King County Local Voters Pamphlet

Sept. 14, 2004 Special Elections

PROPOSITION NO. 1
PROPOSED BAN OF CARD ROOMS

A “social card game” is a form of legalized gambling defined by state law and authorized by the Washington State Gambling Commission to be conducted in business establishments selling food or drink for consumption on the premises. Shall the City of Kenmore ban such “social card games”?

YES
NO

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

A “social card game” is a form of legalized gambling for money, defined by state law and authorized by the Washington State Gambling Commission to be conducted in business establishments selling food or drink for consumption on the premises. Kenmore Proposition No. 1 would not ban or have any effect on the ability of citizens to play cards with friends in their homes or at other social gatherings.

Kenmore Proposition No. 1 asks whether defined “social card games” (gambling for money in an establishment licensed by the State) should be banned within the city limits. A “yes” vote is a vote in favor of a ban. A “no” vote is a vote against a ban.

Further action of the City Council will be required by ordinance in order to implement the final results of the election.

Statement For

Statement Against

We have a clear choice. Do we want Kenmore to have a late-night adult entertainment district in which any restaurant/bar may open a cardroom (mini-casino) with a State permit? Or, do we support healthy economic development in our family-friendly city?
A YES vote will prevent expanded cardroom gambling, which would attract gamblers from surrounding areas and likely bring increased crime (as in Shoreline), bankruptcy, suicide, addiction, and other family and social problems.

In 2003, cardroom taxes generated only 4.7% of the City’s operating revenue while the general fund had a $3.2 million surplus. Like Lake Forest Park, Brier, Bothell, Kirkland, Woodinville, and Seattle (all of which prohibit cardrooms), Kenmore does not need cardroom tax revenue and does not need to increase taxes.

The current cardroom owner threatens to close Kenmore Lanes if this proposition passes. But he can relocate his cardroom elsewhere and keep the alley open. Most bowling alleys in the Greater Seattle area operate successfully without cardrooms.

The gambling industry hopes this proposition will fail. The owner of Taboo Video has applied for a permit to open a large mini-casino. Other mini-casino developers are sure to follow.

Save Kenmore’s future. Vote YES to ban card room gambling.

Rebuttal of Statement Against

Opponents don’t talk about virtues of expanded gambling because there are none.

A YES vote bans cardrooms, not bowling alleys, which prosper everywhere without cardrooms.

Under State law, the City must decide: no cardrooms –or many cardrooms.

If this passes, the majority of City Council members say taxes need not be increased, nor services cut, due to our revenue surplus.
If Kenmore opens the door to expanded gambling, there will be no turning back.

STATEMENT PREPARED BY: Kent Sturgis, Karen Olson, Allan Van Ness

VOTE NO

A Kenmore landmark – the city’s largest family-owned employer – is under attack this election. Worse, Kenmore taxpayers are footing the bill.

That’s the reality of Prop #1. Proponents say Prop #1 is about the impropriety of gambling, but it does nothing to stop Lotto, pull-tabs, private club card games, or church bingo. Only Kenmore Lanes is targeted.

For over 40 years, people have enjoyed low-cost bowling at Kenmore Lanes. Costs have been kept low through the subsidy provided by the cardroom.

A ban on legal cardrooms will drive Kenmore Lanes out of business.
If you vote ‘yes’:
-Kenmore loses 180 jobs
-Your taxes increase – Property taxes will be raised to offset the $688,000
Kenmore Lanes pays each year – that’s over $120 per household.
-City services will deteriorate – Parks, transportation and other city services will suffer. This is like losing half of Kenmore’s police officers.
-All residents – senior citizens, kids, the disabled – lose out. Kenmore Lanes is a safe, family-friendly destination providing low-cost recreation for over 4500 per week.

Safeguard Kenmore taxpayers. Protect a piece of our history. Retain you freedoms. Defend your personal liberty.

Vote “No” on Proposition #1. Save Kenmore Lanes.

Rebuttal Of Statement For

Don’t be fooled by scare tactics and false claims – Kenmore laws already prevent gambling expansion. There are NO new gambling permit applications.
Voting for Prop #1 means you’ll:
• Destroy 180 jobs;
• Close a cherished business/landmark;
• Threaten park, road and police budgets;
• Take kids from bowling and put them on the streets;
• Spend the City Reserve Fund; and
• Increase your taxes by $120 annually.
Unfair. Unthinkable. Un-American. Vote ‘NO’.

STATEMENT PREPARED BY: Deborah Chase, Dick Taylor, Kinnon Williams

Complete Text of Resolution

CITY OF KENMORE
WASHINGTON
ORDINANCE NO. 04-0200

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF KENMORE WASHINGTON, PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE REGISTERED VOTERS OF THE CITY AT A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2004, OF THE PROPOSITION OF WHETHER THE CITY OF KENMORE SHOULD BAN SOCIAL CARD GAMES AS DEFINED IN RCW 9.46.0282; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE

WHEREAS, after lengthy and substantial public input, the City Council has determined to place on the ballot the question of whether social card games, as defined in RCW 9.46.0282, should be banned in Kenmore;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENMORE, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Submission to Voters. The City Council finds that an urgent need exists for submission to the registered voters of the City of the proposition of whether the City should ban social card games at a special election to be held on September 14, 2004.

The King County Manager of Records and Elections as ex officio supervisor of elections is hereby requested to find the existence of such emergency pursuant to RCW 29.13.020(2), and is requested to assume jurisdiction of and to call and conduct a special election, to submit to the registered voters of the City the proposition set forth below. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to certify said proposition to the King County Manager of Records and Elections in substantially the following form, with such additions, deletions or modifications as may be required by the City Attorney:

THE CITY OF KENMORE, WASHINGTON
PROPOSITION NO. ___

The City Clerk is hereby authorized to deliver a certified copy of this Ordinance to the King County Manager of Records and Elections.

Section 2. Severability. Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, be declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid for any reason, or should any portion of this Ordinance be pre-empted by state or federal law or regulation, such decision or pre-emption shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance or its application to other persons or circumstances.

Section 3. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be published in the official newspaper of the City, and shall take effect and be in full force five (5) days after the date of publication.

ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AT A REGULAR MEETING THEREOF ON THE 10th DAY OF MAY, 2004.

CITY OF KENMORE

_________________________
Mayor Steven Colwell (signed)

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