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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