Common Council Meeting

Common Council Meeting Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room, 312 West Whitewater St., Whitewater, WI 53190 *In Person and Virtual Tuesday, December 16, 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. https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/26464103859139?p=yG89m9foipW712S1h2 Dial in by phone +1 929-229-5663,,971378892# United States, New York City Find a local number Phone conference ID: 971 378 892# 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. AGENDA MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Council President Singer called the meeting to order at 6pm. ROLL CALL PRESENT Council President Patrick Singer Councilmember Michael M.Smith Councilmember Orin O.Smith Councilmember Steven Sahyun Councilmember Brian Schanen Councilmember Neil Hicks City Manager, John Weidl Public Works Director, Brad Marquardt City Clerk, Heather Boehm ABSENT Councilmember Greg Majkrzak City Attorney, Steven Chesebro Common Council Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council President Singer, announced a short moment of silence in the honor of Whitewater Firefighter & EMT, Daria Deibele who passed away earlier in the week. 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 to Approve the Agenda made by Councilmember O.Smith, Seconded by Councilmember Schanen. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember M.Smith, Councilmember O.Smith, Councilmember Sahyun, Councilmember Schanen, Councilmember Hicks PRESENTATION 1. Whitewater Early Childhood Education and Childcare Center presentation Kristine Zaballos and Thayer Coburn gave a presentation on the Early Childhood Education and Childcare Center. 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 made by Councilmember O.Smith, Seconded by Councilmember Sahyun. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember M.Smith, Councilmember O.Smith, Councilmember Sahyun, Councilmember Schanen, Councilmember Hicks 2. Approval of Common Council Meeting Minutes from December 2, 2025. 3. Alcohol Licensing Committee Meeting Minutes from October 22, 2025. 4. Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes from November 11, 2025. 5. Appointment of the 2026-2027 Election Inspectors. 6. Early Childhood Education and Care Center partnership and potential siting at the Innovation Center. 7. Renewal of service agreement with HydroCorp to continue with non-residential cross- connection inspections. 8. Memo on the Home Renewal Program and Naturally Occurring Vacancy. 9. Memo regarding summary of 2025 Annual Joint Review Board meeting. 10. Memo regarding status of MOU between the City and Downtown Whitewater, Inc. Common Council Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 3 11. Memo regarding questions on City Zoning Processes. 12. Referendum Impact. 13. November 2025 Finaical Statements CITY MANAGER REPORT 14. 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 the HR department. Councilmember Hicks wanted to personally thank Parks & Rec Director Kevin Boehm for all the hours and work he puts into the community. STAFF REPORTS 15. TIF Impact Analysis.- Finance 16. Mill Rate Impact of the Voter-Approved Referendum.- Finance 17. Information for Community Groups Regarding the Referendum's Impact on Property Taxes.- Finance Finance Director Rachelle Blitch gave an update on information for community groups regarding the referendum's impact on taxes. 18. Memo response to concerns raised at the 2026 Budget Hearing. Finance Director Rachelle Blitch gave an update on concerns raised at the 2026 Budget Hearing. 19. Employee Salary Ranges- HR HR Manager Sara Marquardt gave an update on Employee Salary Ranges. 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. Erica Shepp spoke about the Childcare Center. Kevin Green (365 W Ann St) spoke about the increase in tax rates. Common Council Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 4 Brad Ceranski spoke about the increase in taxes and increase in City employees. Chuck Mills (336 S Whiton St) spoke about the Childcare Center. Jeff Knight (405 Panther Ct) spoke about the Childcare Center and taxes. Larry Kachel (457 Buckingham Blvd) spoke about the tax increase. CONSIDERATIONS 20. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the Home Renewal Program.- Community Development Director. Community Development Director Mason Becker spoke about the Home Renewal Program. Jeff Knight (405 Panther Ct) spoke about the Home Renewal Program. Larry Kachel (457 Buckingham Blvd) spoke about the Home Renewal Program. Motion to approve Option A of the Home Renewal Program made by Councilmember O.Smith, Seconded by Councilmember Sahyun. Voting Yea: Council President Singer, Councilmember M.Smith, Councilmember O.Smith, Councilmember Sahyun, Councilmember Schanen, Councilmember Hicks 21. Councilmember Requests for Future Agenda Items or Committee items. Questions FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 22. Update on Downtown- M. Smith February 3, 2026. 23. Update on the Community Service Program- O. Smith Q1 24. Staff report on rental housing list.-January 20, 2026 25. Fire Department Training Facility.- Q1 2026 26. Update on Starin Park Water Tower plans- O. Smith Q1 2026 27. Update on MOU between the City of Whitewater and Downtown Whitewater, Inc.- Q1 2026 ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn at 7:52pm 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 Common Council Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 5 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. Respectfully Submitted: Tiffany Albright Deputy Clerk