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.

So as you can see to my left, I have a motorcycle helmet integrated with a blinking red light for safety at night and an LED headlight.

I'm not going to turn on, it's very bright.

And as you can see, enthusiasts like myself and similar to other people on the road who love these devices.

We wear safety gear because safety is first.

We would just like to create a distinction to separate us, or not really separate us, but to treat us as similar to the city-owned scooters and the bicycles in our community.

So my proposal would look to create a personal electronic mobility device class, as listed on the paper that I presented to you all today.

Um capping top speed at 35 miles per hour for usage on 35 mile per hour roads and below, similar to that of the electric scooters of bicycles, only use in the far right lane.

Um similar cities who have passed ordinances similar to this would be Austin.

Sorry, I lost my track.

Uh Austin, Denver, and the state of California.

Uh, I believe AB-605 for the state of California already codifies use of similar devices.

So today we are just looking to create legal clarification both for enthusiasts as well as for law enforcements on where we can ride because these are not toys.

We should not be limited at just the sidewalk.

We should be able to ride just like anyone else with the bicycles and the electric scooters on the road for safety for both civilians and the public.

Thank you.

Thank you, Tyler.

Councilmember Hoheisel.

All right, thank you, Mayor.

Uh thank you, Tyler.

We did have a little bit of a back and forth over email here last week.

Yes, sir.

Um, in places like Colorado, I know they have a lot more of the bike lanes that are established there.

Is that where these can operate too, or is it on the strictly on the roads?

Um, so if I'm remembering correctly, uh in Colorado, they have it just like bicycles, they have the bike lanes, and then any lane that does not have a bike lane specifically, you're supposed to ride in the far right.

Okay.

Um any fatality um statistics from any of those places as well.

No, sir, not to my knowledge.

Okay.

Thank you, I appreciate it.

Councilmember Johnson.

Thanks, Mayor.

Thank you, Tyler.

Um, appreciate you bringing this to our attention.

I think some of this was talked about when we got those electric scooters here in town.

So we were looking at the brand that was here versus everyone who had their own.

I can't remember where that conversation went, but I am open to looking at this.

There's a lot of people who have these and rightly want to use them on the streets.

I see them a lot during open streets.

And that's where I have most of the conversation.

So I'm supportive of that.

Um happy to work with you while I have time left and try to connect with legal on that.

Awesome.

And if y'all have any questions, feel free.

Thank you, Tyler.

Again, when ordinances like these are proposed, uh, council member.

It seems like Councilmember Hoheisel and Councilmember Johnson want to work with you.

Um, and I believe your contact information is available.

Um, I would just ask that you provide your email address to the clerk, and uh that that way the council members can contact you as well.

Yes, ma'am, I can do that.

Thank you.

Thanks, Tyler.

We will continue with public comment.

Would anyone from the public like to address the council?

Yes, ma'am.

Sorry.

Good morning, City Council members.

My name is Elizabeth Timsaw, and I currently serve as the youth mayor of the Wichita Mayor's Youth Council.

In front of you, you will see a collected progress report, which shows all of the work that MYC has recently done in the community.

I wanted to come today and give updates on your investment in young people in our city.

Currently, we have members in our council serving on the sustainability and integration board.

And we have multiple members serving as advocates in the youth violence forum.

For those of you who don't know, the youth violence forum was put together by Mayor Wu and brings together young community leaders to weigh in their ideas for solutions to the youth violence epidemic.

On the first page, you will see a list of recent volunteer events that MYC has been active at.

Volunteering at the Parks and Recreations Winter Wonderland event, the community, the Brewer Community Center opening, and bringing multiple members to the Adelitas Toy Run.

Our volunteering by this time, compared to last year, has increased by 103%.

And those numbers do not include our most recent events.

Eight major volunteering events have been offered in the first semester period, and these events happen on top of our regular twice monthly meetings.

On the next page, you will find our four issue group focuses: homelessness, sustainability, freedom and equity, and Wichita history.

Currently, our issue groups have not completed their final project, but listed below is the ideas that they're currently working on.

So these projects should be executed in the next semester.

Um, and we're looking at different ways that we can get together with the community, and we separate our 20 council members into four different groups, and they focus on what they think the most important community issues in Wichita are.

One of our major projects throughout the year is our council wide project, the Wichita Gems Uncovered Program, which explores local businesses and showcases the great places people can go to in Wichita.

We have experienced a 450% increase in our views on councilwide project videos, moving from 2,000 views per filming location to over 11,000 views on our first Wichita Gems Uncovered video.

Our next steps for the council are applications for the National League of Cities Congressional Conference, engaging in fundraising, and advertising for our next application cycle.

And lastly, we'd like to hold a culminating event to showcase what community resources Wichita has and the finished work that NYC has done this year.

So with the rest of the time that I have, I'd just like to talk about the amazing opportunity that Mayorish Youth Council has given to so many young people in our community, and that's one of the major reasons why moving forward, I would like to look at an expansion of our council so that more young people can experience what Mayor's Youth Council truly has to offer.

Um, a major part of what we do is bringing people to volunteer events in Wichita and kind of just being active and present in different spaces and showing that young people are interested in the city of Wichita.

We want to stay here and we wanna be active politically, and then also on top of that, we want to be active with volunteer hours to help the people surrounding us in our community.

If you look over here, we've got a few of the council members that were able to show up today.

Um we love being at events like this because it lets us learn more about the civic process, especially at the city level.

Um, move like with when it comes to the expansion of the council and advertising.

If you know any young people in high school that you think would be great for this council, please let us know because it truly has been one of the most transformational pieces of my high school career.

And if I had the chance to go back, I would tell so many people about it because it has given me so many opportunities, connected me with so many amazing people, and really given me the ability to use my voice, talk with other people, and become a better person through that process.

Um, we're also very open for future city events.

If you guys would like to invite us to any events that you're holding or hosting, please email us, let us know.

We would love to be there.

We'd love to be at any parades, all of that sort of stuff.

That's totally right up our alley.

So I mean, just let us know.

We love being present, and really that's all I've got to say.

We've we've done so many great things in the community so far.

We're interested in doing more things.

COVID really set us back a few years, but we're starting to revamp the council, get a lot more people interested, and improve the visibility, and with that, we can engage with so many more young people and allow them the opportunity to change their lives through the Mayor's Youth Council.

Thank you.

Thank you, Elizabeth.

Council member Glasscock.

Mayor, thank you for being here.

We appreciate your advocacy.

Uh, I do have an opening on my district advisory board for youth member.

So please extend that to everybody on Mayor's Youth Council if they live in District 4.

Um, that's an easy appointment and easy yes for me.

And so I would love to engage somebody uh to serve on my district advisory board.

So that is something that we've actually been talking about recently is the fact that um I've been talking with Joseph Shepard about getting young people and having it to be a requirement for young people to be on the district advisory boards because obviously it gives young people a chance to voice their perspective.

I will definitely advertise that opportunity, and in the future, maybe we can work together and find a way to make that a required piece of the district advisory boards.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Can council members share if you have a youth uh seat in your district advisory board?

Raise your hand.

So district.

Every council district has a youth.

Except for district two.

You mean open?

If you actually have a youth spot.

Yeah.

So everyone has a youth spot except for is a council member Tuttle.

Go ahead, Councilmember Tuttle.

I was just gonna ask if the other council members is there a voting, is there they don't vote.

So because otherwise we'd have to change the makeup of the board because if they were voting, then you'd have 12 members and not at 11, and we have to have an odd number.

So I was just curious.

Okay, thanks.

Yeah.

And if you guys have vacancies, please email us.

We'll let our council know, advertise that opportunity.

I've been engaged with the sustainability and integration board before, um, and that is a great opportunity, and it is a voting opportunity for young people.

So that's something I really appreciated, and an opportunity that has given me some vital insight on our city.

Councilmember Johnson.

Thanks, Mayor.

Thank you for the presentation.

Um, just wanted to say you all do a lot of great work.

Thank you so much.

And thank you for your help at the Brewer Center.

That was fun.

Uh, two things.

I also support what you were talking about.

I think the council member Tuttle's point, maybe that means that we need two youth members so we can have an odd number.

And I think that you all should be able to vote.

There's a lot of things that come before the council, and we need the youth perspective.

So I'd be supportive of that.

Uh, but you have council member Shepherd that you'll be working with on that one.

Lastly, I just wanted to say at NLC, you all do a good job of getting around and talking to folks.

If you can find a way to talk to other elects, it's great to like open your mind to the experiences that they have in these other cities.

Like it's really blown me away that even in like Florida, they have laws where they can't even talk about issues.

I had no idea about that, but it's it's cool to get that experience.

So anytime you can find other electeds in other cities, try to talk to them.

And we love seeing our electives at all the events that we go to, so please come up to us, please talk to us.

We can introduce you to so many young people that might live in your district as well.

Um, when it comes to NLC, we're currently working on some fundraising efforts or at least some ideas for that because we'd like to keep this council strong.

We'd like to keep it well funded, and in the future, we'd like to make it bigger so that when we show up for events like that, we can really show out with the young people of Wichita and talk with people from across the United States, especially young people that have experienced unique issues that are unique to their states that we can fully understand better.

Thank you, Elizabeth.

Councilmember Ho High South.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I considering what I was doing when I was your age, uh, kudos.

Um years ahead of where I was for sure.

Um, I know that Justice Together is making juvenile violence um one of their main points that they're gonna focus on this next year.

Yep.

Um, as well as we have violence interrupter programs, open the hood.

Uh there's a number of organizations out there that are working on this.

Um, so feel free to reach out to us and we can help point you in those directions.

I know they would love to have uh the people who it immediately impacts um along for the ride as well, and um giving your perspectives as well.

So again, thank you for all that you're doing for our community.

Please stay active, whether you're in Wichita or not, um, and reach out to us.

Yeah, thank you so much.

And the youth violence forum, I'm gonna assume that that is an open meeting.

Is that an open meeting where we can and we're meeting again on I want to say January 3rd?

I think that's the right date, but that's an open meeting.

It brings together people from the Young Life Group, which is a church group in Wichita.

It brings together lots of people from different youth-led nonprofits, and it's a great opportunity to engage, especially on the violence issue.

So, yep.

Thank you again uh to the mayor's youth council.

We appreciate that you're staying active in our community and staying engaged.

Um, I know that for many of you you have attended city council meetings for some of you here in our audience.

This is your first time.

I just like seeing our young people staying engaged at in their youth because we have an example right here in council member Glasscock.

He was a mayor's youth council member, and now he's the council member for district four, and so I really appreciate uh that you're taking a leadership role within your own high schools, but also through mayor's youth council.

So again, thank you for taking the time on a day off during your winter break to be here at City Council and sharing uh what has been happening with Mayor's Youth Council.

Thank you for your leadership, mayor uh youth mayor Elizabeth.

Thank you so much, and hopefully we'll be back with updates later on the issue groups.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We have we have uh three more spots available if anyone would like to address your council.

Please state your name, and you will have five minutes.

Hi, you guys all know I love hearing from the Wichita Mayors Youth Council, such a great organization.

But hello everyone.

My name is Amaya Williams.

I'm a freshman political science major at Howard University, and I'm a recent graduate from Wichita East High School.

Hi everyone, I'm Alexis Borgis.

I am a freshman honors criminology major at Howard University, and I'm a recent graduate of Wichita South High School.

So we are here to share an upcoming event that is focused on access, education, and opportunity for Wichita's youth, and is hosted by the Witch Wichita HBCU collective, and it's the Wichita HBCU showcase.

So historically, black colleges and universities have proven to have a legacy producing leaders, professionals, and public servants.

However, many students, even in Wichita, and like middle school students and high school students from marginalized communities are not fully aware of these opportunities that HBCUs offer.

And they may not even feel that that goal is even within reach.

However, our goal is to change that.

So this showcase is being organized by HBCU alumni and current students who have under who have the firsthand understanding of the value that these institutions create.

Giving students the chance to hear from real stories and real experiences to ask questions and build connections with people who look like them and have the backgrounds of them and that are on the similar path that they want to be on to give them more opportunities.

So the Wichita HBCU showcase will take place on January 3rd, 2026 at the Boys and Girls Club.

Doors will open at 1.30 and the program will run from 2 to 4 p.m.

By creating a space for these conversations.

We appreciate your continued commitment to youth and educational equity, and thank you for allowing us to share this initiative today.

Thank you.

So please, everybody that's watching online or in the audience, if you have youth, especially middle school and high school, especially those seniors and juniors that are looking about college and what they want to do next.

Please, please, please have them come out on January 3rd so that they can see all the different experiences because Alexis and I just at our first semester at Howard University, we've had countless, countless opportunities, especially professionally, um, especially being in Washington DC for our majors and what our career aspirations are.

It's it's such an amazing experience, and it's such a a very culturally enriching opportunity to go to an HBCU.

So we really want to get that word out, and we really want more youth to look towards HBCUs for their next step.

Thank you.

Have a good morning.

Thank you.

Thank you, Amaya and Alexis.

Um, one thing about Amaya, she's the former mayor's youth council mayor.

Um, and again, I appreciate that you're inviting the community uh regarding this opportunity for youth.

And again, it's during winter break.

Um, so Saturday, January 3rd.

I know that council member Johnson and I will be in attendance, and we're looking forward uh to that event.

Yes, it'll be a great one.

Thank you so much.

Council Member Ho Heisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, usually it's tradition to say what district you're from.

Oh, yes.

Okay, I am from District Three.

However, I recently moved and I now reside in District One.

All right, never mind.

But both both amazing districts, both amazing districts that I love.

I also live in district one.

Thank you.

It's good to see you guys.

But I served on District Three's Advisory Board.

Yes.

Thank you very much.

And again, that was another opportunity as that was mentioned.

Each of the council members, um, most of them have a youth spot in their district advisory board, and Amaya served in the district three district advisory board.

So uh community, you can see that our young people want to be engaged in our community and want to stay active.

Um, so there are opportunities for youth as well as adults.

So thank you very much.

Thank you so much.

We now have two more spots uh for anyone who would like to address the council.

I see none.

Thank you again uh to our youth uh who wanted to come here during their winter break to speak to their council.

Madam Clerk, can you please call the next item?

Consent agenda items one through eighteen.

Council members, are there items to be pulled?

Well member Johnson.

Thanks, Mayor.

I'd like to pull item 17.

I move to approve consent agenda items one through 18 without number 17.

Second.

Motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Aye.

Motion passes.

70.

Councilmember Johnson.

Uh item number 17 is the first amendment to funding agreement with Wichita Habitat for Humanity.

Thank you, Mayor.

Due to a conflict of interest, I have to abstain from this vote.

Any questions for staff?

I see none.

We will open it up for public comment.

I see none.

I'll bring it back to the bench.

I move to approve consent agenda item number 17.

Second.

Motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Aye.

Motion passes 6-0 with one abstention.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Board of Bids and Contracts dated December 22nd, 2025.

Morning.

Mayor, City Council, Josh Lauber, Department of Finance.

The Board of Bids and Contracts convened yesterday, December 22nd for the following items.

For engineering, we have paving improvements on the 1600 block of Eisenhower Court for Pearson Construction LLC for amount of 260,000, 391 dollars, subject to your approval of the engineers estimate and budget authorization.

We have the water distribution system, sanitary sewer improvements to serve Avilene Place Edition Phase 2 tied for PSE contractors LLC for an aggregate bid of 474,815.

Group two has been negotiated for your engineers' estimate for a new contract award amount from the original bid of 480,008.

We have the water distribution system sanitary sewer improvements to serve Turkey Creek Fourth Edition, phases four and five tied for dueling construction company incorporated for an aggregate bid total of 778,925.25 cents.

We have the LW Clapp Memorial Park parking lot improvements for multi-con incorporated for 354,164.80 cents.

For purchasing, we have the roof and gutter replacement at 19 residential sites.

Excuse me.

For roof masters roofing and sheet metal company incorporated for groups one and two for 113,401 dollars.

We have the Predco Saddles and Saddle T's for Wichita Wind Water Works Company for an estimated annual usage of $78,000, $5.

We have the tire recycling for Brooks Landfill for Champlain Tire Recycling Incorporated for an estimated annual usage of $34,000, 545.

We have the library newspaper subscription service for news bank incorporated for an estimated annual usage of $38,485.

We have the horizontal split bottom suction bear pump for Patterson Pump Company for 347,875.

We have the Cisco Catalyst Wireless Access Points for CDW government LLC for 52,617.89 cents.

And we have the Dell VX Rail Production and Test Environment Renewal for Logic Alice for $86,000, $719.56.

This is how to become a vendor with the city.

This is our purchasing calendar of small business resource partner events.

The city's hosting or participating in.

And these are open public opportunities out on the street today.

And I'd be happy to try to answer your questions and recommend your approval.

Thank you, Josh.

Questions for staff.

I see none.

I will move to approve the board of Board of Bids and Contracts dated December 22nd, 2025.

Second.

Motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Aye.

Motion passes 7-0.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Petitions for public improvements.

Morning, Mayor City Council members, Paul Gunselman Public Works and Utilities for the record.

The signatures on the petitions represent 100% of the improvement districts.

And the petitions are valid per Kansas statute.

Kohler Ridge edition located in district four.

The project will provide water improvements, stormwater drain improvements, sanitary sewer, as well as paving improvements for a new residential development.

And 47th Street edition also in district four.

The project will provide water, stormwater, sanitary sewer, and paving improvements for a new residential development.

It is recommended that city council approve the new petitions and budgets, adopt the new resolutions and authorities necessary signatures.

And I will stand for questions.

Thank you, Paul.

Questions for staff.

I see none.

Second.

Motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Aye.

Motion passes 70.

Madam Clerk, please call the first new business item.

Resolution regarding sales tax proceeds for new downtown public performing arts center.

Good morning, Sharon Nick Graff City Law Department.

I'm here today to present an ordinance, or I'm sorry, presenting resolution that was discussed at last week's meeting regarding the use of certain sales tax.

Last week city council approved an ordinance calling for a special election, asking voters to approve a 1% sales tax.

One of the areas that is proposed for the sales tax to be utilized is for a new downtown public performing arts center for an amount not to exceed 75 million dollars.

Staff was directed to draft a resolution which would outline how these uh proceeds would be collected and utilized by the city council in conjunction with uh raising the funds or the matching funds by Wichita Forward.

Uh the analysis, the resolution provides that no public funds collected from the sales tax revenue are to be expended until a matching amount of private funds have been raised, collected, or pledged for the development of the public performing arts center.

Um the resolution also provides that staff is directed upon passage of the sales tax to present the city council a private or I'm sorry, public private partnership, um, which will further outline in detail in uh much more detail as to how those revenues will be expended.

Recommended action is that you propose approve the proposed ordinance, and I would stand for any questions.

Thank you, Sharon.

Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um so when we talk about a matching amount, is that like okay, we they come up with 68 million dollars, so then we only match up to 68 million, or do they have to hit that 75 million?

I think those details would be would be included in that public-private partnership.

I mean, I think the goal is to get to the 75 million at the end of that seven years if you're not there.

Um, then I think the council would either dictate that in that public private agreement, or it would come back to the city council as how to proceed.

And I'm gonna look for Mark Manning.

Do you have anything else, Mark?

No.

Okay, I'd be curious to hear what the rest of the council's thoughts are on that one.

My interpretation would be they would have to get to the 75 million, but then that would also say leave the issue of what do we do with that money if they don't get to the 75 million.

So look forward to some conversation on that.

Uh the second thing is is this the resolution?

Are these the the most powerful things that we can do to lock these policies in up until after the vote?

Because I know we're gonna be looking at clarifying a few other things too in the upcoming months before the election.

There's what I would could call a hierarchy of actions that the council could take.

Lowest is policy.

Next would be resolution, the next would be ordinance.

Um, my concern with passing an ordinance is that if you pass it, you're gonna have to go back in and you're gonna have to actively do something with that ordinance.

Resolution can set there for lack of a better term.

Um, if if those criteria are not met.

Okay, so if we look at ordinance in the future, we can't make that dependent on the passage of the sales tax.

You you you you could.

It's just a matter of whether or not you then want to if the sales tax fails, um, whether you have an ordinance on the books that is not worth much.

Could we design the ordinance and that way it goes away if the sales tax does not pass?

That's dependent on the message.

We could.

Okay.

All right, yeah, I'd be interested in looking at that in the future.

You could you could have a sunset clause that the ordinance would be invalid if the sales tax didn't go or would be repealed upon unsuccessful votes accumulated.

Okay.

Well, I appreciate that.

Thank you.

Councilmember Johnson.

Thanks, Mayor.

Um Councilmember Hoheisel.

My interpretation was the same as yours.

It would be that the 75 would have to be raised before this would be touched.

How I viewed it.

Um Sharon or Bob.

I saw some questions online about the word pledged in here.

Is there a reason?

Well, we've talked about this before the public.

Is there a reason why we don't just say have it all and we recognize a pledge?

Uh council member, um, I think it recognizes the realities of a fundraising campaign for uh significant uh investment like this.

So 75 million dollars is uh a very significant number, and in many cases, donors will want to pledge that over a period of time, make an initial contribution, but then pledge over a two to four or five-year period, and that recognizes the that reality, but they would have to have um cash on hand to be able to cover initial expenses, and then um uh uh the sound pledges to move forward.

Thank you.

Vice Mayor Johnston.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh to Councilman Hoheisel, I would say we don't know what a public performing art center would cost.

It's gonna cost 130 million, 140 million, 150 million.

So I I think that uh a one-to-one match would be a better way to go and say in the full 75.

If it only cost 140 million, why should they have to raise 75?

Maybe it's only 70.

So that's what I would say would be just a one-to-one match for what until they know what's gonna what it's gonna be.

Now, of course, if it's more than 100, you know, 50 million, um, it's on them.

The extras on them because the maximum is 75 million.

So that that's my thoughts.

And I think pledges are important.

Um being in fundraising, a lot of people want to pledge over a number of years.

Um, and also people some people want to pledge and don't want to write the check until they know it's gonna happen.

So that's another factor too.

I think we have lots of discussion regarding this.

So no questions and concerns, thank you.

Um so I have concerns uh regarding the resolution.

I think that it currently is worded where there's not enough uh protection for taxpayers.

So I have three specific concerns, and I want to know who might be able to answer this.

But number one, what happens if the group is only able to raise 25 million in private dollars?

Mayor, my interpretation is the project would not go forward.

So then what would be what would happen to the dollars raised that have been um collecting towards that amount?

Um I'll let Sharon double check me on this, but the uh up to the 75 million would be able to be distributed to the other categories if there should be a funding shortfall in any of those categories.

If you uh achieve the projected revenue in those categories, then you could expire, then the sales tax could expire early, similar to what's been done um in other projects.

I I I would agree with that analysis.

So is the trigger 75 million then?

Not to exceed 75 million.

Again, I think uh the vice mayor brought up a good point.

If the project comes in under 150 million, then what you're talking about is a one-to-one match.

So the city's contribution could be 65 million, for instance, if the project cost comes in less.

My second concern is if someone is building a new project with a loan, all of their money must be expended on that project first before they can draw on a loan to finish the balance of that project, and that's completely reasonable.

So I want to know they the group would have to raise the private dollars first, and all the first phase expenses would have to come from their end first before public dollars would come in.

I think this envisions a dollar for dollar ext uh uh contribution.

Help me, Sharon, again, if I'm wrong with that.

Um, but what it doesn't allow for is the city to front-end the funding.

Is that codified in that resolution so that it is clear that no city dollars, which means taxpayer dollars would come into play first.

So design costs would not come from the city first.

All of this would be the group first, then public dollars.

No, it would be equal dollars.

So if you had design cost of uh I don't know, a half million dollars, each side would put 250,000 in.

Absolutely not.

I I don't think that city dollars or taxpayer dollars should come in playing one to one until there has been a certain threshold that has been met.

So if it's say 50 million dollars, then public dollars would kick in.

However, I don't believe that public dollars should be matching as you go along.

Absolutely not.

So I'd like to see how that could be worded, because I don't believe that city dollars should be or taxpayer dollars should be gambled on in that matter.

Vice Mayor Johnston.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um in the fundraising world, if you do not raise the funds to complete a project, you must return the money to the donors.

You cannot reallocate it to another project without their written permission.

So I think that would take care of that.

Um you just can't do that.

Um those dollars are meant for that project, they must be spent on that project.

Um to your second point, I think you could have a resolution where all of the money for design would be from the private private dollars, and public dollars maybe would not be spent until shovel ready or till the first begin construction.

I don't know what the wording on that is, but until they begin construction, and I don't think that's a problem.

I mean, if they're gonna raise 75 million, they're gonna have a certain amount of cash, which they can expend up first, but in the total it'd be dollar for dollar again.

I want to make sure that it is not dollar for dollar beginning at the forefront.

So I'm afraid that if the public dollar the private dollars cannot be raised, why are we expending dollar for dollar design costs?

I don't believe that that's a wise thing to do, and that does not protect taxpayer dollars.

Councilmember Jobson.

Thanks, Mayor.

Um I was gonna say something similar to the vice mayor, but also I I think if there is a provision that talks about design work that comes from the private dollars that covers those concerns because once you have the pot, if they have 75 million and we have 75 million now, there's just a pot of 150 million dollars.

So I mean, we could say we want theirs first, but that money is there for the project.

So I think a resolution or whatever it is that designates any design work up front so the public can see what would be built, that would come from the private sector and not from the public piece.

But I think past that it would just be the money for the project at that point to get it built council member Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

And the council member or vice mayor Johnston when you talk about the fundraising going back to them.

Are you uh referring just the private funds, or are you also referring to the sales tax fund that comes in as well?

No, just the private funds.

Okay.

So private donor invest in a in a project.

If it's not used for that project, that money must go back to that.

Okay, I'm just trying to think of the process of the private donor funding does not get to where we need it to be, and we have a 75 million dollar pot left over that we can't touch after.

So I'm just trying to think about what we would do with that 75 million.

Does that go back to the to the voters if we can't spend it on anything else that's in the uh sales tax question?

I think we've managed addressing it.

City manager?

Yeah, I I've addressed that already with uh to answer the mayor's question.

That money would go back into the other authorized categories until you reach the maximum amounts, and then once you reach those maximum amounts, then you would retire the sales tax.

Yeah, and that's what I'm thinking is um because we'll be trying to address those other amounts on the front end, the homelessness and whatnot.

I think we're trying to fill those pots first, from what I understand.

So the sales tax or the performance arts center is that kind of along the last little bit to try and address if it's seven years out from now.

In law in all likelihood, your large capital projects will take longer and so will be towards the back end, performing arts center, century two Bob Brown improvements, all of those will take time for design and construction process.

So in all likelihood, yes, those are towards the back end.

Yeah.

Okay.

I'm just yeah, just trying to think about potential scenarios in the future.

The third concern I have is uh regarding operations of this performing arts.

So I'd like to see the resolution also talk about that because obviously we have second light right now, and one of the things that has been talked about is the ongoing operation costs, and so I'd like to see whether it's the dollars raised, the philanthropic dollars raised, go to at least some sort of operational ongoing costs at the very least the very first year, first few years.

Something needs to be codified that shows that you're gonna have to pay for staff for maintenance of this new facility.

So even if you raise 150, 10 percent would need to be set aside for operations because it's not currently on our in our budget.

I understand, but that's the problem.

I think that we're in this very same issue with second light, where we have a building, and now we need ongoing costs, and we're trying to figure out how we're gonna pay for ongoing costs, and it's a it's it's an issue, and so I'm just trying to have foresight on a new performing arts, which would be a whole new building somewhere.

I'm sorry, my button's not working.

Council member ballard, thank you, Mayor.

Bob, can we do that?

Can we because I thought it was just for capital?

I know we've I know the homeless is a different um situation, but I thought this was just for capital.

I'm gonna I'm gonna defer to Sharon regarding the language on the ballot.

The way the ballot is written is that the sales tax funds will be used for the development and construction of a new downtown performing arts center.

So I do not think that those funds can be reallocated into a maintenance fund or a fund for employees.

Um I think the statement that that's the capital fund is what the ordinance is intended to cover, that's going to be on the ballot.

So those are the public dollars that must be spent on capital, um, the capital improvement.

What I'm asking for is the philanthropic dollars, which would be the private dollars.

This is really a question, um, I guess for Mark.

Yes, maybe.

Because I'd like to know if the philanthropic dollars can be can have parameters, and one of those parameters beyond, we're gonna have to operate this facility, philanthropic dollars should come into play immediately, at least for the oper uh initial operating.

I'm gonna defer to Mark, but I don't think that we can control those public funds, one until they're collected, um, and then two what representations are made from which it's a forward as to what those funds are going to be gonna be utilized for.

Sharon, if I can uh this resolution talks about the city's expenditure of funds and brings clarification on how sales tax will be uh used.

I think what the mayor's referencing would be in what you had talked about in terms of public-private partnership agreement, um, the roles of the public and private parties could be outlined in that case, but it goes beyond what's in this resolution and what the purpose of this resolution is.

You agree with that?

Yeah, I would agree with that.

That would be in the public-private agreement.

Yes, I'd like to start making notes of all of these items that I have concerns and council members' other concerns that other council members have raised.

I think that that agreement, the public-private agreement will have to outline a lot of these details.

Absolutely.

Whereas this resolution right now, um, again, I brought this up last week because I wanted to make sure that no public dollars would come into play first, and that private dollars would have to be raised before even public dollars would be matched.

So I want to make sure.

Does this resolution cover that?

I believe that it does.

Um, if you want language, and I know we've talked about what the private funds would be used for.

Um I know there's been some discussion about at what point does the money kick in.

Um if it's the will of the council that that doesn't start until the full 75 million is raised, um, you could alter the language in paragraph one of the resolution rather than until such time a matching amount of private funds until 75,000 or 75,000 75 million of private funds has been raised collected in the rest of that paragraph.

Vice Mayor Johnston.

Thank you, Mayor.

I think if we put the 75 million, it's gonna be the wrong incentive to design a building.

If they can design it for 140 million, it's better for taxpayers.

Better for philanthropic people, and if if they're gonna have to spend another 10 million dollars, just how to blow it just to get to that 75 million.

I don't think that's a good incentive.

So I think a dollar for dollar is good, but we could put it something in there that it doesn't the public dollars don't go into effect until construction has commenced.

I would be comfortable with that, but again, what if the private dollars don't come in?

What if the biggest question I I have right now is what if the public uh the private dollars they all all they can raise is what was the initial number I mentioned, they can only raise 25 or they can only raise 50.

I I think the question is what can the performing arts center be built for?

And if there isn't a matching fund, then we don't build a performing arts center.

Um, and then as the mayor or mayor as a manager has said that money then would get reallocated to another fund.

And I'm gonna again look at Mark and is that correct?

Yes.

Can that be written into the resolution then?

Yes, which would be going back to your to the changes that I had stated in paragraph one that if the sales tax measure is approved, then no public funds collected shall be expended until the 75 million of private funds has been raised.

What which I think is what you're wanting, and then you could add a paragraph that private funds would be used for the design phases, and then any public money wouldn't be expended until construction commenced.

And I guess the question then becomes is 75 million enough to purchase the property, do the design phase.

I mean, you're you're asking that 75 million to cover lots of things.

Um, and I think again the intent was for every dollar that they raised, we would put in a dollar so it would be an equal partnership, and we're shifting that partnership a bit.

And I don't know that anyone from Wichita Forward is here because we're we're shifting the allocation of how that money is used.

I might disagree with you, Sharon.

I don't think we have to spend dollar to dollar.

No, no, no, I don't I don't think we have to do that.

Right, and I would agree with that.

Yeah, if if their fundraising they if they have 20 million dollars in pledges and they have five million dollars in cash in the bank, they can spend that five million dollars in cash towards the design of that building, you know, not being matched with the public money until they get all the money raised that is the expected cost of that building.

Yeah, okay.

And I agree with Vice Mayor Johnston.

So that wording again.

I I know I heard Councilmember Tuttle say, Are we voting on this?

I would like to see the verbiage much tighter, and again, addressing all the concerns that have been raised before we pass a resolution.

We can certainly bring it back with those directions.

Any further directions regarding just performing arts?

Um I know that that has been a point of concern by the community is details, and this is one of five projects, and this is one project that we're asking for a resolution.

I know that uh council member Hoheisel has uh asked for a workshop regarding homelessness and housing in January.

Uh there are three other components sales tax, uh sorry, property tax abatement, um century two improvements, and the third, um public safety uh CIP project.

So all of these will have what I would like to see as resolutions that tighten up how these dollars will be uh spent if the sales tax passes.

Council members.

Thank you.

Um we will open it up for public comment regarding this proposed resolution.

I see none.

I'll bring it back to the bench.

I will move to just um council member Hohaizel.

Uh just a point for discussion.

I would be interested in looking at ordinances too where I think we might need to strengthen some of those um barriers or barricades, try and keep us within and give the public a little more um confidence in the proposals that we have.

So it doesn't mean everything has to be ordinance, but there are some areas that I think um we should definitely look at that.

I'm in agreement that we need more guardrails, and I also think that we need to talk about prioritizing those dollars.

I know that someone mentioned from here regarding where will the first dollars from sales tax collection go.

And number one uh will be in the middle of a budget discussion, and this one percent sales tax, if it passes, would have a mill levy reduction.

Therefore, the budget would have a mill levy reduction.

Um, so there would need to be a budget that reflects that, and one that doesn't reflect it.

So there are multiple again, I think, conversations that will be had from this bench, and I'm appreciative that there was at least a draft that came forward, but it still needs more tightening.

Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you again, Mayor.

Um I hear that we have to look at the the mill levy reduction or whatever property tax reduction.

I'm not sure that the revenue will be in as much as we can to to plan for that one right away.

I do think that second light and homelessness services with second light, um, the funding from the city stopping later in the year.

I think that would be priority number one for us.

I do I do respect that we need to make sure and get our budget figured out too with um any property tax reductions.

I just think that the homeless services would be number one just to make sure that we get um the continuation of services at second line.

If I if I can, I obviously the council will have a f further discussion about this, but I respectfully would suggest that property tax relief is promised as part of this, and I believe you have to prioritize those dollars into the property tax relief.

I don't think that's optional.

Um in a proportion of the revenues that you receive.

I understand the urgency of funding second light, uh, but uh it's I think the first trigger has to be the property tax relief based on the way it's written.

I'm not sure.

I I'd like to get an interpretation of that because it's pretty loosely drawn up just like everything else to give us a little bit of leeway, so uh property tax accord from my vantage point anyways in theory could be weighed towards the back.

Um I don't think that's appropriate.

I do agree with what you're saying as far as what is promised to the voters in the tax.

Um, but I think it gives us leeway to play with that a little bit.

My opinion though, I'd be in a resident hearing um, council member.

I'm sorry.

No, we go council member Johnson.

Thanks, Mayor.

Um, not to take away from the request of Councilmember Hoheisel for January, but maybe that workshop is just about sales tax, like in general, so you look at all the items, so we could look at the homelessness, but also work out prioritizing what the council wants to do on that.

So you could just have the items out for the public to see, but that allows an opportunity for folks to see that you pulled it from a public document.

Council's already approved.

Any concerns about the um buffer amount, people would understand that sometimes construction or purchasing costs go up.

So that's why that buffer was in there.

Maybe you could talk through every piece of that.

I think that would provide the transparency of conversation and the information that people are looking for and all of it.

And maybe the first item is homelessness, but I think it just sounds like there's a lot of discussion left here, and that might be an opportunity for January.

Then I won't be here.

I would be in uh favor of having that January workshop be just the sales tax and its five projects.

Any other council members?

We we can finish this one quicker than that if you want, instead of waiting until the January workshop.

We could bring the one you discussing today, could come back to you next your first meeting in January if you wish, and you can at least get that wrapped up.

I would like to see the next draft of this.

So of course, we're not gonna pass this resolution as is.

I would like to see the next draft, but I think holistically it would be it would make better sense if the workshop was all five projects, and there would be already a framework regarding at least one of the five.

So that gives us a starting point to continue uh refining.

Vice Mayor Johnston.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh city manager.

So it really wouldn't start until 2027 budget.

Is that correct?

The the mill remail levy reduction.

That part's correct because you would have well go ahead, Mark.

Yeah, you've already set the uh taxes levied for 2026, so you don't have any flexibility to amend that.

So it would be the 2027 uh tax levy that you would reduce with with the sales tax funds.

Okay, so that's about 20 million dollars.

Right, Mark?

Yes, sir.

So in 2027, approximately.

So just a point.

Um if we start if it does pass and we do start collecting sales tax July 1, we'll probably would have already collected about 11 million dollars from July 1 to January 1.

Most likely, yes, sir.

Um so we already have a running start before we even get there.

So okay, thank you.

Councilmember Tuttle.

Thank you.

I just have a very logistical question for the manager on your last meeting in the city of Wichita.

If we have a workshop in January on sales tax, which I'm not opposed to at all.

I'm just curious if you have suggestions on who would be presenting, you know.

Is it folks from Second Late who are talking about that?

I mean, obviously staff, but um, is it the Wichita Forward folks?

I'm I'm just curious to know and I I don't have an answer.

I'm just I'm just curious what the thought process would be who would be presenting the workshop to us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Off the top of my head, I believe it would be a staff presentation based on feedback from the the players that would be which off forward as well as for instance the second light board and staff uh to help in terms of identifying that piece of it.

But staff is it had already been instructed to put a plan together on the homelessness and housing dollars, and uh Sally Stang is coordinating that effort and we'll be involving all the appropriate players in that regard.

I think council member Johnson was right, it's very easy on the public safety part.

All it frankly we have to do if you want a resolution is itemize all the projects that already have been identified, so that that piece is easy.

It's probably more definition of how you want to do the property tax relief.

Um, and the our thoughts on the performing arts and c two um which C2 is our project, so that one I we should be pretty easy uh to bring back.

I'm just thinking we might want to go ahead and notify you know folks from second light, folks from Wichita Forward, if it's Susie Santos from Visit Wichita because of convention, just go ahead and alert them that when the workshop will be so we can get it on their calendar.

Because even if I'm sure staff will do a fine job presenting, but I'm sure there'll be other questions that would be most helpful to have answered.

Like, for example, with second late, um you know, money uh will be allocated.

I think they're a trust is or is supposed to be developed and then the money or whatever, but um earn endowment.

I'm sorry, is maybe it's gonna be, but I would be curious to know with second light leadership, and you know how is their fundraising going?

Are they still pursuing funding fundraising?

Maybe they don't need the money in 27 because they're doing a great job fundraising.

I don't know.

So I just think we need to make sure we have everybody who we can be available to answer the many questions that I'm sure will come up.

I see no further comments with that.

I will just defer this item.

Uh do I have to vote on deferring the item?

We need a motion to defer to a certain date.

Motion to defer this item until the January workshop.

Excuse me, before I second, do you want to do it to January workshop or the first meeting in January for this for this item?

I feel like if we what would be most beneficial for staff, would it be better to have that done at the beginning of the year or wait until the whole holistic conversation?

I think the holistic conversation is needed.

Yeah, but mayor, I'm not opposed to that.

And I think that that that way you're looking at the entire you know, all the categories.

Okay, I'll say it.

Motion and a second, Council Member Classic.

If we're deferring to a workshop, though, we don't actively vote on new business items in the workshop.

So the deference to that wouldn't make sense of probably the meeting subsequently after that.

So then uh February.

What would that be?

Okay, so you run into a timing issue, and the longer you delay it, the more questions there are, I guess.

And the whole idea was to bring clarity to it.

What you could do is you could make that meeting a regular council meeting, similar to what you did today, and then the presentations can be uh made by by staff and stakeholders, and then the council could adopt that day the whatever resolutions you wanted.

I'm fine with that.

I will I will say the same thing then.

Um I will move to defer this item to a new regularly scheduled council meeting on January 27th.

Um to discuss sales tax holistically.

Second.

Motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

All right.

Motion passes 7-0.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Donations for drones, first responder hive.

Okay.

Good morning, Mayor, Council members.

Uh, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to come here today with the rest of you.

Uh today I am seeking your approval to accept a 2025 donation from QuickTrip for Axon Drone as a first responder hive.

WPD currently operates a schedule-based drone program.

Uh DFR program hive that I've already spoken to a lot of you about, is located at 1240 South Broadway.

It is on Fire Station 2, and we are already starting to see some excellent results from implementing those drones.

Uh the DFR allows for a drone to deploy to priority calls and respond normally within two minutes or less.

If this improves response times and the resource allocation for other police resources to get to those priority calls.

So Quick Trip is offering a donation, the amount of $654,368 to come directly from QuickTrip on those funds will be used to purchase an additional DFR Hive, which is the three docs and three drones that gives it 24-7 coverage and place it on top of the QuickTrip at 1010 East Douglas, which is there at Douglas and Washington.

So the DFR program is located in a high calls for service areas and it allows for the faster response times.

It provides a greater ability to assess the situations and can be used to tactically guide responses from the safest direction for incoming officers.

It helps reduce the risk of harm to emergency services and the public.

So in the location, we've received several complaints about the congregating of street races at the 1010 East Dogos location.

WPD has asked the QuickTrip to temporary close on numerous different occasions to clear the large crowds, especially on the Friday and Saturday nights around closing time in Old Town.

And in 2025, there's been over 5600 calls for service on 21 beats, which is where the uh Quick Trip location is located.

And in 2025, we also made 3214 police reports on 21 beat, with 695 of those being classified as part one offenses, which are our most serious crimes.

A DFR hive will allow for more rapid response to these uh with something handled without the need of dispatch of the additional offices because we can better allocate our resources.

This is a map of the proposed location.

As you can see, the green dot in the middle is the Quick Trip.

It goes as far north as 13th, as far south as Harry, to the west is Seneca, and to the east is Hillside.

The financial considerations, uh this donation covers the entire first five years of the program in its entirety.

Should the program be extended beyond the five years, additional fees for maintenance and subscription services will apply.

This is currently priced at approximately 61,000 per hive per year, sorry, for the entire hive, and there is no required commitment beyond the five years.

Legal considerations is that the law department has reviewed and approved the agreements.

And it's so my recommendation today is that the city council accept the donation, approve and authorize the signatures necessary for the purchase of the Axon Air Scoutio DFR hive for the listed amount for Axon Enterprises and direct that the donated funds be used for this purchase.

And I would be happy to take any questions at this time.

Thank you.

Deputy Chief questions for staff, Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Just two quick ones.

One is this going to um increase the number of uh personnel we need to run the real-time information center.

Uh no, it will not.

So basically, it just gives us extra coverage so we can operate the the drones independently.

And what's fantastic about the scadio drones is that if you have two operating at the same time in different locations, they will not collide and they will not hit each other.

That's a technology built in.

Uh the second one is we know that there's a and we've talked about this um quite a biker population down there at this quick trip.

Uh, could you just kind of describe how this would interact with them?

You know, we're doing uh the no chase policy, try to make sure that um people in the city stay safe, so that way we're not engaging in dangerous high speed chases either.

So um maybe just a quick rundown of how this would affect any of the bikers.

So uh that 10 centimetes Douglas seems to be the main congregating point for a lot of the street racing crowd, especially on the weekends, including the motorcycles, uh, and having a DFR and drones specifically on that building itself.

That is one of the number one locations for 911 calls, uh, and that's why they were very keen to have drones um work with us in that partnership to have them on this building specifically, uh, not only for to respond, but also to deter the street races, the different crimes, the disturbances, the high amount of larcenies that they have in that location as well.

So it's a win-win for everybody involved.

Okay, so more deterrence and actually chasing people now.

Well, it depends on the situation.

I mean, that's the drones.

Obviously, it's we don't like to chase anyone in that old town area, but the drones can have the ability to obviously track somebody to us to intercede in a more safe manner if needs be.

So if we can take someone into custody and the drone can follow them to their front door, then that's obviously safer than chase them.

So if that happens, then that is something obviously we try to do.

Okay, appreciate it.

Since the drones or the hive was first deployed, uh, second half of this year.

What has been the success rate of what it's been doing?

We've had immense success with this.

Uh we've prevented burglary in progress calls, vandalism is vandalism in progress calls.

We've made a significant arrest.

We made just one recently uh with a robbery in progress, and we got the guy with thanks to the drones, and he here was building Molotov cocktails as well.

So the drones have been a significant success for us and the police department.

Uh, they do make things a lot safer for our officers for the citizens that we serve, uh, and all the way around.

They've been we've had, I think I've got up to like nine pages of significant results that we have right now.

So if you guys want any more, you know I'm more than happy to come down and share those with you all.

Thank you.

Um, and can you just uh share Quick Trip is obviously donating or providing this grant.

Um, what have they said about their commitment to providing public safety here in our community?

I do know that there's other projects that are going to be involved.

I think they're making more donations too, but I'm not gonna talk about those, and we'll let somebody else talk about that uh later on.

But QuickTrip has been a fantastic partner with us for the police department.

Uh they've got a large significant presence here in Wichita.

And I do know they chose us specifically because of our police department, our reputation, the guardrails we have for this drone program, and the fact that we have a first class real-time information center and some of the policies and processes that we have in drones.

We are with we're at the very forefront in best practices when it comes to drone operations.

Thank you.

I see no further questions for staff.

We will now open it up for public comment.

Okay.

I see no one from the public.

I'll bring it back to the bench.

With that, um, I'm appreciative that uh Quick Trip along with the Witch Shaw Police and Fire Foundation are collaborating with Witch Chow Police to provide public safety in our community.

So with that, I will move that the city council accept the donation, approve the purchase of the Axon Air SkyDio DFR Hive for 654, 368 dollars from Axon Enterprises Inc.

Authorize the necessary signatures and direct that the donated funds be used for this purchase.

Second.

Motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Thank you all very much.

Aye.

Motion passes 70.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Municipal court judge judicial reappointments.

Good morning, Ms.

Mayor, Council Nathan Emory, Court Administrator for the record.

The background on this is uh every four years we do reappointments pursuant to charter ordinance number uh two two three.

Uh we had a judicial evaluation committee consisting of two council members, review four years worth of information regarding the performance of the judges, and so that period began in 2021.

The uh committee uh recommended reappointment of all five judges, and the budget uh for 2025 includes the raises that would be uh contemplated by this measure.

Likewise, uh law has and I apologize for that typo, that should be 223.

Uh but law has uh reviewed this, and uh it has complied with the required process.

So the recommended action is that the city council reappoint each of the municipal court judges to a four-year term, and that each receives a two and a half percent salary increase retroactive to January 4th, 2025.

And I'll stand for any questions.

Thank you, Nathan.

Questions for staff.

Um, what does that amount to?

The 2.5% salary increase.

It's roughly 4,500 per judge.

Uh, some will get more, some will get less based on their time with the city and position.

And can you explain why it's retroactive?

Who missed it?

Because it shouldn't start in January, right?

Yeah, so this process does have a timeline outlined in the uh council policy.

Uh typically this would be done in April due to an illness of one of our judges.

We didn't get the data to uh the manager's office until roughly May when that individual got back and we're able to get survey data for that individual by the time we got to that point.

Uh there was question as to how many judges would be reappointed, and so that further delayed uh this reappointment process.

And I believe council member Glasscock and Ballard served on the reappointing committee.

So thank you, Nathan.

I see no further questions for staff.

We'll open it up for public comment.

I see none.

We'll bring it back to the bench.

Councilmember Glascom.

Thank you, Mayor.

After reviewing all the applications, I can just say that we have some incredible judges in Wichita, and I just wanted to read some of the comments because there was very little, if not almost none or no um negative comments.

So judge is a good and fair judge.

Everything went better than expected.

I was very comfortable in the courtroom.

I was delighted with ease and very professional.

As a judge, it's a very nice and foregoing, time efficient.

I felt like an I felt like an actual person that was cared about.

They were polite and was delight to see on the bench.

I was treated with respect and I was guilty as they come.

Patience, punctuality, courtesy, patience, fairness, and experience, gives her perspective and entropy towards others.

She has a good temperament, is a kind person, which was apparent to all parties that stand before her.

I'm very grateful for a judge giving me a chance to change my life and finally start to do things right.

I think that's a testament of the people that serve Wichita and a testament of the judges.

And I don't think there are very many courtrooms across the country that will get that raving reviews every single time.

And so with that, I would move that the city council reappoint each municipal court judge to a four-year term, receive a 2.5% salary increase retroactive to January 4th, 2025.

Second.

Motion and a second, any further discussion.

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Aye.

Motion passes 70.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Approve that pursuant to section 204090.

Councilmember Ballard, Councilmember Hoheisel, and Councilmember Johnston's travel expenses as estimated on the travel authorization and expense form to attend legislative day in Topeka, Kansas, January 28th, 2026, for the purpose of representing the city and discussing issues that are important to Wichita with legislators consistent with AR 3.1 be approved upon approval from or correction upon return from travel.

Actual expenses shall be reported to the controller's office.

I move to approve.

Second.

Motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Aye.

Motion passes 7-0.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Approved that pursuant to section 2040, Councilmember Glasscock's travel expenses as estimated on the travel authorization and expense form to attend legislative day in Topeka, Kansas, January 27th through 29th, 2026, for the purpose of representing the city and discussing issues that are important to Wichita with legislators consistent with AR 3.1 be approved upon return from travel.

Actual expenses shall be reported to the controller's office.

I move to approve.

Second.

Motion and a second, any further discussion.

Motion passes 7-0.

It is now time for council member appointments.

Are there any appointments?

I have one.

Oh council member Tuttle.

Thank you.

I would like to appoint Carmaine Therese to the to the sustainability integration board.

Thank you.

And I would like to appoint Alex Dean to the Sedgwick County Solid Waste Management Committee.

I move to approve these appointments.

Second.

Motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Motion passes 7-0.

Councilmember commons.

Councilmember Johnson.

Thanks, Mayor.

Um two things.

One thing I think the City of Wichita truly needs to do that we did not get done a few years ago is to have a resolution that bans the term boneless wings in the city of Wichita.

We still have these things called boneless wings, and those are truly chicken nuggets, and I think we seriously should have a resolution that does away with that.

Maybe you can do that in January when I'm gone, but I will come back and support that 100%.

There are no such things as boneless wings.

Mayor, if you would like, we could have security remove this elf from the meeting.

He's been disruptive already.

That's my job.

Council member Glasscock.

You've threatened to come back and speak in public comment multiple times.

So that one, that's fine.

Thanks to this council, I get five minutes, and I can just keep coming back.

Workshops or regular meeting.

We'll extend it to 10 just for you.

With that, I see no further comments.

I just want to say thank you to the City of Wichita staff.

Um, I know that several individuals and departments will still be working during the holidays, and so I'm very appreciative that you keep the city going and working even during holidays.

So I wish y'all a merry Christmas and thank you for your service to the community.

With that, I will move to adjourn this meeting.

Second.

Motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Motion passes 5-2.

Merry Christmas.

Yeah.

Okay.

Yes, I just wanted to kind of both.

Okay, yes.

Awesome.

Just wanted to double check.

Thank you.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes, we're uh