District 2 Advisory Board

District II Advisory Board Minutes October 1, 2012 www.wichita.gov The District II Advisory Board meeting was held at 6:30 p.m. at Fire Station #20 located at 2255 S. Greenwich Road. CM Meitzner was in attendance, (9) board members, and (4) staff attended. Members Present Max Weddle Aaron Mayes Joe Yager David Babich Cynthia Colbert Tom Roth April Leason Nick Howell Blaine Knott Staff Present Brian Carduff Antione Sherfield- Neighborhood Assistant Officer Neal– Wichita Police Department Members Absent Allen Tabor – Park & Recreation Department Steve Harris ORDER OF BUSINESS CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. Neighborhood Assistant, Antione Sherfield welcomed everyone and explained how the DAB meeting is conducted. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND AGENDA October Agenda approved (6-0) September Minutes approved (6-0) PUBLIC AGENDA 1. Off-Agenda Items Park and Recreation Update Allen Tabor, Park &Recreation Department provided Park & Recreation Update. Allen Tabor stated that the Park &Recreation Department has exceeded 2011-2012 revenue expectations by $10,000. He credits creative marketing and additional activities. Lastly, he stated the Park & Recreation guide has been a huge success and will continue to provide communities with updated information regarding activities and upcoming events. STAFF REPORT  2. Community Police Report Officer Neal provided information pertaining to current crime trends in District II. Officer Neal stated that car burglaries are up City-Wide. The Wichita Police Department will be working with the Communications Team to create a public service announcement regarding leaving unattended vehicles running. Officer Neal also provided 2012 Domestic Violence statistics for the year. At the end of September, there were a total of 6,467 DV arrest to date. Out of the total of arrest, 1,093 were charged with felonies and 2,064 were charged with misdemeanors. Recommended Action: Receive and file NEW BUSINESS 3. Neighborhood Clean-Up Program Antione Sherfield, Neighborhood Assistant provided information regarding the revised Neighborhood Clean-Up Program. Background: The neighborhood cleanup program has been operating in one form or another for at least the last 25 years. The program’s focus shifted from a citywide free dump day event to a neighborhood association/group organized event in about 1999. The City helps organize and provides funding for equipment and disposal fees for about 80 neighborhood cleanups per year. Cleanups range from large-scale, neighborhood wide cleanups to small one to two block cleanups (in areas without a neighborhood association). Neighborhood clean ups are hosted annually throughout Wichita and are approved for neighborhoods on a first-come- first-serve basis. The current program allows for any neighborhood in Wichita to apply, as long as they organize volunteers, coordinate & monitor clean-up event, notify the neighborhood, attend training, and complete all the necessary paperwork Citizens can apply for their area to have a city sponsored clean up beginning January 1st of each year. Analysis: Historically the Neighborhood Clean-up program allowed for all neighborhoods in Wichita to apply. After the budget cut, staff reviewed the 2012 neighborhood clean-ups scheduled to determine if immediate action was required and identified that the new budget would allow for all scheduled clean-ups to be completed for 2012. However, staff identified that closer monitoring of the budget and how invoices were paid was required (i.e. clean-ups that could be charged to grant budgets should be charged accordingly before using the budget from the tipping fees.) A review process of the administration of the program was then completed. That process included reviewing peer city processes, partnership opportunities, and an evaluation of where clean-ups were completed in comparison to the need of the neighborhood. Our review, determined that our peer cities are currently providing franchised trash service, which includes bulky waste pickups as a part of their monthly trash programs. It identified that our current program needed to be changed to provide services based on the need – income based. It also identified there are other resources locally that might be able to assist individuals of removing unwanted bulky waste at no cost to the individual. Budget cuts and program evaluation indicate that we have to look at the design of the neighborhood clean-up program differently. It is our recommendation that the program be redesigned to be a need based program. The program will look at the median income of an area and determine if they could participate in the program at “no cost” to the neighborhood and/or through a new component the “Dollar for Doers” incentive. The criteria for determining the thresholds were based on the median incomes from the 2010 census data. Neighborhoods whose median income is very low to low-moderate will qualify for a “no cost” cleanup. Neighborhoods whose median income is moderate or high will qualify for a “Dollars for Doers” clean up based on fund availability. MEDIAN INCOME CATEGORY VERY LOW 9,849.00 – 22,180 LOW-MODERATE 22,180.01 – 44,360 MODERATE 44,360.01 – 88,720 HIGH 88,720.01 – 208,594 The “Dollar for Doers” incentive is a $1 for $1 matching program that will allow the neighborhood clean-up program to still be inclusive of all neighborhoods in Wichita, but with the financial support of those neighborhoods that can assist with the cost of their clean-up. Neighborhoods that participate in the Dollars for Doers program will be responsible for submitting a payment 30 days prior to their scheduled clean up date. The payment amount will be based on an estimate using prior year’s expenditure as the estimated cost. Neighborhoods will then receive a final bill after the actual invoice had been received asking for any additional cost associated with the clean up. The payments not received for additional cost would prohibit a neighborhood from having a clean up in a future year. If the cost is less, the City will issue a refund. Starting in 2013, the neighborhood Clean-up program will be administered through the Neighborhood Services Division with applications submitted to the respective districts. Financial Considerations: The budget for neighborhood clean-ups was reduced by $50,000 in May 2012. Due to this reduction the neighborhood clean-up program was reviewed to determine how to manage this program at new funding levels. The budget for neighborhood clean-ups is a part of a larger budget that also includes bulky waste/illegal dump clean-ups, as well as, alley clean-ups. Funding from the Brooks C & D Landfill tipping fees (Public Works), Career Development, and Neighborhood Improvement cover the cost of contracted equipment, dump fees and tire disposal fees for neighborhood clean ups. In May 2012, City Council reducing the budget from the C&D Landfill tipping fees by $50,000. Funding for 2013 neighborhood clean-ups will be: C & D Landfill Tipping Fees $100,000.00 Neighborhood Improvement – CDBG (July 1st through June 30th) $ 50,000.00 Career Development – CSBG (July 1st through June 30th) $ 37,500.00* *CSBG funding would only be used where individual applications can be taken to determine individual eligibility for service. This funding will not be available for large clean-ups. Recommended Action: Receive and file 6. Updates, Issues, and Report With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. The next DAB II Meeting will be November 5, 2012. Respectfully Submitted, Antione Sherfield, Neighborhood Assistant