Wichita City Council Meeting

Documenter name: Cecilia Rogers

Agency: Wichita City Council Meetings/Workshops

Date: May 21, 2024

See more about this meeting at Documenters.org 

Present: Brandon Johnson, Lily Wu, J.V. Johnston, Becky Tuttle, Dalton Glasscock, Mike Hoheisel

Absent: Maggie Ballard

Last meeting’s minutes from May 14th were approved.

Ten employees from the Parks and Recreation Department were present to receive a Proclamation of Water Safety Month from Mayor Lily Wu.

Joe Marten, Aquatic Supervisor for the City of Wichita, spoke about water safety education. The American Red Cross partners with the Department of Parks and Recreation to bring

scholarships to ensure access to water safety education for families in Wichita. Wichita pools open on Memorial Day, May 27th.

Thirty Public Works and Utilities Department employees were present to receive a Proclamation of National Public Works Week from Mayor Wu. This is the 64th annual Public Works Week: Advancing the Quality of Life for All. Department director Gary Janzen spoke about two largest infrastructure projects in the history of the city, the new water treatment plant and the biological nutrient removal work at the main sewer plant. He talked about the scope of all the different work in all divisions in the Public Works Department and thanked the nearly 700 employees for the impactful work they do to keep our city running.

Representatives from the Hereditary Neurological Disease Center received a  Proclamation of Huntington's Disease Awareness Month.  Birdie Robertson spoke about Huntington’s Disease and the HNDC, which is a non profit that provides services and education. The 11th Annual

Walk of Hope will be on October 11th.

The Music Theatre of Wichita was recognized. Brian Markumm, the Artistic Director and members of the resident ensemble were present and gave a small performance.

The 53rd Season of Music Theatre starts Wednesday, May 23rd with Gypsy, then 9 to 5, Frozen, Matilda and Beautiful: A Carole King Musical.  

Public Comment

A member of the public, Jason Wood, voiced his support for the State of Israel.

Councilman Hoheisel highlighted a $100,000 donation from the Wichita Parks Foundation for an inclusive playground and Clapp Park. It was approved unanimously.

A representative from the Department of Finance gave a report of the Board of Bids and Contracts for May 20, 2024.

If one wants to become a registered vendor to be able to bid on any project, they can go to the city’s procurement website.  

Bids approved unanimously.

There was a Public Hearing and Tax Exemption Request from Diversified Services, Inc. a sister company to Metal Finishing Company, Tim Goodpasture,with the city manager’s office brought before the council a request for a tax abatement on a business expansion. Diversified Services plans to construct a 24,000 square foot manufacturing facility on East Murdock in North Wichita. The company will invest  $2,500,000 in improvement and equipment and in addition to the 265 existing jobs, they will add 17 new employees over the next five years. The project qualifies for 100% tax abatement but no sales tax exemption. The taxes will not be generated if the project doesn’t occur. The ratio of benefits to cost for the city is projected to be 5 to 1 as determined by the Center of Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University.

Council voted unanimously to close the public hearing and place it on first reading the bond ordinance authorizing the execution and delivery of documents for the Economic Development Exemption for Diversified Services, Inc. and authorize the necessary signatures.

Ordinance Amending Section 15.01.590 - Pertaining to Fireworks.

Battalion Chief Ocadiz with the Wichita Fire Department presented.

A fireworks committee was formed in November of 2022 to look into amending an ordinance for firework safety because it was difficult to enforce the 6 foot rule of fireworks, which is that no fireworks can be shot off over 6 feet. The committee included people from the Wichita Fire Department, Wichita Police, City Council and Parks and Recreation Department. A citizens committee was also formed with representatives from each district.  Businesses, the community, fire and law officers were all considered.

They came up with a two-phase approach.  Phase I was introduced in May of 2023. This phase included legalizing aerial fireworks from July 1st to July 4th, allowing safe and sane fireworks from June 27th until July 4th, enhanced enforcement, and showed zero tolerance for violations and increased fines.  Legal shooting hours remain the same from 10 AM to midnight.

In 2023, Wichita Fire Department fielded 75 calls, four structural fires with $60,000 in damages and 39 injuries reported to area hospitals. Artillery and mortar injuries are consistently highest over the years.

Phase II goes into effect this year. Phase II legalizes aerial fireworks sales within Wichita city limits. Aerial fireworks are allowed from July 3rd to July 5th,  safe and sane fireworks permitted from June 27th to July 5th. The changes were made to more closely mirror state statutes. The big change is that aerial fireworks are now able to be sold inside city limits.

Additional cost for enhanced law enforcement will be offset by permit fees. Fines do not reset each year, if you are fined one year and again the next year, then that’s a second offense. There was a question about people manufacturing fireworks at homes. WFD investigates when they get calls. Hobbyists have to have a  permit to make their own fireworks. Citizens and neighbors are relied upon to report. There is no specific ordinance against being intoxicated and shooting off fireworks.  They added language to the ordinance to be able to seize fireworks.

There has been concern voiced in the firework industry about a certain type of firework that has been lumped in with consumer grade fireworks but it can only be detonated by an electric port and is only for professionals.

A member of the public, Jacob Marietta, Wholesale Fireworks came up for public comments.

He spoke about the pro line of fireworks and upcoming issues for vendors. Professional grade 1.4G was created on accident by attempts to make shipping costs cheaper. Usually 1.4G classifies consumer grade fireworks. Those in the fireworks industry want a ban but there are loopholes that make this difficult. These fireworks should not be in the hands of the public, only professionals, however there are no rules for professional certification, it's easy to get off the internet. Specific language is needed to ban this product, because of the way it’s classified with consumer products and therefore consumers can buy these professional grade products. He and other vendors have been working around the neighboring communities to close the loopholes and ban the product. They would like Wichita to ban it because then other towns will follow suit and also enact a ban. The committee could change the definition of consumer fireworks to be broader and include nothing detonated by electronics. Also ban discharge, not just selling.  He also mentioned that May 20th is late to change the rules because vendors will now have to scramble to change inventory.

Dennis Frasco, owner of Shocker Fireworks and area Black Cat distributor agreed with Jacob,  it’s late to change the rules and he is very worried about these professional fireworks getting in the hands of an untrained member of the public.

To quote Jacob “...these aren’t fireworks, they are explosives that people don’t need”

Ordinance was placed on first reading and authorized the necessary signatures.  Additional language to be added before 2nd reading to address the electronic detonated fireworks concern.

Gary Janzen from Public Works and Utilities spoke about the Supplemental Design Agreement No. 2 for Bleckley Drive Drainage Improvements. Bleckley from 13th to Kellogg has always had terrible flooding. There used to be a creek, it’s a natural waterway that was then developed but has drainage problems. The goal is to figure out how to accommodate 100 year rain, which means there’s a 1% chance per year of it happening. They will talk with property owners throughout the process because it will be impactful for the neighborhood.  Proposed storm sewer culvert is a huge concrete box 14 feet wide and 9 feet high in some places. It will narrow as it goes downstream. Neighbors are favorable towards the project despite the impact to the neighborhood during construction. Phase I anticipated to begin in 2025. Utility relocation is critical.  Phase II is anticipated to be completed by 2028.

Approval of Travel for Council Member Johnson to the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training in Topeka, Kansas, May 30, 2024.

Approval of Travel for Mayor Lily Wu to attend Kansas League of Municipalities’ League Governing Body Meeting in Concordia, Kansas, June 7, 2024.

Approval of Travel for Mayor Lily Wu to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, June 20-21, 2024

Summary

Summarize the 3 most important outcomes or takeaways from your notes....

• The proposed Bleckley drainage project will finally take action on decades long flooding issues by installing a huge storm sewer culvert underground. The community members are in favor of the project despite its impact to the neighborhoods during construction which will take 4 years.  
• The new fireworks ordinance will allow aerial fireworks to be sold in Wichita but they are reducing the days that they can be shot off, from four to three. Increased fines will hopefully discourage illegal firework action as well.
• Diversified Services Inc is seeking a tax abatement for a new manufacturing facility. There is a cost benefit and little risk to the city.

Follow-Up Questions

What are you left wondering? Ask up to 3 of your own follow-up questions...

• Will the drainage project be able to be completed without taking any properties by eminent domain?
• Despite decreasing the days aerials are allowed to be shot off, will there be an increase in firework activity because of city sales?

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