e e e [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] well good morning Witchita and good morning  to all of you welcome to City Hall I will now   call this meeting to order with us this  morning is Pastor Jeff Ganon of Chapel   Hill United Methodist Church to provide our  invocation following that invocation we will   have the Pledge of Allegiance and invite  for both um contents to be uh stood up by all let us pray oh god of us all we give you  thanks and praise for the gift of this new day   The Gift of Life the privilege to serve you  and each other today as the proclamations are   made we celebrate and we rejoice in Religious  Freedom Day we pray your blessing upon the   Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland Council as they  celebrate their 100th anniversary we especially   pray for rinda sample the CEO bless her and  all the girls that they serve and we pray   for those who are serving those who are in need  of help because of human trafficking bless each   of us to do our part to help those that are in  bondage we are mindful today oh God of all the   people and communities in California we pray  that you would have mercy on all who suffer   bless and Empower all of those who are there to  help the firefighters police EMS Social Service   agents good neighbors clergy we pray that you  would bless all who help we pray for a swift   end to the fires so that the healing can begin  we pray today for these elected officials we   ask that you grant them wisdom discernment and  Prudence as they make decisions that impact our   community guide their hearts minds and Spirits  oh God to prioritize the needs of all to seek   justice for all and to lead with compassion and  integrity we pray that the their deliberations   would be guided by your will and may they always  act with the best interests of our great City in   mind we pray for Unity among them that they may  work together in collaboration and compromise   to achieve the common good we ask that you bless  them with strength and courage to fulfill their   responsibilities Faithfully for we entrust  our lives and our community to you amen and amen Al to flag United States of America and  to the rep for it stands one nation under God indivisible thank you very much Pastor Ganon  Madam clerk can you please call the next   item approve the minutes of the regular  meeting January 7th 2025 council members   any changes or corrections I see none I move to  approve the regular meeting minutes for January   7th 2025 second motion and a second any further  discussion I see none Madame clerk please open the rooll motion passes 60 with one exstension  madame clerk please call the next item   selection of the vice mayor and oath of  office Council Members you have a ballot   in front of you please submit your ballots and  I will read them as they come forward to me all right I will read ballot from Maggie  Ballard a ballot for JB Johnston ballot   from Brandon Johnson for JV Johnston  ballot from Becky Tuttle for JV Johnston ballot from Dalton Glascock or JV Johnson ballot from JB Johnston for JB Johnston ballot from Mike hoisel for JV Johnston  and ballot from Lily woo for JV Johnston this   would be a seven to zero um I move to approve  the I move to motion to approve uh vice mayor   JV Johnston as our next vice mayor for the city  council motion and a second any further discussion   I see none I can't push my screen I'd like to  make a comment sure thank you I just want to   thank uh vice mayor Ballard for a few more minutes  being vice mayor um for your service this year   I know you've done an exceptional job you've  represented the city well while you continue   to represent your District so thank you for your  extra time and effort and then to council member   Johnston good luck I know you'll do well this  is a very important role and and I'm awfully   glad that you're going to be able to fulfill it  this year so wish you luck and if you need any   help or support just let me know thank you I'd  like to Echo U council member tuttles comments   uh Maggie I don't know how you fit all the  duties into your already busy schedule but   you did it um welcome to the former Vice mayor's  Club I think now that you're in it we will come   up with official jackets uh get ourselves f  did it and whatnot but um congratulations on   the year that you served you did a great job  and I expect uh vice mayor soon to be vice   mayor Johnston that I'll be saying the same  thing about you in a year so uh good luck sir members I would just like to Echo the same  message uh from two council members who have   both served as Vice Mayors for the council  um now we have a former vice mayor soon to   be former vice mayor thank you very much Maggie  for always being supportive uh when the mayor   cannot be in attendance at an event uh you've  taken on the role of speaking on behalf of the   city of wiah um you've also spearheaded uh a  lot of different initiatives that you care a   lot about for this community and I'm just very  appreciative that you continue to lead district 6   and um look forward to your continued leadership  as for soon to be uh vice mayor JB Johnston um   I look forward to having you sitting next to me  right here seconding um a lot of the Motions from   this bench um and I also will appreciate you  being able to represent the city of witta at   official functions whenever I cannot attend so  thank you very much JB at this time um I would   like to ask current vice mayor Maggie Ballard  to come forward as we have a gift for her sorry I didn't really prepare a speech uh I  just want to say thank you for the opportunity   to represent uh the city as vice mayor this  past year um we've gotten a lot of different   and new opportunities that I wouldn't have  uh normally um had just in district 6 so um   I learned a lot met a lot of new people and  I'm looking forward to uh the next year thank you in our presence is Judge Jones who will  help administer the oath of office for the   new vice mayor I will ask that new vice mayor JV  Johnson come forward mayor we haven't voted yet oh sorry we have to vote officially  now now that the um count is open we're missing two more motion passes 70 officially council member  JV Johnson will be the new vice mayor for 2025 morning morning raise your right hand  and repeat after me I state your name name   I JV Johnston do solemnly swear do solemnly swear  that I will support the Constitution of the United   States that I will support the Constitution of  the United States and the constitution of the   state of Kansas and the constitution of the state  of Kansas and Faithfully discharge the duties   of the vice mayor and Faithfully discharge  the duties of the vice mayor for the city of   Witchita Kansas City of Witchita Kansas so help  me God so help me God congratulations thank you thank you very much I appreciate these  honors and the support of the council I   think the council we all I think we all  have the same goals we have different   roads of getting there but we all have the  same goals and we all get along and uh and   I continue to work together and hopefully  can help Foster that even further so I just   want to one one story with you yesterday I was  talking to a young lady at at gual Lupe Clinic   and she moved here from Florida four years  ago during Co I said why would you move from   Florida to Kansas during co co lockedown she  was in school she wanted to change she got here   not expecting to stay after four years she had  decided to stay in Kansas and make witcha her   home so I think that tells a lot about our city  and our people in our city and I asked her why   she said she like the pace of life and she loved  the people that's an asset that we have that other   communities may or may not have but we do have  it and uh we value that and I think witch witch   itans are appreciating that more and more and I  think if we we spread that word our great City   will be even greater so thank you again for the  honor and uh look forward to the next year thank you thank you Vice May Mayor John ston Madam  clerk can you please call the next item Awards   and proclamations today's proclamations are  religious freedom day Girl Scouts of Kansas   Heartland Council 100th anniversary and human  trafficking Awareness Month may please ask the   representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ  of latterday saints to come forward at this time good morning the proclamation reads the city of witcha  Kansas founded in 1870 whereas National Religious   Freedom Day celebrates the fundamental right of  religious freedom for all citizens and whereas   religion has its greatest impact not at the  national level but at the local level where people   of Faith live by their convictions and serve and  bless others on a one-on-one basis fostering a   sense of community and mutual support whereas  religion benefits our community by providing a   moral compass fostering love and offering strength  during loss for decades religious institutions and   people of Faith have played a crucial role  in our city through charitable activities   aiding the needy comforting those in loss and  encouraging us to high standards of Integrity   whereas we all benefit from a pluralistic society  where residents of all beliefs work together for   the common good while holding Divergent viewpoints  and where all citizens are free to exercise such   influence as their ideas and values may engender  now therefore be it resolved that I Lily woo mayor   of the city of wiah Kansas along with the wiah  city council do hereby Proclaim January 16th   2025 as Religious Freedom Day in the city of  wiah and encourage all residents to strive to   understand the experiences and concerns of others  while supporting the essential role religion   plays in protecting human dignity strengthening  society and fostering a culture of Tolerance and [Applause] peace I'd like to uh Express gratitude to the  city council and to the mayor uh for having this   Proclamation read we're grateful for the faith  and religious beliefs and Creeds especially in   this community and how they pull together  we're grateful for representation here at   the city council this day of various faiths and  Creeds were appreciative of everybody pulling   together in this community we are grateful for  the faith that is displayed here in helping   people into bringing people together again we  express our U gratitude to the city council   and to the mayor for reading this Proclamation  and for this being done thank you [Applause] may I please ask the representative of Girl Scouts  of Kansas Heartland to please come forward at this time the proclamation reads the city of Witchita  Kansas founded in 1870 whereas this year marks   100th anniversary of the formation of the Girl  Scouts of Kansas Heartland Council which began   in 1925 when Girl Scouts of the USA awarded  the First Council chapter right here in witch   talk Kansas whereas throughout its long  and distinguished history Girl Scouts of   Kansas Heartland in conjunction with the Legacy  councils has inspired thousands of Kansas girls   and women to strive for the highest ideals  of Courage confidence and character whereas   Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland is committed  to offering membership and quality programs   on a yearround basis to girls of all racial  ethnic cultural religious and socioeconomic   groups whereas in its second century of service  Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland is continuing a   legacy of providing girls with the tools  to become leaders dedicated to making the   world a better place now therefore be it  resolved that I Lily woo mayor of the city   of Witchita Kansas along with the Witchita  city council do hereby Proclaim January 31st   2025 as Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland 100th  anniversary day in the city of witch and encourage   all citizens to celebrate the achievements  of Kansas Girl Scouts who are leading in our [Applause] communities thank you mayor and  city council it is so wonderful to celebrate   all of our girls because our girls girls  grow up to be leaders in our communities   just like Witchita and we are very proud to be  able to support and encourage those girls as   they build their courage confidence  and character thank you [Applause] well I'm vice mayor for one minute I already  made a mistake I I memorized my speech and I   forgot the most important part and that's  my wife Veronica so I had this wonderful   speech about her and uh 40 almost 43 years  of marriage and been together for 46 years   and uh she's followed me through thick and  thin through Adventures um crazy Adventures   she'll tell you about some of them worked out  some of them haven't U we've had successes and   we've been on paper broke twice and we've  made it through it so uh I do appreciate   you so much love you so much and uh and thank  you for everything you do I appreciate it thank you and he talks about you all  the time and Council so just to   let you know you're always on his mind  okay okay may we ask Mrs Johnston to   come forward to take a quick picture I  think that we did not get that earlier [Applause]   may I please ask the representatives of human  trafficking awareness to come forward at this time the proclamation reads the city of wiah  Kansas founded in 1870 whereas each year   human trafficking deprives thousands of men  women and children of their freedom dignity   and human rights whereas aggravated human  human trafficking is the recruiting harboring   transporting providing or obtaining by any  means a person under the age of 18 knowing   that the person with or without Force fraud  threat or coercion will be used to engage in   forced labor involuntary servitude or sexual  gratification of the defendant of another as   defined in KSA 21- 5426 whereas victims of human  traff trafficking are lured forced or coerced for   the purpose of commercial sex debt bondage or  Force labor whereas Witchita is fortunate to   have a dedicated multi-disciplinary response to  human trafficking which incorporates prevention   intervention and restoration through  the partnership of nonprofit medical   law enforcement and social service agencies  now therefore be it resolved that I Lily woo   mayor of the city of Witchita Kansas along with  the Witchita city council do hereby proclaim the   month of January 2025 as human trafficking  Awareness Month in the city of Witchita and   encourage the residents of our community to  strongly commit to combating human trafficking [Applause] together thank you may mayor  woo um congratulations vice mayor Johnston   and Mrs Johnston um first of all thank you for  continuing to serve on the council and in City   staff we look forward to partnering together  to continue to see our city grow and improve   my name is Jennifer white and I'm the executive  director of ICT SOS an anti-human trafficking   nonprofit proudly serving our city since 2011  as you're aware January's human trafficking   prevention and awareness month with me today  are members of our community who work diligently   every day to create a safer witcha for all  who live here in their various roles they   also serve the needs of survivors witcha is  fortunate to have a multi-disciplinary team   of organizations dedicated to the prevention  intervention and restoration of survivors of   trafficking abuse and exploitation this  team consists of local state and federal   law enforcement agencies medical Partners  from clinics and hospitals social workers   therapists and Advocates from child and adult  serving agencies board members volunteers   and donors from every Walk of Life and  amazing organizations like the Girl Scouts   in our community I speak on behalf of the group  to extend our gratitude to the city council for   recognizing human trafficking prevention and  awareness month and I implore you to connect   with these organizations to learn more about how  they are serving where the gaps are and how we   can come together as a city to see an end to the  exploitation of our neighbors ICT SOS is excited   to announce the opening of our place a new our  new expanded location through a partnership with   the rotarians against human trafficking committee  our place quickly moved from a dream to a reality   ICT SOS moved into the new building at 126 South  Ida earlier this month and will host a symbolic   groundbreaking event on January 30th we would  welcome your attendance at this celebration as   we cast The Vision for what our place will become  over the next several years thank you for the work   you're doing our city is making great strides to  become a safer healthier City for all who live   here thank you to my colle colleages and this is  where I lose it every time I'm so proud of these people thank you to my colleagues both here  with us today and those who weren't able to   join us because this work never takes a break  I'd also like to expend extend a special thank   you to City staffer Norma Ramos for handling the  administrative duties to get the proclamation on   today's agenda the real heroes are often  behind the scenes thank you [Applause] okay thank you again to the representatives of  Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints Girl   Scouts of Kansas and the representatives from  Human Trafficking awareness including ICT SOS   Madam oh sorry uh Vice uh council member Ballard  thank you mayor Jennifer I just wanted to I just   wanted to make sure we say thank you to you too  I know how hard you work and you're very much appreciated next time there's always next  time have a good day vice mayor John stun   also Jennifer before you leave I also want to  thank you too so I've known you probably for a   decade and uh there's no one with greater passion  for your mission than you so uh thanks for your leadership Madame clerk can you please call the  next item public agenda as a reminder the public   agenda allows for up to five speakers to have five  minutes each to address the council no action will   be taken relative to items on the public agenda  other than the referral to the city manager for   information as necessary speakers will please  State their name and address for the record a   Time clock will display the speaker remaining  time to speak order and rules of decorum will   be observed the first speaker is Chief es Lewis  Community Outreach Center for the tribe of Judah peace be with you I am chief es Lewis of the Holy  Kingdom of Judah it is an honor and a privilege   to stand before this Council yet again the Holy  Kingdom of Judah would like to extend gratitude   to Mayor Lily woo councilman Johnson the witch to  city council the city manager the legal Department   the witch police department and the great people  of the city of witch for the cooperation civility   respect and support which has been extended to our  tribe during our time of renewal and restoration   our tribe also extends a warm gratitude  to councilman hoisel for moving on our   behalf during the last council meeting we attended  councilman hoisel thank thank you the city of wito   is fortunate to have a body of Representatives who  have a deep and genuine commitment to the peace   and security of its citizens gratitude in a world  marred by conflict inequalities and injustices   we AS Global Citizens must strive with unending  perseverance to promote peace love and prosperity   for all peace is a pinnacle treasure which all  Humanity has an inheritance to enjoy the path to   Global Peace begins in our local communities  cultivating a cultural peace means replacing   lies misconceptions Division and despair  with truth Equity unity and hope for all   an environment of Peace can only  be built upon a foundation of Truth before a culture of lasting peace and com  and contentment can Encompass the Earth the wrongs   which have been committed against the tribe of  Judah must first be rectified we as Humanity have   passed through great trials and tribulations  since the time of the Triangular Trade these   trials and tribulations have caused us to become  more socially conscious and spiritually aware with   greater social Consciousness comes greater social  responsibility many problems found in our modern   society stem from Juda suffering from a cultural  identity crisis the Holy Kingdom of Judah social   researchers have identified the crisis as  tribal orphan syndrome research evidence   suggests that orphans who have experienced trauma  and the loss of parents may be more likely to ex   exhibit behavioral issues trauma due to emotional  distress unstable caregiving and lack of family   identity can manifest in orphans as negative  behaviors similarly tries people who have suffered   the trauma having their tribal identity culture  andh Heritage stripped from them adapt negative   cultures identities and behaviors not their own  the Holy Kingdom of Judah tribal Community Center   will help curtail negative behaviors within our  communities by reintegrating tries people into the   knowledge understanding and expectations of their  innate tribal identity and cultural heritage now   is the time to restore Judah and remove the  thorm Injustice from the heill of humanity   so that we may peacefully walk into a future of  Equitable coexistence to obtain the price of Peace   it is Paramount at each individual contributes and  dedicates their contributions towards the creation   of a peaceful future for all Humanity many  citizens of the city of witch have awakened to   their greater social responsibility and have made  a contribution towards Peace by signing a petition   requesting the expedited inauguration of the Holy  Kingdom of Judah tribal Community Center in fewer   than 30 days the ition surpass 500 signatures  comments from District 1 and the greater witch   talk Community include we need this Center finally  yes it is time for peace we got to have this the   Holy Kingdom of Judah Tribal Council of chiefs  respectfully submits this petition to expedite   the facilitation of the Holy Kingdom of Judah  tribal Community Center thank you peace be unto all thank you Chief Lewis Madame clerk can you  please call the next individual Mary Dean history good morning all I've been here before  many times I've handed out information   about uh the ordinance and reparations in  wiah you know who I am president Mary dean   of Kansas Justice Advocate Inc I've uh  sent emails and letters and everything   else uh talking about the historical content of  the history of reparations when it comes to witch   the case for reparations when it comes to witch  toow blacks in witch cancas the local impact of   uh the historical Injustice that have impacted  black people in Witchita cancers you've heard this before as the leader of this city cuz I'm going  to go through all of this I got some questions   myself as leader of this city mayor woo it is  your responsibility to address these issues   headon and work towards meaningful change by  establishing a commission to study reparations   in witow for black residents in conclusion the  pursuit of reparations is not just about writing   the wrongs of the past it is about building  a future where Justice and Equity are at   the Forefront of our community I stand before  you today not only as the president of Kansas   Justice Advocate Inc but as a representative of  all of those who have been affected by systemic racism systemic racism today we can make a  difference and pay the way for a brighter   and more inclusive future I have some information  that I like to pass out to everyone but I have a   question for you mayor woo for you city council M  Council women and men for you city manager Robert   Leon and for the attorney uh Jennifer mcnack  mayor woo have you made an attempt to reach out   to those Mayors in everon Illinois Kansas City  Missouri or toss Oklahoma who have established   reparation commissions to study reparations study  reparations for their black citizens I want this   on the record I I need answers City councilmen  women and men have you all made an attempt to   reach out to any of the city uh representatives  in Kansas City Missouri or Oklahoma or everon   Illinois to see how they set up their commissions  to study reparations for blacks have any of you   made an attempt to do that you've been asked  that before in emails you you you promised that   you would reach out have you reached out  I like I like an answer have you reached out city manager Robert lady what happened  to the meeting that you had to discuss   the ordinance that was submitted to this uh mayor  and the city council what happened Jennifer uh   City City Attorney Jennifer what happened to  the ordinance that went to your office that   was going to be reviewed for 30 to 60 days I  haven't heard anything from anybody about this   about what has been or has not been done  when it come came to the ordinance that   was submitted February the 5th  20 2024 and resubmitted because   it was re revised last year October  hand delivered to the mayor's office nothing why is everybody silent  [Music] now why can't I get any   answers why can't the citizens of this city  get any answers about the ordinance that was submitted to study reparations study in this  city for black residents you talking about Unity peace healing who's healing can I get some  answers I'd like to have it in writing thank you Mary for your five minutes  council member Johnson thanks mayor um Mary   appreciate you coming here um as I indicated  to you previously I actually did speak with the   young lady who created the uh ordinance in  Evansville U prior to them even doing that   and how they were working at through I think I  indicated that to you before also as a part of   NLC I've talked to three or four members of the  Kansas City city council about this um so yes   I've talked to them outside of that um I am still  supportive of this and wanted to know if you were   supportive of going through the process we had  originally came up with I have an email that shows   that the last time there was a communication  with you about this was September 11th to go   to die crab if you were still interested in  that I know die crab would love to have you   there to start talking through the creation of  a commission let me ask this question if that is   the process I mean why hasn't the ordinance been  put uh to the uh uh to the floor for discussion   for an up and down vote because they wanted you  to come present on your thoughts on not only the   ordinance maybe some suggestions of what it could  look like and they wanted some real input from you   and the presentation that you wanted to give the  council they wanted to hear that as well so that   they could start to begin to craft that type of  ordinance okay because I did give a presentation   uh to the uh diversity and inclusion and the  racial the Civil Rights Advisory Board yeah so   again I'm looking at an email right now that says  that you were communicated with on September 11th   um they would like you to come back they wanted  you to come back in October so that they could   talk with you about that have that presentation  and die crab then would start to look at working   with legal to create that ordinance that you  first submitted because what you submitted was   not in the language that we use here in muah  so they would start to work with that probably   have you back to look at the final version of  or their final draft before it came to council   so if you're open to that we is that the revised  are you talking about the revised uh ordinance   that was submitted so the first one that you sent  was in the language I believe that one came from   Kansas City it had a few things in there that we  don't do in Witchita so some of that would have to   come out and that would no that didn't come from  Kansas City wherever it came from it was not that   didn't come from Kansas City but uh that one was  uh withdrawn okay and I asked for it to be you   know I submitted a Revis one so both were not in  the language that we use and the way an ordinance   looks here so it would have to be work through  legal to put into the way an ordinance would   look here in the city of wiah so if you're still  open to that we can get you back at die crab to go   through that the suggestions you have have that  conversation what the committee could look like   how the appointments are made that was one of the  things we talked to you about and then we can go   from there they'll make a final recommendation  to the counil to vote on ordinance wise okay   all right let's try it again okay okay we'll be  in contact with you all right thank you I still   from the other folks okay you gave me something  but I want some an from everybody else thank you   very much thank you mayor um I I participated in  some of the conversations in NLC as well with some   of the Kansas City colleagues and council member  Johnson did uh ask a few of the questions that   I had as far as um the first ordinance or the  first U piece of legislation going for dib and   then you pulled that and put another one in I've  had conversations with my dib representative over   this issue too so I I do know that they are um  wanting to have this discussion as well so uh   same with council member Johnson that's what  I've been waiting for is uh die crab to hear   it and come with some suggestions as well so uh  just wanted to add that in as well so contact you'll get an email from me and  I'm see seeing Dante on it right now Madame clerk please call the next individual  Gloria Bayer questions for council members good morning I have several comments and questions  for you all thank you all for being here I'm in   uh JV Johnston's District um I'm noticing more  and more bike Lanes around the city um it's kind   of hard as a driver to give up the space from  the driving lanes because our lanes seem to be   becoming more and more narrow um I'm wondering how  much the total cost to the taxpayers is going to   be for this project as it proceeds around the city  um since my understanding is a city is in quite a   bit of debt is it really an important issue at  this time um and if we're going to have these   bike Lanes I'm concerned that the bikers are going  to get hit in fact just the other day I did see a   car get way too close to a biker and I'm talking  about out on West 21st uh between Maz Road and   135th which is the area I live in um it just seems  like there needs to be some additional preventive   thoughts and measures taking place about how to  prevents accidents from happening uh or penalties   for getting too close before this project proceeds  any further and I did also notice the other day   while driving that the snow was not off of the  bike Lanes at least out in that area which I I   don't know that bikers are going to be driving  on those bike Lanes but that was just something   I wanted to mention um I did want to thank the  city however for the crews who clean off the   roads because they've done just an incredible job  once I get outside my neighborhood my neighborhood   is not good but I don't think the city manages  that um they make the roads clear and easy for   us to travel on and so myself and many others  can get to church and get groceries which is so   important to us their diligence and willingness  to get out when the rest of us our home staying   warm is amazing uh lastly I just want to leave  you I'm a scripture person and um scriptures to   me are of daily importance and I just would like  to um to challenge you to think about this as you   govern this year it's from Philippians 4 eight  finally brothers and sisters whatever is true   whatever is Noble whatever is right whatever is  pure whatever is lovely whatever is admirable   if anything is excellent or praiseworthy  think about such things and thank you very much thank you Gloria vice mayor John ston  Gloria thank you for coming out on a cold   snowy day and getting on those roads and  coming out to speak with us so we appreciate that we had three um speakers for public  agenda which means there are two spots   left for anyone in the audience who would  like to address this Council to please come   forward at this time please state your name  your address and you will have five minutes good morning mayor City Council Members my name  is Haron baskam I live at 5514 South Santa Fe   dson District 3 I'm coming today to talk a little  bit about the budget um growing up here in witto   raising the family we of course had to budget to  handle both our needs and our wants uh our needs   were housing Medical Care uh feeding my children  th those are all things that we had to have then   we had our wants our our extra activities the Boy  Scouts the Girl Scouts uh Youth Soccer those are   all things that my kids were able to participate  in and improve their quality of life which is   important with the city council it's important  that you consider our needs and our wants our   needs are Public Safety such as the police  department fire code enforcement those are all   things that provide for the safety of our citizens  our need another need is our infrastructure taking   care of our streets maintaining our uh public  property and um uh just just taking care of   that that infrastructure part and oh and water and  sewer I'm sorry I wanted to mention that because   we're doing a great job with the new water plant  and then another need for our Comm Community is   our homeless population which we've started a  great project you've got the the uh shelter up   and you're going to be working to implement  the activities for the multi- agency Center   th those are our needs or our ons are stuff like  the museums the Parks and Recreation programs um   excuse me um festivals and our bike paths now I do  appreciate the bike paths I used to occasionally   ride some of the bike paths along the river to  come to work every day uh but is it really a   need for the city it's a want that needs to be uh  addressed once all the needs are taken care of and   I would charge that the city council uh look into  that looking to spending our resources responsibly   and uh perhaps putting more emphasis on what our  needs are thank you and youall have a blessed day   thank you harlon council member John Sun thanks  mayor Aron I appreciate uh your comments and I   always appreciate having this discussion when I  think about wants and needs I too grew up poor and   so when I think about those wonderful days on the  1st and 15th when my refrigerator was colorful but   in between it was Bare when I think about eating  Vienna sausages and raymen noodles cuz I couldn't   afford the things or my mom couldn't afford  the things everyone else did or maybe some of   the embarrassment of those paper food stamps that  they used to have she would do that at the store I   think about wants and needs she really had to live  within her means but it was it was important that   the city invested in parks and arts and things  like that because without that I had nothing I   was not one of those kids that could go somewhere  else and have fun or go to a movie it was Parks it   was the programs that the city offered that were  either free or cheap um those are the things that   are needs for poor people because without that  what do we have and what type of life would I   have had if I didn't have those things I went to  City summer camps some of that was covered by the   benefits that we had um I was able to participate  in those art programs I really got a lot out of   that so were we in a position to maybe get that  somewhere else that type of enrichment not really   so when we talk wants and needs and Public Safety  Arts Parks libraries all of that is also a need if   we really care about providing those opportunities  for our citizens now if we take all of the way to   your point yes we're tightening our belt we're  taking it away but then for those who don't have   the means to go to something else that may be  a little more costly what about them sure and I   agree with you I grew up poor myself um my mother  was on welfare uh and and we struggled as I grew   up and and I'm not saying that these wants aren't  important quality of life issues are important   they're important to the uh development of the  city of getting employers to locate here and I   understand all that I just feel that there's a  certain priority and and we need to uh take that   into consideration but I agree with you 100% th  those wants are important and I'm not trying to   Discount those ones I took advantage of many of  the same programs that that you did as you were   growing up I used to those swimming at the uh  Lynwood Park swimming pool down there at uh uh   Mount Vernon in in hydraulic so so I'm not trying  to Discount the importance of some of these ones   I'm just wanting to make sure we do focus on the  more important things before we bring up some of   those others again not to Discount the importance  for the people who don't have the resources   necessary to do some of the things that others get  to do yeah no I appreciate that and I also think   right now some of the narrative in the community  is a little it's true but also nuanced so if we   look at our deficit it has to be annually you know  we can combine everything and say there's 20 plus   million dollar of debt but I think next year's 3.6  million sure I mean so we have to legally have a   balanced budget and if we look at it annually our  staff does a wonderful job of finding ways to make   adjustments to meet those needs but when we talk  about those higher numbers I think of it like the   riverfront plan everyone talked 1.3 billion right  but really every year there were phases those   phases were not 1.3 billion so when we talk about  that high number I think it gets people thinking   oh man we need to start cutting we got to we can't  do these things but really there's smaller numbers   every year and our staff is so talented they  always find a way to make that work when I was   we had a $7 million deficit and somehow we didn't  have to make all the cuts people thought we were   still able to invest in community so yes we need  to prioritize and have those conversations but   it's not the huge number we're talking about  because that's broken up over years it's really   smaller numbers that we'll get to every year  but again I appreciate this conversation okay   thank you council member hoisel thank you mayor uh  thanks for coming up harlon I always appreciate uh   fellow District 3 resident coming up and talking  um we're going to keep these things in mind as   we move forward um of course Public Safety comes  first what all public safety entails that's going   to be part of the discussion moving forward so I  appreciate you again coming up and letting us know   your thoughts on this okay thank you and um yeah  we don't keep mayonnaise in the hoisel household   anymore too many mayonnaise sandwiches over the  years so not not a favorite of mine anymore I'll   say that council member Glascock thank you mayor  harlon thank you for speaking um I just made a   commitment over the past uh over the course  of the next year to be much more intentional   about saying that it's not the city's budget it's  the taxpayers budget we have no money that isn't   derived from our taxpayers and so the city has  a responsibility not to add to the burden of our   citizens but to ease the burden of our citizens  and so I'm thankful with the reminder we do have a   deficit projected in 2026 27 and 28 we need to be  mindful of that when we're making decisions from   this this bench and so I'm thankful for you to  remind us of that and I believe in high quality of   life but I also believe that we must maintain what  we have before we build new and there's a lot of   things that we aren't maintaining well in the city  and let's maintain those before adding to that so   thank you for that reminder and I hope you come  up more often as well appreciate it thank Youk you   Haron we have room for one more individual for  up to five minutes to speak before the council I see none hey good morning Happy New Year twia Purity I  live in Polo Club district one I certainly wasn't   planning to come up here I don't have any notes  but the budget discussion um prompted me to once   again come up and talk about Contracting and  legal action against the city perhaps related   to contracts and um employee issues right there's  a lot of talk about budget but it's the things we   don't get to see that give me pause how much do we  spend in legal fees defending um actions against   the city and I'm not talking just police you know  police is a passion of mine and policing black   and brown people but other suits against the city  whether it's vendors employees what's the cost of   Defending those what are the payouts I just don't  know that there's that transparency um to Citizens   on that topic as a you know retired uh Healthcare  Executive Contracting was a key component of My   Success over my career and you know I've even just  things that come up in the news uh the Contracting   issue you know not being enforced with the  I shrink um the contract issued just with   the veterinarian services you know for um animals  there's work and when I read contracts done in the   city there's work to be done in those to tighten  things up with a good contract you won't have   these uh lawsuits the whole purpose is to tighten  things up so everybody is clear about what's going   on so I just want to encourage a deep dive into  the Contracting partly I want to encourage that   um compliance to contracts every contract that  the city has are the parties to the agreement in   compliance with the agreement right I think we've  seen some things that monies that could have been   collected weren't because of a lack of compliance  and then the other thing transparency and what   it's costing us taxpayers to defend um contractual  disputes or lawsuits and what it's costing then   when uh there's payouts thanks for your time if  I can help you know provide Insight or discuss   s is further offline with any of you I'm more  than willing thank you thank you twia I have   a question for city manager Leighton I would like  to see um costs for legal fees broken down by law   firms over the last three years 2024 2023 2022  as well as payouts um for the last three years   as well and where each of those departments um  where those payouts came from which department   they came from and I would like that to be  provided to the council the seven of us thank you Madame clerk can you please call  the next item consent agenda items   1 through 25 council members are there  items to be pulled council member John   uh Johnson I knew it would happen one day uh  thank you mayor I'd like to pull item number 11 any additional items I see  none uh sorry council member Ballard I'd like to pull  item number seven just for conversation any additional items I see  none I move to approve the consent agenda   items without consent agenda item number  seven and number 11 I second motion and   a second any further discussion I see  none Madame clerk please open the RO motion passes 70 we will go numerically  and start with consent agenda item number seven I am supportive of it I just wondered  if you could speak to the application a little bit mayor and council members Gary Jansen public  ORS and utilities uh I might ask you to ask that   question one more time did you say speak to the  location or to the specific item no yeah to the   item sorry I must misheard that and I thought  you Dum about a location um that we continue   to look for opportunities especially those types  of grants that require no local match like this   one uh stood out uh I think is in support  of what we've previously looked at uh with   the NASA study and the heat Islands across the  community this grant would provide some expertise   um some collaboration with other experts across  the country to further Define that plan eventually   eventually or potentially provide funding uh  especially for uh increasing our tree canopy I   think that's where our Focus would really be at so  uh again there's no match required for this grant   we think it would provide us the opportunity uh to  continue looking in those areas where we can make   a big difference for heat resiliency in different  parts of the city and how much is the grant for   the grant so if we could be awarded $110,000 thank  you so much and for continuing to look for um ways   to reduce heat Gary I do have follow-up questions  then um this item says that this obviously does   not have a a match but this quote could include  actions such as tree planting build shade for   pedestrians and Public Communication campaigns  which obviously will cost dollars can you amount   how much each of those three items would be in  the approximate I don't think at this point in   time we could even make a guess at that uh mayor  until we got further along and and understood   what this plan plan might provide uh what I will  tell you is I think that we would look for the   opportunity with the $10,000 for implementation  that's not going to get us very far but I think   what we have found with some of these other  grants within the scope uh of the things we've   talked talked about here the Partnerships we would  create there's probably additional opportunities   then for funding outside of that anything that  we would do as far as implementation or a plan   we would bring back to council we would have to  identify funding uh for any action that would be   taken right now I don't think we have any type of  estimate until we find out what this plan is all about you Gary I see no further questions  for staff we will now open it up for   public comment regarding consent AG agenda  item number seven heat resilience cohort application I see none I'll bring it back to the bench thank you mayor I'd like to take staff's  recommended action and approve the application   second motion and a second any further  discussion I just want to make sure that   I'm on record saying um again this is any  future funding for these items would still   need to come back to the council um so this  is not a commitment to those items but it's   a commitment to accepting a $110,000  possible Grant I will uh motion and   a second any further discussion I see  none Madame clerk please open the role motion passes 70 consent agenda item number 11   thanks mayor due to a personal conflict  of interest I have to abstain from this item this is um item number 11 amendment to  home program 20122 chto set aside allocation   for Jacob's Ladder Inc I see no questions from the  bench we will open it up for public comment I see   none I'll bring it back to the bench I move  to approve the contract Amendment providing   an extension of the date for project completion  and authorized necess necessary signatures second   motion and a second any further discussion  I see none Madame clerk please open the rooll motion passes 60 with 1 one  exstension madame clerk please   call the next item Board of bids  and contracts dated January 13th 20125 good morning mayor city council Josh  laber Department of Finance the board of   bids and contracts convened January 13 2025 for  the following items for engineering we have the   sanitary Sue improvements to serve Buffalo Pines  Edition for me Construction Incorporated in the   amount of 85,000 we have the water distribution  system sanitary sewer improvements to serve   Bridger at Central Edition for Noak Construction  Company Incorporated for an aggregate bid total of $48,750 for purchasing we have the  portable toilets contract for Prairie   pots LLC in the amount of $ 6,085 for an  estimated annual usage for one year with   four oneyear options to renew we have the fre  58,000 gross vehicle weight restriction dump   trucks for Omaha Truck Center Incorporated  doing business as Truck Center companies for $583,500 days we have the polymer C 9545 for  use in the Wastewater solidy watering facility   contract change order also for poly Incorporated  requesting authorization to extend for 90 days   we have the witto Police Department uniform  and uniform equipment accessories Management   program contract change order for Galls LLC for  an amended estimated annual usage of 968,000 41530 we have the witto fire department uniform  and uniform equipment accessories Management   program contract change order for Galls LLC  for amended estimated annual usage of 74 $ 47236 we have the supply and install of  audio visual equipment at Carl Brewer   Community Center for mclen Incorporated  for 125,000 we have the compact track   skid steer for Clark equipment company for $75,100 $87 we have the neogov human resource and  applicant tracking system annual subscriptions   renewal for governmentjobs.com Incorporated  for 50,53 60 this is how to do business with   the city these are our uh Pon calendar of  small resource partner events that the city   will be hosting or participating in these are open  public opportunities out on the street today and I   be happy to try to answer any of your questions  and I recommend your approval you Josh we'll   begin with council member Glascock thank  you mayor could you go back to slide seven   real fast sure so is this the yearly cost for  these estimated annual usage estimated annual   usage and so do we know how many what are we  estimating in terms of number of usage um we   have an estimated itemized breakdown of quantity  but Reggie can you help me out with that um what   did was this is a fixed fee for  service contract and based on the   estimated quantities from our um requesting  Department that's where that 16,850 comes from and that amount is also factored into where  we have uh porta potties in our parks and other   locations that we use for programming throughout  the year so once we put the bid out we use that   from what we had in previous years to determine  what that max amount could potentially be for   the county so is this usage of hundreds or is it  usage of thousands it's uh it depends locations   uh say for instance one of our Parks may have  programming this there in certain portions of   the year we may put two uh porta potties on site  that's there for the have for the the participants   to use so it's just vared by location the number  that we actually have so we're probably looking at   around 100 right so it's a cost per unit of $160  per uh the cost is actually at $150 if I'm not   mistaken per unit for uh for uses on it so kind  of gives you a number of what we're looking at   throughout the year based on that okay thank you  and if I may we have in the um formal bid packet   the actual itemization of the rates um and I can  tell you specifically the quantities if you'd like okay any further questions for staff I do have one  can you look at um slide number 13 I just want to   get an update on when Carl Brewers Community  Center will open up um officially with all the   improvements and how much in total improvements  did the community center receive I think that   it's a really great Center but I just want to  know when the community can expect that to be finished uh mayor council members Gary  Jansen Public Works and utilities I think   we're still tracking for late summer uh for the  community center to be online current weather's   not helping we had a few issues right out of  the Shute even dealing with some storm water   issues in the parking lot but that really hasn't  slowed down the facility I don't think hopefully   the weather straightens up here a little bit  generally on projects like this they're able   to move forward with vertical construction but  I think we're still on track for late summer I   I'll confirm if that's not the case remind me  all the improvements that are happening there   uh so the best I can tell you is that we are uh  constructing a expanding the facility remodeling   the existing uh there's going to be a gym uh  that's one of the largest components of that   I'd have to probably get back to you on some of  the details refresh my memory it's been a while   since I've looked at the plans council member  Johnson can probably provide as much as I can   yeah so um the current facility is a little under  13,000 Square ft it will be nearly 37,000 Square   ft when it's done current gym will remain but  um revitalized new gym that can hold I think a   little north of 300 people full culinary arts  opportunity in the commercial kitchen as well   as meeting rooms uh dining room um I believe  there's another potential technology room so   there'll be a lot of opportunities in the space  the art is amazing I've seen a lot more of it   but I haven't seen all of it um and of course  I think 190 new parking spots um I'm probably   missing something else but that's the gist of  it definitely uh an upgrade when it was 100°   outside and the old facility it might be 105  inside the the old one so much needed upgrade   it's going to look great thank you council  member thank you I see no further questions   for staff I'll bring it back here I will move to  approve the board of vids and contracts second   motion and a second any further discussion  I see none Madame clerk please open the roll motion passes 70 Madame clerk please call the next item ordinance creating chapter  11.51 relating to operation of golf carts good morning Sharon de gra City Law  Department uh for background for this item   currently the state statute prohibit the operation  of golf carts on any highways or roadways with a   posted speed limit greater than 30 mph um golf  carts are prohibited on City roadways unless the   city has passed an ordinance which allows such  operation um to date the city has not passed   uh any ordinances to allow the operation of golf  carts several neighboring uh municipalities have   enacted uh this type of legislation Derby Andover  um Gard um and I believe Valley Center have all   passed th this type of legislation um staff was  directed to look at legislation from other cities   and develop proposed ordinances which would allow  the operation of golf carts on certain roadways   um the group consisted of uh representatives from  WPD finance and law um Public Works and traffic   engineering um also provided input regarding the  ordinances um the ordinance uh provides that golf   carts will be allowed on certain city streets  um they will not be allowed to be operated on   highways arterial streets um streets which have  a posted speed limit of more than 30 miles hour   or in the core area um the core area is defined by  the ordinance essentially Murdoch down the north   um Kellogg on the south um hydraulic on the East  and Nims and stackman drive on the west um golf   carts cannot cross highways or arterial streets um  given the current Provisions um to be operated on   the city streets uh the golf cart has to have a  slow moving emblem it has to have a registration   emblem or decal from the city finance department  um the application would include requirements that   proof of insurance coverage be required um golf  carts cannot be operated on sidewalks walking   trails bike paths um they can only be operated  during uh the time that it's light um 30 minutes   after sunrise and 30 minutes before Sunset um  drivers must be at least 18 years of old of age   um and the ordinances require uh the golf carts to  essentially comply with all rules of the road and   maintain the liability insurance um the proposed  ordinances do not apply to the use of certain golf   carts um those would be at licensed community  events those owned or operated by governmental   agencies or golf carts that are um solely left  on the uh public courses or private courses   um these ordinances also uh specifically do not  apply to Gators ATVs or micr trucks um so those   types of uh motorized vehicles would continue to  be uh prohibited on city streets uh for everything   but the uh emblem uh Provisions um it is a traffic  infraction with a fine um not exceeding $500 um   it's recommended that the city council review the  proposed ordinance and take uh actions as it deems   appropriate um if the council does um determine  to pass the ordinance staff does recommend that   it have an implementation implementation date  um of April 1st to allow staff to uh get the   necessary licensing forms and decals and I would  stand for any questions thank you Sharon we'll   begin with council member Glascock thank you  mayor great uh picture Choice um I also want   to thank thank uh Council or vice mayor Johnston  uh for proposing this I like reducing the burden   on individuals so I'm in support of this I do  have a few questions regarding this as well it   seems that in every ordinance we have the core  area is defined differently so this is different   than the core area defined so for example it  this butts into deleno uh near cica Street I   don't see any reason for prohibiting and Delena  what was the justification for that going to have   to defer to the police department and I believe  Captain Stevens is here way in the back um I would   agree that we we do Define Central business  district differently core area differently   and I think it came down to safety concerns and  traffic but I will need to have Captain Stevens that yes good morning Captain Stevens witto  Police Department I'm assigned to the Traffic   Division and that was my selection I was asked to  provide input uh on the ordinance and the contents   thereof and quite simply put uh I I considered  traffic flow downtown business district uh area   where there are again traffic flow issues or or  considerations uh buildings uh visibility and   most of the speed limits within that core area as  I defined it are 30 miles an hour and many of the   streets within that core area as I defined it also  are arterial streets for the most part so in in   short that's that's the the reason I didn't really  look at or take into consideration any other core   area definitions as they apply to other ordinances  thank you I'm have a few other questions I don't   know if this would be for you or for legal you  might be able to answer one um I noticed that   it's you have to have a valid driver's license and  18 uh most the other communities I looked at 16   other communities in the state and it was just all  18 or it was all valid driver's license it wasn't   restricted to 18 what was the justification for  that first and foremost it's incredibly important   to us from a public safety standpoint to have a  valid driver's license to operate any uh motorized   vehicle on uh our city streets the 18 years of  age uh is a recomend mendation based on some   of the things that we the police department have  seen already in ilal uh operation of golf carts   where uh younger individuals in the community are  driving uh them and we've had I can think of at   least one incident where we had a serious injury  involving uh youthful golf cart operators so 18 uh   from our standpoint seem like a good age to  to draw the line not to mention also there   are uh stipulations where uh we would like to  be able to hold the owner the parent of the uh   golf cart uh accountable for violations that  do occur uh involving uh drivers of of that   particular golf cart and of course 18 is is the  is where you become an adult so children of golf   cart operators uh would fall into that age range  okay I have probably two more questions probably   maybe one more for you uh regarding artillery  streets state law allows for uh Crossing of   artilleries all the communities I didn't find one  community in the state that prohibited cross ing   for example Shaunie Valley Center Cedric OA and  over hallad Godard L Nexa um why would we take a   more prohibitive approach than other cities in our  state we as as mentioned before we do have several   surrounding communities in the county uh Derby  Godard Mae uh who allow a golf cart operation   but the the traffic flow and the Dynamics of those  communities are not the same of here in Witchita   we have much higher traffic volume uh within the  city and the the consideration is is is protecting   uh operators of golf carts if we are to allow  them to lawfully operate uh on our city streets   golf carts are not designed the same way as as you  know several ton Motor Vehicles so the fear is or   the hope is is to avoid having that that close  interaction with golf cart operators and motor   vehicles that are operating at speeds higher than  30 miles an hour on arterial streets uh my from   from a public safety standpoint my concern would  be any Collision involving a true motor vehicle   with a golf cart Crossing an arterial Street would  would end a fatality thank you I think I have more   questions for legal but that's probably all for  the safety aspect uh probably two more questions   um applicable that we're talking our next items  about bicycling as well uh bicycles are allowed   on to cross artillery streets correct yes they're  allowed in areas that are greater than 30 miles   an hour correct yes okay um I'll have more  discussions about that in a minute um and then   the last question I have probably for uh legal it  had mentioned something about um oh gosh I can't   think of the language right now I didn't highlight  it about other type of vehicles um can you talk   more about that as well uh yes the ordinance does  not apply to ATVs Gators micr trucks micro utility   trucks those would still be excluded from the city  streets thank you I think that's all the questions   I have for now appreciate it council member  hoisel thank you mayor um piggy backing off of   council member of Glascock are there any anything  outside of golf carts that this would essentially   legalize within residential areas like riding  lawnmowers anything like that no we we tried   to lock it down pretty hard um when we defined  golf C golf cart um we tried to make it clear   that we are not encompassing all of these other  types of micro mini um vehicles or lawnmowers or   or anything else we're talking about a golf cart  looks something like what we have here I am aware   some have more seats than we do um State Statute  defines golf cart based on weight and width um so   if it comes within those parameters it would be  a golf cart um as opposed to an ATV or something   else okay and I don't ride around in golf carts  ever um so um the seat belt situation in a golf   cart is it usually one big seat belt across or is  it separate seats separate seat belts for separate   nobody okay um I don't know the answer to  that either though okay um and I I uh some   constituents have written in um um concerns that  it looks like we have to have uh rear reflectors   and with it not being out at night time I don't  know that this is necessarily important but are   we requiring any extra reflectors on the side  um anywhere else on the golf cart or is it just   the rear reflectors uh it has to have the rear  reflectors it also has to have the track triangle   um that you see on um farm equipment for lack of a  better word um that would indicate to other people   coming up on that vehicle that it's a slow-moving  vehicle um but other than that since we're not um   allowing operation during the nighttime doesn't  necessarily have to have headlights but I think   most like this one have some sort of um Lighting  in the front um but we're not requiring anything   additional okay um are we how are we going to get  the news out to this for communities are is there   any signage we're planning or anything like that  around golf courses I could certainly work with   um the communications team on on messaging  um social media those those kind of things   we we don't have a plan at this point because  we weren't sure what direction the council was   going to take okay all right well I appreciate it  I have a couple questions regarding um sidewalks   not only are we going to talk about um the  bikes in the next business item but this is   about golf carts and um I know that there are  some golf carts that don't go very fast and   actually have utilized sidewalks as a means  to get around can you uh tell us the state   law regarding the usage of bicycles as well  as um obviously golf carts why not sidewalk I   I can tell you based on the city's ordinances  that we don't allow the operation of those um   items on sidewalks and it's a safety issue if I'm  walking as opposed to somebody riding the bicycle   beside me next to me the golf cart coming up  behind me um I I think the thought is that   sidewalks are made to walk on um not ride on um  I am familiar that we now have electric scooters   and all kinds of things that are utilizing those  sidewalks um I would have to pull the ordinance   again but I'm pretty sure that they're not to be  operated on the sidewalks either they're supposed   to be in the roadway so that's certainly the  goal of our ordinances is to if it has whe   keep it off the sidewalk um if otherwise it  should be um on on the street um in a biking Lane   if it's if it's a bike and I don't know whether  Captain Stevens has more comments way in the back again with regard to bicycles on  sidewalks it is my uh uh understanding   that bicycles are not allowed uh  in the downtown area on sidewalk   they must be on a roadway outside of the  core downtown area they are allowed on sidewalks uh which is also a quick reminder  I know that we still have some snow packed   sidewalks and that is the responsibility of  the property owner is that correct to clear   them off I have seen several individuals riding  bicycles um on Main arterial streets because the   sidewalk was not plow uh snow removed and so  can you address that either of you regarding   the law about clearing off sidewalks who's  responsibility it is I'll have to defer to   law I do not know the answer to that one I'm  sorry mayor I'll just jump in it is the uh   responsibility of the property owner mayor so  just a reminder that it is the responsibility   of the property owner to remove the snow off  the sidewalk in front of your property so that   um if you're not in the downtown Corp a bicycle  can ride on the sidewalk according to Captain Steven I will certainly have to look it up but  it has been my ongoing understanding that in   the downtown area bicycles are not allowed on  sidewalks outside of the downtown area they are which brings me back to the golf cart  question um I know that there are some uh   neighborhoods whether on the east side or west  side of town um that an individual would have to   cross a sidewalk in order to get to another um  golf cart friendly neighborhood or Golf Course   um so in this ordinance you would not be able to  even cross that arterial Road would there be an   opportunity for people to cross the arterial road  if they're utilizing the crosswalk button and the   crosswalk signs the way it's currently written  no um and certainly when staff discussed that   item I mean it's clear that this will cause  potential issues for people that are trying   to get to the golf courses if I went across  Maple um a lot of cities do allow uh you to   cross those arterial streets um and roadways uh  one kind of Middle Ground is to make them go to   an intersection so they're not zooming across  Maze Road um and those are certainly options   um and again this is staff's first attempt um  we don't necessarily expect that we'll get this   done today um but certainly we're here to uh  get input and direction from the council vice   mayor Johnston thank you mayor I I just want to  say thank thank you to uh uh Captain Stevens put   a lot of work into this Chief Sullivan um legal  Sharon thank you very much um the the the why on   this is because they're they're illegal everywhere  and they're being operated illegal everywhere um   we have neighborhoods that people want to get to  one especially in retirement neighborhoods where   people want to get from one person's house to  another house without driving their car uh they   deem it safer to drive a golf cart than to drive  a car or go to the clubhouse or whatever that is   same could be said of making their way to the golf  course um right now if you own a golf cart in Tall   Grass reflection Ridge Crestview wherever that is  your only means of getting to the first tea or The   Clubhouse is by the golf cart path golf courses  do not want you on golf cart path because there's   golfers that are actively playing the golf course  and you can be hit with a golf ball if you're on   that path so a lot of those places they'll use  the roadways to get to the clubhouse which is   illegal right now um what prompted this and and  we just look the other way just let Just Let It   Go but what prompted this was there's neighborhood  in West witto is a retirement community that they   have several residents like to drive each other's  house and and get to the clubhouse via their golf   cart and there's another Resident who doesn't like  their neighbors or golf carts or whatever but keep   calling the police police have to come out maybe  hours later have to come out take that complaint   write up that complaint go over and talk to the  offenders and and this happens time and time again   and it's just not a good use of our our police  time it's a nuisance and so just trying to get   it's probably the tightest Golf Course golf  cart ordinance around I understand that but   just trying to get some legality to people using  it in a closed community so that's the reason   that that's why not crossing arular streets too  so that's the why of it and uh anyone has any   suggestions or changes we're open to that Sharon's  open to that so just have a discussion oh yeah my   go Sor I would like to add a comment regarding  that um if there was that compromise that you   mentioned use utilizing the crosswalk and the  crosswalk signal to cross an arterial Road how   would that change the ordinance currently drafted  Uh current currently drafted the ordinance uh   provides that you cannot cross an arterial  Street get the actual section H that would   be in a section six and we would just  um clarify uh section B that it can't be   operated on the arterial Street um however  golf cart may be used across any arterial   Street at a designated intersection crosswalk um  whatever the council wants that uh language to be   and I do need to admit that I'm wrong on the  operation of bicycles um the city ordinances   do allow U bicycles on sidewalks um they are  prohibited in the central business district penalty of enforcement there I think this body  should look at find defining a geographical area   area that is the core in everything we do and  not changing it based on whatever ordinance   we pass just in the future and can I just address  that um a and the definition has become different   over time some of those are zoning which we don't  have absolute control over from the zoning code   um others of them are traffic others of them are  licensing but yes you're correct it would be nice   to have one Central definition but because  we don't regulate golf carts today but we do   five years from now we don't license food  trucks 10 years ago when we drafted things   but we do now I mean staff tries to be cons  as consistent as we can but it is difficult   and as you develop that core area the uses  become different I think this body probably   makes it difficult too because we probably Define  different Geographic gles at different times with   different Council people so I understand but  maybe there's a way in the process or in the   future to streamline it I also ask the $75 per  year who will be at administering that um license   and how much time will that cost the staff uh  those licenses will be administer administered   by um the city uh licensing department the  treasury Department um so they would create   all the forms they would then uh get the forms  and verify the information as well as they can   um part of that is also for uh administrative  cost for PD and enforcement and education um one more question for you Sharon what were  some of the major concerns raised by either law   or police regarding this ordinance I'm G to I'm  going to talk to police because I I've learned   not to talk for police uh Traffic Safety I  think and I don't know whether Gary's Gary   jansen's still here um just when you when  you have when you add additional traffic   to streets um slower moving traffic maybe  not as safety built as a true automobile   um and just how those will mesh together  but Gary Andor you have any other comments no Captain Stevens wiched off Ed again yeah  uh Sharon's absolutely right and also again   golf carts are not built and made like  your typical manufactured motor vehicle   uh they're crash rated far differently they don't  have all of the same safety features however they   still have the ability to drive 25 30 uh and in  even some cases faster than 30 miles an hour so   the concern is is high volume traffic uh on witch  TOS streets with a vehicle of this type uh the   concern again is is the safety of the operator  of that uh golf golf cart uh should there be a collision I will also add a couple comments  um the prohibition of golf carts on sidewalks   walking trails and bike paths um I know the red  bud Trail is one that council member Tuttle uh is   passionate about um and I know that Andover  is creating a hub um at the end of the red   bud Trail on their end and I've heard from  folks asking about utilizing a golf cart to   use that bike path to get there this would  disallow it um but but you mentioned that   golf carts can go 25 to 30 sometimes more or  higher speeds can you talk about um again the   prohibition of why not bike paths if they're  at a lower lower speed if there was a speed limit well I can just speak anecdotally about golf  courses have golf carts uh specifically designed   for golf cart operation in those areas uh bike  paths like on uh mlan along the river uh I'm not   really intimately familiar with red bud but uh I  do know that when you mix various different types   of vehicular traffic whether it be pedestrian  traffic bicycle traffic and now a motorized   vehicle on those uh those paths that would be  the concern the variations in size and speed   of Vehicles operating on the same uh small uh  medium uh are concerning from a safety aspect   as well council member sorry vice mayor  John Sten thank you I would conc concur   with Captain Stevens having used this uh  Red Bud trail with bikes riding with my   my my wife Sunset Trail we actually on the  West Side um and and also just downtown in   that area if you have a golf cart it'll take  up most of that trail and so just as a safety   I don't I'm not sure it's a good place for a  golf cart um so that's why we really want to   limit it where where it can go Council mber glot  last question I have this might be for legal or   for you um electric scooters are they permissible  on Road currently in the city yes they are thank you I see no further questions for  staff thank you Captain Stevens   and Sharon we will now open it up  for public comment regarding golf carts I see none I'll bring it back to the bench  this was initiated by vice mayor John Sten uh   council member glassop just a few comments before  we vote I'm supportive of this I wish it was less   prohibitive as well I think if we're allowing  uh individuals at 17 to operate a two-ton truck   we could allow them to operate a golf cart when  we're looking at safety we allow bicycles on the   roads right now we allow electric scooters on the  roads right now allowing golf courts and using the   argument that's going to be less safe doesn't  um Jive in my head um when we're looking at   our communities we talked about density OA um  of per square mile density is 2392 individuals   wit to has 2,427 individuals so they're similar  densities and so I'm interested to see if there's   will from this body to make it less prohibitive if  there's not I'll support the ordinance as written   but I'd be interested in hearing my colleagues  opinions as well council member Ballard thank   you mayor um this um potential ordinance really  makes me nervous I have a 14-year-old son that's   going through um driving school right now and  so he'll have his license here shortly and he uh   needs a lot more practicing uh driving certainly  before he gets in a golf cart to go drive down AR   arterial roads so um I am having a really hard  time supporting this not because um you know   I think there's obviously a adults you know and  things that can um are fully capable of driving   golf carts but I just am really nervous about um  potentially opening the floodgates to create more   problems um for WPD to have to um address so uh  unfortunately for that I will not be supportive   council member Tuttle thank you so much um I  want to thank staff um legal Finance Public   Works which to Police Department um I reached out  to several of them to ask many questions before   coming to a decision um thank you to vice mayor  Johnston for your work on this and for initiating   this effort um I am not going to be supportive  today for the following reasons I did speak to   WIA Police Department chief and also um several  within leadership and they are concerned about   this um they said that they can't really take an  official stand but they do not recommend it and   so that means a great deal to me our community  survey said that crime prevention is one of the   community's highest concerns but unfortunately  they don't think that we're addressing it very   well well so adding an NE unnecessary burden such  as now asking police to monitor golf carts are   they licensed do they have a sticker then they  have to pull them over it's taking away what   I believe is a it's a distraction from what we  need to be focusing on is actual crime prevention   um the other reason is safety the witcha police  servant again said because of the safety concerns   they can't recommend it we're making incredible  efforts to make sure our safe our streets are safe   and walking and biking and scootering has been  mentioned but especially walking and biking may   be essential travel for some to be able to get  to where people live learn earn play and pray   golf carts are not essential travel um the  other thing is I did some research and the   reason that bikes are considered safe on the  road but not golf carts is bikes are small   excuse me um bikes are smaller in size and  they also Traverse at much slower speeds so   um they are considered by most communities  safer and then finally this is creating a   new ordinance and it's creating a new V and I  just cannot support adding to go to government   when I don't see a true identified benefit for  the community so I will not be supported thank   you council member hoisel thank you mayor  um I will be supportive of this um I I think   you take a certain amount of responsibility upon  yourself when you're driving a cough cart around   the neighborhood um I do want to make sure  that we do um everything we can to mitigate   any of the the dangers that come with it I think  not Crossing arterial streets is a big step in   that direction um in regards to maybe making  it less restrictive regarding crosswalks and   whatnot I definitely do not want to get ahead of  WPD so I don't support that at this time time if   we want to have a process to have them look at  it maybe what would be appropriate with it um   that's another discussion I think we can come back  and address in the future um yeah but keeping it   restricted to the neighborhoods I think that  is one of the big um issues that I think are   alleviated by not Crossing arterial streets  at this time council member John Sun thanks   mayor I won't rehash everything council member  Ballard and Tuttle said so I am not supporter   for those reasons council member glop I just want  to make one quick comment this is a new ordinance   because it's giving people more freedom and more  flexibility and lessening the burden of government   on individuals so it's a new ordinance to  make it easier for people to live their life vice mayor John Sten I just want to  clarify they're not to to to to council   remember uh Ballard you cannot operate  them on streets can't be 14 15 16 or 17   you have to be 18 to operate that so your your  son's got lots of practice before he's able to   operate the golf cart in neighborhood street  um I I know that um council member Tuttle has   has golf courses in your District um there  are people are illegally operating them now   um even neighborhoods it's kind of a thing now  in in Upper upper end neighborhoods to buy a   golf cart and driving around the neighborhood uh  to the swimming pool or the pickle ball court or   wherever it is if we don't Define where you  can do it the police need to write tickets   to people that are on the streets um it is we'll  have people still calling um wanting the police   to come out uh a Time and time and time again  which has happened uh to to ticket these people   and right now we're not ticketing them but it is  against the law it's completely against the law   to drive these on sidewalks and any side street  so we should be ticketing these people operating   these golf carts so just want to get some a tight  ordinance around it to where can operate these   golf carts legally that's the whole reason know I  I'm against ordinances too I don't like them but   let's let's put some some operations around it  where you can operate these golf carts because   right now it is illegal everywhere except a  few few places you can such as golf card so   that's about it vice mayor Johnston this was your  ordinance would you like to take the honors yeah   and legal may have to help me there um I'd like  to adopt the ordinance as written and place it on   the first reading second and a second any further  discussion I see none Madame clerk please open the role motion passes 4 to three Madame clerk please  call the next item 2024 witcha bicycle plan endorsement good morning mayor excuse me  good morning mayor City Council Members   Paul gunzelman with public works and  utilities for the record this morning   I will be presenting the the uh 2024 witto bicycle plan on February 7th 2023 the city council  approved a contract with tool Design Group   to update the 2013 witch toop bicycle master plan  and I believe Mitch Kaufman with tool Design Group   is on the U is attending virtually with us as well  today the uh the plan um this is a high level view   of the plan with the chapters in it um and I'll  get into a few more details with these as I go   through the presentation the purpose of the plan  was to build off the off the success with the 2013   plan uh to provide a fresh bold vision and goals  uh revise the the uh existing plan to uh meet   current needs and it establishes priorities for  the next 10 years including projects policies and programs the uh there's quite a bit of media  coverage as we uh went through the planning   process um through 14 different television and  radio stations U media permissions were uh put   out three times during the process to promote uh  engagement opportunities public surveys uh two   public surveys were sent out and um approximately  over a thousand responses were received and those   were put out both in English and Spanish we had  popup events eight popup events as well as public   open houses in which 700 attendees attended  the the uh open house or popup events as well   as presenting to the district advisory boards as  well as the bike and pedestrian Advisory Board I   want to thank all those who have participated and  helping put this plan together key key takeaways   of the plan or what we had heard was safety  is number one um folks want more bicycling   opportunities for people and bicycling shall  feel safe and comfortable the community input   was vital in establishing vision and goals  um challenges and opportunities helping us   develop the long long-term Bikeway Network  as well as identifying priority bikeways the   vision had four main ideas to provide provide  bicycling as safe comfortable convenient and encouraged chapter three kind of goes into the  existing conditions um there are challenges to   achieving the goals as well as opportunities as  we had heard as we went through the engagement   this chapter lays out many of the challenges and  opportunities based on assessment of the built   environment several analysis and public input  there are currently 133 bicycle facilities within   the city of witchta and the city has added  70 miles of Bikeway since the 2013 plan was adopted the uh principles used to develop the  long-term Bikeway Network um connecting important   destinations like schools parks recreation  centers libraries large employment campuses Etc   direct routes with minimal acceptable deviations  spacing of 1 qu to 1 half mile in established   Central area and a half mile to 1 mile suburban  and in other areas and I will um talk about that   a little bit more have an example of that here in  on some future slides Regional routes to connect   to neighboring cities and expand the greenway  shared use path Network also all routes should be   available for all ages and abilities chapter four  includes some of the facility types again these   most of these were in the 2013 plan bicycle  boulevards such as the armor bike Boulevard   on the east side or the woodchuck bike  Boulevard on the west side of town um   these are typically on through neighborhood  streets on collector streets it's a shared   space with with Motor Vehicles low speeds and  the plan would suggest putting in some traffic   calming measures to decrease the speeds and  have been doing that and some of the newer   developments working with traffic engineering  uh narrowing the streets and areas to slow traffic on street bike Lanes uh since the  2013 plan we have put some on street bike   Lanes in and to be honest we've been  getting better as we've put additional   ones in improve the design on that  um we have heard from the bike pit   Advisory Board as others that they would  like to see a more separated bike LAN   with buffers Andor some vertical component  such as we did on West 21st Street with the   tubular markers and I understand that that does  uh cause some maintenance issues to keep those   uh bike paths clear so we need to continue to  work on that as we uh Implement more of the plan separated bike Lanes um this  is a designating an exclusive space   for bicyclists in the street um buffers are  preferred which provides horizontal separation   between bicyclists and Motor Vehicles this  is an example of one that we have recently   completed through the Delano area of the  uh Chism Trail Parkway as you can see on   the uh right side of the picture that there  is a dedicated uh space for cyclist um with   the street in the center and then we have  a sidewalk on the south side of the road shared use paths such as uh the red  bud Trail and or the Midtown bike PL um and then providing safe Crossings uh  for arterial streets this is an example   of one that we had done out at uh Central  and Red Barn uh to cross central we uh   put in a raised median at prior to that  being constructed motorists could turn   um all directions um as they left Red Barn we  made that a right in right out and provided a   median there so the pedestrians and or cyclist  can cross half a central at a time and we would   continue that um through this new new plan as  well this is a map of the priority uh bike ways   as well as the uh long-term bike uh Network and  I might come back to this in a little bit as well as I mentioned before um we can deviate from  the priority Network and a good example of   this is the uh Chism Trail uh Parkway that  I'd mentioned before um the plan shows that   Douglas um from Main Street to cica as a priority  Network um we have recently completed the Chism   Trail Parkway between um mlan and cica just  west of cica um shown on the Brown Line there   um which is approximately one block north of  Douglas so this would serve as the network through   that area so that we would not have to change  lane configuration on Douglas and or the existing parking chapter five includes implementation  and priority actions this uh describes how   the city will implement the plan  uh provides policy and programmatic   actions for City staff to work on  as well as identify infrastructure   ructure projects priority bikeways Andor  other opportunities for constructing bikeways the action plan uh the  structure is a work plan for the   city um City staff Representatives  help to create this work plan and   the work plan also identifies time  rate time frames for actions such as   shortterm 0 to three years medium-term  actions 4 to 10 and then is beyond 10 years the priority bikeways this is how um how  the priority bikeways were established systematic   safety Equity to provide um services and and  those areas that need it trip potential as well   as public input and within the 2024 plan there is  33 a half miles of priority bikeways identified project delivery methods uh this is a proactive  delivery which would be Standalone projects uh   within the CIP there is currently a line item  in the CIP for bikeways and bike improvements   um that has $1 million in 2025 that will  be utilized to complete the second phase of   the uh deleno path chis Trail path way Parkway  out towards Prairie Sunset Trail there is also   funding in in 2029 as well as 2031 and 2020 and  2033 that funding is local funding and that is   typically used for Standalone projects Andor to  leverage any federal dollars that we can use for   to implement this plan opportunistic project  delivery this uh identifies opportunities to   integrate bikeways into Street projects especially  if on if on the long-term Bikeway Network such   as CIP Street reconstruction projects or our  outsourced pavement preservation projects um   each year we sit down with maintenance staff and  review the upcoming projects to see if there's an   opportunity to uh restrip a roadway to include  bicycle facilities I'm going to go back to the   map um another example that we could Implement as  part of this 2024 plan the long-term Bikeway netor   workor it's East Harry Street from 127th to 143rd  Street we have a CIP project uh to reconstruct   that roadway or improve that roadway from a  two-lane Street to a three-lane street and with   that we would include a 10- foot multi-use path  on one side of the uh Street as well as a sidewalk   on the other side the other project that we have  upcoming is uh 127th Street as an example there   between 13th and 21st Street or actually it  goes from Douglas to 13th Street I apologize   an on Street Path has been constructed on the  area between 21st and 13th Street we would ask   the consultant to look at continuing that on  Street pathway South um but however look at   more of a um separated bike lane and or buffered  bik Lane in L of what is already there so that   helped us build out the network as well on  some of the existing CIP projects that we have annual reporting um we uh meet monthly with  the bicycle and pedestrian Advisory Board um we   would have a more robust uh keep a better track  of some of the paths projects that we do including   pedestrian Pathways um I know wo has ordered  some traffic counters that we could utilize   to take bicycle counts at locations in Witchita  to see how many folks are using the existing   Pathways and then again General reporting on  progress and strategies one of the things that   uh is on the list that we have just started on  was uh maintenance of the existing Pathways is   Big um or is a is a priority of the bike  pet Advisory Board we were going to meet   with our um Park and Recreation staff as well  as public works and our maintenance to make   sure we know who uh maintains the paths and do  a an assessment of the paths in 2025 similar   to what we do on our arterial streets or  our street Network so that we can get a   good Baseline of condition of the pathways that  they are in now and and develop a maintenance plan I want to mention that no funding  is attached to this plan um any project   identified for design Andor construction will  come to the city council for approval at a future date with that it is recommended that  the city council adopt a resolution   endorsing the 2024 wi bicycle plan and  authorize the necessary signatures and   I will stand for questions and Mitch  did you have anything to add that I missed that was wonderful all I don't have  anything to add thank you thank you Paul   and thank you Mitch we'll begin with council  member hois thank you May and uh thank you   Paul and Mitch and Holly and Allan I see a  bunch of people uh back there as well who   had uh their fingerprints on this uh just  a couple of quick questions here um going   through the the plan that talks about low  stress networks is there a like an amount   of cars per minute cars per day what's  the kind of The Benchmark to qualify   for a low stress Network Mitch I'll have  you weigh in on that if you would please hi I'll I'll jump into I'm Tammy Sufi with tool  design um in our Kansas City office and I just   wanted to quickly say thank you so much for giving  us the opportunity to work on this project um I   think it was a really great project for the city  um and we're excited to see you start to implement   parts of it um for low stress it's a combination  of factors um there's a a pretty detailed   description in the plan and the appendices but it  does go through some things like the posted speed   the um level of bike facilities that may  already exist uh the average daily traffic   and some other factors so there's not a specific  number but we do look at the combination of those   factors and how they result in the overall  bicycling experience okay I appreciate that   um when we're talking micromobility does this  also include Rascals um electric wheelchairs   any other Mobility Dev Dev is that might  help U with people with disabilities get around Mitch I'll have you weigh in on that   as well I know we talked about some  of the electric scooters but beyond that go ahead Mitch yeah in in in general no um  those are more uh pedestrian speed um so generally   uh they're more like pedestrians than bicycles  and this is a bicycle plan so microb bability   here means things that generally travel at the  speed of your typical bicyclists um so ebikes   E Scooters uh one Wheels things like that okay  um just two or three quick more questions here   they talk about a staff person responsible for  helping to implement this plan uh do we already   have somebody who is assigned and works with  um to just to ensure that we uh catch up to the   bicycle plant that we previously had while looking  at new projects around the city yes thank you for   asking that because I meant to mention that but  yes we do we have an identified staff person that   works in engineering yes okay um then two more  questions uh wiing streets is this locked into   the plan where um we're redoing some streets are  we planning on widening any of them to allow for   additional bicycle Lanes or is this more try  and um fit it in where where we can identify   that the streets are wide enough are you asking  about maintenance of streets or or just whenever   we redo streets so so regarding the maintenance as  I mentioned we we do look at um the streets with   the um that are on the upcoming op3 project um  Lincoln Street for example U between wood law and   rock we had looked at that last year again it was  four-lane roadway we looked to right sizee that to   a three lane um it it calls for bike LAN planes  within the plan however there wasn't space for   that so we had not done that we'll have to look  for an alternate route or do an off Street um but   within our Capital Improvement program yes we do  look at um as we design those if they're on the   plan then we look at either widening and or as I  mentioned to include a 10-ft side path on one one   side of the Archer or the other okay appreciate  that and then last one's kind of a concern um a   couple of these routes that we have identified  such as West Street um there's some concerned   about some big trucks on West Street um Oliver uh  and ponie Oliver when um Spirit gets out and the   aircraft industry gets out that can get pretty um  populated and also um Pony um there's a stretch   there long Pony I don't know how often people  go riding down Pony it's uh it can be pretty   pretty hairy there for a couple of stretches  so before we put them in there what are the   processes that we go through to ensure that it  is a safe route that we are putting on there we   would look at those and and as a you know within  the plan we do have the ability to you know move   the route off of the priority network from  a quarter mile to a half mile in the central   core area or up to a half mile to one mile in  Suburban areas so for example Oliver Street   you know if we look at that if we look at maybe  EDG more to the east that might make more sense   to put it there and it's still within that half  a mile so we would look at those corridors prior   to uh to implementation okay thank you that's all  I have council member Glascock thank you mayor I   have five questions I'll try and start with the  quickest to maybe the longest um page 55 I know   you briefly hit on this in your and this is 55 of  the presentation maybe not on the map um regarding   Avenue from ridan to cica so is that removed from  this plan so since we have constructed I think is   this the slide you're looking at uh yes I don't  know I don't have the numbers here sorry um so   this would um as it metion you know Douglas was  listed as a priority Network or on the priority   Network however since we did complete that um  Chism Trail Parkway there a block to the north   then we would not anticipate any bike facilities  on dck okay so no additional facilities on Douglas   because of this L correct okay that was number  one um page 45 page 54 and Page 59 of the actual   document it wasn't in the presentation uh talks  about requiring private developers to do things   requiring private developers to offer bicycle  racks requiring them to offer um bicycle parking   and then there's a third one as well what was  the justification for that from the part of that   um you know bicycle parking and I think that's  that's an appendix to the plan um if I recall that   correctly Mitch uh it um would provide you know  kind of type of of um bicycle racks to use Etc   um regarding the development we would um and we've  tried to begin to implement some of that just with   The Pedestrian connections um to look at as areas  are platted if you have a CAC that is adjacent to   an arterial Street maybe you put a connection you  know on the top of that CAC to the arterial so   that either cyclists or pedestrians don't have to  walk all the way through the neighborhood to The   Collector Street to get out to that so we would  look at that through the planning process planning   process to see if it makes um sense to make those  connections I have some concerns about endorsing   some of this as requires for private development  um of the 11 fatal crashes and 900 injuries in   report um of the 73 miles proposed in this out  of the 4,866 miles in the city how many of those   would have been on these 73 miles I don't have  that off the top of my head Mitch do you have   that would you know that uh I I can't answer that  specific question um but the analysis shown on page um 20 20 and 21 of the report is our systemic  safety analysis um the results of that that's a   brief summary of the uh basically it's the crash  history and identifies characteristics of those   streets um and then identifies them as more more  dangerous for bicyclists um so that was used in   selecting the the priority so in general that  reflects crash history for cyclists okay thank   you I'll take a look at that um page 97 of the  document um or not page 97 page seven says that   we've seen bicycle insur or ridership and usage  increase though that's in conflict with page 52   which says that we have limited to non-existent  data regarding ridership and usage so how do we   make both of those things compatible we say that  we've seen an increase but then later on in the   document we say that we can't see an increase  because we see limited to non existant data   and that we have to have this plan to have more  data for the future and be able to justify the plan I'm sorry could you repeat those page numbers  page seven says that we've seen an increase   and then page 52 says that data is limited to  quote non-existent regarding bicycle usage and ridership I believe that was the the first  statement is embracing bicycling not necessarily   actual usage um and that's based upon the the  survey results from the the survey uh the General   survey that witcha does annually um and then for  for actual counts we are very limited um to what   we have um their wo does counts that does show  General increases however those locations are   very limited um so we don't have a lot of uh  confidence in in defining the actual growth   of basically I mean that's something I would  probably endorse from this plan is more data   regarding the increase of writers ship for future  decisions especially when they come before capital   improvment projects so last question I have um and  I know that there's probably other people on the   board as well is though the document says this is  endorsement of the plan there's often we use when   staff comes before this body they use the plan to  justify the proposed action before the staff so   out of this plan what is the projected cost in CIP  and what is not projected in the current CIP over   the next 10 years that is a difficult question for  me to answer as far as the cost to implement the   plan because we don't know what um what will  be constructed along the either the priority   Network or you know uh projects identified in  the long-term plan such as you know um whether   we would construct on street bike Lanes which  would be more um costly than to construct a side   path so you know as I mentioned before before we  implemented any of these plans or any project we   would bring that to the city council as a concept  design prior to go construction and we'd have a   better estimate at that time we have no estimate  if we were to implement every single thing in this   document as what this vote will take because it's  supposed to endorse this document we have no idea   how much endorsing this document would actually  cost we do not not knowing what type of facility   would be constructed along that segment of roadway  we have a minimum for for a uh recent cost on a   10- foot side path along an arterial street is  about $5 per square foot which is probably a   quar million dollars for a mile of 10 foot side  path along artero street so at a minimum that's   so I'll do the quick math and come back you said  and quarter of a million for every mile there're   73 M okay thank you and then if we do you know if  some of this is implemented through an op3 project   where we might be able to Recon you know restripe  a four-lane roadway to a three-lane roadway that   would still provide us space for um on street  bike Lanes then that you know then that's just   you know in essence the difference of cost of  striping so we're looking at theoretically the   minimum of 250 theoretically on a mile 73 miles  that's $1,250,000 is what we would endorse by   voting in favor of this today and then part of the  I think part of your second question maybe if we   had any if I understood that correctly but um we  do have you know the line item identified in the   CIP for bikeways um the that like I said it's  I think it's a million in 2025 and then 1.8 in 2029 um 2 million 2020 2031 and 1.5 million in  2033 is the funding that we have identified so   this would theoretically be an increase of what's  projected in the CIP if the bare minimum could be   18 million based on what we have in the CIP this  would be an increase we would um as staff we would   you know um we're held to what's in the CIP  you know you know that's the funding that we   have to implement this plan now we we would  as I mentioned before we would leverage that   um General obligation dollars to um you know  get maybe federal funding or something to help   implement this plan similar to what we did on  on the redbed trail thank you I appreciate it   I have lots of questions um I'll start off  with can you please tell us this um plan   came before a previous Council February 7th  2023 how much was the contract to Tool Design Group I do not have that Mitch do you uh yeah  it's a it's approximately $460,000 um and then   we had uh three subc Consultants that that  worked with us as well what is the total bill   for the study the witcha bicycle master plan  study it would be that amount yes 460,000 period   approximately yes okay so it costs $460,000 to  create a study um that now comes before this   Council and I know that it says financial  consideration no funding attached but as   council member Glascock has been asking these  questions there is a fin cial um commitment uh   while it would still come before the council for  further approvals uh endorsing this would signal   that we would want to make a financial investment  into bike paths um so I am very concerned about   that number one number two um I'd like to know  uh the question I asked previously during the   golf cart conversation was are bicycles allowed  on sidewalks and the answer was was not within   the downtown core but outside of the downtown  core bicycles are allowed on sidewalks so did   this plan take into consideration that there are  sidewalks and how many Lane miles of sidewalks are   allowed because that would add and increase the  network of bicycle path uh Lane mes we did not   take into consideration the existing sidewalks  no if that was your question go and I can add   chime in with that if that's okay um you know  sidewalks can be an opportunity for bicyclists   for young children Etc they do also create a  conflict with pedestrians so they're not really   the ideal place for a bicyclist to be located  particularly if they're traveling 12 13 miles per   hour so that's why we do look at those Standalone  facilities for bicyclists or look at ways that   they can be incorporated into existing roadway  ways things like that um it doesn't mean that it   can't be done but that is one of the concerns with  putting bicyclists on sidewalks I would um I would   uh challenge that uh rhetoric because Witchita  is different than Kansas City as it's different   than Tulsa and different than other communities  and we are a very spread out Community uh this   community has 5200 Lane miles of Roads I'd like  to know how many Lane miles of sidewalks which is   currently has um and divide it between in the  downtown core and how we're defining that and   outside of the downtown core as I would like to  let the community know um that they are allowed   to uh ride their bicycles on those sidewalks um so  number one if I can have staff let us know exactly   how many Lane miles of sidewalks we have because I  received an email from someone who wanted us to uh   support this plan but I asked the question what is  your biggest concern as a bicycle Rider right now   and the the answer was my biggest concern with the  current bike system is the maintenance and upkeep   of the existing infrastructure so before building  something new I would like to know about the   maintenance of the of the existing system not just  the bike paths but also the sidewalks as um we've   learned from these last two business items uh the  sidewalks yes are for walking uh pedestrians but   also they can be utilized for bicycle Riders and  I would say that that would be a priority rather   than building something new I would rather see  the maintenance of the current system and the   sidewalks being upkept first so that's more  of a comment um a side comment regarding the   studies that I'd like uh city manager to also  look into I would like to know how many studies   the city of Witchita currently has outstanding uh  what's the status of the studies and the cost of   those studies uh so this specific study regarding  bicycles again was back in 2023 and it cost the   city $460,000 um so I'd like to know just how many  studies the city currently has and um I understand   that we have to have a plan moving forward uh  so that we can continue uh being a city that   is welcoming and has quality of life amenities  but I believe that the quality of life amenities   we currently have need to be upk kep first and  maintained first uh so I have a grave concern uh   regarding adding anything new um and again I think  questions were already asked but my questions   really are about how we're going to fund this $18  million was what um council member Glascock said   if according to your um numbers $250,000 for one  lane mile of bike path um and this plan endorses   73 additional miles for a total of 18 million if I  remember correctly 18 million is also the Deferred   maintenance uh number for parking structures and  I believe that that also is going to come from   the CIP so that gives me grave concern also  um it exactly matches that number 18 million   so I have a lot of uh concern regarding being  fiscally responsible whether or not endorsing   this would signal that we are prioritizing  something that the community has not asked   us to prioritize council member Johnson thanks  mayor um and that's a lot uh one I would highlight   that there is no Financial attachment to this plan  it's simply a plan plans guide things so let's say   we were constructing a street and the plan would  say there should be a sidewalk there which we've   already kind of had that in policy we've built  sidewalks on one side of the street I know I've   said we should do both but we do one side of the  street this may guide where that may go on which   side of the street that will go it's simply a  plan also as we do get Federal funding as Paul   said there could be funding attached that allows  some of that 18 million over that period of time   to be paid I'd bring everyone's attention to 17th  Street McAdams Park the north side we had Federal   funding there and federal funding actually helped  pay for some of those improvements again simply   a plan we can answer some of those questions per  state statute sidewalks are the adjacent property   owner's responsibility not the city of witch  we would install it the adjacent property owner   would have to maintain it if something happened  unless it was our fault which we would address   that and also on the report for the lane miles on  sidewalks um I'm I question that because we know   that you can or cannot ride on sidewalks with a  bike so we would just need to look at change in   policy if that was the case but I would say um  bike walk Witcher to is here I have also heard   from local bikers so not other cities not other  states um that talk about the use of sidewalks so   pedestrians could get hit by someone on the bike  it it's difficult that's why we started building   those wider um walkway so both could fit but  our normal standard sidewalks really shouldn't   have both on there I know as kids we all did it  I did it but um that's not what that's for if the   council would like to change that based on local  feedback I think that's a conversation we should   have but just telling people that we have 10,000  Lane miles of sidewalks really won't matter if   it's illegal to use them um in some spaces and not  others that's more of a let's talk about policy   but again this is a plan plan guide what we do  wiah has been working for quite some time before   I was on Council to be more walkable bikable City  more welcoming more accessible that's what this   plan would help us get to and yes there may be  some things in there that some don't uh agree with   but our goal was to always work towards being more  bikable walkable we paid a firm to help us get to   that point looking in detail throughout the city  of how we could Implement that and um again even I   would say I'm supportive of of it I know the work  that's went into it working with these groups I   see the great usage of there but again there is  no funding attached to this if we say yes today   the city's not spending any extra dollars it's  going to guide how we construct um and design   our city council member Ballard thank you mayor  um I appreciate council member Johnson's comments   many of them Echo um my own feelings um three or  4 $460,000 is a lot of money to do this plan but   this is not something that just happened overnight  there has been tons and tons and tons of input and   um someone that is a hobby cyclist the sidewalks  are not uh in my opinion made for for riding maybe   for kids or you know in the neighborhood  or something like that but the people that   are utilizing the bike Lanes um it's it's a their  means of transportation we can't just say that we   want to be more walkable ridable um city that is  connected U to the other um adjacent communities   unless we provide a safe uh way for them to get  there so uh W this has taken you know quite a long   a long time and um has probably cost more than we  think it either should or just everything costs a   lot of money but I think it's really important to  have an overview of what we have and where we can   go to connect to um the communities around us and  um um I do think it's important to take care of   what we have I represent a big portion of where  our current bike lanes are and some people love   them some people hate them but I do think that  they provide a safe way for cyclists to get to   where they're going um and I will be supportive  councilman brick Las um I just wanted to address   one quick thing it was 250,000 minimum so 18,000  is like at a minimum cost not a maximum cost   also Federal funding is still taxpayer funding  whether it's coming from local taxpayer dollars or   federal taxpayer dollars so I think we should be  very clear about that as well and I mean the last   comment and then I know we'll open up to comments  we have this document we can use this as a guide   we don't have to endorse it and we can still use  this as a guide so by saying that we're throwing   this in the trash if that's the case we still  paid for this we could still use this as a guide   for things that make sense and things that don't  make sense as well council member Tuttle thank you   I'll have more comments after we open it up for a  public comment but while we're on this discussion   I just I I thought of something timely that might  provide a little bit of context as well um I was   part of the master bicycle plan and the master  pedestrian plan process as a community member   long before I was in Council and in 2016 2017  I met with Scott wle who is now our wonderful   metropolitan area planning director but at the  time he was working in this arena in bike pad and   the master bike plan and the master pedest plan  and Scott and I were meeting um and I asked him   what in the master bicycle plan was was not being  completed so far if he could give me some updates   on things that the community such as bike walk  witcha and the health and wellness Coalition could   focus on and he mentioned a bike share system  and so because we had a plan and because we had   outlined future growth and future opportunities  for the community I was able to use the master   bicycle plan to go to Blue Cross and Blue Shield  of Kansas who has fully funded the Bike Share ICT   program since 2017 had we not had a master bicycle  plan we would have not had the opportunity to   have that public private partnership so when  we're looking at this plan that's also in the   context of what I'm thinking such as red bud  Trail and different things where we're seeking   private dollars as well but having some sort of  plan and some sort of future Direction provides   it just makes it easier to have those  connections and to have those discussions   with private funders as well so just a  little context and just a thought thank you I see no further questions for staff  thank you we will now open it up for public comment hi I'm Dr Amy Siri 707 North andoria which  to Kansas 67214 Hi I know many of you have met me   before seen me on TV thank you so much for letting  me be here thank you so much to uh The Advisory   Board uh for letting me sit in on some of their  visits I really strongly suggest uh endorsing this   plan uh I think the cost of not end doing it would  provide more burden to our taxpayers and I think   would limit the choices that they deserve for  getting mobile within our city according to Triple   A for 2024 the cost for a household of just owning  a car is over $122,000 per year allowing citizens   the options of how they want to get around can  reduce some of those financial burdens when we   limit them to a single modality such as using a  motorized vehicle as we have an aging population   who would also like options such as golf carts  for getting around providing safe ways to get   around our city allows them to age gracefully  once those car ke are taken away that they can   still go out and enjoy those friendships they can  still go to our small businesses as a pediatrician   I'm also a childhood obesity specialist as we  keep expanding our car Lanes we are expanding   our children's waistlines unfortunately we all  grew up with the opportunity to bike down to the   corner store and buy ice cream that is a rarity  today we are seeing increased rates of ADHD and   behavioral concerns because children are living a  life where they are being shunted in a sub bourbon   between Costco and Home Depot that there  are fewer opportunities for them to walk   and bike to school to burn off those Wiggles  before they have to sit down and concentrate   and use that brain power I serve an underserved  population when they have something like a seure   and are no longer allowed to drive for six months  when there's a car problem they can't make it to   their appointments if there aren't alternative  transportation options and I myself do use my   bicycle to get around this city and it makes  me feel much more connected to the wonderful   opportunities that we have here for example I live  near 29th and Rock and I do bike to St Francis on   a regular basis thanks to the red bud Trail you  know what the red bud Trail doesn't have potholes   that's because biking infrastructure is one of  the cheapest and easiest types of infrastructure   to install and maintain similarly if I want to  bike unfortunately to St Joe though and I want   to use armor Boulevard there are 17-year-olds  who are driving two ton trucks that I have to   compete for space with so I feel less safe if  I use the sidewalks along Oliver unfortunately   the number of cars and their driveways blocking  the sidewalk means I have to go less than half my   normal speed and all the cutouts for those  driveways mean I get seasick when I do try   to pick up my speed when I uh have elderly uh  grandparents who are trying to work with their   uh youngsters and their families and their  neighborhoods unfortunately uh they're very   frustrated that they can't safely get them to  a park and that there's not enough parking if   they were to use a vehicle that when it really  comes down to the quality of life we need to   be providing these options so that folks can get  out and get that fresh air reduce the amount of   heat they're generating as we are a heat island  reduce the amount of ozone production that is   causing more flares in COPD and in asmatics and we  need to encourage people to come back to a person   level not a car level in our city businesses that  are located next to biking or shared Lanes have   a massive increase the number of folks coming  through that door but if you're zooming by 40 m   an hour you forget the small B uh business owners  in your area so again thanks to the red bud Trail   I have probably spent several hundred more than I  ever meant to at Johnson's Garden Center because   I passed by on such a regular basis so again I  would please beg you this idea of endorsing this   plan of full-throated saying we are are a city  that is vibrant that offers choices that allows   folks to uh avoid the burden of car ownership  consistantly uh would enrich witch to a degree   uh that would create a legacy that you could be  part of many many many metropolitan areas are   adopting these changes I would hate for us to uh  slow down our enthusiasm for such a bold Vision   thank you again for the opportunity today thank  you Dr Siri we'll continue with public comment good morning again city council mayor I'm Harem  baskam 5514 South uh Santa Fe in District three   in theory I'm all for the bicycle Lanes uh  I've ridden a bike to work before I live down   at fifth to fifth in Broadway and I used to work  at City Hall so so I have used uh the bike path   particular along the river uh in order to do  that but here's some of the observations I've   had recently uh driving to work along some of the  bicycle Lanes um there's a lot of motor vehicle   traffic in the bicycle lanes because there's  no separation I heard Paul talk earlier about   some type of bumper lane or or perhaps cones  that help separate the two lanes but the way   they are currently with just the line on the  ground people tend to drop drive over in that   lane people pass me on the right uh I see Vehicles  parking in the bicycle Lanes so now the bicyclist   have to go out into the traffic lane in order to  get around the cars that are parked and then you   got the bicyclist who just disregard the lanes  all together they they'll be going the against   traffic the wrong way on streets that already have  bicycle Lanes so I I just don't see the reason of   having them unless we're going to have some type  of way of enfor enforcing them I realized the   police department is probably who's supposed  to be enforcing these Lanes but do we really   know how we're supposed to be using them maybe  we need to have some type of public education so   that people do know how to use them we need  to have some type of enforcement uh perhaps   the bicycle Patrol with the police department  could concentrate on that from time to time um   and then the last thing I'd like to mention is  some of our arterial streets one in particular   Broadway they've reduced from four lanes to  two lanes plus a turn lane and bicycle lanes   that causes a bottleneck between 13th and 21st  Street again I experienced that this last week   and there was about 15 cars waiting at a stoplight  there at 17th because you didn't have in my mind   adequate traffic flow in One Direction that's  all I really have just a few observations thank you thank you Harland we'll  continue with public comment good morning I'm Alan Kaylor and I'm here on  behalf of bike walk Wich in support of this   plan um It's actually kind of hard to follow uh  Dr sir I thought she did a a great job addressing   many of the concerns and I will try to highlight  uh emphasize some particular areas first of all   as has been talked about this is just a plan  it doesn't require any changes it doesn't uh   certainly doesn't close down any streets it  doesn't uh ban cars from any place and it   doesn't require any spending uh on the flip side  of your spending concerns councilman Glascock as   uh councilman tle pointed out without a plan in  place it is hard to get the momentum to accomplish   anything under the 2013 plan we accomplish not  only the bike share but also the extension of   the Prairie Sunset Trail and the red bud Trail  and without having a plan there to encourage   that then that very likely those wouldn't have  happened and that's what this plan is intended   to do the main reason to adopt the plan though  is for pre uh reasons of safety um people ride   bikes for a variety of reasons we've already had  some some of the speakers address it but 7% of the   households in the city don't even have a vehicle  and in some neighborhoods that's that's more than   20% of the households don't have a vehicle in  addition uh there are people that are legally   prohibited from from driving there are people that  have uh physical uh conditions that prohibit from   prohibit them from driving I've personally worked  in the past year I've worked with two people in   professional positions who uh had neurological  issues and were not able to get a driver's   license uh therefore they used a bike to uh as  their primary means of transportation we have   to be able to provide for those people and as Dr  Siri pointed out uh children under the age of 16   use the bikes to get to their uh school and to  uh other things that they do I share uh Arlin   I apologize don't remember your last name uh  concern about the safety of of the people and   so one of the things that this plan does is  it's int you'll see a reference to the fact   of all ages and abilities uh Network it's  intended to make it safe for everyone of   of all ages and abilities to travel including  children and including people who are not uh   necessarily comfortable riding in the  street uh so the focus of the plan is safety just last year alone in addition to the  the statistics cited in the plan but just last   year alone there were 174 people seriously  injured or killed riding a bike in crashes   with Motor Vehicles we need to make this safe  the city safer for people that are using their bikes I want to Circle back to the folks that  are using the bikes as essential Transportation   probably the best example that I have of that is  through my own work with um bike walk wiita as   most of you know our one of our primary programs  is our recycle program where we essentially   take donations of bikes we fix them up and we  give them away when I say we give them away   what we do is we work with a couple of dozen  other organizations with the hot team with   humankind with the VA with Open Door those other  organizations essentially help people get jobs   they help them get housing but then they need  transportation to get back and forth and they   can't afford a car they can't get a driver's  license for various reasons uh a bike is the   only viable means of transportation for them  so these organizations that we work with send   people to us and ask us to give them a bike we  gave away several hundred bikes uh every year uh   to people under in this program so that enabling  them to get to jobs and I have personally talked   to many of them uh and they have not uh the bike  is essential for their Transportation frankly if   they don't have a bike they don't have a job  so looks like I'm running out of time i' spent   more time trying addressing some of the questions  than I intended uh but uh for all these reasons   uh I would ask you to endorse his plan thank  you thank you Alan we'll continue with public comment good morning mayor city council happy  New Year uh my name is Vince Hancock I live   in the deleno neighborhood first of all I do want  to give a shout out to our wonderful public works   department for doing a long hard job of 12-hour  shifts to keep our lanes clear for both our motor   vehicles and for our bicycles the last time I  rode over four miles and 4 Ines of snow was 1991   it worked and this is on a bicycle I don't look  forward to repeating it again and that's why it's   lovely to have great streets we have to deal with  sand but that's a different thing do want to get   out of the way uh I do feel we paid a little too  much on this study I do feel I I appreciate that   our bidding process gives it to the lowest bidder  I feel that our city was not served by picking   somebody out of town because just like today's  meeting they literally phoned it in they had one   meeting in our neighborhood at fren University and  then when we had to tried to have another meeting   over at the senior center they kept passing it on  passing it on and that meeting never happened it   would have been phenomenally well attended they  just canceled it out so I I I'm not going to say   that they were acting like a tool but that's  literally their name and that's I feel that   they didn't do us well by that moving on uh this  plan as you said is a plan it's a guideline it's   a recommendation it's flawed we can see that it's  flawed on page 120 when it says that there's this   thing coming up a future concept called the Chism  Trail Parkway yeah it's out of date do we update   it do we spend more money to actually replace all  instances of 2024 with 2025 do we strike out the   fact that chis and Trail Parkway is planned  as opposed to completed our immediate former   vice mayor was there to dedicate it and thank you  Maggie we know what that's going to be it's also a   bit of an experiment we have technical Lanes where  it's here's where your car goes here's where your   bike goes here where is your pedestrian goes under  city law I can't tell a pedestrian to get out of   my bik lane and I can't if I'm a pedestrian I  can't tell a bike to get off my sidewalk we've   got both areas as an encouragement that maybe  the bikes will be here maybe the pedestrians   will here be here also on that page where it talks  about deleno it talks about putting Douglas on a   road diet it plans on removing 85 parking spaces  to get room for two lanes on Douglas we all know   that's not going to happen it's what's written  in this plan I think we have a verbal agreement   we're going to ignore that uh last but not least  I do want to get into another thing from the 880s   I've been riding bikes since the 80s I've been in  every Wicked wind since 1990 except for one where   I had the death of an immediate family member  the month ahead of that time so I put in at   least a th miles a year back in the 80s we had  these wonderful things called video games and I   encourage every 14-year-old who's driving to learn  to play the video game called Frogger it's where   we learned how to cross the street when there's  semis there and when to just go maybe I'll just   stay on this side of the street there's something  that we can't put into the law but it's called   the ride of way we can't put it in in the most  obvious way and the best way to describe ride of   way it's what I taught my neighbor two girls when  I uh taught them to ride their bicycles with the   exception of an airplane on a Runway and a train  the little guy should always be given the right   of way a semi should yield to a van a van should  yield to a truck a truck should yield to a car a   car should yield to a golf cart a golf cart should  yield to a bicycle and and a bicycle on a sidewalk   must always yield to a pedestrian and under city  law which is a phenomenal use of common sense if   a bicycle approaches behind a pedestrian we are  required to give them an audible notification   that we're about to pass them most of us will say  bicycle passing on your left and when people don't   do that in front of me I encourage them to do  that because it's how we share those sidewalks   together when they're not snow covered it's how  we work together safely I would not be again uh   not be in favor of banning bicycles on sidewalks  because because of that right of way issue we can   share them together and so many times when I see  people on our established eight and 12 foot wide   bypasss we do get people who just say hey thanks  for letting me know people with their dogs that go   oh thanks that lets me know to hold on tight to  that leash we can share them together it's safe   it's wonderful this plan's not a perfect plan  but I think if we put it in place and know that   it's a plan we just did a chisen Trail Parkway  that was part of the plan 20 years ago the goal   was to get it done in 5 to 10 sometimes they  take longer especially when budgets don't allow   appreciate your time stand for any questions  thank you Vincent we'll continue with public comment good morning Maru and members of council  my name is Holly Terell and I am the executive   director of bike walk witch I'm here today to  voice my strong support of the proposed Master   bike plan as someone deeply involved in promoting  safe sustainable and accessible Transportation   options I see this plan as a critical step toward  continuing to make Witchita a city where everyone   can feel confident walking or biking the proposed  improvements to infrastructure connectivity   and education address many of the barriers  that residents currently face when considering   alternative transportation a well-executed bike  plan benefits cyclists and the entire Community   by investing in safe and connected bike Lanes  we create safer streets for pedestrians reduce   congestion for drivers and improve access  to jobs schools and other essential Services   Research consistently shows the cities with robust  biking infrastructure and enjoy increased economic   Vitality improved Public Health outcomes and  a higher quality of life at balk witta we work   closely with residents from all corners of our  city and we hear a consistent message people want   safer options for walking and biking for parents  who want their kids to bike to school safely or   seniors who are seeking a more active lifestyle  this plan represents an opportunity to meet   those needs and build a more Equitable connected  Witchita I also want to emphasize the long-term   value of this investment a forward-thinking  bike plan positions Witchita as a leader in   sustainable Urban Development it shows that we  prioritize our residents well-being and embrace   the economic and environmental challenges of our  future I urge the council to approve this plan   and commit to its implementation together we can  create a city we're walking and biking are safe   viable options that we celebrate everywhere  thank you for your time and for your dedic   to making witto a better more communicated  city thank you Holly we'll continue with public comment uh Doug Ballard district 6 uh of course  I think most of you know that I write a bike and   I write a bik a lot so these are just a feww  comments they're not particularly related to   anything thing but um I've asked several  businesses in Delano area to add a bicycle   rack and uh neither one of them would do it one  of them said that they didn't want to give up a   parking space uh the other one gave no reason  at all uh I'll just use for instance the Brams   at cica and Douglas I'm not going to say it's an  exaggeration to say that half of their customers   walk to the store but there's no way to uh this in  regards to your comment about bike racks there's   several places that I would go if I could lock my  bike up when I got there but I'm not going to ride   uh and run the risk of leaving my bike out there  and it's gone when I come back so the only way you   can get some of these people to do that that is  to tell them you got to put a bicycle rack in for   a hundred years we have emphasized the automobile  I mean we all know that for 50 years we've known   that it solves problems but it also creates  problems and we're in a super crisis right now   uh somewhat unrelated I gave a uh big speech  at a bachelor's party in the summer of 19 67   that the climate change we were calling it global  warming at the time would bankrupt the insurance   industry it's happening I thought it would happen  a little quicker but it's happening so we have got   to deemphasize the automobile and going from gas  to electric is some water with solution but it's   also trading one kind of pollution for another  kind of pollution and I've said to I think every   one of you I think that cities should be organized  around elementary schools and grocery stores and   if you can't walk to them they're too far apart  and I have lived in an era where that's pretty   much the way the city was organized so most of  these things have been solved unrelated but part   of this plan is I have some concerns about turning  right on red I have had a couple of really close   calls um maybe somebody less athletic and uh not  quite as well strong I guess that's the same thing   as I am it could have been a disaster there's  people who will just there's a bik Lane right   here and they will decide oh I'm going I'm going  to there's a parking spot over there and that's   in both times and it's been on Douglas both times  so I have I'm just bringing that up also I know   I've had discussions with the uh the city guy  uh when you drive down these streets especially   in the winter time and debris falls off of the  vehicles it pushes everything into the bike lane   so as those little rocks roll they get rounder  and rounder and rounder and sometimes s uh they   are like barbarians I've I've had a crash the same  Spa two years in a row with me and my grandson uh   because of the this it's not this it's not what  they put on the road well I'm not sure what it is   but um the bike Lanes need to be cleaned more  often on certain places I noce Broadway and   sometimes I have to ride ride out in the the the  where the cars are which I remind people that I'm   as entitled to that road as that car is so it's  not just for them so uh I've done bike across   Kansas many times and we were told if in doubt  take the lane don't see if they're good enough   driver to not hit you take the lane so I encourage  you to encourage uh to uh start with this plan and   a plan is just a plan and I'm sure in a few years  things will come up and we'll adjust but we need   to get people out of their automobiles when we  make it convenient and I'm just making this up to   live in Mae and work at Boeing that's the worst  thing we could possibly do so but that's what   we've done for a hundred years so anyway thank  you thank you Doug we'll continue with public comment I see none I'll bring it back to the bench council member ho hi right thank you mayor  um I am supportive of this I do have some concerns   like some of the speakers had indicated about  safety issues physical barriers I am hoping that   we focus more on that going forward especially  in some of the higher traffic areas um not not   all grants come from the government there's a lot  of private grants out there as well and many of   those also require some sort of plan in order  to access them um also this does not tie us to   any of these actions to the funding issues that  we have but I would like to ask staff if they   could make sure to give us a heads up when any of  the CIP funding is being included in this I know   it does often come on the green sheets and within  the plans but maybe just an added indication that   this is um when any of the CIP funding would  be um on the docket coming up um and the last   thing Vincent uh paper boy I was a paper boy fan  with the video games back in the day I'm not sure   that exactly teaches us uh the proper etiquette  with biking around towns but yeah never did the   Frogger so just wanted to note that than vice  mayor Johnston thank you mayor I will also be   supporting this my wife and I were first married  in 1982 uh we had one old car lived in uh Twin   Lakes I biked uh about seven or eight miles to  Johnston and Southeast witto so uh I did that   during the summer I figured I probably couldn't  do it in the winter so we got a small apartment   closer to the store 6 months later but uh I loved  it absolutely loved it um except the one time I   got two flat tires in a row trying to get there so  wife finally had to take me to work that day later   on in in my career at Johnson's when mve the store  to 21st in k96 I biked from West Witchita to work   um pretty consistently I'd stop and take a shower  at the North y bike two more miles into work I had   my clothes in my backpack and I loved it again so  I'm very supportive of it I know there's a need   for it for C certain people that can't afford cars  and it's just a great activity and I will say that   biking on sidewalks um at at a fairly rate fairly  good speed I I us back then I'd go 19 20 miles an   hour is very very dangerous have cars pulling  out of streets out of driveways and it's really   easy to get hit they're a lot safer in the street  so I'll be very supportive of it thank you I told   you he talks about his wife all the time council  member glasow thank you mayor uh first off I want   to thank Mike which our bike walk walk Witchita  um I think you do incredible work in the community   I'm glad to go toour your facility uh I guess  recently um and I actually got my involvement   in city government back in 2013 when I was the  mayor's youth Council appointed to the bicycle   steering committee who came up with a 2013 plan  and I do think there's a lot of positive things   that happen as a result of that I'm also a hobby  cyclist I'm training for a triathlon right now   and so I often use our City's bike paths um now  I've had a few uh crashes but they're my own it's   usually me running into a bridge not me running  into anything else and so um there are some   maintenance concerns that the city definitely does  have to address first I want to talk about the   things about this plan that I do think are really  POS positive and I want to be on the record saying   that there are very positive parts of this plan  I do believe that encourages bicycling um bike uh   projects on uh an additional thing is the increase  of data um I think that we need more information   when it comes to ridership I think that's very  important as well I think bike projects on a   temporary basis make a lot of sense where we  can see where it works and where it doesn't   work public education is key to this plan as well  there's some aspect where regarding uh maintenance   against specific along the river and I'm thinking  specifically South along the river I like the   adopt a Bikeway program um the racks on buses I  have no problem with shared micr Mobility improved   uh local reporting of Crash data I think's needed  as well and then also completion of the Prairie   Sunset Trail in some of the parks and so there  are some things that I think are very good from   this plan uh that I do want on the record now I do  think there are a lot of challenges in this plan   as well um the fiscal note of a minimum of $18  million over the course that's an increase from   what's projected in our CIP currently while we're  facing challenges over the next 3 years I don't   think that is necessarily the most responsible I  also have concerns where requires quote requires   private developers to do things um when it  comes to putting bicycle racks I would love   private developers to also put bicycle racks but I  don't think this body should force that on any uh   private business and deleno and small business  in deleno and I also think without data that's   irresponsible um to move forward on it so I do  believe that the fiscal project or projections   of this do matter as most times when staff comes  up to this bench uh the justification we get to   endorse a plan is well it was in the plan and so  because it was in the plan we should move forward   on it and again there are good things in this plan  but I don't want that as a justification we're   facing fiscal challenges um again I'll use uh the  reasoning for that the resolution says that the   outcome is to include this in the CIP it doesn't  doesn't say just part of these it says everything   section two says that we shall do this page eight  says that we will do this chapter 5 says that we   will Implement these plans those are different  than the council should look at this in light of   fiscal challenges of the time and again I support  a lot of parts of these plans but I have concerns   about these I don't think my questions were  answered and so I won't be supportive of this plan   today though I am supportive of components of the  plan council member Tuttle thank you very much um   I want to thank staff thank you Paul for are hard  work on this and and everyone in your team um also   to thank the community members I know that you  know as you mentioned in one of your slides went   to the district advisory boards we had open houses  we coordinated with the witch area Metropolitan   planning organization so much feedback has been  an part of this process um I certainly want to   thank Dr Siri for being here today your comments  were fantastic and I appreciate it always want to   thank bike walk Witchita and the other advocates  for making our community more walkable and bikable   um I want people to be able to get to work I want  people to get to be able to go to school I want   people to get to to go and be able to practice  their faith I also want to attract and retain   talent in our community and we hear consistently  not just from witchin but from across the nation   that having a more robust system for people to  have alternate forms of transportation either   because they want to like count vice mayor  Johnston mentioned or because they have to is   important and it will help keep people here um not  many of the projects within the bike plan are just   Standalone projects that we're building byass it's  going to be an enhancements of when we're doing   road work um I I truly believe that developing a  plan is helping us to establish a Community Vision   for not just how we build infrastructure but for  transportation overall how people Traverse around   our community a plan also supports provides a  support for implementation and then finally it   helps us and staff and the community to prioritize  improvements through a systematic approach we have   a plan and now we know how to implement the plan  I always refer back and people have heard me many   many times talk about and make a lot of decisions  based or most decisions based on our mission and   our mission of the city of which saws to be  an exceptionally well-run City and we do that   through keeping wias safe providing safe alra  forms of transportation but then also for cars   if a car and a bike have an incident both entities  are going to get injured probably so keeping our   community safe also as Dr Siri so kindly mentioned  growing our economy traveling 10 miles an hour   through Witchita versus 40 mil an hour through  Witchita means that you might stop and shop you   might stop and get a coffee you might um engage  in you know retail activities so it just provides   for more opportuni to grow our economy of course  build and maintain Dependable infrastructure and   then also provide the conditions for living  well as a past public health professional   walking and biking is something near and dear to  my heart because not only does it give people an   opportunity for transportation options but it  also to helps provide them an opportunity to   live a healthier lifestyle so with that I will  be supportive today thank you council member   Johnson thanks mayor I'll be brief I just want  to commend vice mayor mayor Johnston for those   who don't know if you're riding your bike from  west to east that's uphill and that's hard and   you did that every day yeah you just go downhill  going on I just want to commend you I've done that   one time I'll never do it again going uphill tough  on the leg so I just wanted to commend you on that one with that um I also will um reiterate um my  question to staff I believe that during these   last two conversations whether it's golf  carts or bicycles uh that there are some   opportunities for individuals to also utilize  other public assets which are the sidewalks   and so I would still like to see the number  of sidewalks that the city of wsha um has   as that is also opportunity for individuals  that use a bicycle maybe not um experienced   Riders but much less experienced Riders  uh that can still utilize those sidewalks   um so I also want to reiterate uh that I've  always encouraged individuals to either walk   uh use a bicycle use a motorcycle use any other  forms of transportation including vehicles and I'm   not trying to limit anyone from those choices  um but I do believe that we need to maintain   what we have first and foremost um and I will  continue to encourage our community to utilize   uh different types of Transportation modes but  I think it really goes down to this we have to   practice more respect of one another whether  it's a pedestrian a bicyclist a motorcyclist   a a vehicle uh driver we all have to practice  more respect I've gotten emails about people   running red lights um I can only imagine the  type of damage vehicle versus vehicle uh if   you're at an intersection and have a crash let  alone a bicyclist and a vehicle so I would just   really encourage um as I've heard multiple times  uh from the audience as well as this bench this   is about public safety and I do believe that uh we  need to continue considering Public Safety as our   number one concern but we have public assets and  they are to be utilized by the public that means   all and so um I'm going to continue encouraging  that we do more public um Outreach in reminding   people the ways that you can legally uh ride your  bicycle even on sidewalks outside of the downtown   core um and again encourage people uh to utilize  other modes of transportation as well but I am   um very concerned um as this bicycle master  plan costs the city $460,000 and then it has   a it does not carry a financial consideration  at this moment but but within the plan it does   ask for $18 million in Investments that would  have to come before this Council again before   they're approved and I know that $18 million is  also the same amount for deferred maintenance in   parking garages and that was not accounted for in  our budget process last year so it gives me great   concern uh to vote on any matters that don't  take into consideration future Financial um   problems that we will be facing so I will not be  supportive of this but we'll continue to support   individuals that want to walk bike um use their  motorcycles use their vehicles and um again uh   we'll be voting no on this council member Johnson  thanks mayor I mooved that the city of Witchita   adopt a resolution endorsing the 2024 which is  called bicycle plan and authorize the necessary   signatures second motion and second any further  discussion I see none Madame clerk please open the r motion passes 5 to2 Madame  clerk please call the next item council member tle you I would request  that maybe we could have a five minute break   just because we have four pretty weighty items  still ahead of us thank you take uh a five minute   break how about let's come back here at 12 12:20  so even a little bit longer so we can utilize uh facilities e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e continue with the council meeting Madame  clerk can you please call the next item   PUD 2024 uh 18 zone change requests in the  city from LC limited commercial District   multif family residential district and multif  family residential district to PUD planed unit   development number 137 to allow for mixed use  development generally located at the southeast   corner of East Central Avenue and North  Avenue North Oliver Avenue 4801 East Central Avenue hello and good afternoon Scott wle from  the planning department here to present this   item so as you heard the applicant is requesting  to rezone the property it's currently zoned LC   limited commercial B multifam and MF 29 they'd  like to rezone it to plan unit development which   is custom zoning this item is being being heard  today because the district Advisory board and the   planning commission's recommendations both  for approval are different in terms of the   request the applicant has indicated they're  requesting the rezoning in order to allow for   the Redevelopment of the site into a mixed use  commercial Marketplace the recommended plan unit   development text which is attached to the staff  report identifies the proposed permitted uses   including outdoor recreation and entertainment  it also identifies recommended restrictions   for alcohol and entertainment on the site in  terms of the property as you can see here the   site is generally located at the southeast  corner of Oliver in central subject site is   made up of approximately 19 ownership Parcels is  approximately 4.5 acres in size and as I indicated   before zoned LC B multif family and MF 29 it's  also developed with multiple vacant commercial and   Office Buildings in addition to undeveloped space  so you can see on the aerial in terms of context   properties to the north of the subject site across  East Central are zoned LC and developed with a   convenience store retail space and a restaurant  properties to the South across Third Street are   Zone B and tf3 two family residential district  and are developed uh as Robinson Middle School   properties to the east along North Harding Avenue  are Zone B and tf3 and are developed with duplexes   properties to the West are zoned LC uh includes  part of that includes a protective overlay go   general office also with a protective overlay and  tf3 those properties are developed with a variety   of a liquor store and multiple single family  residences in terms of the staff report staff   report provides information about the applicants  request the recommended PUD text including uses   limitations on hours of operations for some of the  uses signage and Landscaping in terms of review on   November 21st the planning Comm commission held  the public hearing for this case and recommended   approval of the zone change uh they also  recommended that with modifications identified   in the attached PUD language included as part of  the staff report the vote on that was 10 to2 the   agent was present on behalf of the applicant the  agent indicated agreement with the majority of the   staff recommended changes the Pud but requested  mapc allow Car Wash as a permitted use on the site   and that the mapc also allow a maximum Building  height of 35 feet on lot one and 45 ft un lot to and the mapc recommendation included those as  part of their recommendation to you two members   of the public were at the public hearing provided  comment on the requested zone changes while they   were mostly in support uh they did express  some concerns with the proposed uses namely   the car wash and alcohol sales in proximity to  the adjacent school on December 2nd so following   after uh the mapc meeting the district Advisory  Board heard the case and recommended approval of   the zone change request similar to the mapc  but with a modification that a car wash uh   the way that they're recommending it to you  is that a car wash would not be permitted by   right on the site the agent for the at the dab  meeting the agent for the applicant indicated   that the applicant was amenable to prohibiting  Car Wash as an allowed use on the site and no   members of the public spoke on the item no protest  petitions were received for this case therefore   the zone change request can be approved with a  simple majority vote so four of seven and the   recommendation it is recommended city council  adopt the finding of the Planning Commission   and approve the requested zone change that would  require four of seven votes Alternatives include   the following you can override the Planning  Commission adopt alternative findings and   deny the zone change requests that would require  five of seven votes you can override the Planning   Commission adopt alternative findings and approve  the zone change request with dab recommended PUD   text which would prohibit a car wash as an  allowed use on the site that would require   five of seven votes or as always you can send it  back to the Planning Commission for additional   consideration which again requires four of seven  votes just a quick note about process the public   hearing for planning items occurs at the Planning  Commission meeting according to the policy city   council does not typically receive public  comments on zoning items so with that I'll   take you through some of the graphics and images  here so here's the aial showing the subject site   here's the zoning map showing the zoning in the  area here's the map from the comprehensive plan   showing it's recommended for residential and  Commercial here's the Pud graphic submitted   as part of the application and here is the  map showing the notification area and the   protest area again no protests were received  on this application here are photos from the area buildings on the subject site looking across the street and across to the east looking to the west and with that I'll stand  for any questions questions for staff I'll ask a   couple questions I was just curious so I know  that alcohol sales was of concern initially um   but I just saw a picture of I believe one of  the slides showed alcohol sales was I correct   that's correct there's a uh liquor store across  the street to the west and do you know what the   intent is of these developers I know that um  multifam is allowed on that property is multif   family the intention well um the way that they've  described it is as a Marketplace and they would   like to have uh the ability to serve alcohol but  also have um outdoor entertainment such as yard   games and those kind of things so um they I don't  think that there's definitive plans but uh we got   a sense uh from the text that they submitted  with the Pud of what what they would like to   see happen um and it talks about uh this plan unit  development is intended to allow for redevelopment   of six commercial buildings into a mix use  commercial Marketplace um they've and this   is the text out of the Pud that the applicant  submitted the project aligns with the city of   witch's focus on increased walkability and  utilizing the expanded public transit along   Central and Oliver a portion of the Pud will  be utilized as an outdoor area to enjoy games   entertainment and goods available in the market  and dining area of the Pud the Pud also provides   flexible development regulations to accomplish the  above goals that otherwise would not be possible   per the uh a limited commercial zoning District  as defined in the zoning code thank you so no   intention for housing um at this point they  don't describe it but they would have that   option available in the future if they if they  chose to uh under this zoning thank you I see no   further questions for staff and these zoning  cases do not receive public comment um at a   council meeting so this resides in council member  Johnson's District thank you mayor District On's   up first today uh I have had expart communication  with the applicant um in that conversation ascott   also mentioned they were okay with not having um  Car Wash as a permitted use so with that I would   move that the city council override the mapc and  approve the requested PUD as recommended by the   district Advisory board for clarification the dab  recommended PUD text is the same as the planning   commissions except that it does not include  Car Wash as a permitted use and in support of   this motion I offer the following findings the  modified PUD will help to restrict uses that   could have more significant detrimental effects  to the surrounding properties and the modified PUD   will also help to better balance the relative  impacts and benefits to both the public and   applicant second motion and a second any further  discussion I see none Madame clerk please open the role motion passes 70 Madame  clerk please call the next item conditional 2024 242 conditional use to  allow daycare generally on property zon single   family residential district to allow up to 100  children generally located on the north side of   15th Street North between North persing Avenue  and North Oliver Avenue at 4640 East 15 Street North good afternoon again Scott wle from the  planning department so in this case as you heard   the applicant's requesting a conditional use and  that add use is to allow them to operate a daycare   General at this facility daycare General uh means  typically that it can accommodate 12 uh or more uh   individuals but they could also do fewer than 12  but it just allows them to go beyond that 12 limit   uh this case is being heard because the district  Advisory board and the Planning Commission they   both recommended approval but their conditions  that they're recommending to you are slightly   different in terms of the subject site subject  site uh it consists of the south portion of a   former school property at the northeast corner of  persing in 15th Street you can see it here on the   graphic it consists of one ownership parcel is  developed with a vacant school and related out   buildings and facilities and is currently  zoned sf5 so single family zoning in terms   of the request the applicant has indicated they  would like to operate a daycare at the site again   the conditional use would allow daycare general  which would allow for more than 12 individuals   to be cared for at the site in terms of context  property to the north is zoned sf5 owned by the   applicant undeveloped properties to the south  east and west are zoned sf5 and developed with   single family residences in terms of the staff  report staff report contains uh information   on the daycare use in the zoning code and also  parking in terms of review on December 12th the   Planning Commission held a public hearing for this  item and recommended approval of the application   with the conditions listed in the staff report  which are standard condition S no members of the   public spoke on this item prior to that though on  December 2nd the district Advisory Board reviewed   the request and recommended approval with the  same conditions as a Planning Commission but   they added a fifth one and that was that uses  on the site would be limited to school and   daycare three members of the public spoke on the  requested conditional use with concerns related   to parking traffic and that the applicant may not  follow through with the daycare business now uh a   quick note on this one is that uh in preparations  for this and following the dab meeting uh staff   have had a number of different conversations  related to that recommendation and um it's it's   the general consensus that it's not that with the  dab recommendation um that would be difficult uh   that could be a difficult one to uh impose and the  reason why is because the condition that they are   suggesting or recommending to you would actually  prohibit uses that already allowed in the base   zoning so that could be difficult uh if it was  challenged it could be difficult to defend in   terms of uh no protest petitions were received  against the conditional use request therefore   the request may be approved with a simple majority  vote or for of seven votes in terms of recommended   action it is recommended the city council adopt  the findings of the Planning Commission and   approve the requested conditional use authorize  the necessary signatures and instruct the city   clerk to publish the resolution after approval  that requires a simple majority or four of seven   votes Alternatives include the following you can  override the Planning Commission adopt alternative   findings and deny the conditional use request that  would require five of seven votes or as as always   you can return the case to the Planning Commission  for additional consideration which would require   just four of seven votes also a quick note on the  process again that the public hearing occurred at   the Planning Commission meeting here's the graphic  uh showing the site here's the zoning in the area   as was noted surrounded by sf5 here's the map  from the comprehensive plan showing it identified   and recommended for commercial use here's uh the  text here's a graphic that was submitted as part   of the application showing the school buildings  here's the protest map notification map again no   protests were received against the application and  here are photos of the site and the surrounding   area there's the homes across the way and with  that I'll stand for any questions questions for   staff I only have one I saw that there's a large  property just north of this um proposed property   yes is that a park can you tell us a little  bit more about that land no it's a portion of   the former School site and it is not included as  part of this application but it is under the same   ownership the applicant owns that property that's  correct and what is the intention for that uh at   this time we do not know they've not submitted  anything on that one at this time thank you I   see no further questions for staff this resides in  council member Johnson's District thank you mayor   um Scott just some clarifications before I make  a motion um this is the base zoning here is sf5   right that's correct yes sir and they are able to  build one single family dwelling on that property   if they wanted to or use the current building as  a single family dwelling that's correct they could   okay um there was a lot of there was a lot of  discussion at dab for reasons I won't say From   the Bench but it was a lively discussion um a lot  of the concerns came from that as well but a lot   of it was based on what could be developed on that  property and how that property could be used um so   with that and hearing the challenges we would  have legally with the recommendation the base   zoning is sf5 which is not something the community  has been against they've been supportive of sf5 um   and this conditional use is only for the daycare  anyway so that's the condition being attached so   with that without going the the dab route we can  achieve the same um objective I believe so I would   move that the city council adopt the findings of  the mapc and approve the requested conditional use   authorize the necessary signatures and instruct  the city clerk to publish the resolution after   approval second motion and a second any further  discussion I see none Madame clerk please open the rooll motion passes 70 Madame clerk please  call the next item PUD 202 24-24 zone change   request in the city from GC General commercial to  plann unit development number 135 to create the   Empower PUD for an entertainment establishment  generally located on the southwest corner of   West 21st Street North and North Market Street  2157 North Market Street hello again Scott wle   from the planning department so as you heard  for this case the applicant is requesting to   rezone the property from GC General commercial to  plan unit development which is custom zoning this   item is being heard today because the district  Advisory board and the planning commission's   recommendations for approval are different in  terms of the requests the applicant has indicated   they are requesting the rezoning in order to  allow for redevelopment of the site as a cultural   Hub with dining shopping artistic experiences  resources for startups live music and cultural   events the recommended plan unit development  text is an attachment to the staff report   and identifies proposed permitted uses including  those permitted in The General commercial zoning   district and entertainment establishment Event  Center and Nightclub in the city in terms terms   of the property the subject site is generally  located at the southwest corner of 21st Street and   Market Street it is made up of approximately four  ownership Parcels is approximately 1.32 acres in   size and is Zone GC it is developed with multiple  vacant buildings and related parking in terms of   context properties to the north across 21st Street  are Zone GC and developed with restaurants and   shopping properties to the South are Zone GC and  developed with a Triplex and duplex properties to   the east across North Market Street are Zone GC  and developed with a strip mall which includes   retail and restaurants properties to the west  across North Park Place are Zone GC and developed   with a quadplex a single family residence and  an auto body shop properties to the west across   the alley are developed with a mix of residential  dwellings in terms of the staff report the staff   report provides information about the campus uses  and Designs the events proposed events parking   outdoor service and food food and drink outdoor  music and landscaping again the recommended PUD   text is attached to the staff report on December  12th the Planning Commission held the public   hearing for this item and recommended approval of  the requested zone change with modifications to   the staff recommended text the mapc recommended  PUD General Provisions are attached to the staff   report December 9th the district Advisory Board  heard the case and recommended approval of the   zone change request the dab recommended approval  with the following diff differences compared to   the mapc recommendation the dab recommendation  would require any parking plans to be approved   by the parking Administration so the mapc  recommendation did not include that provision   the dab recommendation would also require that  outdoor music be discontinued at 900 p.m. Sun   Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 p.m. Friday and  Saturday the Planning Commission recommendation uh   was for that to discontinue at 10 pm. so an  hour difference Sunday through Thursday and   midnight Friday and Saturday so again an hour  difference between the mapc recommendation and   the dab recommendation in addition the dab did not  recommend requiring a site plan that identifies   the outdoor music and outdoor service of food  and drink areas the dab members expressed concern   regarding outdoor events and detrimental impacts  of the surrounding residents says no members of   the public spoke on this item and and another  uh clarification on this or at least drawing   out some more attention to it is that uh the as  part of the application it was not clear to us   initially as staff where the outdoor music and  where the dining would be taking place the agent   for the applicant explained that at the mapc  meeting which was after the dab meeting and so   with that additional clarification that's why  there is that recommendation from the mapc to   require a site plan that identifies where those  would happen on this larger campus um again no   protests were received for this case therefore  the zone change request can be approved with a   simple majority vote which would require  four of seven votes in terms of council   action is recommended that city council adopt the  findings of the Planning Commission and approve   the requested zone change again requires four of  seven votes Alternatives include the following   you can override the Planning Commission adopt  alternative findings and deny the zone change   request that would require five of seven votes  or you can override the Planning Commission adopt   alternative findings and approve the zone change  request with the dab recommended PUD text that   would require five of seven votes or as always  you can send it back to the Planning Commission   for additional consideration again four out of  seven votes again quick note about the process and   public comments being at the Planning Commission  with that I'll take you through the graphics so   here's the aerial showing the campus here's the  zoning of the area you can see GC is kind of that   pink purple color there here's uh the map from  the comprehensive plan showing commercial in this   area here's the Pud uh graphic and text that was  submitted as part of the application uh this area   is in the 21 Street Corridor so that we do have  a corridor plan uh in this area and and it was   consistent with that this is the map showing the  notification area and protests again no protests   were received for this against this application  here are photos from the site and surrounding area looking across the street looking to the to   the east south and with that  I'll stand for any questions   questions for staff I see none this resides in  council member Ballard's District thank you mayor   I would like to take the recommended action adopt  the findings of the mapc and approve the requested   zone change second motion and a second any further  discussion I see none Madame clerk please open the role motion passes 70 madam  clerk please call the next item Zone 2024 52 zone change request in the  city from single family residential district   and tf3 two family residential district to mf18  multif family residential district to create a   residential development generally located on the  west side of North Doris Street and within 180 ft   north of 2 Street North at 317 and 321 North Doris  hello Scott wle again from the planning department   so for this uh request the applicant is requesting  approval of a zone change from sf5 single family   and tf3 to mf8 multifamily this item is being  heard today because the district Advisory board   and the Planning Commission recommendations  are different in terms of the request the   applicant has indicated they're requesting the  zoning change in order to develop the property   with four duplexes so eight dwelling units total  about the property well the subject site is gener   generally located to the north and west of Second  Street and Doris Street it is just approximately   half an acre in size consists of two ownership  parcels and is currently vacant in terms of   context properties on all sides are de are zoned  sf5 and developed with single family dwellings a   in addition a multifam residential use is located  on property Zone B multifam approximately 1,000 ft   or about two blocks to the east additionally there  are several uh or I should say multiple duplex   structures within 350 ft of the subject site in  all directions and you can see that here on the   zoning map in terms of the staff report the staff  report provides information about development   standards potential dwelling density parking  landscaping and screening in terms of review   on December 12th the Planning Commission reviewed  the request and recommended approval of the zone   change one member of the public spoke against  multifam on the lots and stated he was fine   with duplexes and that was at the mapc hearing on  December 9th the district Advisory Board reviewed   the request and recommended approval of the zone  change request with modified action to allow tf3   on the site so that uh one of the properties is  currently zoned tf3 this action recommended by   the dab would have the Southern Property which is  sf5 be rezoned to tf3 and would deny the request   to change the zoning of both properties to  mf18 no protests were received against the   case therefore the zone change can be approved  by a simple majority vote or four of seven terms   of the recommendations recommended city council  adopt the findings of the Planning Commission   approve the requested zone change authorized the  necessary signatures and instruct the city clerk   to publish the ordinance after approval  again would require four of seven votes   Alternatives include the following you can  override the mapc adopt alternative findings   and approve the zone change to tf3 to family  residential district as recommended by the dab   that would require five of seven votes another  alternative is that you can override the mapc   adopt alternative findings and deny the zone  change requests that would require five of seven   votes or as always you can return the case to the  Planning Commission for additional consideration   that would require four or seven votes and just a  quick note about the process and public comments   occurring at the Planning Commission I'll take  you through some of the graphics here's the   aial showing the general site here's a zoning  map here's the map from the comprehensive plan   showing that residential is recommended in this  area here's the notification and protest map again   no protest were received against the application  here are photos of the site in the surrounding area and with that I'll stand for any questions  question questions for staff I see none this   resides in council member Ballard's District  thank you mayor I move to override the mapc   and approve the requested rezoning as recommended  by the district Advisory Board this would approve   a zoning change to tf3 district and not the  requested mf18 in support of this motion I   offer the following findings the rezoning  to tf3 will help restrict uses that could   have more significant detrimental effects to the  surrounding properties the tf3 zoning will also   help to better balance the relative impacts and  benefits to both the public in the applicant um   there has been public opposition to rezoning  the properties to mf18 but public support for   tf3 zoning second Motion in a second any further  discussion I see none Madame clerk please open the role motion passes 70 thank you  Madam clerk please call the next item approve the that pursuant to section  20490 mayor woo and council member Johnson's   travel expenses as estimated on the  Travel authorization and expense form   to attend local government day in Topeka Kansas  January 22nd and 23rd 2025 for the purpose of   meeting with state legislators regarding  Community issues consistent with ar 3.1   upon return from travel actual expenses  shall be reported to the controller's office I will abstain from it motion to  approve second motion and a second any   further discussion council member tutle  thank you um I have a question for legal   if I can I just have a question I heard  that on this one mayor wo said she was   to abstain do we have to abstain I'm I'm  asking a question I don't know the answer   to because I've never abstained from voting  for my own travel before so I just want to   make sure when my item comes if I do it right  you do not have to you may okay thank you thank   you thank you there was one additional question  I believe um now vice mayor Johnston were you   planning to go to Topeka as well I think it'd be  better if I stayed away thank you all right um   we have a motion and a second any further  discussion I see none Madame clerk please open the roll passes 70 Madame clerk please call  the next item approve that pursuant to   section 20490 vice mayor Ballard council  member Tuttle and council member hoel's   travel expenses as estimated on the Travel  authorization and expense form to attend   local government day in Topeka on January  22nd 2025 for the purpose of meeting with   state legislators regarding Community issues  consistent with ar 3.1 upon return from travel   actual expenses shall be reported to the  controller's office no moved second motion   and a second any further discussion I see  none Madame clerk please open the role motion passes 70 Madame clerk please call the next item approve that pursuant to section 20490  council member glasscock's travel expenses   as estimated on the Travel authorization and  expense form to attend local government day   in toeka Kansas January 21st through 22nd  2025 for the purpose of meeting with state   legislators regarding in community issues  consistent with ar 3.1 upon return from   travel all actual expenses will be reported to  the controller's office so moved second motion   and a second any further discussion I  see none Madam clerk please open the rle motion passes 70 Madame clerk please call the  next item council member appointments and comments you clear the screen would some is there a council member who  would like to speak council member Glascock thank   you mayor um I would just like on the record um  doesn't involve uh taxpayer money uh to travel and   I'm not paying um I'm not being gifted to go  to it but I'll be attending the 2025 State of   the State address Governor Kelly's address  in Topeka tomorrow on Monday January 20th   I'll also be attending the 60th presidential  inauguration of Donald Trump in Washington DC any other council members council member  Ballard thank you mayor I too will be attending   the State of the State and and um to no  expense of the city and happy birthday to Mike any more council members council member  Johnston should we sing to Mike that would be   cruel and unusual punishment Council M bro Heisel  thank you mayor and uh thank you for the birthday   wishes it's um it was a good day good evening  at home with the family uh the older I get the   the more that's um cherished to me so I  appreciate um everybody who did wish me a   happy birthday and everybody with the positive  thoughts not easy getting older but um we're   here doing good work and that does ease the  um the burden a little bit of Aging um also   I will be attending the State of the State as  well no taxpayer money going to that I will   not be attending the inauguration um we'll see  in another four years or so but not share any   other council members Johnson or Tuttle I see  none I will add one more I will oh vice mayor   John ston if you don't mind um I almost forgot  uh came back from Vietnam just to let you know I   was thinking about all of you when we were over  there uh you all got a gift at your place that   that's from me uh I will let you know that it  cost 150,000 dong in Vietnamese so no no small   actually it's about six bucks we need to put it  do we need to put it on our gift report no it's   only $6 so and all the same price thank you  vice mayor John Sten um I would also like to   say that I will be attending the State of the  State uh tomorrow and with no expenses to the   city and it is not a gift with that uh I see  no further comments from Council Members so   I will uh ask for the next item actually no we  you I will motion I will move to adjourn this   meeting second motion and a second any further  discussion I see none Madame clerk please open the roll motion passes 70 we are adjourned  at 12:55 p.m. thank you very much for e e