e e e [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] good evening Witchita and welcome to all  of you to our first nighttime meeting of   2025 we'll call this meeting to order with us  this evening is Reverend Ben Staley of Chapel   Hill United Methodist Church to provide  our invocation following that invocation   we will have the Pledge of Allegiance  and we ask that you please stand for both let's pray together oh Lord how thankful we  are that you keep your promises to be a present   help in all times of trouble and you come to  us in times when we need you as youve promised   be with us tonight as a wonderful counselor  an eternal father Mighty God and a prince   of peace may your peace be present here help  those we pray who are victims of recent storms   and tornadoes and watch over us as storms are  coming yet again and we pray your blessing on   First Responders give them safety and strength  we give you thanks for helping us to also get   astronauts back home and the rescue mission was  a success we know that our mayor and city council   members and city leaders are an important Mission  here and we give you thanks for their leadership   that comes with vision Integrity sensitivity  wisdom and compassion we ask that you would   watch over our guests who are visiting our city  for the tournament give us all a heart to care   for one another to look for good and not for  trouble to be at our best for this city for one   another and for your call to give of ourselves as  you have given to us sacrificially generously and   with the heart and mind of Christ to act with  love for our neighbors in Jesus name we pray amen IED Al FL flag United States stand indivisible andice for thank you Reverend Staley appreciate  that invocation Miss clerk can you   please call the first item approve the  minutes of regular meeting March 4th 2025 council members are there any items to be pulled I see none and no Corrections  so I move to approve the minutes for   the regular meeting March 4th  2025 second motion and a second   any further discussion I see none  Miss clerk can you please open the rooll motion passes 70 Miss clerk  please call the next item Awards and   proclamations proclamations  tonight are transgender day   of visibility developmental disability  awareness month and into the the light day Miss clerk can you please put this  in the minutes I respect the will of   this Council and my four colleagues who  voted in favor of the first Proclamation   council member Tuttle Johnson Ballard  and hoisel since this is a first for   the city of Witchita and I know each of you  is passionate about this I'm going to yield   the floor to any of you who would like  to have the honor of reading the first Proclamation I'm not really sure what's going on  here but um being the only council member that   wasn't personally asked it would be my honor  because I represent everyone mayor you ran on all mayor you ran on all for Witchita and it's  disappointing you're not showing Unity today [Applause] I'd like to read the proclamation of the  city of witto Kansas founded in 1870 whereas   transgender day of visibility celebrated annually  on March 31st honors the resilience achievements   contributions of individuals who are  transgender and gender non-conforming   individuals highlighting their vital role in  our community whereas fostering visibility   and belonging for transgender residents  strengthens witch's commitment to inclusion   of all individuals research demonstrates that  businesses and communities that prioritize   inclusion experience greater economic growth  improved productivity and faster access access   to broader Market connections whereas the city  witto values every resident and strives to create   an environment where everyone regardless of  gender identity can Thrive live authentically   and feel a sense of belonging whereas visibility  in a powerful is a powerful tool in combating   stigma challenging misconceptions and embracing a  culture of understanding dignity respect ensuring   that all citizens feel seen heard and valued  now therefore be it resolved the witw city   council does hereby Proclaim March 31st 2025  as transgender day of visibility in the city of   witw and encourage all citizens to celebrate the  contributions of transgender residents advocate   for inclusion and work towards building a  more Equitable and prosperous Community for [Music] all I'd like to ask whoever would like to accept  the proclamation to come down for a picture   and invite any of my colleagues  that would like to join me and   it appears this hasn't been signed  so I'm going to go ahead and sign it would you like to share a few words thank you hi um transgender day of  visibility is an opportunity for all of   us to celebrate transgender people  across history and culture but even   as we celebrate we find ourselves under attack  there are elected officials in both Topeka and Washington who have dedicated themselves to  destroying transgender identity and removing   it from the Public Square retreating  instead into middle school science and   magical thinking they would have  you believe that trans existence   is both a fantasy and a crime and while some  of them many of them do it with malice in their   hearts many others do it out of fear of the  different or of the unfamiliar but whatever   the reason the war that is being waged on the  transgender Community across our state and our   nation is doing real damage to our families and  friends and neighbors and colleagues right here in [Music] Witchita I think we're going to take a picture in  a few moments um and I think that illustrates my   bigger Point here I think really well because  I think there's something fascinating about   capturing the Confluence of an eternity of  events and a single image case in point all   of us have different backgrounds experiences and  stories all of us have taken different paths so   to speak to get to these Chambers here tonight  and yet here we all are all together and we're   gonna get a picture to prove it [Applause]  now I'd invite you to consider in a similar way photographs of Nazi book  burnings like this one that I hold here these government sanctioned book  Burns included specifically content about   transgender people reducing Generations  of knowledge and history to smoldering Ash this image this fleeting moment captured forever is the culmination of a lifetime of the intentional and the  well-intentioned The Savage and the silent   in the words of the indomitable Mara P  Johnson history is not something that you   look back at and say it was inevitable it  happens because people make decisions now   there are no book fueled bonfires burning  in Oldtown Square tonight and there isn't   yet a pink triangle on your gay son's  gold star ID but there are those in this   room room and on this bench who would rather  forget that we have been there and we can be again I'll leave you with this there exists a  well-known adage be the adult you needed as a   child and when I was a child I desperately  needed to know that I wasn't alone and that   there was space for me to exist and so I stand  here tonight not only as a transom but also as   a college graduate a small business owner and a  military veteran and I stand here as visible as   possible to let that girl who is watching this  at home on her bedroom TV know that even though   she is scared to death to live her truth that she  is not alone and that there is a future for her I want to thank a majority of  the members of the Witchita city [Applause] council for giving me  this opportunity and for being not   only allies but accomplice actively aiding and  abetting in the official recognition of trans   gender people and our right to exist the same  as every witchin and to those who would stand   in opposition or even turn a Blind Eye in hopes of  trans people just going away time will tell your   story and in fact it already has a world without  transgender people has never existed and it never   will and erasing us from government websites  and educational curriculum and professional   institutions does not mean that we are not here it  simply means that you are afraid happy transgender   day of visibility Witchita and Kansas and  transgender people everywhere thank you [Applause] our next Proclamation is ability point and   we ask the members of ability  point to please come forward the proclamation reads the city of witch  Kansas founded in 1870 whereas intellectual   and developmental disabilities are conditions  which affect statistically more than 7,000   witchat children adults and their families  many of whom wait on long lines for needed   services and support whereas public awareness and  education enhances a community's understanding of   issues affecting people living with  developmental disabilities whereas   recognition of the contributions of individuals  living with developmental disabilities is an   effective way to overcome negative stereotypes  and eliminate physical and attitudal barriers   to full participation in all aspects of community  life including education Recreation and employment   whereas the C me for me campaign aims to  highlight the joy gifts and talents that   this population brings to our communities  employers schools and houses of worship now   therefore be it resolved that I Lily woo mayor  of the city of Witchita along with the Witchita   city council do hereby Proclaim March 2025th as  developmental disability awareness month in the   city of Witchita and encourage all citizens  to recommit our community to to increasing   awareness and understanding of intellectual  and developmental disabilities and the need   for appropriate and accessible services for all  people to live full productive lives within our community good evening on behalf of  not only ability point but all of   the ID providers in our community uh we  greatly appreciate the ongoing support   of of the city of Witchita uh since our very  beginning in 1953 the city of Witchita has   been a huge supporter and Advocate and helping us  to develop programs and helping our individuals   to be a part of our community uh the CME for  me campaign is simply that making sure that   people see the people that we have are beyond  their disabilities they are our neighbors our   co-workers our classmates our teammates and  they want to be active and and involved in our   community as much as possible this last year  we were able to participate with witches talk   State University's uh photo voice project  as you came in you may have saw the display   just outside the door and it represents about  20 or so of our self Advocates and they ask   them to come together and take a picture and  a picture is worth a thousand words something   that shares their Joy uh we've got a couple of  the participants Audrey and Chris that were a   part of that and I'd like to ask Pat Chris's  mom to come and share just a little bit about that good evening everyone uh my son is Chris  yes Down syndrome and he he did take part in   that WSU photo voice project the participants were  given cameras with the simple instruction to take   pictures of things that bring them Joy when they  finished they did a private interview and shared   about their pictures and why they took each one  Chris took pictures of family friends food lots   of food things that probably bring us all joy he  also took pictures of things like his large DVD   collection and his iPad but the surprising  thing is that Chris and many of the other   self- Advocates who participated took pictures of  things related to their job how many of us can say   that working brings us joy when Chris graduated  from high school and was on the waiting list for   services for six years he lost much of his joyous  Spirit through his current work at Goodwill he has   regained that he is so proud of his job earning  a paycheck and looks forward to going to work   proposed changes from the state could limit  or Chang Chris's work program so we've been   actively advocating to protect the ID service  system Chris has also grown up with programs   through ability Point formerly known as the Ark  of sedric County and what a treasure that is from   age five to forever it is a unique resource and  community of support that you can never age out   of in the everchanging and challenging world  for those with intellectual disabilities and   their families ability point is a con constant  there in good times and bad 18 years ago during   the summer I was facing a cancer diagnosis  surgery and chemo because of ability Point   Chris was able to keep a normal routine having  fun at the Yes program and surrounded by caring   staff and friends we all so appreciate the city  of Witchita support and help bringing awareness to   the strengths and talents of those who we love who  are living with developmental disabilities thank you piure one [Applause] may I please ask the representatives of  guiding pause ICT to come forward at this time hi Andrew good to see the proclamation reads the city of Witchita  Kansas founded in 1870 whereas guiding paw ICT   was founded in 2009 by Advocates of the blind  community and led by Andrew crane whereas the miss   of guiding paw ICT is to raise awareness  in the community about the Blind and those   living with low vision whereas the  independence and freedom gained by   working with a service dog LED Andrew to  create guiding paw ICT a 501c3 nonprofit   whereas guiding PA ICT works with a team of  dedicated board members to show support to   low vision and blind members of our  community this year guiding PA ICT   will be rolling out into the light a program that  highlights living with blindness now therefore be   it resolved that I Lily woo mayor of the city of  Witchita along with the Witchita city council do   hereby Proclaim March 20th 2025 as into the light  in the city of Witchita and encourage all citizens   to show support by attending the presentation  at the Garvey Center on March 20th 2025 Andrew thank you and uh I encourage everybody to come  out on March 20th um to the gar Center we're   going to be uh showing some new technology um  and uh hopefully I will see a big crowd at uh   the Garvey Center um and and that so uh thank  you and uh please support uh guiding pause uh ICT I'm I'm Andrew's dad but I'm also a proud   chairman of our guiding Ice uh ICT  and as a nonprofit we are proud to   this year as soon as I get finished working on  it but we're proud to present a trailer that is   is called into the light it's a program that will  help folks to realize what it's like to be blind   or have low vision but it's also a presentation  that will hopefully help us realize that no   matter what our disability whether we're blind  or low vision or what it might be that we are   all people people and we all have rights and so  I know as a father of two uh adult children now   that have disabilities I am I am so glad that I  live in the city of Witchita we have been helped   so many times by this city and you that live here  in this city should be proud of what the city of   Witchita is doing not just for us as Citizens but  doing for our disabled citizens our blind citizens   uh people with other needs and stuff we live in  a really good city and I grew up in Michigan and   I've lived there for 24 years before moving here  to wiah being replanted and we've lived here now   45 years so I'm not a michigander anymore  I have to call myself a witch now thank you thank you Miss clerk can you please  call the next item special   presentation nextus reporting annual data  for programs that receive city and county Support good evening what a fun evening to be here  I'm excited I'm really hardpressed to follow all   that but um I'm delighted for a minute of y'all's  time my name is Mary Beth Jarvis president CEO of   Nexus we're at 245 North Waco and serve there we  go serve entrepreneurs um a lot of people talking   about their passions tonight and me too um because  we work uh on basically the grow your own part of   Economic Development we are here to help energize  entrepreneurs who frankly have the superpowers   uh in our community to improve their own lives  grow businesses serve the market and expand our   economy in a way that is changing um both for uh  individuals and for our community so uh the city   of witchta over the course of the last um year  was helpful in matching some federal and Regional   funds that came into the area to help spur three  different programs that Nexus has run for the past   few years so I'm here today to say thank you for  that support which took place in 2023 2024 and   present to you the results of your uh investment  uh in those programs so if we can go one slide   do I control keyboard there we go there we go so  these are the three programs uh that the city's   uh $100,000 helped support and again you all were  about a 10% matching of about a million dollars in   federal and Regional funds that came into the  area uh including from the Koffman Foundation   up in Kansas City um it was very very helpful um  to go to those entities and and affirm that our   local officials uh and our local leadership stood  the value of what they were helping Fund in our   community and in our state so thank you for that  partial matching um the customer traction cohort   is a program uh that was partially supported by  the city's funds uh 20 startups a year so young   early stage um companies some of them in high-tech  sort of high growth innovation-based Arenas but   frankly spanning all Industries uh these are folks  with growth on their minds uh so whatever industry   whatever business they are uh they want to uh to  expand those and create and be job creators and   grow their businesses um this is a really in-depth  program three months worth of weekly coaching they   do Flex experiments to hone their go to market  strategies uh bi-weekly workout workshops we hold   together as a group so they can build community  this entrepreneurship thing is a lonely business   and uh and we have found that they Thrive when  we can find commonality uh and give them tools   together uh the second program that this uh this  matching funds helped support was the next stage   Enterprise engagement series um large Enterprises  exist on a different plane from the small   businesses that are trying to grow uh through  selling or collaborating with them uh so we threw   this program together unique across the country in  fact they're getting ready to hire us to start it   in Kansas City uh starting this year so clearly  we're on to something we take large Enterprises   from Koch and Cargill to evergy but also the city  the county the school district how do these small   businesses who don't speak big company they don't  even know how much insurance they need to have in   order to put a a proposal in before the city uh or  in with a A company that is large uh in order to   grow their businesses so uh they get provided with  a Playbook workshops unprecedented access to the   folks who are the decision makers for these large  Enterprises and it's a springboard to grow their   businesses uh and uh some of you who have attended  our culmination for that event that happens during   which to Startup week it is this amazing marriage  of Scrappy entrepreneurs and our our community's   leading Enterprises uh and it really is uh sort  of a 1 plus one equals 11 uh kind of effect uh the   third um area of programming that this funding  helped support was in the realm of capital so   accelerate Venture Partners is our angel angel  Capital Syndicate uh individuals around the region   that write their own checks use their own money  to get behind uh the success of these startups   and the accessing growth Capital series which  is a a schooling up of entrepreneurs that want   to navigate the world of early stage Capital uh  we help make them more credible more confident   and more prepared uh to to grow their businesses  through the use of growth Capital so how' we do we   set up six metrics um with y'all and uh I've got  on here the first three of those uh we had a goal   within our agreement with city of wiah that we'd  sit down 200 times per year uh with for technical   assistance or coaching and resource sessions with  startups uh we blew that out of the water over the   course of the three-year period um the number of  startups served with our in-depth programs these   multi-week multi-month dig in get them all the way  up to pitching our Angel group get them through   the coaching get them in front of the Enterprises  uh we had a goal to do that with 25 companies per   year we actually hit almost 250 over the course of  the three years group education that one to many   find these topics that entrepreneurs are commonly  stumbling over what the heck is AI how do I Market   digitally without going broke we thought we'd we'd  convene about 30 of those per year ended up being   almost um 240 total over the three-year period  uh our last three metrics um involved mobilizing   private Capital so our facilitation with your help  but other people's checkw writing our goal was to   mobilize $500,000 per year and leverage $2 million  of other people's money outside of our group our   Angels our local community uh you can see we did  4.68 85 million uh mobilized and leveraged more   than $227 million and again that's private Capital  that city of wichita's investment helped unlock uh   for companies in our region trying to grow uh our  Angel group one of the metrics we set up was do   we have an angel group that thrives frankly that's  not happening around the country and uh our group   is an exception to that uh we have two Angel  groups up in Kansas City that frankly just went   into a coma because they couldn't figure out how  to recruit new angels and keep it um revitalized   um throughout the course of these very tough  Capital years over the last uh 48 to 52 months   um so we um committed that we'd have 30 members  at any given time uh we actually ended last year   with 49 members and a total of 78 active investors  who've got a check written and a portfolio with us   investing in in uh in Regional startups and then  lastly um we had a goal that 50 jobs per year with   your help would be created or retained uh and we  actually hit almost 1,200 so um 84 bucks a job   guys for the uh the money you invested so um what  that brings to our economy and our community um   we hope you uh is not lost on you and um what  is not lost on me is uh the Gratitude um that   our team and our community should feel that the  city of witchta alongside its Partners at Sedwick   County alongside the the larger dollars from the  federal um Economic Development Administration   private dollars from The Kaufman foundation and  other corporations in the area um what you're   doing to invest in entrepreneurs and innovators  um as I understand it later tonight you'll have   the chance to consider Partnerships with uh  my colleagues at weba and at create campaign   Wendell and his team at weba Christina and her  team at create campaign we work alongside them   in the trenches with a variety of entrepreneurs  who um again are the are the in the lonely Journey   rowing their boats um to be tomorrow's great  businesses and tomorrow's great job creators   uh and I'm delighted to be alongside them and hope  that the council will consider engaging with those   groups uh uh favorably thank you so much for  your time this evening does anyone have any questions thank you very much Mary Beth council  member Johnson thanks mayor no question I just   want to say congratulations to you and your team  these numbers are awesome and what that means   to our city and the impact that it will make for  small businesses and entrepreneurs is is amazing   so just kudos to you and looking for forward to  seeing uh even better numbers thanks so much I   see no other comments uh Mary Beth and the entire  team at Nexus I simply want to say thank you as   you know we have a CommunityWide survey every year  and there are four things that have risen to the   top as areas for improvement and those are Crime  Streets Economic Development and as a counil we   took it upon ourselves to add homelessness so  those are the four so you hit one of those key   areas that is a priority for the city of witcho  and I'm just really grateful that this ecosystem   of entrepreneurs and innovators continues to be  right here in the city of witchta and they have   the support of not just Nexus but groups like  weba the greater witcha Chamber of Commerce as   well as go create campaign and I know that Empower  is here as well this ecosystem requires a lot of   moving pieces but a lot of collaboration and so  I'm really grateful that you are a collaborator   and Contin uh to help us with key number three  which is economic development thank you we're on [Applause] it Miss clerk can you please call  the next item public agenda the public agenda   allows up for for up to five speakers to have  five minutes each to address the council no   action will be taken relative to the items on  the public agenda other than referral to the   city manager for information as necessary  this speakers will please State their name   and address for the record a Time clock  will display the speakers remaining time   to speak order and rules of decorum will be OBS  observed the first speaker is Andrew crane new technology well good evening again uh  mayor and councel I want to introduce uh   Mary uh from novelin and she is going to  tell you a little bit more about the new technology Miss mayor and members of the Witchita  city council thank you for giving us the time and   opportunity to talk about something amazing but  let me first start with a little story in 1928 a   young man named Otto walked into a bakery in  chilicothe Missouri he explained that he had   something that might interest them he wanted to  show them something he invented it was a machine   you could place a loaf of bread in it would  cut the loaf into equal slices amazing two   years later virtually every Bakery in the  world was using an automatic bread slicer   and we remember even today when we say something  is as easy as sliced bread or something is as good   as sliced bread to the people of Witchita Kansas  this is our slice bread moment something was has   been introduced in the United States and in a  few years it will be as common as sliced bread   my name is Mary Weber and I am the president  and CEO of Mary's brell International and we   are an official partner with novin and to be  honest we are one of the first Partners in the   United States and we are the only one west  of the Mississippi so what is novul we like   to say they are QR code on steroids they act  as signage they help with guidance they help   with orientation they get people where they want  or need to go they offer accessible information   in multiple formats and in multiple languages  naulin codes were created for blind and low vision people however they can be used for everyone work  working with guiding Paws the national Federation   of the Blind and countless other groups and  organizations we have a goal of making cities   totally accessible for everyone wiah has  the opportunity to be the sample for the   rest of the United States to be the first truly  accessible City for the blind low vision cited   seniors visitors from other countries and everyone else in closing we hope that this is  the beginning of something wiah can   get behind and work with throughout  every department and throughout the   entire city this can be witch's new  sliced bread moment and thank you thank you Mary any any questions from the council  council member hoisel thank you mayor um not   really a question but just um I plan on seeing  you later this week at your event is that thday   Thursday Thursday so I'm I'm looking forward to  seeing this technology and how it works and how we   can implement it to make a wiah more accessible  for everyone thank you thank you so much   thank you Mary and thank you [Applause] Andrew  I don't know if anyone from Communications is   around but I do want to give a plug to the witch  to.gov website which has accessibility uh tools   for those who are low and Visually Impaired  I know that that was one of the efforts that   the Communications Department tried to focus  on last year when the website was relaunched   and so it does have greater capabilities  for those who have low vision or are blind   and so I wanted to give that shout out to the  witch. goov team which is the communications team Miss clerk can you please call the next  individual Pam Gillespie speeding in Riverside is pan Gillespie here I see she  is not miss clerk can you please   call the next individual Jamie Scott Salvation Army good evening and thank  you for having us this evening   my name is Jamie Scott and I'm the director  of Social Services for Salvation Army South   Central Area command located right here  in the heart of downtown witchta 350 North Market good evening I'm dolsie Pau and I'm  the associate director of emergency Social   Services for South Central Area command we'd  like to talk to you tonight about some of the   things that we are doing in our community  some some of the things that are near and   dear to our heart we've heard people talk about  their passion and this is our passion we are we   are standing in the Gap with some of the most  vulnerable individuals we have in our community   we are serving the homeless the Working Poor and  those with addiction issues we are looking to do   things that are different than what we have  done before it's not going to work to just   say to someone here's a handout here's this we  have to provide things that are going to move   people forward and so we are participating in a  transitional housing and Rapid rehousing program   we've been doing this since 2017 but this  allows us to work with homeless individuals   single women and families who do not have anywhere  else to go we have six apartments on grounds that   people can stay in with their families while  they are getting an education while they are   paying off back debt while they are working  on their housing issues so they don't have   to worry about that when they move in then to our  rapid rehousing program not only that but we have   opened up a recovery home within the last year not  everyone is ready to move directly into housing   some people need an extra hand and so we help  with things like drug and alcohol counseling we   provide recovery plans we provide life skills and  we are seeing some amazing things happen we have   individuals who have turned their lives around  in six months and are now enrolled in college they say a community is only as strong as its  most vulnerable member and at the Salvation Army   we take some of those V vulnerable members of our  community and we Empower them with our emergency   Social Services we provide an immediate need such  as an ID or a utility assistance um service but   more than that we Empower them more long term  to make a life-changing impact with that ID we   now equip them to go and look for employment  or housing with that utility assistance we're   offering classes which are new to the Salvation  Army but we're very excited about we have a a   whole booklet of material and resources that we  give to them we connect them with uh agencies   that can help them more longterm with their budget  and finances so that they're not coming back and   returning to us in another six months for other  services um in addition to that we have a pantry   and we've started an urban farm right at 350 North  Market so we're very excited to be able to share   the produce of that and not only that but we're  looking forward to having a social Enterprise with   that where we're dehydrating and selling and some  of the clients with the recovery home and other   participants can be involved in learning about  that learning about employment and other things   along the way we also have a long-term program  for called pathway of hope it's for um families   that have children in the home and with that  we provide access to classes so they can learn   again about budgeting cooking car maintenance  things that can make a difference in their   home and then they work with case managers more  longterm so that they are breaking the cycle of   generational poverty as they're learning to move  towards goals to make lifechanging differences I just want to say we appreciate all of  your support over the last few years all   of you have shown up to our events you  have shown up to our grand openings you   have visited our programs and you have shown  our support we appreciate that you are taking   into account that there are vulnerable people  in our community and that they are important thank you very much and also thank you to  Nancy who gave us some handouts council   member hoisel thank you mayor um the  appreciation and the Gratitude is on   this side of the bench because you guys are  the ones out there doing the work and you're   doing a great job and um a lot of us have  family and friends who are out there and so   just seeing an organization like yours  who's really working and succeeding in   a lot of ways it really booies Our Hope and  and our hearts as well so thank you all for   everything you do and you're truly doing  the Lord's work thank you we appreciate that vice mayor johnon thank you mayor salvation  are have a special place in my heart because you   had bitty basketball years ago and I was one  of the very first years when it's only in one   gym downtown and then I coached my kids in  basketball long time but I guess my point of   that is you have evolved and constantly changing  to meet the needs you no longer do that YCA does   that and other organizations but you constantly  change and evolve to meet the community needs   and I I very much appreciate that i' admire that  thank you thank you for your words of support I   have a couple of questions if you don't mind  um I have the opportunity to visit you all a   couple of weeks ago and really go in depth about  these services and I'm really grateful that you   have the new recovery home uh I went to the Grand  Opening last year can you tell us is there still   room for individuals who may need that help there  is and um they can contact us at 263 Army that's   263 2769 it is for single men and single women who  do not have insurance they do not have the ability   to get into a traditional treatment setting they  are ready to make a change they are willing to   work a program and all they have to do is call us  and we will sit down and talk to them and see what   we can do to start them on that Journey thank  you for offering that service to especially our   single men and women who don't have insurance this  program is approximately six months to a year they   can actually stay with us for up to a year some  will not need that long um but they are given the   opportunity to really work on their recovery first  and then start looking at employment or school and   um moving through their plan at that point so that  when they do reach the point of permanent housing   and that is the goal with their sobriety is that  they will become productive citizens they will   have enabled themselves to do much better than  what they were doing than when they first came to us thank you for that and then the next question  I just had was about the emergency Social Services   you provide IDs um at Salvation Army can you  talk about some of the barriers that people   are facing regarding IDs this is going to be  a topic we will be discussing from the bench   in just a couple of minutes can you just  share what are some barriers people face   in getting IDs um oftentimes it's some of their  own barriers that they're struggling with that   have maybe their ID has expired or they've lost  it when Jamie talked about some of the people   that are in the addiction cycle some of the  people who are in the homelessness cycle um   some of the people that have mental health or  just lower income families believe it or not   we see a lot of individuals it's $22 to renew  your ID but when you don't have employment and   you need that ID to get employment that's a little  bit of a loop for them so we are lucky enough to   partner with the Mobile DMV department they come  to the Salvation Army once a month and with that   we provide approximately 17 to 25 IDs that people  are walking out the door with their temporary ID   in their hand waiting for that permanent ID to  come and for some of them it's been maybe only a   couple months but for some some of them it's been  a couple of years and they're very excited to get   that new ID so they can take that next step toward  housing or employment thank you for that Insight   I really appreciate it so again thank you very  much Salvation Army Nancy thank you very much   for sharing the services that you guys provide and  I know that uh our community is very grateful that   you do help a lot of individuals here in the  city of wiah so thank you to your entire team [Applause] Miss clerk can you please call the next  side next individual Amaya Williams mayor's youth Council good evening everyone my name is Amaya  Williams and I'm the senior at the best high   school in wiah wial East High thank you um and  I've been elected by the mayor's youth Council to   to be the youth mayor of witch Hall this year and  I just wanted to give a shout out and show all the   amazing work we've been doing in the community  especially during the time where there's a   conception that youth are not in touch with their  community and they don't care about what's going   on but we have a group of students that really  truly care about witch itah and want to see some   change so I wanted to give my little state of the  council address um so just a little bit about what   NC is um the mayor's youth Council was formed in  2008 by mayor Carl Brewer and it provides youth   with the opportunity to weigh in on community  issues and learn about their city government   so we Forge Partnerships in the community engage  Youth and youth and projects throughout the cities   advocate for youth in our community be a positive  role model for youth through activities such as   educational support and Leadership and be as  civically engaged and knowledgeable about the city   and just how the city functions in general because  sometimes that's a confusing topic especially to   people our age so earlier this year in September  at East High's big du um which is just kind of a   fundraising event for their clubs we decided to  have a table um to with pamphlets with all the   voting information you need because a lot of high  schools are turning 18 and this is an election   year so we wanted to make sure that we could get  youth with the information we need so we had QR   codes that led to their polling place um uh links  that showed what voting dat actually looks like   because we found that that's what turns a lot  of new voters away from voting is being unsure   about what the process of voting looks like um we  had government websites um to show who is on your   ballot so that way you're able to research the  people that are on your ballot so you can make   an informed Choice um we also had links that had  the types of IDs to bring to your polling place   and also the rights you have as a voter so that  way new voters feel confident about their vote and   being civically engaged we also had information  about myc and upcoming City events and just this   past week we took four members um including  myself to Washington DC for the national um   League of cities congre or the congregational  National League of cities and we were able to   learn from other Youth councils and sharpen our  leadership skills and see what um you know youth   in California or Texas or Oregon and see what  they're doing and really just learn and grow   from each other and it was an awesome time so  our vice youth mayor Aaron louu who is in that   top right corner she's unable to be here today  because she's visiting some colleges she created   this Council wide project which is a video series  on Facebook and Instagram that is called wishah   gems uncover where we interview local businesses  to encourage people to explore locally and we   want to strengthen our community relationships  so each member on the mayor's youth Council in   about groups of four to five we went to in to  businesses and we interviewed them and we tried   their food and really just had those sit down  conversations and I would encourage all of you   guys to follow us on Instagram at ICT myc and it's  the same for Facebook and just watch those reals   and learn a little bit more about the Business  Leaders in your community so we have these things   called issue groups where in the beginning of  our session we vote on the issues that are most   important to Youth and so this year year we found  four um issues that youth really want to focus on   and one of them was sustainability and so our  sustainability issue group created the spring   Renaissance Fashion Show to promote sustainability  via clothing and awareness about fast fashion   and if you can see those gorgeous PCT pictures up  there these was all youth Le the models the venue   or um the venue was at Mark Arts but obtaining  the venue and planning and organizing completely   youth l and we also had a small quartet from East  High that came and played and it was absolutely   beautiful and all these pictures that have uh were  taken they were done by youth photographers so   it's all youth involved and all youth focused  um because you have youth out here in your   community that are doing amazing things um the  sustainability issue group also worked with the   city's sustainability integration board to learn  more about Community efforts they intend to have   a booth day at the U or a booth at the upcoming  Earth Day event and they're hoping to work with   public works and utilities and Waterworks to learn  more about the drought and how youth can help and   stay involved our diversity and inclusion issue  group is continuing our annual cultural Kickback   which is really just uh a time of Celebration  and celebrating the diversity that we have here   in Witchita we're the most diverse city in Kansas  and we should be proud about that so we want to   engage with our local businesses our local leaders  and just have a fun with with um music food and   vendors and they also purchased a children's  book to learn more about different cultures   and will be doing activities with Elementary age  kids our homelessness issue group is creating a   hundred Wellness baskets filled with Necessities  like toilet trees water Oral Care Band-Aids socks   um all bought from Amazon and they also received  a sponsorship from Shields to purchase even more   items and they're planning to try and get into  touch with the multiculture or the multi- agency   center to donate once they're complete with their  grand opening and really just see what resources   we have on the community and how we can directly  give to the resources that are helping our most   vulnerable people our violence prevention  in our violence prevention issue group in   conjunction with nyc's executive board um council  member hois on council member Johnson and other   community groups um we are trying to have a fully  youth organized and youth-led and youth involved   unity in the community event so that way we can  have the best turnout of Youth my age because   it's people my age in high school that are doing  these acts of violence and these people that are   going astray and they're hurting and they're  struggling and so we want to reach out to our   youth and by reaching out to our youth we have to  give them a seat at the table so that's our focus   with our next unity in the community event and if  you want to contact us please email us at wishal ncmail.net day and what we're working on you'll get to see  more of our members you'll get to see our reals   and um just the good things that we're doing  in the community if You' like to come to one   of our meetings and really see what's going on  please email us and just stay in touch and know   that youth in the community really do care about  the community and they want to see wiah become a   better place so please stay engaged with us and  if you're listening and you have youth that want   to get involved we have applications opening up  here about April May so thank you and if Council   has any questions I'm here thank you very much  youth mayor Maya Williams thank you again also   for doing the introduction at the state of  City no problem I'm really appreciative of   you and the entire mayor's youth Council pres  here today give them Round of Applause that's   all them in that row and this is only half of  our group yes no these kids definitely deserve   to be celebrated this is only half of our Council  it is spring break for us and a lot of people are   out of town um but yeah this is amazing group  represented in all districts and most of all   of our witch tall schools so thank you council  member Glascock thank you Madame mayor thank you   for being here thank you to the council um I've  met a lot of you before but as the first person   on this Council to ever serve in the mayor's youth  Council I want to give advice and say be bold know   that every room you show up in you belong in  and don't be afraid to hide your voice and 90%   of the job is just to show up work harder than  anybody and I hope that some of you uh continue   uh at this bench in the future as well so thank  you for being here today thank you for having us   council member hoisel thank you mayor um first  off questionable East High you know no that's   not questionable that's a fact actually but what  what is the best District in wiah then District   three District three district one district  one two okay I have to give it I have to   give to both of you guys and now that we got the  divisive stuff out I know they're putting me in a   tough position everybody that's the the Pains of  leadership right I know politics am I right yeah   um I I can't wait to see what happens with  the unity and the community March or event   that we're planning um you're absolutely right  you guys are the ones that would be best able to   diagnose and reach out to your peers who are  having issues inside the school and out home   so um we have Jose Jose right over here he was  maybe the most um pivotal important member of   um putting this together last year so definitely  reach out to that man right there can't wait to   very special and I can't wait to see what we do  with that this year yes council member Johnson   thanks mayor council member Glascock took all of  my remarks earlier that's what he was reading from   but and and also Northeast is the best school  and yes you guys don't have sports though we're   undefeated in all sports but I just wanted to say  great job to you great job to the mayor's youth   Council and like council member GL Cox said every  room you in you definitely belong always use your   voice stand up for what you feel is right um all  of us would want somebody standing up for us in   this in this situation so always stand up for  right and it can be hard it can be lonely can   be tough but if you don't do it who will and each  of you have the ability to do so you are leaders   now and continue to fight for a better world  this world changes on the backs of young people   it always has and it always will my daughter  reminds me how old I am now and my gray hairs   so all of you young folks have the ability to make  those changes and the Committees that you all are   on keep that keep that fight up and it doesn't  matter if us adults sometimes tell you know you   keep fighting anyway that's how change happens so  I'm proud of all of you keep up the good work and   also remember Northeast is the best high school  and one more time um I just wanted to thank you   for reminding us that the mayor's youth Council  was started by the late mayor Carl Brewer and I   think he would be very proud to see that a youth  um council member is now a council member for the   city of Witchita and I think that that just  shows to our youth Council that this is a job   for you too it's about being a public servant  in our community and I'm just really grateful   that you continue to advocate for the issues that  youth care about you talked about sustainability   and helping with the drought we do need messaging  about helping with this drought that we're facing   diversity and inclusion really celebrating  the cultures in our community homelessness   and thank you for creating those Wellness  baskets uh that will be shared at 9th in   Maine which is the new multi- agency Center and  I appreciate that you're focusing your energy   towards the multi-agency center and last but  not least violence prevention with unity in the   community something that was started by council  member Johnson hoisel and the greater witch CH   ministerial league and I'm very grateful that it  will now be youth L because that is the purpose   we want to make sure that youth know that there  are resources in our community that violence is   not what we need to resort to but rather resort  to connecting to resources and helping to be   better neighbors so thank you very much for your  leadership youth mayor Williams yes thank you Miss clerk I believe we have two spots left for   anyone in the audience who  would like to address the council hello Council this is my second time I've  ever been here and the first time I was the very   last speaker um my name is Sarah Cen I'm also um I  emailed you guys earlier today at that came under   I think under supportive families for a came up  with Sarah Price I am the Outreach coordinator   for Grassroots Bridge Builders which was formed  here in these Chambers um I came to speak on a   little bit of like as far as the identification  the municipal ID I know that's one thing that you   guys and um we have I have been kind of asking  for I have been homeless predominantly for the   last four years and um I have had the Salvation  Army they have helped me with my identification   twice and I sent over an email kind of on some  limitation that I saw that you guys had as far   as some of the guidelines for the municipal ID  and one of them still included um having a proof   of address and I understand that being you know  to show that we are actual residents of Witchita   it does kind of need a proof of address but as an  Outreach coordinator I have worked out and talked   to more homeless people than I wish there were and  like one issue that we have over and over and over   have had is there's no proof of identification  or proof of address unless they say um pardon   me I'm not very good at speaking um the face sheet  sometimes the face sheet if you have a face sheet   if you've been to jail you can get a face sheet  and that is proof of address I have a 28-year-old   son who has never been to jail um we had a house  fire where we lost everything and of course when   I went through Red Cross one of the problems  that we faced was because our name was not on   the bills and we had no proof of ADD address  because paper burns and so and our house was   undeliverable we have been out here for 3 years  and I've gone to work release for child support   and I've obtained two IDs but being out here also  um sometimes we're a very vulnerable population   and if you put something down sometimes it does  not happen to be there when you turn around um   I was attacked for by a dog in July and my purse  and my identification have been gone and thank god   um before this meeting I was able to gather some  notes just I had some ideas on things not enough   time to actually tell you but I did send something  over through your email on some possible ideas   that might help just you know like because that is  the biggest problem we have out here you know most   people think that like we have the drugs and we  have the homelessness and being moved around but   it doesn't do anything if we can't show who we are  we can't get a job we can't get a place to live we   cannot even vote to try and change things because  we don't have that identification and we have the   open door which they offer some relief on the as  far as they have um a reporting a day reporting   where you can go in and you take a TB test and  as long as you're accountable can show up for   those three days before you can get verified to  go in there then you can have that address but a   lot of these people they're not just downtown I  mean they are everywhere in this town from 47th   and M or MacArthur and hydraulic where a lot of  us have been moved to to out west past um 118th   I mean they're everywhere and getting somewhere  where um I go back a lot back and forth and I   do want to mention one thing that during um that  you had mentioned was during with the um homeless   encampment as far as why people don't go to  shelters and you had asked why people don't   go to shelters when it's the coldest winter  and we discussed how leaving people's stuff   behind and having the things that they have left  they're afraid to leave their stuff because they   might come back and everything they have left is  gone so just getting to a place where they trust   going to those centers you know um I don't know  how to conclude this because like I said this is   my second time I'm hoping one day to be better at  speaking so I can be more efficient and carrying   the message but I do thank you guys for this time  I have almost out of time so with that I will stop   thank you very much Sarah I have some council  members that have questions but I'm going to ask   one really quickly I did not receive your email  okay so I don't believe could you if any council   members received that email can you forward it  to it's in your spam email if you check your   junk email I just did and so I can take myself  off the board but I looked up Sarah Price in my   junk email and it's there so I we didn't get it  probably until just now if we check our junky mil   so thank you for being here today and I do want  to say northeast yay council member Glascock oh   thank you I was going to say that as well you can  also in the future and this is for anybody if you   want to get a hold of all of us simultaneously you  can email DL city council members at wichita.gov   that comes to all of us and so you don't have to  figure out how to spell all of our names correctly   um and then I want to say you're a great speaker  as well and uh thank you I'll give you the same   advice I gave to I see you belong here you belong  in the room and I think you were a phenomenal   speaker so thank you for being here thank  you thank you Sarah we have room for one more speaker uh hello Faith Martin I've been here lots  of times so I appreciate you letting me speak when   there's only one spot left um it's no secret that  uh I've told people that I'm a Libertarian I'm   so happy that we have a Libertarian mayor um  unfortunately there are some who will always   find true Liberty to be too risky of an idea to  embrace and unfortunately many of those are our   elected officials I'm wearing this button today  because I support transgender community and I'm   really disappointed in the fact that the three  of you thought that you don't represent that   Community when that Community lives in Witchita so  I would just like to say um please live up to your   libertarian values we're behind you and we support  you um and remember that um all of us here lived   together and individuals are the lowest form  of government and what I do with my body what   my friends do with their body uh what the  community chooses to do those choices they   make are none of my business and none of your  business but I still support the community to   be able who to be who they are what they  are live where they live and be successful   in flourishing witch toss so I hope I  hope that you'll change your mind uh I   hope that you will embrace the community  and remember that they witch attends too [Applause]   thank you Faith Miss clerk can you please call  the next item can set agenda items 1 through 14 are there items to be pulled council member   glass cup thank you mayor I  would like to pull item 23d council member hoisel thank you  mayor I would like to pull item 11 right any other items to be pulled I  see none I move to approve the consent   agenda items without 3D and number 11 second  motion and a second any further discussion   I see none Miss clerk please open the roll motion passes 70 we'll begin with 3D thank  you Madame mayor I just had a quick question uh   regarding or for Public Works regarding this  agreement in the background and it said the   agreement expired in December of 2024 it's now  March of 2025 so questions what do we do in the   laps of the agreement was it the previous oper  agreement based on wholesale because it looks   like wholesale prices and what do we have as  a stop Gap so when agreements do expire we   proactively are renewing so I think uh mayor  and Council memb Gary Janson Public Works and   utilities I think with this particular agreement  we're trying to over the course of time these   Agreements are in place for a long time so as they  come up we're trying to standardized language uh   most of these agreements will continue there's  language in them that says they can continue   right but we we have close communication with  them and this one in particular they had some   some issues they were trying to resolve on  their in and it just took him a little bit   longer but we were in contact with them that  entire time uh we've got another one that's   kind of happening at the same time with one of  our other wholesale customers but uh the there's   we work with our attorneys there's language  in there that allows the the agreement that's   in place to extend beyond that in the absence  of an update so I think we've got ourselves C   pretty well any further questions for staff I  see none we will open it up for public comment   regarding wholesale water service agreement  with the city of Park City I see no public   comment we'll bring it back to the bench I will  move to approve consent agenda item 3D second   Motion in a second any further discussion  I see none Miss clerk please open the role motion passes 70 next item  is consent agenda item number 11 all right thank you mayor um I just had  maybe an issue with this um this was opposed   by I believe three departments within the city  of wiah and it passed um mapc 8 to5 to1 staff   recommendation is still to deny uh this pertains  to a bike trail a planned bike trail from South   Witchita to hayville um the mayor of hazeville  also uh supports this Trail as well uh I have some   concerns about if we do vacate this property  that it will end up going over to cica which   cica uh right along that way that's a pretty um  hectic Street going from hazeville to Southwood   talk so the recommendations was to um deny  this but it's still here on consent for us   to pass it um so I do I have heard quite a bit  from members of my community and members of the   bicycle Community as well so I I think um council  member Glascock has also been in contact with the   agent working out a compromise where um we can  still get this bike trail safely through there   and um and still meet the kind of the desires of  the applicant as well so um I think I'll turn it   to Dalton as soon as we have public comment  here or questions in order to make a motion   excuse me mayor if I may on the topic of public  comment um because this is a planning item if   you wish to have public comment you may just make  a motion to suspend policy number nine for this   item um however we would um if the applicants  not here to discuss we would discourage public   comment because it could affect due process of the  applicant if there's more testimony evidence taken   in applicants not here to discuss so what we do  without you Jennifer well just food for thought so   okay I'm I'm fine um I'll just let turn it over to  council member glasow council member glas before I   have comments I would be interested to see if any  of my other colleagues have opinions about this council member Ballard thank you mayor um like  council member hoisel said I have heard um very   loud and clear from the um bicycle community that  they are absolutely against this um I think part   of it too is um from what they had heard there was  not much negotiating with the applicant um so I'm   curious to um I don't know if we need to just do  a brief overview so the audience knows what we're   talking about um I don't know what that process  looks like but um yeah so I just heard from the   cyclist Community I think they're anxious that  it just goes away I know the Project's not in the   CIP I believe yet but um there are plans for it in  the future and so um just passing some of my cons concerns vice mayor Johnston thank you mayor I too  have heard from a lot of a cycling Community uh   and being a cyclist myself I appreciate the bike  paths however I do like Economic Development so   I'd like to see it through I I'm interested to  hear what the compromise is because maybe that   bike path can just go around their property uh  instead of going all the way to senica so I'm   interested to hear what that might look like  I see no further comments I also have received   just uh emails regarding the bicycle master plan  and I think they emailed all of us on the council   council member glass thank you mayor I'll share  some comments um because I was conflicted about   this I had no intention of pulling it off consent  but it appears the will of the body is to have   some compromise solution and so rather to deny the  application um I would be interested in seeing if   there's a way that we could move forward where we  balance Economic Development with quality of life   I think this project is incredibly important uh  for the public it's a parcel of land it's two   Parcels of land uh there is an application for  vacation uh in the middle of the property that   is currently projected on the bicycle master  plan later on it's not projected in the CIP   and so there's two other areas to go around to  connect to the larger master plan so that's the   context of this uh I really do think this is a  interesting balance of the qu quality of life   and economic development um it is like I said  in the bicycle master plan I voted against that   um because I had deep concerns with that plan but  it isn't in the CIP so I think this makes it very   interesting as well um regarding the application  so I've spoken with the applicant I've had um   communication with them I have communication with  cyclists that I've reached out as well I will say   for the record I have not had one constituent um  around the property reach out with concerns about   this vacation from cyclists that live outside of  District 4 with the exception of one cyclist who   does live within the district and so in speaking  with the applicant I think there's a way we can   move forward that balances their ability to move  forward with a project and also for quality of   life as well um and so before I make the motion  this would require a dedicated 30 foot easement   by separate instrument on some other aspect of the  property line so they would still be able to move   with the vacation but they would have to provide  an easement at the end of their property line   the justification for this as well the parcels  between uh that uh we're looking at a vacation   or approximately 6 Acres about 60 feet across a  vacation is or the easement request is about 30   feet across so they're still gaining property  the city is still relinquishing our property   to them in an additional 30 feet so they're not  losing anything that they're requesting um it's   actually they're gaining 30 feet so with all  of that context and seeing nobody else on the   board I move to approve the vacation order as  recommended by mapc subject to an additional   condition I will describe that in a moment and  authorize the necessary signatures the approval   of this vacation shall not become effective  until the following additional condition is met   the applicant shall designate or shall dedicate a  30-foot easement by separate instrument that will   allow for the development of a North South path  from 47th Street to the south end of the proposed   vacation area the easement must be approved by  the engineering division of the public works and   utilities department copies will be provided  to the planning department so this gives the   applicant the ability to figure out a path that  works for them and the development of their   parcel of land instead of the city prohibiting  uh the development right down the middle of their   property council member Johnson thanks mayor  uh council member Glascock just a question I   know I talked to you earlier but just for the  public um I also had heard a lot this will not   push a bike path potentially to cica correct  the they would have to provide the dedicated   30 eement through their property as cica  parcel would not be on their property okay we have a motion and I will second that any  further discussion council member Ballard thank   you mayor D can you give us like the reader digest  version of what you just said in that motion   because that was a lot to I was trying to do  legal Lee to make sure it was all good to go got   that part covered simply uh it would uh the parcel  that's currently that they're applying to vacate   is the only is the previous Union Pacific Railroad  which divides both of their properties and so what   this would do is it would require this um going  over uh near 47th Street as more of a seven   near their property or more of an L um near 47th  Street so it goes around their property instead   of through the property so right now if we were  the mapc recommendation is to go through their   property um or yeah to go through their property  the comments that we've received don't desire them   they want complete denial of the application so  they couldn't have any vacation this would have   give them the middle of the property if they  would add an easement on one corner of the property we have a motion in a  second any further discussion   member hoisel uh thank you mayor uh just one  question for our esteemed uh legal department   here um this locks them in to that so that way  the vacation would not process until we come to   an agreement that is correct correct council  member it's a conditional motion thank you we   have a motion and a second any further discussion  I see none Miss clerk can you please open the rle motion passes 7 Zer Miss  clerk can you please call the next item Board of bids and contracts dated March 17 2025 good evening mayor city council Josh  laber Department of Finance Board of bids and   contracts convened um March 17 2025 for the  following items for engineering we have the   water distribution system tied with sanitary  sewer improvements of Sir Bridger at Central   Edition for me Construction Incorporated  for an aggregate bid total of 4 milon 431,000 30 subject to your approval of a new  engineer's estimate and budget authorization   April 1st we have the water distribution  system to serve Brookfield South Edition   phase six tied with water distribution to  serve Brookfield South addition phase 7   tied with storm water system number 775  and sanitary ser improvements to serve   Brookfield South Edition phase six and  seven your staff didn't think I would get that excavation Incorporated  for an aggregate bid total of $532,000 be subject to your approval  of a new Engineers estimate in budget   authorization March 25th we have  the cheny pump station variable   frequency drive upgrade for Atlas  electric LLC in the amount of 1,557 $355 we have the Murdoch Park Kanas Park  and cesna Park basketball courts for Roston   Construction LLC in the amount of $ 24,28 2.50  negotiated the engineer's estimate we have the   2025 outsourced pavement preservation  program CIP ultra thin bonded overlay   phase one for conspec Incorporated DBA Kansas  Paving for one , 72858 7.75 negotiated to the   engineers's estimate we have the 2025 Outsource  pavement preservation program CIP ultrain bonded   overlay Phase 2 for ppj Construction Incorporated  negotiated the engineers estimate of 1, 570,000 we have the 2025 Outsource pavement  preservation program preservative seal   for pro seal Incorporated in the amount of $924,900 s improvements at wasel and hydraulic  for Barkley Construction LLC and they amount of $222,800 n, $33.50 we have the sanitary sewer improvements to  serve the Kings Coast Edition for mola excavation   Incorporated an amount of $199,300 for purchasing  we have the liquid oxygen contract change order   for Lampton Welding Supply we're requesting  a authorization for an amended amount of $498,500 system Sterling custom FCX Escape system  contract change order uh recommending All Hands   Fire Equipment LLC requesting your authorization  for an amended estimated annual usage of 50,46294 49 and for airport we have the air field payment  Rehabilitation and lighting improvements we're   rejecting all bids trying to go back out for this  in the future this is how to become a vendor with   the city this is our purchasing calendar of  small business resource partner events the city   is hosting or participating in and these are open  public opportunities out on the street today and   I'd be happy to try to answer your questions  and I recommend your approval thank you Josh   questions for staff I only have one but it's  in regards to two slides number 25 and 26 both   of these um had an original bid that was lower  than the engineers's estimate can you explain   both of those yeah this is uh thank you for the  question Mar this is a unique um project ask of   the purchasing Division and something you won't  frequently see um I'll let engineering speak to   it but I want to highlight in the specifications  of the bid document um part of the reason that   we're comfortable with this and and we recommend  your approval of this item is when we worked with   the law department on the bid specifications we  had a section called project awarding and I'll   read um the projects for phase one and phase two  of the Outsource pavement preservation program   CIP ultra thin bonded overlay are both scheduled  to bid February 28 2025 both projects have the   same contract completion date and are critical to  be completed by this date uh due to the critical   nature of the schedule the city will award phase  one and phase two to two separate different firms   due to the required contract schedule um and  I'll go ahead and let engineering speak to that good good evening Paul gunsman Public Works  and utilities and mayor let me go back maybe to   your first question regarding um the bids were  lower than the engineer's estimate um we are   awarding the contract to the engineer estimate um  these projects are bid with measured quantities   um so that gives us a little bit more room to  if we go over in quantities that we can go up   to that amount but we will only pay for what  the quantities that we use so increasing to the   engineers's estimate gives us a little bit more  flexibility for additional work to be completed   again it's only for what you use corre correct  so it allows you the flexibility but it's not   like we're going to pay the 1.7 if it's lower  we can still stay at the original bid of that   is exactly right yes right thank you very  much Paul appreciated any further questions   for Josh I see none I move to approve the  board of bids and contracts dated March   17 2025 second motion and a second any further  discussion I see none Miss clerk please open the role motion passes 70 Miss  Clerk please call the next item petitions for public improvements Paul gunman public working  utilities I have um petitions for your   consideration this evening the signatures  on the petitions represent 100% of the   improvement district and the petitions are  valid per Kansas statute PR Glenn Edition   located this should be in District Two  I apologize for the typo projects will   provide water storm water drain sanitary sewer  and Paving improvements for new residential development and it is recommended that city  council approv the new petitions and budgets   adopt the new resolutions and authorize the  necessary signatures and I will answer any   questions questions for staff so we have a  lot of new people in the audience can I just   ask a simple question this is on specials  correct that is correct yes thank you very   much I move to approve the petitions  for public improvements second motion   and a second any further discussion  I see none Miss clerk please open the role motion passes 70 Miss  clerk please call the next item ordinance creating chapter  11.51 of the code of the   city of Witchita relating to the operation of golf carts good evening Sharon deckra City Law  Department here today to present ordinances   regarding operation of golf carts um as a little  background state law prohibits the operation of   golf carts on roads that are 30 miles per hour or  higher uh between sunrise and sunset unless they   have the slow moving emblem and motorcycle lights  and on city streets unless they're authorized by   city ordinances city has not passed ordinances  regarding uh golf cart operations So currently   golf carts are illegal within the city of wah  some history I've been here before on January uh   14th a proposed ordinance was passed by the city  council on January 21st the ordinance was pulled   from the consent agenda and sent back out to the  advisory boards on February 2 5th the council held   a workshop to discuss the proposed ordinances and  suggested changes comments from the dabs varied   um greatly um most were supportive of an ordinance  but wanted the restrictions lessened um Wanted the   age to operate to be reduced to 16 be allowed  to operate at night um felt that the proposed   registration fee was too high um and felt that  they should be allowed in the downtown area um   there were also some concerns that um the seat  Bel requirements were too burdensome and other   dabs felt that the ordinance was not necessary  um staff Direction following the workshop um   was that the age was to be reduced to 16 golf  carts would were to be allowed to operate at   night with the proper equipment motorcycle lights  and the slow moving emblem no registration fee or   registration um golf carts can cross streets  um with speed limits uh over 30 miles per hour   um golf carts were to be allowed in the downtown  court only on sidewalks um seat belt requirement   was removed and all penalties were be reduced uh  to no more than $200 um the proposed ordinance um   looks a little different from the recommendations  from the workshop um in the interim there was an   attorney general opinion regarding operation of  motor or motorcycles operation of golf carts on   sidewalks um the proposed ordinance allows the  operation on streets uh with a 30 m per hour or   less um prohibits golf carts on public highways  golf carts are not allowed to cross these major   highways um golf carts may cross um streets with  posted speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour but   only at controlled intersections golf carts  are allowed in the downtown area without any   additional restrictions and no registration or  registration fee is required um golf carts are   not allowed on sidewalks walking trails or bike  paths they may be operated after dusk with the   appropriate equipment um the ordinances prohibits  the operation of golf carts um by anyone who is   not a licensed driver and over 16 or over  um and requires that the golf carts comply   with other traffic laws including maintaining  liability insurance um the penalties have been   reduced to a fine not exceeding $200 with the  exception of no insurance and driver's license   requirements by state law uh those Provisions or  the sentencings the sentence is established and   we can't be less than those and I would stand  for any questions thank you Sharon questions   for staff beginning with council member hoisel  thank you mayor uh thank you Sharon appreciate   your work on this um couple quick questions uh  first does this count as the second reading of   the ordinance yes okay so we have to make sure we  have it solid today okay yes um the downtown core   the sidewalks are removed from downtown Corp as  well yes okay um what is the cost of a permit to   the city if we have like what does it cost us  to have employees um process that um licensing   staff estimated that it would be approximately  $35 for the initial decal and processing of a   registration um currently there is no registration  requirement in the ordinance no registration   requirement ordinance no and no fee required in  the ordinance okay um and like cities comparable   cities are there anything like age limits with  um who can ride in these golf carts um I couldn't   see anything regarding age limits uh regarding  uh to ride necessarily um I was aware Ware of   your concerns and we did add some provisions  on page six of the ordinance um regarding the   number of occupants that you can't write unless  they're attended and you can't have folks writing   on laps right I appreciate that so so those were  um additional Provisions that were not in any of   the earlier drafts okay so there's nothing that  we saw that prohibits influence anybody under   the age of two or five or anything from writing  no okay thank you council member Glascock thank   you mayor thank you for your work on this um just  for clarification for the public too because this   is weird where the city actually has to pass an  ordinance to make it less restrictive than state   law correct we have to pass an ordinance to make  it consistent with state law state law says that   it's illegal unless we do something correct so by  doing something we're permiss it or state law per   it's it if there's no action taken yes thank you  I see no further questions for Sharon again thank   you very much Sharon this went back to all  the district advisory boards there are six   District advisory boards and they all either  chimed in or gave some feedback to the six   council members so again thank you for adding the  additional public engagement for this so Sharon   you gave lots of presentations so thank you  very much we will now open it up for public a comment good evening my name is Steve Lackey  I live at 2414 Spring Meadow I just wanted to   publicly thank the city council and the staff  for taking the time to revise the ordinance   and try to reach a compromise with all of us  I'm in full agreement with the ordinance I'm   disappointed that the sidewalks uh access has  been taken out but that's uh that's the way   government works it's a compromise so thank  you for your Indulgence over these last two   months and thank you to the law department and  the police department for putting up with us   and taking our comments and thank you to council  M Johnston for representing our district thank you my name is Philip slay I just wanted to again  thank you as well I'm in favor of uh golf carts   being allowed in deleno uh I'm the president  and I'm an attorney at slay and Howard and   when we moved to deleno in 2021 it opened up a  world of events and vitality and energy that we   hadn't experienced as a law firm before since  that time our business has grown tremendously   uh we sponsor the St Patrick's Day Parade we  also sponsor uh the amber waves event and in   June for the third year in a row we'll sponsor  the uh or we'll have at our office the uh Kansas   trial lawers Association which is a group  of about 400 indiv uh attorneys practicing   in the state of Kansas when they come into  town um they want to utilize deleno and some   of them are older having golf carts that they  can use or that we can take them to different   businesses or restaurants will be tremendously  helpful so again thank you for your work I don't   have much else to say I think golf carts would  help our business and so I thank you for your support thank you for the two public  comments do we have one more thanks Stephanie Pitman 2828 North Wild Rose Court West  Side uh wit talk uh I have attended almost all   of your dabs um first let me say I'm very very  impressed with the way that you engage with your   citizens with um your constituents with how  you are you take such care of of the people   in your districts and the ones that we were  unable to visit it's typically because they   were set on top of each other at the same date  and otherwise we would have came definitely or   I would have came and visited and I and I still  uh may I I set through the youth council at at   Mike's uh dab and it just was really great for  that engagement I also uh want to make sure that   you know this came about from uh what we felt was  a lack of transparency I feel like there have been   a lot of changes um to that transparency there  definitely was a willingness to hear us and I   want to appreciate that and let you know how much  we appreciate it I still would like to address in   the ordinance and I understand that it arose from  the attorney general opinion which is just an   opinion about driving on sidewalks or uh other  paths I think that there is a way that you can   make it more accessible to some of those outside  neighborhoods and still retain small sidewalks and   keep golf carts off sidewalks so make it uh in the  ordinance that if a if a path is over 12 feet in   width that the golf cart is able to go on that so  long as they yield to pedestrians I think there's   a way around this there's a lot of empty paths if  you go to the west side souths side this um even   with the majority of the population not knowing  the golf carts were illegal if you drive around   uh and see these paths there's no golf carts on  there so I I would ask the council to uh reassess   and maybe make a modification or an amendment  to the ordinance as it it stands but you know at   the end of the day I I really uh appreciate just  for my family and my community the efforts that   uh both staff and the council is taken thank  you Stephanie I do have a question for staff   um in particular this was a question I had from  the very beginning which was I know that there   are some neighborhoods where you do have to cross  a protected uh roadway uh so you do have to press   a button in order to cross the street but you  still have to utilize a sidewalk in order to   get across this uh get to those positions how  is that being addressed in this ordinance in in   this ordinance you're not allowed to drive on  the sidewalks so and there may be some streets   that a golf cart is not going to be able to cross  because they can't get there by by staying on the   street if it's 40 miles per hour or if you have  to go on a sidewalk and and part of that is a   safety issue for pedestrians the other part is the  Attorney General's opinion it is correct that the   Attorney General's opinion opinion isn't binding  on the city council but it is generally thought   of as being persuasive are there any modifications  that can be done to do a compromise again back to   the yielding to pedestrians I know multiple  streets on the east side of town as well as   far west side of town that not a lot of people  whether pedestrians or even bicyclists use so   would there be an opportunity so that those more  remote sidewalks that are often not utilized can   have a golf cart just to be able to again cross  the street be at a sidewalk waiting to cross the   street you you could um that would be contrary to  the attorney general's opinion I me the Attorney   General was asked from Valley Center could golf  carts be allowed on multi-use paths um so and   the Attorney General in their opinion said no  um because a golf cart is considered to be a   vehicle and vehicles are generally not allowed  on sidewalks um you also have the question of   the widths of paths and how wide the golf carts  are um and I ask Paul gunselman just how wide are   these paths multi-use paths are 10 feet wide um  new construction um areas are about 5 feet wide   um in older neighborhoods they're four feet  wide so it's it's hard to legislate this type   of activity throughout the entire city because of  those variations and you're right in some in some   cases multi-use paths may not be used in other  cases they may have Runners on them every day um   so this was a compromise that was reached through  out the dabs um to try to make it as useful as   possible for the people who wanted to use golf  carts and it's not going to be a solution for   everybody thank you Sharon any further questions  I see none we'll continue with public comments good evening Jennifer Arnold uh 4613 nor simron  magas District um I attended three dab meetings   um and have tried to be in contact with um city  council members uh thank you for addressing this   um we didn't know it was illegal in golf cart  communities um so um it was a surprise to us   and we do not want to break the law um you guys  have put in a lot of time listening to us thank   you um we do appreciate that I would say one of  the core um themes that kept coming up at every   dab meeting that I attended um was to remind  you whenever you're riding on a golf cart is   that you're trying to go play golf um the way this  has landed with taking out access to golf courts   golf courts golf courses um not being able  to get there from outside communities outside   um neighborhoods we can't drive on a street  because most of the um surrounding areas um   have speed limits over over 30 so that just  takes out streets um unless it doesn't but   that's the way I'm reading it um just a a mom  not understanding all of that um but also it's   now it's taking outside side walks which would be  a a next best option um if you don't live in the   actual Golf Course area um I live in an outwest  Golf Course Community next to it um this this   will not allow many of us probably maybe a 100  private carts to even get to the course because   we can't drive on a sidewalk or or a street and  uh be conscience of our fellow citizens walking   or running or anything as we've been doing for  the last 20 years safely um I would just ask and   urge and plead that you allow sidewalk usage um  if we have driver's license which you've asked   us to do we are able to make those decisions on  not hitting a pedestrian um we've been given that   by this the the city and the state allowed those  driver's license we've answered those questions   we won't hit a a pedestrian um we can do that on  a golf cart there's we can do that on a sidewalk   we can move off to this to the grass so I'm just  urging you to please um before you make this a law   and not allow us to even get to the golf course to  play golf on a golf cart that you would not take   that away it's it's very imperative um and if  not just for me just the overregulation of that   for other people in the future um there are others  who are impacted by this it's going to strain the   golf court golf courses they won't have enough  carts to provide for individuals playing golf   because we bring our own carts so don't want to  beat the horse there but I just um I implore you   to reconsider this and to um just move this way so  thank you again for all the time that you put into   this I appreciate it thank you thank thank you  Jennifer council member oisle yeah thank you mayor   a question for uh legal so they do have designated  golf cart Crossings is that something that we find   quite common around and it's something that um  a community would be able to petition to um get implemented I don't know the answer to that I  I do know that there is one golf I've been told   through the dab meetings that there is one golf  cart Crossing it's hard to say um in Auburn Hills   that goes across 135th um as far as petitioning  whether you can get a golf cart Crossing and   I bet Paul's not here can petition to get a  golf cart Crossing we'll ask the city engineer the only ones that I am aware of that we have  posted are probably within like Auburn Hills um   as you cross from one hole to the next and you  cross a residential street but there probably   others around golf courses but those are getting  from one hole to the next those are the only ones   I'm aware of that we would have posted do we  know if there's a process that people could   go through if they desired one I know we do some  crosswalks if a community wants to help provide   funding for it so is there something similar with  Val Park cross I don't know that we have anything   in place at this time but you know as I said you  know where we where they would be probably right   adjacent to the golf course is where we would  most likely have't posted but otherwise I don't   know that we would okay thank you thank you Paul  M thank you I do want to C clarify that on 135th   is a Crossing but it's a tunnel was under the  streets I think I think the issue probably is   more at reflection Ridge at 21st Ridge Road  Tyler get that intersection to get across   that's probably the vice mayor I'm on the board  for a quick question yeah what uh this would be   a question for legal real fast so we talked about  the attorney general's opinion is that his opinion   of current state statute and so he interprets  State Statute that way and so that's why he's   not binding because it hasn't went through court  system so would state law have to change and   that would alter his opinion the yes I mean his  interpretation is based on existing state statutes   that Define vehicle and motor vehicle and there  is a state statute that says vehicles are not   out on sidewalks so theoretically the state  legislator could address this issue next year   thus the Attorney General offering a different  opinion yes yes you you you could amend the state statute uh 8575 that says no person shall drive  any vehicle upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area   uh except when there is a duly authorized temp  driveway so that could be something that people   in favor of sidewalks could Lobby the state  government to change their standards and state   statute and then the city would address it and not  be in conflict with state law yes one one other   option would be to not require the crossing  of Roads 30 miles per hour out of controlled   intersection um and then you wouldn't have to go  up and down on the sidewalks um I PD is here um   I'm sure that they're probably not going to be  supportive of that because you're going to have   people essentially jaywalking with a golf cart um  but but that would be the other option okay thank you we'll continue with public comment deia 7302 West reflection Court I  live in reflection Ridge which is a golf cart   Community Golf Course community and it's the  question that just came up the everything that   you've put together and thank you for listening  I think is really good except for the statement   that says golf carts have to cross at a controlled  intersection that's the problem for people that   live in reflection Ridge that Golf Course is  used by people that live across 29th Street and   the only way you can get to reflection Ridge if  this ordinance goes in would be down a sidewalk   because it's 40 m hour on 29th Street what people  do right now is they cross at an inter that's   they don't cross in an intersection so we would  need a special Crossing for them to get from at   least 29th over and that's the same thing with  some of the other areas so I think everything   in here is really good the thing that you really  have to look at is this controlled Crossing area   that's the issue that I think another person  stated that's the issue that doesn't work   and I just want to give you some numbers in  reflection Ridge the golf course has 49 golf   carts there's over 200 people with private golf  courts golf carts they have golf carts I asked   them I called them and asked them with the 49  could you meet the demand of the golf course   the answer is no the way this is written  people are not going to be able to access   the golf course unless they drive their golf  cart over there on a truck or something the way   this is written so I think what really needs to  be looked at is just this Crossing issue how to   get and and the way they do it right now I've  seen it numerous times because I live there if   you're on the north side of 29th Street there's  a neighborhood street that's close to getting   across the street and they just kind of go  at a little bit of a diagonal to get across I   mean that's what they do and it's very safe they  how many years has that Golf Course existed over   there over 30 years they've been doing it I don't  think there's been any accidents that people know   how to do it so it's just the wording of this I  think if it didn't say controlled intersections   and it just said at a safe point to get across or  that they crossed in an acceptable acceptable way   to get across 29th Street and the other streets  very similar to that the other thing as I also   looked at the sidewalks 21st Street has a much  bigger sidewalk than there is at 29th Street   and so that's the other thing about sidewalks when  we say you can't drive on a sidewalk well some of   the sidewalks are really wide and it would be safe  to probably have a golf cart like they're doing   right now so that's where maybe going back to the  attorney general or that particular piece of it is   looking at specifically the size of the sidewalks  that are available in different areas they are   wider on 21st Street than they are in 29th Street  that's all I have thank you very much you guys did   really good it's just that controlled intersection  part of it if it just says cross at appropriate or   something like that appropriate cross points would  make it so that most people could still get to the   golf course the golf course could still function  thank you very much that's a question for staff   I will ask that question the word controlled who  asks for specifically the word controlled and can   that be modified again back to to the question  I had earlier which is I know a lot of people   want to cross so that they could get to a golf  course but in order to do that you still have to   utilize some sort of cross walk yes um I think you  missed my earlier comment um on page four of the   ordinance subsection C you could remove the but  only at controlled intersections um and perhaps   add some language that golf carts shall cross in  a safe Manner and yield to all vehicular traffic   um that was requested both by um PD as well as I  think um council person Johnston who has been um   actively involved in this was okay with that  provision and I don't want to speak for you thank you oh sorry we will continue with public comment hello John Vogal 14106 West cabin I am  I think I offer kind of a unique perspective   I'm here with my uh business partner Phil our  Law Office kind of kind of doubles as a a bar   we have a Tap House that runs out of it on the  weekends and so the use of the golf cart at least   in our downtown core with deleno is mostly for  shuttling either people or supplies and I think   it's a great idea to have that at controlled  intersections in the downtown core I'm also an   avid cyclist and I would highly recommend not  putting golf carts on the bike paths that's a   very dangerous thing for both especially when  you get uh a cyclist that's kind of moving   pretty quick those that can be dangerous  but I'm also a westsider I live in Auburn   Hills and I tend to agree with everything  that was said here today that we have a   very safe wide sidewalk out there and there  are very specific passing points and so I I   would state that out past a certain place I  I I would tend to agree with the commenters   that came up there's really no reason for a  controlled intersection if we're not on the   sidewalk anyway I would I I I would highly  recommend commend that now for downtown I   think that's a great idea that's probably where  we're at because a lot of the streets here are   under 30 miles an hour but there is no way  to reach the golf courses out west there's   no way to cross safely and what you're going to  be doing is diverting those golf carts onto the   street which I think is a tough idea especially  uh around four o'clock on 135th so I would tend   to agree and I'm just offering my perspective  as someone kind of has both in mind thank you anyone else from the public who would like  to speak on golf carts I see none we'll end   public comment and bring the comments back to the  bench would you like to go first or council member oh I'll go first right vice mayor Johnston I understand this is a very passionate  issue for lot people which I had no idea but uh I   can I can understand it um I very much appreciate  Sharon's help spent a lot of time together lately   uh not dating or anything but spent a lot of  time together so thank you um we tried to make   this just as simple as possible um it's give  and take and that's what local government is   um Police Department really wants language  in there is controlled intersections I can   understand that uh would like to leave that in  there um other things they wanted I we took out   so um it's a little bit a little bit of both I  will say that for 20 plus years at reflection   Ridge and Auburn Hills and Rolling Hills  um you've been getting your golf carts to   the golf courses it's been legal and I think you  probably still do that the police dep department   has a lot better things to do than to chase  down a golf cart get to the golf course so I   think you'd be all right but this just brings  us we have to do this to get it legal through   state law because it is illegal for state law  now so at least this will make operating your   golf cart legal and uh that's why I am  going to make the uh following motion I moved have comment go ahead council member hoisel  all right thank you I didn't want to jump in front   of you there vice mayor but I do appreciate it I  I just had a couple of comments and then maybe a   piece for discussion uh one thing that this  ordinance has really shown is just how we're   all witchin we all come to the same downtown  and whatnot but different areas of the city   are different um it does sound like out east and  Out West there's a lot of safe travel spots um   as far as getting to the golf course um I do know  that in my district what I've heard from people um   is a lot of the concerns about the sidewalks and  about crossing the streets and I don't believe I   have a golf course in my district anymore so  a lot of the concern is about people driving   around the neighborhoods and whatnot um I would  be interested to looking in the future about a   process for setting up golf cart Crossing we can  still do that passing this ordinance and maybe um   just a little further down the road we can look  at Crossing options and I don't know if if it's   discriminatory or not but within like a certain  distance maybe a mile within golf courses I don't   necessarily think today is the time to necessarily  have that discussion but we can continue with   this discussion I will say one concern and I did  Vote for This ordinance originally is um safety   especially with children and when I originally  brought up wanting seat belts in the golf carts um   that was one of the things I was thinking about  and then I hear some people people's concerns   about having the seat bels in the golf carts and  it has to do with um the possibility that a golf   cart would flip and trap somebody inside so that  got me thinking I can survive a golf cart flip   um my two-year-old son possibly not and so that  that's one of the concerns and I just uh bring it   up for discussion um about maybe an age limit an  age limit five or under maybe not riding in golf   carts um I'm just curious to see what the rest of  council their thoughts are on that one just again   it goes back to safety of children I appreciate  that we don't have it to where they can't write   on people's laps so I think that eliminates um  toddler you know small children maybe two or   under and infants but still maybe a 5-year-old or  so that is a concern of mine so I just put it out   there for the rest of council I don't know what uh  any thoughts are right now council member Tuttle   thank you I just want to Echo my my colleagues  thank you to staff to Legal witto public witto   Police Department Public Works all those who  were involved thank you to vice mayor Johnston   for bringing this to our attention um thank you  to our community members who have come to speak   today those who came to our district advisory  boards those who sent emails called text always   appreciate when the community is engaged um I've  said from the beginning that this is a concern   for me um I I think that it's con confusing um we  even internally I was having a conversation with   a colleague and what's a controlled sidewalk  what's not where can you cross where can you   not I I just think that it's very muddled  and I think that people will accidentally   not follow the ordinance just because they  don't know what it is um I I have said from   the beginning I'm worried about time taken away  from witto police department when they should be   focusing on crime prevention and solving crime  so that's an issue that I will continue to be   you know that will waigh for me and then the  biggest issue for me is safety we design our   roads for cars and Automobiles and potentially  bikes and bike Lanes but we do not design our   roads and our streets and our sidewalks for  golf carts and maybe that's something we need   to consider in the future but for now I  just cannot be supportive for the fear   that someone may get hurt thank you council  member glov thank you mayor I'm very excited   about this ordinance thank you to staff um I'll  admit uh when this came before I thought we only   had uh four votes to be able to get a compromise  solution and somehow it came off better uh the   second time around and so um I'm glad that we took  it back out to dab to see that people stand for uh   more freedom when it comes to operating uh modes  of transportation and I'm excited for this to move   forward I'm incredibly supportive um vice mayor  Johnston specifically talked about uh state law I   urge those in the audience today um I don't want  this bench to do anything that's contrary to state   law or federal law and I respect the Attorney  General's opinion on what the current state law is   and so I would urge you to speak with your state  legislators about changing state law and hopefully   we can bring that back before this bench to have  a future uh conversation I don't want to set a   precedent where we're trying to stand against what  the state does because I think it's a dangerous   precedent to set from this bench when we're on a  compliance um and I understand it's uh not legally   binding but at least is interpretation of the law  so I'm very supportive of today's ordinance I hope   we can make it uh even less restrictive in the  future if the state addresses this as well and   I'm very excited that people will be able to drive  their golf carts in the downtown core specifically   deleno where I represent um I think deleno is  on the move and I think this only adds to that   as well and Council Council mle also repres or uh  Ballard represents deleno as well I see no further   uh council members who want to speak again this  is um an opportunity to legalize golf carts in the   city of witchta and it was under the leadership  of vice mayor John stun who brought this to our   entire council's attention vice mayor John Sten  thank you uh councilman hoisel uh I agree that   young children need to be taken care of um I  will say that even in non-golf cart committee   communities people take their young children  children to the pool community pool to go go   swiming so if they have to sit on a seat I think  it's a lot safer than sitting on a lap so that was   kind of a compromise that issue appreciate it um  this will save police time um it it'll legalized   golf cart so police don't have to uh go out when  somebody calls and says somebody's riding on a   golf cart um I appreciate our police departments  work on this um compromise with the and uh public   works and the whole sidewalk issued in attorney  general so I want to make the following motion I   move to approve the second reading of the revised  ordinance and authorized the clerk to publish   the same second motion and a second any further  discussion I see none Miss clerk please open the role motion motion passes 6 to one miss clerk  please call the next item General obligation note sale good evening mayor members of the  city council uh I'm Mark Manning with the   Department of Finance today I want to present  to you the results of our most recent note sale   just a reminder we issue notes uh usually about  every six months and they're very shortterm uh   debt that we're going to use to finance con  projects that are in the construction phase   and these notes do have a six month maturity so  you approved on February 18th the sale of these   notes we actually had the sale last Thursday  on March 13th and tonight we're asking for your   ratification of the results of that sale and  then finally we will close the sale on April   15th the notes totaled about $43 million and as I  noted they will mature in o October of 2025 we're   going to finance 207 separate projects with these  the vast majority of which are special assessment   projects about two-thirds of the 43 million is  for special assessment projects about 15 and a   half million is for geo large type projects so  we had a very good sale very competitive sale   uh we like lots of biders we had six biders so  that's a sign of a very good sale uh we awarded   the bid to truest Securities Incorporated and  the interest rate was two 87% which again is a   very attractive rate and considerably lower than  what we issued at for one year ago so with that   mayor we'd uh recommend that you ratify the award  of the bids by the city manager adopt the note   resolution and authorize the necessary signatures  that's the end of my presentation mark thank you   very much um I really am appreciative of you I  think we said this before but I know that your   prudent and the fiscal respon responsibility  of the city of WIA gain the city of WIA the   S&P uh AAA rating so again it is under your  leadership and I'm very grateful to you thank   you I don't see any questions from the bench so  we will open it up for public comment I see no   public comment so I'll bring it back to the  bench and I would be happy to move that the   council ratify the award of the bid adopt the  note resol ution and authorize the necessary   signatures second motion and a second any further  discussion I see none Miss clerk please open the rooll motion passes 70 thanks Mark  Miss clerk please call the next   item funding for 2025 sidewalk maintenance program good evening again Paul gunselman Public  Works and utilities the item before you   is 2025 sidewalk maintenance program Public  Works and utilities department oversees an   annual program for sidewalk repairs as provided  by Charter ordinance number 88 staff continually   receives requests to repair uneven or broken  sidewalk sections that may be considered a trip   Hazard or safety concern and now that the  weather's warming up we anticipate getting   additional ones as folks get out walking more  the cost of the repairs is a responsibility of   the abing property owner section of the sidewalk  with multiple cracks or cracks wide enough to grow   grass shall be replaced as seen in a couple of  these pictures sections of sidewalks that are   raised or have sunken one inch or more creating  a trip Hazard shall be leveled or replaced as   well as sidewalk sections with excessive cross  slope more than a/4 inch and 12 in um length or   sloped away from the street shall be replaced as  well as sidewalks that may hold water in areas   after getting a complaint after staff verifies  of needed sidewalk repairs State Statute requires   that property owners receive a minimum of 30  days for the opportunity to have those repair   made by a licensed contractor an annual on call  contractor is hired by the city for repairs not   completed by the property owner which is often  the majority and there is an economic economy of   scale for a million dollars in annual repairs  generally provides the best cost option for   the property owners the intent is to have the city  contractor to complete repairs as soon as possible   after the initial 30 days so we are in pretty  good shape right now we do uh once 30 days is   up we um if the the homeowner hasn't repaired That  Sidewalk we do get a contractor out there shortly therea the 20 uh sorry the adopted 2025 through  2034 Capital Improvement program includes $1.2   million in 2025 for sidewalk maintenance repairs  costs will be covered by direct payment from or   special assessment over five years to the adjacent  property owner ERS staff requests authorization of   the full 2025 budget to make the repairs and as a  reminder um the intersections are um funded by the   city if repairs need to be made and the left side  picture there if you were to extend the property   lines out to the curb that shows the area that  the city would be responsible for um including   the wheelchair ramp and there's some pictures um  of some of those locations that have have been repaired it is recommended that the city council  approve the budget adopt the resolution and   authorized necessary signatures and I will stand  for questions thank you Paul questions for staff I   see none we'll open it up for public comment any  individuals who would like to speak on sidewalk   maintenance program I see none I'll bring it  back to the bench I would be glad to approve   the budget adopt the resolution and authorize the  necessary signatures second motion and a second   any further discussion I see none Miss clerk  please open the r motion passes 70 Miss clerk   please call the next item main waterer treatment  plant conversion to emergency use district 6 good evening I'm Laura quick with  public works and utilities this   item pertains to the future of the  main water treatment plant located   in the Riverside area and a recommendation  to convert it to be available for emergency use the new witw Waterworks plant is nearing  completion with performance testing currently   underway the the new water plant will  replace our 85-year-old plant that we   refer to as the main water treatment plant  or in writing mwtp both plants will operate   for some period of time before the main  waterer treatment plan is taken offline   and we expect the new plant to be our sole  source of drinking water by the end of 2025   uh we now need to determine what we should do  with the current water treatment plant taking   into consideration the cost and benefits  of some different options we discussed uh   those options and cost estimates in the city  council Workshop in October and I will summarize   those that we previously discussed in a few  minutes it's important to note that there's   no zeroc cost option we can't simply lock the  doors and walk away from the plant not only   because it would pose safety concerns and risk  of vandalism but also because we have critical   underground infrastructure on the site that  will continue to be used connecting the new   plant to the H Pump Station and I'll highlight  some of that infrastructure on a later slide um so ultimately what we're here to do  today is present you with a recommended   option for converting the plant to be  available for emergency use and we're   seeking your authorization to initiate  that pro project with a request for proposals and before we get into the options  I want to recap a few things from the workshop   last October um first thing that we looked at uh  when considering what to do with the water plant   was our water demand um to determine how long we  expect the capacity of the new wig to Water Works   to be uh enough um so looking at trends for the  last 20 years which you'll see on the left half   of this chart um and projecting forward to the  next 20 years which are the smoother lines on   the right side of the chart the black lines on the  bottom show the average daily use the red lines   in the middle show the highest use for a single  day and each year uh we see a steady decrease in   demand since 2005 as water conservation and water  saving devices have become more prevalent uh this   chart looks uh shows forward Pro projections that  use 2023 as a starting point and looking out to   2045 we pred predict that our single highest day  of water use will be around 86 million gallons per   day or MGD and we also made some more conservative  calculations based on a 20-year average and that   more conservative projection would indicate that  we could see a demand of 96 MGD on the highest day   in 204 uh both of those projections are well  under the capacity of the new plant which is   shown in blue at the top at 120 MGD um so adding  capacity does not appear to be warranted at this time another thing that we looked at is the  comparison to other large Utilities in surrounding   states um we wondered how common it is to only  have one Water Treatment Plant this is interesting   to us because even though our new water treatment  plant will provide a high degree redundancy the   plant itself is still a single point of failure  in the event of a catastrophe um what we found   is that most of our peer utilities have more  than one Water Treatment Plant uh the notable   exception is Kansas City Missouri which is the  largest utility in the region with a single Water   Treatment Plant however the Kansas City Water  System also has connections to six other Regional   water suppliers that can be activated in case of  an emergency uh we don't have that here because   we don't have any neighboring water systems  that have enough capacity to supply Us in an emergency and next we looked at the condition  of the main water treatment plant um most of   the infrastructure we have is underground and  difficult to show in photos but here's a few   examples um of some of our above ground assets  I won't go through each one of them but all of   them show corrosion um there's some examples of  concrete uh deterioration um things like that um   that's not surprising for an 85y  old plant uh the condition of the   plant was one of the drivers that led  to the decision about 10 years ago to   build the new plant uh but once it comes  offline the deficits will be easier to address takeaways from our condition assessment  the plant is currently functional thanks to our   maintenance staff but many of our assets are  at the end of their service life or in need   of deferred maintenance uh with some rehab work  the plant could still serve a beneficial purpose   um also disinfection chemical storage facilities  do not meet current regulations um we're not   currently in violation with that because  they were constructed according to codes   in at the time but they wouldn't meet  codes for safety today um they're aging   pose a risk to our employees and we need to  rectify that uh lastly if the main waterer   treatment plan is going to be used in the  future different parts of the plant would   need to be rehabilitated and maintained  depending on what water source we use so now for what we do with the plant once  the witow Waterworks plant comes online uh   we've already established the new plant should  meet the community's demands for more than 20   years so we don't need to keep the old plant  in operation at least not continuously there   were three broad categories of options for  what we can do with the plant moving forward   demolish it mothball it or convert it  to emergency use um and before I move   on I want to kind of caption this photo uh  this is what we call the pipe gallery and   and it's one example of the extensive  underground substructure at the main   waterer treatment plant um there's much more  below ground than what you can see from the outside so we'll talk first about site demolition  the first um opt that would be for the purpose of   preparing the site to be used for something else  um I'll explain what's on the site first and then   on the next slide I'll uh come back to the cost  and benefits so so this is a 27 Acre Site which   is a correction from what I told you at the uh  Workshop I did not realize there's actually two   tracks here um and added together 27 Acres however  of those 27 Acres about three acres around the   perimeter are in easement with pipelines that  have to stay in place even if we demolish the   plant uh because they're connecting the new plant  to the H Pump Station also part of the site are   two parking lots including a 3 and 1 half acre  parking lot for the witch Art Museum and 2 acre   parking lot for Botanica so when you account  for the pipelines and the parking lots there   are between eight and N 18 and 19 Acres remaining  that could potentially be available for another purpose uh this diagram shows where the  pipelines are around the main water treatment   plant everything in red is critical infrastructure  that we cannot demolish uh between the underground   infrastructure like the pipe gallery that you saw  and the complexity of working around the critical   pip pipelines that have to remain in service the  amount of debris to hallway the cost of filling   in the Deep basins and basements the total  estimate to demolish the plant and prepare   the site for another use is between 50 and $75  million coming up with this cost was a joint   effort between our engineering consultant and  a local demolition contractor with the highest   portion of that cost about $40 million being for  the fill material including purchase hauling and   placement um they noted that filling the hole left  from the plant and the basins would require nearly   20,000 truckloads of material to be brought in  and we also looked at the potential sale value   of the 18 or 19 Acres that could be uh repurposed  this area is zoned for multif family residential   and the most likely use of the site would be  residential um the city sold another property   in Riverside in 2021 and received bids between  $2 and $325 per square foot uh we believe that we   could expect this property to go for between 3 to5  per square foot if it were cleared and ready for   development and that pencils out to between 2.4  and $4.1 million um so still a pretty large net loss we also considered mothballing the main water  treatment plant and making it safe which would   include dismantling the chemical systems the plant  would remain on offline indefinitely and rehab and   construction would be deferred until we have a  future increase in demand so with this option   were're performing minimal ongoing maintenance  to preserve what we already have in there but   the piping infrastructure um would not be  in place to bring it back online in short   notice so the plant would not be available  for emergency use under this scenario the   capital cost is 0 for now and the cost to  return it to service would be determined in   the future based on how the plant is to be  used mothballing it defers those decisions   until demand triggers the need for it um as for  the life cycle cost we still need to dedicate   to full-time employees to perform minimal  ongoing maintenance to preserve them for   future use which accounts for the majority of the  life cycle cost you see here8 to9 million over 20 years and next we looked at several variations of  reconfiguring the main water treatment plant to be   available for use in the event of a catastrophic  event that takes the the new plant or the main   supply line out of service so that could be  something like a major fire tornado pipeline break   um the variables set the different emergency the  I'm sorry the variables that set the different   emergency opt options apart are the Water Source  the capacity startup time and finished water quality um so I'll break those variables down  for you uh what's listed on this table is options   three through seven are five different emergency  use options that we looked at the differences   in the variables leads to a different in total  difference in total cost for each one um option   three would have put untreated water into the  distribution system to provide firefighting   capacity uh but it would have been untreated water  and the idea was eliminated after discussion with   Khe about the risks associated with that plan  um for the remaining options The Source water   is either going to be ground waterer only or  a blend of groundwater from the wellfield and   surface water from chy Reservoir the signific ific  uh of that is treating a blend is cheaper upfront   but it takes more labor to maintain because  it requires us to maintain more processed   equipment the startup time and the finished water  quality are tied together softer water like we're   producing today is ideal but the softening process  takes longer to start up than producing hard water   does um a difference is about a week for one to um  two days for the other that time would be critical   in recovering from a catastrophe and we think that  minimizing the amount of time without water would   be more important than providing soft water which  is why we focused on options four and five um both   of those have a shorter startup time but result  in producing harder water um at the workshop we   talked briefly about why hardness is important  uh basically that's the mineral content of the   water uh the minerals are naturally occurring  in the source water and the softening process   is what removes them um with harder water  some people may notice a different taste   uh between hard and soft water the minerals may  leave a residue on glasses um and some Industries   sensitive to water hardness may need to adjust  their process or soften their water on site to   account for the harder water U that's not ideal  but we're not talking about a business as usual   situation um we're talking about restoring  service when we have no water and the fastest   way to do that is to put hard water into the  distribution system um regardless whether we're   talking about hard water or soft water either way  the water will be disinfected and it is safe to drink so the option recommended by staff  and by the steering committee is what was   shown as option five on the last slide this  option uses groundwater from the wellfield   is our source the treatment process would  be disinfection only with no softening to   minimize a startup time to minimize the  cost we'd use a temporary disinfection   system in the event of an emergency  bringing in tanker trucks of chlorine   and ammonia the benefit of that is we can  get rid of the outdated disinfection system   we have now while still saving $13 million  upfront cost by not building a new permanent   disinfection system the downside is there's  no on-site disinfection chemical storage and   the logistics of disinfecting with chemicals from  tanker trucks are more expensive if activated for   an actual emergency um so if we ever had to put  this plant back into service for an emergency that   lasts longer than 6 to 12 months we would have  been better off constructing the disinfection   system UPF front uh the construction  items listed here on the third bullet   represent the configuration suggested by our  consultant but this may or may not be our final configuration this recommended option would  provide us with a capacity of 45 MGD uh we   felt this was the minimum acceptable capacity  for meeting the community comm's needs in an   emergency situation while balancing long-term  life cycle costs uh the startup time would be   expected to be one or two days construction  would take a couple of years but after   finished it would be maintained in a standby  mode and could be brought back online in one   to two days or as soon as we could get the  disinfection Tinker trucks on site finished   water quality it would be compliant safe uh  but hard we need uh or we expect to need one   full-time employee or an equivalent maybe four  employees for one week a month uh for example   the capital cost is projected to be between  11 and 16 million and the 20-year life cycle   cost would be 15 to 20 million which includes  the capital cost as well as the maintenance cost uh budget considerations and  other comments we currently have   budgeted $24 million in the capital  Improvement plan for this project   and we are assuming $300,000 per  year for maintenance and energy um note that these amounts should cover  construction and keeping the plant in standby   mode but this does not account for the cost  of operating the plant in an emergency that's   going to depend on the nature and duration of an  emergency um the construction cost may increase   if we determine a different configuration is  needed um basically that's because we've only   done conceptual design work so far um the RFP will  will continue that design further uh lastly we're   currently exploring the possibility of water  reuse and the main water treatment plant   could factor into those plans the project  we're discussing today does not preclude   that from happening it actually helps us keep our  options open for a potential reuse project in the future so this brings us to the reason we're  here today um we are requesting Council approval   of formal concept and project delivery method  including evaluation criteria and initiation   of $1 million for phase one of a progressive  design build project We Believe Progressive   design build is the best project delivery  method for this project to minimize the   overall cost and impact of changes as we  proceed through the design process we're   also going to need the engineer to provide us  with an execution plan and standard operating   procedures for Emergency Operations and the  design build option gives us the flexibility   for that plan to be adjusted as the project  progresses if this item is approved today   we will release a request for proposals and  select a vendor in accordance with the city's   admin administrative regulation on procurement  we will return to council between phase one and   phase two of the project for approval of  the 30% design and a guaranteed maximum   price construction would begin next year  and we would expect it to be completed in 2028 wito Charter ordinance 228 requires City  council's approval of criteria for selection   of a design builder in advance of  the selection staff recommends the   criteria and maximum points that are shown here the recommended action is to approve  initiation of the project and budget approve the   selection criteria for the design build selection  adopt the resolution and authorize the necessary   signatures and with that I'll stand for any  questions thank you laa council member questions   I have several first and foremost can you go back  to the slide regarding uh communities such as   Colorado Springs who have U multiple other backups  that's not it further back yep right here um I   wanted to know from this list of comparable cities  have any of them look like Witchita where we are   building already have built a new water treatment  plant in the amount of $570 million with multiple   redundancies and we have a current water treatment  plant that obviously we're now talking about what   to do uh for future needs have any of these other  communities had something similar um I did not   dig into the details of how these different  communities arrived at having multiple plants   the reason why I bring that up is I am concerned  um obviously Witchita provides about 177% of water   uh for Kansas residents and so our water treatment  plant is going to be critical for not just witcha   but the region um and knowing that for instance  Kansas City Missouri only has one as well but they   have other multiple other water resour sources  coming in they have redundancies right we are the   redundancy um so my question to that is have has  the consultant really looked at other communities   to make sure that um we're being prudent with  the resource we currently have which is the old   treatment plant as well as a new treatment plant  so now you're going to have double redundancy at   the new treatment plant but then this would create  a triple redundancy with this old treatment plant   have they considered those options from other  cities because I I feel like we need to be able   to not just look at our region but also other  cities across our St uh our country so we we   limited our evaluation to the region but you're  right our new water treatment plant does have a   lot of redundancies built in um it's it's made  and designed to operate with any one of any one   thing out of service obviously it's not going to  operate if we have a catastrophe that takes out   the whole plant so um a major fire or a tornado  for example so um we think that by having this   uh backup option with the current water treatment  plant that we have um preserving it in a way that   we could use it if we had to is the most effective  way to balance um the risk against the cost then   I'd like to go back to the slide regarding the  project criteria this is something that I brought   up before I know that I was not on this Council  when the design build option uh was brought forth   and I know uh council members who've been here uh  more than I have uh in terms of length of time um   were in favor of this I'm concerned um because  I feel like if I remember correctly when I keep   signing these agreements it keeps being the same  company over and over again will that provide that   company um which can you remind me the name  of the company uh the well the company that   did the um initial report on this project for us  was Burns and McDonald yep so Burns and McDonald   has been has received multiple contracts whether  it's the water treatment plant this uh feasibility   study I've signed multiple other things from this  bench from consent agenda items so I'm a little   concerned that there's only one company that knows  our system the best so then obviously they would   have an upper hand in knowing our system um would  that really be competitive in letting the process   be truly um open um because it's a request for  proposals for all all and it gets thrown out to   the entire nation who can actually help us build  this but do you think that that just gives them   an upper hand again knowing that they created this  feasibility study and obviously they're going to   have a lot of points with experience of proposer  no you're right they do have a lot of experience   with us um all of our procurements are always  open um and and they're free to bid on this again   um but you'll notice we put the highest point um  ratio down for the approach um and understanding   an approach together 60% um with the experience  of the proposer being only 25% so uh we do hope   this will be an open truly open bidding process  where we're uh putting ourselves in a situation   to consider anybody that wants to propose on this  I guess I just want to make a point that I would   really like to see if there are other cities that  have done something similar to us where we are in   this position where we have an old water treatment  plant and what to do with it making sure that we   are using the best not not just a company that  knows us because they've been doing all these   contracts but really have have been doing the work  in other parts of the nation we can definitely   include that when we're looking at the experience  of the proposer um and I and I will also point out   that in our draft RFP that we've put together um  we specifically say you do not have to use this   configuration that our engineer suggested we are  open to others as well um and so we're we're not   locking ourselves into only what they suggested  thank you and this is not an insult to the company   that has been doing the work I just want  to make sure that it's truly open and we   are getting the most competitive and the best  here in to Witchita when we want to make sure   that 177% of the state's population gets water  and what we're doing with this old treatment   plan understood thank you any further questions  for staff I I see n we'll open it up for public comment any individuals who would like to speak  on this I see none I'll bring it back to the   bench council member GL thank you mayor I  have a question for staff and so when I'm   looking at the recommended action regarding the  council approving the initiation of the project   is specifically do we have to say  option five or is that implied as the recommendation um I will I'll jump in I think that  you can say it as the motion is read and it will   reflect the recommendation of the Green Sheet  I think that would be sufficient to State your   intent you uh council member Johnson thanks mayor  um I served on the steering committee with former   council member fry um and we talked about this  quite a bit option five was the recommendation   um that was made and that really came down to how  long did we want our residents to not have access   to water and a week gives you everything you want  and the soft water and one to two days gives you   water and we know that people would need water  pretty quickly so option five was the option that   that we supported uh um we had a lot of logistical  questions during the steering committee I don't   everybody in that room was smarter than me so  they can answer that better than I can but um   everything was answered satisfactorily to where  this really just seemed like it was the best   option for the city and having that emergency  Water Treatment Plant so I am supportive of   the steering committee's recommendation which is  option five in the recommendation today and it's   a little bit of Why without getting into the hour  hour and a half long discussion we had about it vice mayor John ston thank you mayor um I have  some very big concerns about this I've discussed   with the city manager before we disagree on  it um the new plant was made with multiple   redundancies when we took a tour of that plant I  asked what would it do if a tornado hit this and   the answer was it have to be at F5 to really  take it out of mission even then some of the   buildings would would still not be affected  so in a flood I don't think that's going to   happen in wit anyway with our flood control um  someday this plant will be disassembled know   maybe might not be in my lifetime but someday  it will it'll never be cheaper than right now   to disassemble it I also disagree with some of  the assumptions the land value at uh of the 18   or 19 Acres as only $3 to5 doll an acre when you  consider that to the the land at Sims that's at   a residential neighborhood not by museums not  on the river not close to downtown I think if   you ask some commercial real estate people um  well the land sold for a Dollar by the ballpark   got sold for several million dollars um I think  that can give you maybe some idea of something   in between that the value will be that land so I  will not be supporting this um for those reasons   and and more I'm not comfortable with I I just  don't think it's going to cost 50 to 75 million to   dis disassembly um the dirt to fill the dirt that  is a lot of dirt um that comes out to $500 a load   I don't know how much the load of dirt is anymore  but it does come out to $500 a load no anyway I   will not be supported council member Glascock I  was going to make a motion but I see councilman   Ballard's on so I will council member Ballard  thank you mayor um I think with the climate   that we're in with water and being that uh 177%  of our state does depend on us to provide water   we need to really take care of what we have in  case of an emergency um so for that I will be um   supportive and it is in my district if you don't  mind if we're ready for motion I asked a couple   more questions before a motion uh thank you for  all council members and feedback I actually have   a couple questions for Gary um Gary this building  if we do move forward with this option I wanted   to know what are other uses that this building  can also um be for in other words can it be used   for some storage uh for the city of witcha for  any of our departments can you address this is   a very large building and I think Laura mentioned  this this is also a very big footprint um of land   uh sure I think that's possible once we would move  into the design phase and with the The Proposal we   have for the disinfection process there's going to  be a fair amount of this facility that wouldn't be   actively used uh I think yeah anything's probably  uh on the table to look at that as we move forward   one thing I would mention again that Laura talked  about was the potential for reuse uh we'll be   bringing a item to the council soon uh for vendor  selection initial contract to start a what I would   consider very robust reuse analysis and study  I think it's very possible somewhere along the   lines that we would find that this facility is a  good location for some type of reuse process it   would be uh probably a really good location for  equipment for some Advanced treatment uh because   it's right by H Pump Station uh I'll just give  you this is very high level uh but if you look at   the idea of we've got the most uh affluent coming  out of our trip was water treatment plant too at   the south end of witto a lot shorter distance  to get from there to this plant than it is to   witto Waterworks and I think it's possible uh that  maybe we look at some type of treatment there and   we could go right into the system systems from H  that doesn't mean anything at this point that's   just me speculating looking ahead being hopeful I  think as we get going on this reuse we'll really   start to focus on what the possibilities could be  for this building but sure I think there's chance   for storage too there's a lot of space there thank  you for the Innovative idea I know that it's still   in the preliminary process and council member  Tuttle served on that task force um so I'm really   excited about the opportunities for possible reuse  of water um um so thank you for that the other   question I had I know that the new water treatment  plant is supposed to come online next month um but   due to our drought uh we've had some delays in uh  fully testing the system can you address I asked   this question to uh to city manager Leighton but I  want this on the record I wanted to know are there   any clawbacks um knowing that we can't fully  test it um because of our drought restrictions so I want to make sure I understand when you ask  about clawbacks are you talking about related to   the contract or so are there any payments that  will be paid say April 1 which is when the new   water treatment plant was supposed to be fully  functional so right now we are less than 30   days out from taking ownership of the new plant  there were some delays due to the extreme weather   uh during their performance testing that were  not a fault of Wy water Partners it was temporary   uh issues associated with the testing that  obviously our plant just like our plant does   now can operate under those conditions so uh  we're projecting somewhere between April 8th   and April 15 uh to take ownership of this plan I  do not foresee that there being any uh monetary   ties to that by the contract but I think because  of the agreement we've come to with them and the   conditions that were they had to deal with  during that period of time but we're getting   close to taking ownership of the plant not quite  sure that's what the mayor's asking the mayor's   asking when when are we responsible for final  payment and was there going to be any retention   for any period of time oh sorry well then I did  miss that uh once we so the the final piece of   this with the performance testing is the they've  got to prove that the plant can make what we call   spec water they've got to produce water to meet  regulation um we do still have uh one outstanding   issue that has to come back to the council um when  we presented change order number two sometime last   fall to the city council it included uh the  conversion of the existing 64in pipeline from   a raw water source to a finished water source at  that time we we had a partial cost an estimated   cost to do that work but we were waiting uh on  some final decisions from kdhe on how we had to   go about that that took a little longer than we  had planned that work is mostly done uh we were   waiting on some a few final costs once we got into  that pipeline I'll just give you one quick example   of some unexpected that we couldn't have seen uh  once we took that pipeline out of service uh we   we did a lot of things to that to make sure it  could be used for portable water finished water   from the new water treatment plant we found that  there were some uh issues at certain joints within   the pipe so we're making repairs there anyway  we'll be coming back to the city council at some   point to reconcile that change order uh which  is how that was originally set up uh that as of   right now I'm hoping is the final cost item we've  got for the facility after that is Council takes   action on that uh we would start moving towards  final payment on the plant not until spec Waters   actually until spec wat is is yes regardless of  that timing uh that that has to happen before   anything is released and so we still are holding  on to uh retainage and since we're on that point I   might come back to what we talked about before on  what we were doing for retainage for the extended   period so do you have that our point I got it just  in case this came up I had something I wanted to   show you so thank you for asking this question  because I wanted to come back to this so last   fall uh you know per the original contract The  Hope was to be done with everything in September   this drought has created so many issues for us in  so many ways um and we needed to get past really   the higher demand periods prior to the drought  restrictions being in place so um the plant was   substantially complete in September of 2024 this  was all part of change order number four that the   city council approved we so so we we extended  final completion to April 1st so then we had   this discussion and this issue about what do we  do about final warranty so the contract requires   very similar to a lot of our projects a two-year  warranty from the contractor on everything that's   done out there so with that uh again that final  completion was extended to April 1st for the   performance testing uh the two-year contract  warranty started on September 17th so we have   warranties through September of 2026 we know  we have that that was started uh at substantial   completion it goes through 20 September of  2026 we discussed with the council as part   of that uh change order number four discussion  which contemplated these dates and these costs   that we felt like it was a good insurance policy  to consider extending the warranties a full two   years past April when we take over the plant  right we're about ready to take over the plant   the thought was let's extend the warranties two  years from now to April of 2027 we had an initial   estimated cost of $1.75 million to extend those  warranties are at least the most critical ones   city council approved that as part of that budget  of change order number four and so we set out to   uh work with which Dole water Partners they've  got 150 subcontractors multiple vendors there's   a lot of stuff here um this is very unique  situation compared to we would normally be   uh with a two-year warranty on everything right  so we started receiving numbers um and multiple   factors here I think have brought us to a  different place on where we want to go with   this so some of the warranties uh are based on  full replacement cost because this at this point   that's really all they can do so what that does is  we we could if we were to consider those we would   pay a premium uh a full price for something that  may not even be needed several warranties have   elevated pricing based on inclusion of smaller and  lower value items that are often covered through   operations budgets or can be readily kept on hand  this is not something that the the vendors or the   subcontractors are doing anything unfair it's it's  it's the situation that we're in trying to figure   out what the true value of that is because  this is not even normal for them uh response   times a couple other factors here and then I'll  I'll get to the point uh the the contract under   with warranties allows a a certain response time  warranty language allows seven days to respond and   then 14 days to develop a corrective action plan  so during that full 21-day period it is likely   that we could probably go in and make the repairs  during that period of time and it may be that we   need to and not be able to wait for that probably  one of the bigger parts of this and we did touch   on this before uh is that the extended warrant  warranty period from September to April primarily   covers what's going to be a lower demand period  plants operating a lower capacity less stress on   equipment we're less likely to see any issues  during that period of time um and then kind of   to that same point we would expect so during the  uh performance testing that's going on now there   has been some equipment failures not unexpected  all of those have been fixed all those are being   repaired all those are being replaced like new  uh we would expect any major problems would make   themselves apparent and known within the first  year of operation which would be covered under   the two years we already have anyway we uh are  contemplating and we think it's the best option   uh to decline all of those extended warranties to  keep the $1.75 million available for us to assist   with repair replacement or purchase of spare parts  and Equipment uh promotes less downtime we could   also use that uh for Contract Services as needed  to to uh offset our resources to supplement our   resources to make those repairs so we so having  said that then we would be responsible for inter   repairs after September 17th of 2026 when the full  two years expires I think it's the most prudent   thing to do I think it's responsible I think it  made sense that we went through this and looked at   what those uh warranties might look like uh but at  this point in time um you know if everything goes   the way we hope it does and this plan operates  the way it does and everything holds together   we would might be able to save some of that $1.75  million where we would not have otherwise paying   for those extended warranty so when the council uh  took action on that change order number four which   included this budget for these extended warranties  we said we would only come back to council if   we were going to contemplate spending more than  that uh so I think at this time we probably will   plan to move forward of not accepting any of the  warranties and basically just creating that budget   for ourselves for repairs so so really a reserve  fund yes ma'am thank you very much much Gary vice   mayor Johnston thank you Mayor Gary thank you very  much I voted against that warranty for that reason   um I appreciate you looking into it I appreciate  you going this route I think it is uh financially   prudent to do that thank you very much thank  you thank you Gary so I know that I asked the   question about the new water treatment plant and  you talked about the warranty as well can you one   more time just address that we will not give final  payment to which shall water Partners until they   meet spec water and that that retention date will  be agreed upon between the parties correct yes   yeah that's the the last big piece here again the  there's still some work being done on that 64-inch   pipeline which is a part of the project so we've  got to wrap that up too and we couldn't move to   final payment until we reconcile that one final  change order which will come in front of council   but we'll we'll we'll start to begin that process  to negoti release of routin is when it makes sense   thank you Gary this resides in council member  Ballard's District thank you mayor um I would like   to take the recommended action approve initiation  of the project and budget approve the selection   criteria for the design build selection adopt the  resolution and authorize the necessary signatures   per Charter per Charter ordinance number 211 this  item requires 2third of the majority second motion   and a second any further discussion  I see none Miss clerk please open the RO motion passes 61 Miss  clerk please call the next item air Capital Municipal ID hello mayor and Council Lily Meadow City  manager's office here to present the air   Capital card Municipal ID program in May of  2024 the city committed to implementing a   low barrier I9 compliant Municipal ID card  and I9 facilitates employment verification   providing people with more job opportunities  who didn't have it beforehand staff research   state and federal law as well as Municipal ID  programs in pure cities we did a deep dive into   Detroit Michigan Topeka Kansas and Kansas City  Missouri where we reviewed applications processes   proof of identity and eligibility staff obtained  feedback and periodic provided periodic updates   to community stakeholders such as Sedwick County  Justice together and the homelessness task force   here are some examples of municipalities with IDs  there are around 40 cities that have ID programs   and there are two currently in the state of Kansas  with it being Topeka in Kansas City Kansas some   benefits of a municipal ID it creates a sense of  belonging and it enables residents to access City   services and potentially cash checks open  bank accounts attend medical appointments fill   prescriptions provide proof of identity to law  enforcement register children for school and more   we offer a broader list of acceptable documents  to establish proof of identity and residency than   other IDs available and it increases access to the  community we have a goal of meeting people where   they're at so that it can be truly accessible and  it will be available at multiple City locations   this ID program is in line with the state statute  KSA 12642 this is straight from the state's   website where you and it's recognized by state law  that we can enact a municipal ID program so long   as it displays not valid for state ID which you'll  see in future slides that very boldly it says not   valid for state ID so a little lesson on I9 it  helps people have employment eligibility so our   program follows the I9 list from us citizenship  and Immigration Services where there's list a b   and c we also have something very similar so list  a contains documents that show both identity and   employment authorization list be documents  only show identity and they may demonstrate   that an employee is who they say they are but  not that they are authorized to work inless C   documents show the holder is allowed to work but  typically do not have photos and thus do not prove identity can this ID be used to vote no the  municipal ID does not equate to a state ID   only state issued IDs can be used to register  to vote and in front of you you see a Kansas   driver's license and a Kansas identification  card or a non-d driver's license so when you   go to register to vote in the state of Kansas you  have to have one of those two you cannot use the   municipal ID as a substitution for a state ID  so the ordinance it establishes a municipal ID   program in requirements it will be administered  by the city manager's office applications will be   available at multiple City locations and online  IDs will be produced at City Hall in the multi-   agency Center enforcement Provisions are there to  address counterfeit cards and fraudulent uses and   once again we are in compliance with State Statute  12642 where the card will display not valid for   state ID residents can also be as young as 14  to obtain the card so long as they have a parent   or Guardian fill out the application on their  behalf and fees may be waved based on financial situation IDs will display name photo address  optional date of birth ID number expiration   date and include security features it will be I9  compliant for employment purposes which requires   photo or other identifying characteristics so  it basically is going to create a document that   establishes a person's identity andove of identity  and residency documents are established by the   city manager's office and this list is subject to  change as we learn more about people and how to   make this as low barrier as possible so our proof  of identity and residency like I said follows the   US citizenship and Immigration Services guidelines  we also add a category to establish Witchita   residency we're asking that people provide  us one item from category a if they don't   have anything from a then one from both B and C  and then one item from category D to establish   Witchita residency we spoke to the homelessness  task force and they gave us feedback to make this   as low Barry as possible people can provide  documents that are up to 10 years is expired   so we're truly meeting people where they are at  if they haven't had the ability to update it in   the way with the state or other Federal entities  they can still get our Municipal ID and documents   should be from entities who take reasonable  reasonable measures to verify identity and res   residency so now the fun part the designs we have  it called the air Capital card and it like I said   very clearly states not valid for state ID at the  top in big bold red letters so you can see that   we also have the ability for somebody to designate  their veteran status and you can also leave off an   address while still being I9 compliant the I9  compliancy states that you need a photo or an   address not both so this is making it required  to have a photo but you don't have to have an   address available truly making it low barrier for  people and with the company that we're going with   they will be able to provide us a holographic WP  to increase security measures but we're working   with PD WPD to finalize security measures and if  we don't love the name we have an alternate name   idea for anybody for the council to help us move  forward with this so ICT it is the same design   same everything just a different name if you  don't love air Capital card so and great news   the name is not in the ordinance so it will not  affect today you just need to give us guidance on   how to move forward with designing and producing  the IDS so some Financial considerations there is   sufficient funding included in the 2025 adopted  budget we are estimated not to exceed $20,000   with startup and operating cost in the initial  year and minimal cost to replenish supplies in   the ongoing years we looked at outside vendors  but we decided to go with an in-house sander to   have more cost savings and we know that they're a  trusted resource that's what HR uses to print our   ID badges and with this we'll be purchasing  Hardware software and the initial Supply legal consideration the law department has  reviewed and approved the ordinance as written it   is recommended that the city council approved the  ordinance and authorize the necessary signatures   and I stand for any questions and I also have  Nate Johnson from the Law Department to answer   answer any and all legal questions that he can  do thank you thank you Lily questions for staff   beginning with council member Glascock thank  you mayor Lily I have a few questions um so   you had said that our identification our identity  requirements were simil or were the same as the   I9 similar similar it's the same format we mainly  base it off of Detroit's Municipal ID program to   make it as truly low barrier and just give us a  lot of options and like I said earlier the list   can grow with feedback from the community this  is a pilot program and we'll be able to learn   what road bumps we encounter and what people do  actually have because we want to meet them where   they're at so the goal is to expand this list  and that's why it's marked as draft because it   will change so so non I9 acceptable documents  are acceptable under our identity requirements   yes the ID will be I9 compliant you don't always  have to offer up I9 specific documents for this   um regarding a few other additional questions  um is anybody eligible for the I9 card does it   solely have to be US citizen can non-citizens  also access uh the municipal ID card as well   all witch residents 14 and above can access this  Municipal ID there's not necessarily a hindrance   of where your nationality is from you have  to provide the proper documentation to obtain   this so if people have it that's great there are  stipulations of this I don't know if Nate wants to   I think question may also come down to legal  status in this country do you want to if you talk about and thanks L naier Toler Johnson with the  law Department it kind of depends and uh just on   the perspective of the question so please correct  me kind of just I'm going to try to answer it a   few ways I kind of heard it the first is the  ordinance is drafted so that the uh Municipal   ID card is available to any Witchita resident  but a municipal ID card does not Grant status or   authorization to work so we're talking about under  the I9 compliance list B and that's where we fall   and you've got to have both list B and list C list  B is the identity proof of identity which is why   we're really going with a photograph and that's  why we kind of tie that to a lot of the documents   that we have too if there's a photo it establishes  ID and list B for I9 compliance which is our   employment authorization form uh really says if  you've got a photograph on the ID that's probably   going to work as long as it's issued by municipal  government according to process but there's a   second component that you have to have for I9  compliance and that's proof of authorization to   be able to work and that'll include something else  such as a green card or I mean if you fall under   list a and have a passport or something like  that that establishes that in the first place   but there's things like green cards or specific  authorizations from the Department of Homeland   Security that's what you have have to have to have  under list C and that is again separate from our   kind of list a c but tying it back to whether you  have authorization to work that's determined by   the USCIS US Customs and immigration service list  which is a and then we're talking B and C though   and we fall under B and hopefully I didn't say  that too many times to get confusing but just   trying to keep it clear to that I believe that was  helpful so list C is what establishes employment   authorization or states you have to have both  cly to be verified for I9 employment ours is   just Item B subsequently have to have item C for  future documents yeah and really kind of the idea   of this identity this ID kind of working again  with this I9 sort of list system is to establish   proof of identity it does not on its own provide  any authorization to be able to work say in this   country and just as a municipal government not  sell ourselves short but we can't provide that   kind of authorization that the Federal Government  Can in terms of um we're looking at not voting   eligible did we confirm I so I reached out to the  election office today they hadn't heard from a   city government we reached out to the Secretary  of State's office I wasn't able to get a hold of   them today well and I did not but I did look into  that issue and appreciate the question there and   there was no one really to ask for some kind of  permission or authorization for this the closest   I could find was maybe sort of the entity that  we filed Charter ordinances with and that's not   necessarily an authorization or permission and  kind of the nice thing about that statute KSA   12642 it does provide some restrictions namely  that this does not qualify as a state ID and   we have to have that not valid for state ID but  the fact that that statute exists does provide   recognition from the state that we have authority  to implement a municipal ID if we would like to   through ordinance so the subsequent question I had  to that was regarding notary public so because it   wouldn't be permissible by state ID would a  notary be able to accept it as identification   or that not be compliant with state law I do not  know if notaries require and I don't believe they   do require a state yeah don't know either I think  we just have to look at what notaries because I'm   I'm an re real yeah I mean I'm a notary so  I require identification when someone wants   something notorized and so am I able to accept  this document am I able accept the air Capital   card or whatever we're going to call it or do I  have to a c IDE I think training would probably   be needed for notaries if it wasn't acceptable  and I think it just depends on whether the rule   for notaries is that you have to have some sort of  state or federal level identification if it just   says identification I think this would probably  qualify although the issue wouldn't be necessarily   one for the city to enforce because I do know that  notaries at least are registered through the state   rather than the city and I think maybe that ties  back to this how you can't use this ID to vote and   even if it's a municipal election you have to  have some sort of state ID to demonstrate your   identity to be able to vote and that's why it's  not valid as a state ID document so if notaries   require a state ID document and again kind of  assuming here if they do require that this will   not qualify but if they just need some sort of  ident ification that is verified by a government   or whatever kind of language might be tied to that  um then this would qualify to establish identity   yeah so when we're let's say implementing the ID  we're giving somebody an ID I want to make sure   that there's significant training of letting the  individual know that this can't be used for um   voting because I would hate if someone showed up  to a polling place tried to use it and that was   the only identifying information they had and  then they were turned away and then they were   disenfranchised through the process as well that  be a concern I have is our education because it's   not permissible on the state level that people  know that they can't use it for that the last   question I have we had talked about I think it's  subsection C it says the administrating Department   shall establish a reasonable application fee I  know it says that those who can't afford to pay   such a fee will see a full or partial waiver is  there will just to remove if we're causing a l if   we want a low barrier ID the highest barrier is  going to be that they can't pay for the ID so I   think that it's likely not necessary so I might  bring that up discussion but yeah and that's all   up to you um so we have that included to try  to cover the initial cost that Lily referred   to in her presentation um and I think and not  to speak for the administering Department that   we might have in the future the consideration  would be if you're not able to pay for it kind   of like you establish uh other fee waivers under  systems we have or maybe kind of like a poverty   affidavit style that we have for uh Municipal and  state courts then you wouldn't have to pay it and   I think that that I will say that provision  is included to try to account for that exact   situation but if this body wants to remove the fee  requirement that yeah there's no legal requirement   that we have to have that okay thank you council  member hoisel thank you mayor um I appreciate the   all the work you guys have done over the the  past year or so on this um sorry just um two   quick questions here one I maybe I missed it but  I didn't see in the presentation the back of the   card we don't have a back of the card produced at  this moment we could put the holographic wrap on   it because it's a a sample or just a really basic  orbit looking thing but we at this moment do not   have a backside so could just be blank we plan  on having like a bar code back there or anything   like that for people to scan potentially we could  always add that in the future but at this moment   we don't have a barcode designed it's more so the  ID number is the it's very differentiating for   people rather than a barcode okay yeah council  members Glascock and Johnson and I sat through   a riveting U hearing a couple of weeks ago where  we talked about um scanners with um like to maybe   at the liquor store or something like that or  voting IDs so I'm just curious what it would read   you know probably comes up as no information being  passed along I was just kind of curious about that   with some of the scanners that we have I know oh  sorry in the future we do have the ability to chip   the cards with working with Sanders so how it a  here at the city we're able to badge into certain   offices certain buildings eventually we can chip  the cards so that people can access the Mac okay   and if I might real quick council member I vaguely  recall that hearing as well um uh if we don't have   a barcode on the back then nothing would come up  so kind of in that scenario it would maybe help   to differentiate from state ID a little bit um  and would be a little bit cheaper too but again   this ID would not be able to use for be used for  things that you would require a state ID for um   such as those kinds of purchases yeah I appreciate  that um I guess the second question has to do with   um we talk about an address on there including a  po. box or um or just a regular address um does   that wrap into the Mac is that still an option  with the Mac to have the the MAC address at this   moment no housing staff does not have the proper  facilities or the abilities to truly run a mailing   system there right now United Methodist Open Door  offers a mail service so that people can obtain   mail and get packages but right now putting the  ID is not not necessary because it can still be   I9 compliant without an address okay and then yeah  one real quick on that too the way the ordinance   is drafted though is really anywhere that someone  is able to receive mail so if there is a situation   where you're staying at some place maybe you can  receive mail and there are some opportunities that   may be open door at the Mac in the future  not saying anything certain or that that is   necessarily an option yet but anywhere that you  could receive mail that can count as an address   that we put on this card because it just provides  a means of contact and that could include a PO   Box as well but we tried to just be as flexible  with as possible with the address uh opportunity   or option um to account for kind of different  situations that people might so put a pin in it   in regards to the mag you know later on when we  get it established okay thank you council member   Ballard thank you mayor um Lily thank you so much  for all your hard work I know you've been working   really hard on this um and my um question is how  is this different from when this opportunity has   been explored in the past with past councils what  is different with this opportunity I believe the   difference is the I9 compliancy and the push to  get it done following the commitment of the city   to produce an I9 compliant ID staff looked into  it back in 20202 and it was more so Community   feedback seeing what cities do have it rather than  pushing forward with the program that was one of   my projects was seeing this come to fruition if  possible May Council M if I could I think we tried   to overreach the first time we were trying to  include too much and maybe incorporate the library   card and maybe a city service card in with just  a basic ID and it that's one of the reasons why   we didn't pursue it much further um and that's why  the simplified version especially after asked by   the homeless providers and The Advocates made a  lot of sense so that's why we narrowed it thank you attorney M council member Glascock in  response to your question about the notary   just reviewing the Kansas notary handbook  um it appears that standard is satisfactory   evidence or personal knowledge and  it does include among other things   government issued non- dber identification  or other form of government identification   that contains a signature and a photograph  of the person and is satisfactory to the notary any further questions for Lily just have a  couple um just to reiterate um I think some of the   messaging number one because it already says not  valid for state ID and I have heard some concern   regarding making sure that voting is also not  going to be compliant for this can that also be   part of the verbiage not valid for state ID or  voting because I believe that it's the the part   of Education that really is going to be difficult  uh we can reiterate messages but if it's not on   that card it might not register so would that be  a possibility it it could be a possibility I just   know we're following State Statute where it's just  saying the actual language of not valid for state   ID we can train our staff so that it's very clear  that you cannot use the for voting and I can add   that to the training manual for staff Nate and  yeah I think that's yeah definitely correct but   just want to emphasize the language that we have  on the card here is precisely the language that's   from the state statute and we do just generally  feel a bit more comfortable tying it at least to   the state statute as it is but there you know  we provide some authority to the administering   Department to make some changes as well um but  kind of keeping the ordinance tied to the state   statute was the idea here at least would it  conflict with State Statute if we said not   valid for state ID or voting I don't think that it  would um I think it's just a bit more questionable   when we stray from the specific requirement uh  that we have from the state because I I'm still   concerned with Community I know that you will  be training staff but at voting uh locations   these are volunteers often times at polling  locations I just don't back to the not   disenfranchising voters if they brought this ID  and by any chance they don't don't remember to   bring their state issued ID I don't want them to  be disenfranchised so can it said can it say or   voting again I think that it can um but I just  think it raises some complications potentially   to have that when we stray from what the  state statute May mayor we can play with   that I think if we maintain the language as it  exists not valid for state ID we can then say   not valid for election for votings below that  that way we've included the language from the   statute and we've added another clarifier  we we'll do that I would like to see that   we can have discussion regarding that um  but then that would make it very clear council member glot thank you mayor another  question regarding residency I know that we added   item or category D to establish witchar residency  out of the all these options theoretically how   long would someone have to be a witchar resident  for them to obtain this could I move in the   community tomorrow somehow get one of these like  what would be the fastest I could get one of these   to then establish residency that depends on the  specific agency we accept documentation within the   prev is 60 days so if you go to a shelter and you  get a letter saying I stayed here last night that   could establish a residency but that truly depends  on the particular agency not so someone could move   here tomorrow and they could claim witw residency  if they received that and then they could begin   receiving all witw services immediately the  next day based on us now offering a municipal   ID as a resident of community theoretically  if you can also provide items from category   B and C or something from a you it's not just  establishing which it's our residency you have   to establish other items for us to provide your  proof of identity So reading this kind of Matrix   one category from a but I then have to provide one  from d and a yes so then or if I do if I don't do   a then I have have I would have to do BC and d d  is always required it's just is it A and D or is   it BC d so following up to those questions this is  getting really into the weeds but these are a lot   of options so I'm trying to think every possible  pairing you can make on here as well so let's say   you do B and C BNC don't mean necessarily that  you lived in Witt more than day I don't think   there's anything on there that would have that  requirement so then at that point it would solely   rely on option D to establish your Witt residency  so I could move in and get one of these items   so let's say I get a bill from a local doctor  so I could come in I could go to the doctor's   office I could get a bill that day and I become a  witow resident by this definition yes if you can   also provide us other documentation providing but  those other documentations wouldn't provide Witt   residency they would just provide identity  identity documents yeah yeah that's that   is theoretically correct we don't establish like  an amount of time that you have to have lived in   what which to to establish residency but that's  generally not how legal residency is necessarily   established things like utility bills and having  an address confirmation establish that you are   living here uh for a period of time and I guess  you could move elsewhere right after that um but   we also kind of review these somewhat regularly  there are other Provisions for that the ordinance   um and then yeah I I mean that that is kind of  what legal residency is kind of having an add   or one of the ways to qualify for that I guess  the only concern I would have regarding the list   and item D is someone could move here tomorrow  from another Community begin receiving Services   immediately and I don't I think there would be a  fear that that would spread you would have people   move here because you could obtain a municial ID  immediately in the community and then be offered   all services from day one I suppose so but I  guess that's probably theoretically possible   possible for a lot of people that have the ability  to just move to Witchita anyway maybe and have a   utility bill and have an actual address that  they're moving to um and have like an address   confirmation from USPS or something like that and  having a and this is a little different than the   address component of the ID itself where that's  not necessarily required because you actually   have to move to an address or have some sort  of place to there there are a few other options   as well to be able to qualify I'm just thinking  of other communities when we've talked with WPD   of other communities actually moving people to our  community this would in some ways incentivize that   if now individuals come in the community and day  one be able to do that let's say you're taking   people from I'm just throwing out random towns  Tulsa Oklahoma City and then they're dropping   them off here knowing that you could receive  usy ID access to all services there only be a   concern of exacerbating people coming in to  receive services so that's more of a policy   discussion but that would be a question I'm  interested in having it would be less of a   legal question the card itself doesn't provide  you additional services that person we were going   to continue to resist people being transported  here solely in order to take advantage of the   services at Mac and we've the council's made  that clear we've had that discussion before all   this could do is help someone maybe apply for a  job they could come and somebody could move here   and get Max services from day one they don't  have to ever apply for a card an ID card to   be able to get those Services right it's a low  barrier uh facility and if they follow those   basic rules that we have regarding drug use  and alcohol other than that there's probably   there's it doesn't matter if they have an ID card  or not they're going to get those Services status quoes council member Ballard thank you I was  just going to say the same thing basically you   can get a lot of the service already I think  the card would just allow you to maybe explore   some additional services or resources that you  might not be able to but you can get a lot of   the basic right and I think our providers can  talk better about that than I can but what I   commonly here is the ability to cash a check  an assistant check that someone receives that   would be one of the reasons and also to help  them with employment is another one I've heard thank you I see no further questions from  this bench we will now open it up for public comment good evening Madame mayor council members  and City staff uh my name is Nancy Brown I reside   at 11707 East Crestwood and I'm here this  evening on behalf of Justice together of   which I am a board member as as well as serving  on the homelessness steering committee Justice   together and the 39 congregations that are part of  this shared Justice Ministry celebrate the mayor   and the council's leadership in putting forward  a pragmatic solution to help address a serious   barrier for those who struggle with homelessness  throughout our research efforts over the past   year First Responders service providers employers  housing providers and people directly impacted all   people with VAR Vantage points and perspectives  all said the same thing for many getting an ID is   a serious barrier to accessing critical community  services employment and housing this is why we   called on mayor woo and city manager Leighton to  enact an I9 eligible low barrier photo ID program   at our first annual Nehemiah assembly last May at  that assembly around 1400 people representing 55   congregations ation s celebrated the commitment  made to do just that today as we see this   commitment come to fruition under this council's  leadership we along with the stakeholders and   people who will most benefit from this program  celebrate each of you as well as the city staff   including city manager Leighton assistant city  manager Martin and the legal department who   put in thorough and diligent work to make sure  that all bases are covered while ensuring that   the program is in keeping with the needs of the  people of Witchita thank you for accepting our   invitation to answer God's call to do justice with  us together as one unified community and if you   haven't already please do mark your calendar to  join us again this year for our second Nehemiah   assembly on Thursday May 8th at 6 pm at the WSU  Metroplex on behalf of Justice together thank you thank you Nancy and thank you to Justice together  are there any other individuals who would like to speak practice makes perfect I guess um I didn't  know that this was a time to speak on this and   I just wanted to say first of all thank you guys  for putting everything together um where she went   like um I've been out here like I said and like  you guys have done a lot of research on that and   and I like the I9 that is very very important and  again I I'm just asking I don't know if this is a   final vote on this if they could maybe just take  the time because the only reason I asked this is   I would hate to wait the title for a municipal ID  on something that I think that maybe a little bit   more research and inclusiveness can address  um I like they've been very very thorough on   people's standpoint from I I believe from  a housed trying to adapt to a situation   that hopefully they've never been a part of but  speaking out from somebody that who's been like   I said problematically homeless because of the  the main issue not having identification I have   children that are almost my son is 28 and again  he's never been to jail he doesn't have any way   to get any ID and so I thought um like I I've put  a lot of thought into this but being homeless not   having computer I just only have a phone for like  the last four months putting something together   and coming up here to present some ideas I mean  a big thing that like I've watched like with the   homeless and the people being moved and centered  the best thing to for Witchita is to not to move   our homelessness and to ad just but to give them  inclusiveness you know it's in order for um some   of these problems to be addressed the ID um for  the municipal ID I've spoke to officer Nate with   the hot team um a couple years back and I was like  you know why don't they use police um like some of   their databases some of those ways like not having  an address not having a verifiable some people are   just afraid of police contact they have warrants  they have things um I'm just asking I think maybe   for maybe a little bit more time so um we can  just maybe now this is where I have problems   speaking um I have a lot in my head and I have a  little time and it's counting down but I know my   my barrier that I've had over and over and over is  going down to the DMV asking for this I know that   I've ordered a birth certificate and we did that  through Grassroots but the amount of time that   it takes to get a birth certificate and then the  identification my question would this Municipal ID   be able to be used for things like uh requesting  birth certificates because that's one loophole   we seem to be like tied up in is if you need to  get identification to get a birth certificate   but you need your birth certificate to get an  identification you know how can we like circumvent   that and I also know that like with the Kansas  um for voter registration one of the options that   the registration board has made possible that  they will help you get your birth certificate   and your ID in order to become a voter but this  is like I said it's just a lot of cross um um a   lot of cross challenges and the consistency I've  with this i' brought up um the financial barriers   that some people have and I heard you did address  the fact that you know if it's a Zero Bar barrier   maybe waving the fee alog together you know and  also like supporting documents getting the other   things if we don't have one proof of address you  know a lot of a lot of places require any like   I've lost everything in a fire and when they  ask for that and this is repeating something I   said earlier you know trying to find just that one  piece of mail that one piece of anything and with   the municipal ID would that be able to go a lot of  people like prior tax returns go to your H&R Block   and pull that documentation you know prior um  jobs but they all want a form of identification to   prove who you are in order to obtain proof of who  you are um that's I guess I'm just asking you know   with the thoroughness that they've done I just  want to make sure that like everything kind of   has been evaluated from not just the standpoint  of like the I9 getting jobs because everybody   out here like we would have a lot less homeless  if more homeless people could get jobs you know   more people would have places to live if they  could obtain places to live but those IDs right   now are our barriers so thank you thank you  thank you Sarah I will just ask one question   to city manager um and to the council I know that  given that we had a conversation about golf carts   and it went back to District advisory boards  was this necessary to go back to any of your   District advisory boards to gain more feedback  uh such as Miss Sarah who's asking for I guess a pause I see none so I feel like the council  members who represent the six districts have   heard their feedback um city manager I know that  this is really the intention from the get-go is   so that individuals who are facing homelessness  have an opportunity to have a municipal ID to   then be able to connect to the resource of a job  uh which is what missarah over here has mentioned   so thank you very much again to your staff for  trying to move this forward with lots of thought   council member hoisel thank you mayor um in the  presentation earlier we did bring up the fact   that I believe this could evolve as well so as we  see some of these shortcomings and barriers likes   being described we can come back and help address  some of these so is that kind of along the lines   of addressing maybe some of the issues further  down the road this this in a way this goes back   to a little bit to what council member Ballard  asked me we've narrowed the focus to make this   um a low barrier ID primarily for our homeless  population and so for that reason the staff would   not be opposed to eliminating the fee because  that's our target market now you're over time   there are probably two ways that we would look  at modifying the program one if we find out that   we've unnecessarily created some obstacles or  there's some pitfalls that we didn't anticipate   and then we would adjust the program and then over  time we could look at whether we want to broaden   the use of the card uh I think the mayor and I  had talked early on about a model in Kansas City   where it's a municipal ID available to the entire  community no one's blocked from getting one now   but as a result of that they talked about getting  discounts on city services having businesses   recognizing the value of the card and giving it  you know discounts for their services but that   seemed like a lot to try to accomplish now and  even gets back into the naming of the card Capitol   City versus uh ICT ID so long answer to your  question I do think this will evolve over time   and but right now we're trying to hit the most  immediate need the one we know that it faces the community thank you city manager  we will continue with public comment thank you all for letting me uh come to  the podium I am a driver's license is state of   Oklahoma and I am here and I have um a Hall  of Famer you know uh I am I've played former   basketball and it is in my jeans as a Hall  of Famer as well the state of Oklahoma and no   nationally one of the things that I take a look  at here is that uh one of the residents being a   resident and you talked about program to programs  to uh allow to go to a shelter or so forth I take   a look at also um if if a person was homeless  and this is talking about this category here   homeless and had a PO box and one of the things  that I take a look at is we're talking about the   statues also uh of the state and uh being able  to vote uh being able to vote and I know that   it is already uh it is already we've already went  through that as well but able to go into another   a term as well and looking at these types of  things that has already been done in statues   and so forth and you take a look at residency  you take a look at PO Boxes and you take a look   at the rights to vote the rights to uh be able  to vote on any type of thing whether you have   a residency or whether you have a residency or  not being able to have the capacity to be able   to State how it is to function as a human being  a living anywhere than in a home or uh on the   street corner how it affects us how it affects us  all as human beings having a place over our head   and safety and safety outside inside and outside  uh my concern for all states not only the city of   wital but all states uh being under the United  States of America uh also in the country and   of the world as well is that we take a look at  uh where we are uh as Citizens where we are as   Citizens number one where we are as Citizens  to be able to get any type of identification   identification to be able to drive identification  to be able to work identification to barriers uh   of anyone of separating us as classes of high uh  medium and low classes as it is a status uh quo   that we have in the United States of America that  divides Us in uh States and lines and also divides   us also in counties and regions and districts of  where there is uh a division within all of us and   so the division that we see that uh takes place  in the United States saying that it is United   it is United number one it is United to be  together it is United to be as one under uh   as a dollar bill you say under uh God we trust  or under God we trust and so taking a look at   status quos of uh lowincome High income medium  income uh and and homelessness of having a roof   over your head uh to be able to uh make a barrier  over any class uh and putting uh one lower than   the other because you have uh money to uh put  B of rof over your head and so I stand before   you all as uh as a residents my driver's license  does has does say uh the state of Oklahoma it is   expired uh in April 4 30 2025 uh I have been here  for some months and I do not have a res residency   a roof over my head but I have been here for uh  some months uh now but being wanting to be able   to if need be uh get a driver's license as well  uh for all identifications and so forth uh for   businesses purposes and and so forth if that is  needed uh and if that is needed as well and so I   stand before you all in coming uh to this Council  on all of the agenda meetings and all the agendas   that we have here today uh all of the agendas that  we have talked about uh and all of them that we   have stated and therefore not just homelessness  but all that we have talked about today and so   as a resident uh of of the state as my driver's  license does say and is not expired until for uh   uh for 2025 the 30th of the end of the month uh I  stand before you all as a citizen a citizen of the   United States of America all right and so uh very  concerned of all places of all places uh under all   that we have talked about today not only under  the statuses of homelessness but also how that   has divided us as the United States of America as  Citizens and citizens not to be able to vote but   citizens that is one of the main reasons you you  be able to talk about these types of things and   so we put someone down because they don't have  a dollar bill or able to be able to get a a job   under disabilities or or any type of areas that  we've talked about today and so again I want to   thank all of you all mayor all of you all uh under  the uh different districts I want to thank you   allowing me to come forward and uh State concerns  as a citizen of the United States of America also   uh under the driver's license with the address  uh that is stated under the driver's license but   it's been here in Kansas at in witch the city of  witch for some time time and wanting to uh look at   these types of issues as well so I tell you thank  you thank you mayor thank you thank you can you   state your name one more time so I could remember  yes it is Tamara Gracie it is also uh if you want   to look that is Tamara Janine Gracie uh that  would be the full correct uh t a m a r a Janine   j e a n i n e Gracie g r a c e y thank you thank  you Tamara we will continue with public comment see none I'll bring it back to the bench council  member glov thank you mayor I think a lot of my   fears were uh answered during the comment so  thank you Lily for that thank you Bob for a   lot of clarification and as well um there are some  things that I would like changed in it and so I'd   be interested for my colleagues I would like to  eliminate the fee required and three c um I think   that's just another barrier that's unnecessary  um when we're specifically trying to Target low   income witon um I would also like the name change  the city of witon Municipal ID make it as matter   of fact as possible ICD ID sounds very similar to  air Capital ID it's cute I like it but I think for   something for this purpose the state of Kansas  ID city of witch ID US Passport it makes it more   of an official document so it' be something that  would be interest changing interested in hearing   conversations from colleagues I I'm like mayor  Woo's suggestion of adding not valid for state ID   not valid for voting because I don't want people  disenfranchised and think that uh they can show   up to the polls with that and then I would just  like us to communicate with the Kansas secretary   state's office and election office so they can  make sure that they train their upcoming poll   workers so we don't have disenfranchisement as  well so those will be the suggestions that I would   be interested in council member tutle thank you  um thank you to Lily I really appreciate all your   work and as a management fellow we're so glad that  you joined our community and we hope you'll stay   for a very long time because you do outstanding  work so thank you thank you to you and all the   other staff I also want to thank our homelessness  providers I heard from several of them who said   that this is something that they're supportive  of thank you our speakers today Justice together   Miss price um our new friend from Oklahoma we're  glad that you came and provided some feedback on   this um I do agree with council member Glascock I  like ICT ID better air Capital card wasn't really   ding with me but um I'm not going to let that be  the reason not to do right we we can figure that   out um my biggest question or concern I guess  and not really question but like a challenge to   staff and maybe like a future thank you to comms  is just getting the word out to the community I   proudly serve on the Union Rescue Mission board  and yesterday I think it was yesterday I was   in a meeting with uh witto police department and  Department of Corrections talking about Parolees   specifically and and trying to get them enrolled  in programs and this would be an outstanding place   if we can do this at the mech could we take it to  Union Rescue Mission you know things like that but   even just to let the community know and then also  um you know community members who may see the ID   and understand what it is and then also finally  any concerns that I have about it being a state   ID or I heard questions about it being used  to be able to vote have been alleviated so um   the last thing is I I'd be interested if staff  could come back maybe annually or biannually or   just send us a report how many people are using  this and if we have a goal of blank and we're   not reaching the goal then what are we going to  to do to try and get that goal because if we've   gone through all this work and all this effort  and people aren't using it it's for not so we   need to make sure the program is successful so  thanks again to all who were involved and looking   forward to getting an ID talk to you soon council  member Johnson thanks mayor uh great work Lily I   could tell how much work you put into it from the  presentation so great job always thanks to Nate um   I am terrible at names I was going to throw out  the keeper card but doesn't sound like that that works but no great presentation I'm supportive  of this I think it's a great step forward to   help out some of our most vulnerable folks  and um get towards um getting them access   to a lot more things that they need I do  support everything council member Glascock   said as well I think that helps out too so I am  supportive and looking forward to making this happen thank you council members given that there  were some changes or suggestions for the card does   the ordinance need to reflect number one I don't  see any objection to removing the fee which when   that would again make it much more low barrier I  don't see any objection to that so can we remove   the fee portion think you can just include those  items in the motion if you would like okay and   then the name of the card being very specific in  its name council member Glascock I was ready to   make motion with those changes unless you want  to make a motion with those changes so uh I'm   going to ask just a couple more questions will it  prevent us from moving forward if we don't have   the name of this card um can that still be worked  out we're um we're ready to order the equipment   tomorrow and hopefully get that in place in a  few weeks uh so we'd like to get the name i'   i' not I'd like not to come back and have to get  approval so if council member Glascock may have a   motion for us so sure so we'll continue with that  and then the addition of the verbage not valid for   voting immediately after not a state valid ID that  should not be a problem with that right also okay   very good um and then I really appreciated council  member uh tuttle's suggestion of a year from now   coming back with a progress report knowing how  many individuals have utilized um the ID card the   municipal ID would be a good metric um so I would  like that to also be part of the record that we'd   like a report yearly in addition um serving on  the Mac board I would also like to make sure that   this will be launched at the Mac um we're trying  to to remind community that all services will be   channeled to the Mac which will have its new name  but it's at 9th and Main Street and so if all   these services are at Mac the more that providers  continue to channel their energy and volunteer   service to the Mac it would be very helpful so  we're not doing Divergent um jobs all around the   community so I would like that also to be on the  record that we'd like mac to be the location for   this ID card mayor good um I'm glad you brought  that up we had also anticipated issuing them here   at City Hall so if that's not acceptable we can  do it solely at the Mac we just thought it'd be   we have the ability to do it here with very little  uh change in Staffing procedures council member   tle thank you I think logistically it has to be  at another location besides the Mac because you   can't go into the Mac unless you're going to stay  at the Mac like you can't just go in so let's say   that you know um I don't know Megan lovelyy wants  to get an ID she couldn't go to the Mac to get one   I think it would just be logistically impossible  to have it only there so I think it needs to be   at City Hall and the mac and then I don't know if  the system's portable I don't know what it looks   like but I'd like to see it a road show to the  other homeless shelters idea council member Tuttle   so yes it would begin here at city of witchta  which then lends to the name the city of wiah   identification card or Wich identification card  is there any objection to a specific name from the bench to streamline it which  a identification card would   be the easiest we could do a online competition  similar to name the snow plows no can we get to aemotion we digress and I'm hearing some chatter  thank you council member Glascock city of witcha   is the official name of this governing body so  since this governing body would be issuing it   it should be the city of wiah identification card  so I would be in favor of that I see no objection   all right I will give the honors to come sounds  great well first and foremost I wanted to say   thank you to Justice together I know that um you  have gathered a lot of dedicated community members   to try to advocate for something to help our  homeless population and I'm very grateful that   you keep asking and keep wanting to be part  of the process Nancy I asked you to be part   of the homelessness task force because I knew  that there needed to be a seat at the table   for justice together and so I am grateful that  you guys are still active and will continue to   be active as the multi- agency Center will  come online next month so it is my honor   to um motion to approve the ordinance with the  changes of elimination of fees the name to the   city of witon Municipal ID and adding not valid  for voting second um sorry and authorize the   municipal and authorize a municipal ID in the city  of wion authorized necessary signatures second   motion and a second any any further discussion  I see none Miss clerk can you please open the rooll motion passes unanimously 70 I I might add  that I seconded that not dton glasscock okay thank you Miss clerk can you please call the next item Business Services agreement  with create campaign Inc honorable mayor members of Council Troy Anderson  City manager's office uh stand before you this   evening presenting to you a business service  agreement with uh create campaign Incorporated   um we've been working with create campaign for  a while now uh trying to figure how how we can   come alongside uh and help kind of support the  work that they're doing you heard earlier this   evening from Mary Beth Jarvis and NEX us around  the investment that we're trying to make into   small business and growing small business small  business is the heart of our community um and   here's just another opportunity to um continue  invest in small businesses and help Foster and   grow so uh create campaigns involved in um and  really hosts and supports spark Community Business   Academy I it's an entrepreneurial education and  technical assistance program it's a nationally   recognized 12 week academy uh there's some really  good metrics around spark 92% graduation rate 83%   reporting that their business is strengthened as  a result of participating in it 53% reported an   increase in the owner's draw so um by entering  into this business service agreement with create   campaign the city's support would be able to  offset some of their operational expenses so   that they can continue to provide the high quality  accessible entrepreneurship education of diverse   diverse entrepreneurs this is sort of the one-year  program from January 1 of this year to December   31st of this year it includes alumni coaching and  programming cohorts coaching for past and current   cohorts technical assistance for past and current  cohorts um and then create campaign would also   record and Report metrics within 60 days following  conclusion of the cohorts the one-year agreements   for $50,000 fundings available in The 20125  Economic Development Fund budget laws reviewed   and approved the agreement as to form and the  recommendation is to approve the agreement and   authorize the necessary signatures that concludes  staff's report at this time I'd like to introduce   Christina long uh from create campaign she  wanted to say a few words good evening mayor   and City Council Members thank thank you for  your perseverance and your leadership um I'm   Christina long president and CEO of create  campaign headquartered at 2333 East 21st   Street North thank you for considering this  business services agreement that supports   our spark Community Business Academy wi to's  entrepreneurial Heritage is distinct and we're   honored to do our part to provide nationally  recognized entrepreneurship education technical   support and capital to help individuals seeking  our services to thrive particularly through this   business Academy where do we in spark fit into  the entrepreneurial ecosystem because you are   hearing from several of our partners tonight so  create campaign provides access and capital our   access focuses on entrepreneurship education  access to entrepreneurship opportunity as   evidenced by the alakar commercial kitchen  incubator that is in District 2 at Boston   recreation center and access to business Capital  we perform our work through key Partnerships and   this Services agreement represents another  opportunity for create campaign and the city   to align on our share goal go of creating  economic impact through entrepreneurship   I want to say real quickly um to emphasize just  a few points supporting this Services agreement   means you're supporting entrepreneurs in each of  your council districts of the current 20 person   cohort 20% represent district one 30% represent  District 2 15% 15% represent District 3 and 10%   represent each of uh subsequent districts as  well supporting this Services agreement means   that you're joining with more than 60 witch area  or organizations and partners who have opened up   their venues and organizations in order to host  these uh Business Academy sessions as well as   field work they include UST Fidelity Martin  Pringle greater witch toop partnership ringar   rang and so many more additionally supporting  the services agreement means you're helping   create campaign to broaden our pool of funders  who are committed to keeping this program and   curriculum affordable and accessible so that we  can have greater economic impact several of our   uh impact stats have been read but just want  to share just just a few quick more of the 132   graduates 91 businesses have been strengthened  as you heard there have been 21 new LLC filings   again we want businesses to operate as legally  recognized entities in the state hirings five   of our businesses reported additional hirings  business Capital almost $130,000 specific to   spark graduates has been approved there have  been two successful trademark filings the US   patented Trademark Office 14 businesses in  growing have expanded into a brick and mortar   within the first year or two after graduating  for spark the list goes on I will say this to   say as rising cap as rising Thai Capital our  national curriculum holder States Excellence   is create campaign signature so I want to thank  you all for helping us to maintain an excellent   and economically impactful entrepreneurship  education in Witchita thank you so much for your   consideration any questions thank you Christina  any questions for staff or to Christina I see   none I simply wanted to say thank you for your  work and I know that council member Johnson and   I during one of our evening time meetings before  coming here attended the alart grand opening so   thank you very much for what you're doing in  District number two with the incubator with   the kitchen I see no questions from uh from the  bench so we will now open it up for public comment I see none we'll bring it back to the  bench I will move to approve the business   services agreement and authorize necessary  signatures second council member Johnson   thanks mayor due to a potential conflict  of inserts I will be abstaining from this vote council member Johnson we have a  motion and a second by vice mayor John   stun any fur further discussion I see  none Miss clerk can you please open the role motion passes 6 to0 with one  abstention Miss clerk please call the   next item Business Services agreement  with Witchita Independent Business Association honorable mayair uh members of council  again Troy Anderson City manager's office um and   I'd be remissed uh to round out the evening if  I didn't bring a business service agreement uh   associated with witch Independent Business  Association uh we have representatives from   weba here today that would like to come up and  say a few words when I'm done but real quickly   I'll run through uh this is a partnership that uh  we've been involved in since 2016 again supporting   small business and the small business ecosystem  uh in 2023 the most recent agreement City Council   approved uh with weba to perform sort of three  programs and services one was around uh Business   Solution seminars they added a women's leadership  Alliance and the third one was to uh grow the   startup plus community in 2024 city council  approved a renewal that also supported business   forward which was a small business resource center  for early stage startups looking to grow and scale   and then last year we really challenged weba  to start developing a database of sort of small   business metrics um they immediately connected  with Witchita State University Center for economic   development business research they've started the  conversations in and around how are we developing   a database um and small business metrics that help  us better understand how programs and services   such as the ones that are being offered by weeba  such as the ones that you just approv through how   are they helping to continue to grow and sustain  our small business ecosystem so those that   database needed to be consistent with industry  standards analyzing performance and then can   be used to effectively measure uh the growth tra  the growth trajectories of the small businesses so   um little bit of success celebration with 2024's  level up program I won't read through all of this   uh there are uh all of these numbers in the staff  report uh same with the startup plus Community had   some really good success stories from 2024 they'll  continue those into 2025 uh again continuing to   Foster the lever up program grow the startup plus  Community expand business forward initiative and   to continue to collaborate with wiah State  University Center for E economic development   business research um we've also established some  new performance measures including within each   of those categories increase participation by 5%  develop and launch Five seminars and then again   continue to demonstrate uh an increase in overall  Business Health as it relates to each of those   prog programs so the 2025 oneye agreements  for $100,000 fundings available in the 2025   Economic Development Fund budget laws reviewed  and approved the agreement as to form and the   recog recommendation is to approve the agreement  and authorize the necessary signatures and again   we have Representatives here from um weba I'll  introduce wend Funk who wanted to say a few words thanks Troy appreciate being here thank you  all um I did bring some of my team along so you   can see uh over there our chairman of our board  uh is Josh Turner and my team members Jennifer   Willets and jacqulyn mckin Arney as well as uh  Ashley Richmond and tonight I really appreciate   the opportunity for for us to celebrate small  business and entrepreneurs and you know the   great successes that we heard about Nexus and the  programs that you invested in and Mary Beth and   all that she's doing and with Christina and  the programs that she's doing and now you're   investing in that and just love all the uh the  coordination that we can have and working together   to help small business and to continue to invest  uh in small business and entrepreneurs uh it's   so important and so we we really appreciate that  and as far as weba goes you know the long history   initially it was all about sort of keeping weba  alive but with the investment that you've been   willing to make into weeba over the past number  of years uh you're now you've now we've now grown   to over 700 small businesses in our organization  more than 3,200 people that we're working with   uh in weeba and now we have 30 different programs  that we're operating incl including the ones that   you see here so we're really excited about uh  the continued investment and we appreciate that   we try to stretch every dollar um we love the  level up program to help move female leaders   forward that's been extremely successful and lots  of promotions and raises and all those kinds of   things and so we're committed to that weba is  now over 50% female uh super exciting we have   lots of entrepreneurs and young entrepreneurs and  lots of variety of people and so the startup plus   Community is really exciting we've had lots of  businesses involved really helping them grow   scale and they need help with everything from the  basics of how to read a financial uh to how to how   to do sales and marketing and so that startup plus  Community has been really successful and the new   business forward program come by and check us out  in the lower level of the Ruffin building we do   have our new small business resource center and  we have five because of your investment we have   five early stage startups uh that are now in there  that are taking advantage of resources that weba   has and programs we have and then providing with  additional res sources such as uh CPA services and   legal services and so uh and we have everything  from AI to Virtual Reality to engineering to uh   Robotics and so it's super exciting what we're  able to do there and so uh that's exciting and   of course the research and this is extremely  important and the research that we've had so   far has really helped inform these new programs  uh and that it's it's something that we're going   to continue to dive deeper into and stay tuned  because we're going to be packaging all this   research together to not only help us figure out  what sort of new programs and what other resources   what other small business resources we need to  provide uh but we're going to be packaging that   together and putting out annually the weba Small  Business Report and we're really excited about   that and I think this is a game Cher and so we're  really excited to uh really make a shift at weba   to now that we have more than 700 small businesses  to to provide to band together with all the   organizations but to provide more small business  resources to small business and uh you know that's   what the net jobs come from you know that's where  most of the so many of the the metrics that we're   looking to measure come from and the impact that  small business has in our community it shapes our   community it's part of the environment uh and  it's so important and so uh sincerely on behalf   of our the organization and all of the the people  involved in WEA just want to thank you all for uh   all of the continued investment and uh in small  business and just super excited tonight as we've   celebrated with Nexus and with the create campaign  and all of us together uh with your investment to   help further uh growth in small business so thank  you very much thank you Wendel any comments from   the bench I see none I will now open it up for  public comment if anyone would like to speak I see none I'll bring it back to the bench council  member Tuttle thank you I know it's late I know we   want to go home but I can't help myself you know  I'm a huge weeba fan so um thank you to staff for   putting this together I truly appreciate it thank  you um to weeba for all you do certainly um very   impressive you're doing great things and and  I'm hearing about you and I love the fact that   you have data you are data driven you are making  this an easy vote because you're showing us what   you're doing and that's really impressive um I  personally Love The Women program I got to speak   at the women's luncheon packed room I don't  think there was an empty seat in the room and   have made connections with several of the women  who came up to me afterwards um I say this every   time that you come for this contract we cannot  cut our way into Prosperity we have to grow our   economy and when the majority of our economy  is small businesses we have to do everything   that we can do to support our businesses and  industries especially our independent businesses   so thank you for all you do keep up the good work  thank you I see no further comments I will just   close out by saying as I started when Nexus spoke  this um evening this ecosystem is really what I   am most hopeful for it is one of our top four  priorities Crime Streets Economic Development   and homelessness and you closed it out with  economic development and I'm just grateful   that on Friday I got to attend a graduation for  the sparrow program at wsu's Barton School of   Business that is one step then we see what's  happening at create also at Empower at weba   at the chamber at Nexus that's that ecosystem  and I don't see competition I see collaboration   and that's what I'm hopeful for I love that  people are seeing where they can fit best   and how to leverage each other better and I think  that that will help us grow Witchita and that's   exactly what we need because witcha is open for  business and the private sector creates jobs and   you are the ones that help us do that government  doesn't do that so thank you very much for the   good work to Christina and the and your staff  at weba in supporting those entrepreneurs and   those small businesses because we need both small  and large businesses to continue to thrive here   in Witchita so it gives me great honor to again  move that the city council approved the business   service agreement and authorized the necessary  signatures second motion and a second any further   discussion I see none Miss clerk please open the  role motion passes 70 Miss clerk please call the   next item changeing council meeting schedule  mayor I have this item just real brief for you   um you have a what would normally be a consent  agenda scheduled for August 26 2025 however we'd   like to convert that into a regular meeting  so you can conduct your final budget hearing   that'll allow you to have four hearings and  still allow us to meet the state requirements   for filing so that uh uh the meeting time would  stay at 9:00 am it just go to a regular meeting   are there questions I did ask this question during  agenda review so that people are aware again this   is our first evening time meeting for 2025 there  are three more opportunities and those dates   currently are slated for June 3D August 7th and  November 6th and they all will start at 6 PM I see   no questions we'll open it up for public comment  I see no public comment we'll bring it back to the   bench council member Glascock okay I move that the  council approve the change to the council meeting   schedule adding a regular meeting for a budget  hearing in place of a consent agenda meeting at   9:00 a.m. on August 26 2025 and authorize the  necessary signatures council member Johnson   sorry mayor I hit the button too late did you  say November 6th is that a Tuesday or is that a Thursday is that election day I think it's du to  the election right do the yeah but if it's Tuesday   that would no is you're right so the election is  on November 4th for the general right therefore   the evening meeting will be on November 6th which  is a Thursday not a Tuesday but it is um printed   already on our uh schedules thank you very much  for pointing that out so again it's Tuesday June   3rd Tuesday August 7th and Thursday November 6th  I have a motion and second a second by vice mayor   Johnston sorry council member Ballard that's okay  I just have a question maybe it's a dumb one sorry   it's late why are we not just doing it like on  the next Tuesday and doing it on a Thursday I'm   just curious U mayor traditionally the last few  years when we would have a night meeting we've   I think we've had it on the Thursday after the  election okay yeah carry on we have a motion and   a second any further discussion I see none Miss  clerk can you please open the roll motion passes   70 Miss clerk please call the next item council  member appointments and comments we'll start with   council member appointments beginning with council  member Glascock no appointments council member   Johnson thanks mayor I would like to reappoint to  the district one Advisory Board leanda deaser and   Joseph Tex doer and then appoint Rachel mastio  uh to the district one Advisory Board council   member Ballard thank you mayor I would like to  reappoint Joshua seanol to the district Advisory   Board Joshua oler Mark Baker Brian Irwin William  wasburn Lisa Tatum Zachary G gri Gaylord Sergio   Nara Nara Jame Tom James Scott Lucas and Angela  Martinez and I would like to appoint Renee bogs   to the sustainability board and I'll give you a  copy of these I see no further board appointments   I will move to approve the board appointments  Motion in a second any further discussion I see   none Miss clerk please open the rooll motion  passes 70 we will now have council member comments beginning with council member Glascock  thank you mayor um I've talked to I believe all   my colleagues at least briefly about this and um  I've begun the conversations with people in the   community regarding a common consumption area  in deleno along Douglas from the river to cica   I've uh talked to councilman Ballard about  it pretty significantly The deleno Business   Association dozens of other businesses down  deleno the neighborhood association the neighbor   Association leaders deleno United the chief of  police and also the WTOP Police Department I've   also shared it publicly that I had the intention  of proposing this uh From the Bench as well as   multiple news agencies on social media Etc and  about a 200 to one positivity I thought feel   comfortable coming for the bench and asking staff  if they could work on a ordinance that would allow   a common consumption area in deleno um along the  River from U on Douglas down to cica uh we looked   at both alleys and then also extending to the  ball stadium obviously we can look at maps and   the process of crafting and ordinance um TOA has a  really successful ordinance they have two or three   common consumption right now Johnson County has  nine Winfield has one Hayes has one it's either   Andover Augusta has one so it's not unprecedented  in the state the state actually allowed the   permissible use of it most recently in 2023 that  would allow these areas where cars um where there   would be a a car driving down the middle of the  road they would allow the areas on the sidewalks   um so it's pretty new for municipalities to  consider this so I would like staff to look at I will continue with public comment uh  sorry with council member comment vice   mayor John Sten thank you mayor I would like  to encourage everyone to come out and look   at the West link library before it's officially  open officially open on Monday the 24th however   you can get a preview of it on the 22nd um my  wife is fixing breakfast so it'll be good and   9:00 a.m. at the West link library on the 22nd  so hope to see everyone council member Ballard   thank you mayor um I too am excited to learn more  about a potential um common consumption area um we   are hopeful that if all goes according to plan  and and we can come up with something that is   favorable for everyone that we could potentially  do it by summer uh so that is really exciting   going to have a couple more announcements uh  I am doing my district 6 coffee on Saturday   from 9 to 10 we're having biscuits and gravy if  anybody's interested and then after that about   10:30 we're going to meet at 13th in Broadway  and do a Broadway Corridor uh cleanup and try   to get all the way to Central and then go over to  the multi- agency Center and do some trash pickup   in that area also just like to thank everybody  for coming out to the deleno St Patrick's parade   and also the St Pat's Church parade I think  they could definitely feel the love after the   unfortunate vandalism that happened at the church  over this past weekend so if you could just keep   them in your um thoughts and prayers I know that  they would appreciate it council member ho Heisel   thank you mayor following uh council member  Balor just like a announcements at the end of   mass sometimes so we got them all out of the way I  did have 11:45 on the pool so you guys don't mind   if I F A Buster for like an hour here I'm 10 I'm  10:30 I'm going to win oh oh let me expedite this   then real quick um there's something I  I just do want to speak about from the   heart and it's um we have lost two children  in my district in the last couple of weeks   because of um misplaced and irresponsible use of  firearms um a seven-year-old and a one-year-old   um so I know in the past WPD and Council we've  worked with the community to provide um gun safes   for your car um I know a lot of the the gun shops  around here have also participated in a lot of um   events to give away gun saves and whatnot and if  we we have a right a Second Amendment right but we   also have a responsibility to protect our children  and I say this as a gun owner myself um so I just   want to take every opportunity I've already spoken  about it at neighborhood associations there's no   Earth be where we can compare separate policies  with or separate um desires to actually get this   message out so one thing I just encourage my  colleagues to to speak about at neighborhood   meetings District breakfast and whatnot whatever  events you're at is proper training and proper   storage for firearms because because again  it's difficult to to see the pictures of   the young children that we are losing and it  affects all of us up here it affects everybody   in our community so we got to offer more than  thoughts and prayers we got to be proactive and   getting the message out about being responsible  with our Firearms um and the children and their   families are all never far from our hearts and so  we again let let's do what we can to protect them   that's all council member Johnson thanks mayor  appreciate that message council member hoisel um I   just had three four things um one I took a picture  of this it's been open for a while but progress   being made in the food desert and district one the  Dollar General market on 21st and payate does have   fresh meat and fresh produce I went in there and  looked at it myself looks pretty good so I want to   encourage everybody in Northeast Miller Matlock  Heights power neighborhood any anywhere in that   area to go use the store it's a resource that I  know for years they told me personally no and now   I see it there so since it's there we got to use  it um so hopefully we can get people there um vice   mayor Johnston talk about Westlink my Angelo  Branch library is reopened it has new hours   so hopefully we can get uh more folks there um  Rockwell is closed right now for construction so   everybody go to May Angelou new hours are Monday  through Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday   and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday  1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. so great place to go check   out the expansion looks great all the vibrant  colors are in there not everything is done just   yet but it is open but when you go in there you'll  see it looks completely different than it used   to so hopefully folks will go in there get your  library card or get your newly designed library   card and check it out and then always want to push  warp I still get people reaching out to me about   suspended driver's license so want to encourage  enourage people to check out the warp program   here at the city of Witchita if you or someone  you know has a suspended driver's license reach   out our team here is awesome they will help you  and if you go back and look at one of our district   one breakfasts we did have Nate come out and give  a um wonderful presentation about how that program   works and um invite people in there so those  three things and also in the pool I was 10:45 so   if somebody else gets on the board and talks for  about 10 minutes I'm I'm withn some class thank   you I have two last question or two last comments  and they're just GNA be very quick so don't worry   about it regarding solar regulations the County's  been expressing where we are in that do we have   an update or is it fully on the county to answer  where we are with the ug it's fully on the county   at this point the mayor signed a letter we passed  it on they acknowledge receipt of the letter so   um they should be working with planning staff to  bring an item forward for there to review okay   I will be reach out to our counterparts of the um  County also um just have a brief comment regarding   processes uh for proclamations I'd be interested  in maybe a workshop in the future regarding how   we handle proclamations often um we get them via  email and once they get four votes we quit talking   about them and we usually don't get reminder  emails after four votes um I think we should   probably have a conversation about how we vote on  those from this body to make sure that the public   record if we have questions to edit proclamations  as well um I just would be interested in in the   future so maybe we look at a workshop of how  we can handle those have those on the record   but also make sure the process is streamlined  as well council member Johnson thanks mayor um   definitely supportive of talking about that I I  do have concerns about us editing proclamations   that the public might submit so maybe it's just  us providing feedback but definitely having a conversation thank you council  member oh council member hois I I will just close out by saying thank  you uh to the city of witas staff and all the   individuals who came out to this state of the city  address it was my first since taking office last   year on January 8th 2024 um I'm very appreciative  that as a community we were able to hear some   of the wins and challenges in the city of witta  learn more about local government but also talk   about the priorities which again are Crime Streets  Economic Development and homelessness um I also   wanted to say thank you to Senior Services council  member Tuttle uh went out and served for Meals   on Wheels this morning as well as I and I'm very  appreciative of the work that Senior Services um   provides for our community they're funded in part  by donors but also by cedri County so um wanted   to let people know that you can still volunteer  they need volunteers for Meals on Wheels and they   also need um more individuals to know that that uh  resource is available for senior services and last   but not least um I also wanted to uh say thank  you actually to sedu County investigations um I'm   part of the emcu exploited missing children's unit  board and today I had an opportunity to go over to   Cedric County um and look at investigations and I  know that one of the the topics we did talk about   was um the unfortunate incidents regarding  children having access to guns um and not   having uh proper um blocks or proper methods to  safeguard those weapons so um I'm hopeful that   Chief Sullivan I know is um working hard um in  trying to address this um back to education and   really this is last I promise um I just wanted  to welcome all the individuals who will be coming   to Witchita for the NCAA first and second  rounds this is a welcoming and respectful   community and I am so grateful that our  community will put its best foot forward   for the uh guests that are coming from all  around the country for the NCAA basketball   tournament and again good luck to all the  college athletes and the team council member   Johnson thanks mayor I I also would like  to welcome everyone who goes to Intrust   Bank Arena to district one here in Witchita  all right 10:31 I will move to adjourn this   meeting I did motion and a second any further  discussion I see none Miss clerk please open the rooll motion passes 6 to1  I said 10:33 counc 1031 and