Topeka Policy & Finance Committee elects chair, approves minutes and defers redistricting and chicken ordinances
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Summary
The committee elected Councilman Miller as 2026 chair, approved previous meeting minutes and voted unanimously to move a charter ordinance and related redistricting ordinance, and a proposed chicken/rooster ordinance, to the next Policy & Finance meeting; staff were directed to contact Shawnee County about interlocal cooperation.
The Policy & Finance Committee met Feb. 9 and conducted several procedural actions before discussing policy items. The committee elected Councilman Miller as its 2026 chair after nominations and an official vote; three committee members voted in favor.
The committee approved the Nov. 12, 2025 meeting minutes after a motion by David Banks and second by Michelle Bradbury.
On the charter ordinance to amend the Redistricting Commission, Senior City Attorney Randy Roy Bachman summarized recommendations from the Citizens Government Review Committee to increase the commission from nine to ten members and to have the administrative judge of the Topeka Municipal Court appoint a tenth, at‑large member who would serve as commission chair. Jim Kalp, chair of the review committee, said the intent was to ensure each council district is represented and to add an independent chair. Committee members agreed that new members should have time to review the changes and voted to move both the charter ordinance and a companion redistricting ordinance to the next Policy & Finance meeting for formal action.
On a proposed ordinance addressing chickens and roosters, staff described a suggested limit of eight female chickens per property and a prohibition on roosters on lots under three acres. Animal Control Supervisor Jessica Bowers said the department documented "well over a 100 calls" related to poultry concerns and emphasized an educational approach to enforcement. The draft ordinance would delay enforcement actions until Oct. 1, 2026, to give residents time to rehome animals or come into compliance. The committee voted to push this item to the next meeting to allow new members time to review the proposal.
Committee members also discussed the Citizens Government Review Committee's broader recommendations, including follow‑up procedures to ensure advisory‑body recommendations are tracked and acted upon, and three interlocal cooperation proposals (regular joint meetings with the county, consideration of a joint city–county body, and a staff review of interlocal agreements on file with the secretary of state). The committee directed staff to contact Shawnee County and asked legal to inventory existing interlocal agreements.
The committee set its next meeting for March 23 and adjourned.
Votes at a glance
- Elect committee chair for 2026: Councilman Miller — vote: 3 yes, 0 no (chair election). - Approve minutes (11/12/2025): passed by motion and second, unanimous among members present. - Defer charter ordinance (Redistricting Commission) to next Policy & Finance meeting: passed 3–0. - Defer redistricting ordinance (4b) to next Policy & Finance meeting: passed 3–0. - Defer chicken/rooster ordinance (4c) to next Policy & Finance meeting: passed 3–0.
