The city of Wichita will amend several local ordinances, mostly due to changes at the state level.
The 2026 Kansas Legislature enacted a new law prohibiting the use of cell phones by drivers in road construction areas and school zones.
Another change concerns the operation of golf carts. On July 1, state law will allow carts on sidewalks in and within a 1-mile radius of golf course communities. Carts must yield to all pedestrians and other sidewalk users. The driver must be 16 or older, with a valid driver's license and the cart must be insured.
Other changes include laws concerned with possession of stolen property, stealing gift cards, domestic battery and aggressive conduct.
In most cases, municipal ordinances may be more restrictive but cannot be less restrictive than state statute. The Wichita City Council approved the changes at Tuesday’s meeting.
The council also approved 3 grant applications for the Wichita Fire Department.
The first grant would assist the city once Station 23 opens in 2027. The grant is worth up to $5 million, with a required City match of up to $1.95 million. A four-person engine company will deploy across all three shifts, requiring an additional 14 firefighters.
The second grant would be worth $2 million in federal funding to support firefighter health and safety initiatives. If the City is awarded the grant, their required local match would be up to $200 thousand.
The final, $515 thousand grant would support three additional Fire Lieutenant positions dedicated to commercial, industrial, and high-risk occupancy building inspections. This grant would require a nearly $25 thousand local match by the City.
