Hotel Opponents Say Issue is Growing November 30, 2015

Opponents to the downtown convention hotel in Kansas City say the issue is growing.

“It has become a full-fledged attempt to dismantle the petition process and disregard or destroy the city charter,” wrote Dan Coffey of the Citizens for Responsible Government in a letter to supprters..

Coffey’s group got a letter late last week telling them the city would not place the hotel issue on the ballot. The city says it has been warned it could be violating agreements and pledges it has made if the hotel is delayed much longer.

The statement said it was sending the letter of rejection on to members of the City Council.

“We are sending a copy of the letter to city council members as it appears they were not included in the mailing,” it says

Council Repeals $13 Minimum Wage October 22, 2015

The City Council of Kansas City Missouri is trying to keep the issue of a minimum wage increase alive, in their own way.
After voting to repeal an earlier increase in the minimum wage on a 7-4 vote, the council passed a non-binding resolution.
Council members Thursday voted 11-0 in support of a resolution calling for an increase in the minimum wage in the city.
The previous council voted to raise the minimum in steps to $13 an hour.
Another petition was pressed in the city to raise the wage to $15 an hour.
A St. Louis court, however, ruled that only the state of Missouri, not its cities, set wages in Missouri.
The resolution called for the Republican-dominated Missouri general Assembly to raise the minimum wage from its current level of $6.75 an hour.
That is higher than the federal minimum of $6.25 an hour, the rate in Kansas.
The resolution also says if the lawmakers don’t raise it, then the council could support an initiative petition to increase it in Missouri.
In a statement, Kansas City Mayor Sly James said, ““I know today’s action will disappoint some, especially those who desperately need a raise. I understand and feel that very personally.”
He added, “It would be inaccurate and misguided, though, to construe this procedural action as anything other than a recognition of what Kansas City can and cannot do under state law.

13 File to Replace Brooks at City Hall January 10, 2015

Thirteen people filed to fill the vacant 5th District Seat on the City Council of Kansas City.
A special panel will make the short-term appointment.
The thirteen are; Charlie Angel, Leslie Alford, Richard O. Brown, Sam Calaroso, Andreka Collins, Rianna Desliech, David Anthony Gilmore, Cokethea Hill, Sherwood Smith, Evaline Taylor, Richard Tolbert, and Yvonne Wilson.
Former 5th District Councila,nMichaelBrooks resigned after being accused by his former aide of choking her in their. City office.
Brooks denies the charge.
A panel will review the group and recommend finalists to City Council.
Mayor Sly James wants the new appointed council member to serve only until 5th District voters select a new permanent representative in the spring’s city elections.

KC Council Votes Down Complying with Mo. Law on Concealed Weapons & Intoxicated Permit Holders March 7, 2014

The Kansas City Council couldn’t swallow what was thought to be a simple change in city law, to comply with a state law on concealed weapons and intoxication.
Missouri state law permits the holder of a concealed weapons permit to carry the weapon even if the holder is intoxicated.
The permit holder can carry the weapon while intoxicated as long as the owner does not use the weapon in a negligent fashion.
Most Council members think the state law on this is a poor one.
“It’s kind of like , well, it’s OK if you drive drunk, as long as you don’t hit anybody,” said Councilman John Sharp, ” you just have to be real careful”.
Sharp voted for the ordinance change to comply with the state law.
Kansas City Mayor Sly James, however, voted against it.
“Just because the 2nd Amendment mentions guns ( the idea) everybody and anybody ought to have the right to have whatever guns they want, whenever they want them, under any circumstances, in an urban seething, is in my mind, ludicrous,” the Mayor said.
The ordinance to comply to the state law failed by one vote.
The defeat is largely symbolic, a display of frustration by the council.
Eventually, the City will have to change the local law to comply with the state statute.

Council Rejects Two Big Charter Changes, But Supports Others-including Moving City Voting Dates January 24, 2014

The Kansas City, Missouri City Council has rejected two of the biggest proposed changes to the City Charter.
The Council rejected the idea if having voters decide if the Mayor to be able to fire the City Manager on his own, without Council support.
The council also turned down the idea of electing all 12 members of the Council from districts throughout the city. Now, six members of the Council are elected in-district. Six other run "at-large", meaning they are elected city-wide.
Supporters of the all-Dist.rict plan say it would promote more minority representation on the Council.
Opponents claimed it would lead to more political infighting and less consideration of the city-wide impact of local issues.
The City Council did approve putting some other Charter Changes before the voters on April 8.
The most far reaching change for voters would be moving the date of the city elections.
Under the proposed change, the city elections would move from a late winter primary in February or early March with a run-off four weeks later.
The new plan pushes the city election back.
The primary would be held in April. The run-off election would be held in June. New Council members would take office in August of that year.
The idea is to encourage larger voter turn-out by having the campaigns and election in better weather.
Other plans that the Council agreed to put before voters includes making some financial changes in how the city operates and re-classifying some city departments.