District 4 Advisory Board

District IV Advisory Board Meeting Minutes March 5, 2012 www.wichita.gov The District IV Advisory Board Meeting was held at the 6:30 p.m. at the Lionel Alford Branch Library, 3447 S Meridian. Seven (7) DAB members, seven (7) staff and approximately two (2) citizens were present. Members Present Staff Present Councilmember O’Donnell II Kelli Geier, City Manager’s Office Nancy Wilhite Julie Irvin, Office of Central Inspection June Bailey 6 fire staff Jerry Warren 2 police staff Michael Ackerman, Jr. Dale Miller, Planning Matt Goolsby Josh Blick Bruce Werth Order of Business Call To Order Councilmember O’Donnell II called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. The Office of Central Inspection Annual Report was added to the end of the agenda. Otherwise, the March 5, 2012 agenda was approved as submitted. (Goolsby/Warren: 7-0) The February 6, 2012 meeting minutes were approved as submitted. (Warren/Bailey: 7-0) PUBLIC AGENDA The public agenda allows members of the public to present issues not on the agenda to the District Advisory Board. Each presentation is limited to five minutes unless extended by the Board. 1. Scheduled Items No items were submitted. 2. Off-Agenda Items Dan DeMott, 6121 Juno, addressed to the Board requesting that the City Council reinstate the Kansas Equality/Civil Rights Ordinance. Mr. DeMott stated that the ordinance has not been in existence in Wichita since 1979 and reinstating it would allow more conventions to be held in Wichita, since some organizations require a host city to have this ordinance in place in order to hold their events and conventions there.  STAFF PRESENTATIONS Public Safety Reports 3. Community Police Report Police staff reported the following: There has been an arrest in the stolen metals cases in the area. Monitoring the storage units and Kellogg and Tyler due to break-ins No recent poaching reported at Pawnee Prairie Park Increase in auto thefts due to people leaving their cars on with keys in the car to warm them up Increase in burglaries on Beats 24 and 25 Increase in auto larcenies downtown, so in order to address issues like these once a month all community police officers get together for special assignments to identify, address and resolve these concerns. Southwest Neighborhood Association cleanup March 31 McCormick Neighborhood Association cleanup April 28 Werth stated that there have been a lot of deer coming out of Pawnee Prairie Park and that there has been a lot of activity around the garage at Park Place Ministry. The police officers present encouraged him and his neighbors to call police often when the see anything suspicious. Action Taken: Received and filed. 4. Fire Report Beginning in April staff will start inspections of businesses to check for any hazards and make sure they are in compliance with fire code. Bailey asked what kind of businesses will be inspected. Staff stated that they will start with businesses such as schools and bars that do not have hazardous materials. Staff will participate in the Walk Against Gang Violence April 14 The Fire Citizens Academy will begin in May. Bailey asked how old you have to be to ride the fire truck during Fire Citizens Academy? Staff responded that a person must be 16 years old to be on a fire truck. Please contact the fire department if anyone is needing smoke alarms batteries. They are providing them free of cost. Ackerman asked what the code is on shrubbery near fire hydrants. Staff responded that shrubbery needs to be 36 inches away from the hydrant all around. Action Taken: Received and filed.  NEW BUSINESS 5. ZON2012-00004 Dale Miller, Planning, presented this request for a zone change from SF-5 Single-Family Residential (“SF-5”) to LI Limited Industrial (“LI”) on a 1.51-acre unplatted tract located 800 feet east of South Maize Road, along the north side of K-42. The subject property is currently developed with a single-family residence and other structures accessory to the industrial use abutting the west side of the site. Action Taken: (Blick/Ackerman) moved that the zoning request be approved. Motion passed 7-0. 6. Office of Central Inspection (OCI) Annual Staff Report Julie Irvin, Office of Central Inspection (OCI), presented an overview of OCI’s activities and accomplishments of the past year. Julie stated that they started their vacant and neglected building program (VNR.) Since implementing this program, 73.8% of structures have been brought into compliance which is difficult to do when dealing with out-of-state and deceased owners. This limits the time that structures can be boarded up and mandates a plan by the owner to bring the property back into compliance within a certain amount of time or it could face condemnation. OCI has also seen a lot of neglected residences due to foreclosure, layoffs, retirement, transfers. Some of these properties are getting ready to be sold at auction which should help bring even more properties into compliance. Blick asked if OCI inspectors worked on the weekends because he often sees neighbors parking in the yard at that time. Irvin recommended calling the police so that they can address the issue through the joint enforcement program. Blick also mentioned that there is graffiti at the corner of Douglas and Meridian. Irvin said that she would turn this in to get it cleaned up. Ackerman asked how many people work in OCI. Irvin responded that there used to be about 80, but now there are 60. He also asked how OCI has become more efficient with the staff reduction. Irvin stated that they are giving people more time to correct violations; building and trades inspectors are making inspection appointments according to geography; and, the inspectors now have laptops in their cars so they are able to be in the field all day. Werth mentioned that he has neighbors that throw yard waste over into his yard. Irvin suggested trying to take pictures so they can start a case for illegal dumping. Action Taken: Received and filed.  OLD BUSINESS No items were submitted. BOARD AGENDA Board Updates and Issues Bailey stated while serving on the CDBG Grants Review Committee, $320,000 in funding was requested and that only $275,000 was available. They are looking at expanding requests. Adjournment With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.