Wichita City Council Meeting: June 2, 2026 - Parking Ordinance Repeal and Public Safety Discussions
Wichita City Council Meeting: June 2, 2026
The Wichita City Council met on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in an evening session. The meeting included proclamations, public comments on police accountability and public safety, and a major discussion and vote on the city's long-standing ban on backing into parking stalls. The council also approved consent agenda items and several appointments.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: The minutes from the regular meetings of May 19, 2026, and May 26, 2026, were approved 7-0.
- Consent Agenda (Items 1-22): Approved 7-0, except for items 4B and 6 which were pulled for separate discussion.
- Item 4B: Acquisition of temporary construction easements for the Bleckley Drive Drainage Improvement Project. The project has a total estimated cost of approximately $39 million. Councilmember Shepard requested assurances regarding community engagement and tree preservation. After staff commitment to hold another public meeting and explore saving some trees, the item was approved 7-0.
- Item 6: Correction to the record regarding a previous proclamation vote. Councilmember Hoheisel clarified that he had voted in favor of the Pride Month proclamation in February 2026. The council voted 7-0 to receive and file the report with that correction.
- Board of Bids and Contracts: Approved 7-0, including contracts for sanitary sewer reconstruction, pavement preservation, police records management system renewal, and a Flock Safety license plate reader contract extension.
- Petitions for Public Improvements: Approved 7-0, authorizing sanitary sewer, water, and paving improvements for three development projects.
- Travel and Appointments
- Councilmember Tuttle's travel to the National Civic League All-American City event (Denver, June 25-29, 2026) approved 7-0.
- Mayor Woo's travel to a women's conference in Hutchinson, KS, on June 2, 2026, retroactively approved 7-0.
- Council appointments (Lori Lawrence to Sustainability Integration Board; Julie Collier to District 2 Advisory Board; Marco Lacloser to Airport Advisory Board) approved 7-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Barbara Myers (on behalf of Friends of Wichita Pioneers): Reported on volunteer work at Highland Cemetery, including locating markers for 38 babies and planning 25 military marker dedications. Asked about budget for mausoleum roof repairs, lawn care, promised cameras, and whether the city council will approve a cemetery board. Councilmember Ballard requested follow-up from the city manager.
- Bridget E.B.: Expressed frustration with lack of accountability in the Wichita Police Department, claiming internal investigations were corrupted and that 81% of WPD officers surveyed stated they dislike working there due to corruption. She said the city manager refused to investigate her complaints about her son's case. Councilmember Ballard asked the city manager to follow up.
- Rachel Mejia: Grandmother of a 14-year-old murdered in 2023. Claimed the district attorney lied, and the perpetrator received only two years in a juvenile facility. She called for cameras in parks and criticized the police department and DA's office. Councilmember Joseph offered to connect her with Moms Demand Action and Cure Violence.
- Emilio Martinez: Supported repeal of the backing-in-parking ordinance. He received a $50 citation for backing into a parking stall near the Kansas Leadership Center, claiming he was unaware of the law. He argued that fighting a ticket adds $81 in court fees, and the council should repeal the ordinance to focus on more pressing issues.
- Charles Gymnez (ABATE of Kansas, motorcycle rights group): Supported repeal, noting that many motorcycles have no reverse gear and that backing in improves visibility when pulling out. He highlighted safety concerns for riders.
- Additional Public Comments on Parking
- Margaret Chabazz: Argued for repeal, emphasizing driver choice and safety. Noted that studies show backing in reduces collision risk. Stated that many residents were unaware of the prohibition until paid parking enforcement increased.
- Tex Dozier: Proposed a hybrid solution: allow backing in parking lots but prohibit on streets. Suggested using stationary LPRs at lot entrances/exits. Also called for automatic dismissal of citations where signage or app notifications were absent.
Discussion Items
- Amendments to Parking Ordinance (Backing into Parking Stalls): The main discussion item of the evening.
- Staff Presentation (Gary Janssen, Public Works & Utilities): Recommended keeping the prohibition in place but instituting first-offense warnings and adding messaging to parking apps. Cited safety concerns (damage to infrastructure, blocked sidewalks), efficiency of license plate readers, and the need to protect city assets. Since late April 2026, warnings have been issued for first violations, and citations have dropped. Statistics: 0.2-0.3% of all parking sessions resulted in backing-in citations (122 in 2025 Q4, 218 through March 2026). Staff proposed revisiting the issue in 6-9 months.
- Council Debate:
- Councilmember Hoheisel supported repeal for parking lots but not on streets due to angled parking safety concerns.
- Councilmember Ballard opposed repeal without a clear enforcement plan for lots.
- Vice Mayor Glascock leaned toward liberty and full repeal, arguing it is a revenue issue, not public safety.
- Councilmember Tuttle felt more study was needed and opposed hasty repeal.
- Councilmember Shepard suggested a hybrid option (allow backing in lots but ban on streets).
- Councilmember Johnston noted seeing dangerous backing into angled on-street parking and favored banning on streets.
- Votes: Mayor Woo moved for full repeal (all sections). That motion received no second. Councilmember Hoheisel then offered a substitute motion to repeal the ordinance except for on-street parking. After debate, the substitute motion passed 7-0. The resulting ordinance allows backing into parking stalls in lots and garages but prohibits it on streets.
Key Outcomes
- Parking Ordinance: The council voted 7-0 to repeal the prohibition on backing into parking stalls (sections 11.52.020, 11.52.110, 11.52.115) except for on-street parking. The prohibition remains for all on-street parking.
- Bleckley Drainage Project: After a commitment from staff to hold a community meeting and explore saving some trees, the acquisition of temporary easements was approved 7-0.
- Public Safety Referrals: Councilmember Joseph committed to connecting Rachel Mejia with violence prevention organizations. Councilmember Ballard requested city manager follow-up on Highland Cemetery concerns and Bridget E.B.'s police complaints.
- Travel and Appointments: All routine items approved.
- Upcoming: The council recessed into executive session to discuss real estate acquisition.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, which I'm good evening to all of you. Thank you for joining us for this week's City Council meeting. With us this evening is Reverend Ben Staley of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church to provide our invocation. Following that invocation, we will have the Pledge of Allegiance, and we ask that you please stand for both. Let's all pray together. Oh Lord, we give you thanks for all that is ours, especially and including a great place to live. We thank you for all those who help make our community a place where children get good care. And with all these summer events, we pray for our children and for uh families and for all who watch over them. And we're thankful that we live in a place that's safe and can get help. We pray for our police and first responders. We're a place where our economy is doing well, and we also ask that you would guide our business leaders to have integrity as well as be successful. We're a place where people find good jobs, but we also pray for those who are out of work and who need financial help. We're thankful for the sensitivity of this mayor and city council for the social concerns that we all have. We have leaders like our mayor and city council members and staff, and we're thankful for them and their integrity. Guide and protect them, give them the courage to do what is best according to the values that you care about with servant hearts, and Lord help us all to treat one another with love and grace. And we pray it all in Jesus' name. Amen. And to your club life for a witch of stands, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Reverend Staley. Madam Clerk, please call the first item. Approve the minutes of the regular meeting, May 19th, 2026, and May 26th, 2026. Council members, any items to be edited. I see none. I move to approve the minutes for May 19th, 2026 and May 26, 2026. Second. Motion second discussion. See none. Madam Clerk, please open the roll. Motion passes seven zero. Madam Clerk, please call the next item. Awards and proclamations. This week's proclamations are Pride Month and Gun Violence Awareness Month. May I please ask Vice Mayor Dalton Glasscock and any council members who would like to come forward at this time. Whereas Wichita recognizes the importance of equality and freedom, dedicated to fostering acceptance of all its residents and preventing discrimination and bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Whereas the nation was founded upon and is guided by a set of principles that includes that every person has been created equal, that each has rights to their life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, and that each shall accord be accorded the full recognition and protection of the law. Whereas the City of Wichita's LGBTQ community are a vital part of all fields and professions and contribute to a stronger community. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Wichita City Council does hereby proclaim June 2026 as Pride Month. May please ask Cure Violence ICT and its supporters to come forward at this time. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. You can come forward. The proclamation reads, the city of Wichita, Kansas, founded in eighteen seventy, whereas gun violence remains a significant public health and safety concern affecting communities across the nation, including the city of Wichita, and its impact extends beyond those directly involved, affecting families, neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and the overall well-being of our community. Whereas gun violence awareness month, observed each June, provides an opportunity to honor the lives lost to gun violence, support survivors and their families, and raise awareness about the importance of prevention and community safety. Whereas Cure Violence ICT project We Deserve initiative implemented by Destination Innovation works to reduce violence in Wichita through a public health approach that focuses on violence interruption, community outreach, conflict mediation, rather, and connecting individuals to supportive resources and opportunities. Whereas building safer communities require collaboration among residents, community organizations, local leaders, and public institutions working together to promote healing, opportunity, and a shared commitment to preventing violence. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Wichita City Council does hereby proclaim June twenty twenty-six as gun violence awareness month. Um thank you. Even when the times is hard and it feels like the mountain is impossible to climb. It's life that we we understand all too well, and it's life that we know that if the cycle isn't broken, where it leads to.
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