RESOLUTION NO. 090986

Establishing the Power and Light Oversight Commission for the purposes of assisting the City in its monitoring of compliance with the City’s public accommodations laws and advising the City on actions it should take in response to potential violations.

WHEREAS, the Council passed Committee Substitute for Ordinance No. 090108, As Amended, for the purpose of prohibiting the use of dress codes to deny persons access to businesses and facilities in publicly subsidized redevelopment plans and projects; and

WHEREAS, the Power & Light District is a redevelopment area subject to the City’s dress code ordinance; and

WHEREAS, the City’s Human Relations Division conducted a study for the purpose of determining whether minorities, particularly African-American and Hispanic males, were wrongfully being denied entry into the District; and

WHEREAS, that study indicated that some minorities were being excluded on the basis of their clothing while white males were being permitted entry even though wearing similar clothing; and

WHEREAS, the Council has considered the study conducted by the City and believes that its conclusions raise significant concerns that must be addressed; and

WHEREAS, the Council will not tolerate discrimination of any kind or to any degree; and

WHEREAS, the Council believes that community input is essential to ensuring that the City is able to respond swiftly and appropriately in the event violations of the City’s public accommodations laws are alleged to have occurred; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. That there is hereby established a body to be known as the Power and Light Oversight Commission. The commission shall assist the City in its monitoring of compliance with the City’s public accommodations laws and advise the City on actions it should take in response to potential violations alleged to have occurred within the Power & Light District.

Section 2. That the commission shall be composed of not less than twelve persons, selected by the Mayor, who represent groups or institutions having a commitment to ensuring the equal treatment of persons, regardless of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, marital status, familial status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Section 3. That the commission’s functions shall include, but not be limited to:

Overseeing the continued periodic, unannounced testing for dress code violations by the Human Relations Division.

Periodically reviewing video footage to asses for potential violations.

Filing formal administrative complaints with either the City or the Missouri Human Rights Commission, as appropriate.

Assisting the City in implementing procedures that will result in citations being issued and violators being prosecuted in Municipal Court.

Reviewing future development agreements between the City and the developers of the Power and Light District, and commenting on the same.

Monitoring to ensure that the recommendations contained within the Human Relation Division’s report are fully implemented, including the installation of video cameras at points of entry into the Kansas City Live Block, proper training of all employees responsible for enforcing the dress code, installation of large displays with images of permitted and prohibited attire at each entrance, hiring of an independent agency to conduct dress code testing twice a year, development of a customer satisfaction survey by an independent agency, and inclusion of a requirement in all tenant lease agreements that the tenant operate in full compliance with the posted dress code and the City’s public accommodations laws.

Section 4. That the commission shall select a chairperson from among its members and shall have the authority to adopt rules of procedure governing its operation.

Section 5. That the City Manager shall provide appropriate staff to assist the commission.

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