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Record of Proceedings

Monroe Redevelopment Authority Meeting - October 19, 2026

Common Council & Commissions — Monday, October 19, 2026
BodyMonroe, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council & Commissions
DateMonday, October 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:02

It's 501.

0:03

I'll call the RDA meeting to order.

0:05

Can the clerk call the roll, please?

Speaker 2

0:08

Older McGuire.

0:10

Here.

0:10

Ron Spielman.

0:12

Melissa Evan.

Unassigned speaker

0:13

Here.

Speaker 2

0:14

Dave Whartonweiler.

0:15

Here.

0:16

Brooke Ballman.

Speaker 3

0:18

Here.

Speaker 2

0:19

Ron Markham here.

0:21

And Corey Koundert.

Speaker 3

0:23

Here.

Speaker 1

0:26

Okay.

0:26

Everyone's here.

0:28

Item B correction of minutes for March 16th, 2026.

Unassigned speaker

0:37

No.

Speaker 3

0:37

No least.

Speaker 1

0:40

Looks like no one has any changes, so those will stand as approved.

0:44

On the C business item one financial report.

Speaker 4

0:50

This is Administrator Rindy, and so providing kind of a financial update on the RDA fund.

0:58

No real significant changes to highlight since we last met, and I believe it was March.

1:04

Kind of noting just a reminder.

1:06

So you did receive your $60,000 payment from the city, and that is that final payment as part of that agreement.

1:13

So that's kind of the last source of current revenue coming forward until we find additional or seek something different.

1:21

Then looking at kind of expenditures, there was an additional expenditure that has been paid out, including the EMC property development agreement for the residential units, which I think I put a wrong number in there actually, is it should be 20,000.

1:38

So I'm gonna I'll double check that.

1:42

And then also the Eugene Hotel Development Agreement.

1:46

So with those expenditures, um you still have a projected end-of-year fund balance of 220,832.

1:54

Um that's factoring in.

1:56

I believe there's one outstanding HIP grant agreement that has not been paid out of 8900.

2:02

Um so that would factor that in.

2:04

Otherwise, it's at 229,748.

2:10

And all of that remains unrestricted.

2:13

You guys have utilized the affordable housing funds that you had.

2:17

So it doesn't have to be specific to affordable housing.

Speaker 1

2:29

Any questions on

Unassigned speaker

2:30

that?

Speaker 1

2:33

Sounds like no.

2:35

Item two is discussion consideration of supporting the Monroe Botanical Garden.

Speaker 5

2:44

Hello everybody.

2:47

Thank you so much for letting letting us come and talk to you about the Monroe Botanical Garden.

2:54

Uh really appreciate the opportunity.

2:57

Um I have some slides.

2:59

I'm not gonna there's a many more slides here than I'm gonna cover.

3:02

Just don't be scared.

3:05

Um

Unassigned speaker

3:06

I

Speaker 3

3:06

did want

Speaker 5

3:06

to

Unassigned speaker

3:07

hear about you.

Speaker 3

3:08

Can you give us your name?

Speaker 5

3:10

Oh, yes, sorry.

3:10

My name is Melissa Birch.

3:12

I'm the president of the board with the Monroe Botanical Garden.

3:17

Thank you.

Speaker 4

3:18

Thank you for asking.

Speaker 5

3:21

Um just a reminder of the site, just if case anyone in Monroe doesn't know yet.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████████████67%
Procedural████████12%
Budget Equity Analysis███████10%
Fiscal Sustainability████6%
Zoning And Land Use███5%
Summary of Proceedings

City of Monroe Redevelopment Authority Meeting - October 19, 2026

The Monroe Redevelopment Authority (RDA) met on October 19, 2026, at 5:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. All members were present. The meeting covered approval of prior minutes, a financial report, a presentation from the Monroe Botanical Garden, and a closed session to discuss a financial incentive for residential development.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approval: The minutes from the March 16, 2026 meeting were approved without changes.

Discussion Items

  • Financial Report: City Administrator Rindy presented the RDA financial update. Key points: a final $60,000 payment from the city was received; expenditures included the EMC property development agreement (noted as $20,000) and the Eugene Hotel Development Agreement. Projected year-end fund balance is $220,832, factoring in an outstanding $8,900 HIP grant. All funds remain unrestricted.
  • Monroe Botanical Garden Presentation: Melissa Birch, board president, presented plans for a botanical garden at 1311 13th Avenue (the former Ken's Agri Service site). The vision includes free admission, accessible paths, a renovated welcome center, greenhouses, and an outdoor education center. Estimated total project cost is $6 million, with the welcome center as the largest expense at $1.2 million. The garden is a 501c3, and the property will be transferred to the organization. RDA members expressed support for the concept and encouraged the garden board to return with a specific funding request tied to fundraising milestones.

Key Outcomes

  • Botanical Garden: RDA agreed to consider future financial support once a detailed proposal is submitted, aligning with the RDA #1 project plan for blight reduction and walkability.
  • Closed Session: A motion to enter closed session under Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(e) to discuss financial incentives for residential development in RDA #1 was made, seconded, and carried. No action was taken in open session on this item.

Meeting Transcript

It's 501. I'll call the RDA meeting to order. Can the clerk call the roll, please? Older McGuire. Here. Ron Spielman. Melissa Evan. Here. Dave Whartonweiler. Here. Brooke Ballman. Here. Ron Markham here. And Corey Koundert. Here. Okay. Everyone's here. Item B correction of minutes for March 16th, 2026. No. No least. Looks like no one has any changes, so those will stand as approved. On the C business item one financial report. This is Administrator Rindy, and so providing kind of a financial update on the RDA fund. No real significant changes to highlight since we last met, and I believe it was March. Kind of noting just a reminder. So you did receive your $60,000 payment from the city, and that is that final payment as part of that agreement. So that's kind of the last source of current revenue coming forward until we find additional or seek something different. Then looking at kind of expenditures, there was an additional expenditure that has been paid out, including the EMC property development agreement for the residential units, which I think I put a wrong number in there actually, is it should be 20,000. So I'm gonna I'll double check that. And then also the Eugene Hotel Development Agreement. So with those expenditures, um you still have a projected end-of-year fund balance of 220,832. Um that's factoring in. I believe there's one outstanding HIP grant agreement that has not been paid out of 8900. Um so that would factor that in. Otherwise, it's at 229,748. And all of that remains unrestricted. You guys have utilized the affordable housing funds that you had. So it doesn't have to be specific to affordable housing. Any questions on that? Sounds like no. Item two is discussion consideration of supporting the Monroe Botanical Garden. Hello everybody. Thank you so much for letting letting us come and talk to you about the Monroe Botanical Garden. Uh really appreciate the opportunity. Um I have some slides. I'm not gonna there's a many more slides here than I'm gonna cover. Just don't be scared. Um I

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