The Wichita City Council approved funding for three projects related to the city's water and storm water utilities.
Access points along the city's water mains coming from Cheney Lake and the underground Equus beds will be replaced. The access points are corroding, which in turn can leak and disrupt water service. The total budget for this project is $1.5 million.
New lab equipment for the Northwest Water Treatment facility will be purchased, at a cost of $800 thousand. It will arrive by September for a year-long certification process mandated prior to the plant's opening in late 2024.
Wichita stormwater utility pump stations will also get needed repairs, totaling $250 thousand.
Visit Wichita will continue to market and promote the Air Capital.
The council approved the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) 2024 scope of services and budget for Visit Wichita.
The organization is funded through an allocation of a 2.75% nightly transient guest tax levied on all hotels within the city having 50 rooms or more. This tax is expected to generate $3.65 million in revenue in 2024 and will fund leisure and group marketing efforts by Visit Wichita ($2.46 million and $545 thousand respectively).
The remainder of the funds, $642 thousand, will be used to cover general expenses, including personnel and research. The group will also carry over $948,737 in funds from 2022.
Visit Wichita secured the USYS National Presidents Cup, a youth soccer tournament, which will be held at Scheels Stryker Sports Complex from July 6 -11. 104 teams will participate in the event, which is projected to bring an economic impact of $4 million to the city.
Visit Wichita says they will increase their marketing efforts in Springfield, Missouri, along with Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska this year.