Governing Body Agenda
October 6, 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 - Topeka Sustainability Advisory Board
BOARD APPOINTMENT recommending the appointment of Colleen Campbell to the Topeka Sustainability Advisory Board for a term ending October 6, 2028. (Council District No. 7)
3. CONSENT AGENDA:
A. Professional Services Contract - JEO Consulting Group, Inc. for Engineering Services - S Kansas Ave.10th to 17th - Project No. 701037.00
APPROVAL of a Public Works Department contract between the City of Topeka and JEO Consulting Group, Inc., for professional engineering and design services in an amount not to exceed $213,420.
(Approval of the contract would allow the firm to provide professional engineering services to evaluate existing conditions, analyze roadway improvement alternatives, engage the public, and develop a recommended concept for S. Kansas Avenue from 10th Street to 17th Street.)
B. Professional Services Contract - Bartlett & West, Inc. for Engineering and Design Services - Storm Sewer & Roadway Improvements on SW 37th St - Project No. 701055.00
APPROVAL of a Public Works Department contract between the City of Topeka and Bartlett & West, Inc., for professional engineering and design services in an amount not to exceed $373,896.
(Approval of the contract would allow the firm to provide engineering design and construction documents for storm sewer and roadway improvements along SW 37th Street from Burlingame Road to Scapa Place.)
C. Professional Services Contract - Columbia Capital Management, LLC for Debt and Investment Management
APPROVAL of a professional services contract between the City of Topeka and Columbia Capital Management, LLC for debt and cash management services.
(Approval of the professional services contract would allow the consultant to provide debt and cash management services for one year.)
D. Ordinance - City Expenditures - August 1, 2026 to August 28, 2026
ORDINANCE introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M Perez, allowing and approving City expenditures for the period August 1, 2026, to August 28, 2026, and enumerating said expenditures therein.
(Approving City expenditures in the amount of $66,136,225.90)
E. MINUTES of the regular meeting of September 15, 2026.
F. APPLICATIONS:
4. ACTION ITEMS:
A. Ordinance - Historic Old Town Neighborhood Plan Update (CPA 26/01)
ORDINANCE introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez pertaining to an amendment to the text and map of the Topeka Comprehensive Plan for the Historic Old Town Neighborhood Plan Update. (CPA 26/01)
Voting Option Requirements: (1) Approve Planning Commission's recommendation, 6 votes are required of the Governing Body (2) Reject or Amend Planning Commission's recommendation, 7 votes are required of the Governing Body; or (3) Remand back to Planning Commission, 6 votes are required of the Governing Body.
(Adopt recommendations of the Historic Old Town Neighborhood Plan Update and DREAMS I implementation.)
B. Ordinance - SENT Holdings LLC (Z26/08)
ORDINANCE introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez amending the "District Map" referred to and made a part of the Zoning ordinances by Section 18.50.050 of the Topeka Municipal Code, by providing for certain changes in zoning on property located at 1600 SW Topeka Boulevard from "O&I-2" Office and Institutional District to "M-1" Two Family Dwelling District, all being with the City of Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas. (Z26/08)
Voting Option Requirements: (1) Approve Planning Commission's recommendation, 6 votes are required of the Governing Body (2) Reject or Amend Planning Commission's recommendation, 7 votes are required of the Governing Body; or (3) Remand back to Planning Commission, 6 votes are required of the Governing Body.
(Approval will allow the owner to develop the lot for a residential duplex.)
C. Ordinance - Watson Real Estate (Z26/09)
ORDINANCE introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez amending the “District Map” referred to and made a part of the Zoning Ordinances by Section 18.50.050 of the Topeka Municipal Code, by providing for certain changes in zoning on 0.30 acres of property located at 2016 SW 10th Avenue FROM “C-2” Commercial District TO "M-1” Two-Family Dwelling District. (Z26/09) (Council District No. 1)
Voting Option Requirements: (1) Approve Planning Commission's recommendation, 6 votes are required of the Governing Body (2) Reject or Amend Planning Commission's recommendation, 7 votes are required of the Governing Body; or (3) Remand back to Planning Commission, 6 votes are required of the Governing Body.
(Approval will allow residential development of the currently vacant west half of the property.)
D. Ordinance - St. Peter and Paul Orthodox Christian Church - Annexation Request (A26/02)
ORDINANCE introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez annexing land to the City of Topeka, Kansas, in accordance with K.S.A 12-520, located at SW 37th Street and Gage Boulevard. (A26/02) (Council District No. 7)
Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.
(Approval will annex 19.35 acres of land to the City of Topeka for a church and land intended for speculative development.)
E. Contract - Breakthrough House, Inc. - Homeless Outreach Program
CONTRACT between the City of Topeka and Breakthrough House, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $300,000 for a Homeless Outreach Program. (Public Health and Safety Committee recommended approval on September 10, 2026)
Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.
(The Homeless Outreach program service contract is necessary to move forward with Built for Zero program implementation.)
F. Ordinance - Project View Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID) - Removing Certain Property to Correct Legal Description
ORDINANCE introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez, concerning the Project View Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID), removing certain property from the existing district and amending Ordinance 20635.
Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.
(Approval will amend Ordinance 20635 to correct the legal description of the Project View RHID by removing two parcels of property.)
G. Amendment - Real Estate Purchase Agreement Contract No. 53456 - Topeka FC 1, LLC - Project View RHID
AUTHORIZING the execution of an AMENDMENT to City of Topeka Contract No. 53456, a Real Estate Purchase Agreement between the City of Topeka (Buyer) and Topeka FC 1, LLC (Seller) for the conveyance of real estate by warranty deed.
Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.
(Approval will authorize the City Manager to execute the contract amendment to remove two parcels of property as legally described as part of the Project View RHID location.)
H. Development Agreement Amendment - Contract No. 53457 Topeka FC 1, LLC - Project View RHID
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AMENDMENT to City of Topeka Contract No. 53457 between Topeka FC 1, LLC, an Indiana Limited Liability Company and the City of Topeka for the Project View RHID.
Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.
(Approval will authorize the City Manager to execute the contract amendment to remove two parcels of property as legally described as part of the Project View RHID location.)
I. Personal Guaranty of David Flaherty - Project View Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID)
APPROVAL of the Personal Guaranty of David Flaherty as required under Section 501 of the Development Agreement City of Topeka Contract No. 53457 between the City of Topeka and Topeka FC 1, LLC for the Project View Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID).
Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.
(Approval of the personal guaranty in the form as presented, as required by the executed Development Agreement, which will provide the City with security for repayment of the Economic Development Grant from RHID proceeds if necessary.)
J. Resolution - 2027 Legislative Agenda
RESOLUTION introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez relating to the City of Topeka's legislative agenda for the 2027 legislative session. (Policy and Finance Committee recommended approval on August 12, 2026)
Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.
(Approval will determine the City's legislative priorities for the 2027 legislative session.)
5. NON-ACTION ITEMS:
A. Discussion - 2027 Special Alcohol and Drug Funding Recommendations
DISCUSSION concerning the 2027 Special Alcohol and Drug funding recommendations in the amount of $865,924.
(Approval of $865,924 to be expended from the Special Alcohol Program fund in 2027.)
B. Discussion - Public Safety Cameras
DISCUSSION on the collaborative public safety approach between the Topeka Police Department and the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office on the use of public safety cameras.
(An overview will be provided on the use of REKOR devices, ELSAG LPR units and the RTCC (Real Time Crime Center).)
C. Discussion - FY 2026 City of Topeka Strategic Goals/Priorities and FY2027 - FY2030 Strategic Plan Development
DISCUSSION related to the City of Topeka FY 2026 Strategic Goals and Priorities and discuss future plans for developing a FY 2027 - FY 2030 Strategic Plan with the University of Kansas.
D. Discussion - 2027 Sales Tax Initiative and City Auditor
DISCUSSION regarding ballot initiatives for multiple sales tax proposals and City auditor to be presented to voters in the first quarter of 2027.
(Staff is seeking guidance from the Governing Body on potential sales tax initiatives and City Auditor. Discussions are scheduled on October 6, 2026, and October 13, 2026, with anticipated action on October 20, 2026.)