Columbia boards weigh budget, utilities, and housing; Council set to vote on MKT Trail bridge and land-use actions
Columbia's advisory boards and commissions spent the past two weeks reviewing the city's fiscal year 2027 budget, utility rates, housing proposals, and public health ordinances. Minutes have not yet been published for any of the recent meetings, so only agenda items — not outcomes — can be reported. The City Council has a packed agenda scheduled for July 20, including votes on replacing an MKT Trail bridge and several land-use decisions.
City Council budget sessions
The City Council held three budget work sessions between July 13 and July 17. On July 13, the council received a General Fund presentation as part of Columbia/Boone County Public Health & Human Services sessions. On July 15, the council reviewed the Enterprise Fund. On July 17, the council received a presentation of the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget for all city funds. No formal votes or public hearings were scheduled at any of these sessions.
Water and Light Advisory Board
The Water and Light Advisory Board met July 7 to discuss utility rate changes, a council request to freeze property taxes for Water Treatment Plant upgrades, and an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) board recommendation. The board also reviewed updates to the Integrated Resource Plan and a comparison of Missouri electric projects. Outcomes are not yet available.
Board of Health reviews feral cat ordinance
The Board of Health met July 9 to review proposed amendments to Chapter 5 of the City Code regarding feral cat colonies and Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) provisions. The board also discussed an inclement weather policy. No vote results have been published.
Office of Violence Prevention Advisory Committee
The committee met July 9 to review updates from the National Office of Violence Prevention Network, discuss a draft community violence intervention landscape analysis, and consider grief and loss trauma-informed training titled "What in the Grief am I Doing?" The agenda also included an initial draft strategy and pillars from the NICJR and a NoCAP update.
Board of Adjustment hears cottage subdivision proposal
On July 14, the Board of Adjustment held a public hearing on Case #181-2026, in which RAA Holdings, LLC sought approval to use optional development standards for a 3-lot cottage subdivision called Jefferson Street Cottages at 307 W. Sexton Road. The outcome is not yet published.
Conley Fund Advisory Committee
The committee met July 14 to review a Fund Assets Report covering December 1, 2024 through April 30, 2026, and to make a decision on the 2026 fund distribution to Public Health and Human Services. The decision has not been published.
Parks and Recreation Commission
The commission met July 16 to hold public hearings on the FY'27 budget and improvements to the Rainbow Softball Center. The agenda also included council items on a Northeast Regional Park grant application and a Boone County Historical Society agreement.
Coming up
July 20 — City Council: The council will hold a public hearing and vote on authorizing replacement of Bridge #9 on the MKT Trail (PH20-126). Other items include a real estate contract with Make Holdings LLC to acquire land on West Gillespie Bridge Road for greenspace (B158-126), a conditional use permit for a short-term rental at 3303 Timberhill Street (B154-126), rezoning north of Diego Drive and east of Bethel Street to Mixed-Use Neighborhood (B155-126), and a tourism sponsorship agreement with Supreme Tournaments, LLC for 2027-2028 NXTPRO sports events (R127-126). A separate council meeting the same day includes labor group presentations from CPOA, Local 1055, and Local 955, a motion to enter closed session for negotiation preparation and real-estate matters, and Citizens Police Review Board applicant interviews.
July 20 — Finance Advisory and Audit Committee: The committee will discuss the city budget as new business and approve draft minutes from June 1, 2026.
July 21 — Public Transit Advisory Commission: The commission will review June 2026 transit ridership figures, a draft City Budget Letter 2026, and a Complete Streets policy presentation.
July 23 — Planning and Zoning Commission: The commission will hold public hearings on five rezoning cases, including Case #159-2026 to rezone 75.51 acres from R-S to R-1 at Brown School Road and Creasy Springs Road, and Case #185-2026 to rezone 6.4 acres to R-MF at 3000 N. Providence Road. A separate work session will include a Complete Streets presentation by Crawford, Murphy, and Tilly.
July 28 — Climate and Environment Commission: The commission will review updates to the Community Action Adaptation Plan, including implementation summaries and long-term actions, and consider the 2026 CEC Priorities document. A public comment period of up to 10 minutes per request is provided.