Press Releases

The City of Topeka announces parking restrictions along the route for this year’s Fiesta Parade to help ensure the safety of participants and spectators. Parking will be prohibited on designated streets starting at 3 a.m. on Saturday, July 12.

This early restriction will allow city crews and public safety personnel additional time to prepare the parade route and ensure a safe environment before the event begins. The parade is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m.

No Parking – Parade Route:
•SW Jackson – from 12th Street to 7th Street
•SW 7th Street – from Jackson to Harrison
•SW Harrison – from 7th Street to 12th Street

While parking on SW 8th and SW 10th streets between Jackson and Harrison will not be prohibited, it is strongly discouraged due to limited accessibility once the parade route is closed.

Downtown businesses will remain open and accessible to pedestrians during the parade. Residents and visitors are encouraged to use downtown parking garages or surface lots outside the parade route.

To avoid towing, vehicles should be moved from the parade route the night before. Any vehicles left on the route after 3 a.m. will be towed at the owner’s expense by the Topeka Police Department in coordination with Heartland Recovery. For towing inquiries, please contact Heartland Recovery at 785-232-1015.

For questions about street closures, please email citycommunications@topeka.org.

The City of Topeka announced today the retirement notice of Topeka Fire Chief Randy Phillips. Chief Phillips will be closing out his 30 years of dedicated service with the Topeka Fire Department on Dec. 22, 2025. He has worked in many capacities with the Topeka Fire Department, rising through the ranks to Captain, Battalion Chief, and Interim Deputy Chief prior to being named Fire Chief.

“On behalf of the City of Topeka, I want to congratulate Chief Randy Phillips on his well-earned retirement,” said City Manager Dr. Robert Perez. “His years of dedicated service to our community have made a lasting impact, and we are grateful for his leadership and commitment. We wish him all the best as he begins this new chapter and hope his retirement is filled with happiness, health, and well-deserved family time.”

“It has been an honor and a privilege to have had the opportunity to lead this organization,” said Chief Phillips. “The men and women of the Topeka Fire Department are second to none and I would not trade the last 30 years for anything. This is truly the best job in the world. I’m extremely proud of what we have accomplished as a department during my tenure as Chief, but now it’s time for me to focus on my family and enjoy retirement.”

Chief Phillips will transition from Fire Chief on August 4th but will continue assisting the Topeka Fire Team as they transition to a new Chief, by providing guidance and leadership through the rest of the year while working with the Assistant City Manager on continuity of operation plans and other projects. The city wants to acknowledge Chief Phillips’ leadership, celebrate his career, and wish him a well-deserved and fulfilling retirement. In the coming weeks, the city will share details regarding the search process for the next Fire Chief.

The City of Topeka announced Monday that it hired Alicia Guerrero-Chavez to serve as its Internal Investigator. The Internal Investigator position is a new position to the city, and is an expansion of what was the Independent Police Auditor position.

The Internal Investigator’s role is to investigate internal and external complaints related to all city departments, employees and services, including police-related matters.

“With this position, we will be able to more broadly enhance city investigations as a whole, allowing us to ensure we are serving our community and our employees at the level they deserve,” said Topeka City Manager Stephen Wade. “Alicia comes to the City of Topeka with a wealth of knowledge and experience in this area, and we are delighted to have her on board.”

Guerrero-Chavez comes to the city with 10 years of investigation work, including experience in risk management. She has a Juris Doctor from Washburn University’s School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University. Guerrero-Chavez is a past Topeka “Top 20 Under 40” Honoree and is active with the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.

To contact the office of the Internal Investigator, email investigator@topeka.org or call 785-368-3763. The office is housed in City Hall.

Guerrero-Chavez’s first day is Monday, February 20.

 

In partnership with national nonprofit organization the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund), the City of Topeka announced today the launch of a free Financial Navigators program to help residents navigate critical financial issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Financial Navigators will be available remotely starting September 21st to provide guidance over the phone to help residents access available programs and services to manage income disruptions and other financial concerns. Financial Navigators help residents one-on-one to triage personal financial issues, identify immediate action steps to manage expenses and maximize income, and make referrals to other services such as meeting daily living expenses, maximizing income, managing debt, budgeting and avoiding predatory scams. The City of Topeka will offer these Financial Navigator services in partnership with Housing and Credit Counseling Inc.

“We are in unprecedented times that are greatly affecting families and their finances. The Financial Navigator program with support from Cities for Financial Empowerment and Housing and Credit Counselling, is an amazing tool that will help our families have access to great partners in our community. This support can help our citizens navigate challenges and stay self-sufficient during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayor Michelle De La Isla.

Residents can access these remote services by completing the web form here: https://finnav.org/topeka or calling (785) 670-5900 to sign up. The financial navigator will then send a short service agreement and call the client to begin their personal session. Organizations across Topeka can also refer clients directly to a financial navigator.

The City of Topeka is launching the Financial Navigators program in partnership with the CFE Fund, who provided grant funding along with significant technical assistance and training to launch the program in Topeka and other cities and counties across the nation. The Financial Navigators initiative is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Citi Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and the Wells Fargo Foundation.

“Financial distress is a primary part of the COVID-19 crisis, and we’re pleased Mayor De La Isla and her team is making this a priority for Topeka residents,” said Jonathan Mintz, President and CEO of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. “The Financial Navigators program will help City of Topeka residents assess and prioritize their financial concerns and get connected with the right resources.”

“The pandemic and resulting economic crises have hit low- and middle-income households, contingent and undocumented workers, and many others very hard,” said James Anderson, Head of Government Innovation at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “We are very pleased to help the CFE Fund expand its high quality and impactful financial empowerment services to reach many more people in more cities.”

“Sound financial health is a critical component of addressing the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on low-income and diverse communities in the U.S,” said Sarah Bainton Kahn, VP of Global Philanthropy, JPMorgan Chase & Co. “We are pleased to collaborate with the CFE Fund to help people in Topeka to access the tools and services they need to build resiliency and advance their financial health.”

“Communities across the country continue to face significant economic challenges as a result of COVID-19,” said Brandee McHale, Head of Citi Community Investing and Development and President of the Citi Foundation. “To provide residents in Topeka with the vital financial tools and support necessary to navigate the financial impacts of the pandemic, the Citi Foundation is proud to partner once again with the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund to launch the Financial Navigators program.”

“The pandemic has clearly heightened awareness around the financial hardships that so many people were already facing here in Topeka and deep disparities that exist in society,” said Darlene Goins, head of financial health philanthropy with the Wells Fargo Foundation. “We applaud the CFE Fund for bringing together the City of Topeka, philanthropists, and financial services and other industries to reimagine solutions that can help improve financial stability and resiliency for individuals and families, particularly during this economic crisis.”

About the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund)

The CFE Fund supports municipal efforts to improve the financial stability of households by leveraging opportunities unique to local government. By translating cutting edge experience with large scale programs, research, and policy in cities of all sizes, the CFE Fund assists mayors and other local leaders to identify, develop, fund, implement, and research pilots and programs that help families build assets and make the most of their financial resources. The CFE Fund is currently working in over 100 cities, and has disbursed over $42 million to city governments and their partners to support these efforts. For more information, please visit www.cfefund.org or follow us on Twitter at @CFEFund.

 

The City of Topeka announced Monday that two internal candidates have been named the Public Works and Utilities directors, two key leadership positions within the City government.

Braxton Copley, who had been serving as the Utilities Director and Interim Public Works Director, has been named the Public Works Director. Copley is a dedicated leader who’s served the citizens of Topeka in various roles for a combined 17 plus years. Copley has a bachelor’s degree from Colorado College, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas. Copley has numerous technical certifications that are nationally recognized in the field.

“Braxton’s dedication to the City of Topeka throughout his career has been remarkable to watch,” said Stephen Wade, Topeka’s City Manager. “His responsiveness to our constituents promotes excellence in customer service. I believe his talents and vision will be a great asset to the Public Works Department as we work to better our roads, improve our infrastructure, and make the City more efficient. I couldn’t be more pleased to have Braxton lead this great team at the City.”

Sylvia Davis, who had been serving as a Deputy Director in the Utilities department, has been named the Utilities Director. Davis has worked for the City for 18 years. Davis has a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University. Davis is also a Certified Public Manager. In September, Davis received a national leadership award from the Utility 2030 Collaborative.

“Sylvia’s recent national award demonstrates how highly thought of she is. Her people skills and passion for developing talent sets an example for us all. Sylvia has led our internal leadership training classes for years, and I believe she will build upon the excellent work of the two previous Utilities directors, Bob Sample and Braxton Copley. The Utilities team is in great hands with Sylvia,” said Wade.

Wade also stated that he felt it was important to fill both roles with the right people and in a timely manner as the City embarks on its annual capital budgeting process. He said both Copley and Davis will work to lead a focused team effort to prepare a quality plan for Topeka Governing Body consideration.

Copley and Davis assumed their roles Monday morning.

Topeka will soon be home to a new non-congregate shelter, and additional affordable housing options, the City of Topeka announced Monday. A non-congregate shelter, commonly known as a temporary shelter, provides rooms to individuals and families, and does not require occupants to sign a lease or occupancy agreement.

The projects are made possible by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP), which provided the City $1,754,961. HOME-ARP aims to reduce homelessness and increase housing stability across the country. Topeka’s Governing Body approved the HOME-ARP funding on June 14, 2022 through the 2021 Amended Consolidated Action Plan. These dollars are not affiliated with the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The City of Topeka sought requests for proposals (RFPs) for the shelter and affordable housing projects, and received 14 responses. The responses were then reviewed by an external review and ranking committee with expertise in grant writing, real estate or construction.

The City will award $1 million to YWCA of Northeast Kansas to fund the non-congregate shelter, and $754,961 to SENT, Inc. to fund new construction on three homes, and eight rehabilitations on homes for our most vulnerable citizens.

“We are so excited to add 11 new affordable housing options for Topekans. Additionally, being able to assist the YWCA in expanding their shelter is so needed and beneficial to those experiencing domestic violence, human trafficking or stalking. We all know domestic violence has been increasing across the nation. This grant will allow us to address that here in Topeka,” said Corrie Wright, the City’s Division Director of Housing Services.

All projects must fund and serve the qualifying population as outlined by HUD, which includes individuals experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking. HUD requires that all tenants and homeowners must have income levels of no more than 80% of the median household income, meaning a family of four can make no more than $66,150. City staff will review files to ensure compliance with HUD’s requirements.

The location of the shelter is not being disclosed for security purposes. The affordable housing projects will take place in Hi-Crest.

 

The City of Topeka is encouraging residents to sign up for Nextdoor, the free and private neighborhood social network, to help strengthen neighbor-to-neighbor and citywide communications. To help raise awareness for the City’s presence on the platform and to inspire residents to join, the City is unveiling a Nextdoor branded property maintenance truck that will tour Topeka.

“Topeka has always been an innovative and resourceful City. Nextdoor is another great tool we can use to help us better communicate and reach our residents,” said Monique Glaudeˊ. “We look forward to more residents joining us on Nextdoor so that we can work together to create stronger, healthier neighborhoods.”

With Nextdoor, Topeka residents can create private neighborhood networks to share information with each other, including neighborhood public safety issues, community events and activities, local services, and even lost pets. The City of Topeka launched with Nextdoor for Public Agencies in December 2013 and is using the platform to post information to residents, such as important news, services, programs, free events, and emergency notifications.

Since the City partnered with Nextdoor, membership on the platform has grown by 2200%. This increased membership and engagement on Nextdoor has successfully driven higher levels of participation in City discussions, workshops, and events. The City of Topeka asked residents if they feel more informed since the City of Topeka started using Nextdoor. Seventy-one percent of the 381 residents that responded to the poll told us that they do feel more informed since the City started posting on Nextdoor.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating the City of Topeka’s amazing use of Nextdoor to better connect with residents,” said Joseph Porcelli, Senior City Strategist at Nextdoor. “Topeka is full of wonderful neighbors and we are looking forward to welcoming more onto the platform as the City continues its efforts to engage at the neighborhood level.”

Nextdoor is free for residents and the City. Each Topeka neighborhood has its own private Nextdoor neighborhood website, accessible only to residents of that neighborhood. Neighborhoods establish and self-manage their own Nextdoor website and the City will not be able to access residents’ websites, contact information, or content. All members must verify that they live within the neighborhood before joining Nextdoor. Information shared on Nextdoor is password protected and cannot be accessed by Google or other search engines.

Those interested in joining their neighborhood’s Nextdoor website can visit www.nextdoor.com and enter their address. If residents have questions about their Nextdoor website, please visit help.nextdoor.com.

The City of Topeka announced today the retirement notice of Topeka Police Chief Bryan Wheeles. Chief Wheeles will be closing out a three-decade long law enforcement career of distinguished service on July 1, 2024. He has worked in many capacities within the Topeka Police Department (TPD) to include; a patrol officer, a narcotics investigator, a homicide detective, a supervisor and various levels of police command, culminating as the Chief of Police.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to Chief Wheeles for his unwavering dedication and years of service to not only his fellow officers, but the city as a whole,” said Interim City Manager Richard Nienstedt. “Chief Wheeles leads by example. His calm, pragmatic, reliable presence in times of crisis is felt far beyond the police department. He is the first to offer help wherever he is needed and he will be deeply missed.”

“Thirty years of dedicated police service, within one community, makes me very proud,” said Chief Wheeles. “There are a lot of amazing people working at TPD and it has been an honor, beyond my ability to truly express, to serve beside them all these years. I loved my job and got to make a difference. When you come to the end of a career and look back, it’s hard to ask for more than that. It has been a great ride, in a great community and I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family and seeing what life brings me out of the uniform.”

The city wants to acknowledge Chief Wheeles’ leadership, celebrate his career, and wish him a well-deserved and fulfilling retirement. In the coming weeks, the city will share details regarding the search process for the next Police Chief.

The City of Topeka announced Tuesday the potential sale of Hotel Topeka, located at 1717 SW Topeka Blvd. City Council and City staff understood the importance of finding a buyer that has the resources and vision to revitalize the property, while also recouping the funds that were invested by the City of Topeka.

Endeavor Hotel Group, a Hospitality Investment and Hotel Management Company based in Wichita, has submitted a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the purchase of Hotel Topeka. Their team brings deep industry experience, having previously managed over 46 hotels in 23 states. Endeavor currently manages seven hotels across the central U.S., including locations in Topeka, Lawrence, Norman, Columbia, Little Rock, and the Minneapolis area. Endeavor specializes in larger, upscale conference hotels and is actively building a regional portfolio of 25 to 30 properties over the next five years. Their approach centers on a proven “Reimagine, Rebrand, and Reposition” strategy aimed at delivering exceptional guest experiences and long-term value.

“Our team is excited to add the Hotel Topeka to our portfolio,” said President and CEO of Endeavor Roy Arnold. “We have a clear vision intended to create value for the community and to make Topeka a preferred destination for regional conferences and events.”
Endeavor plans to make an investment of approximately $6.0M for the rehab of the Hotel, plus it envisions spending another $2M to supplement operations until stabilization of the property

To date, the City of Topeka has spent $12.2M on Hotel Topeka. The agreement is structured to include a $1M cash payment, with the remaining $11.2M balance to be paid off with the proceeds from a CID (Community Improvement District) and the incremental increase in Transient Guest Tax. It is estimated that it will take approximately 20-years to recoup the City’s investment.

“Even though we are not recouping all of our investment up front, we recognize the risk that comes with the large investment that the Endeavor Group is making and want to make sure they are successful,” said Mayor Michael Padilla. “Ultimately, the more successful they are, the faster the City will be able to recoup the investment we made in Hotel Topeka. CID and TGT are taxes only collected from individuals that are staying/spending money at the hotel property.”

The LOI is contingent upon Shawnee County agreeing to provide Endeavor a long term management agreement for the Maner Conference Center, as well as the County investing approximately $6.0M in the rehabilitation of Maner to the same level as that proposed for Hotel Topeka.

“I’m excited about the vision Endeavor brings to Hotel Topeka and the potential it holds for our community,” said City Manager Dr. Robert Perez. “Selling the hotel was one of my top priorities this year, and it was important to the City Council and me that we find a buyer with the experience and resources to truly transform the property. Endeavor’s track record and strategic approach give us great confidence that this hotel will become a vibrant asset for Topeka once again.”

The City of Topeka has scheduled three public input sessions to gather community perspectives and priorities for the selection of Topeka’s next police chief. These in-person sessions will allow residents to share their ideas directly with the city manager. Interpretation services will be available. Details of the sessions are as follows:

Public Input Session #1

• Thursday, August 1, 2024
• 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, located at 1515 SW 10th Ave, Marvin Auditorium 101B

Public Input Session #2

• Friday, August 2, 2024
• 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• Cyrus K. Holliday Building, located at 620 SE Madison St, First Floor Conference room

Public Input Session #3

• Saturday, August 3, 2024
• 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Hi-Crest CRC Care Center 455 SE Golf Park

The information gathered from the community survey and public input sessions will be used to update the job description for the police chief position. The selection process, led by an executive recruiter, will include several interview panels made up of councilmembers, law enforcement officials, and community members, media interviews and a public meet-and-greet before the final appointment of the new chief. Additional details on the meet-and-greet will be shared in the coming weeks.

“I am excited and hopeful as we embark on the selection process for Topeka’s next police chief,” said City Manager Robert Perez. “This must be a collaborative effort between the city and community, to ensure our next chief has department and community support and knows where to focus their energy. I have laid out an aggressive timeline for the selection, aiming to make the final appointment in late September or early October. I am confident this approach will help us select the best possible candidate for the job.”

The survey will close on August 2^nd.

Residents can access the survey at:

English Survey – https://us.openforms.com/Form/f84b9c2b-0e91-42b9-95c8-d2541e7dc54c

Encuesta en Español– https://us.openforms.com/Form/74814400-794c-44cd-9825-d903dd7476b8