Columbia city leaders reiterate need for transparency ahead of public safety meeting with MU officials
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Some of Columbia's political leaders are hopeful the public can be more involved in discussions surrounding public safety.
The city had at least three meetings that included University of Missouri officials in 2025 in an effort to curb crime after the shooting death of Ayanna Williams in September 2025. Another meeting is scheduled for Feb. 19, according to Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman.
The meetings are closed to the public and include only a handful of city council members. However, with another meeting right around the corner, some leaders' concerns about the closed-door meetings are growing.
UM President Mun Choi also met with Gov. Mike Kehoe in December. City leaders were not invited.
During Wednesday night's Board of Realtors candidate forum with Columbia School Board candidates and Ward 5 city council candidates, the council candidates were asked how they would work to repair the relationship between the city and the university. Ward 1 Councilwoman Valerie Carroll said a key component is having open work sessions.
"We can have all of the representatives present, and it's transparent to the community, would go so far towards healing that relationship and so far towards being effective in how we're going to address this," Carroll said.
Carroll also said she believes most of the discussions related to perceptions of public safety have affected the First Ward. She said she thinks it's important that those discussions are had, and violent crime and homelessness aren't lumped together unfairly.
Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman told ABC 17 News on Thursday afternoon that he believes the meetings need to continue to happen. He also said that he believes the work needs to continue to involve Choi.
Waterman said the public should be involved in the meetings to avoid speculation about what's being discussed behind closed doors and to show that there is still work being done to reach goals. He also noted that part of the approach to making the city safer is filling empty police positions and adding more officers. He said Police Chief Jill Schlude has stated she would like 50 officers, something that may require a community-wide vote to pay for.
Waterman said while he wants the meetings to continue, he'd also like to see more specific goals set.
"I know the city has said they're committed. Some commitment from the university as to how they're going to help us achieve some of these goals," Waterman said. "Whatever the goals come out to be, but just having some specific goals so that when they meet and continue, be working towards achieving those goals."
Waterman said he thinks it would be beneficial if every council member were involved in the talks. He said he suggested the possibility of rotating council members at each meeting in the future during the third meeting he attended. He said he may suggest this again during February's meeting.
Waterman also suggested possibly expanding the city council's work sessions to include university officials during Wednesday night's candidate forum. He reiterated the need for Columbia College and Stephens College to be included in the discussions in an interview Thursday.
Public safety suggestions brought up during a work session between city leaders in December included closing off major streets to traffic and parking, implementing metal detectors on Friday and Saturday nights, banning sales of $1 alcohol shots and implementing a curfew. Waterman said there had been no further active discussions about those, or on Choi's 11-step action plan.
Carroll was also asked on Wednesday night whether "high-ranking" representatives from the university were engaging productively in the meetings. Carroll said she believed that things are getting more productive.
"I think we would be better served by talking to each other and bringing our shared resources to the table and really addressing what things each partner can influence to improve crime," Carroll said. "I don't think that we can finger-point and I don't think that we should be saying things to grab headlines. This is not the time, and that's not productive."
Carroll also said she'd like to see a downtown precinct reestablished, a decrease in the length of shifts to 10 hours and the creation of a traffic unit.
City Manager De'Carlon Seewood told ABC 17 News via text Thursday afternoon that he is grateful that community leaders have come together to take part in the discussions and said that each one offers a unique perspective.
"Because there is no single solution to address complex issues, these types of discussions ensure our community is taking a well-rounded approach while taking into account the resources available. However, it will take multiple approaches, trial and error, and compromise that I believe each of us is committed to," Seewood wrote.
THe University of Missouri did not make officials available for comment.
