A dress code controversy in the Power & Light District flared again Thursday when an African-American family filed a complaint saying it was discriminated against. </p><p>Seven members of the family have complained to the Missouri Commission on Human Rights that a district nightclub barred them while allowing similarly attired white patrons to enter.</p><p>Also Thursday, Kansas City&rsquo;s Human Relations Department issued a report of its own investigation of the district. It found that the dress code was not consistently enforced among whites and minorities.</p><p>The report, which was prompted by complaints, did not conclude that the district discriminates, but it did recommend ways to ensure that the dress code is fairly enforced.</p><p>Zed Smith, national director of operations for Cordish, insisted Thursday that the entertainment district complies with city ordinances and &ldquo;does not discriminate in any form or fashion in the execution of our dress code.&rdquo; He said that the district has hosted 6 million patrons in the last year and that complaints are rare.</p><p>But Smith said the company will work with the city on its recommendations to provide more training, more monitoring and more video cameras.</p><p>&ldquo;We want to make sure we get this right,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>City Council members said that they were concerned about the continuing allegations of unequal treatment at the entertainment district and that they will get a public update from human relations officials on Nov. 19.</p><p>Councilwoman Beth Gottstein reminded her colleagues that Kansas City plays host next year to the 10,000-delegate NAACP national convention and said the city has to get a handle on this problem. </p><p>&ldquo;This is exactly what we don&rsquo;t want to happen,&rdquo; she said.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Family&rsquo;s complaint</span></strong></p><p>In a news conference Thursday outside the Power & Light District, civil rights lawyer Arthur Benson accused Cordish and its tenants of using the dress code to regulate the number of minorities in an establishment in order to keep it from getting &ldquo;too dark.&rdquo;</p><p>According to the first of several discrimination complaints expected to be filed, Khiana Leapheart, an African-American, and six relatives were celebrating a family reunion at the Power & Light District on the evening of Aug. 22.</p><p>They tried to enter the Mosaic Lounge, the complaint said, but employees said they did not meet the dress code requirements. The members of the Leapheart group said they did in fact meet the requirements, and they observed similarly dressed whites given permission to enter.</p><p>The complaint said treatment of the Leapheart group was the result of &ldquo;a pattern and practice of racial discrimination against minority members of the public, especially African-Americans.&rdquo;</p><p>At the news conference, family members said they were denied entry to the club ostensibly because J.D. Bell III of Kansas City did not have his shirt tucked into his pants. Bell said he tucked his shirt in, but the entire group still was denied admission and was not given any further reason.</p><p>&ldquo;They blew us off and told us to get out of line,&rdquo; Bell said.</p><p>The filing of a complaint to the Missouri Commission on Human Rights is required prior to the filing of a lawsuit. In a letter to the commission&rsquo;s executive director, Alisa Warren, Benson has asked the commission to expedite the charges and issue right-to-sue letters as quickly as possible.</p><p>Smith attended the news conference and spoke on behalf of the district&rsquo;s local managers. He said he could not specifically address the incident.