District 4 Advisory Board

District IV Advisory Board Minutes May 1, 2017 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. There were eight (8) District Advisory Board members and Council Member Blubaugh. There were eleven (11) City Staff, and eleven (11) members of the public present. Members Present Guests Benny Boman Gary Calkins Kit Corby Doug Thompson Michael Gomm Allen Lofland Stephanie Hartman Jill Taylor David Kapaun Jr. Pam Pennington Don McManamey Darlene Morrow Alex Martinez Hank Blase Jason Platter Russ Ewy Jeff Blubaugh – City Councilman Dave Hubbard Vincent Hancock Gary Tompkins Members Absent Staff Present Nick Hoheisel Rebecca Fields – Community Services Rep - DIV Matt Lashley Fire – Cpt. Jim Heath Rebecca Robertson Fire – Byron Jabara Fire – Bryan Brockus Staff Present WPD – CP Officer Robert Kempf – Patrol South PW – Joe Brand WPD – CP Ronald McHenry – Patrol West PW – Don Henry MAPD Planner – David Clements PW – Gary Janzen PW – Mike Armour ORDER OF BUSINESS At 6:30 p.m. Councilman Blubaugh asked everyone to take their seats and called the meeting to order, and then asked everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda for May 1st was then approved (motion made by Don McManamey, 2nd by Kit Corby), and the minutes for the 2017 April 3rd meeting were approved (motion made by David Kapaun and 2nd by Jason Platter) STAFF REPORTS Cpt. Jim Heath, Station 12, reported there were 5 accidental fires, 2 intentional fires, and 1 fire that was aggravated arson. Last year there were 135 total fires in District 4. Cpt. Heath also commented that the burn ban was now lifted, and that homeowners can burn tree limbs (yard waste), but not household trash. CP Officer Rob Kempf was next on the agenda and had the April crime statistics for all of District 4. Aggravated assaults were up by 5 for a total of 24 in April. Auto thefts were also up Page 1 of 4  District IV Advisory Board Minutes May 1, 2017 www.wichita.gov by 5 for a total of 40. In fact, all crimes had gone up in District 4 with the exception of burglary and shoplifting. There were also 2 homicides. Councilman Blubaugh asked about outreach to the community where the homicides had occurred. Officer Kempf replied that WPD sometimes has impact meetings, but when homicides are involved the detectives don’t want the neighbors exchanging stories and influencing possible witnesses. Next, Officer Ron McHenry from Patrol West reported that Patrol West is using an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) out at Pawnee Prairie Park to patrol for illegal activity. This is a new procedure and so far they have only caught five juveniles smoking cigars. Member Don McManamey mentioned that his daughter-in-law was pulling up into his driveway and she noticed a man in a pickup truck take a stroller from a porch next door and toss it into the back of the truck and take off. The daughter-in-law called 911, gave a description, and the thief was apprehended by WPD. Don reminded everyone to be vigilant on behalf of their neighborhood. Officer Kempf then relayed to everyone that Officer McHenry would not be reporting any more at our DAB meetings because he was being promoted to detective. There was applause and congratulations for Officer McHenry. PUBLIC AGENDA CM Blubaugh then moved on to the Public Agenda. Pam Pennington was on hand to speak in place of Jill Taylor who was scheduled. Ms. Pennington also lives in the Hidden Lakes HOA, and relayed the history of the low-water bridge that crosses over the Calfskin Creek. Ms. Pennington also mentioned that the Calfskin Group Neighborhood Association was also using this bridge as well as delivery trucks. Ms. Pennington wanted to know if anyone knew of any other sources of revenue that would help them in repairing this bridge that had been shut down due to being marked “unsafe” because of wear-and-tear. Don Henry with Public Works & Utilities was at the meeting and mentioned that his group had met with the Hidden Lakes HOA representatives and due to this being on private property, the City could not fund this project. Board Member Stephanie Hartman mentioned that their HOA, The Park, was also having to repair a bridge and that her husband, Rob Hartman, might be able to help them find some funding or resources. Staff Rebecca Fields was asked to send Pam the contact information for Stephanie & Rob Hartman. NEW BUSINESS There were three items under “new business”. The first one listed was for the removal of the traffic signal at 111th & W Kellogg. Engineer Gary Janzen had a PowerPoint presentation prepared and there were several business owners from that area in attendance. Mr. Janzen commented that this light should never have been installed and that it had been the cause of several accidents. There had been a meeting this past January specifically for the business owners between Maize and 119th Street West that would be affected, and the number one concern was for trucks having to turn eastbound on Kellogg. Mr. Janzen proposes that the traffic Page 2 of 4  District IV Advisory Board Minutes May 1, 2017 www.wichita.gov light at 111th Street be covered for 6 months in order to run a test to make sure that trucks can maneuver a U-turn at the 119th Street traffic light. This project will come before the City Council on June 13th, and construction would start in the winter (2017). DAB Member David Kapaun remarked that he holds a CDL and has about 1.5 million miles of logged experience. David is worried about trucks making wide turns that would prevent eastbound Kellogg traffic from making left turns at 119th Street due to a large semi-truck having to swing wide in order to make the U-turn. Guest Gary Tompkins asked when the access road will be built. Mr. Janzen replied that it will all be built before the signal is shut down. Allen Lofland worried that vehicles that were north bound on 119th Street would be blocking the Kellogg frontage road that was on the south side of Kellogg. Gary said that it hasn’t been a problem as of late, and that signs that state “Do not block the intersection” were being used. DAB Member Don McManamey asked if a light at that frontage road could also serve as the light for NB traffic on 119th street, and Mr. Janzen replied that it sits back too far from Kellogg and it would create more confusion. Allen Lofland is worried about safety issues with new plans. Gary Janzen reiterated that the light at 111th Street should never have been put in to begin with. DAB Member Stephanie Hartman asked if there will be new signage in order to give directions when 111th Street is shut down, and Gary replied that there will be a media release to inform the public of the new changes and that signage would be implemented as needed. DAB member Michael Gomm made a motion to approve this project, and Dave Kapaun gave a 2nd. All DAB members approved, and the motion carried 8-0. The next item on the agenda was CON2017-00014. Dave Clements with MAPD presented a City Conditional Use to allow vehicle sales only in Limited Commercial zoning; generally located south of W. Harry on the east side of S. Seneca Street (1624 S Seneca St.). Dave Clements commented that the owners wanted to add the sales of scooters to their store, and that this required a Kansas license approval. Their current sales were for mowers, go-carts, and small lawn equipment. Mr. McManamey asked about the size of the scooters, and Dave replied they were 145 CCs. DAB member Don McManamey made a motion to approve this, and Jason Platter gave a 2nd. The DAB approved 8-0, and motion carried. The last item under “New Business” was ZON2017-00011. Dave Clements presented the City zone change from Limited Commercial to Central Business District for expansion of existing senior services facility; generally located at the southeast corner of Texas and Walnut (200 S Walnut St.) Mr. Vincent Hancock, President of the Delano Neighborhood Association, was present and made it be known that Delano approved of this project, and that Senior Services of Wichita was a good neighbor. Page 3 of 4  District IV Advisory Board Minutes May 1, 2017 www.wichita.gov DAB member Michael Gomm made a motion to approve, and David Kapaun gave a 2nd motion. The DAB unanimously approved, 8-0. BOARD AGENDA Councilman Blubaugh then opened up the Board Agenda and mentioned that DAB V (CM Bryan Frye) had invited DAB IV to attend a field trip to visit the new science center at Newman University that is in District IV. The field trip will be sometime in June, but there has not been a date set yet. Many of the DAB members were enthusiastic to take the field trip. CM Blubaugh then let everyone know that he will be flying to Mexico the Sunday before Memorial Day (May 21st) in order to establish some more business between Wichita and Mexico. He will be with the Mayor and others from the City of Wichita. Don McManamey then made a motion to adjourn the DAB meeting, and Kit Corby made the 2nd motion. All approved, and the meeting adjourned at 7:50 pm. Page 4 of 4