Ward 4, Term to expire March 1, 2029  
IV. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT  
SPC9-26  
Randa Rawlins, Airport Advisory Board Chair - Report of 2025 activities of  
Airport Advisory Board.  
Randa Rawlins indicated she was a Fifth Ward resident and the current Chair of the  
Airport Advisory Board, explained  
a corrected report had been emailed to the City  
Council, pointed out the Council had an engaged Board that added value to the operation  
of the Airport by meeting regularly, hearing reports from the Airport Manager, and  
providing input as they represented a variety of interests, noted Airport staffing would  
need to increase as the Airport continued to grow, had learned airlines were difficult to  
work with as they would string people along without making commitments and then  
expect others to handle whatever was decided on their timeline, which required patience  
and flexibility from the Airport Manager, the City Manager, and the City Council, stated  
the Airport was an economic driver for Columbia as well as a great service to its citizens,  
recognized Airport Manager Mike Parks as being one of the best people to work with as  
he was smart, organized, patient, maintained relationships with network planners at  
various airlines, and got things done, and emphasized that they would not be where they  
were with the Airport without him.  
SPC10-26  
Jordan Lundy - History and importance of Vidwest Studios.  
Jordan Lundy explained he worked as a video and lighting professional, which include  
work with CBS, ESPN, MSNBC, Fox Sports, Columbia Business Times, Ross  
Production, and others, and taught at Mizzou and Stephens College, stated Vidwest  
Studios was an open door for small businesses to build their brand and model as almost  
nothing existed without video and graphic content these days, including books, music,  
and recorded audio, pointed out that if a small business or not-for-profit had to add to its  
existing costs the cost of a camera, lenses, subscription service to manipulate video,  
microphones, etc., it would not be successful, noted Vidwest provided training,  
professional help, connections, space, and support for small businesses and  
not-for-profits, commented that he helped to start Vidwest in 2020, which had its own  
challenges due to the lockdown, and they had been early on the scene in streaming  
events and helping people and businesses tell their stories, reiterated Vidwest provided  
the technical knowledge needed as they held workshops, provided support, answered  
questions and creatively solved problems, and emphasized that the commitment of  
Vidwest to help community should not be overlooked.  
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS  
PH2-26  
Proposed construction of the Old Plank Road culvert structure project.  
The public hearing was read by the City Clerk.  
Public Works Director Shane Creech provided a staff report.  
Mayor Buffaloe opened the public hearing.  
Paul Wagner, a resident of the Creek Ridge subdivision, asked where people would park  
because it would be hard to get into the subdivision if they parked near it, if there would  
be collateral damage, and how long the project would take.  
There being no further comment, Mayor Buffaloe closed the public hearing.  
The Council asked questions and made comments.  
Mayor Buffaloe made a motion to approve the construction of the Old Plank Road  
culvert project. The motion was seconded by Council Member Peters and  
approved unanimously by voice vote.  
PH3-26  
B35-26  
Consider approval of a revised plan for basketball court improvements  
associated with Phase II construction at Douglass Park.  
Discussion shown with B35-26.  
Approving a revised plan for basketball court improvements associated  
with Phase II construction at Douglass Park.  
The public hearing was read by the City Clerk, and the bill was given second reading by  
the City Clerk.  
Parks and Recreation Director Gabe Huffington provided a staff report, and responded to  
Council questions.  
Mayor Buffaloe opened the public hearing.  
Traci Wilson-Kleekamp thanked staff for the growth of this project, understood there were  
a lot of difficult moments, believed an important aspect had been to learn about the  
history of the park along with how it served the community, appreciated the work of the  
community connectors, and felt this could be used as a model if they came across  
something else that did not work well for the people.  
Kimberly Jordan thanked Parks and Recreation Director Gabe Huffington for taking the  
time to listen and Engagement Coordinator Shawna Johnson for engaging with the  
community to hear their concerns, and emphasized the need for security at Douglass  
Park as her brother had been murdered there.  
Anthony Johnson thanked Council Member Carroll and staff for their work on this project  
as he was happy with the change, commented that many did not vote or show up  
because they felt those who made decisions did not listen to them, and pointed out he  
was thankful because the courts meant a lot to him and this would allow him to tell  
people that they would be heard if they showed up.  
Alphia Hightower, and Second Ward resident, indicated she had spent a lot of time at  
Douglass Park, expressed gratitude in terms of how Council Member Carroll had  
represented her constituency as she had ensured the public interest was prioritized,  
explained they thought their concerns would not be considered since the input process  
was essentially over, thanked staff and the Council for allowing for more input in a  
collaborative way, understood the work was not done, and looked forward to more  
conversation and interactions for  
generations.  
a
Columbia she wanted for herself and future  
Debra Wilkerson noted she was known as “the mouth” within the community, explained  
she and her sons had either gone through the community programs at Douglass Park or  
had worked them, pointed out there was a lot of history there, thanked the City for giving  
this area back to the community, and looked forward to some of the programs being  
brought back to the young kids.  
There being no further comment, Mayor Buffaloe closed the public hearing.  
The Council made comments.  
B35-26 was given third reading by the City Clerk with the vote recorded as  
follows: VOTING YES: ELWOOD, SAMPLE, FOSTER, WATERMAN, PETERS,  
BUFFALOE, CARROLL. VOTING NO: NO ONE. Bill declared enacted, reading as  
follows:  
PH4-26  
Proposed annexation of property located on the southeast corner of  
Highway WW and El Chaparral Avenue (1020 S. El Chaparral Avenue)  
(Case #73-2026).  
The public hearing was read by the City Clerk.  
Community Development Director Clint Smith provided a staff report, and responded to  
Council questions and comments.  
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.  
B24-26  
B25-26  
Amending Chapter 14 of the City Code as it relates to the definition of a  
pedestrian; making gender-neutral grammatical edits.  
Authorizing an annexation agreement with Nabil and Dana Beaini for  
contiguous property located on the east side of Gans Creek Road;  
directing the City Clerk to have the agreement recorded (Case #44-2026).  
B26-26  
B27-26  
B28-26  
B29-26  
B30-26  
Approving the Final Plat of "Providence Walkway, Plat No. 1B" located on  
the east side of Trinity Place and north of Boone Drive (308 Trinity Place);  
authorizing a performance contract (Case #41-2026).  
Approving the Final Plat of “Centerstate South Plat 1” located on the north  
side of Clark Lane and west of US Highway 63; authorizing a performance  
contract (Case No. 315-2025).  
Authorizing a memorandum of understanding with the Missouri Department  
of Health and Senior Services for wastewater surveillance program  
services.  
Accepting conveyances for sewer, utility, drainage, and temporary  
construction purposes; accepting Stormwater Management/BMP Facilities  
Covenants; directing the City Clerk to have the conveyances recorded.  
Authorizing a memorandum of understanding with the Missouri State  
Highway Patrol for the transmission, storage, and use of criminal justice  
data.  
B31-26  
B32-26  
Authorizing a memorandum of understanding with the Missouri National  
Guard associated with a joint counterdrug program.  
Amending the FY 2026 Annual Budget by appropriating funds in the  
amount of $776,230.18 for facility modifications to the Sanford-Kimpton  
Building and installation of office furniture.  
B33-26  
B34-26  
B36-26  
Amending the FY 2026 Annual Budget by appropriating funds in the  
amount of $50,000.00 associated with maintenance repairs to the Eighth  
and Walnut (Plaza) municipal parking garage.  
Amending the FY 2026 Annual Budget by appropriating funds in the  
amount of $400,000.00 associated with improvements to the south parking  
lot at the Columbia Regional Airport.  
Authorizing agreements, promissory notes, and deeds of trusts with  
Housing Authority of the City of Columbia, Missouri and Providence  
Walkway Housing Development Group, LP associated with the Providence  
Walkway development project; directing the City Clerk to record certain  
documents.  
R28-26  
R29-26  
Setting a public hearing: proposed construction of improvements at  
Rothwell Park.  
Authorizing approval of the issuance of housing revenue bonds by the  
Housing Authority of the City of Columbia for the Providence Walkway  
Apartments development project.  
R30-26  
R31-26  
R32-26  
Authorizing expanded HIV testing program services and business  
associate agreements with Lifeline Services.  
Authorizing a CDBG grant agreement with Access Arts associated with  
improvements and renovations to the facility located at 800 Moss Street.  
Authorizing a first amendment to the community housing development  
organization (CHDO) agreement with Columbia Missouri Community  
Housing Development Organization associated with the construction of an  
owner-occupied single family housing unit on property located at 903 N.  
Garth Avenue.  
R33-26  
R34-26  
R35-26  
Authorizing a tourism development sponsorship agreement with Ragtag  
Film Society for the 2026 True/False Film Festival.  
Authorizing a term and supply contract with Trane U.S. Inc. associated with  
HVAC system maintenance services.  
Authorizing a contract with the Central Missouri Humane Society for 2026  
animal control and municipal shelter services.  
The bills were given third reading and the resolutions were read by the City  
Clerk with the vote recorded as follows: VOTING YES: ELWOOD SAMPLE,  
FOSTER, WATERMAN, PETERS, BUFFALOE, CARROLL. VOTING NO: NO ONE. 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.  
B37-26  
Amending Chapter 16 of the City Code by adding a new Division 22  
related to the regulation of electronic gaming machines.  
B38-26  
B39-26  
Amending Chapter 5 of the City Code relating to animals and fowl.  
Establishing local regulations on hours of operation of businesses licensed  
to sell intoxicating liquor by the drink at retail for consumption on the  
premises for the duration of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Tournament.  
B40-26  
Voluntary annexation of property located on the southeast corner of  
Highway WW and El Chaparral Avenue (1020 S. El Chaparral Avenue);  
directing the City Clerk to give notice of the annexation; establishing  
permanent District R-1 (One-family Dwelling) zoning (Case #56-2026).  
B41-26  
B42-26  
Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to Matthew and Hope  
Hawley to allow the operation of a short-term rental on property located at  
903 W. Worley Street; providing a severability clause (Case No.32-2026).  
Approving the Final Plat of "Boone Industrial Park East Plat No. 2" located  
on the west side of Paris Road (4999 Paris Road); authorizing a  
performance contract (Case # 27-2026).  
B43-26  
B44-26  
Accepting Stormwater Management/BMP Facilities Covenants; directing  
the City Clerk to have the conveyances recorded.  
Authorizing a terminal agency agreement with Boone County Joint  
Communications associated with Missouri Law Enforcement System  
(MULES) and National Crime Information Center (NCIC) access.  
B45-26  
B46-26  
Authorizing construction of improvements at Rothwell Park; calling for bids  
for a portion of the project through the Purchasing Division; amending the  
FY 2026 Annual Budget by appropriating funds in the amount of  
$40,000.00.  
Amending the FY 2026 Annual Budget by appropriating funds in the  
amount of $1,297,758.00 associated with the design and construction of a  
passenger boarding bridge at the Columbia Regional Airport.  
B47-26  
B48-26  
Authorizing a contract with the Missouri Department of Health and Human  
Services for HIV case management program services.  
Authorizing Amendment No. 2 to the contract with the Missouri Department  
of Health and Senior Services for teen connection project program  
services.  
B49-26  
B50-26  
B51-26  
Authorizing an agreement with Boone County, Missouri for 2026 public  
health services.  
Authorizing an agreement with Boone County, Missouri for 2026 animal  
control services.  
Authorizing a subaward agreement with Johns Hopkins University  
associated with the Love Your Block program to support activities in central  
neighborhoods; amending the FY 2026 Annual Budget by appropriating  
funds in the amount of $60,000.00.  
B52-26  
Amending Chapter 2 of the City Code to create a Communications  
Department; amending Chapter 19 of the City Code as it relates to  
unclassified service; amending the FY 2026 Annual Budget Appendix -  
Authorized Full Time Equivalent (FTE) position identification summary;  
amending the FY 2026 Classification and Pay Plan by closing, adding,  
reassigning, and retitling classifications.  
Mayor Buffaloe asked City Manager Seewood to speak to B52-26 due to the questions  
already raised and in case he missed the March 2, 2026 Council Meeting, which was  
when this item would be before the Council for discussion and a vote, and City Manager  
Seewood provided a staff report.  
X. REPORTS  
REP5-26  
City Council Requested Update on the Mayor's Task Force on Community  
Violence 2014 Recommendations.  
The Council made comments related to this report.  
REP6-26  
City Council Requested Summary of Communication Strategies for Public  
Works, Community Development, and City Utilities.  
The Engagement and Public Communications Manager Sydney Olsen, City Manager  
De’Carlon Seewood, Public Works Director Shane Creech, and Community Development  
Director Clint Smith responded to Council questions and comments.  
REP13-26  
REP14-26  
Disabilities Commission Annual Report.  
Mayor Buffaloe understood this report had been provided for informational purposes.  
Airport Advisory Board Annual Report.  
Mayor Buffaloe noted they had already received an update during Scheduled Public  
Comment and acknowledged there was a correction to a board member name, which  
they would ensure would be reflected in the official report in the records.  
XI. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, COUNCIL AND STAFF  
Traci Wilson-Kleekamp, a representative of Race Matters, Friends, provided examples of  
planning and zoning notifications issues experienced in the past, which included  
postcards not being received, being received after the meeting had already been held, or  
being received too close to the meeting date, which did not allow for communication with  
the neighbors, and only city recognized neighborhood associations being notified as  
homeowners associations were not necessarily notified, thought the text communication  
being considered would be helpful, recommended all groups be recognized as it was a  
good communication opportunity, and suggested the City consider  
resource center and liaison to assist in communication and information sharing.  
a
neighborhood  
Nickie Davis, 11 S. Tenth Street, the Executive Director of the Downtown CID, stated the  
SeeClickFix software the City utilized was a good tool as it tended to get things resolved  
more quickly than “going to the top.”  
Eugene Elkin, a Second Ward resident, asked when the electric power line meeting  
would be held, understood around 5,000 utility customers were behind on their bills,  
thought that might be due to rents rising, creating the need to keep their homes versus  
paying their utilities, stated he hoped the recently formed renters union that had planned  
to go to Jefferson City would request a 120-day notice before allowing a mobile home  
park to close, appreciated the handout from the pre-council meeting regarding the City’s  
finances, suggested the Airport start charging $1 per day for parking to assist with their  
shortfall, and asked that a law be put into place that would not allow rent to be increased  
by more than five percent to help low and fixed income individuals.  
Renee Carter, a Second Ward resident, wondered if the technology discussed earlier in  
terms of notifications to residents was capable of regulating speeds in certain areas and if  
that could be considered in the future if it was for safety purposes.  
Demetria Stephens, a Third Ward resident, stated she was having difficulty following what  
the City was doing with regard to crime, especially in the Third Ward, understood there  
were many break-ins of cars on the east side of Columbia by one kid, believed that kid  
was likely going to be killed by the Police or by street justice if he was not caught soon,  
acknowledged something was planned by the City for Spring Break, but felt that was too  
far out, pointed out she had anxiety when coming and going from her house, had her  
hand on her 9mm much of the time, and did not drive on certain streets in the area, and  
suggested the Council put in the same amount of time it did for the median ordinance on  
crime issues.  
The Council and staff discussed various topics to include the unanticipated theme of  
communication at tonight’s meeting, the improvements approved tonight at Douglass  
Park whereby a group of citizens had learned about improvements at the park towards  
the end of the process, but had still been able to provide input to make it a project they  
were supportive of due to the City’s willingness to further engage with the community,  
appreciation for that engagement and problem solving continuing, the opportunity for  
community members to engage and provide input to the City with the Community Summit  
scheduled for March 14 as the Council and staff used that feedback in its  
decision-making processes, agreement with Demetria Stephens in that much of the  
violence in the community was happening in the Third Ward, the need to communicate  
with neighbors and to look out for one another, the opportunity to work with NOCAP,  
which was a gathering of adults from neighborhoods impacted by violence seeking  
opportunities to redirect young people away from violence, the proposed Communications  
Department as it would likely help with communication issues, understanding the  
difficulties of communication as everyone expected to know everything all of the time and  
really quickly, the different avenues for learning information, and accommodating the way  
people wanted to be communicated with and/or did not want to be communicated with,  
the successes at the Airport along with the need for more people to work at the Airport,  
the need for more police and fire employees as had been discussed at the pre-council  
meeting, being aware of these challenges as they continued to grow as a community with  
the services provided, appreciation for the police officers recognized earlier tonight, the  
quick response by the Public Works Department with addressing a pothole via the  
SeeClickFix system, the future-mindedness of investing in software to better alert and  
communicate with citizens, hoping that system would be in place by the busy  
construction season this summer, the Ward 1 Let’s Talk Local event on Monday,  
February 23 with the topic of building strong communities, the Ward 6 Let’s Talk Local  
event, tomorrow, Tuesday, February 17 at the Sports Fieldhouse regarding the electric  
integrated resource plan, Mayor Buffaloe sending a letter of support for the Sikeston  
Municipal Electric Utilities to explore gas and solar generation with the closing of its  
coal-fired plant to which the Council consented, follow-up to the February 9 work session  
discussion on the transmission line, the Water and Light Advisory Board voting  
unanimously to urge the Council to move forward with the Vawter School Road  
transmission route, given the need along with the time it would take to construct the  
transmission line, and to start the public improvement process, the Council agreeing to  
allow staff to move forward with the public improvement process for the Vawter School  
Road route for the transmission line, understanding the public improvement process  
would involve multiple public input meetings prior to coming to the Council with a public  
hearing, the request for a timeline of the public input meetings regarding the transmission  
lines once those were firmed up, and the fact a vendor to assist with developing the City’s  
strategic plan was selected and would be present at the Community Summit to obtain  
input from residents in that regard.  
XII. ADJOURNMENT  
The meeting was adjourned without objection at 9:16 p.m.