Monroe Common Council Meeting - May 4, 2026
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Monroe Common Council Meeting - May 4, 2026
The Monroe Common Council met on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 6:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting lasted approximately 47 minutes, adjourning at 7:17 PM. All eight alderpersons were present (Richard Thoman, Corinne Wartenweiler, Heidi Treuthardt, Matt Sheaffer, Craig Franke, Dylan McGuire, Christopher Vestin, Darlene Voelkli). Mayor Tom Miller presided. The council approved a consent agenda, several resolutions, and set four public hearings for May 18, 2026, regarding zoning text amendments to promote housing development. A closed session was held to discuss property purchases, followed by unanimous approval of those transactions.
Consent Calendar
- Miscellaneous Licenses and Claims List: Approved 7-0 (Alder Franke abstained). The vote taken was: Ayes – Thoman, Wartenweiler, Treuthardt, Sheaffer, McGuire, Vestin, Voelkli; Abstain – Franke.
Discussion Items
- Recognition of Main Street Monroe & Jordan Nordby: Mayor Miller recognized Jordan Nordby, Executive Director of Main Street Monroe, who reported on recent accomplishments including a state award for the Pocket Park project (with public restrooms), a national conference panel on succession planning, and upcoming events: farmers market (started May 2), night market (May 16), summer concerts (starting May 30), public art installations, and a historic walking tour. Alder Franke later reported on the Main Street Monroe Board, noting discussions about potential increased financial support for organizations in the upcoming budget. Alder Treuhardt expressed appreciation for the new public restrooms. Jordan noted the Pocket Park capital campaign is about 99.5% funded.
- Mayor's Additional Recognitions: Mayor Miller proclaimed May 4 as International Firefighters Day, May 4-8 as National Teacher Appreciation Week, and also recognized Nurses Week, thanking all for their service.
- License Committee – Leisure Lanes Outdoor Beer Garden: Resolution approved 8-0 to temporarily extend the licensed premises for Leisure Lanes (2308 6th Avenue) to include an outdoor roped-off beer garden (approx. 40x60 feet) on select dates between May 10 and September 23, 2026.
- Public Safety Committee – Special Event Permits: Resolution approved 8-0 authorizing three events: (1) Main Street Monroe Summer Kickoff on June 6, 2026 (downtown street closures); (2) Union Presbyterian Church’s Cinco de Mayo Community Festival on May 9, 2026 (noon-5 PM at 2707 Fifth Street); (3) Monroe High School GSA Pride Parade on June 6, 2026 (parade route from high school to Twining Park, 2:00-2:30 PM).
- Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee – Setting Public Hearings: The council unanimously set a public hearing for May 18, 2026, for four zoning text amendments: (K.1) Revising minimum lot area requirements in the TR-10 (One and Two Family Residential) district; (K.2) Revising minimum lot area requirements in the NMU (Neighborhood Mixed Use) district; (K.3) Relaxing restrictions on the number of units per multi-family building in the MR-15 district by right; (K.4) Amending parking requirements in NMU, MR-15, and MR-30 districts. All hearings will be held on May 18, 2026.
- Salary and Personnel Committee – Seasonal Bathhouse/Slide Attendant: Resolution approved 8-0 establishing a pay rate of $11.00 per hour for the seasonal bathhouse/slide attendant position (effective January 1, 2026).
- Finance and Taxation Committee – Closed Session and Subsequent Actions: The council voted 8-0 to enter closed session at 6:57 PM to discuss purchasing land/right-of-way at 13th Street and 31st Avenue and an updated contract to purchase city property on 21st Street, citing Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(e) (competitive/bargaining reasons). After reconvening at 7:11 PM, the council approved 8-0 two resolutions: (M.3) authorizing the purchase of land/right-of-way at 13th Street and 31st Avenue; (M.4) approving an updated contract to purchase property on 21st Street.
- Clerk’s Reminder: City Clerk Wahl reminded that a Board of Public Works meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved (7-0).
- Leisure Lanes beer garden resolution approved (8-0).
- Three special event permits approved (8-0).
- Public hearings set for May 18, 2026, on four zoning text amendments (unanimous).
- Seasonal bathhouse/slide attendant wage resolution approved (8-0).
- Property purchase at 13th Street/31st Avenue approved (8-0).
- Updated contract to purchase property on 21st Street approved (8-0).
- Meeting adjourned at 7:17 PM (8-0).
Meeting Transcript
Okay, it is 631. I'll call the Susie Monroe Comic Council to order. And all stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, please. Congratulations to the five states of America. One nation under God. Indivisible Liberty and Justice Borough. Would the clerk call the roll, please? Older Tolman. Here. Here. Alder Schaefer. Here. Alder Frankie. Here. Alder McGuire. Here. Older Vestine. Here. And older Vulkley. Good speaking of that last name. Here. And then Alder True Heart. Who is trying to join us online currently? So. Okay. So it looks like once uh Alder TrueHart gets online, we'll all be present. Okay. Uh corrections of minutes from April 20th and 21st. If none, they stand approved as presented. Presentations of petitions and communication. Okay. Uh business presented by Mayor. Recognition of Main Street Monroe Incorporated and Jordan Orby presentation. It's all yours, Jordan. Hi everyone. Thank you. But try to keep it really brief and conversational. And if you have questions, uh just just stop me. But always appreciate your time and um the support that we've we've had from the city for the entire time. Um I think I've said this a few times now, but uh support can look like a lot of different things, and we definitely feel that with the city. Obviously, the financial contributions, but all of the department heads, the collaboration with um administrator Rindy and other staff members. Um it just makes everything we do possible and uh really good camaraderie. Uh Chief Kelly's last day is going to be the car show, which uh I don't know if he's excited about it or if I'm excited about it, but it's kind of kind of fitting. So um that'll be that'll be great. But um, yeah, we're just getting into our our summer event season. Uh farmers market has started as of Saturday. Um we're doing another night market on the 16th, which is really the reason um that the mayor asked me to speak uh just last month at the 35th annual Main Street Awards. We won a competitive award for best large scale placemaking pop uh project for the pocket park um with the public restrooms obviously being uh a key component of that. But um it's I got to accept the award because uh Josh Trayman with Parks and Rec and um Administrator Rindy were at the GCDC dinner, which uh they've never fallen on the same night, so that was kind of kind of funny in that. But obviously, um the award would not be possible without the city and the fact that the city um covered the pledges for three years, so um it's I'm holding the award, but it really is half to the to the city, so that's been very very cool to share.
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