[0:20] [music]

[0:32] [music]

[0:40] » Meaning if you will stand with me, I will lead us in the Pledge of

[0:43] Allegiance.

[0:51] » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the

[0:56] republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[1:02] justice for all. >> Thank you. You can be seated.

[1:10] So I'm actually going to be reopening the open meeting cuz we had opened it

[1:14] previously and went into closed session. So I'm going to call the open meeting

[1:18] back to order. First item on the agenda is confirmation of a quorum.

[1:24] » Council member Caylor. >> Present.

[1:26] » Folan. >> Present.

[1:27] » Rummel. >> Present.

[1:29] » Erickson. >> Present.

[1:30] » Markworth. >> Present.

[1:31] » Rowan. >> Present.

[1:32] » Mayor Lovelace. >> Here.

[1:33] » We have a quorum. >> Next item is the consent agenda. Do I

[1:37] have a motion to approve? >> So moved.

[1:41] » Is there a second? >> Second.

[1:43] » Is there any discussion? >> Yes, sir.

[1:45] » Yeah, Council member Erickson. >> Item E as in echo.

[1:51] I'm just really happy that we're doing the sign on Main Street and 7 Highway.

[1:55] In 2019, when I ran for City Council. That was one of my major objectives and

[2:01] I didn't have anything to do with it without all of you guys, but I'm really

[2:04] happy that that's happening. >> Yes, Council member. Actually, we have

[2:08] in the audience Ms. Kim Compton, who is the owner of the property at 7th and

[2:12] Main, and just want to thank her for her participation.

[2:17] Give her a round of applause. I think that's worth it.

[2:19] This has been a great example of a public-private partnership working well.

[2:24] I think this project probably didn't go as fast as she wanted, but she stuck

[2:28] with us and yes, I think at least the '08 Downtown Master Plan, probably going

[2:32] back to the priority '90s plan or the Downtown Master Plan before that,

[2:37] there's been a desire to have a downtown monument right at 7th and Main,

[2:43] and so this allows us to do that because of

[2:46] the participation of the 7th and Main property and Ms. Compton. excited to get

[2:50] this done across the finish line. The CID board voted to contribute to some

[2:54] funds to this as well, and so it's going to be a pretty big opportunity for us to

[2:58] make that happen. So, good good comment, Council member

[3:01] Erickson. Any other discussion on the consent

[3:03] agenda? Okay, with that, then roll call.

[3:09] » Council member Caylor.

[3:12] » Aye. >> Dolan.

[3:13] » Aye. >> Rummel.

[3:14] » Aye. >> Erickson.

[3:15] » Aye. >> Markwardt.

[3:16] » Aye. >> Rowan.

[3:17] » Aye. >> Mayor Levesque.

[3:18] » Aye. >> Motion carries.

[3:21] » Next, item four was withdrawn by the applicant, so we'll go to the public

[3:26] hearing of the annual budget. And I see Ms. Cates over there ready to

[3:31] go. Do you have any items to read? Okay, City Clerk has some exhibits to read for

[3:35] the record. >> Mayor, the city has one exhibit to enter

[3:37] into the record, City Council Information Form dated August 19th, 2026

[3:41] with the following attachments: Budget in Brief, Notice of Public Hearing, and

[3:44] Bill Adopting the 2026-27 Budget. This is all we have to enter for the record.

[3:48] » Okay, Ms. Cates, I I have to swear you in cuz it's a public hearing, so if

[3:52] you'll raise your right hand, do swear the testimony you're about to give in

[3:54] this case be the truth, so help you God? >> I do.

[3:57] » Then give us your name and address for the record, and is that mic on? You

[4:00] might get close to it. >> Is that better?

[4:02] » Yep. >> Yeah, okay.

[4:03] Christine Kates, 903 West Main Street, Lee's Summit, Missouri 64015.

[4:08] Good evening, uh Mayor and members of the Council. Um we'll give a abbreviated

[4:13] budget in brief um from the presentation we provided at the budget work session

[4:17] on August 13th. Um most notably, I will mention a couple of times in this um

[4:23] presentation that our total budget number has changed. Um during our final

[4:28] review of the budget, we realized that we had not included the debt service for

[4:31] the public safety sales tax fund. So, that's one number, almost 1.4 million

[4:35] dollars, that was added to the total, which brings our overall total of the

[4:39] budget um 1.4 million dollars higher. Uh the proposed budget is for um fiscal

[4:46] year '26-'27 and runs from October 1st through September 30th, 2027. We'll take

[4:52] a look at three things in this budget in brief. Uh we'll look at high level at

[4:56] the numbers, where the money come from where the money comes from and where it

[4:59] goes, um how the budget ties to the city strategic plan, and then also the

[5:04] capital improvement program that was approved by the Council in July.

[5:08] Uh you will notice the budget reflects two specific things this year that is

[5:12] different from previous years' budget. Uh first, this um budget was balanced by

[5:17] our team without cutting services this year. The departments individually

[5:20] submitted their budgets and identified areas where reductions could be made if

[5:24] there was a general fund gap to close. At the beginning of the budget process,

[5:29] when we put all the numbers together, we had a gap of 1.6 million dollars,

[5:33] and that was closed by including vacancy allowances in the personnel budget where

[5:37] it made the most sense and taking the department recommendations for further

[5:40] reductions. Uh the other thing you'll notice in this

[5:43] budget is that the budgets have been rebuilt. They are um ADA accessible,

[5:48] which means the budget document gets is longer now, but it's easier to read and

[5:52] for people that have disabilities, it makes it accessible for them.

[5:55] And we also rebuilt the entire budget to incorporate the strategic plan

[5:59] throughout the budget document. So, all of the capital improvement program and

[6:03] then all of the departments tie all of their goals and objectives back to the

[6:06] strategic plan. The total proposed budget Oh, this has

[6:11] the old one. I'm sorry. This is not

[6:16] the current budget. Well, I will I Everything is right on this page except

[6:20] the total budget number.

[6:24] Um in your documents, you will see for the approval and for the ordinance, the

[6:27] total proposed budget is 1 136.3 million, which is at 20% over the

[6:32] adopted fiscal year 25-26 budget. That total now from this number includes the

[6:37] addition of that I mentioned of the public safety sales tax fund debt

[6:41] service. The only debt service that we currently pay out of the

[6:45] uh public safety sales tax is on this building. Uh when the tax was approved,

[6:50] the debt service included both um funding for the payment of the radio

[6:54] system as well as this building. And now we are just making um the payments on

[6:58] this building. The capital improvements and capital outlay total 55.8 million

[7:03] covering streets, parks, utilities, and public safety.

[7:07] Full-time positions equals 343.13, a net increase of three positions. These

[7:13] three positions are all real-time crime center

[7:16] operators for the drone first responder program.

[7:19] Two of those positions are currently filled and then the new position becomes

[7:22] effective on October 1st. This is the build-out of the the capability we've

[7:27] been working toward, which is also um in the strategic plan.

[7:31] On reserves, the general fund balance must stay at or above 25% of operating

[7:35] expenditures. For 26-27, that requirement is 10.2 million and we meet

[7:40] it. A reminder on the reserve policy, each

[7:43] year 50% of the growth in unassigned fund balance is allocated to the

[7:48] pavement preventive pavement management program. That is how we've been

[7:51] converting our fiscal discipline and savings into additional work on the

[7:55] streets without asking for additional revenue at that point.

[8:01] Total projected revenues are 136.3 million. The number that will change on

[8:06] this related to the public safety sales tax payment is the

[8:10] use of cash use of cash reserves. From 6.9 million that number goes up to 8.3

[8:16] million. The correct budget and brief is included in your packet.

[8:21] Utility service fees are the single largest source of revenue at roughly 25

[8:26] million followed by city sales tax at 11.3.

[8:29] Revenues are up in nearly every category. The largest increases are

[8:33] taxes at 1.32% or 648,000.

[8:38] Charges for services at just under 6% and fines and forfeits at 18% which is

[8:42] about 121,000. Licenses and permits are the only

[8:47] category projected to decline and only slightly.

[8:50] That is a development activity we are watching. It's not a red flag but

[8:54] we monitor building permits to anticipate what may

[8:58] be changing in the economy. We will also be closely watching

[9:01] interest income as the interest rate environment changes and we spend down

[9:04] cash reserves and bond proceeds. So with less money invested we earn less money

[9:09] on interest income. At the next council meeting we will set

[9:13] the 2026 property tax levy. We do not have the final adjustments

[9:18] related to the 2023 Board of Equalization hearings which are

[9:24] what the county is using to base their property tax credits on.

[9:28] So there may be an opportunity in the future for a property tax recoupment but

[9:33] we do not have those numbers and cannot consider that yet at the next

[9:38] council meeting. So, once those numbers are known, we'll be able to have

[9:41] discussions about a recruitment in a future year.

[9:47] So, that is an area we did not anticipate or

[9:50] plan for reductions in the budget is on the property tax credit since we don't

[9:54] know the numbers yet. So, we'll monitor that closely as the

[9:58] tax bills go out in November. We will watch and see how the revenues come in.

[10:01] Our revenues for property taxes come in pretty steadily from the end of December

[10:06] through February. And so, we'll be able to get the final numbers of the tax

[10:10] credits and then be able to anticipate how they might impact our budget next

[10:13] year. We will likely recommend the use of

[10:19] unassigned fund balance next year to maintain our operating budget if the tax

[10:25] credits impact our overall budget of revenue for property tax. And so, we

[10:29] will keep you updated as that comes through so that we can [cough] make the

[10:32] [clears throat] necessary and anticipated adjustments.

[10:37] Total budgeted expenditures match resources at 136.3

[10:41] again with the inclusion of the 1.4 million dollars for public safety sales

[10:46] sales tax debt service. The three largest categories are capital

[10:49] improvements, debt service, and public safety.

[10:53] But the category of you is not the useful you is not the most useful view

[10:58] and that is the change we made this year. We have mapped operating

[11:01] expenditures to the strategic priorities that you adopted in the strategic plan.

[11:05] You can see that on the right of this slide. When we take the entire budget

[11:09] and break it down by strategic category area, you can see 9.6 million for

[11:15] balanced growth, 620,000 for community identity,

[11:19] infrastructure is the 90 97.5 million plus the 1.4 for the for the debt

[11:24] service, 22.4 million for community safety and well-being, 4.8 million for

[11:29] organizational health for a total budget of 136.3 million.

[11:39] Capital improvements, um as mentioned, is 55.8 million. Parks is the largest

[11:43] category at 36.1, driven primarily by Southwest Park construction, which was

[11:49] originally scheduled for completion in December 2028, and will likely now be at

[11:54] full completion in 2029, but construction will start um in 20 uh 7

[12:00] and with most of it being complete in 28. Um on November 10th, we have planned

[12:05] on your calendar an update from the Parks Master Plan that will also include

[12:10] um a detailed update on this project as as well as Central Park, what's planned

[12:14] for Central Park next year, and um our status update on the Adams Pointe

[12:19] Conference Center.

[12:21] In addition, um we The other projects that we have working on, as you know, is

[12:25] the Downtown Streetscape, the Snia Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant

[12:29] improvements, uh double highway AA improvements um

[12:34] that we have a grant from Mark and um MoDOT on. That work is ongoing through

[12:40] 2027, but construction won't begin until 2028 once we have all the environmental

[12:45] studies completed. Uh Wyatt Road East construction, the

[12:49] public port public works facility renovation and expansion, Southwest

[12:53] Park, uh continuation of the preventive pavement management program, and ongoing

[12:58] water and sewer maintenance. We have a full project list and cost detail in the

[13:02] capital improvements program section of our budget.

[13:07] This is a slide that we use when we often discuss um with residents how the

[13:12] uh property taxes and sales taxes that they pay, how they are distributed. Uh

[13:16] this The number for property tax currently on the slide is the 2025

[13:20] property tax. Once the um levy is adopted, we will update this.

[13:24] And then the sales tax um graph will have no changes.

[13:30] This page is a summary of estimated fund positions across all of our fund all of

[13:35] the funds for the year. Um across all funds, we begin the year

[13:38] at $105.6 million and end at 97.3.

[13:43] Uh that um is a planned decrease and it represents the use of cash reserves.

[13:49] The general fund ends the the year essentially flat at 16.8 18 million,

[13:54] which is well above the 10.2 million reserve requirement.

[13:59] Three funds are worth pointing out. Park sales tax shows 37.8 million in revenues

[14:03] against a small beginning balance. That's related to the fact that we will

[14:07] be issuing bonds in the next fiscal year to complete the construction of the

[14:10] park. Sewer utility ends the year at 27.6,

[14:14] some of which will be used to finalize the plans for the Snohomish River plant

[14:17] and start construction. Public safety ends at 9.9.

[14:22] Um that fund now carries the 1.4 million

[14:26] dollars in debt service not reflected earlier.

[14:28] And if there's any questions about any specific um funds, we can walk through

[14:32] those individually.

[14:36] » Go on. Go on. Could you repeat, maybe just for

[14:39] the public, the difference between the 136.

[14:43] 3 million and and the lower figure, what was that attributed to?

[14:47] » Yeah, when we did the final review of our budget after the budget work

[14:50] session, we identified that the debt service for the public safety building

[14:54] it and the public safety sales tax fund was not included. So, we had time to

[14:58] adjust it and put the correct number in, in which increased the budget by 1.4

[15:01] million. >> Thank you.

[15:02] » You're welcome.

[15:05] Uh this is a balanced budget that maintains service levels, fund reserves

[15:09] at 10.2, and puts 36.1 million into park improvements, our largest capital

[15:14] category this year. Uh the departments um I thank them again

[15:18] each time we can with the the um the budget process. Um we all work together

[15:22] to find solutions so that we're not looking at layoffs or reducing services

[15:27] to maintain our budget. Um throughout my tenure here, that's not always been the

[15:31] case. So, when we have a year when we can pull it together without having to

[15:34] make big changes and still be able to

[15:36] accomplish everything that we have in next year, we're very pleased with that.

[15:40] Um we'll continue to monitor the property tax credits. I think that's the

[15:44] biggest unknown that will impact our budget this year.

[15:47] And we're available for any questions and

[15:50] about the budget. >> Any questions for Ms. Gate from the

[15:53] council?

[15:56] Okay. This is a public hearing, so I will go to the audience. Does anyone in

[16:02] the audience like to speak in support of in support of?

[16:06] Anyone speak in opposition to? Okay. Any comments from the council

[16:11] while we're still in public hearing? I'm going to go ahead I'll add my

[16:16] comments now rather than waiting for a discussion. I just want to again thank

[16:19] staff for putting the budget together. I see Ms. Lowry in the back there and

[16:24] thank you for all your hard work. I think we've talked about a lot. A

[16:27] budget is not just a financial document, it's a policy document. And as Ms.

[16:32] Gate's pointed out, I appreciate we attaching those to the strategic plan

[16:36] because this budget is heavily focused on infrastructure, which is what we hear

[16:41] from the residents. Not only street maintenance, but keeping up maintenance

[16:44] of our existing facilities, keeping up maintenance of our utilities, and so a

[16:48] heavy focus on that. Heavy focus on public safety and keeping residents

[16:52] safe. And really, I think especially in the last few years, this council has

[16:56] really started to show results and making sure that we're doing what the

[17:00] public says we want them to do. And I think this budget reflects that again.

[17:03] So, I want to thank everybody again for their putting that together. Uh with

[17:07] that, if no other comments, then I will close the public hearing.

[17:11] This is first reading only, so I just need a motion to approve on first

[17:15] reading. >> I'll move.

[17:20] » Do I need any more than that or is that good enough?

[17:22] Okay, I need an introduction first. So, Council Member Kaleb, would you like to

[17:26] introduce? >> Yes, Your Honor.

[17:28] » It's not just a resolution, it's just first reading. So, okay, I have an

[17:31] introduction from Council Member Kaleb. >> First reading of Bill 5426, an ordinance

[17:36] approving, adopting, and appropriating the annual operating and capital budgets

[17:39] of the City of Blue Springs, Missouri for the fiscal year October 1, 2026 to

[17:43] September 30th, 2027. >> Your Honor, I move to approve on the

[17:46] first reading. >> Okay, I have first reading only. Do I

[17:50] have a second? >> Second.

[17:52] » Is there any discussion on first reading?

[17:56] Okay, then this is a voice vote. All in favor, I.

[17:59] Any opposed, no. Motion carries.

[18:04] Okay, I don't have any speaker appearance forms on the public comments

[18:07] for the following ordinances. So, next item on the agenda is item eight,

[18:11] introduction and reading of Bill 5427, amending the code of ordinances

[18:15] regarding offenses. >> I'll introduce it.

[18:18] » First reading of Bill 5427, an ordinance amending Chapter 220 Offenses of the

[18:22] Code of Ordinances, City of Blue Springs, Missouri regarding unlawful

[18:25] transactions with a child, unlawfully gaining entry into a motor vehicle, and

[18:29] interference with first responders. >> Your Honor, I move to approve on the

[18:33] first reading and proceed to the second. >> Is there a second?

[18:36] » Second. >> Any discussion?

[18:39] I'll just add for the purposes of the public, uh this item here, this bill,

[18:43] and the following four are all just uh updating our code to be reflective of

[18:48] state law, either updated state law or federal law, Supreme Court uh rulings.

[18:54] And so, we're just codifying these to make our code of ordinances

[18:58] um apply to existing state law. So, there's no other discussion. All in

[19:02] favor, I. Any opposed, no. Motion carries, second

[19:06] reading. >> Second reading of Bill 5427, an

[19:09] ordinance amending Chapter 220 Offenses of the Code of ordinances City of Blue

[19:12] Springs, Missouri regarding unlawful transactions with a child, unlawfully

[19:16] gaining entry into a motor vehicle, and interference with first responders.

[19:20] » Your Honor, I move to approve the second reading and sign the appropriate

[19:23] ordinance number. >> Is there a second?

[19:24] » Second. >> Any further discussion?

[19:27] Roll call. >> Councilmember Tholen.

[19:29] » Aye. >> Brummel.

[19:30] » Aye. >> Erickson.

[19:31] » Aye. >> Markwort.

[19:32] » Aye. >> Rowen.

[19:33] » Aye. >> Kaler.

[19:34] » Aye. >> Mayor Lovelace.

[19:35] » Aye. >> Motion carries and given ordinance

[19:36] number 5519. >> Next is item nine.

[19:40] » Introduction and reading of bill 5428 amending the code of ordinances related

[19:43] to panhandling and handbills. >> Your Honor,

[19:46] » I want to introduce it. >> First reading of bill 5428 an ordinance

[19:50] amending chapter 220 offenses of the code of ordinances City of Blue Springs,

[19:53] Missouri regarding panhandling and distribution of handbills.

[19:56] » Your Honor, I move to approve on the first reading and proceed to the second.

[19:59] » a second? >> Second.

[20:00] » Any discussion? All in favor, aye. >> Aye.

[20:03] » Any opposed, no. Motion carries second reading.

[20:06] » Second reading of bill 5428 an ordinance amending chapter 220 offenses of the

[20:10] code of ordinances City of Blue Springs, Missouri regarding panhandling and

[20:13] distribution of handbills. >> Your Honor, I move to approve the second

[20:16] reading and assign the appropriate ordinance number.

[20:18] » Is there a second? >> Second.

[20:19] » Any further discussion? Roll call.

[20:22] » Councilmember Brummel. >> Aye.

[20:23] » Erickson. >> Aye.

[20:24] » Markwort. >> Aye.

[20:25] » Rowen. >> Aye.

[20:26] » Kaler. >> Aye.

[20:27] » Tholen. >> Aye.

[20:28] » Mayor Lovelace. >> Aye.

[20:30] » Motion carries and given ordinance number 5520.

[20:33] » Next is item 10, introduction and reading of bill 5429 amending the code

[20:36] of ordinances related to authorized emergency vehicles.

[20:40] » Your Honor, I'll introduce it. >> First reading of bill 5429 an ordinance

[20:45] amending section 310.070 of the code of ordinances City of Blue

[20:49] Springs, Missouri regarding approach of authorized emergency vehicles.

[20:53] » Your Honor, I move to approve on the first reading and proceed to the second.

[20:56] » Is there a second? >> Second.

[20:57] » Any discussion? All in favor, aye. Any opposed, no. Motion carries second

[21:03] » Second reading of bill 5429 an ordinance amending section 310.070

[21:07] of the code of ordinances, city of Blue Springs, Missouri, regarding approach of

[21:10] authorized emergency vehicles. >> Your honor, I move to approve the second

[21:14] reading and apply it the appropriate ordinance number. Is there a second?

[21:18] » Second. >> Any further discussion? Roll call.

[21:21] » Councilmember Erickson. >> Aye.

[21:22] » Markworth. >> Aye.

[21:23] » Rowan. >> Aye.

[21:24] » Kaler. >> Aye.

[21:25] » Bolin. >> Aye.

[21:26] » Rummel. >> Aye.

[21:27] » Mayor Lovell say. >> Aye.

[21:28] » Motion carries and given ordinance number 5521.

[21:31] » Next is item 11, introduction of arena bill 5430,

[21:35] uh many code of ordinances related to stunt driving.

[21:38] » I'll introduce it, your honor. >> First reading bill 5430, an ordinance

[21:42] amending chapter 340 miscellaneous driving rules of the code of ordinances,

[21:46] city of Blue Springs, Missouri, regarding stunt driving.

[21:49] » Your honor, I move to approve on the first reading and proceed to the second.

[21:52] » a second? >> Second.

[21:53] » Any discussion? All in favor, aye.

[21:56] » Aye. >> Any opposed, no. Motion carries, second

[21:58] reading. >> Second reading bill 5430, an ordinance

[22:01] amending chapter 340 miscellaneous driving rules of the code of ordinances,

[22:04] city of Blue Springs, Missouri, regarding stunt driving.

[22:07] » Your honor, I move to approve the second reading and assign the appropriate

[22:10] ordinance number. >> Is there a second?

[22:12] » Second. >> Any further discussion? Roll call.

[22:15] » Councilmember Markworth. >> Aye.

[22:16] » Rowan. >> Aye.

[22:17] » Kaler. >> Aye.

[22:19] » Bolin. >> Aye.

[22:19] » Rummel. >> Aye.

[22:20] » Erickson. >> Aye.

[22:21] » Mayor Lovell say. >> Aye.

[22:22] » Motion carries and given ordinance number 5522.

[22:25] » Next is item 12, introduction of arena bill 5431, approving an

[22:29] intergovernmental agreement with Jackson County.

[22:32] » I'll introduce it. >> First reading bill 5431, an ordinance

[22:36] approving an intergovernmental agreement between the city of Blue Springs and

[22:38] Jackson County for 2026 infrastructure grant funding for Central Park

[22:42] improvements. >> Your honor, I move to approve on the

[22:44] first reading and proceed to the second. >> Is there a second?

[22:47] » Second. >> Any discussion?

[22:49] » Yes, your honor. >> Councilmember Erickson.

[22:51] » I would like to just for the public again, because I'm excited about this.

[22:55] Could someone tell us the amount of money and what we're going to use it

[22:58] for? For Central Park.

[23:00] » I know, but staff, why don't you do it so I get it right?

[23:03] » Yeah, this payment is from Jackson County for $250,000

[23:06] and we are going to use it along with some CD CDBG funding this year to create

[23:11] the gathering space at Central Park. >> And then this is a part of the ARPA

[23:15] funding that the county had left over, yeah.

[23:18] » Thank you and that's nice. >> Yeah,

[23:20] exciting to continue to make progress on Central Park and add to the downtown

[23:24] amenities. Okay, what are we on? First reading?

[23:28] Any other discussion? All in favor, I.

[23:31] » I. >> Any opposed, no. Motion carried, second

[23:34] reading. >> Second reading of bill 5431, an

[23:36] ordinance approving an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Blue

[23:39] Springs and Jackson County for 2026 infrastructure grant funding for Central

[23:42] Park improvements. >> Your honor, I move we approve the second

[23:46] reading and assign the appropriate ordinance number.

[23:48] » Is there a second? >> Second.

[23:50] » Is there any discussion? Okay, roll call.

[23:54] » Councilmember Rowan. >> I.

[23:56] » Kaylor. >> I.

[23:57] » Pholen. >> I.

[23:58] » Rumble. >> I.

[23:59] » Erickson. >> I.

[24:00] » Markword. >> I.

[24:01] » Mayor Lovell-Say. >> I.

[24:02] » Motion carries and given ordinance number 5523.

[24:05] » Next is item 13, introduction and readings of bill 5432 accepting a cross

[24:09] access easement with America's Community Bank, downtown Blue Springs.

[24:13] Just add them in there. >> I'll introduce it, your honor.

[24:17] » First reading of bill 5432, an ordinance accepting cross access easement between

[24:21] America's Community Bank and the City of Blue Springs.

[24:23] » Your honor, I move to approve on the first reading and proceed to the second.

[24:26] » Is there a second? >> Second.

[24:28] » Is there any discussion? >> Yes, sir.

[24:29] » Councilmember Erickson. >> Could staff please say for the public

[24:33] why this is so nice? Please.

[24:38] » Oh. Our director of strategic initiatives.

[24:41] » Hello. Uh yes, so this is a cross access

[24:45] agreement uh with America's Community Bank. Um currently the city and

[24:49] America's Community Bank share what we call the Smith Street parking lot, which

[24:53] is in front of the public safety building.

[24:55] Um so this cross access easement formalizes um I guess you of a shared

[25:00] parking system between the two proper- uh, property owners. Um, but, the next

[25:05] item on the agenda is the approve- uh, the approving of a memorandum of

[25:09] understanding between the city and America's Community Bank for the Smith

[25:14] Street improvements project, where we will be widening, uh, Smith Street to be

[25:17] a two-way street. It's currently a one-way street, uh, and with that, we

[25:21] will reorient the parking lot and create an up-to-code, up-to-MUTCD standard, uh,

[25:27] parking system. >> Your Honor, I I have to compliment

[25:31] George for answering my next question.

[25:35] » [laughter] >> So, thank you very much.

[25:38] » Yes, we are improving parking and access in downtown Blue Springs, again, adding

[25:42] to the downtown amenities. Started off by Ms. Compton at the beginning of the

[25:45] meeting, so. And lots of exciting things happening in downtown Blue Springs, so.

[25:49] Where are we on? Uh, any further discussion on first reading?

[25:53] Okay, all in favor, I. >> I.

[25:55] » I. >> Any opposed, no. Motion carries, second

[25:57] reading. >> Second reading of bill 5432, an

[25:59] ordinance accepting cross-access easement between America's Community

[26:02] Bank and the City of Blue Springs. >> Your Honor, I move we approve the second

[26:06] reading and assign the appropriate ordinance number.

[26:08] » Is there a second? >> Second.

[26:11] » Any further discussion? Roll call.

[26:14] » Council member Kaylor. >> I.

[26:15] » Fallen. >> I.

[26:16] » Rummel. >> I.

[26:17] » Erickson. >> I.

[26:18] » Markworth. >> I.

[26:19] » Rowen. >> I.

[26:20] » Mayor Levesque. >> I.

[26:21] » Motion carries and given ordinance number 5524.

[26:24] » Okay, this one is just a resolution, so I just need a motion to approve the

[26:28] resolution. >> So moved.

[26:31] » Okay, is there a second? >> Second.

[26:33] » We already had some discussion, any uh, discussion added to this?

[26:37] » No. >> Just more excitement happening downtown.

[26:40] This will, uh, add to the project with the streetscape and Central Park, so,

[26:44] uh, just continue to make progress. So, with that, all in favor, I.

[26:48] » I. >> Any opposed?

[26:51] Motion carries. That is all of our business items on the

[26:55] agenda. I do have no speaker appearance forms for tonight's meeting. So, we'll

[26:59] go to council member comments. Any council members have some things to add

[27:02] tonight? Anybody attend any football games?

[27:06] Anything fun? Council member Erickson, what you got?

[27:09] » I went to my least favorite city in Missouri, St. Louis.

[27:12] And um I shouldn't say >> What were you doing there, Council

[27:14] member Erickson? You didn't have to add the

[27:17] » grandson's uh soccer team won the tournament.

[27:20] The uh Nike tournament. They got first place, obviously, to win.

[27:24] They went 4 and 0 and it was fun and hot.

[27:28] » Very exciting. I think both of our football teams had

[27:31] their uh home openers this past Friday night. I know Blue Springs South won.

[27:35] Anybody remember Blue Springs High School if they

[27:38] » They lost in overtime. >> Lost in overtime, okay. So, uh but uh

[27:42] community unity game is this Friday. So, I think South is the home team. So.

[27:48] It'll be exciting. Any other council member comments to

[27:52] add? Okay, I got a few things to add. Uh

[27:57] I I mentioned it at the last council meeting, but yesterday was the final day

[28:02] that the outside part of Blue Surf Bay was open and our splash pad. Uh my

[28:06] family did go out and and join everybody out uh last night. I rode all four water

[28:12] slides just to make sure they were still in good condition headed into the

[28:16] off-season. And so, uh it was exciting. That means I had to climb up that three

[28:21] stories like six times cuz I had to ride it with both kids, of course. So, so

[28:26] » What time What time of day was that? I saw this big guy with his mayor hat on.

[28:29] » Yeah, that was probably that was probably me huffing and puffing going up

[28:32] those stairs a bunch of times. Uh but yes, splash pad and Blue Surf Bay

[28:36] outside is closed, but uh CRCRC is still open for the rest of the season. The

[28:41] indoor natatorium is still open. So, lots of exciting things. There are lots

[28:44] of park events coming up. Uh final thing I want to add, which is on a more

[28:48] serious note, is this Friday is the 25th anniversary of the September 11th

[28:53] attacks. That's one of those similar moments that we all remember where we

[28:57] were, and so just want to make sure have some time to think about that. I don't

[29:02] know if any memorials are happening in the region, but Friday is

[29:06] September 11th, so be sure to commemorate that with your family or how

[29:11] you would like to do that. Those are all the comments I have. I miss anything

[29:15] » council or staff? >> We do not have to go in closed session.

[29:19] We settled all our business previously, so I just need a motion to adjourn.

[29:23] » So moved. >> Is there a second?

[29:25] » Second. >> Any discussion?

[29:28] All in favor, I. >> I.

[29:30] » Any opposed, no. Motion carries. We are adjourned.

City of Blue Springs, City Council Meeting - September 08, 2026

Transcript