The Wichita City Council convened for its fourth regular meeting of 2025 on November 6th. The meeting began with the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the approval of minutes for October 21st and October 28th, 2025. The agenda included proclamations celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Old Cowtown Museum, National Family Caregivers Month, and National Injury Prevention Day. Public testimony covered property fraud, affordable housing concerns, and allegations of city overreach. The Council reviewed financial reports, facility maintenance plans, and several zoning and land use cases, including contentious discussions regarding housing for youth aging out of foster care and changes to theater capacity.
Good evening, Wichita, and good evening to all of you. Welcome to City Hall, and thank you for joining us for the fourth evening meeting of the year. I will call this meeting to order. With us this evening is Pastor Ryan Emmons of Friendship Baptist Church to provide our invocation. Following that invocation, we will have the Pledge of Allegiance. Can we please stand for both? Approve the minutes of the regular meetings of October twenty first, twenty twenty-five, and October twenty-eighth, twenty twenty-five. Council members, are there any changes or corrections to those minutes? I see none. I move to approve the minutes for the regular meeting of October 21st, 2025 and October 28, 2025. Second. Motion and a second, any further discussion. I see none. Madam Clerk, can you please open the roll? Aye. Motion passes seven zero. Madam Clerk, please call the next item. Awards and proclamations. Today's proclamations are 75th anniversary of Old Cowtown Museum, National Family Caregivers Month, National Injury Prevention Day. May I please ask Councilmember Hoheisel to come forward along with the Old Town Museum Board of Directors and any supporters. The proclamation reads, the City of Wichita, Kansas founded in 1870, whereas Old Cowtown Museum has served as a premier living history site since its founding in 1950, preserving and interpreting the rich heritage of Wichita, Sedwick County, and the American frontier of the 1870s. Whereas for 75 years, Old Cowtown Museum has provided generations of visitors with immersive educational and educational entertaining experiences. These experiences connect people to the struggles, triumphs, and daily lives of those who built the early community of Wichita. Whereas Old Cowtown Museum has preserved historic structures, collections, and artifacts, offering a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience firsthand the culture and history of the American West. Whereas the year 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of Old Cowtown Museum, a milestone that deserves celebration and recognition by the community and all those who have visited, volunteered, and worked to make the museum a success. Now therefore be it resolved that the Wichita City Council does hereby proclaim the 75th anniversary of Old Cowtown Museum. Thank you, Mayor Wu. I just want to thank everybody in the community who has supported this museum for the past seventy-five years. It shows that generations of individuals and residents have supported this museum, and we look forward to the next seventy-five years at the museum thanks to our supporters, our elected officials, and the private donors who make this public-private partnership possible. Thank you. According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, family caregivers in Kansas provide 320,000 hours of care every year, adding up to 4.5 million dollars in unpaid labor annually. Whereas family caregivers face tremendous challenges, financial, emotional, and physical. They do it all from bathing and meal preparation to managing medications, arranging transportation, and performing complex medical or nursing tasks. Whereas too often, family caregivers sacrifice their own financial stability, stop saving, take on debt, use personal savings, or delay paying bills to care for their loved ones. These caregivers deserve not only our gratitude, but also common sense solutions that save the money, time, and stress. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Wichita City Council does hereby proclaim November 2025 as National Family Caregivers Month. Good evening, everyone. To Mayor Wu and members of the City Council, we would like to thank you very much for this opportunity to recognize National Caregivers Month, as you stated. There are so many caregivers within Kansas, and the number continues to grow. So we're very pleased to be able to recognize them, provide our financial support, and advocate for financial support for them going forward. Thank you. Thank you. May I please ask Ascension via Christie and any of its supporters to come forward at this time. The proclamation reads, the City of Wichita, Kansas, founded in 1870, whereas injuries are the leading cause of death and disability to Kansans. Whereas the state of Kansas is committed to creating and maintaining a safe environment that contributes to the health, safety, and well-being of all people. Whereas hospitals, state agencies, and community organizations across Kansas are dedicated to protecting our communities from preventable injuries and commend the heroes in health care and all others who work tirelessly in these efforts. Whereas the City of Wichita encourages all citizens to raise awareness and promote efforts to reduce injuries and improve safety for all Kansans. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Wichita City Council does hereby proclaim November 18th, 2025 as National Injury Prevention Day. Good evening. Thank you, Mayor Wu and City Council members.