Wichita City Council Meeting - June 10, 2025
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Wichita City Council Meeting - June 10, 2025
The Wichita City Council met on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 9:00 AM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting covered a wide range of topics including public comments on animal shelter conditions and library funding, approval of multiple consent agenda items, public hearings for a community improvement district and airport special facility revenue bonds, and approval of a major housing development for homeless services. Votes were largely unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of the June 3, 2025 regular meeting were approved 7-0.
- Service Award presented to Larry W. Martin Jr. for 42 years of service with Public Works & Utilities.
- Consent Agenda Items 1-16 were approved 7-0 after items 14 and 16 were pulled by Councilmember Johnson, who abstained on those two votes due to personal conflicts. Both items passed 6-0 with one abstention.
- Board of Bids and Contracts approved, including multiple contracts. Notable: 2025 outsourced pavement preservation concrete repairs awarded to PPJ Construction at $442,500 (within engineer's estimate); joint/crack seal and mechanical screening bids rejected due to scope and specification errors.
- Petitions for Public Improvements approved for Brookfield South Addition (District II) with 100% landowner signatures; financing moved from private to public bidding.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Arthur Stokes spoke about black mold issues in rental properties, criticizing inspection processes. Councilmembers referenced a recent workshop on property maintenance code and encouraged attendance at district advisory board meetings.
- Janette Peterson detailed negative experiences at the Animal Advisory Board meeting on May 21, where she felt attacked by board members after advocating for shelter improvements. She highlighted high euthanization rates, lack of animal enrichment (toys, blankets, outdoor time), and confusion between the Wichita Animal Shelter and Kansas Humane Society. Staff responded with updates: four new full-time kennel tech positions (still unfilled), animal intake averaging 14 dogs and 19 cats daily, near-capacity kennels, and acceptance of dishwasher-safe toys and treats. Councilmember directed Assistant City Manager to send a decorum reminder to all advisory boards.
- Lauren Hirsch (Library Board chair) praised completion of all library branch remodels by end of summer, but urged council to fully staff the libraries as originally promised. She noted funding is below peer cities and that libraries reduce crime, support literacy, and are the most trusted city service per citizen survey. Several councilmembers expressed support for maintaining library funding.
- Diana Tedlock (additional speaker) criticized the police department's budget proposal to eliminate animal shelter and field services entirely, calling it irresponsible. She noted an empty kennel rate of 40-45% at times and urged operational improvements rather than defunding. She also pointed out that online wish list links were broken.
- George and Sarah (homeless individuals) spoke during the housing item, asking for job opportunities, removal of barriers for those with criminal records, and faster implementation of municipal IDs and housing. Councilmembers acknowledged their advocacy.
- Tim McCorready (resident) spoke in support of the SoCe Corner CID, describing neighborhood revitalization efforts including trash pickup, community garden, and historic home preservation.
Discussion Items
- Community Improvement District for SoCe Corner (District III): $2.6 million redevelopment project by Socioeconomic Development Group LLC at Lincoln & South Broadway. CID sales tax of 2% for up to 22 years, reimbursing eligible costs up to $450,000. No taxpayer risk. 10% of CID proceeds (up to $45,000) earmarked for Lincoln Park improvements. Public hearing closed; ordinance placed on first reading. Approved 7-0.
- Airport Special Facility Revenue Bonds – Clemens Aviation (District II): Letter of Intent for $2 million to construct an 1,800 sq. ft. hangar at Colonel James Jabara Airport. Sales tax exemption value ~$82,000 (city share ~$6,200). City bears no risk. Approved 7-0.
- Airport Special Facility Revenue Bonds – Garver LLC (District IV): Letter of Intent for $1 million to renovate a 7,100 sq. ft. building at Eisenhower Airport. Garver expects to grow from 60 to 100 employees in five years. Sales tax exemption ~$37,000 (city share ~$2,800). Approved 7-0.
- Industrial Revenue Bonds – Bulk Conveyors Project (District VI): First reading of ordinance authorizing issuance of $13 million in IRBs (previously approved LOI in 2024). Project complete; bonds to close out. Purchased by Prestige Worldwide Holdings. Approved 7-0.
- Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) Ordinance Amendments: Reduces staff time fees to $5 per quarter hour, increases attorney time to $10 per quarter hour, requires custodian to contact requester if invoice exceeds $200 or 5 hours. Compliance with new state law. Approved 7-0.
- 2025 Arterial Sidewalk Program: $750,000 budget for sidewalks on South Seneca and North Hoover. Installs 6-foot sidewalks and ADA ramps on arterial streets. Approved 7-0.
- 2026 Sewer Mains for Future Development: $2,262,500 budget to extend sewer mains for two developments: Courtyards at Jacob's Farm (District IV) and Yellowstone Addition (District V). Funded by revenue bonds or utility cash. Approved 7-0.
- Property & Evidence Facility Improvements (District VI): $1,265,086 for elevator renovation, storage, HVAC, cameras, lighting, security at Rounds & Porter building. Also amending previously approved $2 million for fire suppression. Approved 7-0.
- Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant (Districts I, III, VI): Application for $20 million federal grant for Broadway corridor improvements from 37th St N to Pawnee. Local match $5 million (state may cover $4.75 million via Build Kansas Fund, city minimum $250,000). Grant deadline June 26. Council approved application submittal and directed a joint letter of support. Approved 7-0.
- PUD Amendment for Illuminated Sign (District I): Applicant requested amendment to allow a 4' x 50' static LED backlit sign on north elevation at 1728 N. Fairmount. District Advisory Board recommended approval 7-1 but without illumination; MAPC (Planning Commission) recommended 13-1 with illumination. No protest petitions. Council adopted MAPC findings, approving the sign with illumination. Approved 7-0.
- Non-Congregate Shelter & Permanent Supportive Housing Development (District I): Sub-agreement with PETRA for $15,182,117 to build 25 units of non-congregate shelter and 50 units of permanent supportive housing at the former Park Elementary School site (1025 N. Main). Funding: $10 million from public housing sale proceeds, $1 million CDBG, $4.18 million HOME-ARP. Also award of 50 Project-Based Vouchers. Project includes elevator, solar, heavy-duty finishes. Rents covered by vouchers ($650-750 range). 15-year affordability requirement. Approved 7-0.
Key Outcomes
- Votes: All votes passed 7-0 except two consent agenda items (14 and 16) which passed 6-0 with one abstention.
- Directives: Assistant City Manager to send decorum reminder to all advisory boards; staff to draft joint council letter of support for SS4A grant.
- Next Steps: Municipal ID rollout expected within weeks; CID ordinance on first reading; grant applications due by June 26; construction of non-congregate shelter and PSH to proceed.
- Appointments: Councilmember Hoheisel appointed to Sedgwick County Wichita Addiction Intervention Coalition; Bob Raspberry appointed to Wichita Airport Advisory Board (approved 7-0).
Meeting Transcript
And address, and you will be given five minutes to speak. A timer can be viewed on the podium screen. You may speak one time per agenda item. Please refrain from clapping after other speakers. Thank you again for joining us today. Let's pause a moment for our television audience to join us. With us this morning is Reverend Ben Staley of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church to provide our invocation. Following that invocation, we ask that you also stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Your guidance to help our community grow and go forward in ways that are in keeping with your value and your plan for our city. We pray this for our great mayor and city council members and for us all. In Jesus' name. Thank you, Reverend Staly. Mr. Clerk, can you please call the first item? Approve the minutes of regular meeting June 3rd, 2025. Council members, any changes. I see none. I will move to approve the minutes of the regular meeting for June 3rd, 2025. Second. Motion and a second. Any further discussion? I see none. Mr. Clerk, can you please open the roll? Just in time. Motion passes 7-0. Mr. Clerk, please call the next item. Awards and proclamations. The award this week is a service award for Larry W. Martin Jr. May I please ask Larry Martin and his family, along with public works and utilities director Gary Jansen to come forward at this time. This is a special recognition to one of our three thousand employees at the city of Wichita. This individual has served the city of Wichita and its residents for 42 years. Presented in recognition of dedicated and notorious service rendered to the community and citizens of the city of Wichita, Kansas. Congratulations, Larry W. Martin Jr. Public Works and Utilities Director Gary Jansen has a few words. Thank you, Mayor, and appreciate the opportunity to say a few words. Larry's been through a lot of things over the years, but he's really been an inspiration for a lot of people. And I heard that uh at his retirement party uh when we were at the central maintenance facility. But uh he's brought so much to us, we're definitely gonna miss him. Uh the time that Larry has spent on a construction survey crew, uh, it's a lot of people wouldn't know even what that was or what they do, but uh there's so much that happens with uh public infrastructure getting built around the community every single day. And and those guys, especially Larry, are a last line of defense to make sure that everything gets done the right way, gets put in the right place, gets uh built to specifications, and he's done such a wonderful job for us over all that time and being a critical part of it. Uh just can't say enough about everything he's done for us, and uh, we're certainly gonna miss having him around. Uh I I could go on and on saying so many wonderful things about Larry. I do want to mention because I'd be remiss if I don't say it one last time. Larry has one significant character flaw, and that he's a Dallas Cowboys fan. So I wanted to get that in one last time. I'm surprised he's not wearing a cowboys jersey today, but Larry, thank you so much for what you done.
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