Wichita Mayor Lily Wu proposed delaying the upcoming special election on the proposed 1% sales tax.
The city learned Friday that the March 3 vote will cost an extra $20 thousand as seven of the county’s regular polling places will be not available. Thus, 26,000 people will have to be notified that they must vote somewhere else.
Mayor Wu proposed a special meeting at Noon, Wednesday, January 14 to consider voting to delay the election until the August 4th Primary election. The city learned that election mail-in ballots are set to be delivered on Friday.
Several council members voiced concerns in not having a heads up about the Mayor's proposal. While the motion to have a special meeting about the special election failed 3-4, Wu used her mayoral powers to call a special meeting anyway.
At the beginning of the meeting Tuesday, a new Vice-Mayor was selected.
Dalton Glasscock will hold the title in 2026, replacing J.V. Johnston. A new Vice-Mayor is selected annually by the council.
In the city’s first new business of the day, the council approved $1.79 million in funding for Park & Recreation projects, including irrigation systems and for improvements to athletic fields, courts and other park facilities.
The council also approved an update to a Joint Resolution and Ordinance for the Wichita-Sedgwick County Emergency Communications Advisory board.