Wichita City Council Meeting

Documenter name: Isaac Roads

Agency: Wichita City Council Meetings/Workshops

Date: June 11, 2024

See more about this meeting at Documenters.org

Wichita City Council

Isaac Roads

City Council Chambers

June 11th, 2024

9:00 AM

Started on time - 48 public officials

City Council:

Lily Wu - Mayor

Brandon Johnson - District 1 Member

Becky Tuttle - District 2 Member

Mike Hoheisel - District 3 Member

Dalton Glasscock - District 4 Member

J.V Johnston - District 5 Member

Maggie Ballard - District 6 Member

Public Agenda

Maria Peschka - Gaza Ceasefire

ABSENT

Mary Dean - Stance on Reparations Ordinance

• Dean advocated for a fully funded reparations program for Black citizens.
• Dean says that “the establishment is not just about financial compensation”, but that it’s also about setting concrete steps to equality.
• Brandon Johnson spoke as head of the Civil Rights Advisory Board, saying that delays in reparations are due to rejuvenating the board.
• “Wichita is the third most redlined city in the country.” - Johnson
• Reparations will be further discussed in the next Civil Rights Advisory Board meeting on July 16th. Dean is looking forward to the next steps.

Andrew Crane - Access for the Disabled Community

• Mentioned a long list of issues that blind and disabled people face but didn’t mention anything specific.
• Crane asks “When is the meeting with the government of Topeka?”.
• Hoheisel answers that the meeting is on the legislative agenda.
• “What is the missing piece? What is the solution?” - Vice Mayor Ballard asked.
• Crane says the missing link is that “we all need to work together to help the disabled out”.
• Crane serves on the Access Service Board. Hoheisel will stay in contact with Crane.

Marcia Alterman - Capital Improvement, Funding Request of the Golf Board of Governors 

• Marcia Alterman, Representative on Golf Board starts by commending Wichita golf courses and the work of Jesse Coffman, Director of the Golf Board.
• A new functional irrigation system is in need to continue to grow healthy turf. The current irrigation system is 38 years old which is way past its 25 year old lifespan.
• The plan is said to be around $1.5 - 2.5 million.
• “Not having good turfs is like not having nets on a tennis court” - Marcia Alterman, Rep. on Wichita Golf Board.
• Johnston and Ballard both publicly show their support.

Consent Agenda 

Discussion of Item #7 - Multi-Agency Center Development Agreement Amendment Discussions of turning Park Elementary into a homeless shelter.

Wu is concerned on time and wants to be sure that there are no more delays. She confirms with Troy Anderson, Assistant City Manager, and he gives a long explanation that was basically an answer of maybe.

A public official speaks on the lack of resources for the homeless. Also wants to know why they’re spending $30 million on renovating Park into a shelter when they could buy Riverside Hospital as the shelter instead.

Ballard states that the hospital would be much more expensive and that the school is the cheaper option.

“We need a 365 24/7 place for the homeless.” - J.V Johnston, District 5 Council Member

The public official agrees and says their goal isn’t just to feed and clothe the homeless but to get them into detox.

Motion passes - 6-1

Council Business

Boards of Bids and Contracts 

The following bids were opened on June 7th, 2024

• Microsoft Enterprise Agreement
• Laserfiche Records Management System Annual Software Renewal
• Human Resources and Application Tracking System Annual Software Renewal
• Demolition and Site Clearing Services

Johnson makes a note of how he appreciates the Demolition bid in particular and believes it will bring in business.

Motion Passes - 7-0

New Council Business

Approval of an Option Agreement with Unified School District 

Currently, USD 259 is the owner of 1025 N. Main St. location.  Troy Anderson, Assistant City Manager, would like the City Council to approve this agreement so they can purchase the school to renovate as a homeless shelter.

NOTE: They are talking about the homeless shelter again. 1025 N. Main St. is Park Elementary.

Tuttle wants to delay the agreement to give USD 259 more time to make any changes. After all, if USD wants to make changes after the option agreement is approved, Anderson would have to come back.

Johnson is worried that delays will impact the winter shelter coming through. Hoheisel seconds this. Anderson admits that it would be cutting it close.

Glasscock also asks if the school would need to be rezoned. Anderson confirmed that, yes, it would.

Wu says there have been allegations that Wichita has a lot of City owned properties, what other city properties have been used as a shelter?

Anderson says that the previous winter shelter (labeled as a temporary, emergency shelter) has been sold. Before becoming a shelter it was previously the Fundamental Learning Center. Habitat for Humanity purchased the shelter in April 2024. There aren’t any other options. (Except for that hospital, but again, too expensive.)

Cheryl Golub, a member of District Six, spoke out for residents in the neighborhood around Park elementary. She claims that the mostly Hispanic neighborhood is terrified of the new shelter, worried that it will bring in more harm to their children than good. According to a previous meeting, the shelter was planned to be a No-Barrier building, that means that anyone can enter without any identification or under the influence of alcohol/drugs.

Golub elaborated that this new shelter is just four blocks away from Horace Mann. There is a risk that children could get hurt. She even said that some of them could be “sex offenders”.

Golub continues. This is past her five minute time limit. Golub mentions that the previous shelter was meant to be a temporary shelter but yet it has not moved . What if this isn’t any different?

Tracy Terill is next, another member of District Six. “No one wants a homeless shelter in their neighborhood”, Terill said, expressing this is tough for everyone but something needs to be done with our homelessness issue.

Terrill is supportive of the Park location but just wants some accommodations. Terrill wants to increase the bike path budget so that trash and debris could be cleaned up, especially since it’s close to the Park location. There is a bike path just south of Park.

Also, since mental health has been talked about, will COMCARE be involved in some way?

Johnston claims that the shelter will have 24/7 security and that no one will come in drunk or high (even though, according to Gollub, it was also said the shelter was a no-barrier zone, meaning people can absolutely walk in drunk or high.)

Motion to Delay - 7-0 

Approval for PUD2024-00007 – Zone Change Request in The City from GC General Commercial to PUD Planned Unit Development to Permit Use of the Site for Outdoor Display/Sale but Allow a Gravel Surface and Adjust Screening Requirements.

Motion Passed - 7-0 

Approval of Travel for Mayor Wu and Council Members Hoheisel and Glasscock to tour Greenwood Rising in Tulsa, OK on June 14, 2024.

Motion Passed - 7-0 

Additional Comments 

Wu thanks volunteers of Riverfest and the Hispanic Community for the proclamation to make the Friday of Riverfest, Fiesta Del Rio day. She reminds citizens that they can make these proclamations through the City of Wichita website.

Adjournment - 6-1 Ended at 12:10PM

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@citybureau.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.