OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Topeka City Council Meeting - March 11, 2026: Housing Authority, Incentive Districts, and Public Comments

Governing Body — Wednesday, March 11, 2026
BodyTopeka, Kansas
SessionGoverning Body
DateWednesday, March 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:49:34

Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

I don't know.

0:09

I don't know.

0:09

That's all about the first time.

0:11

All right.

0:14

Welcome everybody.

0:15

I'm going to call this March 10th, 2026 governing body meeting to order.

0:20

With that, I would turn it over to Councilmember Brett Kell, who has this evening's invocation.

0:26

Please rise if you are able.

0:37

Pastor Urick has been the lead pastor of Central Park Christian Church since November 2024, after a long career as an attorney.

0:46

His church faithfully serves at Central Park neighborhood with an active youth ministry, a large recovery ministry, a weekly dinner, a monthly food and clothing pantry, and a warming center during the extreme cold weather.

1:03

Pastor Rick grew up in a small the small town of Leroy, Kansas, and attended Washburn University, where he met his wife, Michelle, a native of Topeka.

1:12

They're parents of six adult children.

1:15

Early in his career, Rick spent 15 years as a state securities regulator, including more than a decade as general counsel for the office of Kansas Securities Commission.

1:27

Then he and his family moved to Washington, DC, where he worked as an as for the Association of State Security Regulators before being appointed in 2014 to the first investor advocate at the U.S.

1:41

Securities and Exchange Commission.

1:43

In that role, he provided a voice for retail investors as policies were considered by Congress, the SEC, the stock exchanges, FS, FA, SB, the PCAOB, and other financial regulators.

2:01

Pastor Rick Fleming.

2:02

Thank you.

2:04

Let's pray.

2:05

Thank you, God, for the leaders of our city, for men and women who are willing to devote their time and their talents to serving us in this way.

2:14

We pray that you bless their efforts this evening, give them strength and energy and patience as they consider the issues before them tonight and guide them in their decision making.

2:25

We also pray tonight for all the people who work for our city government, whether they're in roles like public safety or infrastructure or utilities that obviously impact all our lives, or whether they serve in roles like IT or other administrative services are often unseen.

2:42

Bless each person as they work from day to day to make Topeka a better place to live and work and raise a family, and yes, to worship you.

2:52

Bless our city, we pray, and all who reside here in your son's holy name.

2:57

Amen.

3:03

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

3:19

Thank you, Pastor Rick.

3:20

Erh.

3:30

Clerk will call roll.

3:31

Mayor Duncan.

3:32

Here.

3:32

Council members Hiller.

3:34

Here.

3:34

Well, Divia Aquala.

3:36

Here.

3:37

Ortice.

3:40

Banks.

3:41

Here.

3:42

Kell.

3:43

Here.

3:43

Miller.

3:44

Here.

3:44

Bradbury.

3:45

Here.

3:46

McGee.

3:47

Here.

3:47

And Hofer.

3:48

Here.

3:49

All right.

3:50

We have nine present with Councilmember Ortice absent.

3:55

All right.

3:57

City Manager is still recovering from his illness, but plans to be back in full force next week.

4:01

So it's this evening.

4:02

Uh Deputy City Manager Braxton Copley will continue to serve in that role.

4:08

With that, we have a presentation this evening from the Topeka Housing Authority, an update.

4:12

I'm going to guess it's Trey George, but if someone else walks up here, you can introduce yourself and tell us who you are.

4:16

But it looks like Trey.

4:19

Thank you.

4:19

And uh good evening, uh Mayor Duncan and governing body.

4:22

My name is Trey George.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Housing And Development████████████████16%
Affordable Housing███████████████15%
Public Engagement██████████████14%
Community Improvement District█████████████13%
Procedural█████████9%
Community Engagement███████7%
Zoning Regulations██████6%
Public Safety██████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Topeka City Council Meeting - March 11, 2026

Note: The raw transcript states the meeting was called to order on March 10, 2026, but the provided date for this summary is March 11, 2026, per the instruction. The following summary uses the instructed date.

The Topeka Governing Body met on March 11, 2026, to receive an update from the Topeka Housing Authority, approve several public works and development items, consider three incentive district proposals (RHID, TIF, CID), and hear public comments on records management and economic development. All nine council members were present, with Councilmember Ortiz participating online.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved items 3A–3F (street improvements, CIP amendments, ramp program, bridge repairs, minutes) and a serial malt beverage license for Supermart El Toreado at 3000 NW Topeka Boulevard. Motion carried 9–0 (Ortiz online voted yes via thumbs-up).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Daniel Twemlow criticized the city’s response to a CORA request for records related to Kansas Topsoil and water department contracts, stating he paid $400 for incomplete, duplicate, and poorly organized documents. He alleged inconsistencies in dates and payment records, and noted that a previously available online database of projects is no longer accessible.
  • Lazone Grays presented unemployment statistics for Topeka, arguing that the quarterly JATO reports show significantly higher unemployment (12–14%) than the official 3.4% rate, and called for leadership to address the issue and prioritize local hiring in economic development projects.
  • Henry McClure commented on the MTAA lawsuit (garnishment of $1.8 million), criticized the use of tax incentives for the Hotel Topeka while neglecting small developers, and advocated for offering free land to attract jobs. He also suggested the city consider eliminating outside economic development agencies.

Discussion Items

  • Topeka Housing Authority Update (Presentation): CEO Trey George reported on the Pine Ridge Partnership (15 years, 202 homes, 500 residents), the Deer Creek Community Center with TPD, new Foster Youth Initiative and 811 program vouchers, and upcoming developments: Johnson Betts Meadows (176 new homes, 106 with project-based vouchers, partnership with CENT) and Van Buren site (20 new homes after Brownfield grant and tax credit applications). He highlighted the state housing tax credit phase-out (from $35M to $8M, sunsetting 2028) and its critical role in affordable housing. Councilmembers expressed concern about the credit’s future and requested data on current usage.
  • Action Item 4C – Rezoning at SW Urish Road: Approval of rezoning 1.36 acres from PUD to M2 for 18 duplexes (age-in-place, market rate). Council discussed traffic, site plan review, and the need for developers to consult district council members. Motion approved 10–0.
  • Action Item 4D – RHID for Urish Center: Resolution to send a RHID application to the Kansas Department of Commerce for 18 duplexes at $2,499/month rent. Councilmembers questioned the affordability of the proposed rent and the long-term maintenance expectations. Approved 9–1 (Councilmember Banks dissented).
  • Action Item 4F – TIF District for Capitol City Town Homes: Set a public hearing for April 21, 2026, to consider a TIF district to enable a 20-year NRP (95% rebate of incremental taxes) for rehabilitation of 47 townhome units (built 2006–2007). Council requested inspection history and expressed concerns about past oversight by KHRC. Approved 10–0.
  • Action Item 4G – CID for Hotel Topeka: Public hearing on establishing a 2% CID sales tax on the Hotel Topeka property to recoup city expenses (approx. $18.9M including bond interest). Councilmember Kell defended the CID as necessary for the expo center and fiscal recovery. Motion approved 8–2 (Councilmembers Valdivia-Acala and Banks dissented).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda and all action items were approved with votes as noted.
  • The RHID application for Urish Center will be sent to the Kansas Department of Commerce for review.
  • A public hearing for the Capitol City Town Homes TIF district was set for April 21, 2026.
  • The CID for Hotel Topeka will take effect July 1, 2026, with revenue expected by fall 2026.
  • The lease renewal for the police training facility at the National Guard Armory was approved (annual cost $62,713.40).
  • Councilmembers committed to further examination of the NRP stair-step policy and rental registry, and to meeting with constituents about incentive benefits and economic development.

Meeting Transcript

I don't know. I don't know. That's all about the first time. All right. Welcome everybody. I'm going to call this March 10th, 2026 governing body meeting to order. With that, I would turn it over to Councilmember Brett Kell, who has this evening's invocation. Please rise if you are able. Pastor Urick has been the lead pastor of Central Park Christian Church since November 2024, after a long career as an attorney. His church faithfully serves at Central Park neighborhood with an active youth ministry, a large recovery ministry, a weekly dinner, a monthly food and clothing pantry, and a warming center during the extreme cold weather. Pastor Rick grew up in a small the small town of Leroy, Kansas, and attended Washburn University, where he met his wife, Michelle, a native of Topeka. They're parents of six adult children. Early in his career, Rick spent 15 years as a state securities regulator, including more than a decade as general counsel for the office of Kansas Securities Commission. Then he and his family moved to Washington, DC, where he worked as an as for the Association of State Security Regulators before being appointed in 2014 to the first investor advocate at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In that role, he provided a voice for retail investors as policies were considered by Congress, the SEC, the stock exchanges, FS, FA, SB, the PCAOB, and other financial regulators. Pastor Rick Fleming. Thank you. Let's pray. Thank you, God, for the leaders of our city, for men and women who are willing to devote their time and their talents to serving us in this way. We pray that you bless their efforts this evening, give them strength and energy and patience as they consider the issues before them tonight and guide them in their decision making. We also pray tonight for all the people who work for our city government, whether they're in roles like public safety or infrastructure or utilities that obviously impact all our lives, or whether they serve in roles like IT or other administrative services are often unseen. Bless each person as they work from day to day to make Topeka a better place to live and work and raise a family, and yes, to worship you. Bless our city, we pray, and all who reside here in your son's holy name. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Pastor Rick. Erh. Clerk will call roll. Mayor Duncan. Here. Council members Hiller. Here. Well, Divia Aquala. Here. Ortice. Banks. Here. Kell. Here. Miller. Here. Bradbury. Here. McGee. Here. And Hofer. Here. All right. We have nine present with Councilmember Ortice absent.

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