Press Releases

The City of Topeka invites community participation in our Language Access Community Survey.

This survey aims to assess how residents access information about city services and identify opportunities for improvement. The insights gathered will inform the development of the City of Topeka’s Language Access Plan.

Language access refers to the availability of language assistance and resources to individuals who have limited English proficiency (LEP) and could include translation, interpretation, multilingual staff, language access plans, language access training, outreach, and education. By prioritizing language access, we uphold legal obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and strive to overcome language barriers that may hinder access to vital services, including public safety and emergency assistance.

Effective communication with our diverse community is crucial for engagement and collaboration on city initiatives. Additionally, language access promotes economic growth by facilitating communication between businesses and residents of different language backgrounds. By fostering multilingual communication, we create a more inclusive and vibrant city that attracts diverse talent and businesses, enhancing our economic vitality.

“Overall, language access aims to promote linguistic and cultural inclusivity, enhance access to essential services, and ensure that all residents, regardless of their background, can fully participate in society and access the resources they need,” said Interim Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion Monique Glaudeˊ. “This survey is critical as we deepen our commitment to language access initiatives.”

The Language Access Community Survey is available in English and in Spanish at the links below.

English Language Access Community Survey: https://us.openforms.com/Form/13b5181b-92d6-4bc7-b303-569e0c58094a

Encuesta Comunitaria acerca del acceso lingüístico: https://us.openforms.com/Form/12dabae8-78e5-422b-9f6f-2eb06aa4b375

The City of Topeka is a semi-finalist for a $50,000 Gen2Gen Encore Prize. The prize is awarded to an organization that comes up with an innovative solution that will tap into the talent of people over the age of fifty to partner with youth and help them thrive. Out of 110 applicants, the City of Topeka is one of 25 to make the semi-finals.

The City of Topeka needs your help to become a finalist. Our project is a program to partner people over fifty as mentors to youth in Highland Park High School, and help them to achieve their goals after high school, whether that is college, technical school or starting their own business. The program will provide ACT prep, financial literacy courses, college application fees, and college visits. The youth and mentors will also participate in a community service project. If the City of Topeka is awarded the prize, this program will be a pilot program, which we hope to expand to the other USD 501 schools in Topeka.

“We are excited to partner with USD 501 and Highland Park High School to help students achieve their dreams after high school,” said Monique Glaude’, Division Director of Community Engagement for the City of Topeka. “Pairing youth with experienced members of our community can help bridge the age gap and connect people across generations.”

In order to make the finals a public voting campaign is put on from September 12th – 25th. The semi-finalist with the most votes is automatically a finalist and awarded $10,000. The finalists will all pitch their projects in Los Angeles where the winner will win the $50,000 prize.

Everyone is allowed to vote once a day during the public voting period. Please help our project and vote here: https://bit.ly/TopekaCommonUnity

Encore is a non-profit organthat works to leverage the skills and talents of adults over the age of fifty to improve communities. The Generation to Generation program for Encore is a campaign to mobilize adults over fifty to improve the prospects of children and youth. Find out more about Encore here: https://encore.org/

TOPEKA, Kan. – The City of Topeka has issued a precautionary Boil Water Advisory for customers in Topeka and Shawnee County. Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

• If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
• Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
• Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
• Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
• Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.

City of Topeka officials issued the advisory as a precaution after discovering chlorine residual levels at the water treatment plant did not meet the minimum standard required by regulation. Low water levels and extreme weather have stressed the City’s water system and out of range chemical doses may put the system at risk for bacterial contamination. City staff is currently working to resolve the issue. The advisory will remain in effect until further notice and residents will be notified once it is lifted. The City will provide further updates as they become available and will provide an update at 5 p.m. today. For consumer questions, please contact the City of Topeka at citycommunications@topeka.org, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Consumer-Information-Regarding-a-Disrupt?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767.

On Wednesday, the City of Topeka launched an online portal for customers to establish a new utility service, or to upgrade an existing service. City utility services include water and sewer.

The portal is intended to be used by all City customers, including residents and contractors.

To view the new portal, visit https://www.topeka.org/utilities/, and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Before accessing the portal, customers will need to create an account.

For questions, email utilityaccounts@topeka.org, or call 785-368-3111.

The City of Topeka is making staffing changes due to budget shortfalls caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Personnel have been notified of their position elimination and currently remain employed by the city. These staff members are currently working to transition their duties to other departments and staff.

The specific positions eliminated include the Deputy City Manager, Director of Neighborhood Relations and Emergency Manager. The City of Topeka will continue to work closely with Shawnee County Emergency Management for city emergency response. The Neighborhood Relations Department will be absorbed into another department, which will be decided at a later date.

These individuals are not being dismissed due to any conduct or performance issues.  However, the effect the pandemic is anticipated to have on the city budget is likely to be severe.  This requires that steps be taken to responsibly navigate through this unprecedented event, including the elimination of positions.

“Eliminating these positions was a difficult decision. I want to thank Doug, Sasha and Jim for the hard work and years of service that they gave to the City of Topeka,” said City Manager Brent Trout. “Their contributions helped to make the city a better community to live and work in.”

The elimination of these three positions, including salaries and benefits, will save the city approximately $446,000 in 2021.

Today, the League of American Bicyclists honored the efforts of the City of Topeka to build better places for people to bike with a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award. Topeka joins 459 communities across the country in the movement for safer streets and better bicycling for everyone. The award recognizes Topeka for its commitment to creating transportation and recreational resources that benefit its residents of all ages and abilities while encouraging healthier and more sustainable transportation choices. 

“Bicycling is more than just a mode of transportation—it’s a powerful tool for building healthier communities, fostering sustainability, and connecting people,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “The cities and towns recognized in this round of Bicycle Friendly Community awards are leading the way by investing in infrastructure and programs that make biking an easier, safer, and more accessible choice. Their leadership demonstrates that supporting bicycling is an investment in a healthier future for everyone.” 

The League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly America program sets the standard for how communities build and benchmark progress toward making biking better. The League strives to provide continual updates to the application as part of our commitment to help communities raise their standards for safety, equity, and accessibility. 

This round of awards includes 91 new and renewing awardees, joining a total of 460 current Bicycle Friendly Communities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The bronze-level BFC award recognizes Topeka’s commitment to improving conditions for all people who bike through investments in bike education programs, regular bike events that promote and encourage people to choose biking, pro-bike policies, and bike infrastructure. 

“We are excited to be recognized again as a bike-friendly city,” said Braxton Copley, Assistant City Manager. “We understand that many people in Topeka use bikes for recreation or as their main form of transportation. We will continue working to provide safe opportunities to bike throughout the city.” 

Nearly 900 communities have applied for recognition by the Bicycle Friendly Community program, which provides a roadmap to making biking better for communities of all shapes and sizes. While the award process considers very visible elements such as bike infrastructure, other essential elements include efforts around adult and youth bike education, encouragement through events like Bike to Work Day, evaluation mechanisms, and enforcement all through the lens of equity. The rigorous application process is an educational tool in itself, and includes an opportunity for local bicyclists and active transportation advocates to provide input on their experiences and perceptions of bicycling in their community.   

The five levels of the BFC award – diamond, platinum, gold, silver and bronze, plus an honorable mention category – provide a clear incentive for communities to continue to improve. Awarded communities must renew their status every four years to ensure that they not only maintain existing efforts, but also keep up with changing technology, national safety standards, and community-driven best practices. 

To learn more about the BFC program, visit bikeleague.org/community. 

  About the League of American Bicyclists 

The League of American Bicyclists leads the national movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. With a history dating to 1880, the League is committed to engaging diverse communities and building a powerful, unified voice for change around protecting and promoting bicyclists’ rights. Learn more at www.bikeleague.org. 

Below is the description of the Topeka project

Topeka, KS — Open Data and Project Portal

When the City exercises an open and transparent government, it increases accountability and builds trust with people by sharing information and engaging in ongoing conversations with employees and the public. To increase transparency and accountability we have created data portals for budget, checkbook and projects. This information is machine readable and easy to understand and filter. The checkbook shows all expenditures and the project portal shows all active projects. We are continuously shifting to proactive disclosure of frequently requested public information of any kind, with the goal to reduce staff time and costs by 10 to 20 percent. As citizens utilize open data, it begins to provide public value. Open government is about changing the way the City operates and its internal culture. While open government work often involves new technologies and sharing collected data with the public, at its core, open government is about building and fostering relationships. One of the dashboards is designed to offer insight into the associated costs and timelines for the city’s active Capital Improvement Projects. Currently we are providing detail project information on approx. 160 projects with an estimated budget of $220MM. Higher visibility results in higher accountability.

City Manager Stephen Wade announced Monday that Ernestor De La Rosa was selected to serve as the City of Topeka’s very first Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer. De La Rosa will start in January 2023 and will lead the city’s newly created DEI office.

“I’m thrilled that Ernestor will be our first Chief DEI Officer. This role will truly impact lives in our community, and affect local government policies,” said Wade. “It’s extremely important that we ensure a work environment and community where all have an opportunity to succeed. Ernestor is up to the task, and I look forward to welcoming him to Topeka, and supporting his work for years to come.”

“The idea of DEI has been talked about, and in many ways initiated in America, but for Topeka, this is the first official step by our local government to place DEI at the forefront of all we do. This speaks volumes about the Governing Body and its willingness to embrace the many possibilities active DEI can bring to the City of Topeka,” said Topeka Mayor Michael Padilla. “Ernestor has a strong background in practicing DEI as a government official. I’m excited that he will bring those experiences to Topeka, and help us grow as a community.”

De La Rosa comes to Topeka from the City of Dodge City, KS, where he’s served a variety of roles over the last eight years, including Assistant City Manager, Human Resources Director, Assistant Finance Director, Mobility Manager, and more. He holds a Masters in Public Administration from Wichita State University, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Fort Hays State University.

De La Rosa, who’s first language is Spanish, was born and raised in Mexico, and immigrated to the United States at 12. He’s a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, and is passionate about working in the immigration realm. He’s served on various community boards.

“I am honored and excited to join the City of Topeka. I look forward to working with the Governing Body, city staff and Topeka residents to develop, adopt and implement proactive diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging strategies in all aspects of the city,” said De La Rosa. “I commend city leadership’s commitment to building a robust diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce and community. Topeka is stronger together.”

De La Rosa will also serve as the city’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator, where he will work alongside the ADA Advisory Council to make Topeka a safer, more accessible community.

Additionally, Wade announced that Topeka Police Lieutenant Manuel Munoz is serving a special assignment as the city’s Deputy Director of DEI. Munoz, who also immigrated from Mexico, has served the Topeka community as a police officer for more than 30 years. Munoz will continue serving as TPD’s Public Information Officer.

Both De La Rosa and Munoz will be housed out of City Hall. Additional information on how to connect with the city’s DEI office will come out early 2023.

The City of Topeka announced Monday that it hired Rhiannon Friedman to serve as its next Planning and Development Director.

“I’m thrilled that Rhiannon has accepted the position to serve as the Planning and Development Director. Rhiannon is an experienced leader and a great asset to the City of Topeka and the Topeka community as a whole. The role is key in ensuring we’re shaping a great future for Topeka, and we look to Rhiannon to lead a great group of employees who are doing important work,” said Richard Nienstedt, Acting City Manager.

Friedman had been serving as the Planning and Development Department’s interim director since January. The department is made up of three divisions including development services, housing, and planning.

She was previously hired in the fall of 2022 to serve as the Director of Development and Economic Growth. Prior to her time at the city, Friedman served as the President of Downtown Topeka, Inc. for two years. She was previously selected as a 2022 International Downtown Association Fellow, becoming one of only 30 professionals to participate in the national program. She is currently a member of the 2023 Leadership Kansas class. Friedman has a bachelor’s in political science and government from K-State.

“I’m excited to stay on as the Planning and Development Director, where I’ve served as Interim for the past five months. We have a great team that is dedicated to the continued focus of improving the planning and development process as well as bringing more housing and commercial development to the Topeka community,” said Friedman.

Friedman is serving in the role effective immediately.

Edited:

The City of Topeka is offering a new Property Tax Rebate Program to help lessen the property tax burden for qualifying Topeka residents who are 65 or older.

The program, which is now live, was approved by Topeka’s Governing Body in September of 2023 and is being administered by the city’s Administrative and Financial Services Department. The city’s program is similar to, but separate from the State of Kansas Homestead Refund Program.

“This City has lowered the mill levy for consecutive years, and the City Council is committed to working on property tax reduction for citizens. Most importantly, ensuring that our most vulnerable citizens can remain in their homes without worrying about their tax bill is a priority for all of us in City Hall. This program is one more step in that direction,” said Councilman Spencer Duncan.

The program allows for a rebate, or refund, of a portion of the property taxes paid on a Topeka resident’s home. The rebate will come from and cannot exceed the property tax amount that was originally paid to the City of Topeka.

The city’s rebate program is not available to renters. Applicants must own and occupy their primary home within Topeka city limits and meet all necessary eligibility qualifications to receive a property tax rebate. All rebates will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis until funds are exhausted.

Residents who are interested in learning more about the program are encouraged to visit https://www.topeka.org/finance/property-tax-rebate-program/. Eligibility and sign up information is included online. Additionally, hard copies of applications are available in person in the document holders in the lobbies of City Hall and the Holliday Building. No electronic applications will be accepted.