District 3 Advisory Board

District 3 Advisory Board Minutes Wednesday, November 4, 2020 • 6:30 p.m. Virtual Meeting • Zoom and Facebook Live Video of meeting: https://www.facebook.com/101486909927126/videos/373936924033222 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Order of Business The District 3 Advisory Board meeting was held at 6:30 p.m. via the virtual platform Zoom and live- streamed on the District 3 Facebook page. Council Member James Clendenin and seven DAB members were present (note: there are two vacancies on the board). There were also six City staff and five members of the public in attendance. The current agenda and minutes from October 7, 2020 and October 28, 2020 were approved. Members Present Staff Present Catherine Johnson Sgt. Chad Remy, Wichita Police Department Cindy Miles Officer Dustin Fussell, WPD David Kapaun Officer Nathan Peterson, WPD Gerald Henry Officer Walter Bautista, WPD Jared Cerullo Kristi Dowell, Customer Services Division Michael Loop Manager, Wichita Public Library Richard Ruth Maddy Campbell, Community Services Council Member James Clendenin Representative, City Manager’s Office Members Absent Daisy Olivar Ronald Tracy • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Staff Reports 1. Wichita Police Department Sgt. Chad Remy introduced himself as Patrol East’s Community Policing Sergeant. He provided contact information to the group. DAB 3 • November 4 2020 • Minutes • Page 1  Officer Dustin Fussell gave an overview of current crime trends and provided prevention and safety tips. He shared a significant number of license plates are being stolen and suggested people use security screws to help protect their plates. He stressed the importance of not leaving valuable items or firearms in cars as auto larcenies continue to be an issue. He told the group that catalytic converters are being stolen from vehicles and the best way to prevent this is to park vehicles in a garage or well-lit area. He shared that prostitution, drugs, shootings, and vagrancy continue to be problems along Broadway Avenue. The Community Policing team from WPD’s South Bureau has been talking with residents and businesses along Broadway Avenue to address nuisance problems and crimes. CP officers are working on drafting a new lodging establishment ordinance to give WPD more enforcement tools to deal with habitually problematic businesses and motels in the area. Officer Walter Bautista introduced himself as a new CP Officer with Patrol East. Officer Nathan Peterson shared District 3 crime statistics. He provided a year to date comparison to 2019 and noted the following:  Robberies are up 5%  Burglaries are up 3%  Larcenies are down 6%  Auto thefts are down 8%  Aggravated assault and battery are up 29% In a response to the drastic increase of aggravated assault and battery, WPD has put together a violent crimes task force of 30 officers. They are addressing violent crime by targeting known offenders with outstanding warrants in addition to continuing to utilize technology to investigate gun casings after shooting incidents. He also shared that Patrol East recently hosted a socially distanced, outdoor Trunk or Treat event at Clapp Park. The event was very successful. WPD partnered with over 35 local businesses and received donations of over $8,000 in candy. Action Taken: Received and filed. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Public Agenda 2. Scheduled Items There were no scheduled items this month. 3. Off-Agenda Items There were no off-agenda items this month. Action Taken: Received and filed. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • New Business DAB 3 • November 4, 2020 • Minutes • Page 2 4. District 3 Library Branch Update Kristi Dowell, Customer Services Division Manager, Wichita Public Library and Lauren Hirsh, District 3 appointee to the Library Board of Directors provided the group with an update on the new branch library (relocation of the current Linwood Park Branch) slated to open in District 3 in early 2021. The branch library will offer a variety of services including a large children's section, a dedicated Teen Space, a large meeting room for Library programming and community use, a 24-hour outside materials return, and 16 public computers in addition to public wireless internet. Located at 4195 E. Harry, at the southwest corner of Harry & Terrace, on a site known to residents as the Wichita Mall or the Harry Street Mall, the new location is highly visible from Harry Street. The location is accessible by the 22 and 202 public transit routes. The space is 6,900 square feet and allows the expansion of public computing, a larger meeting room, and zoned spaces to better accommodate customer use needs. This move will also bring library services back to District 3. Branch library projects, including this new branch library, will reflect aesthetics and operational models learned from the opening of the Advanced Learning Library, such as flexible spaces, meeting rooms, self- service technology, more public computing options, and access to more materials. The Linwood Park Branch will move to this location in early 2021. In accordance with Wichita City Council Policy 13, the City Council has appointed the Library Board of Directors as this building's naming advisory committee. After a period of public input, the Library Board will submit its preferred name to the City Council for final approval. Dowell noted that the new branch could serve as an alternate meeting location for DAB. She encouraged the group to take and help promote a naming survey for the new branch. She informed DAB that the Board of Library Directors will narrow down the submitted names to the top five and will then engage the community a second time to vote on their favorite name. The top three names will be shared at the December Board of Library Directors meeting. The Board will select the final name to pass to City Council for approval. Hirsh stressed the value of libraries in our community and encouraged the group to promote and celebrate the opening of the new branch. CM Clendenin shared the library space at the Linwood Recreation Center will remain available for use by seniors and that the Library plans to leave some reading material on site, though no library services will be provided and the space will not be staffed. Action Taken: Received and filed. District 3 Library Branch Information: https://www.wichitalibrary.org/Locations/Pages/district- 3.aspx?fbclid=IwAR1MVarDT5c5uHT7Tt8HZRv9zKa1EQyro5ifhXcbQWiicViiZbPopvsiA5Q 5. Continuation of DAB Discussion of Recent Media Reports Involving CM Clendenin A special DAB meeting, called by the majority of DAB members, was held on October 28, 2020 to discuss recent media reports alleging inappropriate activity by CM Clendenin. The DAB motioned to pass a vote of no confidence in CM Clendenin and further moved to condemn his actions. CM Clendenin shared he did not have any further updates at this time. He stated he took the DAB comments into serious consideration and has been holding discussions with members of the community. DAB 3 • November 4, 2020 • Minutes • Page 3  Jared Curello said he has fielded questions about a recall vote or other avenues for removing CM Clendenin from office. It was noted that the District Attorney has the authority to undertake an ouster proceeding should he determine there is sufficient evidence to merit the action. David Kapaun request DAB and members of the public allow the situation to unfold through litigation. Action Taken: Discussion. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Board Agenda 6. Updates, Issues, and Reports CM Clendenin shared the January DAB is tentatively canceled due to the holidays. January DAB will be held if there are zoning cases or new business items though. He also advised the group that COVID-19 cases are rising and encouraged everyone to continue social distancing, wearing masks, and washing hands frequently. Cindy Miles and Richard Ruth informed the group about different volunteer opportunities within District 3. Some members of the public shared praise for DAB members and residents’ efforts to help each other. Action Taken: Received and filed. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:46 p.m. The next District 3 Advisory Board meeting will be held virtually at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 2, 2020. The meeting will be conducted on the Zoom platform and live-streamed on the District 3 Facebook page. Information for accessing the meeting virtually and options for submitting comment can be found on the District 3 web page. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Guests Lauren Hirsh (Library Board) Lonny Wright Paul Davis Teresa Cook iPhone George • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Respectfully submitted, Maddy Campbell, Community Services Representative, District 3 DAB 3 • November 4, 2020 • Minutes • Page 4