City of Wichita - 2004 Chris Cherches speaks on 18 Years of Progress and Accomplishments
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Chris Cherches Speaks on 18 Years of Progress and Accomplishments

Date: August 26, 2004
Contact: LaTricia Harper, Public Information Officer
E-mail: LHarper@wichita.gov
Phone: (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.

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Accomplishments of Former City Manager Chris Cherches

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