Forward New Richmond Committee

Forward New Richmond Committee Meeting Agenda Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM Council Chambers Page 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. ADOPTION OF AGENDA 4. CONSENT AGENDA a. Minutes from Date 2-3 Minutes: Forward New Richmond Committee - 01 Oct 2025 b. Community Development Updates - February 2026 4-7 Memo: Community Development Updates c. How to Stay Connected 8-9 Memo: Stay Connected. Stay Informed 5. 2026 BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION PROPOSAL & RECAP OF PREVIOUS YEARS a. City of New Richmond Business Retention and Expansion Program 10 - 11 Memo: 2026 Business Retention and Expansion Program and Updates 6. AFFORDABLE HOUSING UPDATE AND DISCUSSION a. Affordable Housing Update 12 Memo: Affordable Housing Update 7. SRF CONSULTING (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT) UPDATE a. Economic Development Consulting Services – SRF Consulting Group 13 - 14 Memo: Economic Development Consulting Services – SRF Consulting Group 8. DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION UPDATE AND NEXT STEPS a. Downtown Revitalization Updates 15 - 18 Memo: Downtown Revitalization 9. AGENDA TOPICS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS a. 2026 Forward New Richmond Priorities 19 Memo: 2026 FNR Priorities 10. ANNOUNCEMENTS 11. ADJOURNMENT  Forward New Richmond Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 12:00 PM Council Chambers The Forward New Richmond Committee was called to order on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 12:00 PM, in the Council Chambers, with the following members present: PRESENT: Kent Elkin, Aaron Sundeen, Joe Green, Liz Pizzi, Mike Montello, and Pete Kling ABSENT: Ryan Shervey, Krista Paulus, and Bryan Knudtson OTHERS Beth Thompson PRESENT: CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA Joe Green made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Aaron Sundeen seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Liz Pizzi made a motion to approve the minutes from the September 17, 2025 meeting. Joe Green seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. CLOSED SESSION Closed Session per Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(e) deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session. A. BUSINESS & TECHNICAL PARK: PID 261-1070-44-500 (WEST OF MADISON AVENUE) B. REGIONAL BUSINESS FUND DOWNTOWN FACADE LOAN APPLICATION - 150 W. 1ST STREET Aaron Sundeen made a motion to go into Closed Session. Liz Pizz seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. Forward New Richmond Committee Meeting October 1, 2025 Aaron Sundeen excused himself from Closed Session as it related to PID #261-1070-44-500 and left the Council Chambers. OPEN SESSION - ACTION ON CLOSED SESSION AGENDA Closed Session Agenda Item A: Mike Montello made a motion to recommend to City Council as discussed in Closed Session. Motion seconded by Joe Green. Motion carried with Aaron Sundeen abstaining. Closed Session Agenda Item B: Mike Montello made a motion to approve the Facade Loan as discussed in Closed Session. Motion seconded by Aaron Sundeen. Carried unanimously. COMMUNICATION AND MISCELLANEOUS ADJOURNMENT Mike Montello made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 12:27 p.m. Aaron Sundeen seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. Forward New Richmond Committee Meeting October 1, 2025  MEMO Prepared for: Forward New Richmond Staff Contact: Beth Thompson Meeting: Forward New Richmond Committee - 18 Feb 2026 Subject: Community Development Updates - February 2026 BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Building / Zoning Updates: January 31, 2026 Number of Building Permits - 23 Number of New Dwelling Units - 5 Number of Inspections - 117 Residential Construction Value - $1,495,685.00 Commercial Construction Value - $867,189.00 Building Permit Fees Collected - $16,815.75 Occupancy Updates: In January, the Building Inspector issued occupancy for five single-family homes, six twin homes, and two multifamily. The Community Development office has completed the two state-required affordable housing reports for 2025. They are the 2025 Affordable Housing Report and the 2025 New Housing Fee Report. By clicking on the links above you can view the reports. Economic Development Updates Can be found in additional memos for the February FNR meeting. Edward Jones Ribbon Cutting On January 29, 2026 at noon the Chamber of Commerce held the official Ribbon Cutting for the new Edward Jones Building located at 1448 Hamilton Avenue. There was a great turnout - Congratulations to all involved! 2025 Keep It Beautiful (KIB) Report Overview The 2025 Keep It Beautiful (KIB) Report summarizes zoning-related complaints received throughout the year and provides an overview of code compliance trends within the community. The data reflects resident concerns related to property maintenance, land use, and general neighborhood conditions, and serves as a tool to evaluate areas of recurring concern as well as overall program effectiveness. When reviewed alongside the accompanying graphs, the information illustrates complaint volumes, types, and patterns over time, helping to inform the City Council on enforcement activity, community engagement, and progress toward maintaining community standards. This year our community suffered two very large hail and wind storms. There were several calls and residents stopping into City Hall reporting down branches and trees, too many to log into the system, this is a faction of what we received through our KIB system, which is not including the majority of the storm damage reports as these were reported directly over to the Public Works Team. Page 2 of 4 Page 3 of 4 Page 4 of 4  MEMO Prepared for: Forward New Richmond Staff Contact: Beth Thompson Meeting: Forward New Richmond Committee - 18 Feb 2026 Subject: Staying Connected BACKGROUND INFORMATION: To help members stay informed on City activities, initiatives, and announcements, staff has compiled a list of available communication tools and resources. Attached is a reference guide outlining several ways to stay connected, including social media updates, e-notices, agenda and minutes subscriptions, Noah’s Extra Mile updates, and AlertNR notifications. These tools are designed to provide timely information and make it easy to follow City projects, meetings, and community news. Members are encouraged to review the attachment and sign up for any options that best fit their preferences. Please feel free to reach out to staff if you have questions or need assistance subscribing to any of these services. ATTACHMENTS: Stay Connected  CITY OF NEW RICHMOND, WI Stay Connected. Stay Informed. There are many easy ways to stay up to date on City news, meetings, and important notifications. Whether you prefer social media updates, email alerts, or speaking directly with City staff, we’re here to help you stay informed and engaged. Follow the City on Facebook: Get timely updates, event announcements, and important reminders by following the City of New Richmond on Facebook. Sign Up for City Newsletters & Updates: Receive general City news and announcements straight to your inbox by registering for e-Notify. Subscribe to Meeting Agendas & Minutes: Stay informed about City Council and committee meetings by subscribing to agendas and minutes. Read the City Administrator’s Weekly Blog: Get a behind-the-scenes look at City projects, priorities, and progress by subscribing to the City Administrator’s weekly blog, Extra Mile New Richmond. Receive Local Alerts & Notifications: Sign up for AlertNR to receive emergency alerts and important community notifications. Contact the Clerk’s Office: Have a question or need help finding information? Email the Clerk’s Office at mscanlan@newrichmondwi.gov, staff will be happy to help. Call City Hall Anytime: You can also reach the City office by phone at 715-246-4268 with questions or concerns - or just stop by! Staying informed has never been easier—choose the options that work best for you and stay connected with the City of New Richmond. CONTACT US Page 2 of 2 156 E 1st St. New Richmond, WI 54017 (715)246-4268 newrichmondwi.gov  MEMO Prepared for: Forward New Richmond Staff Contact: Beth Thompson Meeting: Forward New Richmond Committee - 18 Feb 2026 Subject: City of New Richmond Business Retention and Expansion Program BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City’s Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) program was launched in mid-2023 with in- person business visits lasting approximately 30–45 minutes. Through these meetings, staff were able to connect directly with approximately 70–75% of local businesses during 2023 and 2024, helping establish a strong baseline understanding of local business needs, opportunities, and challenges. In 2025, staff continued outreach through follow-up calls, drop-in visits, and visits with newly established businesses to maintain relationships and stay informed. For 2026, staff is proposing a refined approach that maintains strong business connections while using a more streamlined and sustainable engagement model. The proposed framework focuses on three guiding principles: Connect • Listen • Celebrate. This approach is designed to maintain accessibility, gather measurable feedback, and recognize local businesses, while also allowing staff to prioritize follow-up where it is most needed. Key components of the proposed 2026 program include:  A one-time Business Outreach email sent to local businesses with key contacts, updates, and available resources  A short annual pulse survey (five questions, approximately 2–3 minutes to complete) to gather feedback on trends, challenges, and opportunities  Optional recognition opportunities to highlight and celebrate local businesses through City communication channels The 2026 BR&E Program overview is attached for your review. A sample version of the proposed pulse survey will also be available at the meeting for discussion. Staff welcomes feedback from Forward New Richmond members on the proposed 2026 approach, including suggestions, considerations, or enhancements that could strengthen the program moving forward. ATTACHMENTS: 2026 BRE Plan  2026 Business Expansion & Retention Program City of New Richmond Program Goal Maintain strong relationships with local businesses through brief, thoughtful engagement that values meaningful input while being mindful of everyone’s time. Why Adjust the BR&E Approach in 2026? • 75%+ of local businesses have been visited in prior years (the City has built a strong baseline understanding of local business needs through prior outreach) • Lighter-touch engagement allows us to focus follow-up where it is most needed • Balance proactive engagement with other priority projects and customer service • 2026 is an opportunity to listen, connect, and celebrate in a more sustainable way 2026 BR&E Framework Connect • Listen • Celebrate Key Components 1. Business Outreach Email (One time in 2026) • Sent to all businesses (electronic) • Includes: o Key City contacts, notable city updates or policy changes, newsletters, and available tools, incentives, or resources • Light personalization (business name / industry) each email is individually sent • Reinforces City accessibility and investment 2. Annual 5-Question Pulse Survey • Designed to take less than 2 minutes • Focuses on: o Business trends o Near-term plans o Key challenges o Opportunities for City support • Metrics tracked: o Email open percentage/rate o Response rate o Follow-up requests 3. Celebrate & Spotlight Local Businesses (Businesses opt in via survey) • Recognition opportunities could include (possible ideas): o Business anniversaries o “Growing in New Richmond” stories o Business of the Month (rotating categories) • Content prepared by staff; social media posted with support • Visit New Richmond • Direct links to business websites when possible and approved by business Benefits of the 2026 Approach • Allows businesses to choose their level of engagement • Generates measurable data and trends • Builds goodwill and visibility • Keeps doors open for future conversations Proposed Next Steps • Finalize survey wording and create survey in google • Create Business Outreach email template • Confirm social media support process • Send out in April Page 2 of 2  MEMO Prepared for: Forward New Richmond Staff Contact: Beth Thompson Meeting: Forward New Richmond Committee - 18 Feb 2026 Subject: Affordable Housing Update BACKGROUND INFORMATION: City staff would like to provide an update on recent progress related to affordable housing initiatives. The Affordable Housing Sub-Committee previously met to identify strategies and tools to support the development and preservation of affordable housing in New Richmond. The group’s initial priority was to evaluate and update City ordinances to better support these efforts. As a result, the City adopted a new ordinance titled Planned Unit Developments for Affordable Housing, which is intended to provide flexibility and incentives for projects that meet affordability goals. The ordinance can be viewed here. In addition to ordinance updates, the City continues to monitor and highlight housing efforts occurring within the community. One recent example is the Smart Home Project, which was led by a collaborative group of external partners, including Habitat for Humanity, Derrick Construction, Momentum West, WEDC, and others. This project demonstrates an innovative approach to creating attainable housing options through partnerships. Forward New Richmond member Aaron Sundeen will be providing additional information at the meeting regarding how this project came together and its potential as a model for future efforts. Staff is also continuing to advance ideas that emerged from earlier sub-committee discussions to strengthen the City’s Affordable Housing Fund. Currently, the Finance Director and Community Development Director are evaluating the feasibility of establishing a revolving loan fund program. This concept would focus on assisting income-qualified residents with rehabilitation of older homes, helping preserve existing housing stock while maintaining affordability. Staff welcomes any additional thoughts or recommendations from Forward New Richmond members that could be considered as part of the City’s ongoing evaluation of affordable housing strategies throughout 2026.  MEMO Prepared for: Forward New Richmond Staff Contact: Beth Thompson Meeting: Forward New Richmond Committee - 18 Feb 2026 Subject: Economic Development Consulting Services – SRF Consulting Group BACKGROUND INFORMATION: I would like to provide the FNR committee with an update on the Consulting Services for Economic Development that were approved by City Council at the October 2025 meeting and then the work plan and budget approval at their January 2026 meeting. As a brief review in October, the City Council approved the engagement of SRF Consulting Group to provide economic development consulting services focused on industrial and economic development. Following that approval, City staff has worked closely with SRF to further refine project goals, priorities, and a longer-term partnership that reflects the City’s needs. As part of those discussions, City staff requested a broader economic development focus not just limited to industrial development. SRF has prepared a three-year, phased scope of services consisting of three phases: discovery, planning, and promotion. While the outline looks ahead three years, staff only requested approval of the services for the first year. Proposed Approach The proposed framework is organized into three phases:  Year 1 (2026) – Discover  Year 2 (2027) – Plan (future consideration)  Year 3 (2028) – Promote (future consideration) The intent of this structure is to allow the City to:  Make data-driven decisions,  Evaluate progress annually, and  Retain full discretion to modify, amend, or discontinue services at the end of each year. A proposed scope of services for future years will be considered by the City Council again in 2027 and 2028, based on City priorities and available funding. The proposed scope of services for 2026, included consists of the following: 1. Community Economic and Commodity Market Assessment o Evaluation of New Richmond’s commercial and industrial land, workforce conditions, industry trends, and regional competitiveness.  o Includes a commodity flow analysis to better understand supply chains and market opportunities. 2. Targeted Business & Stakeholder Engagement o Structured engagement with key business, transportation, education, and development stakeholders to identify assets, challenges, and opportunities. 3. Review of Local Ordinances Affecting Development o Review of zoning, subdivision, and related ordinances impacting business and industrial development, with recommendations for improvement. 4. Project Management and Monthly Progress Meetings o Ongoing coordination and communication with City staff throughout the year. SRF and City staff have started working on the three priorities above and I will give updates throughout the 2026 year. Page 2 of 2  MEMO Prepared for: Forward New Richmond Staff Contact: Beth Thompson Meeting: Forward New Richmond Committee - 18 Feb 2026 Subject: Downtown Revitalization Updates BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Downtown revitalization was identified as a top priority for Forward New Richmond in 2025, and staff would like to provide an update on progress and recent activities related to this effort. Over the past year, several steps have been taken to advance this priority. The ReNew Richmond group was established to support and champion downtown-focused initiatives, partnerships, and community dialogue. In addition, the City Council is currently considering potential downtown improvements, including enhanced lighting and public amenities, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the downtown environment and overall experience. In January, the City of New Richmond, ReNew Richmond, and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) jointly hosted a regional roundtable focused on business support, business recruitment, and entrepreneurial development. The event brought together representatives from WEDC, partner communities, regional economic development organizations, local leadership, and members of Forward New Richmond and ReNew Richmond. The purpose of the roundtable was to share strategies, learn from peer communities, and explore tools that can support long-term downtown vitality. Attached please find a summary of the meeting that both Scott Soberberg and Beth Thompson put together. Staff welcomes feedback from Forward New Richmond members regarding downtown revitalization priorities, potential strategies, and tools the City should explore as efforts continue. Input from the committee will help guide future planning, partnerships, and implementation strategies. ATTACHMENTS: Notes - WEDC Roundtable Event1.21.26  WEDC Roundtable Event – Meeting Notes Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 Location: Northwood Technical College Topic Focus: Business Support, Business Recruitment & Entrepreneurial Support Attendees Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC): • Errin Welty • Ray French • John (WEDC) Partner Communities & Organizations: • Emily Shively – City of River Falls • Two representatives – City of Eau Claire • Melissa Meschke – St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (EDC) City of New Richmond: • Mayor Zajkowski • Alderman Montello • Beth Thompson • Sadie Vance Forward New Richmond: • Kent Elkin • Ryan Shervey • Liz Pizzi • Aaron Sundeen • Joe Green • Krista Paulas ReNew Richmond: • Scott Soderberg • Brian Meyer • Carrie McNamara • Karl Skoglund • Luke Stockton Key Discussion Topics Business Support, Recruitment & Entrepreneurial Development • General discussion centered on strategies to support existing businesses while also encouraging recruitment and entrepreneurship. • Emphasis on coordinated efforts between municipalities, economic development organizations, and the business community. St. Croix Valley Small Business Innovation Center • Overview and discussion of the St. Croix Valley Small Business Innovation Center. • Focus on the role the center can play in supporting startups, entrepreneurs, and small business growth within the region. Page 2 of 4 Downtown Development Resources • Participants received and discussed the Downtown Development Resource Guide handout. • Guide highlighted as a useful tool for communities seeking to support downtown investment, revitalization, and small business growth. Insights from Eau Claire Representatives from Eau Claire shared several successful tools and strategies currently in use: • Business Improvement Districts (BIDs): o Eau Claire has four BID districts supporting downtown and commercial areas. • Tax Increment Financing (TIF): o TIF districts are used strategically to support redevelopment and infrastructure investments. • Small Business Grants: o Startup grants available up to $5,000. • Downtown Space Sizing: o Ideal downtown business spaces are typically 500–1,000 square feet, allowing flexibility and lower barriers to entry for new businesses. • Public–Private Partnership: o Successful downtown development requires investment from both the City and the business community. o A shared vision between the City and businesses is critical. • Financing & Incentives: o Eau Claire operates a City loan program to support business development. o Room tax revenue is used as a funding source for grants. • Marketing & Communication: o Storytelling through social media is used to highlight businesses and create community buy-in. o Flyers with business and program information are distributed as part of outreach efforts. • Peer Communities to Review: o West Allis o Marshfield These communities were noted as useful examples for downtown development strategies. Additional Comments/Notes: • WEDC/EC/RF: “Need an overall plan, but you can do small things first”; do we want to become a Mainstreet City? • Eau Claire: “there is a universal understanding that downtowns are the driving force of economic development.” They used the riverfront and improved trail system to spark their redevelopment, which led to an annual festival, regular farmer’s market, community events. • Re: BIDs: Note that BIDs support the outside spaces of the city; River Falls used the BIDs for the projects they could handle, and the RBF for bigger ones; one of the representatives indicated they asked/got city to match BID revenue annually. Page 3 of 4  • Comment from an EC representative: “When I drove through NR, it didn’t feel like a downtown because of the 4 lanes of traffic.” Joel from WEDC: Marshfield is 4-lane, which they addressed through the “block deep”/alley technique we’ve discussed, as well as creating a community pavilion; Joel from WEDC said West Allis is similar, in that they used block deep for traffic calming, along with an improved streetscape. • Holding community fundraisers was an interesting concept raised. Key Takeaways from Beth & Scott’s notes: • Strong business ecosystems rely on collaboration between local governments, economic development partners, and businesses. • Right-sized downtown spaces, flexible funding tools, and clear communication are critical to supporting entrepreneurs. • Consistent messaging and storytelling help build momentum and shared purpose within the community. • Learning from peer communities can help inform future strategies in New Richmond and the region. • Start small, but make progress; develop overall plan • BIDs are very versatile, and can also be supplemented • The Mainstreet program keeps coming up in the many conversations we’ve had with other communities, and it’s one of the first questions they ask us • The block deep/alley concept, developing/leveraging the waterfront, improving/connecting trail system, and creating a community pavilion/gathering space are crucial to most of the communities we’ve heard from Page 4 of 4  MEMO Prepared for: Forward New Richmond Staff Contact: Beth Thompson Meeting: Forward New Richmond Committee - 18 Feb 2026 Subject: 2026 Forward New Richmond Priorities BACKGROUND INFORMATION: At the end of 2024, members of Forward New Richmond completed a survey to help establish Economic Development priorities for 2025. The survey results ranked the following initiatives in order of importance (with #1 identified as the highest priority): 1. Affordable Housing 2. Development of a New Industrial Park 3. Downtown Revitalization 4. Business Retention and Expansion 5. Entrepreneurship / Start-Up Business Support 6. Small Business Support Strategies 7. Enhanced Economic Development Marketing 8. Workforce Development Strategies 9. Public Transportation Based on these results, the committee agreed to focus its 2025 efforts on the top four priorities. Throughout the 2025 year, including today’s meeting, staff has provided updates and facilitated discussion regarding progress on these priorities. In preparation for the March meeting, staff requests that members review the complete list of priorities, as this item will be scheduled for discussion on the agenda. Your input will help guide staff in preparing the 2026 meeting framework and work plan.