Date: August 26, 2004Contact: LaTricia Harper, Public Information Officer: LHarper@wichita.gov: (316) 268-4351
Former City Manager Chris Cherches compiled the following list of accomplishments prior to the end of his 18-year tenure with the City of Wichita. "It has been my honor and privilege for me to have served this community and its citizens for the past 18 years. I am truly proud of our many accomplishments, some of which are listed": Safe/Clean City Discount Air Service - resulting in reduction in airfares from 60%-70% Electrical rate parity - resulting in over $40 Million savings to rate payers Achieved prestigious All America City Award - - three times during the last ten years, (Wichita was either selected or was a finalist for this national honor…) Managed a $350 million annual budget and $1.6 ten-year aggressive capital improvements program. Property Tax Rate stabilization - 10th consecutive year without property tax levy increase Strong financial position achieving excellent bond ratings, debt management resulting in major interest savings on bonds Establishment of reforestation (trees) program and City beautification and landscaping Establishment of city public art in all public facilities, beautification and construction projects (i.e. downtown, arterials, bridges and public buildings, street boulevards and medians, etc). Establishment of award-winning Community Policing and neighborhood revitalization programs Introduced concept and established four neighborhood City Halls (mini-city halls) to bring City services into neighborhoods and closer to residents Established community (lighted schools) education programs Downtown Redevelopment Recruited and brought to Wichita professional departmental management staff, most of which have masters degrees and recognized regional and nationally for their expertise Entrepreneurial and Enterprising A new and visionary approach to municipal management involving outstanding - public-private partnerships making many major and important projects happen, a few include: Hyatt Hotel and Conference Center Expansion of Century II and Expo Hall Downtown State Office Building Eaton Historical Block renovation Old Town entertainment center Farm & Art Market Old Town Hotel Museums on the River District Art Museum Expansion Cowtown expansion/development Exploration Place CityArts Ice Center N/W Soccer complex Auburn Hills golf course Great Plains Nature Center Douglas Street streetscape Reflection Square Park 21st Street Revitalization project Cessna Training Center 21st & Piatt Housing Development River corridor improvements Delano historic development district Boathouse - Visitors Center Transportation Kellogg Expressway K-96 Bypass Elevated Rail Corridor (construction to start soon) Wichita Transit Center and Administrative/Operations facilities Master Planning for City airports including Terminal plan for Mid-Continent Airport Master Wayfinding signage system City-wide major arterial and intersection reconstruction and signalization program Environmental Development of new water supply (2050) (Equus Beds Recharge Demo Project) New wastewater treatment plant, including nationally recognized northwest Water Reclamation Facility Flood control mitigation - Cowskin Biosolids treatment and recycling facility Gilbert-Mosley - nationally recognized model re: groundwater contamination Newly opened W.A.T.E.R. Center Construction and demolition landfill Arkansas River Cleanup Initiative Master Sewer and Water plans and capital improvements Establishment of Tree Trust (Greening of Wichita Program) Cheney Watershed Protection Project Nationally recognized EPA Pretreatment Program Public Facilities/Programs Three new libraries (Alford, Evergreen and Maya Angelou Five new fire stations Established four new police substations Renovation of Lawrence Dumont Stadium and Walk of Fame Museum Riverside Park Improvements Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Tourism Strategic Plan - Aviation Festival Customer Service Initiative Industrial Site development Established Downtown Ambassador program Developed the concept of regional council (now known as REAP) and South-Central Municipal Energy Agency Recipient of national and state awards/recognitions for the City, some including Ford Foundation/John F. Kennedy School of Innovations Award, National Arbor Foundation Lady Bird Johnson Award, Buford Watson Manager of the Year, GFOA Achievement for excellence, GFOA Budget Awards, etc. Back to Top
Former City Manager Chris Cherches compiled the following list of accomplishments prior to the end of his 18-year tenure with the City of Wichita.
"It has been my honor and privilege for me to have served this community and its citizens for the past 18 years. I am truly proud of our many accomplishments, some of which are listed":
Safe/Clean City
Discount Air Service - resulting in reduction in airfares from 60%-70%
Electrical rate parity - resulting in over $40 Million savings to rate payers
Achieved prestigious All America City Award - - three times during the last ten years, (Wichita was either selected or was a finalist for this national honor…)
Managed a $350 million annual budget and $1.6 ten-year aggressive capital improvements program.
Property Tax Rate stabilization - 10th consecutive year without property tax levy increase
Strong financial position achieving excellent bond ratings, debt management resulting in major interest savings on bonds
Establishment of reforestation (trees) program and City beautification and landscaping Establishment of city public art in all public facilities, beautification and construction projects (i.e. downtown, arterials, bridges and public buildings, street boulevards and medians, etc).
Establishment of award-winning Community Policing and neighborhood revitalization programs
Introduced concept and established four neighborhood City Halls (mini-city halls) to bring City services into neighborhoods and closer to residents
Established community (lighted schools) education programs
Downtown Redevelopment
Recruited and brought to Wichita professional departmental management staff, most of which have masters degrees and recognized regional and nationally for their expertise
Entrepreneurial and Enterprising
A new and visionary approach to municipal management involving outstanding - public-private partnerships making many major and important projects happen, a few include:
Hyatt Hotel and Conference Center
Expansion of Century II and Expo Hall
Downtown State Office Building
Eaton Historical Block renovation
Old Town entertainment center
Farm & Art Market
Old Town Hotel
Museums on the River District
Art Museum Expansion
Cowtown expansion/development
Exploration Place
CityArts
Ice Center
N/W Soccer complex
Auburn Hills golf course
Great Plains Nature Center
Douglas Street streetscape
Reflection Square Park
21st Street Revitalization project
Cessna Training Center
21st & Piatt Housing Development
River corridor improvements
Delano historic development district
Boathouse - Visitors Center
Transportation
Kellogg Expressway
K-96 Bypass
Elevated Rail Corridor (construction to start soon)
Wichita Transit Center and Administrative/Operations facilities
Master Planning for City airports including Terminal plan for Mid-Continent Airport
Master Wayfinding signage system
City-wide major arterial and intersection reconstruction and signalization program
Environmental
Development of new water supply (2050) (Equus Beds Recharge Demo Project)
New wastewater treatment plant, including nationally recognized northwest Water Reclamation Facility
Flood control mitigation - Cowskin
Biosolids treatment and recycling facility
Gilbert-Mosley - nationally recognized model re: groundwater contamination
Newly opened W.A.T.E.R. Center
Construction and demolition landfill
Arkansas River Cleanup Initiative
Master Sewer and Water plans and capital improvements
Establishment of Tree Trust (Greening of Wichita Program)
Cheney Watershed Protection Project
Nationally recognized EPA Pretreatment Program
Public Facilities/Programs
Three new libraries (Alford, Evergreen and Maya Angelou
Five new fire stations
Established four new police substations
Renovation of Lawrence Dumont Stadium and Walk of Fame Museum
Riverside Park Improvements
Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
Tourism Strategic Plan - Aviation Festival
Customer Service Initiative
Industrial Site development
Established Downtown Ambassador program
Developed the concept of regional council (now known as REAP) and South-Central Municipal Energy Agency
Recipient of national and state awards/recognitions for the City, some including Ford Foundation/John F. Kennedy School of Innovations Award, National Arbor Foundation Lady Bird Johnson Award, Buford Watson Manager of the Year, GFOA Achievement for excellence, GFOA Budget Awards, etc.
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Accomplishments of Former City Manager Chris Cherches
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