District 4 Advisory Board

District IV Advisory Board Minutes June 5, 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 six (6) City Staff, and twenty-two (22) members of the public present. Members Present Guests Benny Boman Byron Chrisler Matt Lashley Michael Pierce Michael Gomm Tim Bauer Rebecca Robertson Steven A Lamb David Kapaun Jr. Bob Reed Don McManamey Brian Lindebak (MKEC) Alex Martinez Jan Orth Jason Platter Leon Rupp Jeff Blubaugh – City Councilman Cheryl Bellinger Members Absent Kim Edgington Kit Corby Chrystal Krier Stephanie Hartman Gary Phelps Nick Hoheisel Trevor Wooten Staff Present Cathy & Jim Dilts Rebecca Fields – Community Services Rep - DIV Barbara Moorhouse Fire – David Becker Ron Becker WPD – CP Officer Chris Robertson – P/S Geoffrey Vai (Lexington HOA) WPD – CP Officer David Perkins – P/W LouJene Schiner MAPD – David Clements Vincent Hancock Library – Robyn Belt Tim Austin Ralph Haltom Sheila Konkel ORDER OF BUSINESS At 6:29 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 June 5th was then approved (motion made by Rebecca Robertson, 2nd by Michael Gomm), and the minutes for the 2017 May 1st meeting were approved (motion made by Jason Platter and 2nd by Matt Lashley) STAFF REPORTS Fire Fighter David Becker, Station 12, reported there were only 2 structure fires in May; 1 house and 1 shed. Both were determined to be accidental. The Wichita Fire Department is still offering free smoke alarms. Just call 268-4441 if you are interested. Page 1 of 6  District IV Advisory Board Minutes June 5, 2017 www.wichita.gov The next staff report was from CP Officer Chris Robertson (P/S) who stated that he was recently back from knee replacement surgery. He reported on 229 Beat. He states that in the first week of June there had been 29 burglaries in his beat, and that larcenies were also up. Officer Robinson then spoke about the FREE teen night at the south YMCA which was the first of its kind in the state of Kansas. WPD has a 3-year commitment from the YMCA to run this program that offers sports/games/activities to teens on a Saturday night in order to give them constructive activities. There were 150 kids that showed up on June 3rd, but they are expecting about 500 teens this coming weekend because the water park will be open for them this weekend. CP Officer David Perkins from Patrol West was up next. He is with 18 beat. He reported that the Sunflower Neighborhood Association had a successful cleanup on May 20th and that they completely filled up 10 skids with trash. (This does not include the loads of metal items that 2 metal scrappers were able to salvage from the trash.) Officer Perkins then said that the Calfskin Group (association) is having their annual Fun Day on June 17th and that everyone is invited. Officer Perkins then went on to mention that the Police Department received Federal grant money for the motorcycles that will be used for traffic patrol. More than likely the motorcycles will be Harley Davidsons since they are made in the USA. On June 2nd, WPD (Wichita Police Department) initiated a new smartphone app. There was a report from the Southern Ridge neighborhood that red “Xs” were showing up in some of the driveways, some followed by a C2 or C6. This was not a gang operation, and was discovered that it had to do with PW (Public Works) street repairs as a driveway grading system. There were several arrests made in Pawnee Prairie Park for after-hours violations. In May 2017, 18 Beat reports there was 1 auto theft and no home burglaries which were down from April. There were 2 reported rapes, but they were known suspects, and several larcenies, 5 of which were firearms stolen from vehicles. DAB Member McManamey asked Officer Perkins about any known scams from someone knocking on random doors and asking which product they (whomever answers the door) would prefer (as the doorknocker holds up products). Mr. McManamey stated that he did not play along and so the knocker got back in the car that was parked in the driveway and full of other people. The car quickly left the neighborhood. Mr. McManamey could not get the tag number, but he did make a report to 911. Next on the agenda was Robyn Belt, Branch Manager for Alford Branch Library. To begin her staff report, Councilman Blubaugh first acknowledged one of Ms. Belt’s employees, Paige Torres, for her excellence in customer service at the Alford Branch Library. Paige was given a City of Wichita flag pin and a Wichita history book marker by Councilman Blubaugh. Robyn then proceeded with a few statistics regarding the Alford Branch Library: o The attendance count for May was 20,321 which was up 20% from May 2016. Page 2 of 6  District IV Advisory Board Minutes June 5, 2017 www.wichita.gov o The circulation count for May was 17,788 items. o The library’s Summer Reading program began on May 18th and goes until July 28th. Alford has 1,100 kids signed up as of June 5th. o The library locations are closed on Sundays through the summer, but will reopen on Sundays again from 1 pm – 5 pm after the Labor Day weekend. PUBLIC AGENDA There was no one signed up to speak on the Public Agenda, and there was no one that wanted to speak about any off-agenda items. NEW BUSINESS Councilman Blubaugh then asked Dave Clements to present the first planning case, CON2017- 00018. Mr. Clements gave a brief synopsis of this case which is to allow a concrete plant at the southeast corner of I-235 & W Southwest Blvd. (4605 W Southwest Blvd). DAB Member David Kapaun asked if there was a traffic light at the access point, and Mr. Clements replied no. DAB Member Jason Platter asked if this would also be an asphalt plant, and Mr. Clements stated “no”. Michael Gomm made a motion to approve and David Kapaun gave a 2nd motion. Motion passed 8/0. The next item on the agenda was CUP2017-00022 which would allow the building of a new Dairy Queen to have a drive-thru window at 7575 W Maple. DAB member Michael Gomm asked if the drive-thru would be east/west or north/south. Mr. Clements stated that the cars would pull in and face south so that headlights would not be shining into the residences to the north of this property. Byron Chrisler, living at 106 S Ashley Park, spoke about his neighborhood that is directly to the north of the proposed site (across Maple St.) and that there was a lot of traffic that used the installed light at the Ashley Park neighborhood entrance and the Target entrance. Mr. Chrisler states that drivers are now using this entrance as a drive to head over to Taft Street in order to catch the light at Ridge Road and Taft as it is a shortcut to cross Ridge Road or to head south to access Kellogg. Mr. Chrisler further stated that it is a daily occurrence to have trash from the parking lot at Target blow into the Ashley Park neighborhood, and that occasionally a shopping cart will roll out onto Maple Street and across to Ashley Park. This is because there is no barrier that keeps this trash from going into their neighborhood. Mr. Chrisler said that he is not against a Dairy Queen, but doesn’t like the idea of the drive-thru which will undoubtedly create even more trash. Next, Leon Rupp, living at 211 S Brownthrush spoke. Mr. Rupp stated that he has been speaking with his neighbors and that the residents in Ashley Park did not want to deal with the additional trash that people tend to throw out of their car when using a drive-thru at a fast food establishment. Page 3 of 6  District IV Advisory Board Minutes June 5, 2017 www.wichita.gov Mr. Ralph Haltom, 130 S Ashley Park Ct, asked what the original agreement with the City was regarding a drive-thru for this property. It was disclosed that the original agreement was to NOT permit drive-thru restaurants on this land. Mr. Haltom then said that traffic in this area was already bad and that there are more than several restaurants a block away on Ridge Road. Mr. Tim Bauer, living on west Douglas Ave., stood up and stated that he picks up chat off the street near his house due to the increase in traffic. He further stated that the traffic on Maple St. runs the red light at the Ashley Park entrance all the time and he is worried that a Dairy Queen will just create even more traffic and accidents at this location. Mr. Bob Reed, 222 N Ashley Park, asked the planner, Dave Clements, where will the drainage from the rainwater go when a parking lot and additional driveway is installed, and Mr. Clements stated that it would be diverted into the nearby storm water ditch. Mr. Gary Phelps, 221 S Ashley Park, stated that kids ride bikes on the south sidewalk along Maple Street due to a nearby school. He is worried that drivers pulling into the Dairy Queen will not see the kids on their bicycles. Mr. Phelps then said that the original agreement with Target on the land to the south of Ashley Park was to have better screening, but that it was never done and that trash and shopping carts have been a big problem. The addition of Twin Peaks over on Taft Street has created even more traffic along the private drive between Taft and Maple that is on the east side of the Target property. Councilman Blubaugh then asked Mr. Clements (MAPD) when the last traffic count was conducted for this area. Mr. Clements wasn’t sure, but guessed that it was about 10 years ago. DAB member Don McManamey then remarked that as a Wichita resident he was very sympathetic to what the residents of Ashley Park were stating and that the DAB should be sympathetic to their request not to allow a drive-thru restaurant on this location. DAB member Michael Gomm stated that there was something fishy about all of this due to the original agreement (condition) on the proposed site that there were to be no drive-thru restaurants. DAB member David Kapaun asked if the site was actually 3 separate lots, and was told yes. Next, the agent for the applicants, Kim Edginton, spoke. Ms. Edginton stated that there are only 2 undeveloped lots left, and that Parcel #3 would have the Dairy Queen with the drive-thru. These lots are the ones responsible for putting up “screening” (landscaping) on the north side of the lots along Maple Street. She also stated that cars approaching the drive-thru would be required to come through in back and would be funneled off of Maple to the access road (entrance drive). DAB member David Kapaun asked that because of the change to the CUP, would a twenty-foot buffer still exist on the other lot(s) as well? Ms. Edginton replied yes. She further stated that the owners are a nice local couple that have another Dairy Queen location that is very clean and kept in good condition, and that the owners actually show up and work at their store along with a son. Page 4 of 6  District IV Advisory Board Minutes June 5, 2017 www.wichita.gov DAB member Rebecca Robertson asked what actually goes in the buffer part of the lot, and can plants keep headlights from shining into the residences? DAB member Jason Platter asked of the guests in attendance how many were living in Ashley Park at the time of the original agreement with Target. Ten (10) of the guests raised their hands. DAB member David Kapaun remarked that having a D.Q. in this location would allow for screening to help block the trash and noise from Target. Mr. Kapaun then made a motion to approve this action, and Matt Lashley gave a 2nd motion. The vote was 4/4 (tied) and therefore the motion failed. Next on the agenda was CUP2017-00023, 535 S Ridge Road where the Palace Theater is currently located. Mr. Clements briefly described the case stating that the application for the changes would provide greater flexibility to any new owners should the theater close due to the recent sale of all the Warren movie theaters. The property currently has a 35-foot setback and the applicant is asking for a 10-foot setback. There is currently no landscaping/screening on this property, and that the CUP would allow for landscaping. The agent, Brian Lindebak, was in attendance, but being that there were no more questions, Matt Lashley went ahead and made the motion to approve. David Kapaun followed with a 2nd motion, and it was approved 8/0. The next item was ZON2017-00017 regarding 1031 S Meridian. This property sits to the south of a bingo hall, and on the north side of the property are 2 vacant lots. Mr. Tim Austin, agent for the applicant, was on hand to answer questions. Mr. Austin stated that the property would be used for a Family Dollar store. Mr. Dave Clements (MAPD) stated that no one in the neighborhood had objected, and there was no one in the audience to object. DAB member Matt Lashley then made a motion to approve, and David Kapaun gave a 2nd motion. The motion passed 8/0. The last item under New Business was case ZON2017-00023. This case involved a request for Central Business District zoning at the location of a small lot (.16 acres) that was east of Sycamore on the south side of Douglas Ave in the Delano area. The president of the Delano Neighborhood Association, Vincent Hancock, was in attendance and he stood and gave a thumbs-up to allow for this to occur. Based on Mr. Hancock’s approval, DAB member Don McManamey made a motion to approve with Alex Martinez giving a 2nd motion. The motion passed 8/0. BOARD AGENDA Councilman Blubaugh then opened up the Board Agenda. Don McManamey gave a brief update on the current construction to the Pawnee Street Bridge stating that the east end of the bridge appeared to be completed and that the crew was now working on the west end and it appeared to be going quickly. Mr. McManamey then stated his disapproval in KDOT that they would narrow the construction area at Kellogg/I-235 down to 1 lane each direction on the opening weekend of the River Festival. Page 5 of 6  District IV Advisory Board Minutes June 5, 2017 www.wichita.gov DAB member Benny Boman then commented that at least the construction on west Kellogg & I- 235 was being tended to and that he felt like the first time in 60 years his tax dollars were being spent on a good project. DAB member David Kapaun remarked that southwest Wichita was being hemmed in by construction projects due to KDOT also “fixing” K-42, and that it is now worse at the railroad crossing then before KDOT started the construction. Staff Rebecca Fields told everyone that the tour of the new science center at Newman University would be on June 14th instead of June 15th as Councilman Blubaugh would not be available on the 15th, so DAB 4 will be joining with DAB 5 for the tour. Rebecca stated that she would be sending out a meeting notice to everyone on the DAB. DAB member Jason Platter then said that he is actively involved in a movement to stop gang violence and would be putting together a group to march and participate in the Juneteenth celebration in northeast Wichita. Jason is looking for sponsors and followed up saying that he spoke with the NBC (National Baseball Congress) organizers who have agreed to provide 1,000 kids free tickets for a game at the NBC. The Juneteenth parade is scheduled for June 24th and will begin at Wichita State University and end at McAdams Park. Councilman Blubaugh then spoke about his recent trip to Queretaro, Mexico and how impressive the city was due to its cleanliness and low crime rate. The Mayor and the Assistant City Manager, Scot Rigby, were also on the trip. CM Blubaugh stated that Spirit Aerosystems was there to sell Mexico its products & services. DAB member Don McManamey spoke about how the Northside Church of Christ had organized a group that were painting houses, removing graffiti, and other neighborhood improvements across the city of Wichita. Mr. McManamey stated that Church of Christ members had come in from all across the country and that that this is an annual event. DAB member Michael Gomm then spoke about the revised plan to implement a bike path into Pawnee Prairie Park. There were additional comments made from Councilman Blubaugh and Don McManamey about the update. Mr. McManamey then made the motion to adjourn the DAB meeting, and all other members gave a unanimous 2nd motion. The motion passed 8/0, and the DAB was adjourned at 7:55 pm. Page 6 of 6