Here is your recap of the Topeka City Council meeting from Tuesday, April 1st, 2025. For a complete overview, visit the city website here. You can click on each agenda item to view more details, including supporting PDFs and presentations.
2. Appointments: Approved
- Jim Ramos – Topeka/Shawnee County Public Library Board of Trustees
- Margaret Dunlap – Topeka/Shawnee County Public Library Board of Trustees
3. Presentations
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Annual Report
- In 2024, the ADA Board reviewed 14 complaints, mostly involving inaccessible right-of-ways or unclear signage.
- Councilmember Duncan suggested a “disability audit” of city buildings and parks.
- A public works RFP for an ADA audit is in progress.
Topeka Sustainability Advisory Board (TSAB) Annual Report
- Two current vacancies on the Board.
- Citizens in green shirts showed support and submitted 89 letters advocating for a full-time Sustainability Coordinator.
- The Board’s report can be read here.
- Councilmember Hiller called for citizen action; board members responded with their accomplishments.
- Councilmember Duncan requested interdepartmental meetings resume post-COVID.
4. Consent Agenda: Approved
A. Ordinance – City expenditures from March 1–28, 2025: $24,390,566.05
B. Contract – Stormont-Vail Healthcare for occupational health services: Estimated $388,000 annually
C. Resolution – Germanfest 2025 (Sacred Heart – St. Joseph Parish):
- Sale/consumption of alcohol approved for June 7 (4–11 PM) and June 8 (10 AM–5 PM)
D. Resolution – Noise Exception for Germanfest
- Amplified sound approved for event hours
E. Minutes – Meetings from April 1 & 8, 2025
F. Applications – None
5. Action Items
A. Item removed from agenda without explanation.
B. Resolution – Public Hearing Date for South Topeka CID (SW 32nd Terrace & Topeka Blvd):
- Public hearing set for May 6, 2025
C. Resolution – Hotel Topeka Operations & Maintenance: $168,297 Approved
- Total spent on updates since purchase: $2,247,298
- Councilmembers Valdivia-Alcala and Banks voted No
D. Resolution – Homelessness Discussions
- Moves all homelessness discussions to the full council instead of committee
- Allows for broader public comment and acknowledges multi-department involvement
6. Non-Action Items
A. Downtown Parking Ordinance Amendment Discussion
- Current system encourages “leapfrogging”
- City losing $400K–500K annually
- New parking zones and meters proposed; education rollout planned
- Changes on Kansas Ave delayed until January 2026
B. Downtown Parking Resolution Discussion
- Would allow free parking to continue through 2025
- Metered parking resumes after
C. Capital Improvement Plan & Budget (2026–2035 CIP / 2026–2028 CIB)
- ½ cent sales tax fund allocation explained
- $5M/year to economic development via GO Topeka
- Remainder split: 52% county / 48% city
- Fire Station 10 project discussed—possible relocation, lost land opportunity at 6th & Fairlawn
7. Public Comment
- No comments from citizens
8. Announcements
- Citizens Government Review Committee
Next meeting: April 23, Cyrus Holiday Building, 6–8 PM - Navigating City Contracts Workshop
Public Library, April 23, 6–8 PM (Register online) - Vicious Dog Ordinance Review
Councilwoman Ortiz received constituent feedback; requests public health and safety review - Public Safety Communications Vacancy
Ortiz suggests re-evaluating 24/7 on-call expectations for the role - UNESCO World Heritage Site Nomination
Monroe Elementary School (Brown v. Board) in Topeka is under consideration
Only Midwest site on the list - Passenger Railway Expansion
Governor signed law to expand Heartland Railway in 2026 budget
Route includes Topeka, connecting KC–OKC–Fort Worth - Rental Inspection Legislation
City-proposed bill for inspecting federally subsidized rentals passed the House, stalled in the Senate
9. Executive Session
Held to discuss multiple lawsuits and receive legal advice under Kansas Open Meetings Act provisions
Session Info
10. Adjournment
Prepared by:
Danielle Twemlow, Consultant
Host of Kansas TRUE podcast
