Development News for Topeka, Kansas

City Council Amends Building Code to Allow Fee Waivers for Economic Development Incentives

The committee discussed proposed amendments to Chapter 14, Building Code, Section 14-20060(i), specifically concerning fees and fee waivers related to economic development incentives. The proposed revision allows applicants to seek fee waivers even if they are pursuing incentives from other taxing subdivisions, like the county or state. Currently, the code prohibits fee waivers when an applicant is applying for any type of economic development incentive. The amendment also changes the approval method for fee waivers from adopting a home rule ordinance to adopting a resolution. It clarifies that applicants are ineligible for a fee waiver if they are receiving or pursuing city tax abatements or incentives that reduce ad valorem property taxes. However, it expressly allows pursuing incentives from other taxing subdivisions while remaining eligible for a city fee waiver. An exemption is established where an applicant can receive both a city fee waiver and a city economic development incentive if a joint economic development organization fully reimburses the city for the fee waiver's value. The intent is to eliminate challenges and provide clarity for future fee waiver applications.

City Explores Community Impact Measures for Economic Development Incentives

The committee discussed proposed community impact measures for city economic development incentives, including those for Community Improvement Districts (CID), Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts (RHID). These measures are intended to provide a structured way to evaluate the broader community impact of economic development incentives and could be incorporated into negotiation phases with developers, potentially leading to clawback provisions in development agreements. The three proposed measures are: 1) Encouraging workforce training and development, by asking if contractors have established training programs (e.g., safety, skills, apprenticeships) and if they are willing to hire from training programs, with applicants describing the training provided or the source. 2) Highlighting job creation and quality post-construction, asking about the number of permanent full-time jobs created, listing positions, indicating full/part-time status, estimated wages, and any fringe benefits (healthcare, etc.). 3) Providing an opportunity for developers to describe broader community impact, such as local hiring commitments, partnerships, or workforce pipelines. Staff recommended these measures be optional, not mandatory, reporting the gathered information to the governing body during the incentive process. The measures could be included in development agreements with performance stipulations and reporting requirements.

City Enhances Follow-Up Procedures and Transparency in Citizen Inquiries

The committee received an update on follow-up procedures stemming from a recommendation by the Citizens Government Review Committee. The review identified issues with timely follow-up on citizen inquiries and difficulty finding information on the city's website. Proposed improvements include: enhancing the website's accessibility for public documents, meeting minutes, and recordings (segmented by agenda item on YouTube); establishing a system for tracking public inquiries made to council offices, potentially using an Excel spreadsheet, to ensure detailed documentation and monthly follow-up with city departments to track inquiries and assign responsibility; and providing clear points of contact for various city departments. The presentation also addressed concerns about budget items not appearing and citizens not being notified, clarifying that only a limited number of individuals (nine council members, city manager, mayor) can introduce budget proposals. Citizens passionate about an issue are encouraged to reach out to these individuals or the city manager's office to submit proposals through the budget process. The goal is to improve communication, accountability, and transparency in city operations.