April 8, 2008

Question one: Bus tax
Question two: Short-term loan establishment fee
Question three: Smoking ordinance

Ordinance No. 080034
Enacting a new Section 68-475, continuing a 3/8% city sales tax for a period of 15 years for the purposes of developing, operating, maintaining, equipping and improving a bus, bus rapid transit, or similar system by the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority for Kansas City, Missouri, pursuant to Sections 94.600 through 94.655, RSMo.; providing for submission of this ordinance to the qualified voters of the City for their approval at a special election called for April 8, 2008, authorizing and directing the City Clerk to notify the responsible election authorities of this election; authorizing and directing the City Clerk to notify the Missouri Director of Revenue if the proposal is approved by the voters; and recognizing this ordinance to be an emergency measure.

The issue
How will revenue generated from the sales tax be used?
How much money will this tax generate?
What is the current state of the system and what will happen if the tax is not renewed?

Ordinance No. 071204
Shall the City of Kansas City, Missouri be authorized, for the purpose of reimbursing the City for administrative expenses related to the regulation and inspection of short term loan establishments and the issuance of permits for such businesses, to impose an annual fee of $1,000.00 for each permit (new or renewal) for a short term loan establishment or $500.00 for a permit issued with less than 6 months remaining in the calendar year?

The issue
Background
What is a short-term loan establishment?
When did the City start requiring short-term loan establishments to register?
Why did the City start requiring short-term loan establishments to get permits?
What are the City's rules that must be followed for a permit to be granted to a short-term loan establishment?
If this measure passes, how would the revenue from the fees be used?
Are fees charged for other businesses to be licensed?
How much revenue is expected to be generated if this measure passes?
Why is this being voted on and not simply passed by the City Council?
What would happen if this measure does not pass?
If this measure does pass, when would it go into effect?

Ordinance No. 080073
Shall the City of Kansas City prohibit smoking in enclosed places of employment, enclosed public places and on public sidewalks abutting acute care hospitals, while allowing it in casino gaming areas until all casinos located in the Missouri counties of Jackson, Platte and Clay, and the Kansas counties of Johnson and Wyandotte are obligated by ordinance, statute or law to prohibit smoking within the casino areas where gambling games are allowed, as set forth in Ordinance No. 080073, for the purpose of promoting public health by decreasing citizen's exposure to secondhand smoke and creating smoke free environments for workers and citizens through regulation in the work place and all public places?

The issue
Where else will smoking be prohibited under this ordinance?
Are there any places where smoking is not prohibited by this ordinance?
Would people be able to smoke in casinos?
Do business owners have any responsibilities under this ordinance?
What are the penalties for violations of this ordinance?
Does the City already have a smoking ordinance?
What are the major differences between the current law and this proposed ordinance?
Who is responsible for enforcing this ordinance?
When would this ordinance go into effect if the ballot measure passes?