Press Releases

In an increased effort to prevent the spread of the COVID 19 virus, the Planning & Development
Department is implementing an “open for business, but not business as usual” operational plan
for the foreseeable future which highly restricts any in-person contact with clients and customers.
Through this plan, the Department will be still be able to provide customary services for all
building permit, inspection scheduling, contractor licensing, and land use/zoning needs on a
daily basis while restricting any outside public access to our 3rd floor offices in the Cyrus K
Holliday Building, 620 SE Madison.
The plan includes 1) encouraging all of our customers to use online, phone, and email as the
preferred option of doing business with Department staff, 2) activating a public counter for walkin
customers in the 1st floor lobby of the Holliday Building to transact much of the daily business
including building/trade permits, contractor licenses, and initiating zoning or subdivision actions,
3) scheduling any meetings with outside customers remotely by phone or video conferencing,
and 4) scheduling any essential in-person meetings in the 1st floor Holliday Conference Room.
The Department has a “one-stop” web page at https://www.topeka.org/developmentservices/
onestop/ containing links to Development Service applications, contacts, and resources
to help customers work with us remotely. Staffing levels may be affected during the foreseeable
future so we ask customers to use non-staff dependent resources as much as possible to help your
projects get reviewed and approved in as timely a manner as possible.
In light of the crisis, the City is also reviewing protocols for required public meetings such as
with our Boards and Commissions that are necessary to complete development projects.
We strongly encourage you to call the following numbers or visit our one-stop web page should
you have questions:
 Building Permits 785-368-3704
 Contractor Licensing, Trade Permits, and Scheduling Inspections 785-368-3905
 Zoning and Subdivisions 785-368-3728
Please go to the City of Topeka website for more information on COVID-19 related policies
enacted by city departments: https://www.topeka.org/news/category/press-releases/

The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is a count/report required by the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of our local Topeka/Shawnee County Continuum of Care (CoC) funding. It provides the data needed to understand the number and characteristics of people experiencing homelessness in our community to obtain a snapshot on one single night in January. Surveys are given to people who are unsheltered, in emergency shelters and transitional housing.

Homelessness in Kansas and across the country is on the rise. In the past year, the Topeka Rescue Mission has seen record numbers of guests in the shelter with the biggest increase being in persons with mental health challenges especially during the COVID period.

This year’s Point-In-Time Count will be held on Wednesday, January 27th from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“During this pandemic, it is important to continue with the homeless count to ensure we are putting our resources in initiatives that help the most vulnerable.” said Corrie Wright, Division Director of Housing Services for the City of Topeka.  The information gathered will help Topeka to:

• Understand the face of homelessness within the community;
• Make sure services are meeting the needs of homeless persons;
• Raise public awareness about the issues surrounding homelessness; and
• Measure community progress towards preventing and ending homelessness.

Help us make sure that everyone is counted!  Persons who are experiencing homelessness or if you know someone who is that wish to take the survey, please call (785) 368-0168 between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27^h. Interviewers will also be available at the City Offices – Holliday Building. 620 SE Madison, Holliday Conference Room from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27^th.

Media who would like to follow an outreach team on the day of the count, please call Theresa Douthart at (785) 274-7359 in advance of the actual day to schedule a time.

Homelessness in Kansas and across the country is on the rise. In the past year, the Topeka Rescue Mission has seen record numbers of guests in the shelter with the biggest increase being in persons with mental health challenges. Kansas schools have also seen large increases in homeless children and youth.

Now, more than ever, it is important for us to obtain the appropriate level of funding so that we can provide needed services to those experiencing homelessness and those at risk for homelessness. To receive funding for programs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires communities to complete a point-in-time count of the homeless every year.

This year’s Point-In-Time Count will be held on Wednesday, January 24 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“This is one of the important ways for Topeka to determine whether we are meeting the needs of persons experiencing homelessness,” said Corrie Wright, Division Director of Housing Services for the City of Topeka. The information gathered will help Topeka to:

• Understand the face of homelessness within the community
• Make sure services are meeting the needs of homeless persons
• Raise public awareness about the issues surrounding homelessness
• Measure community progress towards preventing and ending homelessness

Help us make sure that everyone is counted!

Persons who are experiencing homelessness or know someone who is, please call 785-368-0168 between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on January 29th, or drop by the Rescue Mission or Let’s Help and complete a survey that day. Interviewers will also be available at the City Offices – Holliday Building. 620 SE Madison, Holliday Conference Room from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on January 29th.

For more information, please contact: Nesha Rogers, Housing Director, Community Action, Inc., 785-235-9296

Homelessness in Kansas and across the country is on the rise. In the past year, the Topeka Rescue Mission has seen record numbers of guests in the shelter with the biggest increase being in persons with mental health challenges. Kansas schools have also seen large increases in homeless children and youth.
It is important for the City of Topeka to obtain the appropriate level of funding so that we can provide needed services to those experiencing homelessness and those at risk for homelessness. To receive funding for programs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires communities to complete a point-in-time count of the homeless every year.
This year’s Point-In-Time Count will be held on Wednesday, January 29 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“Topeka is committed to helping the homeless in our community. The point in time homeless count is the first important step to see where the most need is in our community,” said Corrie Wright, Division Director of Housing Services for the City of Topeka. The information gathered will help Topeka to:
• Understand the face of homelessness within the community;
• Make sure services are meeting the needs of homeless persons;
• Raise public awareness about the issues surrounding homelessness; and
• Measure community progress towards preventing and ending homelessness.

Help us make sure that everyone is counted!
Persons who are experiencing homelessness or know someone who is, please call 785-368-0168 between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on January 29th. Interviewers will also be available at the City Offices – Holliday Building. 620 SE Madison, Holliday Conference Room from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on January 29th.

Any media who would like to follow an outreach team on the day of the count, please call Theresa
Douthart at 785-274-7359 in advance of the actual day.

Homelessness in Kansas and across the country is on the rise. In the past year, the Topeka Rescue Mission has seen record numbers of guests in the shelter with the biggest increase being in persons with mental health challenges. Kansas schools have also seen large increases in homeless children and youth.
It is important for the City of Topeka to obtain the appropriate level of funding so that we can provide needed services to those experiencing homelessness and those at risk for homelessness. To receive funding for programs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires communities to complete a point-in-time count of the homeless every year.
This year’s Point-In-Time Count will be held on Wednesday, January 23 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“Topeka is committed to helping the homeless in our community. The point in time homeless count is the first important step to see where the most need is,” said Corrie Wright, Division Director of Housing Services for the City of Topeka. The information gathered will help Topeka to:
• Understand the face of homelessness within the community;
• Make sure services are meeting the needs of homeless persons;
• Raise public awareness about the issues surrounding homelessness; and
• Measure community progress towards preventing and ending homelessness.
Help us make sure that everyone is counted!
Persons who are experiencing homelessness or know someone who is, please call 785-368-0168 between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on January 23rd, or drop by the Rescue Mission or Let’s Help and complete a survey that day. Interviewers will also be available at the City Offices – Holliday Building. 620 SE Madison, Holliday Conference Room from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on January 23th.

The point-in-time count of homeless persons in Topeka took place on January 25^th. In 2017 the Topeka Rescue mission saw a record number of guests in the shelter with the biggest increase being in persons with mental health challenges. Kansas schools have also seen an increase in homeless children and youth. There was an increase in the point-in-time count from last year. In 2017 there were 356 people experiencing homelessness, this year that number jumped to 419.

 

“The point-in-time count helps us to identify those people in need and to attain the resources that we need to help them,” said Corrie Wright, Division Director of Housing Services for the City of Topeka. “We want to thank all the volunteers who helped us with the count and who are helping to make this community better.”

 

The information gathered during the point-in-time count helps the City of Topeka understand the face of homelessness in the community so that we can make sure services are meeting the needs of homeless persons. This count also helps to raise public awareness surrounding issues with homelessness and measures the community progress towards preventing and ending homelessness.

 

The City of Topeka’s Housing Services Division has totaled the numbers from this year’s point-in-time count. This one day event produced a snapshot of individuals in our community experiencing homelessness. This data supports federal funding for both the Continuum of Care initiative and Housing and Urban Development.

 

• 419 People experiencing homelessness.
• 332 Households experiencing homelessness.
• 183 individuals have a serious mental illness.
• 153 individuals are chronically homeless.
• 66% of people were in an emergency shelter, 17% were in transitional housing and 15% were unsheltered.

 

Fifty-four individuals helped with the point-in-time homeless count, including thirty-eight community volunteers. Below is a chart that details and compares the numbers from 2017 and 2018.

2017                                        2018

 

People	356	419
Households	274	322
% of single adults	69	88
% of adults with children	31	12
% of youth households	3	7
% of veteran households	22	19
People with serious mental illness	161	183
People who are chronically homeless	119	153
People with a substance abuse disorder	58	69
People who are victims of domestic violence	93	34
% in an emergency shelter	74	66
% in transitional housing	16	17
% unsheltered	10	15

 

¿Qué puedo hacer o que no puedo hacer durante un aviso de hervir el agua?

Tanto KDHE como la CDC cuentan con orientación sobre un aviso de agua hervir el agua. Algunas preguntas a las que puede encontrar respuestas en los siguientes enlaces incluyen:

• ¿Qué sucede si tengo un sistema de filtración de agua?

• ¿Cómo me lavo las manos o me cepillo los dientes de forma segura durante el aviso?

• ¿Puedo lavar los platos o lavar la ropa?

KDHE: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2599/Boil-WaterAdvisory-Consumer-Information-PDF

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/drinking/drinking-wateradvisories/boil-water-advisory.html

Si aún tiene preguntas adicionales, comuníquese con KDHE al 785-296-5514.

Soy cliente del distrito de agua rural (RWD), ¿cómo sé si estoy afectado?

Si usted es cliente del distrito de agua rural, comuníquese directamente con su distrito para averiguar si está bajo el aviso. Si no está seguro de en qué distrito de agua rural se encuentra, visite: https://krwa.net/ONLINE-RESOURCES/RWDMaps/Shawnee

¿Qué debo hacer si creo que consumí agua posiblemente contaminada?

Si cree que consumió agua posiblemente contaminada, póngase en contacto con su médico de atención primaria para obtener orientación.

¿Cuándo se levantará el aviso de hervir el agua?

Se anticipa que el aviso de hervir el agua esté en efecto hasta al menos el viernes 19 de enero de 2024.

¿Por qué tardará tanto en levantar el aviso?

Tenemos que dejar tiempo para que el agua fresca lave el sistema antes de comenzar el proceso de muestreo. Tenemos varias estaciones de datos alrededor de la ciudad y las estamos monitoreando para verificar que el agua esté fluyendo a través del sistema de distribución. Una vez que estemos seguros de que haya sucedido, comenzaremos nuestro régimen de muestreo. Con más de 60 millones de galones de agua fluyendo por todo nuestro sistema, se necesitará tiempo para eliminarlo.

¿Qué causó este problema?

Los bajos niveles de agua en el río causa tensión en el sistema por diversos motivos, como un aumento de la turbidez. Cuando se combina con temperaturas extremadamente bajas, pone aún más tensión en el sistema, las tuberías y el equipo. Después de pasar por todo el sistema, el personal descubrió una tubería de gas de PVC rota en nuestro sistema de gas de cloro. Creemos que se haya agrietado debido a las temperaturas extremadamente frías.

¿Se aplica el aviso de hervir el agua a las mascotas?

Se deben tomar las mismas precauciones para las mascotas que para los seres humanos. Hierva agua o use agua embotellada para mascotas.

¿Proporcionará la ciudad ayuda con el agua embotellada?

Actualmente, no estamos planificando ninguna asistencia con agua embotellada. Queremos aclarar que no tenemos escasez de agua en nuestro sistema de distribución. Simplemente pedimos a los consumidores que hiervan el agua como medida de precaución antes de beber o preparar alimentos.

Soy dueño de un restaurante o establecimiento de comida; ¿cómo me afecta esto?

Los restaurantes y otros establecimientos de alimentos que tengan preguntas sobre el impacto del aviso de hervir el agua en sus negocios pueden comunicarse con el programa de seguridad alimentaria y alojamiento del Departamento de Agricultura de Kansas en kda.fsl@ks.gov o llamar al 785- 564-6767.

Haga click aquí para descargar.

The City of Topeka’s Department of Neighborhood Relations and Advisors Excel will be giving away fans to people who meet income qualifications on Monday, May 14th.

The only location for fan pick up is from 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, May 14th, on the first floor of the Holliday Building, 620 S.E. Madison. The fans will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

The partnership will provide 120 box Fans to distribute, free of charge, to those who need help staying cool as the summer heats up.

“Thanks to the generosity of Advisors Excel, we’re able to help those in need this summer,” said Monique Glaude’, division director of Community Engagement. “The fan giveaway is an opportunity for the City to help our citizens find relief from the summer heat.

“Advisors Excel is thankful to partner with the City of Topeka to distribute fans to those in need. Providing simple comfort to those who may not be able to provide it for themselves.”

To qualify for a free fan, a person must be a Topeka resident at least 55 years of age or someone with a disability and have an annual income of $28,150 or less for a one-person household. Two-person households must have an annual income of $32,150 or less; three-persons, $36,150 or less; four persons, $40,150 or less; five persons, $43,400 or less; six persons, $46,600 or less; seven persons, $49,800 or less and eight persons, $53,000 or less.

Those applying must provide proof of household income, social security card and photo identification. Those with a disability must provide documentation of the disability, such as a letter from a doctor or documentation from Social Security. Because of the limited stock this year, only those applicants who come prepared with all of the identification and documents will be accepted.

For more information, call Monique Glaude’ at 368-3711.

Mayor De La Isla’s Project Puerto Rico initiative with Boys & Girls Club of Topeka yielded four bundles of school supplies, a total of $400 dollars in cash donations to be sent to students in Puerto Rico.

“I am so glad that the community was able to show up for the children in Puerto Rico and provide them with access to supplies that they will need for their education,” said Mayor Michelle De La Isla. “I want to thank Boys & Girls Club of Topeka for collecting the donations and helping with this initiative to help students learn after suffering through the effects of Hurricane Maria.”
Boys & Girls Clubs reach 4 million youth in 4,300 Club sites across the nation. Boys & Girls Clubs in Puerto Rico have 13 Clubs and annually serve 15,000 children between the ages of 6-18 years old every year. 9 out of 10 of those children reside in poverty.

“Boys & Girls Clubs work collectively to impact kids who need us most and when tragedy hits any Club area we respond from boots on the ground, resources and the support necessary to keep those Club sites available for those kids who need us most,” said Dawn McWilliams, Chief Executive Officer for Boys & Girls Club of Topeka. “We were honored to be selected by Mayor De La Isla to assist her in leading a local effort to get needed supplies into the hands of Club kids in Puerto Rico. A priority outcome area for Boys & Girls Clubs is good character & citizenship – guiding our Club kids to be engaged citizens and making a difference in the lives of others.”

Club kids and their families collected $50 and four boxes of miscellaneous school supplies. Mayor De La Isla is in contact with a Puerto Rican state representative to arrange an appropriate destination for the supplies at a Boys & Girls Club in Puerto Rico.

The City of Topeka Finance Department has released the preliminary 2020 budget on the City of Topeka website. The 2020 budget will be $292.6 million and will be the sixth consecutive budget proposal that has not included a mill levy increase. The FY20 Proposed Budget continues to support the budget priorities that were established by the Governing Body – investing in infrastructure, continuing commitment to public safety, continuing a commitment to developing neighborhoods, selected strategic investment toward quality of life and improving fiscal sustainability.
The General Fund budget is $96.5 million, a 1.9% increase. To balance the General Fund and maintain current service levels without raising the mill levy, the FY20 Proposed Budget includes a mix of revenue enhancements and expenditure cuts. The FY20 Proposed Budget shifts mills from tax levied funds (Debt Service and Special Liability) to the General Fund, but maintains a flat overall mill levy. The FY20 Proposed Budget includes reductions to General Fund department operating budgets of $1.0 million. This includes the elimination of three vacant positions in the Executive, Administrative and Financial Services, and Public Works departments. The preliminary 2020 budget can be viewed on the City of Topeka website, with the City Manager’s transmittal letter beginning on page 7: https://www.topeka.org/finance/budget/
Budget Highlights:
• Personnel related expenses represent the largest portion of the General Fund at $76.1 million, or 79% of total expenditures. Personnel costs, including wages and benefits, increase $1.9 million, or 2.5%, over the 2019 Adopted Budget, and include finalized union contracts along with assumptions regarding negotiations in progress. Non-union, management and executive staff wages increase 1%, or $150,000.
• Property and sales tax collectively make up 61% of the General Fund’s revenue, 29% and 32% respectively.
• Property tax is budgeted to modestly increase over the FY19 Adopted Budget by $640,000, as mills have been shifted from the special liability and debt service funds. Sales tax is economically sensitive and City collections have alternated annually between growth and modest decline over the last five years.
• General Fund departments were asked to identify budget reduction options totaling 3% (approximately $2.8 million) of their overall budget. Based on discussions with department heads, questions regarding sustainability and how the cuts impact operations were thoroughly explored, approximately $1.0 million has been incorporated into the FY20 Proposed Budget.
• The Topeka Police Department has increased personnel services by $515,000, and will be decreasing overtime expenditures for FY20.