COLUMBIA — Police in Columbia will now make gender-affirming care laws their lowest priority.
In a 6-1 vote, Columbia City Council approved an ordinance Monday night making the city a safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community.
It was standing room only at times while community members from all seven wards packed into the council meeting chambers. Many came to speak during public comment for and against the ordinance. Those for the ordinance emphasized what its passage would mean for the city.
“It’s vitally important to pass an ordinance demonstrating out commitment to making Columbia safe for all of our youth and all of our community,” Wayne Brekhus said during public comment.
Other speakers against the ordinance pointed to legislation already in place for Missourians.
Under the ordinance, enforcement of state or federal laws related to punishing those seeking, receiving or providing gender-affirming health care is the “lowest priority” within the city. The city can also decline or de-prioritize information requests from other jurisdictions related to that jurisdictions’ own laws punishing gender-affirming care.
“This isn’t anything special, this is just establishing a base line of equal rights on the most basic of things,” activist May Hall said. “The queer community in this city needs to know that it’s safe.”
At the Nov. 20 council meeting, supporters of the ordinance made public comment expressing the need for the ordinance. The council referred the item to the Commission on Human Rights.
Ultimately, the Commission on Human Rights expressed support for the ordinance at the Dec. 18 council meeting.
The ordinance goes into effect immediately.
View the livestream of the public meeting here after it is posted.
Roll cart storage
City Council also approved an ordinance that requires roll carts to be placed immediately adjacent to the residential structure, except on the scheduled day of collection.
An amendment was made to the ordinance that will also allow roll carts to be stored at “any accessory structure on the property.”
The city said if there are ongoing issues at a property, the first step will be to issue a written notice. If violations persist, the property owner may be referred to a municipal prosecutor.
According to the city, roll cart violations will be primarily complaint-driven.
The city will not begin collecting trash from roll carts until March 4.
Veterans United buys former IBM building
Council approved the sale of the former IBM/Kyndryl building located at 2810 LeMone Industrial Blvd.
The building is a 93,145-square-foot facility on a total of 9.5 acres.
Seven companies expressed interest in buying the building, but Veterans United’s bid of $8.1 million and its mission of economic development in the community was selected by the city, according to previous reporting.
Fairview Park disc golf
Council set a public hearing for improvements to Fairview Park that would include a nine-hole disc golf course.
According to a council memo, park staff was approached by a neighbor of the park asking if the large open space could be better used as a disc golf course.
The improvements have a total cost of $15,000 and would be funded by the 2015 park sales tax.
If approved, tee pad construction and basket installation would begin in the spring and be finished by fall 2024.
Swearing in new city employees
Council members swore in Matt Unrein as assistant city manager and Rebecca Thompson as the director of the new Housing and Neighborhood Services Department.
According to previous reporting, Unrein has worked in local government for more than 25 years. Thompson is a lawyer with seven years of experience as an assistant city counselor, according to previous reporting.
