You may recall the past 4 years  has been an effort with water rate increases  to be consistently low, thus having a minimal impact on the monthly bills, and allowing large users (such as commercial companies) to budget for their current and future plans.   The water and sewer rate increase is necessary to fund much needed capital improvements to the system.  This rate increase will total approximately $6.3 million in revenue. The 2017 water rates will rise 4 percent and sewer rates 5 percent for a combined increase of 4.4 percent.  The impact on a small residential consumer using 3,750 gallons a month will be an increase of $1.85/month and an increase of $4.73/month for a residential customer using 15,000 gallons.  The new rates will go into effect January 1, 2017. 

I was curious as to our current rates, and how our city compares with other cities.   Although no one likes water rate increases, with these increases, Wichita still falls well below the rates of comparison cities:

Council also approved the issuance of $62.5 million in IRBs which will allow improvements to be made to the massive (292,000 square feet) Boeing hanger which will be leased by Spirit.  When Boeing vacated their plant on South Oliver, we were happy that local investors bought this footprint from Boeing.   And now, just 3 years after the transfer from Boeing to local investors, this campus will be brought back to useful life. My thanks to Spirit for continuing to invest in our City, and to the local investors who had the vision and saw the value with this facility.

Finally, quality of life matters.  A lot. If people don't want to live, visit or move here, it will be difficult to grow and prosper as a community.  In recent years, Wichita been investing in quality of life amenities, including the K-96/Greenwich corridor, downtown and riverbank improvements, bike lanes, and a soon-to-be-built new central library.  The Council voted to expand two STAR bond districts to allow for further development improvements; the K-96/Greenwich corridor and Stryker Sports Complex and Lawrence Dumont Stadium.  STAR bonds allow the city to use the increased sales tax revenue to facilitate the infrastructure development for a set period of time. 

K-96/Greenwich has quickly become a destination experience. Through future expansion of the STAR bond district, improvements can be made to the Stryker Sports Complex.  These improvements would involve replacing the 10 of the 12 grass fields with artificial turf, adding lighting and improving locker rooms.  The STAR bonds will also aid in the development of DRIV, a golf entertainment complex.

Lawrence Dumont Stadium is 82 years old.  If we want to keep baseball alive in our city, and even attract a Major League Baseball-affiliated team, we need a new ballpark. Hopefully, the City will be able to build a multi-use stadium suitable for baseball, softball, soccer and concerts.  We don't yet know whether enough money will be generated by the STAR bond district to pay for a completely new stadium or only enough to renovate.  We should know more by years end.

I wish you safe and warm thoughts for this weekend and throughout the month of December.