ORDINANCE NO. 260859, AS AMENDED
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Sponsor: Director of Law Department
AS AMENDED
Calling an election on April 6, 2027, for the purpose of submitting a question to the voters of Kansas City that would enact an ordinance that imposes a one-fourth cent (1/4%) sales tax and continues a three-eighths cent (3/8%) sales tax and authorizes the City to seek federal funding and undertake capital improvement projects involving the development of a citywide monorail system, conversion of existing roadways, operation of an electric bus shuttle service, improvements to Penn Valley Park, and establishment of a regional transportation hub at Union Station; directing the City Clerk to provide notice of the election; enacting the sales taxes contingent upon voter approval; reaffirming the use of minority and women’s business enterprise policies for capital appropriations; stating the City’s intent to submit the sales tax question to the voters; acknowledging that the City is not required to expend funds in excess of revenues to be generated by the sales taxes; authorizing the City Manager to take necessary steps to complete the project supported by tax revenues; directing the City Clerk to provide notice to the Director of Revenue if the sales tax question is passed by the voters; and recognizing an accelerated effective date.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. ELECTION CALLED. That an election is called on April 6, 2027, for the purpose of submitting a question to the voters of Kansas City that would enact an ordinance that imposes a one-fourth cent (1/4%) sales tax and continues a three-eighths cent (3/8%) sales tax and authorizing the City to seek federal funding and undertake capital improvement projects involving the development of a citywide monorail system, conversion of existing roadways, operation of an electric bus shuttle service, improvements to Penn Valley Park and establishment of a regional transportation hub at Union Station.
Section 2. BALLOT TITLE. The ballot title for the proposition shall be:
QUESTION NO. ___
(Initiative Petition)
(Capital Improvements Sales Tax and Public Transit Sales Tax)
SHALL THE FOLLOWING BE APPROVED?
Shall the City of Kansas City, Missouri extend the 3/8-cent bus sales tax for an additional 40-years (upon its expiration in 2033) & impose a new 1/4-cent capital improvement sales tax for 40-years (beginning 2026) in order to secure federal funds & provide for the following capital improvements: 1. Construct (Citywide) Monorail System serving. . . Kansas City International Airport, Northland, Downtown, Union Station, Plaza, Eastside & KC Zoo . . . & promote construction of affordable housing & mixed-use development along corridor & establish fleet of mini-electric shuttle buses to expand service area around Monorail Stations to nearby neighborhoods, destinations & job centers; and extend a Streetcar line east to 18th & Vine; 2. Reconfigure (Select) roadways (including Troost Ave. & W. 39th St.) into Pedestrian-Friendly Greenways with limited, no-thru traffic & dedicated lanes for . . . pedestrians, cyclists / scooterists & electric buses . . . & promote affordable housing units along (landscaped, tree-lined) Greenways; 3. Upgrade Penn Valley Park into a safe & natural Downtown Park (no vehicular traffic inside Park) including 200-acres of new trees, open green space and recreational trails; 4. Incorporate into Union Station’s North Wing a Regional Transportation Hub (requires razing bldgs. @ 2300 & 2301 Main St. via eminent domain) to facilitate connections between alternative forms of transportation. . . streetcars, electric-buses, metro-express buses, Amtrack & the KCI Airport Monorail?
___ For the Ordinance
___ Against the Ordinance
Section 3. ELECTION NOTICE. The Notice of Election shall read as follows:
NOTICE OF ELECTION
CITY OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
Notice is given to the qualified voters of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, that the City Council of the City has called a special election to be held in the City on April 6, 2027, commencing at 6:00 A.M. and closing at 7:00 P.M., on the questions contained in the following sample ballot:
OFFICIAL BALLOT CITY OF KANSAS CITY
GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
APRIL 6, 2027
QUESTION NO. ___
(Initiative Petition)
(Capital Improvements Sales Tax and Public Transit Sales Tax)
SHALL THE FOLLOWING BE APPROVED?
Shall the City of Kansas City, Missouri extend the 3/8-cent bus sales tax for an additional 40-years (upon its expiration in 2033) & impose a new 1/4-cent capital improvement sales tax for 40-years (beginning 2026) in order to secure federal funds & provide for the following capital improvements: 1. Construct (Citywide) Monorail System serving. . . Kansas City International Airport, Northland, Downtown, Union Station, Plaza, Eastside & KC Zoo . . . & promote construction of affordable housing & mixed-use development along corridor & establish fleet of mini-electric shuttle buses to expand service area around Monorail Stations to nearby neighborhoods, destinations & job centers; and extend a Streetcar line east to 18th & Vine; 2. Reconfigure (Select) roadways (including Troost Ave. & W. 39th St.) into Pedestrian-Friendly Greenways with limited, no-thru traffic & dedicated lanes for . . . pedestrians, cyclists / scooterists & electric buses . . . & promote affordable housing units along (landscaped, tree-lined) Greenways; 3. Upgrade Penn Valley Park into a safe & natural Downtown Park (no vehicular traffic inside Park) including 200-acres of new trees, open green space and recreational trails; 4. Incorporate into Union Station’s North Wing a Regional Transportation Hub (requires razing bldgs. @ 2300 & 2301 Main St. via eminent domain) to facilitate connections between alternative forms of transportation. . . streetcars, electric-buses, metro-express buses, Amtrack & the KCI Airport Monorail?
___ For the Ordinance
___ Against the Ordinance
Instructions to voters will be supplied by the election authorities.
A complete copy of Ordinance No. _____ submitting this question to the electorate is on file in the Office of the City Clerk of Kansas City, Missouri, and is open for inspection and copying.
The election will be held at the following polling places in the City of Kansas City, Missouri: [insert list in last publication only]
I hereby certify that the foregoing is the legal notice to be published pursuant to Section 115.127, RSMo, as amended.
Given under my hand and the official seal of the Kansas City, Missouri, this ____ day of ______________________, 20__.
(SEAL) ___________________________________
MARILYN SANDERS
City Clerk of Kansas City, Missouri
Before me, a notary public, personally appeared Marilyn Sanders, to me known to be the City Clerk of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, and the person who acknowledged to me that she executed the same for the purposes therein stated.
_________________________________
Notary Public
My commission expires:_____________________________
Section 4. NOTICE TO ELECTION AUTHORITIES BY CITY CLERK. That following passage of this ordinance the City Clerk shall deliver certified copies of this ordinance and notice of election to the Clerk of Cass County, Board of Election Commissioners of Clay County, Board of Election Commissioners of Kansas City, and Board of Election Commissioners of Platte County, not later than January 26, 2027, which shall be the authority of each election authority of the City to submit the question to the electors of Kansas City and to give public notice as provided by law.
Section 5. ENACTMENT OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND PUBLIC TRANSIT SALES TAX. That contingent upon the approval of the voters, Article VII, entitled "Sales Taxes," of Chapter 68 of the Code of Ordinances, entitled "Taxation," is amended by enacting a new Section 68-476.1, to read as follows:
Sec. 68-476.1. Sales taxes for Airport Monorail & Additional Capital Improvements.
(a) Continuation of existing tax. Pursuant to the authority granted by and subject to the provisions of section 94.600 through section 94.655, RSMo., a tax for the purpose of developing, operating and maintaining infrastructure, transportation & capital improvements, under the guidance of the City Council, is hereby continued upon all sellers for the privilege of engaging in the business of selling tangible personal property or rendering taxable services at retail to the extent and in the manner provided in section 144.010 through section 144.525, RSMo., and the rules and regulations of the Director of Revenue thereto. The rate of the sales tax shall be 3/8% on the receipts from the sale at retail or all tangible personal property or taxable services at retail within the city, if such property and such services are subject to taxation by the state under the provisions of section 144.010 through section 144.525, RSM... The tax shall become effective in 2033 and shall apply to all sales made until 2073 (a period of 40-years) and shall be collected as provided in section 94.600 through 94.655, RSMo.
(b) Imposition of new tax. Pursuant to the authority granted by and subject to the provisions of section 94.575 through section 94.577, RSMo., a tax for the benefit of the city is hereby imposed upon all sellers for the privilege of engaging in the business of selling tangible personal property or rendering taxable services at retail to the extent and in the manner provided in section 144.010 through section 144.525 RSMo., and the rules and regulations of the Director of Revenue issued pursuant thereto. The rate of the new tax shall be 1/4-percent on the receipts from the sale at retail of all tangible personal property or taxable services at retail within the city, if such property and such services are subject to taxation by the state under the provisions of sections 144.010 through section 144.525, RSMo. The tax shall become effective 1/1/26 and collected for a period of 40-years, unless sooner terminated, and shall be collected as provided in section 94.575 through 94.577, RSMo.
(c) The City shall use the tax proceeds for the implementation and on-going operation and maintenance of the following capital improvements:
(1) Construct (Citywide) Monorail System serving…Kansas City International Airport, Northland, Downtown, Union Station, Plaza, Eastside & KC Zoo... & promote construction of affordable housing & mixed-use development along corridor & establish fleet of mini-electric shuttle buses to expand service area around Monorail Stations to nearby neighborhoods, destinations & job centers; and extend a Streetcar line east to 18th & Vine;
(2) Reconfigure (Select) roadways (including Troost Ave. & W. 39th St.) into Pedestrian-Friendly Greenways with limited, no-thru traffic & dedicated lanes for... pedestrians, cyclists/ scooterists & electric buses... & promote affordable housing units along (landscaped, tree-lined) Greenways;
(3) Upgrade Penn Valley Park into a safe & natural Downtown Park (no vehicular traffic inside Park) including 200-acres of new trees, open green space and recreational trails;
(4) Incorporate into Union Station's North Wing a Regional Transportation Hub (requires razing bldgs. @ 2300 & 2301 Main St. via eminent domain) to facilitate connections between alternative forms of transportation…streetcars, electric-buses, metro-express buses, Amtrak & the KCI Airport Monorail?
Section 6. Reaffirmation of MBE/WBE and workforce policies. These policies will be followed in the use of all capital appropriations.
Section 7. This ordinance, to impose a tax for infrastructure, transportation & capital improvements, shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the city for their consideration, as required by section 94.577 and section 94.605, RSMo.
Section 8. Nothing herein shall be construed to instruct or compel the City of Kansas City to expend funds in excess of revenues generated hereby. In the event revenue generated hereby is insufficient to complete all improvements and routes the City is directed to complete as much as feasible with priority being given to connections with existing or previously planned public transportation routes.
Section 9. The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to take all steps necessary and incidental to the completion of the express purpose of this Ordinance including, but not limited to developing detailed plans, negotiating necessary right of ways, issuing revenue bonds and entering into necessary contracts. The City Manager, furthermore, is expressly authorized to apply for federal matching transit and infrastructure improvement funds.
Section 10. NOTICE TO DIRECTOR OF REVENUE BY CITY CLERK. If approved by the voters, the City Clerk shall, within 10 days after the approval, forward to the Missouri Director of Revenue by United States registered or certified mail, a certified copy of this ordinance together with certifications of the election returns accompanied by a map of the City clearly showing its boundaries.
Section 11. ACCELERATED EFFECTIVE DATE RECOGNIZED. That this ordinance, providing for the submission of a question to the people of Kansas City, Missouri, is hereby recognized to be an ordinance with an accelerated effective date within the meaning of Section 503(a)(3)(A) of the City Charter because it calls an election and provides for the submission of a proposal to the people; and as such shall become effective immediately following approval by the Mayor, or five days after passage if no action is taken by the Mayor to approve or veto the ordinance.
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Approved as to form:
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Samuel Miller
Associate City Attorney