Funk, 'Hot legs' Johnson, Hermann and SSB battle over stimulus money and rules of order
Fri., Jun. 5 2009 @ 3:21PM
Things blew up at the Kansas City City Council meeting yesterday afternoon, when talk turned to resolution 090436. I swear Deb Hermann was ready to eat Sharon Sanders Brooks' face at one point.
At issue was economic stimulus money for Destiny Towers, a Northland senior housing project of the Harvest Church. Hermann wanted to amend the resolution and give the funding to Northland Neighbors Inc., a couple of day cares and other organizations. Of course, the issue was laced with racial tension because Harvest Church is an African-American church and no debate can go on in KC without the issue of race coming up.
When Brooks questioned her amendment, Hermann's face looked a little like this:
Brooks refrained from whipping out any lingerie as she questioned Hermann's amendment. Hermann explained that the funding for Destiny Towers got dumped not because they didn't like the projects but because they just didn't have the cash.
Councilman John Sharp sounded totally reasonable in his objections to the amendment, repeatedly pointing out that the cash would go to projects that would actually get done.
Then the real fun started, when Councilman Russ "Hot Legs" Johnson chimed in against the funding. A majority of the council voted for Hermann's amendment but it failed to pass because it didn't get seven votes (6 ayes and 5 nays). Johnson played Johnny Rulebook and busted out Robert's Rules of Order, questioning City Attorney Galen Beaufort and oversized novelty Mayor Mark Funkhouser. Johnson argued that the city charter didn't speak to votes on amendments. Beaufort admitted that the charter and Robert's Rules are silent on the issue, and advocated erring on the side of precedent set by previous councils. So did Funkhouser. This went back and forth for a while before this exchange between Johnson and Funkhouser:
"The City Attorney has ruled two or three times now ..." Funkhouser said.
"Well, the chair actually rules," Johnson corrected Funkhouser. "The city attorney merely advises the chair."
"Well, the chair has said that the motion fails," Funkhouser said. "And we are now going to vote ..."
"Mayor, I challenge the ruling of the chair," Johnson said, cutting off Funkhouser. The crowd gasped.
"All right. So what now?
"You're relying so much on your wisdom, you tell me," Johnson said.
"What I'm telling you is, you're out of order," Funkhouser boomed. "Sit down. We're going to vote on the resolution. Would the clerk call the roll, please."
Kudos to Fox 4 for capturing the exchange on tape.
The resolution passed 8 to 3 with Curls, Brooks, Marcason, Circo, Riley, Jolly, Sharp and Funkhouser voting for it. Hermann, Skaggs and Johnson voted against. So Harvest Church and Destiny Towers got nearly $1 million. Crowd members clapped.
When Funkhouser asked if there was anything else, Johnson put on the sass mouth.
"Common sense would be appreciated but since that's not here, I request the clerk receive docket and read a resolution that appeared too late to be on the regular docket."
With that, the council returned to the boring but necessary business of sewers and curbs.
At issue was economic stimulus money for Destiny Towers, a Northland senior housing project of the Harvest Church. Hermann wanted to amend the resolution and give the funding to Northland Neighbors Inc., a couple of day cares and other organizations. Of course, the issue was laced with racial tension because Harvest Church is an African-American church and no debate can go on in KC without the issue of race coming up.
When Brooks questioned her amendment, Hermann's face looked a little like this:
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Councilman John Sharp sounded totally reasonable in his objections to the amendment, repeatedly pointing out that the cash would go to projects that would actually get done.
Then the real fun started, when Councilman Russ "Hot Legs" Johnson chimed in against the funding. A majority of the council voted for Hermann's amendment but it failed to pass because it didn't get seven votes (6 ayes and 5 nays). Johnson played Johnny Rulebook and busted out Robert's Rules of Order, questioning City Attorney Galen Beaufort and oversized novelty Mayor Mark Funkhouser. Johnson argued that the city charter didn't speak to votes on amendments. Beaufort admitted that the charter and Robert's Rules are silent on the issue, and advocated erring on the side of precedent set by previous councils. So did Funkhouser. This went back and forth for a while before this exchange between Johnson and Funkhouser:
"The City Attorney has ruled two or three times now ..." Funkhouser said.
"Well, the chair actually rules," Johnson corrected Funkhouser. "The city attorney merely advises the chair."
"Well, the chair has said that the motion fails," Funkhouser said. "And we are now going to vote ..."
"Mayor, I challenge the ruling of the chair," Johnson said, cutting off Funkhouser. The crowd gasped.
"All right. So what now?
"You're relying so much on your wisdom, you tell me," Johnson said.
"What I'm telling you is, you're out of order," Funkhouser boomed. "Sit down. We're going to vote on the resolution. Would the clerk call the roll, please."
Kudos to Fox 4 for capturing the exchange on tape.
The resolution passed 8 to 3 with Curls, Brooks, Marcason, Circo, Riley, Jolly, Sharp and Funkhouser voting for it. Hermann, Skaggs and Johnson voted against. So Harvest Church and Destiny Towers got nearly $1 million. Crowd members clapped.
When Funkhouser asked if there was anything else, Johnson put on the sass mouth.
"Common sense would be appreciated but since that's not here, I request the clerk receive docket and read a resolution that appeared too late to be on the regular docket."
With that, the council returned to the boring but necessary business of sewers and curbs.
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