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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Menasha Common Council Meeting - May 18, 2026

Common Council — Monday, May 18, 2026

BodyMenasha, Wisconsin

SessionCommon Council

DateMonday, May 18, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:50:38

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:31

Good evening.

0:32

I'd like to call the City of Manasha Common Council meeting to order.

0:35

If you'd please rise and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:55

Thank you.

0:59

If we could have the role, please.

Speaker 2

1:01

Alderman Perkins.

1:03

Alderman Lewis.

1:04

Alderman Marshall.

1:05

Alderman Groudy.

1:06

Alderman School.

1:08

Alderman Rand.

1:09

Alderman Eisenach is absent.

1:11

Alderman Hale.

1:12

All right, seven are present.

Speaker 1

1:15

Thank you very much.

1:16

We'll move next to D on the agenda, which is public hearing.

1:19

And we do have two items this evening, both of which are special use permit.

1:33

Marcus McGuire.

1:35

I'm gonna let Director Dane give a little quick brief background and then I'll open that public hearing up and then we'll go to the second one and then proceed with the with the agenda.

1:47

So uh Director Dane.

Unassigned speaker

1:49

Okay, this is first

Speaker 3

1:51

pub.

1:52

Hello.

1:53

This first public hearing um has to do with the special use application uh that we've received uh from Marcus McGuire.

2:02

Um application for special use permit, rather, to construct uh duplexes within the C One General Commercial District.

2:09

This is at 1327 Province Terrace, so these are this is uh a lot that's a little over two acres that's just north of where the four development is going in and then just east or behind uh festival foods off of Oneida Street and Province Terrace.

2:25

Um the uh proposed uh use is um again uh duplexes uh zero lot line duplexes that will be uh constructed here by Marcus McGuire.

2:38

Um this is an eligible uh use uh uh under special use permit within the C one district.

Speaker 1

2:46

Thank you, Director Dane.

2:47

Uh so I'll open the first public hearing uh momentarily.

2:51

I would just state that if anybody uh in the gallery this evening wishes to speak,

Unassigned speaker

2:56

uh

Speaker 1

2:56

that you step up to the podium, uh speak into the microphone, state your first and last name and address.

3:01

You have as long as you wish to speak to address the common council, just ask if you have questions, maybe

Unassigned speaker

3:06

uh

Speaker 1

3:06

phrase them as I'm wondering this or that, and we can incorporate it into the item later on the agenda with an answer.

Unassigned speaker

3:12

Uh

Speaker 1

3:12

with that though, we are on D, which is public hearing, and the first is D one, and I will open the public hearing for the special use permit to family housing.

3:20

This is for 1327 Province Terrace, parcel number seven-five three-zero two.

3:27

Marcus McGuire.

3:28

The public hearing for the special use permit is now open.

Speaker 4

3:52

I would just like to acknowledge my presence here today and thank you all for uh hearing our uh agenda item.

3:59

So if there's any questions, I'll be here for later.

Unassigned speaker

4:25

Is

Speaker 1

4:25

there anyone else in the gallery that would like to speak uh during the first public item or public hearing item, excuse

Unassigned speaker

4:31

me?

Speaker 1

4:35

Going once, going twice.

4:41

Last call.

4:42

Seeing none, we will close the public hearing for item D one on the agenda, which is the first special use permit uh from Marcus McGuire.

4:52

The next is D two, and this is a special use permit as well, and this is a single family housing.

5:03

Greater Fox City's Area Habitat for Humanity.

5:06

Director Dane, could you give us a little bit of background on this, please, before I open the public hearing?

Speaker 3

5:11

Yes, Mayor.

5:13

This is similar to the last application for special use permit.

5:18

This is also in a C1 commercial district.

5:21

The applicant is Habitat for Humanity, and their intended use is construction of eight single family detached homes at this location.

5:33

This is in kind of uh that little portion of Drum Circle Drive that sort of cuts uh north and sort of ties back into the former UW Fox campus uh between there and uh um and uh Appleton Road and uh for this special use permit again.

5:56

It's just strictly focused on creation of eight uh single family attached homes uh with at that uh parcel, which I believe is roughly three acres in size.

Speaker 1

6:07

Thank

Unassigned speaker

6:08

you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural████████████████████████24%

Affordable Housing█████████████13%

Active Transportation███████████11%

Economic Development██████████10%

Transportation Safety█████████9%

Public Engagement████████8%

Water And Wastewater Management████████8%

Zoning Ordinance██████6%

Engineering And Infrastructure████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Menasha Common Council Meeting - May 18, 2026

The Menasha Common Council met on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the First Floor Conference Rooms at 100 Main Street. Mayor Hammond presided with seven aldermen present (Ald. Eisenach absent). The meeting addressed two public hearings for special use permits, received a market study presentation, and acted on several ordinances and resolutions, including a contentious debate on e-bike regulations.

Public Hearings

Special Use Permit – Two-Family Housing (1327 Province Terrace): Marcus McGuire applied to construct duplexes in a C-1 Commercial District. No public testimony was offered; the hearing opened and closed quickly. Staff noted the use is allowable by special use permit and near other planned housing.
Special Use Permit – Single Family Housing (1615 Drum Corps Drive): Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity proposed eight single-family detached homes in a C-1 District. No public testimony was offered.

Public Comments & Testimony

Dennis Kittel (410 Kraft Street, Neenah), President of Fox Cities Greenways, spoke during the first public comment period (Item E) expressing concerns about Ordinance O-10-26 (e-bike regulation). He supported the direction but criticized the lack of stakeholder involvement and asked the council to refer the ordinance back to staff. He repeated his appreciation during the second public comment period (Item N) after the council voted to refer.

Discussion Items

City Market Study Presentation: Community Development Director Andrew Dane presented a site-specific market study used to inform the Comprehensive Plan update. Key findings included: very low apartment vacancy rates, 35% of households are single-person (highest among peer cities), 43% of renters are cost-burdened, and incomes have risen faster than home and rent values. The study also assessed development potential for the Lawson Canal area and City Hall district.
O-10-26 – Electric Scooter and E-Bike Ordinance: The ordinance, developed over nine months by a working group of Menasha, Neenah, Fox Crossing, and Appleton police and legal departments, aimed to regulate e-bikes and e-scooters. Ald. Rand raised concerns about statutory conformity issues (e.g., penalty caps, lighting standards) and argued the ordinance fails to target illegal e-motos causing the problems. Fox Cities Greenways also criticized the lack of stakeholder input. A motion to refer the ordinance back to staff with direction to engage stakeholders and resolve conformity items carried 4-3 (Alds. Hale, Marshall, Grade dissenting).
O-11-26 – Helmet Use for Persons Under 16: This ordinance required helmet use for persons under 16. Several amendments were adopted: (1) updated helmet standard from ANSI/Snell to CPSC 16 C.F.R. Part 1203 (7-0); (2) renumbered a section label (7-0); (3) struck a park-specific helmet requirement (C1) and referred it to staff for inclusion in the parks code (6-1, Ald. Grade dissenting). The ordinance as amended passed 7-0.
R-11-26 – Sewer Utility Fund Reallocation for April 2026 Rainfall Event: This resolution authorized reallocation of sewer funds for infrastructure improvements due to flooding and sewer backups from heavy rainfall. DPW Director Merten outlined plans including televising sewers, purchasing monitoring units, and code updates. Passed 7-0.
R-12-26 – Support for SS4A Grant Application for STH 47 Feasibility Study: The council supported a grant application to East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission for a study of active transportation facilities (sidewalks, bike lanes) on State Trunk Highway 47 between Ninth Street and Calumet Street. The local match would be approximately $7,698. Passed 7-0.

Key Outcomes

Consent Calendar Approvals:
- Minutes of 5/4/26 and 5/5/26 approved on voice votes.
- Special Use Permit and Preliminary Plat for 1327 Province Terrace (duplexes) approved 4-3 (Alds. Hale, Marshall, School dissenting). Condition: preliminary/final plat required.
- Special Use Permit and Preliminary Plat for 1615 Drum Corps Drive (single-family homes) approved 7-0. Condition: drainage/grading plan required; Lot 9 may have future development.
- Authorization to fill one firefighter vacancy no earlier than June 6, 2026, approved 7-0.
Action Items:
- Accounts payable and payroll for 5/1/26 – 5/14/26 ($1,183,091.35) approved 7-0.
- Accept and spend 2026 Interoperable Radio Grant Award approved 7-0 (upgrades radios to WISCOM for state interoperability).
Ordinances and Resolutions:
- O-10-26 referred back to staff 4-3.
- O-11-26 approved as amended 7-0.
- R-11-26 approved 7-0.
- R-12-26 approved 7-0.
Appointments:
- Donald Merkes to Board of Review (term 5/19/26 – 5/19/29) approved on voice vote.
- Eli Wickman to Plan Commission (term 5/19/26 – 5/1/28) approved on voice vote.
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 7:51 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I'd like to call the City of Manasha Common Council meeting to order. If you'd please rise and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. If we could have the role, please. Alderman Perkins. Alderman Lewis. Alderman Marshall. Alderman Groudy. Alderman School. Alderman Rand. Alderman Eisenach is absent. Alderman Hale. All right, seven are present. Thank you very much. We'll move next to D on the agenda, which is public hearing. And we do have two items this evening, both of which are special use permit. Marcus McGuire. I'm gonna let Director Dane give a little quick brief background and then I'll open that public hearing up and then we'll go to the second one and then proceed with the with the agenda. So uh Director Dane. Okay, this is first pub. Hello. This first public hearing um has to do with the special use application uh that we've received uh from Marcus McGuire. Um application for special use permit, rather, to construct uh duplexes within the C One General Commercial District. This is at 1327 Province Terrace, so these are this is uh a lot that's a little over two acres that's just north of where the four development is going in and then just east or behind uh festival foods off of Oneida Street and Province Terrace. Um the uh proposed uh use is um again uh duplexes uh zero lot line duplexes that will be uh constructed here by Marcus McGuire. Um this is an eligible uh use uh uh under special use permit within the C one district. Thank you, Director Dane. Uh so I'll open the first public hearing uh momentarily. I would just state that if anybody uh in the gallery this evening wishes to speak, uh that you step up to the podium, uh speak into the microphone, state your first and last name and address. You have as long as you wish to speak to address the common council, just ask if you have questions, maybe uh phrase them as I'm wondering this or that, and we can incorporate it into the item later on the agenda with an answer. Uh with that though, we are on D, which is public hearing, and the first is D one, and I will open the public hearing for the special use permit to family housing. This is for 1327 Province Terrace, parcel number seven-five three-zero two. Marcus McGuire. The public hearing for the special use permit is now open. I would just like to acknowledge my presence here today and thank you all for uh hearing our uh agenda item. So if there's any questions, I'll be here for later. Is there anyone else in the gallery that would like to speak uh during the first public item or public hearing item, excuse me? Going once, going twice. Last call. Seeing none, we will close the public hearing for item D one on the agenda, which is the first special use permit uh from Marcus McGuire. The next is D two, and this is a special use permit as well, and this is a single family housing.

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