City of Columbia, Missouri

Meeting Minutes

City Council

City Hall

Monday, June 2, 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, June 2, 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 DON WATERMAN, Council Member BETSY PETERS, Mayor

BARBARA BUFFALOE, Council Member VALERIE CARROLL, and Council Member

NICK FOSTER were present. Council Member JACQUE SAMPLE 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 May 5, 2025 were approved unanimously by voice

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

The minutes of the regular meeting of May 19, 2025 were approved unanimously by voice

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

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

SI7-25

Recognition of Former Council Member Lisa E.A. Meyer.

Mayor Buffaloe and City Manager Seewood presented former Council Member Meyer with

a resolution of appreciation, a certificate for a heritage tree to be planted in her honor in a

park of her choice, a stained-glass artwork of the City logo, and a print of the Bear Creek

Trail.

Former Council Member Meyer stated it had been an honor to be of service, expressed

her appreciation for some of the projects they had worked on for Ward 2 and Columbia as

a whole, such as the Flock cameras, the art wraps at Parkade Elementary School as

well as at the corner of Vandiver Drive and Providence Road, and the upcoming pollinator

improvement pilot project along Providence Road, and hoped for solutions to the Park de

Ville trash situation, the Prairieview Subdivision issues, and pedestrian safety concerns .

She encouraged routine mammograms as she had felt great when diagnosed with breast

cancer, explained the cumulative impact of sixteen rounds of chemo and immunotherapy

along with the mastectomy had been challenging, and stated that although her response

to surgery was good with clear margins, the greatest chance of recurrence was within

these first two years and she was still dealing with fatigue, causing her to make the

difficult decision to resign. She explained she remained a concerned and caring citizen

who believed safety and infrastructure should be the top priorities, and again thanked

everyone for their kindness, support, and the opportunity to serve.

The Council thanked former Council Member Meyer for her resilient service, stated

appreciation for her bravery for stepping down from a position she valued and loved,

expressed their enjoyment in working with her, looked forward to continuing to hear from

her, and wished her well in the future.

SI8-25

Swearing in of Erin Keys as the Director of Utilities for the City of

Columbia.

The City Clerk administered the oath of office to Erin Keys as the Director Utilities for the

City of Columbia.

III. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

None.

IV. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

V. PUBLIC HEARINGS

PH18-25

Proposed construction of improvements at Twin Lakes Recreation Area.

Discussion shown with B117-25.

B117-25

Approving a revised Twin Lakes Recreation Area Master Plan; authorizing

construction of improvements at Twin Lakes Recreation Area; calling for

bids for a portion of the project through the Purchasing Division.

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 and comments.

Mayor Buffaloe opened the public hearing.

Regina Shelton, a Fourth Ward resident and daily dog park user, stated her support for

the improvements as it would address accessibility and safety concerns as many seniors

with mobility issues utilized the dog park to allow their dogs to exercise because they

were unable to walk them and the larger dog park area would provide the opportunity for

people to spread out, which would lessen injuries caused by dogs getting underneath

people’s feet and car break-ins.

Siri Nyrop, Hulen Drive, explained large portions of what they called the winter park, when

soaked, were hard to walk on, which was one of the reasons the extra dog park space

was needed, and stated the four trees at the top of the winter park have grown beautifully

and were providing some shade.

Carolyn Amparan, a Fourth Ward resident and frequent dog park user, stated her support

for the expansion of the dog park into the Little Mates Cove area as it was an all-seasons

dog park used by lots of people and dogs, pointed out the dog park was not only for dogs

as it also provided social and exercise opportunities for people, agreed shade was

needed, suggested the parking lot improvements include the use of materials that did not

take in heat like asphalt to assist their four-legged friends, and indicated her support for

all of the other improvements.

Steve Spellman, a Fourth Ward resident, explained he lived nearby and utilized the park

3-5 times per week, felt this plan for maximization of the space seemed reasonable,

stated his disappointment regarding the abandonment of the Little Mates Cove, but

believed a splash pad with low maintenance and staff needs was reasonable as was the

salvaging of the restrooms, noted he had not experienced a break-in, but indicated shady

vehicles were sometimes in the area at night, and pointed out it was a highly utilized

park.

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

The Council asked questions and made comments.

B117-25 was given third reading by the City Clerk with the vote recorded as

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

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

follows:

VI. OLD BUSINESS

B113-25

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to Signature Collections

LLC to allow the operation of a short-term rental on property located at 221

Brenda Lane; providing a severability clause (Case No. 162-2025).

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.

Hero Ladores, owner of Signature Collections LLC and this property, stated he and his

wife had purchased the property specifically for a short-term rental, had tried to obtain

approval prior to purchasing the property, but was told that was not possible, understood

some neighbors objected to the use of the property as a short-term rental due to

concerns that it would be a party house, explained the property had cameras and noise

detection systems which would help monitor and address any issues, noted they had

obtained a long-term rental certificate in case this property was not approved as a

short-term rental, but indicated they would lose money if they had to utilize it as a

long-term rental, and responded to Council questions.

The Council asked questions and made comments.

B113-25 was given third reading by the City Clerk with the vote recorded as

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

VOTING NO: NO ONE. ABSENT: 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.

B106-25

B107-25

B108-25

Vacating a portion of the Artemis Drive right-of-way located south of

Endeavor Avenue; directing the City Clerk to record the ordinance (Case

No. 118-2025).

Vacating utility and drainage easements within Discovery Park Subdivision

located at the terminus of Artemis Drive and south of Endeavor Avenue;

directing the City Clerk to record the ordinance (Case No. 113-2025).

Approving a major amendment to the PD Planned Development and

Preliminary Plat of “Discovery Apartments” located at the terminus of

Artemis Drive and south of Endeavor Avenue; approving a statement of

intent; amending Ordinance No. 018043 to approve an increase in the

maximum gross square footage of buildable floor area set forth in Exhibit

21 - Table A established for Tracts 4, 5, and 9 (Case No. 92-2025).

B109-25

B110-25

B111-25

B112-25

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

Plat 1 to allow direct driveway connections to Vandiver Drive and Range

Line Street (Case No. 90-2025).

Approving the Final Plat of “Oscar Plat 1” located on the northwest corner

of Range Line Street and Vandiver Drive (1901 Range Line Street);

authorizing a performance contract (Case No. 90-2025).

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to Claire Altman to allow

the operation of a short-term rental on property located at 115 Clinton

Drive; providing a severability clause (Case No. 130-2025).

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to Stealth Rental

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

located at 1010 W. Broadway; providing a severability clause (Case No.

161-2025).

B114-25

B115-25

Authorizing an annexation agreement with D & D Investments of Columbia,

LLC for property located on the north side of St. Charles Road and west of

Route Z; directing the City Clerk to have the agreement recorded (Case

No. 61-2025).

Authorizing an agreement for professional engineering services with

George L. Crawford & Associates, Inc., d/b/a CBB, for a road audit of the

Business Loop 70 corridor; amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget by

appropriating funds.

B116-25

B118-25

Accepting conveyances for sewer purposes; accepting a Stormwater

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

conveyances recorded.

Amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget by 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 reassigning a classification.

B119-25

Authorizing a tourism development sponsorship agreement with The

Curators of the University of Missouri for the 2025 Missouri State Senior

Games and Show-Me State Games.

B120-25

B121-25

Authorizing an agreement with The Curators of the University of Missouri

for the 2025 Missouri State Senior Games and Show-Me State Games.

Amending Chapter 24 of the City Code to establish requirements relating

to trenchless excavation associated with the installation of utilities in public

rights-of-way.

R77-25

R78-25

Authorizing an agreement for firm point-to-point transmission service with

Southwest Power Pool, Inc. for compliance with tariffs regarding the

transmission of electric power from the Iatan II power plant.

Authorizing Aviation Project Consultant Supplemental Agreement No. 1

with Burns and McDonnell Engineering Co., Inc. associated with the west

parking lot resurfacing project at the Columbia Regional Airport.

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

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

BUFFALOE, CARROLL, FOSTER. VOTING NO: NO ONE. ABSENT: SAMPLE. Bills

declared enacted and resolutions declared adopted, reading as follows:

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

R79-25

Authorizing the temporary closures of portions of sidewalk on the west side

of Eighth Street and the south side of Broadway, and certain parking stalls

on the south side of Broadway and the west side of Eighth Street, to

facilitate exterior repairs to the Central Bank building.

The resolution was read by the City Clerk.

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

questions.

R79-25 was read by the City Clerk, and the vote was recorded as follows: VOTING

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

ONE. ABSENT: SAMPLE. 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.

B122-25

B123-25

Rezoning property located on the south side of Clark Lane and west of St.

Charles Road (5320 Clark Lane) from District M-N (Mixed-use

Neighborhood) to District M-C (Mixed-use Corridor) (Case No. 154-2025).

Rezoning property located on the east side of Oakland Gravel Road and

south of Blue Ridge Road (3310 Oakland Gravel Road) from District R-1

(One-family Dwelling) to District R-2 (Two-family Dwelling) (Case No.

167-2025).

B124-25

B125-25

B126-25

B127-25

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to Ashleigh Stundebeck

to allow the operation of a short-term rental on property located at 1617

Highridge Circle; providing a severability clause (Case No. 134-2025).

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to the Wyatt Family Trust

to allow the operation of a short-term rental on property located at 534 W.

Southampton Drive; providing a severability clause (Case No. 168-2025).

Approving the Final Plat of “Bennett Ridge Plat 1” located on the east side

of Creasy Springs Road and north of Proctor Drive; authorizing a

performance contract (Case No. 29-2025).

Authorizing an annexation agreement with Jacob M. Rose and Anna M.

Rose for property located on the west side of Cedar Grove Boulevard

(1101 S. Cedar Grove Boulevard); directing the City Clerk to have the

agreement recorded (Case No. 99-2025).

B128-25

B129-25

Authorizing an intergovernmental cooperation agreement with The Curators

of the University of Missouri for commuter lot and campus shuttle bus

service for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Accepting conveyances associated with construction of the Spring Brook

roundabout project to be located at the intersection of Veterans United

Drive and MU Healthcare/Veterans Middle Drive; directing the City Clerk to

have the conveyances recorded.

B130-25

B131-25

Accepting conveyances for underground electric purposes; accepting

Stormwater Management/BMP Facilities Covenants; directing the City

Clerk to have the conveyances recorded.

Authorizing an agreement with the City of Boonville, Missouri for mutual aid

fire services.

B132-25

B133-25

Authorizing an agreement with the City of Mexico, Missouri for mutual aid

fire services.

Amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget for third quarter appropriation of

funds.

X. REPORTS

REP26-25

Public Transit Advisory Commission (PTAC) Annual Report.

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

questions and comments.

REP27-25

Pollinators Beautification Report Update.

Office of Cultural Affairs Manager Sarah Dresser and Office of Sustainability Manager Eric

Hempel provided a staff report, and responded to Council questions and comments.

XI. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, COUNCIL AND STAFF

Eugene Elkin, 3406 Range Line Street, commented about the health of the homeless of

which many were veterans, asked that the foods being served to the homeless be looked

into as he believed sugar fed cancer, understood the use of illegal drugs was tied to

people having trouble facing life, and felt the youth needed to be taught skills to cope with

life.

Traci Wilson-Kleekamp,

a representative of Race Matters, Friends, felt Parks and

Recreation Director, Gabe Huffington, had done a great job of redirecting and bringing

everyone back to the conversation regarding Douglass Park, was appreciative of the

frustrations related to this area as there were still sentiments of unrest related to urban

renewal, suggested the bathrooms be considered prior to the second phase of the

project, recommended that the Douglass Park Neighborhood Association be

reconstituted along with checking in with all neighborhood associations as that was a

way for people to be engaged and kept in the loop, stated appreciation for the community

connectors and suggested the Council speak with them about what they were hearing,

indicated she would assist with providing

a historical backdrop because having that

understanding would help them with their work, and recommended the City tread lightly

before adding names to the Douglass Park area as Frederick Douglass represented

freedom.

Shane Lowe, 1133 Ashland Road, indicated he commuted by bicycle on a daily basis,

suggested improvements when traveling down to the Grindstone Creek area as the

pedway narrowed tightly with a guardrail on one side and a chain-link fence on the other

side making it uncomfortable for users as it was difficult to pass, stated Ponderosa Street

did not have great pedestrian access as some connections were missing, pointed out the

area off of Old 63 when coming off of the hill where the sidewalk abruptly ended as

needing attention due to an asphalt dip that a person in a wheelchair would have difficulty

navigating, and noted he would raise these issues with the Bicycle/Pedestrian

Commission as well.

Alison Kaiser, a Fourth Ward resident on Hulen Drive, understood the City was grappling

with

a recycling conundrum, offered her support to facilitate and expedite the new

recycling facility, and felt they should pay more for refuse collection as they were

consumers that had the responsibility to minimize and recycle for the community and for

future generations.

The Council and staff discussed various topics to include appreciation for those that had

attended the Douglass Park basketball court and park improvement public engagement

meetings as they had involved a variety of voices and had been productive as well as for

staff, particularly Parks and Recreation Director Gabe Huffington and Engagement

Coordinator Shawna Johnson, who had participated in the meetings, for their

responsiveness and efforts in making the time to start difficult conversations, which would

hopefully help build trust, the fact the City Council would be holding at least four other

community engagement opportunities with regard to the federal executive orders related

to DEI, information regarding the dates, times, and locations of those opportunities along

with the open house format of those “office hours” to facilitate conversations as well as

providing information about the potential impacts of cuts to federal funding on families and

community members, understanding the comments of Alison Kaiser regarding the sense

of urgency by the public to start recycling again, the fact staff was working hard to

determine how the recycling efforts could begin again in a comprehensive manner, i .e.

with a permanent solution as well as some interim solutions, the conversation with regard

to improvements at the Twin Lakes Recreation Area being a good example of how staff

responded to concerns, the excitement with regard to the pollinator beautification

program, the fact that the inaugural Gold Star Memorial Day Parade, in celebration and

remembrance of many, had been held a week ago, thanking the staff involved with that

Parade as many people had assisted and some had even put up street closure

barricades at 3:00 a.m. that morning, and yesterday being the kick-off for Pride Month,

which provided an opportunity to celebrate diversity at a time when were many members

of the community that were feeling vulnerable.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned without objection at 9:05 p.m.