Finance Committee Meeting Summary: September 8, 2026 – Waukesha CIP Review and Tax Listing Contract
Finance Committee Meeting Summary: September 8, 2026
The Finance Committee of the City of Waukesha met on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The committee reviewed and approved a contract with Waukesha County for property tax listing responsibilities and conducted a detailed review of the proposed 2027-2031 Community Investment Program (CIP). Several amendments were proposed and voted on, with the final amended CIP recommended for approval to the full Common Council.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Melissa Baxter (President, Waukesha County Community Foundation, address S4 W27711 Elk Valley Road) spoke about the Jackson Sparks Baseball Park Project Fund, created April 20, 2022, to honor a youth baseball player killed in the Waukesha Christmas parade attack. She reported that the fund has raised $165,204.91 from 91 donors, with no fees. Major donors include Brewers Community Foundation, Fodge family, Husco International, Waukesha Bank, Waukesha State Bank, and Orthopedic Associates. She expressed support for the city partnering to use the funds for a park improvement honoring Jackson Sparks.
- Eric (last name not given, address not provided) spoke about the Deer Path subdivision flood mitigation project. He noted the project is identified for design and construction but urged the city to accelerate construction from 2028 to 2027, citing a health, safety, and property protection priority that cannot be deferred. He mentioned tentative grant support that would mitigate much of the cost.
- Pam Grohl (address 1904 Deer Path) spoke in support of the Deer Path flood mitigation project, describing severe flooding that has caused full basement floods extending to the first floor, requiring fire and rescue boat evacuations. She urged boosting the project to 2027 due to significant safety risks.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the August 25, 2026 meeting were approved by unanimous consent without changes. The chair noted record attendance at that meeting.
- Contract with Waukesha County for Property Tax Listing: The committee unanimously approved contracting with Waukesha County to take over property tax listing responsibilities. City Assessor Samuel Walker explained the contract costs about $47,700 annually, offset by savings from eliminating a part-time lister and a decrease in the Accurates contract. The net savings were estimated at $700 in the first year. Alderman Lemke supported the move as increasing city-county cooperation.
Discussion Items
- 2027-2031 Community Investment Program (CIP) Overview: Joe Shiro and Tony Brown presented the five-year plan totaling $135.3 million for major projects, $17.3 million for equipment replacements, and $27.1 million for fleet replacements. The plan aims to keep the levy increase for debt service and capital under 3% annually, assuming stable interest rates. The total 2027 CIP was initially $40.8 million (later amended).
- Parks, Recreation & Forestry (PRF): Director Ron Gral highlighted several projects:
- Jackson Sparks Baseball Field at Oliver Complex: Synthetic turf infield improvements, with 41.16% of costs covered by donations.
- Mendiola Park Pavilion and Parking Lot: The pavilion project (approved in 2026) is delayed due to design changes and organizational changes at the engineering firm; construction anticipated for fall 2027. The 2027 CIP proposes a new 30-space parking lot off West Avenue to support the pavilion and park access. Alderman Matthews expressed concern about parking congestion, especially with the nearby Bridge Church expansion.
- Boardwalk Overlook on Riverwalk: $400,000 for a redesigned boardwalk after flood damage from the August 2025 flood. The project aims to increase flood resilience.
- Other PRF items: Playground replacement at Higher Park ($387,000), athletic facility improvements at WRO youth complex and Frame baseball field ($400,000 each), Schutze Recreation Center HVAC replacement ($345,000), Mendiola West Avenue driveway/parking lot ($400,000), and fleet/equipment items.
- Sidewalk Program Discussion: A detailed analysis by City Engineer Brandon Schwin revealed that the city has 11.3 million square feet of sidewalk. At the current budget of $300,000 annually, only 2.5% of sidewalks are inspected per year, equating to a 40-50 year replacement cycle. Since 2021, sidewalk repair costs have increased 46.4%. The resurfacing program adds significant sidewalk replacement (88,000 sq ft in 2025), but overall progress is slow. Alderman Lemke and Alderman Mannion expressed disappointment that the policy change from 2023 has not delivered the expected 8-10 year rotation. Alderman Anderson noted that the initial cost projections for condemning non-tree-related sidewalk damage were lower than expected, but the policy still needs improvement.
- Library: Director Bruce Gaye discussed:
- Self-vending lockers: $50,000 for a new system that integrates with the library catalog. The current system (acquired 2021 via grant) is unreliable and staff-intensive. Alderman Lemke opposed, arguing it benefits few users. Alderman Hegelstad and Alderman Wiggerson supported it as a modern convenience. (Later removed by amendment.)
- Administrative bathroom renovation: $155,000 for staff bathroom updates and a wellness room. ISG provided the cost estimate.
- Information Technology: Andrew Nobke (UI/UX designer) and Tony Brown presented:
- Council Chambers Audio/Video Upgrades: $270,000 to improve accessibility (hearing loop, better displays, cameras), reduce staff time, and address equipment failures. Equipment is from 2019-2020.
- Meeting Management Software: $100,000 for a Granicus replacement to address issues with laptops, voting, and password management.
- Fire Department: Chief Rob Goplin and Assistant Chief Tim Fleming presented:
- Training Center Roof Replacement: $1.2 million for the old incinerator building, used for over 900 hours of training in 2025.
- PPE Replacements: $105,000.
- Ambulance Replacement: $327,000 for unit #171.
- Radio System Upgrade: A citywide project for 2028, estimated at $150,000 for the fire department's share, as part of a countywide upgrade to increase capacity.
- AED Replacement Program: A critical program for public safety; there are about 106 public AEDs citywide.
- Police Department: Chief Dan Thompson and Assistant Chief Tiehawk discussed:
- Conference Room Upgrades: $200,000 to convert to Microsoft Teams rooms, which will save training costs by hosting outside training.
- Flock Cameras: $56,000 in the CIP; currently under a five-year contract (two years remaining). Alderperson Matthews questioned whether it should be an operating expense.
- Cemetery: Director Karen Richards presented:
- Boulevard Improvements Phase 1: $115,000 for a new columbarium and sidewalks. Cremations are 60% of placements and 95% sold.
- Street Lighting on Prairie Home Drive: $65,000 for decorative lighting for safety, funded by We Energies.
- Department of Public Works: Director Alex Damian and City Engineer Brandon Schwin covered:
- Minor Streets Projects: $2.1 million (TID-funded) for Waverly, Wood, and Charles.
- Resurfacing: $4.4 million for 16 roads in three areas.
- Flood Mitigation: $2.1 million for Area 8 construction and Deer Path design. The Deer Path project is in design for 2028; Alex Damian noted that a 2027 construction is not feasible due to design and coordination timelines.
- North Street and St. Paul Two-Way Conversion: $3.8 million for full reconstruction and traffic signal upgrades. Coordination with Waukesha County and WisDOT for the I-94/F interchange project.
- Sanitary Sewer Projects: $2 million for pump station improvements, $4.6 million for sanitary sewer rehab.
- Transit: $2.1 million for three fixed-route buses and $300,000 for a paratransit bus, fully funded by federal/state aid.
- Parking: $100,000 for South Street ramp structure upgrades, $260,000 for Surface Lot 11 rehab.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Remove Frame Baseball Project and Add to Sidewalks: Passed unanimously. The 2027 CIP was amended to remove the $400,000 Frame baseball field project (200,000 city share) and add $200,000 to the sidewalk program.
- Amendment to Remove Three PRF Vehicles and Add to Sidewalks (by Alderman Lemke): Failed by a vote of 3-2. The motion would have removed vehicles #10 (Chevrolet Colorado pickup), #74 (Chevy 4x4 with plow/salter), and #26 (Chevy half-ton pickup) totaling $175,000, and transferred that amount to sidewalks.
- Amendment to Remove Library Self-Vending Lockers (by Alderman Matthews): Passed by a vote of 3-2. The $50,000 project was removed from the 2027 CIP.
- Amendment to Reduce Library Bathroom Renovation (by Alderman Matthews, seconded by Alderman Lemke): Failed by a vote of 3-2. The motion would have reduced the $155,000 project to $100,000.
- Final Approval of Amended CIP: The committee voted unanimously to recommend to the Common Council the 2027 CIP budget of $40,675,107 and the 2027-2031 five-year CIP total of $179,539,873, as amended. The recommendation will go to the Council on September 15, 2026.
- Next Meetings: The next Finance Committee meeting is scheduled for September 29, 2026. The operating budget review will be held on October 13 and October 15, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Dan brown book that was the no, it's like one of the one of the later ones. One that I think is the most recent movie about uh pretty good view. But that was why YouTube is all we can get people just dumping all point for hours off here. Download the US counselor to a USB trying to listen to Sun Zoo theory more on an audio book called driving medicine. Um I've got my book of uh teaching much of it. Also for uh tomorrow I would make sure I'll report for that we'll be from the same. Are you a physical one reader or are you a digital one? Yeah. I I want it I want to use a code, but after holding an iPad too much, I like minor like I've got a string right here. So I'm like, all right, I'll use a Kindle and then I've got like a little ring that's on the back of it so I can pull that to that. I can like all this. So the routines. Yeah, that's hard. I know it's cool. Good evening everyone. We'll call the Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 meeting of the Finance Committee to order. We do have a quorum. Next item on our agenda is the Pledge Allegiance. Please rise. All right. Next item on our agenda is public comment. Are there any members of the public that wish to address the finance committee this evening? And Melissa, if you if you could give us your name and street address, and the floor is yours, and you have three minutes. Okay, great. Um Melissa Baxter, I'm the president of the Waukeshaw County Community Foundation. My street address is S four five W two seven seven one one Elk Valley Road, Waukeshaw, Wisconsin, five three one eight nine. Um so I just uh came tonight to provide some context and information about the Jackson Sparks Baseball Park Project Fund, which is um part of the proposal to view um for a park improvement or athletic complex improvement. So the fund itself was created on April 20th, 2022 to honor Jackson Sparks, who is a youth baseball player killed in the Waxhaw Christmas parade attack. Um community members created the fund uh with the support and coordination of Wakkeshaw Parks and Rec and the Sparks family. Um and total raised uh to date is a hundred and a little more than 165,000. So 16520491. There are no fees on this fund, uh similar to the fund that we held for the victims and for the parade memorial. So there's no ongoing fees that are coming off of that. Um there have been ninety-one total donors, um, and some major donor list, those are contributors of five thousand dollars or more, includes the Brewers Community Foundation, the Fodge family, Husco International, Waukeshaw Bank, Waukeshaw State Bank, and Orthopedic Associates. Um the initial goal was was much larger. Um and uh quite frankly, with other projects that uh were all created around the same time. Uh I think there was a little bit of donor fatigue. Um, but we do have several folks who have contributed to this project and would love to see it go forward in some way. Uh and so had some great conversations with Ron earlier this year about how perhaps the city could be a partner and we could provide that funding to help uh tell bring something uh to honor Jackson uh in his memory um to come. So appreciate you your consideration. Thank you. Yes, sir. And if you could give us your name and address and you have three minutes. Uh flood mitigation effort. And I appreciate that the Deer Path project has been identified for design and construction and recognize the competing demands within the city's capital program. Um but we ask um, you know, the the materials, the the the mitigation plan uh that was done last year. Identify um care characterize this as a health safety and property protection priority that cannot be deferred. Um design is already proposed for 2027 and there's tentative grant support that would mitigate much of this cost. Um so the only ask here would be uh th for the city to return with kind of a concrete alternative for completing construction in 2027 rather than accepting 2028 without fully evaluating any acceleration of that plan. It's a known risk.
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