Douglas Design District

A Business Improvement District (BID) is a defined area in which businesses are required to pay an annual assessment in order to fund projects within the district's boundaries. In Kansas, BIDs are funded by the local government levying a mandatory fee on the businesses within the district. While the local government levies the fee, it can contract with a third-party organization to operate the BID. The structure, guidelines, and process for the creation of a BID within the state of Kansas can be found under Kansas Statute 12-1782 through 12-17, 106. Examples of other BIDs in Kansas include: the Salina Downtown Business Improvement District, the Topeka Tourism Business Improvement District, and the Downtown Topeka Business Improvement District.

On August 21, 2018, the Wichita City Council authorized the Mayor to establish and appoint a Business Improvement District Planning Committee to research the plausibility of creating a Business Improvement District (BID) within the area currently known as the Douglas Design District. The structure, guidelines, and process for the creation of a BID within the state of Kansas can be found under Kansas Statute 12-1782 through 12-17, 106.

On January 21, 2020, in response to a recommendation from the Business Improvement District Planning Committee, the Wichita City Council passed an ordinance that established a BID for the Douglas Design District and appointed the 14 initial members of the Business Improvement Advisory Board. The Ordinance was published on January 24, 2020.

Pursuant to K.S.A. 12-1789, the owners of businesses located within the district may file a protest petition within 45 days of the publication of the Ordinance establishing the district opposing the continuation of the district or levying of service fees. Owners may also file a protest petition within 45 days of publication of an ordinance levying annual service fees.

If a majority of such business owners sign the protest petition then no service fee shall be levied and the BID shall be dissolved.

The last day to file the protest petitions was March 9, 2020. The City of Wichita received protest petitions within the 45-day protest period.

A valid protest must be signed by the owner of the business. A majority of the businesses must submit a valid protest for the Ordinance to be rescinded and BID to be dissolved.

The Business Inventory, compiled by the Douglas Design District non-profit and utilized in the formation of the BID, listed 205 businesses. After including businesses that had provided protest petitions, met the requirements of being located in the BID area, and had not been included on the original Business Inventory – the total number of businesses determined to be located within the Douglas Design District was 262.

132 out of the 262 businesses within the Douglas Design District would constitute a majority.

The City received a protest petition with 169 entries. After removing duplicates, rescinded protests, and a few other issues, the protest list was determined to have 154 entries.

The signature of the business owner is required for a petition to be valid. Due to there not being a formal database that tracks businesses in Wichita, a mix of tactics was used to verify signatures were from the business owner.

1. Businesses were searched on the Secretary of State’s website. This database contains some businesses and the owner is sometimes listed. The owner listed was compared with the signature provided on the petition. If the name matched, the protest was validated.
2. If the name did not match or was not available on the website, attempts were made to call the business and get a verbal confirmation of the business owner. If the owner of the business provided by phone matched the signature provided on the petition, the protest was validated.
3. If attempts to reach the business by phone (after multiple tries on various days and at various times) were unsuccessful, a letter was mailed to the business providing a 2-week window for the business to call or email a verification to our office. If the owner of the business provided by phone or email matched the signature provided on the petition, the protest was validated.

The BID area includes the parcels fronting Douglas Avenue, and associated parcels, from Washington Avenue on the west to Glendale Avenue on the east. Ordinance 51-176 established the BID for the Douglas Design District. The ordinance outlines the boundaries, associated fees, the requirements for the Advisory Board, and other BID functions.

On January 21, 2020, in response to a recommendation from the Business Improvement District Planning Committee, the Wichita City Council passed an ordinance that established a BID for the Douglas Design District and appointed the 14 initial members of the Business Improvement Advisory Board.

Business Improvement Advisory Board Members

1. Ben Drouhard, Citizens Bank
2. Terra Pauly, Pauly Dental
3. Rebekah Rine, Watermark Books
4. Adam Steiner, Clifton Square
5. Tory DeMarce, The Belmont (Happiness Plaza)
6. Robin Van Huss, Traditions
7. Jeff Breault, R&J Liquor
8. Jason Gardner, Local Roasters
9. Ric Wolford, Douglas Photographic Imaging
10. Stacy Ward-Lattin, Hopping Gnome
11. Barney Lehnherr, Transitions Group
12. Steve Suellentrop, Legacy Bank
13. Rodney Horton, 1328 E. Douglas
14. Clayton Steiner, Swope Lofts

Ex Oficio Members

• Scott Knebel, City of Wichita
• Renee Duxler, Douglas Design District
• Jason Gregory, Downtown Wichita

First, the City will need to contract with an organization to operate the BID. Annually, this organization will submit a Proposed Operating Plan and Budget to the Business Improvement District Advisory Board for the ensuing calendar year not later than February 15 of each year.

The Board will review and approve the Business Plan not later than May 15 of each year, submit to the City Council a recommended program of services to be performed or provided within the District during the next ensuing calendar year, and submit a proposed budget to accomplish these objectives, consistent with the Business Plan.

The District shall commence on January 1, 2021. The term of the District will be for one-year. The term of the District will be extended for an additional one-year term upon adoption of the District annual budget by the City Council. The City Council may vote not to extend the term of the District for one additional year at the time of the District budget consideration.

The deadline is Thursday, October 15th at 5pm.

1. A valid protest must be signed by the owner of the business.
2. In limited situations the signatures on the petition can be from individuals who are not the owners but have legal authority to sign for the business. In these cases, the business owner or individual who signed needs to submit verification of their legal authority to bind the company effective prior to the petition deadline for the signature to be validated. An example of legal authority includes Power of Attorney or possibly an officer of an incorporated business. Because the formation and types of businesses vary, please contact City staff for a determination in these instances.