Tagged: city council

The city of Wichita has scheduled six public meetings to get input from residents on how to respond to prolonged drought conditions. Officials want to gather information about how people are being affected by the drought and to generate ideas for extending the water supply.

“We’re looking for water utility customers, both residential and business, to weigh in on the issue,” said Ben Nelson, strategic services manager for Wichita's Public Works and Utilities.

The City of Wichita anticipates a quarter million dollars in projected hotel cash flow from the city-owned downtown Hyatt as part of the proposed 2013-14 budget.

Wichita City Manager Bob Layton gave an overview of the proposed budget as part of a formal public hearing during Tuesday’s city council meeting.  Layton told council members one issue that helped shape the budget has to do with the Hyatt.

“This budget anticipates for the first time, a revenue flow to the city from the Hyatt operations,” said Layton.

The City council Tuesday voted to approve a new rate model and rental increases at Century II.

Rental rates have not changed at Century II since 2000.

Under the proposal changes, the performing arts and events center will go from a period rental model to a day rate model.

A 2 percent rate increase will go into effect in January of 2015.

Currently Century II rents for 6 hour periods in the concert hall and on a day rate for the expo halls.

An update of the proposed 2013-2014 budget was presented to Wichita City council members Tuesday.  The plan includes eliminating 37 positions to help balance the budget.

The 37 jobs slated to be cut include 19 vacant positions in the Office of Central Inspection, and 10 in engineering.  Also, eight police positions will be eliminated including seven grant-funded police officers plus another police position, a civilian working in parking enforcement.

City Manager Robert Layton says the plan is to move these workers into other positions.