In one of the most consequential council meetings leading up to the March 3 special election, the Wichita City Council convened for an evening session — only the fifth such evening meeting in the 2026 calendar year — and voted unanimously to adopt a series of resolutions establishing financial guardrails for the proposed one-percent sales tax. Twenty-three members of the public addressed the council prior to deliberations, with Mayor Wu noting that a majority spoke in opposition while seven spoke in support. The council’s actions formally codified funding priorities, oversight mechanisms, property tax relief parameters, and public safety infrastructure sequencing. A separate $8.8 million Webb Road improvement project was approved 6-1, with Mayor Wu dissenting over a sidewalk ordinance dispute. The meeting also surfaced impassioned public comment regarding a fatal police encounter with District One resident DeAndre Hill on January 20. Assistance from Claude AI.
Council Members Present
- Mayor Lily Wu
- Vice Mayor Dalton Glasscock
- Mike Hoheisel (District 3)
- Joseph Shepard (District 1)
- Becky Tuttle (District 2)
- JV Johnston (District 5)
- Maggie Ballard (District 6)
Staff Present: Dennis Marstall (City Manager), Jennifer Magana (City Attorney), Shinita Rice (City Clerk)
Awards and Proclamations
The council recognized three proclamations at the opening of the session:
- WSU Barton School of Business Centennial Day — marking the 100th anniversary of Wichita State University’s College of Business
- 211 Day — honoring the statewide social services referral helpline
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Founders Day
Public Agenda
The public agenda featured five speakers on a range of community issues.
1. Paid Parking and Volunteer River Cleanup Groups — Krystina Furst
Krystina Furst, founder of the Wichita Riverwalk Cleanup Crew, has led monthly trash pickups along the Arkansas River since 2017. By her own accounting, her volunteers have collected 2,791 bags of trash since January 2019, representing an estimated $20,932 in labor value based on the City’s $15-per-hour minimum wage. However, Furst told the council that her group has suspended cleanups at a critical stretch between Maple Street and the Lincoln Street Dam because the previously free parking lot beneath the Kellogg overpass near the boat ramp now requires payment.
“You want to charge us to pick up the trash that the City is not willing to pick up themselves,” Furst said. She offered two solutions: a date-specific no-ticket policy for four designated Saturday morning cleanups per year, or a special event parking tag system available to any registered volunteer group through an online portal.
Council Member Hoheisel thanked her organization on behalf of the City and pledged follow-up contact.
2. Government Accountability — Deena Bolain
Deena Bolain, a District 3 resident, called on the council to support two state legislative measures: Senate Bill 313, which would ban Kansas state legislators from trading stocks while the legislature is in session, and SCR 1617, a Convention of States resolution with a February 19 turnaround deadline. Bolain framed her remarks in the context of eroding public trust in government, citing what she described as widespread fraud across all levels of government.
3. Community Safety and Gun Violence Reduction in District One — Chief E.S. Lewis
Chief E.S. Lewis of the Royal Holy Kingdom of Judah, whose address of record is 1741 North Poplar, updated the council on the Wichita Judah Restoration Committee — an informal body established through cooperation with the Mayor and District One at the Atwater Center. Lewis described an ongoing gun buyback program developed in coordination with Chief Sullivan and Captain Moses, and requested that a council member sponsor a motion to include gun buyback coordination as an agenda item at the next Restoration Committee meeting. He specified a coordination window of February 11 through March 25 in anticipation of a planned March 30 community event.
4. DeAndre Hill and Wichita Police Department — Helen Reicher
Helen Reicher delivered an emotional, detailed account of the January 20 fatal police shooting of DeAndre Hill, a District One resident, challenging both the Sheriff’s characterization of the incident at a press conference and the council’s silence in its aftermath. Reicher disputed the repeated use of the word “suspect” to describe Hill — whom she said was in his own home when officers knocked at approximately 1 a.m. — and described a sequence in which Hill retrieved his legally owned firearm to investigate an unidentified knock, stepped out slowly, and was shot nine times within five seconds.
Reicher called for the release of all body camera footage from all three officers, all police reports related to the incident, every 911 call leading up to it, and the training histories of the three officers involved. She also argued that elected officials are neither constitutionally nor contractually required to remain neutral during active investigations, and that silence from leadership “is not neutral — it is a choice.”
Mayor Wu ended Reicher’s remarks at the five-minute limit; Reicher briefly continued before closing. The Mayor reminded the audience to maintain decorum and refrain from applause.
A community informational meeting regarding Hill’s death is scheduled for March 1.
5. The Effects of AI — Hannah Hutson
Hannah Hutson, a high school sophomore, presented findings from a survey she conducted on public opinions about artificial intelligence, which drew more than 50 responses. Hutson outlined environmental concerns related to AI including water consumption in data centers and cooling systems, deforestation and soil degradation from rare mineral mining, and the social risks of AI bias and deepfake technology — including non-consensual explicit imagery affecting both adults and minors.
“Change starts with you,” Hutson told the council.
Council Member Shepard — who had personally invited Hutson to speak — praised her initiative and called for greater inclusion of young people in the City’s policy process.
Consent Agenda
Mayor Wu pulled Item 9 (Webb Road funding) for separate discussion. Items 1 through 12, excluding Item 9, passed 7-0.
Item 9: Webb Road Widening — $8.8 Million (District II)
The project covers widening Webb Road from Central to 13th Street North, creating a five-lane roadway for a portion of the corridor before narrowing to four lanes, then reintroducing a northbound left-turn lane into Collegiate High School’s driveway. The project also includes sidewalks on both sides of the roadway, a replacement for the existing pedestrian crosswalk at Minneha School, and a potential traffic signal at the Collegiate entrance — to be funded by Collegiate, per standard City practice for private drives.
Mayor Wu pulled the item specifically to object to the requirement for sidewalks on both sides of Webb Road, arguing that the east side of the road borders Beach Lake — Sedgwick County property — and that a sidewalk there is unnecessary.
Public Works Director Paul Gunzelman confirmed that the Webb Road right-of-way has been annexed into the City of Wichita and that a sidewalk ordinance in place since 1979 requires sidewalks on both sides of arterial streets. He acknowledged the ordinance likely needs updating for other reasons as well.
Two members of the public supported the Mayor’s position: Jason Wood (District 4) agreed there is no need for a sidewalk on the east side and suggested the ordinance be amended by council vote. Max Timsah, a junior at Wichita Collegiate School and Vice Mayor of the Mayor’s Youth Council, also opposed the east-side sidewalk, citing traffic safety concerns near the school entrance.
Council Member Tuttle countered that sidewalks on both sides of an arterial keep pedestrians from having to cross to access safe travel, and noted that four serious accidents had occurred at the Collegiate entrance since August. She highlighted extensive coordination between her office, Collegiate, and surrounding HOAs ahead of the project.
Mayor Wu directed City Manager Marstall to explore an ordinance change that would give the council discretion to waive dual-sidewalk requirements in cases where one is not warranted. Marstall confirmed a council vote could bring such a change forward as a future agenda item.
Vote on Item 9: Approved 6-1 (Nay: Mayor Wu)
Unfinished Business: Sales Tax Guardrails — Resolution Package
The primary business of the evening was Council discussion and adoption of a comprehensive resolution package establishing governance and financial parameters for the proposed one-percent sales tax, to be voted on by Wichita residents on March 3, 2026. The tax is projected to generate approximately $840–$850 million over seven years.
In a procedural departure from normal order, Vice Mayor Glasscock moved — and the council agreed unanimously — to defer council questions to staff until after public comment on this item.
Public Comment on the Sales Tax
Twenty-three residents addressed the council, spanning nearly two hours. Mayor Wu noted at the close of public comment that a majority spoke in opposition, with seven speaking in support.
Key themes from supporters included:
- The success of Second Light homeless shelter and the need for stable long-term funding
- Wichita’s competitive disadvantage relative to peer cities in the Midwest that have similar tax structures
- The importance of the performing arts center and convention facilities to economic development and tourism
- Endorsements from the Greater Wichita Partnership (Jeff Fleuhr) and the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce (Brecken Morel, Interim President/CEO)
- United Way of the Plains President/CEO Pete Najera praised the council’s transparency efforts and called the oversight framework a trust-building measure
George Theoharis brought scales of justice to illustrate his view that a longer timeline to the August election would have allowed for better public education. “I really believe myself and all of you by August could have made people understand how this would have worked,” he said.
Kent Miracle, who shared a personal story of five years of homelessness and 17 years of sobriety, urged support for Second Light, calling it “infrastructure” that reduces public costs through emergency rooms, police calls, and fire response. He serves on the boards of Second Light and the Coalition to End Homelessness.
Opponents raised recurring concerns including:
- The sales tax is regressive, placing a heavier burden on low-income residents who will not benefit from property tax relief (renters) or homestead exemptions
- The guardrails were released too close to the election for meaningful public review
- The ballot language itself does not contain the guardrails, which could be changed by a future council vote of four
- No comprehensive deferred maintenance plan exists for public safety facilities
- The proposed performing arts center duplicates existing venues and its location and cost remain undefined
- Funding for Century II improvements does not begin until 2029, despite the building’s deteriorating condition
- The election was rushed; similar programs in other cities (notably Oklahoma City’s MAPS) included detailed allocation language voted on by the public
- One speaker, Kean Gallagher, raised concerns about housing discrimination against LGBTQ residents and argued that concentrating homelessness funding in one facility (Second Light) is insufficient
Lawanda DeShazer (District 1) argued that the proposal lacks infrastructure improvements for District 1, does not adequately address working-class families, and that childcare costs — not addressed anywhere in the measure — are “killing people.”
Vince Hancock called on the council to begin contingency planning immediately in case the measure fails on March 3, noting that Second Light could face a six-month funding gap requiring emergency community fundraising.
Faith Martin (her fifth appearance before the council on this issue) argued that people voting no are being unfairly characterized, that prevention was chronically underfunded even with federal dollars, and that she would prefer five separate ballot questions for the five initiatives.
Joseph Tex Dozier raised technical concerns about the legal robustness of guardrails outside ballot language and called attention to what he described as $28 million in public safety funding beyond what was already in the City’s Capital Improvement Plan — potentially a supplanting concern.
Karl Peterjohn provided historical context on failed Wichita sales tax elections (1978, 1995, 1996) and introduced the concept of Home Rule charter ordinances under Article 12, Section 5 of the Kansas Constitution, which require five votes to pass and five to repeal — a stronger guardrail mechanism he said had not been discussed during the process.
Election timeline confirmed by Vice Mayor Glasscock:
- Voter registration deadline: February 10, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
- Ballots mailed out: Beginning February 11 (day after the meeting)
- First day of early in-person voting: February 17 at the Sedgwick County Election Office (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Last day for advance mail application: February 24
- Satellite early voting: February 26–27, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; February 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Sedgwick County Election Office additional early voting: February 28, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Election Day: March 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Note: Military and overseas ballots had already been mailed, meaning the election could not be stopped or postponed.
Council Deliberations and Votes on Sales Tax Resolutions
After closing public comment, the council moved through a complex series of motions, amendments, and withdrawals before reaching final votes on the resolution package. City Attorney Jennifer Magana and Law Department attorney Sharon Dickgrafe provided key procedural and drafting guidance throughout.
Resolution 26-053 — Property Tax Relief Parameters
The council debated two options for property tax relief. Mayor Wu advocated for a specific and immediate mill levy reduction rather than a general aspirational framework.
Final Motion (Mayor Wu): Approve Resolution 26-053 Option 2 with an amendment specifying that after an initial $20 million is provided for property relief, if sales tax revenues equal or exceed $20 million, a mill levy reduction of not less than four mills shall be applied or included in the subsequent year’s proposed budget — beginning in fiscal year 2027. This would reduce Wichita’s current 32-mill City levy to 28 mills, representing a 12 percent reduction.
Vote: 4-3 (Nay: Hoheisel, Shepard, Ballard)
Council Member Hoheisel raised a concern that locking in a four-mill reduction could become more expensive in future years as property valuations change, since the value of a mill — currently approximately $5.4 million — could increase, requiring more than $20 million to achieve a four-mill reduction.
Finance Director Elizabeth Goltry confirmed the current (2026 budget) value of one mill at approximately $5.4 million.
Resolution 26-049 — Overall Financial Guardrails and Funding Prioritization
After a series of motions and withdrawals to clarify exact language, the council unanimously adopted the following framework:
Final Motion (Mayor Wu), carried 7-0:
The first $21 million (or an amount sufficient for a four-mill reduction starting in fiscal year 2027) in sales tax proceeds shall be allocated to property tax relief. The next $280 million shall be allocated to property tax relief, homeless and housing, and public safety until each receives $100 million. Thereafter, all initiatives shall be funded on a pro rata basis in accordance with the ballot language up to each initiative’s maximum revenue amount.
This resolution (Option 1) prioritizes front-loading the three most urgent categories — property tax relief, homelessness/housing, and public safety — before distributing remaining revenues proportionally across all five initiatives (which also include Century II/convention center improvements and the performing arts center).
Key guardrail confirmed by the Law Department (Sharon Dickgrafe): All contracts will follow the City’s purchasing and procurement processes. No bid or sole-source contracts permitted without council vote. No special treatment given to any business entity or organization — explicitly addressing a concern raised by Mayor Wu about preventing favoritism toward campaign participants.
Resolution 26-052 — Public Safety Capital Improvements
After debate over whether to prioritize new construction or deferred maintenance at existing fire stations, the council adopted Option 2 with an amendment:
Motion (Mayor Wu), carried 7-0:
Annually, as part of the CIP process, the council will recommend a prioritized list of projects funded with sales tax proceeds. Projects involving deferred maintenance at existing public safety facilities may be prioritized in the CIP, excluding the construction of the new southwest Wichita and northwest Wichita fire stations and the new West Patrol Police Station.
The use of “may” — replacing the original “will” — preserves discretion for the police and fire chiefs to prioritize equipment or apparatus needs over deferred maintenance when warranted.
Mayor Wu noted the last fire station built in Wichita was in 2009, and that she personally toured a station recently with significant structural issues. Council Member Hoheisel raised firefighter cancer rates as a justification for new construction with modern decontamination facilities for bunker gear.
Resolution 26-050 — Performing Arts Center
The council debated whether to require $50 million or $75 million in private funds to be pledged or raised before public sales tax dollars flow to a new performing arts center.
Vice Mayor Glasscock moved to approve Resolution 26-050 Option 1 as written (which specified the $50 million private match threshold).
Vote: 6-1 (Nay: Johnston)
Council Member Johnston — drawing on his experience as a fundraiser — argued that the final 20 percent of any capital campaign is the hardest to raise, and preferred a $75 million private commitment threshold to ensure the project achieves full funding. Glasscock’s original motion prevailed.
Council Member Shepard emphasized the performing arts sector’s economic impact, citing projections of 2,900 jobs and $184.7 million in annual economic impact.
Resolution 26-052 — Century II Improvements
Motion (Mayor Wu), carried 7-0: Approve Resolution 26-052 as presented.
Resolution 26-054 — Homeless and Housing Assistance Fund
The council debated the structure of a long-term endowment to fund Second Light and related homeless services. Option 1 establishes an investment endowment intended to grow to at least $100–$120 million based on projected 5% annual returns, with operational proceeds funding the shelter in perpetuity after seven years.
Mayor Wu sought a written guarantee that the endowment would contain at least $100 million and explicitly fund a low-barrier shelter with wraparound services in perpetuity. City Manager Marstall stated he could commit to the plan’s intent but not to a specific investment return.
Council Member Tuttle cautioned that verbal commitments from the current City Manager cannot bind future councils or managers, and urged the council to codify any commitment in the motion language itself.
Vice Mayor Glasscock moved to approve Resolution 26-054 Option 1 as written.
Vote: 6-1 (Nay: Mayor Wu)
Mayor Wu voted no, citing the absence of a written guarantee on the endowment minimum and the perpetual operational funding commitment.
Council Member Johnston noted that the projected investment return under the existing policy would yield approximately $100 million; an amended investment policy allowing up to 5% returns (requiring council approval) could yield $120 million. He emphasized that the endowment structure means Second Light will not need to return to the City, county, or state for additional operational funding year after year.
Final Omnibus Motion
Council Member Hoheisel moved to formally adopt resolutions establishing implementation guardrails and review proposed resolutions for sales and property tax relief.
Vote: 7-0
New Council Business
Mammoth Clubhouse Community Improvement District (District II)
Assistant City Manager Troy Anderson presented a petition to set a public hearing for a Community Improvement District (CID) at the Mammoth Clubhouse project along the Webb Road/Central corridor in District 2. The petition was submitted as required before a public hearing can be scheduled. Council Member Hoheisel asked whether the required 10% public interest allocation had been identified; Anderson confirmed it had not yet and committed to ensuring the applicant and council district work together to identify it.
Mayor Wu asked Anderson to clarify the difference between a CID and a TIF district, noting public confusion. Anderson explained: a CID is a sales tax rebate program — sales taxes collected at the development are rebated back for eligible expenses. A TIF (Tax Increment Financing) is a property tax program — the property tax increment generated above the pre-development base value is rebated back for eligible expenses. Both are structured similarly but funded by different revenue sources.
Council Member Tuttle expressed enthusiasm for the project, noting she and the Mayor had met with the applicants and that significant activity is ongoing along the Webb Road/Central corridor.
Motion (Tuttle): Accept petition and adopt resolution setting a public hearing for the CID.
Vote: 7-0
Council Member Comments
Council Member Shepard shared a Black History Month fact: Wichita’s historic Black business district was centered at Ninth Street and Cleveland Street in the McAdams neighborhood, thriving during the early to mid-20th century with businesses, churches, and the Dunbar Theater. The district declined due to urban renewal, highway construction, and economic shifts. Shepard promoted the Black Business Tour scheduled for February 28, accessible through the Community Voice website.
Mayor Wu asked City Manager Marstall to update wichita.gov/ballotquestion with a clear summary of the guardrails as actually passed, replacing the prior “option 1/option 2” format with definitive language. She also noted this was the fifth evening council meeting held in 2026 and thanked staff for accommodating the public-facing schedule. She encouraged continued civic engagement and noted 89 residents were still watching live on the City’s YouTube channel at the meeting’s close.
Adjournment
Motion (Mayor Wu): Adjourn at 10:20 p.m.
Vote: 7-0
Key Votes Summary
| Item | Vote | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consent Items 1–8, 10–12 | 7-0 | Approved en bloc |
| Webb Road widening – Item 9 ($8.8M) | 6-1 | Nay: Wu (sidewalk dispute) |
| Property Tax Resolution 26-053 Option 2 (4-mill reduction FY2027) | 4-3 | Nay: Hoheisel, Shepard, Ballard |
| Financial Guardrails Resolution 26-049 Option 1 (prioritization) | 7-0 | $21M to property tax first; $280M split among top 3 priorities |
| Public Safety Resolution 26-052 Option 2 (deferred maintenance priority) | 7-0 | “May” language preserves chief discretion |
| Performing Arts Resolution 26-050 Option 1 ($50M private match) | 6-1 | Nay: Johnston (wanted $75M threshold) |
| Century II Resolution 26-052 | 7-0 | As presented |
| Housing/Homeless Fund Resolution 26-054 Option 1 (endowment) | 6-1 | Nay: Wu (no written endowment guarantee) |
| Omnibus guardrail adoption | 7-0 | |
| Mammoth Clubhouse CID public hearing | 7-0 |
Civic Engagement
Wichita residents who wish to learn more or share feedback before the March 3 special election can:
- Review the adopted guardrails at wichita.gov/ballotquestion (Mayor Wu requested updated content reflecting final votes)
- Vote early in person beginning February 17 at the Sedgwick County Election Office, 525 N. Main
- Vote by mail — advance applications due by February 24
- Vote on Election Day — March 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at assigned polling locations
- Contact your council member via email or at future council meetings
- Next regular council meeting: February 17, 2026
Reporting based on official Wichita City Council meeting minutes of February 10, 2026.
This post is part of ongoing civic journalism coverage of Wichita City Council proceedings.