Governing Body — Topeka, KS
Date: 2026-02-06

Governing Body Minutes – January 20, 2026

 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, Topeka, Kansas, Tuesday, January 20, 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, Ortiz, Banks, Kell, Miller,

Bradberry and Hoferer - 7. Presided: Mayor Duncan -1. Absent: Councilmember Valdivia-Alcala

- 1. Council District No. 8 Seat -Vacant.

 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 January 20, 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 January 20, 2026, for attachment to the meeting minutes.

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

Reverend John Williams, New Beginnings Baptist Church Associate Pastor.

 THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by meeting participants.

 CONSENT AGENDA was presented as follows:

 ORDINANCE NO. 20632 introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M Perez, allowing and

approving City expenditures for the period November 29, 2025, to December 26, 2025, and

enumerating said expenditures therein, was presented.

 APPROVAL of a professional services contract exceeding $50,000 between the City of

Topeka and Henson, Hutton, Mudrick, Gragson and Vogelsberg, LLP, for continued

representation of the City in a civil lawsuit matter, was presented.
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 APPROVAL of the MINUTES of the regular meeting of January 13, 2026, was

presented.

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

Councilmember Ortiz carried unanimously. (8-0-0)

 ELECTION of City Council representatives to the Metropolitan Topeka Planning

Organization (MTPO) Policy Board, was presented.

 Mayor Duncan asked if there was any objection to allowing Councilmembers Miller and

Bradberry, who were participating remotely, to cast their vote verbally instead of by written

ballot.

 Upon hearing no objection, Mayor Duncan announced Councilmembers Miller and

Bradberry would cast their vote verbally.

 Mayor Duncan announced he has appointed Councilmember Ortiz as the Mayor’s

Council designee to serve on the Metropolitan Topeka Planning Organization (MTPO) Board.

 Nick Jefferson, City Attorney, provided an overview of the Metropolitan Topeka Planning

Organization (MTPO) election procedure.

 Mayor Duncan opened nominations.

 Councilmember Kell nominated Councilmember Hiller.

 Councilmember Hiller accepted the nomination.

 Councilmember Miller, self-nominated.

 Councilmember Ortiz nominated Councilmember Bradberry.

 Councilmember Bradberry accepted the nomination.

 Councilmember Hiller respectfully withdrew her nomination to allow others to serve on

the Board.
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 Upon hearing no more nominations, Mayor Duncan closed nominations.

 After roll call vote, Assistant City Clerk Megan Brunson announced Councilmember

Miller and Councilmember Bradberry each received eight (8) votes and would serve on the

Metropolitan Topeka Planning Organization (MTPO) Board.

 ELECTION of two City Council voting representatives to serve a one-year term on the

Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) Board, was presented.

 Nick Jefferson, City Attorney, provided an overview of the Joint Economic Development

Organization (JEDO) election procedure.

 Mayor Duncan opened nominations.

 Mayor Duncan nominated Councilmember Banks.

 Councilmember Banks accepted the nomination.

 Councilmember Banks nominated Councilmember Kell.

 Councilmember Kell accepted the nomination.

 Councilmember Ortiz nominated Councilmember Hiller.

 Councilmember Hiller accepted the nomination.

 Upon hearing no more nominations, Mayor Duncan closed nominations.

 After the tally of ballots, Assistant City Clerk Megan Brunson announced

Councilmember Banks received seven (7) votes, Councilmember Hiller received six (6) votes

and Councilmember Kell received (1) vote; therefore, Councilmember Banks and

Councilmember Hiller would serve as voting members on the JEDO Board.

 PUBLIC COMMENT was provided by the following individuals:

 LaRonna Lassiter Saunders referenced the KORA request she filed on behalf of Carrie

Bell requesting the identity of the police officer involved in the shooting that caused the death of
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her son Dylan Walstrom and the fact that the KORA request denial letter she received in response

was not signed by the City’s Legal Department. She advised those reviewing police footage to

pay attention to the details rather than the narrative.

 Danielle Twemlow spoke about the many government institutions across the nation that

she believes are continuing to fail constituents.

 ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE CITY MANAGER, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE

COUNCIL:

 Megan Brunson, Assistant City Clerk, announced a Special Meeting Budget Work

Session of the Governing Body has been called by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez on

Tuesday, January 27, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located at

214 SE 8th Street, 2nd Floor, Topeka, to discuss budget items.

 Councilmember Ortiz expressed her gratitude to those she invited to provide the

Invocation during the month of January.

 Councilmember Kell urged citizens to check on one another during the anticipated severe

cold weather.

 Councilmember Bradberry shared her experience at the “Living the Dream Incorporated”

Dinner and Worship Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision.

 Councilmember Hiller shared her experiences from attending various Martin Luther King

Jr. events.

 Mayor Duncan requested the City Manager and Staff provide a media blast of warming

center locations in preparation for the severe cold weather. He reminded citizens of the Council

District No. 8 Vacancy and announced the deadline to apply was January 26, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.


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 Following a 10-minute recess, Mayor Duncan moved to recess into executive session not

to exceed 30 minutes to give legal advice and discuss potential litigation and other matters

deemed privileged under the Attorney-Client Privilege as allowed under KSA 75-4319(b)(2).

The open meeting will resume in the Governing Body Chambers. The following staff were

necessary to assist the Governing Body in its deliberations, City Attorney, Nick Jefferson,

Deputy City Manager, Braxton Copley, 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.” (7-1-0)

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

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

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

legal advice and discuss cases currently in litigation or the potential for litigation and other

matters deemed privileged under the Attorney-Client Privilege as allowed under KSA 75-

4319(b)(2). The open meeting will resume in the Governing Body Chambers. The following

staff were necessary to assist the Governing Body in its deliberations, City Attorney, Nick

Jefferson, Chief of Police, Chris Vallejo and other staff members deemed necessary. The motion

was seconded by Councilmember Hoferer.

 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.” (7-1-0)


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

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

 Councilmember Kell left the room.

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

legal advice and discuss cases currently in litigation or the potential for litigation and other

matters deemed privileged under the Attorney-Client Privilege as allowed under KSA 75-

4319(b)(2). The open meeting will resume in the Governing Body Chambers. The following

staff were necessary to assist the Governing Body in its deliberations, City Attorney, Nick

Jefferson, Chief of Police, Chris Vallejo and other staff members deemed necessary. The motion

was seconded by Councilmember Hoferer.

 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. (6-0-0)

 At the conclusion of the executive session, the meeting was 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 8:11 p.m.


 (SEAL)

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




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