Buffaloe addresses DEI concerns during city office hours meeting

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe addressed plans to remove diversity equity and inclusion language from the city's Strategic Plan during office hours the city is hosting in June to respond to concerns over a recent White House order halting federal aid for such programs.

Members of the public voiced concerns on Monday over the city choosing to comply with the new federal regulations.

"I just don't want us to lose ourselves, we just have to understand that Columbia is a very inclusive environment, I want to make sure it stays that way," Columbia resident Harry Castilow said during Monday's meeting.

Buffaloe reassured the public that the core of DEI and city programs will not be lost, however language involving goals of quotas or percentages may be removed to follow guidelines. She also reiterated that no programs are in violation of federal laws.

"[The Strategic Plan] has outcome objectives within it, so the outcome objectives within it have percentage goals of increasing diversity of boards and commissions and different things around that," Buffaloe said. "How do we continue to do the work that is of our community values and also stay within compliance of the federal laws?"

The City Council last month passed a resolution last month that aims to shield city staff from lawsuits or claims stemming from their official duties, as long as they act within the scope of their role. That came after the city tabled an item that would have removed DEI language following pushback from community members.

The city wrote in its council memo for the May 5 meeting that the proposed changes to its vision, mission, core values, priority areas and goal statements in its strategic plan are to comply with an executive order from President Donald Trump on Jan. 21 that targets the language used.

Buffaloe on Monday pushed that changes to the Strategic Plan's language are necessary to keep federal funding for the city. A presentation during the meeting reported that Columbia receives more than $11 million in federal funding that covers projects around the city.

Columbia Transit Manager Mike Sokoff reported that around 48% of operations costs comes from federal funding.

"It helps with staffing, it helps with all aspects of keeping the doors open and the busses running," Sokoff said.

"One of the conversations that we've had in the last two months is really helping the community understand how much of our local funding comes from the federal government and what will be the impacts if those are cut," Buffaloe said.

During the meeting, Buffaloe also announce the City Council's plans to reinstate the city's initial definition of equity, "We recognize the local government’s role in our community’s history of systemic oppression. We are committed to removing these barriers and rooting our priorities, decisions, and culture in the principles of diversity, inclusion, justice and equal access to opportunity.”

The definition was up for revision back in May and received pushback from the public after a new definition left out the local government's role.

The city will host three other office hour meetings in June, they will cover the same presentation:

• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday with Ward 3 Councilwoman Jacque Sample and city staff at the Columbia Fire Department’s Fire Training Academy, 700 Big Bear Blvd.
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday with Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman and city staff in Room C of the Activities and Recreation Center, 1701 W. Ash St.
• 2-4 p.m. Sunday with Ward 1 Councilwoman Valerie Carroll and City staff at the Friends Room of the Daniel Boone Regional Library, 100 W. Broadway

After all the meetings, the city plans to use what they heard when editing the Strategic Plan on June 16.

Following Monday's meeting, Castilow felt more comfortable with the City's changes.

"I think this meeting has been able to answer the questions that I had specifically about us being able to avoid feeling like we're bowing down to the executive orders," Castilow said. "We as a community are able to meet the requirements of executive orders without losing our soul."

Residents who are unable to attend office hours are encouraged to reach out to their council members.