Wichita City manager flags 'back-in' parking discussion after staff review, cites 2,933 citations since 2008

City Manager Dennis Marstall told the Wichita City Council that staff will present a briefing next week on the city’s existing “back-in” parking ordinance, established in 2008, and said staff is not recommending a change at this time.

Marstall said the agenda for the June 2 meeting includes a discussion of the ordinance and related background material. “We have 2,933 citations have been issued since 2008 with 340 being issued since the inception of our parking program which was in August of 2025,” he said, citing the numbers in the background section prepared for council.

The staff presentation will outline the ordinance’s genesis, safety and efficiency considerations, and will include any findings about insurance implications for outside entities whose insurers require backing into stalls. A council member asked whether the ordinance could affect municipalities or companies whose insurance policies require backing in; Marstall said the question will be researched and addressed in Tuesday’s PowerPoint.

Council members clarified that the back-in rule applies to city-owned lots, including nonpaid areas such as cultural arts facility lots and libraries, and does not apply to private lots such as drive-thrus.

No motion or vote on changing the ordinance was taken at the meeting. Marstall said the item will be presented for council deliberation on the June 2 agenda and staff will include any additional citation history or insurance information requested by council.