Wichita council approves lodging-establishment licensing ordinance on first reading to target problem motels

Wichita City Council voted unanimously to place a new lodging-establishment licensing ordinance on first reading, giving the city authority to require an annual $200 license for hotels and motels and to inspect premises when complaints arise.

Jan Jarman of the city law department, presenting on behalf of the Wichita Police Department, said the ordinance is intended to address recurring complaints that the city lacks local licensing authority. Under the proposal, applicants must hold a valid Kansas state license, maintain $1 million in liability insurance and acknowledge the ordinance; decisions on applications would be made within 30 days. Jarman said "there will be no hourly rates allowed at hotels or motels" and described minimum cleanliness and pest-control standards including clean bedding, sanitary ice machines and a bed-bug control plan.

Councilmembers and staff described an enforcement process that favors correction over immediate revocation for most violations. Jarman said suspensions or revocations would be reserved for "significant health or safety issues or habitual failure to correct a premise violation," and that immediate suspensions would be reserved for imminent danger. Most suspensions would be stayed during appeal hearings before a three-person council panel, she said.

Several council members asked about implementation and outreach. The city manager noted staff is working with Visit Wichita and hotel partners, and staff plans a digital application system if the ordinance is approved. Councilmember Tuttle and others asked how the city would track compliance; Jarman said the city has emails for the 106 state-licensed lodging establishments and expects to use electronic notices and follow-up visits where necessary.

Residents who work and live around South Broadway urged adoption. Christopher Swanson, a neighborhood resident and small-business owner, said the corridor relies on hourly motels but called for higher standards to reduce calls for emergency services and improve safety. "I think in the long run, even though there's some cost and some time upfront, I think this will hopefully save some of our other service folks," he said.

Councilmembers emphasized they intended the rule to help "good actors" and to target chronic nuisance properties. The council voted 7-0 to place the ordinance on first reading and authorize signatures; next steps will include the city's formal ordinance process (second reading and publication) before the measure becomes effective.