Columbia city leaders voice concern of meeting structure with Choi, say meetings have limited contact with public

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council during a Monday work session called into question the value of recent public safety meetings with University of Missouri System President Mun Choi.

During the discussion, City Council officials confirmed meeting with Choi in two prior meetings. However, members voiced concerns at the meeting structure that barred the public and limited contact with the council to only a few members.

Members also allege that leaders from Stephens and Columbia College have also not been at the meetings. Choi also met with Gov. Mike Kehoe last week to discuss public safety and a number of city leaders noted they were not invited.  

"They are at the beck and call of Mun Choi, we aren't able to make them open, we aren't able to have counsel there, which means the vast majority of us have no idea what's going on," Ward 4 Councilwoman Vera Elwood said. "He is making claims about my ward and then I'm not getting an invite to the table."

Tensions over public safety in Columbia began after Choi started asked city leaders to crack down on crime after a Stephens College student was shot and killed in late September. With Choi then sent an 11-step action plan to officials.

City officials during Monday's meeting added that no council action has been made to adopt the 11 suggestions.

"They are things that have been happening for a long time and now there is suddenly an idea that it's only happening because he stepped into the conversation," Elwood said. "That power is being taken away from our staff and the efforts that they're putting into it."

"We need to find a way to get him in our circle and be collaborative, but he's not reciprocating that," Ward 3 Council Member Jacque Sample said.

According to City Manager De'Carlon Seewood, public safety has been the highest priority for the city with more than 50% of the city's general fund going to police and fire operations. The city will also fully staff the Columbia Police Department at the graduation of the upcoming class.

"We have additional police officers downtown, in addition to that, they're doing more proactive work," Mayor Barbara Buffaloe said. "We have more officers issuing like Class B misdemeanors citations for things."

The Columbia Police Department's Crime Trends Dashboard has reported crime has gone up by nearly 50% since 2024, however the city says the upward trend is due to heavier police police presence and not increased offenses.

"We start driving the doggone bus instead of it being driven over us, because that's (what) I think (is) three-quarters of the frustration in this room, because we feel like somebody else is driving the bus," Ward 5 Councilman Donald Waterman said.

Other public safety suggestions brought up Monday include closing off major streets to traffic and parking and implementing metal detectors on Friday and Saturday nights, banning sales of $1 alcohol shots and implementing a curfew.

Seewood added that the alcohol restrictions were something the city could do. Members of the city as said CPD Chief Jill Schlude was opposed to a curfew.

"She couldn't enforce it, there's no way to enforce it, I mean the kids aren't willing to do it and the parents aren't willing to support it," Ward 6 Councilwoman Betsy Peters said.

During the meeting, the city leaders shared that Choi voiced interest in a January meeting but no formal request has been made. Buffaloe is also scheduled to meet with Kehoe in January.