District 1 Advisory Board

DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD (DAB) I MEETING MINUTES Monday, April 7, 2014 6:30 p.m. Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center, 2755 E. 19th St. N., Wichita, Kansas 67214 Members Present Members Absent Guests Aaron Mayes Aaron Lewellyn- Youth Member Dennis Davis Bill Wynne Janice Rich Vivian Martin David Buckmaster Esau Freeman Dan Heflin Bettie Lipsey Janet Wilson Larry Catlett O.C. Ohaebosim Denny Bender Brandon James Effie Bryant James Roseboro Angela Scott Beverly Domitrovic Donald Hogg Twila Chaloupek Gerry Domitrovic Lavonta Williams, Council Member Djuan Wash Kenya Cox City of Wichita Staff Present Captain Richard Bahr, Fire Station #10 Officer Michael Lloyd, Patrol East Beat 37 Lt. Donnie Phelps, Patrol North Captain Gavin Seiler, Patrol East Officer Larry Carlson, Patrol South Beat 21 Alana Haynes, Office of Community Engagement Order of Business Call to Order Council Member Lavonta Williams called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and welcomed staff and guests. Approval of Agenda Motion to approve the agenda submitted. Motion carried. 10:0. Approval of Minutes Motion to approve the minutes amended. Motion carried. 10:0. Public Agenda 1. Agenda Items Denny Bender, Executive Director, Union Rescue Mission, Inc. (URM), presented on the recent changes the URM has undergone which will extend and improve services, that address the immediate needs of the men they serve. The services URM provides will reduce barriers to employment, financial and housing needs. The URM has also received a grant from the Wal-Mart Corporation to develop a garden, for feeding at the Mission and to share with local food pantries.  District I Advisory Board Minutes April 7, 2014 Page 2 of 4 DAB member: How many men do you have currently at the Mission? Bender: Last month we averaged 124 men. DAB member: Will the men come in by bus services? Bender: Yes, we will continue our bus services. The men will receive a meal, chapel and a bed for the night. The men will also receive a full breakfast and bus services downtown to the homeless resource center. DAB member: What percentage of the population is transient and what is local? Bender: The homeless population is mobile; we have found that men are able to move from community to community, depending on the services that are available to them. We serve men that we feel are capable of finding employment and working for a living. There are some men that may have had issues in their past that are difficult to overcome; however, we provide case workers that help the men with resume development and job searching techniques. CM Williams: I believe in the approach that you are taking and I believe that it is important to educate people in order for them to move forward. 2. Off Agenda Items Esau Freeman, presented on a new petition that began on April 1st by Jobs and Education Not Incarceration (JENI). The petition highlighted the concerns of drug arrests for marijuana possession, which Freeman described as mental health issues and not criminal issues. The petition was presented and passed among the DAB members. Questions- none. Larry Burks, presented on “Ban the Box”- youth summer employment. Burks explained juveniles with a criminal background may have a shortage of summer employment opportunities. Many jobs the youth are eligible for are entry level positions with minimum pay. However, these jobs are crucial for learning the basic skills needed for employment and life, as the children move into adulthood and seek employment. The youth summer employment issue is not about giving “at risk” youth a second chance. It is about public safety, economic growth and providing our youth with potential for growth to compete in a global market. DAB member: Which age range of youth are you referring to? Burks: 15 and up, the legal working age. DAB member: You mentioned public safety; can you explain what you mean? Burks: Excess leisure times, are times within the day that children are not participating in productive activities. During these times children are more likely to become involved in criminal activities. When children are employed it fills the leisure gap. Vivian Martin, presented on “Ban the Box”- employment in Wichita. Martin discussed the barriers that prevented people with criminal violations from finding and retaining employment. DAB member: Perhaps this may be a concern that leaders in human resources may address. Burrell Gillmore: We believe this is more of a legal matter, rather than a policy issue. 2  District I Advisory Board Minutes April 7, 2014 Page 3 of 4 Kenya Cox, President, Wichita Branch of the NAACP, presented on the Financial Freedom Expo, which is being sponsored by the Wichita NAACP. Cox invited the DAB members to attend and receive information on financial literacy, child support services and other services, in efforts to break the cycle of poverty. Staff Report 3. Fire Report Captain Richard Bahr, Fire Station #10, reported for the month of March, there were 19 fires total for the City and three in District I. Of the three fires, the major damages were at the North Williams Apartment Complex. The fire was caused by a barbecue grill on the balcony with 50 mph winds that day. During the month of March, there has been a substantial issue with high winds and grass fires. The Fire Department is encouraging all citizens to not throw cigarettes on the ground. The largest grass fire that the City has had is from Kellogg and 159th to 135 and 101st Street, which was caused by a truck hauling a trailer. DAB member: When the citizen left the barbecue grill out at the apartment complex, who pays for the damages? Bahr: Usually apartments are insured by the owners. The residents would normally have renters insurance to cover damages. DAB member: Are smoke detectors still available? Bahr: Smoke detectors are still available; please call 268-4441 and the Fire Department will install them free of charge in your home. Action Taken: Received and File. 4. Police Report Officer Carlson, Patrol South Beat 21, reported the Police Department has been working with the Old Town District to draft a specialized entertainment district ordinance, which would address disorderly conduct, assault, tampering with autos and other violations. They are in the middle of the process and hope to have it before the Council within the next couple of months. They are still using specialized units in Old Town to supplement coverage, which has made a difference according to statistics. Questions- none. Officer Lloyd, Patrol East Beat 37, reported on behalf of Officer Lowe in beat 31. During the month of March, there were seven auto thefts. Of the seven, three vehicles were left with the keys in the car running and unattended. Questions- none. Captain Gavin Seiler, Patrol East, made a self-introduction and offered his services to the DAB members and CM Williams. Questions-none. Lt. Donnie Phelps, Patrol North, reported a shooting occurred in the 2600 block of Green. There were 58 auto thefts in January. Individuals were identified, after which, the Police Department started working on locating the individuals. Properties were recovered and as of March, there were only eight auto thefts. DAB member: How were the individuals identified? Phelps: Neighbors contacted the Police Department after noticing suspicious activity. 3  District I Advisory Board Minutes April 7, 2014 Page 4 of 4 CM Williams: Have we had the IMPATC meeting on Green? Phelps: We are trying to have the IMPATC meeting on Thursday, April 10th. We will also pass out neighborhood surveys on 10th and Cleveland on that day. Our goal is to have 15 Officers with City staff passing out surveys. Action Taken: Received and Filed. New Business 5. Tom Stolz, Director, Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD), presented on: the merging of the department, housing code violations, department goals, court procedure issues and difficult cases. In conclusion, Stolz also commented, in order for Inspectors to come out, generally, neighbors have called in a complaint; MABC has to respond to calls. Citizens must be given a chance to stop and/ or correct the complaints. Questions- none. Board Agenda 6. Updates, Issues and Reports CM Williams: Encouraged participation at the Financial Freedom Expo and citizens to contact the Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center with any community concerns and issues. 7. Adjournment Action Taken: Motion to adjourn was made by CM Williams, James Roseboro properly seconded. Motion carried 10:0. Meeting was adjourned. The next meeting for the District Advisory Board I will be held at 6:30 p.m., May 5, 2014, at the Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center, 2755 E. 19th St. N. 4