The latest news, events, and resources for you

City of Wichita

District 2

Newsletter

April 02, 2021

A Message from Council Member Becky Tuttle

Hello! I hope this finds you doing well and enjoying the warmer temperatures! Next Tuesday, I begin the twelve week Wichita Fire Department Citizens’ Fire Academy. The Citizens' Fire Academy is designed to increase understanding of fire and emergency medical operations and to promote citizen interaction with Wichita Fire Department firefighters. The program enhances awareness of the department's capabilities and limitations, develop realistic expectations of response times from point of dispatch, develop cooperative relationships between firefighters and the citizens of Wichita and encourage participants to become more aware of the dangers of fire and benefits of fire prevention.

Citizens must be at least 18 years of age and live in the City of Wichita. All applicants must submit to a background check and must sign a waiver releasing the City of Wichita of all liabilities while participating in the Academy. There is no charge to participants.

Topics covered in the program include:

WFD History/Introductions
Community Risk Reduction, Fire Prevention: Inspection/Public Education & Fire Investigations
Dispatch (911) and Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation
SCBA-Search and Rescue
Heavy Rescue/Hazardous Materials
Vehicle Extrication
Fire Extinguisher Training
Hose Evolutions
Simulated Fire Evolutions
Graduation

I will be sure to provide updates in future newsletters as to the Academy and how I am progressing. I am extremely thankful to the Wichita Fire Department for all they do on a daily basis and for them allowing me to participate in the Citizens’ Fire Academy!

The next District II Advisory Board meeting will be April 12th at 6:30pm. Please join us if you can, and visit www.wichita.gov/Council/Pages/DistrictII to learn more.

As always, please feel free to contact me anytime at btuttle@wichita.gov. My door and my mind are always open!

Becky

Invite us to your meeting, even if it is virtual!

When I say that my door and my mind are always open, I truly mean that. I want you to feel comfortable reaching out and sharing your ideas and concerns. In fact, your District Community Services Representative, Cory Buchta, and I would love the opportunity to attend your HOA or Neighborhood Association Meeting. If you would like us to attend, please send us an email with the meeting details, and one or both of us will make sure to attend one in the near future. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you!

Becky Tuttle

Wichita City Council

District 2 Council Member

Phone: 316.268.4331

District 2 Poll

Have you ever participated in any of the free citizen academies offered by City of Wichita?

Yes

Select

Not yet, but I plan to soon!

Select

Last Poll Results

Do you plan to attend a game or event at RiverFront Stadium this year?

Yes - 59.6%

Not this year, but maybe next year - 3.5%

No - 17.5%

Not sure - 19.3%

District 2 Updates

Board Updates

District Advisory Board

The District 2 Advisory Board will meet virtually via Zoom on Monday, April 12th. Members of the public are invited to join the meeting and participate.

The DAB will see a presentation regarding the proposed City Council Ethics Policy. Staff is soliciting comment regarding the proposed policy.

The DAB will see a presentation regarding planning case PUD2021-00002. The applicant is requesting a zone change from SF-5 Single Family Residential and LC Limited Commercial to PUD Planned Unit Development to create the Buffalo Grove Planned Unit Development. The site is generally located on the northeast corner of East Pawnee Road and South 127^th Street East. The purpose of the PUD is to create a custom zoning classification to permit a mixture of residential development. The intent is to create a unique, medium density development surrounding greenspaces.

Meeting Information

DAB 2 meets the second Monday of the month at 6:30 pm and is currently meeting virtually via Zoom. To request the zoom link, click here or find it on the District 2 webpage.

The next District 2 Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 12. Join on Zoom by using the link in the agenda.

The 2021 DAB Meeting Calendar is now available. Click here to view.

To find DAB 2 Agendas and Minutes, click here.

To see a listing of the District 2 HOAs and neighborhood associations, click here.

Public Safety

District 2 Crime Trends

Crime trends are tracked and accessible by the public on the Community Crime Map software by Lexis Nexis. With this tool, you can stay up to date on the crimes in your neighborhood. With the Community Crime Map, you have the ability to zoom in on specific areas, filter for specific crimes and dates, and read a description of the reported crime.

Below are snap shots of crime trends in District 2 spanning the last two weeks.

District 2: 03/19 - 04/02

Instructions for using the Community Crime Map

Click on the map above - it will take you to the LexisNexis Community Crime Map website
Click on Kansas
Scroll through the pop-up menu until you find Wichita and click on it
On the left side menu, you can select the date range you would like to view and select specific crimes to filter under the events heading

Wichita Fire Department Introduces New Data Analytics Tool

The Wichita Fire Department is introducing a new tool for tracking and presenting alarm data at District Advisory Board meetings. The tool tracks several key pieces of data including the number and types of alarms responded to by district and by station over a selected time period. At this time, the tool will be used internally to track and present data. Below is the alarm data for March 2021.

City Updates

News and Events

Evergy Offers Financial Assistance

Evergy is reminding customers about their resource page that contains information about extensive financial resources available for those who may be struggling to pay rent and utility bills. Due to recent COVID relief funds, there are new and very flexible assistance programs in which eligible customers can apply. In addition, Evergy has extended its moratorium on service disconnections through May 2nd, and Evergy is currently waiving late fees. Click the link to access the various programs - www.evergy.com/manage-account/billing/financial-help

Stormwater Utility Staff Respond to Recent Storm

While much of Wichita was staying indoors during heavy rainstorms in late March, the Stormwater staff was checking drainage structures and clearing clogs that were creating small floods. Between Monday, March 22 and Tuesday, March 23, Stormwater staff inspected more than 3,000 storm structures, unclogged 85 of them, cleared 75 catch basins, and responded to all emergency requests and complaints. Thanks to staff’s hard work and proactive approach, no major issues were reported.

Fire Department Enforcing April Burn Ban

City of Wichita officials want to remind residents that open burning in certain areas of the state, including Wichita, is restricted during the month of April.

This burn ban is imposed in 16 counties by the State of Kansas through the entire month of April.

Restricted activities include burning trees and brush from land clearing, crop residues, construction debris, yard waste, and the use of backyard chimineas and fire pits.

To comply with the regulations, the Wichita Fire Department (WFD) will enforce an open burning ban during April. Effective April 1, no new burn permits will be issued and all previously issued burn permits will be suspended until at least May 1, 2021. Live fire training will also be suspended during this time.

This ban does not include outdoor cooking apparatuses, ceremonial fires, or open burning for the purpose of crop, range, pasture, and wildlife or watershed management in accordance with K.A.R. 28-19-648.

The state regulations were implemented in response to the Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan. This plan was implemented to address concerns that smoke from Flint Hills agricultural burning during April impacts urban areas by significantly increasing ozone levels, specifically in the Wichita and Kansas City areas.

“Ozone is the number one air quality challenge for the City of Wichita,” said Public Works & Utilities Director Alan King. “In past years, Wichita has experienced events of extremely high levels of ozone due to Flint Hills burning that caused exceedances of the national ozone standard.”

These exceedances could cause the region to go out of attainment and violate regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A “nonattainment” designation could cost businesses and residents millions of dollars due to increased regulations. In addition to financial impacts, high ozone levels can present risks to public health. The City urges residents to do their part to Be Air Aware and reduce ozone by participating in the April Burn Ban.

Questions should be directed to the Environmental Management Analyst, Alejandro Arias-Esparza at (316) 268-4413 or via email at aarias@wichita.gov or the Community Risk Reduction Division at (316) 268-4441. For more information on Wichita’s air quality, visit BeAirAwareKS.org, wichita.gov or follow @Cityofwichitagov on Instagram for weekly forecasts and updates.

Walking Wednesdays

Bike Walk Wichita is launching Walking Wednesday Series of walks to celebrate. Every Wednesday evening from March 31 to May 26, we will walk in a different location to enjoy the outside at a relaxed pace. This year, some of our walks will be in parks and others will be in urban locations, to enjoy the green spaces, art, history, and vitality of Wichita.

Walks are free to all participants and open to all abilities. After our walk, we invite you to stay and join us outside for a casual chat. We want to get to know our ICT neighbors, so bring a lawn chair for our park walks; we’ll use an outside patio for the urban areas. We’ll continue to recommend Covid-19 precautions.

The Bike Walk Wichita Facebook page and website has details for each walk, as well as any last-minute changes due to inclement weather conditions.

Free Wood Mulch

Currently, Brooks Landfill, operated by the City of Wichita, is offering FREE mixed wood mulch to any gardeners or landscapers. The mulch is not bagged, and you will need to bring a trailer or a truck in which to haul the mulch.

For more information, call Brooks Landfill - 316-350-3225. The landfill is located at 4100 N West Street, and open Monday thru Friday, with partial hours on Saturday. Happy gardening!

COVID-19 Vaccine Now Available to People Age 16 and Older

Appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine are available for people aged 16 and older through the Sedgwick County Health Department. Schedule an appointment online at www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/vaccine/schedule/ or schedule it over the phone by dialing (316) 660-1029.

So far, Sedgwick County has provided more than 134,000 doses of the vaccine to residents.

Vaccine Questions:

Contact your medical provider prior to receiving the vaccine if you have questions about how the vaccine may interact with your medical condition and medications you take.

Please continue to direct general questions about the COVID-19 vaccine to (316) 660-1022; this line is not for scheduling appointments.

Face Masks Still Required in City Facilities

Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, the City of Wichita continues to require employees and visitors to all City facilities, including individuals who have received a vaccination, to wear masks, practice safe social distancing and to limit attendance at City facilities until further notice.

Additionally, City Transit buses and the Eisenhower Airport are governed under the Federal Transportation Authority and Transportation Security Administration, which operate under the federal executive order requiring masks to be worn on all regulated methods of transportation.

The City recommends residents continue to wear masks, practice safe social distancing and avoid large public gatherings to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

City Services

Report an Issue with AccessWichita

Need to report a pot hole in your neighborhood? Want to find out who your local beat police officer is? Head over to AccessWichita, our new information resource and reporting tool. You can also sign up to receive city alerts, see upcoming events and track your improvement requests. Check it out at AccessWichita.com!