District 4 Advisory Board

District IV Advisory Board Minutes August 6, 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 eleven (11) District Advisory Board members in attendance. Councilman Blubaugh officiated. There were ten (10) City Staff, and thirty (30) members of the public present. Members Present Staff Present Kit Corby Rebecca Fields – Community Services Rep – D4 Michael Gomm Officer Carl Lemon - WPD Ray Hall Officer Alex Recio - WPD Stephanie Hartman Kyle Kobe - MAPD Nick Hoheisel Robyn Belt – Library Manager Matt Lashley Bryan Brockus - WFD Don McManamey Cpt. Jim Heath - WFD Jonathan McRoy Michael Russell - WFD Alex Martinez Byron Jabara - WFD Jason Platter Luis Matamoros - WFD Rebecca Robertson Guests Guests Suzanne Blasi Chris Stark Roger Runft Jerome C Smith C Dee Guard Carmen S Graft Susan Smith Pam Walline Derek Shore Howard Long Betty Long Bryan Malone Christopher Parisho Chloe Parisho Janice Parisho Vern Loftus Carl Amrine Andrew N? Diana Palenz Melissa Stout Logan Mills Brady Roberts Jim Edgington Dave Montague Russ Ewy Harold Schlechtweg - IRC Jim Edgington Danny Clare David Kapaun Logan Mills Council Member Jeff Blubaugh ORDER OF BUSINESS At 6:30 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. Page 1 of 7  District IV Advisory Board Minutes August 6, 2018 www.wichita.gov Councilman Blubaugh then proceeded with the agenda and asked for approval of the August 6, 2018 agenda. Kit Corby made a motion to approve and Stephanie Hartman gave a 2nd. Motion was approved 11/0. The next item was approval for the July DAB meeting’s minutes. Nick Hoheisel motioned to approve and Matt Lashley gave the 2nd. Motion was approved 11/0. STAFF REPORTS Cpt. Jim Heath, Station 12, then reported that District 4 in July had 32 fire alarms, 57 service alarms, and 499 medical alarms for a total of 588 incidents to which WFD was dispatched. There were two (2) fires with an estimated total loss of $4,500. In the City of Wichita there was approximately $864,000 in damages caused by fires. Over July 3 & 4 there were 133 tickets issued for illegal use of fireworks. Board Member Nick Hoheisel asked if they were all $250 fine tickets, and Cpt. Heath replied yes, mostly given by off-duty officers that were working those nights/days. Next, Councilman Blubaugh called for the Police staff reports. Community Police (CP) Officer Alex Recio, Patrol South, will be taking over 299 beat in SW Wichita. He reported that there were 10 aggravated assaults, 15 residential burglaries, 11 non- residential burglaries, 5 robbery cases, 19 auto thefts, and 29 larcenies from autos. Lately the CP and CRT (Critical Response Team) Officers have been working a special assignment in the Old Town area at night resulting in several tickets and arrests. The HOT (Homeless Outreach Team) is receiving national recognition and will be traveling to Washington, DC to receive an award. Member Nick Hoheisel asked about the new graduates of the Law Enforcement Academy, and Officer Recio responded that it can take up to a year before they are allowed to be out on the streets as beat officers. CP Officer Carl Lemon of Patrol West (17 beat) reminded everyone that Neighborhood Night Out is next week, August 14, and that Open Streets is scheduled for September 23rd. Officer Lemon also mentioned that the Wichita Police Department has been working on a lip sync video that is part of a nationwide movement and the WPD video should be ready to post later this week. Councilman Blubaugh stated that the WPD video is to show that the community stands behind our police officers and that is the message they are trying to convey. CM Blubaugh then reminded everyone that there are prescribed burns that will be conducted at Pawnee Prairie Park in conjunction with K-State agriculture practices to keep noxious weeds from spreading through the 400+ acres that make up this park. Councilman Blubaugh then asked for the Library report. Robyn Belt, Manager for the Alford Branch Library, reported that Alford’s Gate Count for July was 9,223 visits and that their circulation count for July was 14,013 items. The Summer Reading program concluded July 27th. Alford Branch alone had 1293 participants signed up since May, having read at least 20 minutes on over 29,000 logged days. 1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a reading challenge for Page 2 of 7  District IV Advisory Board Minutes August 6, 2018 www.wichita.gov children ages 6 and under who haven’t yet started Kindergarten. It sounds like a lot, but if you read 3 books each night, you’ll be able to read 1000 books IN LESS THAN A YEAR! Kids earn prizes at 100, 300, 500, 700, and 1000 books. Alford had at least 3 1000 books finishers in July, and since the beginning of the program in January 2017 over 50,000 books have been logged by Alford’s little readers. All library locations will be closed on Monday, September 3rd for the Labor Day holiday. On the following weekend, September 9th, most branches will again be open 1pm-5pm every Sunday. Board Member Don McManamey then gave Ms. Belt a print-out of the American flag etiquette, stating that the flag should always be on the left when facing the flag to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Ms. Belt said that she would change the location of the flag. Rebecca Fields mentioned that the reason it was on the right was so it wouldn’t block the entrance off the stage per fire codes, but both Ms. Belt and Mr. McManamey thought there could be room for the flag on the left side of stage. PUBLIC AGENDA Two (2) people responded when Councilman Blubaugh asked if there was anyone who had NOT scheduled, but wanted to speak. Chris Stark then stood up and asked that a water fountain be put in at Aley Park on south Seneca. Mr. Stark stated that the skateboard portion of the park gets quite hot during the summer and that the skateboarders could use a water fountain to stay refreshed. CM Blubaugh asked Rebecca Fields about the upcoming plans for Aley Park, and she replied that it is still in the planning stage and now would be a good time to have the Park Department install one based on the impending work. Next, Danny Clare commented that there is a very steep ditch in the 700 block of south St. Paul that runs along the east side of church property (west side of St. Paul). The church states that the ditch is too steep for them to mow, so they are not mowing this. Further, the east side of St. Paul on this block is all overgrown and that the residents are not keeping up this street because it is more like an alley that some of the residents use to access the back of their homes that all face south Gordon. Mr. Clare thinks that the City of Wichita should be responsible for mowing this ditch. Rebecca Fields gave Mr. Clare her business card and asked him to give her a call so that she could get more information on these issues. There were two scheduled speakers for the Public Agenda. The first scheduled was Harold Schlechtweg, Advocacy Coordinator for IRC-Wichita (International Rescue Committee in Wichita). Mr. Schlechtweg first defined “what are refugees”, whom he defined as legal immigrants that are vetted through the American Embassy and by the United States Homeland Security. Worldwide, approximately 65 million humans have been booted out of their own countries, or have escaped due to threats made on their lives. Of these, 1600 refugees have been relocated in Wichita and assisted by 75 volunteers. There is a distinct path to obtain citizenship and the total process takes at least five (5) years. Page 3 of 7  District IV Advisory Board Minutes August 6, 2018 www.wichita.gov The IRC program started in 1980. A total of 3 million refugees have settled in the United States since 1980. In the Wichita area, most refugees are living in Districts 2 and 3, relying on areas where public transportation is more prevalent during their first year or two upon moving here. So far this year 150 refugees have moved to Wichita this year. Through IRC they receive cultural orientation and English classes so that the refugees can obtain employment as soon as possible. Board Member Kit Corby asked who determines how many refugees come to Wichita. Mr. Schlechtweg replied that there are nine (9) regions in the United States and that a committee/board makes these decision along with the US Secretary of State. A guest asked if ESL (English as a second language) classes are required, and Mr. Schlechtweg replied yes. Further, Mr. Schlechtweg stated that he started out with IRC-Wichita as a volunteer ESL teacher. Mr. Schlechtweg had materials printed out for any guest or board members who would like to know more about the IRC mission and successes. The next scheduled for the Public Agenda was Christopher Parisho, a resident of the Delano neighborhood. Mr. Parisho wanted the board members to know that a restaurant/bar out of Texas named Tight Ends was proposed to be built in a new development on Seneca, north of Kellogg. (Seneca & University on the east side of Seneca). Mr. Parisho states that the waitresses of this establishment are often times so skimpy that the women who wear them have to cover required body parts under the actual clothing they are sporting. Further, the Tight Ends in Texas boast competitions that include wearing lingerie and other extreme clothing and lack thereof. Mr. Parisho went on to let board members and guests know that he had started an on-line petition that can be signed in protest of this restaurant/bar going into the Delano area. The Delano area has fought hard to promote Delano as a family-friendly neighborhood that will soon be home to a new baseball park and a $1 million bike/pedestrian project. Mr. Parisho states that the developer doesn’t care about the image that Delano is trying to promote, and that the development first started out as a family restaurant along with apartments, and has now evolved into an all commercial development with a questionable not-for-family restaurant/bar. Mr. Parisho also brought up the question of sanitary food handling by waitresses who might need to be frequently adjusting their clothing in order not to violate City codes. Councilman Blubaugh stated that this proposed establishment is being given a second look due to possibly needing an entertainment license and the area is not zoned as an “Entertainment District”. NEW BUSINESS Next on the agenda Kyle Kobe, Associate Planner with MAPD, presented ZON2018-00019. The applicants are requesting to change the zoning on property located just south of the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad line and on the east side of South Meridian Avenue from B Multi Family Residential and MF-29 Multi Family Residential to LC Limited Commercial. This request arises from the desire of the property owner to construct a building to house a model railroad. It is not Page 4 of 7  District IV Advisory Board Minutes August 6, 2018 www.wichita.gov expected at this time that the building will be generally open to the public, but the owner will not be residing on this property either. Member Don McManamey asked how many square feet the building would be, and Mr. Kobe replied he didn’t know for sure because it was still in the planning stage. Mr. Russ Ewy, the agent for the applicant, was in attendance and he stated that since the lot was only ½ acre, the building could not be any larger than 5600 square feet. Mr. McManamey was curious if the owner/applicant was associated with a model railroad club or similar association, and Mr. Ewy was unsure, to which Mr. McManamey replied that he had no objections but was just curious. Mr. Ewy expounded by stating that the applicant is originally from Wichita, had moved to Houston, but plans on retiring in Wichita and would like to house his extensive railroad models in this location that is next to a railroad track. Member Kit Corby asked if there would be adequate space for parking if later the owner decided to open up to the public. Mr. Ewy replied that this would require more planning processes, but there was additional land to the east that the applicant could possibly negotiate for purchase. Michael Gomm made a motion at this time to approve, and Nick Hoheisel gave a second motion. The motion passed 11/0. Kyle Kobe then presented ZON2018-00024. The applicant, Jim Edgington, is requesting the rezoning of the approximately 9-acre un-platted tract he owns at this location from SF-5 Single Family Residential (SF-5) to TF-3 Two Family Residential (TF-3) in order to develop the property with a subdivision with duplexes. A sketch of the general layout of the proposed development has been provided with the application indicating a looped street from 135th Street West into the interior of the property with the bulk of the building lots on the interior of the looped street. There are reserves shown on the sketch, but the specific use for the reserves will be addressed at the time of platting. Additionally, the sketch provided by the applicant shows the three western lots remaining SF-5 Single Family Residential. Given the nature of the development to the west, this is reasonable and is being recommended as noted herein. The DAB had been given no layout of the proposed plats, and CM Blubaugh asked how many lots this parcel would contain. Kyle looked at the layout that had been given to him and he responded 16 total lots: 13 lots with TF-3 (duplex) housing and 3 lots with SF-5 (single family home). Mr. Kobe then had Rebecca Fields pass the layout of plats to the DAB members. Board Member Matt Lashley asked if the nearby residents would be allowed to protest after the area was platted, and Kyle replied that there would be no need for this if it passes the City Council and depending on a formal protest petition being presented. At this time the agent for this proposal, Logan Mills with Certified Engineering Design, explained that the 3 single family homes would be on the west side of the property and that the “duplexes” would be on the outside of a u-shaped drive that would have a retention pond in the middle. Mr. Edgington, the owner of the property since 1993, stood up and introduced himself. He stated that all residents would be required to be 55 years of age or older and would be Page 5 of 7  District IV Advisory Board Minutes August 6, 2018 www.wichita.gov enforced by a Home Owners Association. There would be no outdoor pets and no children. These units would have zero-step entries, and that each unit would be about 1200 sq. ft., 2 bedrooms each. His plans included keeping as many trees as possible, installing walking paths, a clubhouse, and having heated driveways and walkways so the HOA did not have to shovel snow. The first logical action would be to apply for a zoning change before proceeding with further plans of this concept. Member Matt Lashley asked if the units will be owned. The agent replied that the buyer would purchase a duplex, live in one half and rent out the other half. Member Don McManamey asked once the zoning was approved, what would prevent the owner of the land from changing his plans and go in a different direction? Mr. Edgington commented that there would be zero assurance if something were to happen to him and his wife needed to sell the property. Mr. McManamey asked Kyle if the parcel could be given a provisional zoning change. Mr. Kobe replied that platting still has to go through MAPD before proceeding regardless of who owns the property. David Montague, 1501 Auburn Hills Ct., asked if the zoning change occurs then it stays changed, right? The owner agreed that it is possible that plans could be changed. Roger Runft then stood and said that he represents the Auburn Hills Courtyards. He stated that this particular development is almost completed and the property across 135th Street is currently going through the planning stage. The area’s concern as well as his own is the quality of the homes/duplexes being proposed. Does the architecture of these residences fit into the current esthetics of Auburn Hills? (NOTE: there were no architectural renderings available for DAB or protestors to evaluate) Member Kit Corby asked the price point of the three single-family homes being built by Mr. Edgington. He replied that his own home would be built first in the NW portion of the parcel and that it would be of good quality. Ms. Corby then asked if it was an open build, meaning the single family homes, not the duplexes. Mr. Edgington wasn’t sure, but that the duplexes would be around $250,000 for each building (2 residences/units per building). Member Stephanie Hartman then asked about making a motion to defer this case until more information was known. But since this was already going to the City Council, then Councilman Blubaugh said that the City Council can defer it if needed. Member Rebecca Robertson asked if the single family homes could be built and then ask to zone the remaining property for TF-3. Mr. Kobe replied that it’s better to go ahead and do it now due to street and utilities platting, etc. Member Don McManamey stated that he didn’t see much push back from the area residents, at which time several more guests raised their hands. Councilman Blubaugh commented that he had already given chances for the public to speak, but would allow two more speakers. Suzanne Blasi, 1510 S Auburn Hills Ct., has the petition that will be filed with MPAD prior to the August 9th deadline. Ms. Blasi stated that she is a nurse and has worked very hard to have a nice home and she was fearful that unless it was an upscale development it could affect the value of her home. Other neighbors had voiced the same concerns. Jerome Smith, 1406 S Auburn Hills, said he wouldn’t object if there was a commercial development in front of (east side of parcel) the single family homes proposed for the west side of the parcel. Page 6 of 7  District IV Advisory Board Minutes August 6, 2018 www.wichita.gov At this time, Member Nick Hoheisel made a motion to deny the request, and Stephanie Hartman gave the 2nd motion. The motion passed 8/3 and request was denied. BOARD AGENDA Councilman Blubaugh then moved to the Board agenda, whereas Nick Hoheisel reminded everyone to vote tomorrow in the primaries (Tuesday, August 7). Councilman Blubaugh mentioned that at tomorrow’s City Council meeting they were taking comments from the public on the proposed budget for 2019-2020. CM Blubaugh’s main concerns for the budget was providing for public safety (Police and Fire) and money for infrastructure. Because these are his main priorities, he could not see keeping CityArts and other buildings open if a private partnership could be used for operations. DAB Member Nick Hoheisel stated that he thought Clapp Golf Park should be shut down rather than try and keep it open. DAB Member Ray Hall asked if there had been any discussion about Animal Control, and it being operated by a private/public partnership. CM Blubaugh stated that this was still out in the concept planning stage. Member Nick Hoheisel asked if there was any talk of a sales tax increase. CM Blubaugh replied that the Mayor was pushing for a sales tax increase. DAB Member Jason Platter was concerned about library closures affecting youths in the neighborhoods, and DAB Member Rebecca Robertson was concerned about neighborhood pools closing for the same reason that neighborhood kids are the ones affected by these closures. CM Blubaugh added that this is why a partnership with the YMCA would be beneficial. DAB Member Don McManamey responded that the Y memberships are such that low income gets a reduced rate, but that the working class has to pay the same amount as the upper middle income families, and this made the dues too expensive for many families. Jason Platter added that there were concerns from families with elementary aged children who could have enrolled them in the Say YES program (that provided free golf, free swimming, free meals and free rides on City buses) about their children riding alone on a City bus and possibly getting lost or confused by the transit system. Other members understood this concern. DAB Member Stephanie Hartman asked CM Blubaugh about his view on Clapp Golf Park, and CM Blubaugh responded that the problem is no one is wanting to give up anything, and that something had to go. At 7:55 pm Matt Lashley made a motion to adjourn the August 6, 2018 DAB IV meeting, and Stephanie Hartman gave a 2nd motion. The motion passed 11/0. Page 7 of 7