District II Newsletter
from the
 Office of Community Services

 
January 8, 2016
A Message from Council Member
Pete Meitzner...
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas season, and a safe New Year's.  

Our great city ended the year with a very impressive December.  From Garth Brooks sellout concerts, WSU and K-State basketball games, record attendance at Illuminations, the Botanical Gardens holiday lights display, I hope you all felt a sense of friendship and fellowship throughout our city.

I am excited for 2016, as there are many positives to look forward to in the coming year. In our district, many new buildings have been constructed and new businesses have opened their doors. This indicates a growing year ahead.  

In the past couple of weeks, the opening of Go Time Training, Bliss Bouldering and Climbing Complex, Anything Bundt Cakes, Portofino Apartments, and Life Church, are just a few indications of the interest people have in making our city a better place.   Also opening over the holidays was the Wichita Sports Forum on north Greenwich Road. It's a very impressive 150,000 square foot complex that everyone should see. This complex will be hosting basketball and volleyball tournaments every weekend from January through September, as well as many other events.  
 
We have hired a new Chief of Police, Gordon Ramsay. He begins his duties at the end of January. His leadership and fresh ideas should put our police department in a position that will make our city proud.

My sincere wishes to you all for a prosperous and safe 2016.

Pete Meitzner
Wichita City Council
District II Council Member
Ph: 316.268.4331
GRAND OPENINGS
Wichita Sports Forum
is Now Open!

Wichita Sports Forum, the $14 million sports complex near K-96 and Greenwich, has opened.

The nearly 150,000-square-foot complex houses a trampoline park, basketball and volleyball courts, sand volleyball courts and an indoor soccer field that converts to a baseball or softball practice area. The complex will host both tournaments and team practices.
Go Time Training Opens New Facility

Founded in 2012, Go Time Training started in 1,200 square feet of space, growing one year later to 3,500 square feet, and now has 10,500 square feet of training space to better serve their nearly 250 clients! They transform lives through exercise and nutrition to create a sustainable, healthy way of living. They are located at 11010 E. 28th St N. Congratulations!
 
Visit their website for more information.
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Ribbon Cutting
 
One-of-a-kind, Nothing Bundt Cakes, a bakery specializing in nostalgic yet refreshingly modern bundt cakes, has opened their first location in Wichita (150th location nationwide). 

They are located at 2035 N. Rock Road. Visit their website or stop in and say hi to owners, Yolanda and Dan Hamilton.
Bliss Bouldering & Climbing Complex 
Grand Opening 

Come out January 8-10 for an exciting event with climbing, challenges, and prizes! There will also be some special promotions available. They are located at 11114 E 28th St N.

Profession climber, Jon Cardwell, will be doing some awesome clinics! Register for the clinics by calling
316-831-1479.

Bliss Bouldering and Climbing Complex is a locally owned and operated rock climbing and
recreation center scheduled for opening at the end of November 2015 on the North Greenwich Corridor. Featuring over 9000 vertical square feet of contemporary climbing surface built by Walltopia, the world's leader in climbing wall structures, Bliss will offer indoor rock climbing featuring 38ft top-rope and lead climbing walls, auto-belays, 15 ft bouldering walls, training
room, yoga and cardio. The gym is open to all ages with any experience level. Routes will vary from novice to advanced. Perfect for individuals, groups, parties and team building.

Bliss is the brainchild of David and Sandra Kortje and their son, Caleb. Caleb, an accomplished competition climber, lost his battle with depression in 2012 when he took his own life. His dream was to offer the city of Wichita this alternative form of recreation, community and challenge. A such, it is named after his mantra that each of us should follow, "Follow Your Bliss."

  Visit their website  for more information.
COMMUNITY  EVENTS
Wichita To Participate in 
National Citizen Survey
C ity of Wichita officials are seeking feedback from residents about service delivery and community priorities as part of the National Citizen Survey.
Mayor Jeff Longwell announced at his med ia briefing this week, beginning next week 1,400 randomly selected households will receive questionnaires that ask residents to rate a variety of local government services, such as snow removal, utility billing, parks, and fire services. Additionally, residents are asked more general questions regarding the quality of life in Wichita as well as community priorities. Results are compared to prior Wichita surveys as well as peer communities in the region. The 2016 questionnaire marks the fifth time the City has participated in the national survey.

"This is a very efficient way to measure citizen opinion," Longwell said. "Please keep in mind that this survey is one of the many ways the City is regularly reaching out to residents for their feedback. Some of the other examples include topical surveys, social media, town halls, DABs, Council meetings, workshops, and advisory boards. It's important to us that we make the effort to reach residents where they live."
Administered by National Research Center, Inc., the National Citizen Survey was designed based on the experience of hundreds of local governments. It is the only citizen survey tool endorsed by the International City/County Management Association and the National League of Cities. Scientific sampling and weighting of the responses in each city ensure accurate and reliable results. Since its 2001 inception, the survey has been administered to 350 cities and counties. Wichita participated in the survey in 2006, 2010, 2012, and 2014. Residents may provide feedback regarding budget development by emailing  budgetquestions@wichita.gov
Make it a Winter to Remember!
Enroll online now for winter art classes at CityArts. 

Get Reading, Wichita!
 
Take a virtual ride across Wichita as you explore new literary genres in this year's Winter Reading program. It's the Tour de Wichita!
 
There are more than a dozen different genres you can explore, each inspired by some of Wichita's most well-known or interesting sites. For example, you could read a sports book for Lawrence Dumont Stadium, a historical fiction for the Wichita-Sedgwick Co. Historical Museum or a western for Cowtown. We hope you will have just as much fun reading the books as we did in finding locations for each genre!
 
The Tour begins January 4 and ends March 18. Check back later this month to see the full list of genres included in this year's Tour along with the location each was inspired by and the prizes you could win along your reading journey! Later in December you can pick up your "Tour de Wichita" map at any one of our eight Wichita Public Library locations.
Exploration Place and TFA partner for the 4th consecutive year to present Smallgrass, a family-friendly film festival for the young and young at heart, on Saturday, January 16th, 2016.

Smallgrass offers a unique and affordable entertainment option for families with children of all ages, over the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday weekend, while fostering an appreciation of the communal cinema experience for the next generation.

Official Selections:
Films will be screened at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Boeing Dome Theater and Planetarium, the largest theater of its kind in Kansas. (See below for film descriptions.)
  • SHORTS FOR KIDS: An Animated Shorts Program curated by Tallgrass Film Festival. (10 a.m.; Suitable for all ages, 38 min.)
  • ZARAFA, a critically acclaimed animated feature film. (11 a.m.; (Recommended for ages 8+, 78 min.)
  • SPACE SCHOOL: The premiere of the new dome theater show. (1 p.m, 4:30 p.m.; Suitable for all ages, 25 min.)
  • THE ROCKETEER: 25th anniversary screening. (2 p.m.; Rated PG, 108 min.)
Admission also includes educational activities and access to Exploration Place exhibit areas. (Doors open at 9:30 a.m.) Plus, enjoy treats from local food trucks including Sunflower Espresso from 10 a.m. - 2p.m. Sponsored by 105.3 The Buzz.
Tickets can be purchased by calling Exploration Place (316-660-0620) or at the door.


Citizen Police Academy Accepting Applications
 
Applications are being accepted for the academy that will run from February 22 to May 16, 2016. 

The Citizen Police Academy (CPA) is a 13-week program designed to provide a working knowledge and background of the Wichita Police Department and Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office, and to foster a closer relationship between the agencies and the community.  It provides an avenue for community involvement and provides firsthand experience of policing.
  
The Academy provides an opportunity for citizens to learn more about local law enforcement, ask questions, and gain a more thorough understanding of the inner workings of the Wichita Police Department and the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office.  The Academy is also a means for participants and police personnel to share information and ideas about the police profession.  The Academy provides for improved community/police relationships, enhanced cooperation, and reduced stereotyping.
  
Some of the topics and activities Academy attendees will participate in include:
  • Patrol operations including riding assignments with a Wichita Police Officer or Sedgwick County Sheriff's Deputy.
  • Overview of Investigations.
  • Presentations by the Gang Unit.
  • Wichita/Sedgwick County Law Enforcement Firearms Training Facility tour.
  • Exploited and Missing Child Unit, Homicide and Robbery Investigations.
  • Tours of the Wichita Police Department Crime Lab, Records Bureau, Sheriff's Crime Lab and the 911 Emergency Communications Center.
  • Tour of the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility including an opportunity to sample jail food.
  • Overview of Community Affairs and Community Policing.
  • Air Section helicopter "fly-in" and presentation.
  • Traffic radar demonstration.
  • SWAT Team demonstration.
  • Bomb Squad demonstration.
  
Persons interested in attending a Citizen Police Academy must live, work, or attend school within Sedgwick County.  Persons must be at least 20 years of age, have no prior felony convictions and no outstanding warrants.  Applicants must provide two personal references.
  
The Citizen Police Academy is held at the Wichita - Sedgwick County Law Enforcement Training Center, 2235 W. 37th St. N. There is no cost to attend the Citizen Police Academy.  Click here to fill out an application, or call 660-3810 for more information.
 WICHITA INDEPENDENT NEIGHBORHOODS, INC.
2016 ANNUAL
DINNER MEETING
 
JANUARY 11, 2016 - 6:00 PM 
GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
5002 E DOUGLAS AVE.
 
For more information and tickets, contact WIN here.
 
Angeles Ortega of the US Census Bureau will be the keynote speaker.

VOLUNTEER & JOB POSTINGS
 
 
 Check out the latest job fairs and training courses.  Click here.
Helpful Information
Kellogg & Webb Update 

Southbound Webb will have left turns prohibited sometime starting in early December and last for a few weeks while Wildcat works on ATT duct near the intersection.  Message boards are already giving traffic a heads up.  Exact start date will be advertised once we're closer.

Click here to stay up to date on East Kellogg construction.
Don't be Left in the Dark!

 

Help deter crime and keep our communities safe by reporting street light outages.  If you notice outages within your neighborhood, fill out this simple form on Westar Energy's website.

2016 Neighborhood
Clean-Up Application
Now Available

Applications must be submitted by January 25

It's time to submit applications for the 2016 Neighborhood Clean-up program. If you have never applied before, all of the information is included in the application packet. Click here to access. 
 
Questions? Call 268-4197 or e-mail Rebecca Fields at rfields@wichita.gov
Follow the Snow Plows Guide
 
You can see where the City of Wichita snow plow/treatment trucks are on a Google map. This map can be zoomed and panned as usual to see what ever area you desire.

Each of the 50 vehicles has a dot and a flag that shows the unit ID number. The color of the dot indicates the status of the vehicle.

If the vehicle is moving an arrow will give the general direction of travel.
The map also shows where each truck has been for the last hour. The color of each trail has no significance. They are selected just to make it easier to distinguish the trail of one vehicle from another. You can turn the trails feature off by unchecking the box at the top right of the map. Next to the trail check box, you can click on the length of time for the trails to change it from one hour to 15 minutes or one day and then back to one hour.
 
Check out what's happening at the Library by clicking here!
 
Find out
about winter
 Park & Recreation classes  by
 
  Sign up now for classes at CityArts by clicking here!
                
More Helpful Links
City Council Agendas, Minutes and streaming video link
  

Environmental Court Docket and Dispositions
Stay up-to-date on City events, announcements and headlines by reading our daily News Releases
District II Activities
Comotara Branch Library
Inside Dillons Market, 2244 N. Rock

Rockwell Branch Library

5939 E. 9th

Eastview Park

Just South of Coleman Middle School

Boston Park

6655 E. Zimmerly St.

Cottonwood Park

Located just East of Boston Park

W.B. Harrison Park

Located East of S. Webb, just South of E. Bayley St.

District II Advisory Board and Neighborhood Associations
The District II Advisory Board meets the second Monday of the month at Fire Station #20 at 2255 S. Greenwich Rd. Wichita, KS 67207. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. For the 2015 meeting schedule, click here

The District II Breakfast  occurs the first Saturday of even months. The Breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m. at The Regent Senior Living Residence at 2050 N. Webb Rd. (In the  theater on the second floor)
  
To find DAB II agendas and minutes click here
  
To see a listing of the meeting schedule for District II's neighborhood associations, click here
Become part  of the solution and tell us what's on your mind. Visit Activate Wichita today!
   
     Click here to find up-to-date 
     information regarding street
     maintenance in your area.
City of Wichita, Office of Community Services | 316-352-4886
lrainwater@wichita.gov | http://www.wichita.gov
City Manager's Office
455 N. Main, 13 Floor
Wichita, KS  67202
Have questions or concerns? E-mail pmeitzner@wichita.gov or call 316-268-4331