Wichita City Manager Robert Layton plans to retire at the end of the year; his last day on the job will be New Year's Eve.
Layton has been the city manager in Wichita for 16 years. Since 2009, He's worked under four Wichita mayors, and 21 different City Council-members. The manager serves as the city’s chief executive, carrying out the will of the council and its legislative initiatives.
Before becoming Wichita’s city manager, Layton was the city manager of Urbandale, Iowa, for nearly 25 years. He was also the assistant to the city manager of Des Moines for four years, and spent time in Kansas City, Missouri, including time as a budget analyst. He has degrees in public administration from Syracuse University and Drake University.
The Wichita City Council will lead a national search for a new city manager.
City employees learned of Layton’s plan to retire from an email he sent Wednesday morning:
Earlier today, I informed the Mayor and City Council of my plans to retire on December 31, 2025, and I wanted to inform you directly as well. I am honored to have served as Wichita’s City Manager for 16 years and to have worked in local government for 47 years. During that long career, I have served many dedicated elected officials who have cared only about making their communities a better place to live and work, and I thank each of them for their support and commitment to good government.
Throughout our years together, it has been rewarding to support your efforts to build a dynamic city through significant infrastructure development. During the last 16 years we have constructed the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, the Advanced Learning Library, the Multi-Agency Center, splash pads and pools, an eastside Police substation, Equity Bank Park, a water treatment plant, a sewage treatment plant and a significant number of other robust facilities. All of us should be proud of these projects and their impact on the lives of our residents.
But good government is about far more than infrastructure and development. It is about the hard work you do every day to improve the quality of life for our citizens, and I would be remiss were I not to recognize your tireless efforts. It has been inspiring to be part of your hard work and dedication to public safety, housing for the disadvantaged, enhanced literacy, a fair and accessible judicial system, a diversified economy and expanded job opportunities, park and recreation opportunities, an improved public transit system, a functional street network, safe drinking water, and so much more. It has been an honor to be associated with such a team of highly accomplished professionals.
Lastly, I wanted to take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt thanks to my wife, Beth, and my entire family for their constant support during the past 16 years. They have kept me grounded during the good times, the difficult times and all the time in between! Beth and I plan to stay in Wichita, and I look forward to working on projects that will continue to make this community a special place.
I decided to announce my retirement plans early to provide the Mayor and City Council with ample time to select a new City Manager. I know, however, there is a lot of work yet to be accomplished before the end of the year, and I am committed to working with them, and with you, to get it completed.
Again, I thank all of you for joining me on this wonderful journey we call public service and for your hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence. It has not gone unnoticed!”
--ROBERT LAYTON, WICHITA CITY MANAGER
After Layton's announcement, Wichita Mayor Lily Wu posted a message on social media suggesting changes to local government.
“In our form of government, our city manager plays an outsized role as the, non-elected, leader of our city,” she wrote. “When I ran for mayor, I emphasized the need for a new generation of leadership to help guide our city’s growth and ongoing success. During my State of the City address, I mentioned major changes coming this year.”
Wu said “our next steps” will be critical to the city’s future.
“It’s my sincere hope the next person in this role will respect taxpayers, focus on improving core services, and work alongside our community to make Wichita the best city to live, work, and raise a family.”