Wichita City Council Meeting: July 1, 2025 – Arts Advocacy, Capital Projects, and Appointments
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Wichita City Council Meeting: July 1, 2025
The Wichita City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at 9:00 AM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting covered a range of topics including public agenda items on arts advocacy, approval of consent agenda items, contracts, public improvement petitions, promotional branding services, paving projects, a major road design project (Maple Street from 135th to 167th Streets West), and selection of an appeal panel. The meeting also included council member appointments and comments, and concluded with a 30-minute executive session on employer-employee negotiations.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Matthew Broderick, Arts Council – Presented the Arts Council's new mission and strategic plan. He emphasized that arts are a form of economic development, noting that the nonprofit arts sector in Wichita contributes over $180 million. He urged the council to protect funding for the arts during budget discussions, warning that cuts could harm the city's vibrancy and ability to retain talent.
- Councilmember Tottle (also an Arts Council board member) – Thanked Mr. Broderick and noted that the Arts Council's strategic plan aligns with the city's 2024–2028 cultural arts strategic plan. She stated that arts contribute to all four pillars of the city's mission, including public safety, as areas with art see less vandalism and crime.
- Mo Lallemant (16315 West Maple) – Expressed general support for the Maple Street widening project but raised concerns about the proposed roundabout at 151st and Maple, which he believes may not handle future traffic volumes, especially school-related traffic. He requested the city minimize land acquisition and tree removal on the south side of Maple, and suggested reconsidering the six-foot sidewalk on the south side or using a standard width to reduce impact.
Consent Calendar
- Approve the minutes of the regular meeting on June 24, 2025 – Approved 6-0.
- Consent Agenda Items 1 through 10 (includes license approvals, board minutes, a $35,000 settlement claim, a street closure for Central Standard Brewing's 10th Anniversary Block Party, nuisance abatement assessments, and four zone changes: PUD2025-00007, PUD2025-00008, ZON2025-00019, ZON2025-00021) – Approved unanimously.
Board of Bids and Contracts (June 30, 2025)
- Josh Lauber, Finance – Presented the Board of Bids and Contracts report. Contracts included:
- Water distribution system, stormwater drain, sanitary sewer for Prairie Glen Edition Phase 1: $3,45,394.55 (Nomad Construction Company).
- Wichita Valley Center Flood Control Project, Lower Levy D drain installation phase 3: $104,419.50 (Debton Construction Services).
- A 19,000 GVW crew cab truck with fuel/lube flatbed: $120,800 (Don Hatton Ford).
- One Caterpillar Model M318 wheel excavator: $491,160.69 (Foley Industries).
- Ammonia monochloramine analyzer: $72,635.72 (Hacked Company).
- Neighborhood cleanup tires contract: $347 per ton (Mid-Kansas Services).
- Solberg 3% Mill spec synthetic flooring free foam: estimated annual usage $14,085 (MES Service Company).
- The report also included vendor registration information and a list of open public opportunities. Approved 6-0.
Petitions for Public Improvements
- Paul Gunzelman, Public Works & Utilities – Presented a revised petition for Buffalo Pines Addition (District II) for water and paving improvements. The developer submitted revised budgets reflecting current market conditions (increased supply costs). Petitions represented 100% of the improvement district and were valid. Approved 6-0.
On Call Promotional Items and Branding Services
- Tyler Schuffelbein, Strategic Communications – Presented a centrally managed city branding approach. Following an RFP process with 17 vendors, four firms were selected: 4imprint (15% off published price), Lasing Impressions (10–30% off), Exhibit Arts (10% off), and QuikPrint (10% off). The contracts are within department budgets and were reviewed by the Law Department. Approved 6-0.
Petition for Paving Improvements – Airport Industrial Park Addition (District IV)
- Paul Gunzelman – The petition covers 1600 block of South Eisenhower Court, currently an unpaved street. Signatures from 50% of resident owners representing 76.2% of the improvement district were obtained. Estimated cost: $280,000, 100% special assessment. District 4 Advisory Board approved on June 2, 2025. Councilmember Glasscock noted standing water even on dry days and called it the last cul-de-sac unpaved in the area. Approved 6-0.
Design Concept, Supplemental Design Agreement #1, and Funding for Maple Street from 135th to 167th Streets West (Districts IV and V)
- Paul Gunzelman – Presented the project to widen Maple Street from two lanes to a three-lane roadway with a center turn lane, a 10-foot shared-use path on the north side, and a six-foot sidewalk on the south side. A roundabout is proposed at 151st and Maple. Traffic volumes are expected to increase from 9,500 (east) and 6,000 (west) vehicles per day to 18,000 and 11,500, respectively, by 2046. The project is coordinated with Sedgwick County and WAMPO for connecting paths. Total design fee: $1.6 million; total project budget: $17.03 million, funded by local sales tax. Councilmember Glasscock raised concerns about tree impact on the southwest corner of 151st & Maple. Staff committed to further design discussions with property owners and to bring tree impact information back to the District Advisory Board. Approved 6-0.
Selection of Appeal Panel for Tobacco License and CMB License Suspension
- The council selected three members to hear an appeal: Councilmember Johnson (District I), Councilmember Tuttle (District II), and Councilmember Hoheisel (District III). Approved 6-0.
Council Member Appointments and Comments
- Appointments:
- Reappointed Mark Masterson and appointed Samuel Moore to the Sedgwick County Juvenile Corrections Advisory Board.
- Appointed Stephanie Harder (Textron Aviation) to the City Manager Selection Advisory Committee, replacing a withdrawn member.
- Comments:
- Councilmember Hoheisel congratulated Councilmember Ballard on her wedding day and thanked volunteers for the Plainview cleanup.
- Councilmember Johnson thanked Public Works for the Blackley flood control project groundbreaking, noting it addresses the city's number one flood issue. He also referenced an NPR article on declining murder rates (down 14% nationwide) and attributed it to community investments from ARPA funds, urging continued strategic investments in parks, arts, and libraries.
- The Mayor highlighted summer job opportunities for youth, including the Wichita Police Department's Youth Citizens Police Academy and Camp HYPE (workforce alliance), along with YMCA financial assistance.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes approved: June 24, 2025 – 6-0.
- Consent Agenda (Items 1–10) approved: Unanimous.
- Board of Bids and Contracts (June 30, 2025) approved: 6-0.
- Revised petitions for Buffalo Pines Addition approved: 6-0.
- Promotional items and branding services contracts approved: 6-0.
- Paving petition for Airport Industrial Park Addition approved: 6-0.
- Maple Street design concept, Supplemental Design Agreement #1, and funding approved: 6-0.
- Appeal panel selected (Johnson, Tuttle, Hoheisel): 6-0.
- Council appointments approved (Juvenile Corrections Advisory Board and City Manager Selection Advisory Committee): 6-0.
- Executive Session: Recessed at 10:05 AM for 30 minutes (until ~10:35 AM) to discuss employer-employee negotiations per KSA 75-4319B2.
Meeting Transcript
Please take a moment to silence your mobile device. If you wish to speak on an agenda item after the mayor invites public comment, proceed to the podium, state your name and address, and you will be given five minutes to speak. A timer can be viewed on the United States. With us this morning is Minister Nina Shaw Woody with Kansas Family Advisory Network to provide our invitation. Following that invocation, we will stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, and we invite you to join us for both. Father God, help us to be able to take care of our youngest who are oldest resident. Father, give us the ability to make Wichita prosperous so that all those who live here, Father God will not be in need. Father, help them today do all that you have called them to do and walk in all that you have called them to walk, and just represent you in everything they think, say, and do. And we thank you for this now in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you, Minister. Mr. Clerk, can you please call the first item? Approve the minutes of regular meeting June 24, 2025. Are there any edits or changes to those minutes? I see none. I move to approve the minutes for the regular meeting for June 24th, 2025. Second. Motion and a second, any further discussion. I see none. Mr. Clerk, please open the roll. Motion passes 6-0. Mr. 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 decorum will be observed. The first speaker is Matthew Broderick. I'm with the Arts Council. Thank you for your time this morning. We've recently hired our new executive director, Connie Bonfi, trying to put our money where our mouth is when it comes to treating the arts like a business. And it's a big business and truly economic development. And we want to ride the wave of many of the new appointees to uh leading roles in our community at uh different institutions, whether that be the Wichita Art Museum or at uh Botanica or TCAM or any of the great fine institutions that we have that uh we believe are uh the backbone and what make our city vibrant. So our new mission then, as it is in front of you, is to cultivate arts and culture in Greater Wichita by igniting creativity and fostering connection and driving economic vitality through advocacy, education, and we uh believe that with our strategic plan, we'll we'll be based on four or five main pillars that's advocacy, education, engagement, marketing, and fundraising. Uh our goal is to champion the role of the arts in the Wichita's identity and economy. We want to integrate arts education into our community, create a regional arts council presence, and position the arts council as a kind of brand booster for arts in our community, and then engage with businesses and donors to sustain growth. Uh we've got some big plans uh ahead for this year based on that strategic plan. What uh I think Connie and I really want to try and hammer home is as you guys are thinking about the budget and you're hearing feedback from constituents uh about you know where to make the cuts and your looking at your budget simulators and reading the comments that you will uh focus on the idea that arts are real economic development. And you guys have all heard uh folks champion it uh time and time again, that just the nonprofit sector in the city of Wichita uh contributes like over 180 million dollars, and that's just the nonprofit section sector. I I know from uh being a boomerang uh kid in Wichita that one of the reasons why I came back was that uh folks in your shoes previously have made investments to the arts and cultural scene in Wichita. And just last night I was at the rotary meeting talking with Clark Carnihan, and he was saying, yeah, same. You know, I came back and I saw what Wichita was doing to make it better, and we we have to keep that investment going. Um that means that when times get tight, we don't immediately look for low-hanging fruit and the easy targets of the arts because these are the kinds of things that bring the quality of life and that retain talent, and that when you have friends in from out of town, you're you're taking them to the uh things that we support. So with my last maybe minute, minute and a half. I'd just like to ask you to consider what the Wichita could look like 10 years from now. When my kid is 25 and he's done with college and what he would come back to if we decided to make cuts or decided not to continue what your predecessors were doing with the percent for art ordinance.
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