Council - Regular Meeting

How you handle your lawn care impacts our water and air in [music] 1 hour. A gas powered mower produces the same amount of pollution as a car driven 100 miles. Gas powered [music] lawn equipment harms our air. And yard waste down storm drains causes flooding and water pollution. [music]

Using too much fertilizer releases harmful chemicals into our air and runs off lawns, eventually reaching our rivers and streams. Healthy [music] lawn care habits protect your family, our community, and the environment. Healthy yards for healthy communities. Good evening everybody. I'm going to call this meeting to order. Roll call please.

Council member Alvarez here. Council member Clark sure am here. Council member Selenus here. Council member Click will be out tonight. Council member Saper here. Council member Bailey here. Council member Mcgrron here and council member Fitzgerald will be out tonight.

Very good. Uh the pledge of allegiance tonight we have some VIPs in the room. We have members of troop 1354 to lead us in the pledge. United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, friends. Appreciate you being here. All right, we're going to move on to approval of the agenda. Do we have a motion? So move. Do you have a second? Council member Saber, I'd like to uh pull and move item number eight on the consent agenda and place it on the regular item number eight to the regular agenda. Do we have a motion on or any any further items? No. Okay. Uh do we have a motion on the amended agenda? Move to accept the amended agenda. Second. All in favor? Yes. Yes.

Opposed? Motion passes. Next up, comments from the public. If you are a member of the public wishing to speak, please approach the podium, state your name and address for the record, and please keep your comments to five minutes. Thank you so much. Hold, please. There you are. Probably don't need it. Good evening. Good evening, Mr. Mayor and fellow council members, and happy new year's. Um, Jess, I'm sorry about your team. thought about you during the George game and I was uh that'll be enough here.

No, [laughter] seriously, my my condolences. Uh my name is Rita Pierce. I'm the executive director of Northland Assistance Center. Our address is 2018 Gentry Street. I'm here to talk about the grants that you gave us for the unhoused and the two other pieces that we use for the unhoused. Uh first, I'd like to say that we're about ready to start our 46th year of service to the Northland and I'm starting my 19th. been there a very long time. Um, and just finished the statistics for 2025 and we have provided $273,380 in assistance to Clay and Placa County. In regard to emergency lodging, North Kansas City, as you well know, the council has approved $30,000 in a grant for the unhoused under very strict criteria. We have spent $14,610 in regard to that for 210 room nights. In addition to that, North Kansas City Health has an ongoing grant with me. They replenish funds when they run out. And since the beginning of this grant, we have provided six rooms for them for $84. And there are some members who are here, well, particularly Miss Click, who was concerned that we were going to be turning people away at our door. And I tried to explain that I have emergency funding for that. And I'm happy to say that we provided 37 rooms for people who do not meet the criteria and have IDs and have spent $2,840 of our agency funds, which we will continue to do. A lot of those referrals have come in from social workers, some from police, and some from my own discretion. So, we do not turn everybody away at the door. We have turned five people away. I've kept track of this in case somebody has a question and they were not qualified. They were Jackson County and we wot individuals and we referred them to agencies in those areas. Everyone that we have housed had

met every minute of the criteria which I will say has worked out very well. Five of the people we turned away had come to us last year just because we put them in because we did not have any criteria in place that was appropriate. Once that word got out, we're not having people storming my door. So, I think you guys I think we all worked well together to make that happen. In addition, there was a question about food scarcity the last time I was before you. Uh some members thought that there might be food lines or other kinds of things. I'm happy to report that in 2025 we provided $93,000 in food to our Northland community at a cost of $2,700. We have lots of donors. We have lots of food. I also wrote and a grant was accepted for the United Way for $5,000 to buy food. First time that's ever happened for my agency. We are purchasing food from Savalon. We keep things local. We buy meat and produce from them to keep in our pantry so that we can be viable. Um I think that's it. I had some, you know, the questions I wanted to answer and I appreciate the fact that you guys have given us this money for a grant. you're the only individual, the only place I know in the metro that has a city has done that. And I think we're, you know, allocating the funds wisely. Fingers crossed we'll get through with $30,000. And I won't be before you saying we're out. Um I have a little break and then this weekend it's going to be really cold again. So spend a lot of time paying attention to the weather. So thank you very much and I appreciate y'all.

Thank you. Thank you for the work you do. Further public comments. Good evening.

Good evening. My name is Greg Damp. I own FDF Wealth Strategies. We are located at 2005 Burlington on the Northeast just past Vamore Bank. I'm on the North Kansas City Business Council and just here to talk a little bit about uh the history of FDF wealth in North Kansas City. Um, happy to tell you that we've been in North Kansas City. We relocated from uh, Kansas City, downtown Kansas City, Missouri, um, all the way back in 2008. Um, and we originally started at 21103 Swift Avenue. Uh, we were leasing space from Kent Mayfield and, uh, thought North Kansas City was a great place, uh, to to to move our business. And uh at the time it was just [snorts] me as a sole proprietor with one other uh full-time employee. Um we were at 21103 Swift for almost 10 years. Uh next slide. Yeah. And then we um made an investment, decided we'd buy some real estate, look for real estate. It was a lot more than what we thought. So we ended up buying the building at 1609 and 1611 swift. Um those were together and um at the time 1611 Swift had a business called grain to glass. They sold beer making equipment. Also had um a liquor license and so um I'm afraid that the days of Amazon uh put that business out of business. On the other side 1611 Swift where I was um the building was vacant. Um, next slide. I'll just show you some Oh, one before that, but that's okay. Um, just some terrible pictures. It was a vacant building. It was dated. We spent a bunch of money, renovated both 16009,611. Uh, 1611 swift grain of glass. They unfortunately told me, "Sorry, we're

going out of business." So, they went out of business. Um, but we had a chance to to renovate both 16009 and 1611. And then I think uh the council just heard from Tony Bonadana a couple of months ago. I'm happy to tell you that she approached me at the beginning of the pandemic and said, "What are you going to do with this space now that Grand Glass is out of business?" And I said, "What do you want to do?" And so I negotiated with Tony and her dad, Phil. And I'm thrilled that she's um in the in the height of the pandemic moved in to 1609 or 1611 swift and um have become iconic, right? And uh and have continued to grow. Um when I was on the other side of the building, there were days where I would leave for lunch, come back and not have any place to park because of all the traffic over there. So their business continued to grow and thrive. They actually requested uh to to buy both6009 and611 swift. I wasn't in the mood to sell, but they were continuing to grow and so it made sense for both of us. So now today we're at 2005 Burlington. Um we've been there um and I'm I'm thrilled uh for that new location. Um and then you'll see from the next slide uh we've continued to grow as well. We now have five full-time employees. Uh we have used um high school interns from the North Kansas City IB program and other high schools around as well. We've had college interns. We continue to grow. We're always looking for more um adviserss. We're in the financial services and uh benefits business. We work with lots of businesses in North Kansas City. some of the other uh businesses that you've heard from. Uh we serve them helping with their 401k, retirement plan, group benefits, those types of things, trying to make North Kansas City a better place with better employees and better benefits uh and businesses that can

continue to grow. So, um, we're just, uh, grateful to be part of the North Kansas City business community and just wanted to let you know about a small business that's made a big investment that hopefully is, um, ended up with Jamaicas here as well as um, a growing business with more employees growing all the time. So, thank you very much for your time and your service. Thank you and thank you for all you're doing for Northtown. Any questions from the council? any uh crystal ball on the financial situation and all right. All right. The only thing I'll add is when I when I moved out from next door to Jamaica's I lost 20 pounds and they lost 20% of revenues.

There you go. [laughter] Very good. Further public comments going once. Seeing none move on to the consent agenda. Do we have a motion on the amended consent agenda? So move. Second. All in favor? Yes. Opposed? Motion passes. Moving to regular items. Item eight. Approval of purchase of replacement Toro groundskeeper mower.

Council member Saper. Actually, I have a simple question and I noticed on the documents that they did indicate that they had demos and refurbished equipment possibly available. Was that explored? Uh, no. We don't typically when we're buying new. This mower, the Batwing mower we have now is, I think, roughly 20 years old. And so, they typically go for trying to find something that they can guarantee might or at least try to guarantee that will last another 20 years. So they typically don't go for the look for the used models. We they did they did mention big discounts were potentially available.

Uh it does. Yeah, I see that there in the comments. Um I can ask Dwayne if he explored that, but I typically he hasn't done that just because of if we get a lemon then we Yeah. Well, I understand that if there's a warranty with it and so forth, it should be explored, I would think. Sure. Yeah. In the future. Yeah. I mean, or for this if you wanted to, we could do that. But yeah. Thank you. Okay. Do we have a motion on the purchase? Move to approve. Second. All in favor? Yes. Opposed? Motion passes. Item nine, discussion of marina viability requested by council member [snorts] Tom Bailey. All right, I'm going to kick this over to council member Bailey for a slideshow presentation.

All right. And these slides are not in the uh the agenda, but I am happy to share with them with anyone who would like them. So, first of all, what am I talking about? I'm talking about this piece of land that is not being used. There's a road through it. Uh it is sitting by itself essentially vacant. Um completely unused. Sense of reference, this is outside the levey. So, anybody who is worried about our levy, this is not in any way, shape, or form about the levy. If anything, it might on a completely minuscule basis actually help with some of those problems. Um, but just so we're we're clear, this is outside the levy. Um, wanted to talk about the possibility of adding and using this land that's essentially sitting vacant, providing no revenue to the city or any residents. Um, I believe it is a spot that could be used by a marina. I happen to have had some experience with these things. So, I think there there is a real opportunity. Um, just real quick, this is a a couple pictures from that bridge over. You can see both sides. Not a whole lot going on there. Um, some examples of where you might see some of these different marinas uh on the Missouri River. So, Bismar has a thriving river community around it. The river is smaller up there. Um, so like they have even less space and room to move on it. and they are using, you can see in this uh picture, they actually have inlets on both sides. So, these are small inland marinos. I'm not saying that North Kansas City should put anything nearly this large. We don't have quite that much room. Uh but just a sense of scale of what is possible out there. Uh probably the closest example here is Omaha. Omaha is not that far up river. They have a city-owned marina. Not saying the city should own this or anything like that, just the background of what's out there. They collect revenue through renting out slips year round. Uh, and that helps pay for that.

And this is a public park. Uh, and last one, I got a one from St. Charles. Also has another marina. And I have several pictures from other places as well, but just for the sake of clarity, uh, going to stick with three for right now. Just as a reference for people who aren't super into the river, uh, these are some of the other locations. So, if you get on a boat, where can you go? Uh, Caw Point is a great spot people will put in. This is also happens to be where their fire department gets in. The new attraction is the Rock Island Bridge on the Kansas River. They're going to be hoping to bring people there by water or put people out on the water there as a tourist destination. Uh, that we actually have a yacht club in town. Um, now the yachts you see there are not the yachts that you are thinking of. Uh, they are boats, but uh it is the Kansas City Yacht Club. Uh, Riverside for reference has also been considering a marina. They're a little bit upriver of us. Uh, but in any type of type of transportation, you do better when there's more nodes for people to go to and obviously uh the Casey Current have talked quite a bit about putting something in. Now, they they'll find it much more challenging given that they're directly on the river. Um, but there's another interested party in having activation with our river. So, uh, just for the sake of this conversation, I went ahead and overlaid Omaha's, um, marina into the land that we have. I'm not saying we should put anything nearly this big in there. I'm not saying we should put anything in there. I am simply asking council, are we interested in having the conversation and finding out, are there funding mechanisms? I think uh, in the memo out for the meeting, there's several funding opportunities, including possible FEMA grants. I've talked to Port KC. They have grants lined up in their interest of having additional river traffic. So,

those are all available for us to go look at and ask those questions. Um trying to find out if you guys are open to having the conversation with more information.

All right. Thank you for for putting this together. And I always say uh it's it's a herculean task to find an undeveloped piece of ground in our 4 and a half square miles. Um and this is underutilized at best. Um some of the the things that go through my mind is it's interesting. Um, I would really want this to be um either grant funded for a study um or a private uh developer be brought in and we facilitate helping with grants for that um rather than the city taking on such a project because we just did River Forest Park or finishing up River Forest Park and we see how these things can grow in scale. Um the other stuff that we would need to get studied is the impact to the levy. Even though outside it is Rock Creek, so it's the outflow creek. Um could help, could hurt. I don't know. Um flooding on that side of the levy, if you build anything, is it prone to being flooded and what materials? Um yeah. What about the rest of the council? What do we think about looking into this? Council member Clark.

I mean, my immediate reaction without knowing much is just when you tell a a a city that's in a flood plane that we're going to open up more water to the city uh potentially is is like the humor behind it. But, um I I guess I could see it being worth exploring maybe uh knowing that Callpoint exists. It's very popular. Um I don't know about a whole like riverboat community and uh parking boats and things like that because it is navigable waters. um just hopping out on the Missouri River. I realized kayaking's okay and things, but um yeah, I mean I would say the same like maybe if we had grants to go around it. Um I would first start with the levy district though just just to kind of get their knee-jerk response. Um because that would be that would be the heavier lift there. But yeah, I see it being uh I I see where you're going with it. It's a fun idea.

Yeah. and levy district and core of engineers would be the pretty much the hard stop if it's a no. Um or they could at least tell us what needles we have to thread. Council member Alvarez.

Yeah, I'm the prospect of it is is kind of a neat idea. Um I actually did take a kayak down the Missouri River. I hard to believe but I got it twice so and yeah, it's a lot of fun. However, um I like the concept of it. How however it is still the Missouri River. I think core of engineers would have a huge problem with it. I do know there's a lot of uh mostly the river is meant for like the barge traffic that comes through. Um the current is still pretty strong going through the river. So I I don't think it's necessarily a recreational area. Uh, and I really wouldn't want to spend any of the city's money trying to investigate or see what the possibilities were. Um, I just I think it and plus with the flooding and and all that. However, I mean, it would be nice, but I just think there's too many negatives if especially like the flooding um the barges that travel through the river. Um, the core of engineers. Maybe if a private company would be interested in um like a boat landing maybe or something like that, but I don't see a marina being a a place to go on that side of the river. So that's my thought.

Council member Saber, uh thank you. You you answered one of my questions about really is there land outside of the levy, which I wasn't aware of. Thank you. But the fact that it is next to the levy raises all the concerns everyone else has echoed and but it's certainly worth exploring especially if we can get some grant money to do that exploration. I would support that completely if we get some exploration of this idea. Go ahead.

Um Tom thanks for for bringing this up. Um, I'm not in favor of spending any Sunny Bunny on exploring a a a marina for North Kansas City. If there's a private company that wants to do that, if somebody wants to come here and say they've got an idea, I'm I'm all for that. But, um, and and hearing what they have to say. But, um, I I don't think we should spend any city money to do this. Um, uh, I also don't think that the city should be in business of of running a marina, clearly. Uh, they're very expensive. What's long-term plans? I mean, how do you There's so many so many questions. But if there is a private company that is interested in doing this and wants to come to council and present, by all means, I' I'd be welcome I'd welcome to hear hear what they have to say.

Further council comments. So, what I'm hearing, uh, if you want to tow this one forward, uh, find some grant funding. It sounds like you've done some leg work on that, FEMA and others. um and then a private partner or partners that would be willing to put some of this bill uh along with a grant and then bring something to us that's a little more fleshed out. And uh first stop would be the levy district though just to clear all questions. Yeah.

Um Kim, did you see anything in there that you needed addressed additionally? So staff did chat with the Army Corps of Engineers and it really had to do with the River Forest Park project because that creek and the it's all connected, right? Um so we had talked about what could we do to explore activating that space, whatever that meant, the space that's kind of in that circle. and the RV Corps of Engineers said they talked with quite a few communities and they would be open to the conversation and that is through a formal permitting process. Um they said they have had extensive talks with Riverside.

Um again there would be grant funding that we could pursue. Um, also perhaps looking into grant funding across the entire corridor much more think of the I70 corridor between the two states, but looking at the waterway. Um, so there is some kind of long-term planning sustainable places would be another one that you could potentially that's more of a planning grant. Um, that would be something that Shu is actually very familiar with and has been successful with. So, I do think that there's some opportunities to perhaps look at grant funding as to what could be possible in that land um that could help offset any kind of fiscal considerations. But this the staff did talk to the Army Corps of Engineer. Again, it was really in the River Forest Park project because we had to get licensing for Riverforest Park um because it's a floodway for that waters of America flood plane. Do you know who the point person in Riverside would be to discuss that?

I do, but really more importantly, we know the point person for the Army Corps of Engineering. His [laughter] name is Todd. He actually works in downtown Kansas City and is very very familiar with North Kansas City's area and is working with the city of Kansas City across the way. So again, it's kind of the thought would be not not just us, but holistically, how do you connect? Um, and that's where perhaps more of a planning sustainable place is very similarly to the to the projects that the city has done with Riverside, Kansas City, Missouri about how to connect trails. This is potentially another way to connect those places in a different way.

And if Riverside's done some of the work already though, they've maybe had some studies done on what's possible if we could rather than reinventing the wheel, copy and paste out of their playbook. No, absolutely. I think one of the questions that council member Bailey had is, is the city council even interested in looking at activating that space and connecting um via the water to other communities? Sounds like there's interest as long as we don't have to pay a bunch of money for it. Does that sum it up? I don't want to pay any money for it. Zero money. Okay.

Yeah. And and that includes time, you know. I don't I mean if it I don't I don't think that the city should be in the business of getting involved in this spot as a marina if you want to look at it and potentially looking at parkland or or something else. But um I think that there are just too many giant financial and uh and and physical risks to the city being involved in setting up a marina. If there is a again completely private group wants to come and do this where the city is not spending any of our any of our money and that includes staff time investigating this then by all means please come. That's my own personal take on it.

Council member Saber.

Uh I tend to agree with having a full-scale marina is an expensive and long-term commitment not only for a private company for any city involvement that might be there. Uh but a landing might be a a more amenable solution to this problem. You have a place that boers can stop off at along the river. [snorts] Again, we've got all these other problems and I'd be willing to have the city expend some time, not much, and using existing contacts, telephone calls, and take it that far. I think that's where I'm at as well. Uh don't spend wheels a whole lot, but a little bit of time, a couple phone calls, and then let council member Bailey run with that on his own time. Uh and if you can find partners and grants, bring them bring them forward. Council member Alvarez.

Yeah, I just agree what Councilman Saber said. Maybe, like I said before, a landing or a launch pad area where we had a water rescue. Maybe we'd want to get into the river on this side. Um, but other than that, I agree with Councilman Grone. I I other than a private business, I really wouldn't want to spend any time or money on it. Even though I think, you know, it's a fun idea. It's fun going down the river, but I just don't think it's a recreational spot. So, further comments? Got the guidance you're looking for? All right. Moving on to item 10,

consideration of a resolution updating open meetings and public records policy. Resolution number 26-00001. Who's got this one? That's me. All right.

So, I'm just I've talked to you guys about it already. There have been some changes in the statutes on the open meetings and the open records request and the charges that we can have and the the reasons that you can go into close session or that records can be closed. And so this resolution lays out in much more of a detailed and easier to follow um scenario of how we charge. Um I am saying with this resolution, I would like to say that this changes how things have been in the past and I'd like to go forward with this one with the charges of how they're supposed to be. It it it changes the amount that we can charge and all of that took place in the state statute. We haven't updated this since 2011. So, a lot of changes have taken place since then.

If you have detailed questions, you can ask Tom. Yeah. Any detailed questions for Mr. Barzee? Go ahead, Council Member Ramirez. Yeah. On there's one part um on number two uh when it's outlined in the uh the requirements. On number two, it said the second bullet point, it said the city must respond within three business days providing records, cost estimate, etc. Does that mean the city must respond within 3 days providing the record or just answering that you received the request?

Yeah, the law states that we have three days to respond. And at that response, I'm I need to be able to tell them approximately what the cost would be, how long it's going to take for us to get the information for them, the reason it's, you know, it's going to take as long as it does. So that's that's all written out in state statute that we have to do that. Okay. I that's what I thought, but the way it was worded, it was kind of like it led to believe that you had three days to provide these things. And I'm like, that's not just to respond to him and let him know I've gotten it. Okay. That's what I thought. Just checking.

Council member Saber. Uh the sunshine law is a very good check on all kinds of public entities and it and it provides information for people and I don't have any problem with the changes that are being proposed. The only question I have is uh why the while the sunshine law let sunshine in it can be blocked if you charge too much for it and it becomes and I don't know what the state charges would be or permitted rather. Can you give us a rundown?

Okay. Um it allows for the cost of of the salary of the person that is pulling the records. Now, it also states in there that it should be the lowest cost of the person who can do the the job. So, like if I can do it and somebody else can do it and they make less than I do, then then it should be charged at at that. Okay. Um but otherwise it it used to be it didn't have but now we can charge um whatever the salary is of the person that's actually pulling the records.

How much of a change would that be? Um, in the past we've charged I think the maximum we charged was 15 an hour and so it's you know I don't know I'm sorry I don't know what I make an hour [laughter] but I mean it it'll be we double triple oh I would say it'll probably at least double um but I don't think the goal to this is to keep anybody from being able to get the records but I do think the goal is is that a lot of things come in that take a whole lot of staff time

and um and you can ask you know ask for the clarity as much as you can. I do if somebody sends one in that I think is like unclear or if they're asking for too much, I will always call and say to them, you know, why don't we shorten this up? Give me exactly what you want. Because sometimes people say, I want all the minutes from 2025. And they really don't. They want the minutes that talked about this and then it's a much easier process.

Okay. The only the only issue I would have is that to keep it the cost from being such a burden to people that it defeats the purpose of the sunshine laws and if a reasonable amount can be come up you can come up with a reasonable amount and using lower cost employees at that rate I'm I support it.

Further thoughts or comments? Uh part of what I see in this is that it would um disincentivize overly broad or um just extremely large requests that are not particularly targeted a specific item. Um and that can become a big burden on Crystal's time because I I spend time in the office often times Crystal is working on these and having to push other stuff aside and and that costs like there is a real cost to that. Um, and some of it has to be Stephen has to be pulling electronic records. Crystal has to be looking through copies of uh physical documents. So, it's not a a zero cost to the city either. Uh, and so that's that's a fair compensation to for us to be pulling those records. Now, we should we should put the records out um and they should be accessible to the public, but it's it's not free. Uh, and so this is finding the fair balance point and I think this does a good job of striking that.

Go ahead. The only other comment I would hope that we would as a matter of principle uh even if it we are losing money in a sense keep the cost as low as possible so that again a reasonable balance can be struck. Yeah. We're certainly not making money on the request and we shouldn't. Yeah. It's not it's not a it's a part of uh civic government. Yep. To make us as transparent as possible. Yep. Further thoughts? Okay. Do we need We need a motion on this one. Okay. Do we have a motion on item 10? So moved. Second. All in favor? Yes.

Yes. Any opposed? Motion passes. Do you have a res? Do you have to read that? No, it's a resolution. Okay, that's what I thought. Uh, okay. Moving on to item 11. Consideration of an ordinance approving accounts due and payable by the city through January 2nd, 2026. Bill number 7961, ordinance number 9758. Do we have a motion? First reading. Second. All in favor? Yes. Yes.

Any [snorts] opposed? Motion passes. An ordinance authorizing payment for certain accounts due to impayable by the city through January 2nd, 2026. I move that bill number 7961 to be placed on second and final reading and passes as ordinance number 9758. Second. Call the role. Council member Alvarez, yes. Council member Clark, yes. Council member Selenus, yes. Council member Saper, yes. Council member Bailey, yes. Council member Mcgrron. Yes. An ordinance authorizing payment for certain accounts due and payable by the city through January 2nd, 2026.

Staff comments. I believe there's only one comment tonight um from me. Um I just a couple meetings ago, last meeting or the previous meeting, the question was asked about the fiber our fiber uh infrastructure audit. Um wanted to let council know I did receive the task order. Olsson um got it over. It wasn't in time for the agenda. Um so, but we did get it. So, um just wanted to let let you know and we'll get that on the next agenda unless I don't know if there's a method of approving it ahead of time, but what's the dollar amount on it? Uh 250,000.

250,00 it's like a master plan. Um they did uh they've got a time frame of July 31st knowing that that with our current agreement with NOXIX we have to make some sort of determination a year give some sort of notice a year prior to the end of the agreement which is September of 27 is the end. So September of this year. Um so Olsen um set [clears throat] it up in a way that we have at least a month prior [snorts] to to having to make some sort of notice and we'll get updates as we go through it as well. Um but that's that was the urgency in this.

So there's no harm in waiting a couple weeks to get it kicked off or is that going to delay the process? Uh, it might push it back to mid August. In theory, they give a a thumbs up, thumbs down to get it started. You're the legal counselor. You're kind of looking at me, Mr. Mayor. Yeah, it it was not on the council agenda as an item, and in fairness, there could be a member of the public that would want to come and speak on this topic in some way. So, um I'd prefer to have it put off for those two weeks. That's fine. We'll hold it off till the next agenda. 20th. All right. And if uh if we don't get it done in time, we'll blame Tom.

No. Perfect. Uh okay. Any further staff comments? None.

Chiefs, anything? No. Good. All right. Moving on to council member comments. Starting with council member Alvarez. make it kind of quick. Um, thank you to True 1354 for coming leading our pledge of allegiance. Great job. Um, also uh want to say Rita Pierce, thank you for coming tonight and giving us an update on all the background and information that you gave us. Also, congratulations on this going into your 19th year. That's awesome. So, and thank you again for everything that you do. Um, also to the um is it Mr. Greg Deamp I believe that came? He's already gone. But anyway, um I'm glad it worked out that we got shemakas because it's a great place to go. So I'm glad the building's worked out um in our favor. I'm glad he's been here in the city for quite a while and happy and doing well with the business. So um other than that, that's it. Thank you,

Council Member Clark. I just want to point out Linda's drinking apparatus tonight. Just give a shout out to Tiny Tiny Drink's amazing. Um, now I want one. Um, yeah, stay hydrated, everyone. Um, River Forest Park is coming along, you guys. It's so exciting. Uh, I did let the kids run over just to check it out. My daughter still hadn't even checked out that there was a full playground there. It is not open. But we did uh we did make sure everything was in working order. I'll just say that [laughter] um briefly and we got stopped. Uh it was a whole scene. So that was me, guys. The cameras. That was me. No, there's no cameras. Maybe there's cameras. Um we do have residents that are maybe dumping some trash. Uh so just kind of putting it out there to the to to the world of North Kansas City. Don't dump trash by the park. Uh even if there is a dumpster right there, especially if you're missing the dumpster. that just feels like a slap in the face. Um, but other than that, everything everything's moving along nicely. The hill that was there that you thought you could sled down this wintry winter uh doesn't exist anymore. It's that big that big uh dirt hill, it's gone. So, I feel like everything's progressing and we're going to find out more in tomorrow's meeting and then the meeting after that meeting. So, that's it for me. Council member Selenus.

Uh, I just wanted to say thank you also to all our guest speakers and our troops that came in. Um, and um, thank you for bringing that up, Tom. It sounds fun, looks fun, but we still have a lot of questions and concerns. So, looking forward to what's next. Um, and then, um, glad that this passed for you, Crystal, and all the work that you do. Um, I know it's already overwhelming. Um, but that's it. And happy new year, council member Sabre.

Uh, it's a week late, almost a week late, but happy new year again to all. And I have a question. I recently read that Kansas City has a new towing ordinance. And my question is, have we had any problems, Chief? Are you talking about specifically like predatory towing? Exactly. No, we haven't had any problems. We've had a couple issues that have been quickly resolved. But then none of the predatory towing issues that the Kansas City ordinance was correct dealing with. Okay. Thank you. Yes. No. That's it. Council member Bailey. No comments tonight.

Dr. McGro, I don't have anything either. Um, happy new year.

All right, that brings it around to me. Happy new year, everybody. Uh for the new year, we have passed out calendars and we've also retracted those calendars. Um there were a number of uh small errors and May might or might not have had a different number of days. Um so we will be reprinting and issuing a fresh set of calendars. So if you have them, keep them for posterity. Um don't use them for the month of May and then keep an eye out for the new ones. Uh candidates uh running for city council, I appreciate everyone who's put their names in. We have two races. We have a race in ward one and we have a race in ward four. The other two, congrats. Thanks for sticking with us a little while longer. Uh and then finally, happy birthday to Council Member Clark.

Hey. All right. There you are. Very good. [laughter] Very good. With that, we will move to item 15. Oh, you got one one more thing. No. All right. Go. Sorry, this is late. Um, I just wanted to say congratulations to Major Baggley, who will be tying this Friday after I can't remember how many years, but how many years? Years. Call him out.

Uh, I'm going to say 35. Probably wrong, maybe 36, [snorts] but Officer Jim Ham is also retiring on Thursday after 30 years. So, couple big big accomplishments in retirement. So, good for both of those guys. And I believe Chris is also uh on is it Thursday? Th Okay, very good. Anybody else leaving us? Okay, good. Sorry, I just wanted to say sorry, didn't mean to look right at you. Uh, [laughter] okay. Uh item 15,

consideration of a request to hold in recess into an executive session is requested by the city administrator to be held on this day pursuant to Missouri revised statutes section 610.0212 real estate matters. Real estate. Real estate. Yeah, we're striking the litigation one. We don't we don't need it tonight. So move. Second. Call the role. Council member Alvarez. Yes. Council member Clark, yes. Council member Selenus, yes. Council member Saper, yes. Council member Bailey, yes. Council member Mcgone, yes.

All right, with that, the feed will cut off. Thank you for tuning in. I don't have the language here for the rest of this. So, uh, good night everybody.