Wichita City Council Meeting - May 13, 2025

The Wichita City Council met on May 13, 2025, at 9:00 AM in the City Council Chambers at 455 N. Main Street. The meeting included the consent calendar, public comments, several discussion items, planning and zoning cases, and council member travel authorizations. (Note: No transcript or minutes were available; this summary is based solely on the published agenda.)

Consent Calendar

• Minutes approval from the regular meeting of May 6, 2025.
• Proclamations and Awards: Bike Month, Wichita Facility Management Day, Law Week.
• Consent Agenda Items 1-21: Enacted by one motion. Included:
  • Licenses (general and cereal malt beverage).
  • Preliminary estimates, agreements (e.g., waterline crossing with Black Hills Energy).
  • Design agreements, quarterly reports (Visit Wichita Q4 2024 and TGT financial reports).
  • Building façade improvement project close-outs for six locations.
  • Asbestos remediation close-out at 150 N. Main.
  • Community events with alcohol consumption: Wichita River Festival (May 30 – June 7) and Somewhere Fest.
  • Sale of city-owned property in the 2900 block of East 13th Street North.
  • Purchase option for Inwood Crossings Apartments.
  • Proclamation votes report.
  • Second reading ordinances (52-641 through 52-730) for various assessment levies (pavement, water, sanitary sewer, storm water) and zoning changes.
  • Consent planning item: Zone change ZON2025-00007 (SF-5/TF-3 to GC) and amendment to PO #335.
  • Consent planning item: Plat of Hydraulic & 47th Addition.
  • Consent airport item: Clemens Aviation LLC use and lease agreement at Col. James Jabara Airport.

Public Comments & Testimony

Five speakers appeared under the Public Agenda (limited to 25 minutes, no action taken):

• Arthur Stokes – Advocated regarding black mold.
• Crystal Diane Sigler – Addressed homelessness and tiny housing.
• Sybil Strum – Questioned how property could be seized without permission.
• Joseph Tex Dozier – Offered thoughts (described as “A Few (Hopefully at Least One Helpful) Thoughts from Tex”).
• Derrick Jackson – Expressed support for police.

Discussion Items

• Board of Bids and Contracts (May 12, 2025): Received and filed report; contracts approved.
• Petitions for Public Improvements: Approved new petitions, budgets, and resolutions for water, storm, sanitary, and paving improvements for Betzen Addition and Pegasus Addition (multiple resolutions).
• Unfinished Business – Industrial Revenue Bonds for WAM 4200, LLC: Public hearing closed; resolution adopted to issue a letter of intent for bonds for a project at 4200 W. Harry (District IV).
• New Council Business:
  1. Retirement Systems Actuarial Valuations: Received and filed the 2024 valuations for Wichita Employees’ Retirement and Police and Fire Retirement; approved 2026 employer contribution rates.
  2. Affordable Housing Fund Allocation: Approved up to $1,806,051 total: $520,000 for Hope Community Development Corporation, $560,000 for Large Enterprise, $240,000 for Sampayo Capital Group, LLC, and $486,051 for Wichita Habitat for Humanity. Funds to be used for 47 single-family homes.
  3. O.J. Watson Park Improvements (2025): Initiated project, adopted bonding resolution for park improvements and public art (District III).
  4. Beverage Services for Municipal Golf Courses: Approved vendor selection and contract.
  5. Ice Center Management Change: Approved contract assignment for the ice center (District IV).
  6. Item pulled: Pre-employment physical examinations and drug/alcohol screens (removed with City Manager approval).
  7. Water Reuse Alternatives Study: Approved project, budget, contract; adopted resolution for a study on water reuse.
  8. MAPD Application Fee Increase: Adopted ordinance endorsing the 2024 Metropolitan Area Planning Department fee increase.
  9. SoCe Corner Community Improvement District: Accepted petition and adopted resolution setting a public hearing on creating a CID (District III).
• Planning Agenda (Non-Consent):
  1. Conditional Use for Accessory Apartment (1632 N. Nevada Court): Recommended adoption of MAPC findings and approval (requires 4 of 7 votes).
  2. Zone Change Withdrawn (ZON2024-00051): Acknowledged withdrawal; no further action.
  3. Vacation of Setback and Utility Easement (301 S. Terrace Drive): Followed MAPC recommendation to approve vacation order for setback (simple majority of 4 votes).
  4. Zone Change to NR (1200 N. Waco Avenue): Adopted MAPC findings and approved zone change from TF-3 to Neighborhood Retail (requires 4 of 7 votes).
• Airport Agenda: Approved Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech) use and lease agreement at Col. James Jabara Airport.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved en bloc (all 21 items).
• Public Agenda: No action taken; items referred to City Manager for information.
• Votes on Planning Items:
  • Conditional use for accessory apartment (CON2025-00041) – Approved (requires 4 of 7; majority of those present).
  • Zone change ZON2025-00005 (1200 N. Waco) – Approved (requires 4 of 7).
  • Vacation of setback (VAC2025-00009) – Approved (simple majority of 4).
  • Zone change ZON2024-00051 – Withdrawn.
• Industrial Revenue Bonds for WAM 4200, LLC: Resolution adopted.
• Affordable Housing Fund: Expenditure approved up to $1,806,051.
• O.J. Watson Park Improvements: Project initiated and bonding resolution adopted.
• Water Reuse Alternatives Study: Approved with resolution.
• MAPD Fee Increase: Ordinance adopted.
• Council Travel: All six travel requests approved (Mayor Wu to LKM and Paris Air Show; Council Members Johnson and Ballard to NLC City Summit; Council Member Johnson to Local Progress and NBC-LEO conferences; Council Member Hoheisel to NLC City Summit).