Press Releases

The City of Topeka City Council meetings will continue to be online for the near future as the spread of the COVID-19 virus continues in the community. Public comment for City Council meetings is available on zoom. Anyone interested in providing public comment on an item can contact the City Clerk’s office to sign up before 5 p.m. the day of the council meeting and will be provided with a zoom link. Once on zoom, public comment participants will be required to have their camera off and their microphone on mute until they are called for public comment. The time limit for public comment is four minutes. To sign up for public comment contact the city clerk’s office at cclerk@topeka.org or by calling 785-368-3940.

On March 28, 2024, the City of Topeka was able to lift the stream advisory for Deer Creek and Shunganunga Creek. This decision was made based on analysis of water samples from both creeks, which showed that water quality had returned to normal levels.

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The City of Topeka Utilities Department is advising Topeka area residents to avoid contact with portions of Deer Creek and Shunganunga Creek due to a sanitary sewage overflow.

A sanitary sewer line became obstructed with build-up, causing the main to overflow out of a manhole and allowing an unknown volume of sewage to be released into the creek. As a precaution, residents are advised to avoid contact with the impacted waterway and to keep pets out of the creeks. This advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

The advisory is in place for Deer Creek starting at SE 10^th Street east of Deer Creek Pkwy, and continuing north toward SE 6^th St. and on to SE 2^nd St. where Deer Creek enters the Shunganunga Creek just north of SE 2^nd St. & SE Norwood St. From here, the Shunganunga flows east to the Kansas River. (see map below for reference area)

City crews removed the blockage immediately after being notified of the sanitary sewer overflow. Following removal of the blockage, crews cleaned the affected areas and flushed the impacted stormwater conveyance system. Staff will continue to monitor the water along Deer Creek and the Shunganunga Creek, and provide notification when the advisory is lifted. This advisory does not affect tap water.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has been notified and will monitor City response and management of the stream advisory.

About Sanitary Sewer Blockages

The City of Topeka has approximately 760 miles of sanitary sewers. Water Pollution Control, a division of the Utilities Department, regularly cleans all sanitary sewer mains throughout the city. Although sanitary sewers are cleaned routinely, the possibility of sewage blockages still exists.

Many sewer blockages can be prevented through awareness and regular cleaning. To help avoid sewer problems, avoid flushing materials that are non-water-soluble down sinks, toilets, and drains. These materials include fats and cooking oils, diapers, baby wet cloths, sanitary disposables, clothing articles, trash, etc. Seepage of sewage onto the ground surface or into waterways can create health risks for both people and animals.

Update:

On July 19, 2023, the City of Topeka was able to lift the advisory for the Shunganunga Creek. The lift of the advisory comes as a result of multiple samples from the creek returning to normal levels.

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Original release:

The City of Topeka’s Utilities Department is advising Topeka area residents to avoid portions of the Shunganunga Creek until further notice due to a sanitary sewage overflow.

The impacted area of the Shunganunga Creek starts east of Washburn Ave. and south of 21^st St., near Rip On Skate Park, and flowing northeast to the Kansas River.

The sanitary sewage overflow was caused by issues at a nearby pump station. As a precaution, residents are advised to avoid contact with the impacted waterway and to keep pets out of the creek. City staff will continue to monitor the water along the Shunganunga Creek, and will provide a notification when the advisory is lifted. This does not impact tap water.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has been notified.

Residents are asked to please avoid the area of the creek outlined on the below map, beginning at the star, and continuing to the Kansas River.

 

On March 28, 2024, the City of Topeka was able to lift the stream advisory for Deer Creek and Shunganunga Creek. This decision was made based on analysis of water samples from both creeks, which showed that water quality had returned to normal levels.

The City of Topeka, in partnership with Shawnee County and local organizations, is inviting businesses and organizations to host community input sessions for Empower: Her, a new free violence prevention program for women launching this summer.

Empower:Her focuses on areas with high rates of sexual assault and rape, aiming to empower women, reduce victimization, and enhance safety. To ensure the program meets community needs, we are seeking businesses to host a free one-hour lunch session where representatives from the City of Topeka, Topeka Police Department and Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Office will present program ideas and gather community feedback. Businesses and organizations interested in hosting an input session can fill out this
form: https://forms.gle/13Nb5mNy9zS2fc69A

The Empower:Her program is being announced as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Sessions will be held throughout May during the lunch hour, with limited spots available. Organizations will be selected based on availability. Applications will close on Friday, April 25. Empower: Her is a collaboration between the City of Topeka’s Office of Inclusive Communities, Topeka Police Department, and Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office.
For questions or to sign up, please reach out to the Director of the Office of Inclusive Communities
Monique Glaudeˊ at 785-368-4470 or mglaude@topeka.org.

How would you spend $96.5 million of the City of Topeka’s money? The Finance Department is inviting all citizens who are interested in learning more about the 2021 Budget to workshops that will be hosted throughout the community in the months of February, March and April.
The workshop will cover the city’s budget and how it is allocated. The workshops will be interactive and allow citizens to ask questions and give input on the 2021 budget. For more budget information citizens can access the performance portal to track how the city measures up at https://www.performance.topeka.org.
Budget Workshops will be held on:
• Tues., February 18th, 10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Cyrus K. Holliday, 620 SE Madison, Holliday Conference Room
• Thurs., February 20th, 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Cyrus K. Holliday, 620 SE Madison, Holliday Conference Room
• Sat., March 7th, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Topeka Shawnee County Public Library, Marvin Auditorium, 101AB
• Fri., March 13th, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging, 2901 SW Topeka Blvd.
• Thurs., March 19th, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Cyrus K. Holliday, 620 SE Madison, Holliday Conference Room
• Thurs., April 2nd, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Cyrus K. Holliday, 620 SE Madison, Holliday Conference Room
• Sat., April 4th, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Topeka Shawnee County Public Library, Marvin Auditorium 101AB
• Thurs., May 7th, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Cyrus K. Holliday, 620 SE Madison, Holliday Conference Room
• Sat., May 9th, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Topeka Shawnee County Public Library, Marvin Auditorium 101AB
You can learn more information about the budget on the Budget & Performance website https://www.topeka.org/finance/budget.

The City of Topeka is proud to share that it has again been recognized for achieving 2021 What Works Cities Certification, the national standard of excellence in data-driven city governance. What Works Cities Certification evaluates how well cities are managed by measuring the extent to which city leaders incorporate data and evidence in their decision-making.

Topeka, has been certified at the silver level as part of WWC’s Certification program. What Works Cities is a national initiative launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies to help cities use data and evidence more effectively to tackle their most pressing challenges.

“I’m proud of our city for being the only city in Kansas to be What Works Cities certified,” said Mayor Michelle De La Isla. “The hard work and dedication by staff has paid off and you can see it in every aspect from the city from the quality of our streets improving to the transparency of our processes.”

What Works Cities Certification assesses cities based on their data-driven decision-making practices, such as whether they are using data to set goals and track progress, allocate funding, evaluate the effectiveness of programs, and achieve desired outcomes from contracts with outside vendors. The program also measures whether cities are publicly and transparently communicating about their use of data and evidence.

Over the past year, Topeka has demonstrated measurable progress on these foundational data practices. Some notable examples of the city’s use of data include:

• Performance Management
• Grant Applications
• Transparency
• Street improvements through Pavement Condition Index data collection

The 16 new cities that achieved Certification this year include four cities at the Gold level (Austin, TX; Chattanooga, TN; Detroit, MI; and Gilbert, AZ) and 12 cities at the Silver level: Baton Rouge, LA; Bellevue, WA; Fort Collins, CO; Glendale, AZ; Irving, TX; Little Rock, AR; Madison, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Norfolk, VA; Portland, OR; San Antonio, TX; and Syracuse, NY.

Additionally, three cities that had previously been certified advanced to the next level of Certification: Cambridge, MA (Gold); Memphis, TN (Gold); and Phoenix, AZ (Gold). Four cities renewed their Certification this year: South Bend, IN (Silver); San Jose, CA (Silver); Tempe, AZ (Gold); and Topeka, KS (Silver).

“City leaders are using data to understand and support the needs of residents like never before,” said Michele Jolin, CEO and Co-Founder of Results for America, the lead partner in the What Works Cities initiative. “Throughout the COVID crisis and a historic reckoning with racial injustice, mayors have relied on data to identify and narrow racial gaps, and to make smarter investments that increase opportunity for all their residents. These cities are testing new solutions and measuring what works, rebuilding trust in government by engaging with their residents, and using evidence and data to drive faster progress on their toughest challenges.”

Cities that have achieved Certification in previous years include: Arlington, TX (2020 Gold), Boston, MA (2020 Silver), Boulder, CO (2020 Silver), Cambridge, MA (2020 Silver), Charlotte, NC (2020 Silver), Cincinnati, OH (2020 Silver), Kansas City, MO (2020 Gold), Los Angeles, CA (2020 Platinum), Louisville, KY (2020 Platinum), Memphis, TN (2020 Silver), Mesa, AZ (2020 Silver), New Orleans, LA (2020 Silver), Philadelphia, PA (2020 Silver), Phoenix, AZ (2020 Silver), San Diego, CA (2020 Silver), San Francisco, CA (2020 Gold), San Jose, CA (2020 Silver), Scottsdale, AZ (2020 Silver), Seattle, WA (2020 Gold), South Bend, IN (2020 Silver), Topeka, KS (2020 Silver), Tulsa, OK (2020 SIlver), and Washington, DC (2020 Gold).

Jennifer Park, founding director of What Works Cities Certification, shared, “Since Certification was first introduced, cities have made tremendous progress in their ability to build the data capacity and skills needed to drive their decision-making with data and evidence. This year, cities used data and evidence to guide their response to COVID, address budget shortfalls, reimagine public safety, advance equity, and much more. Data wasn’t just a valuable tool for city leaders –⁠ it was a necessity.”

What Works Cities Certification was developed by a team of experts from Results for America in close consultation with the What Works Cities Certification Standard Committee. To evaluate cities, these experts conducted a rigorous validation process of cities’ Certification assessments and participated in site visits to the highest-performing cities to determine the city’s Certification level.

The program has inspired a movement of cities that are doubling down on their commitment to building the most well-managed local governments possible and using Certification as a roadmap for doing so. More than 200 cities have completed a Certification assessment to have their practices benchmarked against the national standard. The assessment is the first step to receiving exclusive support from What Works Cities to continue building a more effective local government. To learn more about the program and how to participate, visit https://whatworkscities.bloomberg.org/certification/.

The City of Topeka is actively addressing concerns regarding overflowing dumpsters at
multiple properties owned by a local landlord. These conditions have raised concerns among nearby
residents about public health and neighborhood cleanliness.

The city’s Property Maintenance Unit has been in contact with the landlord and has issued the appropriate
citations in accordance with city ordinances. In response, the landlord has taken steps to resolve the issue,
and new dumpsters are expected to be delivered to the affected properties later this week. The city will
continue to monitor the situation to ensure compliance with waste management requirements.

The City of Topeka recognizes that some tenants may hesitate to report property maintenance issues, such as
overflowing dumpsters or unsafe living conditions, due to fear of retaliation or eviction by their landlord. In
May 2024, the Topeka City Council strengthened its retaliatory eviction ordinance, ensuring residents can
assert their right to a clean, safe, and sanitary home without fear of retaliation.

Residents can find more information about the city’s resources to address retaliatory action and their rights
under city ordinance by visiting our website here: https://www.topeka.org/tpd/property-maintenancedivision/retaliatory-eviction/

The City of Topeka is committed to creating a clean, safe, and livable environment for all residents. Tenants and community members can report property maintenance concerns by contacting the City of Topeka’s

Property Maintenance Division at 785-368-3161, using our SeeClickFix app, or via email at
propertymaintenance@topeka.org

The City of Topeka has deployed all available resources in response to significant damage and disruptions caused by Wednesday night’s storm in the River Corridor, Potwin, and Oakland neighborhoods. Additionally, debris pickup is planned for residents next week.

This storm left multiple streets blocked by fallen trees and downed power lines, resulting in widespread power outages. Public Works staff, supported by the Utilities Department, began a systematic inspection of the affected streets Thursday morning. The primary goal for crews is to move debris to the side of the road to restore access to traffic as quickly as possible.

“We are fully aware of the road closures and the impact on our community. Every available resource is being utilized to open the streets and ensure the safety of our citizens,” said Assistant City Manager and Interim Public Works Director Braxton Copley.

In some instances, city crews must wait for Evergy to clear power lines before proceeding with debris removal. After the initial debris push, staff will begin the cleanup of rights-of-way and start addressing Service Call Form (SCF) tickets.

Additionally, the City is mobilizing third party contractors to assist with cleanup. Residents may place tree and brush debris produced by this storm at the curb. Pickup of that debris will begin Monday, August 19 at approximately 7 a.m. Contractors will begin pickup efforts in the areas that were hardest hit, and then spread out to the rest of the city. Crews will only pick up tree and brush. Garbage, damaged appliances, carpet, furniture, or household goods will not be picked up.

Debris pickup will be done using large grapple trucks. Please place any brush in piles near the back of the curb in a clear area. Do not place debris near mailboxes, fences, or any other structure or under any trees or power lines.

The city asks for the community’s patience as we work to clear neighborhood streets.

For updates, please visit the City of Topeka’s official website at www.topeka.org and our social media channels.

Update

As the City of Topeka continues to assess the damage from last week’s storm, crews began limb pickup
operations. These efforts will continue throughout the coming weeks until all parts of Topeka have been
serviced. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to clear debris and restore our
community.

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The City of Topeka has deployed all available resources in response to significant damage and
disruptions caused by Wednesday night’s storm in the River Corridor, Potwin, and Oakland
neighborhoods. Additionally, debris pickup is planned for residents this week.

This storm left multiple streets blocked by fallen trees and downed power lines, resulting in widespread
power outages. Public Works staff, supported by the Utilities Department, began a systematic inspection
of the affected streets Thursday morning. The primary goal for crews was to move debris to the side of
the road to restore access to traffic as quickly as possible.

“We are fully aware of the road closures and the impact on our community. Every available resource is
being utilized to open the streets and ensure the safety of our citizens,” said Assistant City Manager and
Interim Public Works Director Braxton Copley.
In some instances, city crews had to wait for Evergy to clear power lines before proceeding with debris
removal. After the initial debris push, staff will begin the cleanup of rights-of-way and start addressing
Service Call Form (SCF) tickets.

Additionally, the City is mobilizing third party contractors to assist with cleanup. Residents may place
tree and brush debris produced by this storm at the curb. Pickup of that debris began Monday, August
19 at approximately 7 a.m. Contractors will begin pickup efforts in the areas that were hardest hit, and
then spread out to the rest of the city. Crews will only pick up tree and brush. Garbage, damaged
appliances, carpet, furniture, or household goods will not be picked up.

Debris pickup will be done using large grapple trucks. Please place any brush in piles near the back of the
curb in a clear area. Do not place debris near mailboxes, fences, or any other structure or under any
trees or power lines.

The city asks for the community’s patience as we work to clear neighborhood streets.
For updates, please visit the City of Topeka’s official website at www.topeka.org and our social media
channels.