Today at 4:10 p.m. Mayor Mark Funkhouser will address the events that took place at this morning’s City Council Finance and Audit Committee meeting regarding the proposed Volunteer Ordinance.
Mayor Funkhouser feels the process has been dishonest, rushed and opaque as exhibited by the following events from today’s meeting:
The process in which public testimony is allowed requires those who testify to sign up and be present. Two weeks ago, at the first public hearing, names of influential individuals were put on the top of the list by Councilwoman Marcason to testify on behalf of the ordinance.
“These actions violate the very spirit in which we allow our citizens to voice their concerns and is an insult to all who come to honestly be a part of the democratic process. We need to hold our elected officials accountable,” said Mayor Funkhouser.
Two weeks ago, Councilwoman Gottstein stated “I would not think that we would be so small to create a policy around one person because the voters entrusted us with something much larger than that.” After much public prodding, Councilmember Marcason admitted the policy was developed in response to a single person.
Some councilmembers were stepping into the back room throughout today’s testimony, ignoring the words of those who took time out of their schedule to have their voices and opinions heard. Significant changes were made to the proposed ordinance behind those doors.
“It was obvious to all that critical changes were made to the legislation in the span of today’s meeting,” said Mayor Funkhouser. “This is the type of behind closed doors dealing that I ran against and will continue fighting.”
Mayor Funkhouser commends Finance and Audit Chairperson, Deb Hermann, for her attempts to hold her colleagues accountable and the rest of the committee for not participating in the dishonest discussion.
Below is a video link of today’s Finance and Audit Committee meeting.
http://kansascity.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2
Mayor Funkhouser will address this morning’s meeting at a press conference today on the 22nd Floor of City Hall at 4:10 p.m.
For more information contact Kendrick Blackwood in the Mayor’s Office at 513-3513.
