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Mayor Mary Lou lauds storm response, highlights homelessness outreach ahead of March sales-tax vote
Summary
Mayor Mary Lou credited city crews and partners for storm response—police handled more than 1,300 calls and 114 unhoused people accepted shelter—and reminded residents the City Council will hear expanded public comment Feb. 10 ahead of a March 3 sales-tax vote covering five initiatives.
Mayor Mary Lou on Wednesday thanked city crews, Wichita Police and Wichita Fire for their response to a recent winter storm and outlined ongoing outreach to people experiencing homelessness. "The Wichita Police Department received over 1,300 calls for service from last Friday to this past Monday," she said, adding officers made "over 600 calls and contacts with unhoused individuals" and that 114 of those individuals chose to receive assistance to find shelter.
The mayor said partner organizations helped during the storm: Wichita Animal Services took in 56 animals (10 belonging to people staying at shelters) and Second Light provided food and shelter to 330 guests on Friday and 365 on Sunday. She noted the annual point-in-time count was underway and thanked United Way of the Plains for coordinating volunteers; last year's count identified 736 people experiencing homelessness in Wichita.
The briefing also addressed upcoming public engagement tied to a proposed citywide sales tax. "As a reminder, on February 10, the council meeting will now move from 9AM to 6PM to accommodate individuals who would like to speak about the sales tax to the council," Mayor Mary Lou said. She listed five planned initiatives the tax would fund or affect: homelessness, property-tax relief, public safety, Century II improvements, and performing arts, and reminded residents the final vote is scheduled for March 3.
Why it matters: The numbers the mayor cited show city services and nonprofit partners providing shelter and other emergency services during an extreme-weather period. The upcoming Feb. 10 council meeting change extends evening speaking opportunities for residents who want to weigh in on the sales-tax ballot measures before the March 3 vote.
What happens next: The City Council will meet at 6 p.m. on Feb. 10 to hear public comment related to the sales-tax initiatives ahead of the March 3 vote; the mayor encouraged residents to contact council members via wichita.gov/citycouncil and to participate in the point-in-time count.
