The Wichita City Council convened for its regular Tuesday session on February 3, 2026, with all seven members present. The 83-minute meeting was dominated by a contentious public comment alleging a campaign advertisement for the March 3 sales tax referendum used a city employee and city facilities in violation of policy and state election law — allegations the City Manager and City Attorney pledged to investigate. The council also navigated a complex rezoning dispute on West 37th Street North that revealed deep divisions between planning commission recommendations and neighborhood preferences, ultimately approving a compromise Neighborhood Office designation over General Office classification. Additional action included unanimous approval of a large water meter replacement project, two zoning changes for senior housing developments, and several community updates from council members. Assistance from Claude AI.
Council Members and Staff Present
City Council: Mayor Lily Wu, Vice Mayor Dalton Glasscock (District I), Council Member Joseph Shepard (District I), Council Member Becky Tuttle (District II), Council Member Mike Hoheisel (District III), Council Member JV Johnston (District V), Council Member Maggie Ballard (District VI)
Staff: Dennis Marstall, City Manager; Jennifer Magana, City Attorney; Jo Hensley, Deputy City Clerk
Opening Business
Minutes Approval
The council unanimously approved the minutes of the January 27, 2026 regular meeting. Vote: 7-0
Awards and Proclamations
The council recognized two proclamations:
- Wichita Public Library’s 150th Anniversary — honoring a century and a half of public library service to Wichita residents
- American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day — raising awareness of cardiovascular health
Public Comment: Campaign Advertisement Controversy
The most charged moment of the morning came during public comment, when Bill Stout of District 5 — a former public servant with family ties to Wichita law enforcement — delivered a pointed rebuke of what he alleged was an illegal political advertisement supporting the March 3 sales tax referendum.
Stout quoted from an advertisement he said was currently running on local radio and internet platforms and was paid for by Wichita Forward: “We have the opportunity to invest in Wichita’s safety so we have the resources we need to keep you and your loved ones safe. On March third, say yes to Watch Wichita win.” His allegation: the ad was filmed inside Fire Station One using a uniformed city firefighter identified as “Warren” — which Stout argued constituted a clear violation of city policy prohibiting employees from taking public stances on political campaigns or ballot measures.
“I am acutely aware of the policy regarding taking a position on a political campaign,” Stout told the council. “In fact, it’s a fireable offense to even display a campaign sign in your yard when working for one of those organizations.”
Stout also leveled broader criticisms at Wichita Forward, alleging the organization had previously run an ad implying opponents of the sales tax were communists, sent a mailer with incorrect voting information, and provided property tax savings figures he said were not mathematically supported. He expressed frustration at being unable to reach council members by phone or email before the meeting, though Council Member Ballard clarified from the dais that she had not received his email and invited him to resend it.
Stout called on the council to identify who authorized the advertisement and hold them publicly accountable. “The ad not only violates policy, it violates Kansas election law,” he said. “And yes, I checked.”
City Manager Dennis Marstall acknowledged the concern but said he had not been able to locate the specific advertisement in question. “If as identified, concern with city employees and city resources in city facilities, that would warrant more investigation,” he said, promising to look further once a link or more information was provided.
City Attorney Jennifer Magana echoed the concern, stating she had also not seen the ad but would pursue the matter if provided with the information.
Mayor Wu used the moment to read into the record the official voting timeline for the March 3 special election, sourced from the Sedgwick County Election Office:
- February 10 — Deadline for voter registration
- February 11 — First day to send mail ballots
- February 17 — Early in-person voting begins at election office
- February 24 — Last day to request a mail ballot
- February 26 — Early in-person voting begins at satellite locations
- March 3 — Special election day; mail ballots must be returned by 7:00 PM
Later in the meeting, Vice Mayor Glasscock offered a rebuttal to Stout’s allegations. He said he had received a message from Ted Bush, president of the Wichita firefighters’ union, clarifying that the advertisement was filmed not in a fire station but in a studio in Old Town. According to Glasscock’s account of Bush’s message, the firefighter in the ad was off-duty, was representing the union (identifiable by a union t-shirt), and the fire union was available for further questions from the public.
Consent Agenda (Items 1–16)
The council approved all 16 consent agenda items unanimously with no discussion pulled from the consent calendar. Vote: 7-0
Consent items included:
- Applications for cereal malt beverage retail licenses
- Preliminary estimates
- Board of Electrical Appeals minutes (December 9, 2025)
- Proclamation votes
- 2026 State Narcotic Seizure Fund Budget
- Nuisance Abatement Assessments for lot clean-up (first reading)
- Second reading ordinances (Ordinance Nos. 52-891 and 52-892) for previously approved zoning changes
- Multiple planning agenda items including senior housing zone changes and an annexation request
- Three housing property sales in District I
- Eagle Med., LLC use and lease agreement at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport
Council Business
Board of Bids and Contracts — February 2, 2026
Presenter: Josh Lauber, Department of Finance
The council received and filed the Board of Bids and Contracts report dated February 2, 2026, approving the contracts and authorizing necessary signatures. Vote: 7-0
Petitions for Public Improvements
Presenter: Paul Gunzelman, Department of Public Works & Utilities
The council approved four petitions for public infrastructure improvements:
- Arvada 2nd Addition — Water distribution system improvements (Project No. WDS_001085) and sanitary sewer Phase 1 improvements (Project No. SS_001086)
- Fossil Rim Commercial Addition — Paving improvements (Project No. PV_086257)
- Hoover Industrial Park 2nd Addition — Sanitary sewer improvements (Project No. SS_001089)
The council approved new petitions and budgets, adopted resolutions, and authorized necessary signatures. Vote: 7-0
New Council Business: Funding for Replacement of Large Water Meters
Presenters: Don Henry and Matt Townsend, Department of Public Works & Utilities
The council took up a proposal to fund replacement of the city’s large water meters — specifically the aging two-inch turbine-style meters used in smaller manufacturing, food service, and similar commercial applications throughout Wichita.
Henry explained that the existing turbine meters slow down over time as their mechanical components wear, leading to measurement inaccuracies. The proposed replacement technology — ultrasonic meters — eliminates moving parts entirely, measuring water flow through sound waves rather than mechanical motion.
Mayor Wu asked where the affected meters were concentrated geographically; Henry confirmed they are distributed citywide across a variety of commercial applications. The Mayor also asked about expected lifespan of both meter types. Matt Townsend of Water Distribution provided the technical comparison:
- Turbine meters: 10–15 years, but accuracy degrades over time as mechanical parts slow
- Ultrasonic meters: No moving parts; lifespan governed primarily by battery life, which is warrantied for 10 years but often lasts longer; battery replacement is the only routine maintenance required
No members of the public addressed this item. Per Charter Ordinance 211, the item required a two-thirds majority (five votes). The council approved the project, resolution, and necessary signatures. Vote: 7-0
Planning Agenda
Item VII-1: Senior Housing Zone Change — 8031 East Gilbert Street (District II)
ZON2025-00058 | From SF-5 to MF-18 Presenter: Scott Wadle, Department of Planning
The council considered a zone change from Single-Family Residential (SF-5) to Multi-Family Residential (MF-18) for a senior living development on the southeast corner of East Gilbert Street and South Rock Road, in a property associated with the Korean Presbyterian Church. Scott Wadle clarified that the developer is Mennonite Housing, not the church itself.
Mayor Wu noted the area’s high traffic volumes and asked whether parking and traffic concerns from nearby residents had been addressed. Wadle confirmed that the site plan shows garages and driveways for parking, with additional parking spaces to the north and south of the existing church building.
Council Member Tuttle disclosed ex parte communications with both the applicant and agent — including a meeting in her office months prior — and expressed strong support for the project. “We need more housing. We know that. We need more housing for every sector in our community, but especially for seniors,” she said.
Council Member Tuttle moved to adopt MAPC findings and approve the zone change. Vote: 7-0
Item VII-2: Contested Zone Change — 6515 West 37th Street North (District V)
ZON2025-00062 | From SF-5 to GO (requested) / NO (council action) Presenter: Scott Wadle, Department of Planning
This item generated the most extensive discussion of the meeting, revealing tension between planning commission recommendations, neighborhood preferences, district council member judgment, and state law requirements around supermajority voting.
The Request: Developer Mr. King sought a zone change from Single-Family Residential (SF-5) to General Office (GO) for a roughly seven-and-a-half acre parcel on the south side of West 37th Street North, with plans for a three-story apartment complex (approximately 150 units) on the southern two-thirds and potential medical or professional office on the northern third. A separate ten-and-a-half acre parcel to the west, owned by an Ascension affiliate, is already zoned GO and carries a Conditional Use Permit with density restrictions.
The Zoning Difference: Council Member Johnston asked Wadle to explain the distinction between General Office (GO) and Neighborhood Office (NO) zoning. Key differences:
- GO allows single-family, duplex, multifamily, accessory apartments, assisted living, group homes, broadcast studios, funeral homes, and hotels/motels
- NO limits residential uses to single-family, duplex, group homes, and short-term rentals by right, with conditional use permits available for multifamily at a maximum density of approximately 14.5 units per acre; commercial uses are more restricted
The Procedural Complication: Because neighboring property owners had filed protests exceeding 20% of the affected land area, state law required a supermajority of six of seven council votes for any zoning change — whether approving GO as the MAPC recommended, approving the alternative NO as Council Member Johnston proposed, or denying the application outright.
MAPC Recommendation: The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission had approved the GO designation 8-1.
DAB Recommendation: The District Advisory Board voted 5-3 in favor of NO — Neighborhood Office — as a compromise position. The three dissenting DAB members were split: two wanted outright denial to preserve single-family zoning, one supported GO.
Community Engagement Concerns: Mayor Wu repeatedly pressed on whether the developer had engaged neighboring residents. Wadle indicated he was not aware of meetings outside of official public hearings. Developer King confirmed he had walked the neighborhood and knocked on doors of immediately adjacent residents, though not everyone was home. Residents’ primary concerns included traffic on 37th Street (which narrows from four lanes to two lanes at that location and is heavily used by school traffic), light pollution from apartments, and general traffic impacts on children in the area.
Council Member Johnston had asked King to meet with residents prior to the meeting and assessed the outreach effort as minimal. Johnston argued the five-acre site would serve as an appropriate buffer between the established neighborhood and the larger multifamily development likely to proceed on the adjacent GO-zoned parcel.
Substitute Motion — GO (Vice Mayor Glasscock): Vice Mayor Glasscock moved to adopt the MAPC findings and approve GO zoning. Motion failed 3-4 (Nays: Wu, Tuttle, Hoheisel, Johnston). The motion did not reach the required six-vote supermajority.
Primary Motion — NO (Council Member Johnston): Council Member Johnston moved to override the MAPC, adopt alternate findings, and approve NO Neighborhood Office zoning per the DAB recommendation. His stated rationale: GO would allow more intensive uses detrimental to adjacent residential areas; NO allows development with less potential for adverse impacts; and NO was the compromise the residents themselves had proposed, as they indicated willingness to accept duplexes rather than dense apartments immediately adjacent to their homes.
Before voting, Glasscock reconsidered his position. Initially inclined to vote against NO, he acknowledged that if the motion failed the property would revert to its current SF-5 zoning and the applicant would face a waiting period before reapplying — making NO preferable to a denial. However, after learning the council could alternatively return the matter to MAPC for further consideration, he indicated he might vote for denial to allow a more refined compromise to emerge. Ultimately, Glasscock cast the lone dissenting vote.
Motion carried 6-1 (Nay: Glasscock)
Council Member Tuttle used the discussion to raise a broader procedural question for the City Attorney: what happens to the applicant when council approves a different zoning designation than requested? Magana confirmed the council’s vote is the governing body’s final decision; the applicant retains the right to appeal to district court on limited grounds, or may choose to proceed under the new NO designation or seek a different application in the future.
Council Member Comments and Community Announcements
Vice Mayor Glasscock used his time to read the rebuttal from firefighter union president Ted Bush regarding the campaign advertisement allegations raised in public comment (detailed above).
Council Member Shepard opened Black History Month recognition, noting that Black history in Wichita dates to the city’s very founding. He spotlighted Richard Robinson, one of the earliest Black settlers in what would become Wichita — present before the city’s incorporation — whose legacy continues through the Richard Robinson Community Building Association (RRCBA), founded by District I small business owner Bryce Graham. The RRCBA promotes economic stability through advocacy for livable wages, business contracts, neighborhood investment, and preservation of Black history. Residents can learn more at rrcba.com. Shepard pledged to share a Black history fact each week throughout February.
Council Member Ballard thanked volunteers who participated in the annual Point-in-Time Count the previous week — a nationwide effort to enumerate people experiencing homelessness. She also announced two upcoming District VI events: her District Six Community Breakfast at 9:00 AM on Saturday at Evergreen, followed immediately at 11:00 AM by a town hall on water issues at the same location.
Council Member Tuttle highlighted the Salvation Army’s Share the Season program, which she chaired this year. Share the Season has operated since 2000 and has raised $4.5 million, helping over 4,200 families through unexpected financial emergencies. The program serves working adults (currently employed or employed within the last three months), retired adults receiving Social Security income, and disabled veterans receiving veterans benefits. Qualifying emergencies include medical expenses, job loss, unexpected travel for family care, and rent shortfalls. Tuttle shared two testimonials: a family facing utility shutoff and potential eviction after a spouse’s layoff, and a single mother of three facing eviction due to late fees on a $375/month rental. Free financial counseling is included. Applications and information: sharetheseason.net
Mayor Wu closed by again expressing gratitude to those who attended the previous week’s community prayer remembrance for victims of the midair collision involving a flight from Wichita to Washington, D.C.
Adjournment
Mayor Wu moved to adjourn at 10:23 AM. Vote: 7-0
Voting Summary
| Item | Motion | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Approve Jan. 27, 2026 Minutes | Approve | 7-0 |
| Consent Agenda Items 1–16 | Approve | 7-0 |
| Board of Bids and Contracts (Feb. 2) | Receive, file, approve contracts | 7-0 |
| Petitions for Public Improvements | Approve petitions and budgets | 7-0 |
| Large Water Meter Replacement | Approve project and resolution | 7-0 |
| ZON2025-00058 (8031 E. Gilbert — MF-18) | Approve MAPC recommendation | 7-0 |
| ZON2025-00062 (6515 W. 37th N. — GO) | Failed — did not reach supermajority | 3-4 |
| ZON2025-00062 (6515 W. 37th N. — NO) | Override MAPC; approve NO zoning | 6-1 (Nay: Glasscock) |
| Adjourn | Adjourn at 10:23 AM | 7-0 |
Civic Engagement Information
March 3, 2026 Special Election — Sales Tax Referendum Sedgwick County voters will decide on a major sales tax proposal. Key dates:
- Voter registration deadline: February 10
- Mail ballot requests deadline: February 24
- Early in-person voting (election office): February 17
- Early in-person voting (satellite locations): February 26
- Election Day: March 3 (mail ballots due by 7:00 PM)
Full voting information: Sedgwick County Election Office website
District VI Community Events
- District Six Breakfast: Saturday morning, 9:00 AM at Evergreen
- Water Town Hall: Saturday, 11:00 AM at Evergreen (immediately following breakfast)
Community Resources
- Share the Season (Salvation Army financial assistance program): sharetheseason.net
- Richard Robinson Community Building Association: rrcba.com
Sources
Official City of Wichita City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026. Wichita, Kansas. Meeting convened 9:00 AM; adjourned 10:23 AM. City Clerk: Shinita Rice.
This coverage is provided as a civic journalism service to help Wichita residents stay informed about local government proceedings. For official records, visit the City of Wichita website.