By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
March 11, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — The latest decision is there is no decision, yet.

At last week’s Public Safety and Emergency Services Committee meeting, members continued the discussion on whether or not a decision on a controversial ordinance which would eliminate employee liquor permits should be passed. After about two hours discussing the issue, no decision was made. The committee decided to hold off on any decision for two weeks, until they meet again on Wednesday, March 18. Committee chair John Sharp told his colleagues he’d like to come to a decision before the next meeting.

The committee hearing was again split into proponents and opponents, telling committee members why or why not the ordinance should be passed. The city currently issues the permits to any person who works in an establishment as a bar manager, bartender, waiter, cashier, sales clerk, stock person, doorman or any position responsible for checking identification. These permits are issued by the Regulated Industries Division, which strongly opposes the ordinance. The ordinance is sponsored by First District At-Large Councilman, and committee member, Scott Wagner.

The city has restrictions on who can and cannot receive an employee liquor permit. Felons who have committed violent crimes are not allowed to receive the permits. However, there are time restrictions for others who have committed felonies and misdemeanors — four years for a drug offense and eight years for robbery or assault. Once the time passes, the person is able to apply for, and receive, a liquor permit.

Several residents from the Northeast area spoke out against the ordinance at last week’s meeting. Of them, Mark Morales, president of the Sheffield Neighborhood Association, said he attended the meeting wearing several hats. One hat is as an employee in the entertainment industry, working for Aramark at the stadium complex. Alcohol has over 400 points of sale at the complex and is an important aspect at the games.

“When you have a bigger venue, its harder to control,” Morales said.

Shannon Hickey, executive director for the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association, assured the committee the restaurant industry does not want to employee murderers and rapists. To the GKCRA, and its 600 business owners, they are in opposition of their employees paying for the permits.

“I’m asking you, is there a way for us to come together and filter out these problems without our employees having to foot the bill,” Hickey said. “I just don’t think it’s fair our employees have to pay to filter out the violent offenders.”

Surrounding cities that have fees associated with their version of the liquor permit include Belton, Independence, Liberty, Grandview and Gladstone. The fees range from as low as $10 to as high as $35.

Sharp relayed his reluctance to support the ordinance as it is currently written. He noted, though, he wouldn’t be opposed to amending the ordinance after some discussion. Katrina Foster, Legislative Aide for Scott Taylor, spoke on the councilman’s behalf because he wasn’t present at the meeting. Foster said the councilman, “strongly opposes” this ordinance.