At a public town hall in Independence, Council Member Tim Rice Stewart proposed increasing the data-center setback from 500 to 1,000 feet and removing the phrase “historically disadvantaged communities” from the UDO’s environmental-impact language. Council members reiterated the council approved 13 amendment changes earlier but has not yet voted to adopt the full ordinance; staff said the ordinance with amendments is expected back for a council vote on Oct. 5.

Council recognizes National Preparedness Month and honors the Medical Reserve Corps volunteers.

Library director Aaron Mason seeks council support for headquarters move to boost downtown.

City Manager Troy Anderson presented a $532 million all‑fund FY 2627 budget and a $92.3 million general fund; highlights include a 3% COLA for nonrepresented employees, added public‑safety funding and a $490,000 contingency tied to a Jackson County property‑tax clawback.

Community Development Director Tom Skenel summarized the city's economic-development policy, explaining statutory tools (TIF, Chapter 100 and 353, CIDs, LCRA), a minimum $5 million TIF investment threshold, 20% public-participation caps, and examples of how pilot/payments flow to taxing jurisdictions.

The Independence Innovation Center told the City Council it is at capacity on kitchens and labs, is operating with aging equipment after losing prior EDC funding, and asked the council to restore operational support, help unlock matching grants, and consider funding expansion or a second facility.

The commission voted 7–0 July 14 to rezone a four‑parcel, ~16.5‑acre church property at 19901 E. Missouri 78 Highway to permit a daycare center under a PUD. Staff recommended approval with two conditions; the applicant said the center would serve roughly 30–50 children.

An IPL presenter told the board that site preparatory work for the Blue Valley Power Plant is expected within 30 60 days, with phase one (approximately 250 MW from the first 15 turbines) targeted for October 2027 and a combined-cycle phase by Dec. 31, 2029. Partners named include Exagent and Independence Power Partners.

The council accepted multiple federal/state grant awards, including two HIDTA awards totaling roughly $300,000 and a $6 million agreement with MoDOT for 23rd Street safety and mobility improvements; votes were unanimous.

After a public hearing with testimony from AMR/Global Medical Response and residents, the council voted 5‑1 to authorize a letter allowing HCA Healthcare to pursue Missouri ground‑ambulance licensure, a prerequisite under recent state law changes.

The Independence City Council voted to adopt 13 amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance related to data centers and battery energy storage systems but postponed final action on the amended ordinance to Oct. 5 after strong public demand for more outreach and clarification about the existing moratorium.

The City Council unanimously approved a contract with the Community Services League to continue the Independence Together litter-pickup program, which the speaker said has employed 43 people since 2023 and removed about 1.7 million pounds of trash.

The council voted to postpone the public hearing and second reading of ordinance 26-072, which would add distance restrictions for large data centers and battery storage; speakers cited nearby projects (Nebius, Patmos) and urged revisions.

Staff and council discussed where to target incentives, typical thresholds (15-20%) used in economic-development packages, the need to be performance-based, and the city's role in Opportunity Zones 2.0 (the city suggests census tracts but investors work with federal rules; OZ 2.0 begins 2027-01-01).

City staff told the advisory board the council is considering a 180-day moratorium on new data center applications while it rewrites the Unified Development Ordinance to create size-based review categories and consider separate rules for battery energy storage systems; one applicant already in the queue would not be affected.

Planning staff proposed UDO Amendment 80 to regulate data centers (three tiers) and utility‑scale battery energy storage systems; commissioners adopted several staff changes but then failed to recommend approval of the amended ordinance. Public testimony urged more detailed categorization and stronger enforcement and financial assurance.

City staff reported progress on the $55 million geobond program, including bridge replacements, sidewalks-to-school projects and a five-year overlay program; the city said bridge delivery risks — Union Pacific requirements and a thin local contractor market — are the program's biggest challenge.

Bargier & Associates updated the council on the 2025 Missouri legislative session, highlighting roughly 3,200 bills introduced and 81 passed, pending constitutional amendments on the August ballot (including an income-tax measure labeled Amendment 5), and several bills with municipal implications such as sovereign immunity (Senate Bill 916) and changes to historic tax credits.

Speakers representing preservation groups urged the council to place a single-issue general obligation bond on the November ballot to address deferred maintenance across four city-owned historic properties; opponents urged exploring grants and private funding first. The council voted 5-0 to place a resolution on July 20 and an ordinance for first reading on Aug. 3.

Council approved a letter supporting a 60-unit affordable housing application (26-747). Developer Jeff Beckler said units will be income-restricted across 30%, 60% and 80% AMI tiers and offered mitigation measures such as fencing; neighbors raised pedestrian-safety concerns.

Summary of formal actions at the July 6, 2026 Independence City Council meeting, including passage of moratoriums, a historic-sites resolution, approval of a support letter for a 60-unit affordable project, a failed separation-reduction request, and an ordinance calling a special recall election.

The Independence City Council voted unanimously July 6 to place 180-day moratoriums on new data-processing/hosting facilities and on battery energy storage systems to give staff time to review zoning, safety and code changes after multiple residents raised neighborhood and national-security concerns.

PFM Asset Management recommended updating the city’s 2015 investment policy to align with Missouri statute and to allow commercial paper (up to a 25% allocation, subject to Missouri maturity limits) for the city’s roughly $124.9 million portfolio; staff said the manager can execute policy changes but will bring a redlined memo forward.

City safety staff told the Audit & Finance Committee that the city’s experience modification rating is 2.02 — more than double the municipal benchmark — and recommended stricter injury reporting, loss-control audits, mandatory training and a new safety specialist to reduce claims and stabilize funds.

IPL Director Joe Hegender told the council that Independence faces capacity shortages when a roughly 70‑MW capacity contract lapses in 2030, laying out options including renewing the contract, joining a Dogwood gas plant expansion, and adding wind or storage to maintain reserve margins; he quantified current peak loads and potential penalties for failing capacity obligations.