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Wichita City Council approves 135th Street funding, public‑art concepts and multiple contracts
Summary
At its Sept. 16 meeting the Wichita City Council approved the revised budget and change‑order authority to finish a gap on 135th Street, authorized an $8M revenue‑bond process for a 60‑unit multifamily project, approved a vendor for false‑alarm management and signed off on three public‑art concepts for the Arkansas River Westbank and other trail projects.
Wichita — The City Council on Sept. 16 approved a slate of infrastructure, housing and cultural items after a morning of proclamations and public comment.
The council voted unanimously to approve a revised budget and change‑order authority for the 135th Street West project, which will complete a missing stretch of sidewalks and multi‑use path between Central and 13th Street North. Council and staff debated whether the project should pair a 6‑foot sidewalk on one side with a 10‑foot multi‑use path on the other; staff said the 10‑foot sections come from the city’s bicycle master plans and cost estimates put 1 mile of 6‑foot sidewalk at about $174,240 and 1 mile of 10‑foot multi‑use path at about $290,400.
Council also held and closed a public hearing to authorize a letter of intent allowing Enclave West LLC to pursue roughly $8 million in multifamily housing revenue bonds for a 60‑unit project at 13th and West; staff said the project would qualify for a 50% property‑tax abatement in year one (an estimated $106,000 across taxing jurisdictions) and for sales‑tax exemptions. The hearing drew no public speakers, and the council adopted the resolution on a unanimous vote.
The council authorized submission of a $7,295,000 grant application to the Kansas Water Office for a proposed Botanica water‑learning center in Sim Park. If awarded, staff said the project would not require a local match and would support a hands‑on K–12 education facility and connected conservatory space.
On contracts, the council approved a one‑year false‑alarm registration and management agreement with PMAM Corporation that staff said carries a 76%/24% city/vendor revenue split; leaders debated whether a slightly higher split would be preferable but approved the contract 6–0, with staff saying service continuity and improved collections were priorities.
Finance staff reported results of a recent bond and note sale and the council ratified awards to underwriters. Separately, the council approved modest premium increases for the 2026 group health and dental plans (roughly 3% and 3.5% respectively) and accepted a voluntary pharmacy‑advocate program.
The council approved 30% design concepts for three public‑art commissions on the Arkansas River Westbank (artist contracts of $200,000; $270,000; and $100,000 cited) and separate 30% designs for the Redbud Trail bridge and Douglas corridor public‑art packages. Council also selected RDG Planning & Design to prepare an updated parks and recreation master plan (not to exceed $301,250) with a $51,250 donation from the Wichita Parks Foundation covering the amount above the CIP allocation.
Housing items included council approval of a $630,000 HOME allocation to Mennonite Housing Rehabilitation Services to build seven single‑family homes priced at approximately $131,000 each after subsidies. The council also accepted the HUD CAPER report covering the 2024–25 program year.
Other actions included adoption on first reading of an update to the Wichita–Sedgwick County Airport Hazard Zoning Code to align local height and signal rules with FAA guidance, and the council upheld an appeal and approved a Delano design‑review application after a contested local review process. The meeting recessed for an executive session on pending civil litigation.
Votes at a glance (selected) - Approve minutes (09/09/2025): passed 6–0 (1 absent) - Revise 135th St. project budget & change order: passed 6–0 - Enclave West revenue bond public hearing resolution: passed 6–0 - Botanica Kansas Water Office grant application: passed 6–0 - Award false‑alarm contract to PMAM (76% city / 24% vendor): passed 6–0 - Approve public‑art 30% concepts (Westbank, Redbud, Douglas): passed 6–0 - RDG contract for parks master plan (NTE $301,250) and accept donation: passed 6–0 - HOME allocation to Mennonite Housing ($630,000): passed 5–0 with one abstention
The council generally moved through a mix of long‑running planning debates and routine approvals; the 135th Street sidewalk discussion drew the most sustained debate over tradeoffs between upfront cost, long‑term maintenance and pedestrian/bicycle connectivity.
