District 4 Advisory Board

District IV Advisory Board Minutes for August 3, 2015 District IV Advisory Board Minutes August 3, 2015 www.wichita.gov The District IV Advisory Board meeting was held at 6:30 p.m. at the Alford Library at 3447 S. Meridian, Wichita, KS 67217; Council Member Blubaugh, eight District Advisory Board members; six City staff, and two member of the public were present. Members Present Hestel Sewell Nick Hoheisel Staff Present Matt Lashley Case Bell, Community Liaison Kit Corby Wichita Firefighter Phillip Mosher Officer Douty, Wichita Police Don McManamey Officer Robinson, Wichita Police Michael Gomm Stephen Banks, Planning Benny Boman Derrick Slocum, Planning Vice Mayor Jeff Blubaugh Members Absent Guests John Whitmer Listed on last page David Kapaun Rebecca Robertson Alex Garcia* *Youth Member ORDER OF BUSINESS At 6:30 p.m. Council Member Jeff Blubaugh called the meeting to order. Minutes from the July 6, 2015 meeting were approved. Agenda for the current meeting was approved. STAFF AGENDA The Wichita Fire Department reported that there were not a lot of fires in the area, but there were a lot of medical calls due to the heat. The call volume is currently down by about 100 calls for the year. The main thing at the moment is to remember that each day you wake up in the heat you are already dehydrated and drink water. Council Member Jeff Blubaugh? Have there been any problems for the firefighters in the heat? A: Not yet. Officer Douty, Wichita Police, reported on Beat 13 and Patrol West. The SWNA cleanup is on August 15th with sites at Osage park, McCormick School, Stanley School, and the Salvation Army. They are currently working Riverside trying to decrease liquor violations. There is also a recent problem with cars getting broken into in church parking lots. They are working on a drag racing project near 2400 S. Hoover. 1  District IV Advisory Board Minutes for August 3, 2015 Officer Robinson, Wichita Police, reported on Beat 299. Last month they put together a warrant sweep for apartment complexes where they ran everyone for warrants. The idea is to protect the environment and get the people into jail that need to be. At Wildwood Estates last time they got someone who was involved in a drive by that had a gun and four gang members with him. When school is back in session there will be a lot of unoccupied houses so be aware of who is supposed to be in your neighborhood. Auto larcenies in the area are down. There have been four established workstations for the police so that police can have a visible presence in the neighborhood. DAB? How many people were arrested at Wildwood Estates? A: There were five total, but some they were looking for had already moved on or ran when they saw the police coming. DAB? Is the Southlake Apartment Complex in 299 Beat? A: Yes. DAB? Should we call 911 for panhandlers? A: Yes, but it’s not a priority call so don’t expect a quick response. PUBLIC AGENDA Scheduled Items None Off Agenda items Janice Bradley, Peace and Social Justice Center, spoke against the privatization of public water. She believes that entering into a public/private partnership puts the system at risk due to cost saving measures that don’t meet the public standards. Council Member Jeff Blubaugh reported that he received a lot of chain emails on the subject that contained bad information. He is opposed to giving away public control. One thing they are currently looking at doing is running extra lines between Cheney and the Aquifer. DAB: When water was privatized in the 50’s it was a lot cheaper. DAB: We should also be concerned about where our water wells are due to fracking in Oklahoma contaminating the water supply. NEW BUSINESS Scheduled Items Derrick Slocum, Planning, reported on planning case CON2015-00023, a request for Special Review for an Off-site Sign within 300 feet of a residential structure generally located on the Northwest corner of Bebe Avenue and Walker Street (1375 S. Bebe Ave.). The applicant’s existing off-site advertising billboard sign is legal non-conforming because it is within 300 feet of residential zoning and development. The applicant’s current sign location will be taken for right-of-way accommodating the I-235/US-54 (Kellogg) Interchange improvement. To re-build the applicant’s off-site sign 23 feet east of the present location requires MAPC approval. DAB? Which sign on the property is being discussed? A: The big one. Motion: That the District Advisory Board recommend approval of the petition subject to the three listed conditions. Result: Motion passed, 8-0. 2  District IV Advisory Board Minutes for August 3, 2015 Stephen Banks, Planning, presented on the 2015-2035 Community Investments Plan. In 2011, the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County initiated a process to develop the Community Investments Plan to replace the current joint City and County Comprehensive Plan which dates back to 1993. A more current and relevant plan is needed to help set public infrastructure investment priorities and provided a decision-making framework to guide future public investments out to the year 2035 in municipal buildings and infrastructure (e.g. libraries, public safety buildings, streets, bridges, parks, water supply, sanitary and storm sewer, culture, and recreation, etc.). Public? Is there any guarantee that the County will cooperate? A: No guarantee, but he feels that this plan provides a better framework to address County concerns. Motion: That the District Advisory Board recommends that the adoption of the 2015-2035 Community Investments Plan be approved. Result: Motion passed 8-0. BOARD AGENDA A DAB Member reported that the crushed limestone has been poured in several parts of the bike paths on the southwest side. There is a problem with one of the bridges because they need a civil engineer to look at one of the old rail bridges. DAB? Where can you go to see all of the bike trails on a map? A: It’s on the City website on the planning page. Council Member Jeff Blubaugh introduced new board member Phillip Mosher. DAB? What’s the deal with the old Airport Inn? A: A CID was just passed and a private investor will be going in and leveling the property to build a new hotel. A DAB Member reported a concern that the bicycle lanes are going too far into the intersections. A DAB Member reported that they were concerned that the mowers leave the clippings on the curb and that they block the drain. Council Member Jeff Blubaugh reported that he went to St. Louis to try and a get a business to move here with 100 jobs and their headquarters and that Jeff Lang with Redguard is also investing in the area. Council Member Jeff Blubaugh reported that $31 million in the CIP is slated for West St improvements to MacArthur, building up on-ramps on Kellogg and 235 to serve businesses in the area. Meeting was adjourned. The next meeting for District Advisory Board IV will be held at 6:30 p.m., September 14, 2015, at Lionel Alford Library, 3447 S. Meridian. Respectfully submitted, Case Bell, Community Liaison – Districts III and IV Guests Janice Bradley James Kilpatrick 3