Wichita City Council Meeting - March 4, 2025: Multi-Agency Center Lease, Old Town CID, Utility Late Fee, and Crown Uptown Theater
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Wichita City Council Meeting - March 4, 2025
The Wichita City Council met on March 4, 2025, at 9:00 AM in City Council Chambers. The meeting included proclamations (American Red Cross Month, Procurement Month, Women in Construction Week), public comments, consent agenda items, and numerous discussion items. Key actions included approval of a 25-year lease for the Multi-Agency Center, failure to set a public hearing for a Community Improvement District in Old Town (leading to paid parking implementation), restoration of a 1.5% utility late fee effective April 1, and extension of interim controls on the Crown Uptown Theater until August 4, 2025. The council also denied a short-term rental conditional use, approved a utility major with additional conditions, and authorized a Section 18 disposition application for 137 public housing units.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of February 25, 2025.
- Approved licenses for cereal malt beverages.
- Received and filed preliminary estimates.
- Approved acquisition of utility easements for 21st Street and 29th Street projects.
- Approved encroachment agreements with Phillips 66 and ONEOK for Falcon Falls 7th Addition.
- Approved lease of city-owned property at 315 North Mead (6-1, Councilmember Ballard dissenting).
- Approved water service area agreement with Rural Water District 4.
- Received and filed minutes of advisory boards.
- Approved community events with alcohol: Party Out Front and Courtside at Brick and Mortar.
- Approved second reading ordinances: Special assessment for sidewalks (Ordinance 52-629, amended to remove exempt U.S. Post Office property), Building Code amendment (52-630), Zoning change (52-631).
- Approved sales of public housing properties: 2336 North Estelle, 2707 North Volutsia, 1110 West Fultz, 1213 East Selma.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Lafonda Gray (Sergeant Gray): Requested grants or donations for the American Legion to support veterans, citing hundreds of signatures. Councilmember Tuttle noted local chapters cannot accept city funding and offered to connect with the Greater Wichita Veterans Advocacy Board.
- Sybil Strum: Expressed outrage over demolition of her house at 326 North Walnut without notification, alleging theft of property (e.g., Victorian tub) and lack of answers from the city. She questioned why the house was not on the historic register.
- Arthur Stokes: Testified about severe health issues from black mold in his apartment, difficulty getting landlord and city assistance, and high toxin levels (17.5% vs. normal 6%). Councilmembers expressed sympathy and noted ongoing work on tenant protection ordinances.
- Andrew Crane (Guiding Paws ICT): Raised concerns about sidewalk accessibility blocked by scooters and bikes, especially for disabled persons. He challenged the city to address the issue.
Discussion Items
- Board of Bids and Contracts (March 3, 2025): Approved contracts for stormwater improvements ($47,490), water main improvements ($117,495), sewer improvements ($422,773.25), liquid polyelectrolyte ($100,800 annual), pool chemicals change order ($57,888.50), janitorial services additions, Bobcat utility vehicle ($84,138.49), aerial imaging subscription ($58,866), software renewal ($80,650), snow removal change order ($55,500), airport phone system ($108,000), paging system ($133,250). (Vote 7-0)
- Amendment to Ordinance 52-629 – Sidewalk Repair Assessment for 1314 North Oliver Avenue: Removed U.S. Postal Service property due to exemption; citizens will pay $903.60. Approved 7-0.
- Financial Advisory Services Contract: Awarded to Piper Sandler & Co. for one year with four one-year renewals. Approved 7-0.
- Multi-Agency Center Lease and Operating Agreement (District VI): 25-year lease with MAC Board Inc. (new 501c3) at $1 per year. City allocated $5 million in ARPA funds for operations. Discussions addressed transition from emergency winter shelter, security, fundraising, and neighborhood concerns. Approved 7-0.
- Request to Set Public Hearing for Community Improvement District for Old Town: Petitioners submitted a CID petition with 78% land area and 79% assessed value signatures (exceeding state 55% but below city 100% policy). The petition included extra-statutory provisions limiting city termination authority. Two motions to set a public hearing (first with waiver of 100% requirement, second requiring 100%) both failed 4-3. Status: CID not pursued; option A SMID paid parking will proceed.
- Childcare Licensing Grant Application and Award: Approved acceptance of KDHE licensing grant for SFY 2026 (estimated $416,000). Vote 7-0.
- Restoration of the Utility Late Fee: Staff recommended restoring 1.5% late fee (eliminated in December 2024) but expressed preference for 5% to reduce $2.4 million annual bad debt. After substitute motion for 1.5% (by Councilmember Johnson), council voted 4-3 to approve 1.5%, effective April 1, 2025.
- Extend Interim Controls for HPC2025-00011 (Crown Uptown Theater): Interim controls placed Feb 5, 2025, expiring March 7. Property owner Mike Brown sought increased capacity (from 850 to 2,000) and opposed historic listing. Public speakers divided on preservation. Substitute motion for 30-day extension failed 4-3. Original motion for 180-day extension (to August 4, 2025) passed 6-1.
- CON2024-00247 – Short-Term Rental at 227 North Battin Avenue (District I): MAPC and DAB recommended denial due to neighborhood transience and safety concerns. Protest petition (33% of area) required 6/7 votes. Council adopted findings and denied conditional use (6-1).
- CON2024-00282 – Utility Major at 21st and Oliver (District I): MAPC recommended approval with standard conditions; DAB added conditions (70-ft setback from Fountain, landscaping 1.5x requirement, subsequent buildings to west). Protest petition (39%) required supermajority. Council approved with MAPC conditions plus DAB conditions (vote 7-0).
- Public Housing Section 18 Disposition Application for Group 3C: Approved submission to HUD for 137 single-family homes and 7 non-housing properties (10 parcels). Total appraised value $13,374,100. Proceeds to pay off pre-development loan and support affordable housing. Vote 7-0.
Key Outcomes
- Multi-Agency Center: Lease and operating agreement approved; transition to 24/7 shelter operator by April 1, 2025.
- Old Town Parking: CID public hearing not set; paid parking under option A SMID will move forward.
- Utility Late Fee: Restored at 1.5% (instead of proposed 5%), effective April 1, 2025.
- Crown Uptown Theater: Demolition permit blocked until August 4, 2025, via extended interim controls.
- Short-Term Rental: Denied for 227 North Battin due to neighborhood opposition.
- Utility Major: Approved with additional conditions (setback, landscaping, building placement).
- Public Housing: Disposition application authorized; sales expected late 2025/early 2026, with preference for owner-occupied or affordable housing investors.
- Council Appointments: Approved reappointments to District Advisory Boards, Ethics Board, Land Bank, Sustainability Integration Board.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, Wichita, and welcome to City Hall. We'll call this meeting to order. With us this morning is Minister Nina Shaw Woody to provide our invocation. Following that invocation, we will have the Pledge of Allegiance, and we ask that you please stand for both. We do not have Miss Shaw Woody, so we will ask Councilmember, actually, Vice Mayor JV Johnson will provide the prayer. Let us all bow our heads and put us in in the presence of God. All of us who attend today, Council members and the audience, that we will always do your will, whatever we ask. Also, let us pray for all the uh people who are more unfortunate than us, that they will have the basic needs that they that they need, uh, to survive and hopefully eventually prosper. All this we pray in your name. Amen. Mr. Clerk, can you please call the first item? Council members, any items to be corrected from the minutes. I see none. I move to approve the minutes for the regular meeting, February twenty fifth, twenty twenty-five. Second. Motion in a second. Any further discussion? I see none. Mr. Clerk, please open the roll. Mr. Clerk, please call the next item. Awards and proclamations. The proclamations this month or this week are American Red Cross month, procurement month, and women in construction week. The proclamation reads the City of Wichita, Kansas founded in eighteen seventy. Whereas American Red Cross Month recognizes the compassionate acts of people in Wichita and renews its commitment to lend a helping hand to neighbors in need. Whereas Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross more than 140 years ago to bring out the best of humanity in times of crisis, advancing this noble mission, the volunteers, blood and platelet donors and supporters who give back remain unwavering in their commitment to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of today's emergencies. Whereas the American Red Cross shines a beacon of hope in people's darkest hours by delivering shelter, food, and comfort during disasters, providing critical blood donations, supporting service members, veterans, and their families, saving lives with first aid, CPR, AED, and other skills, or delivering international aid and reconnecting aid and reconnecting loved ones separated by global crisis. Today, the American Red Cross works to uplift our community and is made possible by those who selflessly answer the call to help. Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Lily Wu, mayor of the City of Wichita, along with the Wichita City Council, do hereby proclaim March 2025 as American Red Cross Month in the City of Wichita and encourage all citizens to reach out and support its humanitarian mission. Thank you, Mayor Wu, and I would like to thank you for coming to our Sound the Alarm event too on Saturday and to the Wichita Fire Department for your partnership with our free smoke alarm program. Our mission is to prevent and alleviate human suffering, and we do that globally across the nation and obviously in Kansas and right here in Sedgwick County. So I want to take a moment to thank all of our volunteers, our financial donors, and our blood donors for their commitment to our mission. Thank you. Thank you once again, Shannon and the American Red Cross team and volunteers, along with city staff who volunteered their time throughout the year. You can still get a free smoke alarm by calling 211. And that effort continues, and it continued this weekend in North Wichita by providing those free smoke alarms. I would like to now ask the City of Wichita's finance department and purchasing division to please come forward at this time. The proclamation reads the City of Wichita, Kansas, founded in 1870, whereas the public procurement profession plays an important role in obtaining the greatest value for each taxpayer dollar spent in the procurement of goods and services. Whereas the purchasing division at the City of Wichita provides logistical and operational support to all departments within the City of Wichita and works to ensure fair and transparent procurement practices, procurement in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Whereas the purchasing division is committed to providing high-quality services efficiently and effectively, strengthening supplier relationships and promoting emerging and disadvantaged business enterprise program opportunities. Whereas the Institute for Public Procurement has proclaimed the month of March as procurement month to further expand the awareness of the procurement professionals' role to government officials, the public, business, and corporate leaders. Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Lily Wu, Mayor of the City of Wichita, along with the Wichita City Council, do hereby proclaim the month of March 2025 as procurement month in the City of Wichita, and encourage all citizens to recognize the role of the procurement and supply chain profession within business, industry, and government. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you for providing us with this proclamation today. Procurement Month highlights the contributions of our many diligent and experienced procurement professionals that make our organization successful. Really, the procurement professional has four objectives. One is to facilitate the achievement of departmental goals by helping them purchase goods and services, everything from paper clips to uh sewer treatment lift stations and everything in between. Another thing that our procurement professionals try to do is we take this very seriously.
openpublica.com