The Sedgwick County Commission approved 5-year funding agreements with both the Sedgwick County Zoo and Exploration Place.
The 2023 adopted budget for the Zoo includes nearly $7 million in funding for all 113.50 full-time Zoo employees. The county will also pay $400,000 for their half of approved capital improvement projects next year.
Exploration Place will receive $2,220,140 in funding for 2023, after setting attendance records in recent months.
Chairman David Dennis called the Zoo and Exploration Place "jewels". A recent Wichita State study revealed an almost $60 million economic impact from the Zoo's activities. Meanwhile, Exploration Place has adopted a 5-year strategic plan and was recently awarded an over $1 million infrastructure grant that will help in redesigning their 20-acre park area along the Arkansas River.
The funding agreements will run from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2027.
In other county news, the commission approved adoption of their local emergency operations plan.
The county says the plan is necessary to establish a framework for government, non-profit organizations and residents to address prevention, mitigation, protection, preparation, response, and recovery from the effects of emergencies and disasters. If the county failed to produce a plan, their full grant award from the Kansas Division of Emergency Management could be slashed in half.
The commission approved a resolution creating a food and farm council, which will serve as an advisory body to both the county and the city of Wichita. The purpose of the council is to bring stakeholders together to advocate for an equitable, sustainable and resilient food system.
Finally, the council approved drafting a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. The city of Wichita wants to address heavy train traffic near 21st Street North and Broadway that causes headaches for local residents and commuters.
