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City of Wichita District V Newsletter |
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A Message from Council Member
Bryan Frye...
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Whew! What a week it's been. And I'm not talking about the heat. Since our last newsletter, several positive things have happened in our community. And what's even more amazing is they all have received nationwide attention in one way or another. So this week, I'm handing out a few "Thank- yous".
 Let's start with the sale of the Hyatt. Last week, the city council voted to negotiate a purchase agreement with Phil Ruffin for $20 million dollars. If you remember, the city purchased the Hyatt in 2001 to stabilize and safeguard an important downtown asset. Now that downtown is surging with new residential & commercial activity, several investors considered bidding on the Hyatt. Mr. Ruffin not only presented the best offer, but he's local. To me, that represents great potential and opportunity. Thank you Mr. Ruffin.
Then on Sunday, "Doc", a World War II-era B-29 that was built in Wichita took to
the air for a successful first flight at McConnell Air Force Base. Hundreds of area volunteers put more than 350,000 hours of labor into getting Doc back in the sky. There is only one other B-29 still flying so Doc is pretty unique. Contact the Kansas Aviation Museum for more history and information about Doc and its connection with Wichita. Thank you volunteers, donors and supporters.
 Also on Sunday, a remarkable event took place in McAdams Park. This event brought our community together when other communities around the country are struggling to get along. This event was so successful that it was the number one trending topic on social media. The success of the First Steps Cookout was only possible because everyone involved made a conscious effort to make our community a great place to live. The first step is always the hardest to take...Our community took a giant leap! There is much more work and communication to be done, but this was a great beginning. Thank you to our community and everyone who helped make the First Steps Cookout a huge success.
Finally, The NBC World Series is gearing up for its 82
nd World Series. First pitch is July 29! Each year, 32 teams and thousands of spectators fill Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. If you have not heard, this year there will be an entire team comprised of former Major Leaguers; Roger Clemens, Chipper Jones, J.D. Drew, Adam LaRoche, Nate Robertson, Koyie Hill and many more! Thank you NBC World Series staff and sponsors.
WOW! You have to agree, that's a lot of great positive news for Wichita. And just yesterday she celebrated her 146
th birthday. I wish had her energy.
Have a great weekend!
Bryan Frye
District V City Council Member
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Wichita Police Department West Bureau to Host
Community Cookout: Kids, Cops and Cars
Patrol West Bureau is hosting a neighborhood cookout to show our appreciation for our community! Everyone has given us so much lately, we want to give back!
Join us from 11AM - 2PM, Saturday, August 13,
at Orchard Park,
4808 W 9th St N.
We will have food, bouncy houses, dunk tanks ( you can dunk an officer!) and other activities. There will be a lot of Officers to come hang out with! The Bomb unit will have their truck out and the Mounted unit will have their horses present.
*Brings folding chairs if you have them.
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How to Build a Safer Neighborhood
Nextdoor is the free private social network for you, your neighbors and your community. It's the easiest way for you and your neighbors to talk online and make all of your lives better in the real world. And
it's free!
Thousands of neighborhoods are already using Nextdoor to build happier, safer places to call home.
And it's only for you and your neighbors!!
People are using Nextdoor to:
- Quickly get the word out about a break-in
- Organize a Neighborhood Watch Group
- Track down a trustworthy babysitter
- Find out who does the best paint job in town
- Ask for help keeping an eye out for a lost dog
- Find a new home for an outgrown bike
- Finally call that nice man down the street by his first name
Nextdoor's mission is to use the power of technology to build stronger and safer neighborhoods. Click
here
for more information.
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Getting to Know DAB V:
Mike Greene
As a lifelong west-side resident of Wichita, the last 35 of those years west of the big ditch, I not only have a passion for all things west, but also Wichita. After 35 years of service, I retired from the City of Wichita six years ago. I feel compelled to give back to this community that has given so much not only to me but to my family, as well.
Within a month of my retirement, Councilman Longwell, now Mayor Longwell, appointed me to the DAB V board. Over the years we have seen many items come before us and have witnessed a significant amount of growth in west Wichita. Maize Road is just one example of the kind of growth this District has experienced. Ridge Road is another arterial that is experiencing a significant transformation.
As a member of this Advisory Board, we play a very small role in this growth, but we do play a large role in conveying to Councilman Frye how the community feels about this growth. I consider my involvement on the DAB as a privilege and I am thankful to Mayor Longwell for nominating me to this position and to Councilman Frye for the continual support by reappointing me to serve this community that I love so much.
On the personal side of things, I have been married to Marie for 34 years. I have two grown children and two grandchildren. I am heavily involved with the Wichita River Festival (18 years) and in 2015 was honored to serve as Admiral Windwagon Smith. I serve on the Board of Directors of Wichita Federal Credit Union (14 years), work with the Wichita Sports Commission on the Prairie Fire Marathon (6 years), and have donated 15 gallons of blood to the American Red Cross (one pint at a time). As a City, employee I worked in the Public Works Department, Engineering Division. In 2005, I was honored to receive the Excellence in Public Service Award for the City of Wichita
from the Devore Foundation. The last seven years with the City, part of my responsibilities included providing technical support at City Council meetings, which means I attended all Council meetings from start to finish.
For fun, I like to ride my Harley and spend time with my wife, kids, and grandchildren. I am a licensed Pyrotechnician and have shot commercial firework shows for over 40 years. On Fridays, you can usually find me at Los Cocos Mexican Restaurant with family and/or friends. I find as a retiree every night is Friday night and tomorrow is Saturday, so we use our real Friday night as a way to reset the calendar so we know for sure it's Friday!
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Barry's Recreation Station is Coming to Buffalo Park
Wichita Park & Recreation is making it easier for residents to have fun this summer at public parks. Barry's Recreation Station, a new mobile van with a variety of recreation equipment, will hosting a morning of upcoming fun activities for the entire family.
"We want to be more proactive in bringing recreation to neighborhoods," said Troy Houtman, Director of Wichita Park & Recreation. "Kids and adults have busy schedules. Making the time to play helps reduce stress and improve health. We hope that the presence of Barry's Recreation Station will encourage people to go outside and stay active."
Barry's Recreation Station, which is free to the public, will be at
Buffalo Park from
6pm - 8pm on Thursday, July 28.
Activities include an obstacle course, hula hoops, bubbles, relays and games. Outdoor equipment includes stilts, washers, disc golf and kites.
Wichita Park & Recreation supports 127 parks, eight recreation centers, nine swimming pools, 52 athletic fields, five golf courses, six interactive fountains, numerous adult and youth-based activities and athletics programs and 2,407 acres of rights-of-way. For more information visit the
Park & Rec website.
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Wichita District V Facebook Page
Stay up-to-date with news and events in our District.
Click here to visit our Facebook page. Send us a message or request or simply "like" our posts.
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2015-2024 Adopted CIP
The City Council has approved a new $1.9 Billion, 10-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that funds road, street, freeway, building and other major improvements.
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Deadline to register is August 2
Neighborhood Night out, formerly celebrated as National Night Out and Celebrate Safe Communities, is an annual event that propmotes safety and combats crime by encouraging neighbors to get to know each other through neighborhood parties, picnics, cookouts and other social gatherings over one designated evening.
By registering, it makes it possible for Police, Fire and other City staff to stop by your event!
To encourage participation, the City will waive park fees for groups who want to hold their gathering in a neighborhood park. While supplies last, the City will also provide barricades at no charge to groups that want to block off a portion of the street for their event.
To request barricades or reserve a park, call 350-3400.
Questions? Call 268-4165
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Sign Code:
Keep 'em Legal!
With the 2016 elections approaching, City of Wichita officials are reminding candidates and citizens that the City's Sign Code (Title 24.04.215 of the City Code) prohibits all signs, including political signs, on public rights-of-way, or on public property. The City rights-of -way are part of a street lying between adjacent property lines, including the vehicle travel area, and may include a public sidewalk, and unpaved areas between the travel lanes and adjacent property lines. Examples of public property are public buildings, parks, drainage ways and creeks.
Signs are not allowed on City rights-of-way for various reasons. Not only are they unsightly and can contribute to urban blight, but, more importantly, they can present a public safety hazard. Temporary signs improperly placed in City rights-of-way or on public property can:
- Cause sight obstructions and distractions endangering motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians;
- Block sight lines at driveways and intersections, endangering motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians;
- Blow into traffic, possibly causing property damage or accidents; and
- Pose a hazard to utility workers.
For these reasons, no temporary signs, including political signs, are allowed on City rights-of-way, or on public property. Signs improperly placed on City rights-of-way or public property may be removed by either City staff, a volunteer sign removal group, or by an adjacent property owner. Any sign that is removed may be recovered by payment of a $25 per sign recovery fee. If placement on the rights-of-way or public property continues, charges may be filed in Municipal Court.
For more information, please contact Zoning/License/Sign Section staff at 316-268-4479.
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Summer Slam Volleyball Tournament at Watson Park
Join this 6v6 tournament
in the sand!
- Saturday, July 30, 8AM - 8PM
- Only $60 per team
- Ages 16 and up
- Register at Watson Park, call 529-9940 or sign up online and use code 10544.
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Top 10 Reasons to Walk
(with apologies to David Letterman)
10. Speeding tickets are rare.
9. You'll never have a flat tire.
8. Your vet said your dog is too fat.
7. You get to know your community.
6. You don't need a tail light.
5. You can talk with your friends while you walk.
4. Gas mileage is great.
3. You can practice your dance steps.
2. You can stop and smell the roses.
AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON TO WALK:
NO SPANDEX REQUIRED!
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Life Happens Here!
From year-round to seasonal events, Dow
ntown is the preferred
location for Wichita to celebrate throughout the year. A variety of
events cater to the diverse interests of Wichita residents and many visitors from Kansas and throughout the regional area.
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It's that time again! WAMPO is seeking volunteers for September 22nd and/or 24th to assist with a manual count of bicyclists and pedestrians in the WAMPO region. Every year WAMPO coordinates an annual count of bicycle and pedestrian activity across 35 different sites in Park City, Goddard, Andover, Mulvane and Wichita to name a few.
The data collected during the count helps to estimate the number of people and locations people bicycle, walk and run. Once collected, the data is used to plan the location of future bicycle and pedestrian investments. In order to effectively gather this information we rely on a team of volunteers to spend a short period of time at each site counting bicyclists and pedestrians.
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KANSEL, a non-profit organization providing adult education services in Wichita, is offering a free seven-week construction training program for interested adults who are ready for employment in construction.
The KANSEL Construction Training Program teaches basic construction skills using the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) core curriculum. Students will receive instruction in construction math, materials handling, power tools, hand tools and construction drawings. The course also includes a 10-hour OSHA safety course plus training to obtain a Class B CDL instructional permit. Following the class, KANSEL staff assists students with job placement.
"When a student completes our program we strive to get them in the construction workforce. Working with construction companies like Cornejo, Conco, Eby and Dondlinger, gives our students an outstanding chance for employment," explained Linda Eaves, Executive Director at KANSEL.
Call 316-263-9620 or visit their website for more information about the next orientation meeting and class session.
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JOBS are here in Wichita!
The Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce is proud to offer a job board with local, Wichita area, jobs only! A free service for job seekers, it will save you the time of searching through dozens of jobs outside of the area. Create a free account here
and you will be automatically signed up for all Wichita area updates and can customize the search further if you wish.
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Check out the latest information on job fairs and training courses. Click here.
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Bulky Waste Problems??
Here's the answer...
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Report An Issue
Use the smartphone app to report an issue
Wichita Report is a great tool for enabling Wichita residents to improve their neighborhood by reporting issues such as potholes, broken street lights, damaged signs, illegal dumping and more.
The reports are automatically fed into the City's work order system so that they can be tracked and assigned to service teams. Users can follow the status of their requests from their smartphone.
If you have an Apple or Android smartphone, you can download
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Energy at Your Fingertips
When severe weather knocks your power out, the MyWestar app is the fastest way to report an outage and see an outage map with real-time information about when your power will be restored even if your computer, phone and Wi-Fi are down. With the power of the MyWestar app you can manage your account anywhere.
- Sign up for text alerts on current and future outages
- Show outages by neighborhood, zip code, or county, and more
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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.
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Kellogg/I235 Updates
Stay up-to-date with construction of the improvements to the Kellogg/I235 interchange. KDOT has established and is maintaining a website to keep citizens informed.
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Park & Recreation Summer Classes
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Click here to find up-to-date
information regarding street
maintenance in your area.
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Become part of the solution and tell us what's on your mind. Visit Activate Wichita today!
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Stay up-to-date on City events, announcements and headlines by reading our daily News Releases
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| Westlink Branch Library
8515 Bekemeyer
Southwest of Central and Maize
1011 N. Maize Ct. |
District V Advisory Board and Neighborhood Associations
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The District V Advisory Board meets the first Monday of the month at Fire Station #21 at 2110 N. 135th St W. Wichita, KS 672235. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. For the 2015/16 meeting schedule, click
here.
To find DAB V agendas and minutes click
here.
To see a listing of the meeting schedule for District V's neighborhood associations, click
here
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City Manager's Office
455 N. Main, 13 Floor
Wichita, KS 67202
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