On the agenda: Topeka Governing Body - Jul 08, 2026 — Data Center (Jul 8)

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Agenda






Governing Body Agenda July 14, 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 - Downtown Business Improvement District Advisory Board
 

BOARD APPOINTMENT recommending the appointment of Lyndsi Huff to the Downtown Business Improvement District Advisory Board to fill a term ending July 14, 2028. (Council District No. 1)


3. PRESENTATIONS:
 


A. Government Assisted Inspection Report
 



4. CONSENT AGENDA:
 


A. Resolution - Noise Exception - Greg Lombard Rea
 

RESOLUTION introduced by Councilmember Marcus Miller granting Greg Lombard Rea an exception to the provisions of City of Topeka Code Section 9.45.150, et seq., concerning noise prohibitions. (Council District No. 6)
(Approval would allow for amplified music and sound during the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on July 24, 2026, at 3604 SW Avalon Ln, Topeka, KS 66604.)



B. Ordinance - Capital City Townhomes TIF District Termination
 

ORDINANCE introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez, terminating the Capital City Townhomes Redevelopment District created pursuant to Ordinance No. 20651.
 
(Approval would terminate the Capital City Townhomes TIF District. The properties identified in Ordinance No. 20665 meet the eligibility criteria for the NRP and have therefore been removed from the Capital City Townhomes TIF District. As the district now contains no remaining properties, termination of the TIF District is appropriate.)




C. Ordinance - College Hill TIF District Termination
 

ORDINANCE introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez, terminating the College Hill Redevelopment District created pursuant to Ordinance No. 18566.
 
(Approval would terminate the College Hill TIF District. The term of the redevelopment project plan has expired, all project costs and obligations have been satisfied, and no other project plans have been or will be approved for the redevelopment district, termination of the College Hill TIF District is appropriate.)




D. Professional Services Contract - Finney & Turnipseed Transportation & Civil Engineering, LLC for Engineering and Design Services - Bridge Improvements - Project No. 701072.00
 

APPROVAL of a Public Works Department contract between the City of Topeka and Finney & Turnipseed Transportation & Civil Engineering, LLC for professional engineering and design services in an amount not to exceed $67,700.
(Approval of the contract would allow the firm to provide engineering design services and construction documents for repair of SE 21st Street over Butcher Creek, SE Quincy Bridge, and SE 21st Street over the BNSF Railway Bridge.)





E. Professional Services Contract - JEO Consulting Group, Inc. for Engineering and Design Services - Bridge Improvements - Project No. 701071.00
 

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 $90,000.
(Approval of the contract would allow the firm to provide engineering design services and construction documents for repair of  bridges on N. Kansas Ave at the Kansas River and on Curtis Fly-Off at N. Kansas Ave.)





F. Development Agreement and Mortgage Agreement - Wible Property Development, LLC - Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF)
 

DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT and MORTGAGE AGREEMENT between the City of Topeka and Wible Property Development, LLC in an amount not to exceed $365,197.50 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF).
 
(Approval of funding for Wible Property Development, LLC will renovate 24 units at 817 SW Tyler and turn the property into a cooperative housing structure.)




G. MINUTES of the regular meeting of July 7, 2026.
 


H. APPLICATIONS:
 

5. ACTION ITEMS:
 


A. Discussion with Possible Action - Data Centers Temporary Moratorium Ordinance
 

DISCUSSION with POSSIBLE ACTION of AN ORDINANCE introduced by Councilmembers Murray McGee, Christina Valdivia-Alcala and Michelle Bradberry implementing a temporary moratorium on the acceptance, processing, and approval of applications for data center developments within the City of Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas.
 
Voting Requirement : Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.
 
(Approval would establish a 12-month temporary moratorium to allow the City adequate time to study, review, and determine how to address the public health and safety aspects associated with governing data center developments.)   



B. Public Hearing and Approval - 2026-2030 (5-year) Consolidated Action Plan and 2026 Annual Consolidated Action Plan and Budget
 

PUBLIC HEARING to obtain citizen input on the City of Topeka 2026-2030 Consolidated Action Plan and the 2026 Annual Consolidated Action Plan and Budget. 
 
APPROVAL of the City of Topeka 2026-2030 Consolidated Action Plan and the 2026 Annual Consolidated Action Plan and Budget. 
 
Voting Requirement : Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.
 
(Approval of the 2026-2030 Consolidated Action Plan and the 2026 Annual Consolidated Action Plan/Budget. Programs total approximately $12 million in HUD grant funding for the five-year plan period.)








C. Ordinance - Amending TMC Chapter 14 Building Code Section 14.20.060(i) Sub-Section 109 Fees
 

ORDINANCE introduced by Dr. Robert M. Perez, concerning the waiver of permit fees, amending section 14.20.060(i) of the Topeka Municipal Code and repealing original section. (Policy and Finance Committee recommended approval June 3, 2026)
 
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 will amend section 14.20.060(i), Section 109 (Fees) of the Topeka Municipal Code, by repealing and replacing the existing provisions related to permit fee waivers. The amendment modifies eligibility requirements to allow applicants receiving tax incentives from other political or taxing subdivisions to be considered for permit fee waivers.)





D. Resolution - City of Topeka 2027 Proposed Budget - Intent to Exceed Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR)
 

RESOLUTION introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez, notifying the County Clerk of: (1) a proposed intent to exceed the revenue neutral rate for the City of Topeka; (2) the proposed tax rate; and (3) the date, time and location of the public hearing to consider adopting a budget that exceeds the revenue neutral rate. 
 
Voting Requirement : Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body. 
(Approval will notify the Shawnee County Clerk of the City's intent to consider adopting a budget for 2027 that exceeds the revenue neutral rate (RNR) and authorizes a public hearing date of August 25, 2026, to entertain public comment regarding possible adoption of a 2027 budget that exceeds the RNR.)




E. Resolution - Topeka Metro Transit Authority (TMTA) 2027 Proposed Budget - Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR)
 

RESOLUTION introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez, notifying the County Clerk of: (1) a proposed intent to exceed the revenue neutral rate for the Topeka Metro Transit Authority (TMTA); (2) the proposed tax rate; and (3) the date, time and location of the public hearing to consider adopting a budget that exceeds the revenue neutral rate.
 
Voting Requirement : Action requires at least six (6) votes of the Governing Body.
 
(Approval will notify the Shawnee County Clerk of the City's intent to consider adopting a budget for 2027 that exceeds the TMTA's revenue neutral rate (RNR) and authorizes a public hearing date of September 1, 2026, to entertain public comment regarding possible adoption of a 2027 budget that exceeds the TMTA's RNR of 3.8320.)



6. NON-ACTION ITEMS:
 


A. Discussion - Utility Rates
 

DISCUSSION regarding proposed Utility Rates. 
 
(Continue discussion from the Governing Body meeting of June 9, 2026, regarding establishing adequate Utility Rates that will serve as the foundation for future Operating and Capital budgets.)










B. Discussion - 2027 Operating Budget
 

DISCUSSION related to the City of Topeka 2027 Operating Budget.
 
(Discussions will continue through the months of July, August and September.)



7. 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
 

8. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
 

9. 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.)
 

10. ADJOURNMENT: