Jackson County Missouri  
JOURNAL  
Jackson County Courthouse  
415 E.12th Street, 2nd floor  
Kansas City, Missouri 64106  
(816)881-3242  
County Legislature  
Jeanie Lauer (5th) Chairman,  
Office of  
Megan L. Marshall (3rd AL) Vice Chairman,  
Mary Jo Spino  
Jalen Anderson (1st AL), Donna Peyton (2nd AL), Manuel Abarca IV (1st),  
Venessa Huskey (2nd), Charlie Franklin (3rd), DaRon McGee (4th),  
Sean E. Smith (6th)  
Clerk of the County Legislature  
Monday, January 22, 2024  
3:00 PM  
Second Regular Meeting  
K.C. Legislative Assembly Area, Kansas City, Missouri  
Jeanie Lauer, Chairman, called the meeting of the Jackson County Legislature to order.  
1
ROLL CALL  
Present 9 -  
Jeanie Lauer, Megan L. Marshall, Jalen Anderson, Donna Peyton,  
Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, DaRon  
McGee and Sean E. Smith  
2
3
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
Recited.  
APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING  
A motion was made by Jalen Anderson, seconded by Manuel Abarca IV to  
approve the journal of the previous meeting held on January 08, 2024. The  
motion passed by a voice vote.  
4
5
HEARINGS  
None.  
COMMUNICATIONS WITH AND REPORTS OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE  
Frank White, Jr., County Executive, had no report.  
Manuel Abarca IV, County Legislator, asked for a follow up regarding the  
Board of Equalization challenges and the lawsuits filed by some cities within  
the County. Mr. White said this is a litigation matter to be discussed in a  
closed session. Mr. Abarca asked for an update on the implementation of  
SB190. Mr. White said the Administration has met to discuss its next steps.  
The Administration intends to add staff to assist with the implementation of  
SB190. Mr. White said the Missouri legislature had a flawed process when it  
approved SB190. The County will need to work through this process.  
6
PERFECTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND REPORTS OF COMMITTEE  
5823  
5823  
5824  
5826  
A motion was made by Sean E. Smith, seconded by Megan L. Marshall, to  
reassign Ordinance #5823 to the Finance and Audit Committee. The motion  
passed by voice vote.  
(APPROVED)  
AN ORDINANCE repealing sections 9103. and 9104., Jackson County  
Code, 1984, relating to the Board of Equalization, and enacting, in lieu  
thereof, two new sections relating to the same subject, with an effective date.  
(Finance and Audit Committee - 3rd. Perfection)  
AN ORDINANCE appropriating $22,000,000.00 from the undesignated fund  
balance of the General Fund and authorizing the construction of two floors of  
office space in the Health Sciences building for use by University Health.  
(Budget Committee - 3rd. Perfection)  
Submitting to the qualified voters of Jackson County, Missouri, at a special  
election to be held on April 2, 2024, a question authorizing Jackson County  
to impose a countywide parks sales tax of three-sixteenths of one percent  
for a period of twenty-five years for the purpose of retaining the Kansas City  
Chiefs sports team in Jackson County, Missouri.  
(WITHDRAWN BY SPONSOR ABARCA. CONCURRED BY  
LEGISLATORS McGEE AND SMITH)  
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FINAL PASSAGE OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES  
None.  
RESOLUTIONS IN COMMITTEE  
21508  
Finance and Audit Committee moved to adopt. Consent Agenda.  
9
CONSENT AGENDA  
21508  
A RESOLUTION expressing support for payment of prevailing wages for all  
workers involved in the Jackson County Detention Center Construction  
Project located in Kansas City, Missouri.  
(ADOPTED)  
Resolution #21508 was moved to the Consent Agenda for adoption.  
A motion was made by Jalen Anderson, seconded by Megan L. Marshall, to  
approve the Consent Agenda. The motion passed by a roll call vote:  
Yes: 9 -  
Jeanie Lauer, Megan L. Marshall, Jalen Anderson, Donna Peyton,  
Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, DaRon  
McGee and Sean E. Smith  
10  
11  
INTRODUCTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEE  
None.  
INTRODUCTION OF PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS AND ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEE  
21509  
21510  
21511  
Authorizing an extension to the contract for rebranding services with TICO  
Productions of Kansas City, Missouri, for use by COMBAT staff at no  
additional cost to the County.  
(Assigned to the Anti-Crime Committee.)  
Authorizing the County Executive to execute an Intergovernmental  
Cooperative Agreement with the City of Independence, Missouri, for the use  
of certain County property for a civic event, at no cost to the County.  
(Assigned to the Inter-Governmental Affairs Committee.)  
A motion was made by Jalen Anderson, seconded by Megan L. Marshall, to  
adopt Resolution #21511, authorizing the Jackson County Legislature to  
hold a closed meeting on Monday, January 22, 2024, for the purpose of  
conducting privileged and confidential communications between itself and  
the Jackson County Counselor under section 610.021(1) of the Revised  
Statutes of Missouri, and closing all records prepared for discussion at said  
meeting. The motion passed by a roll call vote:  
Yes: 9 -  
Jeanie Lauer, Megan L. Marshall, Jalen Anderson, Donna Peyton,  
Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, DaRon  
McGee and Sean E. Smith  
(ADOPTED)  
21512  
Authorizing the County Executive to execute two amendments to the contract  
with J.E. Dunn-Axiom of Kansas City, MO, for the construction of the new  
Jackson County Detention Center to cover Component Packages 2B and  
2C related to the furnishing of services, labor, and materials for the footing,  
foundation, and structural portions of the of the new Detention Center  
Project, at a cost to the County not to exceed $193,996,230.00.  
(Assigned to the Public Works Committee.)  
21513  
21514  
Expressing the intent of the Legislature to work with the County Executive to  
develop a plan to commit federal American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds.  
(Assigned to the Budget Committee.)  
Awarding a contract for the maintenance of software for use by the Office of  
the Clerk of the County Legislature to Granicus of St. Paul, MN, at an actual  
cost to the County in the amount of $42,399.00 for 2024, as a sole source  
purchase.  
(Assigned to the Finance and Audit Committee.)  
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13  
COUNTY EXECUTIVE ORDERS  
None.  
UNFINISHED BUSINESS  
A motion was made by DaRon McGee, seconded by Donna Peyton, to  
override the veto of Ordinance #5822, submitting to the qualified voters of  
Jackson County, Missouri, at a special election to be held on April 2, 2024,  
a question authorizing Jackson County to impose a countywide sales tax of  
three-eighths of one percent for a period of forty years for the purpose of  
retaining the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs sports teams in  
Jackson County, Missouri.  
Discussion.  
Jalen Anderson, County Legislator, recognized Mike White, attorney for the  
Sports Complex Authority, and Shawn Foster, Chairman of the Sports  
Complex Authority, who were in attendance. Mr. Anderson said he  
appreciates everyone’s hard work toward an agreement on the Letter of  
Intent. These efforts were productive for the Jackson County community. Mr.  
Anderson stated he is pro-labor, and he is proud that the teams are  
committed to supporting labor. He is pleased that through the community  
benefits agreement the community coalition is meeting with the teams and  
working with Gwendolyn Grant toward common goals.  
Donna Peyton, County Legislator, expressed her thanks to Legislator  
Anderson for his comments. She appreciates the overwhelming support she  
has received regarding this ordinance. She appreciates the hard work of her  
fellow Legislators who worked to make a decision based on their beliefs.  
She appreciates the efforts of the County Executive, who is committed to  
proceeding in good faith to work with the teams. Ms. Peyton said it is her  
hope that taxpayers will exercise their right to cast a vote in making the  
decision on this sales tax measure.  
Manuel Abarca IV, County Legislator, said he agreed with the sentiments  
expressed. He appreciates the efforts of the County Executive for driving the  
concept of a better deal for Jackson County residents. He thanked the  
teams for working overnight and over the weekend toward an agreement on  
the Letter of Intent. He thanked Herb Hardwick and Alison Bergman for their  
commitment to representing the County in these negotiations to make sure  
to get a better deal for all.  
Megan L. Marshall, County Legislator, read a statement regarding her vote  
to sustain the veto of Ordinance #5822.  
"First off, I’d be remiss if I didn’t speak to the level of engagement this issue has  
garnered from nearly every sector of our county. I have received hundreds of  
emails, numerous phone calls, and recently learned a public opinion poll was  
taken last month to determine the public’s appetite for re-electing public officials  
who do not support placing this issue on the ballot. As elected officials we all want  
to be admired and accepted. But I don’t take public opinion polls to make my  
decisions, I decide based on facts and information. While I can appreciate the  
commitment so many share for our sports teams and the genuine love people  
have in their hearts for the Royals and the Chiefs, I can’t help but dream about  
the generational impact we could all experience on serious, long-standing issues  
like socioeconomic and academic inequities, rising crime, gun violence, and  
homelessness. If billionaires, the business community, chambers of commerce,  
civil rights organizations, non-profit organizations, civic organizations, organized  
labor, and city, county and state governments all worked together in the same  
type of long term, persistent manner that we have seen to ensure the Royals and  
Chiefs receive new stadiums and entertainment districts. I challenge all of these  
interests to double down on their involvement in addressing these pressing  
community concerns. But I digress…Our sports teams have agreed to a Letter  
of Intent. Which is nothing more than a promise. It is NOT legally binding. Which  
means nearly everything in that letter can be abandoned at any time without legal  
recourse. I can appreciate promises. I can also appreciate good intentions and  
good faith. I have no information that either sports team does not intend to do  
what the Letter of Intent outlines. I assume no ill-will in that regard. But it is  
concerning to me when billionaires make promises that they’re not willing to be  
legally bound by, while asking poor people for billions in tax dollars that residents  
will be forced to pay for the next 40 years. That doesn’t seem right to me. It  
seems inequitable. It feels like an injustice. While I can appreciate a promise, my  
role as a lawmaker is not to divine the hearts of billionaires, it’s to assess facts  
and information. And use that information to inform the public and protect the  
public with policy and law. To place $2 BILLION dollars in taxes on the ballot  
without legally binding agreements from both teams, which would ensure, if the  
ballot measure passes, taxpayers actually receive what they voted for, goes  
beyond mere good faith - it is irresponsible. We need only look across the state  
to St. Louis for an example of what can happen when governments blindly trust  
professional sports teams, and convince taxpayers to do the same, then provide  
tax dollars to build new stadiums, but end up paying for a stadium with no sports  
team. County, city and state funding is needed to make the Royals and Chiefs  
dreams come true. Because neither team has publicly committed to using their  
own money for these projects. Many of the people in this room are prepared to  
sell a tax to the people of Jackson County without any assurances from the City  
of Kansas City or the State of Missouri that their end of the deal is forthcoming.  
Inevitably, there will be uninformed voters, as in every election, going to the polls  
in April fully believing that voting ‘YES’ means these projects are a sure thing.  
But right now, we know, even if this ballot measure passes, these projects are  
anything but a sure thing. I can appreciate good intentions, but I cannot  
participate in misinforming taxpayers. This is where handshake deals and good  
intentions fall short. The people of Jackson County deserve more than a pound  
and a bro hug, they deserve legal assurances and legal commitments from  
those who want to spend billions of dollars of THEIR hard-earned money for the  
next 40 years. To be clear, I support major sports teams, particularly those in  
mid-sized markets like Kansas City. But more than entertainment, home runs  
and touchdown celebrations, I support regular people. People who can’t afford to  
pay for $15 beers and $12 hot dogs - and thousands of dollars for season  
tickets. People who will never go to a game nor ever be allowed to sit in a stadium  
suite. People who sweep the floors, sell the beer, and clean the toilets - all in  
between quick peeks at games they’ll never be able to take their little boy or girl  
to. I want legal commitments not intentions and empty promises. I want legal  
guarantees of livable wages, affordable housing, Black and minority participation  
in these construction projects, and union labor to build. I want a real deal to sell to  
the public. This Letter of Intent falls far short of that. I appreciate a promise. I  
sincerely hope both sports teams fulfill those intentions. But taxpayers suffering  
from rising property taxes, national inflation, and stagnant wages deserve legal  
commitments. That is why I’ll be voting to sustain the County Executive’s veto.  
Thank you."  
Jeanie Lauer, County Legislator, thanked everyone for their comments. She  
said this is not the end of the process. This puts the initiative on the ballot.  
The voters have their job to do. The County still must have a lease  
agreement finished. There is still work to do and discussions to be had. Ms.  
Lauer said she had many contacts from residents in her district that voted  
significantly against the use tax. Now the stadium tax is coming through and  
she was overwhelmed with comments and emails stating, “Do not place  
another tax on the ballot.” These residents love the teams. Ms. Lauer said  
she loves the teams. But everything moving forward must be done to finalize  
the work that has been left undone so we can give the citizens a full picture  
of what this tax is for.  
The motion passed by a roll call vote:  
Yes: 7 - Jalen Anderson, Donna Peyton, Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa  
Huskey, Charlie Franklin, DaRon McGee, and Sean E. Smith  
No: 2 - Megan L. Marshall and Jeanie Lauer  
Additional statements released by Legislators are attached to the online  
record for Ordinance #5822, located at  
https://jacksonco.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?  
ID=6452571&GUID=6E9BF88E-3DAB-4204-B508-C0124C644C32&Opti  
ons  
14  
NEW BUSINESS  
A motion was made by Megan L. Marshall, seconded by Sean E. Smith, to  
hold Legislative meetings for 2024 at the Downtown Legislative Assembly  
Area in Kansas City until appropriate equipment can be installed at the  
Legislative Assembly Area located at the Eastern Jackson County  
Courthouse in Independence. The motion passed by a voice vote.  
Closed meeting per Resolution #21511.  
The meeting went into recess. The meeting reconvened.  
15  
ADJOURNMENT  
A motion was made by Manuel Abarca IV, seconded by Venessa Huskey, to  
adjourn the meeting. The motion passed by a voice vote.  
Meeting adjourned until Monday, January 29, 2024 at 3:00 P.M. at the  
Jackson County Courthouse, 415 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 2nd  
Floor, Legislative Assembly Area.