Wichita leaders preview busy December council agenda with housing bonds, IRBs and water-plant planning

Wichita City officials on a council preview call outlined a packed December agenda, including requests for multifamily housing revenue bonds, large industrial revenue bond (IRB) proposals and continued planning to convert the main water treatment plant for emergency use.

Mayor (unnamed in the transcript) told council members the Dec. 2 meeting will open with a presentation from Sherry Utash of WSU Tech and will include four public-agenda items: approval of an employment contract with the city manager, an $8,000,000 multifamily housing revenue bond for a 30-unit apartment project, a $7,000,000 multifamily housing revenue bond for a 36-unit project, and $15,000,000 in industrial revenue bonds to support consolidation of Envision’s facilities on South Water Street.

The agenda preview also listed capital and operating items, including a proposed irrigation installation budget for Texan Solver and Albert Hills golf courses, review and selection of one of three proposed water and sewer rate options for 2026, and two change orders for the B & R project totaling a net $1,900,000 increase that staff said would not change the overall budget. The mayor said the council would consider about $1,000,000 in park upgrades at A. Price Woodard and Chester I. Lewis Parks and approximately $4,000,000 for scheduled replacement of heavy equipment and snow-removal equipment.

Economic development items include a $2,400,000 airport special facility revenue bond for a hangar at Jabara Airport and larger IRB requests: $45,000,000 for improvements at Textron Aviation, $60,000,000 for Locksfield Place Retirement Communities, and $12,000,000 for construction at Air Capital Flight Line. The mayor also noted an allocation for Cheney Watershed water-quality projects and a roughly $690,000 grant application to support transit for seniors and people with disabilities.

On housing, the mayor said the council would consider the sale of 29 Public Housing Authority homes to three purchasing entities for redevelopment or sale/rent. The agenda preview also included proposed zoning changes in Districts 2, 3 and 4 and a conditional use permit to be considered.

A councilmember asked about consent agenda item No. 19, an annexation of right-of-way covering about 15.4 lane miles that staff estimated would add approximately $201,000 in annual maintenance costs. Staff responded that many of the annexations are right-of-way only, and that annexing one side of a roadway can, over time, increase associated property values and property tax revenue; staff also said Sedgwick County has cooperated by improving road conditions before turning them over and that “the state law is set for annexation.”

Philip Ziebenberger of the planning department replied to a separate question about missing advisory-board (DAB) notes, saying, “We sure will get DAB notes, sent to you guys,” and apologized that they were omitted from the packet. On the water-treatment item, staff member Gary said the council previously approved the concept to convert the existing plant for emergency use, described the work as a progressive design-build project and estimated roughly 12 months to develop design work while staff evaluates potential future water reuse options.

Staff also said the Douglas Avenue redesign item will move from Dec. 9 to Dec. 16; Paul Gansman said staff will re-notify adjacent property owners and update the website. Councilmembers noted upcoming community events, including Mitchell Wonderland at Basker Park and the Carl Ford Community Center grand opening.

A councilmember stated they will record a conflict and said they “will be a state for this vote” tomorrow; the transcript records that statement as given and the council preview did not include a formal vote. No final actions were recorded during the preview; the items above are scheduled for decision at the council meeting(s) listed on the agenda.