Kansas law requires Wichita to hold another public hearing

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Recently, the Wichita city council passed a resolution announcing a public hearing on a TIF district and its project plan. The city then, on the day before the hearing, substantially changed the plan. This change means that the city must hold another public hearing.

Kansas statute 12-1772 says in paragraph (c)(3)(f) that substantial changes to the project plan require a new public hearing. The changes the Wichita city council made less than 24 hours before the public hearing nearly doubled the planned spending. Further, the new spending is of a different character. These are substantial changes that require a new public hearing.

This post on my blog, which was printed as an op-ed in the Wichita Eagle, explains the situation: Wichita TIF Public Hearing Was Bait and Switch.

Others agree that there were changes to the plan. Randy Brown argued for another public hearing (Randy Brown: Reopen Downtown Wichita Arena TIF Public Hearing). The Wichita Eagle’s Rhonda Holman noticed the problems with the Wichita city council’s action (The Process Should Be Most Important). Interim Wichita City Manager Scott Moore acknowledges defects in the process (Wichita Public Hearing Action Not Evidence of Leadership).

Citizens can’t have trust and confidence in government when business is conducted this way. This action, along with another high-profile breakdown in the processes at city hall (Wichita City Hall Confusion Leads to Evaporation of Confidence), should chasten the city to move cautiously and with due regard to process and respect for citizens. Holding another public hearing on the expansion of the Center City South Redevelopment District, commonly known as the downtown Wichita arena TIF district, would let the city start the process of regaining the trust of its citizens.

Comments

3 responses to “Kansas law requires Wichita to hold another public hearing”

  1. katie

    What is the status of a new hearing? I hope the Eagle will use journalistic pressure to bring one about; otherwise how will the public be able to exert pressure?
    I am dismayed our own council members have not been out front on this………..

  2. Bob Weeks

    The City of Wichita believes, it seems, that there’s no need for another hearing. The Wichita Eagle editorial page acknowledges problems, but won’t call for another hearing.

  3. Cybex

    The City of Wichita spends about $200,000 annually listing their government public notices on the Wichita Eagle. The newspaper knows where their “bread is butter” and will not do anything to upset the City and lose their account. If you recall a few years ago when Mayor Knight was running for Governor the Eagle ran a few negative stories on the E about Knight and the Council pulled the Eagle’s contract and gave it to the Derby paper. The Wichita Eagle can not afford that to happen again.

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