Wichita City Council Meeting - November 25, 2025
Wichita City Council Meeting - November 25, 2025
The Wichita City Council convened at 3:00 PM to approve minutes, honor fallen firefighters, address public comments regarding homelessness and historic preservation, and approve significant capital improvements and vendor contracts. The meeting concluded with a contentious deliberation and vote regarding the appointment of a new City Manager, resulting in a 5-2 approval of contract negotiations with the remaining finalist.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes: Approved the minutes of the regular meeting (Nov 6, 2025), special meetings (Nov 10, 2025, and Nov 17, 2025), and executive sessions by a 7-0 vote.
- General Consent: Approved consent agenda items 1 through 27 (excluding Item 5A) by a 7-0 vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Special Recognition: Diane Albert, President of USD 259 School Board, delivered a moving remembrance of her father, Retired Captain Steve K. Atkinson, a Sedgwick County Fire captain. She highlighted his legacy of quiet service, noting he attended JROTC Veterans Day ceremonies for 28 years to rescue fainting cadets and was a father to Army veteran Marco Albert. Albert expressed support for honoring veterans through personal acts of service rather than just ceremonies.
- Arthur Stokes (Black Mole): Expressed strong concern regarding homelessness, housing safety, and the lack of a cohesive plan to regulate landlords. Stokes described the current situation as "all hell broke loose" and advocated for a team-based approach with strict oversight to prevent greedy exploitation and ensure safety for residents.
- Barb Myers (Residents Friends of the Woodshaw Pioneers): Provided an update on Highland Cemetery operations, noting successful tours and collaborations with Cowtown. She expressed support for a cemetery advisory board to increase historic preservation oversight across all five city cemeteries and requested additional funding for maintenance, security, and road improvements. Council members expressed support for her efforts.
- Missing Speakers: Arthur Stokes was scheduled to speak on Housing and HUD vouchers but arrived after the agenda; Andrew Crane was not present. Mayor Jeanette Peterson's presentation was rescheduled to December 9th.
Discussion Items
- Plain View Community Center (District 3): Council discussed a supplemental agreement increasing the budget by $300,000 specifically for public art, bringing the total budget to $10.2 million. Becca Johnson (Community Services) confirmed the art was designated by the Design Council as a project of significance. Council Member Johnson provided details on the Brewer Center's public art ($200,000 allocation) and announced its grand opening on December 6th. Councilor expressed a wish for a larger art budget, though staff indicated it was calculated based on a percentage of initial facility costs. Construction for Plain View is scheduled to begin September/October 2026, with completion by Q4 2027.
- Board of Bids and Contracts (Nov 24, 2025): The Board recommended various bids totaling approximately $10 million, including street improvements, utility cut repairs, and data fiber installations.
- Utility Cut Repairs: Council questioned a budget increase from $2.9 million to $3.4 million. The Public Works Director clarified that this is a unit-price contract with a cap, allowing for variable quantities based on actual work; the final cost may be lower.
- Data Fiber Installations: Council questioned why contracts for Ideate Telecom were awarded without competitive bidding. The City Attorney and Purchasing Manager explained that an exemption was used because the utility provider would charge significantly higher prices if the work were bid out separately, citing a 50%+ discount justification in the city code for high-tech exemptions.
- Contract Management: Council members inquired about debriefing and performance management for vendors to prevent past issues. Staff confirmed the existence of "vendor-do batter letters" and contractual clauses for liquidated damages to address performance deficiencies.
- Council Appointments: Approved the appointment of Andrea Scarpelli to the Library Advisory Board and Barb Myers to the Historic Preservation Board by a 7-0 vote.
- Awards: Council member Johnson reported that the City of Wichita received second place in the National League of Cities "Digital City Survey" for cities with 250,000–499,000 residents, specifically recognized for AI and cybersecurity policies.
- City Manager Search: The Council entered an executive session to receive legal advice regarding a contract with a consultant for the City Manager selection. Following the session, the Council discussed contract negotiations with a finalist.
- Council Member Johnson: Expressed deep concern about the selection process, citing potential undue influence and scoring discrepancies. She stated she would not support either finalist and recommended restarting the search process to ensure transparency and council consensus.
- Other Council Members: Expressed support for the process and the finalists. Council Members noted the significance of the opportunity (first since 2008) and thanked outgoing City Manager Leighton. There was a consensus among the majority that the process yielded qualified candidates and that a new chapter should begin.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Consent agenda items 1-4 and 6-27 (7-0).
- Approved: Supplemental agreement for Plain View Community Center public art ($300,000 increase) (7-0).
- Approved: Board of Bids and Contracts awards, including 21st Street ITS, water/sewer improvements, and data fiber installations (7-0).
- Approved: Petitions for public improvements for Northgate 5th Edition (District 6) and Whispering Creek Edition (District 2) (Unanimous voice vote).
- Council Manager Vote: The motion to direct staff to enter negotiations with the finalist (Dennis Marstall/Dennis Marsto) passed 5-2.
- Nay Votes: Council Members Johnson and Hoheisel (citing process concerns).
- Aye Votes: Council Members Tuttle, Vice Mayor Johnston, Glasscock, Ballard, and Mayor Wu.
- Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 3:28 PM (6-1 vote to adjourn, though the final vote tally for the adjournment motion appears to be 6-1, while the council manager vote was 5-2).
- Next Steps: Contract negotiations with the selected City Manager candidate are to proceed immediately. Mayor Peterson's presentation on Housing and HUD vouchers is rescheduled for December 9th.
Meeting Transcript
I think there's something that's missing. Yeah, that's scary one. I always need my attorney. We can switch. If you want to switch Good morning staff, and good morning, Wichita, and good morning to all of you here at City Hall. I will call this meeting to order. We will start with a pledge of allegiance, and we ask that you please stand for that. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States America and to the Republic for which it's under God with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Madam Clerk, can you please call the first item? Approve the minutes of the regular meeting November 6th, 2025, and the special meetings November 10th, 2025, and November 17th, 2025. I move to approve the minutes for the regular meetings. Second. And the executive sessions. Second. Motion and a second, any further discussion. I see none. Madam actually, no Madam Clerk. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. 7-0. Madam Clerk, please call the next item. Special recognition of late firefighter Captain Steve Atkinson. I have asked USD 259 school board president Diane Albert and her mother to attend our workshop meeting for November. I had the opportunity to hear Diane speak at the Veterans Day salute to veterans celebration at WSU's Cook Arena, and her speech and the dedication to her father was very moving. And this is the month of November. I believe that the whole month we should be thinking about our veterans and what we're thankful for. And so I invited Diane to share a bit about her late father, Sedgwick County Fire, retired captain Steve K. Atkinson. And in his obituary, uh it said that Steve lived his life in selfless service to others, guided by honor, duty, and an unshakable commitment to helping those in need. Diane. Thank you, Mayor. I originally gave the speech during the JRTC Veterans Day ceremony to the cadets of the Wichita Public Schools on November 12th, 2025, and that day was also my dad's birthday. The longer you live, the more you start to realize that life is really a collection of stories, all woven together, some small, some grand, but all are meaningful. One thread of my story takes us back to 1996, where I was a wide-eyed freshman cadet in JR OTC at Southeast High School. My classmates and I were standing in formation at that same Veterans Day ceremony all those years ago. We were all standing at attention, proud, nervous, and trying to look the part. And that is when my dad would step in as a quiet guardian in the back of the room. He would rush forward, revive the fainted cadet, and calmly get everyone back on their feet. No fanfare, no spotlight, just service and action. Those moments weren't about saving a ceremony. They were a small snapshot of a much bigger story. A story of a man who lived his life running toward need, not away from it. His simple act sparked a tradition that lasted 28 years. Every single JROTC Veterans Day ceremony since 1996. My dad stood quietly at the back of the room, not for recognition, not for applause, but just to be there, ready to help anyone who needed it. And because there were so many cadets who had locked their knees trying to stand still and would pass out, that is why today cadets sit during the ceremony. Because long speeches and locked knees made the ceremony a full contact sport back then.
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