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City of Wichita District II Newsletter |
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A Message from Council Member
Pete Meitzner...
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August is upon us, and school is around the corner. But August is when baseball heats up, and Wichita is proud to host the 82nd National Baseball Congress tournament. I serve on the NBC Foundation non-profit Board, and I can share with you the excitement from the city and region has been more than we have seen in years. It is obvious that a team of former "Big Leaguers" has elevated the excitement, including the recent announcement by ESPN to televise the championship game on Saturday, August 13th. Some sessions are even sold out, but you can watch every game live by web cast from the NBC web site at
www.NBCbaseball.com.
On another note, this past Wednesday, I had the privilege of joining
the CEO's of Amtrak and BNSF, along with the newly appointed Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Richard Carlson. I joined them on an Amtrak train in Newton, and was able to meet with these and other Amtrak officials to help celebrate the efforts to keep the Southwest Chief, and discuss further plans for connecting Texas and Oklahoma through Wichita in the future.
Click here, for good article from the Wichita Eagle that gives more detail.
Things are very positive recently in our City, and I am proud to be a part of the City leadership, and to be your representation at City Hall. I have shared just a few of my thoughts in a Wichita Eagle editorial which appeared last Sunday. In case you missed it,
Enjoy your August and let me know if there is anything you would like to see addressed in my newsletter or on our web site.
Pete Meitzner
Wichita City Council
District II Council Member
Ph: 316.268.4331
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City, WPD partner with Nextdoor
The private social network connects public agencies to neighborhoods
City of Wichita government and the Wichita Police Department (WPD) announced today a partnership with Nextdoor, a private social network for neighborhoods that improves citywide and neighbor-to-neighbor communications.
City government will use Nextdoor to engage residents on building stronger, safer communities, in part, by working with WPD to increase safety and strengthen virtual neighborhood watch efforts.
"We are giving residents more avenues to easily and effectively connect with city departments, and each other, about the things that matter most to their communities," Mayor Jeff Longwell said.
More than 200 Wichita neighborhoods are connected on Nextdoor, which allows residents to create private neighborhood websites to share information, including neighborhood public safety issues, community events and activities, local services, and even lost pets. Nextdoor is free for residents and the City. Each Wichita neighborhood has its own private Nextdoor neighborhood website, accessible only to residents of that neighborhood. Neighborhoods establish and manage their own website.
The City and its departments will not be able to access residents' websites, contact information, or content. Members must verify that they live within the neighborhood before joining Nextdoor. Information shared on Nextdoor is password protected and cannot be accessed by Google or other search engines.
"It's vital to maintain and increase safety in Wichita communities," said WPD Chief Gordon Ramsay. "Nextdoor empowers neighbors to keep their communities safe and connected."
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The Offices at Cranbrook
Building Four Groundbreaking
Occidental Management Inc. broke ground on the fourth and final building at the Office at Cranbrook located just east of Webb Road on East 21st Street.
The Cranbrook Four building will be an approximately 10,080 square foot office building located on the southeast corner of the property. Each individual suite will be approximately 1,680 square feet.
Organizations represented at the ground breaking included Hentzen Construction, the Wichita Chamber of Commerce, Rose Hill Bank, SPT Architecture, the Wichita Independent Business Association and the Wichita City Council. Cranbrook Four is estimated to be completed By November 2016 .
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Extended Pool Season for College Hill Pool
We have extended the College Hill Pool season by one week! Now open Monday, August 15-Sunday, August 21! M-F hours 4-7pm; Sat/Sun 1-7pm. No lap swim or pool rentals during this week - just pure swimming enjoyment! Due to the change, Dog Days of Summer is now on August 22
Local dog owners are invited to the annual Dog Days of Summer event Monday, Aug. 22, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the College Hill Pool, 304 S. Circle Drive, sponsored by the Kansas Humane Society and the City of Wichita Park and Recreation Department.
The event allows dogs to experience wading, paddling, swimming and diving in a pool without chlorine. Admission is a $10 donation per dog (limit of two dogs per owner) with proceeds benefitting the Kansas Humane Society.
This event also features a long jump contest, Frisbee catch competition and largest and smallest dog contest.
For everyone's safety, owners may wade only knee-deep with their dogs in the shallow end of the zero-depth entry pool. Children under the age of 18 are not allowed to handle dogs and may only go into the water at ankle depth. All dogs must be on a leash when not in the pool or participating in contests and must
be current on all vaccinations.
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Click here to stay up to date on East Kellogg construction.
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Wichita District II Facebook Page
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New Old Town Traffic Safety Control Measures
In an effort to increase pedestrian and motorist safety in Old Town, the Wichita Police Department (WPD) will implement traffic-control measures on Friday and Saturday beginning at 11 p.m. and ending at 3 a.m.
The operation is part of an ongoing joint safety initiative involving WPD and Old Town businesses. It builds on best practices from other entertainment districts nationwide. The plan includes strategically blocking designated areas to vehicle traffic in the 100 and 200 blocks of North Mosley, Rock Island and parking lots on the west side of Washington on Friday and Saturday nights.
Vehicles will still have access to parking lots and garages.
Narrow streets (e.g. Mosley, Rock Island) become a safety hazard for pedestrians and impede traffic, when party buses or other vehicles stop.
To reduce the safety hazard, the traffic-control operation also includes designated parking areas for party buses, Uber and taxis to the parking lot located on St. Francis and 2nd Street.
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Mosquito Abatement, West Nile & Zika Update
Public Works & Utilities continues collaborative efforts with Sedgwick County and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to help control mosquitoes and educate the public on bite prevention. Mosquito control efforts target Culex species that carry West Nile virus by applying larvacide to areas of standing water on public property where trapping data indicate higher levels of Culex species. Other mosquitoes such as Aedes species
that can spread dengue fever, chikungunya, yellow fever viruses, and other diseases, are best controlled through public education and efforts such as emptying water from containers like flower pots, frequently changing out the water in pet dishes, bird baths, etc. and cleaning up clutter and junk piles that can hold even the smallest amounts of water.
West Nile
West Nile was recently reported in a sick red tailed hawk in Riley County. The first human cases of West Nile were reported to local, public health officials August 2. One case occurred in Douglas County and the other occurred in Thomas County. Details are being investigated and a press release is expected this week.
Zika
The KDHE began conducting a 24-week long Zika Virus Mosquito Survey on May 18, 2016. Results of the survey will be published at the end of the study. It's important to note that the eight cases of Zika reported in Kansas were all travel related. State health officials are engaged in planning and tracking issues such as the newly emerged cases of Zika in Florida.
Mosquito Control Efforts
Stormwater staff has applied 311 mosquito dunks to areas of concern so far in 2016. Trapping data indicates mosquito numbers are down overall compared to years 2014 and 2015.
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2017-2018 Proposed Budget Highlights
- The mill levy rate is unchanged. The budget is based on an estimated mill levy rate equal to last year's rate. This is the 23rd consecutive year the mill levy has remained stable.
- Reserves are maintained at appropriate levels. The budget includes General Fund reserves of $27.9 million, which is greater than 10% of projected expenditures, in accordance with City Council policy.
- Community involvement helped shape budget recommendations. Staff engaged with the community through the June 14 Social Media Town Hall event, which had record levels of participation. Staff also presented information through traditional meeting channels, attending District Advisory Board meetings in each City Council district. This feedback has helped shape budget recommendations and strategies, as well as future programming and planning efforts.
- Transit service levels are maintained, but the long-term future remains unsustainable. The Transit budget is forecasted to be sustainable through 2019, through the depletion of grant carry forward balances. However, without an additional funding source, Transit is unlikely to be sustainable in the long-term.
- Parking and mobility will be combined. In order to develop and implement a more comprehensive approach to mobility options, particularly in downtown in coordination with transit, a position is moved to the Parking Fund to coordinate efforts.
- The Police Department is expected to reach full staffing. In order to increase the on-street presence and further improve community policing efforts, the Police Department expects to fill all funded positions by 2017. Additionally, the Police Department has applied for a Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant through the US Department of Justice to fund authorized positions that lacked funding due to budget constraints.
- The cultural arts plan is funded. The budget includes $4.3 million to fund the City's cultural arts plan, which includes funding for cultural institutions, as well as grants to a variety of organizations in the community.
Funding for downtown development will increase. Increased funding from the Self-Supporting Municipal Improvement District (SSMID) is recommended. This will require a one mill increase in the levy on properties within the SSMID. The funding will enhance efforts by the Wichita Downtown Development Corporation to improve and beautify downtown, particularly along the Douglas Avenue corridor. The mill levy increase is a three-year pilot program.
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Alaska Airlines Offers Nonstop to Seattle
Travelers from Wichita can fly nonstop to Seattle on Alaska Airlines, beginning April 13, 2017. Alaska will offer one daily round-trip flight, seven days a week. Flights are scheduled as follows:
- Depart Seattle @ 11:55 am, arrive ICT @ 5:13 pm
- Depart ICT @ 6:10 pm, arrive Seattle @ 7:55 pm
Tickets for new routes are now on sale. To purchase tickets and capture savings, please visit www.alaskaair.com. Media are invited to attend a news conference scheduled for 2 p.m. today in the media conference room of the Eisenhower terminal.
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Neighborhood Night out, formerly celebrated as National Night Out and Celebrate Safe Communities, is an annual event that promotes 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.
Questions? Call 268-4165
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CityArts Exhibitions
August 6-20
CityArts currently has four art shows on display. "Artless" by various artists is an interactive experience and can be found in the main gallery. "Small Works" by Josh Tripoli is on display in the main hall gallery. Envision Artists and The ARC of Sedgwick County are also exhibiting.
Visit their
website for more information...
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Visit their
website for more information!
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Join us at 6:00pm on September 20 at the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport for the first ever walk/run on the airport campus!
The Take Off To Health 1 Mile/5K Fun Run & Walk is held in conjunction with the 2016 KPHA Annual Conference and everyone is invited to participate in this festive, unique opportunity to be active and walk or run an exciting course through the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport campus (safely out of the way of flight paths!). The cost to register is $25 and includes an inaugural event t-shirt. The 5K Run will be timed with prizes awarded to winners in a variety of categories!
Take Off to Health General Information:
1. The race is open to any one of all ages.
2. The race starts at 6:00 pm at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel.
3. The registration fee is $25.00.
4. You can participate in the race without attending the KPHA conference!
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Life Happens Here!
From year-round to seasonal events, Downtown
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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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 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 job fairs and
training courses. Click here.
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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
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- 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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Find out
about summer
Park & Recreation classes
by
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Stay up-to-date on City events, announcements and headlines by reading our daily News Releases
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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
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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
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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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Click here to find up-to-date
information regarding street
maintenance in your area.
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City Manager's Office
455 N. Main, 13 Floor
Wichita, KS 67202
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Stay Connected
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