Community Development Authority (CDA)

MINUTES CITY OF WAUPUN CDA COMMITTEE MEETING Waupun City Hall – 201 E. Main Street, Waupun WI Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 7:45 AM Meeting called to order by Chairperson, Mayor Bishop at 7:45 am. Roll call was taken. Members present include: Mayor, Rohn Bishop; Sue Vandeberg; Cassandra Verhage (online); Derek Drews; Steve Daute; and Gary DeJager. Absent and excused: Bobbi Jo Kunz. Also present, Administrator Schlieve, Assistant Administrator Langenfeld, and Jason Whitford (online). Motion DeJager, second VerHage to approve the agenda as printed. Carried unanimously. Motion Drews, second DeJager to approve the consent agenda, including minutes from July 16, 2025 CDA meeting, and July, August, September, October and November 2024 financial statements. No further discussion. Carried unanimously. An outstanding application for Stone & Suede was reviewed. Administrator Schlieve notes that she talked with the business owners about their $5K grant award to repair the back of their building. They struggled to get a contractor and costs made the project not feasible in 2024. Motion VerHage, second Vandeberg to cancel the grant award and to encourage Stone & Suede to reapply when they are ready to move forward. No further discussion. Carried unanimously. Administrator Schlieve presented a draft of the 2025 CDA budget, with anticipated restricted and unrestricted carryover along with anticipated 2025 revenues for the district. Projects that the budget will support in 2025 include ongoing grants for façade improvements, north alley engineering and design, streetscaping and continued focus on targeted investment. Motion Vandeberg, second DeJager to accept the 2025 budget as presented. General discussion about needs to improve parking and ensure that porta potties are required at events is recommended by the group. No further discussion. Carried unanimously. Administrator Schlieve presents 2024 CDA Façade Improvement Grant Guidelines and Application to discus possible revisions. Motion Daute, second DeJager to keep the same guidelines for 2025 as offered in 2024. No further discussion. Carried unanimously. Administrator Schlieve discusses planning for 2027 and beyond for CDA program sustainability. The expenditure period for the TID that funds CDA activity will close in 2027. At that point, CDA programs will cease unless an alternative operating plan with viable funding sources is identified. Schlieve revisits the idea of a Revolving Loan Fund as an alternative and recommends that the group reconsider use of this type of tool in the near future. General discussion about the risks and purpose of an RLF is reviewed. General consensus to examine creation of an RLF. Staff will compile information and prepare for a future CDA meeting presentation. Administrator Schlieve provides updates, indicating that the city council will be considering an offer to purchase and developer agreement to increase multi-family housing at an upcoming meeting. Sale of 301 E Main St (former Senior Center) is progressing slowly with interested buyers doing their due diligence on the building. The City has applied in collaboration with Ripon, North Fond du Lac, and Campbellsport, for a rural entrepreneurship opportunity fund loan/grant program to support business startups in Rural Fond du Lac County. Envision Greater Fond du Lac is creating a new strategic economic development plan for the county. Finally, Schlieve emphasized that a major project in the downtown will be the back alleyway redevelopment on the north side of Main St. Business owners will be invited to a series of public input sessions to share their thoughts. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the CDA is January 21, 2025 at 7:45 am, Waupun City Hall Council Chambers. Motion VerHage, second Vandeberg to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 am. No further discussion. Carried unanimously. Minutes prepared by Kathy Schlieve, Administrator