Below is a recap of the March 18th, 2025, Topeka City Council meeting. For a complete overview, visit the city website. Clicking on an agenda item there will open detailed information, including supporting PDFs and presentations.

Heads up: This was a long meeting. Buckle up.

2. Appointments

Board Appointment – Topeka Sustainability Advisory Board – APPROVED

Appointment of Justine Greve to the Topeka Sustainability Advisory Board (District 6) through April 11, 2027.

3. Presentations

• THA Annual Report
  Overview of the Topeka Housing Authority’s 2024 work and 2025 projections. They manage public housing vouchers and Section 8 in the community.
• 2024 Financial Summary
  First Quarter 2025 report coming next month.

4. Consent Agenda – APPROVED

• A–C. Ordinances – Expenditures
  • Nov. 30–Dec. 27, 2024: $22,742,820.80
  • Dec. 28, 2024–Jan. 31, 2025: $37,548,942.76
  • Feb. 1–Feb. 28, 2025: $26,726,431.34
• D. Minutes of the March 11, 2025 meeting
• E. Applications: None

5. Action Items

A. Resolution – Naming Jack Alexander Water Treatment Plant – APPROVED

Renames the City’s water treatment facility (3425 NW Water Works Drive) as the Jack Alexander Water Treatment Plant.

B. Ordinance – John January III Topeka Renovation (PUD25/01) – APPROVED

Rezones property at 2845 SE Indiana Ave. to allow office, contractor shop, auto sales, and other commercial uses. Allows up to 5 vehicles for sale on-site.

C. Ordinance – AMD Partners LLC Rezoning (Z25/01) – APPROVED

Rezoning SW Arvonia Place (approx. 1000 feet north of SW 17th St) from Commercial (C-4) to Multiple-Family Dwelling (M-2).

D. Resolution – 2025 Topeka DREAMS Program Funding – APPROVED

Total: $3,360,000 allocated for 2025–2027 neighborhood improvements.

• DREAMS 1 (2026–2027)
  • Historic Old Town: $1.4M (GO Bonds), $150K (Utility Bonds), $330K (HUD)
• DREAMS 2 (2025–2026)
  • Hi-Crest Housing: $330K (HUD)
  • East Topeka North: $256K
  • Valley Park: $534K (Shunga Dr), $159K (24th St), $159K (SW 23rd)
• DREAMS 3 (2025)
  • Central Highland Park: $45K (Crosswalk)
  • Valley Park: $44.5K (SW Plass Ave)

E. Ordinance – Updating Affordable Housing Trust Fund – APPROVED

Updates to the Topeka Housing Trust Fund. Key public concerns from Topeka JUMP included:

• Replacing KHRC rep with a citizen.
• Opposition to using HTF funds for consultants.
• Need for a dedicated public funding stream (not just private).

Council Feedback:

• Consultant use is optional.
• KHRC removed due to perceived conflict of interest.
• Hiller suggested a 0.05% sales tax to support housing (~$2M/yr).
• Duncan clarified: this isn’t a fundraising board.

F. Development Agreement – Lauren’s Bay Subdivision (RHID, CID, Forgiveness of Specials) – APPROVED

• Forgives $423K in past-due specials + $100K in future special paydowns.
• Klausman owes ~$7.27M in total for Lauren’s Bay.
• Some citizens claim this incentivizes tax evasion.
• Councilwoman Valdivia-Alcala criticized the deal: “Players Gonna Play.”

Vote:
YES – Dobler, Kell, Hoefer, Padilla, Hiller, Ortiz, Duncan
NO – Valdivia-Alcala, Banks
Absent – Miller

G. Resolution – Lauren’s Bay RHID Application – APPROVED

Approves RHID findings for Lauren’s Bay and sends to Secretary of Commerce.

Same vote breakdown as Item F.

H. Resolution – Set Public Hearing (CID – Lauren’s Bay) – APPROVED

Sets April 8, 2025 as public hearing date for CID.

Vote:
YES – Dobler, Kell, Hoefer, Padilla, Hiller, Ortiz
NO – Valdivia-Alcala, Banks, Duncan
Absent – Miller

I. Resolution – Set Public Hearing (Union at Tower District RHID) – APPROVED

Sets April 1, 2025 for public hearing. Notice to run March 24.

J. Resolution & Development Agreement – Ice Rink (Transient Guest Tax Reallocation) – APPROVED

• $180,188.44 reallocated from Evel Knievel Museum to Downtown Ice Rink.
• Phase 1 = 40×100 ft. concrete slab near Evergy Plaza.
• Future funding to be raised by the Downtown Advisory Board.

K. Resolution – Transient Guest Tax Disbursement – Sunflower Sports Association – APPROVED

• Immediate upgrades: lighting, parking
• Future: inclusive playground & fields

6. Non-Action Items

A. Discussion – Safe Streets Contract

• Revised budget: $45,750 (down 25%)
• Removed National Night Out
• “Block Talks” highlighted as a success

7. Public Comment

• Ongoing issue at trailer park: tree maintenance disputes between tenants and landlord.
• Opposition to Lauren’s Bay incentives. Suggests city could foreclose without county action.

8. Announcements

9. Executive Session

No executive session was needed.

10. Adjournment

Want to Know Who Represents You?

Find your district rep here. District lines may have changed since the last census.

Election Info

City Council seats up for election in Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and Mayor. For full details, visit the Shawnee County Elections Office.

Report by:
Danielle Twemlow
Consultant | Host of Kansas TRUE podcast