All right.

It is six o'clock, and uh they tell me that the meeting is running.

So uh we will call this meeting uh the Tuesday, May 19th, 2026 council meeting to order.

We will start with roll call.

Christine here, Everett?

Here, Wiggerson here, Piper, Bantrieste Wells, here, Manion Molson, Boteska, Anderson, Matthews, Miklitz, Rem Lemke, here, Camacho.

Here, all right, please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.

Excellent.

Next up is public comment.

Um, first up, we have Daryl Enriquez.

Good evening, everyone.

Good evening, I'm Daryl Enriquez.

Uh I live at 1712.

Um, I'm having a brain thing going on here.

No, I live at 1712 Black Hawk Trail.

And um, what I've come here to talk to esteemed city leaders is I understand you have a really important decision to make tonight, which would be who is going to fill the aldermatic spot vacated by our new mayor.

And uh I am here to speak on behalf of Eric Hegelstad, who I've known for how long has it been, Eric?

15 years.

Uh I knew Eric when uh he was a council member, and he was a much respected council member.

Um great demeanor, very curious, did his homework, very reliable person.

And he's that way in his personal life too.

He's got a lovely wife and child, who's a taxpayer, great citizen.

I was um I lived in the downtown district for quite a number of years.

And Eric always answered my calls, regardless of how big or small the issue was I brought reform.

Now, you guys are gonna have some tough decisions to make coming on coming up, uh, especially with finance.

I know that because I am on uh the finance committee as a county board supervisor.

I represent District 19.

Um, even though that district is outside my walls, I still have the entire eastern part of Waukesha.

So I'm very concerned about issues in the city, probably even more so than in the county.

And one of the big decisions or decisions you'll have to make is budgeting.

Um, as we know, the city has the threat of a deficit, just as the county does.

And um I would like to see somebody of Eric's caliber being involved with that because one of his strengths is that he's going to make the trains run on time.

He's not going to throw a lot of politics at you.

Um he's not going to do that to distract you from the task at hand, which is to make a wise decision on potential cuts or ideas on efficiency.

So I hope that you see his his upsides and and cast a vote for him.

Thank you.

Thank you, Daryl.

Uh next up, I have Lisa Salb.

Good evening, Lisa Salb 434 Madison Street.

I am here pretty much to talk again about what uh I had mentioned at the last public comment.

Um, I don't know if any of you have received uh any additional information, and just as a refresher, it was in regards to the new zoning code and specifically the zoning map.

Uh the plan commission uh approved the zoning map on March 29th.

The one that's on the attachment for the new draft is dated uh April 17th.

So apparently it's not the same map, and so there are some concerns if that's the one they proved.

Why is there a new date?

Um their new map.

Uh what what are the changes?

Um I would appreciate it if you would all take a look at that.

Um, but it's such a huge huge thing in regards to even the amount of pages just reading through it, but so much of it is lumped together that I would hate for something as important as a historic overlay to get lost in the exchange of the the new for the old.

Um so even though we have a new zoning code, history doesn't change.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else for public comment?

All right, moving on.

Uh is there a motion to approve the minutes from our last meeting?

Oh, sorry.

I'm sorry, I didn't see your hand.

Come on up.

Uh if you could say your name uh and your address for the record, and then you'll have three minutes.

My name is Barb Lum, and I live at 109 East Park Avenue.

I would like to uh comment on behalf of Eric Heidel Heigelstadt to become our Aldermanic District Alderman.

I have had Eric for numerous years, and uh his family is great, and he helps us uh a lot.

So he's a great neighbor and a wonderful person to have to help you.

That's great.

Thank you very much.

Welcome.

Is there anyone else?

Making sure I don't miss anyone this time.

All right, I think we're good.

All right, is there a motion to approve the minutes from the last meeting?

Uh Alderperson uh Moulton.

Uh I move to approve the minutes as drafted.

Okay.

Alderperson Manion.

I'll second.

All right, please vote when it is before you.

Alderman Everett.

I that motion does pass.

Moving on uh to the appointment for the district 11 council seat.

I'm gonna go over a couple of procedural things and then we will get right to it.

Um so the way this is gonna work is that I'm going to pull up each candidate individually.

Um in the past we've had maybe two or three, and you guys can all sit up here together, but logistically that doesn't really work when there are seven of you, so I apologize.

So we're gonna pull you up each individually.

I'm gonna give you one minute as a very brief introduction, and then we will do questions for the council members.

I encourage you to ask the same questions of each candidate so that you have an answer from every single one of them.

So if you have questions ready, um please be prepared with that.

Um I will allow you unlimited time for your answers because I want to make sure that you're able to answer thoroughly, but I also uh request that you do your best to keep it brief as there are seven of you.

Uh, and I want to make sure that your answers are heard, and I want to make sure that everyone's answers are heard.

I'm also going to pull you up in the order that you are listed in the packet because I think alphabetical order is boring and it keeps it easier for us up here uh when we're clicking through all of the different links on our agendas.

When it comes time to vote, we will be voting by a show of hands.

Um, this is not a secret ballot and all um all votes must be recorded.

We may have to go to multiple rounds of voting because a majority is required.

So you will have to receive eight votes in order to be appointed tonight.

The lowest vote getter for each round will drop off.

If there is a tie, say there are two of you that get only one vote, then you will both drop off in that round.

I hope there are no questions because I'm not accepting any.

But if any of the alders have questions, or if you guys do have questions, just let me know.

Um, first up, we have Leonard Miller.

Uh, if you can come up here, I'm gonna time you for your one minute, and then I will open it up to the Alders for questions.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, council members.

Uh, my name is Lenny Miller.

Well, Leonard Miller.

Um, I am a lifelong resident of uh City of Waukeshaw, lived in my current house for 20 years.

Uh I was Alderman once before.

Um from 2019 to 2022.

I um I love my city.

Uh Waukeshaw is a great place to raise a family.

And uh I guess I'll take your questions.

All right, are there any questions for Lenny?

Is it okay if I call you Lenny?

All right.

Um Alderperson Lemke.

I'm sure you're aware being an alderman before that the city is uh budget conscious.

Correct.

And the only way we can keep the revenue somewhat in line is to increase net new construction.

Correct.

And the the best way of doing that is density.

Yeah, we we can't go out, we have to go up.

Right.

And so my question to you is uh are you in favor of the Mandel project across the street?

Yes.

Thank you.

Way to keep it brief.

Thank you.

Alder Person Piper.

Thank you.

Oh, there you are.

Honey, good evening.

Thanks for thanks for your interest in the position.

You bet, Joe.

My question is when you're working with others where there are different viewpoints.

How do you work to reach a compromise?

Well, you know, Joe, uh I just recently retired from ATT.

Okay, and working with customers, uh trying to uh uh you know selling selling cell phones, and everybody hates getting a cell phone.

You know, everybody hates going to the store, you know, which I don't blame them, I do too.

It's almost as bad as buying a used car.

Anyways, I have worked with all sorts of uh personalities in that role, and I've always been able to uh come to an agreement and you know, basically make a sale.

I use that same approach with like uh constituents, you know, trying to figure out okay, what is it they're asking?

Uh what is it we need, and uh is it something that we can do?

Um added to that.

Uh I'm also on the oh I forgot to mention earlier I'm on the board of a uh Board of Appeals.

Or review for any anyways.

Um we we listen intently to how people uh think their taxes are unfair.

Well, we all do.

But anyways, um always have to come to an agreement or a compromise and figure out what is the best for everybody.

Excellent.

You have a follow-up.

And then my the second part of my question is when when you're finding or if you're in a position where you don't see that a compromise is coming, how do you decide to step up and lead and bring the issue to a bring the issue to a conclusion?

Well, sometimes you have to.

Sometimes you you know it's you I've been in that many times in the past.

You know, sometimes you just can't make somebody happy or come to an agreement.

So then you just have to uh uh go forward, you know, move forward with okay, this is the way it's gonna be, this is um you know, law ordinance or whatever it is that the direction we have to go in, and so this is gonna be it.

Okay.

Um Alderperson Wickerson and then Christine.

Thanks for applying, Lenny.

We appreciate it very much.

Um my question is it's actually got two parts.

So district 11 shares the downtown corridor with my district, district three, and whoever fills the seat will be closely working with me on projects that directly impact the heart of our city.

So my first question is what do you currently know about the active projects and initiatives underway in the downtown right now?

And second, what boards, commissions, committees, or other forms of city involvement have you participated in that demonstrate your engagement with downtown Waukeshaw and the visions that we're building there.

Okay, well, that's uh that's a lot to take in there.

Um couple of things.

Um I do know that there are um and I'm gonna say this wrong, Friedman Alley.

Uh they're doing uh uh some murals on there, which is great by the way.

Um I as Alderman in the past, um I had all of until they redid the lines, I had all of downtown in my district, and I worked with a lot of business owners.

Um I was also alderman during COVID.

So myself and Alderman Rodriguez, uh we work really hard on expanding the uh sidewalk ordinance, you know, so uh restaurants could expand outside uh so they could keep the doors open.

Um and uh I still uh usually volunteer uh during the tree lighting ceremony.

Um, to do what I can there.

Uh I work with the uh uh business association on that.

And uh so I'm sorry, there was another part to that question, and I old I don't remember.

I you're you're answering it, it's fine.

Okay.

I want to I want to respect brief.

Okay.

Appreciate that.

Okay.

Was it was it did I follow up on both your questions?

Yes, you did.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Alderperson Chrisine.

Thank you, Mayor.

Lenny, the uh Workshaw Fox River goes through your district.

We're having some lot of topic about uh flooding and uh just north of it dredging uh Saratoga Lake.

What uh is your feedback or input on whether dredging it or river improvements?

Yeah, I actually know what Saratoga Lake is.

Most people don't know what that is.

Um but uh uh yeah, well, they've done it over the years.

I remember as a kid we used to go clean up the river every I don't know, Arbor Day or whatever.

You know, I was getting a day out of high school.

You know, so we would actually go down and clean up the river.

Um when we did that, we actually pulled three or four cars out.

You know, that yeah, that was a long time ago.

Um, anyways, um that was about a hundred years ago uh when it was just a crick.

You know, but anyways, uh yeah, I would be all for dredging.

Um I'm really sorry that we don't have the uh the uh ski shows down there anymore.

Um I always thought that was uh brought a tremendous amount of people down into our park, and that's what this is all about.

You know, we have uh a wonderful park system, you know, with lots of events, lots of uh celebrations.

And you know, that's that's you know that's a part of what people want to live here, you know, is uh people like to take pride in where they live.

You know, we have a park system that's second to none.

And uh, you know, that's what makes Waukeshaw, Waukeshaw strong.

You know, so did I answer your question?

You did.

You had to get three cars.

Yeah, I'm that old.

Is that what's in there now?

I hope not.

Um Alderperson Camacho.

So I want to jump a little bit off of what uh Alderperson Widgerson said.

Yes.

So you mentioned that you handled a lot of the small businesses during COVID, which is great, tough time.

Yes, and I'm actually curious how you plan on supporting them moving forward.

Um I I know they are uh um uh you know, Friday Night Live.

Um there's talk of uh I don't know what the proper terminology is, but uh you know, have an open intoxicants.

The Dora.

You know, so um I would like to explore that further.

And you know, if there's a way we can monitor that and you know, make sure we're not giving our 15-year-olds you know, buckets of beer.

Uh I would be for that.

You know, um, and I was actually quoted in the Freeman when Friday Night Live started.

Um, that it was like walking through downtown Disney.

You know, and it was.

I I love Friday Night Live.

I'm down there, well, maybe not every week, but every other week.

Uh and uh you know, just wandering around and enjoying myself, and I would like to see it expanded.

Okay.

Thank you.

Are there any other questions?

All right, thank you, Lenny.

You bet, thank you guys.

All right, next up we have David Vincent.

All right, so one minute to introduce yourself and then we'll open it up to questions.

Thank you.

Uh I'm David Vincent, 141 Cook Street, and honestly, I feel like the odd man out.

Everybody else here was an alderman.

Um I grew up in Waukeshaw since I was 16 years old.

I've lived here over 40 years.

I own the house over 20 years.

Um my dad was an alderman in D Pier.

Uh Roger Patton kind of put the bug in my ear back in the day to try to be an alderman.

Uh it and it seems like a natural extension for me.

Uh during the winter, I'm the guy you'll see snow blowing the whole darn sidewalk down Cook Street.

Um somebody's front lawn gets a little bit rogue.

I go get out there with a lawnmower to try and help.

Um, this just seems like a larger way to help the community and more people.

Um I could go on, but no, let's not.

Brief.

Thank you.

I'm appreciating everybody with the brevity.

So thank you very much for that.

Um, so I will open it up to questions.

Uh Alderperson Wickerson.

So I'm gonna ask this.

Well, thank you at first for applying.

I love it that we have so much interest.

I think that that shows a lot about our community.

Um, my question is the same for you as it was for Lenny.

Um again, District 11 shares the downtown with my district, district three.

Um, so of course we would have to work very closely together.

So um again, what do you know about about any of the current projects that we have going on in the downtown?

And then just um if you've got been involved in any type of city boards, commissions, if you could just explain and to demonstrate your engagement in the downtown walk a shot and the vision that we're building.

To be fair, I don't have enough knowledge.

Um I'd have to learn that on the job.

I as far as community engagement, it's been more individual and local for me.

I I just like the opportunity to expand that out and help in a larger scale.

Local service again.

Yes.

And anyway, volunteer.

And anyway, anytime you want to come down to a no-con and snowblowing my street, I would love to it could happen.

I got an errands now.

I'm just saying.

All right, Alderperson Paper.

Thank you.

Uh and David, just so you know, I was standing in your spot about 20 years ago to this day, and I had a couple of other aldermen that were behind me uh seeking this role.

So you're you're in good company.

So it was warm, wasn't it?

It was warm, yes.

It was very warm.

Um, I'll I'll also ask you the same question.

It's around compromise.

And when you're working in a situation with others that have different viewpoints, how do you find compromise?

And then my follow-up is when you're finding out that maybe compromise isn't attainable.

How do you how do you simply step up and lead?

We have to compromise these days.

Nobody's gonna get everything they want all the time.

Uh, how to deal with it?

You look at what each side wants, find a middle ground as much pardon, as much as you can.

Uh if you can't come to nobody's gonna get everything they want.

But if you have to come to a decision, you have to, in my opinion, select what's best for the majority.

Alder Person Camacho.

I don't follow suit with the same question I asked.

There's a lot of businesses downtown as uh Alder Person Widgerson said, so how do you plan on supporting them?

You know, I wondered why we don't have enough media downtown.

Uh we've got so much going on in Walkishell.

And to be fair, I'm gonna use this as a plug for the library too.

The renovations there are freaking amazing.

The 3D printers, anybody can use them.

I'm just saying.

Um as far as downtown, I'd like to see more media exposure for all the activities that are going down on down there.

Uh if we could get six, twelve, four down there for Friday nights, that would be amazing.

Uh, some of the other events, Cutler Park, uh, the events we have going on there.

I frankly I'm a little bit confused why there isn't more exposure.

Alder Person Matthews and then Christine.

Thank you.

Thank you for your time.

Uh just one quick question.

What do you see is the biggest challenge that is for is uh facing Walkershaw and a quick remedy in your mind that you would do to resolve that?

Well, the quick remedy part is the hard one.

Uh I don't think there are any quick fixes for a lot of the major opportunities for improvement.

Uh we have great infrastructure.

We have fantastic people.

Um I think there's some fine-tuning that definitely need could there are opportunities for fine tuning.

Um but uh I'd say roads and sidewalks are a little bit of a focus.

There's some definite little room to improve.

Um parks are doing great in my opinion, but you guys know more than I do.

Um maybe expanding on those, but uh basically firming up the infrastructure.

Excellent.

Alder Person Chris.

Thank you, David.

Thanks for uh stepping up tonight and being one of uh the six up here.

It means a lot, just like uh Alder Wiggerson said, community support and the love for District 11 is is fantastic.

Uh same question.

Uh District 11's got part of the Fox River going through it, and there's it's uh high, it's low, and it's getting a lot of uh silt problem.

And uh are you in favor of dredging it or doing something different with Saratoga Lake?

What is your plans for that?

Are you a fan of dredging it?

And I was gonna bring up the part of who's gonna pay for it, but I'm not gonna bring that up.

Are we leaving that out?

I'm leaving that out because it was it would be unfair to Lenny.

So that was the original point I brought that up, but well, given it infinite funds, let's dredge the thing.

But um with the flooding we've had, uh I I can see the advantages of dredging it.

I'd love to see it dredge.

I'd love to see the ski team out there again.

Uh I'd like to see people swimming out there if possible, but uh well, it's a stretch.

Um but I don't think there's one solution to the flooding.

I think the dredging is going to help, but if we have the water that the rain uh that we got this year again, I think that's gonna be part of the problem.

We're probably gonna have to uh look at other alternatives as well.

So, yes, I'd like to see it dredged, but uh if we can do something to keep the bears from going underwater again, that'd be great.

You all know what I'm talking about.

Yeah, of course, yes.

Thank you, David.

I have a TikTok about that.

All right, uh Alderperson Lumkey.

Relating to the uh last same question as I had before.

Relating to the uh last same question as I had before, uh, net new construction is gonna be one of our driving factors of revenue growth without having to increase fees on every other permit and service that the city offers.

Uh, one of the big net new constructions we have is across the street, the uh Mandel property.

How do you feel uh about that project?

I don't have enough information to speak to it wisely.

Um I could throw out a pat answer, but I'm not that guy.

Uh I would like to learn more about it before I come to a conclusion.

Thank you.

All right.

Any other questions?

All right, thank you very much.

Thank you.

Um next, Timothy Nekish.

It's like old home week.

Uh Tim Nikich, I live at 810 Riverwalk Drive and Apartment 101, River Walk Apartments.

I am a former Alderman.

I represented Alderman Piper's district from 1987 to 1998.

I'm invested in this community every day in my part-time job as a leasing specialist at Riverwalk Apartments.

We're part of downtown.

When a new person comes to look at our apartments, one of my jobs is to promote the area.

We have a lot of people from around the world that come and rent in downtown Walkshaw area because of General Electric because of the hospital and other industries.

It's really, really important.

Anyway, I served a decade on the common console, and the only reason I stepped away is because I ran for mayor in 1998 and lost the general election to Carol Lombardi by 160 votes.

But I'm invested in the community.

Back when I was an alderman, downtown was a priority.

It was dying.

10 seconds.

Her intro speech.

Okay.

Okay, the thought.

It was dying, and we invested a lot of money in the river quarter.

We made the river a front door instead of a back door.

The river has some problems.

We'll need to address that.

At Riverwalk, the last flood, we had two elevator shafts flood, not because of the river itself, but because of the high groundwater in the area.

All right, time.

Okay.

That's just for your introduction speech.

Don't worry.

You have plenty of time during questions.

So are there any questions for Tim?

Alder Person Piper.

Hi, Tim.

Good evening.

Hi, Joe.

Hallow.

Very good.

I'll ask you the same question.

Um, in the spirit of compromise when you're working with others, how do you find and see compromise?

And then the follow-up would be when that's not attainable.

How do you determine to step up and leave?

Well, okay, sometimes you're gonna vote no if you even if you can't compromise, but you gotta work together.

You gotta try to find a solution, okay, to all the problems.

Uh case in point, long time ago, we had a large discussion on how to honor Les Paul.

And we were looking at roads and what to do, and somebody suggested the bypass, okay.

Well, somebody said, Well, then we're gonna cost people a lot of money.

I happened to take a step forward, wrote a letter to the state, found out that we could overlay Les Paul Parkway on all the signs and not cost anybody a dime.

Now, 20 plus years later, it's known as Les Paul Parkway.

So that's one way you do it.

Uh I was anti-city administrator, sorry, sir.

I was I was looking, I was looking for more of a part-time or uh uh city city assistant, something like that to take some of the load off the mayor's office.

The consul had a different idea.

There was no compromise.

I lost 14 to 1.

So there are gonna be those situations there.

Okay, if that helps answer your question.

But you always have to work for compromise first.

Um Alderperson Wickerson and then Matthews.

Hey there, thanks so much for applying, and thank you for your service in the past as an alderman to the city.

Um, I want to ask the same question that I asked the other two, which is you know, are you aware of what active products we have going on in the downtown and any involvement or engagement that you've had in that downtown area?

I've had engagement in the downtown area ever since 1987 when I was first elected.

I was a product of what they back then, the Chamber of Commerce had leadership three, was their educational process about the government structure and everything in town.

It was heavily invested.

We brought people in, we opened storefronts, we tried to save downtown the best we could.

One of the things that happened is we decided we needed to create more neighborhood around town because the whole community wasn't invested in the central city.

We did that.

We have mountain village.

We have river walk.

We have several apartment complexes that surround it now.

And to expand on that, we're landlocked now.

We can't expand our borders.

We have to build up, we have to create ways to do it.

The I'll take another question away from one of you.

The apartment project Mandel's building.

So long as there's some compromise with the neighborhood on the hill above, that's perfectly fine, but it's a necessary project for the city.

Other questions?

All right.

Alder Person Matthews.

Once again, thank you once again for your interest and thank you for your former service.

Um, I'll ask you the same thing.

What's the biggest opportunity that you see or biggest challenge facing the city of Waukeshaw coming up in the future and maybe a quick response is one of the biggest things, and we have to do something collectively that doesn't harm the citizens of this community, but we also have to do things like you just did with the garbage collection fee.

People don't realize that if you live in an apartment, your rent through your rent, you're paying that collection fee.

Okay, you're paying your property taxes through that rent.

So that's a matter of education.

All 15 aldermen should be out there walking around their district talking to the people that are the loudest noise so that they understand.

There needs to be more lobbying to the state to the Capitol.

There needs to be a lot of communication with the citizens.

When I was on the Common Council, we had TV 26, and you could turn on your television station, and you could watch the common council meetings.

A lot of older citizens don't have that opportunity anymore because they don't play with computers.

They can't bring up that kind of thing.

So your communication needs to improve a little bit overall what they see on the console and things like that.

That's my opinion.

Because I was there when we established TV 26, and we did it with the school district.

We created a program where we brought kids in as interns into the city, juniors and seniors.

We selected courses they needed to know to uh run the TV station, and we had some of the finest students in this city running Channel 26 and 25 at the time.

So that's that's one another way of doing it.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Alder Person Camacho.

Okay, I'll follow up with the same question.

How do you plan on supporting the downtown businesses?

That's probably a little different from back then.

No, it's not.

Interesting.

Because the downtown back in 87 was having all kinds of problems.

The highest grossing business in downtown back then was discount liquor, and people wanted to get rid of it because it was a liquor store.

And it was bringing people into downtown while things were dying around it.

Simple fact is we have to support the center part of the city because that's our biggest and strongest asset.

It's part of the park jewel system that we have created.

Okay.

We need to maintain that.

We need to talk about it, and it it just needs to be promoted.

Downtown is what makes this city click with all of the things that go on now.

If I'm selected, I'm gonna hit the ground running, reintroduce myself to all those businesses, and there's a lot of people down there that I already know because I'm down there an awful lot.

Excellent.

Alder Person Cuisine.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, but before I say that, uh welcome home from my family.

And the same question to you is the District 11 has the Fox River going through it.

It's got some uh drainage issues, some flooding issues, and it's really you can't even kayak most of the time through it.

Uh, what is your plan to help with that river, the vitality of the river, and do you support dredging it?

Where I live is on the river, it's an asset.

There are so many sport fishermen on my section of the river from from Wisconsin Avenue through Bethesda Park, it's unbelievable.

There's a lot of duckweed in that part of the river.

The river needs to be maintained.

It's it's an asset.

We we created an asset, you have to maintain it.

So if we have to dredge it, that's something we should be planning for to do it because people there's a lot of kayakers that portage out of downtown and come down my section of the river all the time.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Uh Alder Person Lemke.

I just wanted to say that you uh answered my question admirably, and I don't have to ask it again.

Oh, thank you.

All right.

All right, it doesn't look like we have any additional questions.

Thank you very much, Tim.

Uh next up, we have Eric Halgastead.

Again, you'll have one minute for an introduction and then unlimited time for questions.

Good evening, Council members and Mayor Hollis Legend.

My name is Eric Helikastead.

I live at 117 East Park Avenue.

I currently am privileged to serve on the library board as a trustee, and I also serve the role of liaison to the Friends of the Walk Job Public Library.

And I would love the opportunity to serve the city as a council member once again.

Great.

Thank you.

All right, Alder Person Wickerson.

Hi, Eric.

Thank you so much for applying.

I want to, and for your service, because I know that you have a previous alderman also.

I want to ask the same question that I asked everybody else, which is about do you know what the current programs are that we're doing in the downtown?

And then what engagement have you had with those programs or on boards or whatnot to support the downtown?

Sure.

I can speak to what's currently underway downtown, both um in your district with Freeman Alley.

That project is looking fabulous.

Um I have to assume that all of you have seen them work on that mural that's going up right now.

My wife and I were just downtown walking our dogs and saw them working on it this weekend, and I'm excited for how that's going to turn out.

That has been an alleyway that I think had been previously really underutilized and really had an add an element to our downtown linking that riverfront street to Main Street and really look beautiful once that's done.

Um further, I know that there's similar place making efforts for William Street.

Um that I believe the plan was finished.

If I remember correctly, it was last year.

Um and there's a long-term plan.

I was reading through that presentation on the city website that goes out from I believe this year out through at least 2030 with different efforts out there, make some similar placemaking out there.

Um otherwise, I believe that this council completed a new master plan for the city, and I reviewed uh portions of that as well.

Um like the study that was done in 2012.

I think that's gonna be important that the city supports and execute upon that master plan as well, because it's not just downtown, it's the entire city as well.

Alder Person Piper.

Thank you.

Evening, Eric.

Thank you for your interest in the role.

Um, my question again is when you're working with others with different viewpoints, how do you seek compromise?

And then at what point do you have to simply step up and lead?

I think the first part of that is listening.

Um, honestly.

I think in order to seek compromise, you need to find out where other people are at, where their position is at, what they're opining at, what's important to them, whether that's another member of the council or a member of a citizen member, you know, coming to you with a problem, um, or just an opinion or you know, something they're concerned about.

Um, and from there, then I think you need to then be able to effectively communicate and respectfully communicate to your position and your ideas.

Um and sometimes you can convince other people of your position, sometimes you can't.

Sometimes that compromise has to come from you know, say me.

You know, sometimes I may come into, and I've I know this from my previous experience on the council.

I came in some nights with a you know, I was sure of my position, I was sure of my answer on a you know, an issue, and I realize from listening to my council members, listening to staff, listening to the public that I need to be the one that compromise.

So um, but other times when I know for certain my heart of hearts on I I'm I need to lead on something, then it's again that effective communication.

And I think some of that too also comes from building a relationship with your other council members and staff.

So that way, then when you communicate that out, you know how to again be respectful, communicate effectively, and you know, hopefully win them over to your side.

But at the end of the day, if that doesn't happen, that's not on the other person or someone else.

It's just what it is, and you move on because the it's for the benefit of the city as a whole.

Yeah.

Alder Person Matthews and then Camacho.

Eric, thank you.

Thank you again.

Thank you for speaking, and thank you for your former service.

Um do you see as the biggest opportunity coming up for the city of Walkershore, the biggest challenge that you're coming in?

And a quick thought or a quick uh I don't want to say remedy that might be a little bit loaded, but uh a quick thought regarding that challenge or opportunity.

Oh, I wish I had a remedy for that I could just give you on any situation that the city is facing.

There's a number of them.

Um I think the overarching one that's already been mentioned, and I think is probably all on all your minds is our budget.

Um, I know that the city's been making really good strides to manage the financial position of the city to balance our budget year over year, and that's really dedicated hard work by the staff and the council to make that happen by managing the CIP by managing our staff and looking for ways to you know produce efficiency.

I've heard listen learned through my service on the library board, for example, that there's been consistent work over the last couple of years to study our financial position and inventory ways we can find efficiencies.

You know, for example, you know, saving software licenses on the IT side of things, um, making sure that staff uh their positions are correctly aligned.

I believe there's been a lot of work on the HR side of things with the city to help make sure they're compensated correctly because a lot of people will want to say, well, why can't we just slash the budget, right?

Well, most of what the city budget is is people, and unless we want to cut services, which I have to imagine none of you here or people behind me want to see city services cut.

You know, you're not gonna get that.

So I think it's through diligent study, diligent work that's ongoing right now and has to continue to balance that budget at year after year and for the future.

Thank you, Alder Person Camacho.

Hi, Eric.

Okay, same question I've had for everybody else.

How do you plan on supporting the downtown businesses?

Well, I think that's gonna be you know, re-engaging with the downtown businesses and the association downtown.

Um, I mean, today, you know, my wife and I we support downtown as much as we can.

You know, we're one household, we can't do it all ourselves.

Um, but we're down there every Friday morning after we drop off our kid over school.

That's our Friday morning coffee date, you know, and we go down there for New Year's Eve, whether we're getting sushi or we're going down there to buy art for family members.

Um, I think that's something to, as an alderman for the downtown district, you need to champion those businesses.

You need to speak up for them, you need to speak out for them.

Um, but also then working with them to understand what are their actually our core issues.

You know, thankfully, downtown has already completed the downtown street reconstruction that was done a couple of years ago.

That was a major improvement.

It really improved the streetscape and improved the opportunities for streetside cafes.

But again, it's going to be going through and um engaging with them, listening to them, and being open to what they have to suggest.

So, and working with the rest of the council on that.

Thank you.

Well, I got the river on my mind tonight.

And uh for consistency, I'm gonna talk about the river.

It goes through District 11.

And I've been talking all earlier, this the other questions about the problems of the river.

Right now, it's really hard to even kayak on it.

It rises, it falls.

Uh, what is your plan on are you support dredging it or leaving it run its natural course with Lake Saratoga?

Well, I think that's uh if I'm understanding correctly, there is a study ongoing about the dam and the dredging and trying to get some cost estimates around that.

So I think that's one thing we got to see what that study comes out with.

Um overall, I want to see that access improved.

We the um river is a fabulous asset to downtown.

I mean, I um remember when I was previously all and I sat down with some folks at a community listening session, and they really advocated for having better kayak access and having better fishing access down there.

And I miss seeing more of that downtown.

I would love to take part in that as well.

Um, if the right decision is dredging, I absolutely support it.

Um, I know that the dam itself is another question that I think is out there.

So again, I want to see what that study comes back with, and then work on what that right decision, because I know that's not gonna be a cheap, you know, fix and a cheap decision to make.

Um, I'm hoping maybe there's opportunities to work with the state, maybe work with the DNR.

Um, but we all know that the state, the federal government were all under you know, pretty significant cost constraints.

So um it won't be an easy decision, let's be honest.

But I want to see that access improved.

Thank you.

Are there any other questions for Eric?

Alder Person Linke.

Just piggybacking on my last question.

What are your thoughts about net new construction density and the downtown Mandale project?

Sure.

Um, I think as the downtown has matured, density is gonna be important, it's gonna continue to be important.

I think that project across the street, you know, I am in support of that overall.

Um, I think also we do need to focus as well on redevelopment because we're landlocked essentially.

We're our borders are set, our water service area is set, you know, and expanding that's gonna be really tough to try and advocate for and expand, right?

But I think through smart development, I know looking through the um uh uh new zoning code updates.

I had a chance to review the materials that were presented at the last uh celebrate walkshop breakfast and some of those zoning changes that'll allow for some more you know moderate um density development too.

I think those are gonna be really great assets to have in District 11 and just generally in the city, so that we can add to that tax base, but do it in a uh conscious manner, if that makes sense.

Okay, any other questions?

All right, thank you very much, Eric.

Thank you for your time.

All right.

Next up we have Aaron Spencer again.

You'll have one minute to introduce yourself and then unlimited time for questions.

Hi there, uh Aaron Spencer, uh 630 West College Ab in Waukesha.

Um again, named Aaron Spencer.

Um I have actually run for this uh position uh previously, the last two times, and uh come up a little bit short.

Um in the meantime, I've uh met a lot of the uh local constituents, uh, a lot of the businesses.

Uh I've talked to a lot of the people heard a lot of the concerns, heard a lot of the positives, heard some of the negatives.

Um, and I'm still here just because I uh I feel it's uh my duty at this point to kind of serve them a little bit of justice, um shine a little bit of insight of what I've learned previously uh with this uh a little bit newer information.

Um feel a little bit challenged just because uh well we've got all this uh baseline history here.

Um but uh I've been a resident here for the last 20 years, and uh I've developed and built some skills uh within that uh five-year uh time period um running for Aldman to uh that's time.

Thank you.

Thanks.

All right, uh Alder Person Wickerson.

So my question for you is the same as the others.

So I'd like to know what you understand of what's going on in downtown, and then an explanation or uh regarding your engagement and communities or boards that you've served on that support our downtown efforts.

Absolutely.

Um there is always something going on in in Waukesha.

Um, you know, and that's from you know the s the small businesses within the the district itself, all the way out to the farmers market, which I would like to actually see some of the small businesses uh participating in that as well.

Um all the art shows, um, all the murals that go are going on, uh, some of the uh personal uh businesses that are throwing up uh events that are going on.

Um since uh I I had ran previously for Alderman.

I had joined the uh uh City of Walkesha Police Department alumni and then participated in some of the events uh uh even outside of uh downtown, Oktoberfest and National Night Out and a few others uh like that.

Um so I think the best way to actually uh approach some of these businesses is to talk to them personally, like I have been, uh work with them and uh find some uh new avenues with that, including um with talking with some of the residents there, I've also learned that they're in need of a grocery store within the downtown district.

Um a lot of them are uh handicapped, uh have uh limited mobility access, and uh they could really use for example like the Ace Hardware that's uh banking right now could actually be made into uh a grocery store within uh those apartments.

I I know we've uh uh Alicia and I have both talked to some of the uh residents there as well, and they say they've expressed those uh particular interests uh with us.

Um there is a lot of opportunities.

I have pages and pages of documents.

I'm not gonna waste your time uh with with that right now, but uh I would like to uh act upon some of those uh items.

Any other questions?

Alder Person Paper.

Yes, Aaron, thank you for your interest in the role.

And I also have the same question, which is when you're working with others with different viewpoints, how do you find compromise?

And at what point do you simply step up and lead?

Absolutely.

Well, the stepping up and lead is the the automatic position right away.

You don't just wait for an opportunity to step up.

Uh and part of that leadership role, um, even based in my particular trade, I'm a carpenter by trade.

And uh I've actually been trained to deal with these uh particular compromises and construction etiquette and uh particular things of that nature.

And how you do it is you actually actually talk to the constituents, you talk to the businesses, um, and you can follow up with them.

Uh and once you follow up with them, it's a process to actually learn what the course of action is going to be in that particular situation.

So if it's in their favor or not, it is an education process throughout the entire process, and that's how you come to a compromise or you don't.

But in that in that essence, you actually learn exactly what can be done, and if it's uh right for the city and right for the uh constituents, uh that's that's the move that you uh work towards.

And if it's uh right for the city and right for the constituents, uh that's that's the move that you uh work towards, and you can do it together.

Thank you.

Thank you for your continued interest in the role.

Um ask you the same question.

What do you see as the biggest opportunity or biggest challenge facing the city of Waukeshaw today?

Uh throughout there is there's uh a lot of a lot of challenges, and there's a lot of good things with the city.

I mean it depends on on which aspects you go with.

Um I would have to I'd have to agree with some of the uh the previous alderman, it would have to be uh budget wise.

Um I understand with the uh uh city's uh government academy that I went through uh that you guys host, which is a great program by the way.

Um it's very informative, it actually shows you the actual hard numbers uh of where we're at.

Um looks like we are coming out of a bit of a uh a deficit, which is is great.

Uh we're going in the right direction, and I'd actually like to promote that.

Um there's a lot of different avenues with that, and it's kind of a loaded uh answer and question.

Uh however it requires uh taking a look at that and and working with uh other constituents and also uh fellow aldermen as well.

Alder Person Chris.

Thank you.

Thank you for trying to.

Well, you are one of the uh those tonight re wishing to represent District 11.

Uh same question.

The river, it rises, it lowers, it floods.

Uh we have some issues with trying to change it up a little bit with the same question.

Hit the river.

Thank you, my neighbors.

I'm gonna move over there again.

Sorry, this is on me, not you.

I apologize for that.

So river issues that runs through district eleven.

Uh what is your view on dredging it or letting it naturally take its course?

So my original hometown is from uh Mercer, Wisconsin, way up in northern Wisconsin, uh, where they actually experience a lot of these uh particular issues with lakes and rivers, and they need dredging.

Um just so happens my father used to build them uh the dredgers that went through the lakes and he actually worked and operated and worked on.

So there is a little bit of background uh on what I've learned uh through that particular process.

Uh and I also learned that um the ecosystem there is relatively uh fragile.

So it would have to come to a point learning whether or not dredging at a particular time, particular place, it would just have to make logistical sense uh when to do it, how to do it, and uh I would be in support of it if it would help um the system out there, and if not, and it would do more damage than good based upon research on the particular project, then I would probably be against it.

So sorry that's uh wishy-washy, but uh that's that's how I would handle the situation.

Thank you.

Alder Person Camacho.

Okay, so following suit with everybody else and keeping it the same question.

So what how would you support the downtown businesses as an alder?

Uh well, like I said, there there is a lot of uh logistics that go with that.

And since I've I've talked to the constituents and business owners uh quite a few times already uh recently, I've I've learned there is also uh other issues that that could help uh create a a better atmosphere within the downtown system.

So um making it more available and more uh even younger generation uh friendly uh people to come in.

Uh so resonance is one of the issues.

Um like I had mentioned before, uh the farmers market would be something I like to see um local businesses uh participate in.

Um it's been um I've been told by local businesses that right now that the the farmers market is kind of a hinder on their businesses and they have to shut down during that time.

I'm not gonna call out any of the particular businesses.

Um but um that's that's one of the things that you have to work with and you have to figure out as you go.

Um kind of the revitalizing uh downtown is gonna be one of the biggest uh uphill battles, and that is uh actually working with uh business owners that are in the district that's going to uh you know tell tell you what their capabilities are and basically try to give them opportunities within the council.

So I also have uh friends within uh the city of Delvin, uh Alderman as well, uh and it's nice to see exactly kind of some of the ideas of what they're working with and what they're how they're doing things, and just uh get more ideas.

Now I know City of Walkshaw actually does a lot of research and uh a lot of surveys uh within the community, and I would actually continue to promote that.

Um but uh I think I can think we can do a lot more and a lot better with what we have.

Yes, sir.

Alderperson Lemke.

Aaron, I I would just like to get your opinions on net new construction, uh density and the Mendel project across the street.

You bet that that is a important topic that is coming up.

Um I was with the uh landmarks commission and that um unfortunately called out the the common council at the time for missing some historic uh aspects on the on the approval of it.

Um I tell you what, if it is viable and it is good for the city and it's good for the constituents, I I will be for it.

Um if if it is not and it is uh harmful to the historic value of of the area, and there is no compromise, I may be against it.

Thank you, Rick.

Alderperson Winkerson.

Thank you.

I have one question specifically for you.

Sure.

April 21st, this council sat here and there was a motion made by Alderman Matthews to move District 11 to an appointment, and then they move to put you in the seat immediately.

That is typically an unprecedented move for our council.

So I'd like to know what your reaction was and any conversations that you might have made prior to that, and what your you know what your overall thoughts were about that moving and doing something that was typically not something that the council has done in the past.

I appreciate that question actually, and I I did find that a little shocking than I was even asked uh previously and lucky I was there to uh to witness this.

Um and I did appreciate um the process that went through.

There was actual motion made, and it was voted down, and that was due to uh not knowing uh exactly who you guys were voting for, and you wanted more information, and you wanted to go with the traditional system, which was fair, and I fully agree with that.

Um prior conversations, um I have uh in the past I have uh talked to uh previous aldermen uh just due to my interest in the aldermatic position here for district eleven.

Um that is basically uh getting information on you know current events um and particularly how how it is governed, like through Robert's rules.

I'm the uh vice president of my local uh local 231 through uh Carpenters.

Um and it is always uh always fun to kind of contrast, okay.

Well, this is this happens in this particular meeting.

Uh you know, this is not really uh local governance.

So kind of the figure of the two out is uh always been kind of an interest uh with myself.

Uh that's why I've uh personally um tried to educate myself as much as possible.

So when I learned uh one one of the biggest uh budgets uh that city has is security.

I uh right away signed up for the uh citizens academy, police citizens academy.

Great program, may I add.

Um, and then I was so moved by it.

I ended up joining the alumni so I could actually support and uh participate in some of the uh fundraising for the the police academy as well.

Um I tell you there's there's so many great things that are going on in Waukesha.

Um but to get back to um your your previous question is I I was honored uh to be even nominated uh for a particular motion.

Um I appreciate your guys' process, and if it actually came up again, and which it probably will, you know, there's a lot of aldermen here, and the process is the process.

I would stand by uh repeating that process again.

I hope that answers your question.

Alder Person Piper.

And I just to follow up.

So when you gave your opening remarks, you made a comment about serving them justice, and I'm just I'm curious what you meant by that.

Well, um, I feel it's uh unheard voice.

Uh a lot of people don't like to make public comments.

Um I I feel I feel a little bit of responsibility.

I'm not trying to uh sway particular things.

I ran uh uh bipartisan.

Um so I mean there was no political aspects on that part, but uh I really want to uh give back to the community.

I really want to give back to the city that has served me and my family so well.

It's my wife and two children there.

Um and I have five children total.

So we have been in the school systems.

We have um we have participated in a lot of different events.

We love the walks and night out, we love volunteering, we love uh uh going to the jamboree.

We love everything that city has to uh provide for us.

Um but I also have learned within uh campaigning that there are particular aspects that we are missing.

Um for example, if you go downtown and you take a look up and go down the streets, and this was brought to me by a business owner that there's air conditioners that are hanging out, and they're very dangerous, and uh it looks like some of them could fall out, and that's a unrented space.

Come to find out.

There are um a lot of the residents that live up in the upper apartments that I've talked to during campaigning.

They have a need for parking, because when they get home and they have all the businesses locally that are all parked up in the parking spaces, they really have no set place to park, although they pay rent there and they're paying uh parking fees, and they don't have the right to park near their house.

They have to walk several blocks most of the time.

Um I I could go on, but I I don't wanna um take away any more of your guys' time with the the interview process.

Um maybe just justice is a is a harsh term, but it's an honest one.

And that's that's what I give it.

Yes, sir.

Alder person Chris.

Thank you, Mayor.

I'm gonna ask a question about the river.

It's on that flag.

If it wasn't for that river, I don't think Waukesha would even be her or is what it is today.

So I try kayaking on the river.

It's very difficult to do, and we talk about dredging, leave it, dredge it, not dredge it.

What is your uh input since the river is runs through District 11 on the west end?

Uh what is your vision or idea about leaving the river as is or dredging it?

Well, I have to ask you some probing information in order to answer that question.

So, what do you know about dredging right now?

If you're to dredge this year, how it is it is it going to affect the the plantation and the river itself and um everything within that that river.

This is unprecedented.

We were told we're not supposed to answer questions when people are standing there, but I'm going to.

I'm not sure what I'm saying.

I will allow it this way.

Thank you.

Thank you.

This I look towards thank you, Miss Mayor.

Thank you.

I because without that guy out there who was out there said we're not supposed to answer questions, our former mayor.

Thank you, Mayor uh Habislavan.

Uh, since my family was not in the manufacturer or from Mercier, but I've been on that river.

Um basically we spend money and we want to spend more money.

I think I was one of the few that voted down uh no to having the survey done on it.

What should we do with it?

And that's why I brought this up.

Uh what should we do with the river?

We it was uh a lake.

We we made it a lake.

It's a lake now, Saratoga Lake.

So as far as my question is specifically, is some people want to do the study, and I think the study was 150 to 250,000 just to find out what should we should do with it.

Where I'm bringing this topic up is I didn't want to spend the money on the survey because I know what the survey is gonna say.

We need to dredge it.

We need to dredge it uh two feet, three feet, and should we have a dredging uh schedule?

That's the only thing I know we're gonna get out of the survey.

So I voted no on the survey because no matter what the survey says, we're gonna do it, we're gonna need some dredging.

Now a reason I bring it up for future is should it be a five-year schedule, a 10-year schedule, a 20-year schedule?

Should we automatically dredge every 20 years or work together with the DNR, which is part of what this survey is, and or should we just let it run its course and not do anything with it?

That's why I brought that up.

Did I answer your question?

Well, perhaps that's why you know you have to run the survey to justify paying uh using uh constituents taxpayers.

Uh that's why I voted no, because I appreciate my constituents uh dollars and my dollars.

Thank you.

All right, I'm gonna limit the back and forth.

Uh is has your question been sufficiently answered?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

All right.

Any other questions from any other of the Alders?

All right, thank you, Aaron.

Thank you.

Moving on.

Next we have Becky Fetters.

And again, one minute to introduce yourself, but unlimited time for questions.

Yep.

My name is Becky Fetters.

I am neither a former Alder person nor a lifelong resident of Waxha.

Uh I moved here in 2012 when my husband took a job here.

Um I think at the time we were moving from a Long Island, New York, where I'm also not from.

I bounced around a bit.

This is the place that we have chosen to put down roots.

Um we didn't move here because of this, but I remember seeing a report from Money Magazine or something that it was like in the top 20 cities of places to live, which was exciting, and we've had a great time here.

Um I think I tell everyone all the time who will listen to me that the local government that you have is the place where the most impact on your day-to-day life is, and so I figured with this opportunity um to put my name in the in the ring for this.

Um it was a good chance um to put my money where my mouth was, and I think I have good gifts to serve my neighbors and my community.

Um, and so I thank you for the opportunity to speak to you.

That was 58 seconds, by the way.

So congratulations on that.

I I didn't practice that, so that was very impressive.

All right, are there any questions for Becky?

Uh Alder Person Matthews.

You think I'd have your questions memorized by now, but I I would hope so.

It's not gonna really change, but thank you once again for for your interest and position.

So, what do you see as the biggest opportunity?

I mean, you're one of the newer residents here, came similar time frame that I did to the city of Walker Shop, which we love.

But what do you see as one of the biggest opportunities or challenges facing the city um right now?

Well, um, everyone has kind of given a nod to the budget, and I know that that is an issue, but one of the issues I I didn't mention where I live.

I live um on Pleasant Street at 808, if that matters, um, which is just a block east of East and very close to the Hope Center.

And so an issue that I hear kind of in the scuttle butt on social media is people are concerned with the homeless population in Waxhaw.

Um, and so that is a challenge that we're facing, I think, to the quality of life for people who have homes and people who are houseless.

Um, and so I'd not I don't have like a great solution to that.

Um but I think that that is definitely a challenge that the city um in in different neighborhoods, but I see it every day.

So that's that's a challenge, I think that and and I don't know what y'all are already up to in terms of addressing that, but I know that that is a concern that my neighbors have and the wider city has.

Excellent.

Uh next up is Alder Person Piper.

Thank you.

And Becky, thank you for your interest in the position.

Yep.

You started to address my question in your cover letter, but I'll ask it as well.

Um, when you're working with others with different viewpoints, how do you reach compromise?

And at what point do you determine that you simply need to step up and lead?

Um, so I have a background in the helping professions.

That's been my professional life in various ways.

Um, and I always have sought to like just naturally be a consensus builder as much as possible.

Um, I'm a good listener, and so trying to hear what what the under sometimes the thing isn't the thing, you know, sometimes speaking more of can on a constituent level, the things that people are concerned about that they speak about may have some underlying issue, and so listening well to be able to kind of figure out what that is.

Um I also am skilled at hearing different points of view and kind of being able to understand where different people are coming from, which I think is a valuable um just in trying to have conversation around whatever whatever the issue may be.

Um then sometimes you just really do need to step up and say, you know, okay, like what are we doing here?

Like everybody other people have said you can't please all the people all the time.

Um, and so sometimes you you make the the best decision as a counsel or as um in in other venues of life as you can.

Um but you want to try and make sure the people know that they have been heard and that their opinion matters.

I think sometimes the problem comes when people feel like you just kind of like brush right over them and didn't really pay attention to whatever their concern was.

And so trying to make sure people feel heard in in whatever the process is, so that um you can try and get people to get on board.

Thank you.

Alder Person Wiggerson.

Hi, thanks again for applying.

Um my question is the same as it's been for everybody else.

But you know, what what do you know of the projects that we're working on in the downtown area?

And then any type of engagement or community boards or anything that you're on that supports that downtown activity.

You know, I I feel I can't remember which one said, like, you know, I'd have to learn on the job for some of these things.

Some of the things that I see as I drive my middle schooler to STEM every ding dang day, um earlier than I would like to.

Um, I've certainly seen the hotel going up.

Um, and I know that Family Promise is gonna has gotten a grant or funding um to build family housing shelters um right near the library uh with the what used to be the Christian scientist church, and so those are two things that I am aware of because they're in my my sphere of of driving around every day.

Um and I'm excited about the family promise thing when I lived in New York, like that was something I was a little bit involved in and knew some people involved in, and I think that's definitely a need.

Um, as I already said, you know, there's a there's a challenge with people being unhoused, and so I'm I'm glad for for that to be happening, although I'm sure that there's gonna be some uproar about it.

I already saw it on Facebook, so all right, uh Alder Person Chris, and then Camacho.

Thank you.

Thank you for uh stepping up to represent District 11 on the western end of District 11.

Fox River goes through there, as you've heard tonight.

Uh, are you a fan of dredging it or let it naturally happen, whatever's going to happen with the river?

Um I I didn't know that a survey would cost 150,000.

That's kind of like a gulp.

Um but certainly I think there are people who who have better education and knowledge about that type of thing that I would hope we would be able to at least, you know.

So when the river is flooding and they park the salt trucks on there, I'm on Facebook a bit too much, maybe.

But people are like, what are they doing?

They want to get rid of the they want to have to buy new trucks.

And I'm always like, Don't you think that the people who work for the city know what they're doing?

Like they have the qualifications to make those choices, and so I would hope I don't know all of the different positions of the people who work for the city and and all of that, like what their backgrounds are.

But I would hope if we can't afford to do a survey, we could at least get some wisdom on that end of things, because I you know, I would be conservative concerned about the environmental impact as well.

Um we want the river to be a thriving, healthy space for living beings and for the human beings that want to use it as well.

So I would want more information, but you know, based on on that, I would would be able to have a an answer, but I don't really know right now at what the best choice was.

Great answer.

Doesn't matter if we could afford it or not, we voted for it.

Well, there you go.

See, you voted no, but I didn't know that everybody else voted yes.

See, at least you didn't have to vote, right?

Uh all right, Alder Person Comacho.

I'm gonna collect myself, I promise.

Okay, so yeah, uh back at it.

Um so how would you support the uh small businesses as you know there's a lot of them in this district uh as an alder?

Um I would certainly hope to connect with them.

I know that as I wander around downtown with my dog or with my kids or my husband.

Um there's a few spots like a right downtown that I'm always curious.

Like, there's been a lot of turnover in the past however many years I've lived here, 14 years.

Um I'm curious about that.

Like I'm not an entrepreneur, but I'm always curious about like what it is about those sites that make it hard to make a go of it, and so I'd be curious to hear from some of some of those people as well as from um more thriving businesses just to kind of hear what they need from the city and how we could support them.

So that's what I would do.

Uh Alder Person Lemke.

Uh you've heard it before, but what are your thoughts about net new construction uh density uh of new builds and the Mandale project across the street?

I don't know a ton about the project across the street, except for you know, little snippets that I have heard.

Um I didn't do a deep dive into everything before tonight.

Um, and I know there's some concerns about it in terms of traffic and in terms of the neighborhoods surrounding it.

Um that said, I'm I'm not opposed to I drive past past that a lot too, because I take take my kids up to Hawthorne.

I got a high schooler, middle schooler, and uh and I'm an elementary school killer uh schooler, so I'm like a mom taxi every day.

Um because none of them can take the bus.

Anyway, um, but yes, recognizing, you know, I've had some conversations with the mayor in other you know, encounters and knowing that part of the challenge um of the city's budget is the way the state gets funded, funding back to us, um and that in order to be able to meet rising costs, you know, like the the things that we do are increasingly costing money, and that doesn't necessarily mean we're getting more money to do it.

Um, you know, I think I think building is gonna have to happen, and I know I know when I hear about that, people are unhappy about that as well because people have like this idyllic image of of the place that they grew up or the way that they want it to be, and that's not always the way that it's gonna be.

And so, how do we balance um having a place that feels like home?

Um with also those needs, and and you know, creating affordable housing, hopefully, for people to be able to live here, as well as um helping with the tax base and the budget.

So I would be in favor of that.

Um, generally speaking, and then the specifics would would be up for conversation.

All right, any other questions?

All right, thank you, Becky.

Thank you so much.

Uh, next up we have uh James Touchstone, uh and this is our last candidate for the evening.

And James, just as a reminder, one minute to introduce yourself, uh, and then unlimited time for questions.

Good evening, Mayor, council members, citizens of Waukesha.

Um, I live at 212 Fountain Avenue in Waukesha.

I once read that a man who carries a cat by tail learns something, he can learn no other way.

Well, I have carried many cats in my time, and I believe that has prepared me rather well for public service.

It began simply enough.

I was 17 years old on my path to being a public service.

Old enough to be foolish, old enough to be useful, standing in a recruiter's office, right hand raised towards the ceiling, swearing an oath to the Constitution of the United States of the as a member of the Idaho National Guard.

When I came home from my second combat tour, I came to Waukesha, Wisconsin.

I carried those lessons with me.

I became a supervisor at the Veterans Administration.

Before that, I'd managed a six million dollar career and technical education grant.

Um District 11 is my neighborhood.

I've lived there for 25 years.

I'm not here to promise you the moon.

I'm here to promise you what I have delivered elsewhere.

Honest work, careful judgment, any man who shows up.

I would be honored to serve.

Thank you.

All right, we'll start with questions.

Uh, Alder Person Camacho.

My question this time.

So, how would you support the downtown businesses?

Um in my many years and being as a business owner, the easiest way to support somebody or get to know somebody I feel is over a cup of coffee.

Sit down, spend 30 minutes with them, find out what they need, what they want, and what could be done to best help them.

Great.

Alder Person Matthews.

James, you can probably guess what I'm gonna ask.

Um, what do you see in your history with Walkershaw?

What do you see right now as the current or biggest opportunity or challenge facing our city right now?

Um, I think the biggest challenges that we have are entry-level homes and the city budget.

Now, the Habitat for Humanity uh project that went up with all those homes, I think is a great project.

I think the biggest opportunities that we have right now for our city is we can capitalize on our historic downtown and on our farmers market, and I really think the connection between the two is a key that we can use to unlock it affordable um home uh affordable home ownership because that solves the tax-based problems and it creates more opportunities for growth in downtown Waukesha.

Thank you.

Alder Person Piper.

James, thank you for your interest in the role, and thank you for your service.

Um, my question again is around compromise, and when you're working with others that have different viewpoints, how do you found how do you find compromise and how do you determine when it's time to simply step up and lead?

Um, the hardest project that I ever did in my life was when I was deployed to Afghanistan.

I was a team sergeant for uh the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion out of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

I was assigned a project to build a girls' school.

Now, the challenges of the that was the religious leaders in the area did not want a girls' school there.

It was funded by two different funding sources, so I had to answer not only to the Department of Defense, but it had a grant from the Australian government.

I was required to use US building codes to build a structure in a third world country, and I also had to find teachers and people to support it when it wasn't worked.

So, how did I find compromise?

I asked everybody the one thing that they wouldn't give up.

The Australians said it had to have girls in it.

The religious leaders said that we had to divide the boys from the girls.

So I'm from a construction background.

I've owned a construction company for I don't know, 38 plus years here in Waukesha.

I knew how to help the people to build a boys and girls school within the budget that was allowed.

So we came in with the budget that the DOD gave us.

We came in with the boys and girls school that was separated so that they could both be educated.

And it made the religious people happy.

It made the people of Afghanistan happy.

I was in uh Shinkei province in Zaboul, um, located up on the Pakistani border.

And when it was inspected and passed, uh, not only did we build to the U.S.

codes, but we created a training program for the Afghani workers that I was teaching so that they would have a skill that they could take to other areas of Afghanistan to help it.

So I think that in order to reach compromise, you have to find the one thing that they won't move on, and then put everything else as compromise.

Along that same vein, I was a first sergeant for the 432nd Green Bay for both Charlie Company and Delta Company.

So as a first sergeant, I know sometimes that you just have to make a decision.

And when you have to make a decision and step up for leadership, it comes down to taking responsibility for it, looking people in the eye and telling them why you have to do what you do, whether it's a time crunch, money crunch, or just a simple logistics.

Thank you.

Uh next up, Alder Person Wiggerson.

Hi there.

Thanks so much for applying, and again, thank you for your service.

Uh, my question is the same as it's been with everybody else.

Um, maybe after you know, since you're the number seven, you know, what do you know about the downtown things that we've worked on and just any of your engagement with communities or whatnot, boards to help that downtown area that's part of District 11.

All right, I'll start with projects.

So the project projects I know about is a Freedman Alley.

It's got new signs, new lights, um, new structures.

We have the courthouse renovation that's going on.

We have street resurfacing that's going on.

My favorite project is the connecting of the trails.

We're in phase two of that right now as our runner.

Um, I've ran the Kettle Marine um ultra marathons, so I love to run out and back.

Um, and the pedestrian bridge system are the current projects that we have going on right now, and we're working for uh community involvement.

I have six children.

I have uh two boys and four girls.

So when they were active, most of my stuff went to supporting South High School.

Um, when I wasn't supporting the kids at South High School, um, a veteran I did worked with veterans groups and did veterans kinds of support things, and occasionally um when I have time, I work with the food pantry as well.

Great.

Uh Alder Person Chris and then Lemke.

Thank you.

Thank you for stepping up to represent uh those in District 11.

Uh the West End of District 11, the Fox River runs through it.

Um, are you a fan of dredging it or letting it live and stay naturally?

Believe it or not, I've actually been looking forward to your question.

No one else up here has, so which is why I asked it.

If you look at it, we're only one of 22 districts that are part of this whole river thing.

So if we choose to do something without partnership with the other 22 districts that are in our river, we can be um throwing money that's not gonna be not.

So what I would look at is to propose a watershed district in cooperation with them, and what we really have to focus on is stormwater management upstream from where we're at with those other communities because as somebody who's watched the bears disappear, myself, I like to watch the dragonfly.

But as we watch them go under with the floods, um it's from the stormwater upstream.

So we need to form a partnership upstream and not focus just on dredging the place where we're at.

We also need to focus on green infrastructure with the river so that we can keep it a nice place that people want to go.

I do miss the water skiing show like everyone else.

It was a great place to take your kids on an evening thing.

And when we mix that up with it, like with the Freedman Alley, it could almost be a template for how we would improve the river district and bring more people down here, but I think it's far beyond dredging.

That's a really simplistic way to look at it.

It's more of a partnership with all of the people, both in our town and upstream who have our river flowing through their districts.

Thank you.

I love that.

We'll uh defer everything to Peewauke.

That was a great idea.

No, work with them.

Work with them.

I'm sorry.

I'll I'll change that.

Alder Person Lumpke.

Net new construction, uh density, uh, and the Mandel project.

If you could speak on those.

Yeah.

So we do need, as I said earlier, more new construction.

Um, I prefer single or home ownership over apartments, but I understand that both are important to the tax base.

Um, as far as the project across the street, I think that you guys have already voted on it to my understanding.

My two things was taking into the concerns of the people that the hill neighborhood up there and the people that have to deal with the parking that comes here.

And the other thing that I'm I haven't seen the our um the blueprints, but we have a really beautiful building here, and I'd like to see that mirrored in whatever new construction we build across the street so that it makes this area an attractive area to be at.

All right, any other questions?

All right, thank you, James.

All right, thank you.

Now for the fun part.

All right, so we are gonna do this um as a show of hands again.

Um, but this is not, yeah, uh, Alderperson Lemke.

Do we get to speak before we vote?

Um I'd like to make a couple of comments.

Sure, yeah, I I will allow that, yeah.

Um, but I I'm gonna ask that we not do a lot of back and forth.

No, no, no, no, I'm not sure.

But if you would like to make a statement or anybody else would, sure.

Um, so I'll start with you, Alderperson Lemke.

I just I just wanted to uh I mentioned to one alderman my thinking uh when I seconded uh the Aaron Spencer uh recommendation last meeting, and it was not in my in my opinion.

I was taken aback by I never expected it.

Uh so I seconded the motion and and I'll just mention why my thoughts okay.

It wasn't to pull a fast one, it was because uh Aaron ran two races before, and my consistent thought has always been uh give the opportunity to the man who tried to win the office rather than just appointing someone who didn't go through the work.

Now I know Joe, when I talked to Joe, he said, well, if if that would have been the case, he wouldn't have been on on the board.

Um but Aaron ran twice and narrowly got defeated by Alicia.

Alicia, I think outworked him, but that's just my own personal opinion.

I think both of them would have been very good aldermen.

So I seconded the motion because I firmly believed that the person who ran before once or twice, the voters spoke, even if he came in second, they spoke that they chose that person, and in Aaron's case, uh it he ran against three people and won the primary against Leonard.

And Leonard is a great alderman, uh, but that's what happened.

So my thought was to promote Aaron, okay.

And I'm just gonna use an example.

Eileen, you were just elected, and and I don't know how you're gonna be as an alderman.

I hope I've talked with you many times.

You're good, you're great.

But if something would happen and you were in this office for two, three months, and you said, you know, this just isn't for me.

Okay.

Eileen was in a in a three-way primary with my cousin Dean.

Love him dearly.

We all have our opinions, but okay, and there was a second person, and Dean got eliminated in the uh primary, and Eileen won in the general election.

So if Eileen stepped down, I would even pick the person, the second runner up versus going for my cousin, because I think the voters spoke and said, here's the winner, here's the second one, and here's the third one.

So when I did that last week, that was my thought.

Okay.

It it didn't have to do with the qualifications of anybody.

I because I've heard from everybody here, all seven, and I would be happy with all seven seven of them.

Uh I would encourage them all to run in the next election, okay, so that the voters have a choice, but I was respecting the voters' choice.

So that's my thought, and please don't hold it against Aaron because I don't think he knew that we were gonna do something nefarious.

Okay, so that's my thought.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any other people that wish to make a statement tonight before we vote?

All right.

Um, so the way that I'm gonna do this is I'm gonna again list everybody in the order that they appear on the agenda to keep it really simple and you know what to expect next.

I'm going to ask that you keep your hands raised so that I can record who votes for whom, because again, this is not a secret ballot.

So with that, we are going to start with Lenny.

Please raise your hand if you would like Lenny Miller to be the new District 11 alder person.

No one.

All right.

Moving on.

Um moving on.

Um David Vincent, please raise your hand if you would like David Vincent to be the next Alder person for District 11.

All right, nobody.

Um, and again, if there was a tie for last, both people will drop off.

So just a heads up on that.

Next up, we have uh Timothy Neckish.

If you would like Timothy to be the next District 11 alder person, please raise your hand.

I'm seeing Mike Chrisen.

Anyone else?

All right.

All right.

Next up, we have Eric Helgested.

If you would like Eric Helgested, please raise your hands now.

And please keep them up so I can record all of the votes.

I am writing them all down.

One, two, three.

Oh.

Thank you.

Let me just make sure I've got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

All right.

Thank you all.

Uh next up, Aaron Spencer.

Please raise your hand if you would like Aaron Spencer.

All right, thank you.

Next up, Becky.

All right, one, two, three.

Excellent.

And then finally, James Touchstone.

And I've got one.

All right.

So then by the rules that we went over at the beginning, um, Lenny and David are no longer up for consideration.

So that was our round one votes.

And I'm just marking that for myself here.

All right, so we have uh remaining.

Um, we have Timothy Neckich, uh, Eric Helgested, Aaron Spencer, Becky Fetters, and James Touchstone.

So we are going to re-vote again, minus Lenny and David.

So all those that would like um Tim, uh Timothy Neckish, uh, please raise your hand.

All right.

All those um for Eric Helga Stud, please raise your hands.

All right, exactly the same.

I I have to make sure I'm following the rules so that Brian doesn't yell at me.

Um, all right, so Aaron, Aaron Spencer, please raise your hands.

All right.

Uh all right, so we're adding S V T.

Thank you.

Uh, and then uh next up, Becky Fetters.

Excellent, thank you.

And then James Touchstone.

I think we you can only vote one time.

All right, so that means that um James Touchstone will drop off with zero votes.

Um all right, so next up, we are going to vote again.

Um please raise your hands if you would like Timothy Neckich.

All right.

Eric Helgested.

All right, no changes there.

Aaron Spencer.

All right, no changes there.

And then uh Becky Fetters.

Excellent.

All right, so that means that Tim Neckish has dropped out in round three.

And all right, so we are back to re-voting again.

We will start with Eric Helgesead.

All right, so the same seven.

Um, Aaron Spencer.

Thank you.

Becky Fetters.

The same three.

All right.

Because we did have the four then this time around for Aaron Spencer.

So Becky, I am sorry, you are out in round four.

All right.

So next up, we have all those who would like Eric Helgasstead, please raise your hands.

I gotta start a new page.

Yes, we have two people left.

So all we have are um Eric Helgast and Aaron Spencer.

So please keep your hands raised so that I can mark everyone down.

All right.

Okay, sorry.

You're good.

You're good.

If you're on the right side of me, you're good.

All right, and then just so that we have a record.

If you are for Aaron Spencer, please raise your hands.

All right.

Well, with that, uh, it looks like Eric Helga said you have uh received the majority of the votes.

Congratulations.

I knew there were gonna be multiple rounds.

We were prepared.

So Eric, as you make your way up here, uh, I do want to thank all of those who um applied.

I know this was quite the process here uh tonight, so thank you for putting in that effort, um, especially because you all wanted to be my alder person, so thank you for that.

Um, and also thank you to the council um for being brief with your questions, but also pointed and making sure that you made a good choice tonight.

Thank you.

All right, Eric, come on up.

This is not the prices right.

After it's already decided that now I have to support the city.

Oh, yeah.

They're all gonna be hearing from me.

He was my second choice, by the way.

Hi, Eric Helgason.

Uh, show this.

I have Lendard.

That I would support the Constitution of the United States.

I will support the Constitution of the United States.

In the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin.

And we'll faithfully discharge the duties.

Of Alderman for District 11.

Of Alderman for District 11.

Of the city of Waukesha, Wisconsin.

City of Waukesha, Wisconsin.

To the best of my ability, so help me out.

To the best of my abilities, will help me got it.

Congratulations.

Eric, you made your wife cry on your first day.

You only did cry.

Welcome, welcome to the council.

You're gonna sit right next to uh Alder Person Camacho there.

That was your spot, right?

Yes.

Okay.

All right.

Well, welcome.

Uh so we have uh completed uh the first part of the agenda so far.

So next up is consent agenda.

I believe there's one item to be pulled off of consent.

Uh yeah, we need to remove the uh extension of premises for BBs on Maiden.

All right, we will discuss that under um ordinance and licensing then.

Is there anything else to be removed from consent agenda?

All right, seeing nothing, uh, we will assume that that passes.

Um getting to the right page here.

Too many pages.

All right, next up then we have the termination of the tax incremental finance district 13.

Jennifer.

Yes, I'm going to provide a little bit of context about our TIC portfolio.

I promise I'll go quickly.

Um, but just since we haven't dealt with a lot of TIF related things in the last couple years, I just wanted to give you a quick update as well.

So um here's a little bit of the history of um how the city has used TIDS for almost 50 years, and it has a drastic um effect on property owners or property values when we put we create tip districts and provide incentives to um encourage development to happen in those districts.

And historically, our average district life is 17 years.

There's three different types of districts that we've used in the past.

The redevelopment district always takes a little bit longer because the costs are usually higher because those projects are are usually much more complicated, but um, this kind of gives you an idea of how long our districts generally last.

And uh currently, after tonight, we'll have 13 open districts with that have created um 442 million dollars in value.

And just as a side note, we closed six districts in the last six years.

So we're generally on a trend of closing one district a year or maybe one every other year, depending on what's going on.

I think last year we closed two actually.

And the amount of tax base generated by those six districts we closed in the last six years was almost 200 million dollars.

And real quickly, just as a reminder, here's some of the work that we did in the past.

So the old Fleming property got improved into the shops at Fox River and some manufacturing.

An old foundry down on Recine Avenue in the bypass, found new life for some commercial and residential development.

The former Span Creek site, I forgot how bad this looked until we pulled this picture out.

So we redeveloped that into a shopping area.

Got uh a fresh development and for commercial in that area on Sunset Drive.

And this is Oberland Filter up by the airport.

Um really an underutilized piece of property, and the company really wanted to stay in the city of Waukesha because they had quite a legacy here, but also a lot of their employees were here, and so we worked with them on this property so that they could expand.

So that brings us to TID 13.

This district is 23 years old, it's run its uh statutory life.

We're required to close it at this point, um, and it has generated a modest amount of increment over those 23 years.

The most interesting thing about this district to me, anyhow, is that it was the first what we call pay-go district in the city, meaning that it was the first agreement where that the city did with the developer, where the developer fronted the costs and then re recovered some of those costs through the increased tax base over the last 23 years.

Um this site's on the west side of the city off the bypass, it was a site that the city used as a landfill since the 50s, and then after that, not much happened on that site.

So by 2003, when we created the district, it looked like this.

There was some um uh storage and an Aldi there on the corner, but generally not much had happened on this large district, and so there was a thought that this might be a perfect spot for some industrial development, and we created the district.

The owner went ahead and did some cleanup, um, but we had we did see some development, especially along that Les Paul Parkway um area, and then there's some other uh buildings like that recycling transfer station that also occurred, but we didn't see the industrial development there that we thought we might, and it was really once they started to dig into the soils there, they realized it really couldn't support the foundations needed, and it was very difficult to run the utilities because the soil was so unstable that the mains would break, and it was um it's just an extremely difficult site.

So it's kind of built out to probably its maximum use as is right now.

So this is the first time in the city's history when we're closing a district that it has a shortfall.

Usually we have a positive balance or we've always had a positive balance at the end of these districts.

This is the first time we have a shortfall, and it kind of goes back to that.

I mentioned it was our very first pay-go district, and we learned a lesson from this as part of that developer agreement.

We the city capped ourselves for administrative costs at $35,000.

Um, so what happens is any staff time that's spent working on TIFFs, managing them gets charged to that TIFF, and so the TIFF is paying for whatever staff time goes into it, and that's what we were doing because that's our practice.

Um then once we reached that $35,000 cap, we weren't able to recover the rest of that staff costs.

Um, we would have been able to if the developer had reached their maximum incentive, but that never happened as I just showed.

The the development really didn't um it wasn't as robust as he had thought or that we had thought at the time in 2020.

Um so there was some additional staff cost that was not covered by this district.

Uh so this is the second item under new business.

So we're proposing that um to offset that shortfall that it we use contingency funds for to pay for those unrembursed staff time at the end of TID 13.

So that's a very quick overview because I know it's been a long night already, but I'm happy to answer any questions you have on this.

Alder President Lemke.

Being the staff is mostly salary, it's really not it's it's a loss of revenue to the city, but it's not really a loss of money.

Why would you have to be reimbursed just so your department gets reimbursed, or how does that work?

It's it's really an accounting thing.

So over that 23 years, we in um we were charging that staff time to the district, um, anticipating at some point that we would be reimbursed and and then stop that once we realized that it probably wasn't gonna happen.

But um so it's it's an accounting mechanism to offset those past expenses because you can't close a district with a negative balance.

So we've got to bring that district to zero in terms of the accounting of it.

Um because you can we can't close it as it in in the negative.

So it's okay, Alderperson Piper and then Alderperson Van Trieste.

I'll yield.

Oh Alder Person Van Trieste.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh Jennifer, so uh in the land that's still available over in that area.

Uh if we were to uh go back in there, would it be too much cost to the city to develop it so that we wouldn't have any more uh main breaks over there, or is it just way beyond uh trying to fix?

Yeah, we've had different proposals over the years, and um I think that that this uh what you're seeing here kind of on the western end where it's the storage, that's the worst part of that old landfill.

That's where the most um the most issues are underground.

And so yeah, I think that it's probably cost prohibitive unless it was like some type of I don't know, amazing development that was worth a lot of money or something that could offset that.

But um I think it would be very difficult to do much more than what's out there right now.

Yeah.

Okay.

Anyone else?

Is there a motion?

Uh Alder Person Piper.

Thank you.

I'll make a motion for the termination of tax incremental finance district 13.

And with a second, I'll speak briefly.

Alder Person Camacho.

Second.

Thank you.

Uh Alder Person Piper, go ahead.

Just want to reiterate a couple of things that Jennifer uh pointed out for the public and for the council is that we've been the city has been very good at TIFF.

And uh this is a rare instance where we have one that is finishing in the in a deficit, but that's not been the that's not been the standard that we've done TIFF in the past.

Plus, as Jennifer related, it it sounds like all of us including staff learned a little bit of a lesson around how to structure these things, and that it was our first pay-go TIFF, and we've made those changes since then.

So I'd ask for your support to terminate uh TID 13 this evening.

Thank you.

Uh Alder Person Everett.

I second.

It's already already been seconded, but thank you.

Okay, well thank you for the support.

Uh all right.

Uh any anyone else, any other comments?

We don't need another second.

Nope.

All right.

Uh so the motion is to terminate um tax incremental finance district 13.

Please vote when it is before you.

And you can voice vote, Eric.

Aye.

Aye.

Christine aye.

Matthews aye.

All right.

That motion does pass.

Moving right along.

Um, so I know you kind of went over this.

Do you want to just kind of mention it again or no?

Okay.

Um, so then we do still have the item um for the budget amendment.

Is there a motion on the floor?

Alder Person Wiggerson.

I will make a motion to um.

Wait a minute.

On the budget amendment for the shortfall from the TID 13 termination.

All right.

Uh Alder Person Matthews.

I'll second it.

All right, and to be clear, that motion is to fund um and pay for the administrative fees related to past staff for once the final audit is or excuse me, I'm reading the wrong thing too.

Uh, to approve the budget amendment for use of contingency funds.

Is that correct?

Correct.

All right, excellent.

Any other comments?

Alder Person Piper?

Jennifer or Tony, just for the record, can you state what the is the amount to 70,000 dollars, or can you state the amount for the record?

Yeah, we don't know the exact dollar amount until after the final audits done.

It's about Denise's estimating about 6667.

I just said 70 to provide a little bit of cushion there.

The final audit will be done later this year, and then we'll have that exact number.

All right, very good.

Thank you.

And to be clear, your motion is pending the final audit, kind of um really close, if not exactly what the suggested motion is.

Yes, what you said.

Thank you.

Oh, yeah, is this a two-thirds majority, Brian, for uh budget amendment?

Thank you for that.

Um, all right.

So uh please vote when it is before you or voice vote if necessary.

Aye, Matthew's aye.

All right.

That does pass with more than a two-thirds majority.

And and Alderperson Lemke was actually able to vote electronically, which is even better.

Not me.

All right.

So next up we have a disallowance of claim for Chad Stouthammer.

Brian, I will let you take over from here.

Thank you.

This claim that was filed against the city arises out of a situation down in Dale Matthews' district.

It's a uh situation that is continuing to develop.

It arises from a an application for a driveway permit from Mr.

Stouthammer, who has property in the village of Waukesha that is close to a stub end street.

We have a number of stubs on the streets down in the southwest side of town because they were laid out that way in anticipation of development in the town of Waukeshaw that would be annexed into the city.

So as a good planning practice, the streets were made to line up so that they would continue into that uh projected subdivision.

The village, uh, well, the town is now the village, it incorporated into the village, uh, which means that there are not going to be any more annexations, and uh we will not be connecting our streets into the streets of a subdivision that would be annexed into the city.

Uh Mr.

Stouthammer asked for permission to run his driveway off the end of our stub street, and was rejected by the uh engineering department for several reasons, but primarily because this is not uh what that street was laid out for.

It was laid out not for a private driveway in an adjacent community.

It was designed for a street to continue into a subdivision that would be part of the city of Waukeshaw, um, among other reasons.

Uh just as a practical matter, uh the layout was not uh really uh advisable.

So there had been some discussion back and forth with Mr.

Stouthammer, uh, who made it very clear that he was not agreeable to uh discussing any compromises or complying with the engineering department's uh requests or requirements.

Um not long after that we received this claim that came in, which is for uh $600,000 in damages on what is known as an inverse condemnation.

And what that means is that the city has what's called police power inherently to control uh among other things access to its streets.

Uh but when regulation by a police power reaches an excessive point, then the claim can be made that the owner of the property that's affected by the regulation has been deprived of substantially all of the value of the property to him or her, and therefore it becomes a taking, which under the Fifth Amendment requires compensation by the government.

Uh Mr.

Stouthammer is claiming that the denial of his driveway permit has deprived him of substantially all of the value of his property and is seeking compensation in the amount of six hundred thousand dollars.

Um I naturally am recommending disallowance of this because this is a legitimate exercise of police power.

It does not arise to the level of a taking and compensation is not due.

If it were due, we would not be determining that in this forum.

It would be determined in a court after a thorough analysis of all of the legal and uh factual issues.

So we are recommending disallowance of this claim, which as most of you know, does not mean that uh there will never be a recovery from the city, but it means that the time period within which a lawsuit to recover that from the city uh is shortened from six years to six months.

So that's really the effect of this.

Uh as I said, it's a developing situation.

This almost certainly will not be the end of it, but it's one step along the way to at least shorten our period within which that uh lawsuit can be filed.

So we are recommending disallowance.

Okay.

Alderperson Molson.

I move to disallow the claim of Chad Stouthammer.

Alderperson with Tusca.

Second.

All right.

Are there any comments or questions?

Yeah.

Alderperson Matthews.

Yeah, this uh situation is very near and dear to me.

Sometimes on a daily and multiple times daily on there.

So I would appreciate I support fully support disallowing this claim and letting it go through the due process and doing it the right way.

Thank you.

Alderperson Ebert.

He's he's got a he's got a driveway to get in and out now, doesn't he?

There is access to the property, which is uh a number of parcels that are under common ownership by a corporation called Riverview Farms Incorporated.

It's a large area that is currently in agricultural use and and some of it lies fallow because it's wetland along the river.

Uh there is access currently to Salesville Road by a uh a road that is apparently primarily used for agricultural purposes.

So this is by no means the only way to access this property.

That's thank you.

Alderperson Van Trieste Brian uh so are you saying that that uh the way uh the egress into uh his residence, he he can't enjoy the same as the rest of the people.

I assume this is an HOA maybe, but you know the what you were saying about it's it's part of a group.

There so everybody else is able to to have egress uh to their property off of uh not off of sales oil road, but it would this is the only property that he'd have to come in through sales oil road.

That's uh well I don't know that I understand your question fully, but right now the land is vacant, there's nobody residing on it.

Uh the plan apparently is to put a single family residence on the property, and it's not within the city of Waukeshaw, it's in the village of Waukesha, it's beyond the city limits.

Okay.

Um just just that singular property though.

It is beyond the city in the village instead of the city.

So what I was trying to refer to was you know, there's 12 residents, for instance, and he's the 13th, but he doesn't have the same access points.

That's uh the clarity that I was looking for.

Yeah, the other residents are on Oxbow Drive that are city residents and city properties and uh use the city street and have had access to it for some time.

Um I would just say that those kinds of matters are really not part of what we're talking about here tonight.

Uh there will be plenty to discuss about the you know the merits of the arguments both ways.

Um it it is my firm conviction at least that there is no claim for a taking here in the amount that we should be uh considering allowing a claim of six hundred thousand dollars against the city tonight.

So we'll get into all of those other matters eventually, but uh we really do need to disallow this claim this evening.

Thank you for the clarity.

Are there any other questions?

All right, and to be clear, a yes vote would be to disallow this claim.

Uh so please vote when it is before you or voice vote as necessary.

Aye.

All right, that motion does pass 15 to zero.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Uh next up, we have transit commission report, Alex.

No meeting, no report, but we do have a meeting on Thursday, 521.

Excellent.

Um, water utility, Alderperson Matthews.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Um next meeting is Thursday, six o'clock.

All of the welcome to attend.

Excellent.

IT board, Alderperson Manion.

Um all of our business items were approved on consent agenda.

End of report.

Excellent.

Uh Landmarks Commission, Alderperson Chrisine.

Thank you, Mayor.

Our next meeting is uh Wednesday the third.

If you can't make the IT meeting, please stop by landmarks.

It probably be a little bit more fun.

And IT, but our last meeting, we had uh three people uh before us that uh needed some um some funds for their upkeep of their historic property, and we had uh long discussion on a uh city water utility property that's being divested that they would like to uh tear down, but it is listed on the national, not local, the national historic registry.

So that was our discussion on what to do with that, but we're waiting for more city uh input on the history and what actually is under the property.

Thank you.

Uh redevelopment authority, Alderperson Lemke.

No meeting, no report.

Thank you.

Parks reconforestry, Alderperson Wells.

We met last night and acknowledged the gift of an 80-foot flagpole by the Parks Foundation Walk Shaw that'll be placed at Lowell Park and hopefully installed prior to the 4th of July celebrations.

Um we also reviewed revisions to our departmental financial assistance program and elected board officers.

Excellent.

Uh library board report.

Uh Eric, since you were there, uh Alder Person Helga said.

Yep.

Um we met and the board, we had uh some really good staff uh education, went through um education on the uh pickup and drop off there.

We went over also um updates to the city program um inventory, which I believe other departments are going through as well.

Um so uh library director Bruce uh gave us an update on that.

Uh we approve the minimum to exempt, which uh after the pass at the county, the Act 150 um uh adjustments for the next uh couple of years uh that was approved by the board.

And um also want to tell you all that there is a new pass uh in addition to the other passes at the library.

This one is to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum.

So if you want to go see the COVID with your family, um I encourage you to go to the library and go pick up that pass.

It'll be a hot one.

Thank you.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Uh next up, cemetery commission report.

Alderperson Chrisine.

Thank you, Mayor.

Our meeting this month was canceled, but our next one we're looking forward to Monday the 8th, 5 30 in the community room.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Um Waukesha Housing Authority report.

Alder Person Piper.

Thank you.

At our last meeting, uh, Mayor joined uh to introduce yourself to the housing authority.

Um we received a report from our auditor, which was uh another clean audit for the housing authority for last fiscal year.

And the other highlight is uh we renewed a contract with State Farm for our overall property and casualty insurance.

Uh that is the end of report.

Excellent community development block grant.

Uh Jennifer, anything?

No report.

All right.

Public art committee report, Alderperson Molson.

No report.

All right, plan commission report.

No report.

No report.

All right, finance committee.

No report this evening.

No reports.

Jeez.

All right, building grounds, alderperson Molson.

All items on consent.

Excellent.

All right, ordinance and licensing committee.

I know you've got a lot for us, Alderperson Latesca.

I'll let you take it.

Uh yeah, I'll ruin the trend here.

Um a couple of things that I hope are more uh procedural, just didn't make it in time uh for ONL or required some clarification.

Um first up we have um discussion discussion and recommendation on AB 105 submitted by Raisegrain Brewing for Walkshop 2026 Lowell Park Fireworks show on July 3rd, 2026 from 4 to 10.

Um Brian, I honestly don't recall why we just ended up on this one.

Sorry.

The application that came in uh from Ray's grain listed or described the licensed premises as the entirety of Lowell Park.

We ask them to revise that description so that it only included an area near their serving area for many reasons.

But number one, you if the entire park were the licensed premises, they would have to card everybody that entered into the park.

So and they did make that amendment, so there's uh we I have no opposition to it.

I don't think there was any other issue raised at ONL.

Yes, thank you.

That as soon as I said that I remembered what it was.

Um so the map is attached.

Uh if anyone has any questions.

Um the AB 105 is just the uh the state version of a license to sell raised grain as a manufacturer, blah blah blah.

Fairly new process to us, so we're all kind of working through it.

Um so I will make a motion to approve uh the application and hopefully someone seconds it, and if there's any questions, Brian can answer otherwise.

Alderperson Matthews.

I'll second it.

All right, are there any other questions?

All right, then please vote.

Uh again, this is to approve the AB 105 submitted by Raised Green for the Fourth of July fireworks on July 3rd from 4 to 10 um with the amended map.

So please vote when that's before you or voice vote if you must.

Hi.

Alderman Everett.

Aye.

All right.

That motion does pass 15 to 0.

Next up, it looks like Salty Toad.

Yep.

Similar situation, just trying to get this done in time.

As the weather's getting nicer, would it delayed it?

No concerns from anybody, the packets in front of you if you want to see it.

So I'll make a motion to approve the sidewalk cafe permit for Salty Toad.

Okay, Alder Person Camacho.

Seconds.

Thank you.

Are there any questions or comments?

All right.

Then the motion is to approve the Salty Toad Sidewalk Cafe.

Please vote when it is before you or voice vote as necessary.

Aye.

Aye.

All right.

That motion does pass 15 to 0.

Uh on to BBs on Maine.

Same thing.

We had some questions about this one that came up at the ONL committee around BB's shares of Friday night live stage with Magellans.

There were some questions around the extension of premise that I pulled off a consent that we'll talk about in hopefully about a minute.

And the sidewalk cafe, um, both permits have been filed and there are no concerns.

So I will make a motion to approve the sidewalk cafe permit for BBs on Main.

And if you have any questions, uh Brooke is here if you'd like to speak with her.

Alder Person Camacho.

I will second.

All right.

Are there any questions on the sidewalk cafe permit?

Uh yeah, Alder Person Manion.

Brian, I think I asked this question when we had this at ONL, and I I don't think we addressed it that night, so I'm gonna re-ask it.

Um my question was related to the requirement around food service for the sidewalk cafe.

Is that I see it's crossed out on the application.

Is that something that we changed or something we're waiving in this case or no?

Uh sidewalk cafe does not require the service of food.

Okay.

For solely beverages also.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay.

Are there any other questions?

All right.

Then the motion is to approve the sidewalk cafe application for BBs on Maine.

Please vote when it is before you or voice vote.

Aye.

All right.

Uh that motion does pass 15 to 0.

Um, and then there's a part two for BBs on Maine.

So, Paul, if you want to go to that next.

Uh yep.

Part two is the extension of premise relating to the same thing Friday night live for BBs on Main attached with the uh sidewalk cafe.

So I will make a motion to approve um the extension of premise for BBs on Maine.

I'll second.

Alder Person Camacho seconds.

Are there any questions about the extension of premises?

All right, then please vote when that is before you again.

This is for the extension of premises.

Aye.

Aye.

All right, that motion does pass.

15 to 0.

Uh, next up we have the second reading for the proposed revisions to municipal code chapter 9.

Uh, Brian, are you handling that one or Paul?

Are you presenting?

Brian, anything you want to talk about?

I think this is our third reading, right?

Second.

This is second reading.

Second reading, right?

Sorry, I'm confusing stuff.

I had so much fun with the uh voting that I forgot what we were talking about here.

Um Brian, you want to talk about that's right.

You can you you'll do this much more quickly than that.

That's fine.

Thank you.

That's fine.

As you know, chapter nine in our municipal code is the alcohol code.

And uh a couple of years ago, the state legislature passed an act called uh 23 2023 Act 73, which was a major overhaul of chapter 125 of the state statutes, which is the state's alcohol chapter.

And so we had to make some revisions in our chapter 9 in order to stay in compliance with chapter 125.

In addition to those changes to remain in compliance with state law, we went ahead and recommended a number of other changes that are based on our real life experience with some of our provisions in chapter 9.

So this memo, I'm I'm hoping that you at least kind of breeze through it.

I will hit some of the high points on it.

But let's run through the items in the memo.

We added language to provide for a proration in license fees because state law provides that it has to be prorated for portions of years.

So that was simple.

In 907, we added clarification language for the requirement for if someone is either building a brand new bar or restaurant or remodeling a bar or restaurant and they apply for a license, they want to know if they're going to get the license before they invest a lot of money into it.

However, we don't issue licenses for premises that don't have occupancy permits.

So this is an existing provision in our code, but this is clarified now that they can apply and if they meet the requirements, they get a conditional license that only becomes effective after a certificate of occupancy is issued for the premises.

So they've got some assurance that they're going to have the license when they eventually open.

Because state law does not allow the transfer of a Class B license from one person to another.

So when a seller sells to a buyer, that buyer has no assurance that there's going to be a license available after they buy it.

Customarily, this has been handled by a kind of an agreement on the side, and not just in Waukeshaw, but in many communities, where that license is set aside and is held there for that buyer who can then apply and get the license.

What this provision does is it formalizes that process and it says that if a bar or restaurant is sold, then that license will be reserved for a period of 60 days in order to allow the buyer to apply.

There's still no guarantee that they're going to get the license.

They have to meet all the licensing requirements, but at least it can't be sold out from underneath them.

If it's a uh a regular license and not a reserve license, that can be a 10,000 dollar difference for the buyer of the bar.

So this gives us a formal process.

9.075 is brand new.

It uh addresses the full service retail outlets, which is what we just talked about with that form AB 105 for raised grain brewing.

It's a new license that's issued by the State Department of Revenue to breweries and distilleries and wineries.

We don't have much control over it other than to put a few restrictions on it.

But 9.075, this proposal kind of lays out the process by which a full service retail license can be approved.

Some of the things that we can do is to control the size of and location of the licensed premises, and particularly when it's what's called an unlimited transfer FSR license, full service retail license.

That's what raised grain and North Pillar and other breweries use when they roll their mobile trucks and trailers into farmers markets or beer gardens or other outdoor celebrations.

Unlimited transfer in the lingo of the Department of Revenue means it's mobile.

It can go anywhere.

So this some of the few areas that we do have some limits on what products they can sell.

We can restrict the licensee from either selling only the products that they produce or any products.

We are not recommending that we put that restriction on them.

We don't believe there's any real positive benefit for the city in restricting these license holders from selling whatever they want.

If Ray's grain rolls into Cutler Park for a tribute Tuesday, or whoever is getting the getting the license this year.

If they want to also sell water or other items, we don't see any reason to limit that.

So we're not recommending that we we uh use that option.

Um we are recommending that the sales of FSRs of intoxicating beverages, in other words, hard liquor and wine be uh prohibited in parks because that is currently the park policy that you can't have intoxicating liquors in parks.

So that's just to be consistent.

Uh some changes in the operators' licenses or in other words, bartender's licenses, they're more commonly known.

Um there are currently there is a provision in our code that allows the clerk to issue renewal bartender's licenses without council approval, as long as it's a renewal and they have a completely clean record since the last license was issued.

Some of the language in that current section was confusing, so we clarified it to make it clear that uh the clerk can go ahead and do that without ONL and council approval as long as there haven't been any infractions since the license was originally issued.

There's a clarification of the provisional license procedure or provisional license is when somebody that already has a bartender's license, a valid one in another community, wants to get one in Waukeshaw.

Bartenders' licenses are only good in the community where they're issued.

But if someone comes in and asks for a license in Waukeshaw and they already have one in another community, we can immediately issue what's called a provisional license, which they can use until they clear the formal process for getting a license, a regular license from Waukeshaw.

So this just clarifies the procedure a little bit.

You probably already remember that we have a requirement that licensees and agents reside within a 25-mile radius of City Hall.

We determined by looking at chapter 125 that that can't apply to uh bartenders or operators' licenses.

So this clarifies that that only applies to retail licenses and not to operators' licenses.

Previously, our code limited that only to Cutler and Frame Park, and uh with some other uh limitations on some other parks, so we are recommending that those be removed so that the park rec department can conduct their beer gardens in any of their parks.

It's been a good program.

We haven't had any issues with the beer gardens, uh, so we really don't see a need to be restrictive on that.

Um yeah, we just added a little technical change in there about license quotas.

Uh, Waukeshaw is kind of unusual in that we have a quota on our class A retail licenses.

That's not required by the state.

That's something that we just do on our own.

However, state law says that if you have a Class A beer and cider only license, it cannot be subject to a quota.

So this just clarifies that Class A beer and cider only licenses are not subject to our quota.

9.11 is a lengthy section that has a lot of subsections, one of which is a prohibition on issuing a Class A license to a gas station.

And this has been a subject of some controversy in the past.

Um longtime members of the council will recommend will remember that.

Um we have never believed that it served a good purpose.

You can buy beer, you can buy cider in gas stations, you can buy intoxicating liquors in lots and lots of outlets.

Prohibiting it in gas stations doesn't serve any useful purpose in our estimation, and it's a kind of an unnecessary restriction on commerce.

We are recommending that you remove that restriction now.

This has been discussed many times, but in my opinion, anyway, there's never been a good reason articulated for that prohibition, at least not to my satisfaction.

So I would ask you all to think about that and consider removing that restriction.

We added references to the DORA to the licensed premises section to make sure that uh there's no conflicts with the new DORA provisions.

Uh we are also proposing that we loosen the restrictions on the enclosures that are required around temporary licensed premises, because our current statute said or ordinance says that there must be a substantial enclosure around a licensed premises so that it's clear there's a physical barrier that you may not walk beyond this line here with an open intoxicant.

And if you're under age, you cannot come in across that line uh unless you're with a parent or guardian.

And this has proven to be somewhat of a burden for temporary licenses because a lot of times it's for events that are being held in parks.

Um where it's really difficult or other locations, not just parks, but locations where it's difficult for them to put up what would qualify as a substantial enclosure.

And we are recommending that that be changed so that now uh simply putting up signs saying that you may not walk past this point with an open drink, or some other means of delineating the boundaries of the license premises for a temporary license is sufficient and there's no longer a requirement of putting up something that's more substantial.

Um that's the end of the summary.

I would encourage you to read through the entire draft, the red line of the ordinance, so you can uh look at it in more detail.

Uh it's a second reading.

If you have questions before it comes up again at the next meeting, feel free to contact me.

And I always have to add the caution that don't just discuss this among yourselves outside of meetings.

Alder Person Piper.

Brian, any idea why credit sale credit card sales were prohibited in the credit card sales.

Oh, credit sales.

Yeah.

And the thought behind that, and this is one of those archaic provisions that just really just doesn't fly anymore.

Somebody walks into a bar, goes up to the bartender and says, I don't have any cash on me.

Can I pay you on Thursday for a beer today?

You know, that kind of thing.

And I think the thought was that uh, you know, that would encourage drinking for somebody that really shouldn't be drinking.

Okay.

I read it a little fast.

I thought it thought it meant credit cards.

Yeah, well, you know, that's what you naturally think of when you see that credit sales prohibited, but that's not really what it's driving at.

Right, thank you.

Alder Person Anderson.

I just have a question about the provisional license you just mentioned.

The $15 fee.

Is that just for that 60 days, or does that get apply to the permanent license?

That's for the 60 days.

It's for the provisional license.

So that plus your total when I get my regular license.

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Uh, just a reminder, this is the second reading, so this will come back again uh at our next council meeting.

And I just want to reiterate what Brian was saying.

Um, please make sure that you are reading through this.

And if you do have any questions between now and the next council meeting, I'm sure that Brian would be happy to answer them.

All right.

Next up, we have uh the Human Resources Committee report.

Sorry.

I'm like, ah Alder Person Anderson, go ahead.

No meeting, no report.

Next meeting is tomorrow night here.

Excellent, thank you.

Um next up we have a Board of Public Works.

Uh Alex, it looks like we've got the library door first up.

Yep.

Thanks for sticking with us tonight, Bruce, by the way.

This is actually uh uh the next step in the process of uh that project.

Uh as you know, the last meeting we uh approved the budget amendment for $50,000.

Uh this you have in front of you tonight is the resolution to prepare plans and specs and go up to bid for that project.

So uh looking for your approval.

Alder Person Piper.

So moved.

Alder Person Helgested.

Second.

All right.

Are there any questions or comments?

All right, then please vote when it is before you.

Aye.

Rick Lempkey, aye.

All right.

That motion does pass.

15 to 0.

Next up, it looks like we've got a bid.

Yep, we've got a bid that we received on April 17th for the Deer Trails and Fox Lake Village Pump Stations Improvement Project.

Uh we received four uh competitive bids.

Uh the Board of Public Works recommended moving forward with the bid from next electric in the amount of one million two hundred and seventy-seven thousand seven hundred and twenty-four dollars and fifty cents.

Alderperson Piper.

So moved.

Alderperson Witesco.

Second.

Uh is there any comments or discussion?

All right, then please vote when it is before you.

Aye.

Rick Lumpke, aye.

All right.

That motion also passes 15 to 0.

Thank you.

Uh Director of Public Works Report.

Um, I only have one item to mention.

Um, I need to notify the council of a situation uh that occurred here uh that uh the city administrator and mayor uh needed to uh move forward with waiving provisions of the city's financial policy for uh specifically uh section 6.72.

Uh so the waiving of this uh section of the policy is allowed under section 6.9.

Uh so the section 6.72 requires uh for purchases between 10,000 and 75,000 dollars uh that we receive three quotes uh through an RFP or RFQ process as well as uh prior council approval if the work is not already authorized by the city's adopted budget.

In this case, the expense was not authorized in the city's budget.

Um result of uh an accident uh that occurred at uh the fire station five uh resulted in damage uh to the the main breaker and power supply cabinet uh on the side of the building uh required uh immediate kind of patching it up and for us to get a contractor on board to start acquiring the equipment for for that uh to be replaced uh so that uh the we can assure that the fire station over there uh maintains power because that uh breaker was it's crushed right in the the kind of the bad location and there were wires exposed and things like that.

So um so due to that possible failure, I asked the city administrator and mayor to approve us moving forward with getting that work started and uh Jeff Hernke and uh public works department uh immediately looked for a contractor that was available.

It started uh get the process going for building that cabinet, which is I guess some important cabinet that's special to this location and built in Minnesota in several weeks uh to acquire that.

Um so that's on its way down here in the next next week, probably.

Um I will go back and mention that this occurred on Monday, May 11th.

So we moved forward right away.

Uh and the repairs planned for June 2nd if all goes as planned.

We need We Energy's two crews there to uh coordinate the work with us.

Um and right now the cost estimate for the project is about $20,000.

Uh $15,000 of that is equipment alone.

So just wanted to uh let the council know as that is uh required according to uh the financial policy.

That's all I have for tonight.

Thank you.

All right, thank you for that report.

Uh city attorney's report, anything?

No report.

All right, city administrators report.

No report.

All right.

My report, uh, all I have is that I would ask for a motion to approve the appointment of um Alderperson Helgested to the building and grounds committee, ordinance and licensing committee, and the public library board.

Is there a motion?

Uh Alder Person Matthews.

I motion for the appointment.

All right, is there a second?

Alder Person Manion.

I'll second.

All right.

Uh is there any discussion?

Oh my gosh, Mike.

I see no discussion.

Oh, uh Alder Person Helgested.

I'm able to vote for myself on this.

Um yeah, I mean, when we do the rest of them at the beginning of the year, everybody votes.

So yeah, just one.

Yeah.

Oh, I'm voting, yeah.

All right, uh, please vote when it's before you.

Thanks.

Aye.

Rick Lumpke, aye.

All right, that motion uh does uh pass 15 to 0.

Are there any referrals?

I have a referral.

Yes, Alder Person McClitz.

Please investigate possible pedestrian accommodations and speed reducing countermeasures, measures on Michigan between McKenzie Drive and Green Meadow.

Thank you.

And can you make sure that you send that to the clerk's office if you haven't already?

Thank you very much.

Anyone else?

Uh Alder Person Christine.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh from the landmarks commission, we were discussing uh working with DPW about new options for the pipes going to the Waukeshaw River.

And I'll was waiting for city staff to get back with me.

Alex looks surprised.

But yes, I will update the email and send it to Katie as well.

Thank you.

Excellent.

Anyone else?

Alder Person Van Trieste.

Thank you, Mayor.

I've got a referral.

Uh it's no engine braking on uh the bypass and uh signage.

We need signage along there.

So I I'm not sure where I'm at in the process right now, but I think it's been mentioned maybe to Katie.

Have you seen that one?

Yeah.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right.

So it sounds like that was the referral to building and grounds, and it's already been sent.

So excellent.

Anyone else?

Any other referrals?

Are we sure we're done with referrals?

Um, all right.

So sounds like we are in a good place.

It's been a long one tonight.

Are there any objection objections to adjourning?

No, thank you.

All right, then we are adjourned.

Uh just a reminder if