Documenter Name: Verdell Island
Agency: Wichita City Council Meetings/Workshops
Date: July 9, 2024
Time of meeting: 9am-11:25am
Attendance
Present: Council members Becky Tuttle, Brandon Johnson, Maggie Ballard, Mayor Wu, Dalton Glasscock, J.V. Johnston, Mike Hoheisel
Audience Attendance:
OPENING OF REGULAR MEETING
Call to Order Led by Mayor Lily Wu
Invocation: Pastor Donna Goltry of St. Paul United Methodist Church
Pledge of Allegiance
Approval of the minutes of regular meeting of July 2, 2024
1.Vote 7-0 (yea/nea)
AWARDS AND PROCLAMATIONS
Proclamations: Wichita Wheat Hawks Day. Soccer team was started in1974 and Mayor Wu with the City of Wichita recognized July 13, 2024, as Wheat Hawks Day
Notes:
I. Photo Voice Project
Claribel Luz Gutierrez Ramirez voiced concern over photos of tobacco and vapor advertisements that encourage teens to smoke. Desires more advocacy for Tobacco Free Wichita. Freedom of speech of tobacco use should be reduced due to its harm of youth.
II. Consent agenda Items 1 through 16
a. No changes, moved to approve
1.Vote 7-0 (yea/nea)
Council Business
I. Board of Bids and Contracts
- LW Clapp Master Plan Implementation recommendations with Conco, Inc.
- K-9 Rooster Dog Park Enhancement recommendations with Conco, Inc.
- Wichita Police Department Ammunition recommendations with GT Distribution Inc, Precision Delta Corp., Sunset Law Enforcement.
- Root Control Herbicide rejection bid by Dukes Root Control, Inc. was overpriced for the bid.
- How to become a Vendor with the City of Wichita
- There are currently four proposal requests for police, housing, public works, and municipal courts.
- Ask for awards based on recommendation. Councilman Johnson asked if the proposal would cover the term or would there be another proposal for two additional years. City spokesperson said it would cover from 2024 until 2029 with two additional years included. Councilman Johnson stated “So it could go to 2033?” City spokesman said yes.
- Mayor Wu asked about the rejection of bids. City spokesman said rejections was due to overpricing of the budget without enough coverage
1. Vote 7-0 (yea/nea)
II. Petitions for Public Improvement-Paul Gunzelman spokesperson
a. Revised petition for public improvements
b. Stormwater drain and sanitary sewage improvement
1. Vote 7-0 (yea/nea)
III. Downtown Master Plan Update
The council approved $50,000 toward the plan update. Since 2010, there has been $1.7 billion invested, creating greater pipelines, residential base, office and hospitality markets, and community space to support the project. Updated 15-year outlook needs $400,000 and more than $300,000 has been raised from private investors and Sedgwick County. Requesting $50,000 toward funding of the project. Seeking greater infrastructure. The 2012/2024 Development is outlined in the (Wichita downtown Development link) The Biomedical Campus is in the plan for downtown. Questions were raised concerning the difference from river front plan. Council Member Ballard voiced concern of having the community heard with the process. Councilman Johnson voiced thoughts about the effect of the project on the Dunbar neighborhood and surrounding areas. Councilman Hoheisel said he looks forward to the help with housing and other support. Council Member Tuttle said she looks forward to what the project will do for Wichita
1. Vote 7-0 (yea/nea)
IV. Wichita Wichita Water Partners
Council approved a $4 million contract with Operational Technical Services to help the city startup and operate its new water treatment plant for one year. Background was shared from February 2019 approval of design to build contract with Wichita Water Partners. Project purpose is to replace the current water treatment plant to provide up to 120 million gallons of water per day to 500,000 people in and around Wichita. (Wichita Wichita Water Partners) This contract did not include short-term operational aspects such as development of Standard Operation Procedures, Maintenance Programs, and Risk Management plans. The contract provided minimal support. There is a need for technical support, development, in-depth training, and expertise.
A one-year contract, total cost not to exceed $4,061, 230 was requested. A supplemental contract may be needed. Recommendation of approval of the contract for immediate kick-off with Operational Technical Services, joining the startup team onsite this week.
Councilman Hoheisel asked how prepared the staff were to take on the project and was told staff would be trained by expert staff. Councilman Hoheisel asked if there would be old staff or additional staff involved and was told current staff are being trained with some new additional trained staff.
April 2025 is the goal for the new plant.
Mayor Wu asked why the operation costs were not included in 2018/2019. Wichita Water Partners said it’s hard to predict what the operation will need; it would have been challenging but now they see the need. Mayor Wu discussed the votes back in December 2018, how the members now weren’t there and what was said of the accuracy for the community for design to build and not design to operations Water Treatment Report. Wichita Water Partners said that they didn’t know at that time, had to re-evaluate
Councilman Glasscock aske what happens if not approved. Wichita Water Partners stated that there would be challenges to providing proper water treatment for the city. They would have to shuffle resources, but this would add risk to current operations because extra expertise is needed. Councilman Johnson wants to ensure everything is covered. Discussed old plan and hopes for more discussion, old plant need versus new plant, staff training, cost concerns, but see this as a generational investment.
Vote 7-0 (yea/nea)
V. Emergency Rental Assistance
Approved $21.55 billion in emergency rental assistance program. Additional funds are used for rentals, utilities, etc. Over $8 million for rent and utility.
1. Vote 7-0 (yea/nea)
VI. Council Member Tuttle Travels
At no cost to the city, Council Member Tuttle was chosen to have discussion about childcare workforce. She will travel to Oklahoma City, OK. for discussion concerning childcare cost and effects on the workforce. Will be traveling with Child Start, and plans to share what was learned in the future about the four goals of childcare workforce
- Vote 7-0 (yea/nea)
VII. Council Member Appointment
Recommendation of the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission for the sustainability integration board to appoint Cindy Miles.
1. Vote 7-0 (yea/nea)
Comments
- Council Member Hoheisel said the Second Unity of Community is Saturday, July 13, at 6 pm in Plainview at the Coleman Center. Focus is family support and against violence. There will be a march then rally with food and games.
- Council Member Ballard said there’s a ribbon cutting at the Millwood Park and Delano Park, Central Riverside Park there will be Ping-pong and Corn hole for a small fee.
Executive Sessions
Council recessed for 30 minutes for finalist for Municipal judge position KS 75-43-1, for discussion about non elected personnel. Protect privacy of identifiable individual.
Vote 7-0 (yea/nea)
10 minute recess on civil case, pursuant for KSA 75-4319b2 for legal consultation. To protect an attorney client.
40 minutes total, it’s 11:25 a.m., time began at 11:30 a.m. and time 12:10 p.m. return from executive sessions
Vote 7-0 (yea/nea)
Summary
Today's meeting covered a plethora of topics, but the main take away are the importance of the City’s safety, economic sustainability and homelessness improvement
Follow-up questions
What are you left wondering? Ask 3 of your own follow-up questions. . .
● How will Tobacco Free Wichita help lessen teen smokers?
● How will the community be informed of the water treatment process?
● How long will it be before the council creates a new RFP for bids and how will the community be informed?
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If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at dhaslam@kansasleadershipcenter.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.