Wichita City Council Meeting: June 16, 2026

The Wichita City Council met on June 16, 2026, at City Hall. The meeting included proclamations, awards, a consent agenda, multiple grant applications, zoning cases, and the sale of public housing properties. All votes were 7-0 except where noted.

Consent Calendar

• Consent Agenda (Items 1-24): Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Board of Bids and Contracts (June 15, 2026): Approved 10 items including stormwater drain ($744,664), Crystal Prairie Lake Park ($2,405,430), sewer extension ($165,551), and various purchases (tires, fire station furniture, thermal imagers, rescue system, library subscription, airport fence). Approved 7-0.
• Petitions for Public Improvements: Approved for Sunshine Village (District 4) and Veranda Second Edition (District 2) – both 100% of improvement districts. Approved 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public speakers signed up for the public agenda, and no community members spoke during the open comment periods.

Discussion Items

• Proclamations: Declared June 19, 2026 as SOR Optimist International of Wichita Kansas Day (90th anniversary) and June 22–28, 2026 as Amateur Radio Week.
• Awards – Chamber of Commerce Honors Night: Videos highlighted honorees including Hunter Health, Scott Schwindemann, and others. The Chamber recognized six awards categories.
• Public Hearing – Storytime Village Inc. Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs): The council approved a letter of intent to issue up to $3.5 million in IRBs for the Storytime Village Literacy Center, a $10 million project. The IRBs enable a sales tax exemption valued at $245,000 (city share $18,000). The city bears no financial risk. The executive director, Dr. Prisca Barnes Simmons, described the project's history and community impact. Approved 7-0.
• SAFER Grant (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response): Fire Chief Snow requested authorization to apply for a $3.05 million FEMA grant to staff Fire Station 23 (Pawnee and Maze Road) with 14 personnel. The grant requires a 25% local match in years 1-2 and 65% in year 3, totaling $1.95 million over three years. The station cost is $5.17 million. Chief Snow noted that since 2009, call volume per firefighter increased 44.5% (from 104 to 138 alarms per firefighter). If the grant is not awarded, the city will reallocate resources or use general fund stabilization funds. Approved 7-0.
• Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG): Chief Snow requested authorization to apply for up to $2 million in FEMA funds for comprehensive firefighter health screenings (pilot program found 15 of 18 participants had medical issues, including stage 1 lung cancer and cardiac risks). The city match is 10% ($200,000). If not awarded, the department has a budget option for $650,000 for less comprehensive screenings. Approved 7-0.
• Fire Prevention and Safety Grant: The council approved applying for a $514,998 grant to backfill three fire lieutenant positions reassigned from operations to community risk reduction. The city match is 5% ($24,524). The grant funds one year. Approved 7-0.
• Ordinances – Criminal Statute Updates (Multiple): The council approved amendments to municipal codes to align with state law changes, including: raising the vehicle theft threshold to $500, updating petty theft language, adding gift cards to financial card fraud, increasing mandatory jail time for second-offense domestic battery from 5 to 20 days, making buying sexual relations a felony (repealing municipal ordinance), and clarifying trespass on floodway property (Big Ditch). Also repealed the aggressive conduct ordinance (previous repeal was incomplete). Discussion included domestic violence resources, battery intervention program costs, and concerns about felony impacts. Approved 7-0.
• Ordinance – Golf Carts on Sidewalks: The council allowed golf carts on sidewalks within golf course communities and within a one-mile radius. Operators must be 16+ with a valid license and insurance. The ordinance was placed on first reading. Approved 6-1 (one abstention noted? Actually vote was 6-1).
• Ordinance – Cell Phone Use in Road Construction Zones: Prohibited handheld phone use in construction and school zones, with exceptions for hands-free devices. The ordinance requires an officer to witness the violation. Approved 7-0.
• South Lakes Sports Complex Lease: Approved a 15-year lease (with three 15-year renewal options) with the Wichita Rugby Foundation for three fields and six acres. Rent is $720/year, increasing $50 every five years. The foundation will fund all improvements, including goalposts, lighting, and a future indoor facility. The park board approved on June 8, 2026. Approved 7-0.
• Zone Change 2026-5 – Wrecking and Salvage Yard (1963 S Broadway): The council overrode the MAPC recommendation (which approved with conditions) and the DAB recommendation (denial). Councilmember Hoheisel moved to approve a modified protective overlay limiting the use to tire storage, sales, and limited processing. The conditional use includes a requirement to submit a used tire processing plan within 30 days. Approved 7-0.
• Zone Change 2026-4 – Duplex (525 N Clara): Due to protests (45% of area), a supermajority (6 votes) was needed. The council approved the change from SF5 to TF3 with a protective overlay limiting the site to one duplex and requiring a hip or gabled roof. Approved 7-0.
• CUP 2026-8 – Nightclub in Twin Lakes Shopping Center: Approved an amendment to allow a nightclub and entertainment establishment on the lower level of the south building. The planning commission recommended hours (10 PM weekdays, midnight weekends); the DAB recommended later hours (midnight/2 AM). The council adopted the planning commission’s conditions. Approved 7-0.
• Sale of Public Housing Properties: The council approved the sale of 25 public housing properties to Abbey Construction LLC (3 vacant lots) and Large Enterprise (20 housing units and 2 vacant lots). Thirteen of the 20 units will be under project-based vouchers. The proceeds will fund Section 8 projects. Six remaining properties will be sold on the open market. Approved 7-0.
• Public Housing Recovery Agreement Status Report: The council received and filed the monthly update. As of June 2, 2026, 279 of 352 properties have been sold, creating 415 affordable housing units. The last occupied property has closed. The next RFP for floodplain units is delayed due to FEMA discussions. Approved 7-0.
• Travel Approval: Authorized Councilmember Tuttle to attend the signing of House Bill 2462 (water reuse bill) in Topeka on June 23, 2026, at no city expense. Approved 7-0.
• Appointments: Appointed Reverend Philip Moore to the Board of Park Commissioners and Zina Mason to the District 2 Advisory Board. Approved 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• All items on the agenda were approved, with the golf cart ordinance passing 6-1 and all other votes 7-0.
• The council authorized the submission of three FEMA grants (SAFER, AFG, Fire Prevention) totaling over $5.5 million in requested funds.
• Zoning cases were resolved with protective overlays, balancing property rights and neighborhood concerns.
• The sale of 25 public housing properties moves forward, with proceeds dedicated to affordable housing, and the recovery plan continues monthly reporting.
• The meeting adjourned at 12:10 PM.