Wichita City Council Regular Meeting – October 20, 2026

The Wichita City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a moment of silence for the victims of the striker soccer field tragedy in McPherson. The council approved the minutes of the October 13 meeting, issued four proclamations, heard two speakers on police accountability, and acted on consent items, contracts, public improvements, cultural funding, and an affordable housing program update. Councilmembers also made appointments, shared comments on recent events, and held a brief executive session.

Awards and Proclamations

• Child Entrepreneurs Day (November 21, 2026): Presented by the Society of Child Entrepreneurs, recognizing the Children’s Business Fair during Global Entrepreneurship Week.
• Lights on Afterschool (October 22, 2026): A representative from Wichita Public Schools highlighted the Stealth program, which serves over 600 at-risk students daily at nine schools and has waitlists, noting that the program increases attendance, improves behavior, and boosts academic performance.
• Dyslexia Awareness Month (October 2026): Janine Phillips of Phillips Fundamental Learning Center accepted; her center has assisted thousands of children with dyslexia through its school and curriculum programs.
• 45th Annual Wichita Asian Festival (October 17, 2026): Jasmine Bowen, Miss Wichita Asian Association 2026, described the festival’s theme “Journey Across Borders” and its focus on local artists, vendors, and a scholarship pageant.

Public Comments & Testimony

Police accountability – Two members of the DeAndre Hill family spoke:

• Stacia Hill Saunders (sister) expressed that the council’s expressions of support have not been followed by action, noted that a promised visit to a protest was replaced by a video appearance, and invited the council to the tenth protest on October 20 and to a national protest day event on October 22.
• Cynthia Fitz (mother) described her son’s accomplishments and character, stated that the police “lied on” him and that she has seen footage, and asserted that Kansas “is a prejudice state” and that trust cannot be given without meaningful change.

During this segment, Councilmember Shepard asked the city attorney about the status of litigation related to the DeAndre Hill case. The attorney confirmed the case is pending and advised councilmembers to refrain from public comment due to potential evidentiary issues. Shepard also asked about accessing the incident footage; the attorney stated it is a confidential criminal investigation record but offered to discuss further.

Consent Calendar

The council approved consent agenda items 1 through 13 with a single motion, except item 10 which was pulled. Item 10 (PUD2026-00017, a zone change request for Central Pointe PUD) was tabled indefinitely by unanimous vote (7-0) at the request of the applicant. Councilmember Johnston noted a correction: item 4 (proclamation votes) had been recorded as 6-0 but was actually 7-0. The consent items included cereal malt beverage licenses, preliminary estimates, various agreements and contracts, proclamation votes, a bond ordinance first reading, a resolution for the 143rd Street improvement project, a 2027 VOCA grant award, a 2025 CSBG budget adjustment, second reading ordinances, a planning consent item (PUD request), housing consent items (solar agreement, property sale contract amendment, 2027 payment standards), and airport consent items (none).

Discussion Items

Board of Bids and Contracts (October 19, 2026) – Josh Lauber, Finance, presented contracts for legal notice publication (McClatchy Media), fire sprinkler testing (Meyers Automotive Automatic Fire Protection), a skid steer loader (White Star Machinery), and a ferric sulfate contract change order (PENCO). A scrivener’s error on a purchasing form (incorrectly referencing the multimodal facility) was corrected to the West Patrol substation. Approved 7-0.

Petitions for Public Improvements – Paul Gunsleman, Public Works and Utilities, presented petitions for the Kabbaz Addition (District II), a new residential development requiring phased water, stormwater, sewer, and paving improvements. The petitions represent 100% of the improvement district. Approved 7-0.

2026 Cultural Funding Operational Grant Recommendations – Lindsay Venaca, Arts and Cultural Services, reported that the Cultural Funding Committee (CFC) recommended 17 operational grants totaling $231,572 from the 2027 Cultural Funding Program budget (estimated at $595,722). Committee members spent 15–20 hours reviewing applications and 10–15 hours in meetings. Staff provide one-on-one coaching to applicants, including those not funded. Councilmember Tuttle abstained due to a potential conflict of interest. Public speakers: Matthew Roderick (Arts Council) urged the council to view arts funding as an investment in quality of life and economic future; Lon Smith (Great Plains Transportation Museum) thanked the council for supporting arts and culture. The motion to approve the allocations as recommended passed 6-0 with one abstention.

Affordable Housing Fund Program Plan Updates and Expenditures – Carmen Hoffine, Housing and Community Services, presented an updated plan to acquire 21 unsold single-family homes from the Wichita Housing Authority for $1,569,000, plus up to $50,000 in carrying costs (total estimated $1,619,000). The acquisition will preserve the homes as affordable rental housing, to be offered to developers via a competitive RFP with up to $40,000 per unit in subsidy. The revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was corrected (requiring rehab before transfer) and approved as to form. The approved motion authorized expenditures not to exceed $1,597,351 subject to available certified expenditure authority (this figure differs from the staff’s total estimate; the approved motion reflects a slightly lower cap). The motion passed 7-0.

Councilmember Appointments – Councilmembers appointed members to the Access Advisory Board: Grant Phillips (District 1), Lisa Veda and Jim Underwood (District 2), Jill Cirshan (District 4), Mary Ware (District 5), and Jared Holcomb (District 3, approved separately). A correction was made to a prior appointment (Tiana Kelly to Community Services Block Grant Review Board instead of Affordable Housing Review Board).

Councilmember Comments

• Vice Mayor Glasscock reported on a visit to Orleans, France, for the 50th anniversary of the Keeper of the Plains race, noting strong sister-city ties and Wichita’s historical commemoration there. Twenty Wichitans participated.
• Councilmember Hoheisel offered condolences to McPherson for the weekend tragedy and thanked first responders. He also noted that the police chief’s insistence on barriers at events is justified by such tragedies.
• Councilmember Shepard raised concerns about the Chapin Park encampment cleanup, seeking clarity on expenditures, risk assessment, and lessons learned. After discussion, the council agreed to add Chapin Park as the first topic under current and organizational issues at the upcoming Friday retreat.

Executive Session – The council voted unanimously (7-0) to recess into executive session for ten minutes (10:25–10:35 a.m.) for legal consultation regarding upcoming mediation, citing attorney-client privilege and potential litigation.

Key Outcomes

• Meeting called to order at 9:00 a.m.; invocation, pledge, moment of silence, and approval of previous minutes (7-0).
• Four proclamations issued for community events and observances.
• Two public speakers addressed the council on police accountability; council received legal guidance on pending litigation.
• Consent agenda approved with item 10 (PUD request) tabled indefinitely (7-0).
• Board of Bids and Contracts report approved (7-0).
• Petitions for Public Improvements for Kabbaz Addition approved (7-0).
• 2027 Cultural Funding operational grants approved (6-0, one abstention).
• Affordable Housing Fund Program Plan updated and $1.597 million in expenditures authorized (7-0).
• Appointments made to the Access Advisory Board.
• Chapin Park encampment cleanup added to Friday retreat agenda.
• Executive session held (7-0) for legal consultation.