District 4 Advisory Board

District IV Advisory Board Minutes November 5, 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 ten (10) District Advisory Board members in attendance. Councilman Blubaugh officiated. There were six (6) City Staff, and six (6) members of the public present. Members Present Guests Kit Corby Tom Ewert Michael Gomm Vanessa Christopher Ray Hall Selena Stanczyk Stephanie Hartman Rosetta Blackmore David Kapaun Russ Ewy Matt Lashley Janelle Dean Alex Martinez Don McManamey Jonathan McRoy Rebecca Robertson Members Absent Jason Platter Council Member Jeff Blubaugh Staff Present Rebecca Fields – Community Services Dist. 4 Lt. Timothy Deneen - WFD Officer Vicki Kerns – Patrol South Officer Perkins – Patrol West Mark Stanberry - Housing Donald Henning - Housing 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. Councilman Blubaugh proceeded with the agenda and asked approval for the November 5, 2018 agenda. DAB Member Michael Gomm made a motion to approve and DAB Member Jonathan McRoy gave a 2nd. Motion was approved 10/0. The next item was approval for the October DAB meeting’s minutes. DAB Member Kit Corby motioned to approve and DAB Member Stephanie Hartman gave the 2nd. Motion was approved 10/0. Page 1 of 6  District IV Advisory Board Minutes November 5, 2018 www.wichita.gov STAFF REPORTS Councilman Blubaugh asked for the Fire Report to be given first, and Lt. Timothy Deneen stated that he did not have time to pull the call stats from last month for District 4, but he would be giving everyone fire safety tips. Lt. Deneen started with the time change which coincides when everyone is to change the battery in their smoke alarm(s). If the smoke alarm is older than ten (10) years, then it is necessary to replace it with a new alarm. If you are unable to purchase a new smoke alarm, or cannot install a smoke alarm due to any disabilities, just call 268-4441 and the Wichita Fire Department will be able to assist you. Lt. Deneen then stated it is a good idea to have a professional HVAC company check the furnace to make sure it’s running properly. This can be a cause of carbon monoxide poisoning if it is not running properly. He further recommended that everyone have a carbon monoxide detector/alarm in their home. Another source of common house fires is from a blocked or dirty chimney. He suggested that a professional Chimney Sweep be hired to have any chimneys checked out and/or cleaned. Next were some safety tips while cooking holiday dinners: stay by the range (stove top) while it was being used, and keep your eye on any counter appliances. If a fire breaks out, the first thing to do is to turn off or unplug the appliance, including microwaves. But if a fire breaks out in any oven, including a microwave, keep the door to that appliance closed. If you are deep fat frying a turkey, insert the turkey into the oil before the oil is heated to insure that the oil will not spill over when the turkey is inserted into the hot oil. Never use a deep fryer on the deck, or inside a garage where any hot oil could ignite a fire. The last safety tips were about holiday trees and lights. If purchasing a fresh tree, make sure that the needles still bend (this signifies that it is not dried out), and immediately cut off the very end of the trunk and insert in water as soon as you can. Always keep water in the tree stand, and be sure to unplug the lights on the tree if you are leaving the house, or going to bed for the evening. And as always, have a fire escape plan that the entire household can follow along with a designated meeting place once you have escaped the house. Councilman Blubaugh thanked Lt. Deneen and then asked for the Police reports. Community Police (CP) Officer Vickie Kern, Patrol South, then gave her report for October crime statistics in District 4. There were 6 aggravated assaults, 3 aggravated residential burglaries, 11 residential burglaries, 4 aggravated robberies from “person”, 17 auto thefts, 4 non- residential burglaries, 16 larcenies to auto accessories (mostly vehicle tags), and 22 larcenies from auto. Officer Kern said that there had been a high increase in vehicle tags and to be mindful in checking your tag each time you get in your vehicle. Not only are tags being stolen from legal vehicles, but they are being used on a similar vehicle that has been stolen so that detection of a stolen vehicle is more difficult for law enforcement. Officer Kern also reminded everyone not to warm up your vehicle unattended unless you have a remote starter. Page 2 of 6  District IV Advisory Board Minutes November 5, 2018 www.wichita.gov Next, CP Officer David Perkins, 18 Beat Patrol West, stated that there had been a garage door left unlocked in the 400 block of Fawnwood. A motor scooter had been stolen from the garage, but thanks to a video tape, officers were able to locate a suspect who confessed to the crime. Officer Perkins then stated that there were 33 reported larcenies to autos in the Patrol West portion of District 4, but that District 5 had twice as many as District 4. He then reminded everyone that this was No-Shave November to raise cancer awareness and that officers were being allowed to sport mustaches and well-groomed goatees, but not full scale beards. He also reminded DAB and guests that the Veteran’s Day Parade was this coming Saturday in downtown Wichita, a Night with Santa is on December 6 at Century II, and the Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony in Old Town Square and Lights on the River at the Wichita Boathouse will both be on the evening of December 2nd. Officer Perkins final statement was about the six (6) new positions for the civilian Police officers who will be taking reports, working traffic accidents, etc. He is unsure of when these positions will be put into action. Councilman Blubaugh commented about his Dad’s house being broken into and that Chief Ramsay had shared with him that a new Property Crimes Task Force was being implemented. Officer Vickie Kern ended the Police Reports by letting everyone know that church parking lots during church services were becoming prime targets of auto larcenies. Do not leave anything of value in your vehicle! Councilman Blubaugh next called for the Library Report. Due to the Alford Branch Library being short-staffed at this time, DAB Member Stephanie Hartman read the report that Robyn Belt had prepared. The Library Report for the Alford Branch Library is as follows: Alford’s Gate Count for October was 6,874 visits. Alford’s Circulation count for October was 11,522 items. Wichita Public Library invites you to learn how to protect yourself from of identity theft. Consumer Credit Counseling Executive Director Jeff Witherspoon will be here on Tuesday, November 13th at 6:30pm to offer steps you can take in the digital age to reduce your chances of becoming a victim and tips on what to do if it happens to you. November is Kansas Reads to Preschoolers month. This is an annual event that promotes reading to all Kansas children from birth through age five. Through the statewide program, parents, librarians and caregivers are encouraged to read the chosen title during a selected week and month. This year’s title is Ten Pigs: An Epic Bath Adventure by Derek Anderson. Our Youth Librarians and Outreach team will conduct 144 storytime sessions over this next month for programs serving preschoolers. Additionally, each Wichita Public Library location will have a drawing for a free copy of the book. Visit the Children’s Area to enter. Page 3 of 6  District IV Advisory Board Minutes November 5, 2018 www.wichita.gov All Wichita Public Library locations will be closed next Sunday, November 11th AND Monday, November 12 to honor Veteran’s Day. PUBLIC AGENDA There was no one scheduled on the Public Agenda, and so Councilman Blubaugh asked if there was anyone present that wanted to speak and if so to stand and state their name and address. Mr. Tom Ewert stood and stated he lived in District 6, but that he was the President of the Wichita Audubon Society and wanted to bring it to the DAB’s attention that the Animal Control Advisory Board was trying to get an ordinance that allowed feral cat “colonies”. This would include the Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) plan and that the amount of cats allowed at any one address would be greatly increased. He wanted to let everyone know that the Wichita Audubon Society is against any such ordinance, and asked that Councilman Blubaugh not vote in favor of this ordinance change. Next, Janelle Dean stood to speak. Ms. Dean is greatly concerned about the proposed increase in Childcare licensing fees. She said that she is a provider and that she had received a letter stating that there would be a 60% increase of the fee to obtain a license for childcare. She said that the proposal also includes more training hours (6 additional hours) and that all staff hired will be required to be fingerprinted that will cost the provider $65 for each new hire. Ms. Dean further stated that there are 122 licensed daycare providers in District 4, and she is asking that Councilman Blubaugh look into other ways of providing the money to support the Childcare Licensing Program because the additional expenses for the providers will have to be passed on by increasing weekly daycare fees. Ms. Dean said that this all came about because the State of Kansas was giving the cities less money to oversee this division. Ms. Dean said that she is not against raising the fees associated with licensing, but not this much of a percentage. This is scheduled to be heard at the November 13 City Council meeting. Councilman Blubaugh thanked Ms. Dean and then called on Housing for their presentation. NEW BUSINESS City of Wichita Consolidated Plan Entitlement Funding; CDBG, HOME, ESG: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) considers the City of Wichita to be an entitlement city and as such, Wichita receives annual allocations of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds. In order to receive these funds the City is required to prepare a Consolidated Plan every five years. In addition, the City is required to submit an Annual Action Plan which addresses the priorities identified in the Consolidated Plan. Mark Stanberry, Manager of the HOME/Neighborhood Improvement Services for the City of Wichita, presented Page 4 of 6  District IV Advisory Board Minutes November 5, 2018 www.wichita.gov the Housing Consolidated Plan via a PowerPoint that was printed out and given to each DAB member. Mr. Stanberry said that the next steps between now and February of 2019 will be to send out surveys to the community, host “town hall” meetings, and consolidate the information obtained to present to the City Council sometime in March. The actual program will then begin the first of July, 2019. Mr. Stanberry said that these programs are designed for improvements low to moderate income areas, urgent community needs, and for blight situations, especially for demolition of severe blighted properties (about 35% of the grant). CDBG monies also pay for the administrator of the Housing First program. ESG funds are used to find/fund shelters for the homeless and to prevent homelessness by providing rent and utility assistance for certain situations. Councilman Blubaugh asked the DAB to be thinking of things to use CDBG monies for in District 4, and DAB Member Jonathan McRoy asked if there are internal reports available. Whereas Mr. Stanberry replied yes, that the department tracks the expenses incurred by all the programs. These programs are designed to assist individuals in the City, for instance 181 residents were able to receive home repair assistance last year. DAB Member Stephanie Hartman asked how someone can get find out about qualifying for programs, and Mr. Stanberry said they can always call 462-3764, Housing Services. Next on the agenda was also presented by Mark Stanberry. Nomination of Grants Review Committee (GRC) Representative for District IV: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that cities involve citizens in the allocation process for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds. The City of Wichita accomplishes this through a series of public hearings before the City Council and through the appointment of a Grants Review Committee (GRC) which reviews proposals and applications. Housing Services is asking that someone on the DAB be nominated for this position, and Mr. Stanberry said that this involves three (3) meetings that are tentatively set for February 27, March 6, and March 13 of 2019. Matt Lashley and David Kapaun were both DAB 4 Members who have previously served on the GRC. DAB Member Jason Platter was the last nominee for this position. It was at this time that David Kapaun nominated Jonathan McRoy for the GRC, and DAB Member Kit Corby gave a 2nd motion. The motion passed 10/0. Planning was next on the agenda, and Kathy Morgan, Senior Planner, presented, and the agent Russ Ewy, was on hand to answer any questions. Page 5 of 6  District IV Advisory Board Minutes November 5, 2018 www.wichita.gov ZON2018-00044: The District IV Advisory Board considered a request for the rezoning of the properties that the applicant owns located east side of South Illinois Avenue and south of West Taft Avenue from SF-5 Single-Family Residential and LC Limited Commercial (LC) to OW Office Warehouse (OW) in order to allow the property to be developed with additional office/warehouse buildings. There are three platted lots under single ownership in this location. The northern lot is currently occupied by an office/warehouse occupied by Bobco. The owner/applicant desires to construct similar buildings on the vacant lots to the south. Ms. Morgan, Senior Planner with MAPD, then stated that the Planning Department had not received any phone calls on this case, and at the MAPC meeting there was no one there that objected to this. Ms. Morgan was also not aware of any protest petitions filed with the City Clerk at this time. DAB Member Kit Corby asked if the lots on this case were already vacant, and the response by Mr. Ewy, agent for the applicant, was yes, except for BOBCO that is located to the north due to them currently owning the building. DAB Member Michael Gomm then made a motion to approve, and DAB Member Don McManamey gave a 2nd motion. The motion passed 10/0. BOARD AGENDA Councilman Blubaugh then moved to the Board agenda and reminded everyone to vote tomorrow (November 6). DAB Member David Kapaun asked when the improvements for West Street will begin, and Councilman Blubaugh replied that they are still working on land acquisitions along West Street before work can begin. At 7:30 pm DAB Member Don McManamey made a motion to adjourn the November 5, 2018 DAB IV meeting, and David Kapaun gave a 2nd. The motion passed 10/0. Page 6 of 6