Sedgwick County commissioners voted unanimously on Nov. 12 to authorize a two-year lease of a roughly 50,000-square-foot vacant lot adjacent to the Douglas Tag Office to create about 85 parking stalls and ease customer and staff parking demand.

Assistant County Manager Tanya Cole told the board the lease would begin Dec. 1, 2025, and include a $31,233.99 one-time tenant-improvement payment to mill, patch and pave the lot and mark parking stalls. Cole said the county would cover maintenance and be permitted to add signage and enforce parking restrictions. The lease includes an option to purchase the lot for $260,000 at any time during the two-year term.

Chairman Ryan Beatty described the lease as a short-term fix while state-level tag-office legislation and internal satellite/title-processing initiatives continue. Cole clarified funding: lease payments and the tenant-improvement cost will be paid from the auto license fund.

A motion to authorize and approve the lease was made, seconded and approved by unanimous roll call (Commissioners Bluebaugh, Wise, Howe, Meitzner and Chairman Beatty recorded "Aye").

The county will proceed with tenant improvements and signage; staff said ongoing efforts to reduce tag-office traffic include satellite offices and partnerships with auto dealerships that could reduce title traffic by an estimated 30%–35% if implemented.