City of Wichita

The city of Wichita approved a Capital Improvement Program Tuesday afternoon that accounts for $1.9 billion in potential spending.

The Capital Improvement Program is meant to prioritize city projects for the next decade. While the funding isn’t guaranteed, it’s used as a wish list of sorts for improving Wichita. It includes millions of dollars for parks, water and sewer improvements, bike paths and public safety. But the plan’s main focus is improving streets and highways.

There are rumblings pushing toward the idea of consolidating Sedgwick County and City of Wichita governments. Some people are unhappy with a divided Sedgwick County Commission on some budgetary matters for the coming fiscal year. Also, there is concern about how well the city-county partnership is working in funding some entities.

The City of Wichita still isn’t sure what to do with a large funding shortfall for the Wichita-Sedgwick County Planning Department.

The department is equally funded by both the city and county, but a proposed budget by county officials last week would cut about $155,000 from the department. That has left city officials scrambling to find a solution as they put together their own budget.

An earlier version of this piece originally aired July 14, 2015, during All Things Considered.

The fate of several of Wichita's swimming pools will be decided with the help of local residents.

The city will decide how to spend $18 million on its aquatics plan over the next decade. The money comes from its Capital Improvement Program fund.

In my nearly 47 years in Wichita, I have observed that city leaders have focused on that “one more thing” they think would attract and keep people in Wichita, especially young people.

Wichita city council members reviewed a proposal on Tuesday afternoon for water and sewer rate increases for 2015.

Alan King, director of Wichita Public Works and Utilities, says the city maintains over 4,000 miles of water and sewer lines. To keep up with that infrastructure, King’s department has proposed a 6 percent increase for water and 5 percent increase for sewer.  

Click through the slideshow above for the full survey results

The results of a regional survey centered around Wichita’s future branding were revealed Monday night at the Wichita Downtown Development Corporation office. 

How would you describe Wichita to a friend from Michigan? To a student from Zimbabwe? To a business looking to relocate from Connecticut? In essence, what makes Wichita Wichita?

That's what city leaders want to know, and what they want your help discovering.