District 5 Advisory Board

Page |1 District V Advisory Board Minutes December 3, 2018 www.wichita.gov The District V Advisory Board meeting was held at 6:30 p.m. at Fire Station #21, located at 2110 N. 135th St. W., Wichita, KS 67235. ATTENDANCE Members Present Staff Present Nancy Duling Capt. Scott Downs, Wichita Fire Department Jose Gutierrez Reggie Davidson, Recreation Superintendent, JV Johnston Park and Recreation Department Trevor Kurth Maddy Campbell, Community Services Angela Breer Representative Rachel Murphy-Thomas Roman Rodriguez Guests Troy Palmer Marylin Sharp Council Member Bryan Frye Members Absent Ben Kittrell Alissa Unruh Jill Kerschen Trey Rios, Youth Member ORDER OF BUSINESS Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by JV Johnston Approval of Dec. 3, 2018, 2018 Agenda: 8-0 Approval of Minutes from Nov. 5, 2018: 8-0 1. Updates, Issues, and Reports Council Member Frye provided the following updates:  Previous Community Services Representative, Laura Rainwater, is no longer with us. District III CSR, Maddy Campbell, will be filling in for the interim.  Congratulations to Lacey Cruse on her campaign win to the Sedgwick County Commission, replacing Richard Ranzau in the 4th District. Her county district covers portions of City Council District V with Commissioner David Dennis representing the rest.  City Council was supposed to vote on the Northwest Water Treatment Plant a few weeks ago, but the vote was postponed. Council wants to look at spreading out the rate payer increase over a longer period of time so it will not be as high in the beginning. The Mayor had concerns on the selection committee’s recommendation. He wanted a dual track and to hold a design build competition. The winning bidder declined, so now Council needs to figure out what to do and are waiting on recommendation.  City Council votes on the recommended design build for the stadium on Dec. 4, 2018. Council will select one from the narrowed-down three bids.  Due to the 25 percent protest petition, various meetings were held with neighbors and the applicant in regard to the Conditional Use on Limited Commercial zoning request for the rental facility at Central Avenue and Maize Road. The applicant agreed to all the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission’s conditions and the DAB’s stipulations and has identified a larger size of  Page |2 tree for the site plan. They agreed on having trees with at least a 2 inch round trunk and for at least six of the trees being 6-8 foot tall evergreens. This will help with screening to address the neighbors’ primary concern. PUBLIC AGENDA 2. Scheduled items None 3. Off-Agenda Items (presented at end of meeting) None STAFF PRESENTATIONS 4. Fire Department Report: Capt. Scott Downs reported:  There were five fire alarms, 38 service calls, and 182 medical alarms in District V last month and one large loss fire in the 9000 block of West Chartwell Street due to careless smoking.  Everyone should be mindful of fire safety concerns during the holiday season. If you choose to get a fresh cut Christmas tree, knock off a couple inches of stump and soak it in water for four to five days. Monitor the tree and keep the water full. Check your Christmas lights for exposed wiring and do not “pigtail” light strands. If you use your fireplace, the first time you light the fireplace be sure to open the chimney flue. 5. Community Police Report: None 6. Park and Recreation Department Report: Reggie Davidson, Recreation Superintendent reported:  The Park and Recreation Department (P&R) is getting ready for a Night with Santa at Century II. There is lots of community support from organizations and volunteers (over 100 volunteers) and they expect a big turnout.  Polar Express is going really well. P&R is looking for ways to expand it next year. This year, some people had to be turned away because there were not enough reservation spots. The event added a Santa House and a full shipping container (donated by a City partner) was converted into Santa’s Workshop.  P&R is wrapping up football season and working closely with the school district to continue offering tutoring services for young people in the football program.  P&R is looking at continuing to improve and expand community partnerships. Q: Is there a partnership with League 42? A (Davidson): We are working closely with them. They are wanting to erect a statue on site on 17th Street along with the improvements being made on the roadway. There is fundraising now to put in place a training location at the facility near McAdams. I think this year was one of their biggest enrollment years and they are currently fundraising to add a Jackie Robinson statue on site there. Q: What is the update on the First Tee program at MacDonald? A (Davidson): Information should be getting to City Council. A couple people responded and are interested in potentially purchasing the property. A (Troy Palmer): There is a meeting next Monday, December 10. The Golf Advisory Committee will come back with their recommendation and get the RFP’s. It is Park Board land, so if they say to sell it, it gets sold. 7. Wichita Public Library Report:  Page |3 Staff was unable to attend the meeting but provided a sheet of updates:  Weekly storytimes for children end the week of December 3 at all Library locations. They will resume again the week of January 14.  With all of the holiday gatherings in November and December, waistlines suffer. The Library is offering a couple of activities to help: o Choosing a Healthy Plate on December 6 at 6 p.m. at the Advanced Learning Library o Keto Cooking for the Holidays on December 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Alford Branch.  If you are looking for fun, free holiday activities in December, here are a few things to consider: o The Christmas Box 25th Anniversary Book Discussion on December 9 at 2:30 p.m. at the Westlink Branch (for adults) o Harry Potter Yule Ball on December 18 at 5 p.m. at the Advanced Learning Library (for grades 6-12, registration is required) o Christmas Around the World on December 20 at 2:30 p.m. at the Westlink Branch (for ages 3-10 and their families) o A complete list with activity descriptions is available at http://www.wichitalibrary.org/Events.  So the little ones are not left out of the New Year’s celebrations, both the Advanced Learning Library and the Rockwell Branch will be hosting activities December 31 at 11:30 a.m. for ages 3 and up.  All Wichita Public Library locations will close at 3 p.m. on December 24 and be closed on December 25. They will close at 5 p.m. on December 31 and be closed on January 1. Council Member Frye added that a library branch study team has been formed and is comprised of himself; Council Members Cindy Claycomb and Jeff Blubaugh; Cynthia Berner, Director of Libraries; and two Library Board members. Now that the Advanced Learning Library has been finished and operational for six months the City wants to look at where to go as it relates to library branches. Westlink is the most popular branch library in the city, with 25 percent of total checkouts, despite its challenges with size, equipment, and services. While in talks about the yearly budget, the City considered closing the Linwood and Evergreen library branches, but opted to keep them open for the time being. The library branch study team would like to make recommendations prior to the next budget season. Q: Is there still discussion about a combined library/police substation? A (CM Frye): Still a possibility but branch study will help identify space/facility needs. Originally we were thinking we would need 10 acres for a combined library and substation. We are finding that identifying 10 acres in the central core of District V is tough. We can go out to 135th Street and 13th Street easily, but that does not serve traffic patterns or needs. Police want to be between West Street & Maize Road and Maple Street & 13th Street. If we can find the right parcel and it makes sense, we will try to figure that out. We did push the West police substation to 2022 in the CIP. We swapped with District II because their substation had significant earthquake damage. 8. Public Works Report: Staff was unable to attend the meeting, but provided a sheet of updates: Projects Under Construction:  Kellogg & I-235 – Red Project o Project complete o Site restoration and minor items remain  Pavement Preservation o OP3 Micro-surface  13th Street, 119th Street to Maize Road o Pavement prep work – January 2019 o Micro surface – Spring 2019  Page |4  21st Street, Maize Road to Hoover Road (Novachip) o Project complete o Hyatt Funded  Northeast of Central Avenue/119th Street o Project complete  North and south of Central Avenue, Tyler Road to Ridge Road o Project complete  North of Central Avenue, Maize Road to Tyler Road o Pavement prep work complete o Micro surface – Spring 2019 Projects In Design:  Ridge Road Sidewalk, 29th Street to K-96 o Project to construct sidewalk on east side from 29th Street to Cloisters only, utilizing 2019 Arterial Sidewalk Funds (estimated $300,000) – estimated construction Spring 2019 o Remainder of project design placed on indefinite hold  Hoover Bike Path, Sedgwick County Zoo to 29th Street o Zoo Boulevard to 29th Street North o City Council approved initial funding Jan. 3, 2017 o Transystems selected for design o Sand Crest development fund section south of 29th Street via special assessment o Separate project to construct 10 foot path from 29th Street to K-96 – 2018/19 o Signal analysis completed, warrants met for full vehicle signal at Hoover Road/Zoo Entrance; staff discussing possible funding split of signal with Sedgwick County o To DAB’s V and VI, March 5, 2018; DAB VI denied project approval o Neighborhood meeting March 22, 2018 to discuss issues; letter to property owners week of May 29, 2018 advising would wait for CIP approval to make a decision on timing o Hoover Road paving not included on proposed CIP; need to revisit original project plan o Petitions received from area HOA’s requesting completion of project; meet with property owners again mid-January  13 Street, Azure to 135th Street th o DAB V approved design concept o City Council approved Oct. 6, 2016 o Widen to three lanes with drainage improvements and sidewalk o 2019 construction o 2018-2027 CIP keeps project funding in 2019 o Met with Hickory Creek HOA Sept. 26, 2018 for final project review; all property owners to be invited to January DAB for project update  29th Street & Maize Road Intersection o Staff evaluated northbound right turn movements over 8 hours; distribution was split between through and right turns; adding additional pavement would require closing the ditch and relocating traffic signal o 2018-2027 CIP includes design funding in 2018 and construction funding in 2022 for full intersection improvements o Baughman Company selected for design; design concept will evaluate turn lane and capacity requirements, along with pedestrian accessibility Other:  Central Avenue & I-235 Neighborhood Traffic Counts o Counts complete and reviewed with Council Member Frye Oct. 9, 2018; presented to neighborhood representatives at DAB V in November 2018 o Counters set Dec. 3, 2018 for seven to 10 days, in multiple locations (more than first time); expect evaluation of data week of Dec. 17, 2018 Council Member Frye commented on the following:  Page |5  29th Street & Maize Road intersection funding is not until 2022, but could be pushed if development increases. We will hopefully see design concepts next year for this DAB to look at and approve.  We added a lot more counters than what we had last time for I-235 to get more detail and should hopefully get results later this month.  The north end junction project starts next year. The north end junction is where I-235, I-135, K- 254, and K-96 come together. The first phase is the Broadway interchange at I-235. Both on and off ramps at Broadway, along with the bridges over the Arkansas River will be under construction. The Seneca Street Bridge will be taken out, but there will be an access road constructed on the north side of I-235 from Meridian Avenue back to Seneca Street. First phase will cost approximately $65 million (funded by KDOT) and will last about two years. The next phase is not yet funded and will cost another $80 million. The City, County, and State have identified it as a number one project. Now we just have to identify the additional funding. Because it is two federal and two state highways, the City should not bear the bulk of the responsibility. That said, we have contributed money for acquisition on land (right away).  Kellogg and Webb Road is ahead of schedule. Q: Will the work at I-235, K-96, and Meridian Avenue be done by the time the Broadway work starts? A: It is in phases. I know the access road is a priority because the school bus barn is located there. They want to get that done quickly. The Broadway Bridge is the next priority because it is critical and not in great shape. They will build an extra lane on the south side of I-235, then shift all westbound traffic to eastbound and have it centered. The bids go out next month. Q: Back to 29th Street & Maize Road. Is there an opportunity for northbound traffic, on Maize Road turning onto 29th Street, to have a right turning lane only? A: That is one of the goals and depends on what the design team finds. The culvert/ditch is an obstacle. Gary Janzen (City Engineer, Public Works & Utilities) has done studies. Half the traffic continues north and there is not enough demand to make it a right turn only. I asked them to look at restriping and to try to take some shoulder out and narrow the lanes to accommodate, but there is not enough room because of the culvert. A right turn only there would be optimum, but we need to wait for the experts to tell us. They know it is a challenge. The other problem is eastbound to southbound traffic getting backed up. Maize Road is becoming like Rock Road and hopefully we can make changes before traffic gets worse. Action Taken: Motion made to receive and file all Staff Reports. Motion PASSED 8-0. NEW BUSINESS 9. Scheduled Items: NONE Meeting adjourned at 7 p.m. The next DAB V meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Monday, January 7, 2019, Fire Station #21, 2110 N. 135th St., Wichita, KS 67235.