City of Topeka Governing Body Meeting - November 19, 2025
City of Topeka Governing Body Meeting - November 19, 2025
The meeting was called to order with all nine council members present. The agenda included appointments, a progress report on the Changing Our Culture of Property Maintenance initiative, consent agenda, several action items (rezoning, PUD amendment, land dedications, annexation, budget hearing date), discussion of the 2026 legislative agenda, public comments, and announcements.
Consent Calendar
- Settlement Approval: Approved a $49,000 settlement to resolve a lawsuit with Brentley Dorsey relating to employment.
- Minutes: Approved minutes of the regular meeting of November 12, 2025.
Appointments (Unanimously Approved)
- Samuel Sutton reappointed to the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority Board (term ending Nov 30, 2028).
- Carly Feldhausen reappointed to the Shawnee County Community Corrections Advisory Board (term ending Nov 30, 2027).
- Keith Order reappointed to the Gage Park Improvement Authority (term ending Dec 13, 2028).
- Samantha Rogowitz appointed to the Topeka Sustainability Advisory Board (term ending Nov 18, 2027).
- Lori Neehouse reappointed to the Topeka Board of Zoning Appeals (term ending Dec 31, 2028).
- Travis Williams appointed to the Topeka Housing Authority Advisory Board (unexpired term ending Dec 31, 2027).
Discussion Items
- Property Maintenance Initiative Progress Report: Councilwoman Hiller and staff presented an update on the Changing Our Culture of Property Maintenance initiative launched in 2021. Key points included: creation of a referral system for housing services, prioritization of life-safety violations (24-72 hour response), a $750,000 Federal Home Loan Bank grant for homeowner repairs, interdepartmental data sharing (police, fire, property maintenance), educational outreach ("Coffee with Code" events, pamphlets, website updates), and a community navigator position filled in August 2025. The initiative aims to reduce substandard properties and improve voluntary compliance. Council discussed gaps and an updated property maintenance code expected by year-end.
- 2026 Legislative Agenda Discussion: Deputy Mayor Kell reviewed the proposed agenda, which includes items on home rule, opposition to government competition legislation, sales tax exemption reform, unfunded mandates, property valuation system changes, revenue neutral adjustments (including inflation indexing), housing initiatives, mental health support, Medicaid expansion, homelessness services, firefighter helmet cameras, minimum wage, law enforcement age requirements, broadband, transit support, and utility right-of-way control. Council members added discussion on child abuse penalties (Councilman Kell), medical marijuana (Councilman Miller), blighted/boarded housing (Councilwoman Ortiz), property valuation for vacant structures (Councilwoman Hiller), and election yard signs (Councilwoman Hiller). The agenda will be voted on December 2, 2025.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Sandra Lasseter: Commended officers Target, Rosso, Mulligan, and Belt for de-escalation. Criticized the city's response to a Kansas Open Records Act request, citing lack of signature and use of a 40-year-old case. Called for transparency regarding an officer she believes lied.
- Second Speaker (unidentified): Expressed frustration over not receiving her son's officer's name due to a 1987 law, questioned police department accountability, and stated her son's death and another son's agoraphobia.
- Henry McClure: Criticized the city's hotel deal, debt, and spending (mentioning a $554,000 consultant fee). Suggested using original liquor tax revenue for parks. Referenced his grandfather's school board service and advocated for patience in seeking change.
Key Outcomes
- All six appointments were approved unanimously (9-0).
- Consent agenda (settlement and minutes) approved unanimously (9-0).
- Action Item 5A (rezoning at 3825/3835 SW 29th St) approved 9-0.
- Action Item 5B (PUD amendment for Shorey Estate Subdivision/Habitat for Humanity) approved 9-0.
- Action Item 5C (land dedications, Misty Harbor Subdivision No.6) approved 9-0.
- Action Item 5D (annexation) approved 9-0.
- Action Item 5E (public hearing date for budget amendments on Dec 9, 2025) approved 9-0.
- The 2026 legislative agenda will be revised based on discussion and brought back for a vote on December 2, 2025.
- Council noted no meeting next week (week of Nov 19) and wished a happy Thanksgiving.
Announcements
- Councilman Taylor reported finalized election results and thanked voter turnout efforts.
- Deputy Mayor Kell recognized outgoing Mayor Padilla and Councilman Dobler for their mentorship.
- Councilwoman Hofer announced girder beams set for Polk Quincy Viaduct and the opening of "Do Lights" at the zoo (Nov 21).
- Mayor Duncan thanked staff for helping the Breadbasket food pantry after a fire, and asked NIAs to seek a representative for the land bank board.
- Mayor Padilla thanked a school principal for a positive visit.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the November 18th meeting of the governing body. I call this meeting to order. If you will give your attention to Councilwoman Hiller, who will provide the invocation, stand as you are able, and then remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, Mayor. It's uh it's a great pleasure for me to introduce to you, Terry Kimes. Many of you may know him from his past life as 40 years at as a partner or as an accountant and then a partner at my CPA today. Terry is the chaplain at the Shawnee County Jail. Um there he does Bible studies, one-on-one councils, baptisms, support, kind of whatever anybody needs. He also is on the board of Tumi, which is the Topeka Urban Ministry Institute, which is based out of Central Topeka and Central Park neighborhood in particular. Um that group is involved in feeding the homeless that are able to get to their houses. They have two chaplain houses near near Central Park Community Center and Central Park Christian. They do outreach, particularly in Central Park. Um, every Sunday night, feed between 80 and 100 homeless people that are able to get to their meals. Um they've also hired a person who's managing one of the houses as an as a what they call a neighborhood navigator, and she helps people find food, get IDs, addresses, and so on. And with that, ask Terry to share some words with us this evening to start a meeting. Thank you, Karen. Uh, let us pray. Our most gracious Heavenly Father. We thank you for this beautiful day. We thank you for the opportunity to be here tonight, and we ask you to bless all those who are in attendance. We thank you for this governing body as they work together to serve our community. We thank you for the citizens that have come out tonight to be involved in our democracy. We thank you for organizations like the Topeka Urban Ministry Institute that are a part of this community that reach out to the leased. We are feeding 80 to 100 homeless people every Sunday night in the Central Park community, all done by private contributions from our citizens. Tonight, as this council meets together to make important decisions that affect Topeka. We ask that you give them the grace to work together with Unity and give each member the discernment to voice what their personal beliefs are on each issue. We are thankful for these leaders for the time they spend in serving. We also ask for your protection and all those first responders that serve this city. And Lord, most of all, we thank you for how much you love us all. We ask all these things in the name of our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you. I vote for the allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. Under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay, thank you all. Madam Klerk, will we call the roll, please? Uh Mayor Pia. Here. Council members Hiller. Here, Valdivia Aquala, Ortiz, here, thanks. Here. Kel? Here. Miller. Here. Doubler. Here. Duncan. Here.
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