Governing Body — Topeka, KS
Date: 2026-03-05

Governing Body Minutes – March 3, 2026

 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, Topeka, Kansas, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. 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, Banks, Kell, Miller, Bradberry,

McGee and Hoferer - 7. Presided: Mayor Duncan -1. Absent: Councilmembers Valdivia-Alcala

and Ortiz - 2.

 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 March 3, 2026, 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 March 3, 2026, for attachment to the meeting minutes.

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

Councilmember Kell.

 THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by meeting participants.

 Councilmember Ortiz joined the meeting remotely.

 ANNUAL UPDATE on the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority (MTAA) was

provided by Sam Sutten, MTAA Board Chair, Eric Johnson MTAA Board President and Curtis

Sneden, MTAA Director of Development.

 Councilmember Miller expressed his support for MTAA initiatives and stated he looks

forward to seeing continued growth at the airport over the next several years.


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 Mayor Duncan inquired on the plans for the additional 200 shovel ready acres that is part

of the airport campus. He questioned if there would be impact on the airport related to the re-

opening of Heartland Park Racetrack.

 Councilmember Hiller stated it was her understanding flight cancellations were 100%

due to the airline carrier cancelling flights not the lack of customers. She stated that the customer

data showed the community fully supported the United Air Service.

 MTAA Director Sneden explained the focus has been to get the industrial park up to date

and ultimately once they have achieved this goal, they would begin to set their sights on the 200-

acre property. In reference to the Heartland Park Racetrack, he could not identify any specific

benefits; however, more activity could have an overall positive impact on the community as a

whole.

 Board Chair Johnson agreed with statements made by Councilmember Hiller and

reiterated that the airline failed the Topeka-Shawnee County area and noted, data shows that over

1,300 Topekans travel daily to the MCI Airport for service.

 CONSENT AGENDA was presented as follows:

 APPROVAL of the MINUTES of February 17, 2026, regular Governing Body meeting,

was presented.

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

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

 RESOLUTION NO. 9765 introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez, establishing

a procedure for the selection of two council members to serve as voting members of the Joint

Economic Development Organization (JEDO) and rescinding Resolution No. 8823 and 9916,

was presented.
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 Braxton Copley, Deputy City Manager, stated an amended resolution has been distributed

by the City Clerk to include language that would allow voting by voice vote or paper ballot. He

reported approval of the amended resolution would move the selection of JEDO Board voting

members to the first meeting every January, after the selection of the Deputy Mayor. The terms

of the council members currently serving will expire at the first governing body meeting in

January 2027.

 Henry McClure spoke in support of responsible policies for the JEDO Board specifically

as it relates to City of Topeka executive staff serving on the Growth Organization (GO) of

Topeka Board of Directors.

 Mayor Duncan moved to approve the resolution as amended. The motion seconded by

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

 RESOLUTION NO. 9766 introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez, relating to

the appointment of three council members to the Metropolitan Topeka Planning Organization

Board (MTPO) Policy Board and repealing Resolution No. 8848, was presented.

 Braxton Copley, Deputy City Manager, stated an amended resolution has been distributed

by the City Clerk to include language that would allow voting by voice vote or paper ballot. He

reported approval of the amended resolution would move the appointment of members to serve

on the MTPO Policy Board to the first governing body meeting in January of even number years,

after the selection of a Deputy Mayor and JEDO Board voting members. He stated the terms of

the council members currently serving will expire at the first governing body meeting in January

2028.


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 Councilmember Kell moved to approve the resolution as amended. The motion seconded

by Councilmember McGee carried unanimously. (9-0-0)

 PUBLIC COMMENT was provided by the following individuals:

 Henry McClure commended Mayor Duncan for calling for an internal investigation

related to the whistleblower act. He suggested conducting exit interviews with city employees.

He referenced potential economic development opportunities that he would like to propose for

new apartments near 37th and Gage and in North Topeka.

 Lazone Grays distributed a handout (Attachment A) outlining questions to ask Affordable

Housing Project Developers as well as other developer proposed projects. He stated he believes

good decisions will be made when the right questions are answered and good developers are

secured.

 Matthew Shreve submitted a Kansas Open Records Request to the City Clerk. He shared

many concerns pertaining to utility fees, data traffic and cloud security, the sale of Hotel Topeka,

and schoolbook and AI monitoring systems. He requested the Governing Body perform a

municipal audit and stated if the Governing Body refuses to perform the audit, the Citizens of

Topeka will practice their rights under K.S.A. 22-3001 to summon a Grand Jury and conduct the

audit themselves.

 ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE CITY MANAGER, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE

COUNCIL:

 Brenda Younger, City Clerk, provided an overview of the March 10, 2026, Governing

Body meeting agenda.

 Councilmember Hoferer announced Fire Station No. 6 will host an Open House on

March 6, 2026. She also announced that a Polk-Quincy Viaduct (PQV) project informational
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meeting would be held on March 5, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Cyrus K. Holliday

Building, First Floor Conference Room located at 620 SE Madison Street, Topeka. Kansas.

Topics include updates on the California Avenue Bridge closure, Topeka Boulevard Bridge

detour, I-70 closure and related detours.

 Mayor Duncan congratulated the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) for re-

opening Heartland Motorsports Park. He announced the city received a $200,000 Kansas

Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) grant and commended Staff for all their hard

work in acquiring the grant.

 Councilmember Banks thanked Councilmember Miller for joining him in attending the

Kansas African American Legislative Caucus (KAAC) Economic Summit and commented on the

positive impact the discussions will have on the community.

 Councilmember Kell moved to recess into executive session for 30 minutes to discuss

personnel matters involving individual employees 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, Deputy City Manager Braxton Copley,

Human Resources Director Alicia Guerrero-Chavez, City Attorney Nick Jefferson, and any other

staff members deemed necessary. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Banks.

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

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

carried. Councilmember Ortiz voted “no.” (8-1-0)

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

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


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 Mayor Duncan moved to recess into executive session not to exceed 30 minutes to give

legal advice and discuss cases currently in litigation and other matters deemed privileged under

Attorney-Client Privilege as allowed under K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(2). The open meeting will

resume in the City Council Chambers. The following staff will be necessary to assist the

Governing Body in its deliberations, City Attorney Nick Jefferson and other staff members

deemed necessary. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Banks.

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

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

carried. Councilmember Ortiz voted “no.” (8-1-0)

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

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

 NO FURTHER BUSINESS appearing the meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m.


 (SEAL)

 ______________________________
 Brenda Younger, City Clerk, M.M.C.




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