Council approves fire-training agreement, FEMA safe-room MOU and three zoning/insurance measures

The Excelsior Springs City Council on March 3 voted unanimously to approve five measures: a fire-training facility usage agreement (resolution 1554); a memorandum of understanding with the Excelsior Springs School District for FEMA safe-room access (ordinance 25‑03‑01); a special‑use permit for a short‑term rental at 817 Roush Street (ordinance 25‑03‑02); an amendment to the zoning code to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in agricultural districts and to require detached ADUs be behind the principal front building line (ordinance 25‑03‑03); and a client service agreement with USI Insurance Services LLC related to the city’s employee health plan (resolution 1555).

Fire training facility usage agreement (Resolution 1554)

Fire Chief Joe Maddock told the council the agreement sets terms for outside agencies using the city’s new training tower, currently under construction. "We do not have a fee schedule put together yet, but we will get that put together before we were rented out," Chief Maddock said. The council approved the resolution by voice/roll-call vote; all voting members recorded yes. Notes: staff said a fee schedule would be developed before the facility is rented to outside agencies.

FEMA safe-room memorandum of understanding (Ordinance 25‑03‑01)

Chief Maddock presented a renewal MOU with the Excelsior Springs School District that maintains prior terms and adds access to Lewis Elementary this year. The item required two readings; council moved it to second reading and then approved the ordinance. The vote was unanimous.

Short‑term rental special‑use permit, 817 Roush Street (Ordinance 25‑03‑02)

Melinda Mahaffey, economic development director, told council the property sits outside the city's tourism and downtown districts and therefore requires a special‑use permit for short‑term rental. Planning & Zoning recommended a two‑year permit. Mahaffey said the property is outside the 1,000‑foot separation standard from other short‑term rentals and has two driveways to accommodate on‑site parking. She acknowledged neighborhood concerns about curbside parking at a nearby curve; the property owner provided a local phone number to address complaints. The council voted to approve the ordinance on second reading; vote was unanimous.

Accessory dwelling unit zoning amendment (Ordinance 25‑03‑03)

Mahaffey said the Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously recommended amending section 400.240 of the municipal code to allow ADUs in agricultural zones when a primary residence exists and to require detached ADUs to be built behind the front building line of the principal structure. Councilmembers discussed demographic drivers, including increased demand for multigenerational living and support for aging residents. The ordinance passed unanimously.

Client service agreement with USI Insurance Services LLC (Resolution 1555)

City Manager Molly Governe explained the city will change employee health carriers to Cigna effective April 1 and expects plan changes to reduce overall costs. "We are saving about $300,000," Governe said, and she described a consultant/broker fee of $36,000 for a gap or companion program; she added that commission amounts are included in premium costs rather than appearing as a separate $14,000 line item. The council approved resolution 1555 by unanimous vote.

Votes: Each item above passed on the record with all council members recorded voting yes.

Ending: Several items required future administrative follow‑up: the fire-training facility fee schedule, implementation details for the FEMA safe-room access, and continued monitoring of the city’s health-plan transition and broker program. Council did not amend any ordinances on second reading at this meeting.