Lake Geneva Common Council Meeting — November 9, 2026

The Lake Geneva Common Council met on Monday, November 9, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers at Lake Geneva City Hall, 626 Geneva St. Mayor Todd Krause presided, with Council President Cindy Yager joining via Zoom. The meeting covered election results, the consent agenda, two resolutions, two ordinances, an alley vacation public hearing date, denial of an Alliant Energy easement request, and a major overhaul of the city's Waterways Ordinance (Ch. 90) and West End waitlist policies.

Election Update & Announcements

• City Clerk reported that 3,794 voters cast ballots in the November 3, 2026 election; 2,010 of those voted absentee (by mail or in person) and 156 new voters registered. The Mayor praised the Clerk and Deputy Clerk for their work.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Alex Binanti (Executive Director, Downtown Lake Geneva Business Improvement District) spoke on the Light Up Lake Geneva Tree Lighting (agenda item 10D/E). He explained the event moves from Flat Iron Park to Riviera Plaza on Friday, November 27, 2026, with the ceremony from 4:00–5:00 pm and the Riviera Ballroom used from 3:00–6:00 pm as a warming center. The event will use one of the original trees (no fresh tree cut), feature crafts (stickers on wooden ornaments, no glitter or hot glue), hot chocolate, cookies, a projector streaming Christmas movies, carollers, the Mayor, and Santa arriving on a fire truck. Lights throughout the city will be wired to turn on simultaneously.
• Bill Landry (2116 Heather Drive, Town of Lyons) spoke on item 10C (checks). He noted the prepaid checks include $31,500 to Flock Group for the second year of the city's video camera contract, charged to the equipment replacement fund (account 50-00-00-58,000). He stated the proposed 2027 budget includes $30,000 for replacement cameras in that account plus $27,000 in the police camera account for license plate readers, and that both Flock contracts renew automatically for two more years in 2027 unless the city gives notice. He emphasized the council approved budget money in 2025 but never voted on either contract, and raised privacy concerns about Flock's data handling. He asked the council to place the Flock contracts on its own agenda for discussion, ideally before the November 23 budget vote.
• Greg Ealek (Lake Geneva property owner) spoke on item 13 (alley vacation). He questioned how the city could give up an alley to adjacent property owners given resident tax payments, asked how the city would handle snow removal and alley maintenance, and wondered how the alley would be divided. He was told the December 14 public hearing would address those concerns.

City Administrator's Report — Dave DAngelis

• County Highway H project is substantially complete (paving and markings done; restoration items remain). Quick Street is also complete, with an outstanding issue joining the ramp and pavement for the alleyway.
• Highway 50 reconstruction bid letting was scheduled for November 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.; the successful bidder should be known that afternoon. Contract review is expected to take about a month and a half, with a construction schedule (including sewer/water utility work) likely known in the first or second week of January 2027. Staff continue meeting with residents; utilities are required to be relocated by February 1, 2027, but as of last week only Windstream and cable providers had submitted permit applications for gas/electric moves.
• In response to Alderman Hoiland: utility location flags on Main Street remain until the locate work is completed by the utility that called it in.

Comptroller's Report — Laura (Comptroller)

• No monthly financial report was presented; it will be provided at the November 23 meeting. The Comptroller made several clarifications:
  • A statement circulated to residents about a "$630 million loss for 2026" was a misstatement; the projected worst-case deficit is $630,000, and the city ended 2025 with a positive $22,000. The city is not a profit agency and aims for net zero.
  • The city is not in a financial crisis; the general fund has an $8.4 million fund balance.
  • The Highway 50 plan has been discussed for three years; the 2027 budget anticipates a worst-case $250,000 revenue deficit in the parking fund, which has sufficient fund balance (a planned "rainy day"). The approved shuttle cost of $154,000 is included. 2028 is expected to be harder hit and will be reviewed again.
  • The 2026 mill rate is 4.39; the projected 2027 mill rate decreases to 4.26, reducing property taxes. The goal is to hold the mill rate flat for 2028.
  • Bonding: an original $23 million request was reviewed and reduced to $11.8 million. Road improvement spending will double from $3.1 million (2024–2026) to $6 million (2027–2029).
• Alderman Hoiland requested: (1) a 2027 general fund budget option with no reserve draw, which he characterized as a deficit budget subsidized by reserves; (2) a 2027–28 revenue risk forecast; and (3) updated financial reports and reconciliations. DAngelis responded that the budget is balanced, the 10% fund balance allocation is a conservative contingency mechanism unused in the past three years, and that a zero fund-balance utilization budget would require direction from the full council, not a single alder. DAngelis noted September financials will be in the November 23 packet. Hoiland also thanked the county for the Highway H improvements (shorter crosswalks, flashing beacons), raised a channel 25 sound issue, and asked that the property owner be notified about maintenance of a new bump-out terrace at H and George Street; DAngelis said he would address it at the next staff meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Items A (Special Council Minutes, Oct 26, 2026), B (Regular Council Minutes, Oct 26, 2026), D (Public Event Permit for Light Up Lake Geneva, Nov 27, 2026, Riviera Plaza, 4:00–5:00 pm), and E (Complimentary Riviera Ballroom request, Nov 27, 2026, 3:00–6:00 pm) were approved by unanimous voice vote.
• Item C (Pre-Paid Checks of $497,624.74 and Regular Checks of $301,537.07) was removed at Alderman Hoiland's request. After discussion (including why Wolf Paving appeared in the check detail — DAngelis explained council approval is required before a check is issued), the checks were approved on a motion by Alderman Ames, seconded by Vice President Stoodley.

Ordinances and Resolutions

• Resolution 26-R60 — Approving a Planned Development (PD) Precise Implementation Plan (PIP) filed by Kristen Kettle for a commercial building at 140 Broad Street (Tax Key No. ZOP 00331). Motion by Alderman Hoiland, second by Vice President Stoodley. Approved unanimously.
• Resolution 26-R61 — Authorizing a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for Kurt Jennison to establish an Indoor Entertainment Facility (Billiard Parlor) at 772 W Main Street (Tax Key No. ZOP 00321). Motion by Alderman Ames, second by Alderman Smith. Approved unanimously.
• Ordinance 26-11 — Amending Section 2-501 to add the Personnel Committee and all standing committees to the list of televised and livestreamed governmental bodies. Alderman Hoiland moved to waive the first reading and proceed to second reading; second by Alderman Smith. Approved on first and second readings unanimously.
• Ordinance 26-12 — Amending and restating Article V, CHILD SAFETY ZONES of Chapter 50. The Mayor recommended leaving it at first reading to allow public review before the next meeting. First reading only; no final vote taken.

Alley Vacation Public Hearing Date (Item 13)

• The Council set a public hearing for December 14, 2026 on a resolution to discontinue a portion of the paved alley in WATSON'S BOULEVARD ADDITION (South of Lots 20–24, East of Lot 20, West of Lots 1, 2, and 3; Southwest 1/4 of Section 25, Township 2 North, Range 17 East). DAngelis explained this is the final public process step for the George Street Alley vacation, after which the alley would be vacated to adjoining property owners by proportional share. Motion by Alderman Fesenmaier, second by Alderman Smith. Approved unanimously.

Alliant Energy Easement Request (Item 14)

• The Council voted to deny Alliant Energy's additional easement request along Townline Road near the park by Symphony Bay. Alderman Yager made the motion; Alderman Fesenmaier seconded. DAngelis explained Alliant acknowledged there is sufficient room within the existing right-of-way; the additional 15-foot dedicated easement would shift future costs to the city (if city work required moving Alliant's line, the city would have to pay). The property is Out Lot One, dedicated park land given to the city by the Symphony Bay developer, so the request went to the Parks Board, which recommended denial; it did not go to the utility commission because it is a city street. Motion to deny approved unanimously.

Waterways Ordinance Ch. 90 Amendments & West End Waitlist (Item 15)

• Harbormaster staff David and Luke presented a comprehensive ordinance overhaul developed with the Piers, Harbors & Lakefront (PHL) Committee. Key changes include:
  • Section 91: Rename Library Park Buoys to West End Buoys; remove the dinghy ramp as a separately licensable facility (it becomes exclusive to West End buoy licensees, with watercraft limited to 12 feet or less and non-motorized); remove Riviera buoys from the ordinance (all are commercially used by Marina Bay and Lake Geneva Boat Line).
  • Section 92: Establish resident and non-resident license fee rates; prefer email over U.S. mail for notices.
  • Section 93: Require a Wisconsin certificate of title for verification; prohibit licenses and waitlist positions for boats operated for commercial hire (with a statutory exception for licensed fishing guides) and for persons who lease their Lake Geneva property unless they personally occupy a separate Lake Geneva property as primary or seasonal address.
  • Section 94: Change "two weeks" to "14 consecutive days"; beginning with the 2030 boating season, all watercraft licensed at West End Pier or Riviera Slip must be equipped with a boat lift (at the licensee's cost), prompted by $100,000 in slip repairs last year.
  • Section 95: Prohibit personal watercraft (jet skis, wave runners) at all city marina facilities; a separate agreement with Elmer's specifies their commercial operations.
  • Section 96: Move the deadline for presenting license fees to the Council from March to February.
  • Section 99: Create separate waitlists for West End Pier Slips, West End Buoys, West End Kayak Rack, and Riviera Pier Slips; simplify eligibility into two groups — Group 1A (city residents) and Group 1B (seasonal community members meeting five criteria: owner of record, residential tax classification, dwelling with sleeping quarters, not leased to a third party, and not meeting resident standard); all others are non-residents. West End Pier and Kayak Rack are restricted to residents; West End Buoys and Riviera Slips are open to residents and non-residents. Waitlist ordering is by application date. Fees: $50 for pier/buoy waitlists, $25 for kayak, and a $5 annual recertification fee for new applicants only. The West End waitlist is approximately 20 years long with 139 individuals; annual recertification will keep information current and confirm continued interest. A signed attestation is required (boat not rented or commercial, property not leased, applicant is titled owner, boat not moored under another's license, information accurate); falsification results in immediate license termination, removal from all waitlists, and ineligibility for two full boating seasons. License transfers are limited to spouses only. A one-time waitlist deferral is available with a boat purchase quote if a boat has not yet arrived.
  • Section 202: Establish a replacement fund for Riviera slips, kept separate from West End funds, funded at 20% of the respective facility license fee (replacing the $1,000 flat fee).
• Discussion: Alderman Fesenmaier asked why Riviera buoys are removed rather than kept (answer: the field is entirely used by commercial operators; it can be restored later). Alderman Frame asked about the relationship between dinghy spaces and the kayak waitlist (kayak waitlist applicants may rent dinghy spaces if available starting June 16). The Mayor and Alderpersons Yager and Frame praised the staff and PHL Committee; Frame noted she lacked staff support for such changes when she was harbormaster in 2019–2020. Alderman Smith voiced concern that long-waiting residents had been "edged out by non-residents."
• Grandfathering: There are currently three non-residents on the West End waitlist; the PHL Committee will decide at its November 10 meeting whether to grandfather them, phase them out, or remove them. On Alderman Stoodley's motion, the Council directed the City Attorney to draft the ordinance, subject to the PHL grandfathering determination. Approved unanimously.
• West End waitlist presentation: Staff showed the preliminary 2026 West End waitlist — the top two individuals have been on it since 2002 and 2005; priority was given to former lagoon users who requested West End placement; a lottery will be held for individuals without a ranking. Alderman Ames moved to continue the waitlist item to the next meeting; Alderman Frame seconded. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda items A, B, D, E approved; checks (item C, $497,624.74 prepaid and $301,537.07 regular) approved after removal and separate vote.
• Resolution 26-R60 and Resolution 26-R61 approved unanimously.
• Ordinance 26-11 approved on first and second readings; Ordinance 26-12 held at first reading.
• Public hearing on the Watson's Boulevard alley vacation set for December 14, 2026.
• Alliant Energy's additional 15-foot easement request unanimously denied.
• Council directed the City Attorney to draft the Ch. 90 Waterways ordinance amendment subject to the PHL Committee's grandfathering decision; the West End waitlist item was continued to the next meeting.
• Meeting adjourned by unanimous voice vote.