Economic Development

AGENDA CITY OF WAUPUN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Waupun City Hall – 201 E. Main Street, Waupun WI Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 8:00 AM The Waupun Economic Development Committee will meet In-person, virtual, and teleconference. Instructions to join the meeting are provided below: Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87411524904?pwd=kTnHXrPcIGZVwTakJMsZvEfAHtKpKX.1 Meeting ID: 874 1152 4904 Passcode: 291391 CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL PUBLIC COMMENT --State name, address, and subject of comments. (2 Minutes) CONSIDERATION - ACTION 1. Minutes from May 28, 2026 Economic Development Committee Meeting 2. Wisconsin Department of Transportation Surplus Land 3. Memorandum of Agreement Between the City of Waupun and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Regarding Changes in Access to STHH 26 in the City of Waupun DISCUSSION 4. East Central WI Regional Planning Commission Spark Program ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION The Economic Development Committee will adjourn in closed session under Section 19.85 (1) of the WI Statutes for: (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. 5. Investing Public Funds in Redevelopment of 2 W Main Street in TID 3 6. Investing of Public Funds to Redevelop 331 Bly Street in TID 10 RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION The Economic Development Committee will reconvene in open session under Section 19.85(2) of the WI Statutes. ADJOURNMENT Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate disabled individuals through appropriate aids and services. For additional information, contact the City Clerk at 920-324-7915. 1  Item 1. MINUTES CITY OF WAUPUN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Waupun Utilities Conference Room, 817 S Madison St., Waupun, WI 53963 Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 8:30 AM Meeting called to order by chairperson Kaczmarski at 8:30 am. Roll call taken. Members present include Pete Kaczmarski, Dan Siebers, Jason Westphal (arrived 8:40 am), Steve Brooks, Lisa McArthur. Also present, Jeff Daane, Kathy Schlieve, Casey Langenfeld. No one present for public comment. Board chair recognizes mayoral appointments and thanks members for their ongoing commitment to support economic development. Mayor Bishop has appointed Alderperson Pete Kaczmarski as committee chairperson. Motion Siebers, second Brooks to appoint Westphal as vice-chairperson and to close nominations. Carried unanimously. Group consensus is to maintain the current standing meeting day and time as the last Tuesday of the month at 4:15 pm or as needed. Motion Siebers, second Brooks to approve minutes from April 7, 2026 Economic Development Committee as presented. Carried unanimously. Motion Siebers, second Brooks to adjourn to closed session under Section 19.85 (1) of the WI Statutes for: (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. 1. Consider Investing Childcare Revolving Loan Funds in 1 West Brown Street 2. Consider Sales of Portion of City-Owned Parcel 292-1315-0433-054 in TID 9 3. Negotiate Public Land Sale and Investment in TID9 for Housing North of Claggett Ave Motion Siebers, second McArthur to reconvene in open session under Section 19.85(2) of the WI Statutes. Carried unanimously. No action from closed session. Motion Siebers, second Westphal to adjourn meeting as of 9:55 am. Carried unanimously. 2 Item 2. 3 Item 2. 4 Item 2. 5 Item 2. 6 Item 2. 7 Item 2. 8  Item 3. MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT between the City of Waupun and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Regarding Changes in Access to STH 26 in the City of Waupun This Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is entered into by and between the City of Waupun (the City) and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (the Department), each a party, together the parties, in order to facilitate a change in access on the east and west sides of STH 26 between USH 151 and Buwalda Drive in the City of Waupun (Access Area). The Access Area also includes the interchange ramps on USH151 to STH26. The Access Area changes are requested by the City in consideration of a proposed development composed of residential, manufacturing/industrial, and commercial lots (Development), and to provide authorization for a new public street connection, Shaler Drive, to STH 26 (Street Connection). This MOA is entered into under Wis. Stats. §§66.0301, 84.01, 84.09, 84.295, and 86.07. WHEREAS the Department manages access on state highways and is required to manage access as directed by state law; and WHEREAS no additional street connections are allowed within the Access Area under prior access purchase, authorizations, and covenant by and with the Department; and WHEREAS the access area is defined as the area from USH 151 to the northern line of section NESE Sec08 T13N R15E and NWSW Sec09 T13N R15E per Project F017-2(53); and WHEREAS access is statutorily controlled through Project 1392-03-29 to the south side of Buwalda Rd; and WHEREAS the City wants to change the current access to provide for additional and continued development adjacent to the Access Area; and WHEREAS the Department recognizes the potential for and probability of additional future subdividing and development of land near the Access Area; and WHEREAS in analyzing and allowing any access to a state highway, the Department must comply with its obligations to protect the safety of the travelling public and to protect the investment of the Department of Wisconsin in its highways; and WHEREAS the Department must determine an access change is in the public interest regarding support of economic development and continued management of access resulting in safe and operational highways; and WHEREAS an MOA between the City and the Department establishes requirements, commitments, and agreements for the requested street connection; and WHEREAS any changes in access require the City to follow applicable state procedures. Page 1 of 5 9  Item 3. NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereby acknowledge, understand, and agree to the following: 1. Street Connections a. The City and the Department agree that certain changes to highway access are beneficial for orderly land development and are in harmony with protecting the safety of the traveling public and the investment of the State in its highways. The City and the Department agree to cooperate toward a long-term goal of relocating private access points within the Access Area to local public streets. b. Lands west of STH 26 (excluding Parcel 292-1315-0844-001) are located within the Town of Chester. The City hopes to annex and develop these lands in the future. c. As lands west of STH 26 are annexed into the City, Milligan Rd will be disconnected from STH 26, due to safety concerns and not meeting spacing guidelines from the USH151 interchange. d. The Department reserves the right to require the City to conduct, at its own expense and by a qualified engineering firm approved by the Department, periodic engineering studies of any of the City’s access points in the Access Area no more frequently than every two years. In addition, the Department will require the City to prepare an engineering study pursuant to this paragraph if: i. Crash rates associated with any access point within the Access Area approaches or meets statewide crash rates for this type of roadway facility as determined by the Department; or ii. Any access point in the Access Area regularly contributes to queuing of vehicles onto USH 151 ramps. e. No additional street connections will be allowed within the STH 26 Access Area. 2. Costs a. The City shall be responsible for the following: i. Costs associated with preparing documents required to be submitted for any access change. ii. Costs associated with the construction of all required improvements within Access Area along STH 26 relating to the street connections, including those required to preserve safe and efficient travel along STH 26. b. Nothing in this MOA referencing or resulting in costs that may be incurred by the City is intended to limit the City’s ability to pass those costs on to any developer or other landowners through development agreements, land divisions, improvements, zoning approvals, special assessment proceedings, impact fees, or other legal means. 3. City Responsibilities a. Prior to approval of work within state right-of-way, the City shall provide the Department with a state-type plan set that conforms to state specifications. The City shall provide oversight of construction through a consultant who has previously done construction oversight for the Department. b. Prior to issuance of the work on right of way permit associated with any access change, preparation and execution of a Maintenance Agreement between the City and the Department will be required to account for all maintenance activities beyond regular roadway work caused by access improvements. c. The City and the Department agree to relocate private access along Access Control area as opportunities occur. d. The City shall provide interconnectivity to nearby developments through local street connections or other means acceptable to the Department to provide reasonable alternative access in the event the Department requires any access point to STH 26 be altered or closed. e. Preparation and execution of a State Municipal Agreement (SMA) with the appropriate municipality is required to account for all costs associated with this MOA. Page 2 of 5 10  Item 3. 4. Zoning Changes The Access Area within City’s access jurisdiction includes multiple single family residential and commercial parcels. In addition to the subdivision approvals required under chapter 236 Wis. Stats., the City agrees that, in the event any of these parcels are re-zoned, they will notify the Department and will not make any access changes for those parcels unless the Department agrees to the same. 5. Additional Provisions a. Parties agree that additional improvements and agreements may be necessary based on further development in the area. The parties will cooperatively review any proposed development and associated traffic generating potential. b. All construction within state right-of-way shall conform to requirements set forth by the Department in the work on right-of-way and state highway connection permit approval process. No construction shall commence prior to issuance of required permits. c. This MOA is limited to the subject matter contained herein and shall not, without written amendment approved by signature of each party to this MOA, be altered or expanded. This MOA may be amended only by written agreement under signature of each party to this MOA. d. City agrees to provide the Department any request for additional development or land divisions prior to approval by City. e. City agrees to apply the terms of this MOA to any request for additional development in order to remain in compliance with the terms of the same. 6. Enforcement a. The provisions of this MOA are intended to be enforceable between the parties. In the event of a dispute between the parties, they shall meet and attempt to resolve the dispute informally. In the event any access is created or permitted in violation of the terms of this MOA or in violation of access previously established or acquired by the Department, the Department may close access. The City shall indemnify the Department for all costs associated with the identification and correction of access changes that violate the provisions of this MOA. b. Costs of the Department may be set off against any amounts owned by the Department to the City for any purpose. c. This MOA shall be recorded in a manner agreed to by all parties to ensure all affected persons have full and equal access to this MOA. Nothing herein shall limit the statutory obligations and privileges of the Department. d. This MOA is effective on the date signed by the last signing party to the MOA. This MOA may be executed in original counterparts, each counterpart deemed a valid original signature. e. This MOA shall be interpreted pursuant to the laws of the State of Wisconsin. f. This MOA does not establish, nor shall any appeal rights accrue, under Wis. Stat. § 84.25 or any other provision of Wisconsin law. g. In the event any party or Developer fails to adhere to the terms of the highway connection permits or the work on right of way permits associated with this MOA, or Developer fails to meet the terms of the City/Developer development agreement, the Department may terminate this MOA upon thirty days (30) notice. In the event party or Developer fails to cure the defect/breach within a reasonable time as defined solely by the Department, the Department may revoke any permissions associated with this MOA as granted by the Department. The Department may require any work performed prior to such termination be removed at the cost of the City. The Department may perform such removal at its discretion and may set off the costs of the same to City from any amounts owed to the City by the Department. Page 3 of 5 11  Item 3. 7. Severability: If any provision of this Agreement is held illegal or unenforceable in a judicial proceeding, such provision shall be severed and shall be inoperative, and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain operative and binding on the Parties. In Witness WHEREOF, the parties agree as provided by the following signatures. _____________________________________________ _____________________________ Rohn W. Bishop Date City of Waupun, Mayor Resolution of Approval of Memorandum of Agreement by City approved on ________________ attached hereto for reference. Date _____________________________________________ _____________________________ Michelle Ellias Date SW Region – Systems Planning, Chief WisDOT – Div. of Transportation System Development Page 4 of 5 12 Exhibit A Item 3. Page 5 of 5 13  Item 4. SPARC Redevelopment and Economic Opportunity Initiative: USDA Grant Program Summary The East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (ECWRPC) is seeking funding through the USDA Rural Business Development Grant Program to implement its Strategic Planning and Action for Revitalizing Communities (SPARC) initiative. SPARC is a redevelopment-focused economic development program designed to help rural communities identify economic opportunities, prepare investment-ready sites, and advance projects that support business growth, private investment, tax base expansion, and job creation. As the federally designated Economic Development District (EDD) for the ten-county East Central Wisconsin region, ECWRPC is responsible for implementing the region's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The CEDS identifies economic resiliency, redevelopment, workforce development, business attraction, and strategic investment as priorities for the region. Through SPARC, ECWRPC assists local governments in transforming underutilized properties and undeveloped employment areas into development-ready opportunities capable of supporting future economic growth. The proposed project will assist three rural communities. Two projects have already been identified in partnership with participating communities, while a third project will be selected through a competitive application process in 2027. Activities will begin in April 2027 and include community engagement, site analysis, market assessments, stakeholder outreach, drone mapping, GIS analysis, conceptual visualizations, redevelopment planning, and implementation strategy development. The planning process will result in development concepts, 3D visualizations, implementation plans, potential funding opportunities, and specific next steps necessary to advance each project. Following completion of planning efforts, ECWRPC will continue assisting communities with implementation activities tailored to local needs. Potential activities may include zoning updates, ordinance development, Tax Increment District planning, Requests for Proposals (RFPs), development agreements, grant identification, infrastructure planning, site marketing, and other site-readiness activities necessary to attract private investment. By combining planning with implementation assistance, SPARC helps communities move projects beyond visioning and toward tangible economic development outcomes. City of Waupun Employment Growth and Business Park Initiative The City of Waupun has identified lands east of Highway 151 as a strategic opportunity for future employment growth and economic development. Waupun has historically benefited from a strong manufacturing base and regional employment opportunities, but 14  Item 4. continued economic competitiveness will require additional sites capable of accommodating future business expansion and investment. Through the SPARC program, ECWRPC will assist the City in evaluating approximately 80 acres of land east of Highway 151 for future employment-focused development. The project will determine the most appropriate development strategy for the area by evaluating market demand, infrastructure availability, transportation access, workforce considerations, and economic development opportunities. Project activities will include market analysis, site evaluation, stakeholder engagement, land use planning, infrastructure assessment, and preparation of a business park development strategy. The study will evaluate the optimal mix of industrial, manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, commercial, and business-support uses and develop a conceptual site plan identifying recommended land uses, parcel configurations, transportation improvements, utility needs, stormwater infrastructure, development phasing, and future expansion opportunities. The project will identify target industries and business sectors most compatible with the site's location and regional economic conditions. An 80-acre employment park is considered of average size for the region and can support a variety of uses. Anything from large manufacturers to small office sites. Preliminary economic modeling indicates that an 80-acre employment park could support approximately 300 direct jobs and 326 total jobs at full buildout. Economic impact analysis further indicates the potential for more than $107 million in annual economic output, nearly $28 million in labor income, approximately $14 million in regional value-added economic activity, and more than $1.3 million in annual tax revenues. Table 3. City of Waupun Employment Park Assumptions Category Assumption Rationale Intended to accommodate future Development Employment-focused industrial, manufacturing, warehousing, Type business park logistics, and commercial growth. Provides sufficient land for long-term Gross Site economic development while 80 acres Area remaining realistic for planning and infrastructure investments. Net Assumes roads, stormwater facilities, Developable Approximately 55–60 acres utility corridors, setbacks, landscaping, Area and other infrastructure requirements. Manufacturing, food Reflects Waupun's existing economic Target processing, warehousing, base and regional competitive Industries logistics, and supporting advantages. commercial uses 15  Item 4. Category Assumption Rationale Based on representative economic Estimated 300 direct jobs, 326 total jobs impact modeling and conservative job Employment density assumptions. Table 4. Waupun Employment Mix Assumptions NAICS Estimated Share of Industry Code Jobs Total Fabricated Metal Product 332999 180 60% Manufacturing 311999 Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing 60 20% 493110 General Warehousing and Storage 60 20% Total Employment Park Buildout Scenario 300 100% Table 5. Why an 80-Acre Employment Park? Consideration Explanation Long-Term Growth Provides sufficient land inventory to support multiple employers Capacity and future expansion opportunities. Infrastructure Large enough to justify utility extensions, roadway improvements, Efficiency and stormwater investments. Market Creates a site capable of competing for regional industrial and Competitiveness manufacturing projects. After accounting for roads, stormwater, setbacks, parking, and Realistic Buildout utility corridors, approximately 55–60 acres remain available for Potential development. Supports approximately 300 direct jobs while maintaining a Job Creation conservative employment density assumption of approximately 5 Potential jobs per net developable acre. Deliverables  Project kickoff meeting and project management  Community stakeholder interviews and engagement activities  Public survey and community input summary  Existing conditions and site analysis  Drone imagery collection and GIS mapping  Market assessment and economic development analysis  Development opportunities and constraints assessment  Conceptual land use and redevelopment alternatives  3D visualizations and conceptual renderings 16  Item 4.  Preferred development concept and implementation strategy  Development plan identifying recommended land uses, target industries, infrastructure needs, and redevelopment opportunities  Funding strategy including identification of applicable grant and financing opportunities  Final redevelopment or development plan document  Presentation of findings to local officials and stakeholders Potential Implementation Assistance Activities (Provided based on community needs and project recommendations)  Zoning ordinance review and amendments  Development of new zoning districts or overlay districts  Land development ordinance updates  Tax Increment District (TID) analysis and assistance  Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and developer solicitation materials  Development agreement assistance  Site marketing and recruitment materials  Infrastructure and utility planning assistance  Grant application assistance  Comprehensive plan amendments, if necessary  Additional economic development and site-readiness activities identified through the planning process 17