KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Members of the Kansas City Council's Finance and Audit Committee meeting Wednesday discussed a proposed ordinance that could prevent the mayor's wife from volunteering at City Hall.

The proposal prevents relatives of city workers and elected politicians from volunteering in the same office with their family members. The measure, which would also require criminal background checks and sensitivity training for volunteers, would not apply to the city parks department.

Mayor Funkhouser said he'll fight the ordinance, because he believes it is directed at him and his wife, Gloria Squitiro. "I am not arguing against a policy -- a reasonable policy, professionally developed, probably makes sense -- but this is an ordinance because it is targeted at an elected official."

Ruth Bates, a former employee in the mayor's office, filed a lawsuit in June alleging sexual and racial harassment, discrimination and retaliation and claimed Squitiro created a hostile workplace.

Squitiro has denied the allegations.

Councilwoman Jan Marcason, sponsor of the ordinance, said it's not a personal attack on the mayor, but it is needed to limit the city's risk of legal liability.

If the ordinance passes, Marcason said, it would prevent Squitiro from serving as a volunteer in the mayor's office. "She could still volunteer for the city," Marcason said. "She could work in the zoo, parks or other city departments."

"This is actually an opportunity to protect our volunteers and to protect our Kansas City resources. And I would hope that we would not take our eye off of the ball and think that we would be so small," said council member Beth Gottstein.

Nothing was finalized at Wednesday's meeting. The issue will be discussed again later this week.