District 4 Advisory Board Meeting
Documenter name: Cindy Montgomery
Agency: Wichita City - District Advisory Board 4
Date: Sept. 9, 2024
See more about this meeting at Documenters.org
Attendance
Members:
Six District Advisory Board (DAB) members
Council Member Dalton Glasscock
Youth Member Patrick Hoheisel
Nancy Bradley, Animal Control Advisory Board
Alan Kahler, Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Board
Kelly Wenz, Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Board
Brooke Kauchak, Office of Community Services
City of Wichita Staff:
Steve Hamersky, Branch Manager, Alford Branch Library
Gary Janzen, Director, Public Works & Utilities Department
Brad Eatherly, Senior Planner
James Wagner, Special Project Engineering
Guests/Public:
Two participants via Zoom
District 4 Advisory Board Home Page
Meeting Agenda/Attachments/PowerPoints
Business
The DAB was called to order at 6:00 PM. The motions to approve the September 9, 2024 agenda and the August 5, 2024 minutes were seconded and passed.
Wichita Fire Department
Based on the department’s PowerPoint, the department responded to seven fires in District 4 from July 20 - August 18, 2024. September is National Campus Safety Awareness Month. The Department provided helpful tips for fire safety to share with your college-age loved ones.
Wichita Police Department
Community Policing Officers noted that the Westside Bureau reported violent crime was up 40% month over month and property crime was down 11% month over month. Council Member Glasscock asked if Officers had year over year statistics. Year over year statistics for violent crime were more acceptable at a reduction of 3%, with property crimes up 7%. The South Bureau, which shares their resources with District 3, is using a significant amount of its resources for gun violence in District 3.
Library
Branch Manager Steve Hamersky reported that the Alford Branch Library had 4,496 visitors using 6,567 items over the last month. A board member asked for year-to-date information and/or comparisons, which Mr. Hamersky stated he would provide at the next meeting.
Two programs will start in September. One program started on September 9, is the Auto-renewal Program. This program will provide two automatic renewals to each past due item before items qualify as past due. On September 16, the library will begin providing Birding Packs. The backpack, donated by the Kansas Audubon Society, will contain information on various birds in the area and binoculars for adults and smaller ones for children.
Renovation for the Alford Branch Library will start in January 2025 with planned completion by May 2025.
Passport services are currently slow. Hamersky stated this is due to the computer issues experienced by the City in the last few months. Additionally, more libraries are offering this service. He expects the level to return to normal eventually.
Public Works and Utilities
Gary Janzen presented a PowerPoint presentation regarding the status of the City of Wichita drought. Wichita implemented their Stage 2 Drought Plan on August 5, 2024. Mr. Janzen discussed the condition of the Cheney Lake pool, actions the City has taken to reduce its water usage and discussed what effects a Stage 3 and Stage 4 restriction would have on the public and businesses. More information can be found on the City’s website under Save-Wichita-Water.
Mr. Janzen also stated there is a permit pending with the Corp of Engineers for repair work to the dam at Cheney Reservoir. There was a brief discussion of the new Water Treatment Facility in north Wichita. October 4, 2024, is the date for the dedication of this new facility.
Public Agenda
Nancy Bradley discussed the plight of the animal shelters and the City’s new requirements for animal control as well as the penalties for non-compliance. The changes include a mandatory chip for all dogs older than 5 months unless exempted by a veterinarian for health reasons. The Kansas Humane Society is hosting a free vaccine and chip clinic on September 14, 2024 at Orchard Recreation Center. Bradley stated euthanasia rates are up due to restrictions allowing only veterinarians to remove an animal with a cough or sickness from the Kansas Humane Society. She emphasized how chipping an animal can drastically reduce this discomforting statistic. Only half of the animals picked up have received microchips.
Another unfortunate statistic, District 4 has the highest number of dog bites/attacks in the city. Fines for dog bites are significant: a first offense is as much as $500, a second offense could be $500 – $1,000, and third offense $1,000 – $2,500 with possible euthanasia.
New Business
ZON2024-00040 (City)
Applicant Develop Kansas, LLC is requesting rezoning of the current Single Family Residential lot of 0.70 acres to Limited Commercial District in order to match the zoning of surrounding properties. The property is found at 1310 W. MacArthur Road and currently has a single-family dwelling. The requested zone change is in conformance with the Community Investments Plan. The City of Wichita planning staff recommends the DAB approve the rezoning. After a brief presentation by Steve Eatherly, Senior Planner, the motion to approve was made, seconded, and approved by an 8-0 vote from the DAB.
Wichita Bicycle Plan
James Wagner, Special Projects Engineer presented a PowerPoint update on the Wichita Master Bicycle Plan. The City of Wichita is developing a new Wichita Bicycle Plan, which will update the 2013 Wichita Bicycle Master Plan. This is a 10-year plan with costs included in the city’s budget each year. Progress has advanced to Steps 7 and 8 in the Plan, which are establishing prioritization Criteria/Weighting and then setting the priorities for development. Priorities include systemic safety, equity, trip potential, and public input, each with varying degrees of weight. The city works with Bike-Walk Wichita to consider needs. The plan includes 77.8 miles of new bikeway and 3.2 miles of reconstructed bikeway. The plan also includes upgrading sidewalks along major access routes when possible. A sidewalk on one side of the road will be 10 feet wide, allowing for more bike and pedestrian traffic.
The bikeways serve multiple purposes including mobility and safety. Twenty to thirty percent of Wichita’s residents do not have a car for transportation. Studies have shown that bikeways are also safer for people in cars. Wagner did not provide a date for when the Wichita City Council would vote on the Bicycle Plan.
Updates, Issues, and Reports
There was a short discourse on the public parking issue currently before the City Council, mostly board members expressing their support for Councilman Glasscock’s vote to suspend the parking agreement until there can be more City Council discussion.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:45 PM
The next District 4 Advisory Board meeting is at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at the Alford Branch Library at 6 pm.
Summary
The completed Wichita Water Treatment Plant will be online in October 2024.
The penalty for repeat dog attacks is very expensive.
Updates and renovations to major arterial routes will receive a 10-foot sidewalk on one side.
Questions
Are policing statistics for District 4 or for the Westside Bureau?
Is the repair work for Cheney Dam included in the 2024 budget?
What is Wichita doing to increase the usage of the bus system?
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@citybureau.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.