Office of Community Services  
        District 6 Newsletter       

 

 

February 3, 2017
Message from Your Council Member.... 
   
Greetings District 6 Friends -
 
Welcome to the next edition of the weekly newsletter! We hope you find items of interest in the articles and at the links provided. Please let us know if you have ideas, information, or events you would like to see featured in a future edition. We always welcome your feedback and suggestions.
 
Have a great weekend! 

Janet
Janet L. Miller
District 6
City Council
316-268-4331
District 6
DAB Meeting 

District 6 Coffee

Date : February 6, 2017
Location Evergreen Park & Recreation 
Time:  6:30 p.m.   

Date: February 25 , 2017
Location : Downtown YMCA  in the  Community Room
Time:  9 a.m. 


   District Community Events & News 
Council Members Miller, Williams Receive Park Awards
 
Two Wichita City Council members have received state recognition for their efforts to support the growth of parks, open spaces and recreation programs. The Kansas Recreation & Park Association (KRPA) on awarded Vice Mayor Janet Miller with the 2017 Distinguished Board Member Award and Council Member Lavonta Williams with the 2017 Distinguished Elected Official Award.
 
Miller, a Manhattan native, is a former Wichita Board of Park Commissioners President and a longtime supporter of Park & Recreation projects and initiatives, advocating for additional park programming, more open spaces and other related efforts across Wichita.
 
Williams, a Wichita native and retired educator, also is a strong supporter of Park & Recreation projects and initiatives. She has supported the expansion of recreation programs and community outreach efforts, with a focus on underserved populations.
 
"We are blessed to have two passionate advocates for Park & Recreation on the City Council," said Troy Houtman, the Park & Recreation Director for the City of Wichita. "Vice Mayor Miller and Council member Williams have had a significant impact on the quality of life of Wichita residents."


DO YOU WONDER WHAT DISTRICT VI IS CURRENTLY UP TO?
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE ACTION
Start Planning Now for your Neighborhood Cleanup!

The City of Wichita neighborhood cleanup applications for 2017 were sent out to neighborhood associations and home owner associations. If we missed your association, please give us a call at 316-268-4197.  The cleanups start the 1st Saturday in April and conclude the last Saturday of November. There is much preparation involved when planning a neighborhood cleanup, so now is the time to get with your association to set a date, fill out and submit your application, and recruit volunteers.
 
The work is fun, rewarding, and a great way to get to know your neighbors! We all live in a great city, and it's everyone's responsibility to take care of it.

Click here to view the application and instructions.
HOW TO BUILD A SAFER NEIGHBORHOOD
Nextdoor.com 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.

Take a Brief Survey


If you live in Kansas and use a smart phone, this survey is for you. Help the State of Kansas understand how you interact with State programs and services. 




Saturday, February 4th
10:00am to 1:00pm
 
It's time for Family Fun Fair! Get back in the gardens with Botanica's winter party and enjoy crafts and activities suitable for all ages. Best of all, it's free!

Enter the gardens and enjoy free hot chocolate, popcorn, even take part in an exciting scavenger hunt through the gardens. This is a great and fun opportunity to learn more about the gardens, nature and wildlife with some exciting hands-on activities. 701 Amidon St, Wichita KS 67203 
WAMPO Transportation Improvement Program
 
A public review and comment period is now open for the 2017 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Amendment #1.  To review the project changes click  HERE.  Comments will be accepted until Friday, February 10, 2017 at 5:00 PM.

Please submit comments and questions to Jason O'Brien, Senior Planner at   jaobrien@wichita.gov or call 316.352.4861.
Want to learn more about the TIP amendment #1?  Check out our TIP website page by clicking HERE or join us at the WAMPO Transportation Advisory Committee on January 23, 2017 at 10:00 AM in the second floor conference room at 271 W. Third Street, Suite 208, Wichita, KS 67202.  

A public hearing on this amendment will be held on February 14, 2017 during the regularly scheduled Transportation Policy Body meeting.  The meeting is open to the public and scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm in the second floor conference room at 271 W. Third Street, Suite 208, Wichita, KS 67202.  
Thank you for your continued support of transportation planning in our region!
STREET LIGHT OUT?



Help deter crime and keep our neighborhoods safe by reporting street light outages. 

Keeper of the Plains Upgrades
 
Upgrades at the Keeper of the Plains are now complete. Upgrades and repairs began in October 2016 and required that certain areas be cordoned off. The barricades have now been removed and the area is entirely open to the public. Upgrades and repairs include:
  • Construction of a barrier along ADA accessible pathways to prevent wheelchairs and other assistive mobile units from sliding off the path.
  • Upgrading of the fire pot sensors for enhanced safety and efficiency
  • Replacement of chain barrier with decorative fence to prevent visitors from approaching the fire pots and also from entering the fountain
  • Enhanced signage for better visitor flow
  • Replacement of mulch at the lower viewing plaza with the addition of decomposed granite to reduce maintenance and to have a more usable (mud free) space for visitors.
  • Repair of broken stone pavers throughout the premises


For online catalog... CLICK HERE
To register for classes... CLICK HERE
Downtown Senior Center


February 2017 Schedule:

Every Friday (Feb 3,10,17, & 24th) at 1:00pm
WSU LifeLong Learning: The New Kansas
Tuesday, February 7th at 11:00am
Introduction to Essential Oils
Tuesday, February 21st at 1:00pm
Introduction to Computers                                            200 S Walnut, Wichita KS 67213
Wednesday, February 22nd at 12:00pm                      
"Scams- How do I protect myself?"                                           RSVP to 267-0197
Tuesday, February 28th at 11:00am
Weather Watch 
Every Wednesday, November 2016 through February 2017: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
 
Grab your coats, throw on your mittens and head over to the Sedgwick County Zoo for Winter Wednesdays! Spend the day in the refreshing outdoors for $3.00 per person every Wednesday, November through February.


For more information click here
SNOW REMOVAL
You can see where the City of Wichita snow plow/treatment trucks are on a Google map. The map can be zoomed and panned as usual to see what ever area you desire.
The program encourages citizens to call Crime Stoppers if they have information about a felony crime, and wish to remain anonymous.  This means that they have not directly contacted law enforcement.  Crime Stoppers always encourages cooperation with law enforcement, but in those cases where citizens do not want to call police, they are encouraged to provide the information they have anonymously through Crime Stoppers by one of the following ways:  

Call (316) 267-2111 or 1-800-222-TIPS

Text TIP217 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637) or


If you would like more information on the program or you are interested in volunteering you may call the Wichita Crime Commission at 267-1235.

Drought Status
 
We are in Drought Stage 0.  Water supply status is Above Normal. 
 
Cheney Lake changed from the conservation pool to the flood pool on April 28, 2016.  Our dam operators have been on call since April 2016, and throughout 2016, there have been numerous releases directed by the Corps of Engineers.  At the direction of the Army Corps. of Engineers, water was released from January 17th through January 27th.  At the end of the latest release, the Corps. of Engineers allowed 4% of the flood pool to remain filled, and we are pulling 75% of our raw water from Cheney.    
 
The Equus Beds Aquifer is 98% full (January 2016), which in practical terms is full. At Cheney, the conservation pool is 102.4% full. Our Drought Trigger stands at 100.0%, an increase of 0.0 % from last month. 
 
On February 1st the 1990-2013 average lake level has been  96.0%
On March 1st the 1990-2013 average lake level has been  98.8%
 
On February 1st, 102.4% of the conservation pool at Cheney is filled, an increase of 0.1% from last month.  
 
The graph below shows the lake level (% of Conservation Pool full) since 2011 (dashed).  It also shows the 12-Month Average versus the drought triggers (dark blue).  The thin purple line is the average lake level on the first of the month from 1990 through 2013. 
 

CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS
 
River Vista Development: Project includes construction of apartments and commercial retail on the west bank of the Arkansas River between Douglas and 1st Street.
Traffic Impact: The path along the west bank of the Arkansas River is closed between 1st Street and Douglas. The sidewalk on the south side of First Street is closed between McLean and Waco. Pedestrians will be detoured south to Douglas.
Contractor: Key Construction City Contact: Paul Gunzelman (268-4393 / pgunzelman@wichita.gov)
Estimated completion: Fall 2016

Mosley & Rock Island Paving: This project will upgrade the area to current Old Town standards which will include brick streets and sidewalks, streetlights, trash receptacles, and landscaping planters. The project will also construct storm water improvements and include water main replacement.
Traffic Impact . Mosley is closed to through traffic between 2 nd & 3 rd St. 3 rd St. is reduced to one lane westbound at Mosley.
Contractor: Pearson Construction City Contact: James Wagner (268-4047 / jwagner@wichita.gov)
Estimated completion: Late 2016


Among other measures, the City Council has allocated $10 million from Hyatt sales proceeds to the improvement of many of the City's worst neighborhood streets. 
 


Get Rid of Unwanted Newspaper Delivery

The City of Wichita has recently received a large number of complaints regarding the free Wichita Eagle publications that are distributed to households that do not subscribe to the newspaper. 

Residents who do not want the publications, or who want to report vacant properties where the flyers are piling up should contact the Wichita Eagle by calling  268-6209  or by emailing  csrequest@wichitaeagle.com
  • Go to the website  www.petharbor.com. 
  • Enter your Zip Code or City name in the appropriate field and click the "Find Shelters" search button.
  • Check the box next to "Wichita Animal Shelter" and click the "Search Now" button.
  • Click the "I Lost My Pet" button.
  • Click the button for the type of animal that you have lost (Dog, Cat, or Other).
  • If you find your animal on the website, call the Wichita Animal Shelter at 350-3366 and notify staff. They will need the animal number displayed to the right of the picture.
If you do not see your lost animal using this service, we recommend you visit the Wichita Animal Shelter at 3303 N. Hillside (K-96 & Hillside) during business hours to make sure the animal wasn't picked up. Lost and stray animals are only held for 3 days starting the day after the animal is impounded. Remember that only you can identify your lost pet, so please visit the shelter at least every 3 days.

IF YOU FIND A PET, TAKE TO THE VET TO SCAN FOR CHIP FIRST
BELOW ARE OTHER HELPFUL LINKS IF YOU HAVE LOST OR FOUND A PET:
 
NEIGHBORHOOD NUISANCE REPORTING MADE EASIER

Residents are encouraged to report neighborhood nuisance problems via phone or email

T o submit a report, please call the main number 
660-9220
  A voicemail can be left if the call is made after business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

An email may be sent to  KeepWichitaClean@wichita.gov   
or residents may contact the  
Dial Wichita! Call Center at 942-4482 to reach any department!
       LOOK FOR THIS DECAL WHEN  HIRING  A
 COMPANY TO HAUL YOUR JUNK/BULKY WASTE
 Don't become the victim of an illegal trash or junk hauler.  Unfortunately there have been several complaints about paying an individual to haul off large items or junk from houses and garages, and the items end up in a ditch, behind a company, or a country road.  If there is anything that identifies you, the owner of these items, you will receive a severe ticket and fine from a City or County inspector.  If you respond to an ad of someone that will haul your junk, make sure they are licensed to do so.  They will have this decal on their trailer or truck!  Don't let a mistake cost you double.

 
Greater Wichita addresses the needs of homeless families
 
Being without a safe, warm place to sleep, eat, and care for children; living without the security of familiar people and belongings-that is homelessness. The loss of one's home, the most basic element of stability, is a profound crisis for anyone, but especially for families. Parents endure the heartache of being unable to provide a secure environment for their children. And children, who now make up 25 percent of our nation's homeless population, are deprived of a fundamental requirement for healthy development-a safe, permanent home.
What Can We Do to Help?
People of faith want to respond to the needs of their homeless "neighbors," but this can be an overwhelming task for one congregation. What do we do? How do we become part of the solution? Family Promise of Greater Wichita is part of a national program that responds to the growing need to provide shelter, meals and comprehensive support services to families without homes. The program unites the congregations from area churches to assist the homeless families.
For more information, contact Carrie Corliss at 316-204-9997, or e-mail:  carrie.corliss@familypromisewichita.org

Project Access and its community partners serve patients in many locations.  Eligible uninsured patients are enrolled for limited periods of time to address immediate medical needs.  Once enrolled, patients have access to a variety of specialists, as well as prescription medication, durable medical equipment and diabetic supplies.

Eligible patients can be referred by participating physicians throughout Sedgwick County.

Additional key partners are community clinics and the Department for Children and Families (DCF). Patients who receive primary care at certain community clinics may be referred to Project Access and enrolled by an onsite DCF eligibility specialist.
Eligible patients are referred to Project Access by providers at the following sites:
For more information call
3 16-688-0600






More Helpful Links
Delano Dispatch

Downtown Events and Activities

Visit Wichita

Health and Wellness Coalition of Wichita

Historic Midtown Citizens Association

Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society

North Riverside News

Northwest Big River Neighborhood   Association.

WASAC  

Animal Services Advisory Board Newsletter

City of Wichita, Office of Community Services | 316-303-8042 |
2700 N. Woodland
Wichita, KS 67204