The Topeka Development Corporation board on July 1 approved a $34,216.74 funding request to repair a York chiller at Hotel Topeka, contingent on the governing body approving a transfer of funds to the corporation.

The item drew debate and a procedural vote to reconsider after an initial roll call produced disagreement; following a successful motion to reconsider, the board approved the repair in a 6-4 vote.

Assistant City Manager Coakley told the board they rely on two air-conditioning systems at the hotel: a Trane unit that was “completely reconstructed last year” and a separate York chiller that is “30-plus years” old and has “leaks, cracks in the barrel.” Coakley said the requested funds would pay to weld the cracks and recharge the unit with Freon so the city would have a reliable backup if the Trane unit fails or is taken offline.

Coakley also said the resolution as drafted would rescind an earlier resolution, 9549, that had approved $125,000 for civil site improvements; if the chiller repair funding were approved, about $91,000 would be returned to assigned reserves, according to staff explanation.

Director Dobler moved approval of the funding request and Director Banks seconded the first motion. After an initial roll call and a subsequent change of vote by Director Ortiz, Director Miller moved to reconsider and Director Hiller seconded that motion; the motion to reconsider passed. On the final roll call the board approved the funding request. Several directors expressed opposition to additional hotel spending during the discussion; Directors Valdivia Acala, Ortiz and Banks were recorded as voting no during the final roll call.

Henry McClure, who was the only speaker during public comment, criticized holding part of the discussion in executive session and urged more transparency. “There’s no reason, zero reason, that all this can’t be done in the light of day,” McClure said.

After public comment the board recessed into executive session “not to exceed 40 minutes to discuss data related to financial affairs or trade secrets of one or more corporations” under the statute cited in the meeting as 75 43 19 b 4. The board announced at the end of the meeting that executive session discussions were concluded and that no action was taken there. The approved chiller repair remains contingent on the governing body approving the transfer of funds to the Topeka Development Corporation.