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Record of Proceedings

Topeka Governing Body Meeting - February 11, 2026: TPAC Report, Developer Agreements, and Public Comment

Governing Body — Wednesday, February 11, 2026
BodyTopeka, Kansas
SessionGoverning Body
DateWednesday, February 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:21:33

Transcript — Verbatim
0:07

Good evening.

0:08

Welcome to the February 10th, 2026, the Topeka governing body meeting.

0:13

I will call this meeting to order, and I will ask everyone to turn their attention to Councilmember Banks, who has the invitation this evening.

0:21

Please stand if you are able.

0:35

He's a member of the New Life Baptist Church here in Topeka.

0:39

He was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri.

0:42

He's married with 21 grand.

0:45

He is a he's a licensed barber, cosmetology and barber instructor, and is a licensed minister.

1:02

I am he's attending Topeka Ministry Institute, Urban Ministry Institute, and has been a resident of Topeka for the past 30 years.

1:26

Thank you.

1:28

And pray for me.

1:32

Heavenly Father, we come to you in Jesus' name.

1:34

We thank you for this wonderful and precious day in this opportunity.

1:40

I just ask that you would uh allow these members to make help them make the best decisions possible.

1:48

We ask for your hands and protection around this facility, and we just thank you for their families.

1:56

We just thank you that you would reveal your word to them and help them in their direction.

2:03

We just thank you for the peace that pass it all understanding.

2:09

We asked that love, joy, and peace would resonate in this facility.

2:15

We just asked that unity would be a part of this facility.

2:20

We would just ask that any strife be removed, and anyone that comes to this podium would be transparent.

2:28

We just asked that this council would hear their words.

2:33

And we just thank you and praise you in Jesus' name.

2:38

Amen.

2:39

Amen.

2:41

He's also my barber.

2:49

I pledge a leader to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic or which it stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.

3:04

I'm a home bar.

3:08

I do.

3:12

I'll ask the clerk.

3:14

Clerk to call roll.

3:16

All right, Mayor Duncan.

3:18

Here.

3:18

Council members Hiller.

3:20

Here.

3:20

Paul Divia Aqua.

3:22

Ortiz.

3:23

Here.

3:24

Thanks.

3:24

Here.

3:25

Cal.

3:26

Here.

3:27

Miller.

3:28

Here.

3:29

Bradbury.

3:30

Here.

3:30

And Hooper.

3:32

Here.

3:33

All right.

3:33

We have eight present.

3:36

All right.

3:37

And we open things up tonight with a presentation from the Topeka Performing Arts Center.

3:42

Come up here and introduce yourself and we'll take it away.

3:46

Fantastic.

3:48

Thank you, City Council, Mr.

3:50

Mayor, and those that are online.

3:52

My name is Daniel Case.

3:54

I'm the executive director for the Topeka Performing Arts Center.

3:57

Your art center, the community's uh space, the community venue where tons of community use it for all uh of their years of dance and uh coming together uh for gatherings uh throughout the years, and we look forward to continuing this great path.

4:13

With me, I have a few board members as well in the audience.

4:16

So if we do have any kind of questions and stuff like that during discussion, um we're all here to help answer those questions.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture███████████████████████23%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████13%
Affordable Housing██████████10%
Technology and Innovation██████6%
Economic Development██████6%
Public Safety█████5%
Legal████4%
Public Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Topeka Governing Body Meeting - February 11, 2026

The Topeka governing body convened on February 11, 2026, with eight council members present. The meeting opened with a presentation from the Topeka Performing Arts Center (TPAC), followed by action items including consent agenda approvals, IT authorization, partial assignment of development agreements, and a pavement management resolution. Public comments addressed rent control, a civil rights lawsuit against the city, and local hiring in affordable housing projects.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the consent agenda with items 3A through 3J, except item J was pulled for separate discussion.
  • Item 3A: Engineering contract with JEO Consulting Group (not to exceed $11,500).
  • Item 3B: Engineering contract with SBB Engineering LLC (not to exceed $23,759).
  • Item 3C: Engineering contract with Cook, Flat, and Strobel Engineering's PA (not to exceed $63,691.03).
  • Items 3D through 3I: Resolutions for fleet replacement, sanitary sewer rehab, CCTV inspection units, budget amendments, and pavement management.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • James Bolton urged the council to adopt rent control, arguing it provides stability for tenants and can be designed to coexist with a healthy rental market. He acknowledged criticisms but emphasized rent control as one tool in a broader affordable housing strategy.
  • Dr. Justin Spees detailed a series of incidents involving the Topeka Police Department, including an unlawful arrest in September 2025. He announced he had filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against multiple officers and the City of Topeka, listing counts under the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments. He also indicated a forthcoming lawsuit against the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.
  • Lazone Grayson criticized the city's approach to affordable housing development, questioning why developers are not required to hire local labor, use local contractors, or provide apprenticeship opportunities. He asked the council to mandate that city negotiators ask developers specific questions about local economic impact and job creation.

Discussion Items

  • Topeka Performing Arts Center (TPAC) Annual Report: Executive Director Daniel Case presented TPAC's year-end financials, showing a deficit larger than budgeted. He outlined plans to increase fundraising, pursue a naming rights partner by 2027, and take direct booking risks (e.g., Alice Cooper) to improve revenue. TPAC reported 75% community and nonprofit use. Council members noted improved marketing and programming diversity, including younger acts.
  • Action Item A – IT Authorization for Apple Developer Program: The council considered an ordinance authorizing three IT employees to sign agreements on behalf of the city for Apple app development. A proposed amendment to sunset the authority after two years failed for lack of a second. The ordinance passed 8-0.
  • Action Item B – Partial Assignment of Development Agreement (QuickTrip): Staff explained that the assignment transfers up to $532,000 in CID proceeds from the developer to QuickTrip for the Sunflower Crossing project. Public commenter Danielle Twemla noted the developer's business had forfeited its Kansas registration and questioned accountability. The motion passed 8-0.
  • Action Item C – Partial Assignment of Development Agreement (Shopping Center): Similar to item B, this assigns remaining development rights from EIG Wanamaker LLC to B33 Wanamaker 3 LLC for the remainder of a shopping center. Public commenter Danielle Twemla repeated concerns about lack of reporting requirements and business registration. The motion passed 8-0.
  • Action Item D – 2026 Pavement Management Program (Pulled from Consent): Councilmember Hiller requested discussion to ensure projects like 10th Street mill-and-overlay would be appropriate. Staff confirmed additional investigation (utility checks, coring) would precede construction, with some projects potentially deferred to 2027. The resolution passed 8-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved consent agenda (with item J moved to action) – unanimous.
  • Approved ordinance authorizing IT employees to sign Apple Developer agreements – 8-0.
  • Approved partial assignment of CID proceeds to QuickTrip – 8-0.
  • Approved partial assignment of shopping center development agreement – 8-0.
  • Approved pavement management resolution for 2026 – 8-0.
  • Council directed city attorney to provide a memo on legal options regarding rent control.
  • Council held an executive session (15 minutes) for litigation and attorney-client privileged matters; no action was taken.
  • Upcoming meeting (February 17) agenda announced: swearing-in of Councilmember Murray McGee, public hearings on alley vacation, home occupation code amendments, and more.

City Manager & Council Announcements

  • City Manager noted National Salute to Veteran Patients Week, announced an RFP for Affordable Housing Trust Fund projects, and a new summer youth employment program, "Topeka Way to Work."
  • Councilmember Kell condemned the posting of personal information of city staff online, calling it harassment.
  • Councilmember Ortiz highlighted free tax preparation services, LIEAP applications, and digital workshops for seniors.
  • Mayor Duncan emphasized the importance of the VA hospital and encouraged citizens to apply for the Citizens Police Academy.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Welcome to the February 10th, 2026, the Topeka governing body meeting. I will call this meeting to order, and I will ask everyone to turn their attention to Councilmember Banks, who has the invitation this evening. Please stand if you are able. He's a member of the New Life Baptist Church here in Topeka. He was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He's married with 21 grand. He is a he's a licensed barber, cosmetology and barber instructor, and is a licensed minister. I am he's attending Topeka Ministry Institute, Urban Ministry Institute, and has been a resident of Topeka for the past 30 years. Thank you. And pray for me. Heavenly Father, we come to you in Jesus' name. We thank you for this wonderful and precious day in this opportunity. I just ask that you would uh allow these members to make help them make the best decisions possible. We ask for your hands and protection around this facility, and we just thank you for their families. We just thank you that you would reveal your word to them and help them in their direction. We just thank you for the peace that pass it all understanding. We asked that love, joy, and peace would resonate in this facility. We just asked that unity would be a part of this facility. We would just ask that any strife be removed, and anyone that comes to this podium would be transparent. We just asked that this council would hear their words. And we just thank you and praise you in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. He's also my barber. I pledge a leader to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic or which it stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. I'm a home bar. I do. I'll ask the clerk. Clerk to call roll. All right, Mayor Duncan. Here. Council members Hiller. Here. Paul Divia Aqua. Ortiz. Here. Thanks. Here. Cal. Here. Miller. Here. Bradbury. Here. And Hooper. Here. All right. We have eight present. All right.

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