In recognition of Arbor Day, staff from the City of Topeka’s Forestry Division, will plant a tree at the statehouse grounds on Friday, April 25. Arbor Day is an annual holiday dedicated to the planting, care, and preservation of trees, observed on the last Friday of April each year.
“Planting this tree at the Statehouse not only honors the spirit of Arbor Day but also represents our continued commitment to growing a healthier, greener Topeka,” said Travis Tenbrink, Forester at the City of Topeka. “With each Arbor Day planting, we hope to inspire the next generation to care for our environment and beautifying our community.”
On Friday at around 10:00 a.m., staff from the city’s Forestry Department will plant a tree on the south side of the Capitol grounds, weather permitting. Following the tree planting, Governor Laura Kelly will sign a proclamation designating Friday, April 25, 2025, as Kansas Arbor Day. The Governor will be joined by City of Topeka staff, members of the Kansas Arborist Association board, representatives from the Kansas Forest Service, and the winner of the Kansas Arbor Day Poster Contest.
In addition to Arbor Day festivities, the City of Topeka is celebrating its 39th year as a proud member of Tree City USA. This membership underscores the city’s dedication to urban forestry and recognizes the significant role trees play in enhancing our community.
The City of Topeka invites the public to a special ceremony on Monday, May 5 at 5:00 p.m. at the Cyrus K. Holliday parking lot, where members of the USS Topeka namesake committee will present the city with memorabilia from the recently decommissioned USS Topeka submarine. These
historic items will be displayed at City Hall.
The event will include a celebration featuring performances and recognitions:
• The Topeka West High School Band will perform Armed Forces on Parade.
• The Topeka West Color Guard will present the colors, accompanied by a performance from the
Drill Team.
• Mayor Mike Padilla will read a Proclamation recognizing Military Appreciation Month
acknowledging the multiple branches of Armed Forces.
• The mayor will also present certificates of appreciation to high school students who are planning
on entering the military. The Topeka West drill team will also be receiving a certificate of
achievement and a special recognition.
“These events are a powerful reminder of Topeka’s deep respect for those who serve and have served,” said Mayor Mike Padilla. “Whether through honoring the legacy of the USS Topeka or recognizing local students entering the military, our community continues to show its gratitude and commitment.”
Following the City Hall ceremony, community members are encouraged to attend a free concert by the U.S. Air Force Band at 7:30 p.m. at the Topeka Performing Arts Center (TPAC).
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/13Nb5mNy9zS2fc69AThe 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.
Over the coming weeks, City of Topeka staff will present the proposed 2026-2035 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to the Governing Body for consideration. Once the Governing Body has considered and ultimately adopted the final CIP book of projects, the CIP will be formalized through a resolution and ordinance.
Public Works Programs and Projects
• 2026 Pavement Management Program: $14M annually for street maintenance
• NW Menninger Rd & N Topeka Blvd: Intersection re-alignment and widening with Shawnee County sharing 35% of the cost
• SW 45th Street (SW Gage Blvd. to SW Cambridge Ave.): Road widening,resurfacing, and shared-use path construction, with different phases over the next few years
Utilities Programs and Projects
• 2026-2030 Water Main Replacement Program: Focuses on upgrading aging water mains
• Menoken Road Tie Back: Flood mitigation project for levee certification, funded by reallocating prior levee repair funds
• SE California Ave. & SE 4th St.: Stormwater improvements to reduce flooding, especially near a local elementary school
| Project Type | 5-Year-Totals |
| Public Works: Non-Street Projects | $ 92,269,763 |
| Public Works: Street Projects | $ 209,390,758 |
| Water Projects | $ 117,684,800 |
| Stormwater Projects | $ 64,171,120 |
| Wastewater Projects | $ 71,930,557 |
| Public Safety Expenditures | $ 29,960,596 |
| Information Technology Expenditures | $ 2,124,000 |
| Totals | $ 587,531,594 |
What is the CIP?
The CIP is a long-term plan that aligns the city’s annual operating and capital improvement budgets with strategic goals and infrastructure needs. It details the funding required for infrastructure projects over several years, including project locations and timelines. The CIP spans 10 years – separate from the annual operating budget – and is funded by sources like sales tax, city funds, and bonds. The first three years are the Capital Improvement Budget (CIB), with the first year focusing on immediate projects and the next two years on preparation. Projects eligible for the CIP must meet certain criteria, including real property acquisition or construction of new facilities costing $50,000 or more. More information can be found at www.topeka.org/finance/capital-improvement-projects/
Since July 2024, Topeka and Shawnee County’s homeless population has decreased by 12 individuals according to the City of Topeka’s January Point in Time Homeless Count released on March 18.
The count took place on January 22, 2025. The one-day event provides a snapshot of the individuals in the community who are experiencing homelessness, as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). More than 40 people helped with this January’s count.
According to the count, 534 people and 399 households are experiencing homelessness in Topeka and Shawnee County. Of the 534 individuals, 60% of those are male, 39% are female, .5% identify as transgender, and 151 are unsheltered, or not living in an emergency shelter or transitional housing.
“The point-in-time count provides a valuable opportunity to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with essential services and resources in the community,” said Carrie Higgins, Housing Services Division Director. “We are grateful to all the volunteers and partner agencies who contributed to the count and continue to support efforts to improve our community.”
Below is a chart that breaks down the numbers from the previous four counts. For a detailed look at the Jan. 2025
numbers, Click Here.
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Jan. 2024 |
July 2024 |
Jan. 2025 |
|
| People | 401 | 298 | 365 | 412 | 537 | 546 | 534 |
| Households | 306 | 254 | 297 | 322 | 442 | 433 | 399 |
| # of Veteran Households | 40 | 16 | 37 | 25 | 47 | 46 | 49 |
| # of Individuals in an Emergency Shelter |
254 | 155 | 163 | 194 | 276 | 255 | 289 |
| # of Individuals in Transitional Housing |
51 | 38 | 54 | 61 | 58 | 75 | 94 |
| # of Individuals Unsheltered |
68 | 105 | 148 | 157 | 203 | 216 | 151 |
To receive funding for programs, HUD requires communities complete a count each year. The count ensures the
city can obtain the appropriate level of funding to be able to provide needed services to those experiencing
homelessness and those at risk of homelessness.
The City of Topeka is now accepting applications for the 2025 Public Works and Utilities Citizens Academy.
The academy gives Topeka residents an opportunity to learn more about the departments that manage the city’s infrastructure, including water systems, street and building maintenance, and making Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget decisions.
“Understanding the complexity of what our Public Works and Utilities crews do – from maintaining safe drinking water to maintaining our streets – helps us appreciate the vital role they play in keeping our community running efficiently,” said Mayor Mike Padilla. “Giving citizens an opportunity to see and hear that firsthand is an important tool in the communication efforts between the city and the citizens that we serve.”
The upcoming citizens’ academy will take place over seven weeks, beginning March 31,
2025. The class is limited to 25 participants. All participants must be at least 18 years old. For more information and to register, visit City of Topeka Public Works and Utilities Citizens Academy.
About City of Topeka Public Works
The City of Topeka’s Public Works Department, nationally recognized through accreditation by the American Public Works Association, strives to meet our current and future needs. A well-run organization consisting of Engineering, Streets, Maintenance, Traffic Signs and Signals, Forestry, Parking, Fleet, and GIS Management ensures public funds are spent on projects and services approved by residents through their local City Council representative.
About City of Topeka Utilities
The Utilities Department is comprised of the Water and Water Pollution Control Utilities and the City of Topeka Customer Service Center. As the producer and distributor of drinking water and manager of all sanitary and stormwater waste in the community, the Utilities Department is integral in the safety of all Topeka citizens
On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, during the planned abatement along the Kansas River,
an individual was injured as a result of the cleanup process. Around 11:00 a.m., Utilities
Department employees were clearing the tree line on the north side of the Sardou Bridge when
a tent was picked up by machinery with an unsheltered individual inside. The person sustained
minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Abatement at this location
has been suspended for the day.
Per city policy, the employee operating the machinery was removed from the scene and
underwent drug testing. The Topeka Police Department’s Behavioral Health Unit was present in
the area assisting affected residents and city staff were unaware of the individual’s presence at
that specific site before the incident.
As is standard procedure, city personnel maintain regular contact with residents when
performing abatements. City staff posted notice of abatement in the area during the week of
February 24.
The health and safety of the public is the city’s priority and we will continue to evaluate our
processes moving forward. The abatement process is on hold due to weather. The city will
continue to investigate how this incident occurred.
