Governing Body Agenda
September 15, 2026
6:00 PM
Mayor: Spencer L. Duncan
Addressing the Governing Body: Public comment for the meeting will be available via Zoom or in-person. Individuals must contact the City Clerk's Office at 785-368-3940 or via email at cclerk@topeka.org by no later than 5:00 p.m. on the date of the meeting, after which the City Clerk's Office will provide Zoom link information and protocols prior to the meeting. View the meeting online at https://www.topeka.org/communications/live-stream/ or at https://www.facebook.com/cityoftopeka/.
Written public comment may also be considered to the extent it is personally submitted at the meeting or to the City Clerk's Office located at 215 SE 7th Street, Room 166, Topeka, Kansas, 66603 or via email at cclerk@topeka.org on or before the date of the meeting for attachment to the meeting minutes.
If you need any accommodations for the meeting, please contact the City ADA Coordinator at 785-368-4470. Kansas Relay Service at 800-766-3777. Please provide a 48 Hour Notice if possible.
Agendas are available by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday in the City Clerk's Office, 215 SE 7th Street, Room 166, Topeka, Kansas, 66603 or on the City's website at https://www.topeka.org.
CALL TO ORDER:
INVOCATION:
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
1. ROLL CALL:
2. APPOINTMENTS:
A. Board Appointment - Americans with Disabilities Act Advisory Council
BOARD APPOINTMENT of Joe Cheray to the City of Topeka Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Advisory Council for a term ending September 30, 2028. (Council District No. 9)
3. PRESENTATIONS:
4. CONSENT AGENDA:
A. Professional Services Contract - Alfred Benesch & Company for Engineering and Design Services - KDOT Carbon Reduction Grant Program on SE Quincy Street - Project No. 601201.02
APPROVAL of a Public Works Department contract between the City of Topeka and Alfred Benesch & Company. for professional engineering and design services in an amount not to exceed $85,300.
(Approval of the contract would allow the firm to provide a pre-construction traffic study and concept development for roadway, pedestrian and City owned utility systems on SE Quincy St from 10th St to 11th St.)
B. Resolution - Authorizing Initiation of Lawsuit
RESOLUTION introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez, authorizing the City Attorney’s Office to initiate litigation.
(Approval will authorize the City Attorney's Office to initiate a lawsuit to seek judgement for damages resulting from a fiber cut on a City project.)
C. Professional Services Contract - Collazo Law Office, P.A. for Court Appointed Counsel Services
APPROVAL of a Municipal Court contract between the City of Topeka and Collazo Law Office, P.A. for court appointed counsel services.
(Approval of the contract would allow the contractor to provide court-appointed legal representation for indigent defendants in Topeka Municipal Court for an amount not to exceed $300,000.00 for one year of contracted services.)
D. MINUTES of the regular meeting of September 8, 2026.
E. APPLICATIONS:
5. ACTION ITEMS:
A. Ordinance - Utility Lien
AN ORDINANCE introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez, related to imposing a real estate lien, pursuant to K.S.A. 12-808c, upon certain lots and pieces of ground in Shawnee County, Kansas, to pay the cost for utility services where such payments to the City have not been made due to neglect, failure or refusal to pay.
Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.
(Approval will allow the imposition of charges for delinquent utility accounts on the tax rolls in the amount of $125,854.58.)
B. Appropriation Ordinance - City of Topeka 2027 Operating Budget
APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez, approving and adopting the operating budget for the City of Topeka for the year 2027 and appropriating the amounts for the purpose as set forth therein.
Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.
(If this budget is adopted the City's estimated Mill Levy rate will be 37.126)