Tag: Wichita city council
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Oklahoma City sales tax passes; model for Wichita
On Tuesday, voters in Oklahoma City passed a new sales tax to fund downtown improvements. It passed by a vote of 54 percent to 46 percent. Wichitans can count on a similar sales tax being proposed for whatever projects the year-long downtown planning process calls for.
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Wichita city council discusses economic development incentives
Last week a Wichita company that’s expanding made an application for industrial revenue bonds and accompanying property tax abatements. The company’s application wasn’t timely, and for that reason is not likely to receive the requested help. The discussion surrounding the item provides insight into city council members’ ideas about the role of the city in…
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Lord’s Diner debate focused on wrong issues
At today’s meeting of the Wichita City Council, an item no longer on the agenda still caused some controversy.
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Carlos Mayans addresses state and local issues
Last Friday immediate past Wichita mayor Carlos Mayans addressed members and guests of the Wichita Pachyderm Club. Speaking of his experience as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, Mayans said that Kansas state spending must be brought under control. Having served under governors from both parties, he said that Republicans spend as much…
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City of Wichita and the Kansas Open Records Act
At a meeting of the Wichita City Council, it becomes clear that either the city doesn’t understand the meaning of the Kansas Open Records Act, or it has no intention of following it.
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City council members on downtown Wichita revitalization
At the meeting of the Wichita City Council last week, several city council members gave their resons for supporting the planning for the revitalization of downtown Wichita. It’s worthwhile to take a look at two members and their remarks.
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Wichita planning puts freedom, prosperity at risk
Mr. Mayor, members of the council, I’m here today to ask this council to put aside consideration of this proposal. My reasons are not particular to this proposal or planning firm, but rather I am concerned that we believe we have the ability to successfully plan at all.
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Planning downtown Wichita revitalization: an impossible task?
At tomorrow’s meeting of the Wichita City Council, consideration of a plan for the revitalization of downtown Wichita is on the agenda. Before the city goes down this path, we ought to become aware of some of the difficulties with this type of planning. Randal O’Toole, in his book The Best-Laid Plans: How Government Planning…
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Wichita sales tax likely to be proposed
Two recent events have led me to suspect that as part of the plan for the revitalization of downtown Wichita, we’re going to see a sales tax proposed.
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Goody Clancy proposal for Downtown Wichita revitalization master plan
Last Friday a selection committee selected one company from four finalists to lead the planning effort for the revitalization of downtown Wichita. If some city leaders had their way, citizens of Wichita wouldn’t be able to see this document until after the city council makes a decision to follow — or not — the recommendation…
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Wichita city council: more travel on tap
At tomorrow’s meeting of the Wichita City Council, approval of more travel is on the agenda.
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Janet Miller’s junket follow-up
At Tuesday’s meeting of the Wichita City Council, I asked a question about council member Janet Miller and her travel and got a bigger response — from the mayor, the Wichita Eagle, and the public — than I expected. Some issues are still unresolved, however.