Common Council Meeting

Common Council Meeting Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room, 312 West Whitewater St., Whitewater, WI 53190 *In Person and Virtual Thursday, April 03, 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/81963161629?pwd=BxlWzMTjRbrfEg34obU9BMwKYAlAIz.1 Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US Webinar ID: 819 6316 1629 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 Councilmember Lisa Dawsey Smith Councilmember Greg Majkrzak Councilmember Orin Smith Councilmember Brian Schanen City Attorney Tim Brovold City Manager John Weidl Public Works Director Brad Marquardt City Clerk Heather Boehm Common Council Meeting Minutes April 03, 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. Council Member Hicks asked to move items 14, 15 and 16 into the Consent Agenda. Council Member Brown asked to move item 26 after the Consent Agenda. Council Member Hicks asked to move items 20 and 21 into Consent Agenda. Motion to approve the agenda with the modifications above, made by Councilmember Brown, Seconded by Councilmember Smith. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen GUEST SPEAKER 1. Guest Speaker Kristen Fish-Peterson. Kristen Fish-Peterson spoke about housing. Council President Singer had a question 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 to approve the Consent Agenda with items 14, 15, 16 20 and 21 added, made by Councilmember Smith, Seconded by Councilmember Majkrzak. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen 2. Approval of Common Council Meeting Minutes from March 4, 2025. 3. Plan and Architectural Review Commission Minutes from February 10, 2025. 4. Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes from December 4, 2024 and January 14, 2025. 5. Libarary Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes from February 17, 2025. 6. Park Board Meeting Minutes from February 19, 2025. 7. Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes from February 17, 2025 Common Council Meeting Minutes April 03, 2025 Page 3 8. Finance Committee Meeting Minutes from February 17, 2025. 9. Award of contract to Lepak Wall and Ceiling for construction of two offices at the Whitewater Municipal Building for $12,900. 10. Approval of a stipend for Economic Development Director Responsibilities. 11. Approval of EMS Employee Benefit Policy. CITY MANAGER REPORT 12. 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, Police Department, Fire Department, Library, Park & Rec, Economic Development and Neighborhood Service. 13. Arbor Day Proclamation. City Manager John Weidl gave a Proclamation about Arbor Day. STAFF REPORTS 14. April 15, 2025 Common Council Meeting held on UW Campus- City Clerk This line item was added to the Consent Agenda. 15. Legal Opinion On Council Appointments- City Manager This line item was added to the Consent Agenda. 16. Special Event Permit Denial for DJ at the Polls- City Manager This line item was added to the Consent Agenda. 17. Deb Reinbold, Executive Director of the Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium, responses to questions had on housing presentation.- Economic Development Director Council President Singer said the answers to the questions asked at previous meetings are in the Agenda Packet for this meeting. 18. Derek D'uaria from Walworth County Economic Development Association responses to questions during the housing presentation.-Economic Development Director Council President Singer said the answers to the questions asked at previous meetings are in the Agenda Packet for this meeting. 19. TIF Cost Analysis Report- Finance Finance Director Blitch spoke about TIF Cost Analysis. Common Council Meeting Minutes April 03, 2025 Page 4 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. Jeff Knight spoke on housing. Larry Kachel spoke on housing. RESOLUTION 20. Resolution Authorizing Official Depositories- Finance This line item was moved to the Consent Agenda. 21. Resolution Authorizing Official Newspaper- Finance This line item was moved to the Consent Agenda. 22. Resolution for land swap between CDA and Jon Tanis for parcel # /A4420003, vacant lot off of Greenway Court -Economic Development Director Economic Development Director spoke about the Land Swap. Motion to approve the Resolution, made by Councilmember Hicks, Seconded by Councilmember Schanen. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen ORDINANCES First Reading 23. Ordinance 2025-O-11 An Ordinance creating section 2.62.060 Public Comment during Common Council and Committee Meetings. -Finance Chuck Mills spoke about the Ordinance. This Ordinance is being brought back for another first reading with new modifications. 24. Ordinance 2025-O-12 an ordinance amending the zoning map and the zoning classification in regarding to certain properties in the City of Whitewater. Tax Parcel Common Council Meeting Minutes April 03, 2025 Page 5 #/WUP 00329 and Tax Parcel #292-0515-3233-008 (Vacant Lots on Riesch Road a private road).-Neighborhood Services Economic Development Director, Taylor Zeinert spoke about the Ordinance. Motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance 2025-O-12 made by Councilmember Majkrzak, Seconded by Councilmember Brown. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen Voting Nay: Councilmember Hicks CONSIDERATIONS 25. Discussion and Possible Action regarding Memorandum of Understanding with Bird Rides, Inc. (Bird Scooters)- Public Works This line item will move a future agenda item. 26. Discussion and Possible Action regarding changes to Lot C (corner of Whitewater St and Center St) including reducing parking stalls and adding sitting area- Public Works Kristen Burton spoke about Lot C. Kim Adams spoke about Lot C. Lisa Berglin spoke about Lot C. Chris Christon spoke about Lot C. Larry Kachel spoke about Lot C. Motion made for City Staff to proceed with an MOU by Councilmember Majkrzak, Seconded by Councilmember Smith. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Hicks, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Schanen Voting Abstaining: Councilmember Dawsey Smith 27. Councilmember Requests for Future Agenda Items or Committee items. Questions Council Member Schanen - 4-Way stop signs at Prince and Walworth and 4-way stop signs at Peck and Whitton. Council Member Hicks - Explore options to close off comments on City owned social media channels. Staff Report on audio system for the Council Chambers. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 28. Set Date for Council Visioning Session- Schanen May 2025 29. Update from Landmarks Committee regarding Starin Park Water Tower- Schanen May 2025 30. Report on the Lakes District- May 6, 2025 31. Starin Road Speed Bump Update-Smith Q2 Common Council Meeting Minutes April 03, 2025 Page 6 32. Robert Baird Housing Presentation- Hicks April 2025 33. More information on the survey capabilities- Smith Q2 34. Presentation from Washington County Executive.- April 15, 2025 ADJOURNMENT Motion made to adjourn at 8:09pm by Councilmember Dawsey Smith, Seconded by Councilmember Brown. 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.