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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Wichita City Council Meeting - June 9, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, June 9, 2026

BodyWichita, Kansas

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, June 9, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 4:00:00

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

16:14

Proceed to the podium, state your name and address, and you will be given five minutes to speak.

16:21

A timer can be viewed on the podium screen.

16:24

You may speak one time per agenda item.

16:28

Please refrain from clapping after other speakers.

16:31

Thank you again for joining us today.

16:33

Let's pause a moment for our television audience to join us.

17:30

With us this morning is Pastor Philip Moore of Eden Fellowship Ministries to provide our invocation.

17:37

Following the invocation, we will have the Pledge of Allegiance, and we ask that you please stand for both.

18:08

We are grateful for the freedom we enjoy for the diversity of our community and for those who have accepted the responsibility of public service.

18:36

Give them a b the ability to listen carefully, to speak respectfully, and work together despite differences.

18:58

Strengthen our community with mutual respect, compassion, and a shared commitment to the welfare of one another.

19:07

May all this be done here, may all that is done this here this morning be guided by integrity, wisdom, and a sincere desire to serve.

19:18

In your precious and holy name we pray.

19:21

Amen.

20:02

Madam Clerk, please call the first item.

20:07

Approved the minutes of the regular meeting, June 2nd, 2026.

20:12

Council members.

20:17

Council members, are there any items to be pulled or edited?

20:23

I see none.

20:24

With that, I move to approve the minutes.

20:26

Second.

20:27

Motion, second discussion.

20:30

See none.

20:30

Madam Clerk, please open the roll.

20:38

Motion passes 6-0.

20:41

I will point out that um Councilmember Ballard is currently biking across Kansas, so she will not be able to join us.

20:49

Madam Clerk, please call the next item.

20:52

Awards and proclamations.

20:53

Today's proclamation is Special Olympics Airlift Month.

20:59

May I please ask Textron Aviation to come forward.

21:58

If you didn't know, Wichita was the leader in the law enforcement torch run, which celebrated 45 years this year.

22:08

It all started right outside of City Hall at the law enforcement memorial, thanks to the chief uh Crenshaw back then.

22:16

And we really appreciate uh his leadership as well as all those who helped out this past weekend.

22:24

With that, this proclamation reads the City of Wichita, Kansas, founded in 1870, whereas the Special Olympics Airlift is a unique aviation initiative that brings together aircraft owners, operators, and volunteer pilots flying Cessna, beachcraft, and hawker aircraft to provide efficient and reliable transportation for Special Olympics athletes and coaches to the Special Olympics USA Games every four years.

22:52

Whereas founded by Cessna in 1987 and later strengthened through the combined heritage of the beechcraft and hawker brands, the Special Olympics Airlift has enabled thousands of athletes to travel to the Games by removing transportation barriers and ensuring athletes can fully participate in this life-changing event.

23:13

Whereas the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift marks the ninth coordinated airlift mission and will support athletes traveling to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota's Twin Cities.

23:28

Whereas the success of the Special Olympics airlift reflects the generosity, dedication, and shared values of aircraft owners, operators, flight crews, volunteers, and supporters who donate their time, aircraft, and resources in service of Special Olympics athletes.

23:47

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Wichita City Council does hereby proclaim June 2026 as Special Olympics Airlift Month.

24:06

Hello, I'm John Lair, the CEO and President of Special Olympics Kansas.

24:10

I'm honored to be here today to speak on behalf of our organization.

24:15

I'm joined today by three Special Olympics athletes.

24:19

Hope Baker, Wyatt Higgins, and Gary Correll.

24:33

And also their coach Brian Walters.

24:39

They will be representing our team Kansas on the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games journey.

24:46

Hope will be competing in powerlifting.

24:49

And Wyatt and Gary are on the flag football team.

24:53

All our Kansas athletes have been training hard, preparing for the competition at the USA Games.

25:00

Sixty-two athletes along with coaches, unified partners, and Special Olympics staff will head to Minnesota this month to represent our state.

25:07

For many of our athletes, this journey marks a series of firsts.

25:12

It's their first time traveling on this scale, their first time representing their state, and their first time seeing just how big the Special Olympics movement really is.

25:24

They can meet athletes from different states, make new friends and memories, and build unbreakable bonds with their team.

25:31

For many, it's a dream come true.

25:34

A meaningful part of the journey begins with the Special Olympics airlift, led by Cessna and Beechcraft and organized by TexDron Aviation employees by bringing together Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker owners and operators who generously donate their aircraft, fuel, and time.

25:54

The airlift helps remove barriers to travel and ensures athletes can arrive ready to compete.

26:02

More than transportation, the airlift is a moment where athletes are celebrated.

26:06

It sets the tone for the experience ahead, reinforcing that they belong on this stage and that they are part of their communities and their communities are behind them.

26:17

Mayor and the City Council members, we hope that you have some time to join us on our departure date of June 19th.

26:25

And for others in attendance today, please consider following Text Drawn Aviation's social channels to experience these incredible athletes' journeys to the Games.

26:36

To everyone who makes this possible, thank you for your continued support and generosity.

26:42

You're helping create an experience our athletes will carry with them for a lifetime.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Economic Development████████████████████████████28%

Public Engagement██████████████14%

Arts And Culture███████7%

Procedural██████6%

Youth Programs██████6%

Workforce Development██████6%

Community Engagement█████5%

Public Safety████4%

Fiscal Sustainability████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Wichita City Council Meeting - June 9, 2026

The Wichita City Council convened on June 9, 2026, at 3:00 PM UTC (morning local time) to address a full agenda including multiple industrial revenue bond requests, community awards, public comments, zoning amendments, and a civility pledge. Councilmember Ballard was absent. All motions passed 6-0 unless otherwise noted.

Consent Calendar

Approved minutes of the regular meeting on June 2, 2026.
Approved consent agenda items 1 through 22.

Awards & Proclamations

Special Olympics Airlift Month: Proclamation read; John Lair (CEO, Special Olympics Kansas) thanked volunteers and noted 62 athletes heading to the 2026 USA Games. Departure date June 19th.
Mini MPA Certificates: Recognized 10 graduates from Wichita State University's Mini MPA program, with remarks from Dr. Newbold and Dr. Mercy O'Mary.
Citizens Fire Academy: Graduation ceremony; Officer Rick Panilla spoke about building trust between police and fire services.
Cousine Memorial Group: Honored as a Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce award recipient for long-standing community commitment on South Broadway.

Public Comments & Testimony

Victor Harding (Northeast Magnet HS student): Expressed strong support for library funding, describing how the library's book bus and volunteer opportunities helped him win the 4-H State Reading Award.
Mason Grimmitt (Sunflower Privacy Alliance): Opposed WPD's use of Flock license plate cameras, requesting access logs and audit reports. Cited Fourth Amendment concerns and the 2022 incident where a lieutenant used Flock to stalk his wife. Urged council to research the company.
Sybil Strum (326 N. Walnut): Angrily stated her home was demolished without notice or permission. Claimed she was not contacted by Councilmember Ballard or the city. Asked for restitution and said she became homeless.
A scheduled speaker (Martin Mork) was not present.

Discussion Items

Board of Bids and Contracts (June 8, 2026): Approved multiple contracts including sanitary sewer improvements ($551,835), rock salt ($465,000 and $527,400 annually), Citrix cloud renewal ($54,852.50), and airport taxi lane relocation ($1,784,525.31). Passed 6-0.
Industrial Revenue Bond – Air Capital Flight Line LLC: Up to ~$5 million in bonds for a building leased to NIAR. Project outside city limits; no city property tax impact. 30 net new jobs at average $70k salary. 10-year 100% property tax abatement. Passed 6-0.
Industrial Revenue Bond – Boeing Wichita: Up to $450 million in bonds for facility improvements. 10-year property tax exemption (no sales tax exemption sought). No city tax loss (site outside city limits). Boeing representatives (Adam Pogue, Sam Sackett, Jill Wills) presented: $1 billion investment announced in May, average wage ~$85,000, 150 new jobs expected, 13,000 current employees, $2.5 million in annual charitable contributions. ROI analysis showed favorable ratios. No job requirement per city policy due to capital investment size. Public speakers supported (Chamber, Dave with Great Wichita Partnership). Passed 6-0.
Industrial Revenue Bond – McCasey Investments / Wichita Machine Products: ~$2 million in bonds for 26,000 sq ft expansion. 10 net new jobs at ~$70k average wage. 5+5 year 90% property tax abatement. Supports aerospace supply chain. Passed 6-0.
Community Improvement District (CID) – 3109 E. Douglas: Request to set public hearing for a CID at former Margaritas Cantina site. Developer seeking up to $233,250 reimbursement from a 1% CID sales tax over 22 years. Total project cost $1.55 million for purchase and facade improvements. Passed 5-1 (Councilmember Johnston opposed, arguing property would be developed anyway and a recent 1% sales tax increase was rejected by 82% of voters).
Quarterly Financial Reports (Q1 2026): Presented by Mark Manning. General fund on track; sales tax overperforming; interest earnings declining but slower than expected; golf fund strong (revenues up 23% due to weather); parking fund expenditures up with new program. Discussion included TIF performance (East Bank TIF improving). Councilmember Shepard raised equity concerns about cost recovery policies for small businesses and recreation fees. Request for future workshop on fees and equity. Report received and filed 6-0.
Wichita Art Museum Baron Room Upgrade Donation: WAM Inc. donating ~$100,000 for carpet, lighting, AV, and cosmetic upgrades. Museum provides free admission daily (funded by philanthropy). Passed 6-0.
Zoning Code Amendment – Public Notification: Override of MAPC to adopt county's unified zoning code changes regarding notification to property owners when addresses differ. Does not affect city. Passed 6-0 (needed 5 votes).
District Advisory Boards Composition: Amended ordinance to allow one youth member (age 14–18) on each 11‑member board, with option to expand to 13 members. Friendly amendments adopted to change “may” to “shall” and expand age range. Passed 6-0.
Civility Pledge Resolution: Commits council to promote civility, respect, dignity, and reducing polarization. Modeled on National League of Cities pledge. Public speaker (Faith Martin) supported but asked to replace religious invocation with pledge; others noted civility applies to speakers too. Passed 6-0.
Council Appointments and Comments: Nicole Hernandez to Sedgwick County Community Corrections Advisory Board; reappointed entire Design Council. Councilmember comments included requests for future discussions on: outdoor sidewalk café program (expiring August 2026), duplex design standards, homelessness strategies, mission statement change to “build and maintain dependable infrastructure,” and free parking signage. Executive sessions scheduled for EEOC complaint.

Key Outcomes

All votes were 6‑0 except the CID request (5‑1 with Councilmember Johnston opposing).
The meeting included extensive public testimony on privacy, housing rights, and library funding.
Council directed staff to explore signage for illegal encampments, bring forward a holistic homelessness workshop, and consider changes to the city mission statement.
Three executive sessions were recessed into for attorney-client privileged discussions.

Meeting Transcript

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. You may speak one time per agenda item. Please refrain from clapping after other speakers. Thank you again for joining us today. Let's pause a moment for our television audience to join us. With us this morning is Pastor Philip Moore of Eden Fellowship Ministries to provide our invocation. Following the invocation, we will have the Pledge of Allegiance, and we ask that you please stand for both. We are grateful for the freedom we enjoy for the diversity of our community and for those who have accepted the responsibility of public service. Give them a b the ability to listen carefully, to speak respectfully, and work together despite differences. Strengthen our community with mutual respect, compassion, and a shared commitment to the welfare of one another. May all this be done here, may all that is done this here this morning be guided by integrity, wisdom, and a sincere desire to serve. In your precious and holy name we pray. Amen. Madam Clerk, please call the first item. Approved the minutes of the regular meeting, June 2nd, 2026. Council members. Council members, are there any items to be pulled or edited? I see none. With that, I move to approve the minutes. Second. Motion, second discussion. See none. Madam Clerk, please open the roll. Motion passes 6-0. I will point out that um Councilmember Ballard is currently biking across Kansas, so she will not be able to join us. Madam Clerk, please call the next item. Awards and proclamations. Today's proclamation is Special Olympics Airlift Month. May I please ask Textron Aviation to come forward. If you didn't know, Wichita was the leader in the law enforcement torch run, which celebrated 45 years this year. It all started right outside of City Hall at the law enforcement memorial, thanks to the chief uh Crenshaw back then. And we really appreciate uh his leadership as well as all those who helped out this past weekend. With that, this proclamation reads the City of Wichita, Kansas, founded in 1870, whereas the Special Olympics Airlift is a unique aviation initiative that brings together aircraft owners, operators, and volunteer pilots flying Cessna, beachcraft, and hawker aircraft to provide efficient and reliable transportation for Special Olympics athletes and coaches to the Special Olympics USA Games every four years. Whereas founded by Cessna in 1987 and later strengthened through the combined heritage of the beechcraft and hawker brands, the Special Olympics Airlift has enabled thousands of athletes to travel to the Games by removing transportation barriers and ensuring athletes can fully participate in this life-changing event. Whereas the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift marks the ninth coordinated airlift mission and will support athletes traveling to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota's Twin Cities. Whereas the success of the Special Olympics airlift reflects the generosity, dedication, and shared values of aircraft owners, operators, flight crews, volunteers, and supporters who donate their time, aircraft, and resources in service of Special Olympics athletes. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Wichita City Council does hereby proclaim June 2026 as Special Olympics Airlift Month. Hello, I'm John Lair, the CEO and President of Special Olympics Kansas. I'm honored to be here today to speak on behalf of our organization. I'm joined today by three Special Olympics athletes. Hope Baker, Wyatt Higgins, and Gary Correll. And also their coach Brian Walters. They will be representing our team Kansas on the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games journey. Hope will be competing in powerlifting. And Wyatt and Gary are on the flag football team. All our Kansas athletes have been training hard, preparing for the competition at the USA Games. Sixty-two athletes along with coaches, unified partners, and Special Olympics staff will head to Minnesota this month to represent our state. For many of our athletes, this journey marks a series of firsts. It's their first time traveling on this scale, their first time representing their state, and their first time seeing just how big the Special Olympics movement really is.

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