Common Council Meeting

Common Council Meeting Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room, 312 West Whitewater St., Whitewater, WI 53190 *In Person and Virtual Tuesday, November 18, 2025 - 6:00 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 the webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82071826949?pwd=wpTE4SnHsm8waXIybH3FXcjDEVfZDA.1 Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US Webinar ID: 820 7182 6949 Passcode: 167777 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 6pm. ROLL CALL PRESENT Council President Patrick Singer Councilmember Greg Majkrzak Councilmember Michael M.Smith Councilmember Orin O.Smith Councilmember Steven Sahyun Councilmember Brian Schanen Councilmember Neil Hicks City Manager John Weidl City Attorney Steven Chesebro Public Works Director Brad Marquardt City Clerk Heather Boehm 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 Common Council Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 2 no changes are being made at that meeting. Motion to Approve the Agenda with moving items #7, #12 and #13 into the Consent Agenda made by Councilmember O.Smith, Seconded by Councilmember Majkrzak. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember M.Smith, Councilmember O.Smith, Councilmember Sahyun, Councilmember Schanen, Councilmember Hicks 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 #7, #12 and #13 added made by Councilmember Majkrzak, Seconded by Councilmember O.Smith. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember M.Smith, Councilmember O.Smith, Councilmember Sahyun, Councilmember Schanen, Councilmember Hicks 1. Approval of Common Council Meeting Minutes from November 4, 2025. 2. Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes from October 14, 2025. 3. TDS Broadcasting update. 4. Easement Grant from Parcel /OT00037 to 328 W Main Street (Hamilton House) for a handicap ramp. CITY MANAGER REPORT 5. 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, Economic Development, Library, Parks & Rec, and HR and City manager John Weidl recognized DLK and the Kachel family for their recently announced $250,000 contribution to the UW-Whitewater Winther Hall renovation project. Councilmember Hicks also thanked DLK for their contribution to UWW. STAFF REPORTS 6. Lakes Update- Parks Assistant Parks, Recreation, Community Events Director, Michelle Dujardin gave an update on the Lakes. 7. Employee Benefit update- HR This item was moved to the Consent Agenda. 8. Presentation and Brief Overview of the 2026-2027 Draft Budget.- Finance Finance Director, Rachelle Blitch gave presentation on the 2026-2027 draft budget. Comptroller, Jeremiah Thomas gave a short overview on the changes to the employee healthcare. Common Council Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 3 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. RESOLUTION 9. Resolution 2025-R-1118 approving Stormwater Utility Rate Increase.- Finance Motion to approve Resolution 2025-R-1118 made by Councilmember Sahyun, Seconded by Councilmember Majkrzak. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember O.Smith, Councilmember Sahyun, Councilmember Schanen, Councilmember Hicks Voting Abstaining: Councilmember M.Smith ORDINANCES First Reading 10. 2025-O-28 An Ordinance to Combine Neighborhood Services and Economic Development Departments into Community Development Department.- Economic Development Director. Councilmember Hicks asked for Section 10 to be cleaned up to match the rest of the language in the ordinance. Motion to approve the First Reading of Ordinance 2025-O-28 with the change of the language in Section 10 made by Councilmember Schanen, Seconded by Councilmember O.Smith. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember M.Smith, Councilmember O.Smith, Councilmember Sahyun, Councilmember Schanen, Councilmember Hicks Motion to waive the Second Reading of Ordinance 2025-O-28 made by Councilmember Hicks, Seconded by Councilmember Majkrzak. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember M.Smith, Councilmember O.Smith, Councilmember Sahyun, Councilmember Schanen, Councilmember Hicks 11. 2025-O-29 an Ordinance amending Chapter 2.73.020 Aquatic Center Committee.- Parks No formal action taken. Bring back at a future meeting. Recommendation to have 6 members of equal School District and City/Council members, with the ability to add back in Citizen members. Common Council Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 4 CONSIDERATIONS 12. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the denied BOL appeal from Nicholas Wingate.- City Clerk This item was moved to the Consent Agenda. 13. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the award of Contract 3-2025, Wastewater Treatment Plant Return Activated Sludge Pump Addition.- Public Works This item was moved to the Consent Agenda. 14. Discussion and Possible Action regarding hiring a contractor to remove blockage and debris from Whitewater Creek near 220 and 228 N. George Street.- Public Works Motion to approve hiring a contractor to remove blockage and debris from Whitewater Creek not to exceed $25,000 made by Councilmember Hicks, Seconded by Councilmember O.Smith. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember M.Smith, Councilmember O.Smith, Councilmember Sahyun, Councilmember Schanen, Councilmember Hicks Voting Nay: Councilmember Majkrzak 15. Councilmember Requests for Future Agenda Items or Committee items. Questions Councilmember M. Smith - Update about Economic Development in the Downtown area. - Q1 Councilmember O. Smith - Update on the Education on Stormwater Fee. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 16. Staff report on rental housing list.-December 16, 2025 17. Fire Department Training Facility.- Q4 18. Update on Starin Park Water Tower plans- O. Smith Q1 2026 19. Update on Childcare Center.- December 16, 2025 20. TIF Impact Analysis.- December 16, 2025 ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn at 7:23pm made by Councilmember Majkrzak, Seconded by Councilmember Schanen. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember Majkrzak, Councilmember M.Smith, Councilmember O.Smith, Councilmember Sahyun, Councilmember Schanen, Councilmember Hicks 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. Common Council Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 5 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.