Mayor: Wichita a town on leading edge of innovation

Since I took office, my days have been a whirlwind of meetings, travel and decisions to move our city forward. This will be my first full calendar year as mayor, and now, more than ever, I believe that Wichita is on the brink of a crucial period of growth.

We’re still focused on the areas I outlined in my campaign: quality of life initiatives, infrastructure, public safety and economic development that drives job growth. We are positioning Wichita to be as strong as possible in the face of future challenges and opportunities.

In May, right after I took office, we finalized the regional export plan. The region’s future depends on its response to the growing global economy. We have a renewed focus on working with our regional partners to make south-central Kansas stronger and better. This is why we are heavily involved with organizations such as the Regional Economic Area Partnership and the Greater Wichita Partnership.

We are looking to sell the Hyatt. We hope to have new owners in 2016. This property is a great downtown asset, but it’s time for new ownership and time for us to use funds generated from the sale on needed community projects.

In January, Gordon Ramsay began his role as chief of police. He’s dedicated to strengthening community policing, improving relations between law enforcement and the community, and using data and technology to make our residents safer. We’re on track to have every field officer wearing a body camera early this year.

We’re seeing an upsurge of cultural activity in Wichita and our downtown area. Plans for the advanced learning center, riverfront development and Union Station are progressing. Last year, we saw more downtown foot traffic thanks partly to the pop-up park, and we began work on a new splash park and wetlands park. Enhanced quality of life is crucial to drawing and retaining individuals to our community.

If you’ve never strolled through the Wichita Art Museum on a Saturday, or attended one of our world-class Music Theatre of Wichita shows, or even perused Final Friday exhibitions, I encourage you to do so.

Wichita is growing, and I can’t wait to see what’s next. I’m inspired by the civic spirit of our residents and the many organizations that add vibrancy, generosity and compassion to our community.

Wichita is moving forward. While our western heritage will always be an integral part of our story, it no longer defines who we are. We are no longer a cow town. We are a hub of innovation and technology, a destination for families and young people to grow and pursue their futures.

Wichita today is a vibrant and diverse community with a flurry of activity spurred by people passionate about our city. It’s a city on the leading edge of innovation; a welcoming city, a home away from home for many who visit.

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 3:29 PM with the headline "Mayor: Wichita a town on leading edge of innovation."