Governing Body — Topeka, KS
Date: 2025-10-23

Governing Body Minutes – October 14, 2025

 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, Topeka, Kansas, Tuesday, October 14, 2025. The

Governing Body members of the City of Topeka met in regular session at 6:00 P.M. with the

following Councilmembers present: Councilmembers Hiller, Valdivia-Alcala, Banks, Kell,

Miller, Dobler, Duncan and Hoferer - 8. Mayor Padilla presided -1. Absent: Councilmember

Ortiz -1.

 Public comment for the meeting was available via Zoom or in-person. Individuals were

required to 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 October 14, 2025, after which the City Clerk's Office provided the

Zoom link information and protocols prior to the meeting start time. Written public comment

was also considered to the extent it was 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 October 14, 2025, for attachment to the meeting minutes.

 AFTER THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER, the Invocation was provided by

Pastor Shampayne Lloyd, Founder of Shampayne Lloyd Ministries.

 THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by meeting participants.

 A PRESENTATION on the Downtown Digital Kiosk Pilot Program was provided by

Alleigh Weems, Senior Management Analyst. She provided an overview of the key features of

the Kiosks with an anticipated implementation completion date of February of 2026. She stated

upon the execution of the contract site assessment will begin for the preliminary proposal and in

regard to revenue, the Kiosks will be operated at no cost to the City and will have a city share

percentage of the gross revenue generated by advertising as well as the 12% of screen time

reserved by the City to promote events.
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 Councilmember Kell inquired if the City was allowed to run ads to generate revenue and

if the City will assume the cost of a complete replacement or repair of the kiosks.

 Alleigh Weems reported priority advertising will be given to local events, and it would be

the responsibility of the kiosk vendor to cover the cost of replacements and repairs.

 Steve Groen, Director of Public Works, reported Staff have met numerous times with

NOTO and Downtown Topeka Foundation, Inc., representatives as well as many businesses in

both areas who have requested to install kiosks near their locations.

 Mayor Padilla inquired if AMBER Alerts would be broadcasted on the kiosks.

 Director Groen confirmed local emergency messages will be broadcast on the kiosks.

 Councilmember Hoferer shared the possible interests in advertising for the Topeka

Shawnee County Public Library, Topeka Zoo, Kansas Children’s Discovery Center and the State

of Kansas Historical Museum. She inquired about the process Staff will be taking to promote

advertising to businesses.

 Alleigh Weems reported Staff would have the option to engage the vendor for

community activities as well as promote advertising on City Channel 4.

 Councilmember Hiller requested information regarding the cost of advertising to local

businesses.

 CONSENT AGENDA was presented as follows:

 APPROVAL of a SETTLEMENT in the amount of up to $292,500 to resolve lawsuit

with Barbara Hack arising out of or relating in any way from employment with the City on a full

and final basis, was presented.

 APPROVAL of the MINUTES of the regular meeting of October 14, 2025, was

presented.
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 Councilmember Dobler moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion seconded by

Councilmember Miller carried unanimously. (9-0-0)

 ORDINANCE NO. 20605 introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez, concerning

Citations for Abandoned Vehicles, amending Sections 2.40.130, 2.40.210, and 10.25.010 of the

Topeka Municipal Code and repealing original section, was presented. (Public Health & Safety

Committee recommended moving forward with the amendments on September 17, 2025)

 Colleen Stuart, Topeka Police Department Commander, reported on September 17, 2025,

the Public Health and Safety Committee discussed the request to amend Topeka Municipal Code

Sections 2.40.130, 2.40.210 and 10.25.010 regarding citations for abandoned vehicles. It was

concluded abandoned vehicles are perhaps best served by the Property Maintenance Unit (PMU)

as they deal with code violations on private property as well as public property. She continued to

report 973 calls have been made to SeeClickFix in 2025, and 672 of those calls were concerning

abandoned vehicles. She shared it has been challenging for the Police Department to manage

abandoned vehicles due to staffing and scheduling and with Property Maintenance Staff being

assigned to one geographic area, it would increase accountability and help improve

neighborhood quality and safety.

 Councilmember Kell inquired on the difference of abandoned vehicles versus someone

being unable to drive or start their vehicles.

 Councilmember Duncan stated he believes approving the Property Maintenance Unit to

cite and create cases concerning abandoned vehicles will assist in building relationships with

community members. He inquired about the tow service used by the City and expressed concern

with response times if the number of citations increase.


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 Councilmember Banks stated he received a call concerning a resident being cited for an

abandoned vehicle in their driveway. He recommended informing the public if a mistake was

made and how it could be solved.

 Councilmember Miller inquired about the process to correct a citation issued in error.

 In response, Commander Stuart stated the following:

 • All vehicles are required to be moved once every 48 hours. Police officers that are
 able to work abandoned vehicles during their shift attempt to find the owner and do
 their best to contact them prior to citing the vehicle.
 • If the Police Department notices an issue with towing response times due to an
 increase in citations, they would map out a plan to address the service problem by
 possibly having the company devote one or two days a week just to the City of
 Topeka.
 • Commander Stuart recommended Councilmember Miller inquire with the City
 Prosecutor; however, the Police Department would work with the owner of the
 vehicle and Municipal Court to determine the flexibility of the citation.

 Nick Jefferson, Interim City Attorney, stated the Prosecutor would have the same

prosecutorial discretion; however, he would discuss the matter further with the City Prosecutor

and report back to the Governing Body.

 Councilmember Hiller thanked Commander Stuart for the information and presentation.

 Mayor Padilla clarified approval would not change the process already in place and

would only provide authorization to the Property Maintenance Unit to distribute citations and

create cases. He inquired about how quickly tow orders are distributed.

 Commander Stuart reported citations and towing service orders take place

simultaneously.

 Councilmember Miller made a substitute motion to defer the ordinance until October 21,

2025. The motion seconded by Councilmember Kell failed. Councilmembers Valdivia-Alcala,

Banks, Dobler, Duncan and Mayor Padilla voted “no.” (4-5-0)

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 Councilmember Banks moved to adopt the ordinance. The motion seconded by

Councilmember Duncan carried. Councilmembers Kell and Miller voted “no.” The Mayor does

not vote. (6-2-0)

 The ordinance was adopted on roll call vote as follows: Ayes: Hiller, Valdiva-Alcala,

Banks, Dobler, Duncan, and Hoferer – 6. Nays: Councilmember Kell and Miller – 2.

 DISCUSSION concerning the 2026 Special Alcohol and Drug funding recommendations

in the amount of $720,206, was presented.

 Henry McClure recommended allowing the constituents to vote on the allocation of the

Special Alcohol Drug fund, and to stop allocating a portion of the tobacco and liquor tax within

the City to the County. He stated the Governing Body could find a solution to help the number of

homeless in the city by raising the amount of liquor taxes within common consumption areas.

 Carrie Higgins, Housing Division Director reported the City receives the liquor tax

collected by the State of Kansas and pursuant to State statute, one-third of the proceeds shall be

deposited in the City's Special Alcohol and Drug Program Fund which can only be used for the

"purchase, establishment, maintenance or expansion of services or programs whose principal

purpose is alcoholism and drug abuse prevention and education, alcohol and drug detoxification,

intervention in alcohol or drug abuse or treatment of persons who are alcoholics or drug abusers

or in danger of becoming alcoholics or drug abusers.” She provided a brief overview of the

recommendations totaling $720.206.

 DISCUSSION concerning uniform requirements for merchant or private security,

amending Section 5.90.020 of the Topeka Municipal Code, was presented. (The Policy and

Finance Committee recommended the proposed amendments be discussed by the Governing

Body by a vote of 3-0-0 on August 21, 2025)
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 Chief Vallejo reported the proposed ordinance will grant the Chief of Police full authority

to decide when and where uniforms may be worn and only applies specifically to officers

working secondary employment security assignments. He stated the current Topeka Municipal

Code only allows TPD officers to wear a police uniform when employed by a State agency or a

private security company at a State agency. All others - citizens, private security or outside law

enforcement agencies - are prohibited to do so. The intent of the proposed amendments would be

to allow businesses to hire uniformed TPD officers and outside law enforcement officers; reduce

TPD call load and preserve on-duty resources for higher-priority calls; place uniformed officers

in locations vulnerable to large-scale incidents; and deter crime at businesses through the

presence of uniform police officers.

 Councilmember Kell spoke in opposition to the proposed ordinance and raised concerns

about possible lawsuits against the City if officers are not responsible when in uniform while

serving in a private security role. He questioned how many hours a week a police officer was

allowed to work.

 Chief Vallejo reported this was not a new practice; however, the new uniform policy

would force increased accountability to those individuals working secondary jobs in police

uniform. He noted officers are allowed to work no more than 16 hours a day.

 Mayor Padilla stated he believes the new uniform policy would assist in providing clear

recognition of the uniform as well as the authority and responsibility associated with serving as a

Topeka Police officer.

 Councilmember Duncan requested a memo be distributed to the Governing Body

outlining the City’s liability associated with approving the proposed ordinance prior to the

October 21, 2025, Governing Body meeting.
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 Councilmember Hiller asked if police officers working secondary security jobs are

required to get prior authorization from the Chief of Police.

 Chief Vallejo stated all officers who have the authority to enforce laws, and are required

to gain approval from the Chief of Police.

 Sergeant Christian Harsha reported any Officer who wishes to work secondary

employment must have permission from their chain of command to wear their uniform, and

currently an officer is not allowed to wear their uniform at a private security job unless it is for

the State of Kansas.

 Councilmember Kell stated he concurs with Councilmember Duncan and would like

clarification of the liability aspect of the policy if the ordinance was approved.

 Councilmember Duncan reported the current ordinance states any officer who is wanting

to work in off-duty security is required to get consent of the Chief of Police and would only be

allowed to wear uniforms in a State capacity.

 PUBLIC COMMENT provided by the following individuals:

 Greg DeBacker provided a handout (Attachment A) and recommended adopting the same

ordinance as the City of Sabetha, Kansas, concerning liabilities of landlords. He inquired about

the cost of the license, inspection fee, as well as how many inspections will be required and

where.

 Steve Vogel, Shawnee County Landlords Association President, questioned if landlord’s

delinquent on property taxes and/or are serial violators of the property maintenance code will be

allowed to obtain a license, and if not, will tenants need to move. He recommended penalizing

the work of offenders.


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 Sandra Lassiter expressed her frustration about a former City employee discrimination

lawsuit settlement in the amount of $292,500 approved by the Governing Body earlier on the

agenda. She stated she believes it was time for the City to grant a settlement to the families who

have lost loved ones in wrongful death suits.

 Laronna Lassiter-Sanders referenced the police involved shootings of Taylor Lowery,

Christopher Kelly and Dylan Walstrom. She spoke about the importance of holding the Topeka

Police Department accountable and establishing transparency in the City Attorney’s Office. She

requested that the City correct the harm that has been ensued by families involved in wrongful

death suites and noted, she plans to build a case by sharing depositions as well as pictures with

the media.

 Henry McClure expressed his frustration with GO Topeka and the funding allocated for

the former AT&T Building located at 220 SE 6th Street, Topeka.

 Courtland Davis expressed the frustrations of community members who expect truth,

honesty and transparency. He stated it was time to commit to eradicating violence and pushing it

out of our communities.

 Da’Mabrius Duncan spoke of the wrongful death suit of Taylor Lowery and the

heartbreak her and her daughter have felt by coming to speak to the Governing Body. She asked

that the Governing Body push for transparency in the details of the shooting.

 ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE CITY MANAGER, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF

THE COUNCIL:

 Megan Brunson, Assistant City Clerk, provided an overview of the October 21, 2025,

Governing Body meeting agenda. She announced pursuant to Resolution No. 9606, and due to

General Election Day, the Governing Body meeting of November 4, 2025, has been cancelled
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and rescheduled for November 5, 2025; and due to the Veteran’s Day Holiday, the Governing

Body meeting of November 11, 2025, has been cancelled and rescheduled for November 12,

2025.

 Councilmember Valdivia-Alcala shared information about employee whistleblowing and

thanked City Utility workers who attended the Governing Body meeting of October 7, 2025.

 Councilmember Banks expressed his condolences to the families who have lost loved

ones in police involved shootings and expressed his hope that the City will do the right thing in

the matter.

 Councilmember Kell announced October 13, 2025, was the 250th birthday of the United

States Navy. He clarified rental registration will assist in the accountability of the appalling

landlords in the city of Topeka.

 Councilmember Duncan recognized the Shawnee Heights High School Girls Tennis

Team.

 Mayor Padilla recognized and expressed his appreciation to the individuals that provided

public input during the Governing Body meeting.

 Councilmember Kell moved to recess into executive session for a time not to exceed 20

minutes to discuss personnel matters involving an individual employee as allowed under K.S.A.

75-4319(b)(1). The open meeting will resume in the City Council Chambers. The following

individuals will be necessary to aid the Governing Body in its discussion, Interim City Attorney

Nick Jefferson, and any other staff members or individuals the Governing Body deems

necessary. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Banks.




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 Mayor Padilla asked all those in favor of recessing into executive session to indicate so

by verbally by saying “yea” and those opposing to indicate so verbally by saying “no.” The

motion carried unanimously. (9-0-0)

 At the conclusion of the executive session, the meeting was reconvened into an open

session and Mayor Padilla announced no action was taken during the executive session.

 NO FURTHER BUSINESS appearing the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.




 (SEAL) ______________________________
 Brenda Younger, City Clerk, M.M.C.




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Attachment A