Topeka City Council approves settlement after brief executive session

The Topeka City Council voted 9-0 on May 1, 2026, to approve a settlement intended to fully resolve one or more lawsuits, following a brief executive session called to receive legal advice and discuss litigation.

City Attorney read the motion for the executive session on the record, saying: “The motion would be to recess into executive session, not to exceed 15 minutes to give legal advice, and discuss litigation, and other matters deemed privileged under the attorney-client privilege as allowed under KSA 75-4319b2.” The City Manager had introduced the item as “a settlement offer.”

After the executive session, the clerk read the action item as “consideration of a settlement offered to fully resolve one or more lawsuits on a full and final basis.” A motion to approve the settlement was made and received a second from the deputy mayor; the name of the member who moved the motion was not stated on the record. The council then conducted a roll-call vote: Mayor Duncan, Council member Hiller, Saldivar Alcalá, Ortiz, Banks, Miller, Bradbury, McGee and Andover each voted yes. The clerk announced the motion carried.

The council limited the executive session to no more than 15 minutes when it recessed to discuss attorney-client privileged matters under the statute cited on the record. The transcript and public remarks did not disclose the settlement amount, the parties to the litigation, or funding source for any payment; those details were not specified on the public record.

With the vote concluded and no further items before the body, Mayor Duncan adjourned the special meeting.