City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes  
City Council  
City Hall  
Conference Room  
1A/1B  
Monday, April 13, 2026  
6:00 PM  
Work Session  
701 E. Broadway  
Columbia, MO  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor Buffaloe called the meeting to order at approximately 6:00 p.m.  
7 - Buffaloe, Foster, Waterman, Peters, Carroll, Sample, and Elwood  
Present:  
Columbia Regional Airport (COU) Discussion  
Attachments: Airport Capital Improvement Plan  
COU Master Plan - Executive Summary  
Enplanement & Deplanement Data  
Mike Parks, Airport Manager, presented. He provided some information about the  
updated Airport Master Plan, noting that the recent version was from 2024 and 2009 prior  
to that. He shared information about current and future flight destinations. He noted that  
the current Plan was guided by the FAA. He noted that some projects from the master  
plan were recently before Council.  
Mike shared information on passenger enplanement forecasts, adding that the airport has  
higher passenger volumes than forecasted. The Mayor asked if this data influenced other  
projects. Mike indicated that it did, highlighting the passenger boarding bridge project.  
Council member Nick Foster asked for clarification about the adjusted number. Mike  
noted that it was adjusted based on new flights being added. The Mayor asked about any  
concerns related to flights from Chicago - Mike noted that it was not something the City  
could control, but it was something staff could monitor. Council member Valerie Carroll  
asked if there were revenue guarantees for flights to Chicago - Mike noted that there were  
no revenue guarantees for flights to Chicago.  
Mike covered information on the Airport Improvement Program. He added that there was  
typically 90% funding for capital projects included within that program. He reviewed the  
process for applying for competitive federal grants. He shared estimated federal funding  
based on passengers in seats. The Mayor asked about how it would be reported to  
Council - Mike noted that it would be rolled up into percent federally funded. Carroll asked  
about soil conditions related to deicing work. Mike noted that there were eight testing  
sites around the airport. He added that the recent changes came out of multiple  
conversations with MoDNR. Carroll asked if MoDNR regulates this. Mike noted that they  
have standards, and require plans if the levels ever exceed those standards.  
Mike covered a list of projects, highlighting the importance of safety and noting that many  
projects are safety related. He reviewed a list of current projects. He referenced interest in  
hangar rentals, and highlighted the snow removal project as being a way to start this  
program. He noted that the most recent update to rates and charges took place in 2012,  
and that reviewing these rates/charges would be reviewed. He noted that the ultimate goal  
was for that airport to be self-sustaining. He highlighted the services offered by the airport,  
including 24 hour fire services.  
Council member Don Waterman asked about updated numbers once the rates/charges  
review was complete. Mike noted that they will work with Finance. Foster asked about  
the sterile area expansion. Mike noted that it was planned to be expanded to the south.  
The Mayor asked about timeline - Mike noted that he anticipated this review would be  
sometime this fall. He did not know if these would be ready for the FY 2027 budget.  
Mike shared a snapshot of capital projects over the next five years which reflected just  
over $100 million in investment, noting that many would be primarily federally funded. He  
added that the airport was built in the 1960s. He shared an example from another  
municipal airport that had to stop commercial operations for several months due to  
runway repair. He shared a visual of 20 year capital improvement programs highlights.  
Mike highlighted an upcoming parking project and shared information on the City  
boundaries.  
Mike shared information on the airport’s strategic goal to improve connectivity and adding  
capacity. He shared positive feedback from the Community Summit, noting that  
participants were happy with their current options. He highlighted the airport growth via  
seat counts. He shared a graph showing growth compared to other midwest airports. He  
emphasized the resilience of the region in rebounding from the pandemic. He showed a  
graphic highlighting Q4 2026 was 523% above Q3 from 2012, and 50% up from the  
previous peak in Q2 2019.  
De’Carlon Seewood, City Manager, brought up the possibility of creating a separate  
Airport Department. He discussed proposed title and structure changes. De’Carlon noted  
an upcoming proposal to add shuttle drivers at the airport - Mike noted that this is  
proposed to begin in June 2026. The Mayor asked for the budgetary impact. Kathy Baker,  
HR Director, shared preliminary numbers from Finance staff. For a full fiscal year  
$406,000 was an approximate estimate for all the proposed changes. Waterman asked if  
the shuttle drivers would require a CDL - Mike noted that they would not require a CDL,  
but would require drug testing. Council member Betsy Peters asked for clarification why  
this needed to be a separate department. De’Carlon noted that it was due to the  
capacity. Council member Elwood asked about the move of the 0.5 FTE Economic  
Development Director - De’Carlon noted that it would go back to Economic Development  
in the General Fund. Elwood asked about why the Airport Manager was not being  
reassigned, rather than replaced with Airport Director. Kathy noted that it was due to a  
selection process. The Mayor asked about looking into other cities with airports and what  
their best practices are. She noted that St. Louis and Kansas City airports were fairly  
different from Columbia Regional Airport.  
Foster expressed support for this. Council member Jacque Sample asked if Mike had an  
estimate for when the airport would get to self-sustainability. Mike shared that the airport  
currently charged 0.08 per foot, while other municipal airports were closer to 0.23 per  
foot. He highlighted that there was room for additional revenue, but it needed to be  
communicated and justified. He felt the airport offers a lot of good services, and they  
should charge for the value being offered. Carroll asked about at what size are airports  
self-sustaining. Mike noted that we could do a better job at charging a reasonable rate for  
what is being offered. Peters asked why this has not already been done. Foster added  
that the City seemed to be behind on fees in a number of ways. The Mayor added that  
multiple reviews were currently in process. De’Carlon shared a brief update on the cost of  
service study. He estimated that the time frame was later this summer. Carroll asked if  
these studies seemed to historically be done by department - the Mayor noted that  
several in the past have been related to the Utilities, rather than departments in the  
General Fund. Carroll asked if Payment in Lieu of Taxes were included in the study -  
De’Carlon noted that he wasn’t sure.  
The Mayor asked about timeline for staffing changes. De’Carlon noted that it would be  
later this summer.  
Foster asked about any concerns Waterman may have based on his experience on the  
steering committee. Waterman noted that there were no concerns that were not  
addressed in the plan.  
Gary Thompson, Airport Advisory Board, shared the board’s support of the proposed  
structure. The Mayor asked about the airport’s current staffing levels, and noted that the  
return on investment for the airport was not really highlighted in the master plan.  
There are 20 FTEs for the airport, including operation, custodial, and maintenance staff.  
He added that the Assistant to the Airport Manager position was recently filled. Carroll  
asked about bandwidth in the City Manager’s Office. De’Carlon noted that the additional  
resources would help make the airport run better.  
The Council expressed thanks for Mike’s work and the update.  
Council Work Session Scheduling  
Sheela Amin, City Clerk, discussed upcoming work sessions that still needed to be  
scheduled.  
II. ANY OTHER ITEMS COUNCIL MAY WISH TO DISCUSS  
N/A  
III. ADJOURNMENT  
The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:32 p.m.