Wichita City Council Meeting – September 23, 2025

The Wichita City Council met on September 23, 2025, at 9:00 AM in the 1st Floor Boardroom, 455 N. Main Street. The meeting covered routine consent items, public comments, and a lengthy discussion on the enforcement of the illegal camping ordinance, homelessness resources, and the need for a dedicated civilian outreach team. The council also approved the Board of Bids and Contracts, made an appointment, and discussed a potential sales tax referendum.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of September 16, 2025 (motion carried 6–0, with Council Member Johnson absent during the vote; he later arrived).
• Approved Consent Agenda Items 1 through 11 (motion carried 7–0), including: applications for licenses to retail cereal malt beverages; preliminary estimates for water, sewer, drainage, and paving improvements for several subdivisions (Baalmann 4th Addition, Brookfield South 2nd Addition); on-call engineering services agreements with seven civil engineering firms; design services agreements for Blue Lake 3rd Addition, Courtyards at Jacobs Farm Second Addition, Yellowstone Addition (Phases 1 & 2 and Commercial Addition), and Supplemental Design Agreement No. 3 for Bleckley Drainage Improvements; minutes from six advisory boards/commissions; participation of WPD detectives in the FBI Central Kansas Safe Streets Task Force; a grant of right-of-way across city-owned property at Rock Road; approval of temporary street closures for the Art and Ale community event; multiple agreements and budget adjustments for Douglas Avenue improvements from Seneca to Meridian; and second reading of ordinances (Nos. 52-814 through 52-821) covering airport hazard zoning, day care zoning, rezonings at several locations, and multifamily housing revenue bonds for Market Centre Apartments. Also approved was the sale of 1647 North Estelle Avenue (District I).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Faith Martin – Scheduled to speak about the Cedric Lofton memorial event, but did not appear.
• Eric Hargrave (Fountain of Life Ministries, Dads Care 2 Program) – Presented on the Family Builders Conference held September 19–20, 2025. He described a 12-week trauma-informed program for disadvantaged fathers, free to participants, starting October 2, 2025 at the Urban League. The program includes case management, financial literacy, housing assistance, job training, and mental health counseling. He urged city collaboration and highlighted efforts to reduce foster care entries by involving fathers. Mayor Wu confirmed she and Chief Sullivan attended the conference. Council Member Hoheisel asked about coordination with DCF; Dennis Fontelroy (founder) responded that they work with DCF and have helped initiate team decision-making programs.
• Steve Randle (District 1) – Raised concerns about a short-term rental at 226 South Pinecrest. He stated the application was submitted on September 9 and approved on September 12, despite a stated three-week review period, leaving neighbors only until September 26 to file a formal protest. He noted the applicant is the same owner of a property where a previous incident occurred in Crown Heights, questioning transparency. City Manager Layton acknowledged the protest period and promised to follow up; he asked Randle to leave contact information with the City Clerk.

Discussion Items

• Board of Bids and Contracts – Josh Lauber (Finance) reviewed bids, including a concrete path at Sycamore Park ($124,170), South Oliver waterline extension ($1,285,270), a truck ($316,648), trash carts ($17/cart), and several change orders. Approved unanimously (7–0).
• Petitions for Public Improvements – Paul Gunzelman (Public Works) presented two petitions for Area 151 Addition (District V) and Clear Creek 3rd & 4th Additions (District II), both with 100% landowner signatures and revised budgets due to market conditions. Approved (7–0).
• Illegal Camping Ordinance & Homelessness Strategy – Mayor Wu initiated a discussion on the revised illegal camping ordinance (effective January 2025). She reported seeing individuals sleeping under the Douglas railroad bridge and a mother fearful to walk there, plus an incident of a man defecating on Central Street. She asked for clarification on what constitutes blocking a sidewalk. City Manager Layton called on Law, Police, and Parks staff to report.
  • Sharon Dickgrafe (Law) explained the distinction between camping (intent to sleep) and loitering (blocking access). She noted homelessness as a status cannot be criminalized; enforcement requires a person be given an opportunity to move. The ordinance has a two-tier system: Tier 1 (immediate removal) for specific high-impact areas. She stated that the legal framework exists but enforcement depends on police resources.
  • Captain Aaron Moses (Police) reported 184 cases since April 1 where officers engaged, educated, or cleaned up camps. The Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) in the last month had 147 dispatch calls, 52 self-initiated calls, 486 unhoused person contacts, and 98 hotline requests. He noted 76 instances of voluntary compliance. He emphasized that being on a sidewalk without camping (tent, sleeping) is not a violation, and a camp on a sidewalk is not automatically a Tier 1 camp. Zero citations have been issued under the ordinance. He stated the police focus is on Tier 1 camps due to bandwidth, and that the department is rebuilding staffing.
  • Council Member Glasscock pressed whether lack of enforcement is a resource issue. Captain Moses replied that a larger conversation is needed about the right response, suggesting civilian outreach teams alongside police. He mentioned an app to show real-time shelter bed availability being developed with Second Light and United Way.
  • Council Member Ballard asked where people can legally camp if all beds are full given reduced capacity at Second Light (currently about 120 beds, less due to construction). Captain Moses replied camping remains illegal even if shelter space is limited, but citations cannot be issued if no shelter space is available.
  • Council Member Johnson argued that the conversation risks criminalizing homelessness and that trust-building with unhoused individuals is critical before they will accept shelter. He called for more state and federal investment in mental health and housing.
  • Council Member Hoheisel noted that the long-term solution is investment in the Multi-Agency Center (MAC) and Second Light, referencing a San Antonio program with a 65% success rate in stable housing. He cited potential federal cuts: 17–43% reduction in housing staff.
  • Sally Stang (Housing and Community Services) stated her department lacks dedicated outreach funding; outreach is done by overworked caseworkers once or twice a month. She noted that federal funding (Project HOPE, ERA) ends September 30, though limited CDBG-CV funds extend some positions to June 2026. She mentioned Project 3 on the Second Light campus: a 75-unit building (50 permanent supportive housing studios, 25 non-congregate shelter) breaking ground in December/February.
  • Steve Burke (Housing) described a direct-to-housing pilot project on South Broadway (private land) serving 12 individuals (8 households), all to be housed by October 10. The model uses housing navigators and rental assistance vouchers, with the goal of closing the encampment. He said the project took 72–75 days but hopes to accelerate.
  • Chief Sullivan reiterated that enforcement alone is not the answer; he supports a combined police-civilian outreach model and is disappointed the conversation focused on policing. HOT cannot be the default response.
  • Mayor Wu asked for a single number the public can call for non-emergency homeless outreach. City Manager Layton said they do not want to confuse the public and that 911 and Click Fix remain the primary reporting channels, though 911 is for priority calls. He noted the new Downtown Clean and Safe Team could be leveraged with proper training.
  • Council Member Glasscock offered that if a plan for a dedicated outreach team exists, the council could allocate $500,000. Sally Stang said a cost estimate requires determining desired coverage (e.g., 24/7). Council agreed to hold a more comprehensive discussion in November with Second Light and the Continuum of Care (COC).

Key Outcomes

• Approved unanimous motions on: minutes, consent agenda (1–11), Board of Bids and Contracts, and Petitions for Public Improvements.
• Appointment: John Oswald appointed to the Transit Advisory Board (approved 7–0).
• Sales Tax Referendum Discussion: Council Member Glasscock asked about a potential 2026 sales tax referendum. City Manager Layton indicated March, August, or November ballot options; the council must decide by end of 2025. Council Member Tuttle urged coordination with the county and other interested groups.
• Direct-to-Housing Pilot: Staff will continue the pilot and identify the next encampment for the model.
• Future Workshop: A homelessness strategy workshop with Second Light, Housing, and the Continuum of Care is scheduled for November 2025 (moved from October per Mayor Wu’s request, with council consensus).
• No citations issued under the illegal camping ordinance since its revision.