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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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There is a lot of news to share before the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.
McConnell AFB is a Wichita Gem
I was recently at the Chamber breakfast and heard a presentation from McConnell Air Force Base Commander Col
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Albert Miller. Did you know that McConnell is named after three McConnell brothers from Kansas who were pilots and flew in the same bomber squadron during WW2? Read more about the history of McConnell and the "flying McConnell Brothers," here. Also, McConnell AFB has an economic impact on our area of $575 million per year. Don't forget to "thank them for their service" as you see them around town.
Aviation Innovation
Last week, the City of Wichita and Spirit AeroSystems celebrated the completion of a water recycling project designed to use recycled water instead of potable water. This will support the growth of the city's (and the state's) largest employer while paying dividends in clean water for many years to come, without impacting ratepayers. Spirit is paying the cost of a three-mile long pipeline to its plant. There is no negative impact on our citizens' rates, and Spirit is actually paying for this treated water which helps our conservation efforts as well as creating a positive impact on our water financial structure. Check out this video for the full story.
"Doc" is flying high with a lot of help from his friends
Did you see this? Wichita has been in the national news in quite a few positive ways recently. Last Sunday, CBS News did a feature story on the incredible restoration of Doc the B-29 from its desert graveyard. All of this was accomplished with local Wichita aviation mechanics and support - including our very own "Rosie the Riveter"! It was a great story, and you can
see it here.
We Like Ike
Traffic...What Traffic?
OK, we do have traffic here in the 48
th
largest city in the country, but it doesn't really compare to the barriers in other major cities. A recent federally required survey coordinated with the Kansas Department of Transportation reports the average trip time in Wichita is
10 minutes!
And when congestion or a peak travel time of day adds 20-30% to that travel time, it only increases the average to
14 minutes
. We all certainly recognize that construction is never fun to deal with, however our efforts on East and West Kellogg will help us keep Wichita in that that 10 minute per trip range, and greatly improve safety. We want you to be informed. The latest news on East Kellogg traffic changes can be seen below.
Wichita is truly a great community and Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to remember all that is good. Please remember to reach out to those in our community who are less fortunate. That giving spirit helps make our community a special place to live.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Pete Meitzner
Wichita City Council
District II Council Member
Ph: 316.268.4331
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District II Breakfast Meeting
Councilman Pete Meitzner invites the Wichita District II community to breakfast!
Guest: Police Chief Gordon Ramsay
When: Saturday, Dec. 3 at 8:30am
Where: The Regent
2050 N Webb Rd
Wichita, KS 67203
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Upcoming East Kellogg Detours
East Kellogg Improvements
On Monday, November 28, the KTA bridge over Kellogg near Webb Road is expected to close as the first step toward demolition of that bridge. This means:
- All traffic exiting the Turnpike (I-35/KTA) at the Kellogg toll plaza will use the eastbound south frontage road. Drivers wishing to go west on Kellogg will need to use the provided U-Turn, ½ mile east of Webb Road.
- Access to the Turnpike (I-35/KTA) via westbound Kellogg will detour to Rock Road then come back eastbound to the Kellogg/KTA entrance.
Beginning Friday, December 2 at 10 p.m. through Monday, December 5 at 5:00 a.m., Kellogg between Rock and Webb Roads will be closed for the removal of the Turnpike bridge over Kellogg. This means:
- Eastbound Kellogg traffic will be diverted south on Rock Road, east on Harry and north on Webb Road to the south Kellogg frontage road
- Westbound Kellogg traffic will detour north on Webb, west on Central and south on Rock Road back to Kellogg
- Traffic exiting the Turnpike (I-35/KTA) at the Kellogg toll plaza will use the eastbound frontage road, and if wanting to travel west on Kellogg will use the U-turn, ½ mile east of Webb Road and follow the detour signs
- Entrance to the Turnpike (I-35/KTA) from Kellogg will be prohibited during the bridge demolition. KTA traffic will need to follow the detour signs to the K-96 toll plaza.
Expect temporary east and westbound lane closures on Kellogg between K-96 and Zelta during non-peak hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to accommodate temporary lane widening and paving work. One single lane in each direction will remain open. Beginning November 28 however, the left lane of eastbound Kellogg from Zelta to K-96 will remain closed all week.
Kellogg speed limit is reduced to 40 mph between Cypress and K-96. Webb Road speed limit is reduced to 30 mph in the construction zone for the remainder of the project.
Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and stay informed to improve their travel during these changes and throughout the project. More information is available at
www.e54ict.com and via Twitter at @E54ict.
Click here
to stay up to date on East Kellogg construction.
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Wichita District II Facebook Page
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Greater Wichita Partnership
Year One Progress
Through the vision of the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce, over 100 private-sector companies came together in 2012 to move economic development forward in our community as the Leadership Council.
These business leaders identified six priority areas to cultivate the economic environment. Through success observed in other cities the Council
determined in 2015 the next strategic step to build upon this critical foundation was the evolution
of the Leadership Council into the Greater Wichita Partnership.
Created to expand on existing efforts aimed at making our region more competitive
in job creation, talent attraction and capital investment, the Partnership brought together
the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition (GWEDC) and the Wichita Downtown
Development Corporation to develop a unique, holistic approach to community growth.
Today, the Partnership serves as the region's economic steward-cultivating a rich
and innovative environment to grow local businesses and industries.
You can download the annual progress document that was distributed at the Nov. 9 first-anniversary event (printed copies are available by calling the Partnership at 316-500-6650) and watch a special video that was shown prior to the evening's presentations below. In addition, the Wichita Eagle recently published an
editorial chronicling the Partnership's first year and the plans going forward.
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Wichita Earns Bike-Friendly Recognition
Wichita has been recognized nationally for its ongoing efforts to improve conditions for bicycling. On Wednesday, the League of American Bicyclists awarded local government an Honorable Mention designation for working with community partners to create a bicycle-friendly city.
Honorable Mention communities are generally recognized for having popular shared use paths, community-wide bicycling events, or recent bicycle planning processes. More than 100 communities that originally earned an Honorable Mention have gone on to be awarded a Bicycle Friendly Community Bronze designation or better.
The City of Wichita has worked diligently to implement the community's Wichita Bicycle Master Plan. Since the endorsement of the plan in 2013, the City has installed more than 30 miles of bikeways; created the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board; created a plan for bicycle wayfinding; and worked with community partners to secure funding for a variety of bicycling related initiatives. Please find Wichita's League of American Bicyclists report card at the following link, which features key recommendations and statistics based on local data:
http://tinyurl.com/j2d97y8. You can find more information about the Wichita Bicycle Master Plan and related City efforts to improve conditions for bicycling at
www.wichita.gov/bicycle.
The League of American Bicyclists on Wednesday welcomed 26 new and 77 renewing Bicycle Friendly Communities, or BFC. This is the largest application round in the BFC program's 13 year history. In total, 140 communities applied for recognition, a 62 percent increase from the previous largest round. There are now 404 BFCs in all 50 states.
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Win Free Parking!
If you've recently flown in or out of Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport,
we'd like to hear from you!
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National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Business Aviation Convention
The Wichita Airport Authority was recently an exhibitor at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition in Orlando. There were more than 27,000 attendees, and 1,100 exhibitors from every state and 90 countries.
The airport collaborated with the Greater Wichita Partnership and 19 other local exhibitors to share booth and display space.
Councilmembers Pete Meitzner and Jeff Blubaugh, along with Assistant C ity Manager Scot Rigby and Greater Wichita Partnership President, Jeff Fluhr, attended the event with a goal of attracting new aerospace businesses to Wichita, as well as continuing support of existing area aviation businesses.
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Subheading
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Wichita's premier light display. With more than 1 million lights and new themed displays, we transform the gardens into a vast winter wonderland with themed light displays throughout. You've heard about it, now see it to believe it. Experience Kansas' largest holiday display. Make Illuminations your holiday tradition. It has become one of the area's premier holiday events.
Illuminations is held seven days a week, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. from Nov. 25 through Dec. 31 (excluding Dec. 24 and 25). This is a family-friendly event that showcases Botanica's 17 acres of beautiful gardens in a completely different light.
This year the event is getting a festive facelift! More than 5,000 LED luminaries will line garden pathways, more than 150 trees will be expertly lit, and many structures will be lit with twinkling white lights. As visitors enjoy their walk through the Gardens, they will enjoy the warm glow of luminaries, the sound of electric trains traveling around pine trees, the reflections of trees on the pond, the magic of the flocked forest at Candy Cane Lane, the fragrance of chimineas, the warmth of hot cocoa and cider and the joy of live musical groups. In total, more than 1 million lights combined with nature, it creates a stunning atmosphere and a "HO, HO, HO" lot of holiday fun!
Support from special events such as Illuminations help us showcase the Gardens, maintain Botanica as one of the Midwest's leading botanical gardens and further our mission. Tickets are $8 ($7 members) for adults and $6 for youth (3-12). Advance tickets can be purchased at all area QuikTrip locations or at botanica.org. Group rates are available in advance.
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Christmas is a special time at Old Cowtown Museum. The Victorian Christmas has become a family tradition for many in the Wichita area. This four-night event allows visitors to enjoy an old-fashioned Victorian Christmas with their family.
Visitors will enjoy seeing Cowtown decked out for the holidays, and if we're lucky, covered in a blanket of snow. There will be popcorn stringing, wagon rides and more! So make Cowtown part of your Christmas celebration this year!
A few of our Christmas activities and traditions include:
- Santa Claus in Santa's Workshop (aka Carpenter's Shop)
- Christmas carolers strolling the streets
- Christmas crafts and activities for kids
- Cookies, cocoa and unique Christmas gifts for sale and more!
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FREE FAMILY HOLIDAY CONCERT
DECEMBER 6th - 7:30 PM
CENTURY II CONVENTION HALL
Grab your loved ones and take a sleigh ride down to Century II Convention Hall! The Wichita Symphony presents their annual gift to the community, the Spirit of the Season Free Family Holiday Concert sponsored by our friends at Spirit AeroSystems. This one-hour concert will celebrate the sounds of the holiday season with your favorite Christmas carols and holiday hits performed by your Wichita Symphony. Canned food donations for the Kansas Food Bank will be accepted, and cash donations will be accepted for the Wichita Symphony's education programs.
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Senior Wednesdays are always fun and there is something different to do; someone new to meet. There are also many senior activity centers in Wichita and the surrounding areas, so be informed. Be entertained. Be active.
To see the upcoming events for October's Senior Wednesdays,
read more...
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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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Volunteer's Needed!
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is looking for individuals to assist with free tax preparation so families and individuals with low to moderate income get the benefits they need. Positions include greeters, interpreters and preparers. Training provided, flexible hours (January through April), and multiple site locations available.
Contact United Way of the Plains in Wichita by calling 211 to volunteer or get more information.
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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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How to report...
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Don't be left in the
dark
If you notice streetlight outages within your neighborhood, fill out this
simple form on Westar Energy's website.
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Fall 2016
Park & Recreation Activities Guide is now available!
Get registered for 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 2016 meeting schedule, click
here
The District II Breakfast occurs quarterly. The next breakfast is scheduled for
Dec. 3 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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