District 3 Advisory Board

District III Advisory Board Minutes for January 4, 2012 District III Advisory Board Minutes January 4, 2012 www.wichita.gov The District III Advisory Board meeting was held at 6:30 p.m. at the Wichita Water Center at 101 E Pawnee; seven District Advisory Board members were in attendance; two City staff and 11 members of the public were present. Members Present Members Absent Jody Bennett Elena Ingle Terry Brewster Paul Davis Danny Johnson Staff Present Gay Quisenberry Officer Robert Lacy, Patrol South Wendy Ratliff Janet Johnson, Neighborhood Services David Robbins Council Member James Clendenin Guests Listed on the last page ORDER OF BUSINESS At 6:30 p.m. Council Member Clendenin called the meeting to order and acknowleged State Representative Gereldine Flaharty. Minutes from the Dec. 7, 2011, meeting were approved. PUBLIC AGENDA Scheduled items No scheduled items Non-Scheduled items No items NEW BUSINESS District III concerns Status of Southfork Project Council Member Clendenin reviewed the events of the mornings County Commission meeting where the Southfork TIF was denied 3-2 with Commissioners Norton and Skelton voting in favor. He said he plans to meet with Commissioner Unruh to see what changes could be made that would make the TIF more palatable. Terry Brewster said he has great respect for Commissioner Unruh and would like to be included in the meeting. DAB member comments: The discussion needs to be broader because the project and the subsequent economic development is more of a regional issue than just a South Wichita issue. The quad cities plan should be something that the County Commission is interested in and the Southfork development needs to be viewed in a broader scope. What was the issue with the discrepancy in numbers that the County kept referring to? CM Clendenin said the first set of numbers was for the CID only and it projected a $10 milllion profit over 20 years; the second set of numbers included a TIF and a CID and showed a $22 million profit and the third set of numbers was with no TIF and no CID and showed a $1.1 million loss. He said the developer has already invested $4 million in the project and will pay the specials. 1  District III Advisory Board Minutes for January 4, 2012 I’m not sure the City would have even received the ARRA funding for the interchange construction if the developer hadn’t already invested money. Even the South Wichita/Haysville Neighborhood Improvement Plan states that a TIF is needed. It appeared that during the meeting even Jay (the developer) got emotional We need to point out that with the casino South Wichita will be the first watering hole and if we don’t make it a destination spot, we’re going to be behind the eight-ball and someone else will develop another area first. Tim Norton (County Commissioner) gave a command performance – I don’t think Jay is used to getting the kind of support he has received in South Wichita. I don’t understand Commissioner Ranzau and all his studies; can’t we get our own fake studies? Due to recent controversial issues, developers are now re-thinking if they want to come to Wichita to invest. I think the CID muddied the water – the Commissioners were under the impression that City Council is going to pass it, and that’s not necessarily the case. Those were some lame excuses about the Southfork development sucking money away from Derby and Mulvane. The Southfork Development has the potential of producing 100s of jobs in the South area and currently 1/3 of the city’s population of single parent families live in this area. Citizen comments I got a phone call yesterday from a special interest group asking me to attend the County Commission meeting. According to them, the flood plain isn’t being addressed by the dceveloper and there will be 6 inches of water standing there when it rains. It made me wonder if they are that wrong on that issue, how many other things are they giving bad information on? As President of the South Wichita Business Association, which includes around 30 businesses, I’m not ready to pick up my toys and go home yet. I now have a better understanding of what we’re up against. Other issues Council Member Clendenin said in order for District III citizens to have a policital voice, they have got to vote. He said in his City election, only 2,200 people voted and of the approximately 57,000 people living in District III, only around 6,600 are registered to vote. He said politicians don’t take us seriously because we have no policital clout due to the low number of voters. To change this, he said we need to get our family members, friends and neighbors to register and then to actually vote. Connie Klassen said the public needs to be informed about the special election on the hotel project that is slated for February. She also let everyone know she has invited Council Member Clendenin to be the guest speaker at the South Area Neighborhood Association meeting on Jan. 9th. Officer Lacy thanked the DAB for their support of the Houston Center Christmas project. He said the residents were very appreciative. Terry Brewster asked for clarification on meeting in February and also mentioned his fruistration with the free flyers the Wichita Eagle throws weekly. Janet Johnson said she would send the DAB members the information on why the Eagle is allowed to throw those, and will work on getting a representative to the March meeting. Paul Davis said illegal signs continue to be an issue. 2  District III Advisory Board Minutes for January 4, 2012 Dave Robbins said Clapp golf course needs a new roof on the club house; CM Clendenin said that is going to happen. Meeting was adjourned. The next meeting for District Advisory Board III will be held at 6:30 p.m., Feb. 1, 2012, at the Water Center at 101 E. Pawnee. Respectfully submitted, Janet Johnson, Neighborhood Assistant – District III Guests Connie Klassen Judy Dillard Jan Hunt Steven Walters Pat White Jim Gulick Dale Carter Chad Roush Lonny Wright Roger Hahn Rep. Geraldine Flaharty 3