Topeka City Council Regular Meeting – December 3, 2025
Topeka City Council Regular Meeting – December 3, 2025
The Topeka City Council held its regular meeting on December 3, 2025, with eight members present. The meeting included a winter operations update, approval of consent agenda items, multiple action items, a legislative agenda amendment discussion, a utility rate structure debate, and public comments. Key outcomes included approving the legislative agenda with amendments on vacant property taxation, medical cannabis, and human trafficking penalties, and deciding to rename the utility "readiness to serve" charge to "base charge" without changing the rate structure.
Consent Calendar
- Reappointed Tamara Cortez, Tim Karkoff, James Parrish, Dean Patel, Kelsey Savage, and Cassandra Taylor to various boards. Unanimous approval.
- Approved a utilities department contract amendment with Black & Veatch Corporation not to exceed $146,427.
- Approved five resolutions from the Public Infrastructure Committee amending the 2026-2035 CIP and 2026-2028 CIB for water treatment plant and North Topeka pump station rehabilitation projects.
- Approved minutes of the November 18, 2025 meeting and serial month beverage license applications. All consent items passed 8-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Sandra Lasseter (42 Engage) expressed concerns about the city’s handling of police shootings (Lowry and Dylan cases), questioned outside legal fees, and criticized lack of transparency. She urged council to be more courageous and responsive.
- Patricia Pena (Kickapoo name Manisnoqua) shared a traumatic experience witnessing a shooting at a McDonald's. She requested that fast-food restaurants install exterior flashing warning lights to alert patrons of active threats, suggesting Topeka take the lead.
- Danielle Twemlow raised follow-up issues regarding Kansas Topsoil & Trucking LLC, stating the company was not properly registered with state or federal authorities. She submitted a public records request for contracts and communications.
- Mr. Grace urged the council to compile a list of volunteer and job-training opportunities for residents affected by new SNAP work requirements (80 hours per month), and to convene stakeholders with DCF by January 1, 2026.
Discussion Items
- Winter Operations Update: Tony Chower and Jason Tryon presented snow removal procedures. The city has 14 zones, pre-treats 581 lane miles, and used 5,750 gallons of brine for the recent storm. A new public tracking map shows plowing activity in near-real time. Residential streets are treated only if snowfall exceeds 6 inches. Council members discussed hot spots (hills, intersections) and the six-inch rule rationale.
- Utility Rate Structure (Readiness to Serve): Utilities Director Sylvia Davis presented three options: (1) increase base charge across all meter sizes, (2) increase consumption charges only, (3) leave current rates unchanged but rename the fee from "readiness to serve" to "base charge". Option 2 (consumption-based increase) was initially moved but withdrawn. After debate, Councilman Hofer moved to adopt option 3 — no rate change, only rename the charge. The motion passed 8-0. The readiness to serve charge generates $582,000 water and $457,000 wastewater annually from inactive customers (2% of base).
- Legislative Agenda Amendments: Councilwoman Hiller added language asking the state to re-examine zeroing out property taxes on vacant but rehabitable structures (passed 8-0). Councilman Miller added support for legalization of medical cannabis with local control and excise fees (passed 6-2, Ortiz and Dobler opposed). Councilman Hofer added support for stronger penalties against human trafficking and child sexual abuse (passed 8-0). The full amended legislative agenda was then approved 8-0.
- Facility Improvements and Maintenance Program: Jason Tryon presented proposed 2026 projects totaling ~$2.3 million, including fencing at the Law Enforcement Center (LEC), HVAC replacement at LEC, housing department renovation, fire station updates. Council members raised concerns about bonding maintenance items and the need for transparent funding. Councilwoman Hiller noted the city should follow its policy of not bonding items under $125,000. Discussion deferred to December 16 meeting for a vote.
Key Outcomes
- All consent agenda items (appointments, contracts, CIP amendments) approved 8-0.
- Action item A (notice of intent to reassign bond proceeds) approved 8-0.
- Action items B and C (KDHE loan for lead service lines, bond issuance) approved 8-0. The $11 million loan has 52% principal forgiveness.
- Action item F (Timber Ridge Subdivision plat) approved 8-0.
- Action item G (AMR franchise extension to Dec 31, 2026) approved 8-0.
- Action item H (legislative agenda as amended) approved 8-0.
- Utility rate decision: renamed "readiness to serve" to "base charge" with no other changes, effective January 1, 2026. No revenue impact.
- Items 5D and 5E (two planning items) were deferred to December 16, 2025.
- Facility improvements discussion continued; no vote taken.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good evening and welcome to the December 2nd meeting of the governing body. I call this meeting to order. If you stand if able for the invocation from myself and remain standing for the uh Pledge of Allegiance. Dear Heavenly Father, we gather today with grateful hearts, mindful of the responsibility entrusted to us. Grant us wisdom to discern what is just, courage to pursue what is right, and compassion to serve the needs of all the people in our community. May our discussions be guided by respect and understanding our decisions shape by fairness and integrity, and our actions reflect reflect the values of service and stewardship. Plus this council with unity of purpose, so together we may build a future marked with by peace, prosperity, and hope. Amen. Here council members Hiller here. Valdivia Aqua Ortiz here. Banks. Here. Miller. Here. Dobler. Here. Duncan. Here. And Hofer. Okay, we have seven present with Mayor Padilla and Council members Valdivia Aqua and Hofer absent. Okay. Agenda item number two appointments. Madam Clerk. A is a board appointment recommending the reappointment of Tamara Cortez to the Gage Park Improvement Authority to fill a term ending December 13, 2028. B is a board appointment, recommending the reappointment of Tim Karkoff to the Topeka Board of Zoning Appeals to fill a term ending December 31, 2028. C is a board appointment recommending the reappointment of James Parrish to the Downtown Business Improvement District Advisory Board to fill a term ending December 31, 2027. D and E are board appointments recommending the reappointment of Dean Patel and Kelsey Savage to the Topeka Tourism Business Improvement District Advisory Board for a term ending December 31, 2027. And F is a board appointment recommending the reappointment of Cassandra Taylor to the Board of Building and Fire Appeals for a term ending December 31, 2027. Thank you. Do I have a motion to approve? Okay, a motion by Councilman Miller and a second by Councilman Banks. And we'll go ahead and vote. Councilmember Duncan. Yes. Okay. Okay, we have seven. Yes. The motion carries. All right. Thank you. And I believe Mr. Parrish is here. I'm not sure if anyone else is, but if you'd say in if you're in the audience, one of the people who were uh appointment appointed, so you can be recognized. All right, uh agenda item number three presentations. Three is winner operations update. Thank you. Uh Deputy Mayor, members of the governing body, Tony Chower, uh, Deputy Director of Public Works and Jason Tryon, Interim Director of Public Works will lead us to this item. I think it's very timely given uh the snow that we just had, and so uh so yeah, so I'll turn it over to them. Thank you. Thank you, Deputy Mayor and Mayor of the members of the governing botany.
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