City Council meeting.

Please take a moment to silence your mobile device.

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.

Please refrain from clapping after other speakers.

Before we move on, I wanted to recognize that we have a new city manager in 2026, Mr.

Dennis Marstall.

I wanted to read a quick bio so that you're aware of where he came from and how he's going to be leading the city of Wichita.

Mr.

Marstall was the assistant city manager in Manhattan, Kansas in 2019 to 2021.

He recently was the county administrator for Lancaster County, South Carolina since 2021.

He was also a vice president with United Way of Central Carolinas, Chief of Staff, Assistant to the Mayor, City Manager, Budget and Evaluation Analyst, as well as Development Program Manager for Economics in Charlotte, North Carolina from 1998 to 2011.

He is from Kansas, studied at Kansas State University and the University of Louisville.

With that, we want to welcome the new city manager for the city of Wichita, Dennis Marstall.

We would like to now ask that you please stand for the invocation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Today's invocation will be provided by Reverend Ben Staley of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church.

Let's pray together.

Oh Lord, we give you thanks and praise for coming long ago and the promise that you will come to us today and every day and even now.

For we need what you bring to us by your love and grace.

We ask that you come to us now to guide our mayor Lilly and Council members, our new city manager, and all of us to know how to best care for our neighbors who are in need of food and shelter, those who serve and protect in our police department and emergency personnel help our teachers, students, and administrators as they're going back to school, be with our families and give parents wisdom, patience, and grace, and children the will to show love and respect.

Guide us to care for one another with the same selfless compassion that you have shown us.

Amen.

Approve the minutes of the regular meeting, December 16th, 2025, and December 23rd, 2025.

Council members, are there any items to be edited from the minutes?

I see none.

Madam Clerk, can you please open the roll?

Mayor, there would need to be a motion.

Sorry.

I move to approve the minutes for December 16, 2025 and December 23rd, 2025.

Second.

Motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Motion passes 7-0.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Today's proclamation is 931st Air Refueling Wing Appreciation Day.

May I please ask the 931st Air Refueling Wing and any of its supporters to come forward at this time.

And since its assignment to McConnell Air Force Base in January 1995, the wing's reserve citizen airmen have served the city of Wichita and the nation with distinction.

Whereas the McConnell Air Force Base, the 931st Air Refueling Wing provides critical global air mobility and humanitarian support as an integral part of Team McConnell.

Whereas the reserve citizen airmen of the 931st Air Refueling Wing train and deploy alongside their active duty partners, strengthening the Wichita community through steadfast service and total force integration.

Whereas the 931st Air Refueling Wing generates an annual economic impact exceeding 77 million dollars through payroll, local contracts, and purchases that contribute significantly to Wichita's economy.

Now therefore be it resolved that the Wichita City Council does hereby proclaim January 15th, 2026 as the 931st Air Refueling Wing Appreciation Day.

I just keep my comments brief.

On behalf of the men and women of the 931st Air Refueling Wing, it is a great honor uh to accept this award and this proclamation.

So thank you very much.

Uh we live in an amazing community, and we have amazing support from uh the city of Wichita and the local communities.

So thank you very much.

Thank you.

May I please also ask the Wichita Chamber of Commerce to share their support for our McConnell team McConnell as well as their opportunities for the community to participate.

It is our pleasure as the Wichita Chamber to uh support military affairs, specifically the three wings at McConnell.

Um, as the proclamation said, they are an incredible resource to the community, and the economic um benefits that they contribute to Wichita is uh second to none.

It's it's really something.

Um they do have a couple of ways if you want to get involved.

Uh there's a Friends and McConnell program, which raises money to give to the actual airmen at McConnell.

And we also we have a military affairs um committee at the chamber that if you have an interest, we'd love to tell you more about that.

Congratulations again.

May I please ask the city council members to come forward to take a photo with the team.

Thank you.

Again, thank you to Team McConnell and the 931st Air Refueling Wing as well as Chamber of Commerce.

Um, this is the 250th anniversary of America, 2026, and I'm really excited that we're going to showcase all of what's great in our community and our country.

So thank you for setting the tone for 2026.

Madam Clerk, please call the next 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 today is Arthur Stokes, Black Mold.

Mr.

Stokes.

Madam Clerk, please call the next individual.

William Tipton, housing and police issues.

Yes, uh, my name is William Tipton.

Uh I am myself homeless.

Um the issues that I have with being homeless, one is actually being homeless myself, but the fact that uh I have been told not only by the police department, but by everybody I run into that being homeless in Kansas, specifically Wichita, Kansas, uh is illegal.

Okay, but I have not yet seen uh very many attempts to reduce the renting rates uh of apartments, houses, or what have you.

Um I have not seen um any attempts at trying to uh legally get people off the streets who wish to be off the streets without having to arrest them or something like that for being um homeless.

Um I feel as if if you're going to close one door, you must first open another.

Okay, you can't tell people it can be illegal to be homeless, arrest them or what have you, without first giving them the opportunities to get themselves into a home.

Um there are homeless shelters, but every time someone tries to go to a homeless shelter, uh they are deferred away from it because of the simple fact that they're told that they're full that they have no more room.

Um houses and apartments um want three times the renting value uh per place, but yet people in my situation live on a fixed income and have yet no opportunity to have three times a thousand dollar rent plus deposit, and so on and so forth.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is I would like to myself be able to be off the streets, but yet I have no opportunity to get myself off of the streets because there are no resources to do so.

And you know, the police department does not help because of the simple fact, all they would rather do is instead of arresting criminals or ticketing uh people for actual crimes, they'd rather go after the homeless and tell them, okay.

Well, you can't sleep here.

Uh find another place to stay, but yet instead of giving them another place to stay, they just shoe them from one place to another, and then when they find none in that area, they shoe them to another.

And they're not opening another door without closing, you know, with they're closing a door without opening another.

And I feel that that is unjust.

That's basically what I came here to say.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Tipton.

Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you for coming and speaking before us today about this issue.

We definitely need to hear from more people who have lived experience out there.

Um we are working on it.

The the second light that's hopefully going to be um wraparound services to help people navigate whatever their issues are to get back into permanent housing.

Um, we just had a groundbreaking a couple of weeks ago for 75 units that will be attached to that.

Um we do have a sales tax um vote coming up, and a big part of that is affordable housing, um, to be able to make sure that we do actually have more housing that is built or rehabilitated that could actually help lower rents and make it more affordable for people.

Um part of that could be an additional 300 units of transitional housing as well.

Um we are working on it.

Our our hands are tied as far as rent control goes.

That is a uh issue that the state has preempted us on, so that's not necessarily something that we can have a direct impact on, but we are working and for the first time ever, the city of Wichita actually has its hands in the um trying to address the issue of people who are going without homes.

So we we are working on it, sir.

And I hate that it's taken so long for us to even get to this point, and we know that we still have a ways to go before we actually address it, but we are trying to work our way on that one, sir.

Mr.

Tipton, first and foremost, um I'm very saddened but also very disappointed.

I'm a board member of Second Light, which is located at 9th and Main Street, and this council has made a tremendous commitment over the last two years, an investment that nearly reaches 30 million dollars, and there is room at the shelter for men and for women over the age of 18.

As a matter of fact, on New Year's Eve, the shelter was available and open, and I drove around the city on New Year's Day and saw many individuals who were still having tents in our downtown core in wooded areas in our South Wichita, and it made me very sad that people are not utilizing a service that this council has invested in.

There is still room available for those that want to know.

The shelter currently is operating as an emergency winter shelter, which means anyone can come in right now, and so I want to make sure that information is accurate and an emergency winter shelter at second light at 9th and Main Street is open and not full, therefore people can go there, and so again, I'm very saddened that people are some are choosing not to utilize the service, but there have been many others who have, including the 92 men, 29 women in the second light shelter plus services, as well as the 74 individuals who use the emergency winter shelter at second light on New Year's Eve, and Union Rescue Mission, 63 individuals, and that's just one day out of the year.

And again, I want to make sure that people know there is shelter space available, therefore we need to make sure that individuals choose to go to the shelter.

Um, I would like to ask housing director Sally Stink to explain what second light and the multi-agency campus is.

Good morning, council Sally Stang with housing and community services for the record.

So, second the second light campus is our efforts to create a holistic um one-stop shop for people experiencing homelessness to include wraparound services, uh, emergency shelter, as well as medical and and behavioral health services on site.

Now we are getting to a pivotal point of being able to turn over that that project, um, having this the two-story building fully well, 90% complete by next week.

Furniture is moving in, agencies will be able to start moving in at that location.

In addition, we as council member uh Hoheisel mentioned, we just had the groundbreaking for an additional 75 units.

New uh this is a new construction, 25 units for non-congregate shelter and 50 units of permanent supportive housing.

Now that is gonna take some time, it's gonna take till early 2027 for the completion of that stage.

So this is our community's attempt, not just the cities.

We need to bring everybody together to bring the resources necessary to help people get out of homelessness.

Okay, thank you very much, Sally.

And lastly, um, I'm gonna ask this to law because the allegation was that Wichita police go after the homeless, and I know from speaking with Chief Sullivan that that is not the case.

Can you please explain the illegal camping ordinance that the city has had for well over a decade?

Oh, mayor, I need to uh pull that up.

I didn't have it handy, but um you're correct.

The city does not go after um homeless to arrest them.

The city does assist them, and they work closely with the law department in um developing policies that comply with the ordinance.

So we do have an illegal camping ordinance.

Um, but I just agree that the city does not go after uh homeless to arrest them.

Thank you.

Vice Mayor John Sten.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh Mr.

Tiffany, thanks thanks for coming and talking.

Appreciate that.

Have you interfaced with the hot team?

Nate Sweet All and I have, and all they ever do is turn around and basically move myself.

Like when before I moved over to the Mark 8.

Um I had turned around and been moved at least three times in one day.

Uh and I had kept my area money.

Right?

I wouldn't put another tin.

I slept on a cot because I can't sleep on the ground because of my back.

Yeah.

Um I was being feasible.

But I was juggling around several times uh by the hot team telling me that uh I was caught sleeping outdoors again, that I would be arrested.

Okay.

I tell you what, why at the city council office they'll give you my cell number or give me a call and it will get some resources for you.

Hopefully, you can utilize those.

So thank you.

I saw Sally uh pointing before you actually leave.

Um, you saw who the director of housing uh is and she will connect you with the individual who's raising her hand with the housing department uh to make sure that you have a place, and again, second light still has space available, and we want to make sure that people go there and also get connected to services.

Councilmember Johnson.

Thanks, Mayor.

Um, just wanted to say one, thank you for being here, Mr.

Tipton.

Um, two, as we continue to have this conversation around homelessness.

Um, I think it is very evident by what the mayor said that we have a lot of work to do.

Second light has a lot of work to do with building trust, and people are gonna be in their tents and be seen and be out there until they've built enough trust with us to go into a shelter.

I don't think that that should be something that we are um upset by, frustrated by.

I think that should be just motivation to go do more work and connect with folks to the perception issue, perception is reality.

So we know how amazing our hot team is and the members of our hot team, but they also wear police uniforms.

So if someone who was unhoused sees basically an officer telling them to move or that they are in a different space, they then feel that law enforcement is moving them out.

That's a perception, but also it's a reality that they are law enforcement.

There's other people working to help out, but again, we have to acknowledge those realities that although our hot team is amazing and officer Nate and everyone else does a great job.

Some of the unhoused people just see a police uniform.

And if they're being asked to move, that is how they feel, that is what they see, and they haven't built that trust with all of us yet.

So I would say that seeing those tents out in our community, seeing people who are sleeping on benches or in the sidewalk is motivation for us to do more work to connect with them on a human level, show them that there are resources available, listen to the concerns we've continued to hear about just shelters in general, not one specific one, and then work through those challenges.

And I think when we build that trust, we'll see less of those tents.

But it's gonna be a long-term effort.

It's not just about dumping 30 million dollars into homelessness, it's about spending that time to build those relationships and bring people in and show that we actually do care, and this isn't just get out of the way, we don't want to see you, it's how can we help you be back to where you were, help you be more productive, achieve your goals, and that's gonna take some time.

So until we get to that point, we're gonna continue to see that.

It's unfortunate, but um we heard as we were getting to this point, there was a lot of distrust, and we have to work through that.

So as that continues to be said, I just want to make sure that as this narrative is out there, not everyone is gonna choose to be in the shelter, not everyone wants to be in a shelter, and not everybody trusts that that shelter is a safe space.

We have to build that trust, we have to earn that, and it's gonna take some time and real effort.

So again, I just wanted to share my two cents on that.

We're gonna keep seeing that until we do the work necessary to get people in there.

I'm just gonna add two more comments because I believe that this council has been one of the most compassionate councils in uniting around helping with a solution, not the solution, but a solution towards homelessness.

However, we also have laws in Wichita, and the illegal camping ordinance was established in 2013, well over a decade ago.

It was revised in December of 2024 by a vote of four to three, and that ordinance says there's a 48-hour notice of a cleanup or immediate cleanups on walking paths near bridges in front of doorways at bus shelters on sidewalks.

Citations only given if there is shelter bed space available in the community.

And last, up to 200 fine for illegal camping or community service at $10 per hour or up to 30 days in jail, which was reduced from the 2013 ordinance, which would have been up to $500 fine for illegal camping or up to 30 days in jail.

So this council is very compassionate, but also understands the rule of law.

And so I want to make sure that we connect individuals to Second Light, where resources are available, not just sheltering, but other organizations that have partnered up to help individuals figure out what is the next step that you need in order to get housing.

And so I encourage you, Mr.

Tipton, to uh engage with the housing department.

They will be back there.

And we want to make sure that you have a safe and warm place to stay tonight.

Councilmember Ho Heisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, just one more thing regarding WPD.

Um, WPD does not want to really have their hands in this issue.

They they'd rather be out there protecting and serving.

Um we do have the hot team, which I do think tries to bring compassion as much as they can and resources.

Um the housing department's getting more involved as well.

We do have an item on the agenda today about adding more resources, I believe, to the housing department through a grant.

Um, so we are recognizing that it's not just WPD that has their hands in this issue, that it is a city-wide thing through all of our departments, mostly housing as well.

So I can understand people's as council member Johnson alluded to, their fear when they do see WPD come out there, and there's a lot of frustration with them too, as far as the lack of resources that we currently have.

So I I do just want to give a shout out to them as well.

They're not looking to come in and um just club people over the heads and move them around.

What they really want to do is try and get people in the resources, try and um keep our community as safe as they possibly can.

So I I do understand how that can appear to people at some times, but they really are.

They do have a lot of compassion for people, and I do want more resources out here as well.

So I just one more just that's all I just wanted to add on with that.

Madam Clerk, please call the next individual.

Um, Madam Mayor, we don't have any other individuals that have signed up ahead of time.

That means we have four spaces available for any individual who would like to address the council.

Please come forward, state your name, and also where you reside.

Good morning.

Um, Danielle Johnson, resident of District One.

Normally I would be here to rant and rave and share some things about housing, but this time I'm here just to thank and congratulate Councilman Johnson.

I'm showing up as a wife, not a constituent today.

Oftentimes he has to deal with that at home.

But um, this being your last meeting, I just wanted to thank you.

I did not get a chance to get to Winchell's tight schedule.

But crispy cream chocolate donuts, as you all know, he's a chocolate donut eater, and a little note.

Um, your family is excited to welcome you home and have you be with us and drop off donuts to me and my job amongst a number of things, drop off and pick up kids.

All that to say, I see and we see your family see as a sacrifice that you've made.

We are grateful and thankful for all that you've done.

Thank you for leading with the steady hand, steady heart, and a steady head, and we're proud of you.

Well, we've not always understood everything, and oftentimes I've we've argued over sales taxes and homelessness and all the things.

I'm so grateful that you stood up and took this role and have led our district, our community, and a number of things forward.

So thank you for that, and thank you all for putting up with this incredible individual and human being that in fact loves this community more than we'll ever know.

So thank you for your time, talents, and treasures.

I love you.

Thank you, Danielle.

Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Danielle, aren't you sure?

Are you sure you're not gonna be here in three or four months ranting and raving for us to take them back and get them out of your hair again?

He needs a job since I have the microphone.

He has a job.

He needs a job.

Thank you.

Councilmember Johnson.

Thanks, Mayor.

Just wanted to say thank you, boo.

Thank you very much.

We have three more spots available.

Good morning, Mayor and Council members.

My name is Shabani Hepser.

My name is Tanya Ramesh, and my name is Varshev of Ekonenvin.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you guys today.

We are here to represent a student-led initiative focused on improving access to health care for residents in rural counties surrounding Wichita.

Wichita is a healthcare hub for South Central Kansas.

Our hospitals, specialty clinics, and providers serve not only our city, but dozens of surrounding rural communities.

However, for many rural Kansans, access to that care is not limited only by the quality of our hospitals.

It's limited by one simple issue: transportation.

Through our research and outreach, we have found that many rural residents regularly delay or miss medical appointments, not because they don't value their health, but because they don't have a reliable way to get to Wichita.

Some live over an hour away.

Many counties have no public transportation options.

Others rely on friends, family, or costly private rides that aren't always available.

Transportation in this case is not just a logistical issue.

It is a health care issue.

Our project aims to address this gap by establishing a consistent scheduled transportation service, connecting rural counties surrounding Wichita to major hospitals and health care facilities within the city.

This would not replace existing services, but complement them, providing predictable, reliable transportation for patients who otherwise might fall through the cracks.

In November of 2025, I presented this proposal at the National Civic Speed in Washington, DC, where I placed fourth in the nation.

That experience helped us refine this project and demonstrated that this is not just a local concern, but a nationally recognized civic issue.

We are currently in the planning and feasibility stage.

We have begun conversations with NEM Reliable, a transportation service who directly run vehicles and drivers, as well as healthcare stakeholders, Southwestern Kansas hospitals, foundations, and community members.

We are collecting data through surveys to better understand need, demand, and preferred routes.

Today we are asking for your support and partnership.

There are several meaningful ways the city of Wichita could help this project move forward.

First, connection and convening power.

The city is uniquely positioned to help connect us with relevant departments such as the such as the transportation department, public health services, and possible grants for funding.

Even guidance on who to speak with can accelerate our progress.

Second, data and planning insight.

Access to non-confidential data or planning expertise related to transportation, healthcare access or regional mobility would help us design a service that is efficient and realistic.

Third, bringing awareness and public leadership.

By using your platform to highlight that transportation is healthcare, the city can help align community partners, healthcare systems, and regional leaders around a shared understanding of the problem and the urgency to act.

We found that nearly 30% of Kansas residents, which is about 867,000 people, live in rural areas where limited transportation access creates significant barriers to receiving health care services.

This is a widespread issue because it shows that transportation is health care.

We recognize that this is a complex issue.

Rural transportation challenges cannot be solved overnight, and no single organization can address them alone.

But we firmly believe that progress begins with coordination, partnership, and leadership.

Wichita already serves as a destination for health care.

With the city support, we can help ensure that that destination is actually reachable.

As students, we may be early in our careers, but we are deeply committed to this work and to our community.

We are asking for your support, not just as policymakers, but as leaders who understand that access to health care should not depend on a zip code or access to a car.

We respectfully ask the city council to consider providing a letter of support for this initiative and to explore the ways the city can serve as a partner as we continue developing our project.

Thank you for your time, your service, and your commitment to the health of Wichita and surrounding communities as well.

We would be happy to answer any questions you guys have.

Thank you very much for taking time out of your school schedule to speak before your council.

The courage that it took, but also the research that you've spent on this project really warms my heart.

Thank you so very much for coming to a city council meeting on the first time of the year and taking one of the public agenda spots to highlight something that is important, and that is health care access specifically to individuals in our rural communities.

So thank you for your efforts and also congratulations to Tanya for placing fourth in the nation at the National Civic Spee in 2025.

Councilmember Glasgow.

Thank you, Mayor.

I can tell why you uh went to nationals, and so congratulations, and I'm glad that we have that talent from Wichita representing us on the national scale.

I would be happy to meet with you.

One of your asks was how can we connect you to other partners in the community doing this work?

So I would love to meet if you uh after this go to the council office and just try to schedule a meeting with me.

Um I would love to engage with you all and talk further about this.

I know a lot of it involves partnerships with our federal partners.

Some used to work for the US House representatives, and so I'm happy to connect you with partners there as well.

And Wichita only survives when our rural communities around us survive as well, and when they're invested in.

And we've talked from this bench multiple times about what is a regional transit authority look like, and how can we make sure that we're touching people outside of Wichita as the hub where people come in to Wichita for so many services, and so I would love to continue the conversation and uh keep pushing uh through civics and continue to educate your classmates and peers as well.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Vice Mayor John Sten.

Thank you, Mayor.

And thank you for coming.

Appreciate it.

I don't know if you know, but I run Guadalupe Clinic, two for your health care clinics, uh, right below the FQACs.

So I'm very familiar with that space.

I'm familiar with the problem.

Uh we serve patients all over the state and northern Oklahoma.

Um, it is a hard problem uh for poor people.

Rich people can get there, poor people can't.

Um, so any help you need connecting any of the providers, the FQHCs, the clinics, both hospitals I know really well.

If any help I can help with you with that, I'd be glad to do that for you.

So and a letter of support, I most certainly will do that for you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Ballard.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you so much for being here.

Um super appreciate it.

I would piggyback on Councilmember Glasscock's uh opportunity to meet a couple of us can meet at a time, so maybe uh that would work out with the schedules.

Um, the other thing I wanted to mention is um it was when Director Um was here from Transit.

They did a 90 to 100 day pilot program with transit to get uh clients to their um appointments with Comcare.

It was all mental health um related, and they had about a 90% success rate.

So we know how important transportation is, but I'd love to provide um all of the statistics and things from that pilot program that maybe could could work into the program that you guys are looking into.

So thank you again for being here.

That would be great.

Thank you so much.

Councilmember Tuttle.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm gonna be a little redundant and also thank you for being here and also very happy to meet with you.

My background is actually health and public health, and especially health equity.

Um, so I've dealt with transportation as a huge issue regarding health equity for almost three decades.

I'm old.

Um, it's one of the major reasons about food deserts, right?

It's not just getting people to food, it's getting food to people.

And so we're really rethinking some of health care.

Um, so that's why telemedicine has become so important.

And so sometimes you actually do need to physically see a doctor and you need transportation, but then sometimes you don't, and you can utilize services.

So that's why also having connectivity and making sure that we have fiber optics all across the state, right?

So it's a very complex issue.

I'm the press president of the Kansas Public Health Association, and this is something that they might be interested in.

Um, they don't necessarily have funding, but they could serve as a fiduciary agent if you haven't established a 501c3.

You can't go out and get grants unless you have some place to deposit the check, right?

So happy to when you go get everybody's contact information.

I'd love to meet with you.

Good luck, and thank you for all you're doing.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And lastly, can you just share what grade you're in, each of you, and why you decided to take on health care as your project.

Hi, I'm a freshman and I go to Wichita Collegiate, and I chose to take on this project.

As I said, I applied for the National Civics be last year, and the topic that I thought was the most prevalent in Kansas was rural health care.

My mom works at the Veterans Hospital here in Wichita, so she was also able to back that up.

And while doing research on rural health care, I was able to see how not only is the quality of the health care in rural areas not as good, but the transportation to get to a hospital is also a huge problem.

So I decided to zero in on that aspect and create a solution for that.

Hi, I'm Varsha Vivekan.

I got into rural health care mainly because I was a volunteer at the Veterans Association Hospital in Wichita, Kansas.

And I was talking to a lot of patients that had driven like almost two hours from like any rural communities mostly just to come to the VA for a regular checkup.

And that's really what kind of surprised me and shocked me.

So that's like kind of what made me want to go into rural health care, just understanding that these communities struggle so much compared to us, like just for the most basic health care services.

My name is Shavani Hebser, and I'm a junior at Wichita Collegiate.

Currently, I serve as the president for Kansas HOSA, which is an organization dedicated to students interested in health care or healthcare related fields.

And as this president, I've connected with many hospitals, students across Kansas, even the most rural regions, and they've talked about how healthcare isn't as available in their community, which has helped me recognize that this is an issue that needs to be solved.

Thank you.

Councilmember Johnson.

Thanks, Mayor.

I just want to say each of you is amazing.

You were doing some incredible work.

I was not doing that at your age.

But I want to encourage you to go as far as you can with this.

But at some point, think about holding political office.

We need more smart people who understand issues like you do to be in office and not folks who say that they do and they make things worse.

So all three of you have the potential to do great things and what you're doing now, but also at some day hold a seat and make those health care decisions and give your expertise to folks who have votes because that's the way we see change in this country.

So I just want to encourage you to do that and keep doing what you're doing.

You are amazing.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Again, thank you, Varsha, Tanya, and Shavani.

Really appreciate you three for speaking before the council at a city council meeting and sharing your passion towards health care and providing access, especially to those in our rural community.

So thank you all very much.

I do want to give a quick shout out though.

In 2025, Wichita was recognized as the best city in America for veterans' health care.

And that was an accolade that this community, along VA received.

And then just yesterday, um, Senator Moran shared the 222 million dollar investment for Kansas rural hospitals.

Um the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid announced that Kansas will receive 222 million dollars for the first year of the rural health transformation program.

So I am going to follow through and connect you with the senators' offices here in Wichita for Senator Moran and Senator Marshall, and make sure that you have the opportunity to present to both of them and their Wichita representatives here.

So thank you very much again for coming today.

Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Just one more thing.

I would recommend looking into those.

We have Mayor's Youth Council.

We also have openings on a number of our district advisory boards for youth members.

So please stay involved, get more kids who are like-minded and active like you guys are to get involved as well because we we need that sustained throughout our city and throughout your guys' lives here.

So please uh thank you for everything that you're doing so far, and please please stay involved.

Yeah, yeah, of course.

Thank you.

Thank you.

If you don't mind providing your email addresses to the clerk, she will then be able to share all three of them to all seven of us.

Thank you.

We have two more spots available.

Good morning.

Uh, your first day, your last day.

Um, congratulations to both of you.

Um, I'm gonna keep it really, really short and sweet.

Um, consent agenda item 14.

I hope that you can pull that so that there is public comment on that.

And uh, I would just like to thank you for funding another consent agenda item, um, the sidewalk fund, because I know in my neighborhood that's used often.

So thank you so much.

Councilmember Tuttle.

Thank you, Faith.

Thanks for being here.

Thanks for your service on my district advisory board at a gender review on Friday.

We already said we're gonna pull that item.

That is correct, Faith.

At the agenda review, I said I would be pulling that item, and so I will be following through with that.

We have one more spot available.

I see none.

Thank you all very much for addressing the council and public agenda.

Madam Clerk, can you please call the next item?

Consent agenda items one through 27.

As I mentioned at the agenda review on Friday, I'm pulling agenda item number 14.

Are there any other items to be pulled?

I see none.

I move to approve the consent agenda items one through 27 without agenda item number 14.

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Motion passes 70.

This is agenda item number 14, the settlement agreement.

Whom from the staff will be able to share what I had asked at the agenda review, which were the timeline, what occurred, what won't happen again, and how the first mispayment happened.

Good morning, Mayor.

Council Jennifer Magania, City of Wichita Law Department.

Also with us today here is City's Outside Council Blake Shuart.

The item before you today is a recommendation for your approval of a settlement agreement of a lawsuit that is pending between the City of Wichita and Genesis Health Club's management LLC.

You'd ask for a timeline.

A timeline, Mayor.

And so the first item is when this item, this building was built.

This is a building built and owned by the city, the which the ICE Center was built in 1996.

Skipping ahead to 2010, the city issued a request for proposal for professional management of this building.

In March of 2011, the city entered its first agreement with the Genesis Health Club Management for just professional management services for the ICE Center for management fee with incentives, and the city agreed to building improvements.

This agreement was similar to the one from March of that year, but this added the provision that space on the second floor of the ICE Center would be repurposed from a restaurant style area to a fitness facility and locker rooms in order to further diversify recreational experiences and utilize the ICE center.

And the terms of that agreement, again, similar to the 20%, the March of 2011 agreement.

City agreed to issue general obligation bonds of 750,000 to be amortized over a 10-year period.

The debt payments were guaranteed by Genesis and Mr.

Rodney Stevenson.

Genesis was allowed at its expense to install and maintain fitness equipment management fee was set forth in that agreement with uh percentage of receipts from fees, and if the agreement were to terminate before the final bond payment was due to the city declining to renew Genesis would be released from paying any further debt service obligations.

So skipping ahead to fall of 2016, that was when the city first, or when the city issued the debt, the general obligation bonds in the amount of 750,000 dollars.

That made the first debt service payment due from Genesis in 2017.

And then the timeline then in June of 2017, the city invoiced Genesis for the first part of that debt service payment in the amount of 14,127.65 cents for that general obligation bonding, and that payment was then made by Genesis for that $14,000 amount in June of 2017.

Then in June of 20 or summer of 2018, the the chiller that was in the ICE Center failed, and this is referenced because then the city issued a contract with Waldinger Corporation for the design build agreement for replacement of the chiller and not just the chiller but the chiller plant system, the pipes, the electrical, the the whole system.

That work was supposed to be done by 2019.

And this is mentioned only because Waldinger is then a subsequent and second defendant in the lawsuit that is still pending today.

Going back to the timeline in 20 September of 2020, the City City issued a demand letter to Genesis for 256,576 for debt service payments from the period of 2017 through 2020.

In September of 21, the city notified Genesis that the agreement would be not renewed, would not be automatically renewed, and would be canceled effective.

January 24th, 2022.

And then in April of 2022, the city sent Genesis a letter asking it to remit $363,124 and 64 cents to settle the outstanding financial obligations under that contract.

And that includes the offset for credit that was owed under the operating expenditure provisions.

So the amount was 363,000, a little over that.

And those are a series of the payments that were scheduled and missed under the debt service amortization.

Then the next thing in the timeline is in May of 2022, the city filed a lawsuit seeking reimbursement of this financing due and owing by Genesis under the agreement.

And we sought payments that were due more than three years prior to the filing of a lawsuit.

We then filed second and third petitions under that same lawsuit to expand the claims and then add Waldinger as a second defendant for damages related to the chiller contract that was entered into.

Then on the timeline, if this year, November of this year, the district court evaluated and interpreted the contract from the 2012 agreement that said here's where your damages are.

Your damages are limited to the three years going back from the cause of action that was set forth in section six 14.1 of that agreement.

And so the damages are limited under the agreement, under the facts and under the case law.

So that is why we're making this recommendation for this settlement in which Genesis would pay 200,000, which is about the amount of the damages that are available under the contract based on the court's ruling.

So we have two issues.

We have the lawsuit with the claims against Genesis and the lawsuit with the pending lawsuit against Waldinger.

That is for a larger amount of damages than the ones against Genesis, just for the management contract.

The claims against Waldinger are substantial, and we're pursuing those.

So that brings us to the settlement recommendation.

It's the city's recommendation, city law department's recommendation that the city consider this settlement and authorize the mayor's signature.

Available for questions.

I also asked a question via email to you regarding an article that was written by Mr.

Goter in the Eagle yesterday, and he referenced a $2.6 million amount that is owed.

Can you please explain that number and that number not showing up in this timeline?

Um I'm not sure what Mr.

Gotter's recommend uh referring to, but I'm assuming it's the Waldinger um damages and Blake Schuart from Hutton Hutton, our outside counsel is here.

I'm gonna ask him to talk about the calculation of those damages.

Good morning, mayor and council members.

So the question was about the damages that were referenced in an article of about two and a half million dollars.

That is a current total that's going to probably continue to be amended as this lawsuit proceeds.

That is totally separate from anything related to unpaying bond payments.

That is exclusively related to cost for the damage to the ice center and the ice maintenance and ice chiller equipment.

As was referenced in the timeline, there was a design build agreement entered into with Waldinger.

That work was done over time, as the public knows.

Uh, there's been issues with the ICenter identified with the ice maintenance and ice chiller equipment.

So there's been repairs done.

There's an expert witness involved on behalf of the city in this litigation, and so we're attempting to quantify as the case proceeds what the overall damages are for that in terms of cost to fix the equipment, economic cost to the city, and so on.

So there has been an estimate of about two and a half million dollars, and I will not be surprised if that amount continues to increase as the case goes forward against Waldinger.

Thank you, Mr.

Shore.

Councilmember Glascock.

Thank you, Mayor.

A few questions to start.

So going to the timeline, it looks like there's one payment made in June of 2017.

Is that correct?

That's correct.

And so for four years, we didn't send anything out until September of 2021, demanding the canceling of the contract, correct?

That's my understanding, yes.

In that, and this might be a question, how many fail-safes did the city have to get to that point?

So that might be a question for legal or a question for somebody else.

How many things had to have failed for us to not have collected a payment in four years?

Mayor Council, I'm to the best of my knowledge.

I mean, this the city staff managed this, and I don't know of the process that was in place.

I believe billings were sent.

I can only um say that staff mandled handled that, and I don't know what do we know what department that was in?

Um it was managed by the parks department part.

Okay.

And then in addition to that, what have we put into place since that to make sure that these contract failures to enforce invoicing um will not continue?

Yeah, I'm not the subject matter expert, but I know that finance is instituted or is instituting, and Mark can clarify that there is more of a centralized management system for accounts receivable and accounts payable.

I don't know where we are on that timeline, but I know that that is a process that is going, and maybe Mark.

Mark, could we maybe talk about that some and about when that's implemented, how that's been implemented, and how we'll make sure that this doesn't happen again when it comes to future contracts.

Uh yes, sir, council member.

Excuse me.

Excellent question.

Uh the events that Jennifer outlined here took place under our old model, in which uh contract administration was delegated to departments, as was the accounts receivable process in effect.

Uh we have uh modified our procedures, as you know, last year or so.

We've done a lot of planning.

We haven't implemented them correctly or yet, uh, but that's based on two management changes, which I think probably would have addressed some of the situations that occurred in the past on this one.

And as Jennifer mentioned, first that's centralized contract management.

We did not have that when this contract was originally approved and was managed.

Uh we are in the process of implementing that.

Uh all of these uh we're in in in the process of doing, uh, sort of in a cohesive manner.

It does take a little bit of time to do it right.

Uh but had we had a centralized contract management system, we would have monitored that contract perhaps a little bit uh better, and we probably would have maybe had a little bit different outcome.

So hopefully that system will obviate the probability of anything like this occurring in the future.

Second thing is accounts receivable.

As I noted, our accounts receivable model was completely decentralized.

Uh we are taking steps to centralize that uh in the past.

Again, finance's responsibility was to basically print invoices to vendors based on information departments fed us, and was to record any collections departments received in our system.

Uh we will change that model so that the finance department is responsible for the accounts receivable process from end to end.

And again, that's related to centralized contract management also, and uh hopefully that'll enhance our collectibility of receivables and things of that nature.

So that was a budget budget decision made by this council in August of 2024, correct?

That is correct.

Change the process.

That is complete completely correct, and we are in the process currently of implementing that.

It's it's complicated, and the other complication is uh electronic timekeeping, as you know, which is so I basically have three projects all going on at the same time that will transform our management of these issues, hopefully sometime later this year.

In the interim, while we're waiting for that process to be completed, what safeguards do we have to make sure that this doesn't happen with other contracts as well?

We've already started, particularly on the accounts receivable side.

We've done maybe what you might call soft rollout.

We've become much more uh involved in the accounts receivable process over the last six or nine months.

I have a fantastic city treasurer, Shayla Franklin, and she's done some outstanding work in that area.

Uh we are much more involved in that.

We coordinate much better with departments.

Uh and so we we we haven't waited for centralization to uh achieve better results on the accounts receivable side there.

Uh again, contract management.

Uh we had hoped to procure some software to launch that.

We ran into some problems there, but we're still pursuing contract management.

You should see something in that regard, hopefully, within the next uh few weeks as we try to uh try to uh move forward on that.

Okay, thank you.

I appreciate all the work that we've done on that.

I think it is a step forward and a change, and so thank you for leading that for staff.

But I have one more question for Jennifer.

I don't want to steal all the questions from my colleagues.

We talk about the chiller and the challenges with the chiller.

Can we also talk about the uh destruction of additional property that was done at uh the ice center as well and maybe the move out?

Um I'm gonna refer that to Blake because he's done the discovery on that and can answer that better than I can.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Yes, Councilmember Glasscock.

Um, at the time the Genesis moved out of the ice center, I believe there was some flooring, uh, maybe a couple locker doors and some ballet bars, uh, just a few miscellaneous items that were taken in the course of Genesis removing all of their items from the premises.

So that was the economic tabulation of that was not particularly high in terms of monetary damages.

And so that was a claim that we preserved in the lawsuit if it were to get to a trial, but it's being factored into this proposed settlement agreement.

It doesn't change the equation too much in terms of the dollars and cents of the agreement.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you for both the answers.

It's all the questions I have right now.

Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

I don't know, Reggie, Mark, Jennifer, one of you.

Um I'm curious about this process that we had set up.

So if it is in the parks department and they have issues, we don't put it on the parks department to try and recoup the money, do we?

I'm gonna refer to Mark on that one.

On how it was then, I can't say.

Yeah, I'm curious about the process, how it was.

Sir, you're talking about the uh invoices that were sent for debt service payments and the lack of payments?

Yes, sir.

Our model at that time, yes, was that responsibility was completely upon the department that was administering the contract or the receivable, and uh obviously finance is able to assist with collection techniques and various things like that, uh, but in that time period we deferred to the department that was responsible for administering the contract or the department, which was the same one in this case, which was responsible for the receivable.

Was that was that a written policy, or was that just kind of how we did things?

Uh that was the way we've operated for many, many, many, many years until recently, as I mentioned the council member Glasscock.

So, what would the process have been if the parks department said, okay, they are missing these payments, they make it known to people.

Would they reach out to you?

Would they reach out to city manager's office, legal department?

Uh typically in that time period when a department had a receivable that they had tried to collect and were unsuccessful, they they would proceed to the collection process.

And again, we have a number of tools in the finance department, as do some departments, and we had we been asked, we would have assisted them with the collection process, or they may have done it on their own.

I don't know if that occurred or not.

Uh we were not involved in any of that.

They never reached out to us, but that's typically how it should have done.

They should have been familiar with their receivable, they should have sent invoices out, which they did to some degree.

If those invoices were not paid in a timely manner, they should have implemented collection procedures, at which case we would have assisted them had they asked, and that's how the process typically worked during that time frame.

And do you to your recollection you don't have any information of them reaching out to um for help in this process?

From the best of my recollection, uh we were never involved in any efforts to attempt to collect any of those, we being the finance department.

I can't speak to the efforts park department may or may not have made, uh, but again, we would defer to the department that was responsible for administering the contract.

Reggie, um this uh preceded me being in my current role, sir.

Uh so I can speak to where we are now and how we've been working on the process since uh September of 2024.

So we work real closely with the finance department as well as with public works.

We have monthly meetings with the vendor.

We go over the budgets that they have each month.

We look at uh repairs that are needed for the center itself, have an approval process in place that anything that's above $5,000 that need repairs is approved to us, and our public works department is involved in that procurement process to make any payments.

So anything that's related to any accounts receivables is counts payables.

We work uh directly with Mark's team and meet on a monthly basis.

Okay, so I this is before you were the head guy of the department.

Do you have any background knowledge of any of this process?

I do not other than that we managed it internally, like Mark mentioned, but I wasn't involved in the process at that time with any of the payables.

Do you know if we had reached out or had conversations with the rest of the city hall, the rest of the other departments about collected on this debt?

I couldn't give uh information that would be factual on that stuff because I wasn't involved in process.

Okay, I'd be at arrested to see on that one.

That's all I have for now.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh Jennifer, is it typical for the city to put settlements on the consent agenda?

Yeah, yes, council member.

Under the city ordinance, we have a set regular agenda.

Um it's inter Section 2.04, and that regular agenda says here's what is typically um set for consent.

And there are multiple categories.

That's adopted by ordinance.

Those items are traditionally set for consent.

Of course, like the mayor did at the agenda review, the mayor or vice mayor can pull things for discussion, and that's the process that we have.

So this settlement agreement is one of the categories that are typically start on consent and then they can be polled, as you do sometimes.

So this specifically was not buried in the consent.

There's been a lot of chatter about that.

I just wanted to clarify this is our process.

If you want to pull it or somebody wants to pull it, is followed by ordinance.

This is this followed the city ordinance on the regular agenda and the consent agenda.

And the process was followed exactly as the ordinance provides.

Great.

Um just to clarify, this settlement is completely separate from the chillers and all of that demonic.

Thank you for clarifying.

Yes, that is right.

As Blake said, this is separate.

There is a pending lawsuit with two defendants.

This would only settle the claims against Genesis.

It would not settle or or affect the city's claim against Waldinger for the chiller damages.

And can you remind us again how much we are by law allowed to collect?

Um, due to the the facts, um the the provision of the contract and the the ruling by district court under case law, um, I think our maximum damages are slightly over 200,000.

I think Blake can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the very very max would be 219,000.

Um, and that is if everything goes, I think perfectly great.

Blake's nodding his head.

So around 219,000, best case scenario under the facts, the law, and and the contract that we're operating under.

So where does the 17 some thousand dollar number come from?

I can't speak to that.

Okay.

Um what happens if this does not pass today?

If this is not passed, the the lawsuit will continue.

The city will have to proceed with the case.

Um it will be set for trial in district court um probably in 2026, and we will pursue the damages that we are left, which def left which with to pursue, which is only, like I said, at the maximum about 219,000 in the best case scenario, and we will we will pursue those damages at the same time.

The city will of course pursue damages against the other defendant for the chiller damages.

And my last question is um who's to say that they make the 200,000 payment.

They obviously don't have a real good track record of making payments, so how do we ensure that they're gonna pay this time?

Okay, like any settlement agreement.

Um, once a settlement agreement is executed by both parties, it's easily enforceable by a motion to district court if the payment were not to be made promptly upon the agreement being signed and executed.

Um, it's something we just go to district court and enforce as part of the deal.

Thank you.

That's all for now.

Councilmember Tuttle.

Thank you.

Thank you, Jennifer, for answering all your questions.

Thank you, Blake, for being with us today.

Thanks, Mark, for answering questions as well.

Um, I know this is pending litigation, so I want to be very careful in the questions that I ask.

So if I ask anything that crosses the line, please feel free to tell me how to do that.

Thank you.

Um can you please just tell us I I want to talk a little bit about the process just so the community understands.

Um, so how did we get to this point?

Were there mediations?

Um, were council involved in those?

Were there sessions afterwards where we were briefed?

If it how many mediations, how did we get to the point where we have a settlement agreement on this agenda for 200,000 dollars?

Thank you, council member.

This is typical the way lawsuits progress.

This lawsuit was filed in May of 22.

Um, we then um in I think August of 22 entered a formal mediation process where we always have a council member present.

Um we engage with you as um uh city council in briefings on these cases.

We keep you up to date on litigation.

Um the litigation has progressed, we filed additional lawsuit, uh additional claims.

Um we are now at the point where we have recommended this as a tental, it's a tentative and proposed settlement agreement, and we're asking for your um approval based on the facts and the recommendation that it's in the city's interest to make this.

Thank you.

Um Councilmember Ballard just told me a question what happens if we don't.

I I just want to say this, ask this again, and I'm being redundant, but I think this is incredibly important.

This settlement agreement for today is for 200,000.

That is correct.

If we said we're not going to settle and we moved forward in that direction, the maximum amount more that we could get if everything went perfectly in our way is $19,000.

More than this.

More than this.

And I will say that is, you know, there's uncertainty at trial.

I mean, that is the best case situation.

That would also failure to settle today, would also leave open the claims that the defendant has against the city.

That was gonna be my next question, Jennifer.

Thank you.

Does Genesis have a countersuit against us?

It does.

And it's my understanding it's uh 1.86 million.

Is that correct?

That is correct.

Okay.

So if we did agree to this today and not risk gaining $19,000 more, then the lawsuit from Genesis could move forward and we could potentially we would need to be defending those claims going forward.

If we settled, we we agree on this today.

Does their countersuit go away or what what happens to their candidates?

It resolves all claims against the city.

Okay, yes.

So we're risking possibly 1.86 million to get 19,000.

That's correct.

Thank you.

Vice Mayor Johnston.

I'm gonna go out of order so that every council member gets the opportunity to ask questions and then go back to the board.

Vice Mayor Johnston.

Okay, thank you.

Didn't want to jump in front of you there, Mike.

But sorry.

Um Jennifer, how much staff time have we put into this lawsuit so far?

About uh if we'd only logged in.

I mean, I think it's hard to see hundreds of hours because there's not just law department, but there's finance, there's public works, there's park staff, hundreds of staff hours easily.

Yeah, how much will we pay Hutt Manhattan so far?

Well, Hutt Nahatton is um handling this on a content contingency fee basis.

So we have not spent any city money on this lawsuit paying outside council.

Okay.

If we do settle, do they get a part of that settlement?

Um not of the Genesis portion, but of the Waldinger portion.

The Waldinger settlement.

So we get the full 200,000.

Okay.

Uh if we did take this to court, how much more staff time would it would it take?

I'm gonna defer to Blake and see how much more is left, but I think it's substantial.

I don't I I can't estimate that without him.

Of your staff time, not so much of Clay's.

Of our staff time, your staff time.

Oh, I mean weeks of time to prepare, I think fair to say.

Working with Blake, and that's not counting other city staff.

So a substantial cost to litigate this.

Yes.

As far as the city's as far as city's time and resources.

Substantial cost, okay.

Um you already answered the question.

What's the best outcome?

Councilman Todd said that $19,000.

Um much would we expect to spend defending the claim of $1.8 million against us?

You know, th there are uh other fees um and cost to that litigation.

Um I turn to Blake and see if he has an estimate.

Councilmember Johnston, I appreciate the question.

Um Councilmember Tuttle had a question too that I think is related.

I think I could summarize the whole thing uh globally in a way that makes the most sense in terms of pros and cons of where we're at in this lawsuit right now.

So the best case as far as Genesis goes, is that we perhaps get another up to $19,000 of contractual damages.

Uh the worst case is we do not collect the money that we have offered right now, that we lose the 1.8 million dollars in asserted counterclaims, uh in whole or in part.

The management agreement that we're suing under has a loser pays attorney fee provision.

So if we did not proceed with this settlement today, and later the award against Genesis was less, we could be forced to pay significant attorney fees for Genesis's counsel for in essence not obtaining a judgment against them that was more than they'd already offered us up to this point in time.

So we have Genesis attorney fees, we have 1.8 million dollars in counterclaims, and we have the potential loss of the money that is being offered all weighed up against potentially getting up to $19,000.

But most importantly to me is interwoven in all that is this is a large lawsuit, and it started as a lawsuit with Genesis.

Over time it's become also of significant importance, a lawsuit against Waldinger for seven figures and damages to this ice center, that all of this when you have multiple defendants in a case, all of that strategy matters, and without getting too much into that, but this is clearly uh in terms of the city's interest and the taxpayers' interest, um, this is clearly the item that removes risk and has the potential to place the most money in taxpayer pockets.

Um, this is clearly the item that removes risk and has the potential to place the most money in taxpayer pockets.

And in terms of additional costs moving forward, if we have to defend the Genesis claims, um those were not originally contracted for by my office since my office is on an agreement to pursue claims for the city.

So if we got involved in defending claims against Genesis, um that could be additional costs that could be incurred to hire us or a different firm to do that, in addition to all the significant staff costs.

So there's a lot wrapped into this in terms of the pros and cons and how this entire lawsuit is being handled.

I just I just want people to understand too.

I think what you're saying is the lawsuit initially was after one after Genesis for the failure of the ice at the rank, and over time the discovery, correct me if I'm wrong, that discovered was not true, that it was the fault of Waldinger.

And that's the claim we're pursuing now is against Waldinger.

Exactly.

When I got involved, and um we were we had the case with Genesis as the only defendant.

Then as the damage to the ICenter became more and more known, they started looking into and consulting with experts more about their responsibility for that, and without getting into all of that, um, especially since discovery is ongoing.

Um we had preserved claims against Genesis for that at the beginning, but over time now with expert input, we've now added new defendants and are pursuing those damages against them and not against Genesis.

Okay, thank you.

Councilmember Johnson.

Okay, I'm allowing everyone to ask their questions first and then second round of questions.

I didn't have a question.

Uh I am speaking because I was challenged at my last breakfast to say what I think before public comment.

Um so I think that this is a tough situation to be in.

The facts that you have laid out and the facts that that we know are that we risk everything that council member Tuttle talked about and what you did as well without settling today.

It sounds like the money in hand uh from a settlement would be a responsible decision for the city.

Um I am anxious to hear what others may think that would counter that.

But just from what you've laid out and the fact that we know um, I'm trying to be careful with ongoing litigation.

The fact that we know that we are in a suit with Waldinger and what that is about, and the amount to me shows that if today we were to go forward with a settlement, and also everything goes well with that lawsuit, we would collect um enough of the damages that we have received as a city.

So didn't have any questions, but just what I was thinking in my head, and to honor my commitment that I would speak about that before public comment.

My question is for law.

We're going back again.

Uh this is really two different issues.

One is specific to this contract with Genesis.

That's right.

But then my problem is the process.

I want to know who drafted the initial contract back in 2012 or 2011 when the city decided to provide a loan of 750,000 dollars or a bond.

Um yes, Mayor.

At that time, the the March of 2011 agreement, and then the subsequent one that's the current one, were negotiated by the parties.

They were negotiated by then park director and Genesis.

Those terms were were negotiated, um, and that's how the terms were included.

Um law department provided um services to finalize the agreement.

So you're telling me that it was really just the parks department and just some consultation by law.

I want to know whom, because the contract itself had this three-year look back, and or you cannot claw back three three years prior.

Can you explain who drafted that portion in the contract?

Those again, I think community wants to know if a loan is 750,000.

The expectation is you're at least gonna get the principal plus of interest.

Can you please explain who drafted that contract?

Yeah, I know that different attorneys in our office worked on it.

I wasn't here at the time, but I do know that those terms were negotiated by the parties and not by the law department.

And when negotiations like that happen, does the city manager get involved?

Yes.

Who is the city manager at that time?

That was Bob Leaton.

Thank you.

Council Member Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, along those lines, the only question I had was was that three-year lack of clawback, is that common?

No, it is not.

It's not common.

Okay, thank you.

Councilmember Glasscock.

Thank you, Mayor.

A few questions.

If this were to go to a trial, it would be a jury trial bench trial.

Jury trial, we agreed for jury, yes.

Jury trial.

Yes.

So that would require open testimony, cross-examination, witnesses on stand, absolutely.

Entire process.

Um, as part of the settle agreement, is there a public apology from the defendants?

No, that is not.

Okay.

And then in addition, so you said that the court has a ruled that the max amount that we could have is 200,000.

Yes.

Is there a is it appropriate for counsel?

Because, or sorry, 219,000.

Yes.

And the legal consideration is a settlement agreement for 200,000.

Yes.

Are we able from this bench to make a motion for the full 219,000 as ruled that that is the max that we could collect?

Or does that have to go through a settlement process?

We need to go through the settlement process.

It has to be brought back before council.

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you.

Jennifer, can you please go back to the slide of the payment schedule?

Is that the one?

Yes.

Yes.

According to my notes, the only payment provided from Genesis was $14,127.65 cents in June of 2017.

Is that accurate?

That's what our records show.

My question then is if they were due $73,610 and 69 cents, why did we not ask at that time for the full $73,610 and 69 cents, and instead only received $14,127 and 65 cents?

Yeah, that is a question I don't have the answer to.

I think Mark alluded to that and the fact that at that time processes were decentralized.

That's all I can.

That's all I can surmise.

Well, the $14,000 payment was the first one due, and that was paid in 2016.

So that was just accepted because it came on time.

So again, with the city manager have been aware of this.

But without centralized contract management, occasionally you see contracts that are negotiated outside of what we would consider to be the more normal process, which is to say they flow through purchasing.

When that happens, sometimes you have risks of terms being included that aren't necessarily standardized to the template and the model in which we typically negotiate contracts.

Again, that's a risk with a decentralized approach.

Centralized approach, I think will obviate that.

One advantage of our centralized management structure.

But uh I think that may have been part of the challenge that we had back in this time period.

So I would like to know how the council can be had the final say on any quote negotiated outside of normal order uh situations because if we're going to go into a more centralized system and there will be checks and balances, at the end of the day, the highest leader in the city of Wichita's structure is the city manager.

And so I want to make sure that any quote negotiated outside of term have to come before a council for public comment and for public knowledge.

Well, I'll speak from the finance standpoint, but typically whenever we present contracts for you for approval in the agenda report, we will outline the terms of those contracts and specifically we'll outline anything that is maybe outside what we would consider the norm, and sometimes there are good reasons to do that.

Again, that's how we I'm speaking only for myself.

I can't speak for other departments.

Uh, but you're right, ultimately the city council approves the contract.

So I think it's incumbent on staff to either structure those contracts in a centralized way that's consistent with our normal procedures or to notify the city council in the agenda reports of any uh variances that are being recommended by staff.

And again, I can't speak to whether that happened in 2011 or 2012, whenever it was.

Uh, but that's how the process would have uh would uh alleviate risks like this in the future, I think.

My ask then is for green sheets to always highlight any outside the norm or negotiated terms that are outside of um the typical uh contracts so that the council is aware and can discuss those discrepancies, and as you said, some may be valid, others may need to be discussed as this is the policy holding body.

So I would like to make sure that green sheets are much more in depth when it um high and it should highlight any things that are out of the norm.

Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, and this contract did come before council to be approved, right?

In 2017.

Yes, it did.

Um council member, it came before council in December of 2011, but then the contract date was executed January.

So I don't know if it was deferred or there was just a later late signature, but it did come before council at a council meeting December 20th, 2011.

2011.

Yes.

And six years later it's yes enacted.

Okay.

Um can we get a little background about that?

Just email us later, just why there was such a long delay in that.

Um now so it was signed up for an original five years, right?

The contract was for a 10-year term.

So it was a five-year plus five or no, the the first the first contract in 2011.

That was this the base Genesis Management Agreement, that was a one-year term with five one-year renewals.

And then I don't know what happened, but the decision was made to then enhance the contract and have the city bond improvements for the fitness center on the second floor.

And that term was a 10-year term, and the amortization was to be over 10 years.

However, the city did not bond that money until 2016.

So it was a one-year plus four one-year term.

So that would get us to well, I'm sorry, that was the first time.

I'm sorry for confused.

The first one is a one-year plus one year.

Then the second one in 2011 took its place.

And it was a 10-year-old.

Yes.

Okay.

Do you do we know the vote?

Was that unanimous on council at the time?

I don't have the records of the vote.

Um, we could look that up, but I I don't have that.

I have the agenda report I'm working from.

Sorry.

I didn't appreciate that.

We can pull the minutes.

I think someone from uh the audience did mention it's 7-0, and I would like I would like this presentation to be available in the transparency portal so that individuals know this information was presented in this council meeting.

Um, in addition, you mentioned several dates.

So back in 2011, that would have been under Mayor Brewer between 2015 and 2020, Mayor Longwell, and then 2020 to 2024, Mayor Whipple, just for context.

Um, and again I want to make sure that there are two things that we're still working on.

Process that is now going has been changing thus far, still not fully implemented.

That's the process of the new centralized system and much more accountability.

But then we also have this, which is before us, which is a specific instance where a contract was negotiated by individuals who no longer are at the city of Wichita, and this is what we're speaking about uh when it comes to the vote.

And this is what we're speaking about when it comes to the vote.

But I want to make sure that the process itself is still part of this conversation, as this is a direction to staff to continue moving forward in making sure that the process continues to be transparent, but also continues to move forward even beyond our new city manager.

So thank you for letting us ask all these questions, which means one more thing.

Yes.

However, uh, just about a year ago, this body voted to allow public comment for consent agenda items, which was not the process in the past, which I am very happy to uh let the community members who are here to speak about it know.

This was not typical in the past.

So we are speaking about having public comment in these consent agenda items.

Um, and I do want to put this on the record that again, any council member is able to pull any of the consent agenda items for discussion and then for public comment.

And I believe I'm one of the uh most frequent that pulls items from consent agenda items since this new rule has been in place.

Um so Mr.

Goter, who asked about it.

Um, I just want you to know that again, I appreciate when community is able to speak on these matters, and I appreciate when people want to engage with their council.

Um, and I again I work for the people of Wichita and not the staff of Wichita.

So thank you for letting us make the process better so that again the staff can work on the behalf of the citizens of Wichita as this council works on the behalf of the citizens of Wichita.

So thank you for allowing all these questions.

I see no further questions from the bench, which means we will now have public comment.

Oh, I just have confirmation, Mayor.

The vote was 7-0.

Thank you for the clerk pulling that.

Thank you.

Hello, Faith Martin District 2.

Um, two things.

I would like it if this body could request that the that you could establish and publish what the norm is so that the public can be aware of what a normal contract is, because that sounds vague, and uh if someone else in the future is running for city council or gonna be hired as counsel, it'd be nice to have that established and published so we all know what is normal and what isn't normal.

Um, secondly, I don't think we need a public apology, we need better vendor management.

If I hire someone to fix my fence, and not only do they not fix my fence, but they steal the copper out of my air conditioning, I'm not gonna hire them to do other work on my house.

So I would prefer that this council establish some guidelines for good vendor management because if we're getting contracts with people that continually rake taxpayer dollars over the coals for their own benefit, which is how people feel.

If you read the comments from the last time this came before, people wanted it to go to trial because they were tired of this happening and they wanted some kind of accountability.

Good accountability is good vendor management.

So I would ask that this council reach out to staff to provide better guidelines, maybe something along the lines of the landlord list.

If you're a bad vendor, it's published and we will not be doing business with you.

The city of Wichita will not be doing business with you.

Otherwise, I don't think we should risk all of the things that you guys talked about.

I appreciate getting at least 200,000.

Um, but holding that vendor accountable means a lot more to me because getting the getting 20,000.

Thank you.

Good morning, City Council and Mayor.

Um, Celeste Rossette, born and raised in Wichita, fourth generation, Kansas, former FDIC bank examiner.

Thank you, Mayor Wu, for holding true to your campaign promise for bringing accountability and transparency to city government.

The former mayors I encountered were not always this way, and many times my mic was cut when I tried to even discuss this contract, for example.

I went back and looked at city government meeting on December 11th, 2011, where this was passed seven to zero, and the motion was brought forward by Michael O'Donnell.

This management contract was presented for a vote.

City manager Robert Leighton and Parks Director Doug Cooper presented the details for a remodeling of the second floor fitness center to be paid by Genesis Health Club Management.

I've got the exhibit for the contract right here.

Genes was to pay back all costs to the issue of the general obligation bonds for this remodel.

They would manage the building for 10 years with an option to renew.

Members of the ICE rink, figure skating, and youth hockey all came forward at that meeting to say they had concerns.

Unfortunately, they were not listened to, and this is one of the reasons why people don't have trust in City Hall.

They were intelligent people who treasured the building and were concerned about this agreement.

City manager Leighton reassured the public speakers the Stephen family was a good supporter of community events and would expand and support the ice rink events.

I even clipped what one of the speakers had to say.

It was one of the Stephen members on my Facebook page because it's really ironic what happened later.

I'm not even sure a second reading was held on this contract because after the December 11th hearing, there was no further hearing.

There was no second hearing.

The contract was in force and off we went.

And it had this really strange clause, which is a limited collecting damages, where we could only go back three years to collect on past due payments, which City Manager Leighton was the manager at the time.

It just stuns me we would have allowed this contract to have been written.

There were additional precautions that were supposed to also protect taxpayers, and this is a caution on the sales tax that's going before us.

There was an ordinance written where this was supposed to protect taxpayers about this agreement, and it was put into place and published having stipulations on improvements, authorization of the agreement, temporary notes, etc.

None of this happened.

None of this happened, even though there was an ordinance written too.

First, I want to talk about what ended up happening.

Genesis Health Club and Rodney Stephen II made only one debt payment in 2017.

But taxpayers didn't know this, and this is a huge mistrust issue regarding transparency.

I filed CORAS, Kansas Open Record Acts, asking for the debt schedule of Genesis Gyms and where we were, because I had filed CORAS, and in those cores for emails, I discovered that Robert Leighton in 2020 was asking for payment on past due loans, but there were no loans from Genesis in the financial statements.

There were no loans anywhere on the website that we were owed past due loans from these people.

Similar to Kinmar.

Kinmar is also a $2 million off-the-book loans that we don't know about.

This is a bad accounting practice, and I don't care who's denying or accepting responsibility.

If there is a loan agreement with an individual or a developer with the city, it needs to be on the books.

It needs to be noted in the financial statements, and it cannot be mislabeled like Jim Cork's hotel loan was and called stormwater utilities.

It needs to be clear, concise, and I know Mark Manning agrees with me on this.

You need to put it in the financial statements and label it.

Or you're not having transparency and nothing has changed.

So I continue to ask for these agreements.

They were denied.

So I have two questions.

Accountability.

Why was no city staff present when Genesis Health Club moved out and ripped up the building, tore up the carpet, stole the soap dispensers, and put holes in the walls?

City manager Leighton was present.

Why was no one there when they moved out?

Why was City Manager Leighton never reprimanded for allowing this four-year default on the loan agreement before legal action was taken?

And I've got his emails from 2020 asking for payments.

So he knew way before the lawsuit was filed, but never reprimanded, never chided.

Why was legal allowed to write this contract?

And I'll stop there with accountability, but with transparency, what is the total amount owed?

Because I disagree with that repayment schedule.

The bonds issued were 760,000.

That's principal.

You got to add in interest, and we only got 14,000.

So I really don't see an accurate portrayal of what we are owed.

I see my time is up.

I will only say with trust, City Hall has wasted millions and millions of taxpayer dollars in these bad, hidden development deals with developers.

And this is why it behooves me.

I'm trying to support you.

I appreciate you pulling this and allowing us to talk.

But you've got to prove going forward your trustworthy, and all of you, not just some of you, before I could even think of supporting the sales tax.

Thank you.

Thank you, Celeste.

Um, I do have a couple of follow-ups.

Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you.

Uh Mayor's just one quick question.

Uh, that 2020 email you're referencing.

Is that specifically about the ICenter, or is that just debt in general?

Give me a minute, because I, as I said, I filed numerous quoras.

The one where he is um it actually, Greg Ferris, who was present when they voted on this, he was their lobby representative.

So he was telling Greg Ferris that there was an undue balance on the loans.

And the numbers jumped around a lot.

I could never figure out what what is this?

What are we talking about?

But here's specifically what he said.

Then this is from Bob to Greg.

The one outstanding issue that still needs to be addressed is Genesis debt service obligation for the fitness center.

I believe that next week the outstanding obligation will increase to approximately 336,770 dollars.

How does Genesis intend to reimburse the city for this outstanding debt service?

Your help with this matter would be greatly appreciated.

And that was to Greg Ferris, though we copied Rodney at Genesis Healthclubs.com and R Brooks at Genesis Healthclubs.com.

Yeah, thank you.

Yep.

Vice Mayor John Sten.

Thank you.

Celeste, I will answer your question on.

I asked the same city manager that probably a year ago, maybe over a year ago.

Why didn't you go collect the debt?

You know, I would have.

Um, and his answer was we're trying made a decision to try to work with uh Stevens to try to get it.

So probably not a good decision, but that was his answer.

And you know how I feel about his answer.

I understand.

Understand.

Any other questions?

I did ask the question.

Thank you.

Any no, uh, thank you, Celeste.

But I will ask Law a question.

Law, can you please come back and share the slide?

Um, I want to make sure that the accurate numbers are being portrayed right now.

I want to know exactly how much was the loan, and it was a 10-year bond.

Is that accurate?

Yes.

Now, I mean, this is where Mark can correct me.

I mean, it was a 10-year, but it didn't start.

We didn't bond the money at the beginning of the contract.

The the city did not issue bonds until 2016.

And only then would the debt service schedule have kicked in.

Mark Mark agrees.

So there was not a $750,000 figure owed in that sense.

Um, the bond payments began in 2016, 2017, and that's where you see the timeline, and that's how we get to that dollar figure, 424,000 owed.

I hope that answered your question.

And the reason why it's not that 750,000 is because it was a 10-year agreement, but they it was terminated in 2022.

Exactly, yes, and that stopped the duty to pay any debt service at that point.

So there was a window of time, and this is it, um, in which debt service payments were made and due.

Thank you.

We'll continue with public comment.

Good morning, Mayor Wu and members of the Wichita City Council.

My name is John Todd.

I live at 1559 Payne here in Wichita, Candace.

I find it troubling that no one on city staff or in a policy making position will ever be held accountable for this type of inept handling of public property and public funds.

It has been my observation over the years that city staff is no match for experienced private sector investors when negotiating this type of sophisticated transaction.

I watched with a great deal of interest the $850 million sales tax issue that you all passed with limited public input.

I congratulate Councilmember Hoheisel, Councilmember Ballard, and Mayor Wu for making an attempt at the last minute to break it into five buckets so that there could be public input on five different proposals, not all just grouped together.

To this avail.

Uh the I I want to simply advise our audience both here and at home to just vote no on the March 3rd sales tax proposal.

The way it is structured, it looks like a vehicle for future non-transparent abuse of city property and taxpayer funds.

Thank you for allowing me to speak.

Thank you, Mr.

Todd.

Simply vote no.

We will continue with public comment.

I see no further individuals who would like to address the council on this matter.

We will now close public comment and bring it back to the bench, council members.

We'll begin with council member Todd.

Thank you.

I just wanted to follow up based on my questions before I understand.

People are um upset.

Um processes have changed, and I appreciate that.

But looking forward for Wichita, the settlement agreement for 200,000 is safer than number one going back to court, going to court, continuing whatever the term is for $19,000.

And you know, we talked about staff time would be involved and and all the things, and this eliminates the risk of the 1.86 million dollar countersuit.

So in my mind, this is the safest decision for the city to approve the settlement agreement.

Thank you.

Councilmember Glasscock.

Thank you, Mayor.

First off, I public trust is hard-earned uh and it's easily lost.

And I think this is an example of how public trust has been lost in this process.

Um, I do want to say that uh the staff that are currently present, without being legal or finance or parks and recreation, that this is uh not a fault of yours, and I'm glad that we put processes in place recently from this council uh to try to earn public trust.

Um I have an inherent distrust of government as a whole, uh and that's why I ran for this position to try to make sure that we hold this institution accountable.

Um, when the city enters an agreement, the public expects transparency, diligence, and stewardship of their money.

And I believe that settlements can be appropriate in some cases, but they should never replace accountability or foreclose legitimate questions, and that's today, and that is why today I'll be voting no.

Um settlements may reduce risk, but they can also shield decisions from public scrutiny.

And in this case, I do not believe it's in the city's best interest to close the door before the facts are fully tested, and I believe the citizens want us to fight.

Um, a jury of their peers should have the last word on this.

There should be open testimony, there should be cross-examination, and there should be witnesses brought to the stand.

Um, I believe that accountability means letting truth be examined in the open uh when it's uncomfortable, and I cannot support anything below the 219,000 that the court has ruled that we are eligible to receive and a public apology to the citizens of Wichita.

Um, this abuse is to the citizens of Wichita and the public buildings that are owned by the citizens of our community.

Um, I again am thankful for the changes that this council has made to ensure that this does not happen again, and I believe through centralizing accounts receivables and contract management, so we have safeguards to make sure that this doesn't happen again, but it shouldn't have happened in the first place.

Thank you.

Councilmember Ballard.

Thank you, Mayor.

Just wanted to share a few comments.

As a past business owner, I'll never understand how we got to this point.

It appears Genesis through a public temperatantrum when they didn't get the renewed contract to operate and trash the place on the way out.

This is a lose-lose situation in my mind.

It's disappointing the ball was dropped and fumbled over and over and over again.

I'm disappointed owning as many businesses as Genesis or the Stevens family does.

They have no problems taking folks to court when they're trying to get out of their memberships, but they can't seem to pay the city on time.

Uh they definitely have the means to pay the debt to the city, and I'm disappointed that they didn't.

It wasn't until early in 2022 that the council at the time pushed to sue and hold them accountable for non-payment along with other bad actors and development contracts.

If I put on my business hat, I believe and know that the 200,000 is the best option here, which which avoids the Genesis countersuit of 1.86 million in hopes to collect 19,000 more dollars, which is the max we can collect due to the statute of limitations.

But on principle, I want to vote no.

It's absurd to think that anyone or any business thinks it's okay to not pay your bills and be held accountable for that matter.

None of us would get by with his behavior.

Vice Mayor John Sted.

I appreciate the comments of the council members previously.

I see both points.

Uh mistakes were made over the years.

Um we can't go back and correct those.

We can blame people, but we can't go back and correct those.

Uh we can set up new processes, which mayor roof said we have done.

Mark Manning has we have done, so hopefully in the future, another council won't be uh blaming us for something that we're doing now.

So, yeah, they probably will anyway.

But but I I'm a businessman.

I I put on my business hat and I said, you know, how can we go forward from here?

You know, mistakes were made, they're done.

How do we go forward from here?

What's our best solution?

And as council member Tuttle said, it's $19,000 versus potentially losing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Now, sure, we'll get more facts on the case.

Um, that's true, Councilman Glasscock said, but being a businessman, I just don't think it's worth it to risk that.

Take what we got, move on.

Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I think one thing we're all in agreement here is there's a lot of lessons to be learned from this whole process and a lot of things that we can clean up moving forward.

I believe in the last four years we've been moving that direction, um, starting with trying to hold them accountable four years ago and now trying to reprint the process here in the last two years to make sure that these mistakes don't happen over again.

Um, yeah, it's hard to look at this and just not feel jilted on the side of the taxpayers.

And I understand their fury.

I also understand the perspective of people who look at it from a business sense, and this may be the best that we can actually get from this.

So I don't feel like there's any right move here.

I don't feel like there's um again.

I I feel the the fury of the taxpayers.

I understand their frustration, and that's um driving my vote to come up.

So thank you.

Councilmember Johnson.

Thanks, Mayor.

Um I will just say, following up on what I said earlier.

I agree with councilmember Tuttle, Vice Mayor Johnston.

Mistakes were made.

I believe that under the leadership of council and also the former manager, um, looking at centralizing processes as the way to go.

Glad the council voted on that and moving forward.

Uh, I believe that when mistakes are made, you should fix the processes that allowed that in the first place.

We're doing that.

I do think this is the best scenario for the taxpayer.

And um, if passed and the settlement does happen today, I also wish the council luck in the Waldinger case as well.

That way the taxpayers can be fully reimbursed for all the damages done.

Vice Mayor Johnston.

This council has responsibility for taxpayers' dollars now.

Not 10 years ago, 15 years ago, now we turned down a settlement that councilman Johnson negotiated with Dave Burke and the whole situation.

We turned it down and go to court.

This fall we're gonna know how much we're gonna get.

There is a high high probability we're gonna get zero.

Zero.

That's four hundred thousand dollars worth of taxpayer money that we just pissed away because we could have got it.

Now we'll see what happens.

But I've got it on my calendar to check that.

Everybody who voted no on that settlement is responsible for not taking that 400,000.

Everybody who votes no on this, there will be a if they if the no does go through, there will be a court date.

I'll put it on my calendar to see how much we got, to see how much we spent, and see how taxpayers came out.

Did we get more than 200,000, including our staff time?

That is what this council is responsible for.

Just that.

We're not responsible for past decisions, we're responsible for now.

Future councils can criticize us for our decisions now.

So we'll see how the 400,000 come out, comes out.

I will present it when it does come out.

I will make an issue of it.

I will point out who voted no.

Just as in this case, we have an update for 200,000, and we'll see if it does go to court.

We will see how much we get.

We have to make the best decision for taxpayers' dollars now.

Not 10 years ago, not 2011, 2012.

We have to make the best decision now.

Thank you.

Councilmember Glasscock.

Thank you.

To the Vice Mayor's comments, I think there is a risk with settlement.

There is a risk when you go to, or there is a risk when you go to open court, but I also believe that there should be a line in the sand to people that we do business with in the future that we won't just settle when you quit making payments or when you abuse the responsibilities of the taxpayer.

And I think people need to know that we're gonna fight for the citizens and we're gonna fight in this particular way, and that we're just not gonna settle when um you know our backs pressed against the wall.

And I think that's what the citizens want.

And so I agree, there is a risk of going to open court, um, but there's an even greater risk of doing business with people that don't have the best interest of our citizens in the future if they see that they can just get out with the settlement every single time.

Vice Mayor Johnston.

Don't want to go back and forth too much here because I like you.

But we have put systems in place so it doesn't happen again.

We think we have so it doesn't happen again.

So going forward, this should not happen again.

You know it is people go broke on principle.

They do.

Um, you have to make good financial business decisions, and this is a financial business decision, or do we just want to piss away the money to prove a point?

That's decision.

I actually have a question for legal um at this point.

I've been weighing both of these conversations because I can tell you that when I sat in this seat and received the information regarding this lawsuit back in 2024, I was gonna be a certain no.

However, now learning the facts that we can only collect at best 219,000, which again I'm really ticked off about because again, the contract in itself was written so poorly, not on the behalf of the citizens of Wichita, but rather negotiated by a city manager who no longer is here.

So my question for law is actually is there any way to recoup the maximum, which is 219,000 according to what the judge has presumed.

Can that be collected right now?

Can there be?

I know that they're watching right now, so the question really is if they paid their full amount, which is truly owed to the citizens of Wichita 219.

Can that actually happen?

Uh Mayor, you might want to consider deferring the motion or deferring action today if you'd like to entertain that.

That's one thing that comes to mind if you would want, um we can continue negotiation.

This blank is a different idea.

I think that's the only way we can do this at the bench.

We don't have an agreement otherwise from the other party.

There's you know, that it would be the only speculation to vote on that.

I think we would recommend deferring it or taking a recess or anything you'd like to entertain that that could be pursued.

My follow-up question to that is I understand that one of the options instead of voting to settle, we can go back to the negotiation table.

However, I know that now they can see exactly what we're asking for, and it's $19,000 more.

If you make it right with the citizens of Wichita, what is truly owed is $219,000.

It should have been more, but the contract was written so poorly, we can't collect what should have been owed to us, but what can truly be owed right now is 219,000.

So my question, and in good faith, I'm asking because they're watching, if you pay the 219,000, that's what I would want this community to receive what they're truly owed, and I would be willing to defer this item so that we can have that at the negotiation table, even though they know what the card is that we're asking to play.

We're showing our cards, and the card is we just want what's owed to the citizens of Wichita, not more because we can't collect more, but just what is owed, and that's just 19,000 more than what the settlement agreement is asking.

So before I say my piece, um, I want I've been watching the comments, I've been listening to this community before I even became mayor, and one of my campaign promises was restore trust in City Hall.

So before I say my piece, um I want I've been watching the comments, I've been listening to this community before I even became mayor, and one of my campaign promises was restore trust in City Hall, and it's not a slogan.

I was one of the individuals that sat in the back with media, and I would be asking those questions in my head, and when there was the opportunity to ask the city manager that question, we would be asking those questions.

And so all of this has been an executive session, which means all of us have gotten way more information about this lawsuit over the last two years for others way more than that.

We have a lot of knowledge of what can be collected and what cannot be collected, and trust me, they were some heated conversations behind closed doors.

So I can only speak on the behalf of these individuals that I'm sitting next to.

They are fighting for the citizens of Wichita.

They have been fighting behind closed doors, and so I'm asking this community since they're asking about accountability and who should be held accountable for this.

The person that should be held accountable is the highest leader for the city of Wichita, which is the city manager, which I am so grateful that now we have a new city manager.

He just started yesterday.

This is his first city council meeting.

I'm going to be asking for way more and expecting way more accountability.

I'm going to be expecting way more transparency, and I know that this is a new way forward.

Mr.

Goter, thank you for writing opinion pieces.

Um, I really appreciate you wanting to be a watchdog, just like Celeste.

Faith, thank you for speaking up, and Todd, thank you for speaking up.

This council does hear.

This council is active.

It's we ask questions not just from the bench, but we also ask them behind closed doors via emails, and I trust this council.

And so what I'm asking is a reset.

And I know it's hard because I came into office two years ago, but I a lot of people thought I was the city manager.

I am not the city manager.

I am one person on the council with only one vote, and I'm only responsible for that one vote.

And this debate that has been going on for several minutes now, is exactly why local government and your participation matters, because we want to do what's right, and we want to do what's principled, but we also want to know that we're gonna collect what is owed to the city and the citizens of Wichita.

So this is a very difficult conversation, but it needs to be had.

This information should have been coming forward before all of you, before today.

However, because it was in litigation, it couldn't.

That is the reason why executive sessions matter.

There's negotiations that happen and facts are facts, and contracts are supposed to be enforced.

And so I believe that now moving forward, our contracts are going to be centralized.

If there are any anomalies, they will be highlighted so the council can discuss with the community.

I believe that we now have processes in place that really hold the citizens accountable while we still have conversations because we might not all agree that that is the way that we should move forward, but we will have dialogue.

And so I initially was gonna vote no against this, but rather I'm actually going to ask, I am going to move that we defer this action.

And I ask that the lawyers will go back to the table and ask for the full amount that is owed, which is 219,000 for the citizens of Wichita.

And while I am very disappointed in what has happened in the past, there is a new city manager now, and my expectations are high, and I want to make sure that the citizens of Wichita benefit the most out of the decisions we make from this bench.

So with that, I move to defer this action for further negotiations with a point of clarification to get back to the table with the lawyers to recoup the full 219,000 that is owed to the city of Wichita.

You've suggested date.

benefit the most out of the decisions we make from this bench so with that I move to defer this action for further negotiations with a point of clarification to get back to the table with the lawyers to recoup the full 219 thousand that is owed to the city of Wichita suggested date it's better for the minutes and for the record if there is a date certain it doesn't mean you have to take action on that date but we do need for control purposes a date so you can pick a date in whatever you how soon can this happen I would I would say set for the next meeting okay the thirteen for one week from today defer my motion is to defer action until next week's Tuesday council meeting so that attorneys can go back to the table and negotiate what is owed to the city of Wichita which is 219 dollars council member glass mayor with quick comment all we're asking for I'll second that motion all we're asking for is 1900 I don't think we have to have a week to determine whether we have 1900 if we could defer to the end of the meeting today it's a simple call I can guarantee you the defendants are watching right now it's a simple call do you agree to 1900 or do you not agree to 1900 because that's gonna be my line in the sand and I don't think it takes a week for them to make that termination and so I don't know legal can we defer to I would offer a friendly amendment that we defer to the end of today's meeting as the last agenda item I would accept that I'll accept that yeah so we have a motion with a friendly amendment to go to the table between now and the end of this council meeting uh to determine if the defendants would entertain providing the remaining $19,000 for a total of 219000 dollars owed to the city of Wichita and its citizens a motion and a second and further discussion council member glasscock withdrawal request Councilmember Tuttle thank you I I have many comments about some of the comments that were made today but I'll defer them to another time um my question Jennifer is how many times have we been to mediation on this formal mediation one time okay one time so formal there have been conversations ongoing so let's say that um the the parties involved are contacted by the end of the meeting and they say no two hundred is our line in the sand then it comes back as this original motion and that's where we have that's the only offer offer of offer we have so that's all we can bring before you okay so my second question and I think I know the answer to this but I just want to make sure um we have a policy that any agenda item that comes to us is by Thursday at 5 p.m before the next council meeting making this change does that violate our policy in any way or is this just like a normal uh agenda item that we can modify as we go I just want to make sure because again we're involved in litigation and so I just want to make sure that we're we're handling this exactly right.

Yeah that that question is um subject to interpretation it is the same arguably the same agenda item the action the the details have changed I think it's considered for my interpretation it would be the same agenda item you are changing the facts and changing the dollar mail I I don't there's only no clear answer yeah I just want to make sure and then my last question is before we let's say that we call them and they say sure okay 219 dollars it is will we have something in writing before I'm assuming there's something in writing now or maybe now this is just an informal agreement we're developing as we go so I don't know we will try to determine what we can thank you council member ballard thank you mayor uh jennifer question haven't we asked for the full 219 we've had many negotiations so thank you thanks so we have a motion and a second uh to defer this item until the end of the meeting so that negotiations can continue so uh who will be this will be at the end of the meeting then you need to make it I think for the clerk do you want it to be the last item of the meeting then is you know we need to put it somewhere on the agenda we can make it right before council member appointments and comments okay so there's clarity when it comes before council member appointments so we have a motion and a second any further discussion I see none madam clerk please open the roll motion passes six one mayor if I may I may add there may be a need for an executive session before that next next item I just don't know yet but I want to let you know that's a possibility I appreciate that and again um for the individuals who are watching and the defendants uh representatives who are watching I believe that all community members want to make this community a better place and so I'm asking in good faith that what is owed to the city of Wichita should be paid so we can move forward with the other litigation that is still pending at this moment Madam Clerk please call the next item board of bids and contracts dated January 5th 2026 morning mayor city council

I believe that all community members want to make this community a better place.

And so I'm asking in good faith that what is owed to the city of Wichita should be paid so we can move forward with the other litigation that is still pending at this moment.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Board of Bids and Contracts, date of January 5th, 2026.

Morning.

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

The Board of Bids and Contracts convened yesterday, January 5th, 2026 for the following items for purchasing.

We have 658,000 gross vehicle weight restriction dump trucks from Omaha Truck Center Incorporated doing business as truck center companies for an aggregate total of 1,304, 398 dollars.

We have the iTron Temetra Advanced Subscription for ITRON Incorporated for a five-year total aggregate of 322,275 and 30 cents.

We have the Axon SkyDio drones and 60 month subscription for Axon Enterprises Incorporated for a five-year aggregate total of one 100,000 10617.

Sorry.

167,410.

Excuse me.

And for airport, we have the airport streets and parking lot rehab for Preto Construction LLC for 2,235,444 and 63 cents.

This is how to become a vendor with the city of Wichita.

This is our purchasing calendar, small business resource partner events that the city's hosting or participating in.

And these are our growing open public opportunities underway.

And I'd be happy to try to answer your questions and try not to make mistakes again.

You're great, Josh.

Thank you to you and the purchasing department.

I see no questions for staff.

This does not get public comment.

So I will go ahead and move that to approve the Board of Bids and Contracts dated January 5th, 2026.

Second.

Motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Motion passes 70.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Petitions for public improvements.

Good morning, Mayor City Council members.

Paul Gunselman, Public Works and Utilities for the Record.

I have a few petitions for your consideration this morning.

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

The petitions are valid per Kansas statute.

Southwise Church Edition located in District 4.

The project will provide sanitary sewer improvements required for a new commercial development.

And a revised petition courtyards at Jacob Farm Edition located in District 5 on June 17th, 2025.

And it is recommended that the city council approve the new and revised petitions and new budget.

Adopt the new and amended resolutions and authorize the necessary signatures.

And as a reminder, these improvements are paid by special assessment.

I'll stand for questions.

Thank you, Paul.

Questions for staff.

I see none.

With that, I will move to approve the new and revised petitions and new budget, adopt the new and amending resolutions and authorize the necessary signatures.

Second.

Motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Motion passes, 7-0.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Main water treatment plant conversion to emergency use.

Before I ask for recommendation for approval of this item, I do want to talk about uh where we are at on our new water treatment plant.

Before I ask for recommendation for approval of this item, I do want to talk about where we are at on our new water treatment plant, what update I have at this point, talk about how this timing might align with that because needless to say, what we're looking at doing here moving forward would not be until such time that the new plant is fully online.

We're able to take this facility offline.

So some background on this project itself.

The main water treatment plant was constructed in 1939 and expanded in 1954.

As I just mentioned, this facility will be taking taken offline after the new Wichita Waterworks plant is fully tested and transferred to the city.

And again, I'm gonna talk about that in just a moment.

Various options for the future of the main water treatment plant were presented to the city council in October of 2024, and a progressive design build project to convert this facility for emergency use was initiated in March of last year.

At that time, the city council authorized a $1 million budget for phase one of the project and approved the selection criteria for a design build contractor.

Requests for proposals were issued for both a design builder and an owner's representative.

Due to the size and complexity of this project, it makes sense for us to consider hiring an owner's representative to help supplement our resources and for project oversight as we go through design and construction.

Some project background.

So as we talked about before, our goal once our new facility is online.

We do want to have this plant in place to be able to come on as needed emergency use.

Our goal is to be able to bring this facility online in 24 to 48 hours.

We think it makes sense.

We had this discussion previously with the council looking at multiple options.

We are one of few municipalities, probably in the country, our size that has only one water treatment facility.

We don't want to give up the opportunity to have that backup.

Even with the new plant, once it's online, the built-in redundancy, the things that come with that new plant.

We never know what might happen.

If there's ever any issues later, we want to be able to bring this facility online so that we can still continue to provide water to the community.

This approach minimizes emergency startup time and the capital cost of the project.

Construction will begin after the main water treatment plant can be taken offline and is expected to take two years.

The design will be compatible with future possibility of using the site for potable water reuse.

As you know, we are working on a water reuse master plan now.

We'll have more information to share with the council on that soon.

As part of that, we are looking at the possibility of using this facility somewhere at some point for our reuse efforts.

So we've got both the consultant we have selected for this as part of the design build team and our consultant for water reuse are working closely together to look at future opportunities.

The sole proposal for the design build portion of this was Wildcat was confirmed by the selection committee.

Subcontractors include PEC Stantec and Donlinger Donlinger Construction.

We want to increase the initial phase one design from 30% to 60%, which I'll speak about in just a moment.

And the proposed phase one cost for a 60% design is $900,000.

On the owner's rep side, two proposals were received.

Selection committee recommended Garver to serve as the owner's rep, and the cost for the proposed phase one for the owner's rep is just over $360,000.

Looking at the overall financial considerations, again, I mentioned the cost for phase one of the design build is $900,000, just over $360,000 for the owner's rep.

In March of 2025, as I previously mentioned, one million dollars was initiated for phase one.

At the time, we had planned to move forward with 30% design and developing a guaranteed maximum price.

Since that time, and as a result of what we've seen on some other projects where we are implementing progressive design build, we have made the decision to move forward to a 60% design deliverable, which will result in a more certain guaranteed maximum price with lower risk of future cost overruns.

So at this point in time, we need to authorize a little bit more budget to be able to move forward in that direction.

An additional $386,000 is requested to cover the two contracts plus 10% for administrative and project management costs.

Before I make a recommendation, I do want to talk to you about where we are at with Wichita Waterworks based on our most recent conversations that are ongoing.

There's a workshop scheduled for one o'clock today between our staff and theirs to continue the conversations that we had prior to the holidays.

Staff met with Wichita Water Partners and their full team on December 18th.

That meeting included Councilmember Tuttle.

She was unable to stay for very long.

Vice Mayor Johnson was there for the duration of the meeting.

Really appreciated in being able to do that.

It was a good conversation.

We heard from Wichita Water Partners and their subcontractor.

We do believe that the root cause has been identified and can be traced back to a design issue.

They've already looked at several options for making the repairs and being able to move forward.

There are three vendors that have been hired to conduct an independent analysis that is being done right now as we speak.

We should see the results from all three of those in the next two weeks.

And what they're gonna do is analyze and evaluate the root cause analysis.

Hopefully, we'll support what the Wichita Water Partners has found to be the issue so that we can move forward.

Assuming that happens, and we'll deal with that as that comes.

We have multiple meetings scheduled in the next two weeks, uh half a day workshops between staff and the vendor, so we can talk through what the next steps are and what the timing looks like.

Based on the information that we have right now, it looks like uh it would be sometime this summer if we can move forward with the design, we get verification from the third party independent analysis that this is the right next steps.

It's likely going to be sometime this summer.

Uh, it'll take that time for fabrication and installation of the clarifiers.

That would be followed up by confidence testing and performance testing that we've talked about in the past.

I don't think it's likely that we take ownership of this plant before the end of this year, but we'll know more in the coming months of what that timing looks like.

Next critical step is to make a decision on moving forward with the design for repairing the clarifiers and fixing the issues that we've encountered.

One thing I do want to mention, we've talked about this before, but I want to be very clear.

All of the costs associated with repairing these clarifiers, the time that it takes, staff time.

This actually goes back to last April when we had the original completion date.

All of those costs are the responsibility of Wichita Water Partners.

There will be no additional cost to the city of Wichita to our ratepayers for any of this work that is being completed now, and that will continue through the end of the project.

Um, the facility still belongs to Wichita Water Partners, is their responsibility.

We have not taken ownership of the plant of the facility except for the administration building, and that will stay that way until such time that we've gotten through this repair.

We can certify that the repair has been done, that the performance testing is completed and meets the intent of the original contract at that point in time.

Once the city of Wichita takes over the facility, we can move forward.

Uh, but until then, all of it is their responsibility.

So, even with that schedule for uh the new water treatment plant, Wichita Waterworks, we think it's prudent to continue moving forward with this project.

It will allow us to begin design, uh, which is gonna take the better part of 2026 anyway.

We can identify long lead time parts if there are some and equipment, which are likely to be.

Uh, it'll help us uh start identifying the needs for the conversion of this facility for emergency use, and then we'd be ready to hit the ground running with construction once this facility comes offline.

Uh if you'll remember the goal here again is to have this facility be in place for emergency use, come online emergency use just in case we have any issues with the new plant.

We're not expecting any once we're up and running, uh, but we want to minimize our risk and minimize that gap between when our new facility is online and this facility is ready to serve its intended purpose.

For that reason, we're recommending moving forward with this project, and I think it makes sense to do so.

Having said all that, staff recommends city council approve the revised budget, approve the contracts with Wildcat and Garver, adopt the amending resolutions, authorize the necessary signatures, and per charter ordinance number 211.

This item does require a two-thirds majority vote.

I'd be happy to stand for any questions.

Thank you, Gary.

Questions for staff beginning with the current water treatment plant.

Um I know that this issue is about the current facility, however, sorry.

My question is more about the new water treatment plant that the city has not taken ownership of.

Can you please one more time explain?

You said that the root cause so far that has been identified as a design issue.

Whose responsibility is the design, and then what is the approximate cost to a new design so that it will be functioning in the future?

So the responsibility of the dissolved design and construction is Wichita Water Partners.

So everything related from the very beginning of design through construction to the point that we are now, all of that is responsible to Wichita Water Partners.

They have stepped up and taken responsibility along with their subcontractors.

They know it's their issue to resolve.

I do not have any numbers related to cost for repair yet.

And a quick follow-up question, and maybe that's for legal.

I want to make sure that it is in the contract that it is full responsibility of Wichita Water Partners until the city takes ownership of this facility, all costs, time also any of this new design, any uh repairs are the responsibility of Wichita water partners, and that that is in the contract.

It is in the contract, uh, and we continue those discussions.

We have been uh very diligent with those discussions as we've gone through all of these issues that we've dealt with since last April.

Uh ultimately, when we get to the end point of final costs and everything associated with final acceptance of this facility, all of that will be rolled into it.

But the contract does speak to the responsibility of Wichita Water Partners as the facility is still their ownership.

Thank you, Gary.

Questions uh for this item, Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, just one question, Gary.

Um, is there any are there anything?

Is there anything identified that we need to get a jump on to ensure that the current water treatment plant makes it through this year operating at full capacity?

I think we're in a really good place as of right now.

We over the last five years probably, and and I suppose going back to even to 2019 when the decision was made to move forward and build a new facility.

Uh, we have made some really strategic investments in our current plant without overdoing it.

Uh we've um, and I I can visualize the list and I can't quote the numbers, but uh in working with city council, um, this capital improvement program, all under our rates, uh, included improvements to the plant that could keep the facility going for an unknown amount of time.

We certainly weren't trying to just limp it along, it was doing fine.

Uh the facility is aged, obviously it's 86 years old now.

Um, but we're in a good place.

We've uh I've tasked staff to make sure that we are where we need to be, and we're certain that we're in a good place.

We're gonna continue to keep an eye on obviously how things are working as we always would, but I feel confident we're in a good place with the current plant.

I appreciate it.

Councilmember uh Vice Mayor Johnston.

Thank you, Mayor.

Gary, I appreciate you uh the invitation to be part of the meeting.

Uh three-hour meeting, very very interesting though.

Um it's not rocket science.

Um the subcontractor just admitted probably 10 or 12 times that they made a mistake and they were sorry.

So it happens.

Um thing at the end, I will tell the public, and if there's any questions at the very end of that three-hour meeting, I made the point that we are running two water treatment plants now.

So we have more staff than we have now.

And I will mention that staff is really really good.

Uh the four people from the from our water treatment plant asked some very tough, hard questions to Wichita Water Partners and the some contractors.

So kudos to you for that department.

They really good.

Um, but we are running two water treatment plants now.

There is a cost to that.

I think we should be in reimbursement for that to figure out what that is.

And the second thing is uh, even though it's on their books, it doesn't matter if it's on their books or our books, there's still depreciation going on that plant.

We're gonna get a water treatment plant that's two or three years old.

Um, there should be some consideration and made for that also.

So I again I appreciate you you're doing it.

It's just a couple comments.

Uh, you don't need to comment, but uh I appreciate the invitation to be part of it, and I'd like to continue to be a part of if I can.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I appreciate your time, and I do appreciate the comments about staff.

I wish I could take credit, but they they do a wonderful job.

We have some amazing staff that's helped us work through this.

But to your other point, um, those items are part of our consideration moving forward with the final uh negotiations with Wichita Water Partners as we wrap up the contract.

Council Member Flask.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

I just have one quick question.

And so when we when I look at the green sheet, I think it's on page or slide 39 of the presentation.

It says that only one proposal was received, and that subsequently this is also 386 uh thousand two hundred and twenty dollars above what was originally requested.

Can you elaborate on why above what was originally requested as well as why only one proposal was received?

The the the best I could probably tell you and uh speculate on the one proposal, and I don't think it's speculation because I think we heard from the market, and uh I know we had discussions with others.

It's a couple things that happen.

Existing facility like this, um, it helps to have knowledge of the facility.

Uh the team that we have probably has the most knowledge of our current plan as anybody in the industry, just the work that they've done over the years.

And so, what happens when you when you look at projects like this and people see it coming, they realize that there's others out there who have been a part of it, and generally they they recognize that they won't be competitive.

Um, and so they'll stay away from the project.

I would guess that has a lot to do with it.

I also know there's a lot going on right now uh in the industry related to this type of work for contractors and consultants, and I just don't think there's a lot of other capacity.

So we expected probably to have one team, not knowing how it would be mixed up.

As far as the additional cost, um, that is tied to the fact that we originally were going to move towards a 30% design.

So our estimate was based on that.

That's why we originally requested the one million dollar budget.

Uh now that we're gonna go to 60%, it's gonna cost more.

It's more time factor, it's more it's more duration of that to get to that point.

That pushed us to a point of with the design build vendor and the owner's rep going from 36 30% to 60%, that collectively just pushed us over that original one million dollar budget.

Uh, it was nothing more than a time factor because we decided to move further into the project at this point in time.

Okay, great elaboration.

Uh follow-up question.

So on this side, construction will begin after it can be taken offline and expected to take two years.

So, likely when this is gonna be brought before us with design build, we would have already currently been operating the new water treatment facility.

We're not what are the pros and cons of advancing this now before we have a timeline or an estimate of when the new water treatment facility will come online.

The the pros for advancing this now are multiple things.

So uh if we can move forward with the design now, there are uh not knowing yet exactly what we're gonna do, how this is gonna work.

We have some idea of the overall concept.

We've talked about philosophically, we want to be able to bring this plan online as quick as possible.

I think we have a pretty good idea of what that means from the treatment process or where we can minimize um those types of things cost-wise and timing-wise, so that we can bring the plant on as quick as possible.

Um that allows us to start moving forward with that, identifying what the needs are of the facility, uh, the types of equipment that are needed.

I can tell you, depending on what is done, and it's probably not in this case, but there are certain projects we have out there now, and this still goes back to result of of what happened with supply chain during COVID.

Electrical switch gear, we can see uh lead times up to several years if we need to change things out for this facility.

We've seen that on some uh one of our our newest police stations.

One of the last items that came in was electrical switch gear.

If we can get ahead of those now, uh we can get equipment ordered, we can get ahead of that uh the lead times so that we're not waiting any longer that we can close that gap.

We are gonna get our new plant operational.

Uh, and what we'd like to be able to do is have the design done, be ready to move forward as with construction as quick as possible uh once this facility is offline.

I think what that does during this time period uh is it allows us the ability to figure out a way to maybe get done quicker than two years.

No guaranteed, don't know what that's gonna look like, but I think the two years probably also accounted for some of the design period.

We actually have a little bit of an advantage now that we could try to get most of the design work done before we even take the plan offline.

I don't know that there's any cons.

The biggest con I would tell you is if we push this out, we're potentially gonna see costs go up.

And that's including on the design side.

Uh these proposed contracts we have right now with the design build vendor and owners' rep.

If we delay those, they're likely that their costs are gonna go up just as a matter of time if we were to bring this back sometime later.

Thank you, Gary.

Councilmember Ballard.

Thank you, Mayor.

Sorry, Gary, if you mentioned this, but have you covered warranties?

With the with the new plant as we figure out the clarifiers and all of that stuff.

Um, have the warranties been renegotiated?

So the one thing I can tell you for sure is on the clarifiers themselves.

Uh at whatever point those clarifiers are repaired and are operational.

We do have the guarantee of a full two-year warranty from that point going forward.

So that is a good thing.

Uh, as far as warranties for the rest of the plant, we are working on that now with Wichita Water Partners.

It's it's uh it's it's complex uh and it's a little bit challenging, but but it's it's something we are staying with, and we will get what we need to get going forward.

That part has not been fully resolved yet.

Okay, thank you.

But it has been for the clarifiers.

Thank you.

Councilmember Tuttle.

Thank you, Gary.

Thank you, Don, for all your work on this.

Always appreciate it.

My theme for today is going to be redundancy.

Um, I know you've already said this, but I just want to ask again just to make sure I understand and the community understands, and I've heard you say this before.

Are we one of the few communities our size that doesn't have redundancy in terms of water treatment plant until then now we have the new plant that will come, but until then we were just operating with the 86-year-old facility.

Is that correct?

That is correct.

So making sure that we have this functional is essential for redundancy in case there was an emergency with the other treatment plant.

It is, and I might add to that just to be very clear.

We've talked about for a long time now as we developed our new facility about having internal redundancy on that plant.

So, in case for those who have heard that before, I want to be very clear.

Our new facility will have built-in redundancy.

We don't have now, and what that means is is if we have a portion of the treatment process that goes down, we can stay operational a lot better than we could now.

Set that part aside.

We are one of the few communities.

We looked at this as we were going through developing options for this project.

We were one of the few communities our size that has one treatment facility.

If we chose not to do anything with our current plant, we would still be one of the few communities our size that has one treatment facility.

You will recall we had a discussion uh city manager Leighton when he was in Des Moines, Iowa.

Their treatment plant was flooded.

Their community was without potable water for almost a month.

You can imagine what that would do to a city our size.

There is no guarantees, even with a brand new water treatment plant that something can't happen out of our control.

Uh, and that's why we think it makes so much sense to have this second facility remain in place, find a way to bring it online in 24 to 48 hours so we can keep moving forward.

Thank you.

I see no further questions for staff.

Again, uh, sorry, I do have one really quick one.

This is not out of our general fund, is that correct?

Correct.

This is part of uh our utility fund.

So this all rolls into our pro forma and part of our utility rates.

Thank you.

With that, uh, no further comments from the bench.

We will now open it up for public comment.

I see no one from the public.

I will now bring it back to the bench.

Um Gary, thank you very much for providing an update on the new water treatment plant.

Um, while this current water treatment plant continues to provide water for our community.

Um, and I know that uh there have been conversations at the state level regarding reuse and other types of projects.

So uh the possibility for this current water treatment plant to also have that capability in the future uh is promising.

Um, and so um I would be happy to move this item, but I see Vice Mayor Johnson would like to speak.

Go ahead.

Thank you, Mayor.

Sneak in here.

Um, on March 18th, I voted against a million dollars to re only vote voted against a million dollars to repurpose this plant because a new water treatment plant has multiple redundancies with it.

However, I will vote for this because we can see what maybe problems can have with the water treatment plant.

Number one, but number two, more importantly than that, the water reuse issue is a huge huge opportunity for us.

Um, and this could be a major part in that.

So with that, I I will fully support this.

Councilmember Ballard.

Mayor, I'd like to make the motion if you're ready.

Sure.

I'd like to take the recommended action, approve the revised budget and contracts, adopt the amending resolution, and authorize unnecessary signatures.

Perder charter ordinance number 211.

This item requires a two-thirds majority vote.

Five votes required.

Second.

Motion and a second, any further discussion.

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Motion passes 70.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Design concept and supplemental design agreement number one for Webb Road from Central to 13th Street North.

Good morning again, Mayor.

City Council members Paul Gunzelman, public works and utilities for the record.

The item before you is design concept and supplemental agreement number one for Webb Road from Central to 13th Street.

On October 8th, 2024, the City Council approved funding for improvements to Webb Road from Central to 13th Street.

On April 8th, 2025, the City Council approved an agreement with professional engineering consultants to develop design concepts for this project.

And on November 10th, 2025, the concept was approved by the District 2 advisory board.

The map before you is the location of the project limits with central on the left side of the screen or at the south end of the project and 13th Street at the north end of the project limits.

Within the corridor is Minnaha Elementary and Collegiate as well to the west on 13th Street, that they do have an entrance onto Webb Road as well.

Some photos of some existing conditions on the next few slides.

This is north of Central, looking to the north.

And a signalized pedestrian crosswalk adjacent to Minnoha Elementary School.

There is sidewalk on both sides of the street at the south end of the project, and there is a southbound left turn lane at central as well.

Moving towards the north towards the mid-mile section, there is no curb.

There are open ditches and no sidewalk.

Moving further north, this would be north of the collegiate entrance.

And sidewalk on the west side of Webb Road only.

And again, in the foreground, the uh or background, the intersection of 13th and Webb Road has a northbound uh left turn lane as well.

The slide for you shows sidewalk, existing sidewalk located in the area with the blue lines.

Um you can see where the sidewalk is on the south side or on the west side of Webb Road.

They're north of Central as well as on the uh south of 13th Street, and sidewalk exists north of Central on the east side of Webb Road, um north towards the old uh former all-star sport all-star sports.

There's also sidewalk along central and some portions of sidewalk along 13th Street.

This is an overall larger view of the sidewalk network in the area from Kellogg up to 21st Street.

The green shows where Arterial Sidewalk has uh along the full length of the mile on at least one side.

Some segment segments of the roadway have a sidewalk on both sides.

The orange line is the future Red Bud Trail that will begin construction this year.

And we have received requests for sidewalk along Webb Road as well as along Douglas in the past, and you can see in red where those segments of sidewalk exists either on one side or the other.

They're on Webb Road and Douglas Street.

Moving into the proposed concept.

The proposed concept proposes a five-lane roadway extending north of Central Street for Webb Road, including pedestrian facilities on both sides of the street, and we would replace the existing signalized crosswalk there at Minnaha School.

Continuing north, um, this would be north of the former All-Star Sports, is what I'd mentioned before, maintaining the existing or maintaining the five-lane roadway with the two-way left turn lane, D cell lane into the former All-Star Sports, and again pedestrian facilities on each side of the roadway.

And we would recommend a six-foot sidewalk on each side or six-foot facilities, with the exception of when it's adjacent to the back of curb.

We have proposed widening that to eight feet to allow a little bit more space for pedestrians to walk.

As we've been through the district advisory boards and meeting with area residents, there has been concern expressed losing trees along the west side of the fence, all of which is in public right-of-way.

As with all projects, staff engages a city arborist and landscape architect with the consultant to determine the tree species and health of the trees, and they are evaluated on a case by case basis.

And if the roadway and sidewalk elevations can be adjusted to save the tree as we move forward with design, we will make those adjustments.

Moving north, adjacent, we are adjacent to a floodplain area.

We would maintain the four-lane section of Webb Road.

And there has been concerns expressed with the flood line floodplain.

The design as we move forward will follow federal and state guidelines, which do not allow raising existing base flood elevations.

Much of the fill for the proposed sidewalk widening is above the base flood elevation, and we will not disturb the existing fence on the west side.

And again, as we go through design, the sidewalk elevation will be modified to minimize the any impact or fill that would be required in this area.

Oops, sorry.

And then continue that fifth lane all the way up to 13th Street where the existing northbound left turn lane exists now.

We have met with collegiate.

The and we've had check traffic signal warrants at their drive location.

It does meet traffic signal warrants.

However, it would require a petition and would be special assessed to Wichita Collegiate since this is a private entrance.

So we will continue to have those discussions with them.

And if the timing works and petition is filed, we would construct the signal with the project.

If not, then we would construct as much as we can, conduit, service boxes, etc.

to prepare it for a future signal.

And then this is at the north end of the project again, tying into the existing northbound left turn lane at 13th Street.

The design fee to date is 167,500.

The cost of supplemental design agreement number one is 567,15050, which brings a total design fee to 734,650.

Funding is available with the within the existing budget of 750,000 that was approved by city council in October of 2024, and is funded by local sales tax.

A little over 8 million dollars for the project.

With that, it is recommended that the city council approve the design concept supplemental design agreement and authorize the necessary signatures, and I will stand for questions.

Thank you, Paul.

Questions for staff, beginning with Council Member Tuttle.

Thank you.

Thank you, Paul, and thank you, Steve Dagenhart, right in the back.

Um appreciate all of your work on this.

We had a very robust conversation at my district advisory board and much follow-up with residents after that.

So I truly appreciate all of your time.

Thank you for addressing the flooding.

That was something that was a big concern at the district advisory board meeting.

Thank you for addressing the trees.

That was also something that was a big issue.

We did all receive an email this morning at 8 40.

I forwarded it to you, and we've chatted since.

Can you just address the concern?

And if you mentioned I didn't hear it, but about the existing electrical pools near the beach lake in this area and what what our plans are for that.

So we will need to get into further design regarding those to see if they are, you know, if they would need to be moved.

That's that would be the next step in the design.

I know staff has met met with representatives of MERFIN.

I believe they had an old site plan maybe back from 2009.

So you know, I think they uh might have future or future plans to develop that.

We don't know that quite yet, so um we can continue to work with them if they have an updated site plan to maybe show where um a future driveway might be or something like that, then we can work that in.

But we don't have anything from them at this time to really okay.

Thank you.

And then you and I have both had multiple conversations with collegiate.

We've met with the head of school and um some of their other staff, met with board members.

This is something that they very desperately want, not only the sidewalk, but then also the the if it warrants a signal and and they understand that there would be a process and a cost associated with that, and they're still very interested in pursuing.

But again, Mr.

Hertz email from Murph and he talks a little bit about sidewalks.

Um do they need to be on both sides?

Any thoughts regarding this?

Per per the sidewalk ordinance, um the city is responsible for installing or constructing sidewalk on each side of the uh arterial street.

Um so and we believe it is feasible that we can get sidewalk on both sides of the street with with this project.

Okay, thank you so much.

I appreciate all your work on this Paul.

Great job.

A follow-up question to that.

What's the cost of just the sidewalk itself?

So if the intention is to have connectivity between Minnehaw and 13th Street, and there is just a missing piece of sidewalk, I think it's 53, slide 53.

There we go.

Um can you not just construct one side of sidewalk?

Uh tell me the cost of sidewalks.

Give me a minute, Mayor.

I I think recent bids for sidewalk are probably six dollars a square foot.

Um it looks like that's about a half a mile.

And again, not um not knowing if we need retaining walls or anything like that.

My guess is it could be 25,000, maybe.

I I'd have to really look at that a little bit more.

Is there 60 feet times six?

Oh, I'm sorry.

Times I'm sorry, a hundred thousand dollars.

So I forgot to multiply by the uh width of it.

So a hundred thousand dollars for one sidewalk, so two would be two hundred thousand dollars.

Approximately of the eight million dollar project.

Correct, yes.

I'll have further questions.

Thank you.

Council member Glasgow.

Withdraw my request.

Um, number one, thank you very much for um.

I think we had this conversation about sidewalks last year.

What is the appropriate size of a sidewalk?

And I think you said now it's six foot.

Uh yes, yes, and we as I mentioned during the presentation.

Um in this section here, we might since since the sidewalk would be located at the back of curb, we might, you know, we were looking at possibly eight foot there just to provide a little bit more space so that the um anybody using the sidewalk isn't walking right adjacent to the curb and and traveling vehicles.

Um eight million dollars is a lot of money, and it comes from local sales taxes, uh, which are deemed to be used for streets.

Can you tell me what is the opportunity cost of this eight million dollars if we chose to do repairs instead on streets rather than reconstruct a street, which is just uh web road from central to 13th street.

Can you tell me what eight million dollars worth of local sales taxes would help in repairing?

So, how many miles could be repaired with eight million dollars?

I was looking for Aaron, he's not I boy, I don't know that off my top of the head, Mayor.

I'm sorry, sorry.

The reason why I'm asking that question is because I do drive around there, and I don't see many folks who utilize um that area uh in terms of pedestrian traffic.

I understand connectivity and I appreciate that.

Um I don't believe that citizens want to see more new, but rather help us repair some of the streets that are already in disrepair.

Um and I understand that we have a uh framework on which streets need to be prioritized, uh, but even just driving that stretch to Kellogg, um, a lot of bumps uh right in front of Textron Aviation.

Um, and so I guess I'm very confused of why uh we're just focusing on just this stretch, which is Central and 13th Street on Webb Road, when there are other parts that really do need repair, not new.

Um so councilmember Tuttle might have more insights since she had her district advisory board.

I'd like to know what uh residents have said about this.

Councilmember Tuttle.

Not just at the district advisory board meeting, but for the seven years that I've served on council, I have had consistent messaging from the community members in this area.

The reason that you don't see pedestrian traffic on the sidewalks is because there's a huge gap, and so they can only go so far then there's no sidewalk, and then they have to so nobody uses the existing sidewalks that are there because of the gap in the middle.

Also, the fact that we have had consistent communication with collegiate and also with independent school and minihall elementary school regarding this issue.

Um, this corridor of our community is growing exceptionally fast.

Um crossing 13th or crossing web are extremely dangerous, even with signalization, and so this is something that has been warranted by city staff by the engineering team because of a need heard from the community.

Thank you.

Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um I think safety is one of the main things that we need to look at here.

We do have two schools along this corridor.

Were they included in the safe routes to school study?

Do you know of that?

I I don't know, but um as council member Tuttle had mentioned, we there are or have been uh vehicular crashes there at the collegiate entrance um throughout the years.

Um part of it is a site distance issue as uh vehicles are exiting uh collegiate drive and southbound vehicles.

Um there's a crest in the roadway that uh limits visibility of those southbound vehicles.

So we believe these improvements could help that as well as the uh northbound left turn lane.

So um, but to answer your question, I'm not sure if Minaha was or collegiate were involved in that safe routes to school.

Okay, I don't know, Becky, if you if you know if it was or not.

I do, if it's I'll answer um the Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, upon my recommendation reached out to collegiate.

There's been three accidents at this intersection with collegiate faculty staff or students this year.

So this is a pretty um this isn't just a road improvement.

It isn't just uh a five-lane road improvement, which is warranted, but it's safety improvements, and this isn't just a sidewalk project, it's also safety improvements.

So thank you for asking the question.

I appreciate it.

Councilmember Holeheisel.

Yeah, and just for background for people watching or in the audience, um, this is a study that we've partaken in recently, uh, reaching out to the schools within the area, within um actually our regional transit area, so even outside the county, um, looking at safe routes for kids to get to and from school, and they they are coming back with recommendations, um, including sidewalks and neighborhoods, signalization, um, speed limit signs, etc.

etc.

speed zones and whatnot.

So I am just curious if this has been looked at and if they have passed on any recommendations because I I might agree with the mayor on a lot of what she said as far as prioritizing road work, but again, if safety is involved in this, um, that's definitely something I think takes precedence.

Thank you.

Councilmember Tuttle.

I'm one more question.

It's about the um the wiring across.

I don't know if that's city of Wichita responsibility or if it's EverG responsibility, but um along some of those routes currently, uh, there's overhanging wire from one west side to east side of Webb Road, including south of this location.

Whose responsibility is that?

I believe those are Evergy polls.

Um, there could be other utilities, franchise utilities on those that might be crossing Cox or somebody like that, could be on those as well.

But um, for the most part, those would be evergy polls.

Thank you, Paul.

I see no further questions for staff.

We will now open it up for public comment.

Faith Martin District 2, and I'm not speaking as an advisory board member, I'm seeing uh speaking as a constituent that lives in District 2.

Um, many years ago, uh, I did walk quite a bit more because I live closer to that area, and that was a scary part of the road to walk on because you're just walking in a ditch.

Um, not to mention that uh my child has grown now, but we used to do Girl Scouts at Minnehaw, and there's just no connecting.

You can't do anything around the school.

Um, I I don't think it's as someone that is a taxpayer that consistently asks you guys to be responsible with our sales tax dollars.

I think this is why we pay sales tax is to have improvements like this.

We all want better roads, but we also want kids to be safe, and we want residents to be able to get from A to Z without worrying about walking in a ditch or falling into the road.

So uh I I agree with um the design proposal.

I know that there's still things that are gonna happen, but I think it's really really important that people realize this isn't just to have pretty sidewalks, this is a need that's been going on pretty much since I've lived uh in East Wichita.

So thank you so much.

Thank you, Faith.

We'll continue with public comment.

Hi, my name's Patsy Hiss, and uh our uh backyard actually faces Webb Road, and we're like the second house in from collegiate.

And uh last summer there was a lot of flooding with all that rain, and the flood because the road is quite a bit higher than our back of our yards, so uh you'd have to climb up, you know, to get to the road.

And uh it took out the flooding took out a big section of our fence on both sides, and the water came up halfway up the yard, and uh I'm concerned that when they put I I think the sidewalks is a great idea.

I think they need something for the kids to walk to school and all that, but I'm concerned about the when they widen that road and put the sidewalk in.

That water is going to go up further up into houses, and uh the houses a little further down got really high, and they had a sandbag.

It was really close to the house, and so it'll displace that water, and so that water will start coming up further into people's you know, yards into their houses, and that's the only thing I'm really concerned about is that, but I think the project for safety-wise for kids and everything, the sidewalks are a great idea, but I'm just concerned about the water situation, and I know that was unusual rain, but it could happen again.

I've lived through a couple of floods myself, so um, but I appreciate your consideration on that fact and how they can do something with their engineering to help prevent that.

So thank you.

Thank you, Patsy.

Uh, that is a follow-up question to staff.

Can you address the flooding?

Um, I know that that has been an issue, especially in that area.

Um, how will the design um mitigate some of this?

Uh mayor and council members, I'm gonna butt in here.

Sorry if you don't mind.

Gary Jansen again.

Um I want to talk about what happened last June.

Uh, and the comment was made that it was unusual, and I I would tell you that the rains we had last June were historic, they were beyond unusual.

In the 31 years now almost that I've been with the city, we saw high water marks that I've never seen before in my career, especially in parts of East Wichita.

Councilmember Tuttle and I in particular, we spent multiple days and evenings on cul de sacs driveways and people's front rooms looking at really catastrophic flooding that we hadn't seen before.

Uh, those events, the combination of events, uh, Cedric County uh did some mapping of what happened in certain areas, and there's so many things that can happen in storm events uh as far as the duration timing where it rains and what basins.

And the reason why I say that is because that is not the thing we should compare anything to.

The flooding that was referenced from June, it would have happened whether that road was there or not.

Um, nothing was gonna change.

And to that point, our we require design consultants, and I know Paul and his staff have done a great job with it, uh, to show that they're not gonna make anything any worse.

That's not always ideal.

We can't always make improvements.

We have zero chance to improve what happened in June.

If it does happen again, the same flooding is gonna happen whether there's sidewalk there or not.

We are confident of that because of the size of the rain event.

I just want to make that very clear.

What we've told the folks that we went and talked to is if you see these types of problems during a one-inch rain event, then we need to talk because that becomes more of a structural issue and a challenge that we need to try to take on.

But with the development standards we've had in place for some time, especially as regards to drainage, including in neighborhoods like this.

Uh, if it rains like that again, it's gonna happen like that again, whether we were discussing this project or not, and no matter what happens on this project to that point, I'm confident that this design will do everything we need it to do to not compound the issue uh during normal events.

Councilmember Toddle.

Thank you, and thank you, Gary.

Um great job, and and thank you for being here today, Miss Patsy.

I appreciate it.

Um, I have had extensive experience with that corridor because when they were trying to replace the fence several years ago, it's a federal floodway.

And so we assured the folks, and Steve was there at the district advisory board meeting, and I think did a really great job and some great job with follow-up discussions that because and and Gary always say when I'm wrong, but it's a federal floodway, so we cannot make it worse.

We absolutely cannot.

And and I will ask you to hold us accountable, like Gary said.

Um, but in the meantime, if there is water, um, when there's a couple inch rain or whatever, do let us know.

But we cannot make it worse.

And so I know that the design team, the engineering staff will do everything in their best interest to make any improvements if we can, uh, but we absolutely won't make it worse.

Thank you.

Agreed, thank you.

We'll continue with public comment.

I see none.

We'll close public comment.

Thank you.

Patsy and faith.

This resides in council member Tuttle's district.

Thank you.

I move that the city council approve the design concept supplemental agreement number one and authorize all necessary signatures.

Second.

Motion and a second, any further discussion.

Um, I will be voting against this, not because I don't believe in this project, but rather I really want us to start considering when we make decisions from this bench, what we vote for means that we're putting money and investment into that and not into something else.

And when I meant I asked the question, how much street repair, miles of street repair, could this eight million dollar go towards?

I really believe that's what the community is asking us to do.

I drove through multiple parts of the city during New Year's Day, and there are many a roads that need repair, and so I am very cognizant that people want us to repair streets first, and I am very grateful that this will help with safety and connecting a sidewalk that currently is missing.

But I would also still challenge do we need two sidewalks rather than one side of the street having sidewalks.

In addition, I also want to make sure that when we talk about these types of investments, and they are local sales tax dollars, um, and again, the current local sales tax is a Cedric County-wide sales tax, not a city sales tax.

Those dollars are being spent for streets.

And so for me, street repair is the most important.

Um, and so uh my vote against this, it's not against wanting to have more safety and more opportunities for connectivity, but rather we need to start looking at if we do make an investment into new things, what are we foregoing because we're making that decision?

Councilmember Johnson.

Thanks, Mayor.

Just want to add my thoughts to that.

Um Wichita for quite some time.

I started serving on the council in 2018, has been working towards being a more bikeable, walkable community.

And for me, that means as we look at what we're investing in versus what we're not.

I think that we could take the both hand approach and invest in repairing roads, new roads, but also building um effective bike lanes and walk lanes for people to uh enjoy as well.

Wichita historically has just been a place where you hop in your car and you go and you try to park the closest that you can to a space.

But as we rightly, in my opinion, we're working towards being more bikeable and walkable when you look at the places where people plan.

We were making the right investments in areas to add bike lanes to add sidewalks and so make sure people could get out of their homes and walk down the street or walk to whatever amenities were there.

I think that again, this approach, not only this project, but multiple projects going forward is the right approach for the community.

Yes, I heard that when I was elected when we were only spending maybe four million dollars on roads, and now we're upwards of twelve uh per year.

But also we saw the wish, the hope, the demand that we do more for people who use other modes of transportation like bikes or walking.

And there's a lot of people, as we know, with suspended driver's licenses as well.

And so making sure we invest in connectivity is a big deal.

We can maintain what we have, but we also can build new, and we won't make our community better by just simply trying to maintain building those roads.

Again, public works has done a great job at looking at different ways in which we can expand the dollars that we use to make our roads better.

But these types of investments continue to make our city, our community better.

And as we look at what's going on around the country and we look at talent retention, young folks that would want to come to Wichita may not want a vehicle, but they may want to be able to bike and walk to where they're going.

So investing in that connectivity network now means that we have a greater city for the future.

So I'm supportive of this project.

I hope that the council, um, the future council continues to invest in all of this, those bike lanes, expanded sidewalks, and improving our roads.

And I really appreciate the commentary.

I will have more, but Councilmember Tuttle.

Thank you.

I just Councillor Johnson, thank you for your comments.

And again, this is about safety.

It's about connectivity, making sure people can walk and bike, but it's also making sure that they can do so safely.

Um, I just did want to address the comment of is this road in the the biggest state of disrepair?

No, there are certainly other roads that have more potholes that need more maintenance.

I would completely agree with that statement.

But this road was designed before the increased traffic volume that we see now in this corridor, and so it has exceeded its shelf life, if you will.

It's not, you know, in dis and and I'm assuming Paul is agreeing with me because I see some nodding.

But truly, in essence, this is a safety issue, and I will be supportive of this.

I made the motion.

I could not in good conscience go back to people at collegiate and tell them that we're not doing everything to address the safety issues around this corridor.

Thank you.

My last comments are every time we build new, we have to maintain that new infrastructure.

And in this situation, there will be two new sidewalks, and it will be the responsibility of whom to maintain that sidewalk.

If I remember accurately, the sidewalk will be the responsibility of the adjacent property, which means whatever business is along there, whatever home is abutted to the sidewalk, it will then become their responsibility.

Is that accurate?

I see head knots.

So when you build new, you have to maintain it, and that's another cost that we don't take into account in the eight million dollars.

There's ongoing maintenance costs.

Um, and just as a reminder, the city has well over 5,000 lane miles of street that the city must maintain, and for perspective, during a winter storm, only 1,500 of the 5,000 lane miles are actually plowed first because those are emergency routes and major streets.

So that still is a lot of street, again, just for perspective to maintain and sidewalks are often the responsibility again of the adjacent property.

So my vote again against this, it's not because I don't want connectivity.

I do.

I want connectivity.

I also want safety, but I also see that we have limited dollars, and when we are trying to weigh options, maintaining streets is more important to me than creating new uh infrastructure that then will need to be maintained in the future.

Um so again, my vote is not against those in district two, but I'm looking in a wide lens and seeing the streets that still need to be maintained uh here in Wichita.

With that, we have a motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Motion passes 6-1.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Design funding for 13th Street North from Country Acres to Ridge Road.

Paul Gunzelman Public Works and Utilities for the record.

Uh project is design funding for 13th Street, country acres to ridge road.

The 2026 through 2035 adopted capital improvement program includes multiple projects that are identified to begin design in 2026, including the project before you.

Again, this is a location of the project, uh, country acres to the left of the screen or to the west and ridge road to the east.

This is adjacent to uh the the forthcoming patrol west uh substation.

Um the design will provide a westbound left turn lane into Wichitop Patrol West site and include drainage improvements as needed.

The design will also consider the pedestrian and bicycle components.

The Woodshook Bicycle Boulevard, as you can see, um is uh north of 13th Street on Morgantown.

It is a shared uh sheriff markings, uh street markings.

The path continues west on the north side of 13th street and crosses at the signalized crosswalk, and then there's a off-site path towards Denmark, and then it continues on street from that.

So this this uh as we widen 13th Street to uh what would be proposed as a a five-lane roadway, um, we would need to consider the bicycle and pedestrian components that currently exist in the area.

The 2026 through 2035 adopted capital improvement program includes 750,000 dollars of local sales tax funding to begin design for this project in 2026, and staff recommends initiating the full amount at this time.

The adopted CIP also includes three million dollars in 2020 for construction.

However, staff will be coordinating with the finance department to possibly shift construction funding for the 13th street improvements forward in earlier years to be more aligned with the Patrol Weston, and we will work on that during the next CIP programming cycle.

And with that, it is recommend the city council approve the budget, adopt the resolutions and authorize the necessary signatures, and this project will come back before you for concept approval at a future date.

With that, I would stand for any questions.

Thank you, Paul.

Questions for staff beginning with Vice Mayor Johnston.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Paul, for working on this, and thank you for for trying to move it up a little bit too to coincide with the West Patrol Station.

It makes sense.

That's where government sometimes does make sense.

So thank you.

Uh the traffic on this street has probably doubled.

I don't know if it's an exact numbers, but it's really increased since that bridge went in, the connected 235.

So it lines up for blocks and blocks and blocks.

So heavily traffic street, uh, northwest high there.

Uh we've talked about some dangerous ingress egress to northwest high that we're working on, um, but just a lot of traffic, so much needed.

So thank you.

Paul, can you go back to slide number 70 with the map?

Yes.

There we go.

Um, how big are these sidewalks?

So the the path on the north side there, I believe is 10 foot there between Morgantown and the existing um signalized crosswalk.

Um, that path was put in.

Oh, or route.

It's an overall network, Wichuck Boulevard, I believe, um, shortly after the 2013 bicycle master plan was adopted.

Um, this was one of the projects.

So we tried to get 10 foot in there if we could get cyclists to a safe crossing across 13th street.

So again, we'll have to really uh look at that as you know, if 13th Street as you know, if the proposed concept is a five-lane, the additional lane, how much width we would have for that facility in the future.

And the one on the south.

I think going to the west, um west of Denmark.

My guess is probably five or six feet at this time.

So we just had a project on the east side of town east side of town that we just discussed, and that was six-foot sidewalks, possibly nine in some areas.

Can we have some consistency?

I know that from this bench last year we talked about 10-foot sidewalks, how big they are, and one of the graphics that was shown was two bicycles, a wheelchair, of uh pedestrian, all at the same time in just that stretch.

How many times does that actually happen?

Would we have a bicyclist, a pedestrian, someone on a sidewalk all at the same time with that type of traffic jam?

I I couldn't answer that, Mayor.

I I think we need to be uh considering, and I would be appreciative of having a workshop regarding this, but some consistency regarding some sidewalks.

I have seen sidewalks where they're four foot uh in width, and multiple people have been walking and enjoying that four-foot sidewalk.

And then I've seen 10-foot sidewalks with hardly any folks utilizing it.

So a cost per use needs to be considered.

Um so I guess, and remember, we also have to maintain it, um, whether it's the adjacent property owner or if it's on public property, the city of Wichita and its citizens have to do it.

So I guess my question is can we have something in a workshop soon uh regarding more of these street repairs, the cost of these street repairs, um, and how much these sidewalks uh cost, and what is the most prudent size for these sidewalks around our community?

Um so that's an ask.

Right.

And our our capital improvement pro you know, arterial streets.

We um our minimum that we would want is six-foot sidewalk on each side.

If it is along a bicycle um route or proposed bicycle network, then we would look at a 10-foot multi-use path on one side of the roadway or the other.

Um, this one um, as I said, when the when the Woodchut Boulevard went in, um, we widened that existing sidewalk to create the 10-foot, hopefully it was 10 foot to for the to accommodate cyclists.

So and quick question just as a follow-up.

So it is legal for bicyclists to be on the sidewalks, is that accurate?

In this area, yes.

Just this area?

Well, I don't believe it is downtown.

Yes, it is legal except for the certain quarry area of downtown, and I can tell you the streets if I look it up, but it's just in a small area of downtown that they're not allowed on sidewalks.

But everywhere else outside of the downtown floor bicyclists can ride their bicycles on the sidewalk.

That is correct.

Thank you very much.

Uh lastly, what is the estimated total cost of this project?

Oh I believe, let me see here.

Sorry, I did not get that in there, I guess.

Um it would be three million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars now for design, and then the three million dollars in 2019 29 as programmed now for construction.

So three million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

That does not include the uh change to five lanes.

That that would be um, yes, that would be the construction.

This the item before you today is to um approve the funding design funding.

So we will um my guess is it will be a five-lane roadway through there.

Um, once we get a consultant on board to begin design, that would be fleshed out.

But yes, so construction in 2029 as programmed in the CIP would include that five-lane roadway.

So this is a three million dollar project for making this into a five-lane roadway and adding sidewalks versus the one previous to this business item, which was eight million dollars for a stretch between 13th and central on Web Road.

Is that actually this is approximately half a mile, and the the intent of the project is to create a left turn lane, um westbound left turn lane, and to patrol west, and then as well as you know, once we get that and then tie back into the five-lane roadway at Ridge Road.

There are quite a few side streets within that that we believe that are left turn lane, um, two-way left turn lane would um reduce crashes in the area.

Um, but again, yes, this is a half a mile for approximately three million dollars.

The Webb Road project was um it's a mile, um includes a signal and a large drainage component to that project.

Thank you, Vice Mayor Johnston.

Thank you, Mayor.

I do appreciate the uh thought of not spending too much on sidewalks.

However, this is leading up to Sedgwick County Park, which there are a lot of bicyclists in Sedgwick County Park.

So I would I would ask us to do everything we can for a 10-foot sidewalk on the north side, uh leading to Sedgwick County Park, because I do see a lot of people uh using that, and even more if it was there.

There's one stretch where there's no sidewalk and there needs to be.

So I do appreciate that.

And you're right, Paul.

There are a lot of ingress egress points here, and uh when the traffic backs up two or three blocks, you have somebody turning left.

People get anxious, they try to zigzag over into the other lane, and that's when accidents happen.

So it is much needed.

So thank you.

Councilman Glasscock.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I just want to echo.

I have expressed concerns about 10 foot sidewalks when they're built at 135th Street.

It makes sense here.

It makes sense with the traffic that we see at the park, um, especially with the bicycle traffic, and uh that's my running route.

And often there is multiple bicycles and runners at one time.

Um, and so I'll be supportive of this today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other comments?

Uh we will now open it up for public comment.

Would anyone like to comment?

I don't see anyone.

We'll bring it back to the bench.

Don't see any comment with that, since it's in my district.

I will move that the city council approve the budget, adopt the resolution, and authorize the necessary signatures.

Second.

Thank you.

There's been a motion and a second.

Clerk, will you please open up the roll?

Vote passes.

Uh 60.

Clerk, you please move to the next item.

Vice Mayor.

Yes.

Can I take a point of privilege?

Could I request that we take a recess for um potentially you know, restroom lunch, whatever.

This is real power for me.

I know, I'm giving it to you.

Yes, I like to do this.

I still got like a week left of this.

Let's let's take a uh 15 minute break and we'll come back at 12 45.

Now return to the council meeting.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Funding for 2026 traffic improvements and signalization program, railroad crossing improvements and unified school district 259 safety improvements.

Paul Gunzelman, public works and utilities for the record.

Um have multiple items before you, um, standard items in the capital improvement program.

The 2026 through 2035 adopted capital improvement program includes funding for the following projects.

Traffic improvements and signalization.

Um traffic safety improvements, including geometric improvements, signal timings and signalizing intersections when warranted are part of this rail crossing improvements.

There are approximately 185 rail crossings within the city.

City and railroad staff coordinate projects to improve crossings.

And the last item, school district safety improvements, city and the USD 259 staff meet monthly to discuss issues or concerns at schools throughout the district.

The projects will improve the following.

Um the bridge at Rock Road over Kellogg is 11 to 12 lanes wide, depending on where you're crossing.

Um we would like to modify make some modifications to include a uh mid-block, mid-um intersection uh walk, don't walk push button in there to help so that pedestrians can cross one um one lane or one direction at a time, and we hope that it will improve signal timings at that location.

The railroad crossing improvements would require coordination with Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wichita Terminal Association.

Uh most of the improvements are made by the railroads, and a portion of the costs are paid by the city.

Some maintenance work, such as minor improvements to crossing approaches and drainage improvements may be performed by the city departments of public works and utilities.

This is a location of a previous crossing showing that uh scheduled road maintenance provides an opportunity to work with the railroad to upgrade their crossing panels, such as this one that has been completed there at McCormick and Southwest Boulevard.

These are driven by citizen complaints.

We you know they provide us some locations for us to look at.

Staff will go out and evaluate it and then contact the railroad if needed to make these improvements.

And as mentioned before, the city and USD 259 staff meet monthly to discuss projects.

Uh we meet at various schools, a different school each each month to review issues that might be surrounding the school on adjacent streets, crosswalks, etc.

And the city of Wichita is responsible for the overseeing the design, construction, and maintenance of each project, and then we're reimbursed by USD 259.

Some projects that have been completed around schools in recent years were crosswalk uh painting improvements, and as well as uh, you know, they can be as extensive as uh relocating a pedestrian crosswalk to where it might make better sense for students or crossing, and in this case, we also use some um put some curb extensions or some median modifications to uh calm traffic as well for financial considerations.

The 2026 through 2035 adopted capital improvement program includes six hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars for traffic improvements and signalization, two hundred thousand dollars for railroad crossing improvements, and a hundred thousand dollars in school district safety improvements, and as I mentioned before, city in USD 259 agreed to uh total annual cost of 100,000 per calendar year.

And again, that is split 50 percent from each party.

Staff recommends initiating the full amount for each project at this time for a total of 975,000 dollars, all of which are funded by general obligation bonds, and I will stand for any oh it the recommendation is to approve the budgets, adopt the resolutions, and authorize the necessary signatures, and I will stand for questions.

Thank you, Paul.

Questions for staff beginning with council member Glasgow.

Thank you, Mayor.

Easy question, Paul.

It says in the green sheet that a portion of the cost paid by the city with most of the improvements made by the railroad.

So it says that the city's cost is 200,000 for crossing improvements.

Most and a portion are subjective.

What is the hard number that the railroads paying?

That depends on each crossing council member.

You know, some of these might be the crossing panels that I mentioned, you know, where these are old wooden ties.

Um, and then we would be responsible for part of the approach lab.

So our portion would be just what um the crossing panels are the more expensive part of it.

Um we would just be on the hook for some of the approach labs.

So do we define like most as like 60 percent, 80 percent, 90 percent?

I would probably say probably 80 to 90 percent by the railroad.

Okay, thank you.

Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, Paul, when we're we're doing um, I guess the conversations with the railroads about the improvements or uh maintenance.

Um this conversation does wayside signals ever come up.

I don't believe it has in the past uh necessarily.

I think that's a separate issue.

Um, these are more about the crossing, the the ride across them.

I know we've had a in recent months, we've had some um inquiries or concerns about the crossing on Athenian near 2nd Street.

Um we got another one at 13th and zoo the other day, so these are more kind of the ride of the crossing.

Um, I think the wayside signing a little bit out of this scope.

Yeah, it's more I mean it's the wayside signalization would be the considerable amount more than what we have budgeted here.

I just didn't know if that figured into any of the discussions, and I'm always going to be an advocate to pursue wayside signaling wherever we can, wherever it makes sense.

Yeah, and once we get the as mentioned before in a previous item, once we get the results back from the the WAMPA um, you know, the safe routes to school projects.

I'm sure we will be discussing each of those with the schools as well.

Um we haven't seen that report yet, or at least I haven't, but uh, once we get that, so there might be some projects that come out of that that we would utilize this funding for as well.

Okay, yeah, you peaked on my on my notes there.

Sorry.

Um, when it comes to safe routes of school, I would also like to entertain looking at just CIP in general, not necessarily even sticking to just those because I do believe that safety of the students is issue number one for us.

I would like to explore just getting that in a regular CIP and seeing if we can uh expedite some of those, especially where there's um obvious hazards.

Uh the last thing real quick.

Um, you know, where we're doing the construction on Mount Vernon and we're going to be moving the crosswalk at Mead School there, middle school.

Um, will that come out of this, or is that something that comes out of that whole Mount Vernon project?

That was included in the Mount Vernon project and would will be completed with that project.

Okay.

So it's yes, out of that budget.

Yes, correct.

Thank you.

Thank you, Paul.

I see no further questions for staff.

We'll open it up for public comment.

I see no individuals who would like to address the council.

We will close public comment and bring it back to the bench.

This is in multiple districts, and again, um appreciate uh these safety improvements.

So with that, I will move that the city council approve the projects and budgets, adopt the resolutions, and authorize the necessary signatures.

Second motion and a second, any further discussion.

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Motion passes 7-0.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Contracts and funding for exploration place parking lot expansion and McLean Boulevard pedestrian crossing and sidewalks along multiple arterial streets.

Paul Gunzelman, public works and utilities for the record, and this will be my last item today's contracts for funding for exploration place lot expansion and multiple sidewalks.

The item before you on June 10th, 2025, the city council approved funding for the 2025 arterial sidewalk program.

And on June 27, 2025, city staff issued a request for qualifications for design services for sidewalk along multiple arterial streets and expansion of the exploration parking lot and McLean pedestrian crossings.

On August 28th, 2025, the staff screen and selection committee met and interviewed firms that responded to the city's request for proposals.

Six responses were received.

The staff screen and selection committee reviewed reviewed the proposals and interviewed three consultants, Boffman, Bartlett and West and Garber on August 28th.

Based on the qualifications of experience and staff availability, this committee recommends a warning the design projects, design contracts to Boffman, and the contracts have been prepared accordingly.

The proposed improvements at expiration place will consist of pedestrian facilities along the north side of McLean, a pedestrian crosswalk across the McLean Boulevard, and parking lot expansion.

The parking lot expansion includes approximately 100 spaces.

Pedestrian circulation through the parking lots, and lining for the uh parking lot itself.

We have uh worked with exploration place.

They have seen this concept.

In fact, multiple concepts were reviewed.

This is the choice.

Um, we had um recommended uh concept.

Um, we had also you know, the eight bus parking came from those discussions as well.

And on June 10th 2025, the regarding arterial sidewalk, the existing budget of 750,000 was approved by city council.

As a reminder, the proposed locations included Seneca from 63rd to 55th Street South, 55th Street Southwest to Seneca to Charles, which would um allow students to get the campus high.

45th Street North, Hoover to Ridgeport, and additional locations will also be added as funding allows a contract for exploration parking lot expansion of McLean uh pedestrian crossing has been prepared with Boffman, as I mentioned before.

This is for 50,000.

The adopted 2026 through 2035 capital improvement program includes one million dollars in ongoing projects for exploration place improvements, and they are funded by general obligation bonds.

Staff recommends and recommends initiating the full amount at this time, and a contract for the arterial sidewalk program has been prepared with Boffman for 100,000.

And a contract for the arterial sidewalk program has been prepared with Boffman for $100,000.

And once we get concepts for those sidewalks, we will bring those back to city council for approval.

And with that, it is recommended that the city council approve the projects, budgets, contracts, adopted resolutions, and authorize the necessary signatures.

And I will stand for questions.

Questions for staff.

I see none.

I just have one question.

So the full amount is $1 million in improvements at the exploration place location.

Is that accurate?

That is correct, yes.

Thank you very much.

With that, we will close uh staff questions and we'll open it up for public comment.

I see none.

We'll bring it back to the bench.

Uh this resides in council member Ballard's district and others, but mostly council member ballards.

Thank you, Mayor.

I am very excited about this.

We've been talking about helping uh the Mid American Indian Museum find uh parking since we had to remove the parking lots across the street.

So I'm very excited that this is kind of coming to fruition.

And um, I know with the expansions at expiration place, it'll be uh highly utilized.

So with that, I'd like to take the recommended action.

Approve the project budget contracts adopt the resolution and authorize the necessary signatures.

Second.

Motion and a second, any further discussion.

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Motion passes 7-0.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Crystal Prairie Lake Park phase one public artwork 30% design.

Good afternoon, Mayor, City Council, Jana Irwin with the Division of Arts and Cultural Services.

And the item before you today is Crystal Prairie Lake Park phase one.

Public artwork 30% design, and this is in District 6.

So a little background.

Phase one of the project, which was fully initiated on October 21st, 2025, will include a multi-use trail along part of Hoover Road, a street crossing, a parking lot within the park, and fencing between the Brooks Landfill and the park.

And this is what the uh the integrated public art will be working with.

The multi-use trail will provide a connection to an existing multi-use trail south of K96.

Modifications to the K96 bridge over Hoover Road will be required.

Phase one improvements will provide long anticipated access to the park for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

So RDG planning and design has worked on Crystal Prairie Lake Park for over 16 years.

And on September 9th, 2024, the design council approved using RDG as the artist for Crystal Prairie Lake Park Phase One.

The rationale behind this proposal and decision is that RDG has an in-house artist studio, and they have produced nationally recognized public art projects over the last several years.

On January 7th, um 2025, the City Council approved supplement design agreement number three with RDG for design and artist services.

And then on October 6th, 2025, the design council reviewed the 30% design and requested a revised berm design to address safety and visibility and improved connectivity to Hoover Road.

On November 3rd, 2025, the design council approved the revised 30% public art design.

And I'm going to invite Tim Kellums to come and provide some background.

Good afternoon, Mayor, City Council Tim Kellums for Lake Works Engineering.

Wanted to kind of have make sure we have the site plan up here to kind of understand exactly where we're planning to put this public art.

As Janet mentioned earlier, we had brought this project a couple of times before City Council to present uh kind of the concept.

So uh this should look all pretty familiar.

Uh, just as a reminder, as she mentioned earlier, this will include the public art, and which we'll be talking about today, but also include that pedestrian crossing.

It'll include a trail under K96, and that's one of one of the big components of this project is creating the connection under that uh bridge there, as well as the parking lot, and then that new fence around the the Brooks landfill.

So in total, this project is about 2.6 million dollars, with a million of that coming from a private donation.

So just kind of want to put that into perspective on how this piece fits into the rest of the project.

So the seating area is along the multi-use trail figure.

That would be a great spot to put it, considering most of this is for uh the trail.

Um, one of the things that uh we're envisioning is that there's gonna be a large number of pedestrians coming to the park, usually south of K96.

But there's also, I guess I'll go back here real quick.

Just want to note the uh the housing that is over there and the the developments over on the the west side of Hoover.

So we do have uh housing that we're imagining are going to be coming to the park, and that's kind of where this the making sure that we have the pedestrian crossing in a good spot, make sure that we integrate the public art in the right location and trying to anticipate where we're gonna have the most viewsers so we can try to get the the most bang for our buck with this uh art piece.

Um so the seating area um wanted to make sure that when people come across that uh from those neighborhoods across into the park that they're welcomed, they have a sense of of uh I guess it's entrance into the park, a sense of um welcoming to the park and coming into uh see the lake, uh which will be the largest lake in our park system.

So we imagine there'll be quite a bit of use out there.

Um we are envisioning using colorful ceramic pieces uh to be implemented into these sloped earth.

We have a ton of uh literally tons of earth out there for when they were doing the mining of the lake, so we have an abundance of earth there.

So the designers, when they uh went to the to the drawing pad, they were thinking about what can we use that's already out there, existing berms and existing uh soil material is one of the main things that we have out there and easily used, and it can just be moved from around the site.

So we have tons and tons of earth to work with.

And so contextually appropriate quotes or scientific names or something like that.

We're still working through that again.

We're at 30%, so still flushing out some ideas, but imagining ways to try to make this a little bit more educational, try to provide a bit a bit of sense of place, trying to connect with the the wildlife that is out there.

Um I will note that since it is such a large site, we do imagine that there'll be quite a bit of wildlife throughout the area, and obviously within the park, uh we have tons of fish that have already been uh put into the lake itself through uh Kenneth's Department of Wildlife and Park.

So there's already this idea of of nature and activity out there.

Um so providing this design here, connecting it with the seating elements.

So we're trying to make sure that this art isn't, I wouldn't say plop art because that's not what this is.

We're intentionally in integrating this into the site and into the berms with a material that we already have on site.

So you can see here uh on the left side that sketch there, uh working with those landforms to try to create a unique and interesting environment as well as provide a sense of of uh respite a place, some benches and things like that.

So one of the things to note was that uh during design council, there's some conversation about making sure that the berms weren't too tall.

And so we went back to the drawing board and decided to reduce those berms just to try to help make sure there's good visibility.

One of the things that we looked at was basically flipping the berms as they on Hoover Road, basically flipping them upside down.

So they can be open areas or lower areas where we can start to have more grasses, things like that growing.

You can see over here, they took some inspiration from Buffalo Wallows where buffaloes would come into the prairie, they'd start rolling around, and eventually they start to have these lower depressed areas where vegetation would grow up.

So trying to take a bit of the prairie and help move that and integrate that into the site here.

Here's another uh model rendering of of the site and what it may look like as we start to get into it.

Again, we'll have the lake facing with those higher berms.

One thing that we wanted to have was, and you can kind of see here uh kind of with that arrow where the lake is, as you can see my mouse here.

We do plan on having an additional rest of the trail system that's planned throughout the park to go around the lake.

So this is a great spot to have that first tie-in point where we start actually pushing people through and into the site.

So again, trying to uh make this a bit of a grander entrance while using the existing materials we have on site and not try to get too flashy with it.

Didn't think that would be too appropriate for the site.

Uh you can see here adding uh the seating elements in would be would be a great spot for this, especially if you're meeting up with folks.

Let's say grandma and grandpa came to go walk around the park.

We see that in number of our places where these parks are gathering spaces for people to gather, meet up together, uh, and then go through the park and and walks and things along those lines.

Again, I the main thing here this graphic is showing is that the tallest point is about three feet tall.

So again, that that is not not too very tall.

You can still see people while they're sitting, you can still see who's there, uh, and that is at the very top point, and it does start to slope down.

So it's not continuous wall of three feet, it is at the highest point.

Here's just another example of uh what that may look like with those burns that uh that retaining wall that we'd be adding in, and then those uh the burn that we have beside it.

Again, we have tons and tons of earth out there, so trying to use it, put it to good use.

So the main thing for the art component here is it's trying to integrate it into the existing site and into an existing CD node that the site probably called for anyways.

So adding the artistic element to it felt like a natural uh natural idea.

So this was kind of some of the early sketches once we started getting into the berms, trying to think about how we're gonna enhance the seating node instead of just having a simple little intersection, trying to make this again more of a grand entrance into the park.

You can start to see here started playing with color.

How can we work with the existing berms?

Uh, one idea was to have that sloped wall and try to integrate uh some color elements into it to make it pop.

Here's some existing uh kind of walls that we were looking at.

I don't think it'd be exactly like this.

Obviously, we'll be having those burns behind it, but just some concept images uh to get a general idea.

So the one of the ideas is using clay bars that will be in inset into the retaining wall there in the seating element and being able to use various different colors.

These would be solid, uh solid bars.

Um we've seen that they hold up pretty well over time.

We have a number of different serrent pieces throughout the park system and throughout the uh city of Wichita properties, including um I guess the newest one would probably be at um Country Acres Park with the dog statues there.

So uh we feel that they're very strong in that they'll hold up over time, especially if they're solid and not hollow or just uh little tiles and things like this.

So imagine these would be substantial bars.

Again, here's an example again.

They'll they'll have clay uh glazing on them, so they'll provide a tactile feature to folks so they're not just pretty, but they'll also be kind of fun to touch and and um actually be integrated with um users.

So here's again, we're at 30 percent.

So but some general ideas here.

Wondering if we can start to uh engrave or start to put in uh different names of features of different birds or different plants that we can find throughout.

So that is one opportunity that we are looking at and considering.

We haven't nailed down exact colors or things along those lines, uh, but this is the general idea.

It wouldn't be that rough there.

We're not imagining originally we were looking at a different product to use to try to integrate into the into the retaining wall, but I think it'd be more like those images we showed earlier with the uh the concrete and inset into the concrete.

Um so um with the adopted uh 2026-2035 CIP includes $50,000 uh in general obligation bonds for design uh for funding for design manufacturing and the public art.

So that has already been initiated uh when we came earlier.

So this is for the approval of the uh art concept, so we're not asking to initiate any funding with this item.

I will note that the $50,000 includes the design, the time for the for the art studio includes installation, fabrication, and delivery of the of the project.

And again, I will note that there are four different seating elements, so uh it will get spread across multiple different areas and not just in one single um seating area.

And it's recommended that city council approve the design as presented, and I'm happy to stand for any questions.

Thank you, staff, for that presentation.

Can you go back to slide 108?

I actually really appreciate uh the usage of our natural features and then incorporation into seating areas.

So initially, um, I think it was uh presented as a seating area, um, but it's actually four different benches.

If I saw the um design accurately, my challenge to uh the designer would be instead of multicolors, this is America's 250th anniversary, and one of the things that um one of our groups uh through Visit Wichita have been discussing is how can we um honor the 250th anniversary since our Wichita flag colors are red, white, and blue, and the American flag are red, white, and blue.

Um, I would challenge and ask if my council members would be in a uh in favor of seeing that consistent coloring for this specific area, um, so that we can have something that uh we can say does honor this 250th anniversary.

Councilmember Johnson.

Thanks, Mayor.

Uh, I am more in favor of the originally proposed project and whatever the artist may do.

I think that if we are looking for uh USA 250, that should be something that we put out specific RFPs for, and I think that the artist or team who worked on this was pretty much again at 30% looking at something that's more natural in nature.

So again, I think if we want to do USA 250, that council should come out with their own RFP and talk about what they're looking to do and where.

Can I ask staff have the colors been chosen yet?

Uh no, no, colors have not been chosen yet.

So again, I have a proposal.

Um I would like to see those three colors since colors have not been chosen for this uh piece.

The piece itself can still have its unique design elements, but I would encourage having red, white, and blue as the color scheme for that area.

Just to add, I I don't think that so just my two cents.

I don't think it should permanently be red, white, and blue.

I think the artist should do what they intended to do initially.

Vice Mayor Johnston.

Uh I'll agree with Councilman Johnson on this one.

I think it's a it's a nature area.

I think art places for red, white, and blue.

Um I just don't think this is it.

So I think the prairie land and in that, and I I think that then more the natural earth tones and terracotta and baked earth fit better there.

So that's just my two sense.

Councilmember Tottle.

Being redundant again, I'm sorry, but I agree with my colleagues.

We hire artists for a reason.

We go through an RFP selection process, and and I think that um, you know, instructing the artist may change the whole look, it may change the whole feel.

I do also agree that it's a great idea that perhaps we do something special for 250, but um not this, and you know, five years from now, people won't even know this was for 250 if we make it red, white, and blue.

I think it's aesthetically pleasing and fits in with the nature theme.

So um I'm gonna go with please um follow the artist instincts because I trust them.

Again, can I ask the question?

Have the colors been selected?

Uh no, the colors have not been selected.

Can we go back to maybe the design of the four corners right there?

Is that the best?

Yeah, either either one of those.

Can we go uh what there we go?

So right now, colors have not been does selected, and there's no purpose yet on the coloring.

Uh the only thing that has been selected according to the artist is the material, and I have not asked for material to be different.

However, I would say that there are variations of red, white, and blue that are earth-colored that could be um incorporated.

I believe that one of the uh slides actually has a form of red and a form of blue.

My I guess my challenge is um we're not changing the design, it's just asking for coloring.

Um, so okay.

Uh Councilmember Ballard.

Thank you, Mayor.

I would like to follow the instinct as well as um the artists, whatever they have intended, we're at 30% design, which I know there's a lot more factors that have not been decided yet, but I like the colorful um inviting opportunity that they're going with so far.

Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, when would this project be complete if we pass this today?

When would what we're looking at right now be installed?

We're tracking a uh issue, put the project out for bid um later, I guess within a few months here.

So they'd be mobilized and started.

So I imagine we probably see this completed probably by the end of the year.

End of the year, so not even in time for the 250th anniversary.

Yeah, I imagine the art will be one of the last pieces to go in, uh, just knowing that they probably want to try to protect our as much as possible.

So I imagine it'll probably be towards the end of this year.

Okay, I appreciate that.

Councilmember Johnson.

Thanks, Mayor.

Um, unrelated to this project but related to the conversation.

I would um encourage my colleagues to consider again if we want to do something for 250, coming up with something unique that we can point to, we can point to the reason that the keeper is where it is, and why that is, you could potentially talk about as a council one space in every district that there's a 250 project, you can allocate some dollars to it.

You can encourage artists to submit their best red, white, and blue themed thing, talk about some of the great people from Wichita who've made an impact in this community and the country, but I I would say this project really again supporting what the artist was going to do with it and encouraging my colleagues to come up with their own thoughts on how to make a 250 idea, and I think that would be appreciated more by the community as well.

But I I would say this project really again supporting what the artist was going to do with it and encouraging my colleagues to come up with their own thoughts on how to make a 250 idea, and I think that would be appreciated more by the community as well.

Councilmember Glascock.

Thank you.

I support the artist direction.

Um I am interested in the 250 projects.

I think that's great.

And so I mean, it seems like there might be appetite from the council if we could come back or staff could present something uh regarding um funds that we currently have or funds that we could allocate towards uh projects to inspire patriotism over the next year.

I'm fully on board that uh follow up question to that before Councilmember Hoheisel.

Uh, can we ask Jana how much in public art is going to be spent in 2026?

There is approximately 1.8 million that was allocated within the CIP for public art.

What will actually be spent during that calendar year?

I couldn't say.

So back to if we choose something, something else has to forego.

That's how choices are made.

Um, and I feel like we have forgotten that there's no new pocket of dollars, there's just certain pockets of dollars, and they have already been allocated 1.8 million.

Um I'm trying to be very responsible with taxpayer dollars, because I've been uh hearing from this community the dissatisfaction regarding the public art that was chosen at the water treatment plant that is still not the city of Wichita's, and so in situations like that, we have lost public trust, and the word public art then becomes a target, and I appreciate public art, but I believe that it has its place here, it's a right place, it will be utilized by many a people.

Water treatment plant, not so much.

Um, so my criticism then becomes if we are going to talk about design and how to also incorporate America's 250.

Nothing has been allocated because there are no dollars for such project unless we take away from one department and put it into public art, and I feel like that's what the community doesn't want us to do.

Um so my question to Jana then is where are we gonna find these dollars for a America 250 project?

Um I I don't think in my position I could say where those dollars would come from.

I oversee the 2% for our program.

So I couldn't say.

So maybe this is a city manager uh ask.

Um I asked that we um have a workshop as soon as possible regarding public art and this two percent for art.

Um, again, I was not on the council when there was a public art piece selected for the water treatment plant that is not uh currently under the possession of the city of Wichita, but we do have a public art piece there, and I want to make sure that people understand what this percent for art program is and how dollars are uh allocated, and then how this bench gets to shape some of that design because that is part of our uh opportunity as council members uh in helping shape uh this type of public art.

Just like I would not have voted for a public art piece at the water treatment plant.

I certainly right now have the right to ask about what can be done about the design that can all also honor America's 250.

Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I have had this conversation here recently with our director of parks.

Uh visit Wichita does have a committee, and we have um several staff members, I believe, part of that committee as well, looking at uh the 250th anniversary.

Also, when I was an NLC here a couple of months ago, they had a workshop on that as well.

So I'd be more than happy to have an open discussion and seeing how we can bring together various parts of our city to help celebrate coming up.

Um, I do think partnering with um outside organizations as well to help do a lot of the legwork is uh wise as well.

So that is definitely a discussion that um I would be interested in continuing.

Thank you, Councilmember Hoheisel.

I actually serve on that committee, uh, which is why I have brought this up because there are no specific dollars.

Every idea, if we want to execute on an idea requires money, funding, and if there's no funding, it we have to take it from some other department.

And so, as of right now, there are no dollars for anything special regarding America's 250, which is why I wanted to be responsible and see if there was anything within this year's public art that could also honor America's 250.

That is the simple ask.

Uh, Jana and I actually serve on that committee, and we are on the CIP uh subcommittee, which is the Capital Improvement Program subcommittee, and how we could use public art also during the 250th.

Councilmember Tuttle.

Thank you.

Um, and thank you, Jana, for all you do.

I really appreciate it.

I've learned so much from you when we were doing the redbed uh trail pedestrian bidge project.

I just I really soaked in all that you were saying, and I've learned so much.

And one of the things that we've talked about, and I talk about consistently from the benches.

I not I prefer not to say public art.

I prefer to say public design, because if you look at East Kellogg, especially around Greenwich, Greenwich, however you say it, it it's not statues, it's not sculptures, it's not painting, it's design work that has been done.

And I and I see the same with this that and I want to be very careful because there are people who do not prefer the art at the water treatment plant, but I hear people saying they love the cloud benches and they love other things.

Art is in the eye of the beholder, and so I'm always very careful to call it public design.

So thank you for educating me.

Thank you for helping me to do to do and talk about this work better.

I really appreciate it.

Thank you.

Councilmember Johnson.

Thanks, Mayor.

Um, just some clarifications over three pieces at the water treatment plant.

I know that the community on social media may focus on one, but there were three pieces for 1.25 million.

Um, if this council is looking at again USA 250, just some thoughts.

What we did with the Brewer Center is we knew that Mayor Brewer had some Ghanaian roots.

And so, as RFPs were drafted with staff, it was like, hey, how can we make this really truly embody Mayor Brewer?

Maybe there's a connection with a Ghanaian artist that ended up in an RFP.

People applied.

You saw Ghanaian artists, those of you who who have been there see that the work that has been done.

So council can craft what that would look like.

I would also say that um, again, as a supporter of the two percent for the arts, I think we really should leave that as is and allow arts council to work through that.

If we are seeking leadership on USA 250, this body can work with the private sector to raise the funds to fund something.

I think that should happen.

America's a country, this is a city and a state, there are businesses here.

We can talk with them about sponsoring some piece of that, raising those types of funds, and doing something again.

I think that's a whole community conversation that should happen with the committee that uh we've talked about and council uh member Glasscock had talked about.

So I think that is a way to go.

So you don't have to always look at the city budget for that.

It's a community effort.

The community can take part and say that they gave to it, whether that's individually, business, uh nonprofit, whatever.

And again, that's working with the council again on a way to build trust, build relationship, and move forward with an idea.

Just my thought.

Thank you, Councilmember Johnson.

And I don't see Mark here, but just for the record, I do believe that the two percent for art will be reduced to one percent according to what was passed last year.

Can we get that uh confirmation?

Councilmember Johnson.

That was proposed but not voted on by the council.

Council approved the 26th, and this year, council will either approve reducing that to 1% or leaving it at 2%.

Thank you.

So this council will get to this uh city manager.

My understanding is that council did have a conversation, but no action was taken.

So we still remain at the two percent level.

And it will come back to us during the budget process, whether to remain at 2% or reduce it to 1%.

Is that accurate?

It always can come back for conversation.

We'll we'll add that to the list.

Thank you.

Um, I am interested in uh that conversation of reducing uh that from the two percent to one percent, but also having a conversation regarding uh something specific to America's 250, and since this council seems to be very in favor of doing something uh for America's 250, where those dollars would come from would likely have to come from another department or another project.

So um we would like to see options.

Thank you, Jana.

Thank you.

I see no further questions from this body.

We will open it up for public common.

I see none.

I'll bring it back to the bench.

This resides in Councilmember Maggie Ballard's district.

Council member Glascock.

I have a few comments because I'm gonna nerd out for a second.

I've been reading a couple uh history books about Wichita over the holiday break, and there are some quotes from a book by J.R.

Mead um about Wichita, and so I wanted to read a couple of them that I think fits really well into this art project.

I think part of our conversation got sidetracked from what this was, and I think this is a great art project for our city.

The Buffalo came in vast unbroken columns, countless beyond reckoning, covering the plains as far as the eye could see, masters of the country long before fences, towns, or roads.

He goes on to say the Buffalo Wallows dotted the country everywhere, often holding water long after rains, and were sometimes the only relief for men or animals crossing the prairie.

And I think this plays into that art piece really well.

There is also a quote from the shout in a piece by uh Jesse Day that I read earlier this week, and it quotes Bob Mayor Knight in 1995, and I think it's applicable for our conversation.

I think in many ways our city's adrift.

I think it's spirit as flat and defensive, and I think we need things that lift our spirit and enable us and give us confidence that with our human resources and our financial resources that we pull together and we're balanced in our approach.

We can truly do great things as a city.

I think comes down with art.

I think it comes down to public votes that we've asked people to engage in that we can do big things when we have a balanced approach.

I think this is a fantastic piece of art.

I look forward to other conversations and hopefully private capital that can raise funds for America's 250.

But I just wanted to nerd out for a second and talk about some of the books I read over the break.

Councilmember Ballard.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh Gina and Design Council, great work on this.

I'm very excited, big fan of Buffalo.

So I think this is super cool.

Um with that, I'd like to take the recommended action and approve the design as presented.

Second.

Motion and a second, any further discussion.

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Motion passes 7-0.

Madam Clerk, please open that.

Please call the next item.

Amendments to Title 15 adoption of 2024 International Fire Code.

Good afternoon, Mayor Wu, City Council, City Manager, City Staff, Jose O'Caddy's acting fire marshal with your Wichita Fire Department here to present the 2024 International Fire Code.

The International Fire Code establishes minimum regulations for fire prevention, life safety, and property protection in new and existing buildings, facilities, and premises.

It safeguards public health for by controlling hazards from fire explosions and dangerous conditions, ensuring adequate firefighting water supply, access for emergency responders, and proper maintenance of safety systems.

As you can see here, the history of the city of Wichita adopted the 20 or adopting the International Fire Code started in 2006 edition along with the proposed 2024.

The International Fire Code publishes a new code book every three years.

We, as a custom in line with MABCD, along with most of the state of Kansas, adopts every other cycle of the International Fire Code.

The review and development process of the 2024 International Fire Code started in November of 2023.

As you can see, throughout this whole process, we consulted with numerous internal and external stakeholders from MABCD, WABA architects, contractors, design professionals, and the state fire marshal's office.

Not included in this list is also a collaboration with surrounding fire departments.

Sharing of our amendments to better serve our communities, but also work with consistency consistently with our external stakeholders.

Significant amendments to the 2024 code, added language, or we added some type of language to definitions of alleys.

We have dimensions that are associated with multifamily dwellings of the um expanding the width of street environment to be able to control the riser room temperatures, added um alarm activations for an assemblies, and also alarm and alarm activation and enunciation in parts of all buildings that are being occupied.

Dead end, um those are basically for um turnarounds for our fire trucks.

We increased the cul-de-sacks from the current amendment of 72 to 80 foot diameters, and then also increasing the one and two family residential developments of 30 dwellings to 60 dwellings that would require a main one access inside of that subdivision, and then the remoteness of reducing the distance requirements of a half distance to one-third of the distance of that lot.

Significant enhancements that we did think uh for safety of the citizens utilizing these buildings and uh assemblies.

Significant enhancements that we did think uh for safety of the citizens utilizing these buildings and uh assemblies, um detection and control and temperature in a riser room.

Uh there is a requirement for a riser room that is associated with the sprinkler system that that room needs to be uh at a temperature no less than no yeah, no less than 40 degrees.

So um being able to have that detection and importance of the riser not being uh getting to a freezing stage is very critical, and then also alarm activation and initiation, um initiate occupant notifications in all uh parts of a building that are constantly attended by citizens.

New to the International Fire Code, um energy systems and devices that are consistent of energy storage systems, lithium ion batteries, powered microbiality, mobility devices, occupancy and life safety, carbon monoxide detections are now required in all types of occupancies.

Hazard materials and operations, A2L refrigerants, they're a new class of cooling agents.

Um they're designed to be environmentally friendly, and they replace the older type of refrigerants associated with uh refrigerators, distilled spirits and wine storage along with appendix O, um, which is new for valet trash and recycling collections, mostly for different types of residential occupancies from apartments and congregate type of live-in facilities.

The recommendation is that we uh Wichita Fire recommends that the city council approve the 2024 International Fire Code amendments and authorize the necessary signatures.

We like to thank the uh MABCD and also City Legal, Miss Dick Graff and her staff for assisting the fire department on getting to this stage for the International Fire Code.

Uh thank you for your time, and I stand for questions.

Thank you, Battalion Chief O'Cadies.

Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um there any suggestions or was there anything in the code that we are not adapting, or are we adapting the entire code?

Um we are adapting the entire code.

These are just the specific amendments that uh we created um 72 amendments, uh part of the code of the 2024 edition.

We did redact um the our food truck or mobile prevention or mobile food vehicle or a section of the fire code because we already have a city ordinance that we have a collaboration with the South Central fire departments that have our own um code requirements for those inspections.

Okay, so when we're looking through um our packet here, and it has the ones where it has less, those are special amendments that we are passing that are unique to Wichita.

Yeah, so amendments are specifically associated with what um is beneficial for the city of Wichita and our capabilities from our fire department response mode.

Okay, and the fire department is comfortable with all the all the changes in here.

Yes, okay, thank you.

I see no further questions for staff.

Thank you.

Um I did reach out to uh stakeholders, and none had major issues regarding the changes.

Thank you.

We will open it up for public comment.

I see none.

I'll bring it back to the bench.

With that, since this resides in all of our districts, um, I will go ahead and move that the city council place the ordinance on first reading, authorized the necessary signatures and approve publication by summary notification.

Second.

Motion and a second, any further discussion.

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Motion passes 7-0.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Fire apparatus and fire equipment.

Good afternoon, Mayor Wu, City Council, City Manager, City Staff, Tammy Snow, Fire Chief.

Today I'm here to um ask for approvals to release the funding for fire apparatus and fire equipment.

With the construction or the upcoming construction of two new fire stations, coupled with uh primarily driven by the 45-month delivery time from the time that we actually purchase an apparatus to the time it's delivered within the city of Wichita.

Um, we're asking for some additional equipment, um, additional apparatus, and then the respective equipment.

In addition to that, we're also asking to replace some of our older equipment that's at the end of its life cycle, and then the respective equipment that would outfit it.

So in the 2026 CIP, we have funding allotted for three engines and one rescue, and a projected cost of 5,577,841 financed through general obligations.

This is just a picture that depicts an engine and the rescue.

This is what we're asking for.

As far as equipment, firefighters have some specialized equipment that we need to perform our duties.

Financed through general obligations.

So total project is $6,266,342 financed, as I've said previously through general obligation bonds.

The law departments approved the bonding resolution to form.

So the recommendation is to approve the project, adopt the bonding issue, and authorize the necessary signatures.

Just to give you a little bit of history, just so that you're staying well informed.

New station 23, the one that's to be located at Pani and Mays Road.

And then they're projecting 52 weeks till the day that it opens contingent on the weather.

So we're looking for an apparatus to be placed in that station in early 2027.

I also will be back here in a few weeks asking for the release of money funding, CIP money to do land purchase for the new Northwest station.

Currently, the Wichita Fire Department, since we've been very proactive and we've realized that we do have between 45 and 48 months of delivery time.

It's used to be 48.

Within the last six months, they've reduced it to 45 months.

Before the end of this quarter, we will have a new truck delivered to us.

Originally they told us December, if they pushed it back to January, and then it will take us approximately 60 to 90 days to get all the bracketing put in it and put it out on the street.

So that's just an update of what we currently have.

Thank you, Chief.

And I'll stand for questions.

Questions for staff, Councilmember Ballard.

Thank you, Mayor.

Chief question.

Are these additional trucks or replacements?

Um the the engines, the 10 engines that are coming in, those are all replacements.

Um if I can give you kind of a uh count of what we currently have.

So right now we have 22 um fire trucks.

One of those, we have 21 stations that have actual frontline fire trucks.

One of those engines that we currently have is what we refer to our best um reserved.

So it's the first one that goes into uh reserve status, one like we're doing preventative maintenance or it goes down for some reason.

But currently we have two 2005 engines, we have three 2006 engines, we have one 2007 engine, we have eight 2013 engines, we have three 2018 engines, we have four 2021 engines, and we have one 2023 engine.

So, what we do when we go to replace those, Councilmember Ballard, is we work with maintenance because just because an engine may be uh uh 20 uh 2007, it may be performing really well and it may not have much downtime versus an engine that's a 2013.

So we coordinate, you know, there's a lot of factors that go into it, but we use we weigh heavily on what maintenance says in regards to its mechanical reliability.

Um as far as trucks, we have one 2013, we have two 2015s, we have one 2018, we have two 2021s, and one 2023.

So this truck that we get in will replace uh truck number six, which um give me just a moment and I'll tell you the uh age of truck number six.

So truck truck number six is a 2015, but it has terrible mechanical issues.

It spends more time in the shop than it does on the streets.

So even though it's a 2015 and we have an older one at 2013, that will be the one that'll be replaced with this new truck that comes in.

And then we'll sell that one.

Yeah, well, I'll have to get with mechanics because we're still waiting on that 45.

Uh we've been hanging on to some of them just so that we have a reserve status, but eventually, yes, they'll go through paper purple wave and be sold.

That's my thought.

Thank you so much.

Sure.

Councilmember Glascock.

Thank you.

Let's I'm gonna test the knowledge see if you have this off the top of your head, because you may not.

Um, but in terms of how many capital project needs are projected in the next 10 years for fire.

Do you know that exact amount or an estimate?

Um, right now I'm the paper I'm looking at, and it gets changed, but I got pretty close here.

Um33,156,657 between fire apparatus, uh, firecom systems, fire equipment, uh, fire equipment replacement, fire facilities, SCBA replacement, fire stations, fire stations art, fire training center.

Um, so that's what I have right now.

So over 10 years we're projected to spend in what we're doing today with fire apparatus and equipment, an additional 132 million dollars on capital needs.

Yes.

Okay, thank you.

I see no further questions for staff.

We will now open it up for public comment.

I see no individual who would like to speak.

We will bring it back to the bench.

Uh, this is in multiple districts, so I will um motion for this.

I again very appreciative that our fire stations, 22 of them, have engines, and I understand that they have a life expectancy.

Um, and you're trying your best because of a really great mechanics team that makes sure that uh these apparatuses are available in our community.

Um, but it does concern me that it takes 45 months before uh an engine comes, and that is not uh at the fault of anyone here.

Um, and so uh I'm appreciative that you're having the foresight to start replacing some of these um important equipment pieces for the fire department.

With that, I move that the city council approve the projects, adopt the bonding resolutions, and authorize the necessary signatures.

Second.

Motion and a second, any further discussion.

I see none.

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

Motion passes 70.

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

Acceptance of Quick Trip donation.

Good afternoon, council, new city manager.

Welcome.

Um, I'm here to present um an opportunity to accept the donation from QuickTrip to help initiate and build our street outreach work in the community.

And a little bit of background at the city council workshop on Septon September 23rd, a lack of community street outreach workers that are not homeless outreach team or WPD officers was identified as a systemic gap in our homelessness response network.

That next week, the city manager's office hosted a corporate leadership team from QuickTrip, and they expressed an interest in funding system gaps in response to homelessness in Wichita.

Housing staff prepared a donation request to fund a street outreach team after we met with them approximately a month later.

To build this street outreach team, QuickTrip has committed to donating the funds to the Wichita Department of Housing and Community Services to add two professional housing specialists and two peer support specialists to function to provide housing resources to our unsheltered population.

These are new positions.

In addition to the Wichita Unhoused Resource Coordination Team, direct to housing, these additional positions will allow the department to engage with individuals experiencing homelessness to connect them to housing resources.

These teams will now be comprised of four housing specialists, three social work interns, and two peer recovery specialists who will work collaboratively with W collaboratively with WPD's homeless outreach team and navigate unhoused individuals into home tenant-based rental assistance, rapid rehousing, or other system vouchers.

The street outreach project shall be named.

I came up with an acronym, but this is obviously something that we can move away from.

The department recognizes that the size of this project does not wholly fill the need.

The department is working with the COC to apply for street outreach, housing navigation, and employment case managers to better serve the entire community.

As you know, the uh the COC NOFO is currently in injunction in at the federal level, but we have written the proposal to align with Mandy Chapman Semple's work in the unsheltered work that she did in Houston, part of our housing um conference that we did last year to build a process by which we're doing street outreach, then housing navigation, then supportive case management at the back end, ultimately towards self-sufficiency, self-sufficiency through employment and other sort of processes like that.

So this is just sort of to initiate that process.

We've got that in queue, and as soon as we get confirmation, which actually might even be in the next couple of days, we'll be preparing those agenda items for that COC application.

The Department of Housing and Community Services will work with WPD to align those resources.

We met on one two, and we'll develop a co-response model through standard operating procedures while the staff are being hired for the project.

The funding must be spent by 1231 26.

There is no impact to the general fund.

Law has approved the acceptance of the award document as to form.

And it is recommended that the city council approve the acceptance of the donation from Quick Trip Corporation in the amount of 280,000 to fund the street outreach program, authorize the addition of the two homeless housing specialists and two department interim positions and authorize the necessary signatures.

And I stand for questions.

Thank you, Steve.

Questions for staff beginning with Councilmember Hoheisel.

Thank you, Mayor.

So if this is a kind of a one-year trial project with the donation, um, do we have any matrixes that we're looking at or any goals of achievement where we might look at continuing this model or adapting this model in the future?

We can look at this as a pilot project, but because the administration's goals towards funding the homelessness work in our country is changing, and that there is a new effort in reducing unsheltered homelessness, street homelessness, and a new view on what it takes to get people through that continuum.

We're probably piloting towards a COC funded project, and that this is a little bit of a kickoff, an initiation gets us the opportunity to set ourselves in motion so that when that COC funds comes, we hope it does, that we'll just be in a matter of scaling it.

Okay, so yeah, the uncertainty as far as funding in the future doesn't really allow us to make solid plans at this time.

Correct.

So this is more of a um just a kind of a trial and maybe a warm handoff at the end of this.

Correct.

Okay, thank you.

Councilmember Tottle.

Thank you.

Thank you, Steve, for the presentation.

And Councilmember Hull has took my notes.

I'm always worried if there's grant funding for staff, how we are going to sustain that afterwards, right?

I always ask that question from my past work in grants.

Um then I just have a comment.

Um, this is the second time we've received a donation from Quick Trip recently.

I see Captain Moses with us.

Thank you for joining us from Wichita Police Department regarding the drones project, and then this, and this is just a suggestion from my colleagues.

We can do it at whatever, but I think QuickTrip should be recognized for their partnership with the city.

Um I don't know if we have them come and we give them a special proclamation or a special award or something, but um, and then definitely if we can plan on at the end of this funding cycle, maybe this time next year, you come back and present and just give us an update and what the successes were.

But I'd really like us to think about what we can do to publicly thank QuickTrip for now their second partnership of financial support.

Um, you know, they they partner with us in lots of different ways, but these are two checks that they're actually writing, and I definitely want to thank QuickTrip.