District 4 Advisory Board

District 4 Advisory Board Minutes Monday, October 5, 2020 • 6:30 p.m. Virtual Meeting • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Order of Business The District 4 Advisory Board meeting was held online at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Council Member Jeff Blubaugh, eight (8) DAB members, six (6) City staff, and five (5) guests were present. DAB Members Present Staff Present Grant Delmar Rebecca Fields – Community Representative Michael Gomm Seth Gotchey – PW Engineer June Johnson Kathy Morgan – MAPD Planner Matt Lashley Robyn Belt – Library Manager Alex Martinez Gary Janzen – PW Engineer Jonathan McRoy Alex Recio – WPD Officer Laura Rainwater Rebecca Robertson Guests Council Member Tristan Block Jeff Blubaugh Larry Ortiz iPhone - Unknown 316-737-8989 (unknown) DAB Members Absent 316-992-6702 (unknown) Sonya Brown Dalton Glasscock Colby Unruh DAB Member (Chairman) Michael Gomm opened and called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. Mr. Gomm proceeded with the agenda and asked approval for the October 5, 2020 agenda. DAB Member Laura Rainwater made a motion to approve and DAB Member Jonathan McRoy gave a 2nd. Motion was approved 8/0. The next item was approval for the September 14, 2020 DAB meeting minutes. DAB Member June Johnson motioned to approve and DAB Member Laura Rainwater gave a 2nd. Motion was approved 8/0. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Staff Reports DAB 4 • October 5, 2020 • Page 1 DAB Member Michael Gomm asked if there was anyone in attendance from the Fire Department and as there was no repsonse, and at this time there was no one present from the Police Department, Chairman Gomm asked for the Library report. Robyn Belt, Alford Branch Library Manager, was in attendance and read the following report: Alford Library attendance for September was 2,716 visits Checkout statistics for September were 3,239 items 1. There are several great virtual programs happening this month:  “Third Tuesdays Book Discussion” on Tuesday, October 20 from 1-2 p.m. will discuss the popular book “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens  “Business Planning for Non Profits” on Saturday, October 24 from 1-2:30 p.m. will show the steps needed to plan a successful non-profit business.  “Tuesday Topics – Confederate Monuments: Support and Protest” on Tuesday, October 27 from noon-1 p.m., will discuss the claims of those who wish to preserve these tributes to their ancestors as well as those who strive to create a socially just environment for future generations.  All programs will be offered in a virtual format using Zoom. An email will be sent to participants the day before and day of the event with login information. Learn more and register at www.wichitalibrary.org/events. 2. November is Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Month, an initiative aimed at promoting reading to all Kansas children from birth through age five. Through this statewide program, parents, librarians and caregivers are encouraged to read the chosen title to their young readers. This year’s selected book is “Groovy Joe: Ice Cream & Dinosaurs” by Eric Litwin, and is available for free through Scholastic BookFlix. More information about virtual programs and online activities will be available soon on the Library’s website. 3. The Library and its many community partners have rescheduled the NEA Big Read: Wichita for January 9-February 21, 2021. It will be a mostly virtual program and will feature great programming based around this year’s book, “Circe” by Madeline Miller. Big Read participants can be part of the virtual kick-off celebration on January 9 by recording and submitting a video sharing their favorite things about the Big Read. Visit www.bigreadwichita.org to learn more. Video submissions are due October 30, 2020. Chairman Gomm then asked if there were any questions from the board, and Councilman Blubaugh asked Ms. Belt about the library services during the pandemic. Ms. Belt said that the library is open, but has limitations on the services they provide. Half of the public computers are able to be used, as the other half are closed to allow for social distancing. Only 30 patrons are allowed into the Alford Branch Library at any given time (not including the staff), and the staff will retrieve items off the shelves for patrons. Patrons can also have DAB 4 • October 5, 2020 • Page 2 the library hold items for them by going online, or by calling. The libraries continue to have their normal operating hours. There were no further questions. Chairman Gomm moved on to the public agenda. There was no one scheduled to speak, and when asked if there was anyone who wished to speak on the public agenda, Mr. Tristan Block asked to speak. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Public Agenda Scheduled Items None Off-Agenda Items Mr. Tristan Block, 10608 W Jewel, spoke about the staffing of Fire Station #17. Mr. Block states that the Fire Department is running a pilot program currently, and that there are normally 2 units operating out of Station #17, but the pilot program has the station now with only 1 unit. Mr. Block is very concerned about this for the southwest community and has spoken with Becky Fields and Councilman Blubaugh about his concerns. He has also sent a message to City Manager Robert Layton and received a response back. Mr. Block would like to raise more public awareness about this matter. Mr. Block said that today was a good example of what can occur due to Station 17 being down a squad, and that Station 12 (the station next to the Alford Branch Library) was also down a squad today, so that made District 4 without 2 squads on this day. This is very concerning. (Note: squads are the units that handle most medical emergencies) Councilman Blubaugh thanked Tristan for bringing this to his attention and told Mr. Block that he is watching this very closely, and not just because this is close to his own house, but several of the DAB Members live in this area, not to mention the thousands of other constituents in southwest Wichita. CM Blubaugh appreciates Mr. Block tracking this, and said that one of the firefighters who works out of this station lives 2 houses down from his own house. Chairman Gomm asked if this was due to a staffing or budget issue. CM Blubaugh replied that all he knew that this is a pilot program and that he is watching it VERY closely. If anyone has additional information, please send it to him. Mr. Block said that he worked for the Wichita Fire Department for 6 years and left only to pursue another venture. He thinks that inside the Fire Department there has been a push to get rid of squads. Mr. Block thinks that there is more to this than staffing and budget, and that there are other reasons for this and is glad that this is being watched very closely. DAB 4 • October 5, 2020 • Page 3 DAB Member Jonathan McRoy asked if there was a contingency plan for the Fire Department in regards to responding to the southwest portion of Wichita. Was this all based on data that the City has been collecting? Mr. Block responded that he did see an email from Chief Snow showing the data collected that supports moving the Station 17 squad to a station in District 5. Mr. Block thinks that some of the numbers can be easily skewed. Mr. Block said that although there are not many fires in the ‘new build’ areas, 80 to 90% of the calls are usually medical calls that are covered by a squad. Mr. Block states that the County station at 199 th & Kellogg is now having to respond to southwest Wichita medical calls. There were no further discussion on this topic. Alex Recio, Community Police Officer for beat 299, had joined the meeting and Chairman Gomm asked for his staff report. Officer Alex Recio, gave a status report on crimes that occurred during September in the District 4 Patrol South beats. There were 3 robberies, 21 aggravated assaults (8 were domestic related), 15 commercial burglaries, 13 residential burglaries, 13 auto thefts, and 41 larcenies from autos. Officer Recio states that recently the Police Department launched another team that specifically addresses domestic violence cases, and so far the team is having a good response in picking up abusers who have outstanding warrants. Officer Recio states that citywide there has been an increase in larcenies to autos, many due to people leaving their vehicles unlocked. Also, converters continue to be stolen off of vehicles, especially pickup trucks and commercial vehicles. Another issue that has come up recently is Buchanan’s Bar & Grill located at 2789 S Meridian that was supposed to reopen as a Mexican restaurant. Over the previous weekend there were shots fired in the parking lot, and a patron was hit with a beer bottle as the restaurant was closing. The Police Chief has now issued a temporary 30-day suspension of their liquor license, and they are not zoned for entertainment which they have been having live bands and dancing on the weekends. Another issue that the Police Department is working on is how the Community Police Officers can better serve the community. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas for the department, they would like to hear them. Councilman Blubaugh stated that he has been engaged in talks with West High School administrators regarding the area surrounding the school and asked Officer Recio if he knew if this was a concern with students in that area. Officer Recio replied that he has been keeping in touch with the School Resource Officer who is assigned to West High School and that there has been no reported problems with students according to the DAB 4 • October 5, 2020 • Page 4 administrators. However, there was the recent fatal shooting of a West High School student last month. There was no further discussion or questions for Officer Recio, so Chairman Gomm moved on to the next agenda item. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • New Business Anna Street Paving: Anna Street, between Esthner and Pawnee, is currently unpaved with ditches for drainage. A petition to pave a portion of Anna, signed by 75.00% of the resident owners, representing 75.25% of the improvement district area, was submitted in support of the proposed improvements. The petition is valid per Kansas Statute 12-6a01. Seth Gotchey with Public Works Engineering was on hand to give a presentation to the District Advisory Board. Mr. Gotchey had a PowerPoint presentation with an aerial view of the street and surrounding area, background information that stated a petition of property owners had circulated and that 75% of the property owners had signed in support of the proposed improvements. The estimated cost of the project is $319,000, with 93% of the final cost being assessed to the improvement district, and 7% being assessed to the City- at-large. The City will be covering cost for the intersection. This was assessed on a square foot basis, and the estimated assessment to individual properties is $00.35 per square foot of ownership. Mr. Gotchey showed the improvement district and area, and those who had signed the petition were indicated in a green overlay. Those who did not sign (2 companies) were indicated in a blue overlay. As a side note, Mr. Gotchey stated that the HVAC contractor whose property is accessed on Anna Street is who petitioned this for paving, and the paving will stop at the south edge of his property due to the mobile home park that abuts his property to the south not wanting the expense of paving a road to their business. A conceptual design was completed and showed where the storm water drainage will be located. The timeline is estimated as follows:  The City Council reviews and votes on this matter November 3, 2020  Upon approval, it could take 2 to 3 months for a final design and bid process  The completion of the construction would then be May of 2021. The recommended action is for the DAB to approve the petition for the paving of Anna St. Mr. Gotchey then asked if the board had any questions. Chairman Gomm asked if Anna Street would remain unpaved from the mobile home park to Pawnee Street, and Mr. Gotchey replied, yes, it would not be paved. DAB 4 • October 5, 2020 • Page 5 There were no questions from the board, or questions from the public, so Chairman Gomm asked for a motion. DAB Member Alex Martinez made the motion to approve the petition to pave Anna Street per the designated boundaries, and DAB Member Rebecca Robertson gave a 2nd. The motion was passed 8/0. ZON2020-00034: The applicant/owner is requesting the rezoning of 1230 W McCormick from MF-29 Multi- family to LC Limited Commercial. Kathy Morgan with the Metropolitan Area Planning Department presented the case. Ms. Morgan states that the requested zoned property is just to the east of the McCormick School Museum that is on the historic register and was built in 1886. Ms. Morgan then had the board look at the Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from the staff report that shows the construction materials of the buildings in this area. The property at 1230 W McCormick was in pink, indicating that the building there is brick construction. (Blue on the map indicated stone construction, and yellow buildings indicated frame construction) Upon researching the building in question, Ms. Morgan found that this building had previously been a grocery store and a barber shop, and that the building has remained original at least on the exterior. There is another small frame construction on the property that is in poor condition. If the zoning is approved and the building is used for retail, then the owners will need to allow for the proper amount of parking spaces per the unified zoning code. Ms. Morgan states that with the historic use of this area being a mixture of commercial and residential, that the zoning to LC fits within the historic guidelines, and that staff is recommending that the board approve the request. Ms. Morgan then allowed for discussion or questions. DAB Member June Johnson asked if the building had any type of historic protection. Ms. Morgan said currently it does not, but that it could be eligible should the property owner choose to do so. There were no further questions from the board or the public, so Chairman Gomm asked for a motion to be made. DAB Member June Johnson motioned for approval, and DAB Member Jonathan McRoy gave a 2nd. The motion passed 8/0. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Board Agenda Chairman Gomm opened up the meeting for any comments or news from the Board Members. No one from the board had any discussion, so Chairman Gomm asked for Councilman Jeff Blubaugh to give any comments he had. CM Blubaugh mentioned that because of the upcoming elections to be mindful that no signs be placed in the City easement or on any City property. He also requests that everyone participate with the recommended COVID guidelines in order to keep the numbers going downward. The pandemic has been really tough for those who have lost their jobs and also for working parents who are having to make arrangements for their children’s education, whether it be at home or at a school. DAB 4 • October 5, 2020 • Page 6 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Adjournment Chairman Gomm then asked for a motion to adjourn. DAB Member Laura Rainwater made a motion to adjourn and DAB Member Jonathan McRoy gave the 2nd motion. Motion was approved 8/0. The meeting adjourned at 7:18 pm. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The next DAB 4 meeting will be November 2, 2020. DAB 4 • October 5, 2020 • Page 7