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. The application is also available on the City's website www.wichita.gov under the "documents" section on each City Council Member page. Questions? Call 268-4197 or e-mail Rebecca Fields at [email protected]

Your Opinion Matters!

City of Wichita officials said today they are seeking feedback from residents about service delivery and community priorities as part of the National Citizen Survey.

  

During his regularly scheduled media briefing Thursday morning at City Hall, Mayor Longwell said 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 [email protected].

MEET WICHITA'S NEW HOUSING DIRECTOR - JOHN E. HALL

 

City Manager Robert Layton recently announced John E. Hall as the new Director of Housing and Community Services, a department that provides housing and related social services to residents who are eligible for assistance under federal guidelines. 

 

Hall has 15 years of experience in housing and community services with governmental organizations where he has effectively used resources to produce 1,400 units of housing, develop commercial real estate, and revitalize low-to-moderate income census tracts.  He currently serves as deputy director of the Office of Asset Management and Portfolio Oversight for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Washington, D.C., providing program administration for federally insured and assisted projects.

 

As head of the City's Housing department, Hall will oversee 81 employees and a nearly $24 million budget. The Housing department supports community goals related to affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, self-sufficiency initiatives, and other social services. It uses federal funds to provide direct services and to contract with community service providers. Specifically, the department assists eligible residents with rental assistance vouchers, exterior rehabilitation grants and loans, and free paint assistance among other services. It also provides clean and safe housing to the chronically homeless.

 

Hall succeeds Mary Kay Vaughn who retired in October pf 2015. Since then, Mark Manning, the City's Budget Director, has been serving as interim.

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.

Does your neighborhood have an association?

Do you want a neighborhood that is safer, healthier and more attractive? If you answered yes to that question click here for a list of neighborhood associations in District III. Neighborhood associations are established to address issues/concerns related to safety, community, neighborhood beautification, education and preserving neighborhoods.  

 

If you attend your neighborhood association meetings remember to invite other neighbors.

 

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.)

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.