CURRENT LEGISLATIVE REPORTS

July  2000 HAA Legislative Activity Report:

In Kansas City, MO the August 8th ballot will feature "Question NO. 2 --- Shall the City of Kansas City be authorized to impose a fee o $1.95 per month per dwelling unit receiving services for the purpose of providing funds for residential curbside recycling services for residences consisting of not more than two dwelling units? The fee may be annually adjusted to reflect actual cost increases or decreases but shall not exceed $2.50 per month per dwelling unit."

Supporters of this measure have been careful to exclude mandatory participation of multifamily units. To the extent that residents and owners of smaller 4-6 plex properties would wish to participate, direct subscription and billing arrangements (at a premium) will be made available through Deffenbaugh

In Kansas City, MO Yael Abouhalkah, a member of the Star editorial staff, has renewed calls for inspections and licensing for all rental units within the city limits. This comes on the heels of the Linwood slumlord horror story, and will likely fuel a renewed interest among several city council members to revisit this issue.

Also in Kansas City, MO the Commerce Tower fire, as is to be expected, is already generating renewed interest in mandatory fire sprinkler retrofitting for all buildings over 75 feet in height. HAA and BOMA are working together in an effort to head off efforts in this regard at both the state and local levels. Together we are striving to demonstrate that with each year that passes a significant amount of currently unsprinkled building square footage is upgraded through substantial rehab and tenant improvements, which ultimately require sprinklers. This is being accomplished as the result of resident / user market demand and insurance considerations, as opposed to regulatory mandates which clearly run counter to positive economic development policy.