District 1 Advisory Board

DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD (DAB) I MEETING MINUTES Monday, December 2, 2013 6:30 p.m. Atwater Community Center, 2755 E. 19th, Wichita, Kansas 67214 Members Present Members Absent Guests Aaron Mayes Beverly Domitrovic Alana Haynes Bill Wynne Janice Rich Wade Moore David Buckmaster Donald E. Hogg KC Ohaebosim Jerry Duns Dan Heflin Janet Wilson Twila Chaloupek Brandon James Aaron Lewellyn – Youth Member James Roseboro City of Wichita Staff Present Council Member Lavonta Williams Dale Miller, Planning Department Officer Burnett Beat 46, Wichita Police Department Officer Lowe Beat 31, Wichita Police Department Robert Hovenkamp, Management Fellow City of Wichita Eoghan Miller, Management Fellow, City of Wichita Order of Business Call to Order Council Member Lavonta Williams called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and welcomed staff and guest. Approval of Agenda Motion to approve the agenda submitted. Motion carried. 10:0 Approval of Minutes Motion to approve the minutes submitted with one noted correction. Motion carried. 10:0. Public Agenda 1. Agenda Items No agenda items 2. Off Agenda Items No off agenda items Staff Report 3. Fire Report  District I Advisory Board Minutes December 2, 2013 Page 2 of 5 Captain Bahr of the Wichita Fire Department provided a summary of the fires that occurred during the past month. He noted that there were three fires, two of which were determined to be accidental and the third was arson. There was one fatality caused by these fires. Captain Bahr stressed that these recent fires only highlight the importance of having smoke detectors and advocated that folks utilize the City’s existing program. Thus far, the program has provided citizens with hundreds of smoke detectors. For additional information, citizens should call 268-4441. Captain Bahr also reported that the recently completed Salvation Army- WFD’s Boot Block raised almost $27,000 for charity. CM Lavonta Williams thanked the Captain for his report. Action Taken: Received and filed. 4. Police Report Officer Long, Beat 31, of the Wichita Police Department advised that crimes were down in the beat but there was no apparent reason for decrease. He is also involved in two special assignments at the moment, one dealing with the continued trend in auto thefts and the other relating to larceny. Officer Long, Beat 33, of the Wichita Police Department advised that burglaries are up in the beat but that the officers were monitoring a suspect. Officer Long, Beat 37, of the Wichita Police Department advised that thefts are up in the beat primarily due to an increase in crime at the mall due to increased holiday shopping. The Department is engaged in public service campaign and asks that citizens be careful. Officer Long also said that auto thefts up marginally and that the Department are putting fliers on cars left running warning owners of potential theft. Aaron Mayes thanked Officer Long and the Police Department for working with local Cub Scoots troop and informed him that they had thank you notes for them. Dan Heflin asked if the Officer had a “bait car.” Officer Long responded that they had one at one point but that it was currently being used for another assignment. Said it would be effective way of deterring auto theft. A member of the audience asked if there were any updates for Beat 38 particularly in light Police recently coming to call in area. Officer Long said there were no updates but that the call in question was a domestic violence incident. Officer Burnet, Beat 43, 46, and 47, of the Wichita Police Department advised that there has been an increase in auto thefts recently. Like Officer Long, he has been involved in the special assignment targeting vehicles left running. Over the holiday period, the Police left more than 100 flyers throughout the City on vehicles left running. The Department plans on doing the program again on Christmas Eve. Officer Burnet also said that the Department is currently monitoring several “individuals of interest.” 2  District I Advisory Board Minutes December 2, 2013 Page 3 of 5 Officer Burnet also stated that larceny has been up on 2100 block of N. Rock. In an effort to curb this trend, the Department is using more foot patrols in shopping areas. This is a trial effort but is an attempt to be more proactive and deter crime. Officer Burnet also said that burglaries are up but that one of the suspects had been apprehended within the past two hours. Officer Burnet informed the Board that the Department partnered with the Red Cross and distributed 100 Thanksgiving meals to local individuals. The Department plans to do this again for Christmas. According to Officer Burnet, the Police recently held a productive “Impact Meeting.” The meeting related to a recent homicide and allowed members of the public to share their thoughts and get information about the investigation. CM Lavonta Williams stated that the public appreciates having Impact Meetings and the opportunity to provide community input. Dan Heflin said that he had heard homicide rates are down for the year. Is this true and if so, why are they down. Officer Burnet said that he didn’t really know why this was the case. CM Lavonta Williams asked what needed to be done to get a bate car? Officer Burnet said that he believed it was a question of resources. The vehicles are not inexpensive. Janet Wilson asked if it would be possible to have school zones patrolled when school closes. She said her concern was the number of students in the street resulting in accidents. James Roseboro said this was also a problem around Buckner and that, while there are signs, these are not enforced. Officer Burnet said that the Police will review the situation over the next couple of weeks and then, if need be, get traffic engineer to examine the issue. CM Lavonta Williams thanked the Officers for their reports. Action Taken: Received and filed. New Business 5. Con2013-00029 Dale Miller of the Planning Department presented on a request for conditional use for ancillary parking on a vacant lot located at 13th and Belmont. There were some changes made since the proposal was originally written. Bill Wynne stated that he was concerned that Belmont is not wide enough and can not handle more traffic especially tractor trailers. He also expressed concerns regarding an existing short fence. Dale Miller stated that the fence should meet code unless it was built prior to the requirements but that this request for conditional use will have no effect on fence. James Roseboro asked how much additional parking would the planned lot provide. Dale Miller stated that, unfortunately, the usual details such as number of parking spaces was not included in the site plan and so he could not say. James Roseboro stated that he would like to see the sight plan before voting on request. CM Lavonta Williams asked Dale Miller if the request was pressing and then suggested that it be deferred until the next meeting. Action Taken: Motion to defer item was made, properly seconded. Motion carried 9:1. 3  District I Advisory Board Minutes December 2, 2013 Page 4 of 5 Before moving to the next item on the agenda, CM Lavonta Williams invited Alana Haynes from the audience to introduce herself. Alana Haynes said that she is the new Neighborhood Assistant for District 1 and 2. CM Lavonta Williams and the members of the Board welcomed her to the new position and expressed their desire to work with her in the near future. 6. Con2013-00033 Dale Miller of the Planning Department presented on a request for a day care general on SF-5 Single- Family Residential property. The site is located on the east of Grove Street on the southeast corner of Estelle Avenue and 24th Street North and was formerly Mueller Elementary School. James Roseboro asked if, once the request was granted, the building could be used for additional uses. Dale Miller explained that the request would not change the zoning but simply add allow this additional use. Action Taken: Motion to approve the request was made, properly seconded. Motion carried 10:0. Board Agenda 7. Updates, Issues and Reports CM Lavonta Williams noted that Aaron Mayes has been named to Airport Naming Board. Aaron Mayes thanked CM Lavonta Williams and stated that he would be interested to hear from the other Board members regarding the issue. There followed a brief but lively discussion of the issue, including potential costs and President Eisenhower’s connection to Kansas and Wichita. Twila Chaloupek stated that Paul and Glenda will be back in there home soon. Noting his arrival, CM Lavonta Williams asked Pastor Wade Moore to provide the Board a summary of the intended plans for the former Mueller Elementary building. Wade Moore stated that the church is currently using the building and offering Saturday school, ACT preparatory classes, and life skills training. In the near future, there are plans to open a day-care and then a private school. Wade Moore also stated that the building had been inspected and is in good condition. CM Lavonta Williams and Janet Wilson both voiced their appreciation and support for the effort. CM Lavonta Williams noted that David Buckmaster and Bill Wynne were both present for a recent groundbreaking ceremony. James Roseboro noted that the four neighborhood party is scheduled for the 13th of December at 6pm. He also noted that WIN will hold its annual meeting at Grace Presbyterian Church on January 13th. Tickets are on sale now and cost $15. Bill Wynn noted that better uses for funds could be found rather than being used to rename the airport. Aaron Lewellyn noted that the City would be hosting “A Night with Santa” on Tuesday December 3rd at 6:30pm at Century II. The Mayor’s Youth Council would be helping with the effort and that all were encouraged to come and enjoy the fireworks and festivities. CM Lavonta Williams noted that KC Ohaebosim would serve on the Grants Reviewing 4  District I Advisory Board Minutes December 2, 2013 Page 5 of 5 Committee. Dan Heflin asked that everyone be aware of the forthcoming Christmas concerts and donate to the food bank. Janet Wilson reminded everyone to be aware of WIN’s annual meeting and to enjoy the holidays. Brandon James noted the recent victories of the WSU basketball team and their recent ranking in the poles. He also suggested everyone attend forthcoming men’s and women’s games. CM Lavonta Williams then opened the floor to members of the audience if they wished to make a statement or issue a report. James Arbertha stated that he was supportive of an increased sales tax if the revenue generated was used to continue improvements to downtown and the arts. He also suggested some of the funds allocated for the arts should be used to renovate the, opportunity to put more in downtown esp. on arts, wants $ to support historic Dunbar theater. He asked that CM Lavonta Williams and others support such a measure. A member of the audience noted that the District Advisory Board’s webpage needed updating. James Roseboro asked that everyone keep Mary Jo Bond in his or her thoughts. 8. Adjournment Action Taken: Motion to approve the request was made, properly seconded. Motion carried 10:0. Respectfully Submitted, Eoghan “Owen” Miller Management Fellow 5