[11:53] At this time, I would like to welcome Pastor Day with the first Baptist Church to come forward.

[12:00] Everybody, please stand for the prayer followed by the Pledge and of Allegiance, please.

[12:07] Almighty God, we go before you today, and we thank you for the opportunity to give thanks to those who serve and lead us.

[12:14] We pray, God, also, for your blessing upon them. We thank you for each of our city council leaders and as well as our many several servants that just help provide for us as a community.

[12:23] We pray that you would watch over them, protect them, and guide them that you would direct their every step in decision that they would do what is best for us as a community and also an honoring of you.

[12:33] We thank you for their service and faithfulness and Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

[13:05] Please call the roll.

[13:25] So, if

[13:31] there's no objections, the minutes of the special meeting held July 13th, 26 at 4 o'clock and minutes of the regular meeting held July 2026 at 5 o'clock will be approved.

[13:45] Seeing

[13:49] there's no objections, the minutes are approved.

[13:55] There is a motion to accept agenda as published.

[13:58] So moved.

[13:59] Second.

[14:02] Councilmember Davis made the motion seconded by Councilmember Esslinger to accept the agenda as published.

[14:06] Is there any discussion on the motion?

[14:13] Councilman, please cash your vote at this time.

[14:33] Eight eyes, the motion carries.

[14:40] Now is the time to finalize the consensus agenda that R.A.

[14:45] items to be removed.

[14:46] Yes.

[15:11] Please read items remaining.

[15:17] Number six, council member Randy Schultz nominates, David Mason, 1324 North 25th Street to serve as a member of the tree board for a term expiring August 3rd, 2029. He is replacing Shelley White, whose term has expired. Number seven, council member Randy Schultz nominates, trade forward, 20802 North 39th Terrace to serve as a member of the tree board for a term expiring August 3rd, 2029. He's replacing Betty Latosi Suwen, whose term has expired.

[15:44] Number 8, Council Member Randy Schultz nominates Alicia Carrillo, 1604 L.

[15:51] Wood Street to serve as a member of the tree board for a term expiring August 3rd, 2029.

[15:56] She is replacing Ryan Hildebrand, whose term has expired.

[16:00] Number 9, Council Member Colin Cliven nominates Dominic Debrinkett, 30706 South 31st Street to serve as a member of the Lee and Mark Commission for a term expiring June 25th, 2027.

[16:12] He is filling a vacancy on the board.

[16:13] Number 11, an ordinance to issue a conditional use permit for the property located at 1727 Clifford Street for use as a tola as requested by Katie Graham of Null Trucking.

[16:28] Number 12, an ordinance to issue a conditional use permit for the property located at 1700 Frederick Avenue for use as an auto sales business as requested by Leslie Wheeler of Cornelius Auto Sales LLC.

[16:42] 13, an ordinance authorizing the execution of change order number one and an amendment to the park's sales tax fund with mid-state school equipment code for the purchase and installation of new handrails for fill welch stadium in the amount of $49,737.

[16:59] $14 a resolution authorizing acceptance of the Phase 5 electrical bid package for the domestic

[17:06] blower project at the water protection facility with Garnie construction in the amount of

[17:11] $1,193,846.

[17:16] $15 a resolution authorizing the purchase of two disc flow model, 403-12 close coupled pumps

[17:22] from FTC equipment LLC for use by the water protection division in the amount of $78,160.

[17:29] $60.

[17:31] 16 a resolution authorizing the execution of work order SNY 2601 with Snyder and Associates

[17:37] Inc.

[17:38] For the East Town Force main realignment to Candy Creek in the amount of $115,000.

[17:48] Is there a motion to accept agenda?

[17:52] So moved.

[17:53] Second.

[17:56] Council member Moore made a motion and council member Wilkinson seconded the motion.

[18:00] Is there any discussion on the motion to accept the consent agenda?

[18:09] Council member, please cash your votes at this time.

[18:24] Ayes, the motion carries.

[18:26] We'll now go back and pick up number 10.

[18:34] An ordinance amending division four regulated substances of article six,

[18:37] offenses against public morals of chapter 20,

[18:40] offenses and miscellaneous provisions of the code of ordinances,

[18:43] for the city of St. Joseph by amending section 20-341 to make the distribution and

[18:49] and or possession of Cratum Unlawful and by enacting new sections 20-342 and 20-343 to make the distribution and or possession of 7-0 and type netting unlawful.

[19:08] We have multiple speaker cards for this item.

[19:14] Michael Bollmeyer,

[19:21] please say your name and address for the clerk's record, limit your comments to five minutes and wait until you see the timer to begin speaking.

[19:27] Michael Boehmeier, 201, Stockton Street, St. Joseph, Missouri, 6'4, 5'0, 1.

[19:44] Seven years ago, I was able to get off of hard drugs and stay up of hard drugs in

[19:49] alcohol, with the help of natural leaf credom.

[19:53] I have never experienced negative side effects from taking this plant in moderation,

[19:58] for pain relief and overall wellness in the seven years I have been taking it.

[20:04] It has improved the quality of my life and has helped me becoming overall better human

[20:09] being.

[20:10] I am kindly asking you to consider leaving natural leaf credom legal and strictly regulating

[20:16] it like alcohol and marijuana.

[20:18] I am asking that the responsible citizens who consume natural leaf credom as a wellness supplement

[20:24] not be punished.

[20:25] Thank you for your time.

[20:28] Thank you.

[20:32] I must be your card for Stephen Frizzle.

[20:36] Please state your name and address for the clerk's record.

[20:38] I'll make your comment to five minutes and wait until you see the timer to begin speaking.

[20:42] Stephen, for sale of 3015 Cambridge Street,

[20:50] I am a testifying an opposition to ordinance 185-26 because it bans natural leaf

[20:56] cradum outright and makes a criminal out of any consumer found with it.

[21:00] I should not be criminalized for trying to manage my own physical and mental health.

[21:04] For about 16 years, I have been in and out of doctor's office looking for relief from anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and chronic pain about 10 years ago, I discovered cratum.

[21:15] Back then, it was just plain natural powder, groundly used from the Mitrogena, Speciosa, Plant Nosynthetics, no modification.

[21:23] I researched the pros and cons myself and decided it could help, since then that's all I have ever used.

[21:29] I have had blood work done every year, sometimes twice a year, the whole time.

[21:34] My liver and kidney functions show no degradation at all, and a doctor recently told me I have

[21:38] some of the healthiest kidneys he's seen based off my blood work.

[21:41] Ten years in, the only health issues I've developed are a vitamin D deficiency because I don't

[21:47] get outside enough and a peanut allergy, which element has been very frustrating.

[21:52] You may have heard that the DA recently announced its intent to schedule 7-0,

[21:57] pseudo and endoxyl, NGM-15, and NGM-16.

[22:00] These are synthetic and fully synthetic compounds.

[22:04] NGM-15, NGM-16, and pseudo and endoxyl don't even occur naturally in the plant.

[22:10] They are fundamentally different from natural leaf creatin powder.

[22:14] The DA drew that line and exempted natural leaf.

[22:17] I'm asking this council to draw the same line.

[22:19] Again, I understand the concerns about product authenticity and about the real risk of 7-0 and TNF-10.

[22:28] I share those concerns.

[22:30] But the answer is to abandon what's actually dangerous, the synthetics, not to sweep

[22:38] in the natural leaf product that has done nothing but help me.

[22:41] Cratom lets me sleep, it lets me walk, move, and carry my kids without being in pain.

[22:45] It hasn't clouded my thinking and it hasn't damaged my body, whatever the claims say.

[22:50] I respectfully ask you to amend this ordinance to exempt plain, an adulterated leave-cratum,

[22:56] while still banning 7-0, pseudo-indoxyl, NGM-15, and NGM-16.

[23:00] And if you want exempted leave, I ask you at minimum to strike the possession language.

[23:05] I am not a criminal for waiting for wanting sleep and pain relief.

[23:09] Thank you.

[23:12] Thank you.

[23:14] I'm a speaker card for Dr. Christine Zeemer.

[23:19] Please state your name and address for the clerk's record living your comments to five

[23:22] minutes and wait until you see the timer to begin speaking.

[23:27] So, Dr. Christine Zeemer, at 1302, do we have a new in St. Joseph?

[23:32] Good to see you all today.

[23:35] I, a tenured professor at Missouri-Western State University, I've worked there for 14 years.

[23:41] I'm also a homeowner in St. Joe and mother of two kids in the St. Joseph School District.

[23:45] At Missouri Western, I teach a class on psychedelics.

[23:48] We spend lots of time diving into drug policy and having deep discussions about what works

[23:54] and what doesn't work as far as public health and science.

[23:57] And we always come to the same conclusion, which is what I'm here to impart to you all today

[24:03] that banning substances is dangerous, full stop.

[24:07] We saw with alcohol prohibition, what happened when we tried to ban alcohol?

[24:12] Did people stop drinking?

[24:14] No, they did not, right?

[24:15] What happened was there was a lot more crime around it.

[24:17] Alcohol became stronger and more dangerous

[24:19] because it was totally unregulated.

[24:21] We see that with pretty much any drug you can think of.

[24:24] Banning does not stop use, but what it does do

[24:27] is it makes the products more dangerous.

[24:29] Because now they're unregulated, they're more dangerous

[24:31] to find, they're more dangerous to use.

[24:34] They can become stronger because of the banning.

[24:39] It's also harder for people to seek help.

[24:41] if they have an addiction problem for a band and a criminalized substance compared to a legalized substance.

[24:48] And it's harder to do research, it's harder to call in and get help if you are with somebody who's overdosing.

[24:55] So there's just so many problems that are going to really impact our community in a major dangerous way.

[25:01] The drugs are still going to be available online, they're still going to be available in an unregulated market.

[25:06] I understand the concerns about these drugs being widely available and

[25:11] unregulated in the stores and sometimes mislabeled, but

[25:16] I don't think the solution is banning it.

[25:17] I think the solution is fact-based public education.

[25:20] I think the solution is investing in our mental health care system and addiction services.

[25:25] And I think smart regulation that could have age limits.

[25:30] Like some of these people have said have regulations like alcohol or cannabis where

[25:36] You know, it's a little bit more controlled is who can get access to it and we're not letting kids buy it at a gas station

[25:41] I understand that concern

[25:42] But I think if the labels are accurate. I think if we regulate it. I think we have age limitations

[25:48] Like you've heard from these brave people that have come up and testified. It saves lives

[25:52] People use it to treat addiction people use it to treat chronic pain and addiction with much more harmful substances like heroin and opioids and so to take that away from our

[26:02] our St. Joe community access to natural

[26:04] freedom and some of the other isolated

[26:07] compounds that are admittedly much

[26:09] stronger, but for some people with

[26:11] chronic pain, it might be what they need.

[26:14] And overdoses with

[26:15] freedom are extremely rare,

[26:16] especially with natural leaf

[26:17] freedom.

[26:19] Most of the observed overdose fatal

[26:22] overdoses came in mixing

[26:25] freedom with other substances.

[26:27] But I think if we can focus on public

[26:28] education, if we really want to keep

[26:30] our community safe, these are the routes

[26:31] that are going to be much more effective than a straight out ban, which will cause a lot

[26:36] of people to suffer as you've already heard today.

[26:38] Thank you.

[26:39] I have a question, doctor.

[26:41] Yeah.

[26:41] Over here.

[26:42] Okay.

[26:43] Over here.

[26:43] Sorry.

[26:44] You started out by saying that banning substances is not the answer.

[26:50] There are certain substances that have proven addictive and very seriously a problem for

[26:57] people who would accept them like heroin.

[26:59] Also, alcohol I would put in that category too, but the end of the one.

[27:03] All right, heroin, opioids and those things, would you say remove all restrictions to those substances?

[27:08] It's a new on argument for sure.

[27:11] I think if we really wanted to maximize public health and safety, we would have regulated safe access

[27:18] to any substance that humans are naturally putting in their body or choosing to put in their body.

[27:24] Alcohol is, at the top of the list, of things that cause actual physical damage to the body and a lot of addiction problems,

[27:30] drinking and driving sexual assault, you name it.

[27:33] There's so many public health concerns with alcohol yet we regulate it and we allow adults to use it.

[27:38] And it's actually celebrated in this community.

[27:40] So, I mean, in the world, right?

[27:42] So, I think it's hard to just say, yes, we want to regulate.

[27:47] We want to legalize everything and we've seen states and countries that have done that with various success or failure.

[27:52] If you are going to do that, you really need to invest in education and harm reduction

[27:57] strategies, places for people to seek help when they do have addictive problems with

[28:01] any kind of substance, be it alcohol or heroin or opioids and mental health care and those

[28:07] wraparound services that are going to help people.

[28:09] People turn to drugs because of other issues, usually poverty and abuse and trauma as an escape.

[28:16] And so we're not going to stop drug use by making things illegal, but we do definitely make

[28:21] make it more dangerous for those people who use drugs.

[28:24] I'll submit that there are also instances where people are not going to go for that education.

[28:30] They're not going to accept it and there are people who are not of age to make those decisions.

[28:37] So there have to be some restrictions.

[28:40] There's got to be some middle ground.

[28:41] I totally agree.

[28:42] We don't let children go and buy alcohol on the stores, right, or cigarettes.

[28:46] And we have lots of public service announcements and public education around drugs and alcohol and how they can be dangerous for kids.

[28:54] And I think, yeah, you're right, like just saying it's a free for all without any kind of guardrails could be dangerous.

[29:00] But I think when it comes to something like freedom that's not causing this mass problem like other things, including alcohol,

[29:09] then I think we really need to think about what's the smart move to make for St. Joe and our citizens.

[29:13] I have a question.

[29:19] About six years ago, we was looking at cratum.

[29:23] I think we did put a restriction on an age restriction.

[29:27] So there is that one.

[29:28] I spoke with the DEA yesterday.

[29:32] They told me that there is no activity on cratum, natural cratum.

[29:38] But the dangerous, the synthetic, that it will be on one of the schedules, the five schedules that the DEA puts in.

[29:50] But I also ask what the addiction and impairment risks are.

[29:57] And I was told

[30:00] That the addiction profile is about the same as coffee, and that there is no impairment with taking natural cratum. Is that correct? Yeah, that's my understanding. And I to just comment on, you know, this scheduling. It has been very invoked for cities and states and even at the federal level to start demonizing 708 and cratum products. And so I understand that this may be a wave that we're not able to

[30:30] hold back, but you're right in asking those questions about what is really the danger

[30:35] here, and what are we really banning, and what are the risks and benefits to banning

[30:39] that for our citizens? So, thank you for bringing that up.

[30:42] Oh, so would you say that, what is it, 7-0-H, and try and obtain, is that pretty dangerous,

[30:54] and should we ban it?

[30:55] So I would say compared to natural leaf

[30:59] cratum, it does have a higher risk profile for sure.

[31:02] It's stronger, it has more susceptibility

[31:05] for tolerance building and for addiction.

[31:10] But I still come back to the idea

[31:13] that people are going to get it some way.

[31:17] If they can't buy it legally in stores,

[31:19] they will buy it through black markets online

[31:21] or office streets, or they'll turn to things like heroin, or other things that will

[31:28] act to help treat whatever they're using it for.

[31:31] Sure, and that's a problem for me.

[31:33] I think that the seven o'clock and the other stuff I am nesting, I would fully support banning

[31:44] them, but not the natural credit, I think it's useful.

[31:47] Yeah, I spoke at the Kansas City Council when they had the same issue come up and they

[31:53] ended up doing the same thing where they regulated freedom but banned 708.

[31:57] And so that is definitely a distinction that would be a step in the right direction

[32:01] rather than banning everything altogether.

[32:04] That's definitely the more harmful side of the product is those isolated alkaloids.

[32:10] But again, my personal belief and what for studying drug policy for so long is that

[32:16] But banning substances is not going to really curb their use.

[32:22] I'm not sure what stores actually sell this to have been saying, Joseph, I think it's the

[32:26] smoke shops probably.

[32:28] I've called several gas stations, not a single one.

[32:33] Told me that they sell this.

[32:35] So that just to add on, I want you to say.

[32:39] Thank you.

[32:40] Any other questions?

[32:42] Would any of the smoke shops, Russell?

[32:44] Yeah.

[32:45] All the smoke shops.

[32:45] That's why we've got so many sculpture data.

[32:48] Do all the smoke shop sellers?

[32:50] Yes.

[32:51] Even the signs out front to see.

[32:53] Even the sign away.

[32:54] I think cratum's one of the main products

[32:55] out a lot of the smoke shops.

[32:58] And again, with all that use, there

[33:01] is very little overdose or risks

[33:03] with the people that are especially

[33:04] using the natural leaf cratum.

[33:06] And you're a doctor, is that a PhD or a medical doctor?

[33:09] PhD in psychology.

[33:11] Yeah.

[33:11] But I do study drug policy quite a bit

[33:13] and work with drug policy organizations in Kansas City as well.

[33:18] Okay.

[33:19] Yeah, thank you.

[33:22] Thank you.

[33:23] Dave Barry,

[33:27] please state your name and address for the clerk's record.

[33:30] Let me in your comments to five minutes and wait until you see the timer to begin speaking.

[33:34] All right.

[33:35] Dave Barry, actually on the eastern side of the state, and I'm here tonight on behalf of the American Creative Association.

[33:41] And we completely share this council's commitment to public safety and keeping dangerous unregulated products out of St. Joseph.

[33:49] However, I'm here tonight to respectfully urge a no vote on this bill 185-26.

[33:53] A blanket ban on natural credomly, if as you've heard, relies on an outdated understanding of the science.

[33:59] And it misses a unique opportunity for the community to lead the state and smart public policy.

[34:03] It is vital to clarify a critical scientific distinction that state and federal agencies

[34:10] are recognizing that, and that is that natural-cratum leaf is fundamentally different from concentrated

[34:15] synthetic 708.

[34:17] Natural-cratum leaf has been used safely by millions of responsible Americans for years

[34:21] and in contrast, synthetic 708 is a chemically manipulated, highly-concentrated compound manufactured

[34:28] to be unnatural, to be unnaturally potent.

[34:31] They are completely different products, and recognizing this distinction as you've heard

[34:34] of witnesses before me, the DEA is just issued formal notices of intent on July 1st to place

[34:40] these dangerous drugs, synthetic 708 products into schedule one.

[34:44] Federal and State agencies are learning that the hazard isn't the natural plan, it's the

[34:47] unregulated synthetic modifications.

[34:50] This bill attempts to solve the problem by prohibition, criminalizing the simple possession

[34:55] of a natural leaf by law-biting citizens, but prohibition simply creates an

[34:59] unregulated underground market. This council can pioneer a model for local

[35:03] governments by enacting smart science-led regulations. We urge the community to

[35:08] take the lead by establishing a strict regulatory framework that targets the

[35:13] real danger. Band the sale of concentrated synthetic 708 products entirely to align

[35:18] with emerging federal standards and keep natural cratomally for adults by

[35:22] of money, strict age limits, mandatory, independent third party lab testing, and clear labeling requirements.

[35:29] Let's work together to find an effective regulatory solution.

[35:33] I had one question if I could.

[35:34] What was the name of the group you're speaking about?

[35:36] American Creative Association.

[35:38] Thank you, sir.

[35:40] Thank you.

[35:43] I have a speaker card for a Robert quarter.

[35:47] Please state your name and address for the clerk's record.

[35:50] Let me your comments to five minutes and wait until you see the timer to begin speaking.

[35:56] I'm the mayor of the city council.

[35:59] My name is Robert Corner, MD.

[36:01] I'm a medical doctor.

[36:03] And I am your selected health director at the health department.

[36:10] Eight years ago, I came out of retirement.

[36:12] I was an subject of gynecologist for 40 years.

[36:16] And I realized that I could do something to help the opioid crisis.

[36:20] So, I've been treating opioid addiction now for eight years.

[36:25] The newest thing on the market, however, is seven hydroxy, or seven hydroxymitragenine,

[36:30] which is the chemical component.

[36:33] I agree with most of the things that have been said here by the speakers.

[36:38] I'm not in favor of adamantly opposing a cratum.

[36:44] I do believe it has a place in helping people.

[36:48] But seven hydroxy, I see about one patient a week now for about eight months, and there's

[36:55] no way they can get off of that stuff.

[36:56] They either have to quit using it or they have to go to harder things like heroin or fentanyl,

[37:03] which are more dangerous.

[37:04] I've not seen anybody overdose and die from taking seven hydroxy, and I certainly have not

[37:10] seen anybody die from taking cratum, and I don't know that I've ever seen anybody with TN

[37:16] and it's a present that they use in Europe quite a bit.

[37:21] It's not condoned by the powers of B here in the United States that I know of anyway.

[37:29] I attend a group that discusses addiction, medicine, and state of Missouri every two weeks

[37:37] and our group goes through these things and we actually had a talk about all three drugs

[37:45] about two months ago.

[37:47] So I'm in favor of banning seven hydroxy.

[37:50] I think the government's gonna do that.

[37:51] If they classify one from the DEA,

[37:54] that should take care of it.

[37:55] I don't see really a good use for seven hydroxy.

[37:59] It makes people feel good for very short period of time,

[38:02] but the withdrawal is from it are terrible.

[38:05] And that is what basically I'm doing.

[38:07] It's getting people out of taking that seven hydroxy

[38:10] by using medical assisted therapy.

[38:15] So, it's a difficult situation.

[38:17] I do think that leaf cratum is probably not real dangerous.

[38:23] I do have pages that are addicted to it, but not very many.

[38:26] I have a question for you.

[38:28] Oh, sorry.

[38:29] No, you were first.

[38:29] Go ahead.

[38:31] Oh, based on the cratum leaf, you see some people you said addicted to it.

[38:35] Do you see those people that are addicted continuing to use a higher classified drug as heroin

[38:42] or do they go on to this 708?

[38:46] I can't answer that because that's certainly a possibility,

[38:48] but once they're feeling normal

[38:51] and they're away from their cratum addiction,

[38:54] they don't usually go back and do anything else.

[38:56] Just usually use the leaf cratum and say no.

[38:58] They don't use it anymore.

[38:59] They get away from it.

[38:59] Okay, take the medicine, they're done.

[39:02] So you think that the leaf cratum

[39:04] has less of a desire to continue on?

[39:05] I don't think it's particularly dangerous.

[39:07] And neither does one of my professor friends

[39:09] that University of Missouri, Kansas City, who is the director of this organization that studies drug addiction in the state of Missouri.

[39:17] Thank you.

[39:18] So do you think natural cradim leaves should be banned?

[39:22] No.

[39:23] Okay.

[39:24] I would make a motion that we strip that language from this ordinance.

[39:29] Might second that.

[39:33] Remove the language that bans natural cradim leaves.

[39:36] Can

[39:44] we just reestablish the old 20-41 that should take care of it?

[39:55] I need to hear that.

[39:56] Take care of 708 or TNF team.

[40:03] Well, I do have a question.

[40:05] It's my understanding and I've seen all kinds of variances on labeling on these products.

[40:15] There's no standardization on it, there's no testing,

[40:18] There's no testments to purity or standards like that.

[40:24] You go into these different shops and you'll see 15 different things.

[40:28] And some of it looks a little shady the way it's packaged.

[40:32] How do the consumers know what they're getting?

[40:36] I mean, seriously.

[40:37] You bring up a good point.

[40:39] They really don't.

[40:40] And as a matter of fact, this didn't happen.

[40:42] I mean, in person, but I heard it from a couple of patients.

[40:44] the mind that are addicted to seven hydroxy that they were giving away samples here in St.

[40:49] Joe. Now to me that's dastardly to give away something that they know they're going to become

[40:56] addicted to. That's terrible. I'm the medical director of the health department. I'm here to try

[41:02] to help preserve the health of the community. That's why I'm here. We have a moment. I think it's

[41:09] There's motion to second. Yeah, I think it's, you know, one to say that, you're banning it doesn't make it unregulated. It's unregulated as it exists today.

[41:23] But we've already got it outlawed for individuals under the age of 21, which I think is something that is important so that those individuals who are under the age of 21

[41:33] Then don't have that opportunity to access that.

[41:37] I wish it was probably 18, similar to tobacco.

[41:40] But the natural leaf cradum, you know, as many people have said tonight, and as Dr.

[41:47] has mentioned, is not necessarily the issue that we need to solve immediately.

[41:54] The DEA tried in 2016 to do something for natural leaf cradum and they quickly retracted

[41:59] their statement.

[42:01] So I think it's going to be different on 708.

[42:04] I think they're planning here early this month to announce some sort of formal language

[42:09] on 708.

[42:10] So that's why I made the motion I did so we can have the discussion and see if that's

[42:17] something that everybody else has approved.

[42:19] We'll approve.

[42:21] So a question, if by voting for Madison's motion, would that reestablish 20 days, 341 in its original form?

[42:38] Please, the council, can I sit down?

[42:42] Thank you, Dr. Woodford.

[42:46] Well, this is amending, amending it.

[42:48] That would be the intent. That's the wish of the body. That is absolutely intent.

[42:53] I don't have that section in front of me, but we understand the intent.

[42:57] Okay.

[42:59] Intense in there, and we all understand it, and I call for a vote.

[43:05] Well, I've got some discussion on this.

[43:09] I asked this to be brought forward and put on the agenda because

[43:14] the substance was being sold and different venues virtually unrestricted.

[43:21] So I thought this discussion needed to be had and I'm glad I listened to all these things.

[43:26] We've gotten some very good points that have been brought out and I don't really don't have a problem with the amendment.

[43:36] But I want to make sure that that's why I wanted to see 203341 to make sure

[43:42] that the age restriction was in place because I do think we need the age restriction.

[43:47] the

[43:50] grade totally agree. The age restriction has not been removed sir. But we know that it was

[43:57] placed there. It is in 321. By your previous council. Yes. Yes sir. Okay.

[44:08] So as I understand we

[44:09] would just be trying to keep 2320-341 as it was and then just banning 2342 and 2343 correct.

[44:24] Yes

[44:25] Okay. Councilmember Davis made a motion. Councilmember Esslinger seconded that motion to remove the language that bans create a natural form for adults over the age of 21.

[44:51] There's a speaker card, but it's not for this item

[45:00] That's up to you. No. We'll we'll wait until public comment for your comment voting on the amendment. Correct.

[45:11] Okay, we're voting on the amendment. Are you ready?

[45:22] Okay. Is there?

[45:52] Seven, oh, the amendment passes.

[46:03] And now you're going to be voting on the amended ordinance. I didn't count. It counts members. Cashew wrote of a seven,

[46:34] oh.

[46:47] Clerk, please read the bills.

[46:49] for the first reading.

[46:52] 21 in ordinance authorizing the acceptance of grants from the Missouri Department of Transportation, Traffic, and Highway Safety Division for hazardous moving, violation enforcement, impaired driving enforcement, motor, cycle safety training, and Midland Empire Alcohol Task Force in the amount of $155,802.52 to be used for training equipment over time and pension related expenses in the police department and authorizing an amendment to the general public.

[47:19] general fund police department budget to reflect the awarded funds in the amount of $1,155,000,

[47:25] an earned $2.52, and to roll forward the remaining grant funds from the previous year in the amount of $30,513.

[47:33] $24.22, an ordinance authorizing a contract with the Missouri Department of Health and

[47:39] Senior Services to provide a nutrition program through the Women Infinson Children Program in the amount of $558,556.

[47:48] and to amend the public health department budget in the general fund to recognize the difference in the amount of $14,483.

[47:59] 23 in ordinance affirming the purchase and installation of an upgraded camera system for

[48:03] PD Market Health Center from all systems go in the amount of $52,796.

[48:12] 24 in ordinance authorizing an amendment to the capital projects budget and

[48:17] the execution of a lump sum contract with herner construction incorporated for

[48:20] the construction of fire station number 10 in the amount of 6,260,000, 25 and ordinance authorizing the execution of a professional services agreement for pest and rodent control services for city facilities with Pete's pest control.

[48:37] Mayor

[48:50] and council, a reminder, tomorrow is national nine out against crime, be at 5.30 p.m., civic park out in front of the city hall.

[49:00] It's a great event if you can make it, that would be fantastic.

[49:05] Also, Saturday at 7 p.m., the civic arena is the championship game between the St. Joseph goats and the Arkansas diamonds and Saturday at 7 p.m.

[49:15] So, if you want to go out and support the goats, it would be a great chance to do it.

[49:19] That's all I have, thank you.

[49:21] Okay.

[49:21] Is there any other business by the council?

[49:24] Go vote.

[49:36] We will now move to public comment.

[49:41] Public comment is an opportunity for residents to speak about issues or topics related to city operations and policy and not a Q&A.

[49:48] I have a speaker card for Juan Martinez.

[49:51] He's approached the microphone, state your name and address for the clerk's record.

[49:54] your comment to five minutes, and wait until you see the timer before you begin speaking.

[50:02] Hi, Juan Martinez, 2315, Hutchinson Street, St. Joseph, Missouri.

[50:06] I was here a couple of months ago about the same thing, but before I speak about that, I wanted to speak about what we just had right now.

[50:16] I didn't know that was happening, but they do have a bit of a cross section, so I figured I'd say something.

[50:21] And I think about you guys all the time.

[50:25] And we spoke the last time and how I learned how it's rough

[50:29] being in your position.

[50:31] And I could think about it more and more.

[50:33] I'm curious about what you guys do all the time

[50:36] and how you do it, how you come to your conclusions,

[50:40] like what research you do, how you do it,

[50:42] all the people you speak with, it's just all over the place,

[50:45] just seeing who you guys are.

[50:47] So, when it comes to these things and being in your position, it's a very powerful thing,

[50:59] right?

[50:59] So, when you guys are making your decisions, I would just hope that you guys err on

[51:07] freedom just in general.

[51:10] Now, you asked about doing the super hard drugs and stuff.

[51:14] And I've never done really hard drugs, but I have an illness, and I feel like it's giving me a very good insight into it.

[51:21] When it comes to those, people aren't so much chasing that high.

[51:26] In the end, it's more of running from the pain after the high.

[51:32] That is more powerful than the actual high. It's scary.

[51:38] And I just remember my, one of my cousins I barely knew injecting herself in the corner

[51:44] and I just stared at her and just total, just scarred and she was going at it and she

[51:51] just put it in there.

[51:52] She was like, don't ever do drugs, don't ever start it, don't ever try it, just staring

[51:56] at me, we're just eye to eye and she's just going and she did not want to be there, right?

[52:01] It was just scary.

[52:01] for her, was scary for me, she was just running from the pain that lingers after the high.

[52:08] She wasn't going towards the high anymore, but it was still her choice to start it.

[52:17] She knew exactly what it was going to do.

[52:21] We educated her, she was educated, I knew who she was, but she still decided to do it.

[52:27] In Japan, in the high schools, they close the gates once it's time to come into class.

[52:32] If you're not in the gate, you're not coming to class.

[52:36] It's your choice, right?

[52:38] I knew a lot of people in high school and they'd be like, I don't want to be here.

[52:42] Don't come because you're taking away from the people who do want to be here, you know?

[52:47] But it's your, it should be your choice, right?

[52:51] It should always be a choice.

[52:53] So, if you have to make a law, you try to make it as broad as possible to keep as much freedom as possible,

[53:02] which is, you know, connected to that, because you don't ever know how it's going to affect things, right?

[53:07] Like they brought up the, when they banned alcohol.

[53:10] So, then the bad things came after that.

[53:14] And you guys, I don't think there's like a way that you guys do it where you continuously go back to old laws and look and reoccur, right?

[53:22] There's that one city that's illegal to carry a Sunday in the back pocket while you're walking on the sidewalk

[53:28] Right, it's still there because they never went back they never fixed it and are corrected it so because of all of that

[53:34] It's more indicative for you guys to try just keep as much freedom for everybody as possible because you never know

[53:42] So that comes to my part and my chickens and my flock

[53:47] So, I saw the things you guys did and the effort you guys put into it where you guys also

[53:52] made it tiered the further away when the more you can have.

[53:58] But there's a lot of things that, you know, that doesn't address as well.

[54:03] And there's so many nuances in everything.

[54:05] And you guys rely on us.

[54:07] I understand you guys can understand everything.

[54:10] You guys rely on us.

[54:10] And I apologize.

[54:11] I wasn't able to come here more to speak to you more about it and do all that stuff.

[54:16] in our times right now, so I'm gonna hurry up.

[54:19] But if

[54:23] I was able to put my chicken coop

[54:25] literally right next to my house,

[54:26] I'd be able to tie it in to my drainage system.

[54:30] I'd be able to keep it clean, like speaking span.

[54:33] I could put like a sheen floor.

[54:34] I could rinse it out every day,

[54:36] just like I would in my house mop the floor easy.

[54:38] So you never know what people could do.

[54:41] Back in the day, we used to have businesses

[54:42] on the second floor, right?

[54:45] And then we'd live on the,

[54:45] or we'd live on the second floor,

[54:46] the businesses would be on the first floor, right?

[54:49] I mean, there's a lot of things people can do and you never know, so

[54:53] I mean, you just give people their freedoms, you know, as much as possible.

[54:58] So, I guess that would be it, because my time's up.

[55:01] Thank you so much.

[55:04] Thank you so much.

[55:04] I have a speaker card for Kevin Ryan.

[55:08] Please approach the microphone, state your name and address for the clerk's record.

[55:11] Let me your comments to five minutes and wait until you see the timer before you begin speaking.

[55:19] I moved here from Los Angeles back in 95 and I thought what a beautiful city we decided

[55:27] to stay here.

[55:28] I took a job that was based out of Kansas City but I want to hear this beautiful city.

[55:33] It still is.

[55:35] I have a problem though.

[55:37] I have a problem with people parking between the curb and the sidewalk.

[55:42] This happens in front of my house.

[55:44] I am responsible for that right away.

[55:48] Nobody gives citations for parking between the curb and the sidewalk.

[55:53] If I'm responsible for that property, why should I have to maintain that property?

[55:59] When other people tear it up because our system does not write citations and take care of this problem.

[56:06] This has become a huge problem in the last couple of years.

[56:10] it has become the norm because people can do it and nothing happens it's

[56:16] happening all over St. Joe I don't know if you guys see it or not I have called

[56:21] down here they say I need to call the police department I call the police

[56:26] department they say you take care of it here I'm tired of going back and forth I'm

[56:30] tired of my property get tore up we have curbs that are being busted up all

[56:35] over town because of it, when it rains, it creates ruts between the sidewalk and the curb.

[56:43] Next thing we know, we're going to get something, we're going to get our sewer rates raised.

[56:47] You know why? Because the sewers are going to be full of mud and rocks from this happening.

[56:53] It's terrible. It's even happening in front of big businesses. I have seen just in my area where

[57:01] I live on St. Joe Avenue, vehicles 100% park on the sidewalk.

[57:08] Kids going to school have to step off the curb and go around these vehicles to go to school.

[57:14] It's ridiculous, something's gotta be done.

[57:17] I call the police department, they tell me there's fine as $15.

[57:21] Are you kidding me?

[57:22] To park on the sidewalk, what would happen if I came here tonight and parked out here on this sidewalk?

[57:30] What would happen, would I be told away, cited, probably, because it's not in front of your house.

[57:37] It's in front of the public property.

[57:41] I'm sick of it.

[57:42] I'm sick of these holes that are being dug up all around St. Joe for this water treatment thing.

[57:47] There are replacing lines or something over on Boyd Street.

[57:49] There has been a eight foot by 16 foot freaking hole that's been there all summer.

[57:57] Why are we allowing this to happen?

[57:59] Do these people not have a time limit to get this done?

[58:02] At one point, they had that big hole there in a half a block away.

[58:05] They had two holes right across the street from each other.

[58:08] You had an eight-foot path between these two big holes.

[58:14] Something is just got to be done.

[58:17] Another thing that's going to make our city look like trash.

[58:21] Now, the trash companies, they don't want to go down alleys anymore.

[58:25] I got a letter from waste management, they're going to deliver their own trash cans free of charge those great big trash cans

[58:32] Those are to be put in front of your house on your designated trash pickup day, and I said, oh, yeah, that's going to go over really well

[58:40] It's already happening

[58:42] People have these trash cans in front of their houses chained up to to posts and fences and and whatever

[58:49] So now now we have to walk past a stinking trash can. We have to look at the trash can every day

[58:57] Because they're not taking them up

[58:59] Now you're gonna have to step off the sidewalk to go around a vehicle

[59:03] Go into the street back on the sidewalk look at smelly trash cans

[59:10] What are we doing? Why do we not go back to the law?

[59:14] I remember about 15 years ago, I parked my work truck in front of my house, and my back tire, I kid you not.

[59:23] I had pictures of it back in the day, was one inch on top of that curb.

[59:29] I got a citation for it.

[59:31] I took a picture and I came down here and I told them at that point, is there a size limit for that curb?

[59:39] Are they supposed to be a certain height?

[59:41] Because I had a take measure in the picture.

[59:43] my curb was three quarters of an inch tall, my wheel was one inch on top of that curb.

[59:49] Couldn't even tell us on the curb, they would not dismiss my ticket.

[59:54] And now, now you can just park wherever you want, nothing gets done.

[59:57] Who's taking care of it, is it the-

[1:00:00] Police Department, is it your parking attendant now that we have driving around? Because I never see him in St. Joe. You go on some streets, you go up Lover's Lane. They're doing it on Lover's Lane. Beautiful Lover's Lane. And now you have these rut marks all over on the sides. More dirt going into our sewer system. We got busted up curbs on St. Joe Avenue that have been there for years. And I understand that's probably a state thing.

[1:00:26] but you have chunks of curb in that medium that divider that are this far out into the roadway.

[1:00:36] Do we not see this stuff?

[1:00:38] Sir, your time's up.

[1:00:46] Sir, any other discussion from council?

[1:00:48] Yeah, I got a question.

[1:00:50] That is an ordinance read against parking on the sidewalk.

[1:00:56] Is that correct?

[1:00:58] That's correct.

[1:00:58] I'm going to be with PD in the resident here.

[1:01:04] I agree. I think there's there is quite an issue with that. You know, perhaps it's something we need to look at.

[1:01:11] You know, from a from a fine standpoint, too, if we can couple that along with the enforcement, perhaps we can get some.

[1:01:21] I know exactly what you're talking about. So it's gotten really bad. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you for sharing that.

[1:01:28] I'd like to find out if those curbs long-saint you have a new art part of Modoth's responsibility.

[1:01:33] That'd be an interesting thing to find out.

[1:01:37] I hope they are.

[1:01:45] Well now move to see another business this means as Jordan.

One Time Event

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