Lakes Advisory Committee Meeting

Lakes Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, July 10, 2024 – 4:30 pm Cravath Lakefront Room 312 W. Whitewater Street Whitewater, WI 53190 Hybrid Meeting 1. Call to Order and Roll Call Present: Carol McCormick, Gayle Stettler, Kurt Zipp, and Elvira Kau. Absent: Geoff Hale and Ginny Coburn Staff: Michelle Dujardin Guests: Kevin Green & Dale Maas 2. Approval of Agenda McCormick moved to approve agenda seconded by Kau. Ayes: Carol McCormick, Elvira Kau, Kurt Zipp, Gayle Stettler . Absent: Geoff Hale and Ginny Coburn 3. Approval Of Consent Agenda McCormick moved to approve agenda seconded by Kau. Ayes: Carol McCormick, Elvira Kau, Kurt Zipp, Gayle Stettler . Absent: Geoff Hale and Ginny Coburn  Geoff Hale arrived 4. Staff Reports Dujardin gave an update great things happening at the Lake: SEWPRC put out loggers to track temp & water levels, SEWRPC will be here the week of July 15th, June 26th Boat Trip on Trippe Lake with DNR Recap, Trippe Lake Clay Street Nature Park Dredge to begin, sharing of Amazing Wildlife Snapshots. 5. Hearing of Citizen Comments No Citizens Comments 6. Considerations/Discussions/Reports a. Discussion and possible action regarding Whitewater Stormwater Management Plan Questions. Presentations by Brad Marquardt, Public Works Director  Brad Updated the Committee on Stormwater Topics:  The last report/plan was done in 2017. What is the status of the new and updated version? o Strand is currently working on the updates. The final plan is scheduled for completion in June 2025.  Can you update the group on the Starin Park project and where that water goes? o The City is currently looking at construction in 2026 for the underground wet detention pond. This is to line up with University and City budgeting. The project will divert small flow storm events from the existing 66 inch storm sewer pipe in Starin Road into the wet detention pond and then back into the 66 inch storm sewer pipe. The storm sewer pipe currently discharges into the Whitewater Creek just north of Starin Road.  The property owners are charged a storm water fee, can you explain the uses of that fee and does that strictly go to maintenance or is there a fund for improvements? (Any that benefit the lakes/streams) o The fees go towards Administration, Street Cleaning, Stormwater Management, and Compost Site. The fees are used for maintenance and to pay off borrowing on capital projects. The capital projects include projects such as new storm sewer on street reconstruction projects, or projects that are constructed to help remove suspended solids and/or phosphorus.  If you had to pick a project in the storm water plan that isn’t being done that you would like to see done, what is that project? Could the Lakes Advisory Committee help make that happen through combination efforts with grant funding? o One project that will more than likely need to really be looked at is Water Trading. Either entering into a long term lease or buying land that is currently being used for farming and converting it into prairie grass. The Lakes Advisory Committee could help with this cause as it would help improve the lakes if the property is converted upstream of the lakes.  Is it possible to increase the stormwater fee and save in a fund that helps with lake improvements? o I would have to say no. The description of the Stormwater Utility Fund is an account for the revenues, expenses and capital planning necessary to comply with the State’s stormwater regulations, prevent flooding and to maintain the stormwater infrastructure and equipment. Money for the lakes dredging that has taken place and will take place was budgeted in the General Fund.  Does all the city stormwater go into the lakes? o No. Storm water drains into five different basins. They are Cravath Lake, Spring Brook (which ultimately drains into Cravath Lake), Trippe Lake, Whitewater Creek and Galloway Creek. The breakdown of the acres draining to each basin is as follows:  Cravath Lake (including Spring Brook) 19.2%  Trippe Lake 7.4%  Galloway Creek 20.1%  Whitewater Creek 53.3%  7. Considerations/Discussions/Reports a. Discussion and possible action regarding creation of Lake District Marketing Campaign Event Lakes Marketing Campaign Details  Location: Whitewater Brewhouse 841  Date: Options: October 2, 2024  Time: Evening Hours 5:00pm-7:00pm ( Spot reserved 3:30pm-8:00pm)  Invitation to the Public: o Social Media: Whitewaterbanner.com, Whitewater Paper (Kim), Facebook Pages ( City of Whitewater, Whitewater Parks & Recreation), Playing on City Hall TV’s ( Testimonials) o Printed versions in English & Spanish, o Home mailings, Water Bills o Street Banner  Invitations for table groups: o SEWRPC o DNR o UW-Whitewater- Dale Splinter & Wes Enterline o Whitewater Creek Coalition o Park & Rec o City of Whitewater Storm Water o Eric Olson from UW-Extension Office, o Rotary Club o Tallgrass o RLP Diversified Inc. o Whitewater & Rice Lake District, Area for larger photo prints ( Dale Maas & Steve Watson) Before & After Pictures o Area for canvas pictures  Topics to have brochures available on: o Lakes District’s o Shoreline Restoration info for residents  o DNR Grants for residents o Q & A:  Top 10 benefits of forming a Lakes District  Why do I want to back a Lakes District?  What is this going to cost me?  Thank you for attending ideas: Raffle for Rain Barrel o Give out Raffle Tickets, keep other half to keep track of numbers  Name Ideas: o Yes for Lakes District, Come to 841 Brewhouse o Together For Healthy Lakes  Slogan Ideas: o The most valuable gem right beneath our feet 1. 8. Future Agenda Items a. Lake District Creation Discussion b. Lake District Marketing Campaign c. Geese Concerns 9. Adjournment d. Motioned by Hale to adjourn, seconded by McCormick. Unanimous voice vote. Adjournment at 6:00pm. Respectfully Submitted, Michelle Dujardin