Advanced Plans Committee

Advance Plans Committee Summary of Meeting Thursday, July 23, 2020 City Council Chambers Attendance AP Committee Members: Mike Greene, (Chair) Chuck Warren, Bob Dool, Renee Duxler, and and Joe Johnson; Members Absent: Rob Hartman, Schane Gross MAPD staff: Scott Wadle, Mary M. Hunt, Jim Schiffelbein, Stephen Banks, Skylyn Hogan-Turner, Jim Weber, Valerie Kaster, Elizabeth Goltry, Mark Manning, Lynn Packer, Sean Sandefur; Other: Kurt Yowell; Discussion Summary 1. Advance Plans Committee Chair, Mike Greene called the meeting to order at 10:31 am; 2. The Advance Plans Committee voted unanimously (5 to 0) to approved the June 4, 2020 meeting summary 3. Jim Weber, Sedgwick County Public Works Director and Valerie Kaster, Project Services Manager presented the Capital Improvements Program-2021 -2025 (CIP) for Sedgwick County. Jim reviewed the schedule for the CIP concluding with the adoption of the CIP as part of the budget on August 12, 2020. The full Planning Commission will hear the CIP presentation on August 6, 2020 where staff will request a determination if the CIP is in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan (Community Investments Plan). Jim shared information on the “Roads and Bridges” portion of the CIP. Projects are categorized into four parts; they are ‘Maintain infrastructure’; ‘Enhance infrastructure’; ‘Expand infrastructure’; and ‘Expand infrastructure’. The goals of the Public Works Department is to conduct preventive maintenance on roads every six years and replace bridges every 50 years, averaging 12 bridges per year. Some funding shifts are necessary due to reduction in revenue. Jim shared some of the upcoming projects with the Committee. Jim explained how overall the county directs more than half of the financial resources to road maintenance along with the sources of funding. Sales tax is the predominate source of funding. Several transportation goals from the Comprehensive Plan were highlighted and how the County is working to meet those goals with the projects in the CIP. Committee member Dool inquired about conducting a Cost/Benefit analysis on projects. This does not currently take place. Valerie Kaster presented information on the County facility projects within the CIP. The highest priority is maintenance of facilities and shared photos of various projects that are scheduled for maintenance work. Projects are categorized as high priority to low priority, concluding those with a lower urgency being placed on a ‘wait’ list. Advanced Plans Committee Meeting Summary – July 23, 2020 1  The Committee voted unanimously (5-0) that the County CIP was in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan (Community Investments Plan). 4. Mark Manning, City of Wichita Treasurer presented the City CIP to the Committee. The ten- year total is approximately $2 Billion. Funding has shifted during recent years from the Kellogg project to other street projects. Sales tax is expected to lag behind previous years and results in 18 projects begin delayed one to three years. All projects are aligned with the Comprehensive Plan goals. Mark shared the results of an internal analysis of how projects line up with the priorities of the Comprehensive Plan. 57% of project funding is directed to the 1st Priority (Maintaining & Replacing what we currently have) projects. The second priority (Enhance what we have) is scheduled to receive 24% of CIP funding, followed by Priority three projects (Expand what we have) with approximately 19% of CIP funding. Stephen Banks, Senior Planner answered a question related to the reduction of transit ridership as a result of COVID-19. Mark described various projects and the highlights of the CIP. There is approximately $12 million for bike/pedestrian projects; Downtown street projects are budgeted to receive $30.5 million and Public Art will receive approximately $11 million. The debt level will rise going forward, however it will remain below the benchmark. The City Council will conduct a public hearing on August 4, 2020, followed by a presentation before the Planning Commission on August 6, 2020. The final public hearing and budget adoption will take place on August 11, 202 by the City of Wichita City Council. The Advance Plans Committee voted unanimously (5-0) that the City of Wichita CIP was in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan (Community Investments Plan). 5. Stephen Banks, Senior Planner presented the annual Development Trends report for 2020. Stephan outlined the trends in Residential building including an employment decrease that is lagging behind the US average. Grounding of the 737 Max airplane created job uncertainty in the Wichita market. Commercial activity is generally good with construction being less volatile. Overall, commercial permits are down, however the projects are larger, keeping contractors busy. Subdivision activity is slower with the exception of Industrial plats. Residential activity has a positive outlook due to low mortgage rates and a tight supply of homes. Stephen explained that ‘Buildable Vacant Lots’ are lots that are subdivided, zoned for single- family, or two-family residential and have municipal services in place. They do not include infill lots unless they are re-platted or is a building with new municipal services. Buildable vacant lots have a positive outlook due to low interest rates. Zillow considers Wichita a “hot market’. Advanced Plans Committee Meeting Summary – July 23, 2020 2  Committee member Warren inquired about the phasing of subdivisions and if data is collected at this level of detail. Stephen responded that currently the information we have does not reach to that level of detail. The next meeting of the Advance Plans Committee is Thursday, August 6, 2020 in the City Council Chambers. With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:45 am. Advanced Plans Committee Meeting Summary – July 23, 2020 3