Topeka council members planned future events on their calendar Tuesday night.. they're giving the attorneys on the council, Richard Harmon and Bill Haynes, up to 30 days to write the official, legal termination of the lease-purchase agreement for a police helicopter. Mayor Bill Bunten has always maintained the original deal was never legal, whether it was delivered to the council by a communcation or a resolution.

June 3rd was set as the date for a work session to give Brett Blackburn and Jeff Preisner a chance to answer two ethics code violations filed against them. The issue is whether Blackburn and Preisner should recuse themselves from any votes on Brainstorm Development issues, and whether the two hold a "substantial interest" in their dealings with Gene Jani's company. Blackburn urged Acting City Attorney Braxton Copley to provide the council with the actual definition of a "substantial interest." Alcala wants the council to have a detailed account of what violates the city's ethics code.

Jani's large retail project near 53rd and Wanamaker received some of the council's time.. mostly in the form of public comments from some of the neighbors. They covered a wide range of concerns.. that the project is wrong for the area, and would add to the congested traffic flow. The council isn't expected to start the procedure, or the actual zoning public hearing till next week.