Common Council Meeting

Common Council Meeting Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room, 312 West Whitewater St., Whitewater, WI 53190 *In Person and Virtual Tuesday, February 04, 2025 - 6:30 PM Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone. Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods. Please click the link below to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81763470107?pwd=IVMOx5yoZnAObPal3b0TF0ZFOQ6A6u.1 Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US Webinar ID: 817 6347 0107 Passcode: 767507 Please note that although every effort will be made to provide for virtual participation, unforeseen technical difficulties may prevent this, in which case the meeting may still proceed as long as there is a quorum. Should you wish to make a comment in this situation, you are welcome to call this number: (262) 473-0108. MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Council President Singer called the meeting to order at 6:30pm. ROLL CALL PRESENT Council President Patrick Singer Councilmember Neil Hicks Councilmember Brienne Brown Councilmember Lisa Dawsey Smith Councilmember Greg Majkrzak Councilmember Orin Smith City Clerk Heather Boehm Councilmember Brian Schanen City Attorney Jonathan McDonnel City Manager John Weidl Public Works Director Brad Marquardt City Clerk Heather Boehm Common Council Meeting Minutes February 04, 2025 Page 2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF AGENDA A councilmember can choose to remove an item from the agenda or rearrange its order; however, introducing new items to the agenda is not allowed. Any proposed changes require a motion, a second, and approval from the Council to be implemented. The agenda shall be approved at each meeting even if no changes are being made at that meeting. Motion made to approve the agenda but to move item 7 to the Staff Report section by Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Seconded by Councilmember Schanen. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen GUEST SPEAKER 1. Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty to discuss the WWUSD referendum. Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty discussed the Whitewater Unified School District referendum. 2. Deb Reinbold, Executive Director of Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium, will speak on Housing. Deb Reinbold, Executive Director of Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium, spoke on Housing. CONSENT AGENDA Items on the Consent Agenda will be approved together unless any council members requests that an item be removed for individual consideration. Motion made by Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Seconded by Councilmember Smith. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen 3. Approval of Common Council Meeting Minutes from January 7, 2025. 4. Lakes Advisory Committee meeting minutes from November 13, 2024. 5. Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes from December 16, 2024. 6. Urban Forestry Minutes October 10, 2024 7. Memo on Executive Order suspending the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). 8. Resolution for the sale of a parcel land /A455500001 Fire Department Training Location. 9. Amendment to the 2025 Salary Resolution. Common Council Meeting Minutes February 04, 2025 Page 3 CITY MANAGER REPORT City Manager John Weidl gave his bi-monthly update of City events and accomplishments, including reports from the following departments: Public Works, IT, Police, Fire, Library, Parks & Recreation, Media Services, Human Resources, Economic Development, and Neighborhood Services. STAFF REPORTS 10. 2024 End of Year Code Enforcement Update-Municipal Code Enforcement. Allison Schwark spoke about the 2024 End of Year Code Enforcement statistics. 11. Initial Rail Spur Summary Analysis- Lot 10B- City Manager City Manager John Weidl gave a summary analysis on the Rail Spur. John also spoke about the Memo on Executive Order suspending the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). HEARING OF CITIZEN COMMENTS No formal Council action will be taken during this meeting although issues raised may become a part of a future agenda. Participants are allotted a three minute speaking period. Specific items listed on the agenda may not be discussed at this time; however, citizens are invited to speak to those specific issues at the time the Council discusses that particular item. To make a comment during this period, or during any agenda item: On a computer or handheld device, locate the controls on your computer to raise your hand. You may need to move your mouse to see these controls. On a traditional telephone, dial *6 to unmute your phone and dial *9 to raise your hand. Kristine Zaballos came up to commend Media Services. Jeff Knight spoke about the Greater Whitewater Committee hosting the City and WUSD to present to the public and speak about their referendums. Jeff also spoke on the Whitewater housing goals. Larry Kachel commented on the Whitewater housing goals. Ben Holden spoke on the Whitewater housing goals. Mike Smith spoke on the Whitewater housing goals. Stephanie Hicks spoke on the Whitewater housing goals. Common Council Meeting Minutes February 04, 2025 Page 4 RESOLUTION 12. Resolution authorizing the Police and Fire/EMS referendum question be placed on the April 1, 2025 Spring Primary- City Manager Motion made by Councilmember Smith, Seconded by Councilmember Hicks. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen ORDINANCES First Reading 13. Ordinance 2025-O-7 an ordinance creating the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center Committee- Parks Motion made by Councilmember Majkrzak, Seconded by Councilmember Hicks. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen Councilmember Hicks moved to waive the second reading, seconded by Councilmember Smith. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen CONSIDERATIONS 14. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the Councilmembers choosing what Boards and Committees they would like to serve to ensure quorum.- City Manager Motion made by Councilmember Smith, Seconded by Councilmember Dawsey Smith. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen 15. Councilmember Requests for Future Agenda Items or Committee items. Questions Councilmember Schanen asked about a Council meeting on Campus this semester. Common Council Meeting Minutes February 04, 2025 Page 5 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 16. Public Hearing for the Creation of the City of Whitewater Trippe and Cravath Lake District- February 18, 2025 17. WAFC Committee restart-Hicks Q1 2025 18. Update from Landmarks Committee regarding Starin Park Water Tower- Schanen May 2025 19. Public Comment for Boards and Committees-Hicks Q1 2025 20. Public Surveys-Hicks Q1 2025 21. Report on the Lakes District- May 6, 2025 22. Starin Road Speed Bump Update-Smith Q2 23. Window Ordinance for all Business-Schanen Q1 CLOSED SESSION Adjourn to Closed Session, TO RECONVENE, pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility. Also pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85 (1)(d) Except as provided in s. 304.06 (1) (eg) and by rule promulgated under s. 304.06 (1) (em), considering specific applications of probation, extended supervision or parole, or considering strategy for crime detection or prevention. Motion made at 7:52pm to go into closed session by Council President Singer, Seconded by Councilmember Hicks. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, City Clerk Boehm, Councilmember Schanen Motion made at 9:45pm to come back into open by Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Seconded by Councilmember Smith. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, City Clerk Boehm, Councilmember Schanen CS-24. Q1 Crime Prevention Strategies update.- PD CS-25. City Manager's Performance Evaluation-HR Council Discussion of Review Council Discussion with City Manager Council Discussion of City Manager Employment Agreement Common Council Meeting Minutes February 04, 2025 Page 6 CONSIDERATIONS 26. Discussion and Possible Action regarding City Manager's Performance Evaluation and Employment Agreement- HR Council President Singer said there is no action being taken in open session on the CM Performance Eval. ADJOURNMENT Motion made to adjorn at 9:46pm by Councilmember Smith, Seconded by Councilmember Dawsey- Smith. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen Anyone requiring special arrangements is asked to call the Office of the City Manager / City Clerk (262-473-0102) at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. 2023-2025 City of Whitewater's 5 strategic goals: Build single-family homes, Communicate with the community without the newspaper, Support a thriving business community, Recruitment and retention efforts with a focus on diversity, and Prioritization of expenditures with available resources.