District 4 Advisory Board

District IV Advisory Board Minutes July 2, 2018 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 seven (7) District Advisory Board members in attendance. Councilman Blubaugh officiated. There were eight (8) City Staff, and four (4) members of the public present. Members Present Staff Present Kit Corby Rebecca Fields – Community Services Rep – D4 Michael Gomm Officer Robert Kempf - WPD Ray Hall Lt. Joe Kennedy - WPD Don McManamey Officer Roddy Winder - WPD Jonathan McRoy David McGuire – Park & Rec Alex Martinez Larry Hoetmer – Park & Rec Rebecca Robertson Mark Manning - Finances Kyle Kobe - MAPD Members Absent Guests Stephanie Hartman David Kapaun Nick Hoheisel Hendley Odaris Matt Lashley Janet Wilson Jason Platter Chris Stark Council Member Jeff Blubaugh ORDER OF BUSINESS At 6:33 p.m. Councilman Jeff Blubaugh opened the DAB meeting and called the meeting to order. He then asked everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Blubaugh then proceeded with the agenda and asked for approval of the July 2, 2018 agenda. Don McManamey made a motion to approve and Kit Corby gave a 2nd. Motion was approved 7/0. The next item was approval for the June DAB meeting’s minutes. Ray Hall motioned to approve and Michael Gomm gave the 2nd. Motion was approved 7/0. STAFF REPORTS The Fire Department was not represented at the DAB meeting due to a recent emergency call that required a ladder truck from Station 12. Councilman Blubaugh then asked for reports from the WPD Police Officers present. Page 1 of 5  District IV Advisory Board Minutes July 2, 2018 www.wichita.gov Community Police Officer Robert Kempf, Patrol South, reported that there were 63 burglaries from motor vehicles, 48 motor vehicle thefts, 31 aggravated assaults, 30 residential burglaries, 11 commercial burglaries, 4 robberies of individuals, and 1 homicide. The homicide still has a suspect at large that is considered armed and dangerous. In addition, there have been many guns taken from vehicles that were left inside the truck/car. The weapon used in the homicide is reported to have been a gun stolen from a vehicle. CP Officer Roddy Winder of Patrol West then spoke about the citations that will be issued for fireworks violations, mostly between the hours of 10 pm – 2 am. DAB member Michael Gomm asked if citations are based on where debris lands, or where it is shot from? Officer Winder replied that it’s based on from where it is shot/lit. DAB member Don McManamey then asked if he knew anything about sparkler bombs, and if there was shrapnel from these bombs. Lt. Kennedy stated that the WPD Bomb Unit handles these if they have not been ignited as they are deemed very dangerous. Michael Gomm asked if they actually blow up, and Officer Winder replied that yes, they can explode. You can find out more about them by watching YouTube videos. Officer Winder then reported that burglaries are up. They made a recent arrest and the suspect was charged with 29 counts of theft/burglary/and criminal damage to property that occurred May thru June, mostly in the Sunflower Neighborhood between Kellogg & Maple and Meridian & West St. In addition, the Delano and Sunflower neighborhoods are finding many stolen vehicles left in their areas that were stolen from other areas of Wichita. There were 7 recovered stolen vehicles. Member Ray Hall asked about the trash can fires in the Sunflower neighborhood. Mr. Hall stated that there have been 12 of them up and down Maple St. Both CP Officers Winder and Kempf stated that they had not heard of these, but that probably the Fire Department would be able to tell him. Councilman Blubaugh then asked for the Library Report. Because Robyn Belt, Branch Manager for the Alford Library was not available, David Kapaun who was in attendance at the meeting had been asked to give the report. Mr. Kapaun reported that the Alford Branch Library gate count for June was 10,416 visits, and their circulation count was 16,757 items. The Summer Reading Program continues into July with strong numbers. Alford Branch alone has 1241 participants signed up since May, having read at least 20 minutes on over 14,900 days. Only 26 days are left. The last day of business at the Comotara Branch, located inside the Dillon’s store at 21st & Rock Road will be Friday, July 13. And lastly, all library branch locations will be closed on Wednesday, July 4 for the Independence Day holiday. Next, David McGuire and Larry Hoetmer, both with the Wichita Park and Rec Department, gave an update on the improvements for Pawnee Prairie Park. Mr. McGuire began by thanking Councilman Blubaugh who provided funding for all the improvements by donating the District IV portion of the Hyatt funds proceeds. Larry Hoetmer then followed by first discussing the overall master plan for the park’s improvements. Mr. McGuire then followed by stating that it was fortuitous that one of the first preparations that was completed by the department’s Page 2 of 5  District IV Advisory Board Minutes July 2, 2018 www.wichita.gov maintenance crew was the completion of the 50 foot-wide fire break along the west edge of the park. Last year there was a fairly large fire in the park that would have spread to the neighborhood on the west side of the park had it not been for the fire break. Then Mr. Hoetmer gave a rundown of the new playground that will boast of a unique playground that Wichita has never had. There will be 2 new lights implemented also in that area. CM Blubaugh asked if the lights will be on timers, and the reply was “yes”. CM Blubaugh then asked if they will be motion triggered, and yes, they will be. Don McManamey asked if the PowerPoint of the improvements is on the park website, and Mr. McGuire stated no, but they could put it on the website. (The link to this park’s website is: http://www.wichita.gov/ParkandRec/CityParks/Pages/PawneePrairie.) Member Jonathan McRoy asked if the entire bike path will be gravel or will part of it be paved? Mr. McGuire stated that it will be gravel unless a sponsor would like to pay for the extensive costs of having to pave the paths. Mr. McGuire and Mr. Hoetmer both spoke about the importance of the trail system safety, and that solar lights would be a great addition if there becomes a need. Mr. McRoy also stated that a call box for 911 would also be nice. Mr. McGuire replied that if there becomes a need that it be considered. Most people carry cell phones now and a call box would be unnecessary, except recently a horseback rider was thrown off the horse and the rider’s cell phone was in the saddle bag that took off with the horse. There will be markers on the trails that will correspond to a grid that has already been given to emergency management services so they could locate someone more easily if they are in need of help. Member Michael Gomm responded that a QR code on all the signage would be handy and could be scanned by cell phones to take them to the park’s webpage. Mr. McGuire thought this would be a great idea, and followed by stating that the stickers being used on the posts have a 7 – 10 year life span. Mr. Hoetmer then stated that the number one intent of the department is to complete the south end of the park due to the main low water bridge that will be reconfigured. Mr. McGuire followed by stating last summer there were lots of man hours spent cleanup up creek blockages. PUBLIC AGENDA One person responded when Councilman Blubaugh asked if there was anyone who had NOT scheduled, but wanted to speak. Chris Stark then stood up and gave a brief report on the pollinator habitat garden at Pawnee Prairie Park, and suggested that everyone visit the garden when at the park. Councilman Blubaugh thanked him for all he has been doing at the park. Page 3 of 5  District IV Advisory Board Minutes July 2, 2018 www.wichita.gov NEW BUSINESS Next on the agenda was the 2019-2020 proposed budget overview for the City of Wichita presented by Mark Manning, Budget Officer for the Finance Department. Mark passed out handouts for the DAB member and guests and quickly went over the budget that is strained due to less sales tax revenue, lower incoming court fines, and gas tax and franchise fees not increasing. There will be a presentation to the City Council on July 17, and following will be a public hearing that will take place on August 7. The adoption of the budget is currently slated to be heard by the City Council on August 14. Kyle Kobe was next on the agenda, and he gave a brief rundown on CON2018-00022, a new nightclub to be located in the Delano area at 535 W Douglas Avenue, but would be within 300 feet of church property. The bar would also highlight axe throwing and is being brought to Wichita by a successful company out of the Kansas City area. DAB member Rebecca Robertson stated that she had called the church early today and that the church had no objection to this. Rebecca Fields stated that it’s possible that the church is selling their property and relocating their church anyway. There was no one from the Delano area and no one from the church present to object to this conditional case. Member Michael Gomm made a motion to approve, and Jonathan McRoy gave a 2nd motion. Member Don McManamey stated that he was going to abstain from voting. There were 2 nays, and 4 ayes. Motion passed 5/2. BOARD AGENDA There was no Old Business to report. DAB Member Rebecca Robertson informed the other board members that she is now serving on the Transit Advisory Board, so if anyone had questions or concerns she will take them to the board meeting for answers. Councilman Jeff Blubaugh stated that July and August would be challenging months as the City Council considered the proposed budget for the following year. If anyone had concerns or questions about the proposed budget, email him. Councilman Blubaugh then asked the board members if any of them had considered a centralized location for a large water park rather than fund the expensive neighborhood pool operations. CM Blubaugh said that a water park could be open longer during the season, and that the Page 4 of 5  District IV Advisory Board Minutes July 2, 2018 www.wichita.gov neighborhood pools become a problem due to only hiring part-time employees, many of whom are college students that leave for college the first week of August. There was quite a bit of inconclusive conversation about this, including how low-income children would be able to get to an area that was further away from their homes, and also how pools are neighborhood gathering places during the summer. CM Blubaugh then asked for a motion to adjourn. A motion was made by Don McManamey and a 2nd given by Michael Gomm. Motion carried 7/0. The July 2, 2018 DAB IV meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm. Page 5 of 5