Here is what to expect with the upcoming Topeka City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 18th, 2025. For a
complete overview you can go to the city website by clicking here. If you click on an agenda item it will open a
page with more details about that item along with pdf’s of supporting documents or presentations.
- PRESENTATIONS:
● 2025 Strategic Goals and Priorities
This appears to be a presentation by the City Manager, Dr. Robert Perez, to the Governing Body and
public on his strategic goals and priorities for the upcoming year. Many of the topic areas include
increasing involvement of the police department in several areas. The topics include:- ● Quality of Life
○ A call center and texting service (Community Engagement and TPD)
○ Strengthening Code Compliance team and Inspection (Legal Dept.)
- ● Quality of Life
- This is a legislative item that has been requested that would give the city ability to
inspect residential properties that receive public funding. The hope is to improve
accountability to landlords and property maintenance.
● Inclusive Communities
○ Establish Office of Inclusive Communities (Community Engagement and TPD)
● Housing/Economic Development
○ Pursue opportunities to grow tax base (Planning and Development)
■ Review current rehab, social service and financial housing
■ Identify ways to sustainably activate Affordable Housing Trust Fund and
Economic Development Funds
- The Housing Trust Fund reached the goal of $1 million over a year and half
ago. It was publicly stated that the committee to activate the fund would be
scheduled to meet in October of 2024 and has yet to happen. The Housing Study
the city conducted in 2019 has this as the first priority for our city when it comes
to addressing affordable housing. Public comment has had several citizens
recently speaking to this issue and pointing out the city has instead prioritized
housing development with much higher price-points instead.
■ Cont. to attract new commercial and residential developments
● Homelessness
○ Select one Homelessness Initiative: One-stop Shop, Low-Barrier Shelter, or Tiny Home
■ Select a point person or committee
■ Collaborate with Built for Zero and All Hands on Deck
*Built for Zero is the only program in the country that has shown to effectively
reach “net zero” meaning they have reduced homelessness and fewer people are
experiencing homelessness than are routinely exiting it. Additionally, community
organizations have come together to lead efforts in an organized way with All
Hands on Deck, co-led by Barry Feaker (previously Director of the Topeka
Rescue Mission) and Brett Martin with United Way.
● Budget
○ Develop a sustainable budget for 2026 and beyond
■ Increase city revenue
■ Evaluate cost of services and key dept. heads
● Public Safety
○ Violent Crime Reduction plan with a public engagement component (TPD)
- There has been a collaborative group with multiple stakeholders who have spent the
last year developing a community-led violence intervention strategy using a public health
approach. They have secured grants from the CDC and a substantial grant from the
Dept. of Justice that will provide training from a national, evidence-based program to be
implemented within communities that experience the highest levels of violence. There
are multiple county agencies who have been a part of the process, however the city has
failed to fully support this effort. These programs exist across the country and are part of
the public safety strategy outside of the police departments. A public health approach
emphasizes the upstream approach of increasing social services intentionally, using
data-driven methods, and engaging communities with trusted messengers-people who
live and have grown up in the neighborhood.
○ Strengthen external law enforcement partnerships (TPD)
○ Strengthen partnership with Valeo to advance Mental Health Court and collaborate with
County and State Probation (Municipal Court)
- The community has been very vocal over the last several years about the need for
increased mental health services for people in crisis. The co-responder unit at TPD has
never operated at a full capacity or adequately to meet the needs of the community.
There has been many discussions about alternate 911 calling methods and utilizing
crisis intervention trained social workers from the private sector to be on call, however
the city has never prioritized these discussions.
○ Form partnerships with research institutions to enhance policing practices and address
public safety challenges (TPD)
○ EmpowerHER self-defense course being offered to the community and high schools
across the city (Community Engagement)
*This will be an interesting conversation to hear the reasoning behind this. At the very
basics of looking at the program, there is a significant cost associated with this which
seems ridiculous to consider during a time where a deficit over $10 million is expected
by the next fiscal year. However, the even larger issue is that these so-called women’s
self-defense courses are highly problematic in that these courses are designed under
the premise that you should know how to ward off an attacker while you’re out and about
in the world and a stranger jumps out of the bushes to assault you. The reality is that
almost all of violence against women is by someone they know, usually a partner. These
type of classes also frame it as putting the responsibility on women to defend herself
instead holding offenders more accountable. In order to be skilled in hand to hand
moves, someone needs to be able to practice these scenarios regularly in order to be
effective, especially if you are attempting to defend yourself against someone who is
stronger or bigger than you. These courses are often subliminal commercials for
firearms. Statistics show that firearms in a home increases the chance of domestic
violence homicide (88% of intimate partner homicide in Kansas (2021) were women,
Everystat.org) by 500%. There are many other priorities to be focusing on and we will
see if advocates in this field will chime in on the discussion.
● Economic Development
○ Sell Hotel Topeka
*It was reported in December 2024 that there were 6 bids to purchase the hotel. You can
find them outlined in a WIBW article here.
○ Develop Digital Kiosk Program (Public Works)
○ Small Business Collaboration
● Infrastructure
○ Continue delivery of CIP projects and regular maintenance (Public Works)
- CONSENT AGENDA: These items are things that the council has had information about to review prior to
the council meeting and usually require very little to no discussion before voting on.
A. Resolution – St. Patrick’s Day Street Party 2025 – Noise Exception
“RESOLUTION introduced by Councilmember Karen Hiller granting The Celtic Fox an exception to the
provisions of City of Topeka Code Section 9.45.150, et seq., concerning noise prohibitions. (Council
District No. 1) Approval would allow for amplified music and sound during the hours of 9:00 a.m. and
7:00 p.m. on March 15, 2025 on 8th Street between S. Kansas Avenue and Jackson Street.”
B. MINUTES of the regular meeting of February 11, 2025
C. APPLICATIONS: None to discuss
- ACTION ITEMS:
A. Public Hearing and Ordinance – Auburn Washburn Annexation (A24/05)
“PUBLIC HEARING and ORDINANCE introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez, to annex
lands, all pursuant to K.S.A. 12-520 et seq., located at 5928 SW 53rd Street and Unaddressed SW
Wanamaker Road within unincorporated Shawnee County, Kansas, and adjacent to the City of Topeka
corporate limits and being annexed for all City purposes. (A24/05) (Council District No. 7) Voting
Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body. (Annexation of 20.9 acres.
The tracts will be assigned to Council District No. 7)”
*This land is currently being used by the Auburn Washburn School District which houses an Admin
building and bus parking. Auburn-Washburn didn’t consent to relinquishing the land, therefore the city is
asserting their right to annex under current policy. While the city states there are no current plans for
development there, it is moving forward with the annexation as part of the City’s Land Use and Growth
Management Plan.
*Items B-E are various road improvement projects.
B. Resolution – SW Harrison 10th Avenue to 8th Avenue – Project No. 841098.01
“RESOLUTION introduced by the Public Infrastructure Committee comprised of Councilmembers Sylvia
Ortiz, David Banks and Neil Dobler recommending approval of Project No. 841098.01 for street
improvement for SW Harrison Street from 10th Avenue to 8th Avenue. (Public Infrastructure Committee
recommended approval on January 31, 2025.) Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6)
votes of the Governing Body. Approval would authorize a total project budget of $800,000 for street
improvements on SW Harrison Street from 10th Avenue to 8th Avenue.”
C. Resolution – Micro Surfacing – Southwest Quadrant – Project No. 841104.01
“RESOLUTION introduced by the Public Infrastructure Committee comprised of Councilmembers Sylvia
Ortiz, David Banks and Neil Dobler recommending approval of the 2025 Micro Surfacing Project No.
841104.01, part of the Street Preventative Maintenance Program to be performed in the southwest
quadrant of the city. (Public Infrastructure recommended approval on January 31, 2025.) Voting
Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body. Approval would authorize a
total project budget of $1.2 Million for the 2025 Micro Surfacing Program in the southwest quadrant of
the city from SW 21st Street, south to the south city limits, and from SW Topeka Boulevard west to the
west city limits.”
D. Resolution – 2025 Ultrathin Bonded Asphalt Surface (UBAS) Treatments – Project No. 841104.02
“RESOLUTION introduced by the Public Infrastructure Committee comprised of Councilmembers Sylvia
Ortiz, David Banks and Neil Dobler recommending approval of Project No. 841104.02 for the 2025
Ultrathin Bonded Asphalt Surface (UBAS) treatments for segments of NE Quincy, SE Branner, NE
Seward, SE 6th, SE California and NE Strait. (Public Infrastructure Committee recommended approval
on January 31, 2025.) Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.
(Approval would authorize a total project budget of $947,573 for the 2025 Ultrathin Bonded Asphalt
Surface (UBAS) Treatment Project No. 841104.02.)”
E. Resolution – Crack Sealing – Southeast Quadrant – Project No. 841104.03
“RESOLUTION introduced by the Public Infrastructure Committee comprised of Councilmembers Sylvia
Ortiz, David Banks and Neil Dobler recommending approval of Project No. 841104.03 for 2025 Crack
Sealing part of the Street Preventative Maintenance Program to be performed in the southeast
quadrant of the city. (Public Infrastructure Committee recommended approval on January 31, 2025.)
Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body. Approval would
authorize a total project budget of $522,000 for 2025 Crack Sealing Project No. 841104.03 as part of
the 2025 Street Preventative Maintenance Program, in the southeast quadrant of the city from SW 21st
Street, south to the south city limits and from SW Topeka Boulevard, east to the east city limits.”
F. Approval – Governing Body Rules and Procedure Amendment – Virtual Voting Application
“APPROVAL of amendments to the Governing Body Rules and Procedure 2.2(d). Voting Requirement:
At least six (6) votes of the Governing Body is required. Approval would allow Governing Body
members to vote by a virtual voting application.”
*Items G-I are proposed changes to the language within the 3 types of development incentive policies to
streamline consistent wording throughout them.
G. Resolution – Community Improvement District (CID) Policy Amendment
“RESOLUTION introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez amending City of Topeka’s policy for
Community Improvement Districts and rescinding Resolution No. 8392. (Policy & Finance Committee
recommended approval on January 28, 2025.) Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6)
votes of the Governing Body. Approval of the proposed amendments would provide for a more uniform
approach to the current CID policy and procedure.”
H. Resolution – Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District Policy Amendment
“RESOLUTION introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert Perez amending the City of Topeka’s policy for
Tax Increment Financing Districts and rescinding Resolution No. 9016. (Policy & Finance Committee
recommended approval on January 28, 2025.) Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6)
votes of the Governing Body. Approval of the proposed amendments would provide for a more uniform
approach to the current TIF policy and procedure.”
I. Resolution – Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID) Policy Amendment
“RESOLUTION introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez amending City of Topeka’s policy for
Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts and rescinding Resolution Nos. 9379 and 9452. (Policy &
Finance Committee recommended approval on January 28, 2025.) Voting Requirement: Action requires
at least six (6) votes of the Governing Bod. Approval of the proposed amendments provides for a more
uniform approach to the current RHID policy and procedure.”
- NON-ACTION ITEMS:
A. Discussion – Naming/Dedicating the Jack Alexander Water Treatment Plant
“DISCUSSION to consider naming and dedicating the City’s facility located at 3425 NW Water Works
Drive, as the Jack Alexander Water Treatment Plant.” - PUBLIC COMMENT:
“Public comment for the meeting will be available via Zoom or in-person. Individuals must contact the City
Clerk’s Office at 785-368-3940 or via email at [email protected] by no later than 5:00 p.m. on the date of the
meeting, after which the City Clerk’s Office will provide Zoom link information and protocols prior to the
meeting. Written public comment may also be considered to the extent it is personally submitted at the meeting
or to the City Clerk’s Office located at 215 SE 7th Street, Room 166, Topeka, Kansas, 66603 or via email at
[email protected] on or before the date of the meeting for attachment to the meeting minutes. View the
meeting online at https://www.topeka.org/communications/live-stream/ or at
https://www.facebook.com/cityoftopeka/.”
- ANNOUNCEMENTS: Any updates or comments by the Governing Body.
- EXECUTIVE SESSION “Executive Sessions are closed meetings held in accordance with the provisions of
the Kansas Open Meetings Act. “Executive sessions will be scheduled as needed and may include topics such
as personnel matters, considerations of acquisition of property for public purposes, potential or pending
litigation in which the city has an interest, employer-employee negotiations and any other matter provided for in
K.S.A. 75-4319.” - ADJOURNMENT
Danielle Twemlow, Consultant
Host of Kansas TRUE
