City considers alternative public safety models for USD 501

Family views bodycam footage following fatal police shooting

City preparations underway for annual National Night Out

Officials propose flat mill levy amid tight budget process

City to present first five-year financial forecast

City navigates 12-month moratorium on data center permits

City finalizes sale of Hotel Topeka to Endeavor Hotel Group

City moves forward on $18.45 million turnpike interchange project

Mayor selected for international city leadership initiative

Mayor urges unaffiliated voters to weigh in on Supreme Court amendment

1. City considers alternative public safety models for USD 501

TOPEKA, Kan. — The city will maintain its current school resource officer (SRO) contract with Topeka Public Schools Unified School District 501 (USD 501) for the upcoming school year, but officials are discussing alternative public safety approaches for the future. City officials noted the current arrangement is costly to sustain, with the city paying approximately 70.6 percent of the program's costs compared to the district's 24 percent. Officials are exploring how to better allocate police personnel across the city, noting that USD 501 has its own internal school police department and the city does not currently provide equitable SRO services to the three other school districts in the area.

2. Family views bodycam footage following fatal police shooting

TOPEKA, Kan. — In accordance with a newly implemented city policy, the family of Jessica Treat, who was killed in a police-involved shooting on Thursday, July 23, was permitted to view raw body camera footage of the incident before its public release. City Manager Robert Perez and other top staff met with the family to review the footage and provide grief support. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is currently conducting an independent review of the shooting. Officials confirmed the video will be released to the public once the investigation is complete, marking a significant step in the city's recent public safety transparency efforts.

3. City preparations underway for annual National Night Out

TOPEKA, Kan. — The city's Office of Inclusive Communities, in partnership with the Topeka Police Department, will host the annual National Night Out celebration on Saturday, Aug. 8, from noon to 4 p.m. at Agriculture Hall, 1 Expocentre Drive. The free, family-friendly event is designed to foster positive relationships between residents and public safety professionals. The event will feature a community resource fair, local food trucks, a car show, children's activities and safety presentations. Officials emphasized the event's 42-year legacy of building trust and collaboration within neighborhoods to enhance overall public safety.

4. Officials propose flat mill levy amid tight budget process

TOPEKA, Kan. — City officials are preparing for a difficult budget season, aiming to address a projected deficit without raising the current mill levy. With police, fire and code enforcement accounting for roughly 70 percent of the city's budget, officials stated that no department can be completely excluded from streamlining efforts. City officials reminded residents that the city only accounts for 25 percent of their total property tax bill and that rising property valuations are determined by county and state processes, not the city. All governing body meetings in August will serve as budget meetings, culminating in a final budget adoption before October.

5. City to present first five-year financial forecast

TOPEKA, Kan. — In a new approach to long-term fiscal planning, City Manager Robert Perez announced that staff will present Topeka's first-ever five-year financial forecast on Aug. 25. The projection will extend through 2031 and aims to guide officials in making sustainable financial decisions that extend beyond the annual budget cycle. The forecast aligns with community priorities identified in a recent survey, which ranked infrastructure, public safety and economic development as the city's top concerns. The long-term strategy is designed to expand the tax base and consistently lessen the tax burden on residents.

6. City navigates 12-month moratorium on data center permits

TOPEKA, Kan. — Following a recently approved unanimous 12-month moratorium on data center permit approvals, city officials are urging prospective developers to directly engage with the community. A prospective developer recently filed an application and will host a public meeting to discuss its proposed project. City officials emphasized that the moratorium does not predetermine the outcome of the data center debate but provides time to carefully study water usage, electricity, noise and environmental impacts. Any decisions regarding the use of city water for projects outside city limits will require formal review and a public conversation by the city council.

7. City finalizes sale of Hotel Topeka to Endeavor Hotel Group

TOPEKA, Kan. — The city officially closed on the sale of Hotel Topeka to Endeavor Hotel Group on July 14, marking the end of a complex transitional period for the property. City Manager Robert Perez reported that staff will spend the next 15 to 45 days closing out any final expenses incurred during the city's temporary stewardship. City officials acknowledged the challenges of the acquisition but defended the initial purchase, emphasizing that preserving the capital city's only major conference center was vital to the local economy and necessary to protect surrounding businesses from negative economic fallout.

8. City moves forward on $18.45 million turnpike interchange project

TOPEKA, Kan. — The city council has approved plans for a new $18.45 million turnpike interchange project. Under a proposed cost-shared agreement, the city will fund approximately 80 percent of the construction costs, or about $14.4 million, while the Kansas Turnpike Authority will contribute the remaining 20 percent, or about $3.6 million.

9. Mayor selected for international city leadership initiative

10. Mayor urges unaffiliated voters to weigh in on Supreme Court amendment

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