Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Center Rebuild topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council authorizes additional funding for Kawah Valley City Center build-back and expansion after storm damage; vote 6-1
Summary
After April 2024 storm damage and subsequent remediation, the council approved additional funding to finish the Kawah Valley City Center rebuild and to expand restaurant and event space; the vote passed 6-1 amid debate about fund-balance priorities and expected insurance/FEMA reimbursements.
The Missouri City Council on Monday authorized additional funding to complete the city center repairs and expand the bar and restaurant after storm damage, approving the measure 6-1 in a roll-call vote.
Shashi Kumar, director of public works, told the council the city has completed initial remediation of storm-related damage and is pursuing a three-phase build-back and improvement program for the Kawah Valley City Center. Kumar said phase 1 (kitchen, Bluebonnet Room) is on track for a partial opening in May 2025, phase 2 (second-floor build-out and second-floor restrooms) is targeted for October 2025, and phase 3 (bar and restaurant remodel/expansion plus AV/landscaping/furnishings) would follow.
Kumar said additional damage and remediation work expanded the earlier estimate. Staff reported approximately $1.3 million in insurance reimbursements so far and said the total project price is now higher than earlier estimates. Materials and expanded scope pushed the request for additional city authorization forward during the council meeting.
City Manager Angel Jones told the council that roughly half the funds requested are for storm-related expenditures that the city expects to recover through insurance and FEMA over time: "Half of those funds that have been requested are for storm related expenditures, which would have come out of the general fund through our emergency fund," Jones said. She added that staff views the expansion as an opportunity to increase long-term revenue because the bar and restaurant are among the largest revenue-producing parts of the facility.
Council Member Boney moved to authorize the city manager to proceed with the additional funding request; Council Member Krauser seconded. The motion passed in a roll-call vote, 6-1 (Council Member Riley cast the lone no vote). Staff said the additional authorization would be taken from fund balance and that the city expects further insurance or FEMA reimbursement but could not guarantee timing.
Opponents and cautious council members said they worried about tapping fund balance for non-emergency expansions while the city has other infrastructure needs such as streets and sidewalks. Supporters, including members of the LGC subcommittee, said the expanded facility is expected to generate revenue and that the current downtime presented an opportunity to build back better.
Ending: Council authorized the requested additional funding (motion carried 6-1). Staff will continue to pursue insurance and FEMA reimbursements, finalize construction schedules and provide ongoing financial projections and updates to the council.
