OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Topeka City Council Meeting – December 9, 2025

Governing Body — Wednesday, December 10, 2025
BodyTopeka, Kansas
SessionGoverning Body
DateWednesday, December 10, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:29:24

Transcript — Verbatim
0:13

Good evening.

0:14

It's six o'clock.

0:15

Welcome to the December 9th meeting of the governing body.

0:20

Call this meeting to order.

0:24

This evening I'm going to ask for the invocation.

0:30

If we'll just have a moment of silence, stand as you are able.

0:36

And remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:40

This is a joyous time of the year.

0:43

But for a lot of people, they also struggle with this time of year because the family members who are no longer with them or have recently passed.

0:55

I know just myself.

0:57

I had a good friend of mine I've known for years just past this week.

1:00

And so it's tough for a lot of families.

1:03

So I ask that you give them a moment of silence and consideration and support everyone who's going through tough times, even though it is a happy time of year.

1:15

It's a tough time of year for a lot of people.

1:18

So thank you for just a moment of silence.

1:42

And to the Republic, which is local meeting and justice for all.

2:04

Okay.

2:09

Madam Kurt, have a call to roll, please.

2:12

Mayor Padilla.

2:13

Here.

2:13

Council members Hiller.

2:15

Here.

2:15

Valdivia Aquala.

2:17

Ortiz.

2:19

Thanks.

2:20

Here.

2:21

Kel.

2:24

Miller.

2:25

Here.

2:26

Dobler.

2:27

Here.

2:28

Duncan.

2:28

Here.

2:29

And Hofer.

2:31

Okay.

2:32

Alice here.

2:33

Okay.

2:34

So we have eight.

2:35

Yes with Council Members Valdivia Aquala and Kel absent.

2:39

Did I hear that Councilman Miller's on?

2:41

Yes.

2:41

Okay, thank you.

2:43

All right.

2:44

Thank you very much.

2:45

Move on to appointments.

2:46

Madam Burke.

2:48

Items A and B are board appointments recommending the reappointment of Robert Burke West and Kurt Young to the Topeka Tourism Business Improvement District Advisory Board for a term ending December 31, 2027.

2:58

C is a board appointment recommending the reappointment of Walter Showmaker to the Topeka Board of Zoning Appeals to fill a term ending December 31, 2028.

3:07

D is a board appointment, recommending the reappointment of Jeff Roman to the Topeka Board of Plumbing Examiners for a term ending December 31, 2027.

3:16

Items E and F are board appointments recommending the reappointment of Alina Stewart and Dave Frederick to the Topeka Landmarks Commission for a term ending December 31, 2028.

3:26

Okay, thank you.

3:30

Is there a motion to approve from the body?

3:34

Motion to approve by Councilman Dobler, a second from Councilman Banks.

3:39

Do we do uh the roll call?

3:41

Um you can go ahead and use your board.

3:43

Okay, we can use a board.

3:44

We're ready to vote.

3:45

Yeah, council member Miller.

3:47

Yes.

3:51

Okay, I can't hear you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Improvement District████████████████████20%
Economic Development███████████████15%
Procedural███████████11%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Public Safety██████████10%
Budget Equity Analysis████████8%
Community Engagement███████7%
Zoning Regulations██████6%
Legal████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Topeka City Council Meeting – December 9, 2025

The Topeka City Council held its regular meeting on December 9, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting included board appointments, a presentation from Visit Topeka, approval of several action items (including a new development agreement for Sunflower Crossing and renewals of Business Improvement District levies), public comments on housing, police accountability, and city contracting, and various announcements. The council voted on nine items, with one receiving a dissenting vote (8–1).

Consent Calendar

  • Contract amendment (Public Works) with United Engineering Group Midwest LLC, not to exceed $53,900 – approved.
  • Minutes of the December 2, 2025, regular meeting were withdrawn and placed on the December 16 agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Martha Boatwright (Topeka Tenants) expressed frustration with repeated trash accumulation at properties owned by Lou McGinnis, criticized the lack of a rental registry, and raised concerns about a council member’s undisclosed landlord status and daytime meetings that disadvantage tenants.
  • Keely Addington alleged that the Topeka Police Department covered up officer misconduct in the deaths of Dylan Wallstrom and Taylor Lowry, and called for transparency and accountability.
  • Sandra West Lasseter complained about being denied access to the police chief due to a family lawsuit, and raised concerns about a search warrant executed at Topeka High School without parental notification, including the seizure of students’ phones.
  • Danielle Twendl reported findings from an open records request regarding Kansas Topsoil, noting 22 invoices for emergency work totaling over $1 million, many for the exact amount of $4,280, and suggested potential steering and lack of proper licensing.
  • Forbidden Knowledge (speaker) argued that the often-cited figure of 3,500 substandard homes is based on flawed CDU (Condition, Desirability, Utility) ratings, and claimed that Councilmember Hiller’s own properties are rated substandard under that metric.

Presentation: Visit Topeka Update

  • Sean Dixon, President of Visit Topeka, provided an overview of the organization’s work, including its contract with the city, use of the 5% transient guest tax (79% operating funds, 11% for large attractions), and reporting metrics. He noted that 2025 saw a decline in U.S. travel, but forward bookings for 2026 are strong with events such as Kansas Kids Wrestling (five‑year agreement, $2 million per event), JUCO indoor track, and NAIA cheer/dance nationals. He also outlined marketing strategies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Kansas City, including campaigns targeting the 600,000 expected visitors.

Discussion Items

  • Action Item 5A – Visit Topeka Contract Extension: The council approved a three‑year extension of the agreement with Visit Topeka to manage tourism programs. The Transient Guest Tax Committee had previously reviewed the contract in detail.
  • Action Item 5B – Topeka Dreams Neighborhood Improvement Program: Approved the 2026 award recommendations. A representative from Tennessee Town spoke in support of Phase 3 improvements at King’s Court.
  • Action Item 5C – 2025 Budget Amendments: Public hearing held; no one spoke. The ordinance will be considered at the next meeting.
  • Action Items 5D, 5E, 5F – Sunflower Crossing Redevelopment: The council conducted public hearings and approved the redevelopment project plan (TIF), development agreement, and creation of a Community Improvement District (CID) with a 1% sales tax (max 22 years, $1.88 million reimbursement). The project includes a Quick Trip convenience store, a 3,500 sq ft retail box, and a 6,500 sq ft build‑to‑suit restaurant/retail. Total project cost: $16 million. Councilman Duncan voted no on the CID (5F).
  • Action Item 5G – Partial Assignment of Development Agreement: Approved to allow the sale of a pad site at the 17th & Wanamaker development to the Oberdovich Living Trust.
  • Action Items 5H, 5I, 5J – Business Improvement District Levies for 2026: Approved one‑year renewals for the Topeka Tourism BID, Downtown BID, and NOTO BID with no changes from 2025.
  • Action Item 5K – RHID Application: The developer requested the item be pulled; no action taken.

Key Outcomes

  • Board reappointments (Tourism BID, Zoning Appeals, Plumbing Examiners, Landmarks Commission) – approved unanimously.
  • Visit Topeka contract extension (2026–2028) – approved unanimously.
  • Topeka Dreams program – approved unanimously.
  • Sunflower Crossing TIF and Development Agreement – approved unanimously.
  • Sunflower Crossing CID – approved 8–1 (Councilman Duncan dissenting).
  • Partial assignment (Wanamaker development) – approved unanimously.
  • Tourism, Downtown, and NOTO BID levies – each approved unanimously.
  • RHID application – withdrawn.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 p.m. without executive session.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. It's six o'clock. Welcome to the December 9th meeting of the governing body. Call this meeting to order. This evening I'm going to ask for the invocation. If we'll just have a moment of silence, stand as you are able. And remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. This is a joyous time of the year. But for a lot of people, they also struggle with this time of year because the family members who are no longer with them or have recently passed. I know just myself. I had a good friend of mine I've known for years just past this week. And so it's tough for a lot of families. So I ask that you give them a moment of silence and consideration and support everyone who's going through tough times, even though it is a happy time of year. It's a tough time of year for a lot of people. So thank you for just a moment of silence. And to the Republic, which is local meeting and justice for all. Okay. Madam Kurt, have a call to roll, please. Mayor Padilla. Here. Council members Hiller. Here. Valdivia Aquala. Ortiz. Thanks. Here. Kel. Miller. Here. Dobler. Here. Duncan. Here. And Hofer. Okay. Alice here. Okay. So we have eight. Yes with Council Members Valdivia Aquala and Kel absent. Did I hear that Councilman Miller's on? Yes. Okay, thank you. All right. Thank you very much. Move on to appointments. Madam Burke. Items A and B are board appointments recommending the reappointment of Robert Burke West and Kurt Young to the Topeka Tourism Business Improvement District Advisory Board for a term ending December 31, 2027. C is a board appointment recommending the reappointment of Walter Showmaker to the Topeka Board of Zoning Appeals to fill a term ending December 31, 2028. D is a board appointment, recommending the reappointment of Jeff Roman to the Topeka Board of Plumbing Examiners for a term ending December 31, 2027. Items E and F are board appointments recommending the reappointment of Alina Stewart and Dave Frederick to the Topeka Landmarks Commission for a term ending December 31, 2028.

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