City of Columbia, Missouri

Meeting Minutes

City Council

Council Chamber

Columbia City Hall

701 E. Broadway

Monday, November 4, 2024

7:00 PM

Regular

I. INTRODUCTORY ITEMS

The City Council of the City of Columbia, Missouri met for a regular meeting at 7:00 p.m.

on Monday, November 4, 2024, 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, Council Member LISA

E.A. MEYER, Council Member ROY LOVELADY, and Council Member NICK FOSTER

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.

The minutes of the regular meeting of October 21, 2024 were approved unanimously by

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

Council Member Meyer asked that R189-24 be removed from the consent agenda.

The agenda, including the consent agenda with R189-24 being moved to new business,

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

None.

IV. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT

SPC57-24

Chriss Jones - Who do you call when the city doesn't care?

Chriss Jones spoke.

SPC58-24

Traci Wilson-Kleekamp - Peculiar indifference, deferred maintenance at

what cost?

Mayor Buffaloe explained Traci Wilson-Kleekamp would reschedule to a future date.

V. PUBLIC HEARINGS

None.

VI. OLD BUSINESS

B246-24

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to Matthew Patterson to

allow the operation of a short-term rental on property located at 1419 N.

Azalea Street; providing a severability clause (Case No. 217-2024).

The bill was given second reading by the City Clerk.

Mayor Buffaloe made a motion to table B246-24 to the November 18, 2024 Council

Meeting. The motion was seconded by Council Member Lovelady and approved

unanimously by voice vote.

B260-24

Authorizing an agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation -

Federal Highway Administration associated with the FY 2022 and FY 2023

charging and fueling infrastructure grant program; authorizing a

memorandum of understanding with Daniel Boone Regional Library for

installation of an electric vehicle charging station; amending the FY 2025

Annual Budget by appropriating funds.

The bill was given second reading by the City Clerk.

Sustainability Manager Eric Hempel provided a staff report, and responded to Council

questions and comments.

Chriss Jones, a Second Ward resident, spoke.

The Council asked questions and made comments.

B260-24 was given third reading by the City Clerk with the vote recorded as

follows: VOTING YES: WATERMAN, PETERS, BUFFALOE, CARROLL, LOVELADY,

FOSTER. VOTING NO: MEYER. 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.

B247-24

B248-24

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to Nicholas Hermann to

allow the operation of a short-term rental on property located at 210 Bourn

Avenue; providing a severability clause (Case No. 218-2024).

Vacating a portion of a utility easement on Lot 3B within The Village of

Cherry Hill Plat 3 located on the east side of Corona Road and south of

Merchant Street; directing the City Clerk to record the ordinance (Case No.

172-2024).

B249-24

B250-24

B251-24

Vacating a portion of a sewer easement located north of Veterans United

Drive and east of Providence Road; directing the City Clerk to record the

ordinance (Case No. 180-2024).

Accepting a conveyance for utility purposes associated with the proposed

vacation of a portion of the Merideth Drive right-of-way; directing the City

Clerk to record the conveyance (Case No. 201-2024).

Vacating a portion of the Merideth Drive right-of-way located northwest of

the Scott Boulevard and Chapel Hill Road intersection; directing the City

Clerk to record the ordinance (Case No. 201-2024).

B252-24

B253-24

Authorizing construction of a vehicle wash bay facility at the City of

Columbia sanitary landfill; calling for bids through the Purchasing Division.

Authorizing a consent to assignment of a sewer extension agreement with

Setzer Properties, LLC and KW COU, LLC serving property located on the

east side of Route Z and north of I-70.

B254-24

B255-24

Authorizing a 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 development agreement.

Accepting conveyances for underground electric utility purposes; accepting

a Stormwater Management/BMP Facilities Covenant; directing the City

Clerk to record the conveyances.

B256-24

B257-24

B258-24

B259-24

Authorizing agreements with The Curators of the University of Missouri for

FY 2025 arts programming funds.

Authorizing Amendment No. 4 to the contract with the Missouri Department

of Health and Senior Services for maternal child health program services.

Amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget by appropriating funds associated

with the Sanford-Kimpton Building improvement project.

Authorizing the City of Columbia to participate in the Missouri Firefighters

Critical Illness Trust and Pool; further authorizing the City Manager to

execute such documents as may be necessary for the City's participation

therein.

R184-24

R185-24

Setting a public hearing: proposed installation of traffic calming devices on

Walnut Street between Old 63 and its eastern terminus.

Setting a public hearing: proposed construction of the West Broadway and

Aldeah Avenue Private Common Collector Elimination (PCCE) #42

sanitary sewer improvement project.

R186-24

R187-24

Setting a public hearing: proposed construction of Sanitary Sewer Project

#11 for the rehabilitation of sewer pipe, sanitary structures and lateral

connections in central areas of Columbia.

Authorizing Supplemental Agreement No. 1 to the aviation project

consultant agreement with Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, Inc.

for construction services related to pavement repairs to Runway 2-20 at the

Columbia Regional Airport.

R188-24

R190-24

R191-24

Authorizing an agreement with Boone Electric Cooperative for electric

service to the car rental facility to be located at 11400 S. Airport Drive at

Columbia Regional Airport.

Authorizing application to the Missouri Department of Transportation for

state funding from the Regional Bridge Program for replacement of the Old

Plank Road culvert structure.

Authorizing application for a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant from

the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for park improvements at

Rainbow Softball Complex located in Columbia Cosmopolitan Recreation

Area.

R192-24

Authorizing an interagency agreement with the City’s Housing and

Neighborhood Services Department for obligation of American Rescue

Plan Act (ARPA) funding for energy efficiency improvements for

income-qualified homeowners and activities supporting the construction of

new affordable housing units.

R193-24

Adopting the FY 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and FY 2025 Annual Action

Plan.

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

the vote recorded as follows: VOTING YES: WATERMAN, PETERS, BUFFALOE,

CARROLL, MEYER, LOVELADY, FOSTER. VOTING NO: NO ONE. Bills declared

enacted and resolutions declared adopted, reading as follows:

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

R189-24

Authorizing a first amendment to the funding agreement with Voluntary

Action Center for the construction of a nonprofit social service agency to be

located at 1300 Bowling Street to provide supportive services to unhoused

and low-income persons.

The resolution was read by the City Clerk.

Public Health and Human Services Director Rebecca Roesslet provided a staff report, and

responded to Council questions and comments.

R189-24 was read by the City Clerk, and the vote was recorded as follows:

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

WATERMAN, MEYER. 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.

B261-24

B262-24

B263-24

B264-24

B265-24

B266-24

B267-24

Approving the Final Plat of “Gentry Estates 2” located on the southwest

corner of Nifong Boulevard and Aurora Drive; authorizing a performance

contract (Case No. 187-2024).

Approving the Final Plat of “Russell Subdivision Plat 7” located on the

northwest corner of Russell Boulevard and Rollins Road (709 Russell

Boulevard); authorizing a performance contract (Case No. 178-2024).

Authorizing an agreement with Blue Jay Transit USFM LLC and The

Curators of the University of Missouri for shared transportation services

associated with deployment of e-scooters and e-bikes.

Amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget by appropriating funds to provide

for renovations to the Parking Enforcement office space in the Fifth Street

and Walnut Street parking structure.

Authorizing a first amendment to the sewer extension agreement with KW

COU, LLC, successor in interest to Setzer Properties, LLC, to serve

property located on the east side of Route Z and north of I-70.

Authorizing a grant agreement with the State of Missouri - Missouri State

Council on the Arts for the 2024-2025 Annual Heritage Festival and Crafts

Show managed by the Parks and Recreation Department.

Authorizing a first amendment to the license agreement with Cellco

Partnership, d/b/a Verizon Wireless, associated with the installation of fiber

optic cable adjacent to Parkside Drive in Columbia Cosmopolitan

Recreation Area.

B268-24

Authorizing a contract with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior

Services for rural PrEP clinic program services.

B269-24

B270-24

Authorizing a contract with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior

Services for teen connection project program services.

Authorizing an equitable sharing agreement and certification with the U.S.

Department of Justice and U.S. Department of the Treasury detailing FY

2024 receipts and expenditures of shared funds by the Police Department.

B271-24

Authorizing a right of use license permit with The Legacy Farms Owners’

Association for the construction, installation, maintenance and operation of

a private neighborhood identification sign within a portion of the Crabapple

Lane right-of-way.

X. REPORTS

REP71-24

Business Loop Community Improvement District (CID) - End of Fiscal Year

(FY 2024) Report.

Mayor Buffaloe explained this report was submitted to the City by the Business Loop CID

per state statute.

REP72-24

Payment in Lieu of Tax (PILOT) by the Water and Light Utilities.

Utilities Director David Sorrell provided a staff report, and he, City Manager De’Carlon

Seewood, and City Counselor Nancy Thompson responded to Council questions and

comments. The Council discussed the issue and the consensus was for a future work

session to be held on the topic.

REP73-24

Amendment to the FY 2024 and FY 2025 Annual Budget -

Intra-Departmental Transfer of Funds.

Mayor Buffaloe understood this had been provided for informational purposes.

XI. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, COUNCIL AND STAFF

Jim Windsor, 200 Manor Drive, spoke regarding his concerns with PILOT in reference to

what he felt was the fraudulent annexation of the water treatment plant causing

subsequent increase in costs and rates when the memo indicated there would not be a

fiscal impact of the annexation.

Chriss Jones,

a Second Ward resident, spoke about the lack of unhoused and

low-income individuals that participated in the housing study and attended the

Columbia/Boone County Housing Summit as she felt that was a concern since they

needed the most help.

Eugene Elkin, 3406 Range Line Street, spoke about the need to remove fluoride from the

drinking water, suggested the use of cargo containers for housing, and the need for

regular public transit service in terms of stops, routes, and personnel along with

subsidized fees.

Andrew Barnett asked the Council for their top five problems that could be fixed in the

community.

Trey Trapani, Chair of External Affairs for the University of Missouri’s student government,

stated they were looking at ways to integrate students into the public transportation

system.

McKenzie Ortiz, a Sixth Ward resident, spoke about the need for better communication

with regard to the public transportation system outside of social media as many riders

who relied on the service had been unaware of the delay in service due to the

homecoming festivities a few weekends ago.

The Council and staff discussed various topics to include tomorrow being election day,

the need to vote, the need to actively move forward after the election, agreement with the

need to do a better job of informing the public of transit service delays and the hope that

the new app would assist with that issue, Council Member Peters’ top issues being jobs,

crime, housing, transportation, climate, and infrastructure including sewers, the items on

the consent agenda such as a couple sewer projects and funding for home weatherization

grants, the Housing Study/Summit and its related implementation to address the issue,

Council Member Carroll’s top issues being housing availability, housing affordability, and

infrastructure, the stormwater issues on the Prairieview Drive area and assistance with a

stakeholders meeting, a request for the timeline for the pollinator beautification pilot

program in Ward 2, the response of 311, the City, and the homeless outreach team with

regard to addressing unsheltered individuals on private property, a request for a report

from the Fire Chief with regard to the number of fire incidents due to homeless camps

along with suggested mitigation actions, an update on staffing within the Columbia Police

Department along with how the City Council could help, an update on the CALEA

certification process, consideration for salaries for the City Council, Council Member

Meyer’s top issues being safety, infrastructure, public health and wellbeing, housing, and

parks and recreation, Council Member Lovelady’s top issues being public safety with an

emphasis on crime and crime prevention, jobs with adequate and equitable pay, housing

with equal and fair housing and consideration for the unhoused along with a definition of

homelessness, and public transit, Council Member Foster’s top issues being housing

and homelessness, climate, infrastructure, public safety, and those who were struggling

and living in low-income circumstances, the fact many of the issues were interconnected,

the EV chargers discussed earlier as it was a part of the infrastructure for electric vehicle

use, the approval of the City’s participation in the Missouri Firefighters Critical Illness

Trust and Pool as firefighters faced many hazards and harmful substances when going

into burning homes, the awareness of the MO-Columbia Sleep in Heavenly Peace

organization, which provides beds along with bedding accessories for children in need of

that, and other organizations as it took everyone including non-government organizations

to address the issues of concern, and the Mayor’s Task Force for the U.S.S. Columbia.

Mayor Buffaloe made

a motion asking for legislation to be brought forward to

add the City of Columbia Fire Chief as an ex-officio member to the Mayor’s Task

Force on the U.S.S. Columbia. The motion was seconded by Council Member

Lovelady and approved unanimously by voice vote.

The Council and staff continued discussing various topics to include Mayor Buffaloe’s top

issues being a connected community in terms of safe and healthy neighborhoods with

crime prevention, the creation of healthy and affordable housing, allowing for people to

have their desired transportation to get from point A to point B, sustainable and lasting

infrastructure with updates as needed, and people being connected, the investment and

implementation of plans, having clear processes so people were able to understand

things such as their utility bills and how the budget is developed, and resources for the

employee workforce.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned without objection at 8:20 p.m.