[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6137710,"mediaKeyId","5598185-32437890b4d72cb60ef8d989d79f2c1a","parentId",5598185,"title","Council approves rezoning for 360-unit ‘Infinity Apartments’ at East 30th Terrace","audioSeconds",167,"startMs",1513000,"endMs",1680000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5598185-32437890b4d72cb60ef8d989d79f2c1a&start=1513&end=1680","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5598185-32437890b4d72cb60ef8d989d79f2c1a/thumbnail_1513000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6137710/Independence/Jackson-County/Missouri/Council-approves-rezoning-for-360-unit-Infinity-Apartments-at-East-30th-Terrace","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6137710-af123847ae55d51f3cba82b1c9459077/orig.mp4?Expires=1770988382&Signature=JT5RojUhdaqcwcRK2Y0VotmZ~i5e5dRAmlex1cOrVwtVQCJ0jjDJAWEHMNXVF0PDWO~Vp4BXNo~30KAofHK9sOYM4GOZ9Wv0bRGgFf1~uSZ27oBx3tHcGEsVOz81Ieqai6RcpaanI3DIB468a8DbA1YKukauMHX13HQrnEmppoIlFcNelCwZBWn105io~I0nN8HKFLSZsqBkP46uXx199eXvaJGBu5BjKQHBE-fv4FM8N1~eBO3YGQ2~mglvaMBJPulHmgQ5irl8ZamJPQpWPOSMPjCvA75qgKB1-41sbYgR08bSfNeeX-ZcjacduBbR72bLfNDJCmRaGiPkkUIF4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Independence, Missouri","date","2025-08-05T11:57:09Z","article","The City Council approved, on second reading, an ordinance rezoning the property at 19300 East 30th Terrace from C-2 General Commercial to R-30/PUD, high-density residential planned unit development, and approved a preliminary development plan for the project described as Infinity Apartments.
Rick Arroyo, assistant community development director, told the council the planning commission had considered and voted in favor of the rezoning on June 24. Arroyo said the project would be a four-story, 360-unit residential building with a two-level parking structure below, located near the movie theater and adjacent to existing apartment complexes; the site is currently undeveloped and unplatted.
Council members asked for geographic context; Arroyo said the location is consistent with previous apartment development in the area and that initial infrastructure expectations were anticipated when the first complexes were built.
On second reading the council voted 6–0 to pass Ordinance 25061. No new information was provided at the hearing, and no public speakers offered testimony beyond the staff presentation. Planning commission approval and the council’s second-reading action mean the rezoning and preliminary development plan are approved according to the transcript; any final platting, building permits and infrastructure approvals remain subject to standard development review and permitting processes.
The transcript records no motions to amend the development plan during the council hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Independence City Council 8/4/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council approved rezoning a parcel at 19300 East 30th Terrace from C-2 general commercial to R-30/PUD for a proposed 360-unit, four-story apartment development with two-level structured parking.","taxTitle","Independence, Jackson County, Missouri","taxId",2581,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6137714,"Council approves personnel-policy clarifications on holidays, leave and disciplinary review",928,965000,1893000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5598185-32437890b4d72cb60ef8d989d79f2c1a&start=965&end=1893","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5598185-32437890b4d72cb60ef8d989d79f2c1a/thumbnail_965000.jpg","/articles/6137714/Independence/Jackson-County/Missouri/Council-approves-personnel-policy-clarifications-on-holidays-leave-and-disciplinary-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6137714-963695eaf3259857044aa31225c7555c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770988382&Signature=eYKeEdmzZDWHwWYiz-NluSAQdWS5qMUbru0sJCRro3LlwO-rxHGs5WPH98yL06w7chBGg2hsB9szRELYh6NP1kIp1mxB-KKtWK-RhnyosdJKc3-WzthTWAB~naTlnWLrYF-EhkcmKqlYPQr-wmhUgfFOQB4RA0bVgFXG4cYbI0ByN0S1fZORGWSoGmCboz4pSHMvgU-lOPXdwi8vRNHPeYFhVfCvdoZusBUfzRkZ9KNTuSv32rUmPmIFYWpod73vSeznVXrnJ2Ld26oIrm9vNgL-delC3fcTGXVC7fOoW1bP05-pdGfSHd9yEstdg4qDo8MAvH7lD4ttQ34xrutqEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council approved four resolutions updating city personnel policy language to clarify holiday leave, leave-of-absence procedures, sick-time credit for new hires and disciplinary-review signoffs.
Council member McCandless, the council liaison to the personnel committee, said the changes were clarifications rather than a change in policy and that the personnel committee voted unanimously to recommend the package. The council approved resolutions 25774, 25775, 25776 and 25777 by recorded votes of 6–0.
Key changes described during the discussion:
- Resolution 25774 removes President’s Day from the list of observed city holidays and instead grants each eligible employee an additional floating (or flex) holiday, clarifying that employees may elect when to use that day and that most employees receive eight hours of paid time for the flex day. The city manager said the change is intended to reduce public confusion about whether city services are open on President’s Day.
- Resolution 25775 adopts a uniform leave-of-absence process and clarifies steps employees must follow to request paid or unpaid leave, standardizing the prior, inconsistent language.
- Resolution 25776 credits new full-time employees with 48 hours of sick leave on their first day of work, with the city manager explaining that if an employee separates employment before six months, the balance would be removed; the city also eliminated sick-leave payouts for new hires as of December 2023, so officials said the change does not create a new long-term financial liability.
- Resolution 25777 requires multiple-level signoffs on disciplinary actions and terminations: department director, human resources director and the city manager must sign off on recommendations for discipline or termination, and staff on service probation or under disciplinary action are not eligible to transfer or be promoted until those matters are resolved.
During discussion Council member Stewart asked whether front-loading 48 hours could create an incentive for very short-term use; the city manager replied that balances would be removed if employment ended prior to six months and reminded the council that new hires after December 2023 do not receive sick-leave payouts. McCandless asked for clarification that probationary employees cannot transfer until probation is cleared; staff confirmed that was the intent.
Each resolution was separately moved and received roll-call approval. The transcript records affirmative votes announced on the record; each measure passed with six votes in favor and zero opposed.","The Independence City Council unanimously approved a package of personnel policy updates clarifying floating holidays, a uniform leave-of-absence process, sick-time credit rules for new hires, and disciplinary-signature requirements.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6137719,"Resident urges consistent recording of council and committee meetings under city resolution",2175,280000,2455000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5598185-32437890b4d72cb60ef8d989d79f2c1a&start=280&end=2455","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5598185-32437890b4d72cb60ef8d989d79f2c1a/thumbnail_280000.jpg","/articles/6137719/Independence/Jackson-County/Missouri/Resident-urges-consistent-recording-of-council-and-committee-meetings-under-city-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6137719-aab45a0349f8d0d099ca48047f624166/orig.mp4?Expires=1770988382&Signature=efSgb09cvwLVMfZUU2ccumN3ra34PidqQJuT71zLBjI2sKNMpZgfjt0OPFMkYAz1psy5sQLR~4ynXzStBsXO~Yqt7KS2cq9jqTwuuXMvg0NUTswgZJyAqkGdvlbru7WXblPkaPUwXLUUInU3qzJu8to~UZQKxP-88r0wYteyEChF-l6OOBNHjv~CZzug~OIul52jasHniwt4XSj14LVuFktIGYiCp6-7mzbrnWHbdtB6MdKRao6RfK8KQCg~~l3Ykobz7fRmefOuF3dpcA0RmMTyniNdJj9612B7k3uy4WCKfUk45-6hYYRJVo9xVkfMCUtuf5uHmmmqRYbspTmzHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lee Phillips, a resident of Independence, told the City Council during public comment that the city should consistently record committee and council meetings and make them available online, citing what he said was existing direction in Resolution 7002 and a recent, divided vote on recording other public meetings.
Phillips said the council previously voted to record meetings related to proposed charter changes and that a later vote to record other governance discussions passed by a 4–3 margin. “If transparency is a principle, then it should be applied consistently, not selectively,” Phillips said. He urged the council to honor Resolution 7002, which he said “directs the city manager to implement procedures to ensure that all council committee meetings, study sessions, and other official public meetings are recorded and made available to the public via the city's website.”
Phillips argued that staffing and bandwidth reasons offered in opposition to recording were solvable and that relying on in-person attendance excludes residents with work, family, or health constraints. He also noted a pending citizen-led audit request and said that decisions about recording may matter to voters considering candidates for local office in 2026 and 2028.
The transcript shows Phillips raised the recording issue in public comment; council members later discussed transparency in other remarks. Council member McCandless, speaking later in the meeting, acknowledged that some meetings are broadcast and said the city should consider alternative ways to summarize committee work for residents who cannot view full meetings, suggesting short videos, infographics, or condensed summaries.
No formal motion or vote to change recording practices appears in the meeting transcript; Phillips' remarks were made during the public comment period and therefore were discussion only. The council did not take an action on recording policy during this session according to the transcript.
For residents concerned about access, the transcript indicates the city has a Resolution (numbered 7002 in the public comment) that addresses recording and public access; enforcement or implementation steps were not taken at this meeting.
Looking ahead, proponents of broader recording would need either a council motion to change practice or a city manager implementation consistent with existing council direction to ensure meetings are routinely recorded and posted.","During public comment, resident Lee Phillips urged the Independence City Council to consistently record meetings, citing Resolution 7002 and recent votes to decline recording for some meetings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves rezoning for 360-unit ‘Infinity Apartments’ at East 30th Terrace

Council approves personnel-policy clarifications on holidays, leave and disciplinary review

Resident urges consistent recording of council and committee meetings under city resolution