Note: The transcript repeatedly references September 16, 2025, but per the instruction, the meeting date is recorded as September 17, 2025. This discrepancy is noted.
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Michael Padilla with 10 council members present. The meeting included a proclamation, consent agenda, several action items, extensive budget discussions, public comments, and final announcements. The council adopted the 2026 operating budget after multiple amendments.
Okay, good evening. It's six o'clock, and I welcome you to the September 16th meeting of the governing body. I'll call this meeting to order. If you will give your attention to Councilman Duncan, who will provide the incation. Stand as you are able and then remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, Mayor. All right. Do my best to get through this. In a minute. I thought this would be easier, believe it or not. Um, I think as most people know. Last week my mother passed away. Somewhat unexpectedly. Um first of all, I want to thank everybody, literally hundreds and hundreds of people who've reached out, expressed their condolences and offered assistance to us as a family. I will say that my mother grew up in this town. She is a Topeka native, and she loved this community. She did everything she could when she could to give back. And when I say give back, it wasn't just the big stuff. You'll find a lot of people in this community have the small stories. They needed to ride to the grocery store, they needed to help with their vet bill so their vet could so their cat or dog could get taken care of. And in some cases, she simply just helped people keep the lights on. I would sit up here a lot and I would often say, I'm about to take this vote, but my mother is texting me and saying she has different thoughts. Why are you doing that, Spencer? Are you sure that's the right thing to do? And she took every opportunity she could remind me that my role here is to take care of and represent the people. Period. She never missed an opportunity to remind me to stay down that path. And so I've appreciated that, obviously. Um I will tell you every meeting that I left here. She was the first phone call I would make, so she could tell me what she thought, because she watched every meeting, and she could give me her feedback. And I promise you that while she wasn't the only voice in my head, she was the loudest that I always told people represented the people in this city. And so it isn't just my loss. I tell people it's everybody's loss because that voice is gone. And I will say that I know everybody out there at some point in time has had somebody like that in their life that they have lost. And so with that, I ask everyone to pray. Let us take a moment to pause and reflect. As we gather here tonight in service to our community, we acknowledge that our work is built upon the efforts, sacrifices, and dreams of those who came before us. We remember the neighbors, friends, and loved ones we have lost, those whose presence shaped our city, and whose absence we still feel. May their memory inspire us to lead with compassion, humility, and dedication, and may we honor them by striving to build a safer, stronger, and more hopeful future for all who call this community home. Let us move forward together with respect for one another, gratitude for the opportunities before us, and commitment to the responsibilities entrusted to us. Amen. I congratulate this to the flag of the United States of America. And consider it stands. Okay. First on the agenda. Roll call. Madam Clerk. Mayor Padilla. Here. Councilmembers Hiller.