City looks at expanding Human Relations Commission’s powers

A Topeka City Council committee will look at potentially authorizing the Topeka Human Relations Commission to conduct investigations while adding “gender identity and sexual orientation” to the list of protected classes covered by city code provisions regarding discrimination and fair housing.

The city’s mayor and council voted 9-0 Tuesday evening to approve city manager Brent Trout’s recommendation that they “refer certain chapters contained without the Topeka Municipal Code to the council policy and finance committee for its evaluation, review and subsequent recommendation to the full governing body.”

Members of that committee are Tony Emerson, Brendan Jensen and Jeff Coen, according to the city website.