KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Plans to give Kansas City renters more power continues. Last year, a rental fee ordinance failed in the council chambers, now supporters are going a different route.
Drafters of the Healthy Homes KC ordinance went straight to voters to sign a petition for more rental oversight in Kansas City.
Diane Charity lives in Kansas City's Manheim Park neighborhood near 43rd and Tracy Ave. She's a proud renter.
"I'm a lifelong renter because I choose to be. I don't want to mow the lawn. I don't want to fix plumbing," said Charity.
Charity supports the Healthy Homes KC ordinance.
The ordinance would require landlords to get a permit, allow the health department to conduct random inspections and require landlords to pay a $20 annual fee per unit.
Council member Quinton Lucas says other metro cities have similar ordinances and agrees something needs to be done.
"I think clearly we've reached a time when something like this is necessary, whether this is the perfect one? We'll get to talk about this over the election time," said Lucas.
Organizers say they collected 2,200 signatures in support of the ordinance and turned them into city hall this week. They need 1,700 valid signatures to be placed on the ballot.
