City of Columbia, Missouri

Meeting Minutes

City Council

City Hall

Monday, September 15, 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, September 15, 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 BETSY PETERS, Mayor BARBARA BUFFALOE, Council

Member VALERIE CARROLL, Council Member VERA ELWOOD, Council Member

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

WATERMAN were present. City Manager De’Carlon Seewood, City Counselor Nancy

Thompson, Deputy City Clerk Holly Alexander, and various Department Heads and staff

members were also present.

The minutes of the regular meeting of September 2, 2025 were approved unanimously by

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

Mayor Buffaloe understood R132-25 had to be moved from the consent agenda to new

business at the request of staff due to a needed amendment.

The agenda, including the consent agenda with R132-25 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

SI18-25

Citizen Heroism Award & Citizen Lifesaving Awards.

Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer and Utilities Director Erin Keys presented Jesse Fudge with

the Citizen Heroism Award and Andrew Blackburn, Brett Helms, and Cody Rowland with

Citizen Lifesaving Awards. Fire Chief Schaeffer explained Jesse Fudge climbed the pole

and lowered his coworker, who was severely burned and had gone into cardiac arrest

when making contact with an active power line while repairing a line that had caused

disruption to

a number of people, obtaining significant burns himself, and Andrew

Blackburn, Brett Helms, and Cody Rowland administered hands-only CPR and applied

the automated external defibrillator (AED) keeping their coworker’s brain and heart

perfused until the paramedics arrived.

Fire Chief Schaeffer also recognized Captain Doug Ritchie, Firefighter Andrew Lane,

Firefighter Isaac Bartholomew, and Battalion Chief Mark Jenkins for their leadership and

teamwork under extreme stress and chaos.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor Buffaloe thanked those recognized tonight along

with the utility worker whose life was saved and others that did this type of work every

day.

SI19-25

Check presentation from the Columbia Youth Basketball Association.

Jim Chapdelaine, Vice President of the Columbia Youth Basketball Association (CYBA),

stated the CYBA was founded in 1992 to provide youth with the opportunity to play

basketball in

a recreational environment, listed some of the CYBA activities and

programming for the upcoming season, expressed appreciation for the partnership with

the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, and provided a $100,000 donation for

the public address system that would be used for safety and security messaging when

needed throughout the Sports Fieldhouse building.

III. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

BC9-25

Board and Commission Applicants.

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

the following Boards and Commissions.

AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD

Morrison, Eric, Ward 5, Term to expire December 1, 2026

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION CODES COMMISSION

Kroll, Jamie, Boone County, Term to expire August 1, 2028

CITY OF COLUMBIA NEW CENTURY FUND, INC. BOARD

Howald, Tim, Boone County, Term to expire September 30, 2028

CONVENTION AND VISITORS ADVISORY BOARD

Kunz, Kristopher, Boone County, Term to expire September 30, 2027

Laird, Donald, Ward 5, Term to expire September 30, 2027

Marcks, Melody, Boone County, Term to expire, September 30, 2027

Strodtman, Rusty, Ward 2, Term to expire September 30, 2027

Walls, Richard, Ward 5, Term to expire September 30, 2027

DISABILITIES COMMISSION

Inman-Ahlstrom, Koda, Ward 2, Term to expire June 15, 2027

Rice Ken, Ward 2, Term to expire June 15, 2027

FINANCE ADVISORY AND AUDIT COMMITTEE

Shockley, Jeff, Ward 5, Term to expire December 31, 2026

MARIJUANA FACILITY LICENSE REVIEW BOARD

Nassar, Samantha, Ward 2, Term to expire September 30, 2028

PERSONNEL ADVISORY BOARD

Kelly, Jacqueline, Ward 4, Term to expire September 30, 2028

Lantzy, Walter, Ward 4, Term to expire September 30, 2028

Mayor Buffaloe noted Council Member Sample, who was the staff liaison to the Youth

Advisory Council, was happy to continue in that role, and verified there was no objection

to that.

IV. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT

SPC42-25

Pat Kelley - Grand Avenue Traffic Calming Petition.

Pat Kelley withdrew her request to speak.

SPC43-25

Emily Goes - Tenet's testimony about rental issues in the community.

Emily Goes, a 2025 Mizzou graduate and renter in Columbia for nearly five years,

expressed concerns with the gaps between leases in July and August causing people to

be unhoused, the lack of rental units and the affordability of rental units, particularly one

bedroom or studio apartments in safe neighborhoods, and predatory fees for damages for

items reported during the lease period, and asked the Council to address the situation by

establishing protections against unfair fees, creating more affordable and safe housing,

and developing solutions to close the lease gaps in July and August, as she believed it

was the responsibility of community leaders to ensure its residents could live safely,

affordably, and with stability.

V. PUBLIC HEARINGS

PH27-25

Proposed voluntary annexation of property located on the south side of I-70

Drive SE and east of Easter Lane (7098 I-70 Drive SE) (Case No.

292-2025).

The public hearing was read by the Deputy City Clerk.

Development Services Manager Pat Zenner provided a staff report.

Mayor Buffaloe opened the public hearing.

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

The Council made comments.

PH28-25

Proposed voluntary annexation of property located on the northwest corner

of Clark Lane and Lakewood Drive (Case No. 293-2025).

The public hearing was read by the Deputy City Clerk.

Development Services Manager Pat Zenner provided a handout and 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

B205-25

Amending Chapter 14 of the City Code as it relates to parking meter rates.

The bill was given third reading by the Deputy City Clerk.

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

comments.

Susan Renee Carter, a Second Ward resident, understood there had been a lot of

comments about the rates doubling or nearly doubling as well as confusion as to the fees

associated with the app used to pay for parking, and suggested the City not wait to

increase rates in the future for as long as they previously had and that the City explain

that the fee was essentially a convenience fee for using the app to pay for parking.

Nickie Davis with The District explained the Downtown CID Board did not take any action

on this topic, thanked City staff for meeting with them, and looked forward to working with

the City in getting the information out once a decision was made.

The Council asked questions and made comments.

B205-25 was given fourth reading by the Deputy City Clerk with the vote recorded

as follows: VOTING YES: PETERS, BUFFALOE, CARROLL, ELWOOD, SAMPLE,

FOSTER, WATERMAN. VOTING NO: NO ONE. Bill declared enacted, reading as

follows:

B183-25

Adopting a budget for the City of Columbia, Missouri for the fiscal year

October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026 (FY 2026); providing that

certain amounts shown in the budget document are appropriated for the

various departments specified in said budget.

The bill was given fourth reading by the Deputy City Clerk.

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

staff report, and they along with Budget Analyst II Meganne Montesinos and City

Counselor Nancy Thompson responded to Council questions and comments.

Mayor Buffaloe made

a motion to amend the proposed amendment sheet so it

included correction to the numbers associated with Amendment No. 54 from

the prior meeting indicating the revenue was $0 instead of $900,000 and the

expense was $900,000 instead of $1,800,000. The motion was seconded by

Council Member Peters, and approved unanimously by voice vote.

Mayor Buffaloe made motion to amend B183-25A per the amended amendment

sheet, which included the correction to the numbers associated with Amendment

No. 54 from prior meeting, corrected two numbers in Section 1 of the ordinance,

and provided for a new Exhibit A. The motion was seconded by Council Member

Peters, and approved unanimously by voice vote.

Michelle Casey, Associate Director and Campaign Manager at the Central Missouri

Humane Society (CMHS), stated it was a matter of time before they would no longer be

able to operate out of their current building as it was not safe, which would impact both

the City and the County in terms of their animal control programs, noted the new facility

would be costly but they wanted to do it once and right, and explained funding was

needed from the City in order to make that happen.

Ken Rice, a Second Ward resident, stated appreciation for the attempt to make the

budget more understandable, explained being more transparent than in the past did not

mean they were transparent, provided the $14 million settlement and closed meetings as

examples, and suggested the $14 million settlement be used for one time expenses

versus personnel expenses.

Steve Spellman, 2312 Katy Lane, expressed appreciation for the public education

involving the budget, including the PowerPoint slides, charts, the history of cash reserves,

and an explanation of the $14 million, felt they were moving in the right direction in terms

of the size of the budget document and the reduction in the overage in the general fund,

suggested the City be cautious as they were in a different era in terms of federal partners

and the likelihood of federal funding in the future would decrease, and stated appreciation

for the City’s prudence and public engagement.

Susan Renee Carter, a Second Ward resident, appreciated the update to the PowerPoint

presentation as it provided more information and better explained things, understood the

second largest expenditure area was services and miscellaneous, and felt those items

should be separated as large expenses should be in more specific categories and not

shown as miscellaneous.

Steve Spellman spoke again in appreciation of staff, specifically the staff member in

attendance with their family as it went above and beyond.

The Council made comments and asked questions.

B183-25A, as amended, was given fifth reading by the Deputy City Clerk with the

vote recorded as follows: VOTING YES: PETERS, BUFFALOE, CARROLL,

ELWOOD, SAMPLE, FOSTER, WATERMAN. VOTING NO: NO ONE. Bill declared

enacted, reading as follows:

B218-25

Amending Chapter 2 of the City Code as it relates to closed records.

The bill was given third reading by the Deputy City Clerk.

City Counselor Nancy Thompson provided a staff report, and responded to Council

questions and comments.

B218-25 was given fourth reading by the Deputy City Clerk with the vote recorded

as follows: VOTING YES: PETERS, BUFFALOE, CARROLL, ELWOOD, SAMPLE,

FOSTER, WATERMAN. VOTING NO: NO ONE. Bill declared enacted, reading as

follows:

B241-25

Authorizing an agreement for professional services with TMT Consulting,

LLC for trauma informed and community mental health trainings and

presentations; amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget by appropriating

funds in the amount of $21,000.

The bill was given second reading by the Deputy City Clerk.

Violence Prevention Administrator D’Markus Thomas-Brown provided a staff report, and

responded to Council questions.

The Council made comments.

B241-25 was given third reading by the Deputy City Clerk with the vote recorded

as follows: VOTING YES: PETERS, BUFFALOE, CARROLL, ELWOOD, SAMPLE,

FOSTER, WATERMAN. VOTING NO: NO ONE. Bill declared enacted, reading as

follows:

VII. CONSENT AGENDA

The following bills were given second reading and the resolutions were read by the Deputy

City Clerk.

B231-25

B232-25

B233-25

Amending Chapter 2 of the City Code as it relates to city departments;

amending Chapter 19 of the City Code as it relates to personnel policies,

procedures, rules and regulations.

Adopting the FY 2026 Classification and Pay Plans; establishing

implementation dates of September 28, 2025 and January 18, 2026;

providing for salary adjustments for eligible employees.

Establishing plan year 2026 active employee medical premium rates,

active employee dental premium rates, and non-Medicare and Medicare

medical and retiree dental premium rates for the City of Columbia;

providing for payroll withholdings.

B234-25

B235-25

B236-25

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to Stephen Dupre to

allow the operation of a short-term rental on property located at 207 W.

Briarwood Lane; providing a severability clause (Case No. 250-2025).

Approving the Final Plat of “Bethel Baptist Church Plat 1” located on the

northeast corner of Old Plank Road and Bethel Church Road; authorizing a

performance contract (Case No. 219-2025).

Authorizing an amendment to the financial assistance agreement with the

Missouri Department of Natural Resources associated with the preparation

of a new historic preservation plan to establish goals and priorities for the

identification and registration of historic properties within the city (Case No.

258-2023).

B237-25

B238-25

B239-25

B240-25

R129-25

R130-25

Authorizing a transportation alternatives program supplemental agreement

with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for the

Oakland Gravel Road (Blue Ridge Road to Smiley Lane) sidewalk project.

Authorizing a cost match letter of commitment to the Missouri Department

of Natural Resources as it relates to a grid resilience formula funding

program grant for the replacement of electric transmission poles.

Amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget by appropriating funds in the

amount of $120,000 for maintenance on Fire Department vehicle

apparatus.

Amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget by appropriating funds in the

amount of $3,327,800 to provide for end-of-year adjustments in certain

departmental personnel accounts.

Setting a public hearing: proposed construction of the Albert-Oakland

Family Aquatic Center improvement project; providing for the design and

construction of the proposed project using a design/build contract.

Authorizing application to the Environmental Protection Agency for a grant

associated with replacement of water distribution infrastructure along

Business Loop 70 (Phase 6A) and Country Club Drive (Walnut Phase 2),

and replacement of Alluvial Well 10 serving the McBaine Water Treatment

Plant.

R131-25

Authorizing a sidewalk renovation cost share program agreement with

Copperstone Homeowners Association for reconstruction of sidewalk

adjacent to a common area along Vawter School Road.

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

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

CARROLL, ELWOOD, SAMPLE, FOSTER, WATERMAN. VOTING NO: NO ONE. Bills

declared enacted and resolutions declared adopted, reading as follows:

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

R133-25

Authorizing the temporary closure of certain parking stalls on the south side

of Cherry Street and the west side of Fifth Street to facilitate the restoration

of the Flat Branch Home Loans building located at 101 S. Fifth Street.

The resolution was read by the Deputy City Clerk.

Public Works Director Shane Creech provided a staff report.

The Council made comments.

R133-25 was read by the Deputy City Clerk, and the vote was recorded as follows:

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

VOTING NO: NO ONE. ABSENT: FOSTER. Resolution declared adopted, reading

as follows:

R132-25

Authorizing a second amendment to the collective bargaining agreement

with Columbia Police Officers Association, Fraternal Order of Police

Lodge #26.

The resolution was read by the Deputy City Clerk.

Human Resources Director Kathy Baker provided a staff report.

Mayor Buffaloe made a motion to amend R132-25 per the amendment sheet,

which would replace Exhibit B to Attachment A. The motion was seconded by

Council Member Peters, and approved unanimously by voice vote.

R132-25, as amended, was read by the Deputy City Clerk, and the vote was

recorded as follows: VOTING YES: PETERS, BUFFALOE, CARROLL, ELWOOD,

SAMPLE, FOSTER, WATERMAN. VOTING NO: NO ONE. Resolution declared

adopted, reading as follows:

IX. INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING

The following policy resolution and bills were introduced by the Mayor unless otherwise

indicated, and all were given first reading.

PR134-25

B242-25

Adopting priorities for the 2026 state legislative session.

Voluntary annexation of property located on the south side of I-70 Drive SE

and east of Easter Lane (7098 I-70 Drive SE); directing the City Clerk to

give notice of the annexation; establishing permanent District R-2

(Two-family Dwelling) zoning (Case No. 221-2025).

B243-25

B244-25

Voluntary annexation of property located on the northwest corner of Clark

Lane and Lakewood Drive; directing the City Clerk to give notice of the

annexation; establishing permanent District M-C (Mixed-use Corridor)

zoning (Case No. 242-2025).

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to VSP, LLC to allow the

operation of a short-term rental on property located at 11 Club Court;

providing a severability clause (Case No. 262-2025).

B245-25

Granting the issuance of a conditional use permit to The Tyler and Ashley

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

located at 2613 N. Creasy Springs Road; providing a severability clause

(Case No. 266-2025).

B246-25

B247-25

B248-25

Rezoning property located on the east side of Forum Boulevard and north

of Old Plank Road from District PD (Planned Development) to District R-1

(One-family Dwelling) (Case No. 265-2025).

Authorizing construction of the Albert-Oakland Family Aquatic Center

improvement project; calling for bids for a portion of the project through the

Purchasing Division using a design/build contract.

Authorizing an agreement with The Housing Authority of the City of

Columbia, Missouri related to electric water heating equipment installation

reimbursement for the Patriot Place Apartments located at 2112 Business

Loop 70 East.

B249-25

B250-25

Authorizing a cooperative agreement with the County of Boone, Missouri

for the installation of a replacement radio tower on City’s Municipal Power

Plant property located at 1501 Business Loop 70 East.

Accepting conveyances for sewer and temporary construction purposes;

accepting Stormwater Management/BMP Facilities Covenants; directing

the City Clerk to have the conveyances recorded.

B251-25

B252-25

B253-25

B254-25

Amending the FY 2025 Annual Budget by appropriating $3,000.00 for the

Terminal Building loop road project at the Columbia Regional Airport.

Authorizing amendment number one to the agreement with Boone County,

Missouri for 2025 public health services.

Authorizing amendment number one to the agreement with Boone County,

Missouri for 2025 animal control services.

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

of Health and Senior Services for teen connection project program

services.

B255-25

Authorizing an affiliation agreement with The Curators of the University of

Missouri, on behalf of University of Missouri Health Care, to provide

educational experience and training for medical residents and fellows.

X. REPORTS

REP47-25

Communication from the Commission on Human Rights regarding

Mediations Services in Chapter 12 of the Code of Ordinances.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion Administrator D’Andre Thompson provided a staff report,

and he and City Counselor Nancy Thompson responded to Council questions and

comments.

Mayor Buffaloe made a motion for staff to bring forward an ordinance with the

changes suggested for Council consideration. The motion was seconded by

Council Member Peters, and approved unanimously by voice vote.

REP48-25

Electric Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).

Utilities Director Erin Keys provided a staff report, and responded to Council questions

and comments.

Mayor Buffaloe made a motion to authorize staff to move forward with an

agreement for The Energy Authority (TEA) to develop an Electric Integrated

Resource Plan for the electric utility. The motion was seconded by Council

Member Elwood, and approved unanimously by voice vote.

XI. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, COUNCIL AND STAFF

Eugene Elkin, 3406 Range Line Street, expressed concern with cell phone and other

electronic devices due to health concerns and thanked the Council for passing B 241-25,

which would help address mental health issues.

The Council and staff discussed various topics to include a request for a detailed update

regarding bond issues, including the amount and use of each bond as well as information

regarding bond authority and debt obligation, a request for a detailed update regarding

capital improvement projects, including how they were funded since some were only

partially funded, a staff report regarding current notification requirements and processes

along with a suggestion as to how to move forward with reviewing or updating those

requirements and processes, a request for specific costs for services provided by the

Central Missouri Human Society (CMHS) not covered by the current contract along with

comparison data with those communities with partner shelters and those that operated

their own shelters, which staff indicated they already had and would provide that

information to the Council, a request for a report identifying the services outsourced

during fiscal year 2025 regardless of the department or the amount of money involved to

assist with transparency issues, which staff indicated an update would be provided in a

couple of months as some of this work had already begun due to a labor request but

would take a lot of time to compile, a request to provide a supplemental memo for every

item tabled regardless of the reason for tabling or the lack of additional information, the

CelebrARTy event this Thursday at the Blue Note benefiting Access Arts, the desire for a

closed meeting to discuss requests for outside counsel, the comments of Fire Chief

Brian Schaeffer and Utilities Directors Erin Keys during the special item recognizing

some employees for their life saving efforts as a lot of unseen and dangerous work was

done regularly by employees and acknowledging this work involved training for life

threatening situations similar to the one described, the critical need for housing that was

affordable for everyone across the income spectrum, looking forward to the new Housing

and Neighborhood Services Director coming on board so the housing study could be put

to work, today being monumental as the last Central Missouri Honor Flight returned

tonight after about 16 years of transporting approximately 5,500 veterans to Washington

D.C. to see the memorials and welcoming those veterans back home since they might

not have received a welcome when originally returning home from their service to the

country, the Ward 5 Let’s Talk Local, which would be held on September 24 at 5:30 p.m.

at Gentry Middle School, recognizing the Fire Department for their response to multiple