The Wichita City Council convened at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, for what turned into a lengthy and substantive session touching nearly every facet of city governance. All seven members were present — Mayor Lily Wu, Vice Mayor Dalton Glasscock, and Council Members Joseph Shepard, Becky Tuttle, Mike Hoheisel, JV Johnston, and Maggie Ballard — along with City Manager Dennis Marstall, City Attorney Jennifer Magana, and City Clerk Shinita Rice.
The meeting’s longest and arguably most consequential discussion centered on the 2026 Transit Network Redesign — a comprehensive overhaul of Wichita’s bus system that the council ultimately approved unanimously. Transit Director Penny Feist walked council members through a system serving approximately one million annual riders on a $20.9 million budget, and the conversation quickly expanded into equity, second-shift workers, school district partnerships, circulator concepts for downtown, and the long-term vision of micro-mobility services.
Beyond transit, the council approved a $1 percent sales tax–era commitment fulfilled at Nomar International Plaza in the north end, where funding was approved for a new performance stage and public art installation. The Tourism Business Improvement District’s 2027 scope of services for Visit Wichita was approved unanimously after enthusiastic testimony from Exploration Place CEO Adam Smith. The council also voted to initiate the KDOT agreement for a 21st Street North Intelligent Transportation System and approved a professional services contract to excavate contaminated soils at the long-troubled APEX site on North Wellington.
During public comment, residents raised pointed concerns about the Flock camera surveillance network, demanded action on the Parking Reform Steering Committee, offered a cautionary tale about the planned closure of the Chapin Park encampment, and pressed the council on the city’s response to a wave of violent incidents in recent weeks.
Every recorded vote was 7 to 0, except the council appointments motion which carried 6 to 0. Assistance from Claude AI.
Proclamations and Awards
The council opened with several proclamations recognizing Arbor Day, Arkansas River Clean Up Day, and National Apprenticeship Week. The Prairie Travelers organization presented the council — specifically the Wichita Park and Recreation Department — with a Celebrate Trails Award.
Mayor Wu used a point of personal privilege to separately recognize the Parks Department for what she called a very successful launch of Open Streets ICT, which took place the prior Sunday in District One. Open Streets ICT is an event that temporarily closes streets to vehicle traffic, opening them for pedestrians, cyclists, and community gatherings. Two additional Open Streets events are scheduled for 2026: one in Councilmember Ballard’s district in May, and another on Douglas Avenue in September.
Public Agenda: What Residents Brought to the Council
The public comment segment, known as the Public Agenda, featured five speakers who addressed a range of issues — from surveillance technology to homeless encampments to crime — and drew a handful of direct responses from council members.
1. Mark Barlow: Flock Cameras and Civil Liberties
Mark Barlow, who identified himself as a District Two resident and candidate for Kansas House in the 99th district, delivered a pointed critique of the city’s Flock camera network — a license plate reader system deployed across Wichita. Rather than rehearsing familiar statistics, Barlow acknowledged that the council is already convinced the cameras benefit public safety and framed his remarks accordingly.
His central argument was that the cameras are not simply passive license plate readers. He cited Flock’s own patent — U.S. Patent No. 11416545B1 — which describes capabilities to classify individuals by race, gender, height, and weight. He alleged that across the country, cities have discovered that federal agencies including ICE, Customs and Border Protection, the ATF, the Air Force, and Homeland Security have accessed Flock data, and that 99.4% of all queries into Wichita’s Flock data have originated from outside the city. He also cited ACLU documentation of more than 4,000 cases of federal access to Flock networks nationally.
Barlow closed by announcing his candidacy for the Kansas House of Representatives in House District 99, urging citizens to connect with his campaign.
Mayor Wu immediately asked City Attorney Jennifer Magana whether a candidate announcement was permitted during the Public Agenda. Magana’s answer revealed a genuine legal gray area: public agenda is subject to “limited forum” rules that allow the city to restrict speakers to topics related to the city generally. Campaign speech, she explained, falls into a murky zone under the First Amendment — political speech is generally protected, but using a city forum specifically as a campaign platform is less clearly so. Magana recommended the council revisit its ordinance to address this kind of situation in the future.
This moment matters for residents who attend or watch these meetings: the city may soon establish clearer guidelines about what is and isn’t permissible during the public comment period.
2. Jack Gerig: The Parking Reform Committee’s Vanishing Act
Jack Gerig brought a procedural concern that has real implications for downtown development. He explained that last fall, the city accepted applications for a steering committee tasked with renegotiating parking minimums for new developments in downtown Wichita and across the city. Since the application period closed, however, no updates have appeared on the committee’s dedicated website, leaving developers and the public completely in the dark about whether new parking rules might be coming before the committee’s five-month mandate expires.
To understand why this matters, a brief bit of context is useful. Parking minimums — rules requiring a certain number of parking spaces per square foot or unit of development — became standard across American cities in the 1950s. They have since been widely criticized by urban planners because they require developers to dedicate large portions of their lots to pavement, making development more expensive and discouraging density. When parking minimums are reduced, developers can build more housing or commercial space on the same lot, improving the economics of urban investment.
Gerig noted that a new music venue near Topeka and Emporia and new apartment complexes were just announced downtown — developments whose designs depend on knowing what parking requirements they must meet. He asked the council who had been appointed to the committee, whether it had met since September, and what could be done to accelerate the process.
Council Member Shepard acknowledged the concern and noted that he had already reached out to Gerig and that Planning Director Scott Wadle had spoken with him as well.
3. Sybil Strum: A Displaced Resident’s Grievance
Sybil Strum presented a personal and emotional account of what she described as wrongful treatment by a “Central” entity — the precise organization she referred to was not fully identified in the proceedings — which she said entered her property in November 2019 without notice, subsequently demolished her home without her knowledge, and had promised her it would be designated a historical landmark, a promise she said was never kept. She is now paying a mortgage on a new home she did not choose and feels the city failed to protect her.
She also raised concerns about a tree limb and poison ivy encroaching from a neighbor’s property and said she feels ignored when she calls in complaints. Her testimony closed with a direct appeal to Mayor Wu and the full council, including a specific reference to Councilmember Ballard, whom she had previously contacted about the situation.
The council did not respond with a formal answer or referral, but the account illustrates ongoing tensions between residents displaced or affected by development and code enforcement actions and the responsiveness of city institutions.
4. Donna Castillo Garcia: A Plea for Careful Encampment Planning
Donna Castillo Garcia, who holds a Doctorate of Clinical Nursing from Wichita State University and runs a peer-led, trauma-informed nonprofit serving homeless individuals, delivered testimony that blended genuine accomplishment with a warning.
She described her organization’s work over the past nine months: helping close the “Pepsi” encampment on the south side by relocating residents into active housing plans, supporting the closure of the John Mack Bridge encampments (roughly 15 camps, some with residents who had lived there for up to five years), and beginning the long work of building rapport with residents at Chapin Park off Hydraulic — described as the city’s largest and oldest remaining encampment.
The “cautionary tale” she offered: the day before the meeting, she had heard from clients that the city was considering closing Chapin Park within a week. Her message to the council was deliberate and clear — that Chapin Park is different from other encampments because its residents have lived there for as long as a decade and that a rushed closure would cause harm. She asked that the city continue the “direct to housing” model it had been developing with her organization, the HOT team, and other nonprofit partners, allowing adequate time to prepare residents for transition.
Council Member Shepard asked City Manager Dennis Marstall directly whether there was a plan to clean up Chapin Park and what the timeline was. Marstall said the city is reviewing all encampments but declined to specify where Chapin falls on the list. Mayor Wu noted that Marstall and his staff have been actively working on encampment-related concerns and that future meetings would include progress updates.
Council Member Hoheisel said he wanted to speak further with Castillo Garcia about what the city has in the works on encampments.
5. James Barfield: Public Safety and the Helicopter Question
District One resident James Barfield addressed a cluster of recent violent incidents across Wichita — spanning from Harry and Webb Road to 37th Street and Rock Road to Pawnee and Broadway — that resulted in one death and multiple injuries over a period of roughly ten days.
Barfield began with a critique of how the city handled a $3.4 million bonus program for police officers that was introduced under the current police chief. He said the bonuses came without retention requirements — no stipulation that officers stay for 30, 60, or 90 days — and that 48 officers took the money and left anyway. Combined with the existing 70+ vacancies, he argued the city has more than 100 open police positions and has never recovered from that policy decision.
His substantive suggestion was striking in its directness: Wichita should consider acquiring a police helicopter. He said every city of comparable size in the region — Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Omaha, and Kansas City — has aerial surveillance capability, and that Wichita’s shortage of ground officers makes air support not a luxury but a logical investment. “You’ve got a shortage of officers on the ground, and nothing is going to convince me that the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Omaha, and Kansas City all have eyes in the sky” without good reason, he said. He suggested the council hold a workshop specifically on the subject.
Mayor Wu responded that 93% of the Jensen Hughes police department study recommendations have been implemented — viewable at wichitapolice.com — with 7% still in progress. (Council Member Hoheisel amended this slightly, saying 97% are done and only three items remain outstanding.)
Council Member Hoheisel agreed with Barfield on helicopters, noting that the police chief has publicly stated his support for aerial capacity and that the city already has a cooperative arrangement with the Kansas Highway Patrol to borrow their helicopter in urgent situations. Hoheisel also emphasized that the city has invested in violence interrupters and other upstream prevention programs, which he believes reduce crime before it happens.
Council Member Shepard offered a different perspective on the Flock cameras: he said he had personally witnessed a Flock camera query help catch a murder suspect and return an abducted child to their family. He was careful to note that he voted against the robotic dog, drawing a distinction between technology he finds genuinely useful and technology he views as insufficiently proven.
Consent Agenda: Routine Business, With Two Transit Items Spotlighted
The council approved Consent Agenda items 1 through 20 unanimously, with Mayor Wu pulling items 4b and 16 for separate recognition — not because of any controversy, but because she wanted to give them time on the floor.
Item 4b: Section 5310 Mobility Grants for Seniors and Disabled Riders
Transit Director Penny Feist explained that the city receives federal Section 5310 funds — a program specifically designed to support transportation services for elderly and disabled individuals — and then passes those funds through to local agencies via a competitive application process. The agencies can use the funds to purchase vehicles or cover operations and preventive maintenance costs. Agencies receiving awards in this cycle included Starkey, Heartspring, Ketch, and Goodwill Industries. All recipients are required to provide matching funds themselves. The motion to approve carried 7 to 0.
Item 16: Veterans Ride Transit Free Program Renewal
The Veterans Ride Transit Free program allows veterans to ride Wichita Transit at no charge, funded through a partnership with the United Way and Veterans Affairs, each contributing $10,000 annually. This agreement covers a two-year period.
Feist offered a compelling human portrait of the program: veterans aren’t just riding to the VA — they’re using transit to get to work, grocery stores, and wherever else they need to go. She recounted attending a speaking engagement where older parents told her their son had chosen to move to Wichita specifically because of the city’s strong veteran support programs, and that the free transit program was among the factors they named.
Ridership has grown steadily: from 57,500 rides in 2024 to 60,800 in 2025. Mayor Wu asked whether the grant funding is sufficient to cover costs or whether the city is still subsidizing the difference. Feist acknowledged some subsidy exists but framed transit economics differently from, say, water rates — because the goal of a bus system is to fill seats, there are economies of scale that make a pure one-to-one cost analysis misleading.
Council Member Tuttle noted that she had worked with Feist several years ago to secure this funding when it was about to expire, and she suggested the council consider adding veterans’ transit funding to its annual legislative agenda so that state and federal representatives keep it on their radar and the city isn’t scrambling for replacement funding sources on a tight timeline. The motion to approve carried 7 to 0.
Council Member Shepard also noted that this Friday, a veterans benefits and claims event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with no appointment required, open to veterans, family members, caregivers, and survivors. He said District One alone has an estimated 2,500 to 2,700 veterans not currently accessing their benefits.
Board of Bids and Contracts
Josh Lauber of the Finance Department reviewed the April 20, 2026 Board of Bids report. Council Member Hoheisel asked for clarification on a veterinary consulting services contract that was up for a 90-day extension, prompting a helpful exchange that clarified the distinction between two separate animal services contracts.
Emily Hurst of Animal Services explained the structure: the internal veterinary consulting contract covers daily, non-emergent care for animals at Wichita Animal Services. This contract goes out for a full RFP every four years, with annual renewal options. A separate contract — currently fulfilled by the Humane Society — covers emergency veterinary services available 24 hours a day, such as animals hit by vehicles, accessible to both citizens and animal control officers.
The 90-day extension was needed because the existing contract’s renewal options are exhausted and the city needs time to work with the Wichita Police Department to revise specifications before publishing a new RFP. The motion to approve carried 7 to 0.
Petitions for Public Improvements
Paul Gunzelman of Public Works & Utilities reviewed multiple petitions for public infrastructure improvements. The council approved new petitions, budgets, and associated resolutions for three separate subdivision development projects:
Baalmann 6th Addition — Resolutions were adopted covering water distribution improvements (WDS 006902), sanitary sewer improvements (SS 006903), stormwater drainage (SWD 563), and paving improvements (PV 086290).
Cadillac Lake 2nd Addition — Resolutions were adopted for water distribution improvements (WDS 006923) and sanitary sewer improvements (SS 006924).
Hawthorne Fourth Addition — Resolutions were adopted for water distribution improvements (WDS 007009) and sanitary sewer improvements (SS 007010).
These petitions are the mechanism by which new subdivisions initiate the process of installing city infrastructure, with costs typically assessed against the benefited properties. The motion to approve carried 7 to 0.
New Council Business
Tourism Business Improvement District — 2027 Scope of Services
Lindsay Benacka of Arts and Cultural Services and Suzie Santo, CEO of Visit Wichita, presented the Tourism Business Improvement District’s proposed scope of services and budget for 2027.
A Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) is a mechanism by which hotels collect a small assessment from guests that is then dedicated to tourism promotion and visitor attraction — meaning the cost is borne largely by visitors, not residents. Visit Wichita manages Wichita’s TBID funds and serves as the city’s official destination marketing organization.
Council Member Hoheisel confirmed that Visit Wichita undergoes an annual independent audit by the firm Forvis, submitted to the city manager’s office. He also asked about a strategic event fund — essentially a reserve for locking in future events years in advance. Santo explained that the fund currently holds approximately $900,000, with 80% already committed to specific events and 20% on active bids. The organization also maintains a separate operating reserve equal to three to six months of expenses, which she described as best practice for nonprofit organizations.
Council Member Shepard asked how grassroots organizations and nonprofits can partner with Visit Wichita. Santo’s answer was direct: call her, come into the visitor center, or let them know about any event that could draw visitors. She also praised the Wichita Attractions Council — a collaboration of the city’s major attractions that Visit Wichita helped create — which she said has transformed the tone among attractions from competition to genuine teamwork.
Vice Mayor Glasscock asked about the economic return on tourism investment. Santo explained that visitors represent pure economic development — they spend dollars locally and leave them behind, supporting hotels, restaurants, and attractions while paying state and local taxes. She said overall tourism spending generates approximately $210 billion in state and local taxes nationally, though she didn’t have Wichita-specific figures available and committed to providing them.
Mayor Wu asked how Visit Wichita’s marketing materials — designed to attract outsiders — could be repurposed to build civic pride among Wichitans themselves. Santo said Wichitans are the most important ambassadors the city has, and described ongoing internal conversations about distributing tourism marketing content for local pride-in-place purposes. She indicated she would loop in her marketing team for a more detailed conversation with the mayor.
Public testimony on this item was notably enthusiastic. Andrew Crane of Guiding Paws ICT urged Visit Wichita to more actively engage the disability and blind community and to better coordinate with the transit system on accessible transportation for visitors.
Adam Smith, President and CEO of Exploration Place, offered what amounted to a detailed, firsthand endorsement. He disclosed that he serves on the Visit Wichita board — a conflict of interest he noted openly — but said that board experience had given him a privileged view of how the organization operates. He has also served on tourism boards for Visit San Diego and the Edinburgh and Lothian Tourist Board in Scotland. His assessment: “Susie and the team consistently play our hand to the absolute optimum that it’s possible to do.”
Smith credited Visit Wichita with providing critical support for the Exploration Place Playscape fundraising campaign — a $25 million project — including letters of support and data compilation that he said contributed directly to a $3 million grant award. He noted that Exploration Place’s attendance has essentially doubled since the Playscape opened, and that the sphere of visitors has expanded well beyond Wichita.
Mayor Wu asked Smith to address economic accessibility. He explained that Exploration Place hired a disability consultant for the Playscape design process, goes well beyond ADA compliance with a sensory garden and multi-dimensional accessibility features, and participates in the Museums for All program — offering free admission to families receiving SNAP EBT or WIC benefits. Historically, the Museums for All program represented about 4% of Exploration Place’s attendance, roughly 20,000 people annually. Since the Playscape opened, that figure has risen to 17% — a striking jump suggesting that the new facility has made the museum meaningfully more accessible to lower-income families.
The motion to approve the 2027 Tourism BID scope of services and budget carried 7 to 0.
21st Street North Intelligent Transportation System — KDOT Agreement
Paul Gunzelman of Public Works & Utilities reviewed an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and associated funding for an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) along 21st Street North from 119th Street West to downtown, covering Districts V and VI.
An Intelligent Transportation System encompasses technology like adaptive traffic signals, real-time monitoring, connected vehicle infrastructure, and dynamic message signs — tools that help manage traffic flow, reduce congestion, and improve safety without adding lanes. The project funding flows through KDOT and uses Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) federal funds, which are specifically designated for projects that reduce vehicle emissions and traffic congestion.
Council Member Johnston moved to approve, and the motion carried 7 to 0, adopting Resolution No. 26-151 authorizing bonds for the project.
Nomar International Plaza — Stage and Public Art
Tim Kellams of Public Works & Utilities presented funding for a performance stage and public art installation at Nomar International Plaza in District VI — a project long anticipated by the north end neighborhood.
Nomar Plaza was created in 2010 with a vision of becoming a community gathering space and cultural hub, particularly for Wichita’s Latino community. Kellams was careful to note he could not speak definitively to all of the original plans, but suggested that a performance stage was at minimum consistent with the spirit of what was envisioned.
The council approved two bonding resolutions: Resolution No. 26-152 for the Nomar International Plaza stage, and Resolution No. 26-153 for art maintenance and repairs. The project is in its early stages — an RFP for design services hasn’t been issued yet, though Kellams expects a designer to be on board by late summer or early fall, with construction potentially beginning around this time next year.
Mayor Wu asked pointed and practical questions. On the stage itself, she asked whether functional shading structures could be incorporated into the public art — reasoning that shade would make the concrete plaza usable even in summer heat, and that shade structures can themselves be works of public art. Kellams committed to exploring that option as part of the design process.
She also asked about the possibility of private donations and naming rights to help fund the project. Kellams said naming rights haven’t been explored yet but the city is open to those conversations; he recommended that those wishing to donate consider doing so through the Wichita Parks Foundation, which is better equipped to process contributions for specific projects than direct city donations.
On the question of whether the project was fulfilling a long-standing promise, a community member named Ariel offered compelling public testimony. She said Nomar Plaza was originally envisioned as a covered marketplace in 2009 and 2010, but that mistrust and misinformation in the community at the time caused the vision to go unrealized. She framed the current investment as a signal that the neighborhood is moving in the right direction. Ariel also announced that Empower — a community development organization — is opening a commercial kitchen facility in 2025 and breaking ground later this year on a Nomar Theater; she said a FIFA World Cup watch party is planned this year, though at Naftzger Park rather than Nomar Plaza, specifically because the plaza’s current infrastructure isn’t yet ready for events of that scale. Future events, she implied, will return to Nomar.
Councilmember Ballard, whose district includes Nomar, said she was excited to see “promises come to fruition in the north end” and credited Mayor Wu with championing the investment as a cultural asset that serves both residents and visitors.
The motion, made by Council Member Ballard, to approve the projects and adopt the bonding resolutions carried 7 to 0.
APEX Site Soil Excavation — North Wellington (District VI)
Don Henry of Public Works & Utilities reviewed a professional services contract for excavation of contaminated soils at the APEX site at 1234 North Wellington, located in the North Industrial Corridor.
The APEX site is one of several locations in Wichita’s North Industrial Corridor with documented groundwater contamination — the result of historic industrial practices that released chemicals into the soil and groundwater. These sites are overseen by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and typically require long-term remediation programs involving groundwater treatment and monitoring.
Henry explained that the city’s chosen approach at APEX — proactively excavating contaminated soils rather than leaving them in place — while unusual (cities are not typically responsible for “orphan sites” like this), makes long-term sense. The excavation approach is projected to save approximately 10 years of remediation time and between $750,000 and $1 million compared to a more passive approach.
Council Member Hoheisel raised the question of public health: are residents near the site aware of the contamination risk, and have there been any adverse health effects? Henry explained that a vapor intrusion study conducted in the early 2000s at KDHE’s direction showed that vapor intrusion — the pathway through which volatile chemicals in groundwater can enter buildings — is not a health risk within the North Industrial Corridor. The city also proactively reaches out to known well operators in the area, provides education through its water well program, and contacts realtors to ensure buyers in the area are informed.
Hoheisel also asked whether former responsible parties — the businesses whose operations caused the contamination — faced any penalties. Henry explained that while formal penalties were not levied, a cost recovery process under a settlement agreement did hold responsible parties accountable and required them to pay a portion of cleanup costs. That process has been completed within the last ten years and provided the revenue base for the city’s cleanup program.
The motion to approve carried 7 to 0.
Transit Network Redesign Plan — The Day’s Largest Discussion
The final and most extensively discussed item of the morning was the 2026 Transit Network Redesign, presented by Transit Director Penny Feist in what was described as a lengthy presentation drawing on data, maps, and regional comparisons.
To understand why this item generated so much discussion, a bit of context helps. Wichita Transit operates on a $20.9 million annual budget. Of that, 63% comes from federal and state grants, and 36.5% is subsidized by the citizens of Wichita. The system serves approximately 1 million riders per year and generates about $1 million in fare revenue — meaning the farebox recovery rate is roughly 9%, compared to a national average of around 13%. In plain terms, fares cover only a small fraction of what it costs to operate the system; the rest is a public subsidy that the council has chosen to maintain because transit serves residents who cannot afford, or cannot use, a personal vehicle.
The redesign is not an expansion, per se, but a restructuring of routes and service patterns to better match actual ridership demand and to build a more efficient foundation for future growth. Feist emphasized that the redesign itself doesn’t carry a net budget impact — it operates within existing resources.
Vice Mayor Glasscock opened with questions about transit expansion. He asked about the feasibility of routing the 203 connector to serve the new mental health hospital being built near Meridian and MacArthur. Feist said that’s already part of the plan — once the hospital is open, the 203 can be adjusted southward relatively easily. He also pressed on security at the new transit hub being built in Delano, which will include a transit center on the ground floor and three levels of parking. Feist explained that the existing security contract will be expanded to cover the full building, with camera monitoring on all floors and on-site security staff.
Glasscock raised the Q Line, the downtown circulator that was previously operated with trolley-style vehicles and outside private and grant funding, but has since become a standard bus funded largely from city operating funds. Ridership stands at approximately 40,000 annually. He asked whether the city might integrate transit fares with parking costs — the idea being that parking at the new hub could automatically include a transit credit, making it easier for drivers to use the bus for the last mile. Feist said that idea is actively being explored through a new farebox system she plans to bring to the council in coming weeks, which will allow integration between fare payment and scheduling and potentially with parking systems.
Glasscock also raised a discussion from the previous day’s Tri-Government meeting involving the school board: how to expand the number of Wichita Public Schools students using the transit system. Currently, about 800 of the district’s 45,000 students ride the bus.
Council Member Ballard picked up the school district thread and asked about the economics of the Q Line’s outside funding that has since been discontinued. Feist acknowledged it was a one-time contribution from a combination of grants and a private contributor (the Greater Wichita Area Partnership) and was not structured as recurring funding.
Council Member Hoheisel expressed excitement about the Pawnee Connector, a new route, and asked about safety concerns related to students riding general-service buses. Feist explained that federal transit law requires “open door” service — the city cannot restrict which members of the public ride any route — but acknowledged that many routes serving high schools are effectively student-dominated during morning and afternoon peak times. She also raised the question of bus stop amenities: the city recently installed six new bus shelters, prioritized by ridership levels and the condition of existing stops, but acknowledged that with more than 1,000 stops and far fewer shelters, the list is long.
Hoheisel asked who is interested in helping fund a downtown circulator. Feist said the Downtown Partnership has its own circulator concept, which prioritizes dense commercial areas. Wichita Transit’s concept prioritizes connecting existing downtown parking to the biomedical campus and key business destinations. She said the two organizations are in early conversations about aligning their visions.
Council Member Johnston raised the upcoming Biomed campus, which opens in fall 2027, and asked what a 15-minute circulator to the biomedical district and downtown would cost. Feist said annual costs range from about $150,000 to $1 million, entirely depending on frequency — how often you want a bus to arrive at the same stop. She emphasized that the efficiency of the overall route network redesign is designed to serve the Biomed campus through existing routes, adjusted in timing as needed.
Johnston also raised a practical issue: the work release center near the arena, whose residents heavily use transit to get to jobs. Feist acknowledged that the new hub configuration may create a situation where work release residents have to wait up to 30 minutes for a connecting bus, which could make them late for work assignments. She said the city is exploring demand-response solutions — essentially, on-demand van service — for that specific population and route, rather than trying to fit them into a fixed-route system.
Council Member Shepard commended the addition of Spanish-language materials, improved grocery store access (a repeated request from community meetings), and asked about second- and third-shift service. Feist said her vision is to start with the largest second-shift employers and consider micro-mobility or demand-response solutions rather than big bus routes, which may be cost-prohibitive. The city recently received a grant to purchase two vans currently used for paratransit service, which will also be evaluated for micro-transit pilots.
Shepard also flagged an outside entity — he identified it as Stand Together — that has been organizing around transit on social media with what sounds like an independent approach. Feist confirmed that Stand Together recently participated in a “train the trainer” session at the transit offices. She noted that as a city department, transit must provide equitable access across the whole city and cannot concentrate resources disproportionately on one neighborhood, regardless of how well-intentioned a private partner’s goals might be.
Council Member Tuttle offered some of the meeting’s most enthusiastic praise, not only for Feist personally but for the transit system’s broader civic role. She called Feist “the voice for the voiceless” and noted that transit dependence is not just a financial issue — it affects justice-involved individuals who can’t legally drive, older adults who can no longer drive, and people for whom a car is simply out of reach. She also noted that Wichita Transit operates Bike Share ICT and the scooter program, which she pointed out will mark its 10th anniversary in 2027, funded entirely by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas. She challenged all council members to ride the bus and challenged city staff to do so as well.
Mayor Wu synthesized the financial picture for residents: the city’s $20.9 million transit budget is 63% grant-funded, and the fare revenue of approximately $1 million — from 1 million riders paying an average of $1 — covers only about 9% of operating costs. She emphasized that every bus seat filled by a rider is one less car on the street, reducing traffic and pavement wear.
She also raised a counterintuitive point about the veterans’ program: if 60,000 veteran rides are multiplied by the standard $1.75 fare, the theoretical revenue is over $100,000 — but many of those veterans would simply not take the ride if they had to pay. The social benefit cannot be reduced to a financial equation.
Public testimony on the transit item was supportive. Andrew Crane of Guiding Paws ICT renewed his call for council members to personally ride the bus and advocated for ADA-compliant bus stops and better access to grocery stores, particularly as downtown density increases. Gentry Thiessen of the Realtors of South Central Kansas offered a substantive economic argument: transit access raises property values, expands the pool of homebuyers and renters, reduces household transportation costs, catalyzes infill development, and makes Wichita more competitive for new residents and employers. She urged the council to approve the redesign and to partner with housing and business stakeholders in implementation.
The motion to approve the 2026 Transit Network Redesign carried 7 to 0.
Planning Agenda
Zone Change: North McLean Boulevard — Senior Housing (District VI)
Scott Wadle of the Planning Department presented a zone change request for a parcel on the west side of North McLean Boulevard, within 200 feet south of West 13th Street North. The applicant requested a change from SF-5 (Single-Family Residential District) to MF-18 (Multi-Family Residential District) to allow multi-family development. The applicant indicated at a District Advisory Board (DAB) meeting that the intended use is senior housing.
To understand this type of vote, some context is helpful. The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) is a regional body that reviews zone change applications and makes recommendations to the council. The District Advisory Board (DAB) is a neighborhood-level board. Typically, when both bodies recommend denial, the council defers to them unless there is a strong policy reason to override.
In this case, the situation was complicated. The first DAB hearing resulted in a 7-0 recommendation to deny. MAPC also recommended denial. However, when the case was deferred to a second DAB meeting — where the applicant appeared in person rather than by phone — the vote shifted to approximately 7-2 in favor of approval, with conditions.
The applicant began with a request for 8 units (four duplexes, two stories each). Through community engagement, including conversations with neighbors who appreciated the developer’s responsiveness even if they weren’t enthusiastic about the project itself, a compromise was reached: the applicant agreed to build a maximum of two duplexes (four units total) and to start with only one duplex to gauge community reception.
Mayor Wu noted that the location is near a Dillon’s grocery store — a practical asset for senior residents who may not drive — and expressed strong support for the project on grounds of the city’s documented housing shortage. She said that when a developer comes forward willing to engage the community and build needed housing, the council should be supportive.
The motion to override the MAPC, adopt alternate findings, and approve the requested zone change carried 7 to 0.
Housing Agenda
Public Housing Recovery Agreement Status Report
Sally Stang of Housing and Community Services delivered the monthly status report on the HUD Recovery Agreement — the ongoing federal oversight program tied to the Wichita Housing Authority’s recovery plan.
Council Member Shepard offered a moment of community gratitude rather than a procedural question: over the weekend, he was responding to an illegal dumping call in a neighborhood that the housing department has actively worked to stabilize. Despite his frustration about the dumping, he said he was genuinely moved to see children playing at Ash Park and families enjoying the space — a tangible human return on the city’s housing investment.
No substantive policy questions arose. The motion to receive and file the report carried 7 to 0.
Council Member Agenda
Delano Rezoning Initiation
Scott Wadle returned to the podium to present a Council Member Agenda item initiated by Vice Mayor Glasscock: a proposal to formally begin the process of considering rezoning a portion of the Delano neighborhood along Douglas Avenue from North McLean Boulevard to North Glenn Avenue.
Wadle was careful to clarify what this vote meant and what it didn’t. The council was not voting to rezone anything — it was voting only on whether to initiate the conversation through the proper planning process, involving MAPC. The actual rezoning decision, if it ever comes, would be a separate future vote.
To understand why this is being considered, Vice Mayor Glasscock read directly from the Delano Neighborhood Plan — a planning document adopted years ago but not yet fully implemented. The plan identified a problem: commercial zoning along Douglas Avenue carries parking and setback requirements that many developers find incompatible with their projects. As a result, developers have been requesting Central Business District (CBD) zoning on a case-by-case basis, and the MAPC has been approving those requests individually. Since 2015, 30 out of 30 such applications have been approved.
The argument for a corridor-wide rezoning is administrative efficiency and development certainty: rather than requiring each developer to go through an individual rezoning process, the city would preemptively designate the whole corridor as CBD, removing a bureaucratic barrier and providing predictability. Glasscock listed businesses that now exist in Delano as a direct result of prior CBD rezonings, including Flatlanders Brewery, Hutton Brewing Company, OxZoma, Uppercut Studios, and the Hayes Company.
Council Member Ballard requested that the process be accompanied by extensive community engagement and clear public education. She noted that “rezoning” can sound alarming to residents who don’t understand what it means in context.
The motion to proceed with the plan as presented carried 7 to 0.
Appeal Panel — Tobacco and CMB License Suspension
City Attorney Jennifer Magana presented a routine governance matter: the selection of a three-member appeal panel to hear an appeal of the suspension of a tobacco license and cereal malt beverage (CMB) license in District VI. Council members selected were Mayor Wu, Council Member Ballard, and Council Member Shepard. The motion carried 7 to 0.
Council Member Appointments and Comments
The council made the following appointments, with the motion carrying 6 to 0 (one member appears to have been briefly absent at the time of the vote):
Council Member Ballard reappointed Leon Moeder to the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC). She also announced appointments to a new Midtown Steering Committee: Randalee Hinman, Brian Irwin, Jamie Crowell, Steve Crowell, Leon Meier, Michaela Welch, Claire Willenberg, Ian Campbell, William Corliss, Cherida Corliss, Bonnie Scott, and Nicholas Willis.
Council Member Hoheisel appointed Kurt Oswald and Jared Curello to the District Advisory Board.
Council Member Tuttle appointed Jamil Malone to the Cultural Funding Committee.
Council Member Shepard appointed Gregory VanDyke to the Citizens Review Board.
Mayor Wu reappointed Jocelyn Clonts to the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission and appointed Adam Degraffenreid to the Transit Board and Hannah Grace Foreman to the Library Board.
Council Comments
Council Member Shepard raised a procedural note from the previous agenda review: he had promised to identify a specific bid process (No. 26-0034, the Century Two Expo Hall renovation) in which the same firm was prohibited from bidding for both design and build services. He observed that design-build is widely regarded as the most cost-efficient and fastest-growing procurement method for renovations and said he’d like to discuss the rationale in a one-on-one with the city manager.
Council Member Ballard invited colleagues to join the Arkansas River Cleanup happening that weekend in District Six and noted that the Riverside Garden ribbon-cutting and Partial Sims Golf Course activities would also take place.
Mayor Wu added a practical note: she has received multiple questions about why the Arkansas River appears low. The answer is ongoing construction. She asked city communications staff to post a clear explanation — either on social media or the city website — so the question can be answered ahead of Riverfest season.
Council Member Tuttle reminded residents about the Downtown Wichita Spring Cleanup happening Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers can sign up with Downtown Wichita, and partial attendance is welcome.
The meeting adjourned at 12:29 p.m.
Complete Voting Record
| Agenda Item | Motion Made By | Vote | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approve minutes of April 7, 2026 | Mayor Wu | 7–0 | Approved |
| Consent Agenda items 1–20 (except 4b and 16) | Mayor Wu | 7–0 | Approved |
| Consent Agenda items 4b and 16 (transit items) | Mayor Wu | 7–0 | Approved |
| Board of Bids and Contracts (April 20, 2026) | Mayor Wu | 7–0 | Approved |
| Petitions for Public Improvements | Mayor Wu | 7–0 | Approved |
| Tourism BID 2027 Scope of Services and Budget | Mayor Wu | 7–0 | Approved |
| 21st Street North ITS — KDOT Agreement | Council Member Johnston | 7–0 | Approved |
| Nomar International Plaza Stage and Public Art | Council Member Ballard | 7–0 | Approved |
| APEX Site Soil Excavation Contract | Council Member Ballard | 7–0 | Approved |
| 2026 Transit Network Redesign | Mayor Wu | 7–0 | Approved |
| Zone Change ZON2025-00071 (N. McLean Blvd) | Council Member Ballard | 7–0 | Approved |
| Public Housing Recovery Agreement — Receive and File | Council Member Shepard | 7–0 | Approved |
| Delano Rezoning Process Initiation | Vice Mayor Glasscock | 7–0 | Approved |
| Appeal Panel Selection (Tobacco/CMB License) | Mayor Wu | 7–0 | Approved |
| Council Member Appointments | Mayor Wu | 6–0 | Approved |
| Adjournment | Mayor Wu | 7–0 | Approved |
Civic Engagement and Upcoming Items
Residents interested in following or participating in ongoing city decisions may want to track these threads:
Transit: The next major transit item will be a proposed new farebox system that Transit Director Feist plans to bring to the council in the coming weeks. This system will potentially integrate fare payment with parking, support a downtown circulator concept, and enable micro-mobility pilots. Marketing costs for the transit network redesign will be brought back separately once a vendor is selected.
Encampments: City Manager Marstall has indicated the city is reviewing all encampments citywide. Donna Castillo Garcia’s testimony about Chapin Park suggests that residents and nonprofits are watching closely for how the city balances swift action with humane, prepared transitions.
Parking Reform Steering Committee: The committee’s mandate was set to expire within five months as of this meeting. No update has appeared on its dedicated website. Jack Gerig’s public comment may have accelerated staff engagement — Council Member Shepard confirmed follow-up conversations were already underway.
Nomar International Plaza: The design RFP is expected to be published soon. A community engagement event (likely a pop-up or open house) and a presentation to the district advisory board are planned before final design decisions are made. Construction is projected around spring 2027.
Delano Corridor Rezoning: The initiation vote begins a formal planning process that will involve MAPC review and community engagement before any actual rezoning ordinance comes before the council.
Flock Camera Oversight: The City Attorney has flagged that the question of political speech during Public Agenda may prompt an ordinance review. No timeline was given. Broader oversight of the Flock network remains a live public issue.
Police Department: The council and residents will be watching closely whether the wave of violent incidents over the preceding ten days — and the question of helicopter resources — becomes a formal agenda item. Council Member Hoheisel suggested a workshop on helicopters might be appropriate.
Voice for Liberty covers Wichita municipal government with a commitment to transparency, accuracy, and civic accountability. Meeting minutes are official public records of the City of Wichita. Direct quotations in this report are drawn from those records.