Wichita City Council members received an update Tuesday on a plan for downtown parking that has generated opposition from citizens and business owners. Assistant City Manager Troy Anderson said the plan was developed because the city has struggled with balancing the costs of operations and maintenance with effective parking management. He said a 6,800-space system would need over $1.3 million in annual maintenance expenses, but the current parking fund balance would not be enough to provide ongoing repair and maintenance. Enhancements such as safety, security, cleanliness and beautification would add to the deficit. The City Council delayed implementation of the parking plan to allow for more community input. Anderson said there have been several themes that came out of recent public meetings on the parking plan: Paid parking could discourage downtown retail activity; The existing system is working; Businesses cannot afford to pay for parking; Employees would be penalized by paid parking; and, Maintenance and security for the system needs to be enhanced but not solely through increased rates. Anderson said the city is looking at options for addressing the goals of the parking plan and the needs of the public: Continuation of existing parking agreements, with rate adjustments to meet operating and
maintenance needs; Installation of meters with one hour of free parking and $.75/hour for remaining time; Discounted daily rates for downtown employees; Sponsorships of on street parking spaces; Availability of discounted parking passes (i.e. daily, monthly); and, Funding of ongoing maintenance and operating costs by users and capital improvement projects by the property tax. Anderson said there are two more opportunities for the public to provide input on the parking plan. They are scheduled for September 14th and October 12th from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Farm & Art Market. City staff will continue to gather feedback over the next couple of weeks and they will be back to the City Council in the next 30 to 60 days with a review and recommendations for any proposed changes to the parking plan. Council members Brandon Johnson and Becky Tuttle said it will be important for the city to move ahead with a management plan for a modernized parking system, with the growth and investment going on in the downtown area.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

The City of Garden Plain will be getting a federal grant to help build a new municipal pool and aquatics facility. The grant is for over $1.6 million from the National Parks Service, administered through the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. The city plans to build an aquatics center that includes a zero-entry pool with a shallow play area, lap swim lanes, a bathhouse and concession building, and features such as a diving board, basketball goal, a slide, shade structures, inflatables and a splash pad area. The total estimated cost of the facility will be $3.27 million, so the grant funds will cover about half the cost of construction. Garden Plain Mayor Kevin Hammond said in a press release that the city will move as quickly as possible through the design and construction process. The project will go out for bids and it’s expected to take 18 to 24 months to complete. The aquatics facility will be located at the north end of City Park, east of the pickleball courts. The playground equipment currently located in the project area will be moved to another area of the park. The city also plans to pave the current parking areas and possibly expand them to allow for more visitors.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Wichita mayor Lily Wu reported a slight increase in water usage over the past week, but she said usage has been mostly steady and there has been an overall drop in water usage as the city goes into its second month of outdoor watering restrictions. The city went into Stage Two of its drought response plan on August 5th, and outdoor watering is limited to one day a week. The city is divided into four quadrants and watering is only for a specific day for each quadrant, with no watering on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Mayor said the city has sent 242 warning letters so far to homes and businesses that have not followed the restrictions. She emphasized that the goal is education and the importance of working together to save water. The Cheney Reservoir is at 67.2 percent of its conservation pool for the 12-month moving average, and it is now 59.7 percent full. Mayor Wu said recent rainfall did not provide much relief. The city continues to offer a rebate program on water-saving appliances, such as rain barrels. As of August 30th, more than $50,000 was still available in the program. The city has approved rebates for 343 devices, totaling more than $24,000. More information on the rebates and on water-saving practices is available at the city’s web site savewichitawater.com.
Source: 101.3 KFDI