Common Council Meeting

Common Council Meeting Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room, 312 West Whitewater St., Whitewater, WI 53190 *In Person and Virtual Tuesday, March 18, 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/83804325175?pwd=pRcvQ1PhxIvaPIdMl7LfP2I9lUjwFd.1 Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US (Chicago) (Houston) Webinar ID: 838 0432 5175 Passcode: 878627 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 - Came in at 6:36pm. Councilmember Lisa Dawsey Smith Councilmember Greg Majkrzak Councilmember Orin Smith Councilmember Brian Schanen City Attorney Jonathan McDonnel City Manager John Weidl Public Works Director Brad Marquardt City Clerk Heather Boehm PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Common Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 Page 2 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. Council President Singer asked to move the Consent Agenda before the guest speaker. Motion made to Approve the Agenda with the Consent Agenda moving before the guest speaker, by Councilmember Schanen, Seconded by Councilmember Smith. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen GUEST SPEAKER 1. TIF basics and myths presentation by Greg Johnson from Elhers. Greg Johnson from Elhers gave a presentation about TIF. Council President Singer asked questions about the presentation. Council Member Schanen asked questions about the presentation. Council Member Majkrzak asked questions about the presentation. CONSENT AGENDA Items on the Consent Agenda will be approved together unless any council members requests that an item be removed for individual consideration. Council President Singer spoke with Chief Meyer and they agreed to move item 10 into the Consent Agenda. Motion made to approve the Consent Agenda with item 10 included in the Consent Agenda by Councilmember Majkrzak, Seconded by Councilmember Smith. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith Voting Abstaining: Councilmember Schanen 2. Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes from February 11, 2025. 3. Approve contract with Pioneer Roofing for roof replacement on Building 600 at the Wastewater Facility. 4. Approve Amendment No. 1 to Strand Task Order 24-10. 5. Appointment of Kelsey Price to the Community Development Authority. 6. Appointment of Earle Young to the Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee. 7. Appointment of Jordan Reilly to Landmarks Commission. Common Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 Page 3 CITY MANAGER REPORT 8. City Manager Report- City Manager City Manager John Weidl gave his bi-monthly update of City events and accomplishments, including reports from the following departments: Public Works, Police Department, Fire Department, Library, Parks and Recreation, Media Services, Human Resources, Economic Development and Neighborhood Services. STAFF REPORTS 9. Update on the Police and Fire/EMS Referendum-Police Chief Meyer Police Chief Meyer spoke on the Police and Fire/EMS Referendum. 10. PD Tow Rotation - Police Chief Meyer Moved to the Consent Agenda. 11. Whitewater Ranking -Finance Finance Director Blitch spoke about the Whitewater Ranking. 12. Public Comment Response Memo - Finance Finance Director Blitch responded to the Public Comment questions. 13. Update regarding window signage in other municipalities- Neighborhood Services Economic Development Director Taylor Zeinert spoke on Window Signage. Allison Schwark spoke on Window Signage. 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. Larry Kachel spoke on TIF. Jeff Knight spoke on on TIF, housing and schools. Brad Sturanski spoke on the Municipal Referendum. Common Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 Page 4 CONSIDERATIONS 14. Councilmember Requests for Future Agenda Items or Committee items. Questions Councilmember Schanen request to schedule another Visioning Session. Councilmember Smith requested an update on the Bird Scooters. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 15. Update from Landmarks Committee regarding Starin Park Water Tower- Schanen May 2025 16. Report on the Lakes District- May 6, 2025 17. Starin Road Speed Bump Update-Smith Q2 18. Common Council Meeting held at UW Whitewater Campus- April 15, 2025 19. Robert Baird Housing Presentation- Hicks April 2025 20. More information on the survey capabilities- Smith Q2 CLOSED SESSION Adjourn to Closed Session, TO RECONVENE, pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel regarding strategy to be adopted concerning litigation in which the City is or is likely to become involved, and Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(e) to deliberate or negotiate the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or to conduct other specified public business whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session. Items to be discussed: Motion made to reconsider the Pre 3 offered a purchase by Councilmember Smith, Seconded by Councilmember Schanen. Voting Yea: Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith Voting Nay: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Schanen Motion made at 8:05pm to go into closed session by Council President Singer, Seconded by Councilmember Majkrzak. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen Motion made at 8:23pm to come back into open session by Councilmember Smith, Seconded by Councilmember Schanen. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen CS-21. Discussion and Possible Action regarding Twin Oaks WI, LLC Claim of Excessive Real Estate Tax Assessment for Parcel No. 292-0515-3223-000 (Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(g) & Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(e)) - City Manager Common Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 Page 5 CS-22. Discussion and Possible Action regarding Pre 3 Offer to purchase vacant land owned by the City of Whitewater located at /A444200001 (Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(e)) - Economic Development Director CONSIDERATIONS 23. Discussion and Possible Action regarding Twin Oaks WI, LLC Claim of Excessive Real Estate Tax Assessment for Parcel No. 292-0515-3223-000 (Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(g) & Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(e)) - City Manager Motion made to approve the resolution disallowing claim for excessive property tax assessment by Councilmember Brown, Seconded by Councilmember Schanen. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen 24. Discussion and Possible Action regarding Pre 3 Offer to purchase vacant land owned by the City of Whitewater located at /A444200001 (Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(e)) - Economic Development Director Motion made to approve the sale by Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Seconded by Councilmember Brown. Voting Yea: Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen Voting Nay: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks ADJOURNMENT Motion made at 8:32pm to adjourn by Councilmember Majkrzak, Seconded by Councilmember Schanen. 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.