City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes  
City Council  
Conference Room  
1A/1B  
Monday, May 2, 2022  
5:00 PM  
Pre-Council  
Columbia City Hall  
701 E. Broadway  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor Buffaloe called the meeting to order at approximately 5:03 p.m.  
6 - Peters, Skala, PItzer, Fowler, Waner, and Foster  
Present:  
This item is open to the public: Motion for the City Council to go into closed  
session in Conference Room 1A/1B to discuss:  
- Leasing, purchase or sale of real estate by a public governmental body  
where public knowledge of the transaction might adversely affect the legal  
consideration therefor pursuant to Section 610.021(2) RSMo.  
- Hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting of particular employees by a public  
governmental body when personal information about the employee is  
discussed or recorded pursuant to Section 610.021(3) RSMo.  
- Preparation, including any discussions or work product, on behalf of a  
public governmental body or its representatives for negotiations with  
employee groups pursuant to Section 610.021(9) RSMo.  
- Individually identifiable personnel records, performance ratings or records  
pertaining to employees or applicants for employment pursuant to Section  
610.021(13) RSMo.  
At approximately 5:04 p.m., Council Member Peters made a motion for the City Council  
of the City of Columbia, Missouri, to immediately go into a closed meeting in Conference  
Room 1A/1B of City Hall to discuss the leasing, purchase, or sale of real estate by a  
public governmental body where public knowledge of the transaction might adversely  
affect the legal consideration therefor pursuant to Section 610.021(2) of the Revised  
Statutes of Missouri, and the preparation, including any discussions or work product, on  
behalf of a public governmental body or its representatives for negotiations with employee  
groups pursuant to Section 610.021(9) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. The motion  
was seconded by Council Member Waner.  
Peters made a motion to go into the closed meeting, Waner seconded; motion  
carried.  
This item is closed to the public: Closed Meeting in Conference Room  
1A/1B  
At approximately 5:06 p.m., the City Council went into closed session in Conference  
Room 1A/1B pursuant to RSMo Sections 610.021(2) and (9). The pre-council work  
session was held, and those minutes will have the details of that discussion for the open  
portion of the meeting.  
The Council adjourned the closed meeting and returned to the open portion of the meeting  
at approximately 5:55 p.m.  
This item is open to the public: Review of Council Rules, Ethics & Conflicts  
of Interest  
Mayor Buffaloe announced that the Review of Council Rule on Ethics and Conflict of  
Interest portion of the Agenda will be discussed at the Agenda Retreat, May 26-27, 2022.  
This item is open to the public: Dates/times for the Budget Retreat  
This item is open to the public: Solid Waste Collection Alternatives  
City Manager De’Carlon welcomed Director David Sorrel to discuss the Solid Waste  
Collection Alternatives. Director Sorrell introduced his team, Steve Hunt and David Brown  
to help with answering questions that were directed to their respective departments.  
Director Sorrel presented the Council members and Mayor a powerpoint presentation  
(also attached to these minutes) stating the status of current operations, then highlighted  
the options for future curbside collections including privatizing the system, continuing with  
the current logo bag program, eliminating the requirement to use logo bags and automate  
collections. A copy of the presentation was also emailed to the Mayor and Council  
members.  
Director Sorrel discussed current procedures and operations, advantages, disadvantages  
as well as issues due to the high shortages of CDL drivers.  
Council Member Waner asked how long staffing has been a problem. Director Sorrel  
replied there has been a steady increase in staffing shortages since 2015, however the  
last two years have been especially difficult due to the COVID pandemic.Director Sorrel  
explained the last two years the Solid Waste Division has relied on an outside contractor  
to keep the services running, due to not being able to provide reliable weekly thrush  
collection.  
Council Member Fowler asked, in reference to employees’ work safety, what causes  
employees to fall from the trucks while they are running and if it occurs because they are  
trying to make up time due to shortages. Director Sorrell replied yes, but often the fall is  
due to the employee losing their balance while holding onto the truck.  
Council Member Fowler asked why the City did not implement the 5 bag limit?  
City Manager De’Carlon Seewood replied indicating that the city tried to implement that 5  
bag limit. Seewood explained the idea with the logo bags was to limit the amount of trash  
generated in a home. There would be no way to control the amount of bags which could  
become difficult for the Solid Waste drivers to pick up within the allotted time schedule.  
Director Sorrell encouraged Council members and the Mayor to think of questions or  
concerns they may have and bring those to the continued portion of this meeting on June  
6, 2022.  
II. ANY OTHER ITEM COUNCIL MAY WISH TO DISCUSS  
None.  
III. ADJOURNMENT  
The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:58pm.