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Columbia City Government

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should the Columbia City Council approve a median safety ordinance?

The Columbia City Council could vote Monday on an ordinance that would prohibit people from standing or sitting in medians. The idea has support from those who want to see panhandlers gone from busy intersections along roads such as Broadway, Stadium Boulevard and Providence Road. However, critics say the ordinance targets panhandlers and protesters and

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Columbia median ordinance back on city council agenda Monday

The Columbia City Council is expected to vote on a median ordinance on Monday. If passed, people would be prohibited from standing on medians that are on major roadways.

The ordinance was tabled at a November meeting and pushed back to February to allow all council members a chance to vote, hear comments and review additional information from city staff, according to a city council document.

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‘Choose a side, or it’s going to choose you:’ Columbia nonprofit takes to the streets to keep kids from turning toward them

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Growing up in St. Louis in the ’90s for Lonnie Lockhart Bey wasn’t easy. He was met with challenges and hardships that led him down a path he hadn’t planned. That adversity eventually led to him becoming affiliated with a gang. Lockhart Bey says the word “affiliated” is key. “One of the

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Columbia Sewer Utility proposes new public sewer for West Stewart road area

COLUMBIA, Mo.  The City of Columbia Sewer Utility is proposing to replace a privately maintained sewer system near the intersection of South West Boulevard and West Stewart Road.  If approved, the utility would construct a new public sanitary sewer to serve the affected property owners. According to Assistant Utilities Director Tom Ratermann, the project will

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Columbia city survey indicates resident support for tax increase to hire more police officers, firefighters

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Police numbers, sidewalk improvements, homelessness and improved housing opportunities are the top priorities of more than 800 Columbia households that responded to the city’s annual Community Survey Findings Report. 2025 Columbia MO Survey ReportDownload According to city documents, the survey was completed by 804 random households. Around 84% of survey respondents have

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Columbia Parks and Rec Commission to discuss ‘family reunification’ agreement at Thursday meeting

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Parks and Recreation Commission will discuss a recently approved family reunification agreement at its Thursday night meeting. The City of Columbia approved the agreement with Columbia Public Schools at its Jan. 5 City Council meeting. The agreement – which runs through June 30 – stats that students can go to

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Columbia officials meet with Kehoe; discuss crime, state support following violent weekend in city

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Kehoe met with Columbia officials on Monday to discuss public safety in the city.  Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, City Manager De’Carlon Seewood, and Police Chief Jill Schlude were among those in attendance for the meeting at the governor’s office in the Capitol.  According to Kehoe’s office, the meeting had been

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Columbia City Council to vote on agreement with US Capitol Police; would have CPD give additional security to members of Congress

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council at its Monday meeting will vote on whether or not the city will enter in an agreement with US Capitol Police for security services. The agreement is listed in the consent agenda for Monday’s meeting. City documents state the agreement is requested because of the growing number of

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Public feedback underway as Columbia weighs new building codes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia is working on a major update of its building codes, proposing to adopt the 2024 International Building Codes that govern residential and commercial construction, safety, energy efficiency and plumbing standards. The city currently operates under the 2018 codes. On Wednesday, the city’s Community Development department hosted a public

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