Residents urge transparency on Lawrence Bay deals; developers and council exchange emails and concerns
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Summary
Multiple public commenters raised concerns about perceived preferential treatment for a developer identified as Klausman/Klossman/Klasman in the transcript and urged consistent enforcement of tax and resolution requirements; councilmembers referenced emails from local developer Chuck Dolpmeier and asked the city attorney to clarify legal options.
Several residents used public comment time at the Sept. 2 meeting to press the council for transparency and equal treatment in developer negotiations related to Lawrence Bay and other local projects.
Why it matters: Multiple speakers said the city has allowed exceptions or waivers for one developer’s delinquent taxes and special assessments and that similar relief is not clearly available to other property owners; speakers asked the council and city legal staff whether lawsuits, service disconnections or other enforcement steps are possible to collect delinquent obligations.
What speakers said: Danielle Twimwell urged the council to track and publicly report a “running total” of the fiscal cost when the city forgives special assessments or penalties, and she cited an itemized total she said would result if forgivenss occurred in a particular case. Public commenter Henry McPherson and others named a local developer and urged that the city not continue apparent preferential treatment. Steve Schiefelbein, representing Topeka JUMP, and other speakers urged the council to address housing needs and support public funding for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
Council response and email evidence: Councilmember Valdivia Acala said she had obtained permission to share a series of emails from local developer Chuck Dolpmeier criticizing the city’s treatment of the developer identified in public comments and arguing the city should enforce resolutions consistently. Valdivia displayed excerpts and asked for legal clarification on whether delinquent taxes and special assessments could be collected by shutting off services or by lawsuits; she asked the acting city attorney to confirm legal options.
Process notes: The record shows multiple spellings of the developer’s name in public comments and council remarks; the transcript includes variants such as "Klassman," "Klosman," and "Klasman." Speakers and councilmembers requested clearer, transparent criteria and consistent application of city resolutions and enforcement options in future negotiations.
No formal agenda action: These matters were raised as public comment and in non-action discussion; councilmembers indicated they would seek clarifications from legal staff and that some information would be followed up in future meetings.