Voice for Liberty | Wichita City Council Coverage Meeting Date: March 24, 2026 | Regular Session, 9:00 AM
The Wichita City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, with all seven members present. The meeting’s most substantive public debate centered on a road reconstruction project on 143rd Street East that came in $3.92 million over its approved budget — drawing pointed questions from Mayor Lily Wu and ultimately passing 5-2 over her objection. The council also approved dozens of civic board appointments, discussed a proposed civility resolution inspired by the National League of Cities, heard from a disability advocate about downtown sidewalk conditions, and entered into two executive sessions covering legal matters and potential real property acquisition. Assistance from Claude AI.
Council Members Present
- Mayor Lily Wu
- Vice Mayor Dalton Glasscock
- Council Member Joseph Shepard (District 1)
- Council Member Becky Tuttle (District 2)
- Council Member Mike Hoheisel (District 3)
- Council Member JV Johnston (District 4)
- Council Member Maggie Ballard (District 5 / At-Large)
Staff Present: City Manager Dennis Marstall, City Attorney Jennifer Magana, Deputy City Clerk Jo Hensley
Meeting Minutes Approved
The council voted unanimously to approve minutes from the regular meetings of March 3, 2026 and March 10, 2026.
Vote: 7-0
Public Agenda
The council’s public agenda session opened with one registered speaker, Andrew Crane, listed to speak on sidewalks and accessibility. Crane did not appear at his scheduled time, and Mayor Wu closed the public agenda after no other members of the public came forward.
Crane was later allowed to speak — see the section below on council member comments.
Consent Agenda (Items 1–28)
The consent agenda covered a wide range of routine city business. Mayor Wu pulled Item 14 for separate consideration before the remainder passed unanimously.
Vote on Items 1–13 and 15–28: 7-0
Consent Agenda Items Approved Without Debate
Among the 27 items approved on the consent agenda without discussion:
- Cereal malt beverage license applications
- Preliminary estimates for paving, drainage, and water improvements for Cherese Point Addition (District IV)
- Waterline crossing agreement with Magellan Pipeline Company (ONEOK)
- Federal Transit Authority subaward agreements for Section 5307 Urbanized Formula Funds, including a subgrant for the City of Derby
- U.S. DOT Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant amendment for a railroad crossing study (Districts I and VI)
- Temporary construction easements at three properties on South/North Bleckley Drive for the Bleckley Drive Drainage Improvement Project (District I)
- Advisory board meeting minutes from MAPC, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, Cultural Funding Committee, and Board of Park Commissioners
- Special assessments pre-pay interest waiver (District V)
- Police protective equipment replacement (ballistic security)
- Ordinance amendment regarding weed cutting special assessment (Ordinance 52-921)
- Correction to Ordinance 52-870 — the 2026 Non-Exempt Salary Ordinance (Ordinance 52-922 to repeal and replace)
- 2025 Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) grant and agreement
- 2026 Federal Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program grant
- Kansas Department of Commerce ADOPT grant donation for WiFi access
- Assignment of development agreement from SCC1, LLC to Cove Capital Investments, LLC (District III)
- Debt financing notice for Customs IT Refresh at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (Resolution 26-121)
- Community event with alcohol consumption — Central Standard Brewing’s Sunflower Boogiedown (District I, Resolution 26-122)
- Section 5339 Urbanized Area Formula Annual Grant from the Federal Transit Administration (Resolution 26-123)
- Abatement of dangerous and unsafe structures in Districts I, III, V, and VI (Ordinances 52-918 and 52-919)
- Second reading ordinances from March 10, 2026:
- Ordinance 52-915 — Amendment to the redevelopment project plan for Project Area 3A of the Center City South Redevelopment District
- Ordinance 52-916 — Establishing the Mammoth Clubhouse Community Improvement District, authorizing project improvements, levying a 2.00% CID sales tax, and approving a development agreement
- Ordinance 52-917 — Special assessment for sidewalk construction across the city
- Plat of Baalman 6th Addition (District IV, SUB2025-00070)
- Vacation of platted complete access control on South Water Street north of Pawnee Avenue (District III, VAC2026-00001)
- Annexation of land by the Wichita Airport Authority near East 37th Street North and North Greenwich Road (District II, ANX26-04, Ordinance 52-920)
- Plat of Krichati Addition near 143rd Street East and East 53rd Street North (County 3-Mile Ring, SUB2025-00068)
- Plat of Pegasus 3rd Addition south of East Crosswind Court and east of South Webb Road (District II, SUB2026-00003)
- Wichita Housing Authority sale of Ash Park to the City using CDBG funds — property at 2620 N. Piatt (District I)
- 2026 Utility Allowance Update for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program
- Monthly HUD Public Housing Disposition and Fiscal Condition Status Report
- Customs and Border Protection IT Refresh at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport
Consent Agenda Item 14 — 143rd Street East Reconstruction: $3.92 Million Over Budget
This was the meeting’s most substantive debate. Mayor Wu pulled Item 14 — approval of a revised budget and overestimate bid for 143rd Street East from Kellogg to Harry Street — citing significant concerns about both the cost overrun and the single bidder who submitted a proposal.
Background
The original project budget approved by the council in November 2025 was $8.97 million, based on an engineer’s estimate of approximately $8.4 million. The sole bid received came in at $14.2 million — approximately $5.8 million over the engineer’s estimate and $3.92 million over the approved budget. The contractor, Dondlinger, subcontracted with Wildcat Construction Company, Inc.
Why Only One Bidder?
Paul Gunzelman, Director of Public Works and Utilities, explained that the city received only one bid despite outreach to a large pool of potential contractors. The primary deterrent, according to contractors who declined to bid, was coordination complexity with KDOT’s East Kellogg Project, which has begun or is about to begin work in the same geographic area.
Additional factors driving up the single bid received:
- Excavation costs came in approximately $400,000 over estimate, due to logistical constraints — the project will lower the roadway approximately three feet in some areas while maintaining one lane of southbound traffic throughout construction, requiring contractors to enter from Harry Street and exit northward in sequence
- Concrete and asphalt pavement cost approximately $300,000 more than estimated, including a 9-inch reinforced pavement specification
- Signalization costs and added ITS conduit for future signal communications added further expense not included in the original estimate
Josh Lauber, Purchasing Manager, added that 12,878 contacts were notified of the bid opportunity through the city’s commodity notification system, including codes for major street construction and water system construction. He acknowledged that the city is competing for contractor capacity against KDOT, the state, and federal projects simultaneously — a structural challenge facing municipal infrastructure work right now.
Mayor Wu’s Concerns
Mayor Wu pressed Gunzelman on multiple fronts:
“Paul, I’m concerned because the engineer’s estimate was $8.4 million. It is now going to increase to $14.2 million. Again, can you explain how the engineer’s estimate of $8.4 million came about and how a $3 million discrepancy?”
She also asked whether rebidding the project would attract more contractors. Gunzelman’s answer was discouraging: even with a year’s delay, contractors said they would still not bid due to ongoing East Kellogg coordination concerns. He noted that other recent projects — 17th Street and West Douglas — came in near their engineer’s estimates, suggesting the 143rd Street result may be an anomaly driven by the unique KDOT coordination challenge.
Mayor Wu also confirmed that this project is funded by the 1% Sedgwick County local sales tax.
She concluded: “The reason why I pulled this, and the reason why I will not be voting in favor of this is because there’s only one bidder. And the cost is now $3 million over budget.”
Council Member Tuttle’s Defense
Council Member Becky Tuttle, in whose District 2 the project is located, moved to approve. She expressed a different assessment:
“This is a unique project. This is a big project. Timing with East Kellogg is challenging, as our city engineer Paul Gunzelman mentioned. There are so many infrastructure projects happening in our community right now. I’m not concerned that there was only one vendor that put in a bid because of the nature of this project and it being unique.”
Vote
Motion by Council Member Tuttle to approve revised budgets, overestimate bid, adopt the amending resolution (Resolution 26-120), and authorize necessary signatures.
| Council Member | Vote |
|---|---|
| Lily Wu | NAY |
| Dalton Glasscock | NAY |
| Joseph Shepard | Aye |
| Becky Tuttle | Aye |
| Mike Hoheisel | Aye |
| JV Johnston | Aye |
| Maggie Ballard | Aye |
Motion carried 5-2.
Board of Bids and Contracts — March 23, 2026
Josh Lauber reviewed the Board of Bids and Contracts report dated March 23, 2026. Because Item 3 on that report was the same 143rd Street project just debated, Mayor Wu requested separate votes to remain consistent with her position.
The council first approved all Board of Bids items except Item 3 on a 7-0 vote, then approved Item 3 (143rd Street East) on the same 5-2 vote (Wu and Glasscock dissenting).
Petitions for Public Improvements — Cornejo East 2nd Addition
The council unanimously approved petitions for public improvements serving Cornejo East 2nd Addition, including:
- Resolution 26-117 — Water main improvements
- Resolution 26-118 — Sanitary sewer improvements
- Resolution 26-119 — Paving improvements
Vote: 7-0
Council Member Agenda
Mayor Wu’s Travel — League of Kansas Municipalities Board Meeting
The council approved Mayor Wu’s travel to attend the League of Kansas Municipalities Board Meeting on March 27, 2026 in Manhattan, Kansas. Wu will use a city vehicle and incur no other expense to the city.
Vote: 7-0 (moved by Vice Mayor Glasscock)
Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative — Gift Limit Waiver
The council approved a waiver of the gift limit established by the city’s Ethics Ordinance to allow Mayor Wu to accept travel and expenses to attend the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative’s Mayoral Capstone Convening in Cambridge, Massachusetts, April 12–14, 2026. The estimated value of the gift — covering travel, hotel, and meals — is $16,350.
The Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative’s Flagship Program focuses on personal leadership development, progress on key priority challenges, and strengthening organizational capabilities.
Mayor Wu explained the context:
“I want to say thank you to the City of Wichita team, including the city manager, assistant city managers and department leaders who have been part of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. Our key priority was downtown perception of safety. We will have a report after I attend Harvard University.”
She noted that Police Chief Sullivan and Communications Director Jim Jonas were among the cohorts participating in the initiative alongside her.
Vote: 7-0 (moved by Vice Mayor Glasscock)
Council Member Appointments and Comments
Civic Board Appointments
Council members made an extensive round of appointments to dozens of advisory boards and commissions. All appointments were approved unanimously.
Vote: 7-0
Vice Mayor Dalton Glasscock’s Appointments
- Affordable Housing Review Board: Maranda Penner
- Animal Control Advisory Board: Nancy Bradley
- Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Board: Kelly Wenz
- Parks Board: Nino Lawson
- Food and Farm Council: Dallas Grimes; Jerry McGrew (added after initial motion)
- CSBG: Dallas Grimes, Susan Decker, Alan Oliver
- Diversity Inclusion Board: Tabitha Lehman
- Historic Preservation Board: Jenise Baum Dixon
- Police and Fire Retirement Board: Nate Schwiethale
- Transit Advisory Board: Nick Hoheisel
- Citizen Review Board: Matthew Lashley
- Zoning Appeals / MAPC: Tony Zimbelman
- Library Board: Karyn Shorter, LewJene Schneider (added in supplemental motion)
- Sustainability Board: James Williams (added in supplemental motion)
- Employee Retirement Board: Cindy Bell (added in supplemental motion)
- Access Advisory Board: Jim Underwood (added in supplemental motion)
Council Member Mike Hoheisel’s Appointments
- Affordable Housing Review Board: Cole Schnieders
- Animal Services: George Theoharis
- Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Board: Garett Foster
- Parks Board: Philip Simon
- Block Grant Review Committee: John Buck, Cindy Miles, Janet Johnson, Cindy Miles (additional)
- District Advisory Board: Jerry McGrew, Vanessa Christopherson, Rick Lindsey, Tim McQuary, John Buck, Daniel Bateman, Ariel Kirk, Geneva Chambers, Noemi Ibarra, Jerry McGrew
- Historic Preservation: Deb Stephens
- Library Board: Kurt Oswald, Lauren Hirsh
- Police and Fire Retirement: Mike Hastings
- Transit Advisory Board: Diana Edmiston
- Citizen Review Board: Tim McQuary
- Employees Retirement Board: Robert Decker
- Sustainability Integration Board: Ibrahim Abdallah
- Access Advisory Board: Jared Holcomb
- Food and Farm Council: Jerry McGrew
Council Member Becky Tuttle’s Appointments (District 2)
- Affordable Housing Review Board: Braden McCurdy (reappointment)
- Animal Service Advisory Board: Stephanie McCurdy
- Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Board: Monte Shaw (reappointment)
- District Advisory Board: Chris Broadrick, Stephanie McCurdy, Tracee Adams, Aaron Miller, John Baker, Timothy Johnson, James Groff, Kamilah Burrell, Faith Martin, Bruce Gass (reappointments); Judah Craig (new appointment)
- Food and Farm Council: Amy Draut (reappointment)
- Historic Preservation Board: Barbara Myers (reappointment)
- Library Board: Tony Porter (new); Chuck Schmidt (reappointment)
- MAPC / Wichita Sedgwick County Board of Zoning and Appeals: John McKay (reappointment)
- Transit Advisory Board: Chris Stanyer (reappointment)
- Wichita Airport Advisory Board: Alicia Sanchez (reappointment)
- Wichita Citizen Review Board: Brandy Willett (reappointment)
- Wichita Employees Retirement System Board: Sean Seamster (reappointment)
Council Member Joseph Shepard’s Appointments (District 1)
- Park Board: Kate Webb (new)
- Library Board: Tadonne Neal (reappointment)
- District 1 Advisory Board: Rachel Mastio, Twila Puritty, Elle Boatman, Chelsea Jackson, Natalie Merten, Naquela Pack, Joseph Dozier (reappointments)
Mayor Lily Wu’s Appointments
- CSBG Northwest board seat: Rosa Cisneros (new; present at the meeting)
- Board of Park Commissioners: Brandon Paulseen (reappointment)
- Food and Farm Council: Thomas Monteil (reappointment)
- Police and Fire Retirement Board: Joseph Bickel (reappointment)
- Sedgwick County Community Corrections Advisory Board: Christopher Haney (reappointment)
- Sustainability Integration Board: Dylan Thiessen (reappointment)
- Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District Advisory Board: Chad Hansen, AJ Boleski, Debra Fraser, Joe Johnson, Mark Schmelzle, Joe Surmeier, Don Sherman (reappointments)
- Wichita Sedgwick County Access Advisory Board: Courtney Wages (reappointment)
- Library Board: Open seat — applications being accepted. Mayor Wu thanked Sarah Valderas for her two years of service.
Mayor Wu noted she will have additional appointments at the next meeting. The council is not yet making appointments to the DICRAB or the land bank.
Public Safety Shoutout — Wichita Firefighters
Council Member Shepard took a moment to recognize Wichita firefighters for resuscitating two children involved in a fire:
“I think oftentimes we hear a lot of the things that may not be working well in the city. I think it’s important to uplift the great things that are happening and the remarkable people who are doing great things in our city too.”
Council Member Hoheisel added that the two children were reported to be doing well.
Social Determinants of Health — District Zip Code Discussion
Council Member Shepard disclosed that he has been in conversation with City Manager Marstall about a proposed task force focused on improving quality of life in the city’s highest-poverty zip codes. No action was taken at this meeting, but Shepard identified the following zip codes as the city’s poorest, spanning portions of Districts 1, 2, 3, and 5:
67203, 67213, 67202, 67211, 67208, 67214, 67218, 67216
The proposed task force would examine social determinants of health, including education access, quality healthcare, neighborhood environment, social community context, and economic mobility. Shepard indicated he will bring this back for future council discussion.
Sidewalk and Accessibility Concerns — Andrew Crane
After the council voted unanimously to allow late public speakers, Andrew Crane addressed the council on the state of downtown sidewalks and crosswalk safety — the same topic he had been registered to speak on during the public agenda:
“I’ve been walking these sidewalks for a number of years and tripped over them a number of times. I want to see our sidewalks as smooth as smooth can be. Even our crosswalks too. Need to be repainted and looking a lot better.”
Crane described a near-miss incident during the St. Patrick’s Day parade: “I almost got hit by a car walking in the crosswalk… that needs to be brought up to your guys’ attention.”
He stated he was speaking on behalf of the disability and blind communities in Wichita, calling for immediate upgrades to pedestrian infrastructure throughout the city.
National League of Cities — Civility Resolution
Mayor Wu reported on the National League of Cities conference, noting that some council members attended and advocated for federal priorities on behalf of Wichita. She then introduced a proposal that grew from the conference:
“I looked and saw that the National League of Cities will have encouraging leaders to have a resolution to lead with civility, dignity and respect. I will be talking with fellow council members and bringing this back up as a council member agenda item. I would like to see a resolution that talks about civility, dignity and respect that the city of Wichita can adopt.”
Council Member Tuttle expressed strong support:
“There are already great templates from other communities who have done that, and they really focus on not only civility among council members, but encouraging civility from the community when talking to council members. But then also civility of council and to staff. And so I think it’s just a great opportunity for us to make a statement.”
Mayor Wu directed staff to begin work on a draft resolution. No vote was taken; this will return as a future agenda item.
Executive Sessions
The council held two executive sessions following the public meeting:
Executive Session 1 (Legal Advice): Beginning at 12:55 PM for 30 minutes, to receive information on the city’s obligations under a Memorandum of Understanding, pursuant to KSA 75-43169(B)(2), for privileged attorney-client consultation with the City Attorney. Vote: 7-0
Executive Session 2 (Real Property): Beginning at 1:25 PM for 15 minutes, to discuss preliminary negotiations regarding the acquisition of real property related to a potential project involving community services, pursuant to KSA 75-43169(B)(2). Vote: 7-0
This session was extended for an additional 15 minutes beginning at 1:50 PM. Vote: 4-0
Mayor Wu returned from executive session at approximately 2:07 PM and stated: “No legal binding action was taken.”
Adjournment
Mayor Wu moved to adjourn at 2:46 PM.
Vote: 6-0
Complete Voting Record
| Agenda Item | Motion | Wu | Glasscock | Shepard | Tuttle | Hoheisel | Johnston | Ballard | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approve March 3 & March 10 minutes | Approve | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7-0 |
| Consent Agenda Items 1–13, 15–28 | Approve | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7-0 |
| Consent Item 14 — 143rd St. overestimate bid | Approve | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5-2 |
| Board of Bids (all except Item 3) | Approve | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7-0 |
| Board of Bids Item 3 — 143rd St. | Approve | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5-2 |
| Petitions for Public Improvements | Approve | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7-0 |
| Mayor Wu travel — LKM Board Meeting | Approve | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7-0 |
| Mayor Wu — Bloomberg Harvard gift waiver | Approve | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7-0 |
| Board appointments | Approve | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7-0 |
| Additional appointments (Glasscock) | Approve | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7-0 |
| Allow late public speaker | Approve | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7-0 |
| Executive Session 1 — Legal advice | Approve | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7-0 |
| Executive Session 2 — Real property | Approve | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7-0 |
| Executive Session 2 extension | Approve | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | — | 4-0 |
| Adjournment | Approve | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | 6-0 |
How to Get Involved
Wichita City Council meetings are held most Tuesdays at 9:00 AM in the City Council Chambers, 455 N. Main Street, Wichita, KS 67202. Meetings are open to the public and streamed live on the city’s website.
Public Agenda: Residents may sign up to address the council during the Public Agenda at the beginning of each meeting. Contact the City Clerk’s office for information on how to register.
Advisory Board Openings: Mayor Wu announced an open seat on the Library Board. Residents interested in serving should contact the Mayor’s office. Additional appointments are expected at upcoming meetings; residents interested in serving on city advisory boards may contact their district council member.
Social Determinants of Health Task Force: Council Member Shepard has indicated this initiative is in early discussion stages. Residents in the identified zip codes (67202, 67203, 67208, 67211, 67213, 67214, 67216, 67218) who want to track or engage with this effort should watch future agendas.
Contact the City Council:
- Mayor Lily Wu: City of Wichita Council Page
- City Manager Dennis Marstall: 316-268-4411
- City Clerk’s Office: 316-268-4331
Next regular City Council meeting: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Voice for Liberty covers Wichita municipal government to help residents stay informed about the decisions being made at City Hall. Coverage is based on official City Council minutes. All quotes are drawn directly from the meeting record. #ICT