Wichita City Council Regular Meeting - January 21, 2025

The Wichita City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 9:00 AM in City Council Chambers, 455 N. Main Street, Wichita, Kansas. Mayor Lily Wu presided. The council approved the January 14, 2025 minutes 7-0, presented proclamations for Junior League of Wichita Month, National Mentor Month, and Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, heard a USD 259 graduation-rate presentation, received one public agenda speaker, and acted on a multi-item consent agenda and several substantive items before recessing into executive session in the early afternoon.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of the January 14, 2025, regular meeting (7-0).
• Approved routine consent items, including cereal malt beverage licenses, preliminary estimates, a temporary easement, a developer's agreement for Reber 2nd Addition Phase 1, the order of succession resolution, 2025 VOCA grant assurances, the 2025 Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program grant of $367,525, right-of-way dedication of city-owned properties at 1732 West 29th Street and 3010 North Amidon, a revised Cheney Pump Station VFD upgrade budget, and second-reading ordinances No. 52-608 through No. 52-617 (zoning changes and Estancia Addition assessments).
• Pulled Consent Item 10a, the second reading of the golf cart ordinance (Ordinance No. 52-608), for separate discussion; all other consent items were approved 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• James Barfield (public agenda speaker) demanded the council act on reparations for Black Wichita residents, criticized Mayor Wu's January 2, 2025 letter opposing a local reparations commission, and called for a public apology and the mayor's resignation. No action was taken; public agenda comments are referred to the City Manager. Mayor Wu and City Manager Bob Leighton clarified that the mayor has one of seven votes and no veto power.
• Stephanie Pittman (District 5) opposed the proposed golf cart ordinance as over-restrictive and draconian, saying it was drafted and advanced without district advisory board or HOA notification. She supported reasonable restrictions such as street-legal equipment, night lighting, licensed drivers, and arterial crossings.
• Amy Petroski (Sandcrest) opposed the golf cart ordinance, stating safety had not been an issue in her lake neighborhood and describing golf-cart-focused community events.
• Levante Williams (former council member) criticized the $125,000 allocation from Hyatt proceeds for environmental health testing, saying the 29th and Grove contamination deserves more funding and community involvement; she cited historical contamination, deaths, and infant mortality concerns.
• Twilight Purity (District One) urged contract compliance and protection of the $250,000 annual ballpark maintenance fund from future diversion.

Discussion Items

Proclamations and USD 259 Graduation Rates

• The council proclaimed January 2025 as Junior League of Wichita Month (100th anniversary), National Mentor Month, and Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. Speakers highlighted the Junior League's $2 million gift to Exploration Place, Youth Horizons' mentoring work, and Wichita Fire Department cancer-prevention efforts.
• USD 259 Deputy Superintendent Gil Alvarez and Assistant Superintendent Lauren Hatfield reported the Class of 2024 graduation rate reached 84.3%, a 5.1 percentage-point increase from the Class of 2023, a 21.2-point increase since 2010, and a 10.3-point increase since 2018. Twenty-four of the district's 36 counted subgroups achieved their highest graduation rates ever, and more than 80% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch.

K-96 Improvement Project De Minimis Impact Finding

• Public Works staff presented KDOT's Section 4(f) de minimis finding for the K-96 corridor improvements between I-135 and East Kellogg. Impacts include 1.8 of 46 acres at K-96 Lake Park, 1.3 acres at Chisholm Creek Park North, 1.8 of 282 acres at Chisholm Creek Park South, and about one-third of a mile of the K-96 Bike Trail. The council approved the finding 7-0.

Water Utility Infrastructure Improvement Funding

• The council approved $11,650,000 for seven water utility projects: Hess vacuum priming system replacement; Cheney ozone air relief replacement; elevated storage tank repairs; distribution main pressure and quality support; Maple Booster Pump Station construction; and two WWW SCADA upgrade/virtualization projects. Funding is included in the 2025-2034 CIP and will not affect current water rates. The motion passed 7-0.

Sim Golf Course Irrigation Vendor Selection

• The council selected Landscape Unlimited LLC as the vendor for Sim Park Golf Course irrigation, with a contract amount not to exceed $1,469,870. During discussion, staff clarified that the contract includes a one-year workmanship warranty and a five-year manufacturer warranty, despite the solicitation sheet referencing a 25-year warranty from the manufacturer. The motion to approve was passed 5-2.

First Amendment to Ballpark Facility Use and Maintenance Agreement

• City Manager Bob Leighton presented the amendment for Riverfront Stadium, reflecting the team's ownership change, MLB's restructuring of the franchise from Triple-A to A classification, and a new naming-rights revenue split. The city will receive $117,500 in naming-rights revenue in the first year, increasing 3% annually for 15 years (an estimated total of just under $2.2 million), while eliminating the city's $200,000 annual travel-expense obligation and creating maintenance and reserve funds, including $250,000 annually starting in 2027. The amendment was approved 7-0.

Hyatt Proceeds Reallocation and Resolution

• The council placed Ordinance No. 52-620 on first reading and adopted Resolution No. 25-035, reallocating surplus Hyatt sale proceeds from the residential asphalt streets account: $125,000 to environmental at-risk testing and $32,449 to transit, closing the street account. The funds support a $2.5 million state appropriation for Sedgwick County contamination testing that requires a $1 million local match; the city and county each plan to contribute $125,000, with $750,000 sought from philanthropic sources. The motion passed 7-0.

Annexation A24-13 - TCRS, LLC

• The council initiated annexation of an approximately 4.37-acre island at the northeast corner of West MacArthur Road and Highway K-42, to be developed as duplexes. Staff noted current annual city tax revenue from the undeveloped property is just under $10. The resolution was approved 7-0.

Council Member Agenda Items

• Selected Council Members Brandon Johnson, Mike Hoheisel, and Dalton Glasscock to serve on the appeal panel for the suspended off-premise/retailer license (District I).
• Approved Council Member Becky Tuttle's acceptance of travel gifts under the ethics ordinance: $100 for Early Childhood Advocacy Day in Topeka on February 5, 2025, and $40 for a childcare site visit in Hutchinson on February 3, 2025. Both votes were 7-0.
• Appointed Randy Timmish to the Sustainability Board.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes and consent items (except 10a) approved 7-0.
• Golf cart ordinance deferred to the March 18, 2025 night council meeting for additional district advisory board input and a February staff-facilitated workshop; the deferral passed 6-1.
• K-96 de minimis finding approved 7-0.
• $11,650,000 water infrastructure funding approved 7-0.
• Sim Golf irrigation vendor and contract approved 5-2.
• Ballpark Facility Use and Maintenance Agreement First Amendment approved 7-0.
• Hyatt proceeds ordinance placed on first reading and amending resolution adopted 7-0.
• Annexation A24-13 initiated 7-0.
• Appeal panel selection, gift-limit approvals, and Sustainability Board appointment all passed 7-0.
• The council voted 7-0 to recess into executive session for 20 minutes under KSA 75-4319(b)(2) for attorney-client privileged consultation on pending litigation, beginning at approximately 12:15 PM and scheduled to end at 12:35 PM. The transcript ends at that point; no final adjournment is recorded.