City Council Meeting Summary - December 23, 2025
City Council Meeting Summary - December 23, 2025
The City Council of Wichita convened on December 23, 2025, for a session featuring an invocation by Rabbi Schmole Greenberg, public testimony from the Mayor's Youth Council and youth advocates regarding HBCU access, and deliberation on multiple funding-related resolutions. The meeting resulted in the unanimous approval of consent items, road improvements, drone funding, judicial reappointments, and travel authorizations, while the proposed resolution for a new performing arts center was deferred for further public workshops.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1-18: Approved unanimously (7-0) with Item 17 pulled.
- Item 17: First amendment to funding agreement with Wichita Habitat for Humanity approved (6-0, 1 abstention due to conflict of interest by Councilmember Johnson).
- Board of Bids and Contracts (Dec 22, 2025): Approved unanimously (7-0), covering paving, sewer, and equipment contracts.
- Petitions for Public Improvements: Approved unanimously (7-0) for water, sewer, and paving improvements at Kohler Ridge (District 4) and 47th Street (District 4).
- Municipal Court Judge Reappointments: All five judges reappointed to four-year terms with a 2.5% salary increase (retroactive) (7-0).
- Travel Expenses: Approved for Councilmembers Ballard, Hoheisel, and Johnston to attend Kansas Legislative Day in Topeka (7-0) and Councilmember Glasscock (7-0).
- Board Appointments: Carmaine Therese appointed to the Sustainability & Integration Board; Alex Dean appointed to the Sedgwick County Solid Waste Management Committee (7-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Tyler Williams (District 6): Proposed an update to the Wichita Municipal Code to create a legal classification for "Personal Electronic Mobility Devices" (e.g., the MEPO Vader Hurricane). He requested treatment similar to bicycles and city-owned scooters, including usage on roads up to 35 mph in the right lane. He cited ordinances in Austin, Denver, and California as examples.
- Positions: Councilmember Hoheisel and Councilmember Johnson expressed support for the concept and willingness to collaborate on legal definitions to ensure safety and clarity.
- Elizabeth Timsaw (Youth Mayor): Delivered a progress report for the Mayor's Youth Council (MYC), highlighting a 103% increase in volunteer hours and a 450% increase in views for the "Wichita Gems Uncovered" project. She advocated for expanding the council to include more diverse voices and requested invitations to city events.
- Positions: Councilmember Glasscock offered an open seat on the District 4 Advisory Board for MYC members. Councilmember Johnson and Councilmember Hoheisel supported voting rights for youth on advisory boards and noted the value of youth engagement.
- Amaya Williams & Alexis Borgis: Represented the Wichita HBCU Collective to promote the upcoming "Wichita HBCU Showcase" on January 3, 2026. They emphasized the need to increase awareness of HBCU opportunities among marginalized high school and middle school students.
- Positions: Councilmembers Johnson and Hoheisel expressed intent to attend the event and encouraged community participation.
Discussion Items
- Resolution Regarding Sales Tax Proceeds for New Downtown Public Performing Arts Center:
- Context: The council considered a resolution outlining how sales tax revenue (approved via special election) would be used for a new performing arts center, capped at $75 million, contingent on a matching public-private partnership.
- Concerns Raised: Councilmembers (including Vice Mayor Johnston, Councilmember Hoheisel, Councilmember Johnson, and Councilmember Tuttle) raised significant concerns regarding taxpayer protection. Specific issues included:
- The risk of public funds being expended on design phases before the full $75 million private match is secured.
- The ambiguity regarding the use of funds if the private match is not fully reached (e.g., only $25 million raised).
- The lack of provisions to cover ongoing operational costs (staff, maintenance) for the facility, similar to issues faced with the "Second Light" theater.
- The hierarchy of sales tax allocations (e.g., property tax relief vs. homelessness services).
- Deliberation: Staff clarified that public funds cannot be expended until matching private funds are raised, but the council debated the specific structure of this trigger (e.g., a full $75 million threshold vs. a dollar-for-dollar match as costs are incurred). Councilmembers emphasized the need to ensure no public money is "guaranteed" until the private match is secured.
Key Outcomes
- The resolution regarding the downtown performing arts center was denied for passage and deferred to a new regularly scheduled council meeting on January 27, 2026, for a holistic workshop on the sales tax and its five proposed projects (including homelessness and property tax relief).
- All other proposed motions and items were adopted with unanimous votes (7-0) or the specified abstention.
- Staff directed to prepare a refined draft of the performing arts resolution with tighter language regarding fund triggers and operational costs before the January workshop.
- Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 5-2 vote count (likely reflecting a procedural or quorum count error in the transcript text, as all other motions passed 7-0 and the text implies a consensus on adjournment). Note: The transcript indicates a vote count of 5-2 for adjournment, which appears inconsistent with the 7-0 consensus on all prior agenda items, suggesting a potential discrepancy in the source text recording.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, good morning staff. Good morning, good morning, staff. Can you please roll the video? 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 podium screen. Thank you again for joining us today. With us this morning is Rabbi Schmole Greenberg of Chabad of Wichita here to provide our invitation. Following that invocation, we will have the Pledge of Allegiance, and we ask that you please stand for both. Bless the distinguished individuals of the City Council who have been chosen to make laws and decisions with wisdom and understanding in the noble pursuit of justice and equality. This is not only a civic responsibility, but also a holy endeavor. Our tradition teaches of seven universal laws given to mankind by God through Noah, including the instruction to foster a moral society governed by law. These laws also include the importance of serving God alone, respecting God's name, and the prohibitions against murder, theft, adultery, and cruelty against all living creatures. We have just concluded the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, commemorating a great miracle that occurred over 2,000 years ago in ancient Israel. Oppressed by a ruthless enemy that endeavored to destroy the treasured traditions of the Torah. A small band of devout and courageous Jews, famously known as the Maccabees, revolted against their oppressors and miraculously won the war. Upon regaining control of the holy temple, they could only find one day's worth of ritually pure oil to kindle the menorah, the ritual candelabra. Undeterred, they lit up the lamps and hoped for the best. A great miracle occurred, and one day's supply of oil burned for eight days and nights. The miracle of the oil and religious freedom is celebrated each year by lighting a menorah. Starting with one candle on the first night, we add another candle each night until the eighth night. The lesson of the menorah is simple yet profound. In a world of darkness, all it takes is one single flame, one selfless good deed to usher in a reality of light and hope. However, once you have lit one flame, it is crucial to consistently increase it. Never be satisfied with the positive accomplishments of yesterday. A new day brings fresh opportunities for goodness and kindness. Last week, a Hanukkah celebration in Australia was shattered by a brutal terrorist attack. And we pray for the victims, their families, and all who are deeply affected by this act of evil. But the framework of our response will be to listen to the story the Hanukkah flames tell us that we can brighten our world every single day and banish much darkness and evil through routine and consistent actions of goodness and kindness. We would like to thank the mayor, who on behalf of the city council joined and addressed our own public lighting here in Wichita. Our response of strength and light. Sovereign of the world, grant us all the wisdom and courage to apply the powerful lessons of the menorah so that we be able agents of goodness and peace to ourselves, our families, communities, and to the entire world. May our heartland region serve as a beacon of light to all of humanity as we do our part in preparing the world for an era of global global peace and tranquility. May this occur speedily in our times. One nation, under God, individual with liberty and justice. Thank you, Rabbi. Madam Clerk, can you please call the first 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 is Tyler Williams proposed ordinance change. Thank you so much for having me today. My name is Tyler Williams. I'm a member of District 6. And today I am here to propose an update to the Wichita Municipal Code around personal electronic mobility devices. Currently, uh ordinance 11.50.090 classifies any electronic device that is not one of the scooters from the city as a toy. As you can see, vehicles like mine are not a toy. Um this is the MEPO Vader Hurricane, a civilian commonly purchased electric vehicle meant to top out at 35 miles per hour and have stability on streets.
openpublica.com