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.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted use of the 711 dialing code for access to Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS).  TRS permits persons with a hearing or speech disability to use the telephone system via a text telephone (TTY) or other device to call persons with or without such disabilities.  To reach the City Clerk's office using the TRS, please dial 711. 

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. 

BOARD APPOINTMENT recommending the appointment of Melina Stewart to the Topeka Landmarks Commission for a term ending December 31, 2025. (Council District No. 6)

BOARD APPOINTMENT recommending the reappointment of Mark Burenheide to the Topeka Landmarks Commission for a term ending December 31, 2025. (Council District No. 1)

BOARD APPOINTMENT recommending the reappointment of Dave Frederick to the Topeka Landmarks Commission for a term ending December 31, 2025. (Council District No. 1)

ORDINANCE introduced by City Manager Stephen Wade, amending City of Topeka Code § 2.15.090, concerning redistricting and repealing original section.

(Approval will add missing wards/precincts that were included in Plan A, adopted by the Governing Body on November 1, 2022.)

APPROVAL of a three year labor agreement between the City of Topeka and Development Services Division of AFSCME Council 61, Local 1294.

Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.

(Approval would provide guidelines for management and employees in the bargaining unit. Term of agreement is from 2023 through 2025.)

ORDINANCE introduced by City Manager Stephen Wade, providing for a nonexclusive franchise to American Medical Response to operate an ambulance service within the City of Topeka until December 31, 2023, and replacing the franchise ordinance codified at City Code Appendix B, Article 11 that will expire December 31, 2022.

Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.

(Approval would grant AMR a nonexclusive franchise agreement for one (1) year.)

RESOLUTION introduced by City Manager Stephen Wade authorizing execution of a loan agreement with Kansas Department of Health and Environment (“KDHE”) from the Kansas Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund Act. The proposed loan in an amount not to exceed $27,433,000 to be taken by the City of Topeka from the Kansas Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) pursuant to K.S.A. 65-163c et seq.

Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.

(Approval will authorize execution of the loan agreement if the loan is approved by KDHE.)

RESOLUTION introduced by City Manager Stephen Wade authorizing execution of a loan agreement with Kansas Department of Health and Environment (“KDHE”) from the Kansas Public Water Supply Loan Fund. The loan agreement is not to exceed an amount not to exceed $39,105,205 to be taken by the City of Topeka from the Kansas Public Water Supply Loan Fund administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) pursuant to K.S.A. 65-163c et seq.

Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.

(Approval will authorize execution of the loan agreement if the loan is approved by KDHE.) 

RESOLUTION introduced by City Manager Stephen Wade determining the advisability of a sales tax exemption in connection with the issuance by the City of Topeka, Kanas of its Health Care Facilities Revenue Bond (Brewster Place) Series 2022A and Series 2022B, for the purpose of Financing Improvements to the health care and retirement facilities owned and operated by the The Congregational Home.

Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.

(At the request of the applicant, the City is seeking authorization to  proceed with filing for the sales tax exemption with the State of Kansas.)

RESOLUTION introduced by City Manager Stephen Wade establishing the City of Topeka's policy for Rural Housing Incentive Districts. (Public Infrastructure Committee recommended approval by a vote 2-0-0 on December 8, 2022.)

Voting Requirement: Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Bod.

(Approval would establish a policy by which to evaluate applications to establish rural housing incentive districts authorized by K.S.A. 12-5241 et seq.)

DISCUSSION and POSSIBLE ACTION of AN ORDINANCE introduced by City Manager Stephen Wade, concerning departments and established positions, creating a new section and amending Sections 2.20.020, 2.20.040, 2.20.050, 2.105.010, 2.105.030, 2.105.040, 2.105.050 and Section 3.30.460 of the Topeka Municipal Code.

Voting Requirement: Action requires at least five (5) votes of the City Council. The Mayor does not vote. The proposed ordinance involves a matter of home rule on which the Mayor has veto authority.

(Approval would create the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and rename the Director of the Department of Administrative/Financial Services as the Chief Financial Officer and rename the Director of Information Technology as the Chief Information Officer.)

DISCUSSION concerning potential utility rate changes for infrastructure maintenance.

(Combined blended rate is 9.85% annually. The proposed rates include 11.8% increase for water in 2024 and 2025, and 11.5% increase in 2026; 8% increase for wastewater in 2024 and 2025, and 8.25% increase in 2026; 7.5% increase for stormwater in 2024, and 7% increase in 2025 and 2026.)