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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Wichita City Council Regular Meeting - February 25, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, February 25, 2025

BodyWichita, Kansas

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, February 25, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:06:57

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

26:04

And welcome to City Hall.

26:07

I'm calling this meeting to order.

26:09

Before we begin, we will stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

26:16

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic of Witches.

26:34

Thank you.

26:37

Madam Clerk, can you please call the first item?

26:42

Approve the minutes of the special meeting February 11th, 2025, a supplement to the February 11th regular meeting minutes and regular meeting minutes for February 18th, 2025.

26:56

Are there any items to be uh corrected from the minutes?

27:01

I see none.

27:02

I move to approve the minutes of the special meeting February 11th, 2025, as well as a supplement to the February 11th, 2025 regular meeting minutes and regular meeting of February 18th, 2025.

27:15

Second.

27:16

Motion and a second, any further discussion.

27:19

I see none.

27:20

All those in favor say aye.

27:22

Aye.

27:22

All those opposed same sign.

27:25

Motion passes.

27:27

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

27:32

Public agenda.

27:33

The public agenda allows for up to five speakers to have five minutes each to address the council.

27:38

No action will be taken relative to items on the public agenda other than referral to the city manager for information as necessary.

27:45

Speakers will please state their name and address for the record.

27:49

A time clock will display the speakers remaining time to speak.

27:52

Order and rules of deport will be observed.

27:54

We do not have any scheduled speakers.

27:58

Which now means there are up to five individuals who can address the council.

28:03

All you have to do is step forward to the podium.

29:21

It's for us the living rather to be dedicated to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus so far are nobly advanced.

29:39

And that we hear highly resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new earth of freedom, and that that government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from the earth.

30:03

Thank you very much, Henry.

30:05

Can I ask you a couple questions?

30:06

Yes.

30:07

So, how old are you?

30:09

What grade do you attend school?

30:12

In which school do you attend?

30:14

I am nine years old.

30:16

Uh I am in third grade, and I attend the classical school of Wichita.

30:23

Next up, Declaration of Independence.

30:32

Henry, right?

30:33

Henry, I just wanted to tell you, good job.

30:35

That is very impressive that you memorized all of that.

30:38

So very good job.

30:39

Well done.

30:40

Thank you.

30:43

Thank you very much, Henry.

30:50

We now have time for four additional individuals who would like to address their counsel during public agenda.

31:01

I see none.

31:03

We will now ask the city clerk.

31:05

Can you please call the next item?

31:08

Consent agenda items one through 26.

31:12

Are there any items to be pulled from consent?

31:15

I'd like to pull item 19.

31:24

I will also pull items 11 and 13.

31:32

No additional items to be pulled.

31:35

I will move to approve the consent agenda.

31:38

All items without 11, 13, and 19.

31:43

Second.

31:44

Motion and a second.

31:46

Any further discussion?

31:48

I see none.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural█████████████████████████████29%

Water And Wastewater Management███████████████15%

Procurement████████████12%

Public Safety██████████10%

Property Maintenance Codes████████8%

Zoning Regulations████████8%

Public Engagement██████6%

Youth Programs████4%

Urban Planning████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Wichita City Council Regular Meeting - February 25, 2025

The City Council met in regular session on February 25, 2025, at 9:01 AM in the 1st Floor Boardroom at 455 N. Main Street. Council members Lily Wu (Mayor), JV Johnston (Vice Mayor), Brandon Johnson, Becky Tuttle, Mike Hoheisel, and Maggie Ballard were present; Dalton Glasscock was absent. The meeting was adjourned at 11:42 AM. The agenda included a public agenda, consent agenda, board of bids and contracts, petitions for public improvements, and council member appointments.

Consent Calendar

Approved the minutes of the special meeting on February 11, 2025, a supplement to the February 11 regular meeting minutes, and the regular meeting minutes of February 18, 2025 (motion carried 6-0).
Approved Consent Agenda items 1 through 26 except items 11, 13, and 19, which were pulled for separate discussion (motion carried 6-0).

The consent items included routine approvals such as licenses for retail cereal malt beverages, preliminary estimates for sewer/drainage/water improvements, agreements for West Street improvements, lease extension, advisory board minutes, community events with alcohol consumption, transit grant resolutions, building code amendments, sidewalk repair assessment program, second reading ordinances, planning items (dedications, plats, vacations, zone change), housing authority report, and airport authority agreements.

Public Comments & Testimony

Henry Davis, a 9-year-old third-grade student at the Classical School of Wichita, recited the Gettysburg Address. Mayor Wu and Council Member Ballard commended him. No other public comments were made during the public agenda.
During the discussion of Item 19, Stephanie Pittman (2828 North Wildrose Court, Wichita) questioned why the vacation of right-of-way was not taken to the District Advisory Board (DAB) for public transparency. Staff responded that notification was provided to abutting property owners and to affected departments, and no concerns were raised.

Discussion Items

Item 11: Bleckley Drive Drainage Improvements (District I) – Gary Janzen (Public Works & Utilities) presented a nearly $36 million project funded by the Storm Water Utility Fund to address severe flooding along Bleckley Drive from Kellogg to north of Central. He described life-safety risks (e.g., vehicles swept away during 6 inches to 2 feet of water, a 1970s fatality) and noted that earlier estimates exceeding $100 million were unfeasible. The project is split into phases, with the first phase (south end) expected to begin construction in 3–4 months, potentially continuing into 2028. Council Member Hoheisel asked about Calfskin as a future priority; Janzen stated it would likely require outside funding. Mayor Wu clarified that the project is not funded by the General Fund. The item was approved unanimously (6-0).
Item 13: Sidewalk Repair Assessment Program – Paul Gunzelman (Public Works & Utilities) reported that from July 2023 to December 2024 (18 months), the city received 50 complaints and repaired 50,000 square feet of sidewalk and 45 wheelchair ramps. He noted that for program year 2021-2022, 80 complaints led to 90,000 square feet of repairs and 111 wheelchair ramps; for 2022-2023, 90 complaints led to 90,000 square feet of repairs and 88 wheelchair ramps. Mayor Wu emphasized that per Charter Ordinance 88, sidewalk maintenance (including snow removal) is the property owner’s responsibility. The item was approved unanimously (6-0).
Item 19: Vacation of Right-of-Way (VAC2024-00043, District VI) – Scott Wadle (Planning Department) explained that the vacation would allow a private driveway on a cul-de-sac that currently abuts city-owned undeveloped land along the river. The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) recommended approval; no opposition was received from utilities or the Park Department. A public commenter raised transparency concerns. The vacation order was approved unanimously (6-0).

Board of Bids and Contracts

Josh Lauber (Finance) reviewed the February 24, 2025 Board of Bids and Contracts report, which included contracts for water/sewer improvements (Cottonwood Creek Estates, bid $843,361.50), self-contained breathing apparatus cylinders ($180,700), grit removal services, transit facility EV infrastructure ($135,100), vehicle lifts ($188,500), mowing services (amended annual $570,457.80), skid steers ($317,269.68), a trailer ($190,759), a telehandler ($90,433.38), and Cisco wireless controllers ($159,736.69). The report was received and filed; contracts were approved unanimously (6-0).

Petitions for Public Improvements

Paul Gunzelman presented petitions for Schulte-Johnson Addition Phase 3 (drainage, revised to private bid), Pike Addition (water/sewer, revised budgets for current market conditions), and NRD Addition (sewer, revised budgets). All petitions represented 100% of the improvement district and were approved unanimously (6-0).

Council Member Appointments and Comments

Council Member Brandon Johnson reappointed Kristen Stinnett (Ethics Board), Lori Lawrence (Sustainability Board), Naquela Pack, Natalie Merten, Chelsea Jackson, Twila Puritty (District 1 Advisory Board), and Kaylin Jackson (youth member).
Council Member Becky Tuttle appointed Thanh Nguyen (District 2 Advisory Board) and Chris Stanyer (Transit Advisory Board).
Council Member Mike Hoheisel reappointed Dominic Gauna (Cultural Funding Board), Gary Schmitt (Land Bank), Ibrahim Abdallah (Sustainability Board), and Vicky Chaney-Little (Ethics Board).
Council Member Maggie Ballard reappointed Constance Porazka (Ethics Board).
Vice Mayor JV Johnston reappointed Marv Shellenberg (Housing Board/Land Bank).
Mayor Wu appointed Jamie Buster (Wichita Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees) and JV Johnston (WAMPO Executive Board). All appointments approved unanimously (6-0).
Council Member Johnson reminded the public to vote on question 259 (polls open until 7 p.m.).
Vice Mayor Johnston noted that golf cart ordinance discussions would occur at the March 18 night meeting.

Key Outcomes

All votes were unanimous (6-0) where a vote occurred.
Item 11: Approved the revised budget, amending resolution, and authorized signatures for Bleckley Drive drainage improvements.
Item 13: Approved proposed sidewalk assessments, placed the ordinance on first reading, and authorized signatures.
Item 19: Approved the vacation order (requiring a simple majority of four of seven votes; passed 6-0).
Consent agenda, board of bids, petitions, and appointments all approved as recommended.

Meeting Transcript

And welcome to City Hall. I'm calling this meeting to order. Before we begin, we will stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic of Witches. Thank you. Madam Clerk, can you please call the first item? Approve the minutes of the special meeting February 11th, 2025, a supplement to the February 11th regular meeting minutes and regular meeting minutes for February 18th, 2025. Are there any items to be uh corrected from the minutes? I see none. I move to approve the minutes of the special meeting February 11th, 2025, as well as a supplement to the February 11th, 2025 regular meeting minutes and regular meeting of February 18th, 2025. Second. Motion and a second, any further discussion. I see none. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed same sign. Motion passes. Madam Clerk, please call the next item. Public agenda. The public agenda allows for up to five speakers to have five minutes each to address the council. No action will be taken relative to items on the public agenda other than referral to the city manager for information as necessary. Speakers will please state their name and address for the record. A time clock will display the speakers remaining time to speak. Order and rules of deport will be observed. We do not have any scheduled speakers. Which now means there are up to five individuals who can address the council. All you have to do is step forward to the podium. It's for us the living rather to be dedicated to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus so far are nobly advanced. And that we hear highly resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new earth of freedom, and that that government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from the earth. Thank you very much, Henry. Can I ask you a couple questions? Yes. So, how old are you? What grade do you attend school? In which school do you attend? I am nine years old. Uh I am in third grade, and I attend the classical school of Wichita. Next up, Declaration of Independence. Henry, right? Henry, I just wanted to tell you, good job. That is very impressive that you memorized all of that. So very good job. Well done. Thank you. Thank you very much, Henry. We now have time for four additional individuals who would like to address their counsel during public agenda. I see none. We will now ask the city clerk. Can you please call the next item? Consent agenda items one through 26.

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