City of Wichita
District I
Newsletter
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Greetings,
I would like to publicly thank our Director of Housing and Community Services, John Hall, for his hard work to ensure Wichita was able to secure an opportunity for Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD).
This week the City Council approved the RAD pilot for our city. This is a big deal! We currently have 578 public housing units in our city, and through this program we will rebuild them ALL! Our citizens who need a hand up should not have to live in dilapidated housing and now they will not have to.
By the end of 2019, we should have new public housing. Structures will be stripped down to to foundation and frame and rebuilt. I have been excited since the vote passed.
I had to share my excitement with you and this is also a big boost to our local economy and jobs that will stem from this.
The latest design of Naftzger Park was unveiled on Wednesday during a public information meeting at Downtown Wichita, 505 E. Douglas.
Tom Balsley, an internationally-recognized architect with the SWA Balsley firm, shared renderings of the design during a presentation. Please see attachment.
Wednesday marked the third public input meeting on the future of the park since July. Public feedback and best practices for park operations were incorporated into the new design of the downtown park, Balsley said. District I City Council Member Brandon Johnson discussed the need for the park's revitalization and Wichita Parks & Recreation Director Troy Houtman discussed programming in the park. Mayor Jeff Longwell praised the design.
"Naftzger Park connects two core components of our downtown, and was designed to be inclusive," Longwell said. "We look forward to watching this park transform into a space the entire community can enjoy."
Next, Balsley will present the design to various local boards including the Design Council, Historic Preservation Board, Downtown Wichita Board of Directors and the Wichita Parks Board, for their approval before presenting it to the City Council.
If approved by the City Council, work on the park could begin as early as summer of 2018.
Lynette Woodard Recreation Center has been busy hosting events for youth during spring break. It was a pleasure to see kids playing basketball in Open Gym, learning bike safety at the Bike Jam hosted in partnership with Bike/Walk Wichita, and getting trained during the Lawn Mowing Clinic hosted in partnership with K-State Research & Extension Office. (
Media coverage for a positive youth initiative can be viewed here)
 
No District 1 Breakfast is scheduled for April. The community is encouraged to attend or participate in the Law Enforcement Appreciation Parade and Community Block Party.
District 1 City Council Member,
Brandon J. Johnson
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Updates from District I &
Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center
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The Kansas Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)
Applications are due by March 30th and available at
Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center, 2755 E. 19th Street.
The Kansas Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is a Federally funded program that helps eligible households pay a portion of their home energy costs by providing a one-time per year benefit. Benefit levels vary according to the following factors: 1) Household income, 2) number of persons living at the address, 3) type of dwelling, 4) type of heating fuel, and 5) utility rates.
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FREE TAX PREPARATION
Each year, the BE$T* Coalition of South Central Kansas offers free income tax preparation for working people who have low to moderate income. Millions of dollars in tax credits go unclaimed each year because people don't know about them or how to apply for them.
VITA volunteers, who are trained and certified by the IRS, provide assistance to individuals who qualify and help them obtain credits for which they are eligible (including the Earned Income Tax Credit).
The BE$T Coalition of South Central Kansas was founded and is supported by the City of Wichita, IRS and United Way of the Plains. The coalition consists of numerous organizations.
Call Atwater 303-8016 or Call United Way 2-1-1
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Neighborhood Updates...
1.
If you or a neighbor has a sidewalk that needs repaired or a tree that needs removed please consider applying for the N
eighborhood Grant for District 1. You may qualify for up to $1,500 in assistance.
2. The McAdams Neighborhood Association Free Little Library received an artist design from a local high school student during spring break.
3. Please continue to report potholes, street lights out, and other concerns in your area by calling 316-303-8016.
4. It is time to apply for your neighborhood clean up. Please contact your neighborhood association to volunteer or call 303-8018.
5. 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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2018-19 Mayor's Youth Council Application Period Now Open!
The
Mayor's Youth Council (MYC) was established in 2008 to provide Wichita youth with the opportunity to weigh in on community issues and learn about local government. MYC provides an outlet for young leaders to discuss and take action on issues that are important to them. Members have opportunities to develop their leadership skills through community engagement activities, to advocate for youth in community matters, and to represent their peers in the development and adoption of public policy at the local, state, and national levels.
MYC is composed of approximately 30 high school students who live within the City of Wichita. As a student-led organization, the Executive Committee functions as the governing body of the Council and its six members, who are in at least their second year on the Council, are voted into their positions at the beginning of each MYC year. The Council is further divided into sub-committees called "issue groups" which are established each year by the Council and focus on the specific public policy issues which the members are most passionate about. Each issue group elects its own Chairs or Co-Chairs and spends the year working to complete a key project which will advance the group's position on the issue.
Click here
to apply and learn more!
Deadline is March 25.
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April Burn Ban Restrictions
As April approaches, the Fire Department and Environmental Health wants to remind citizens about the April burn restrictions. Restricted activities include burning trees and brush from land clearing, crop residues, construction debris, fire fighter training burns, and yard waste. The restrictions do not include outdoor cooking. During ozone season, non-essential open burning operations will be suspended from April 1 through May 1.
The burning restrictions are a result of state regulations enacted in 2011 to address air pollution in urban areas. They are designed to discourage open burning in 16 specific counties during the month of April. Burn activities not explicitly exempted by the new state regulation will be subject to review and approval by the City of Wichita Division of Environmental Health.
The restrictions stem from the Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan, implemented to address concerns that smoke from regional agricultural burning was significantly affecting urban area ozone levels, specifically the Wichita and Kansas City areas
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If the urban areas exceed certain limits, then fines can be imposed on those jurisdictions.
Questions should be directed to the Fire Prevention Division at 268-4441 or to the Office of Environmental Health at 268-8350.
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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: Traffic is restricted to one lane each direction on Douglas between Edgemoor and Woodlawn.
Contractor: Nowak Construction
City Contact: Jeff Terhune (268-4046 / jterhune@wichita.gov) Estimated completion: Early 2019
Douglas and Hydraulic Intersection: The project will add left turn lanes and reduce Hydraulic to one lane in each direction. New signals, brick pedestrian crosswalks, sidewalks, and landscaping amenities and enhancements will be provided for pedestrian safety.
Traffic Impact: Intermittent flagging of traffic may occur during work hours.
Contractor: Cornejo & Sons
City Contact: Greg Baalman (268-4048 / gbaalman@wichita.gov)
Estimated completion: Spring 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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Tired of renting? Find out how you can own an affordable Wichita Habitat for Humanity home!
There are many benefits to homeownership. Learn more at one of our meetings: Saturday, March 24, at 10 a.m. or Saturday, April 7, at 10 a.m. We also will have a meeting in Spanish on March 24 and April 7 at t 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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