KC City Council overturns voter-approved light-rail initiative

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The City Council has repealed a light-rail plan approved by voters last year, calling the $1 billion-plus plan unfeasible and too expensive.

The council's 10-3 decision Thursday capped months of activity and negotiations since voters last year approved light-rail advocate Clay Chastain's 27-mile light-rail line from Swope Park to Kansas City International Airport.

Council members said they would have to move ahead with developing their own plan.

"This plan can never be built," said Councilman Ed Ford, who has led the council's latest light-rail efforts. He said the repeal was not undemocratic because the city charter provides checks and balances that allow the council to overturn unworkable initiatives.

Chastain had hoped to persuade council members not to repeal his plan. Instead, he wanted to have revisions made to his plan and presented to voters in February. But he didn't get a chance to address the council.

After the vote, he vowed there would be a legal challenge.

"Today the City Council did a bad thing," Chastain said. "They slapped democracy in the face."

Chastain's plan would have been funded starting in 2009 by a 3/8-cent sales tax that currently funds the local bus operations through 2009. Kansas City Area Transportation Authority officials contend that losing the funds would devastate their operations, and council members want to have an election next year to renew the tax for buses.

Voters will get to consider another light-rail plan, but when that will occur will be decided Nov. 20. Some council members support a light-rail election in February, while others think next November will give extra planning time and a better chance for victory.

The council's repeal pre-empted a citizen-led initiative to overturn the Chastain plan. But the council then voted unanimously to place the petition initiative repeal on the February ballot as a hedge in case Chastain or someone else challenges the council's own repeal. If there is no court challenge within 10 days, that February election won't be necessary.

Thursday was the deadline for the council to get the petition initiative, organized in part by businessman James Nutter Sr., on the ballot.

One council member said the decision to repeal a voter-approved plan was "gut-wrenching." The three dissenters were Beth Gottstein, John Sharp and Cathy Jolly.

Gottstein said the council's repeal will "kill momentum" in favor of light rail because voters will be angry at their will being overturned.

While they were divided on the repeal and when to hold the next light-rail election, council members emphasized that light rail in Kansas City is a matter of when, not if.

"Our community is ready for light rail," Councilwoman Jan Marcason said.

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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com