Fw: NOTICE: March 3, 2026 Governing Body Meeting Agenda

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From: City of Topeka, Kansas <no-reply@topeka.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2026 3:19 PM
To: mcre13@gmail.com <mcre13@gmail.com>
Subject: NOTICE: March 3, 2026 Governing Body Meeting Agenda

 

NOTICE: March 3, 2026 Governing Body Meeting Agenda

View this email in your browser City of Topeka E-Notify You are receiving this because you asked to be notified when City of Topeka shares City Council related information. The March 3, 2026, Governing Body Meeting Agenda is posted online here: https://topeka.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=1 MEETING LOCATION:       City Council Chambers          214 SE 8th Street, 2nd Floor       Topeka, Kansas, 66603 MEETING TIME:        6:00 p.m. Addressing the Governing Body:  Public comment for the meeting will be available via Zoom or in-person. Individuals must contact the City Clerk's Office at 785-368-3940 or via email at cclerk@topeka.org by no later than 5:00 p.m. on the date of the meeting at which time the City Clerk's Office will provide Zoom link information and protocols prior to the meeting.   View the meeting online at https://www.topeka.org/communications/live-stream/ or at https://www.facebook.com/cityoftopeka/. Written public comment may be sent to the City Clerk's Office located at 215 SE 7th Street, Room 166, Topeka, Kansas, 66603 or via email at cclerk@topeka.org on or before the date of the meeting for attachment to the meeting minutes. Agendas are available by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday in the City Clerk's Office, 215 SE 7th Street, Room 166, Topeka, Kansas, 66603 or on the City's website at https://www.topeka.org.  Additional City Council information is located at https://www.topeka.org/citycouncil/ Privacy is important to us. Subscriber information will not be shared with anyone.  Subscribers only receive the information requested.   Copyright © 2026 City of Topeka, Kansas, All rights reserved. You subscribed to one or more e-Subscription lists asking to receive news and updates. Our mailing address is: City of Topeka, Kansas 215 SE 7th Street City Hall Building Topeka, KS 66603 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

20260215_155500-CINEMATIC_MOMENT_VIDEO.mp4

Henry McClure  
785.383.9994
sent from mobile 📱
time kills deals

RE: Look at this

Good morning, Henry.

 

Thank you for sharing the information regarding how other communities structure and market their economic development tools.

 

With respect to comments about governance structure, those matters would need to be directed to the JEDO voting board members, as policy decisions rest with the County Commission and City Council representatives serving in that capacity.

 

Thank you,

Leigha Boling

Economic Development Director

City of Topeka

215 SE 7th Street, Topeka, KS 66603

lboling@topeka.org

Phone: (785) 368-0974

 

NOTICE: This message and any attachments may be confidential and contain legally privileged information. If you are not an employee of the City of Topeka (see K.S.A. 75-6102(d)), we do not waive any legal protection that may apply such as attorney-client or work product privileges. If you have received this email in error, please immediately notify the sender and delete the message and any attachments. Further, this communication is not intended to constitute, nor should it be relied upon, as legal advice to you.

 

From: Henry McClure <mcre13@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 11:19 PM
To: Leigha Boling <lboling@topeka.org>; Spencer Duncan <sduncan@topeka.org>; MCRE Media <mcre1.9999@blogger.com>
Subject: Look at this

 

Notice: -----This message was sent by an external sender-----

 

Leigh, 

 

We need to look at taking the land away for Go Topeka and put it in the Land Bank   

 

This is Lawrence  

 

The **Catalyst Incentive Program** is a special, temporary economic development initiative by the City of Lawrence, Kansas, designed to attract and support **new industrial projects**. Launched in 2017 (with expansions and renewals over time), it provides streamlined, expedited incentives for qualifying developments to stimulate growth, particularly in designated business parks and industrial-zoned areas.

 

### Key Features and Incentives

The program offers an automatic "basic assistance package" for projects meeting minimum eligibility criteria, with approvals handled directly by the City Commission for faster processing. Core components of the **Catalyst Business Park Assistance** package include:

 

- **10-Year Real Property Tax Abatement**: 50% abatement on the increased property value from the project; increases to **70%** if the building achieves LEED Silver equivalent standards (certification not strictly required, but encouraged for the higher rate).

- **Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB) Financing**: Includes a **sales tax exemption** on construction materials and equipment used in the project.

- **Land Assistance** (in select cases): City- or county-owned land provided at **no cost** for projects in Lawrence VenturePark or East Hills Business Park.

 

Additional perks may apply based on project specifics, such as location on brownfield sites (which can help toward LEED goals) or expansions of existing buildings (abatement applies only to the expanded portion).

 

### Eligibility Criteria

The program targets **new spec development** (speculative buildings ready for tenants) or **full build-out industrial projects**. Minimum thresholds vary by location:

 

- **Lawrence VenturePark**: New buildings ≥75,000 sq ft with ≥$5 million capital investment.

- **East Hills Business Park**: New buildings ≥25,000 sq ft with ≥$1.6 million capital investment.

- **Building Expansions** (anywhere): ≥15,000 sq ft added with ≥$1 million investment.

- **IG-Zoned Land Citywide**: New buildings ≥25,000 sq ft with ≥$1.6 million investment.

 

Projects must be industrial in nature and meet other city economic development standards. Spec or full-build projects hitting these marks qualify automatically for the base package.

 

### Program Status and Sunset

This is explicitly a **temporary program**. It is set to **sunset on April 1, 2025**, meaning no new applications or approvals will be accepted after that date unless the City Commission extends or replaces it. (As of early 2026, available information confirms the sunset has passed or is imminent, with no indications of renewal in recent public records.)

 

The program has been used for various industrial projects since inception, contributing to job creation and investment in Lawrence's business parks.

 

### Comparison Context (to Topeka)

Unlike Topeka's more general, discretionary fee reductions (capped at 25% via City Manager approval for economic projects), Lawrence's Catalyst Program focused on aggressive, predefined tax abatements and exemptions tailored to industrial growth. It offered fuller, longer-term relief (e.g., 50-70% property tax breaks over 10 years plus sales tax exemptions) but was limited to industrial sectors and specific sites—making it more targeted and generous in those areas than Topeka's broader but shallower approach.

 

For the most current details (especially post-sunset status or any successor programs), check the City of Lawrence's official economic development page at lawrenceks.gov/ed/catalyst or contact their Economic Development division directly. Lawrence continues to offer other incentives through programs like affordable housing policies or general IRBs.

 

Look at this

Leigh, 

We need to look at taking the land away for Go Topeka and put it in the Land Bank   

This is Lawrence  

The **Catalyst Incentive Program** is a special, temporary economic development initiative by the City of Lawrence, Kansas, designed to attract and support **new industrial projects**. Launched in 2017 (with expansions and renewals over time), it provides streamlined, expedited incentives for qualifying developments to stimulate growth, particularly in designated business parks and industrial-zoned areas.

### Key Features and Incentives

The program offers an automatic "basic assistance package" for projects meeting minimum eligibility criteria, with approvals handled directly by the City Commission for faster processing. Core components of the **Catalyst Business Park Assistance** package include:

- **10-Year Real Property Tax Abatement**: 50% abatement on the increased property value from the project; increases to **70%** if the building achieves LEED Silver equivalent standards (certification not strictly required, but encouraged for the higher rate).

- **Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB) Financing**: Includes a **sales tax exemption** on construction materials and equipment used in the project.

- **Land Assistance** (in select cases): City- or county-owned land provided at **no cost** for projects in Lawrence VenturePark or East Hills Business Park.

Additional perks may apply based on project specifics, such as location on brownfield sites (which can help toward LEED goals) or expansions of existing buildings (abatement applies only to the expanded portion).

### Eligibility Criteria

The program targets **new spec development** (speculative buildings ready for tenants) or **full build-out industrial projects**. Minimum thresholds vary by location:

- **Lawrence VenturePark**: New buildings ≥75,000 sq ft with ≥$5 million capital investment.

- **East Hills Business Park**: New buildings ≥25,000 sq ft with ≥$1.6 million capital investment.

- **Building Expansions** (anywhere): ≥15,000 sq ft added with ≥$1 million investment.

- **IG-Zoned Land Citywide**: New buildings ≥25,000 sq ft with ≥$1.6 million investment.

Projects must be industrial in nature and meet other city economic development standards. Spec or full-build projects hitting these marks qualify automatically for the base package.

### Program Status and Sunset

This is explicitly a **temporary program**. It is set to **sunset on April 1, 2025**, meaning no new applications or approvals will be accepted after that date unless the City Commission extends or replaces it. (As of early 2026, available information confirms the sunset has passed or is imminent, with no indications of renewal in recent public records.)

The program has been used for various industrial projects since inception, contributing to job creation and investment in Lawrence's business parks.

### Comparison Context (to Topeka)

Unlike Topeka's more general, discretionary fee reductions (capped at 25% via City Manager approval for economic projects), Lawrence's Catalyst Program focused on aggressive, predefined tax abatements and exemptions tailored to industrial growth. It offered fuller, longer-term relief (e.g., 50-70% property tax breaks over 10 years plus sales tax exemptions) but was limited to industrial sectors and specific sites—making it more targeted and generous in those areas than Topeka's broader but shallower approach.

For the most current details (especially post-sunset status or any successor programs), check the City of Lawrence's official economic development page at lawrenceks.gov/ed/catalyst or contact their Economic Development division directly. Lawrence continues to offer other incentives through programs like affordable housing policies or general IRBs.

LOOK

Topeka and Lawrence, two mid-sized Kansas cities, both offer economic development incentives to attract projects, spur growth, and address challenges like rising construction costs and housing needs. However, their approaches to **development fee waivers** (such as building permits, planning applications, or related charges) differ in scope, flexibility, and focus.

### Topeka's Approach to Development Fee Waivers

Topeka provides limited, discretionary fee relief primarily through its Municipal Code (Section 109.6). The City Manager has authority to **waive or reduce fees up to 25%** for qualifying economic development projects. This is reviewed case-by-case, based on project scope, type, and public benefit—such as job creation, redevelopment, or community impact.

- This tool supports broader economic initiatives, including commercial, retail, or mixed-use developments tied to tools like Community Improvement Districts (CIDs).

- Examples include potential waivers for infrastructure-related costs or specific affordable/charitable housing scenarios (e.g., past discussions on emergency or nonprofit housing).

- Waivers are not automatic or full; they cap at 25% and require approval, reflecting a cautious, performance-oriented stance.

- Topeka's incentives emphasize consistency across projects, with no broad full waivers standardly available outside targeted cases.

This limited flexibility helps offset developer burdens from inflation and high construction costs but stops short of aggressive relief to avoid straining city revenues.

### Lawrence's Approach to Development Fee Waivers

Lawrence offers more targeted and sometimes fuller fee waivers, often integrated into specific programs like affordable housing incentives or industrial development.

- For **affordable housing**, the city has a dedicated policy (including a 2025 draft Affordable Housing Incentive Policy) that allows **planning and development fee waivers** to promote 99-year affordable units for households at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI). These waivers can be full or substantial when projects meet criteria like income-restricted units and public benefits.

- Recent examples include the City Commission approving an $80,000 fee waiver for the 9 Del Lofts II project in East Lawrence (2025), conditional on adding more affordable units to boost eligibility for state tax credits.

- The **Catalyst Incentive Program** (temporary, sunsetting in 2025 for new industrial projects) waives city application fees and Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB) origination fees for qualifying industrial developments.

- Waivers appear more project-specific and generous in sectors like housing and industrial growth, often tied to broader incentives (e.g., grants, land donations, or tax abatements) under the city's Economic Development Policy.

Lawrence's framework prioritizes equity, affordability, and targeted sectors, enabling fuller waivers in high-priority areas compared to Topeka's percentage-based cap.

### Key Comparison

- **Scope and Generosity** — Topeka caps at 25% discretionary reduction (via City Manager approval), making it more conservative and broadly applicable to economic projects. Lawrence allows potentially full waivers in focused programs (e.g., affordable housing or industrial), providing stronger relief for aligned developments.

- **Focus Areas** — Topeka ties waivers to general economic development (e.g., CIDs, redevelopment). Lawrence emphasizes affordable housing and industrial growth, with recent actions showing willingness to waive significant fees (e.g., $80,000 cases) to secure state/federal leverage.

- **Consistency and Process** — Both require case-by-case review and alignment with policy goals. Topeka stresses uniform application to avoid favoritism; Lawrence integrates waivers into structured policies (e.g., housing toolkit or Catalyst program) for transparency.

- **Impact on Developers** — Amid rising costs (e.g., 4-6%+ annual construction inflation), Lawrence's targeted full waivers may better "give a pass" in priority sectors, potentially attracting more housing or industrial deals. Topeka's 25% cap offers meaningful but partial help, encouraging projects while protecting city funds.

Both cities use waivers strategically to combat economic pressures and foster growth without broad tax hikes. Lawrence appears more aggressive in housing-related relief, while Topeka maintains a balanced, limited approach suitable for diverse projects. For specific proposals, developers should consult current city policies, as incentives evolve (e.g., Lawrence's Catalyst sunsetting in 2025). Contacting economic development offices in either city can provide tailored guidance.