Topeka City Council Meeting – April 8, 2026

The Topeka City Council met on April 8, 2026, for a regular meeting. The meeting included presentations on public transit, student government, consideration of several property transactions, and a contract renewal for eviction defense services. The council approved appointments, a street vacation, and a RHID public hearing, but rejected a parking lot sale. Three executive sessions were held with no action taken.

Consent Calendar

• Appointments: Stephanie Lucatera to the Landmarks Commission (term ending December 31, 2028) and Diane A. Lot to the Americans with Disability Act Advisory Council (term ending April 7, 2028). Approved unanimously.
• Consent Agenda Items (4A-4L): Approved as amended, including resolutions for infrastructure projects (street improvements, utility upgrades, eminent domain) and minutes of the March 17, 2027 meeting. All 10 council members voted yes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Esther Bradley: Complained about pothole damage to her truck and asked about the city’s policy for reimbursing vehicle repairs. The mayor responded that while there is no blanket policy, individual claims are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and she was directed to the city clerk.
• Street Vacation Hearing (SE Colfax): Multiple speakers addressed the governing body.
  • James and Alicia Brooks (adjacent property owners) objected, stating they were not adequately informed about the project until the vacation issue arose, and expressed concerns about increased crime, traffic, and loss of privacy.
  • Jill Rice (Scent Inc. operations director, High Crest NIA president) supported the vacation, citing the need for affordable housing and decades of community desire for development on Fremont Hill.
  • Trisha McCort (High Crest resident, Scent employee) spoke in favor, highlighting the shortage of housing for low-income individuals.
  • Jonathan Subblit (Scent Inc. founder/executive director) apologized for the lack of communication with the Brooks but urged approval, noting multiple attempts to engage them.
  • Amy Cop Hasty (Scent senior development director) emphasized the importance of affordable housing for addressing homelessness.
  • Trey George (Topeka Housing Authority president/CEO) expressed regret for the communication gap and committed to working with the neighbors on buffers.

Discussion Items

• Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority Update: Presented by Candace Stiles (board chair) and Bob Nugent (general manager). They reported on the decision to discontinue microtransit (MOD) service in May 2026 due to high operating costs ($150 per passenger after fare increases) and low ridership (less than 2 passengers per hour, compared to 18 per hour on fixed routes). The MOD pilot was a three-year test funded by cutting fixed-route hours. Fixed route and lift services are unaffected. They also discussed the impact of the I-70 viaduct and California bridge closures, recent electric bus acquisitions, and a five-year strategic plan focused on captive riders. Council members expressed regret over MOD’s discontinuation but acknowledged fiscal realities. Councilmember Kell suggested a targeted MOD for students and medical appointments, but staff noted cost prohibitions. Councilmember Ortiz and Hiller raised concerns about late-night service and the need for flexible routes.
• Washburn University Student Government Association: Caleb Newfer (incoming student body president) and Kate Coulter (outgoing president) advocated for the creation of a Young Adults Advisory Council (ages 18-24) to increase civic engagement and retention of young people in Topeka. They noted the city recently formed a Youth Advisory Council and proposed a parallel body for college-age and young adults. Council members discussed the value of internships, early engagement, and coordination with the Forge young professionals group. The mayor indicated ongoing conversations with Forge about possibly creating two separate advisory groups.
• Eviction Defense Program (Contract Amendment): Nick Blessing (Kansas Legal Services) presented outcomes from the second year of the city contract (May 2025 – mid-March 2026). The program assisted over 130 tenants, with 41 eviction cases dismissed or delayed. Services included legal advice (79 cases), limited scope representation (37 cases), and full representation in court (17 cases). Examples included a veteran who received $1,500 and four months of free rent, and an elderly woman with a Section 8 voucher who obtained $2,900 and a dismissed case. Council members praised the program, noting the importance of preventing homelessness and addressing landlord-tenant issues. Councilmember Valdivia Alcala requested a comparison of funding with housing counseling agencies. The contract renewal was approved.
• Proposed 2027-2036 CIP and 2027-2029 CIB: Josh McEnarney (deputy finance director) provided a high-level overview of the Capital Improvement Plan process. The CIP is a 10-year plan for infrastructure projects (streets, water, sewer, etc.) funded by the citywide half-cent sales tax, countywide JATO funds, bonds, and utility revenues. The three-year CIB contains more defined projects. Councilmember Hiller asked about progress on the major street plan, noting that needs far exceed available resources (estimated $740 million in street repairs). Further meetings will cover specific projects.

Key Outcomes

• Approved two board appointments and the consent agenda (10-0).
• Approved the street vacation for SE Colfax (10-0), allowing the Johnson Betts Meadows affordable housing development to proceed.
• Approved a resolution to set a public hearing for May 12, 2026, on the RHID district for Phase Two of the Johnson Betts Meadows project (10-0).
• Approved disposal of real property at 1121 SE Quincy Street (10-0), authorizing a broker to market the site.
• Approved disposal of real property at 307 SE 12th Street (10-0), conveying it to the Topeka Land Bank for affordable housing.
• Rejected the sale of the parking lot at 5th and Jackson (motion failed 4-6). The council declined to accept the $215,000 offer, with staff citing a cost-benefit analysis showing the city would earn more revenue by continuing to operate the lot rather than selling it for continued parking use.
• Approved the renewal of the eviction defense program contract with Kansas Legal Services (10-0).
• Extended the meeting past 10:00 p.m. (motion approved).
• Held three executive sessions (real property acquisition, legal advice, and disposition of real property) with no action taken upon return to open session.