On the agenda: Topeka Governing Body - Oct 14, 2026 — Public Safety Camera (Oct 14)

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Agenda






Governing Body Agenda October 6, 2026 6:00 PM

City Council Chambers 214 SE 8th Street Topeka, Kansas, 66603 https://www.topeka.org
 
Mayor: Spencer L. Duncan
Councilmembers
Karen A. Hiller
District No. 1
 

Marcus D L Miller
District No. 6
 

 
Christina Valdivia-Alcala
District No. 2
 

Michelle A. Bradberry
District No. 7
 

 
Sylvia E. Ortiz
District No. 3
 

Murray McGee
District No. 8
 

 
David Banks
District No. 4
 

Michelle Hoferer
District No. 9
 

 
Brett D. Kell
District No. 5
 

 
 

City Manager: Dr. Robert M Perez

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  [email protected]  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  [email protected]  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)




B. Board Appointment - Topeka Metropolitan Transit Board
 

BOARD APPOINTMENT recommending the reappointment of Fatima Perez-Luthi to the Topeka Metropolitan Transit Board for a term ending October 11, 2030. (Council District No. 5)



C. Board Appointment - Americans with Disabilities Act Advisory Council
 

BOARD APPOINTMENT of Michael Byington to the City of Topeka Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Advisory Council for a term ending September 13, 2028. (Council District No. 1)


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. 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 - 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.)







6. PUBLIC COMMENT: 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 [email protected] 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. 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 [email protected] on or before the date of the meeting for attachment to the meeting minutes. View the meeting online at https://www.topeka.org/communications/live-stream/ or at https://www.facebook.com/cityoftopeka/.
 


A. Public Comment Protocol
 

7. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
 

8. EXECUTIVE SESSION:
(Executive sessions will be scheduled as needed and may include topics such as personnel matters, considerations of acquisition of property for public purposes, potential or pending litigation in which the city has an interest, employer-employee negotiations and any other matter provided for in K.S.A. 75-4319.)
 

9. ADJOURNMENT: