OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Topeka City Council Meeting - October 7, 2025

Governing Body — Wednesday, October 8, 2025
BodyTopeka, Kansas
SessionGoverning Body
DateWednesday, October 8, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:54:19

Transcript — Verbatim
0:13

Good evening and welcome to the October 7th meeting of the governing body.

0:17

I call this meeting to order.

0:20

If you will give your attention to Councilwoman Hofer, who will provide the invocation.

0:26

Stand as you are able and then remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:37

Tonight our invitation is going to be by Randy Lizeki.

0:44

Of course.

0:45

Okay, tonight our uh speaker for the invocation is Randy Lisecki.

0:50

He is retired from the Central Park Christian Church after 17 years of dedicated ministry.

0:56

He has also served as an intake chaplain with the Department of Corrections.

1:01

Currently, he continues his pastoral work as the in-house chaplain at Presbyterian Manor and serves as an on-call chaplain for the Taplika Topeka Police Department.

1:12

Randy, take it away.

1:14

Thank you.

1:15

Mayor, City Council, thank you for this privilege.

1:18

Pray with me, please.

1:20

Father in heaven, we do bow before you.

1:22

We submit you and subject you to our service.

1:28

And I pray that your protection would be upon us, Father.

1:31

And I pray, Father, uh, the protection on each one of our leaders here in the city, and for all of those who watch out for us each and every day and stand guard uh to keep us safe, to save our lives, and to bring us another day that we can live in freedom.

1:51

I just ask that you would bless this meeting and anoint each one with your love and your precious, precious care for each and every one of us.

2:02

I ask this in Jesus' name.

2:04

Amen.

2:06

Thank you.

2:08

I pleads to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

2:17

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

2:30

Okay.

2:34

Okay, we'll move on with the agenda.

2:36

Madam Clerk, roll call, please.

2:38

Mayor Padilla.

2:39

Here.

2:40

Council members Hiller.

2:41

Here.

2:42

Valdivia Aqua.

2:43

Here.

2:43

Ortiz here.

2:45

Banks.

2:46

Here.

2:47

Kel.

2:48

Here.

2:49

Miller.

2:50

Here.

2:50

Doubler.

2:52

Duncan.

2:53

Here.

2:53

Hofer.

2:54

Here.

2:55

All right.

2:55

We have nine presents.

2:58

Thank you.

2:59

Move on to appointments.

3:01

Madam Clerk.

3:08

Okay.

3:09

A is a board appointment recommending the appointment of Eli May to the Board of Building and Fire Appeals for a term ending October 7, 2027.

3:17

And B is a board appointment recommending the appointment of Valerie Peckham to the Topeka Shawnee County Public Library Board of Trustees to fill an unexpired term ending April 30, 2029.

3:27

Okay, you've heard the appointments is read.

3:28

Is there a motion from the body?

3:34

Motion to approve by Councilwoman Ortiz.

3:38

Second by Councilman Banks.

3:42

I think the board's ready.

3:44

Madam Clerk.

3:52

Maybe not.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████18%
Budget Equity Analysis████████████████16%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████14%
Technology and Innovation█████████9%
Public Engagement████████8%
Data Management█████5%
Zoning Regulations█████5%
Economic Development█████5%
Housing And Development████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Topeka City Council Meeting - October 7, 2025

The Topeka City Council met on October 7, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting included a presentation on new demographic dashboards, several consent and action items, and extensive discussion on the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The council approved appointments, zoning changes, infrastructure projects, and initial steps for two incentive districts. The CIP discussion was deferred to the October 21 meeting.

Consent Calendar

  • Appointments: Eli May to Board of Building and Fire Appeals (term ending Oct 7, 2027) and Valerie Peckham to Topeka Shawnee County Public Library Board (unexpired term ending Apr 30, 2029) were approved unanimously.
  • Consent agenda (ordinance on parking garage exemption, contract for professional services, and minutes of Sept 16, 2025) was approved 9-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Danielle Twemlow spoke twice: first on the Windward Estates RHID, criticizing the lack of upfront project details (renderings, financial analysis) and calling for stronger ordinance safeguards; second on the Sunflower Crossing TIF, urging pausing incentives until ordinances include affordable housing set-asides, clawback provisions, and job hiring requirements. She cited examples from other Kansas cities.
  • Henry McClure praised the fire department open house, commented on development challenges in Topeka (referencing College Hill and Maverick deals), and urged standardized development agreements.
  • Bonnie Lasseter expressed frustration about a city manager not meeting with her group, alleged lack of response from interim city attorney, and urged more community engagement from city staff.

Discussion Items

  • Demographic Dashboard Presentation (Travis Lather, GIS): Demonstrated a new public-facing website providing demographic, housing, economic, and market data down to council district and NIA level. Data sourced from U.S. Census, ACS, BLS, and private vendors. Council asked about adding local data, street search, custom geography, benchmarking, and historical comparisons. The tool is live on the city website.
  • Action 5A – Zoning Change at 625 SW Polk: Proposed rezoning from O&I to M3 for multifamily. After debate, council voted to amend the recommendation to M2 (7-2) and then approve as amended (7-1-1). Ex parte communications were disclosed.
  • Action 5E – Windward Estates RHID: First step resolution to establish district boundaries for 40 rental units (20 duplexes). Public comment raised concerns about lack of upfront project details. Council voted 7-2 to approve, with Valdivia Aqua and Banks opposed.
  • Action 5F – Sunflower Crossing TIF: Resolution to set a public hearing (Nov 12, 2025) for potential TIF district. Council voted 8-1 to approve, with Valdivia Aqua opposed. City staff noted blight study satisfied 7 of 9 statutory factors.
  • Action 5G – CIP 2026-2035: Councilwoman Hiller presented an alternative proposal with 15-year bonds, reduced spending ($116M vs $147M), and potential savings of $25-35M. Changes included consolidating Dreams programs, deferring some large projects (Polk Quincy East, Southeast 29th, fire stations, fleet garage) to a future list, and creating a capital improvement cash fund. Council voted 9-0 to defer final action to October 21 meeting.
  • Action 5H – Revenue Bonds for Utility Improvements: Deferred to October 21.

Key Outcomes

  • Appointments approved unanimously.
  • Consent agenda approved unanimously.
  • Zoning amendment (5A) passed: motion to amend to M2 (7-2), then motion to approve as amended (7-1-1).
  • Infrastructure projects (5B, 5C, 5D) approved unanimously: river weir crest cap ($800k), ferric chloride tank system ($473k), NW Minegar Road improvements (rebid).
  • Windward Estates RHID (5E) approved 7-2.
  • Sunflower Crossing TIF public hearing (5F) set for Nov 12, 2025, approved 8-1.
  • CIP (5G) deferred to Oct 21, 2025.
  • Revenue bonds (5H) deferred to Oct 21.
  • Three executive sessions held (legal advice, financial affairs, personnel); no action taken.

Announcements & Other Business

  • City manager announced KDOT Local Consult on Oct 9, 2025, to discuss PQ East project.
  • Councilwoman Hofer recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month and highlighted Constitution Hall's first major event.
  • Councilwoman Valdivia inquired about applicability of HB 2160 (Kansas Municipal Employee Whistleblower Act) and raised concerns about utilities department culture, investigations, and hiring. Councilman Duncan confirmed the act covers municipal employees.
  • Councilman Miller and Mayor Padilla emphasized respecting city staff and balancing criticisms with evidence.
  • Next regular meeting: Oct 14, 2025 (with rescheduled Nov meetings due to election and Veterans Day).

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the October 7th meeting of the governing body. I call this meeting to order. If you will give your attention to Councilwoman Hofer, who will provide the invocation. Stand as you are able and then remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Tonight our invitation is going to be by Randy Lizeki. Of course. Okay, tonight our uh speaker for the invocation is Randy Lisecki. He is retired from the Central Park Christian Church after 17 years of dedicated ministry. He has also served as an intake chaplain with the Department of Corrections. Currently, he continues his pastoral work as the in-house chaplain at Presbyterian Manor and serves as an on-call chaplain for the Taplika Topeka Police Department. Randy, take it away. Thank you. Mayor, City Council, thank you for this privilege. Pray with me, please. Father in heaven, we do bow before you. We submit you and subject you to our service. And I pray that your protection would be upon us, Father. And I pray, Father, uh, the protection on each one of our leaders here in the city, and for all of those who watch out for us each and every day and stand guard uh to keep us safe, to save our lives, and to bring us another day that we can live in freedom. I just ask that you would bless this meeting and anoint each one with your love and your precious, precious care for each and every one of us. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you. I pleads to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Okay, we'll move on with the agenda. Madam Clerk, roll call, please. Mayor Padilla. Here. Council members Hiller. Here. Valdivia Aqua. Here. Ortiz here. Banks. Here. Kel. Here. Miller. Here. Doubler. Duncan. Here. Hofer. Here. All right. We have nine presents. Thank you. Move on to appointments. Madam Clerk.

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