Village Board
Regular MeetingWaunakee, WI · November 17, 2025
Minutes
VILLAGE OF WAUNAKEE
BOARD MEETING
500 West Main Street
November 17, 2025 6:00 PM
Meeting Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
The November 17, 2025 Village Board meeting was called to order by the Village President
Kristin Runge at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Erin Moran, Chris Zellner, Joe Zitzelsberger, Kristin Runge, Nila Frye, Jack
Heinemann and Sam Kaufmann.
Also Present: Todd Schmidt, Renee Meinholz, Bryan Kleinmaier Bill Frederick, Lauren
Freeman, Adam Kreitzman, Sue McDade, Mike Axon, Erick Plumb and Jared Heyn.
CONFIRMATION OF OPEN MEETING COMPLIANCE (Public postings, official
notices, and online availability)
Public postings, official notices, and online availability were confirmed by Village Clerk Karla
Endres for open meeting compliance.
PUBLIC COMMENT*
Carol Phelps, 7865 Sagebrush Trail, Middleton, in support of the Wisconsin Local Government
Climate Coalition.
John Aronica, 1222 Bongard Drive, spoke on behalf of the OneEnergy project and expressed
that it was handled incorrectly by the Village.
Linda Ashmore, 114 South Street, in support of the Sustainability plan and the Wisconsin Local
Government Climate Coalition. Also appreciated the budget presentation and software which
made it easier to understand as a resident.
Robert McPherson, 1703 Alexandria Ct, spoke on behalf of affordable housing and the budget.
Tom Wilson, 2509 Dublin Way- provided written comments in support of the sustainability
plan and the Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition.
CONSENT AGENDA
Items under the consent agenda may be acted upon by one motion. If, in the judgment of any
Board Member, a consent agenda item needs discussion, the item may be moved to later on the
agenda for discussion and/or action.
Nila Frye removed item 3
Motion by Sam Kaufmann, second by Nila Frye to approve consent agenda items 1-2, 4-5.
Motion passed. For: 7, Against: 0.
Motion by Nila Frye, second by Erin Moran to approve consent agenda item. Motion passed.
For: 7, Against: 0.
1 Approve Schedule of Bills
approve check numbers 90149-90172 totaling $70,694.17, 90173 in the amount of
$5,487.15, and 90175-90203 totaling $608,452.76.
2 Approve Village Board Meeting Minutes from November 3, 2025
Approve Village Board Meeting Minutes from November 3, 2025
3 Approve Amendment to the 2026 Fee Schedule
Motion to approve the amended 2026 fee schedule with the updated building and
zoning fees as presented.
4 Approve the Purchase of Election Tabulators and Express Vote Equipment
Motion to purchase four DS300 tabulators and four Express Vote machines for ADA
compliance for elections.
5 Parks and Rec Meeting Manager | Approve the Proposal from Parkitecture +
Planning for Blue Ridge Park Conceptual Improvement Plan
move to approve the Parkitecture + Planning Proposal for Blue Ridge Park
REPORTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
1 Sustainable Waunakee Ad Hoc Committee
Reported by Nila Frye
2 Parks and Recreation Committee
Reported by Sam Kaufmann
3 Public Works Committee
Reported by Nila Frye
4 Plan Commission
Reported by Kristin Runge
5 Joint Plan Commission
Cancelled
6 Community Development Authority
Reported by Kristin Runge
7 Other Committees/Boards/Commissions
EMS Commission- Reported by Sam Kaufmann
8 Other Announcements
PUBLIC HEARING*
1 Public Hearing and Discuss & Take Action on 2026 Budget and 5-Year
Equipment Replacement Plan and Set the Tax Levy for the 2025 Tax Year
Renee Meinholz presented updates to the budget that included the Dane County levy
and a decrease to the Village levy.
Opened public hearing at 6:34 p.m.
No public comments
Closed public hearing at 6:35 p.m.
Motion by Chris Zellner, second by Joe Zitzelsberger to approve the resolution
approving the 2026 Village of Waunakee budget and the 5-year Equipment
Replacement plan. Motion passed. For: 7, Against: 0.
Motion by Sam Kaufmann, second by Nila Frye to approve the resolution approving
the Levying of Property Taxes for the 2025 Tax Year (2026 Budget Year) for the
Village of Waunakee. Motion passed. For: 7, Against: 0.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1 Discuss and Take Action on Sustainable Waunakee Plan
Lauren introduced the project and that MSA was hired to assist with the plan.
Vanessa Abou Harb from MSA presented the sustainability plan.
Motion by Nila Frye, second by Erin Moran to adopt the proposed Sustainable
Waunakee Plan. Motion passed. For: 7, Against: 0.
2 Discuss and Take Action on Resolution to Join the Wisconsin Local Government
Climate Coalition (WLGCC)
Lauren introduced the organization and the resources offered.
Motion by Erin Moran, second by Nila Frye to approve resolution to join the
Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition. Motion passed. For: 7, Against: 0.
3 Discuss and Take Action on Migration from Microsoft Commercial Tenant to
Microsoft Government Tenant
Motion by Joe Zitzelsberger, second by Jack Heinemann to approve migration to the
Microsoft Government Tenant for a cost not to exceed $42,000. Motion passed. For:
7, Against: 0.
4 Discuss and Take Action on New Signage for Waunakee Depot Building
(Chamber of Commerce Office)
Motion by Erin Moran, second by Sam Kaufmann to approve the Waunakee Area
Chamber of Commerce to proceed with purchasing and installing the proposed
signage on the Waunakee Depot Building with consideration of the comments made
by the Village Board. Motion passed. For: 6, Against: 0, Abstained: 1 (Chris
Zellner).
5 Discuss and Take Action on Negotiating a Cooperative Plan Between the Town
of Westport, Cities of Madison and Middleton, and the Villages of DeForest and
Waunakee.
Motion by Sam Kaufmann, second by Joe Zitzelsberger to enter closed session for
negotiating a Cooperative Plan Between the Town of Westport, Cities of Madison and
Middleton, and the Villages of DeForest and Waunakee.
Roll call vote:
Kristin Runge: yay, Joe Zitzelsberger: yay, Nila Frye: yay, Chris Zellner: yay, Erin
Moran: yay, Jack Heinemann: yay, Sam Kaufmann: yay. Motion passed.
Entered closed session at 7:46 pm.
6 Discuss and Take Action on WPPA Union Contract
Motion by Joe Zitzelsberger, second by Chris Zellner to convene in closed session for
the purpose of 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.
Roll call vote:
Sam Kaufmann: yay, Kristin Runge: yay, Chris Zellner: yay, Joe Zitzelsberger: yay,
Nila Frye: yay, Erin Moran: yay, Jack Heinemann: yay. Motion passed.
Entered closed session at 7:46 pm.
Motion by Sam Kaufmann, second by Jack Heinemann to reconvene to open session
at 9:06 p.m. Motion passed. For: 7, Against: 0.
Motion by Joe Zitzelsberger, second by Chris Zellner to approve the WPPA Union
contract as presented. Motion passed. For: 7, Against: 0.
ADJOURN
Motion by Sam Kaufmann, second by Erin Moran to adjourn at 9:07 p.m. Motion passed. For:
7, Against: 0.
Respectfully Submitted,
_____________________________________
Karla Endres, Village Clerk
Agenda
VILLAGE OF WAUNAKEE
BOARD MEETING
500 West Main Street
November 17, 2025 6:00 PM
Hybrid Meeting – In-Person & Virtual Via Zoom Webinar
Attendance/Participation Instructions are located at the end of the agenda.
Agendas may change prior to the commencement of the meeting. For the current agenda, please check
the Village website (www.waunakee.com) or one of the official posting locations at:
Waunakee Village Hall, 500 W. Main Street
Waunakee Village Center, 333 S. Madison Street
Waunakee Public Library, 201 N. Madison Street
AGENDA
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
CONFIRMATION OF OPEN MEETING COMPLIANCE (Public postings, official
notices, and online availability)
PUBLIC COMMENT*
CONSENT AGENDA
1 Approve Schedule of Bills
2 Approve Village Board Meeting Minutes from November 3, 2025
3 Approve Amendment to the 2026 Fee Schedule
4 Approve the Purchase of Election Tabulators and Express Vote Equipment
5 Parks and Rec Meeting Manager | Approve the Proposal from Parkitecture +
Planning for Blue Ridge Park Conceptual Improvement Plan
REPORTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
1 Sustainable Waunakee Ad Hoc Committee
2 Parks and Recreation Committee
3 Public Works Committee
4 Plan Commission
5 Joint Plan Commission
6 Community Development Authority
7 Other Committees/Boards/Commissions
8 Other Announcements
PUBLIC HEARING*
1 Public Hearing and Discuss & Take Action on 2026 Budget and 5-Year
Equipment Replacement Plan and Set the Tax Levy for the 2025 Tax Year
BUSINESS ITEMS
1 Discuss and Take Action on Sustainable Waunakee Plan
2 Discuss and Take Action on Resolution to Join the Wisconsin Local Government
Climate Coalition (WLGCC)
3 Discuss and Take Action on Migration from Microsoft Commercial Tenant to
Microsoft Government Tenant
4 Discuss and Take Action on New Signage for Waunakee Depot Building
(Chamber of Commerce Office)
5 Discuss and Take Action on Negotiating a Cooperative Plan Between the Town
of Westport, Cities of Madison and Middleton, and the Villages of DeForest and
Waunakee. The Village Board may convene in closed session as authorized by
Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e) for the purpose of 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. The Village Board may reconvene in open session and discuss and
take action on the subject matter discussed in closed session.
6 Discuss and Take Action on WPPA Union Contract The Village Board may
convene in closed session as authorized by Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e) for the
purpose of 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. The Village Board may
reconvene in open session and discuss and take action on the subject matter discussed
in closed session.
ADJOURN
ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION INSTRUCTIONS
This Village of Waunakee Board Meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting accommodating both in-
person and live virtual attendance.
Virtual participation occurs using Zoom webinar on a suitable device by using this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82591137688
Or call (312) 626-6799 and enter Webinar ID: 825 9113 7688
Meetings may be viewed live and are archived on the Village’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@waunakeevillage
PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS
WRITTEN: Send written comments by 12:00 p.m. on date of meeting on any matter, either on or not on
the agenda, by emailing kendres@waunakee.com or in writing to Village Board, 500 W Main St.,
Waunakee, WI, 53597.
IN-PERSON: Public comment forms are available at the Board Room entrance. Please fill out and hand
to staff prior to start of meeting. Comments are limited to three-minutes per person and must be delivered
at the gallery podium for recording purposes. Accommodations can be provided for those unable to access
the podium.
VIRTUAL: When public comments are allowed, attendees on Zoom wishing to participate should click
“raise hand” if on video or press *9 if on phone call. Attendees will be called on in the order in which
hands are raised. Those wishing to provide oral comments remotely must have their full name displayed
within the Zoom application and must state address of residence. Virtual comments are only allowed for
those who reside, own or lease property in the Village of Waunakee. Anonymous comments will not be
allowed.
*As permitted by the Wisconsin open meetings law and while not required, the Village Board has chosen to allow
public comments during their meetings. This is specifically listed on the agenda as PUBLIC COMMENT. The
Village Board may not engage in discussion or take action during this period but may consider deferring the subject
to a later meeting with notice. State statute and/or Village Code require the Village Board to hold PUBLIC
HEARINGS on certain specified matters where the public can comment. The meeting chairperson will identify rules
for providing comments. Other items on the agenda which are not listed for public hearing do not require the Board
to allow public comment, however the meeting chairperson can at their own discretion allow limited public
comments.
Land Acknowledgment: The Village of Waunakee acknowledges that the land we occupy is Teejop, ancestral
territory of the Hoocąkra (Ho-Chunk Nation), People of the Sacred Voice. Hoocąkra are stewards of these lands
and waters since time immemorial. Settlers attempted to forcibly remove them from their homelands by exploiting a
series of land cessions and treaties, including the Treaty of 1832. However, the Hoocąkra resisted these conquests
and asserted their sovereignty as a nation. We address this trend of dispossession by upholding Hoocąk woošgąra
(way of life), sovereignty, culture, language, and environmental practices. Acknowledging these atrocities is only the
first step towards reconciliation. Through relationship building, education, and action, the Village will advocate for
a shared future with the Hoocąkra Nation.
Any person who needs an interpreter or has a qualifying disability as defined by the Americans with
Disabilities Act that requires the meeting or materials at the meeting to be in an accessible location or format
should contact the Village Clerk at (608) 850-8500 or kendres@waunakee.com at least forty-eight (48) hours
prior to the commencement of the meeting. Every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate requests.
Next scheduled meeting is December 1, 2025 6:00 PM.
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