The Wichita City Council convened in regular session with all seven members present. Business included a pointed public comment about the City’s transition to ParkMobile for City Hall parking, a discussion about the City’s Microsoft Office 365 contract and the limitations of negotiating with large tech vendors, a series of unanimous consent agenda votes, council member appointments, Black History Month remarks from Council Member Shepard, expressions of condolence for two community losses, and two executive sessions with the City Attorney. Assistance from Claude AI.
All votes: 7–0 unless otherwise noted.
Council Members Present
- Mayor Lily Wu
- Vice Mayor Dalton Glasscock (District IV)
- Joseph Shepard (District I)
- Becky Tuttle
- Mike Hoheisel
- JV Johnston
- Maggie Ballard (District VI)
Staff Present: Dennis Marstall, City Manager · Jennifer Magana, City Attorney · Jo Hensley, Deputy City Clerk
I. Public Comment
City Hall Parking: A Resident Raises the Alarm
Faith Martin (608 South Drury, District 2) was the sole public commenter, addressing the City’s quiet transition to ParkMobile for management of the City Hall parking lot.
Martin traced the history of City Hall parking: the garage built in the 1990s for public and handicapped access was converted to staff-only use in 2010 for security reasons. The surface lot then became the public option, first staffed with attendants accepting cash, then upgraded with pay kiosks less than three years ago. Those kiosks, Martin noted, have now been removed — replaced by ParkMobile, a third-party app-based system.
Her concerns were numerous:
- No public notice. Martin said she only learned of the change by stumbling upon it and asking around.
- Conflicting information. The City website still shows a 30-minute free grace period and $5/day rate; she believes the current policy is 15 minutes and $6/day.
- Loss of validation options. Previously, residents conducting City business could have parking validated. The new system’s validation process is unclear.
- Staff impacts. She noted staff may now be required to pay for parking and/or apply for permits.
- No on-site help. The kiosks had a button to reach a live person; ParkMobile removes that option, deferring to a remote third party.
- Municipal court visitors. Residents appearing for court often don’t know how long they’ll be there and are already facing financial hardship from fines.
- Weekend parking. The lot, historically a convenient option for downtown events on weekends, now requires payment at all times.
“I would just really encourage City Hall to talk to staff, find out what’s going to be best, and maybe let’s dial it back a little bit and communicate more clearly about what’s expected.” — Faith Martin
Mayor Wu’s Response: Mayor Wu thanked Martin and stated she was requesting a full update on downtown parking and the City lot, recommending it be scheduled for the evening meeting on March 10th.
“A lot has changed over the last year, and I believe it’s important to have an update.” — Mayor Wu
II. Consent Agenda (Items 1–14)
Motion: Mayor Wu · Vote: 7–0
All 14 items passed without individual discussion. Items included:
- Cereal malt beverage retail license applications
- Design Agreement for 47th Street Addition (District IV)
- Supplemental Design Agreement No. 1 for Dirt Street Paving on 1st Street Court (District VI)
- Three temporary construction easements along Bleckley Drive for drainage improvements (District I)
- Advisory board minutes from the Metropolitan Area Building & Construction Department (MABCD) Board of Appeals
- Three community event alcohol approvals (Final Fridays, Tacos and Tequila, and The Workroom’s Artisan Market — all District I)
- Proposed Assessment Rolls for 21 water projects, 21 sewer projects, 12 storm sewer projects, and 25 paving projects — with a public hearing date to be set (informal hearing scheduled for March 9 at 11:00 a.m.)
- Six second-reading ordinances (first read February 17, 2026):
- Ord. 52-900: Codifying the Wichita-Sedgwick County Food and Farm Council
- Ord. 52-902: Amending stormwater drainage fee code
- Ord. 52-903: Zoning change from Single-Family Residential to Limited Commercial/General Office
- Ord. 52-904: Zoning change from Two-Family Residential to Planned Unit Development
- Ord. 52-905 & 52-906: Land annexation ordinances
- Two vacation requests (platted setback and drainage/utility easement)
- Plat approval for Young East Addition (District II)
- Sale of City property at 1621 East Catalina Street (District III)
III. Council Business
Board of Bids and Contracts — February 23, 2026
Presenter: Josh Lauber, Department of Finance
Vote: 7–0
The most notable item in this section was a detailed exchange about the City’s Microsoft Office 365 contract renewal and the limits of municipal negotiating power with large technology vendors.
Lauber explained that while the City routinely attempts to negotiate its standard protective contractual exhibits (Exhibits A and B), Microsoft operates under what Lauber described as an “agreement of adhesion” — a take-it-or-leave-it arrangement. Microsoft returned the contract unsigned, declining to include the City’s standard terms.
Mayor Wu’s questions and Lauber’s responses:
- On liability: Without Exhibits A and B, the standard provisions related to Kansas cash basis, mediation, and arbitration are not included. The City’s belief is that the agreement executed on February 5th is valid, and they could either proceed on Microsoft’s terms or risk interruption of Office 365 services.
- On whether this is new: The City has used Office 365 for years. What was new this year was the attempt to negotiate more favorable terms — an attempt that failed.
- On whether the terms are worse: Lauber indicated the terms are essentially the same as before the negotiation attempt — the City simply did not gain additional protections.
- On Sedgwick County: Lauber declined to speak for the County but noted that “take it or leave it” situations with vendors who have significant market power are common across public agencies.
“This is a very good example or opportunity for the public that the City encounters, many governments encounter where our negotiating power is limited.” — Josh Lauber, Department of Finance
Mayor Wu approved proceeding, with no further council objections.
Council Member Travel Authorization
Council Member Joseph Shepard received authorization to attend the City Leaders Academy in Salina, Kansas on April 16–17 for Newly Elected Officials training.
Motion: Mayor Wu · Vote: 7–0
IV. Council Member Appointments
- CM Glasscock appointed Jory Dornbos as his youth member for the District 4 Advisory Board
- CM Shepard appointed Dennis Murphy to the Cultural Funding Committee
- Mayor Wu appointed Vice Mayor Glasscock to the Law Enforcement Training Center Advisory Board
Motion: Mayor Wu · Vote: 7–0
V. Council Member Comments
CM Shepard: Black History Month — A Call for Economic Justice
Council Member Shepard, noting his return from absence (“I’m back and I’m black”), delivered his final weekly Black History Month fact and called on the council to translate history into policy.
Shepard focused on redlining — the practice in the 1930s of labeling North and Northeast Wichita neighborhoods as “hazardous” solely because Black families lived there. He emphasized this was a documented historical fact, outlawed by the Fair Housing Act, but with persistent consequences:
“The wealth gap it created, the gaps in social determinants of health it created, it impacted housing, it impacted access to education, it impacted business ownership, and it still impacts opportunities that exist today in 2026.”
Shepard described the visible disparities still evident across Wichita’s neighborhoods and challenged his fellow council members to act:
- Expand access to homeownership for families disproportionately impacted by redlining
- Support small and minority-owned businesses
- Improve infrastructure in historically underinvested areas including Northeast Wichita, Southwest Wichita, South Wichita, and the North End
- Connect residents to livable wages
He addressed the word “reparations” directly, offering this framing:
“You may hear it in the form of reparations. That just means righting a wrong… Know that this isn’t about charity. Certainly, it isn’t about Black people feeling bad about who they are or where they come from. It’s about addressing the facts that this community has a history of being one of the most red-lined, not just in the state, but in the nation.”
He closed with a message of personal accountability:
“I’m not responsible for what was done before I got here, but I’m responsible for what I do now. And we all have an opportunity to address what we have inherited.”
CM Ballard: Loss of Park Board Member Tom Ewert
Council Member Ballard shared that she learned late the previous night of the sudden passing of Tom Ewert, her District 6 Park Board member. Ewert died while birding in Ecuador — doing what he loved most. Ballard called him “a huge asset to our City” and asked the community to keep him in mind.
CM Hoheisel: Condolences for Melody McCray-Miller
Council Member Hoheisel offered condolences to the family of Melody McCray-Miller, describing her as “a fighter and an advocate for children, and for her constituents.” He called her “one of the best legislators and civic leaders I think I’ve seen in Wichita,” and noted the school board will face a significant challenge filling her role.
VI. Executive Sessions
The council held two closed-door executive sessions with City Attorney Jennifer Magana:
| Session | Duration | Authority | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 15 minutes (11:35–11:50 a.m.) | KSA 75-4319(B)(2) | Legal consultation — attorney-client privilege |
| Second | 10 minutes (11:55 a.m.–12:05 p.m.) | KSA 75-4319(B)(2) | Multiple civil actions — pending and potential litigation |
Note: The second executive session motion failed on the initial vote (outcome not specified in minutes), though the session ultimately proceeded.
VII. Adjournment
Motion: Mayor Wu · Time: 12:06 p.m. · Vote: 7–0
Upcoming Civic Opportunities
- March 9 — Informal hearing with City personnel on proposed special assessment rolls (water, sewer, storm sewer, and paving projects) — 11:00 a.m.
- March 10 (evening meeting) — Expected update on downtown parking and City Hall lot management per Mayor Wu’s request
- April 16–17 — City Leaders Academy, Salina, Kansas (CM Shepard attending)
How to Engage
- Attend a meeting: City Council meets regularly at Wichita City Hall. Public comment is accepted at the start of each meeting.
- Watch online: Meeting recordings and agendas are available at wichita.gov
- Contact your council member: District contact information is available through the City’s website.
- Public hearings: Watch for mailed notices if you own property near one of the 79 proposed assessment projects (water, sewer, storm sewer, paving).
Minutes recorded by Jo Hensley, Deputy City Clerk. Coverage by Voice for Liberty.