City of Wichita
District I
Newsletter
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Greetings,
I hope you all had a great Labor Day Weekend! I spent some time this weekend at the Melanin Fest in the McAdams Dunbar Arts District. Several new murals went up in this are and there was free food and music for the community.
Our District I Breakfast is
9:00 am Saturday, September 8, 2018 at Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center, 2755 E. 19th Street. We will have our new Patrol North Captain, Lem Moore as well as the new secretary for the Patrol North. Our new Transit Director, Michael Tann, will be presenting and listening to ways our transit system can improve.
Our District I Advisory Board meeting will be
at 6:00 pm on Monday, September 10, 2018 at the new Advanced Learning Library. If you have not been yet, this is a great opportunity to see the new facility and stay up to date on District I activities.
This past Thursday a diverse group of people pulled together for a meeting to take action on violence in our community. This meeting focused on solutions that we can begin to implement immediately to reduce violence and hopefully stop the meaningless deaths we have continued to see in our city this year.
This month we began the process of looking at a neighborhood development plan in the Crestview Lakes/Northeast Heights area. We are still working with several members of the Northeast At-Lynn Neighborhood to re-establish their association and will soon be in the Schweiter Neighborhood as well.
There has been a bit of a stir on social media regarding Westar (Evergy) energy upgrading its infrastructure in parts of NE Wichita. Westar began this process several years ago and now they are nearing completion. I will keep you informed on next steps in the infrastructure upgrade.
Last month we saw the ground breaking of the Spaghetti Works District/Naftzger Park and we are excited about the $1,400,000 contribution from Evergy to that project.
Lastly, I hope to see you soon, and it is an honor to serve you.
Onward,
Brandon J. Johnson
Council Member, Wichita City Council, District I
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Updates from District I &
Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center
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1.
If you or a neighbor are homeowners and have a sidewalk that needs repaired, a tree that needs trimmed/removed or have concerns with who's name in on the deed to your home please consider applying for the N
eighborhood Grant for District 1. You may qualify for up to $1,500 in assistance.
2. Please continue to report potholes, street lights out, and other concerns in your area by calling 316-303-8016.
3. The Lord's Diner Food Truck serving 4-6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the parking lot of Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center. Anyone is welcome to a meal. Volunteers are appreciated; please call Sheryl at 316-266-4966.
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City Announcements & Activities
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S
tay up-to-date on City events, announcements and headlines
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Triple-A Team from
New Orleans Seeking to Relocate to Wichita
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Conceptual rendering, not official design
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The New Orleans Bab
y Cakes, of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, have filed a Relocation Application with Minor League Baseball seeking to relocate the club to Wichita. The Relocation Application must be approved by Minor League Baseball and the Pacific Coast League, and reviewed by the Baseball Office of the Commissioner, before the Club can relocate.
The New Orleans Baby Cakes are currently affiliated with the Major League Miami Marlins.
"Triple-A baseball is coming to Wichita because of who we are today and because of who we aspire to be tomorrow," said Mayor Jeff Longwell. "We've worked tirelessly on this deal. It's not just about another great quality of life amenity, or baseball: this is about investing in our city and continuing to make Wichita a regional destination."
An official decision from Minor League Baseball and the Pacific Coast League is expected later this year.
Wichita has not had an affiliated team since the Double-A affiliated Wichita Wranglers left the city in 2006.
Lawrence Dumont Stadium is slated to be torn down within a year, and a new stadium to be built on the site using STAR bonds, which capture sales tax revenue in a development area and funnel it to project costs.
The attraction of affiliated baseball was identified in 2016 by Mayor Longwell as a crucial component of his quality of life initiative to rejuvenate the Arkansas River corridor with signature amenities as part of the City's strategic effort to retain existing and attract new employee talent for Wichita's businesses.
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Firefighters Caring For Firefighters
The Wichita Fire Department responds "Rehab 7" to all major incidents to assist firefighters working in physically demanding, emergency scenes. Firefighters perform life-saving task in extreme weather temperatures. Firefighters engaging in physical tasks of fighting fire, searching for victims, rescuing victims, and many other tasks to bring a large emergency incident under control can cause those working in hot and heavy protective gear to fatigue quickly, overheat, dehydrate, and possibly have a critical cardiac event.
Rehab 7 was designed to provide a temperature controlled environment for exhausted firefighters engaged in emergency, life-saving actions at major incidents. When firefighters enter Rehab 7 they can take a break, rehydrate, and have fellow firefighters monitor their physical well-being before returning to work. Firefighters assigned to Rehab 7 will assist fellow firefighters through a simple evaluation of checking their heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and watch for any critical signs of distress. Rehab 7 has a critical role at emergency scenes by providing fatigued firefighters rest and recovery before returning back to work.
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NOON - 5 PM ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2018
A four-mile stretch of Douglas Avenue from College Hill to Delano will be closed so pedestrians and bicyclists can enjoy an afternoon of music, art, street vendors, food vendors, demonstrations and performances. Wagons and big wheels are welcome. Free event for all ages!
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Free Paint Available...
The City of Wichita is offering free paint for owner-occupant homeowners who meet income guidelines and whose property is located within city limits. Qualified homeowners are eligible for up to $250 in paint.
Federal income limits apply. The income limit for a single-person household is $37,200, the two-person household limit is $42,500, the three-person household limit is $47,800, and the four-person household limit is $53,100.
"The program makes such a big difference in the appearance of a home as well as the entire block," John E. Hall, Director of the Housing and Community Services Department, said. "We are asking for help from neighborhood associations to spread the word to members and to consider organizing paint parties."
The program is available on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted or until the program ends on Sept. 30. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development makes funding available through the Community Development Block Grant.
To learn more about the free paint program or eligibility, please contact the Home Improvement Program at (316) 462-3713.
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Is your home in need of improvements?
The Housing and Community Services Department offers Low-interest home improvement loans to qualifying homeowners! Low-interest loan programs are also available for qualifying rental property owners for the improvement of rental properties! Contact 462-3713 for additional information!
Improvement loans are also available for owners of historic homes! Contact Kathy Morgan with the Metropolitan Area Planning Department for additional information regarding this program, at 268-4392.
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FREE ADMISSION TO
WICHITA MUSEUMS!
SEPTEMBER 22, 2018
Museum Day is an annual celebration of boundless curiosity hosted by Smithsonian magazine. Participating museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free entry to anyone presenting a Museum Day ticket.
The Museum Day ticket provides free admission for two people on Saturday, September 22, 2018.
Tickets are available for the public to download. In Wichita, the following museums are participating: Kansas Aviation Museum, Museum of World Treasures, Old Cowtown Museum, Ulrich Museum of Art (always free), Kansas Sports Hall of Fame (always free), Wichita Art Museum (always free on Saturdays), Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum and The Kansas African-American Museum.
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2018 Wichita Wagonmasters
Downtown Chili Cookoff
Sept. 22, 12 - 3:30 p.m.
102 S. Saint Francis
You can get in on the action with a $5 tasting kit that can be purchased at the event.
Public tasting starts at noon and you'll be able to sample more than 70 varieties of chili and salsa made by teams from Kansas and surrounding states.
Competitors include cooks vying for a spot in the World Championship Chili Cookoff, groups of co-workers or friends cooking for fun, non-profits and restaurants.
Chili categories include no beans, chili verde, red chili, home-style chili, anything goes and there's also a salsa competition.
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Upcoming Fall Classes:
(Click the underlined words/link for more information)
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Check out what's happening
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Construction Caution for District I
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DISTRICT I-CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS...
Eastborough North Water Main Replacement:
This project will replace water mains in neighborhoods generally
located between Douglas, Edgemoor, 2nd Street and Armour.
Traffic Impact: Huntington Avenue is reduced to one lane between Woodlawn and Stratford.
Contractor: Nowak Construction
City Contact: Jeff Terhune (268-4046 / jterhune@wichita.gov)
Estimated completion: Spring 2019
Central & Vassar Intersection: The project will add a left turn lane on westbound Central at Vassar, including signal modifications, median reconstruction and new pedestrian crosswalks.
Traffic Impact: Intermittent lane closures during construction for signal pole and sidewalk construction.
Contractor: Kansas Paving
City Contact: Greg Baalman (268-4048 / gbaalman@wichita.gov)
Estimated completion: Summer 2018
Oliver, 17th to 19th Street North:
This project will widen Oliver to a five-lane roadway with two through lanes in each direction and a center two-way left turn lane. The intersection at 17th and Oliver will be reconstructed to include a dedicated right turn lane for sound bound Oliver onto 17th Street and left turn lanes in all directions. New signals,
brick pedestrian crosswalks, 10' sidewalks, landscaping amenities and enhancements will be constructed.
Traffic Impact: Oliver is one lane in each direction. Left turns are restricted for north bound Oliver at 17th Street.
Contractor: Kansas Paving
City Contact: Kyle Kerns (268-4044 / kkerns@wichita.gov)
Estimated completion: Fall 2018
9th Street, I-135 to Hillside: This project will reconstruct 9th Street to a three-lane roadway with one lane in each direction and a center two-way left turn lane. The intersection at Grove will be reconstructed to include left turn lanes in all directions, new traffic signals, and brick crosswalks. The project will construct sidewalk, including a 10-foot wide multi-use path on the south side of 9th Street. The project also includes drainage improvements, water main replacement, and aesthetic improvements.
Traffic Impact: 9th Street is eastbound only between I-135 and Hillside. Grove St. is northbound only between Mossman and 10th St. Speed limit on 9th St. is reduced to 25 MPH during construction.
Contractor: Cornejo & Sons
City Contact: Greg Baalman (268-4048 / gbaalman@wichita.gov)
Estimated completion: Fall 2018
45th St. N. and Hillside Intersection: The project will widen the intersection to provide left and right turn lanes for all directions, and include installation of a new traffic signal.
Traffic Impact: The intersection of 45th & Hillside is CLOSED for the duration of the project. The eastbound K-254 off-ramp to 45th Street/Hillside is CLOSED.
Contractor: Pearson Construction
City Contact: Greg Baalman (268-4048 / gbaalman@wichita.gov)
Estimated completion: Fall 2018
13th Street N., Oliver to Woodlawn: This project will perform street repairs in preparation of a surface treatment along 13th Street, between Oliver and Woodlawn.
Traffic Impact: 13th Street North is one lane in each direction throughout the area of construction.
Contractor: Barkley Construction
City Contact: Kyle Kerns (268-4044 / kkerns@wichita.gov)
Estimated completion: Fall 2018
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Click here to find up-to-date information regarding street maintenance in your area.
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Community Activities & Services
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2018 Wichita Expungement Drive
Through the Kansas Bar Foundation CRHA Grant Program, Kansas Legal Services and the Wichita Bar Association are holding an expungement drive this fall.
Applications accepted between August 15, 2018 until September 30,
2018 ONLY.
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Would you like to own an affordable home?
It will change your life! Wichita Habitat for Humanity homes are affordable, safe, attractive and will provide your family with a better future.
Learn more at one of our meetings: Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 22, at 10 a.m. We also will have a meeting in Spanish on Saturday, Sept. 22, at 10 a.m.
Meetings are at our office at 130 E. Murdock St., between Main and Market streets.
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KANSAS HOUSING WEATHERIZATION
Low-income families pay an average of 18% of their annual income for energy, compared with 5% for other households. Weatherization services save customers an average of $358 annually. For every $1 invested in the program, weatherization returns $2.51 to the household and society. For the Wichita area, the State is having residents contact South Central Kansas Economic Development District (SCKEDD) at 316-262-7035.
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Helpful Resources & Information
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New City Information Booklet Released
THE CITY OF WICHITA COMMUNITY SERVICES booklet
is designed to provide you with important tips and information on a variety of community issues. By working together, we can help prevent and solve crimes, improve and make neighborhoods safer, resolve conflicts and enhance our quality of life. This booklet is divided into categories to make it simple to find information that is important to you.
The City of Wichita hopes you will find this booklet to be a valuable resource and will share this information with your family, friends and neighbors. If you have additional questions, please use the contact information at the back of the booklet.
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Wichita is working to help people who are homeless. The brochure attached below identifies some of the available resources.
Dial 211 for more information or call the WPD Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) AT 316-854-3013.
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2755 E. 19th St. N.
Wichita, KS 67214
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