The Unified Government Commission will meet Thursday at 7:00 PM. With the wrangling of property taxes and the budget in the rear view mirror for now, commissioners still have some important issues on the agenda, including changes to key county ordinances and amendments to the Homefield project near 98th Street and State Avenue.
Illegal camping ordinance
Perhaps most contentious on the agenda is an ordinance to prevent illegal camping. The new restriction prohibits unlawful camping on public and private property, giving law enforcement clearer authority to address homeless encampments throughout Wyandotte County.
The measure, which passed the Public Works & Safety Committee unanimously, comes after months of requests from businesses and residents concerned about homeless encampments affecting public safety and property throughout the community, particularly along the downtown corridor.
The ordinance requires 48 hours’ notice before removal in most cases, though immediate removal is permitted in certain locations including near schools, playgrounds, and infrastructure. Casey Meyer from the legal department explained the ordinance was modeled after similar measures in Wichita and Topeka following a 2024 Supreme Court decision (City of Grants Pass v. Johnson) that made it “legally easier for cities to enforce unlawful camping ordinances.”
Committee chairman Tom Burroughs emphasized the burden on city resources. “What [people] don’t see is the cost of the Unified Government through the fire department, EMS, public works, the health department, the monies that are spent in overtime to address some of the issues that we find — the drug paraphernalia that’s left in our parks, the continued decline of our community through actions that have been taken by those that are transient.”
KCK Police Master Sergeant Angela Joyce stressed the department’s measured approach. “When I’ve had to move homeless encampments off of public property, we didn’t have anything to go off of to show to keep us within constitution and everything. So, we were giving them a lot longer to vacate and probably will still give them enough time that way they have a way to get all their property off and no excuse why they have it.”
“We try to be the last option because we know that they are homeless,” said the veteran officer. “We know that they don’t have the means to deal with the potential of fines. And so we try just to get compliance versus enforcement.”
Commissioner Christian Ramirez is not on the committee, but responded afterwards via social media. “I cannot support the proposed Unlawful Camping Ordinance being brought forward,” said Ramirez, who represents the Argentine and Rosedale areas in southeast KCK. “Our houseless neighbors are still human beings – and residents of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS. This ordinance criminalizes poverty instead of addressing its root causes.”
“Real solutions mean investing in affordable housing, shelter capacity, mental health care, and community support – not pushing people further into instability. We are strong when we lead with compassion and dignity for ALL our residents.”
Other health & safety ordinances
Another proposed ordinance from Public Works & Safety is to add a new offense to the code of ordinances, classifying battery against a healthcare provider as a Class A personal misdemeanor, punished more seriously than battery against another individual.
The commissioners will also vote on changing the starting time for retail sale of cereal malt beverages from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM. Currently sellers must stop at midnight before resuming at six o’clock in the morning.
Hotel tax increase
The commission will consider an increase in the Transient Guest Tax on hotel and motel stays. The current tax rate is 8 percent, which is on top of the general sales tax. In 2025, the hotel tax will raise approximately $4.8 million.
The proposed resolution will raise the hotel tax to 10 percent and earmark 3 percent of the total collections for parks and recreation, with the remainder for tourism promotion. 10 percent would be the highest on the Kansas side of the metro area, leapfrogging the 9 percent rate in Overland Park and Olathe.
Homefield development agreement and bond issue
The commission will also discuss amending the Homefield project’s development agreement. The revisions would include a go-karting facility, 99-room hotel, and a gas station and convenience store. The amendment will also allow for creation of a Community Improvement District covering the development area.
The CID will have an add-on sales tax up to two percent to pay for improvements up to $6.5 million. A companion resolution to set the public hearing for the Community Improvement District for Nov. 6 will also be voted on.
An authorization for issuing the remaining $30 million STAR bonds for the Village East/Homefield project will be up for approval. The bonds were already approved in 2021 and 2022, and this issue will complete the $145 million total authorized for the project.
Land Bank tranfers
Forty properties will be transferred from the Land Bank. All the transfers appear to be residential, for gardens or for lawn extensions. Also up for approval are 68 single family home and duplex options. The largest bloc of options is in the 900 block of Freeman, where Community Housing of Wyandotte County is planning residential development on 29 parcels of land.
Honors & recognition
Several prominent community members will be recognized with the Dotte Proud award as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. Honorees include Diana Aguirre, Michael Aguirre, Martin Cervantes, Father Peter Jaramillo, and Roger Villanueva, along with Jalisco and Spanish Gardens restaurants.
Oct. 4 will be declared Junius Groves Day in honor of the 19th century former slave turned Edwardsville potato magnate. Edwardsville will also hold the first annual Potato Festival on that date.