The Wichita City Council convened on August 12, 2025, at 9:00 AM in City Council Chambers. The meeting covered a wide range of topics, including a proclamation for Women in Sports Broadcasting Day, public presentations on the City Archaeologist Office, cemetery conditions, a zoning case, and the animal shelter. Major actions included the denial of a development agreement for a 186-unit affordable housing project at Waterwalk, approval of contracts for financial services centralization, and decisions on several zoning and conditional use requests. The council also received the quarterly financial report and handled multiple consent agenda items.
Development Agreement with Union Development Holdings LLC (Waterwalk Affordable Housing):
2025 Trail, Path, and Sidewalk Repairs (Pawnee Prairie Park focus): Tim Kelms (Public Works) presented plans for $300,000 in trail repairs, primarily at Pawnee Prairie Park, where gravel trails have deteriorated. The council approved the project and bonding resolution 7-0.
Centralization of Financial Services Initiative: Mark Manning (Finance) presented contracts for two initiatives: a consulting contract with McConnell & Jones LLP to centralize financial services (AP, AR, payroll), and a software contract with TimeClock Plus for electronic timekeeping and scheduling. The initiative is expected to save up to $500,000 annually, offset by a $200,000–$250,000 annual software maintenance fee. The council approved both contracts and budget adjustments 7-0.
Quarterly Financial Report (Q2 2025): Mark Manning presented the report for the period ending June 30, 2025. Key points: revenues are trending as expected, with sales tax and interest earnings slightly better than forecast; public safety expenditures remain at 65% of the total; police vacancies have reduced from north of 100 to about 50; golf fund performance is excellent. The council received and filed the report 7-0.
Applicant Appeal of HPC2025-00060 (Ablah House awnings): Mark Turman, owner of the historic Ablah House (102-104 N. Pinecrest), appealed the Historic Preservation Board's (HPB) denial of a building permit to install awnings over four second-story terraces to stop water intrusion. Turman stated he had been trying to address the issue for two to three years and provided new renderings not previously seen by the HPB.
Conditional Use for Vehicle/Equipment Sales (CON2025-00073, 2666 N. Amidon): The MAPC recommended approval; the District Advisory Board (DAB) recommended denial. Councilmember Ballard (District VI) moved to override the MAPC and deny the conditional use, citing detrimental impact on nearby residential uses. The motion passed 7-0.
Zone Change for Duplexes (ZON2025-00028 & CON2025-00080, 1202 N. Gow): The DAB recommended approval with an additional condition requiring gabled roof design. Councilmember Ballard moved to adopt the DAB's findings, approving the zone change and conditional use with the gabled roof condition. The motion passed 7-0.
Zone Change for Shipping Container Housing (ZON2025-00026, 428 S. Laura & 427 S. Pattie): The MAPC recommended denial; the DAB recommended approval. Councilmember Johnson moved to override the MAPC and approve the zone change with a protective overlay requiring uniform, earth tone colors for any shipping container structures. The motion passed 7-0.
Zone Change near 39th Street and Rock Road (ZON2025-00030): Approved by MAPC (10-0) and DAB (10-0). One protest petition was received but did not meet the threshold for a supermajority. Councilmember Tuttle moved to approve the zone change. The motion passed 7-0.
Affordable Housing Fund Program Plan Updates: Carmen Hoffein (Housing and Community Services) presented updates to the plan, including using remaining funds for acquisition and rehabilitation of public housing properties, with priority for large family units and properties facing repositioning challenges. The council approved the updated plan 7-0.
Board of Bids and Contracts: Approved 7-0, including a bid for the Arkansas River East Bank Restoration (for rejecting all bids) and contracts for pavement preservation, crosswalk improvements, pickup truck purchase, and home modifications.
Petitions for Public Improvements: Approved 7-0 for water and sanitary sewer improvements for new developments.
Consent Agenda (Items 1-31, excluding Item 16): Approved 7-0. Item 16 (Jakub's Ladder funding) was pulled and approved 6-0 with one abstention (Councilmember Johnson).
Council Member Appointments: Approved 7-0. Appointments: Lugene Schneider to the Library Board; Charlie Wilkes to the Accessibility Board.
Good morning, Wichita, and welcome to all of you here to City Hall. We'll call the meeting to order. With us this morning is Reverend Ben Staley of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church to provide our incation. Following that invocation, we will have the Pledge of Allegiance. I invite you to stand for both. Let's pray together. We thank you for allowing us freedom and peace to be able to come here today and to move about freely. And we pray for those living with fear in the midst of oppression and war, especially in the Middle East, and we pray for peace. We give you thanks for all that you provide for us, all that we have, food and shelters, social services, and all the help that's needed. Help us to be responsive to the needs of the poor and homeless and those in need of care. With thanks, we give you thanks for our teachers and our school administrators. We pray for them and our parents and children as school begins this week. We give you thanks for our safety and pray for those who protect us, and we pray that you would guide our police and firemen. First responders, and thank you for our city leaders, our mayor and city council members. We ask that you would give them a heart for the city and the mind of Christ in order to lead us with integrity and courage and wisdom and love for our people. Help us all to give to others with love and generosity as you have given to us, and we pray it all in Jesus' name. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the reporting for which it stands. Thank you, Pastor Staley. Madam Clerk, can you please call the first item? Yes, Mayor, I was just made aware of a proclamation this morning. Uh the proclamation for today is Women in Sports Broadcasting Day. Using their voices and leadership to elevate athletics and inspire audiences in Wichita has been home to pioneering women in sports media, including Mikhail Adia, the first female sports director for CAKETV. Kendra Douglas, a former Wichita sports anchor and current NBA sideline reporter. Simone Smith, a Wichita-based anchor and founder of Girls Talk Game mentorship program. Whereas based on an analysis of the most recent staff directories from Wichita's major television stations, CAKE, KWCH, and KSNW, women occupy approximately 37.5% of sports broadcasting roles, highlighting a persistent gender imbalance and the need to support and amplify women's voices in local sports media. Whereas increased visibility of women in sports media challenges outdated norms and encourages girls to pursue careers in journalism and athletics, fostering a more inclusive and equitable future for Wichita. Whereas while women in Kansas earn approximately 84 cents for every dollar earned by men, according to U.S. Census data reported by the Kansas Reflector, continued efforts to close the pay gap are essential to ensuring that women in sports broadcasting in Wichita are valued, respected, and given equal opportunity to thrive. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Wichita City Council does hereby proclaim August 18th, 2025 as women in sports broadcasting day. I want to say thank you to Mayor Wu and the rest of the council for recognizing Women in Sports Broadcasting Day. This day will be more than just any old day on the calendar. It's a celebration for the women who have used their voices in the past and their present for their passion and their leadership to tell stories of our teams, our area athletes, and our community. I'm so proud to stand here as Ms. Kansas USA and as a women in sports broadcasting here in Wichita, but more importantly, to be with other women who are in sports broadcasting and the broadcast industry who have made their mark in the field. I'm honored to stand alongside these incredible women, Ananda Smith, Rachel Holland, and Michaela Day, and they all continue to break barriers and set an example for what is possible. This day is a reminder that visibility matters, mentorship matters, and representation matters as well. And when young girls see us on their screens covering sports with authority and with excellence, they see what's possible for themselves. So thank you for helping us continue to push for equity, opportunity, and the future of women's voices in sports media to show that it's not an exception, it's the norm. Thank you. Thank you. Madam Clerk, can you 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 speaker's remaining time to speak. Order and rules of decorum will be observed. The first speaker for today is Crystal Dozier. Presentation on the City Archaeologist Office for Wichita, Kansas Good Morning.