Wichita City Council is recommending ordinances to give police more authority to suspend the licenses of clubs where violence has taken place.

This after a shooting at the City Nightz club in Old Town left 11 people injured on Sunday, July 2nd. Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan issued a 30-day suspension of the entertainment license for the club, which had been the site of twelve previous violent incidents in 2023 alone. Three of those incidents involved guns. Sullivan said the shooting wouldn’t have happened if patrons were properly screened before entering the club.

City Council claims current licensing ordinances to suspend or revoke such licenses are inconsistent; specifically citing the method of notice given, the official who requests a suspension, and the length of suspension.

Officials said the proposed ordinances would more create consistent criteria for suspension of these licenses by adding provisions allowing the Chief of Police to immediately suspend a license when violent criminal conduct occurs and there is a credible safety risk to the public if the business remains open.

The proposed changes:

• Establishments licensed to serve CMB or alcohol are required to have a plan addressing the safety needs of their business.
• The Chief of Police may suspend a license up to 30 days if repeated violent criminal acts have occurred at an establishment over a six-month period and the licensee has not taken appropriate actions to remediate the violence. A minimum 5 days’ written notice is required.
• Appeal rights of licensees are clarified.
• The Chief of Police may immediately suspend a license on an emergency basis if there has been a significant violent act or there is a credible threat of violence to the public coupled with a lack of sufficient security to protect the public. An emergency suspension may not exceed 10 days.
• Licensees will be required to attend an in-person meeting with the Chief of Police or designee if the license has been suspended on an emergency basis.
• Licensed businesses will not be permitted to operate console or video style games of skill where currency is the prize awarded.
• Failure to pay an administrative penalty or having other monies owed to the City such as parking or water/sewer fees for a period in excess of 90 days could result in suspension or denial of an application.