Lack of growth cited as being a key reason Topeka has trouble affording utilities projects

A lack of population growth is a key reason Topeka's city government struggles to afford to make needed improvements to its underground infrastructure, City Councilman Neil Dobler said Tuesday evening.

"The real issue is we're not bringing new customers to the table," Dobler said.

Mayor Mike Padilla agreed, saying Dobler had interjected into the council's discussion about a proposed utility rate increase a topic that, to his knowledge, "has not been considered as part of the underlying reason we are here."

When the city works to address those types of problems, Padilla said, "We really need to look at how — in the end — the growth of this city will make us healthier."

Two public meetings planned to share facts about proposed increase

Dobler and Padilla were among those who spoke as the mayor and council continued a discussion they began last week about a proposal put forth by city manager Stephen Wade that would significantly raise rates the city charges for utility service.

Council members expressed a reluctance last week to raise rates in the amounts being requested.

The mayor and council had initially planned to vote on the proposal Tuesday but decided in advance that no action would be taken that evening. A vote is tentatively set for Jan. 10.

The proposed increase was first discussed at the council's Dec. 13 meeting, where members said they would need more information before they would be ready to consider it.

On Tuesday, Wade provided the mayor and council a 10-page document in response to questions they had posed.

He noted that the city had scheduled two meetings in which officials will answer questions and share information about the proposed increases with the public.

Those will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, and at noon Wednesday, Jan. 4, both at the city's Holliday Building, 620 S.E. Madison. People will be able to take part both virtually and in person at the meetings, Wade said.

Here's what the proposal would do

The rate hike proposal would arrange for Topeka's city government to increase residential rates:

• In 2024 by 11.8% for water, 8% for wastewater, or sewer, and 7.5% for stormwater utility. The amount assessed for stormwater runoff depends on a property’s amount of impervious surface areas that don’t allow rainfall to soak into the ground, such as driveways, sidewalks and rooftops.

• In 2025 by 11.8% for water, 8% for wastewater and 7% for stormwater runoff.

• And in 2026 by 11.5% for water, 8.25% for wastewater and $7% for stormwater runoff.

The proposal's passage would also increase participation in the city's program that provides utility assistance for residents in need, Wade said.

Change approved regarding oversight

Council members on Tuesday evening also voted 6-3, with Padilla not having a vote, to approve an ordinance creating the city's office of diversity, equity and inclusion, and arranging for that office to oversee the city's human resources department and division of community engagement.

The DEI office will be led by Ernestor De La Rosa, whom the city recently hired as its first diversity, equity and inclusion officer.

Questions were raised at Tuesday's meeting about whether De La Rosa should immediately be given so much responsibility.

Council members Dobler, Karen Hiller, Tony Emerson, Brett Kell, Hannah Naeger and Spencer Duncan voted in favor of the proposal. Councilwomen Christina Valdivia-Alcala, Sylvia Ortiz and Michelle Hoferer dissented.

The ordinance the council approved also changes the title to "chief information officer" for the city's director of information technology and "chief financial officer" for its director of administrative/financial services, in moves that Wade suggested would enhance the city's ability to attract good candidates for those positions.

The information technology position is held by Mark Biswell, who is retiring effective at the end of the year. Rachelle Mathews is holding the finance position on an interim basis while the city looks for someone to fill it permanently.

Other business

The mayor and council also voted 9-1 Tuesday evening, with Valdivia-Alcala dissenting, to defer action until their Jan. 10 meeting on a proposed resolution sponsored by Wade that would grant a sales tax exemption for improvements that are to be made as part of a planned renovation project at Brewster Place, 1205 S.W. 29th.

Near the end of Tuesday's meeting, the mayor and council met behind closed doors in executive session to receive legal advice about specific litigation regarding an unspecified contractual issue.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at 785-213-5934 or threnchir@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka mayor, council resume debate about proposed utility rate hikes