A state appeals court has ruled that a citizen petition to save the Century II Convention Center was proper and complete, but it was administrative in nature and therefore invalid.

The group Save Century II circulated the petitions to prevent the City Council from taking action to demolish Century II or the former downtown library building nearby.

The Kansas Court of Appeals ruled that the taxpayers of Wichita did not have the fiscal skills or knowledge to oversee public buildings, but the petition had an impact by pushing the City Council to create a policy for a non-binding advisory vote before any action was taken on the two buildings.

The citizens group believed that the public does have a right to petition its own city government.  Save Century II leader Karl Peterjohn said “Sadly, citizens were sued to prevent them from exercising that right to petition.”

Save Century II said it will not appeal the case further to the Kansas Supreme Court.   The group is still calling on the city to put the fate of Century II to a vote of the people in the city’s August primary election.