OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Topeka City Council Meeting – March 4, 2026

Governing Body — Wednesday, March 4, 2026
BodyTopeka, Kansas
SessionGoverning Body
DateWednesday, March 4, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 48:59

Transcript — Verbatim
0:12

Welcome to the March 3rd 2026, the speaking government library meeting.

0:18

For everybody's hyperstory, the city manager is out sick this evening.

0:21

So every Cye.

0:23

So I have to turn my microphone on if anyone wants to actually hear me.

0:26

So again, welcome to the uh March 3rd, 2026 governing by the agenda or governed body meeting, which I will now call to order.

0:33

Um just for everybody's reference, the city manager is out sick this evening, so deputy city manager will be filling in for him.

0:39

Uh with that, I will ask everyone to turn their attention to council member Brett Kell, who has to this evening's invocation.

0:45

Please rise if you are able.

0:51

Let's take the time to be thankful for what we have.

0:54

Find the positive force to push us through the negative situations, and the ability to find joy in our life.

1:02

Thank you.

1:09

I place allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic or which is one nation under God and with liberty and remember two more weeks after we can with that.

1:31

Mayor Duncan.

1:32

Here.

1:33

Councilmember Hillard.

1:34

Here.

1:40

Banks.

1:41

Here.

1:42

Kel.

1:42

Here.

1:43

Miller.

1:44

Here.

1:44

Bradbury.

1:45

Here.

1:46

Age.

1:47

Here.

1:47

And Hofer.

1:49

Here.

1:50

All right.

1:50

We have eight present with council members of Aldevi Aqua and Ortiz absent.

1:57

All right.

1:57

We will move on to presentations.

1:59

We have one this evening, City Clerk.

2:02

We have an update from the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority.

2:06

Deputy City Manager.

2:16

I don't know if you need to introduce anybody or we just want to call them up.

2:19

Sorry.

2:20

The MTAA started leading off with their president will make a presentation to us this evening.

2:24

Thank you.

2:25

Great.

2:25

Thank you.

2:26

Come on up.

2:28

Okay.

2:35

All right.

2:35

Mayor Duncan, Council members, thank you for bringing us here tonight to provide you with our annual update of the MTAA.

2:43

My name is Sam Sutton.

2:45

I am the current 2026 chairman of the airport board.

2:50

And I'm joined here today by the president.

3:00

And our director of economic development, Mr.

3:03

Curtis Sneedon.

3:06

The MTA was created in 1974 as sort of a entity that could help transition the airport over from a military-controlled entity to a civilian operated airport.

3:26

The airport authority was consolidated with uh Billard Airport.

3:30

And uh the city and county voted to combine those two assets under one roof.

3:37

For the purpose of acquiring, owning, maintaining, operating, and improving and disposing of properties that are essential to the uh airport operations.

3:48

Our uh areas of responsibilities include the Topeka regional airport itself, the Philip Billard Airport on the north side of town, and the Topeka Regional Business Center on the uh outside of the fence between uh Topeka Regional Airport and the Topeka Boulevard.

4:11

Our current board structure is uh we have three board members that are appointed by the city and two that are appointed by the county, and we are responsible for providing uh oversight to Eric Johnson, our current president, who I'll bring up now.

4:34

Thank you.

4:36

Good evening.

4:37

Um my name's Eric Johnson, President Director of Airports uh for the MTA.

4:41

Just want to give you a rundown of how the airport is or the staffing is structured.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development█████████████████████████████29%
Procedural███████████████████████23%
Transportation Safety███████████████████19%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Community Engagement█████5%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Personnel Matters████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Topeka City Council Meeting – March 4, 2026

Note: The meeting transcript indicates a commencement date of March 3, 2026; however, the provided timestamp for the summary is March 4, 2026.

The Topeka City Council convened on March 4, 2026, with Mayor Duncan presiding. Eight council members were present (Kell, Hillard, Banks, Miller, Bradbury, McGee, Hofer) and two absent (Aldevi/Aqua and Ortiz). The meeting included an invocation, a presentation from the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority (MTAA), approval of the consent agenda, two action items, public comments, announcements, and two executive sessions.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes of the February 17, 2026 governing body meeting. No applications. Motion carried 9-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Henry McClure: Expressed support for the JETO resolution but cautioned against dual membership on the JETO and Go Topeka boards. Raised concerns about city employee morale and retribution. Also discussed his own apartment development project and lack of city response.
  • Lazone Grays: Urged the council to direct negotiators to require developers to commit to local hiring, registered apprenticeship programs, and subcontracting goals for Topeka/Shawnee County businesses. Requested a formal response from the city to his earlier presentation.
  • Matthew Shreve: Questioned the AMI smart meter program's $14 million cost, reported failures/inaccuracy, and requested a public audit. Also asked about data security and firewalls for municipal and school data.

Discussion Items

  • MTAA Annual Update: Sam Sutton (board chairman), Eric Johnson (president), and Curtis Sneedon (economic development director) presented. Key points: commercial air service history (United failure due to airline issues, not community support); new maintenance hangar project under construction (operational by end of 2027, projected to create hundreds of high-paying jobs); $6 million federal appropriation for north apron rehabilitation; development at Billard Airport including flight academy expansion, road improvements, and fuel system upgrades. Council members expressed support and asked about available land.
  • Action Item 4A – JETO Voting Member Procedure: Resolution to move election of JETO board members to the first January meeting and allow voice or paper ballot. Amended to include voice vote option. Approved as amended 9-0.
  • Action Item 4B – MTPO Policy Board Appointment: Similar resolution to align election timing and voting method. Amended similarly. Approved as amended 9-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved (9-0)
  • Resolution 4A and 4B approved as amended (9-0 each)
  • Two executive sessions held: first on personnel matters (30 min), second on legal advice and litigation (30 min). No action taken.
  • Councilmember announced upcoming events: Fire Station #6 open house (March 7), Poquincy Viaduct informational meeting (March 6).

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the March 3rd 2026, the speaking government library meeting. For everybody's hyperstory, the city manager is out sick this evening. So every Cye. So I have to turn my microphone on if anyone wants to actually hear me. So again, welcome to the uh March 3rd, 2026 governing by the agenda or governed body meeting, which I will now call to order. Um just for everybody's reference, the city manager is out sick this evening, so deputy city manager will be filling in for him. Uh with that, I will ask everyone to turn their attention to council member Brett Kell, who has to this evening's invocation. Please rise if you are able. Let's take the time to be thankful for what we have. Find the positive force to push us through the negative situations, and the ability to find joy in our life. Thank you. I place allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic or which is one nation under God and with liberty and remember two more weeks after we can with that. Mayor Duncan. Here. Councilmember Hillard. Here. Banks. Here. Kel. Here. Miller. Here. Bradbury. Here. Age. Here. And Hofer. Here. All right. We have eight present with council members of Aldevi Aqua and Ortiz absent. All right. We will move on to presentations. We have one this evening, City Clerk. We have an update from the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority. Deputy City Manager. I don't know if you need to introduce anybody or we just want to call them up. Sorry. The MTAA started leading off with their president will make a presentation to us this evening. Thank you. Great. Thank you. Come on up. Okay. All right. Mayor Duncan, Council members, thank you for bringing us here tonight to provide you with our annual update of the MTAA. My name is Sam Sutton. I am the current 2026 chairman of the airport board. And I'm joined here today by the president. And our director of economic development, Mr. Curtis Sneedon.

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