Topeka City Council hires Robert Perez as city manager. What to know about his contract.

Topeka City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a contract for Robert Perez as the next city manager.

Perez, who is the assistant city manager of infrastructure in Dallas, will begin his duties in the next 14 days.

"Thank you for entrusting me with this very important position," Perez said. "I know that Topeka is at a very critical time in its history, and I know there's a lot to do here from all the conversations I had with each of you either individually or in our panels.

"I just know there's a lot to do and I know that with you, working in partnership with you, as well as the city team, as well as the community, I know we will all see a more prosperous Topeka. I'm looking forward to that."

Unlike past city manager contracts that have been for multiple years, Perez's initial contract covers the first year. When he reaches his one-year anniversary, the contract will automatically renew for an additional two years.

Council woman Sylvia Ortiz said this was a way the city chose to avoid repeating history.

"We put that safeguard in there because we, you know, we've had some city managers that, you know, we've seen early on that weren't going to work out, but we just kept trying to work with him because the severance they had to pay them," Ortiz said after the meeting.

New city manager has background in Dallas and San Antonio

Topeka had been without a permanent city manager for 10 months after previous city manager Stephen Wade was fired in July 2023. Richard Nienstedt has served as interim city manager during that time.

Perez has more than 20 years of municipal government experience while working in Dallas and San Antonio. He has experience in multiple sectors, including different forms of government and social work.

He was selected in Topeka's top five finalists and then again in the top two candidates.

During a meet and greet with the five finalists in April, Perez said he would want to provide the homeless population with long- and short-term solutions.

Salary of Topeka's next city manager will be $255,000

Perez will be the fifth permanent city manager to be hired and will make $255,000 annually, according to his contract. That is $55,000 more than Wade received and is the highest salary a Topeka city manager has been given.

Wade received an annual salary of $200,000 in 2022, Brent Trout received a salary of $195,000 in 2017 and Jim Colson received a salary of $170,000 in 2012.

Perez will also receive an automobile allowance of $700 per month, which will be reviewed annually.

Benefits to include one-time housing supplement and moving expenses

Perez will receive 120 hours of paid time off, which is equivalent to 15 days, according to his contract.

The city will pay him a one-time interim housing supplement what will be no more than $5,000 and he will be required to find residency within the city limits in the next 12 months. Perez's contract states the city will pay for moving expenses, including packing, moving, storage costs, unpacking and insurance charges.

Perez will have to provide evidence of his moving expenses by getting quotations from three companies to the city's chief financial officer.

During the moving process, Perez will be compensated for the mileage of two personal vehicles from Dallas to Topeka and mileage costs for house hunting and pre-employment meetings for seven days.

Perez will also qualify for the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System, which is used by all government employees in the state.

What are council members saying about Perez hire?

Councilwoman Karen Hiller said she appreciated the patience of everyone involved and thanked Perez for choosing Topeka.

"We are not a troubled city that needs new ideas and starting over at this juncture," Hiller said. "We are a strong city where the staff, the council and the community have worked hard to establish the foundation and the momentum that we have."

Ortiz said she approved of the hiring because of the way the contract is written.

"I too have had some hesitation and I've spent several weeks talking with my constituents," Ortiz said. "I know most of them said they wanted a city manager who'd done this before, but I have finally come to terms that I think I can support and I'll tell you why, and I will continue to have this conversation with my constituents: We have a hell of a contract.

"It's a contract that we've never had before, and I've sat through several of these city managers. I think it is a contract that will help us if there's any issues and if not, we'll move on."

Deputy Mayor and Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcalá affirmed Ortiz's statement.

"I think the contract is good, and it's tight," Valdivia-Alcalá said, adding she also supports Perez. "Well, I'm just excited. I'm excited. My constituents are excited."

One councilman says hiring process was long and stressful

Councilman Brett Kell said Perez wasn't his choice at first.

"This was a long process, many steps and lots of stress," Kell said. "At the beginning I wasn't wowed by Dr. Perez, but the more I got to know him and the more I saw from him, the more he did start to wow me and took it to another level. And I was gunshy after the last time we did this process."

Councilman Neil Dobler said he wanted to thank hiring firm SJR for its hard work.

Mayor Michael Padilla said everyone on the council did what they needed to do during the process no matter how stressful it was.

"We are responsible to be your support system," Padilla said to Perez during the meeting.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: What to know about contract of Topeka's new city manager Robert Perez