Wichita City Council Regular Meeting – October 6, 2026

The Wichita City Council met on October 6, 2026, beginning at 9:00 AM (15:00 UTC) in City Council Chambers. The meeting included proclamations, public comments, consent items, and multiple business items. All votes were unanimous (7-0) unless otherwise noted.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of September 22, 2026.
• Approved consent agenda items 1–26, including: Cereal Malt Beverage licenses, preliminary estimates, agreements (KDOT signal maintenance, Kansas Gas Service relocation, etc.), property acquisitions for drainage projects, minutes of advisory boards, proclamation votes, narcotic seizure fund budget, IRS asset seizure budget, settlement payment ($100,000 for transit vehicle accident), debt financing amendment for airport technology upgrade, ICAC MOU amendment, overestimate bid for sewer manhole reconstruction, Día de los Muertos community event alcohol consumption request, and several planning/housing/airport consent items (zone changes, plats, annexation, easement vacations, housing program continuation, airport agreements).
• Board of Bids & Contracts (Oct. 5, 2026) approved: sanitary sewer manhole reconstruction ($246,840), water/sewer/paving for Veranda 2nd Addition ($203,635), generator replacement for stormwater pump station ($217,000), fire truck engine replacement ($103,889.38), paper products contract change order ($43,074.50).
• Petitions for Public Improvements for Rivington Addition (District II) – 100% of improvement districts signed; approved new water, storm, sanitary sewer, and paving improvements for the residential subdivision.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Donney Patton – Expressed concerns about conditions at St. Clair House (226 S. St. Clair), a sober living home; alleged residents are lured under false pretenses and money taken without return. Requested city manager investigation; noted city lacks authority over such homes but urged follow-up.
• Helen Reicher (board member, Wichita Area Housing Coalition) – Criticized disparity in background check scrutiny between housing voucher applicants and contractors receiving public money; presented criminal record of Andrew Barnard (Boulevard Construction Group) spanning 20 years with convictions for battery and property damage. Acknowledged Barnard has since contributed supplies to Chapin Park residents. Urged applying same safeguards to contractors. Also advocated for homeless pet owners: asked for resources allowing people to keep their animals when seeking shelter.
• Sarah Cowleen (unhoused, former/resident of Chapin Park) – Requested postponement of Oct. 12 closure/vegetation removal at Chapin Park until a managed transition plan is completed for each remaining resident. Noted vouchers are not homes and landlords often reject them. Cited the city's tree canopy policy and police department's service-oriented response protocol. Expressed concern that displacement will push people into dire circumstances.
• Margaret Shabazz (District VI resident) – Asked the council to change public comment procedure so speakers are not required to announce their exact home address publicly; cited safety concerns for domestic violence survivors, stalking victims, and others. Suggested stating name and district or major intersection instead. Referenced Topeka’s policy as a model.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance Reestablishing the Access Advisory Board (AAB) – After deferral and additional meetings with the existing board, staff presented a revised proposal: 11 voting members (appointed by mayor, each council member, city manager, plus seats for Independent Living Resource Center, National Federation of the Blind, and Wichita Association of the Deaf) and 11 non-voting ex officio members (ADA coordinator, city traffic engineer, transit rep, Sedgwick County representatives, Envision, Starkey, VA, CATCH, Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation). Board will review capital projects, provide accessibility recommendations, and meet at least monthly. All current appointments will be vacated; new application process opens next week. Approved (first reading).
• Economic Development Exemption (EDX) – Lee Aerospace, Inc. (District II) – Lee Aerospace seeks a 100% property tax abatement (5+5 years) for a $50 million project (new 93,200 sq ft building, $21M construction, $29M equipment) to manufacture commercial windows. Will create 25 new jobs (from 169 to 194). Estimated first-year property tax after abatement: $562,000 (city share $116,000). Cost-benefit analysis meets 1:1 threshold. No taxpayer risk. Public hearing held; approved (second reading) 7-0.
• Economic Development Exemption (EDX) – Diversified Services, Inc. (District VI) – Diversified Services (65-year-old aerospace metal processing company) seeks a 90% property tax abatement for a $1.9 million new building on a current parking lot. Will create 5 new jobs (from 333 to 338), average wage $72,900. Estimated first-year property tax: $34,000 (city share $10,000). Current land pays $420 in taxes. Cost-benefit analysis meets guidelines. Approved (second reading) 7-0.
• Supplemental Agreement No. 3 – Prestressed Concrete Cylinder Water Pipe (PCCP) Evaluation – Third phase of inspections for 23 miles of major water pipelines; contract increase of $7.2 million (total $14.6M). Budget revised to $16M (from $8M). Previous phases inspected 10.5 miles with no failures. Approved 7-0.
• Contract & Vendor Selection for Multiple CIP Projects (Districts II & V) – Selection of design vendors for: 13th St (Gatewood to Webb) – Bennish; Pawnee (Greenwich-127th) – BHC (roundabout analysis); 13th St (Country Acres to Ridge) – Boffman; Ridge & 34th – PEC. Concept design fees within existing budgets. Approved 7-0.
• Revised Budget for East Four Mile Creek Interceptor Improvements (District II) – Revised budget to $9 million (from $500,000) for final design and construction of a new sewer main to serve rapid growth in northeast Wichita. Funded by sewer utility; no rate impact. Approved 7-0.
• Funding for Park Security Improvements at Nafzger Park – $325,000 in GO bonds to install permanent crash-rated bollards (or planters) along Douglas and St. Francis, replacing temporary jersey barriers. Expected to reduce staff time and event costs for users. Lead time: early spring completion. Approved 7-0.
• Digital Signage for New Multimodal Transit Facility – Contract with Avail Technologies, Inc. for real-time arrival/departure displays (12 column-mounted, 3 standing). Total: $376,365.90 (80% federal, 20% local match $75,273.20). Approved 7-0.
• Funding Agreement with Sedgwick County for MABCD – Updated funding agreement for city/county consolidation of code enforcement; eliminates city fee fund balance ($1.25M returned to county); county will reimburse city in advance; 11 city fleet vehicles transferred to county with $500K reimbursement. No general fund impact. Approved 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• All votes were 7-0 in favor of recommendations.
• Approved proclamations: White Cane Awareness Day (Oct. 15), National Arts & Humanities Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Highland Cemetery Historic Preservation Month.
• Award: Posthumous Doris Kerr Larkins Rising Star Award presented to Kiah Duggins (tragically lost in DC helicopter collision) – accepted by her family.
• Public comment policy: Mayor Wu requested council consider a holistic discussion on public agenda procedures, including address requirements; referred to upcoming council retreat.
• Council travel approved for: Councilmember Johnston (NLC City Summit, Nashville, Nov. 18-21); Councilmembers Hoheisel & Ballard (same summit, Nov. 18-22); Councilmember Tuttle (American Public Health Conference, San Antonio, Nov. 1-3, gift $1,886.40, city cost $185); Vice Mayor Glasscock (Orleans, France Sister City 50th race, Oct. 18, no city cost); Mayor Wu (American Swiss Foundation Innovation Forum, Boston, Oct. 15, gift $1,000, no city cost; and Hunt Mayors Fellowship, Kansas City, Oct. 16, gift $1,000, no city cost).
• Board appointments: Ashley Collins (Affordable Housing Review Board), Scott A. Mahler (Board of Codes & Standards), Pastor Pam Hughes (Emergency Communications Advisory Board), Jason Harper (Wichita Employees Retirement System Board).
• Executive session: Council recessed into a 20-minute executive session (12:15-12:35 PM) for legal consultation on a contract under attorney-client privilege.

Non-Consent Planning Item

• ZON2026-00036 / CON2026-00101 – Amendment to PO #140 and conditional use for warehouse/self-service storage at 500 S. 135th St. West. MAPC recommended approval (12-1) with site plan alternative #2 (including residential lots on south). District Advisory Board (DAB) recommended modified PO language (more signage, no pedestrian walk for parcel 4, drive-through restaurants allowed within 150 ft without screen). Council approved the DAB recommendation (7-0), overriding MAPC (requires 5 votes, but got 7). No protests received.

Housing Agenda

• 2027 Annual Agency Plan – Approved the Wichita Housing Authority’s plan for Section 8 vouchers and public housing. Statistics: 3,376 families served in 2025, $22M rent assistance, average income $14,500, 52.52% elderly/disabled. Changes include: cap late fees at 10%, extend voucher search time to 120 days, implement new federal HATMA regulations, and transition from public housing to project-based vouchers. Capital fund: $0. No general fund impact. Approved 7-0.