Re: Treat everyone the same @ public comment

Mr. McClure -

Everyone gets their four minutes, and if they are clearly wrapping up with a final sentence or very brief thought when the last light goes off, I am inclined to give them those few extra seconds to wrap up. That is very different then allowing another full minute or two of approved time.

If your primary complaint is that I allowed an individual with a visual disability to have some additional seconds to close out her remarks, then I accept that criticism for allowing the accommodation.

Thank you,

Spencer

Spencer L. Duncan

Mayor, City of Topeka

785-207-8985

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From: Henry McClure <mcre13@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2026 3:45 PM
To: MCRE Media <mcre1.9999@blogger.com>; Spencer Duncan <sduncan@topeka.org>; Governing Body <governingbody@topeka.org>; City Clerk <cclerk@topeka.org>
Subject: Treat everyone the same @ public comment

 

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Mayor Duncan

You don't treat everyone the same

3. Reverend Julie McOla

• Start: ~3:42:51
• End: ~3:47:46
• Duration: ≈4 min 55 sec

Public Comment – Topeka City Council Meeting, October 6, 2026
Video: City Council Meeting October 6, 2026 (City of Topeka channel)

Public comment window: ~3:34:57 – ~4:07:55 (≈33 minutes total).
Announcements begin at 4:08:03.

These are reconstructed from YouTube’s auto-generated captions. They are close to verbatim but contain typical ASR errors (especially names, technical terms, and some phrasing). Speakers were generally limited to roughly 3–4 minutes; no extensions were granted that evening.

Speakers (in order)

1. Natalie Allen

• Start: ~3:35:05
• End: ~3:38:28
• Duration: ≈3 min 23 sec

She noted she had signed up primarily for the earlier camera/surveillance discussion. She criticized ALPR/Flock-style systems, saying many cities canceled contracts after discovering misuse for stalking rather than Amber/Silver alerts. She highlighted OCR problems (O vs. 0 on plates), privacy risks, and data retention/sharing concerns. She suggested eliminating the systems as a budget savings and offered a model ordinance approach.

2. Joseph Lebar

• Start: ~3:38:33
• End: ~3:42:48
• Duration: ≈4 min 15 sec

Thanked the council and mayor for slowing the sales-tax process so legal language and timelines could be clearer (10-year, 20-year, or perpetual). Raised construction delays and utility non-responsiveness (especially on Topeka Boulevard), street disruptions hurting businesses, and the need for better management. Said he had additional ideas he would share with the city manager.

3. Reverend Julie McOla

• Start: ~3:42:51
• End: ~3:47:46
• Duration: ≈4 min 55 sec

Addressed homeless deaths from heat exposure and the lack of cooling stations. Reflected on the value of human life, referenced recent newspaper articles, and mentioned a mobile snack business that had been helped by a homeless man.

4. Marshall Barber

• Start: ~3:47:46
• End: ~3:52:02
• Duration: ≈4 min 16 sec

Described an “epiphany” on the sales-tax discussion. Suggested rebranding the effort as a “Topeka Livability Initiative,” using funds toward the KBI building, and supporting public-safety consolidation.

5. Jeff Fog (Fieldline Residential Builders)

• Start: ~3:52:02
• End: ~3:55:15
• Duration: ≈3 min 13 sec

Stated that building permits had been delayed ~3 weeks with no response (no emails or voicemails). He had laid off 22 workers. Raised stop-work orders issued without permits and safety risks from missing inspections. Said his company holds a controlling interest in the Loring Bay project and urged the city to resolve the issue or risk builders leaving Topeka.

6. Henry McClure

• Start: ~3:55:30
• End: ~4:00:00
• Duration: ≈4.5 min

Spoke on city/county transportation plans, public involvement, planning commissions, MTPO map issues (excluding areas such as Auburn, Willard, and Rossville), government consolidation, and Senate Bill 104. Criticized opposition to a citizens’ commission, called for auditing GoTopeka’s contract and related charity distributions, and advocated a forensic audit. Emphasized that the community is a republic, not a pure democracy, and that the job of reform is not finished.

7. Danielle Tremllo

• Start: ~4:00:00
• End: ~4:04:14
• Duration: ≈4 min 14 sec

Focused on the budget and sales-tax discussion. Called for trimming economic-development funds, reducing the transient-guest-tax allocation to Visit Topeka, and using JEDO funds for infrastructure (example: Winder Road water main). Stressed budget transparency and recommended a forensic audit.

8. Lone Grace

• Start: ~4:04:14
• End: ~4:07:52
• Duration: ≈3 min 38 sec

Thanked the city manager’s office and staff for the community-impact measures. Advocated workforce-development support, small-business assistance, and preference for local contractors on public projects. Suggested practical tools (e.g., a simple brochure of training programs and contacts) so city staff can direct companies that want to hire or train local workers.

After Lone Grace finished, the clerk confirmed that everyone who had signed up had spoken. Announcements began at 4:08:03, followed by an executive session and adjournment around 10:36 p.m.

Note: Auto-captions are imperfect (especially proper names such as “McOla,” “Lebar,” “Tremllo,” and technical terms). For the most accurate verbatim record, the official minutes or a professional transcript of the Granicus recording would be preferable. The timestamps above are approximate based on the caption cues.