2026-11-03 - City Council

00:26We'll call this meeting to order.

00:28With us this morning is Reverend Ben

00:30Staley of Chapel Hill United Methodist

00:32Church to provide our invocation.

00:35Following that invocation, we will have

00:36our pledge of allegiance and we ask that

00:38you please stand for both.

00:49>> Let's Let's pray [clears throat]

00:50together.

00:53Oh Lord, on this election day,

00:55we give you thanks for the freedom that

00:57is ours,

00:58that we have to choose our own leaders.

01:02Help us each to choose wisely and

01:05guide us in our voting for candidates

01:08who may best lead us according to your

01:11will

01:12for our country, our state, and our

01:14community.

01:16Help us to remember to pray for all

01:18those who lead us.

01:20We pray for our own city council members

01:22and mayor.

01:24Guide them and bless them for their

01:26service.

01:28We pray for all those who serve in our

01:31community,

01:33especially

01:34our police and EMS and first responders,

01:38doctors, teachers, school leaders, and

01:40hospital personnel, and

01:42all who give themselves

01:46to make our city great and safe.

01:49Watch over our families and our

01:51neighborhoods.

01:53Guide us in this meeting.

01:55Keep us all safe

01:57as we come to you in Jesus name. Amen.

02:03>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

02:06United States of America and to the

02:08republic for which it stands,

02:11one nation under God, indivisible, with

02:15liberty and justice for all.

02:21>> Thank you, Pastor Staley.

02:24Joining us online is Council member

02:26Becky Tuttle, who is at a conference

02:28speaking on behalf of the city of

02:30Wichita.

02:31Madam Clerk, can you please call the

02:33first item?

02:34>> Approve the minutes of the regular

02:35meeting, October 27th, 2026.

02:39>> Council members, any edits to those

02:40minutes?

02:42See none. With that, I move to approve

02:45the minutes for the regular meeting,

02:46October 27th, 2026.

02:48>> Second.

02:49>> Motion second. Discussion? See none.

02:52Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

02:55>> I

02:58>> Motion passes, 7-0.

03:00Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

03:03>> Awards and proclamations. Today's

03:05proclamations are Kansas Injury

03:06Prevention Day, National Aviation

03:09History Month, and Girls on the Run

03:11Heart of Kansas Day.

03:13>> May police ask Ascension Via Christi

03:15Hospital and its supporters come forward

03:17at this time.

03:38Good morning.

03:41The proclamation reads,

03:43The city of Wichita, Kansas, founded in

03:461870,

03:47whereas injuries are the leading cause

03:49of death and disability to Kansans,

03:52whereas the state of Kansas is committed

03:53to creating and maintaining a safe

03:55environment that contributes to the

03:57health, safety, and well-being of all

03:59people,

04:00whereas hospitals, state agencies, and

04:02community organizations across Kansas

04:05are dedicated to protecting our

04:07communities from preventable injuries,

04:09and commend the heroes in healthcare and

04:12all others who work tirelessly in those

04:14efforts.

04:15Whereas the city of Wichita encourages

04:17all citizens to raise awareness and

04:20promote efforts to reduce injuries and

04:23improve safety for all Kansans.

04:25Now therefore be it resolved that the

04:27Wichita City Council does hereby

04:29proclaim November 18th, 2026

04:33as Kansas Injury Prevention Day.

04:39>> [applause]

04:43>> Good morning. Thank you, Mayor Woo, and

04:45thank you to the council for this

04:47incredible recognition.

04:50Um my name's Victoria Chandler, and I

04:52serve as the injury prevention

04:54coordinator at Ascension Via Christi. We

04:57are a level one trauma center

04:59for our trauma services department. I

05:01accept this proclamation on behalf of

05:03our entire trauma team.

05:06This official proclamation paired with

05:08our citywide partnership creates a

05:10powerful message for our city and

05:12community.

05:13From November 16th through the 20th, to

05:16honor this proclamation, our hospital

05:18buildings, local landmarks, city

05:21structures will all be lit in green.

05:24While green on a traffic light usually

05:26means go, injury prevention advocates

05:29use it to mean slow down, to be aware

05:33and think ahead to prevent falls,

05:35vehicle crashes, and other preventable

05:37injuries.

05:39To us, the green light represents a

05:41proactive health choice. It serves as a

05:44vibrant visual call to our community to

05:47think safe.

05:49Ascension Via Christi continues to be

05:51deeply committed to educating our

05:53community about safety awareness for

05:55injury prevention.

05:57We know that pro- proactive education is

05:59a key to keeping our families safe.

06:02Together, backed by the city

06:04proclamation and our united front of

06:06green lights, we can stand together for

06:09injury prevention, dedicated to our

06:11daily mission, and that's saving lives,

06:14one person at a time.

06:16Thank you.

06:43>> May please the Kansas Aviation Museum

06:45and its supporters to come forward at

06:47this time.

07:04The proclamation reads, "The city of

07:06Wichita, Kansas, founded in 1870,

07:09whereas November is recognized as

07:11National Aviation History Month,

07:14providing an opportunity to celebrate

07:16the pioneers, innovators, manufacturers,

07:19aviators, and workers whose vision and

07:22achievements have shaped the history and

07:24advancement in flight.

07:26Whereas Wichita holds a distinguished

07:28place in aviation history as the air

07:31capital of the world, where generations

07:34of entrepreneurs, engineers, aircraft

07:37manufacturers, skilled workers, and

07:40aviators have transformed innovation

07:43into an industry that connects people

07:45around the world, and remains a proud

07:47cornerstone of our community's identity

07:50and economy.

07:52Whereas the Kansas Aviation Museum,

07:54housed in Wichita's historic original

07:57municipal airport terminal, serves as

08:00our state's aviation museum, and is

08:03dedicated to preserving the aircraft,

08:06artifacts, archives, and personal

08:08stories that chronicle the extraordinary

08:11contributions Wichita and Kansas have

08:14made to aviation history.

08:17Whereas, preserving our aviation

08:19heritage requires investing in its

08:21future,

08:22and the Kansas Aviation Museum inspires

08:25young people through aviation and STEM

08:28education, hands-on learning, and career

08:31exploration, helping prepare the next

08:34generation of innovators, builders, and

08:36aviators who will continue Kansas's

08:39proud aviation legacy.

08:42Now, therefore, be it resolved that the

08:44Wichita City Council does hereby

08:47proclaim November 2026

08:50as National Aviation History Month.

08:56>> [applause]

09:01>> Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, City

09:02Council. Uh we're also blessed to have

09:05Council Member

09:07Mike Hoheisel, I almost said Nick, on

09:09our board uh as well, but I'm joined

09:11today by a few of our staff and board

09:13members.

09:14And again, can't say thank you enough.

09:17Wichita has a long history, and Kansas

09:19has a proud history of how we've shaped

09:21the way that we travel.

09:22From our early days in the 1910s and

09:251920s as we uh

09:28really explored what airplanes and

09:30aviation could do, to the centennials we

09:32get ready to celebrate through Cessna,

09:34Stearman, Travel Air, Beechcraft,

09:37companies that helped form and shape the

09:39way in which business is done.

09:42To the 1940s when the men and women here

09:44in Wichita were the lifeblood of what

09:46won the greatest war, World War II.

09:49Wichita has a long-lasting

09:52history of making sure America succeeds.

09:57And you go into the '60s as the Lear

09:59would go and revolutionize the way in

10:00which business travel is done and the

10:02business jet is is produced in Wichita.

10:06Uh their history with production over

10:07the the

10:08nearly 100 years now has really shaped

10:12how we

10:13tell the story to the aviation museum.

10:16And as we look ahead, we focus on what

10:18its team education is possible.

10:21Our job is not simply to tell the story

10:24that has happened over the past 50

10:25years. Our responsibility is to inspire

10:28the next generation of leaders who will

10:30continue to write the story that we will

10:32tell for years to come. So, thank you.

10:35Thank you to the city and to our

10:36community for continuing to best in the

10:38aviation museum and we look forward to

10:40seeing you out.

10:44>> [applause]

11:00>> May I please ask Girls on the Run Heart

11:03of Kansas to come forward at this time.

11:15>> Good morning.

11:22Good morning.

11:26>> The proclamation reads, the city of

11:27Wichita, Kansas founded in 1870

11:31whereas Girls on the Run Heart of Kansas

11:33was founded in 2011 with a dedicated

11:36mission to inspire girls of all

11:39abilities to recognize their individual

11:41strength and activate their limitless

11:44potential.

11:46Whereas Girls on the Run Heart of Kansas

11:48has grown to serve over 12,000 young

11:51girls across the Wichita area

11:54and regional Kansas communities over the

11:56past 15 years teaching crucial life

11:59skills through dynamic, interactive

12:01lessons and running games.

12:04Whereas this milestone celebration

12:06honors the extraordinary network of

12:08local coaches, volunteers, families, and

12:11community partners

12:13who since 2011 have shared their time

12:16and star power to support these girls as

12:19they cross the 5K finish line and stride

12:23confidently toward their bright futures.

12:27Whereas Girls on the Run Heart of Kansas

12:29proudly celebrates its 15th birthday

12:32this year, marking a legacy of

12:35endurance, empowerment, and meaningful

12:38community impact. Now, therefore, be it

12:40resolved that the Wichita City Council

12:43does hereby proclaim November 22nd, 2026

12:47as Girls on the Run Heart of Kansas Day.

12:58>> Good morning. Thank you so much for this

12:59opportunity. The last 15 years has been

13:02absolutely amazing, seeing 12,000 girls

13:06cross the finish line and see their

13:08confidence grow. Not only have the

13:11girls' confidence grow grown, but also

13:13their families. Many of our moms and

13:16dads have said, "I have never been a a

13:18runner, but now I'm running my first

13:20half marathon." Or our family has

13:23changed so much because now

13:26instead of playing video games and

13:27watching TV, we're out taking walks

13:29together. So, not only has our

13:31organization empowered young girls to be

13:34joyful, healthy, and confident, I

13:36believe it's also empowered many, many

13:38of our families. The last 15 years have

13:41had some challenges. We started out our

13:44very first year with just 44 girls.

13:47And as we grew, COVID hit and had our

13:50biggest season of 856 girls. And

13:53unfortunately, that season was cut

13:55short. And now we're rebuilding and

13:58expect to have 600 girls participating

14:01this spring season.

14:03And we love to see how much our

14:05community has embraced the Girls on the

14:07Run superpowers. So, thank you, City of

14:09Wichita, for supporting us, and we look

14:12forward to serving many, many, many more

14:14years.

14:18>> [applause]

14:53>> Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

14:55>> From the city's adopted civility pledge,

14:58the City Council is committed to

14:59promoting civility. They stand united.

15:01They lead with respect and dignity, and

15:03they honor every resident and all

15:04communities. They are working to create

15:06an environment that values shared goals

15:08with increased empathy and genuine

15:09dialogue. We now come to public agenda.

15:12The public agenda allows for up to five

15:14speakers to have 5 minutes each to

15:15address the council. Please bear in mind

15:17that this is not a period of dialogue

15:19with council or question and answer

15:20period. This is your opportunity to

15:22address the City Council with your

15:24concerns. I ask that you address your

15:26remarks to the City Council as a body

15:28and not to any any individual council

15:30member. No action will be taken relative

15:32to items on the public agenda other than

15:34referral to the city manager for

15:35information as necessary.

15:37Speakers will please speak into the

15:38microphone. Please state their name for

15:40the record. A time clock will display

15:42the speaker's remaining time to speak.

15:43Order and rules of decorum will be

15:45observed. The first speaker is Alma Ann

15:47Jones, homeless and housing.

15:57>> Good morning, Council. Alma Ann Jones,

16:00Rolling Hills Westlake.

16:02I'm in JV's

16:04district.

16:06I'm here this morning to talk about uh

16:08Chapin

16:09and what happened down there and what

16:10shouldn't have happened down there.

16:13A few weeks back I had uh the situation

16:15at Chapin Park was brought to my

16:16attention. So, after watching a few

16:18videos and news clips, I decided to go

16:20down there and check it out for myself.

16:23Now, the media reports that the

16:24residents of Chapin Park had been warned

16:26about this eviction for months, but

16:28consider this, they don't have

16:29televisions.

16:31>> [sighs and gasps]

16:33>> They don't have resources that we have

16:36to move their things. They've been there

16:37Some have been there for a decade. We do

16:39realize that WPD has been taking them

16:41down there for the last decade. If you

16:43were released from jail, released from

16:44the hospital,

16:46got evicted, that's where you went.

16:48That's your new home now.

16:50Um

16:52I hear talk about Second Light and how

16:53the people aren't accessing their

16:55services. And we talk about the

16:57vouchers, but let me try to explain what

16:58I've learned from these people over the

17:00past few weeks about why these things

17:02may not be working.

17:04Uh first of all, every single resident

17:06has a dog. They have a dog for

17:08companionship. They have a dog for

17:10protection. They have a dog for warmth.

17:12And that dog may be the only family

17:14they've ever had

17:16or have currently. They're not coming

17:18into a shelter where they can't sleep

17:20with their dog. They will

17:23They absolutely will not allow the

17:26Wichita Animal Shelter to board their

17:28pets with their track record of killing

17:31dogs. So, we're not That's not an option

17:34for them.

17:35Um

17:36if we come up with an option where they

17:38can be in a shelter with their dogs, it

17:41would change so much.

17:45Um next

17:47um

17:49consider this.

17:50Everything that they own

17:53is at their camp.

17:56Their food, their clothes, and all of

17:58their personal items. There's no

17:59protection there now. They can't simply

18:01lock their door and head down town for

18:03an appointment or a meeting because if

18:05they do, they risk coming back to

18:06nothing.

18:08At Chapin, they have built little huts

18:10and houses and felt some semblance of

18:11safety and security, but now they're

18:13completely exposed not just to theft,

18:15but to the elements. The very day after

18:17the eviction day, they were all left in

18:19a thunderstorm. There was no time to

18:21build or find shelter. The few that had

18:23tents are

18:25already were brought down by the rain.

18:27Everyone and everything was soaked. It

18:29was heartbreaking. Thanks to the

18:31community, we were able to get enough

18:33donations to go out there the next

18:34morning,

18:36get them out of their dripping wet

18:38clothes into something dry, some shoes,

18:41some socks, hot coffee, warm breakfast.

18:44>> [snorts]

18:45>> Uh

18:46I wish

18:47the city manager were sitting up here

18:49because this is really for him.

18:51You knew

18:52of this you ahead of time. You knew the

18:54vouchers weren't working, that there

18:55were barriers that needed to be worked

18:57through. You knew they weren't accessing

18:59Second Light, but didn't bother to find

19:00out or understand why. You've tried to

19:02force them into a program through

19:04CommCare in order to receive a voucher,

19:06but considering the people we're talking

19:07about here, I think we've done it

19:09backwards.

19:11The trust is broken.

19:13We have to get them safe first and begin

19:15to gain some trust rather than policing

19:17and bullying them into doing what you

19:19think they should do.

19:20Your way obviously isn't working and it

19:22isn't going to get them into services

19:25after they have a safe place to lay

19:26their heads, but also understand that

19:28there are some people out there that

19:30will never be able to live in a home.

19:33And we have to come to them. We have to

19:35provide them a safe green space. They're

19:37human, too, and they all deserve to be

19:39treated with dignity. They're forced to

19:41have to dig a hole to use the bathroom.

19:43They have to wipe with leaves or trash.

19:45They get trespassed if they try to go to

19:46McDonald's or QuickTrip to try to use

19:47the toilet or charge their phone.

19:51Now, this is going to get uncomfortable,

19:52but think but I think it shows

19:55>> [sighs]

19:55>> how easy it is for those of us whose

19:57needs are met to overlook and take for

19:59granted things like this.

20:01A few days ago, one of the ladies who

20:03lives down there called me crying.

20:06She started her period.

20:08She had no way to clean herself. She had

20:10no feminine product. She had nothing to

20:12change into.

20:13She didn't have a toilet. She didn't

20:15have running water. She had nothing.

20:19And to you who can't understand that,

20:20then maybe the men,

20:22what if you had the stomach flu and you

20:23were down there and you couldn't find a

20:24toilet

20:26or clean water? It's just

20:28not okay what we're doing. They deserve

20:31better.

20:33They want the same They wear the same

20:34clothes for as long as they can because

20:36they can't access a laundromat to clean

20:38their clothes. So then they change into

20:40something maybe they've found or

20:41something that's been donated and they

20:43wear that as long as they can.

20:45You see their service providers knew

20:47where they find them before and the

20:48clients knew where to expect them, but

20:49now everyone's just lost. Things were

20:52were far from perfect at Chapin, but

20:54people had learned how to survive there.

20:56They

21:00We had a duty to these people.

21:03And what you did to them is

21:06unforgivable. You need to do something.

21:08You can't leave them like this.

21:13>> Thank you, Alma.

21:15Madam Clerk, please call the next

21:17individual.

21:18Rachel Perry, displacement of unhoused

21:20residents solution.

21:32>> Hi.

21:33Um okay, so

21:35uh there's an obvious outreach building

21:37over the way the homeless community is

21:38being handled because displacement is

21:40not a solution. The recent victims of

21:42the Chapin Park eviction are my friends.

21:44I had a few friends living there and I

21:46started going down to Tent City as a

21:48project for content creation. But I had

21:50to gain people's trust and respect in

21:52order for them to agree.

21:54>> [clears throat and snorts]

21:55>> So I spent a lot of time getting to know

21:56people, making friends, and having

21:58shared experiences.

21:59The eviction came and I accidentally

22:01became an activist when all I was doing

22:02was being a good friend and standing up

22:04for people I cared about. So I'm no

22:06seasoned advocate or experienced

22:08politician, but I am a passionate new

22:10perspective with insider knowledge and a

22:11solid plan that can be beneficial to all

22:14involved in the housing process.

22:16I'm here to propose a transitional

22:18homestead, not an encampment, which

22:20would provide structure, help with

22:22focus, create a communication bridge,

22:24and even eventually help repair the

22:26broken relationship the unhoused have

22:28with the public and the authorities and

22:30the government.

22:32The homestead would be an outdoor plot

22:33of land equipped with basic essentials

22:36on site like a water spigot, mailboxes,

22:38storm shelter, showers, even solar panel

22:42charge stations.

22:43Feeding assets to these resources make

22:45it easier for residents to focus on

22:47skill learning, documentation obtaining,

22:50and even making contact with housing

22:52authorities. So then they have more time

22:54successfully reintegrating rather than

22:56spending 2/3 of their day surviving.

22:59There could be a learning tools offered

23:00which would help condition residents

23:02into a smoother transition back into

23:04society which in turn could give

23:06landlords a confidence in allowing them

23:07into the houses without worry their

23:09property losing value.

23:11It can even become self-sustaining over

23:12time with a community garden and

23:14livestock.

23:16With long-term homesteaders being the

23:18ones who manage the entire process

23:19because let's be real not all these

23:21people who were displaced are willing to

23:23rejoin society after this and this plan

23:25fits them as well.

23:29If you ask anyone living on the streets

23:30why they don't go to a shelter if

23:32available, you get the same answer. It's

23:34like a prison or because of their pets

23:37which giving up your pets for most

23:38people isn't an option. Shelters require

23:40you to give up what little

23:42you have in exchange for help when it

23:45shouldn't be an ultimatum to get help.

23:47Transitional homesteading is more

23:49compassionate in providing help and it's

23:51not a new idea. In fact, Portland has

23:53been doing it for 25 years. December

23:562008 homeless people pitched five tents

23:58under a bridge in protest. Instead of

24:01evicting them again, the city gave them

24:03a chance to govern themselves on

24:04city-owned land. Today, Dignity Village

24:07is home to 60 people in tiny homes. They

24:10have kitchen, showers, it cost taxpayers

24:13nothing.

24:14In Colorado, there's the Beloved

24:16Community

24:18which [clears throat] was started in

24:182017 and directed more towards

24:20transitional than uh Dignity Village.

24:24The

24:25uh In its first 2 years, 66% of the

24:27residents graduated into stable

24:29situations and all 12 of the original

24:32residents secured jobs or went to school

24:35within 9 months.

24:37Proving that when you give people

24:38stability, structure, and a say in their

24:40community, they don't just survive, they

24:42thrive.

24:43Um

24:48Let's see.

24:49Um

24:50I'm asking that the council consider

24:53uh a new Narnia village and approve

24:56uh land um to begin a transitional

25:00homestead modeled after Portland and

25:02Denver's own successful communities. For

25:05context, funding this project will cost

25:07less than two to three police-led

25:09encampment sweeps over a year and less

25:11than what the city spends on emergency

25:13shelter beds for 60 people.

25:16Calling it New Narnia pays respects to

25:17the recent Tent City in Chapin Park

25:20because despite what the public had

25:21believed, the Chapin Park encampment was

25:23a real neighborhood with real residents

25:25who cared about the place they lived in.

25:27The displacement they experienced was

25:29cruel. I witnessed people being driven

25:32from the homes they made over time into

25:34the next park a few hundred feet away

25:36where they then suffered without

25:38sufficient shelter set up through rain,

25:41cold, and wind. Then to top it off, the

25:44middle of the night excursions into the

25:45disaster zone to recover something

25:47sentimental they remembered got left

25:49behind by accident.

25:52The neighborhood was destroyed, but the

25:53community remained and that is something

25:55special to be recognized. Therefore, New

25:57Narnia is the name of my project

25:59community. I hope to work together to

26:01make sure what happened to Tent City

26:02residents never happens again.

26:05I'm not asking to legalize encampment

26:07encampments for a chance to prove this

26:10can work. Basically, I'm asking

26:13um

26:15I'm sorry. Uh

26:16I'm asking this council to approve

26:19um city-owned land that could be

26:21considered for pilot transitional

26:23homestead. Let us do the work, bring

26:26back the data, and let the people

26:27displaced be a part of building the

26:29solution instead of being part of the

26:30problem, you have to move again.

26:32Um

26:34I'd like Yeah.

26:38I'd like to say hi to my mom so she can

26:40brag about me to her friends later.

26:42Sheila, hi.

26:44>> [laughter]

26:45>> Thank you.

26:46>> Thank you, Rachel.

26:48Madam Clerk, please call the next

26:50individual.

26:51>> Madam Mayor, we don't have anybody else

26:52signed up.

26:53>> If there any individuals who would like

26:55to address the council, please come to

26:57the podium, state your name, and the

26:59district you reside.

27:03>> My name is Jack Long. I am one of the

27:07one of the people from the Chapin Park

27:11housing community that got demolished.

27:16Here today, I'm asking that not only did

27:20you

27:22listen to what the two young ladies

27:24said, but listen to what I have to say.

27:27For one,

27:31you have some people that need their

27:33jobs to be

27:37looked over.

27:39One starting with your manager.

27:42Two starting with your housing district,

27:44your

27:47whatever she's called.

27:49Two is Steve.

27:51And the other one is Dale.

27:54I ask that you look at them and you

27:56reevaluate their jobs because

27:59their jobs are not right.

28:01They're not doing the quality of the

28:03jobs that they were supposed to do when

28:05they was put in their positions.

28:09As of right now,

28:11y'all asked back in September that most

28:14of us be housed

28:15from down there before that October date

28:18came.

28:20As of right now, I will be the first one

28:23to be housed

28:26since July.

28:29Nobody from Chapin Park had been housed

28:31since July.

28:34Still today,

28:35I will be the first one to be housed

28:38here

28:40and I say a week.

28:42I'm waiting on

28:44my

28:46for them to do the inspection and then

28:48I'm in.

28:49I don't like the idea. I've been 21

28:52years on the streets.

28:55What the young lady said about having

28:57this

28:58having this place built so we can

29:01transition into it, I agree with 100%.

29:06As being myself,

29:09I have pets. I have a dog that is my

29:12life.

29:13Going into

29:15one of your

29:17little places

29:19and not having my dog,

29:22I'd rather die.

29:24I'd rather be out in the cold with my

29:27dog

29:28than being a shelter.

29:30There's no way I can live in a shelter

29:33without my pet. My pet is my security.

29:37Not only is she my security

29:39or my companion,

29:41but she helps me through times that I

29:43need.

29:46I've dedicated myself to try and help

29:48the homeless now.

29:50Even though I'm going into shelter, it's

29:53my turn to step up.

29:55I was helped

29:57very little

29:58when I started out,

30:00but I want everybody that is

30:04homeless to understand

30:08you're not standing alone.

30:11We need the council

30:13as long as the and the communities to

30:16recognize

30:18we're humans.

30:20We're not We're not s-

30:23these aliens that people think that we

30:25are.

30:26Our community didn't do nothing wrong.

30:29We got demolished.

30:30Other communities that were out there

30:33causing all these crimes out in the

30:35community, we got blamed for.

30:38Every time.

30:43The company that y'all had do

30:46the demolishing,

30:48you should have went back and looked at

30:50the contract.

30:52Their contract was all the way back from

30:542004.

30:58Yes, I do my homework. I do my homework

31:02very well.

31:05I'm not playing games no more.

31:08We need to stand together.

31:13You don't want problems out of bus, we

31:15don't want problems out of y'all.

31:18We want y'alls help,

31:20but it seems like

31:22we're not getting it.

31:24You give us very little to work with.

31:31Where we at now?

31:34We're back in tents.

31:36Like they said,

31:37you took our homes from us. You took our

31:40safety, our security.

31:42You put us in homes, I've already been

31:44robbed for $3,500 of my valuables.

31:50That's counting my personal property,

31:52that is counting my tools that I work

31:54with on a daily.

32:00You got to do something and then you

32:02need to do it on fast.

32:08>> Thank you, Jack.

32:17>> Uh my name's Doug Ballard.

32:20I've been here before.

32:21District 6.

32:24To piggyback on what they've just said,

32:26um

32:27I'm going to read you

32:29uh

32:30part of a report.

32:33I

32:34recommend all of you get it. It's got

32:36some age on it. Uh but

32:38I think most of you will realize that

32:41it's worse now than it was then. And I'm

32:43just going to read just uh

32:45uh

32:47just to give you an idea. First of all,

32:49how did we get where we are? Well,

32:53uh

32:55in 1980,

32:57during the end of the Carter

32:58administration, they passed an act

33:00called the Mental Health Systems Act,

33:04and they were going to start at the feds

33:06and then go fund down, and

33:1010 months later, Reagan repealed it.

33:12That's the short story.

33:14So, we've been in a spiral

33:17uh downward spiral ever since, and it's

33:20a very complex problem. I'm going to

33:21read just part of the executive summary.

33:24The name of this report,

33:27but you can look it up,

33:30High Utilizers of Behavioral Health

33:32Services, Sedgwick County, 2015 to 2018.

33:37It's prepared by the Public Policy and

33:39Management Center with Wichita State.

33:43High Utilizers of Behavioral Health

33:46Services are generally defined as

33:48individuals suffering from mental

33:50illness and substance use

33:52disorders whose complex physical and

33:54behavioral and social needs are not

33:56being served through the current

33:59fragmented health care system.

34:02While there is no universal definition

34:05of what high utilizers uh constitutes a

34:07high utilizer, it is generally

34:10recognized that high utilizers get

34:12trapped in a cycle of emergency

34:14department, inpatient admissions, crisis

34:18services, detox, and sobering, and back

34:21on the street without successfully

34:23managing their illnesses. Many of these

34:26patients are uninsured, underinsured,

34:29utilizing significant community

34:31resources while not

34:33while still not fully engaged in

34:35treatment for their illnesses.

34:37The Department of Health and Human

34:39Services reports that nationally these

34:42high utilizers represent 5% of all the

34:45patients and comprise 50% of all the

34:47cost.

34:49Uh

34:50this study reviewed data for high

34:52utilizers from 15 to 18 from three

34:57health providers with Sedgwick County

34:59health providers. Ascension Via Christi,

35:02COMCARE,

35:04and SAC.

35:06The diagnosis codes, demographic, and

35:09cost data was analyzed to determine the

35:12description of high utilizer patients.

35:15In addition, four composite patient

35:17profiles were

35:18developed.

35:20High utilizers

35:23are seriously many

35:24mentally ill. Sometimes you can't tell

35:27by looking at them

35:28how bad they are. The punchline to

35:32to this

35:34you should at least read the this, the

35:37summary,

35:38is

35:39on 516

35:41guys,

35:43most of the patients are I think

35:4525 to 54

35:48white males.

35:50We spent We spent

35:53$56 million

35:54on 516 guys

35:57and they're still living

35:59at

36:01underneath a bridge or at Chapin Park.

36:05So until we address that,

36:08uh we are using a lot of resources on a

36:11very few amount of people. I'm happy

36:14that the MAC or Second Chance is existed

36:19and that will cover a whole lot of it,

36:21but the problem is

36:24it's and it's nationwide and it's a

36:26symptom of a

36:28of a culture that is breaking down.

36:32And if we can't handle that, uh then

36:35what can we handle? And it always has

36:38bothered me as to 80-year-old who's

36:41worked for guys who have solutions to

36:43problems not knowing where they came

36:46from. How can you course correct if you

36:48don't know why you're off course?

36:51So, anyway, that's uh

36:53uh

36:55that's that's all I got. So, I could do

36:57about 2 hours on this. So,

37:00anyway, I thank you so much.

37:02>> Thank you, Doug.

37:05Is there anyone else from the com-

37:19>> Hello there. Uh my name's Allison

37:21Figarola. I'm in District 3.

37:23Um

37:24I'm here to talk about uh what happened.

37:27I'm I'm here to talk about uh the river,

37:29specifically the the city's abuse of the

37:31river that is done in nearly every

37:33corner of this city.

37:35Chapin Park was one of the areas that

37:36the city's abuse formerly did not touch.

37:40For a decade, this space was safe from

37:42the incessant mowing close to the bank

37:44that the city refuses to stop.

37:47I'll tell you what happened during the

37:48Chapin Park eviction. The removal date

37:50and barring from access of the residents

37:52state was Wednesday the 14th.

37:54And then it rained.

37:56The contractors could not work

37:58the rest of the week. You evicted people

38:01on Wednesday, and then you did not let

38:03them like you did not need to work

38:05Thursday, Friday,

38:06Saturday, Sunday.

38:09Four days no work was done because it

38:11rained, and then it was the weekend.

38:14So, you removed people from their homes.

38:15You destroyed all of their belongings.

38:18And then no one was there

38:21until Monday.

38:26So, what happened at Chapin Park is not

38:27an isolated incident. It is how the city

38:29treats the river everywhere. The city of

38:32Wichita allowed bulldozers to tear into

38:34a riverbank, churn soil before immediate

38:37rainfall.

38:39And trash mixed in leave trash mixed

38:41with dirt, all without the most basic

38:43erosion controls in place.

38:45That site is just one stretch of the

38:47Arkansas River. The same vulnerability

38:49and riverbank abuse exists along every

38:51creek, every stream, and every tributary

38:53in the city.

38:56After this incident, I'm here to tell

38:57Wichita to protect the entire river. No,

38:59we're not stopping here. We're not

39:01stopping at

39:02We're protecting the entire river now.

39:05You pissed off more more than just

39:08100 people.

39:11Establish a 66-ft riparian buffer or

39:14along every waterway in Wichita and make

39:16it enforceable. The Kansas Forest

39:18Service and the state's water quality

39:20buffer initiative recognize 66 ft

39:23as the minimum width for a functional

39:25riparian buffer. A buffer of this width

39:27filter filters sediment and nutrients,

39:30stabilizes banks during floods, shades

39:32the water to protect aquatic life, and

39:34provides wildlife habitat. It is the

39:37standard the state of Kansas itself has

39:39defined.

39:40The city stormwater manual requires the

39:42banks to be left in a stabilized

39:44condition after construction with no

39:46actively eroding bare or unstable

39:48vertical

39:49vertical banks remaining. And I promise

39:51you I went down there

39:53and took pictures of what what was done.

39:56It's documented.

39:59The framework is here. What is missing

40:00is the will to enforce it and the

40:02universal standard that would make

40:04enforceable enforcement meaningful. I am

40:06demanding that the city enact a

40:08mandatory 66-ft no disturbance riparian

40:12buffer along all waterways in Wichita.

40:16Mowing, clearing, grading, and

40:17construction should be prohibited within

40:2066 ft of the top of the bank on every

40:22stream, creek, and river in the city.

40:25Enforcement. The city must designate

40:27these buffers as protected water quality

40:29treatment areas under the stormwater

40:31manual with clear penalties for

40:33violation. The director of public works

40:36already has authority to issue issue

40:38stop work orders and assess penalties of

40:40$500 to $2,500 per day for stormwater

40:44violations. And I made a report.

40:47The contractor's activity at Chapin Park

40:49violated storm water protections. That

40:51authority must be activated.

40:53A public map and monitoring systems.

40:56Residents have a right to know where the

40:58buffers are and whether they are being

41:00respected. The city should publish a map

41:02of all protected riparian zones and

41:04establish a simple reporting system for

41:06violations.

41:08Connection, this is the connection to

41:10housing and community stability. That

41:12same land that filters our water is the

41:14land where unhoused neighbors have

41:15sought refuge.

41:17A city that cares about its water should

41:18care about the people who live along it.

41:20Transitional homesteading models offer a

41:22path forward that serves both.

41:25The land safety belongs to all of us.

41:27We are asking the city to live up to the

41:29standards it has already written and

41:31extend those standards to every waterway

41:33in Wichita. No more mode banks. I've

41:35seen what you do to Riverside.

41:37Like how dare

41:39McLean.

41:40I don't even know when that's that road

41:42was built, but I know McLean should not

41:44be there.

41:47I'm telling you

41:48the city's abuse of the river needs to

41:50stop. And because of Chisholm Park

41:52eviction, it will.

41:57No more mode banks. No more bulldozers

41:59in the flood plain. No more pollution

42:00flowing into our river.

42:03Transitional homesteading options.

42:0566 ft every waterway and no exceptions.

42:08Nowhere.

42:11Thank you.

42:13>> Thanks, Allison.

42:14And thank you to our five speakers.

42:17Madam Clerk, please call Council member

42:19Shepherd.

42:20>> Thank you, Mayor. I think it would be a

42:21disservice to allow these speakers to

42:23come and not say anything. So,

42:25um first of all, thank you all for being

42:27here. And thank you for speaking up for

42:30individuals who uh probably will never

42:33find themselves in this chamber for many

42:34reasons. We did have a retreat and

42:37Chisholm Park was a part of the

42:38conversation. So, I do want to honor

42:40that the city manager did make this a

42:42part of the conversation for the

42:43retreat. So, my question um is a

42:46follow-up from the retreat. City

42:48manager, can you uh please indicate

42:50where we are with the, final report.

42:53That will also indicate what our

42:55learning moments were and how do we plan

42:57to improve from those learning moments

42:59that we've had regarding Chapman Park.

43:01>> Thank you, council member. We, um, did

43:03have a whole project team knowing that

43:05we had multiple departments working on

43:06this. The project management aspect, the

43:09project management, um, review

43:11won't be complete until mid to late

43:14December cuz we're still doing some of

43:16the work as was highlighted along the

43:18river. But as you also heard, people are

43:21still being engaged with services and

43:22people are still being placed, um, with

43:24housing options. Um, so we will, um, try

43:28to let that play out some more and have

43:30a report back to you hopefully by the

43:31end of December.

43:32>> Thank you, city manager. Uh, I will be

43:34sharing that report with the public so

43:36you all have an opportunity to ask

43:38questions and I'll be happy to serve as

43:40a point of contact to get clarity.

43:42Secondly, um, I can't speak for any of

43:45my other colleagues, but I do want to

43:46apologize. I feel like I should have

43:48done more to speak up when this was

43:50happening. I did ask questions, but I

43:52certainly didn't stand in the way in the

43:54way that I should have and for that I do

43:56apologize. Um,

44:00I'm not sure if we have if we can get

44:02contact with the street team, uh, for

44:04some of the basic needs that you all

44:06shared, but, um, I'll be reaching out to

44:08the ICT street team to see if there's a

44:10way we can, um, somehow make sure folks

44:12have access to basic needs and hopefully

44:15guide them to a place where they are

44:17able to go to Second Light eventually.

44:19Um, for me that would be the ultimate

44:20goal. I know that shelter is not always

44:23the immediate response, but, um, we can

44:25help them better and serve them better

44:27if we get them into a space where we can

44:30provide case management. Um,

44:32I also will just mention that, you know,

44:35some of the commentary today, um, was in

44:37relation to our housing department and,

44:41um,

44:42>> [clears throat]

44:43>> it you know, I I will just say this, we

44:46have a spectacular leader in our housing

44:48department. I don't necessarily always

44:49agree with everything

44:51with anybody,

44:52uh, but I have seen, um, Sally Stang

44:55work really hard. We've had a

44:57conversation even at the housing

44:58conference.

44:59The reality is that our housing

45:01department does not have the resources

45:02that they need.

45:04Um, which is why I think that we should

45:06not have moved forward with the Chapin

45:07Park cleanup. Our ecosystem was not

45:09strong.

45:10And that's not an indication of them or

45:12their capabilities. It's a reflection on

45:14where we're putting our money.

45:16And I think something's going to have to

45:17change and this council is going to have

45:18to have a serious conversation and I'm

45:20going to say those words

45:22uh about raising the mill levy

45:23eventually so that we're able to provide

45:24that support or a sales tax so that we

45:26can support housing and homelessness

45:28services in this city. Uh, we've come to

45:30an impasse and we see it happening

45:32everywhere now.

45:34And then um, city manager, I do have a

45:36one more question for you. Um, I did see

45:38photos of the encampment following the

45:41cleanup. It did look like a disaster. Is

45:44that our is the debris still there? Have

45:46we cleaned that up yet?

45:49>> We are not The contractor still is not

45:51complete. And then we also have um,

45:54worked with a contractor from the

45:55Department of Transportation from the

45:57state side. So that's why we're still

45:59taking some time to complete that.

46:02>> So who's responsible for the cleanup of

46:04the debris?

46:05>> The contractor

46:07that we have contracted with through the

46:09City Parks and Recreation Department. So

46:11we will sign off on when that work is

46:14complete.

46:15>> Is there an ETA on that? I mean, right

46:17now it's just a pile of debris in the

46:19middle of a community and the

46:22encampment. [clears throat]

46:22>> That's where we're working with the

46:24Department of Transportation from the

46:26state. It's kind of a two-step process.

46:28Our contractor gathers it and then the

46:30Department of Transportation is hauling

46:31it off. And so we have two partners

46:34working on that. And right now our

46:36contractor has done the bulk of the

46:38work. We're waiting for the Department

46:40of Transportation team to then come in

46:42and take those piles.

46:45>> So no ETA?

46:47>> Uh, no. We said four weeks with our

46:48contractor. So

46:51I don't know when the Department of

46:52Transportation time frame is within that

46:55four-week period.

46:56>> Okay. Thank you.

46:58I'll just say this. I think it's all of

46:59our work, not just housing, to support

47:02um our unhoused neighbors.

47:04Um one of the major gaps that we have is

47:07having access to landlords who are

47:08willing to take vouchers. Um you'll be

47:10surprised at uh how many people you ask

47:12that would be willing to learn more

47:14about this. I had the opportunity to

47:16connect some people that I know to our

47:18housing department to uh take part in

47:20this process to get more people housed.

47:22So, my request of my colleagues and all

47:24of you here today is if you know private

47:27landlords who'd be interested in helping

47:29us fill this gap, please tell them to

47:31reach out so that way we can connect

47:32them to our housing department and help

47:34get these folks um the resources that

47:36they need. Thank you.

47:39>> Council member Hoheisel. [clears throat]

47:41>> Thank you, Mayor. Um and thank you again

47:43to the speakers and for your work down

47:45there. Um you've been helping a lot of

47:47people out, so I I truly do

47:49appreciate that. Trying to keep people

47:51alive, trying to keep people safe and

47:53out of the elements.

47:55Um I would say

47:58um I agree with just about everything

48:00Council member Shepherd said. I think

48:02that's a learning again.

48:05We're learning some of the ideas that we

48:06had before this was

48:08well, force people essentially to go to

48:11the shelter and we're seeing in real

48:13time that that does not

48:15work.

48:16So, I think we had two people out of

48:17Chapin, out of the whole 91 people that

48:20we engaged, including a

48:22portion of those people who were coming

48:24through Chapin at the time that ended up

48:26at the shelter. So,

48:28I think we need to challenge that idea

48:30as to whether or not we're actually

48:32forcing people to get help or if that's

48:34becoming a hindrance.

48:36Um

48:37also, I had heard about some landlord

48:39training classes that other communities

48:41have done to try and engage landlords.

48:43So, I'm wondering if

48:45um that's something that would be

48:46worthwhile to look into in the future.

48:49Um

48:50our housing department, I've

48:53been in the restroom up there on the

48:56housing floor and heard people breaking

48:57down crying.

48:59Because again, we don't have the

49:00resources to actually

49:02help as many people as we want to. So,

49:04to the housing department, everybody

49:06that works in there,

49:08it's

49:09one of the highest highest stress jobs.

49:12It's

49:13There's not too many jobs in the city

49:15that I would um

49:16switch places with or

49:19there's a lot that I would switch places

49:20with, but housing is not one of those

49:22departments.

49:23So, um again, we'll continue to engage

49:26and see what we can do to help get

49:27people

49:29um through the winter.

49:30Try and get them the resources that they

49:32need, the ones that will accept housing,

49:34get them into housing. Um we recognize

49:37that the dog issue is definitely one of

49:38the major

49:40uh barriers that we're facing and

49:43not at liberty to say too much, but that

49:45is something that we are working on. We

49:47hope to have some good news on that

49:49front here in the next couple of months.

49:51So, we will keep working from our end as

49:53well. So, again, thank you guys for all

49:56the work that you've done down there.

50:00>> Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

50:03>> Consent agenda items 1 through 11.

50:07>> Council members, any items to be pulled?

50:11I see none. With that, I move to approve

50:13the consent agenda's items 1 through 11.

50:16>> Second.

50:17>> Motion second, discussion?

50:19See none.

50:20Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

50:26>> I.

50:28>> Motion passes, 7-0.

50:30Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

50:33>> Board of Bids and Contracts dated

50:34November 2nd, 2026.

50:37>> Good morning. Mayor, City Council, Josh

50:39Slaughter, Department of Finance. Happy

50:41Election Day.

50:43Um

50:45the Board of Bids and Contracts convened

50:46yesterday, November 2nd,

50:48for the following items.

50:51For purchasing, we have the Botanica

50:53Boardwalk renovation for Snodgrass and

50:55Sons Construction Company Incorporated

50:58for $147,076.

51:02We have the HVAC replacement at 13

51:05residential sites for Citywide Facility

51:07Solutions Wichita in the amount of

51:09$110,854.64.

51:14Uh we have the lime sludge residuals

51:16removal liquid contract change order for

51:19AG Services Incorporated. We're

51:21requesting your authorization to extend

51:22this contract 90 days while we put out a

51:24new bid.

51:27Uh we have the orthophosphate contract

51:28change order for Shannon Chemical

51:30Corporation for an amended estimated

51:32annual usage of $576,720.

51:38We have the license plate reader and

51:39gunshot detection contract change order

51:41for Flock Group Incorporated for

51:43hardware and software maintenance

51:45totaling $259,208.63.

51:49Uh city staff underway with repairs and

51:51replacements to Flock camera equipment

51:54at $3,400.

51:56And we're requesting your authorization

51:57to extend the April 6th, 2021 contract 6

52:00months ending March 31st, 2027 to allow

52:03staff to bring you back a formal action

52:05for your consideration.

52:07>> [snorts]

52:07>> Uh we have the employee health and

52:09benefits consulting contract change

52:10order for IMA Incorporated. Um we're

52:13requesting your authorization to add an

52:14additional year while staff underway of

52:17renewing the contract to December 31st,

52:192027. Uh we will be putting out the

52:21employee benefits uh RFP. So, we want to

52:24make sure that there's no crossover with

52:26our consultant and the benefits

52:27themselves.

52:29This is how to become a vendor with the

52:31city.

52:32This is our purchasing calendar, our

52:34small business resource partners, or

52:35events the city's hosting or

52:37participating in.

52:39And this is our list of open public

52:41opportunities out on the street today.

52:43And I'd be happy to try to answer your

52:44questions and recommend your approval.

52:47>> Thank you, Josh. Questions for staff?

52:50Council member Hoheisel.

52:52>> Thank you, Mayor. Can we go back to

52:53slide nine?

52:54>> Sure.

52:56>> Okay. So, hardware and software

52:58maintenance um

53:00let's say theoretically we go with a

53:02different vendor early next year.

53:04Is this necessary 260,000 over the next

53:08couple of months?

53:09>> Yeah, thank you for the question,

53:10councilman. Um

53:12the specific strategy for staff was to

53:15co-align all these different engagements

53:17to one intersection. So, it was very

53:19strategically calculated to say, "I want

53:22a pro-rated renewal for all the services

53:25that Wichita Police Department's

53:26engaging in." And then March 31st, 2027,

53:29um it would be the council's will what

53:31we do at that point. Um there is an

53:34invoice outstanding for one section

53:36that's already passed. That's part of

53:37that 259. But, everything encompassed

53:41would allow you on March 31st to make

53:44that decision point of what to do moving

53:45forward.

53:46>> Okay.

53:46>> for the interim in between while they're

53:49daily

53:49usage.

53:51>> So, this this is what it would take to

53:54operate it over the next couple of

53:55months.

53:56>> Yes, sir.

53:57>> Okay.

53:57>> That is exactly what we requested.

53:59>> Okay. Thank you.

54:02>> Councilmember Shepherd.

54:03>> Thank you so much. Josh,

54:05walk us through, very high level if you

54:07can, what does that look like in

54:09practice? Hardware and software

54:11maintenance. And is this are we pushing

54:13the deadline to be able to do

54:16get that done?

54:17>> Yeah, thank you for the question,

54:19councilmember. So, um

54:21if you're not aware, um since the day

54:23after Christmas 2025, I began drafting

54:25this contract and working on a brand new

54:27engagement for the services.

54:29Um it's to co-co-term all these

54:31different pieces together. Um it's to

54:33allow the city to have a decision point

54:36of is this something the community

54:38wants? Is this something the community

54:39needs? And allows the council full

54:41consideration of what that looks like

54:43for the community. Um

54:45from now to March 31st, 2027, that was

54:48going to allow staff to finalize

54:50negotiations.

54:51Um and it allows council public input in

54:55this process and this in this service.

54:57Um so, in terms of is this enough time?

54:59Yes, staff believe that this would be

55:01enough time to do that.

55:07>> I see no further questions. With that, I

55:09will move to approve the Board of Bids

55:11and Contracts dated November 2nd, 2026.

55:14>> Second.

55:14>> Motion second, discussion. See none.

55:17Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

55:24Council member Tuttle.

55:29I think she's offline.

55:31Uh with that, vote passes five to one

55:33with another absent.

55:39Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

55:42>> Orderly financial reports for the period

55:44ended September 30th, 2026.

55:52>> Good morning, Mayor and members of the

55:53City Council. Mark Manning with the

55:55Department of Finance.

55:56Uh today I want to present to you the

55:58financial report for the third quarter

55:59of 2026.

56:02So, just a reminder, we use unaudited

56:04financial activity in this uh financial

56:06report. Uh we're going to use it for two

56:08purposes. We're going to see if our

56:10results are trending with what we

56:11expected this year

56:13uh based on the budget that you adopted

56:15in 2026 in August this year. And we're

56:18also going to take a look at what our

56:20results are and see if that uh can

56:22influence any of our guidance into the

56:24future into 2027 and maybe even into

56:262028.

56:29So, let's look at the general fund real

56:30quick.

56:32Good news on the general fund. Our

56:33revenues, for the most part, are

56:34performing

56:36at or even better than what we expected

56:38in a few areas and I'll go over some of

56:39those here in just a couple minutes.

56:41Uh on the expenditure side, our

56:43expenditures continue to trend a little

56:45higher than what we would like. Uh

56:47almost all of that is in public safety.

56:49Again, I sound like a broken record

56:51today because a lot of the things I'm

56:52going to tell you are things that I've

56:53told you in quarterly reports in the

56:55past uh and that certainly has been the

56:57case in the past. So,

56:58revenues are trending higher,

56:59expenditures are trending a little bit

57:01higher.

57:02Uh there's a lot of forecasting risk,

57:03which I'll go over in a couple of

57:04slides, uh but generally we expect a

57:07very positive outcome at year end, which

57:09it is to say we expect to be balanced uh

57:12most likely with a slight surplus at

57:14year end.

57:15So, let's look at the revenue side.

57:16Property taxes performing very well.

57:19That's generally because our

57:21delinquencies are very favorable, which

57:23means more people are paying their

57:24property taxes on time. That's a trend

57:26we've been seeing for a while, and

57:28that's a good thing.

57:29Sales tax and motor vehicle taxes are

57:31both trending a little higher. Now, the

57:33good part there is that's just not one

57:35or two months, particularly on sales

57:36tax, we're seeing consistent

57:38over performance on a monthly basis on

57:40sales tax, which is really promising.

57:43So, we'll probably take a look at both

57:44of those next year in our model on

57:46those.

57:47Franchise fees, as you know, is

57:48virtually impossible for us to forecast.

57:50It's based on commodity pricing, and

57:52it's based on weather. And neither one

57:54of those we have very good models to

57:55forecast.

57:57Last year we had some challenges on

58:00franchise fees, you may recall,

58:01particularly at year end.

58:04Excuse me. This year our franchise fees

58:06are in fact very strong through the

58:07third quarter, so we're pretty

58:09optimistic that we'll over perform a

58:11little bit on franchise fees. Probably

58:13won't carry that into 2027, but we

58:14should

58:15get a tailwind here in in in 2023. And

58:19finally, interest earnings, you'll hear

58:20a little bit more about that in the next

58:21presentation, but our interest earnings

58:23continue to be a little higher than what

58:25we expected, not a lot, but a little

58:27bit, and that's good.

58:29And we may have some be able to make

58:32some adjustments in the future there.

58:33Again, you'll hear a little bit more

58:34about some of the strategies we have

58:36there when we talk about our investment

58:38policy here in a few minutes.

58:40Let's flip to the expenditure side. I

58:42noted our expenditures are growing a

58:44little faster than what we would prefer.

58:46They'll probably be slightly higher than

58:47what we had included in the budget.

58:49Almost all that's going to be on the

58:50public safety side. That is where all

58:52our growth is, particularly on wages.

58:55Wage growth continues to be uneven.

58:56Public Works continues to struggle to

58:59fill positions. Again, good financially,

59:02bad operationally.

59:04Park is doing a little bit better than

59:06they were in the past in filling

59:07positions, which is good, but they still

59:09have some challenges there as well.

59:12All other general fund expenditures are

59:14for the most part where we would expect

59:15them to be.

59:18So, let's look at some of the risks in

59:20our model. When we forecast, we always

59:22try to identify risks.

59:24If we have significant snow and ice

59:26events in the fourth quarter,

59:29those typically mean we incur a lot of

59:30overtime, we have a lot of material

59:32costs. So, that's a risk. Public safety

59:34overtime is relatively seasonal. Most of

59:36it occurs in the summer months when the

59:38weather's a little warmer. But certainly

59:40there's a risk that we could have an

59:42event or two that could drive our

59:43overtime costs up there.

59:46The last thing that we identify as a

59:47risk, we have lots of models

59:49based on our experience on how

59:51departments are going to spend, but

59:53ultimately their spending in a lot of

59:55areas is dependent on their management

59:57of their department. Which is something

59:59we cannot control. So, there's always a

1:00:01risk there that they could spend in a

1:00:03manner that we don't expect or that's

1:00:04not consistent with what's occurred in

1:00:06the past. But generally we we keep

1:00:08pretty close tabs on that. On the

1:00:10revenue side,

1:00:12our risks are a lot smaller because

1:00:14the trends are a lot more predictable,

1:00:15but some of our inflows we literally get

1:00:18in the last month of the year. We'll get

1:00:20$4 million of sales tax probably the day

1:00:22after Christmas. We'll get our motor

1:00:23vehicle tax on December 20th. So, it's

1:00:26always a risk in that we won't know

1:00:27where those actually land towards very

1:00:29late in the year.

1:00:31We've run lots of models.

1:00:33I would tell you that we would expect

1:00:34the range of the year-end results to be

1:00:36somewhere on the negative $1 million

1:00:38side to the plus $3 million side. But I

1:00:41would tell you that the probability is

1:00:42much much higher that we would be on the

1:00:44plus side.

1:00:46I would also point out to you that our

1:00:47general fund is somewhere in the

1:00:48neighborhood of $350 million.

1:00:51So, you're looking at plus or minus less

1:00:52than 1% in the amounts that we showed

1:00:54there. But

1:00:57I need to talk about a couple other

1:00:58funds. I want to talk about the golf

1:01:00fund briefly. You're going to hear a

1:01:01little bit about it later on today.

1:01:03Their revenues are flat through the

1:01:04third quarter, which is pretty unusual

1:01:06cuz we've had a lot of good revenue

1:01:08growth over the past few years. Golf

1:01:10system was managed extraordinarily well.

1:01:13Two things that happened this year is

1:01:14our weather was historically hot this

1:01:16year and some of the

1:01:19irrigation improvements I think they had

1:01:20to have some course closures. So,

1:01:22revenues are relatively flat. They also

1:01:24have some cost pressure, particularly on

1:01:26the petrol related expenditures, which

1:01:28actually is fuel, but I think it's even

1:01:29more significant on the chemical side

1:01:31cuz we use a lot of chemicals in our

1:01:33golf system. And they have some staffing

1:01:35issues that they

1:01:37are going to present to you here in a

1:01:38little bit. Bottom line on golf though

1:01:40is it continues to be very, very well

1:01:42managed. They will produce a positive

1:01:45net margin this year we believe. It'll

1:01:46be a little bit less than what we had

1:01:48initially expected and less than prior

1:01:49years, but they will still be on the

1:01:51positive side, which is a really good

1:01:53thing.

1:01:54Let's talk about the parking fund, a

1:01:55little bit different situation there.

1:01:57Parking fund is struggling right now.

1:01:59Revenues are up over last year, which is

1:02:01what we would have expected with the

1:02:03parking set up system modifications that

1:02:05were approved.

1:02:06Expenditures are also up more than our

1:02:09revenues. That's put us in a

1:02:11not desirable position now where we have

1:02:13a negative cash balance. That's not not

1:02:16a not a good position to be in. It's not

1:02:18an acceptable position for us to be in

1:02:19at year end. Uh, public works is

1:02:21monitoring this situation and I have no

1:02:24doubt they will propose some remedies

1:02:26prior to year end to make sure that we

1:02:27have a positive

1:02:29year end fund balance.

1:02:31Let's talk about our debt. I show you

1:02:33this chart every time. It's relatively

1:02:35similar. Our GO debt, which is funded by

1:02:37property tax, is about 4% of our of our

1:02:40debt portfolio and that has been

1:02:42relatively consistent for a long time.

1:02:44Our total amount of bonds and loans is

1:02:47about $1.6 billion.

1:02:49Two-thirds of that is related to our

1:02:51utilities. Those are capital intensive

1:02:53and as you know we've had two huge

1:02:55capital projects in the last four or

1:02:57five years. So, that's what's driving

1:03:00our debt. I thought I'd give you a

1:03:01little historical perspective on our

1:03:03debt and we'll use that to kind of look

1:03:04forward a little bit. We don't talk

1:03:05about this a lot, but I thought I'd

1:03:07today might be a good day to do that. I

1:03:09looked at our debt level since 2020. Our

1:03:12GO debt

1:03:13general obligation debt has actually

1:03:15decreased from somewhere around $590

1:03:18million or so to use a round number. We

1:03:20should end the year somewhere around 510

1:03:22million. So, our GEO debt's going to be

1:03:24down about 80 million dollars over the

1:03:25last 6 or 7 years.

1:03:28Uh look at the components of that.

1:03:30Special assessment debt is increasing.

1:03:33It's up about 70 million dollars over

1:03:35that time period, which tells you all

1:03:37our other debts levels are 150 million

1:03:39dollars lower.

1:03:41GEO at large is a little bit lower.

1:03:43GEO local sales tax is what we primarily

1:03:46have funded freeways with is down 64

1:03:48million dollars since 2020. Uh which is

1:03:51a good thing. That means we have a lot

1:03:52of capacity there. And our other GEO

1:03:54debt amounts are down cumulative about

1:03:5775 million. So, I'd tell you the GEO

1:03:59debt is in a pretty good place right now

1:04:02uh and it has decreased over the last

1:04:04few years. Utility bond loan debt,

1:04:06different story as I noted before. It's

1:04:08up about 650 million dollars. All of

1:04:11that is related to our utility

1:04:12operations.

1:04:15What do we have to see in the future? We

1:04:16haven't completely drawn down all our

1:04:18loans on the B&R plant. So, utility debt

1:04:20will probably climb for another year or

1:04:21two, maybe another 125 million or so,

1:04:24and then it should level out somewhere

1:04:26in 2028 as we begin amortizing off all

1:04:28that debt.

1:04:29Uh special assessment I would expect to

1:04:31continue to increase in the future uh

1:04:33based on the activity that we've had in

1:04:35that area. All our other GEO debt levels

1:04:37I think should continue to decline. At

1:04:40large it'll probably stay moderately

1:04:41where it is or maybe increase slightly.

1:04:44But mostly our debt is I would say in in

1:04:46a pretty good place uh all things

1:04:48considered.

1:04:49Uh let's talk about 2027. Let's look

1:04:51forward into 2027 real briefly.

1:04:54Uh I noted interest earnings. Uh we

1:04:56probably have a little bit of upside in

1:04:572027, maybe a little bit in 2028 for

1:05:00that matter because, you know, we we

1:05:02invest out a year or or more in some

1:05:04cases.

1:05:06Uh so, that's a good thing.

1:05:07Um

1:05:09Sales tax, I mentioned motor vehicle

1:05:11tax. I would guess most likely will

1:05:12revise up our estimates in those two

1:05:14next year as well. Uh not a lot, but you

1:05:17know, we might pick up a million dollars

1:05:19or so in between those. Uh we'll see. I

1:05:21don't want to be uh too I don't want to

1:05:23be too specific at this point, but let's

1:05:25just say all those are trending in the

1:05:26right direction.

1:05:28What's going to be key in the future 27,

1:05:3128 is wage increases. You know that our

1:05:33budget is based on certain assumptions

1:05:35on not only the wage growth, but also on

1:05:37our success in filling positions. Both

1:05:39those assumptions are going to be

1:05:41significantly important in the future.

1:05:43And as you know, we have a couple

1:05:44contracts that are coming up for

1:05:46renewal. So,

1:05:47if and how those are removed will have a

1:05:48pretty significant impact on our budget

1:05:51for next year.

1:05:52I mentioned SA debt will probably

1:05:53continue to increase. I mentioned the

1:05:55last bullet a little bit earlier, so I

1:05:56won't repeat that.

1:05:57So, in summary, we should have a very

1:05:59successful year end. Revenues are over

1:06:01performing, which should allow us to

1:06:03cover any challenges on the expenditure

1:06:05side, and we would expect to produce a a

1:06:07small surplus at year end. Again,

1:06:10consistent with City Council Policy 40,

1:06:12we'll use that to maintain a 15% balance

1:06:14in the general fund, and then we'll

1:06:15reduce the transfer in from the

1:06:17stabilization fund to the degree

1:06:19possible if we exceed that target. I

1:06:23mentioned the Gulf fund will have some

1:06:25adjustments. Park fund has some parking

1:06:27fund has some challenges we need to

1:06:28address.

1:06:30I should also say the quarterly report

1:06:32and the ARPA reporting are available

1:06:34online. Let me talk about ARPA for a

1:06:36quick second. We got $72 million

1:06:39back 4 or 5 years ago.

1:06:41We have about $700,000 of that left or

1:06:44less than

1:06:45what a 10th of a percent. Not to worry,

1:06:48we will fully expend it. We'll probably

1:06:50come to you in December with a plan to

1:06:53to

1:06:53to expend the remainder of that. We've

1:06:55talked about that for a long time. We'll

1:06:57identify capital improvement projects in

1:06:58which we can allocate those funds to

1:07:00soak it up, which is also a good thing

1:07:02to that will reduce our local share on

1:07:04some of those projects.

1:07:06Last thing I'd mention is we may come to

1:07:09you in December with

1:07:11year-end budget adjustments. Sometimes

1:07:12we do, sometimes we don't. Just kind of

1:07:14depends on where we trend,

1:07:16but we may come to you in December if we

1:07:17need to clean up any last-minute items.

1:07:19So,

1:07:21that's the end of my report. I would

1:07:23recommend that you receive and file it

1:07:24and I'd be happy to answer any

1:07:25questions.

1:07:28>> Thank you, Mark. A couple of questions.

1:07:30You mentioned wage growth and wage

1:07:33increases. Can you talk about the

1:07:35percentage that that has increased year

1:07:37over year?

1:07:39>> Um Mayor, I'm sorry. I didn't come

1:07:41prepared to tell you that. I will tell

1:07:42you that nearly all the growth in wages

1:07:44is in public safety and those contracts,

1:07:47particularly the fire contract, had

1:07:49pretty sizable increases in it, but I'll

1:07:52have to get back to you, Mayor, on that.

1:07:53I'm sorry. I didn't prepare for that.

1:07:57>> The other question was regarding the

1:07:59parking fund and

1:08:01what you described as struggling.

1:08:04Um can you talk about um

1:08:06I think right now it's

1:08:09309,141.

1:08:11If you will go back to that slide so

1:08:14that we can talk about the parking fund

1:08:16since parking is another item that we

1:08:19will be discussing

1:08:21here shortly. Can you talk about this

1:08:23challenge and what is causing this?

1:08:26>> Uh from my perspective, I think the

1:08:28challenge with the parking fund is our

1:08:30revenue side is variable. It's based on

1:08:32the collections at the meters,

1:08:34basically. And our challenge is the

1:08:37expenditure side is largely fixed, which

1:08:39is our our outsourced contract to manage

1:08:42the parking system. And part of that

1:08:44fixed cost contract includes the

1:08:45amortization of all the equipment that

1:08:47we purchased. Uh so hopefully this is a

1:08:50short-term thing as we incur the capital

1:08:52costs and as the um as the marginal

1:08:55revenues increase over time, hopefully

1:08:57that's the

1:08:59what will occur, but I think what we're

1:09:00seeing now is some of the revenues

1:09:03on a monthly basis haven't materialized

1:09:05to the degree in which we thought. I

1:09:07think there's a few areas of town that

1:09:09are a little bit of a challenge for us

1:09:11right now, maybe Old Town for one, for

1:09:12example. Uh I think that's what's

1:09:14occurring. Uh the question's going to be

1:09:16how are we going to

1:09:18fix that into the future.

1:09:20>> That is a follow-up question and that's

1:09:22to the city manager. What are we going

1:09:24to do regarding Old Town?

1:09:27>> So we've got a

1:09:28>> Couple proposals from the owners and

1:09:31having those conversations. So, our

1:09:33intention is to bring you something to

1:09:35council by March of next year after

1:09:38conversation with business owners and

1:09:41the association for a two-part

1:09:44parking process involves the creation of

1:09:48a CID as well as per parking stall plan.

1:09:52And so, as the director of finance

1:09:53highlighted, some of the revenue impact

1:09:55is we thought we'd be farther along with

1:09:58revenues from that Old Town structure,

1:10:00but we don't have it in place yet. And

1:10:02so, we're still looking first quarter of

1:10:04'27.

1:10:07>> And if I recall uh from our

1:10:10next few items regarding parking

1:10:12structures, one of those or two of those

1:10:14structures are in the Old Town area,

1:10:16right? One's the cinema parking, which

1:10:19is in Old Town. What's the other one?

1:10:21>> The hotel I don't know how they

1:10:22classified the hotel

1:10:25parking deck. I think that's how it's

1:10:27classified.

1:10:28>> So, as of right now, Old Town is not

1:10:30really paying into the

1:10:33soon-to-be-voted-on

1:10:35deferred maintenance that we're about to

1:10:36vote on. Is that right?

1:10:38>> I'd say to a limited

1:10:39>> What's the limit though?

1:10:40>> Limited meaning the per stall fee that's

1:10:43been charged for the owners in Old Town.

1:10:46I think go into the parking fund.

1:10:49>> And if I recall from my questioning back

1:10:53in December of 2024,

1:10:56this was a major reason why I voted no

1:10:58against the parking.

1:11:00And that was because they were still

1:11:02paying 1990s prices

1:11:05and we're in 2026.

1:11:07And that is still a major concern to me.

1:11:09And now knowing that this balance is

1:11:12-309,000

1:11:15is even It has not gotten any better.

1:11:17There has not been a resolution in 2026.

1:11:20We're about to close out 2026. There

1:11:23wasn't a resolution in 2025.

1:11:26So, this is This is now risen to the

1:11:28level where I think that March might be

1:11:31a little too late to be talking about

1:11:32this conversation. Should we be having

1:11:35this conversation sooner as we're

1:11:37bleeding right now?

1:11:39>> I

1:11:40agreed. Um, there is conversation going

1:11:42on with the business owners and the Old

1:11:44Town Association uh specifically around

1:11:47dollar amount per stall, but I don't see

1:11:50that being finalized with a proposal

1:11:52coming to you until first quarter 27.

1:11:56So, yeah, those conversations are

1:11:57definitely going on with the impacted

1:11:59business owners in the Old Town area.

1:12:02>> I appreciate that there are

1:12:03conversations. I just understand that

1:12:06time is of the essence and not only time

1:12:09is of the essence, but time is money. It

1:12:11looks like again

1:12:13309,000

1:12:15somehow

1:12:16Mark, you'll have to find some way to

1:12:19help with making sure that this is not

1:12:23causing um disruption in services for

1:12:25the other uh parts of the city. So, what

1:12:28is the game plan regarding

1:12:30this because right now it's at 309,000?

1:12:34>> I think one option you're probably going

1:12:36to hear a little bit later today. Uh

1:12:37you're going to be asked to initiate the

1:12:40maintenance projects for the parking

1:12:42system, which we have budgeted in the

1:12:43CIP for a couple years. I think uh

1:12:46public works is going to propose to

1:12:48broaden the scope of that a little bit

1:12:50to allow us to shift some of the

1:12:52amortization of the capital cost from

1:12:54the operating budget to the capital

1:12:55improvement budget, which would improve

1:12:57the position of the operating fund, so.

1:13:02>> Thank you.

1:13:03>> Council member, uh Vice Mayor Glasscock.

1:13:05>> Thank you, Mayor. My question is in line

1:13:07maybe with the Mayor's question, maybe a

1:13:09little bit more pointed to. So, the

1:13:11public works staff is monitoring this

1:13:12fund to pursue options to maintain the

1:13:14positive end-of-year balance. Is that

1:13:16the only option that will be presented

1:13:18later in the agenda? If there are more

1:13:20options, I'd like to hear from Gary or

1:13:22Stephanie about how we have pursued

1:13:24those options as well.

1:13:26>> That's all an option that I'm aware of.

1:13:27I believe the operating uh options of

1:13:30two public works.

1:13:31>> Gary, Stephanie, are there any other

1:13:33options aside from what the agenda item

1:13:35is today?

1:13:38Because that would just be yeah, the

1:13:39parking fund would be made full, but

1:13:41it's coming out of another municipal

1:13:44fund.

1:13:45>> Uh Mayor and council members, Gary

1:13:47Janzen, public works and utilities. I

1:13:48appreciate the question. We are very

1:13:50closely monitoring the fund as we speak.

1:13:52We're waiting on October revenues are

1:13:54supposed to be in by the end of this

1:13:56week. That'll give us a better feel of

1:13:58where we stand

1:14:00on the overall fund balance looking at

1:14:01revenues versus expenditures. So,

1:14:04you know, we're only in August. We were

1:14:06a year into the program. So, looking at

1:14:08try last year, November, December

1:14:11doesn't give us the best projection for

1:14:13what this November and December may look

1:14:15like for revenues.

1:14:17Multiple things are going to impact

1:14:18that, weather and other events downtown.

1:14:20But once we have the revenue numbers in

1:14:22from October, it'll give us a better

1:14:24idea of where we're at.

1:14:25As Mark mentioned,

1:14:27um and you'll hear from Paul

1:14:29with the item that's coming up for

1:14:32approval of capital funds, we we are

1:14:35looking to move those amortized costs

1:14:38for equipment over.

1:14:40That will lessen the burden on the

1:14:41operating funds. We're also looking at

1:14:43our staffing costs for the same reason.

1:14:46Um we've had staff generally costs

1:14:49coming out of that operating budget

1:14:50while they've been working on that

1:14:52capital side. So,

1:14:54we're putting every all of our costs in

1:14:55the right places. Uh still working

1:14:58through those numbers now.

1:14:59Right now, I don't have another place to

1:15:02provide funding to balance that. We've

1:15:04known going through the first two years

1:15:06of this program

1:15:07that we're likely going to be in a

1:15:08deficit situation only because all of

1:15:12those upfront costs Now, I shouldn't say

1:15:14only. One of the big factors is those

1:15:15upfront costs

1:15:17for parking equipment uh to make our

1:15:20parking assets safe, secure, clean,

1:15:23those things that we've talked about.

1:15:25But especially the equipment needed for

1:15:26our garages so that we can secure those

1:15:28garages.

1:15:30Uh the comment was made or or maybe not

1:15:32specifically, but one of the garages in

1:15:34Old Town has been closed for quite some

1:15:36time because of safety and security

1:15:38reasons. We can only start to impact

1:15:40that with the proper equipment that

1:15:42comes from the revenues from the parking

1:15:44program. So,

1:15:46I'm hopeful we can get really close here

1:15:48on cutting into that $300,000. Mark, so

1:15:50I don't know what that number looks like

1:15:51right now. We'll know more in the coming

1:15:53weeks.

1:15:56>> Councilmember Shepherd.

1:15:57>> Thank you so much and I appreciate this

1:15:59conversation. My question isn't about

1:16:01the parking fund. It's more so it is not

1:16:04Mark, it's not about the parking fund.

1:16:07But it does stem off of something that

1:16:10Vice Mayor Glasscock stated and this is

1:16:13more so an educational moment for me

1:16:14than anything else. I did notice that as

1:16:17I was looking through this, there was

1:16:19obviously the expenditures and revenue

1:16:21side. And one of the things that I've

1:16:23heard from the community is

1:16:26thoughts about the police budget. Why do

1:16:29we put so much in into the police

1:16:31budget? And I can certainly have my own

1:16:32opinions and thoughts on that.

1:16:35However, I did notice as I was digging

1:16:37through some of the other financial

1:16:38packets that you've provided us that

1:16:40there's there's some internal exchanges

1:16:42between municipal departments. And I was

1:16:45curious why that is. So, for example,

1:16:48there's some departments that use their

1:16:50budget to just transfer funds to like

1:16:52our IT department to manage certain

1:16:54things. I'm curious

1:16:56why not just allocate those funds to the

1:16:59IT department and itemize them for

1:17:02specific uses. And so, I just want to be

1:17:04educated on that because certainly I

1:17:07think when the community sees a blank

1:17:08number,

1:17:10they don't understand those nuances.

1:17:13>> We do that primarily to enhance our cost

1:17:15accounting. We want to be able to tell

1:17:17you if you use the police department for

1:17:18an example, we want to be able to tell

1:17:20you exactly what policing services cost

1:17:22the organization. If we had all the IT

1:17:26costs for police department in the IT

1:17:28budget, all the fleet costs for the

1:17:30police department in the fleet budget,

1:17:32we would essentially understate the cost

1:17:34of providing policing services. And

1:17:36that's true of every department. So,

1:17:37that's been our model for years and

1:17:39years and years. And again, we do it for

1:17:41cost accounting purposes so that we can

1:17:42accurately tell you what a service

1:17:44actually costs.

1:17:46>> Um I appreciate that. Thank you for the

1:17:48clarity. So, is there no other way to do

1:17:50that?

1:17:53And or is there a way in which we can

1:17:56accurately

1:17:58share with the public what we're

1:17:59spending?

1:18:02Because I think that when what I've

1:18:04heard from residents is they believe

1:18:06that when they see that number, that's

1:18:07what we're spending on actual staffing

1:18:10time or the apparatus for police and

1:18:13fire. And And so, how How can we better

1:18:16break that down for the public knowledge

1:18:18that it's not just only going to those

1:18:20things? There are some other things that

1:18:22it's going to. And sometimes that

1:18:23includes some internal exchange between

1:18:26the municipal departments.

1:18:27>> Yeah, we can tell you exactly what those

1:18:29charges are. They're all separate line

1:18:30items. I get it in our budget document.

1:18:32We condense everything down, but each

1:18:34one of those is a separate line item.

1:18:35So, I can tell you exactly what To use

1:18:37police as our example, what police pays

1:18:39to operate their fleet, what police pays

1:18:41for their IT charges. All that's easily

1:18:44available.

1:18:45>> And that's true for every department.

1:18:46>> Sure. Yeah, absolutely.

1:18:48>> Thank you. I appreciate that. I would

1:18:49love to learn more about this and I

1:18:51think we can do that another time.

1:18:53>> Okay.

1:18:56>> I see no other questions. Thank you,

1:18:57Mark.

1:18:59And I look forward to the follow-up

1:19:00regarding wages.

1:19:03Uh if you don't mind sending it to the

1:19:04whole council, that would be great.

1:19:06Thank you. With that,

1:19:08we will now open it up for public

1:19:10comment.

1:19:12I see no one from the public who would

1:19:13like to speak on this item. I'm going to

1:19:15bring it back to the bench. With that, I

1:19:17will move to receive and file the

1:19:18quarterly financial reports for the

1:19:20period ending September 30th, 2026.

1:19:24>> Second.

1:19:24>> Motion second. Discussion? See none.

1:19:27Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

1:19:32Motion passes 6-0. Madam Clerk, please

1:19:35call the next item.

1:19:37>> Pooled funds investment policy.

1:19:45>> Good morning, Mayor and Council. Sheila

1:19:47Franklin, Department of Finance. Here to

1:19:49present on the Pooled Fund Investment

1:19:51Policy for 2026.

1:19:55Um Investment activities are very

1:19:57important to the city as they generate

1:19:58interest earnings for the general fund.

1:20:01Our Pooled Fund Policy outlines

1:20:04objectives, processes, and guidelines

1:20:07that are followed. Um also the state

1:20:09plays a very important role as they

1:20:11provide us not only oversight, but

1:20:13approval for the policy as well.

1:20:18The objectives and primary objectives

1:20:21that we have in order of priorities are

1:20:23safety of principal,

1:20:26liquidity to meet operational needs that

1:20:28we have, and then also for the rate of

1:20:30return to maximize those earnings.

1:20:36Investments um are governed by the City

1:20:39Pooled Investment Committee. And through

1:20:42our review this year, there was decided

1:20:44on two proposed changes.

1:20:47For many, many years, the city has also

1:20:49always authorized the purchase of United

1:20:51States Government Sponsored Enterprises

1:20:53or GSEs.

1:20:55We wanted to add clarification and

1:20:58definition and also to add examples to

1:21:00the policy.

1:21:01Um these include our Federal National

1:21:04Mortgage Association or Fannie Mae,

1:21:06Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporations,

1:21:08Freddie Mac,

1:21:10Federal Agricultural Mortgage

1:21:12Corporation, known as Farmer Mac or

1:21:14Famca,

1:21:15and then Federal Home Loan Bank. Once

1:21:17again, these have been for many years,

1:21:18but wanted to add that definition and

1:21:20clarification to provide examples.

1:21:25Secondly, um currently our state statute

1:21:28limits maximum maturity for purchases to

1:21:304 years.

1:21:33Within the city's parameters, we are a

1:21:34little bit more restrictive, and our

1:21:36weighted average maturity maximum is set

1:21:38for a policy of 400 days. Um but staff

1:21:41wanted to recommend to extend that to

1:21:43450 days. Um, as Mark kind of mentioned

1:21:47and you guys have heard over this year

1:21:48as far as interest rates slowly

1:21:50declining, um, we're trying to look for

1:21:52strategies to maximize those returns and

1:21:54look further into the future to meet to

1:21:56meet liquidity needs.

1:22:01The proposed GSE clarification as noted

1:22:03increase their options for investment

1:22:05opportunities and also the second one

1:22:07for our portfolio management provides

1:22:09opportunities to increase those returns

1:22:11as mentioned before. Um, for September

1:22:1430th of 2026,

1:22:17we were at a weighted average maturity

1:22:18of 395 days, but trying to increase this

1:22:21to a maximum of 450 days, we can see

1:22:23some different opportunities that we can

1:22:25invest in to extend that duration and

1:22:27investments and interest earnings for

1:22:29long-term into the future.

1:22:34After City Council consideration and

1:22:36approval, the investment policy for

1:22:38follow information will be sent to the

1:22:39state for their annual review.

1:22:42We should know the results of that

1:22:43review in January of 2027. Um, and I

1:22:46think it's very noteworthy to show that

1:22:48the city has had approval for 35 years.

1:22:52Um, I just see the year of 1991 there

1:22:54and where we are sitting at now, um, no

1:22:56doubts that we might have that approval

1:22:58again this year.

1:23:01So, I want to recommend the approval of

1:23:03the city of Wichita pulled funds

1:23:05investment policy and authorize the

1:23:07necessary signatures.

1:23:09And then I'll stand for any questions.

1:23:11>> Thank you, Sheila.

1:23:13I see no questions from the bench.

1:23:16We will now open it up for public

1:23:17comment.

1:23:18Seeing no one from the public who would

1:23:20like to speak, bring it back to the

1:23:21bench. With that, [snorts] I will move

1:23:23to approve the city of Wichita pulled

1:23:25funds investment policy and authorize

1:23:27the necessary signatures.

1:23:29>> Second.

1:23:29>> Motion second. Discussion? See none.

1:23:32Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

1:23:37Motion passes 6-0. Madam Clerk, please

1:23:40call the next item.

1:23:42>> Golf fund budget adjustment.

1:23:49>> All right, good morning, Mayor City

1:23:51Council. My name is Jesse Kaufman. I'm

1:23:53the manager of the Golf Division.

1:23:55And I'm here today to discuss a Golf

1:23:57Fund budget adjustment.

1:24:00As background, the Golf Fund is a

1:24:02self-sustaining enterprise fund. We have

1:24:05four public golf courses that we the

1:24:07city owns and manages.

1:24:09We've had increased rounds played and

1:24:12revenues over the past 5 years and that

1:24:14higher activity level equals increased

1:24:17operating expenses.

1:24:20An analysis of the current situation,

1:24:22the 2026 revised budget

1:24:25has a revenue budget of 6.7 million and

1:24:28an expenditures budget of 5.94 million.

1:24:31Through September of this year, we have

1:24:34we had 143,222

1:24:38228 rounds played. I looked this

1:24:40morning, we just passed 160,000 rounds

1:24:43yesterday.

1:24:44We've had 5.93 million in revenue

1:24:47through September, which exceeds the

1:24:502025 performance. The increased

1:24:53operating cost are mainly due to

1:24:56part-time staffing, fuel and landscaping

1:24:58chemicals, and then extreme water bills,

1:25:01especially at Mac where we don't have

1:25:02access to a well

1:25:04during this extremely hot and dry

1:25:06summer.

1:25:07$650,000 in expenditure adjustments are

1:25:10needed.

1:25:12The financial considerations

1:25:14of that 650,000, 450,000

1:25:17would be reallocated from existing

1:25:19budgeted expenditures and a $200,000

1:25:23increase expenditure authority.

1:25:25Revised expenditure budget would then be

1:25:27$6,142,561

1:25:31with a which would leave a projected

1:25:332026 net margin of $424,023.

1:25:39The projected year-end fund balance

1:25:40would be 1 million

1:25:43420,000.

1:25:45At the end of each year, we have a

1:25:46target fund balance of $1 million

1:25:48and anything that we end up with over

1:25:50that $1 million amount is transferred

1:25:53automatically to a capital projects

1:25:56fund.

1:25:57And the

1:25:58that transfer historically over the last

1:26:003 years in '23, we transferred half a

1:26:02million, in '24, 650,000 roughly, and in

1:26:05'25, 908,000.

1:26:09Legal considerations.

1:26:12Administrative regulation 2.5, city

1:26:14council approval required for budget

1:26:16adjustments over 50,000. City council

1:26:18has authority to increase golf fund

1:26:20expenditure budget.

1:26:22And the recommended action is to approve

1:26:24and

1:26:24approve the recommended budget

1:26:25adjustment to the golf funds 2026

1:26:28revised budget including reallocation

1:26:30totaling 450,000

1:26:32and authorize an increase of 200,000 in

1:26:34total budgeted expenditures

1:26:36resulting in a revised expenditure

1:26:38budget of 6 million

1:26:40142,561.

1:26:43And with that, I'm happy to answer any

1:26:45questions.

1:26:47>> Thank you, Jesse. Questions for staff.

1:26:49Council member Johnston.

1:26:51>> Thank you, sir.

1:26:52>> [clears throat]

1:26:52>> Jesse, I don't know how many rounds I

1:26:54played at that 143,000, but uh

1:26:57I enjoyed it, so I just want to say

1:26:58thank you

1:26:59for the great job you've done and your

1:27:01staff.

1:27:02Um, I think the big increase in those

1:27:04rounds is the way you treat people.

1:27:07I think it's it's really made a

1:27:08difference and our golfers really

1:27:10appreciate that. Even when you have to

1:27:13say no to people,

1:27:14you do it in a nice way, so thank you.

1:27:16>> Appreciate it. Thank you.

1:27:20>> Thanks, Jesse. No further questions.

1:27:22With that, we'll open it up for public

1:27:23comment.

1:27:25There's no one here. With that, I will

1:27:27bring it back to the bench. I will move

1:27:30to approve the recommended budget

1:27:32adjustments to the golf funds 2026

1:27:34revised budget including reallocations

1:27:37totaling 450,000

1:27:40and authorizing an increase of 200,000

1:27:42in total budgeted expenditures resulting

1:27:45in a revised expenditure budget of

1:27:48$6,142,561.

1:27:53>> Second.

1:27:54>> Motion second. Discussion? See none.

1:27:58Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

1:28:03Motion passes 6-0.

1:28:06>> Thank you.

1:28:07>> Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

1:28:10>> Wichita Public Library Capital

1:28:11Improvement Program Initiation.

1:28:22>> Good morning, Mayor and Council. Jamie

1:28:24Nix with Wichita Public Library.

1:28:46>> Jamie, I don't I don't think we have

1:28:48that presentation loaded.

1:28:50>> It was sent to you.

1:28:52>> I know, yeah, so I don't know

1:28:55What? Yeah.

1:28:58Oh, okay, got you. Um Mayor, if you

1:29:01wouldn't mind, can we move to the next

1:29:02agenda item? We can make sure that we

1:29:04can pull that

1:29:06uh presentation up so you all have that

1:29:08in front of you.

1:29:09>> That works. We will move the parking

1:29:11system maintenance before library.

1:29:14Madam Clerk, please call that item.

1:29:17>> Initiation for funding parking system

1:29:20maintenance.

1:29:22>> Good morning, Mayor, City Council

1:29:24members. Paul Gunzelman, Public Works

1:29:25and Utilities for the record.

1:29:31The item before you is funding for

1:29:33parking system maintenance in just a

1:29:35second here.

1:29:43Okay.

1:29:46On December 17th, 2024, the City Council

1:29:49approved the downtown parking plan

1:29:51implementation strategy.

1:29:54And later in 2025, [clears throat]

1:29:56Martin and Martin completed an

1:29:58assessment of eight city-owned parking

1:30:01structures.

1:30:04The highest priorities identified were

1:30:05structural repairs, stairwell

1:30:08degradation, water intrusion, concrete

1:30:10spalling, and elevator equipment.

1:30:13Other issues identified

1:30:15to provide a safe and clean environment

1:30:17were lighting upgrades, installation of

1:30:19security cameras, and improved signage.

1:30:23Staff have been reviewing and

1:30:24prioritizing recommended actions to

1:30:26address deferred maintenance for the

1:30:28for the garages.

1:30:31And we are looking at packaging

1:30:34items together

1:30:35for the overall um

1:30:38number of garages in hopes that we can

1:30:40get better bids.

1:30:42Um for example, um

1:30:44combining multiple garages that need

1:30:47stairwell or stairs replacement or

1:30:49repair items, and or any garages that

1:30:53might need waterproofing as well.

1:30:57Priority projects include

1:30:59Emporia parking structure exterior

1:31:02flashing, concrete spalling in stairs,

1:31:05Cinema parking garage stairs spalling

1:31:08concrete and masonry damage, and the

1:31:10City Hall West stairs concrete

1:31:12deterioration and concrete spalling.

1:31:16The slide before you shows some of the

1:31:19pictures that were identified. As you

1:31:21can see stairs

1:31:23in the center picture at the bottom,

1:31:26some waterproofing that needs to be

1:31:29completed. Um and then on the right some

1:31:32of the uh

1:31:33CMU block wall there at the stair tower

1:31:36has been cracked, so further evaluation

1:31:38was needed for that.

1:31:41As mentioned earlier, parking equipment

1:31:43including pay stations, meters, and

1:31:45gates will be installed and repaired as

1:31:47needed to implement the downtown parking

1:31:48plan.

1:31:49And existing signage and pavement

1:31:51markings will be evaluated and continue

1:31:53to be modified as necessary to maximize

1:31:56the number of parking spaces.

1:32:00The adopted 2027 through 2036 capital

1:32:02improvement program includes $2 million

1:32:05parking system maintenance in 2026 and

1:32:082027.

1:32:09And staff recommends initiating the full

1:32:12amount for both years at this time for a

1:32:14total of $4 million to be funded by

1:32:17general obligation bonds.

1:32:21It is recommended that city council

1:32:23approve the project budget, adopt a

1:32:25resolution, and authorize the necessary

1:32:26signatures, and I will stand for

1:32:28questions.

1:32:29>> Thank you, Paul. Can you go back to the

1:32:31slide with the priorities?

1:32:34There we go. Right here.

1:32:36Um there's one missing. According to our

1:32:38green sheet, there's also the King of

1:32:40Freight parking structure. Where does

1:32:42that fall on this priority?

1:32:43>> Those um I just provided some examples

1:32:46that could be included in this. Um

1:32:49so yes, as I mentioned before, we're

1:32:51we're looking at uh how we can package

1:32:54um

1:32:54items together to uh hopefully get

1:32:57favorable bids. So we'll look at all the

1:32:59parking structures and see what makes

1:33:01sense as a bid package to put those out.

1:33:05>> And you mentioned that there are eight

1:33:07city-owned parking structures.

1:33:09Obviously, three are outlined on this

1:33:11slide. Four are outlined on the green

1:33:14sheet. What happens to the remaining

1:33:17either

1:33:18um

1:33:18ones that have not been listed?

1:33:21>> So the Martin and Martin assessment uh

1:33:24parking uh

1:33:25structure assessment included the eight

1:33:27parking garages.

1:33:29And if you give me a second.

1:33:42And those were the the garages that they

1:33:45did a condition assessment were the Old

1:33:47Town Hotel,

1:33:49Old Town Cinema, William Street, Market

1:33:52Street, Emporia Street, Water Walk,

1:33:56Drury

1:33:57Drury Hotel, and City Hall. So that

1:33:59included the eight city-owned parking

1:34:01garages that assessments were completed

1:34:03on.

1:34:06>> Thank you. And when it comes to

1:34:08priority,

1:34:09they are listed here. Is this the actual

1:34:12priority order? So Emporia parking

1:34:15structure is the one that's

1:34:17directly across the former Wichita

1:34:19Transit.

1:34:21Can you talk about is this the priority

1:34:23list? I know that you want to

1:34:25bundle them into specific issues, but

1:34:29priority wise, we know that the

1:34:31biomedical campus is coming

1:34:34to be fully online next year.

1:34:37>> Correct.

1:34:37>> And that parking structure is the

1:34:39closest one to them. Can you talk about

1:34:41priority?

1:34:43>> Well, again, we want to look at the

1:34:46whole assessment, what makes sense to

1:34:47package together.

1:34:49Yes, we are aware the biomedical center

1:34:51is right next door. So we want to

1:34:54prioritize the most critical needs to

1:34:57address at each garage

1:34:59first.

1:35:00And we'll know more as we go through the

1:35:02condition assessment report and truly

1:35:05prioritize those with cost estimates.

1:35:09>> And again, this is $4 million. Can you

1:35:12say whether $4 million total for the

1:35:15four main priority problems or priority

1:35:18garages or just base off of issues that

1:35:22you will prioritize the $4

1:35:23>> We will we will base off of issues of

1:35:26the $4 million. So we won't necessarily

1:35:28spend all the money in one garage.

1:35:35>> And I know that Mark is not here, but

1:35:37maybe you can answer.

1:35:39Again, this is from CIP. This is bond

1:35:42money that we're going to borrow in

1:35:44order to make these repairs.

1:35:48This has become a priority really since

1:35:512024 when we learned about millions of

1:35:54dollars in deferred maintenance.

1:35:55[clears throat] Can you talk about why

1:35:56it takes so long for something to come

1:35:59before us when we have known about

1:36:01deferred maintenance now since 2024.

1:36:04>> And Mayor, we have

1:36:06made some improvements to some of the

1:36:08garages.

1:36:10We had some funding initiated um

1:36:13back I believe in June of

1:36:162015. So, we have made we installed new

1:36:20parking equipment including gates

1:36:22and operational software.

1:36:25We installed some roll down doors for

1:36:27security as well as fencing for security

1:36:30at three of the downtown parking garages

1:36:32in Emporia Market

1:36:33and William in 2026. So, we have been

1:36:36making some improvements.

1:36:40>> Thank you again, Paul. I see no further

1:36:42questions. I simply wanted to

1:36:45make a comment though.

1:36:46Um

1:36:48These pictures illustrate the reason why

1:36:51deferred maintenance can must be

1:36:54addressed sooner rather than later.

1:36:56People choose to go into parking garages

1:36:58if they feel safe

1:37:00and not having deteriorated

1:37:03stairwells and

1:37:06even

1:37:07the smells and looks of such facilities.

1:37:11So, I'm glad that this is going to be a

1:37:14priority given that we're about to have

1:37:16thousands of students and staff members

1:37:19that will be in this specific area soon

1:37:23utilizing more of these assets. And so,

1:37:27because of that, I am going to be

1:37:28supportive of this because safe and

1:37:30secure facilities is a priority that

1:37:34this council

1:37:36takes very seriously and that includes

1:37:38with parking garages.

1:37:40Thank you, Paul. With that, I see no

1:37:43further questions. We'll open it up for

1:37:45public comment. There's no one in the

1:37:47public who would like to speak on this

1:37:48item.

1:37:49And with that, I will move to approve

1:37:51the project budget, adopt the

1:37:53resolution, and authorize the necessary

1:37:55signatures.

1:37:56>> Second.

1:37:57>> Motion second, discussion, see none.

1:37:59Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

1:38:04Motion passes 6-0. Madam Clerk, please

1:38:07call the next item.

1:38:09>> Wichita Public Library Capital

1:38:11Improvement Program Initiation.

1:38:17>> And we're going to pull this up here, so

1:38:18give us a 1 second still. Nick, come on

1:38:20up. Jim, yeah. Yeah, just hang right

1:38:22here for a second and we're

1:38:24pulling it up cuz yes, we did have that

1:38:26from earlier, just had to get it loaded.

1:38:46>> While we're doing that, I might give you

1:38:48an update on the Civic Action Passport

1:38:50that was launched in April this year. At

1:38:53this point, we've been able to see how

1:38:55many people are participating online

1:38:58in person with a physical

1:39:00pieces. 40, I think just shy of 47

1:39:03people have

1:39:05completed their passport and we have

1:39:08more than 700 people participating

1:39:10online.

1:39:12So, the number of activities are

1:39:14tremendous. I think probably the or the

1:39:17impact statistic that's really been

1:39:20exciting for us at the library is that

1:39:23more than 80% of the people

1:39:25participating in the program plan to

1:39:27take more civic action steps in the next

1:39:294 months.

1:39:33>> I will just challenge my colleagues. I

1:39:34was one of the 46 to complete it. So, we

1:39:37can at least have another six up here

1:39:39and get to 52 if that's the case.

1:39:46>> And thank you very much, Jamie, for

1:39:48leading that effort. This is really to

1:39:51celebrate America's 250th anniversary

1:39:55and you've taken a big leadership role

1:39:57in rolling out the Civic action passport

1:40:01and when we were

1:40:03at the All-America City competition.

1:40:05Many of them were very uh

1:40:08elated to see this passport. And so, I

1:40:12think several people took photos

1:40:14uh that then they would bring back to

1:40:16their own cities to try to emulate. So,

1:40:18>> Very cool.

1:40:19>> thank you for your leadership.

1:40:20>> our pleasure.

1:40:22>> Jamie, do you happen to know how many

1:40:24people early voted at the Advanced

1:40:25Learning Library?

1:40:26>> Oh my, we Our parking was full.

1:40:30I think they said that they averaged

1:40:31more than 8,000 voters every day.

1:40:35Um the last day, Saturday, I saw some

1:40:37social media posts that people were in

1:40:39line before 1:00, but they were out of

1:40:42the voting about 2:30. So, they were um

1:40:44it was a pretty significant line.

1:40:47>> I know that they were very happy to see

1:40:48some of our colleagues go and vote

1:40:50there. So, thank you for making that

1:40:52possible, making it convenient for a lot

1:40:54of people. It was It was full when I

1:40:56went. So.

1:40:56>> Yeah. We've got voting today at Alford

1:40:59and at Evergreen. And then I just got

1:41:01the paperwork to do advanced voting

1:41:03again in 2027 at the Advanced Learning

1:41:06Library. So.

1:41:07Yes.

1:41:09Certainly.

1:41:16So sorry about this.

1:41:18>> Maybe the mayor has a couple of jokes

1:41:20she can share.

1:41:21No?

1:41:22>> I always have questions though.

1:41:23>> Oh, we know, girl.

1:41:25>> [laughter]

1:41:26>> Scott Wagle here usually has all the

1:41:28jokes.

1:41:33>> Yay.

1:41:34Super excited. Um Jamie Nixon with the

1:41:37Wichita Public Library here to talk

1:41:39about the capital improvement projects

1:41:42that have been identified for 2027 for

1:41:45initiation.

1:41:46Um we have four authorized projects in

1:41:49the CIP for '27. One is related to the

1:41:52Advanced Learning Library. Surprisingly,

1:41:54we're coming up on 9 years of being in

1:41:57business. With the number of visitors,

1:41:59we've got a lot of wear and tear on our

1:42:00furniture. And so,

1:42:02um we have put together an MOU with the

1:42:04city and the library foundation who's

1:42:06contributing $200,000

1:42:09um to update the furniture, fixtures,

1:42:11equipment, and some technology at the

1:42:13Advanced Learning Library in the amount

1:42:15of

1:42:161.1 million with 200,000 coming from the

1:42:19library foundation.

1:42:21And we have a second project that has

1:42:23been underway and is in your strategic

1:42:25plan related to the Family Place Early

1:42:27Learning Literacy Initiative that is

1:42:30named after previous city manager Robert

1:42:32Layton. We're scheduling a ribbon

1:42:35cutting on Tuesday, November 16th at the

1:42:37Advanced Learning Library. And we've

1:42:40just certified both our Advanced

1:42:42Learning Library and Rockwell branches.

1:42:44We've got staff training and all of the

1:42:45plans in place for the remainder

1:42:47branches. Um that's a total project of

1:42:50197,500.

1:42:53100,000 of that being contributed by the

1:42:56library foundation.

1:42:57There are three public art projects our

1:43:00design council has proposed. Um one at

1:43:02the Advanced Learning Library, one at

1:43:04Alford, and one at Rockwell in the

1:43:06amount of 81,000.

1:43:08And this year um public works has

1:43:11generally put library maintenance into a

1:43:13pub- public facilities budget in the

1:43:16CIP. And this year we're pulling out the

1:43:18library's maintenance so that we can

1:43:20better prioritize and and collaborate on

1:43:24on the effect of the the budget which is

1:43:27300,000.

1:43:30So the CIP was approved by council in on

1:43:32on August 25th. And it includes those

1:43:36four projects. So it's replacing worn

1:43:38and feeling furniture, fixtures, and

1:43:40equipment. Establishing Robert Layton

1:43:42Family Place libraries across the

1:43:44library system. Installing some amazing

1:43:47public art in our cultural institutions.

1:43:50And ensuring that annual building

1:43:51maintenance exists across all seven

1:43:53locations.

1:43:55Um in total the CIP has 1,578,000

1:44:00in general obligation bond funding for

1:44:03library projects including 81,000 for

1:44:06art.

1:44:07The library foundation is contributing

1:44:09300,000 to assist with two projects and

1:44:12staff is recommending initiating the

1:44:14full $1,878,000.

1:44:19The law department has approved the

1:44:20bonding resolutions as to form.

1:44:23And our recommendation is that you

1:44:24approve the projects, adopt the bonding

1:44:26resolutions, and also authorize the

1:44:29necessary signatures.

1:44:33>> Thank you, Jamie, again for your

1:44:35leadership with the Wichita Library

1:44:37system. There are seven locations. Every

1:44:40council member has a library except for

1:44:42Council member Tuttle.

1:44:44Um so, thank you very much for taking

1:44:47care of those facilities. Um I had the

1:44:50opportunity to attend Council member

1:44:52Johnston's DAB meeting yesterday at the

1:44:55Westlink Library, and it is a beautiful

1:44:58space, and it is a space that you all

1:45:01are taking care of, and the community is

1:45:04appreciative of. So,

1:45:06um thank you for this capital

1:45:08improvement program plan. Uh in

1:45:11addition, yesterday Council member

1:45:12Joseph Shepherd and I were at the

1:45:15Storytime Village uh Read and Rise

1:45:17Breakfast Gala, where we gave the

1:45:19proclamation for the National Family

1:45:21Literacy Month. So, it's appropriate as

1:45:24this ties with the Family Place project,

1:45:27um and again, encouraging people to read

1:45:30to children, whether their own children

1:45:32or volunteer at a school. So, uh thank

1:45:34you for the initiative that you and

1:45:36partners are doing around the community

1:45:38to increase literacy in the city. So,

1:45:42with that, thank you.

1:45:43>> Thank you.

1:45:43>> Um we will open it up for public

1:45:45comment.

1:45:46And there is none, so I will bring it

1:45:47back to the bench, and I will move to

1:45:50approve the projects, adopt the bonding

1:45:52resolutions, and authorize the necessary

1:45:54signatures.

1:45:55>> Second.

1:45:56>> Motion second, discussion. See none,

1:45:58Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

1:46:02Motion passes 6-0. Madam Clerk, please

1:46:05call the next item.

1:46:08>> Agreement with Burlington Northern Santa

1:46:10Fe for improvements to 21st Street North

1:46:12from I-135 to Mosley.

1:46:15>> Paul Gunselman, Public Works and

1:46:17Utilities for the record.

1:46:19Item before you, agreement and funding

1:46:21for

1:46:22Whoa.

1:46:25the

1:46:26BNSF

1:46:27agreement for 21st Street.

1:46:31On July 20th, 2021, the City Council

1:46:34approved an agreement with MKC

1:46:36Engineering to develop

1:46:38design concepts for 21st Street North

1:46:40from Interstate I-135 to Mosley.

1:46:43On May 3rd, 2022, the City Council

1:46:46approved the design concept, and on

1:46:48December 16th, 2025, the City Council

1:46:50approved the existing budget of $13.3

1:46:53million.

1:46:56The tracks east of Mosley, the crossing

1:47:00material and signals need to be replaced

1:47:03with the project.

1:47:06And the cost of the BNSF BNSF agreement

1:47:10is $780,858

1:47:13for railroad signal replacement,

1:47:15railroad surfacing, administrative fee,

1:47:17and temporary construction license.

1:47:19Funding is available within the approved

1:47:22budget amount.

1:47:24And it's recommended City Council

1:47:26approve the agreement and authorize

1:47:27necessary signatures, and I will stand

1:47:29for questions, and this is the last step

1:47:32needed to bid the project and get that

1:47:35under construction.

1:47:37>> Thank you, Paul. Questions for staff?

1:47:40See none. Uh we will open it up for

1:47:42public comment on this item. There's no

1:47:45one from the public who would like to

1:47:46speak on this item. This resides in

1:47:48Council member Ballard's district.

1:47:52>> Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to take the

1:47:54recommended action to approve the

1:47:55agreement and authorize the necessary

1:47:57signatures.

1:47:58>> Motion second, discussion? See none.

1:48:01Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

1:48:07Motion passes 6-0. Madam Clerk, please

1:48:10call the next item.

1:48:12>> Agreement and funding for the Delano

1:48:14Chosen Path and Prairie Sunset Trail.

1:48:18>> Paul Gunzelman, Public Works and

1:48:19Utilities for the record. I have another

1:48:21railroad agreement. Um this is for the

1:48:24end funding request for Delano Chisholm

1:48:27Path and Prairie Sunset Trail.

1:48:31On August 14th, 2020 8 2018, the City

1:48:35Council approved a design agreement for

1:48:37the Delano Chisholm Trail path between

1:48:40McLean and Osage.

1:48:43The following table reflects previous

1:48:44budget actions of the City Council for

1:48:46the project. And on March 17th, uh

1:48:49supplemental agreement number one was

1:48:51approved.

1:48:54On April 27th, 2021, supplemental

1:48:56agreement number two was evaluation of

1:48:58the existing railroad bridge out near um

1:49:01west of I-235.

1:49:03And in August 16th, supplemental

1:49:05agreement number three was the final

1:49:07design from Delano path to the Sunset

1:49:10Trail near Kellogg and Hoover.

1:49:12And on January 23rd, 2020 24, the City

1:49:16Council approved the budget to date of

1:49:18$4.56 million.

1:49:23The Chisholm Trail Parkway portion of

1:49:25the path between Delano uh or through

1:49:28Delano from McLean to Exposition was

1:49:30completed in 2024 as shown in blue.

1:49:34The section in green is currently under

1:49:36construction with the Douglas Street

1:49:37improvements between Seneca and

1:49:39Meridian.

1:49:41And the next segment to be constructed

1:49:43extends a path uh to West Street that

1:49:46would uh go by Friends University

1:49:49as well as Kansas Newman College and

1:49:52then it extends it uh to uh McLean as

1:49:57well along McCormick.

1:50:01The proposed path crosses Kansas and

1:50:03Oklahoma Railroad between Meridian and

1:50:04Edwards and requires replacement of the

1:50:06railroad panels to cross the railroad.

1:50:11The cost of the railroad agreement is

1:50:13$230,419.

1:50:16Funding is available in the existing

1:50:17budget of 4.56 million dollars that was

1:50:20approved by City Council

1:50:23in January of 2024 and is funded by

1:50:25general obligation bonds.

1:50:27And the 2027 through 2036

1:50:30adopted capital improvement program

1:50:32includes 1 million dollars in ongoing

1:50:34projects for 2025 bikeways and bike

1:50:36improvements

1:50:37funded by general obligation bonds.

1:50:40Staff requests initiating the full

1:50:41amount for a revised budget of 5.

1:50:4456 million dollars.

1:50:49Mhm.

1:50:51And it is recommended City Council

1:50:53approve the agreement amending

1:50:55resolution and authorizing necessary

1:50:57signatures and I will stand for

1:50:59questions.

1:51:00>> Thank you, Paul. Um, I had a question.

1:51:03So, after the St. Patty's Day parade in

1:51:05Delano, I walked through this path and

1:51:08trail and several the bollards were uh

1:51:12damaged. Um, the light structure is also

1:51:16a bollard. It serves two purposes.

1:51:18The

1:51:20I think it has since been fixed, but

1:51:22moving forward, I would like to see if

1:51:25you could find sturdier

1:51:28um and

1:51:29I don't know if the dual purpose was

1:51:31necessary,

1:51:32um but it just didn't seem to um

1:51:36serve its purpose, which was to be a

1:51:39sturdy structure. Uh, it was easily

1:51:43um damaged.

1:51:44>> Okay.

1:51:44>> And so,

1:51:46I understand that you want some

1:51:47consistency and maybe the look, but if

1:51:50there can be um some consideration on

1:51:53maybe the purpose of the bollard really

1:51:55is

1:51:57safety.

1:51:58>> Okay.

1:51:58>> Um, so, that is just my comment

1:52:00regarding that project.

1:52:02>> Thank you.

1:52:03>> Vice Mayor Glasscock.

1:52:04>> Thank you, Mayor. Can we go back to the

1:52:05map real fast?

1:52:08>> Uh,

1:52:08yes.

1:52:09>> Yeah, sure that map works.

1:52:11Um, for how much of the link is still

1:52:14missing?

1:52:15>> Uh,

1:52:164 miles. I'm I I don't have that off the

1:52:19top my top of my head Councilmember

1:52:21Glasscock, but uh as you can see this

1:52:24will start near Douglas and Exposition a

1:52:27port portion of that as I shown on the

1:52:29previous map is being constructed with

1:52:32the Douglas

1:52:33project. So we will extend it south on

1:52:37Martinson I believe

1:52:39or I guess it's the next block over to

1:52:42University and then go through

1:52:46around Friends University.

1:52:48This this portion of the project will

1:52:51continue it to West Street.

1:52:54We are still working with some property

1:52:55acquisition there just

1:52:59on either side of I-235 so then it would

1:53:03connect into the Prairie Sunset Trail

1:53:07there near Kellogg or Hoover and Dugan.

1:53:12>> Okay, thank you. I appreciate

1:53:13>> I can get you a mileage if you'd like

1:53:16but I don't have that off the top of my

1:53:17head.

1:53:19>> Councilmember Johnston.

1:53:21>> Thank you, Mayor.

1:53:22Um

1:53:23just

1:53:24housekeeping Kansas Newman College

1:53:26changed their name 15 or 20 years ago

1:53:28to Newman University.

1:53:30So we might

1:53:31update that.

1:53:32Um

1:53:34and my question is similar to

1:53:35Councilmember Glasscock.

1:53:37Where is it going to cross the big big

1:53:39ditch? Is it going to be the old

1:53:40railroad track bridge?

1:53:41>> Yes, it will be on the old river

1:53:44bridge. Yes, we have evaluated that

1:53:46bridge and that that will be where it

1:53:48will be.

1:53:48>> Okay, yes. Needs to be done to connect

1:53:51everything.

1:53:51>> Correct. We we need to get some right

1:53:54away acquisition there at the east end

1:53:57as it comes down. We need some

1:54:00acquisition

1:54:02to make that path and we've worked with

1:54:04KDOT and FHWA to cross under those

1:54:07bridges out there. So we've worked out

1:54:09through with I-235 as well.

1:54:12>> Any any idea when that might happen?

1:54:14>> No,

1:54:16again we're we're we've been negotiating

1:54:18with those. I think there's two property

1:54:20owners one on either side of I-235. So

1:54:23once we get those in place, we'll be

1:54:25ready to go.

1:54:26>> Okay.

1:54:27I always thought it would be people

1:54:28travel to go ride trails.

1:54:31>> Mhm.

1:54:31>> [clears throat]

1:54:31>> And so, if we have a trail from all the

1:54:33way from

1:54:35Garden Plain all all the way past

1:54:37Andover to

1:54:39that would be a a huge draw and it would

1:54:41really help the

1:54:42>> Yeah.

1:54:42>> I'm just advertising now.

1:54:44>> Right.

1:54:44>> Help our hotel rooms and restaurants and

1:54:46everything else.

1:54:47>> Yeah.

1:54:47>> So, yeah. Thank you.

1:54:51>> I see no further questions. Thank you,

1:54:53Paul.

1:54:54We will open it up for public comment.

1:54:57There's no one from the public who would

1:54:58like to speak on this item. I'm going to

1:55:00bring it back to the bench. This affects

1:55:02both Council member Glasscock and

1:55:04Ballard.

1:55:07>> Thank you, Mayor.

1:55:08Uh I

1:55:10would like to take the recommended

1:55:11action to approve the agreement amending

1:55:13resolution and authorizing necessary

1:55:15signatures.

1:55:17>> Motion second. Discussion. See none.

1:55:19Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

1:55:24>> I

1:55:25>> All those in favor say I.

1:55:26>> I

1:55:27>> All those opposed, same sign. Motion

1:55:29passes 6-0. Madam Clerk, please call the

1:55:32next item.

1:55:36>> Con 2026-124,

1:55:38conditional use to allow entertainment

1:55:39establishment in the city within 300 ft

1:55:41of residentially zoned property,

1:55:43generally located on the west side of

1:55:45North Wabash Avenue, and within 250 ft

1:55:48south of East Murdock Street at 721

1:55:51North Wabash Avenue.

1:55:56>> Good morning. Scott Wedel from the

1:55:58planning department.

1:56:00So, for this item, as you heard, the

1:56:01applicant is requesting a conditional

1:56:03use in order to permit an entertainment

1:56:05establishment at the subject site.

1:56:08Now, this case evolved just a little bit

1:56:10during the review process, and so I'll

1:56:12go through that and uh indicate how that

1:56:15request has changed slightly.

1:56:17Uh this case is being heard because the

1:56:19district advisory board and planning

1:56:20commission recommendations for approval

1:56:22are different.

1:56:24In terms of the subject site, as you can

1:56:25see here, it's generally located to the

1:56:27south and east of the intersection of

1:56:30Murdock and Washington Avenue. Its

1:56:32address is 721 North Wabash Avenue.

1:56:36The subject site is 0.16 acres in size,

1:56:40consists of one ownership parcel, is

1:56:42developed with an office/warehouse

1:56:44building, and is zoned LI limited

1:56:47industrial.

1:56:48In terms of the request, the applicant

1:56:50has indicated they would like to utilize

1:56:51the existing structure on the subject

1:56:54site to rent out for a company events,

1:56:55celebrations, and other private events.

1:57:00In terms of context, the site is

1:57:01surrounded on all sides by limited

1:57:03industrial district. Properties to the

1:57:06north and south are undeveloped.

1:57:08Property to the east, across North

1:57:10Wabash Avenue, is owned by the applicant

1:57:13and is developed with a warehouse/office

1:57:15combination for a trucking company.

1:57:17Property to the west is developed with a

1:57:19warehouse/office

1:57:21combination.

1:57:23In terms of the staff report, the staff

1:57:25report for this item contains

1:57:26information on noise and lighting

1:57:28restrictions, as well as parking

1:57:30requirements.

1:57:31In terms of review, on September 24th,

1:57:34the planning commission held the public

1:57:35hearing for this item and recommended

1:57:37approval of the conditional use subject

1:57:40to the conditions, which are listed in

1:57:42the staff report, and the vote was 13 to

1:57:44zero.

1:57:45Two members of the public spoke with

1:57:47concerns of parking and also about

1:57:50having a club in the neighborhood.

1:57:53Now, the MAPC recommended conditions of

1:57:55approval include the following:

1:57:57that the use of the entertainment

1:57:58establishment in the city shall be only

1:58:00be accessory to the use of an event

1:58:03center in the city. And so, what I mean

1:58:05by that is during the MAPC meeting on

1:58:08this item, the applicants indicated,

1:58:10again, they emphasized that they wanted

1:58:12to have events and celebrations there.

1:58:14That is an event center. That is not

1:58:16what they originally requested. So,

1:58:19um the MAPC approved the conditional use

1:58:22both for event center in the city as

1:58:25well as entertainment establishment. So,

1:58:27that's how the request's kind of

1:58:28modified a little bit over time.

1:58:32And then uh again, there are a number of

1:58:34other conditions that are included in

1:58:35the MAPC recommendation.

1:58:38Um one that I will point out real quick

1:58:40would be that the hours of operation the

1:58:43MAPC recommended the following hours,

1:58:45Sunday through Thursday

1:58:474:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Friday and

1:58:49Saturday 4:00 p.m. to midnight.

1:58:52And that outdoor entertainment would be

1:58:54prohibited.

1:58:55On October 5th, the District Advisory

1:58:57Board reviewed the request and

1:58:58recommended approval subject to the MAPC

1:59:01recommended conditions and with

1:59:02revisions to the hours of operations.

1:59:05And that vote was 10 to 0.

1:59:07No members of the public spoke at that

1:59:09meeting regarding the case.

1:59:10The DAB recommended hours of operation

1:59:12are as follows.

1:59:14Sunday through Thursday until 10:00 p.m.

1:59:16with no opening hour restrictions. And

1:59:19Friday and Saturday until 1:00 a.m.

1:59:22the following day.

1:59:24Uh with again, with no opening hour

1:59:26restrictions.

1:59:28No protests were received against the

1:59:29case against the application. Therefore,

1:59:31the zone change can be approved by a

1:59:32simple majority of four of seven votes.

1:59:36In terms of recommended action, it's

1:59:38recommended City Council

1:59:40adopt the findings of the Planning

1:59:41Commission and approve the request to

1:59:42conditional use with MAPC conditions.

1:59:47Authorize necessary signatures and

1:59:49instruct the City Clerk to publish

1:59:50resolution after approval. And again,

1:59:52just a simple majority needed four out

1:59:54of seven.

1:59:56Alternatives include the following. You

1:59:57can override the MAPC, adopt alternative

2:00:00findings and deny the conditional use.

2:00:02That would require five of seven.

2:00:04Or you can return the case to the MAPC

2:00:05for additional consideration. Again,

2:00:07that would require four of seven votes.

2:00:10And just a quick note about the process

2:00:11at the public hearing occurs at the

2:00:13Planning Commission meeting.

2:00:14With that, I'll take you through some of

2:00:16the graphics and images. So, here's the

2:00:17aerial image. Here's the zoning map.

2:00:21Here's the map from the comprehensive

2:00:22plan um showing I believe that it's

2:00:24recommended for residential, which is

2:00:26kind of interesting.

2:00:28Um this is the notification and protest

2:00:30map. Again, no protests were submitted.

2:00:33Here's the site plan that was submitted

2:00:35by the applicant.

2:00:37Um, yeah. This is a photo of the

2:00:39existing building.

2:00:41And the area around it.

2:00:45And with that, I'll stand for any

2:00:46questions.

2:00:48>> Questions for staff?

2:00:52I just have one, which is the parking

2:00:53question. I think a staff member asked.

2:00:56This is a very industrial area, and

2:00:58there's a parking lot, but it doesn't

2:01:00belong to this property. How will people

2:01:03park?

2:01:04>> Um, that still remains to be a question.

2:01:07Um, the property owners who own this

2:01:09property do own property nearby, but

2:01:12it's not set up for this type of

2:01:13parking. So, they'll either have to do

2:01:15improvements and do an agreement between

2:01:18the two properties, or they'll have to

2:01:19find other parking. Because if they

2:01:21operate this, um, as it's currently, it

2:01:24only has two parking spaces. So, unless

2:01:26they have a very small party, um,

2:01:29they're not going to they're not going

2:01:30to be in compliance. So, they'll have to

2:01:32secure additional parking.

2:01:38>> This res- Thank you very much, Scott.

2:01:40This does not get public comment. This

2:01:42resides in Council member um Shepherd's

2:01:45district.

2:01:47>> Thank you, Mayor.

2:01:48So, I will move that we approve uh

2:01:53the recommended approval of the

2:01:54conditional use subject to the MAPC

2:01:56recommended conditions. And with the

2:01:58revisions to the hours of operation

2:02:00which were shared by the District

2:02:02Advisory Board, A, Sunday through

2:02:03Thursday until 10:00 p.m.

2:02:07With, I believe we said that we were

2:02:09going to do opening hour restrictions.

2:02:12Scott, can you remind me?

2:02:13>> Uh, yes, sir. Um, so, one of the

2:02:16interesting things that would happen if

2:02:18there were no opening hour restrictions

2:02:20is that they could operate until

2:02:22midnight and then essentially just open

2:02:24it up again the next day. So, um, some

2:02:27opening hours that you might consider

2:02:28would be uh restricting the opening

2:02:30hours so that they could not start any

2:02:32earlier than say

2:02:349:00 in the morning. Uh that would give

2:02:36them the time to have a company of

2:02:39events

2:02:40um

2:02:40without

2:02:42hopefully without disturbing the

2:02:43neighbors too much. Although it is in an

2:02:45industrial area, so

2:02:47>> [snorts]

2:02:50>> I believe I'm sorry. I want to make sure

2:02:52that I honor what the DAB recommended

2:02:54cuz that's important to me.

2:02:55>> Mhm.

2:02:58>> Okay.

2:03:05I want to say we discussed 4:00 p.m.

2:03:08>> Yeah, 4:00 is uh the recommendation that

2:03:10comes to you from the MAPC.

2:03:12>> Okay.

2:03:12>> And some background on that one is that

2:03:15I believe the MAPC recommended 4:00

2:03:17because initially they thought that this

2:03:19was going to be more of a nightclub with

2:03:21just um in the combination of

2:03:23entertainment and alcohol.

2:03:25Because they want to have an event

2:03:26center, what we have found in the past

2:03:28is that um sometimes event centers do

2:03:31open up a little bit earlier, especially

2:03:33if they're doing a corporate event. Um

2:03:35the other option is that you can you can

2:03:38bifurcate it as well. You could have the

2:03:40event center allowed to open earlier

2:03:42than say

2:03:44entertainment establishment hours as

2:03:46well. So um you do have

2:03:50you've got a variety of options on

2:03:51those.

2:03:57>> Yeah, I'm going to go with

2:04:01uh

2:04:02recommended approval of the conditional

2:04:03use subject to the MAPC recommended

2:04:05conditions and with revisions to the

2:04:07hours of operation beginning at 12:00 in

2:04:10the afternoon until 10:00 p.m. Sunday

2:04:13through Thursday and Friday and Saturday

2:04:17will run

2:04:219:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m.

2:04:28>> Second.

2:04:31>> Motion second. Discussion? See none.

2:04:34Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

2:04:41Motion passes 6-0.

2:04:43Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

2:04:46>> [snorts]

2:04:47>> Zone 2026-40 zone change request in the

2:04:50city from single-family residential

2:04:52district to two-family residential

2:04:53district to allow duplex development

2:04:56generally located at the intersection of

2:04:57North Arkansas Avenue and West 35th

2:05:00Street North at 3601 North Arkansas

2:05:02Avenue.

2:05:06>> Scott Waite Hill again from the Planning

2:05:07Department. As you've heard for this

2:05:09one, the applicant is requesting a

2:05:11rezoning from SF5 to TF3 for the

2:05:13property.

2:05:14This item is being heard today because

2:05:16the DAB and Planning Commission

2:05:17recommendations are different and also

2:05:19because protests have been submitted

2:05:21against the application and within the

2:05:23protest area.

2:05:25In terms of the request, the applicant

2:05:27has indicated they're requesting the

2:05:28zoning change in order to allow for

2:05:30three to four duplexes to be at the

2:05:33site.

2:05:34In terms [snorts] of the property, the

2:05:35subject site as you can see here is

2:05:37located at the northwest corner of

2:05:39Arkansas and 35th Street North. The

2:05:42subject site is

2:05:43just under an acre in size, consists of

2:05:46one ownership parcel, and is

2:05:48undeveloped.

2:05:49In terms of context, property to the

2:05:51north, east, and west are zoned SF5 and

2:05:54developed with single-family dwellings.

2:05:56So, here's a look at the zoning map.

2:05:59Property to the south is zoned LC

2:06:01limited commercial and in use for

2:06:03construction, sales, and service.

2:06:06In terms of the staff report, the staff

2:06:07report provides information about

2:06:09development standards, parking, and

2:06:11setbacks.

2:06:13In terms of review, on September 24th,

2:06:16the Planning Commission held the public

2:06:18hearing for this case and recommended

2:06:19approval of the zone change request

2:06:21subject to a protective overlay, and

2:06:23that vote was 13 to zero.

2:06:25The protective overlay

2:06:27would read as follows: The site is

2:06:29limited to a maximum of four duplexes,

2:06:31so eight dwelling units total,

2:06:33and the zoning parking requirement it

2:06:36must be met on site.

2:06:38At that public hearing, three people

2:06:40spoke in opposition with concerns about

2:06:43drainage, character of the neighborhood,

2:06:44and potential increases in traffic.

2:06:47On October 12th, the District Advisory

2:06:49Board reviewed the request and

2:06:50recommended denial, and that vote was 10

2:06:52to 0.

2:06:54The applicant did not attend the DAB

2:06:56meeting,

2:06:57and nine people spoke in opposition to

2:06:59the zone change request, again with

2:07:01concerns about drainage, character of

2:07:03the neighborhood, and potential

2:07:04increases in traffic.

2:07:06In terms of protest, 84 protests were

2:07:09received against this application, and

2:07:11that amounted to 33% of the protest

2:07:14area.

2:07:15This exceeds the 20% threshold,

2:07:18and so a change in zoning can only be

2:07:20approved with a supermajority vote, or

2:07:22six out of seven.

2:07:24In terms of recommendation,

2:07:25it's recommended the City Council adopt

2:07:27the findings of the Planning Commission,

2:07:29approve the zone change request with a

2:07:31protective overlay, authorize necessary

2:07:33signatures, and instruct the City Clerk

2:07:35to publish your ordinance after

2:07:36approval, and again requires six of

2:07:38seven votes because of the protest.

2:07:40Alternatives include the following: you

2:07:42can override the MAPC, adopt alternative

2:07:44findings, and deny the requested zone

2:07:46change. That would require five of seven

2:07:48votes. Or as always, you can return the

2:07:50case to the MAPC for additional

2:07:52consideration. That would just simp-

2:07:54simply requires a simple majority of

2:07:55four of seven votes. And again, a note

2:07:58about the process that the public

2:07:59hearing occurred at the Planning

2:08:00Commission meeting.

2:08:02So, I'll take you through the graphics.

2:08:04So, here's the aerial image. Here's the

2:08:06zoning image. Again, you can see single

2:08:09family around it except for the LC to

2:08:10the south.

2:08:12Here's the map from the comprehensive

2:08:13plan recommending residential.

2:08:16Here's the protest map.

2:08:18It extends out quite a ways, but you can

2:08:20see that there are a number of red prop-

2:08:22properties that are identified in the

2:08:23red color showing the protests within

2:08:25the calculation area.

2:08:27Again, the protest was over 20%.

2:08:31Here are photos from the site and the

2:08:32surrounding area.

2:08:37And with that, I'll stand for any

2:08:38questions.

2:08:41>> Thank you, Scott. Um I do have one

2:08:43question. I did ask this to Council

2:08:46Member Ballard. Um

2:08:48did this applicant just not know to

2:08:51attend the DAB meeting or what happened?

2:08:53Because usually applicants attend a DAB

2:08:55meeting.

2:08:56>> Yeah, um it's certainly in their best

2:08:58interest to do so. Um we include that

2:09:00information in letters that we send to

2:09:02the applicants, um as well as during

2:09:04conversations staff will typically

2:09:06remind applicants about the meetings.

2:09:08So, I'm not really sure what happened.

2:09:11Uh the Planning Commission meeting

2:09:13happened before the DAB meeting, so they

2:09:15should have been well aware of it.

2:09:18>> I'm looking at the notes right now from

2:09:19the planning meeting, and it looks like

2:09:21the applicant did obviously attend, and

2:09:24it's a It looks like a first-time

2:09:26builder. And I always like to encourage

2:09:28people, especially small businesses, if

2:09:31they're interested with our major

2:09:33challenge, which is housing,

2:09:35to definitely reach out to the council

2:09:37member where you're wanting to make your

2:09:39development. And I'm looking at the

2:09:42notes here, and it says Paola Solis,

2:09:44applicant.

2:09:46She just graduated from K-State with

2:09:49construction science and management. Did

2:09:52she maybe not know the process? Because

2:09:54to me that that is a concern because as

2:09:57a

2:09:58I think sometimes people don't know how

2:10:00to engage with

2:10:02city processes. And to me, this raises

2:10:06an alarm that says, "Well, maybe the

2:10:08applicant just didn't know." Just

2:10:10because you get approved in planning

2:10:13doesn't mean that you have been approved

2:10:15by the DAB. And in this situation, is

2:10:19this maybe a learning opportunity for a

2:10:21a small business owner to understand you

2:10:24do need to engage with the council

2:10:25member who represents that district. And

2:10:28then not only that, but engage with the

2:10:30residents who you're about to bring

2:10:33either an improvement or an idea.

2:10:36Can you tell me about that process

2:10:38because I feel like this is

2:10:40important uh individuals to know how to

2:10:44engage in the life cycle process.

2:10:47>> Sure.

2:10:48Um so, in our application materials, uh

2:10:51we describe the process in brief. Uh we

2:10:54also provide a letter to the applicant

2:10:56so that they understand what the process

2:10:58is. Um and again, staff generally

2:11:02consult with the applicant, will answer

2:11:04questions, um

2:11:06try to be very responsive. So, um we do

2:11:08our best to make sure that people are

2:11:10informed about the process and

2:11:11understand, uh but at the same time

2:11:13they're not required to attend the

2:11:15meeting, so it is up to them. And we

2:11:17have seen other instances where

2:11:19applicants do not show up at the DAB

2:11:21meetings. I can think of a number of

2:11:23cases that have been deferred or uh

2:11:25denied or whatever because of that, so.

2:11:28>> Can I stop you right there because

2:11:31when [snorts]

2:11:32when it's

2:11:33a new person trying to go through a

2:11:35process and

2:11:37if the communication is not required,

2:11:40they're just going to say think that

2:11:42it's not necessary. Just because it

2:11:45might not be a requirement, it feels

2:11:47like it's necessary to talk to your

2:11:49council member and it's necessary to

2:11:51talk to the community members in the

2:11:54area. Might not be a requirement,

2:11:57but necessary. If people don't know,

2:12:00especially as a new business owner, this

2:12:02seems to be someone who may be new in

2:12:04the process. And I'd like to encourage

2:12:07small business owners to

2:12:09to do these developments because we do

2:12:11need, again, this housing.

2:12:13Um

2:12:15I'm a little perplexed right now in

2:12:18understanding how we communicate because

2:12:21I want to encourage people to be part of

2:12:23the solution. We keep talking about

2:12:25housing being a a problem. We talked

2:12:27about it in um retreat with you.

2:12:31And then Councilmember Johnston's

2:12:32actually going to have a uh session on

2:12:35Thursday regarding zoning. And it goes

2:12:38back to even that same thing that

2:12:39happened last last week or week before

2:12:42where the

2:12:43either developer or individual didn't

2:12:45know full processes. And again, I think

2:12:49it's in communication. Just because it's

2:12:51not a requirement doesn't mean it's not

2:12:54necessary. And in this situation,

2:12:56speaking with your council member and

2:12:58speaking with the residents, while not

2:13:01required,

2:13:02is very necessary.

2:13:04>> Well, and what I'd like to share also is

2:13:06that we have development review sessions

2:13:09when developers or new applicants,

2:13:11prospective applicants can request 30

2:13:13minutes to meet with staff and go over a

2:13:16whole variety of topics.

2:13:18Um we also operate the counter at our

2:13:20office where people can come in and they

2:13:22can ask about submitting an application.

2:13:24They can ask questions. We have our

2:13:26phone line which we receive and handle a

2:13:28number of different phone calls on it.

2:13:31Um as well as uh we also have our

2:13:33website with lots of information on

2:13:35that. Um in the application, again, we

2:13:38describe the process

2:13:40um as well as um each case is assigned a

2:13:44planner

2:13:46uh so that the point of contact is the

2:13:48same individual and they certainly have

2:13:50the opportunity to ask questions. They

2:13:52can come in. They can meet with that

2:13:53planner. The planner will help

2:13:56kind of walk them through the process.

2:13:58Um in addition, there is a letter that

2:14:01is sent to the applicants that has

2:14:03information about what meetings are

2:14:04coming up as well as on the staff report

2:14:07for the planning commission at the very

2:14:09top. We have both the DAB meeting and

2:14:11the MAPC meeting listed.

2:14:14Um applicants can also view videos from

2:14:16prior cases.

2:14:18Uh they can look at the videos from the

2:14:20planning commission. They can watch DAB

2:14:22meetings that are online. Um so there's

2:14:24a host of resources for them. Uh we try

2:14:28and be as resourceful as we can and and

2:14:30give them as much information as they

2:14:31need. Uh but if they don't, you know,

2:14:35if they don't reach out with the

2:14:35questions, we we're not advocates for

2:14:38them. We facilitate the process and we

2:14:40do the best we can to make sure that

2:14:41they understand what the process is, but

2:14:43we look to them to ask us questions if

2:14:45they need help.

2:14:47>> And I understand that you're not going

2:14:49to be their advocate. Um

2:14:52I'm looking at these notes and again,

2:14:53it's starting to make me feel like I

2:14:56should be reaching out to Ms.

2:14:57PaleaSolease. She said, "A little

2:14:59background on us, we're not really a big

2:15:02construction company. We're a little

2:15:03construction company that deals with

2:15:05concrete and asphalt. We're called

2:15:08Soleace Construction LLC. We work under

2:15:11PP&J Construction sometimes for the

2:15:13city. And since I graduated back in May

2:15:15from K-State with a construction science

2:15:18management, we just decided to start

2:15:20maybe like developing more than for the

2:15:23city and seeing what we could do. We're

2:15:26starting off and planning to just doing

2:15:28one duplex at a time, not doing the full

2:15:30three or four, and just getting a feel

2:15:33for it and then starting on the other

2:15:34ones."

2:15:35So, to me, again, I wasn't at this

2:15:37meeting, but just reading this reminds

2:15:39me of someone that is trying to be part

2:15:42of the solution. So, how can we get that

2:15:44person who is trying to be part of the

2:15:46solution to still stay engaged in the

2:15:49process, but learn from this experience

2:15:51because it seems like it's going to be

2:15:53uh denied, um but could it be a learning

2:15:55opportunity for this individual to see

2:15:58what they should be doing next because

2:16:01um Council Member Shepherd often talks

2:16:02about supporting small businesses and

2:16:06knowing that there's going to be a small

2:16:07business uh recruitment and retention

2:16:09manager in the economic development

2:16:12office, this seems to be

2:16:15to me customer service and helping

2:16:17someone understand a process.

2:16:20Council Member Johnston.

2:16:22>> Thank you, Mayor. I I think there is a

2:16:24gap. Uh I think Scott, his team does a a

2:16:26wonderful job at everything, but

2:16:29sometimes you don't know what you don't

2:16:31know.

2:16:32And uh an important part is reaching out

2:16:34to your council member and helping walk

2:16:36through that process. So, that's why

2:16:39Scott at 6:30 at uh this Thursday at

2:16:42Westlake Library is going to have a

2:16:44zoning 101. So, encourage people to

2:16:47come. I don't know if anybody will come

2:16:48or not, but uh

2:16:50hopefully they come If they have

2:16:51questions uh and concerns about the

2:16:54whole process,

2:16:56um can help step through the process.

2:16:58The staff, Scott and his team and JR,

2:17:01they are so wonderful about helping

2:17:03people through the process. So, it's

2:17:05just knowing the right questions and the

2:17:07right order of things to do. So, I would

2:17:09encourage people to come if they're

2:17:11interested.

2:17:13And even for accessory dwellings, um

2:17:16for accessory dwellings, uh come

2:17:17Thursday night 6:30 West Bank Library.

2:17:23>> Thank you, Scott. I see no further

2:17:25questions. This resides in Councilmember

2:17:27Ballard's district.

2:17:29>> Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Scott, for

2:17:31answering my 1 million bazillion

2:17:33questions. Uh just kind of to the

2:17:35Mayor's point, I I hear you and I agree

2:17:39with you to some point, but we also had

2:17:42almost 100 neighbors that have don't

2:17:44know the process either, figure it out

2:17:46to file protest. So,

2:17:49I think there's always room for

2:17:50improvement on every single level, but I

2:17:53just wanted to make that point that um

2:17:56there were a lot of first-time folks in

2:17:58this neighborhood that participated in

2:17:59the process to go to MAPC meeting, to go

2:18:02to the DAB meeting. Uh there was nearly

2:18:04100 people at the DAB meeting. Um the

2:18:07neighborhood also organized on our front

2:18:09porch um to come over and fill out

2:18:12protest, meet with neighbors, talk to

2:18:14neighbors,

2:18:15and no applicant. So, um she did show up

2:18:17to MAPC from what I understand. Um I was

2:18:21hoping that she would show up to DAB. Um

2:18:23that's really important to um District

2:18:266. It's too easy to say no when you

2:18:28don't show up. So, um

2:18:32with that said, there was just a lot of

2:18:33conversations that I wanted to make um

2:18:35those uh couple points, and I think it

2:18:38is paramount in all of our districts for

2:18:40applicants to work alongside the

2:18:42neighbors. Um this would be a big

2:18:45project for that area, but I think um

2:18:48seeing the involvement from the

2:18:50neighborhood just kind of shows that

2:18:52maybe some of it is the fear of the

2:18:53unknown for all of us when there hasn't

2:18:55been a lot of investment in a certain

2:18:56area, but um it's just paramount that

2:18:59they work uh together. So,

2:19:02um I appreciate the opportunity to share

2:19:05all of those

2:19:06um

2:19:08thoughts that I had. So, with that, I

2:19:10would like to override the MAPC, adopt

2:19:13alternate findings, and deny the

2:19:14requested zone change.

2:19:16>> Second.

2:19:18>> Motion second, discussion? See none.

2:19:21Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

2:19:30Motion passes 6-0. Madam Clerk, please

2:19:33call the next item.

2:19:37>> Council member appointments and

2:19:38comments.

2:19:39>> Council members, are there any

2:19:41appointments for today?

2:19:44Uh Council member Glasscock?

2:19:47No one?

2:19:48Okay. We will

2:19:50No one has any appointments, we will now

2:19:52go to comments.

2:19:54Um I will start off. Um

2:19:57I'm very grateful that we have a um

2:20:01city clerk who often uh takes all of our

2:20:05directions and has to manage not only

2:20:08the computer system, but uh speakers,

2:20:11and she's doing a lot of different tasks

2:20:15during a city council meeting. But today

2:20:17I'm here to say congratulations to

2:20:20Shenita for earning the certified

2:20:23municipal clerk designation from the

2:20:25International Institute of Municipal

2:20:27Clerks.

2:20:29>> [applause]

2:20:32>> You were not expecting that.

2:20:33>> No, not at all.

2:20:35>> But thank you very much, Shenita. We

2:20:37really appreciate you.

2:20:40>> Thank you, I appreciate it.

2:20:43>> Any further comments from the council?

2:20:45>> Mayor, I do want to say thank you to

2:20:47everyone from the city of Wichita that

2:20:49supported Vice Mayor Glasscock and I as

2:20:51we went behind the bar in his district

2:20:53to support our employee assistant fund

2:20:57as well as the United Way. We heard even

2:20:59today that there are critical gaps in

2:21:01our community and the United Way funds

2:21:03several nonprofits helping close that

2:21:05gap.

2:21:06So, we were able to have some fun while

2:21:08raising some funds for

2:21:11noteworthy causes and then also want to

2:21:13give a huge shout-out to Penny and the

2:21:16transit team that are providing free

2:21:18rides to the polls today. So, please get

2:21:21out and vote. You have until 7:00. If

2:21:23you're in line at 7:00 and it's after

2:21:267:00, you can still vote. And also, we

2:21:28will even give you a ride to the polls

2:21:30for free 99.

2:21:35>> Councilmember Hoheisel.

2:21:36>> Thank you, Mayor. Just want to tell

2:21:39everybody to get out and vote. If

2:21:41I got to tell you, if you don't vote

2:21:44and you're still complaining, you know,

2:21:45it's it kind of falls on deaf ears. So,

2:21:48get out and vote today.

2:21:53>> Any other comments? I see none. I

2:21:55apologize, but we cannot adjourn yet. We

2:21:58have a blue sheet.

2:22:00Sorry. So,

2:22:02uh

2:22:03I move that the city council recesses

2:22:05into executive session for 20 minutes to

2:22:08receive legal advice on a zoning matter

2:22:11pursuant to KSA 75-4319B2

2:22:16for legal consultation with the city

2:22:17attorney, which would be deemed

2:22:19privileged in the attorney-client

2:22:20relationship for legal advice.

2:22:23The executive session is required to

2:22:25protect attorney-client privileged and

2:22:28the public interest. This executive

2:22:30session will begin at

2:22:3311:30 a.m. and end at 11:50 a.m. And the

2:22:39meeting will resume in the city council

2:22:41chambers.

2:22:42>> Second.

2:22:43>> Motion second. Discussion? See none.

2:22:46All those in favor say I. I. All those

2:22:48opposed same sign. Motion passes 6-0.

2:22:51We'll see you at 11:30 in the executive

2:22:55session.

2:23:14>> Mhm.

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