INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) – Residents opposing a new AI data center say they collected twice the signatures needed to force a public referendum — but the city of Independence has denied their effort, citing one line in the city charter.
City Council voted 5-2 on Monday to approve tax abatements for the proposed AI data center. Immediately, opponents filed a referendum petition under the charter’s standard process.
The city denied the petition under Section 2.22(1)(D) of the city charter, which carves out an exception for ordinances tied to specific contracts. Under that provision, such ordinances take effect immediately — removing the public’s ability to challenge them by referendum…