City Council - Regular Meeting

Hey, thank you. Okay, so let's see. By a motion by council member Amoga Emboga, second by vice president Worthman, this item is moved. Any discussion? Okay, see none. Oh, council member Miller.

Thank you, Council President. I just want to thank the members of the sustainability advisor committee for this plan. There's a lot of great things in here. This the, you know, three pages of excellent ideas for the city. all things that you know promote a good quality of life here in Oaklair. Um I'm particularly interested in like the natural planting areas and then I know we have a lot of people asking about herbicides and pesticides in our parks and that's on the list here and then you know our species list to make sure we have a diverse uh uh tree canopy after um you know the emerald aspore has decimated a lot of neighborhoods here. So um thank you to everybody on stack. Great. Thanks. Okay, no other discussion. City clerk please call the role. Council member Brewster. Hi Kimoga. Hi

Miller. I Reed. I Serrano. I Worth. Hi. Fergie. I passes unanimously. Next we have Oaklair Nationals and Oaklair Furry. No. Yeah. Furry. Right. Fury. Sorry. [laughter] That'sou [laughter] a resolution approving the city manager to enter a memo of understanding with Oaklair Nationals Incorporated and Oaklair. Now I'm going to have it messed up. Fury

Fury uh regarding a donated project to add lighting to the baseball and softball fields at Jeffers Park. Mr. Newkerk. Okay. Thank you, Council President Bergie and council members. So the item before you for your consideration here on the agenda is anou between the city and then both of the groups as described who are the main users of the youth softball and baseball fields at Jeffers Park. So I will go into a little bit of the specifics of what this is all about and the the structure of theou and then if there are any questions of us as staff I'm happy to take them and then we also have a representative from the groups here if you have any questions for them as well. Okay.

So, in general, uh, as described, Oaklair Nationals and then Oaklair Fury are the two main users of those five fields at Jeffers Park. Uh, they work together with us as the city in the past to help create those fields, uh, which do not currently have lights. And so ultimately where we're at now is a situation where those organizations have grown and they have grown such that without adding lighting they are running out of available field time to be able to use during their seasons. So the groups are now seeking to donate the addition of lighting for all five of the fields at Jeffers Park in a phased manner through 2030 as a donation to the city to help uh create additional field time at those fields. The groups have secured inind donations of licensed and qualified labor and they are currently fundraising for costs of materials. So the modu details provisions for making these lighting additions in a phase manner through 2030. Um it is not anticipated that all five fields would be lit all at the same time. Um this the structure of this is essentially intended to create opportunities as they're able to incrementally raise funds to make a a lighting addition as they're able to as opposed to all at once. Um, for each phase, the groups will be required to provide full plans and specifications of what is being proposed for the city to review along with proof of funding to cover all of the associated costs with that proposed phase before they will be allowed to proceed. Um, all permitting and inspection processes must be followed. Um, lighting will need to follow the newly updated lighting codes specific to athletic field uses. We've we've discussed all of that with the groups, their understanding of those things. Whoops. Um, at each phase of the project, the

groups will be responsible for returning the grounds to their existing condition after the phase is completed. So, um, specifically with the first phase of installing electrical lines and things within the ground, they will as part of that work be responsible for returning everything to its existing condition. Um each completed phase will become city property similar to other donated improvement projects in our parks. Um the city will bear no responsibility for any costs associated with any phase of the project. So this is entirely userroup funded and donated to the city. Um, and then we did discuss responsible uh, excuse me, responsibility for maintenance of the installed improvements and then utility costs associated with lighting. And the intention is for those to be incorporated into an update of those groups use agreements for Jeffers Park, which we also need to do for next season. So the intention is that this is an agreement creating the framework for the groups to donate the improvement to the city and then use and operations will be incorporated into their use agreements which is a normal practice for us as well. So, just to give an overview of what the location looks like, obviously this is back shortly after construction. Um, but there are five youth baseball and softball fields there. Fields one through five, um, two of them are primarily youth baseball fields, two of them are primarily youth softball fields, and then field two is a shared field between the two groups. Um I believe the groups are intending on proceeding soon with the inground work so the infrastructure necessary to in the future install lighting as they're able to and then in a phase manner over time once they're able to achieve sufficient fundraising they would proceed with lighting fields and I believe we've discussed that they would do it in pairs so that there's a

baseball and a softball field lit at the same time so that it's it's uh equivalent for both organizations. So with that, I'm happy to take any questions that you might have and then we've also got a representative from the groups here as well. Great. Thank you. Question for Miss uh Council Remoga. Thank you, Council President. Where is the Can I ask the representative a question, please? I'm sorry. The representative. Uh the representative is Andrew Daniels right here. He's I guess representing both groups and has also been assisting. Council Maroga has a question for Mr. Daniels. Hi, welcome. Good afternoon.

Good afternoon. Thank you for being here. Uh [clears throat] thank you again for for your organization to donate and purchase the lights. So this field there are 1, two, three, four, five. So each field has one light. Uh each field will have multiple lights surrounding primarily the first and third base lines that light both the infield and the outfield. Okay. So can I ask can I ask you? So for my curiosity and other people how much one light cost?

Oh boy. I don't know if I did the math in reverse there. Um the field cost will be dependent on how much of the labor we can get donated in kind. There's already been some people that have stepped up to uh to put that into place. Um the total cost we had advertised last week is5 to $700,000 for for the entire project um with some in inind donated labor. And last last one. Yeah, I don't see other questions. So go ahead. You go ahead. [clears throat] The question has gone on. I wanted to ask why did I it evaporated from my brain. But thank you. Thank you for for your organization for

I'm sure if you you think of it you can email. I remember I remember. So when you use the lights Mhm. who will be who will be paying for the electricity a city or you guys? So ultimately it will be worked into the use agreement that we have on the field. I believe that's set to expire next year. So the conversations have been there would be a calculation done by the city and when the use agreement's updated they would be incorporated into that. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Great. Thanks. Any other questions for Mr. No. Okay. Thank you. Thanks for coming down.

If I may just add one thing, you know, I I would just like to say thank you to both Nationals and Oakair Fury for for coming up with this idea and the effort that they put in to get to where it is now to help make this happen. I think this is a really good opportunity to highlight the example of us as a municipality working together with community groups to help make things happen that benefit everybody and I'm just happy to be a part of it. So, thank you. Thank you.

Great. Okay. I motion made by Council Member Miller, second by Council Member Reid. This item is moved. Any discussion? Okay. Don't see any but also echo the thank you. So it is nice to see our community members coming together. So thank you to make sounds pretty cool. So all right with that city clerk please call the role. Council member Johnson I. Emboga I. Miller I. Otto I. Reed. I. Sh. I mean sorry. Serrano I Worthman. I Bergie I Rooster

I and that item passes unanimously. It's great news. All right. Plank Hill master plan. Uh this is a resolution approving the Plank Hill master plan. Mr. Newkerk is back, I think.

All right. Thank you again. Uh this next agenda item here is the Plank Hill master plan. And this is a project that we've been working on with the East Side Hill Neighborhood Association going back to 2024 and that the East Hill, excuse me, the East Side Hill Neighborhood Association has been working on for much longer than that. Um, Heirs Associates is who we worked with in partnership with the East Side Hill Neighbors uh, excuse me, neighborhood association in development of this plan. However, uh, Chris Celelesi is unfortunately sick, so he's not able to be here to present. So I will be presenting an overview of the plan. So the Plank Hill master plan, as I said, has been in development since 2024 officially with city staff working in partnership with the East Side Hill Neighborhood Association and AIRS Associates in development of the plan. Um, the plan analyzed current uses of the area known as Plank Hill and also provides recommended improvements based on community input along with budget numbers and potential funding sources for the recommended improvements. So, similar to any other master plan that we may have, this is a version specifically for Plank Hill. Um, there were four public input workshops that were used to help create the vision for the future of Plank Hill. um including multiple East Side Hill Neighborhood Association meetings and workshops and then also most recently a Waterways and Parks Commission work session at their January 2026 meeting. Um the key public input takeaways during the development of this plan are listed here. Um main priority is preserving natural areas within Plank Hill, reducing erosion, and improving natural habitat and and specifically addressing some invasives within the area. Um the the key takeaway was that everybody involved would like to have the focus be on passive recreation

improvements. So those are things like trails, um lighting, seating, wayfinding and signage. So not more full-blown high impact development, more passive recreation development of this area. Um, also there there is a little bit of difficulty in connecting the area to downtown and Harding Avenue due to the steep elevation changes along Plank Hill. So that's acknowledged in this plan. Um, but there is also opportunity to take advantage of slopes and elevation within the area to um, basically embrace views of the downtown area. So that's envisioned in this plan as well. Um there's also a desire to improve access and safety for all involved in um keeping the sledding hill known as the seven bumps sledding hill uh as a sledding hill and then also improving the play lawn area at the bottom of the hill and then lastly improving pedestrian safety along Harding Avenue. So, five main goals for the Plankill master plan that we're all publicly informed are to protect and enhance the natural character of Plankill. Uh to support everyday neighborhood focused recreation, to improve safety, access, and connections to the area, and then to implement those improvements in a flexible, phased, and fundable way. And then lastly, to build shared ownership through community partnerships. So, those are what essentially the community and the East Side Hill Neighborhood Association identified as their main goals for this master plan. Um, the future improvement recommendations listed in the plan. Uh, again, the nature preservation area. So, taking care of some invasives, addressing some erosion control issues, um improving some seating amenities, improving some existing pedestrian created trails that that exist through the space, and then also helping out with connections to other parts of the the area with some

wayfinding signage. Um the playfield and sledding improvements are envisioned to include some additions of lighting and safety fencing to essentially create uh a 2 to five sledding hill and then a 5 to 12 sledding hill for the different ages of kids. Um and then again addressing some erosion and drainage control related to the sledding hill. Um there is a municipal service yard kind of up at the top of Plank Hill that is used for holding of materials related to cemetery operations and some other city operations. So that is incorporated within this master plan as well. And then the intention there is to help create some clear separation of pedestrian traffic through the space that is also used for municipal operations as well. Um there is a vision for what the Harding Avenue streetscape could look like uh to essentially create vertical separation between pedestrians going up and down Harding Avenue and then the actual vehicle traffic on Harding Avenue. And then lastly, there's a vision for the possibility of a scenic downtown overlook taking advantage of the elevation of Plank Hill and how it's situated overlooking the downtown river valley. So this image here is representative of the overall site. Um so that green shaded area that has the the red pink line running through it is the side of the hill. Um that blue space is the municipal yard area. Um, those red lines are all existing trails running through the space that would just be ever so slightly improved to help out their accessibility and safety and then create some natural connections through the space. On the far east side is the seven bump sledding hill that's already there. So, the vision there is to essentially just create the age separation of different ages of kids

similar to how we would with playground amenities. Um, and then to the west of the municipal yard area is sort of a natural spot where there could be an overlook overlooking the downtown area. So, this is a cross-section of of what was sort of envisioned with the potential for the Harding Avenue streetscape. And and while this is included within the Plankhill master plan, um this type of project is is something that would really be outside of parks and wrecks sphere. I think that would be more in in engineering and and street improvement project world, but made sense as it relates to the pedestrian passageways through the area and then connections to the rest of the community. And then here is envisioning what an overlook could look like uh overlooking the downtown valley from that location at the top of the hill there. So uh there's been significant public input in this project. Um like I said, we had the the multiple East Side Hill Neighborhood Association meetings. The Waterways and Parks Commission took a look at this with a joint workshop with the neighborhood association where we got a lot of final input and we've worked all of those those last revisions in. Um the East Side Hill Neighborhood Association has reviewed the plan and requested that the city adopt the plan. The Waterways and Parks Commission has reviewed this and recommended adoption. Uh plan commission took a look at this last week and recommended adoption and we're here to ask for your vote of adoption. So with that, if you have any questions, I'm happy to take them.

Great. Great presentation. Good job. Thank you. [snorts] Any questions? Council member Miller.

Thank you, Council President. Uh thank you for the presentation, Mr. New Kirk. You feeling great for Chris here tonight. Um um so looking towards the end of it, it has the fun part, cost estimates, and but they are seemingly broken like you have nature preservation area, playfield, uh streetscape, which would not be part of this one. um service yard overlook. Um so, you know, given the fact this would be a capital project and not operating, it's um a little more feasible and you know how we do our capital still make improvements to our parks um despite our operational challenges. Um can we this can this be done kind of peace meal like you know kind of pick and choose what might be all done given the funds available. I mean, has that kind of thought been to done that looked like what portion we could do given financial?

Yes. And actually, we got input from the East Side Hill Neighborhood Association to remove any proposed timeline of the projects basically to help create the flexibility for if the right opportunity arose and we could work together to make something happen. So, um, the the projects are categorized in basically buckets of how they might be most achievable with certain types of community involvement, whether that be fundraising, outreach, and advocacy or straight up assistance once the project is done, helping keeping a a section of trail clean, which is already happening all over the community. And I think as we know the East Side Hill Neighborhood Association is is uh very helpful with us in taking care of parks within their neighborhood. Um so there isn't a proposed timeline of when any of the projects would happen. They're categorized more in how achievable they may may be depending upon the level of partnership with the community.

Okay. And a followup question on that. Um, did the neighborhood association kind of prioritize what their top ones are or is it just kind of dependent on funding availability? I I I guess I would say I think the clear priority is with the seven bump sledding hill, the nature preservation area and the pathways, the trails through the space as opposed to any of the other components. Okay. Thank you, Vice President Worman.

Yeah, thank you. Um, just want to thank you for how this came together and all the work um on this. I was able to attend some of the different um visioning sessions at the neighborhood association. Um one thing while I have you is regarding the overlook area which um I've corresponded over the a number of years about the fact that Phil was being pushed up to the edge which was not supposed to be happening um by staff there at the cemetery and it was causing uh erosion. it was causing trees to die. Um, and while it created a nice area to look out, it wasn't probably the best thing. That area is going to have to have special focus to rebuild um, the natural vegetation. In the meantime, um, I see that a fence has gone up there. Um, and I wonder if that might be changed to something that's a little bit more friendly to the neighborhood association or the neighbors that walk through that area, which is like some big stones that just keep that area accessible still for people, but make it clear that vehicles should not be bringing fill out to the edge and dropping it off because this this um overlook, while I love it, it could be many years before that's ever a possibility. And at the in the meantime, so many people love to watch sunsets from there. Um, so I just wanted to bring that to your attention. Trying to think if there's anything else. I love that this has been when this originally came forward, it had the year marks, kind of a outline of when these projects should be funded. I love that it's broken down into like more manageable quantities. And I especially love the fact that there are neighborhood groups that are interested in doing some of this hands-on work of invasive species clearing, um, trail work, um, like our Cororba folks, etc., and getting them involved in some of these lower budget

things are awesome. So, I'm hoping that our CIP has some of this integrated, at least the smaller dollar amounts integrated in in this u upcoming CIP. So, thanks. That was more of a thank you than it was a question. Well, I I personally can't really take much credit for this. This was started so long ago that I wasn't involved in the beginning, but like I said, happy to be involved and um it's been fun working with everybody to help get it to this point. Great. Thanks, Council Member Miller.

Thank you, Mr. President. Another [clears throat] question I saw in the resources section, um there is about 14 different grants that exist out there. I don't know how applicable any individual one is to this project. Um going forward um would it be city staff that would be looking at this one or would be maybe the neighborhood association also doing this or who would be in charge of pursuing these grant opportunities? Would that be kind of a shared or they kind of split up or

I I think it's something that we would work together with the neighborhood to strategize when we decided we wanted to try to make any one of the components happen. Um I I neglected to mention we do need an adopted plan for eligibility of DNR grants related to these things. So the similar to our core plan, we need that. Um but I think there's plenty of opportunities for multiple entities to be the entity trying to achieve a grant. Okay. Thank you. Great. I see other questions. So thank you. Thank you.

So by motion made by council member Otto, second by council member Serrano, this item is moved. Any discussion on this plan? Council member Ado.

Oh, thank you, Council President. Just want to say I'm really glad that this is coming forward to the city council and that we're not committing funds. We're really giving the opportunity for funds to be raised and it's a long-term project. And another thing about this is um well, I've been involved in it since before being on council. There's also a public safety element. Right now there are a lot of uh informal trails out there and there have been issues with um clear cutting patches of the forest and um and I think this will be really good all around. So thank you for for bringing this forward. Thank you Council Serado.

Thank you Council President Bergie. I just want to say I love this this I know it's a lot of work and it's been a long long time coming but um I think it's great to have this plan. Vice President Worthman.

Yeah. I just want to do a special call out to uh our neighborhood president Chad Ronampamp who's here today as well and the neighborhood association for um a ton of involvement in this. there were just so many people and it's really positive stuff when you get neighbors engaged and involved in dreaming up how to make a better how to make a better neighborhood, you know, and to me that's probably one of the most important things here is that it has that kind of buyin from people um who live in the place. Um, I think the only other thing I want to add here is one of the things that I've noticed as someone who walks that area and have have I live a couple blocks away is I think it's really important that we center this idea of respecting the land itself. That place um you know it's by a cemetery where people are buried um for thousands of years. It's been an important place for um for indigenous communities, that specific hillside. It's actually a dune, which is a special feature in its own way. Um and right now, it doesn't necessarily have that feeling like it is a place of respected land. And and so what I see in this plan is a number of ways to actually show how can how can we bring a little love and care back into this space and give it the respect that it actually needs. That's kind of what this plan also does. It's for humans, for wildlife, um, and just to make our community better.

Thank you. All right, council comments. So, city clerk, please call the role. Council member, I. Council member Miller, I. Otto, [clears throat] I. Reed, I. Serrano. Oh, Sean. Sean's back. Yes. Are here. I Worthman. Hi, Bergen. I Rooster. I Johnson. I

that passes unanimously. So, all right. Next up, we have uh the resolution that I and and Council Member Miller is bringing forth. So, the resolution to support a tax transparency in public education. I talked a little bit about it last night and actually I I got a request to read it which is a good idea so people listening at home so I'll read the resolution it's a little long but we didn't have any proclamations tonight so it'll be like my proclamation time so uh this is a resolution in support of transparency for taxpayers regarding statemandated private school voucher funding whereas this Oaklair city council is committed to transparency and public finance and ensuring that taxpayers ers and understand how their local property tax dollars are allocated. And whereas state law currently requires that property tax bills itemize how much of a school district's levy is attributable to voterapproved capital or operational referenda, thereby helping taxpayers understand specific components of their tax oblig obligations. And whereas a similar level of transparency is warranted regarding the portion of the Oaklair area school district levy attributable to state managed voucher programs. Whereas when the Wisconsin parental choice program began in 2014 and 15 school year, the program's cost was paid from the state's general fund. However, beginning in 2015 and 16, the legislature changed the funding mechanism so that voucher payments for students residing in a district are w withheld from the district's final state aid payment and recorded as an expense in the district's budget. And whereas as a result of this change, school districts, including Oaklair Area School District, must either increase their levy to offset this reduction, thereby shifting the cost of private school vouchers onto local property

taxpayers or cut their budgets by the amount withheld. And whereas the current tax year about 2.9 million of the amount levied by Oaklair Area School District is attributable to the cost of private school vouchers. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Oaklair City Council hereby authorizes city staff to work with the Oaklair Area School District, Oaklair and Tripa counties to issue local property tax bills to include the following statement or substantially similar language to be printed on insert to be placed within the city tax bills following review and is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue not to exceed a cost of $2,000 of the amount levied by the Oaklair Area School District. 2.9 million is for this purpose of statemanded mandated private school vouchers. Be it further resolved that the Oaklair City Council hereby authorizes such a statement to appear on a mailer to be inserted in future year tax bills with an updated figure as provided to the Oak to the city by Oaklair Area School District and certified by Oaklair Area School District and the Wisconsin Department of Public In instruction following review and approval by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue as required. So, that's what uh we came up with. And I will say to remind people, I said this last night, that we did meet with uh the school district. We've met with county staff and city staff um to talk through this. Um so, it feels it's actually a really great meeting and it's been really good working with everyone. And again, it's about just transparency about where our public um our public dollars are going. Um, and then yeah, I'll let Council Member Miller said a good point last night, so maybe I'll let you make that point as well about the school board. So,

thank you, uh, Council President. Yeah, so some people might wonder why the city is taking up this, um, resolution regarding public school funding. um you know whereas the Oaklair City Council we are elected by the people in the city and then you manage the city's business the Oaklair um school district board of education um is also a elected body and they manage the affairs of of the school district and they passed a resolution stating that they wanted this to appear on the tax bills uh we are the mechanism by which they can have that enacted. So they sent us the resolution u that was support by them and as a fellow um you know elected official I you know respect the request and was um that's why I signed on to move this resolution forward. Um and in that long resolution the you know the paragraph that really stands out is that when the program for Wisconsin parental choice started in 2014 that came from the state general fund. the schools get their money and then from the state general fund they got their money but the very next year that money then came out of the school's funding. So if the city of Oaklair got our uh shared revenue from the state but then we were mandated to give $3 million to something else I would want people to know that. Um I'm not saying if it should be done or should not be done but tax transparency people should know where the money is going. So that's why very keen to support the school district's request to have this resolution put forward.

Great. Thank you. Is there any questions by council members on this resolution? Okay. Well, then we'll So, I'll move it. President Bergie will move it and um seconded by Council Council Member Miller. So, it's open for discussion. Any discussion by council members, Council Member Srano. Thank you, Council President Bergie. Um, I just want to really thank all the people that have uh reached out to us as a council uh to to talk about their their thoughts on this particular topic um both in emails and last night at our public hearing. Um I really feel like they're bringing up so many really really good points. Um kind of this is just really a no-brainer and no reason not to do it. Um, I I personally want to go on record as as saying that I'm I'm really as a as a public official and and chartered with, you know, having a lot of say about what happens to taxpayer dollars, uh, the fact that taxpayer dollars go to private school vouchers, um, is a is a big public policy problem for me. And I'm I'm quite quite vehemently opposed to public dollars, you know, taxpayer dollars, retirees who are, you know, paying their property taxes here in Oaklair, um, and then having to go to pay more property taxes and and referenda in order to keep our public schools funded. We we have a social obligation and I think a constitutional obligation here in Wisconsin to fund our public schools and to make it equitable. The other thing about these vouchers is that it really hurts. I mean, it it hurts Oaklair by this amount we see right now, $2.9 million, but a lot of our more rural areas that don't even have um uh voucher or private schools are also paying uh

out of that their taxpayer dollars to fund uh private schools in in totally different parts of the state. So, it really just does seem to be a a drain for especially our rural areas and um and I think it really hurts our public schools. So, uh, I'm happy to at least show the transparency and hopefully, uh, get the public to really start digging into kind of all the all the real mechanisms behind and and the motivations behind a lot of this interest in transferring funding of public education to uh, you know, excuse me, transferring public education funding to private entities. Thank you. Thanks,

Council Member Rashawn. Thank you, Council President Bergie. Um, I just wanted to say I'm excited to support this resolution. I really appreciate the work of both of the movers of the resolution. Um, I think we spend a lot of time um, us as a council talking about affordability in the budget and I appreciate although this, as Council Member Miller pointed out, is um, distinct and unique from our budget that we're managing, um, it still impacts affordability for the people in our community. And I find myself talking about this a lot actually with my constituents when they have questions about property taxes increasing. Um, and the direct tie here I think is really important. And so I really appreciate that for all of our constituents this will be a lot clearer. Um, and I just really appreciate the work. Thank you.

Yep. Great. Thanks. Other comments? All right. City clerk, please call the role. Council member Miller. I. Otto. I. Reed. I Sh. I Serrano. I Worth. I Bergie. I Rooster. I Johnson. I That passes unanimously.

Okay. On to storm water 2025 annual report. Council member Shon is um leaving the what's it called? Abstaining. So, it's a resolution accepting the storm water 2025 annual report. Director Nes, good afternoon. Go through Monday's presentation to get to Tuesday here. Um, uh, the city of Oaklair is one of more than 200 cities, villages, towns, or counties within an urbanized area required to have a municipal separate storm sewer system permit. Um, so our MS4 permit that we submit for annually, um, which is our storm water permit that we're going to be looking at tonight. We have uh eight sections that we submit on, report on, we collect data. Um not just engineering, but every division throughout the city. We work on this throughout the year. Um it's a it's presented um each year as a public education tool, which is one of the requirements that we have to uh provide information on to the DNR. And um I use this opportunity to to help submit and meet one of the requirements. Um the DNR website is a great resource for storm water information along with our Randa Rivers website which uh our contract agreement was agreed upon within the consent agenda of tonight's meeting. So we thank you for that approval. Um when it comes to storm water runoff, uh what is storm water runoff? It's it we think of rain and snow melting off roofs, roadways, pavement surfaces, and running into uh our rivers. It's really uh

monitoring what is going into our rivers. Um so what's going into our storm sewer system as well. Um, we look at the developed areas covered by the buildings and uh parking lots uh that don't allow the water to uh soak into the soils. And how does that water get to our storm sewer system? Typically those pipes run either directly into a local waterway or a nearby waterway or they run into a a treatment type of facility which could be a rain garden, a swale, a ditch, um a wet pond, an infiltration pond um or some type of bio retention system. So this slide shows uh two of the uh topic areas that we have to report on to the DNR. So construction site pollutant control. So looking at erosion control on construction sites, making sure that we keep the soil and the water on the site uh that is supposed to remain on site. And then also post construction storm water management and looking that those best management practices were installed appropriately and that they are accomplishing the sediment reduction that we're looking for them to uh complete. These are the remaining items that we report on. You can see the street sweeper. Um, our community services group uh is in charge of street sweeping, but they're also in charge of snow removal. Both items that occur on our streets that we track, we track the amount of salt and sand and um types of uh liquids that we use to help

dissolve the ice and snow during the winter months. And then in addition to uh how much salt and sand do we pick up in the spring and the leaf removal in the fall. So that's those are all uh quantities that our community services tracks and we report back to the DNR to show them what was lost and potentially went into our rivers. So, um all uh lots of information that we collect and we're working on improving those processes and actually collecting more data. Uh this year we started to do a storm water model for the entire city. We have a consultant that is completing this process which will help us understand uh what areas of the city need improvement for their uh total suspended solid uh reduction um within our storm water system and um looking at developments coming in. We have to monitor uh that information for their storm water. So we will be able to use what the developers provide us and input it into our models and and provide recommendations based off of that. It will also help us develop our storm water management uh improvement projects moving forward. So it will be a great tool to use looking forward. Um some kind of just basic public education items that we've incorporated this year was talking to CBTC students at uh it was an architectural and uh surveying class talking to them about designing of storm water ponds um looking at their elevations and and the best location based on what their site use was. And um

we also did a a erosion control for construction sites uh presentation to the uh Oaklair Area Homebuilders Association. So getting out in the community in different ways for public education. Um, overall, as I mentioned, engineering submits this information to the DNR, but it really is the entire city staff, um, different divisions that works to accomplish this. And then lastly, kind of what can we do to help improve our storm water runoff? I I'd say really know what your pollutants are and where they're going. And if you see a piece of litter or trash in the roadway, on the sidewalk, in the streets, pick it up so it doesn't flow into the inlet into our storm water system and end up in our river. Um, this is just a general slide that is on the Rainer Rivers website, but a very umformational graphic that we use at a lot of different uh presentations that we provide. So, um, anything related to the storm water report that you have questions on that I can answer or um, otherwise I think that's that's all I had for that.

Looks like uh, Vice President Worman has a question. Thank you, Council President.

You're welcome. Um, director. Um, so my question is around, you know, I think about cities, cityscapes, hardcapes like roadways, um, parking lots, gas stations, all the places that accumulate sand, oil, salts, all the things that eventually end up uh, in our storm sewer and going down to the river. And [clears throat] I just wonder how how can we make sense of how do we make progress on something like that? Like is it is it basically just like we are we're a town of 70,000 so therefore we create this much pollution to the river and that's how it goes. And if we were a town of 100,000 we just create another third of pollution and goes into the water. How do we think about how we actually put less pollution into our into our waterways and what do we do to get there? You kind of touched on a little bit, but it's just something that I feel like it's almost like a baked in this just happens, but maybe we shouldn't be thinking of it as something that's just simply baked into being in a in a city, a next next to a river, two rivers,

right? I think um as I mentioned I think we're making great progress with this um cardigraph uh through our community services is starting to do tracking of um we're we're taking measurements at outfalls of what is our uh chloride uh um parts per million at this outfall and doing that uh on a regular basis so we can monitor it and get a baseline of our outfalls and then tie that back to uh our overall storm water system. If we can identify areas of um high pollutants, then we can start to address where where is that coming from. So looking at it from the the overall just monitoring of the system, we're we're looking to do that moving forward. But then additionally with any new development, uh the city is required to look at our storm water treatment with uh changes to our streetscape. Uh we're required to work with developers on their site plans related to their infiltration of water and storm water as well. So, so I think um we we have a baseline and we can improve on that baseline. Um any redevelopment would address existing conditions.

Can I ask a follow?

So, because I didn't get a chance to read every I'm sure other council members have, but I didn't get a chance to read the entire report, but are there is there a suggested baseline level for a community our size on existing development? like what amount of uh pollution is okay or or what needs to be improved for a community like ours. Does the DNR have a standard for that? I I think that's more of where uh with our rain to rivers consortium, we are developing that baseline throughout all of the communities and working with them to understand what what is their outfall reading in Eltuna and Chipua versus what our outfall readings are are for pollutants. So, I think we're trying to uh obtain that information and report that back to the DNR at this time.

Thanks. Okay, Council Member Miller. Thank you, Council President. Director Nes, thank you for the report here. Um, looking over it, one thing I didn't notice um, and as much you can speak to this, there was says identified one illicit discharge was found in the municipality. I don't know how much you can speak about that. Can you get kind of talk about the nature of that and how that was resolved?

Yeah, that's that's a great question because that was one of the examples I was going to talk about, but I didn't want to talk too long because I could talk about each section for a long time. Um, and typically I'm up here talking about roadways. So, this is something outside of what I normally talk with you about. So, I was excited about this. Um, so we had a couple of calls coming in saying that there's this sheen on the river that just it doesn't look right. what um so in followup to that we tra traced it back um with our utilities staff and with engineering staff to an outfall. Um from that outfall and testing of it we were able to uh link it to a business and work with that business owner to address the issue uh with the discharge and how that that chemical was getting into the river. So, uh just just from a call into our office, uh we were able to address that elicit discharge. Other times, um it may be uh like a tanker truck, you know, uh in a collision. That would be an illicit discharge, but in this case, it was just a a call from a resident um related to sheen in the river that didn't look natural.

Anna, could you just define outfall in this in this circumstance? Um, so with our storm water system, uh, so the the water goes to the inlets on the side of the roadway and it connects into pipes and all those pipes connect together and they go directly to our river and that pipe going into the river would be the outfall. Okay. Thank you. Council member Brewster.

Thank you, Council President. Um, I was just wondering if uh if there's any way to see how uh we're comparing to some of our comparables in the state. There is. We can go on the DNR website and see um what other communities are reporting back for their MS4 reports. We do work directly with Riverfalls, Monamin, Chipua, um, Hudson, Eltuna in the Reindeer Rivers. So, we work with them kind of knowing what what their um, planning for uh, addressing their issues within their community is. So, we we kind of share our information between uh, cities to to help understand what what measures they're taking within their area. Right.

That's the other question. So, all right. Thank you. Thanks for all the good info. So, move this by motion made by Council Member Johnson, second by Council Member Brewster. This item is moved. Any discussion? I think we're good. No discussion. All right. Uh, city clerk, please call the role. Council member Otto. I. Reed. I Serrano. I Worthman. Hi Bergie. I Rooster. I Johnson. I bogg. He left. Miller. I council member Moa's back. I don't know.

Would you like to vote? Yeah, please. Council member Vogga. I. That passes unanimously. Uh, next. Repair and installation of sidewalk and curb and gutter. It's a resolution ordering the repair and installation of city w citywide sidewalk and curb and gutter according to section 66.0907 Wisconsin statutes at 90 locations beginning with 616 East Madison Street. And Director Nest back. I had no follow-up questions uh from last night's meeting. So if there are any questions, I'm available for those.

Great. Thanks. I don't see any questions. So thank you. I'll move this. So motion by Vice President Worman, second by Council Member Miller. This item is moved. Any discussion? Okay. City clerk, please call the role. Council member Reid. I. Sh. I. Serrano. I. Worth. I. Bergie. I. Brewster. Hi. Johnson. I Miller I motto I that passes unanimously.

Next. Street and utility improvements on Mapa Street. It's the final resolution improving this project and loving special assessments for street and utility improvements on Mapa Street Madison Street to Cameron Street. Director Ness, similar to the last item, I didn't have any followup questions after the meeting last night. Um, I can take any questions if there are any. I don't see any. So, oh, Council Member Brewster.

Thank you, Council President. So, um I know we had talked about closing it and then I don't remember if somebody brought this up, but in my head I I have a vague recollection of of the idea of maybe turning it into uh like a wor or something like Thorp Commons that would still allow emergency vehicles access, but it would be, you know, a smaller, more pedestrian friendly thing. Was that given any thought or consideration for this? um with the budget that we have that that would not be a consideration. Um it it is something we can look at doing some some more pedestrian friendly um measures maybe uh at the intersection um type of raised intersection type deal or something along those lines. But otherwise the the brick pavers type of uh treatment. I I don't see that being within the the budget for the project.

Vice President Worman Ben, thank you. Um the eastern facing facing uh retaining or um uh embankment that's below the um I'm just not I'm spacing with the name of the the guardrail. Mhm. Is that likely to be redone at all or will that stay as is? We were trying to with the design trying to stay out of the slope as much as possible um and even the guard rail if possible just to keep that stability of the existing slope. Okay. Okay.

I don't see other questions. So, thank you Director Ness. Thanks. So motion made by council member shown, second by council member Reid. This item is moved. Any discussion? Okay, seeing none, city cler please call the role. Council member Shonne I. Serrano I. Worth. Hi. Bergen. I. Brewster. I Johnson. I Miller. I Otto. I [clears throat] I

that passes unanimously. On the sidewalk repairs on Mapa Street, it's a resolution ordering sidewalk to be repaired in coordinates with Wisconsin statute 66.0907 on Mapa Street, Madison Street to Cameron Street. Uh this was postponed from the February 9th and 10th meetings. Director Nes.

Uh, this is directly related to the last agenda item and just approves the replacement of existing sidewalk on the project. Great. I don't see questions for you. So, thanks. So, a motion made by Council Member Otto, second by Council Member Serrano. This item is moved. Any discussion? Okay. See none, city clerk, please call the role. Council member Serrano. I. Worth. Hi. Bergie. I Brewster. I Johnson. I Kimboga. I Miller. I Otto. I Reed. I Shon. I.

That passes unanimously. Next. Subdivision infrastructure agreement with Cypress Street. This is a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a subdiv subdivision infrastructure agreement with Cypress Street LLC for street and utility improvements within Cypress Street town homes. Director Ness. All right. Uh, this is a subdivision infrastructure agreement that is located just uh north of the Oakwood Mall area west of uh 53 uh and west of Hamilton Avenue. Hamilton Avenue we have jurisdiction over Elf and Cypress uh are within the town of Washington. Um, previously the plan commission approved a site plan for this in 2023. Um the subdivision infrastructure agreement uh outlines the installation of city water um the construction of city water and then uh within a utility easement uh on the parcel itself. So really just describes uh the construction that would need to occur to meet the city standards um of the water man through the the parcel and is uh consistent with other SIAS that we have brought forward to you. We the city would plan on taking over the water man after it is constructed. Uh I can take any questions related to this. I don't see any questions. Okay. Council member Brewster.

Thank you, Council President. Um, I'm assuming, but maybe you can confirm that when we do have a a private company building uh a main for a private company that we will then take over that there's inspections and all that sort of stuff that is done by staff on the regular. Um so within our agreement uh they have an engineering firm that is doing construction inspection uh on the water man that is being installed and it has to meet the city standards. So they do the inspection, they do the reports, we televise the uh utility once it's installed and we accept it if it is constructed to our standards.

Okay. Thank you. Great. I see other questions. So, thank you, Director Nes. Thank you. So, by a motion made by Council Member Johnson, second by Council Member Brewster, this item is moved. Any discussion? Okay. See none. City clerk, please call the role. Council member Worthman. I Rooster. I. Johnson. I. I. Miller. I Otto. Hi, Reed. I Sh. I Serrano I

that passes unanimously. Next we have water utility rates is a resolution approving a conventional rate case to increase the water utility rates by 20.04% within the city of Oaklair's schedule of fees and licenses effective April 1st 2026 and Director Winters is here today. Good evening Bergie Council. Uh the resolution in your packet is approving amending the fee schedule. Um, I believe Miss North gave a good presentation last evening that talked about that process. Um, so with that, I do have the presentation available if there's any questions for me this evening. Council Rashon.

Thank you, Council President Bergie. I just wanted um to highlight again, I know we talked about it last night, but could you show the actual dollar for an average user in the city, what the dollar per quarter increase would translate to? Sure. Uh that's about a3 to4 a month adjustment. So the example on just residential water bill increase and just on the excuse me on your utility bill increase but that is just the water portion. So again not the sewer or the storm portion. Um so it goes from 7719 on an average bill to $89.93 quarterly. Quarterly. Yes. So it's around $4 a month. Okay. Council member Remoga.

Thank you, Council [clears throat] President. Thank you, Director Winters. [clears throat] Excuse me. So, I have few question to ask you. So, one is [clears throat] this is the residential rate, is that right? Yes. What about industrial rate?

And so, the overall average uh is 20.04%. So there's a little bit um different tariffs on there which I don't believe are in the presentation. So that the percentage is around I'd say around 30% on commercial. Um so there's different tariffs. If you'd like that we can we can definitely give you those exact amounts. Those are in those will be displayed in the fee schedule. Can I ask so why we need to vote when we don't know the industrial age too? We have to know both things before we vote.

I'm sure that sounds that's that's a great comment. Um the the process is back in July of 25 that you kind of you prove the the finance department and the utility department to work with the PSC. They evaluate all our expenses, all of our revenues. They want to make sure we're charging enough to maintain the operations and also recover our costs from it'd be it'd be covering pandemic all the way through the end of 2024. So they look at that bucket and um they they say what our new rate should be. So our capital costs have increased over 20%. Um just the market the building market on all of our parts you know or just if you think about steel and all the building prices has been over 40%. Um operating costs have been over 17 that includes treating a lot of the POS chemicals and items like that but the PSC um gives us those rates and they provide them back to us and they tell us to charge that tariff. So we we do need to incorporate those. Um, let me see here. I don't have that with, but we can definitely pull that up. Pull that up for you. But tonight it's um

it's in our packet. I guess the legislative approval would be in July of 25 would be the best description, but um you're approving amending the fee schedule, but the PSC has told us what to charge if that makes sense. I have Vice President Worth been saying it is in our packet, too. So, okay. Council member Miller.

Uh, thank you, Council President. Thank you, Director Winters, for um the presentation here. Um, so I think you already said it once before and I think it's in the summary that so the main drivers of this increase are a 20% increase in gross plant investment and a 17% increase in operating expenses. So, um, in essence, the increase in the water rates is just reflecting the actual cost of us to provide water to the residents of the city. Would that be an accurate statement?

Yes. They look at our operating costs which have substantially increased during um the post-pandemic period from 2020 on. Um in in addition to the capital assets that would be in production uh at the time between 2020 all the way through year end of 2024 is the period that they've looked at. So their actual expenditures they want to make sure we're charging enough to maintain operations. We've drawn down our fund balances quite a bit to prepay for a lot of those capital items. Um, but they want to make sure that we can continue operating. Thank you. Uh, Council Member Srano.

Thank you, Council President Bergie. Um, Director Winters, could you just remind us again about the PSC process and I I believe there was a a public hearing held in January. Um and just kind of the you know how that gets publicized. I think there's some some narrative out there in the public that oh what that this is a big surprise and we didn't have opportunity to to voice our concerns. I was actually on this Zoom call uh in January. It was very lightly attended. Um, so I just I guess my question is do we are we satisfied with the level of promotion and and communication that we have um about this PSC process or do we think there are ways we can improve it?

Sure. Um, that's a great question. The so we start the process in July. You give me approval to kind of work with the set parameters that we have. um we go through a financial analysis period then um believe it was July 9th or January 9th. Yep. January 9th. So the public notice goes in the leader telegram that's driven by that 20.04% is what's given to us at that point. Uh we did do a press release in kind of a uh invited all the media to tell them the story of of the process how that works the why the kind of the five W's and then uh we solicited public comment. So there were some submissions online. There were about I want to say 10 to 12 of those. Uh you're correct then the public hearing that the PSC holds is not very publicly attended. Um but we did attempt to get feedback. Uh we we went the extra mile this year and um so yeah th those are the nor the sessions that were required uh the PSC would require us to have.

Thank you. Y council member Otto. Well thank you council president. Thank you for this presentation and your hard work on this. Just so I'm clear, we have no control over the rate, right? Like we can't raise it if we felt like it we couldn't lower it any lower. Is that correct?

Sure. I I I would love to keep those as low as I could. [laughter] Um we the only control we have is just really to keep our expenditures down. Um and we we've worked really hard on that side of it. Um, so no, I I hate to tell you have no control as a legislative body. That's something I want to say, but uh we have control in the beginning when we set that structure. Sometimes our decision points are do we want to do a two-step or a one-step rate increase. So you I worked with Ellers this time, but just kind of the pros and cons of that and the fiscal impact to the residents. So that that maybe is a control point um that I worked on. Um, but we made the decision with the least impact to the residents and brought that forward. But at this time, know that that percentile once after July of 25 when you start that process, you're you're set with what they're giving you unless there's an error. Excuse me. Yeah.

Okay. Vice President Worthman, you haven't spoken yet. Us. Do we have any idea roughly how many accounts fall into these different buckets of residential, multifamily, residential and non-residential customers? Does that is that broken down in a rough number like a thousand of these three 30,000 residential? Anything like that? I can if not can help a little bit. We were discussing that today. Um I'm just curious what the what the bas like rough numbers of different accounts this I want to say there was about 30,000 um

total accounts residential we didn't discuss commercial though came up to deliver no news I I don't I was so excited oh [laughter] disappointed I don't know but we can easily gather that for you so it is broken out into residential commercial and industrial so we can we can get you the numbers I just off the top of my head I don't know. I brought statewide percentage increases but not number of parcels. I apologize. Council member shown. Oh, I'm sorry. I was going to go to Emboga next. Sorry. Sean CH to you.

Okay. Thank you, Council President Bergie and Council Member Emboga. Um my question I think is maybe brief. So, um you know, thinking about 20% increase. I think a lot of our community members are feeling like sticker shock. 20% is a lot. Um I know that looking at the actual dollar per month or per quarter charge is I think hopefully give some people peace of mind. It's a few dollars a month um impact to their wallet. Um, but I did also want to just comment on things I've seen elsewhere in the region with other communities that um, you know, and I don't know if you're able to speak on this, but you know what comes to mind for me is city of Stanley actually believe their um, rateayers had like a 115% increase just a couple of months ago. And so I'm wondering if you could just help our whole community. I know 20% feels like a lot. constituents have reached out to us asking could you do you know two 10% increases in lie of one 20% increase all at once um but I think just putting it in the context of you know other communities that maybe are foregoing these type of 20% increases you know what would the alternative look like you know are you able to help us understand this in the context of other communities in the region and the types of increases their consumers are seeing

sure I it's a great question there um the PSC has you has simplified rates cases available for you. So every year you can kind of capture your CPI. They have conventional rate cases to assure stability on the water utility but also you know the customers are charged fairly. Each municipality is doing something different um as far as capital projects and they're really conscious of their funding. I'm looking at it from a funding standpoint where, you know, want to make sure we're charging enough to to have that reserve in case there's an emergency. But the the PSC kind of guides you like, okay, you can't do any more of these cost of living or CPI simplified rate cases until you do a conventional because we want to take a deep dive into your expenditures and revenues. So, um if if you're not um doing those every 5year conventionals, they they will highly encourage and almost force you to do that um because they won't allow you any more simplified. And the goal is to consistently keep up with those so we don't have to do those large 115% increases like Stanley or believe you know just our neighbors were close to 40% in Altuna. So there's um but it's depending on your capital projects during that time period too. That's kind of the main driver of what what did you do in that last five years. Um but we had projected a little higher. So unfortunately 20%'s a big number. Um but it would have been a two-step wouldn't have been as advantageous financially for the public. Um it would have been a substantially higher amount. So we went with a lower amount.

Great. and council. Thank you. Thank [clears throat] you, Council President. I have a I'm sorry. I have two questions. One, in a utility bill, we have water, seawway, and the storm water. Is that it? Yes. In those those three are they going to be increased too? Uh we intentionally kept the sewer at a set rate. Um so we kept that low the same as last year knowing that we'd have the the water rate case coming. Yeah.

Um so we don't anticipate that with sewer or we we anticipated that ahead of time and kept that at zero. But um every year we do evaluate that. um sewer and storm are internal calculations and we just we only raise that what we have to raise that to to cover our costs and maintain our equipment replacements. So out of curiosity, what is the like average like storm? What's like like average like a residential what's the average? Um I did not bring that with me. Do you have that with? [laughter]

So uh offhand uh a single family home is build one eru which is for the impervious area within a single family home residential parcel I believe that's $26.7ome call it $27 but that's the quarterly amount if you live in a forplex that amount would be split four ways

so you are a mathematician hear me out so you are telling me I'm not a mathematician ician. My wife is a mathematician. So telling me if quarterly for water will be 27 is that there $89 plus you say $26 for seawe. So we want to calculate both of them. This this will calcate to almost 200 plus for a single family. That's a lot of money. So I do want to just keep in mind that these rate increases are specifically on the water rate specifically. So

but I was talking about the utility the utility bill in general. So when we show that $89.93 that is just showing the water portion absent of uh so sewer in storm. Okay. Okay. Thank you. The last question please. what we have. So Josh, I can add to that a little bit though, too. Like I I like to put that into perspective of all of those together, you know, and then we look look at our electric bill. It's 100, you know, $175 to $200 a month. So it's we're providing those three services. Um if you want to if we had three separate bills, it might be a little less impactful, I guess, if that makes sense. I know it's the same same numbers, but

So council Miller and then let you answer one more question. Okay. Council member Miller. Thank you, Council President. Uh Director Wenders, uh you mentioned uh talking about when the U PSC when we go for a conventional rate case increase, they do quoteunquote a deep dive. Can you just speak about like are they auditing our system or are they looking at what are they looking at when during this deep dive when our I'm guessing they really explore our utility water system and see the operations, audit it, make sure that things are as they should be. Can you just speak to that a little bit more?

Sure. Um I'm mainly on the financial side, but they look at all of our our last filed PSC report, which is all of our expenditures and revenues. They make sure they've approved uh all projects that would be considered capital in nature over the last time period. Um otherwise, you cannot include those in your rates if you didn't get their approval. Um then they look at the the customers and the actual utility and all of those projects that are been on the operating side as well. So they're looking at all the statistics and customers served and then if we're able to financially meet that side of it.

Okay. And by by doing that we are they're verifying that all the experiences we've done are necessary to operate our war system. Sure. They they actually go the extra mile into those all of those figures. So I felt that they did a good audit quite honest. You know with the questions they asked they were really very far into the the books I would say. So great. Thank you. You're okay.

Thank you again. So [clears throat] this is the question I've been asked a lot about PAS the new facility guys we are building and uh what was the cost of the facility 24 million dollars? Um sure just the facility alone uh the bid on that was around 16 million. Okay. Yep. We had budgeted 20 and I believe it came in 16 something. Okay. Where did that money come from? Um we

in uh so just on that specific project we have a safe drinking water fund loan. Um but we've also applied some class action lawsuits to that on the capital side. Okay. Y Okay. Yes. Okay. I'm [laughter] ask but I'm done. You got a lot of good questions. Yeah. Okay. All right. Thank you, Director Winters.

All right. So, now by a motion made by Council Member Miller, second by Council Member Shonne, this item is moved. Any discussion? C Vice President Worthman.

Thank you, Council President. Um, first thing I wanted to address is council member Otto's question around how we got to this place. And there was a conversation last summer between the council and setting a direction for staff to work with the PSC. It was something a direction I wasn't comfortable with. Um, but most of the council felt that this was the the way to go. And one of the things that I've consistently and folks who are here from staff know that I've consistently said is I wish there was a more fair way what I believe it would be more fair to charge our water bill across our community. And what do what do you what would that mean to me? It would mean a little bit closer to everyone paying roughly the same amount for water per gallon. And you could say, well, you know, but if you're a business, you're using a huge amount, but if you're using a huge amount, you're, for example, Nestle, um, you're also making money on that product. And so, to me, that's a different kind of use, but it probably justifies us having a more fair way that we um or a more flat rate across the board on how we charge. I also am concerned that we're not moving to um water rates that water rates that disincentivize using more water, which right now our industrial water rates do. So, but essentially this is what was requested during the summer from pretty clear majority of the council wanting to go in this direction and I respect that. It wasn't something that I wanted, but I respect that. I will say um some you know progress has been made on trying to uh flatten the amounts a little more. So for example um in 2025 residential customers were paying about 37% more for their water

than bigger you bigger industrial users. That number now on the the largest um 200 uh sorry 2,500 ccf is now closer to 20%. So residential customers will be paying roughly 20% more. Um but that's a step in the right direction, right? Um I think uh that's just a I think something I want to continue to watch as we go as a council is having those policy discussions on what is fair, what is water being used for, um and how much should each user be charged for that water. Any other comments? Council member Shonen.

Thank you, Council President Bergie. Um, I want to just acknowledge that I know people are really concerned about this. Um, but I I wanted to just read an email I got from one of my constituents on the north side that offers maybe a different perspective um that I just hope council members know is out there. Um, so I'll read most of the email, but I'll leave out their specific um personally identifying information. Good afternoon, Jessica. I hope this email finds you well. My name is Blank. [clears throat] My wife and I both live at Blank. I recently read about the municipal price increases for residential water and the forthcoming vote. I wanted you to know that I support a price increase for utility improvements that benefit the city. Better utilities and infrastructure will always have my vote as it directly benefits the users of said facilities so long as the improvements are reasonable and targeted. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter and I trust you will represent our district honorably in this regard. Um, so I just wanted to share that that I know that a lot of our constituents do understand the big picture um that we're grappling with as a community and that right PSC took the time to investigate the the different investments that have been made into the water utility over the last five years. And I do feel confident, right, that this um proposed rate increase reflects both reasonable and targeted improvements um to continue providing the community clean and safe healthy drinking water. So I'll support this resolution. Thank you.

Great. Thank you. Other comments. I'll mention too that there is you know what I heard last night and again from director Winters is the POS um direct or cor what's the word correlation or um causation I guess is the right word that you know while this isn't covering our capital expenses but there is increased operational expenses which is this. So, this will actually allow us, you know, well, it covers our cost for providing POSFree water for the city of Oaklair residents. So, um, which I think is it's it's good. So, all right. City clerk, please call the role. [snorts]

Council member Bergie, I. Rooster, I. Johnson, I. Kimoga, no. Miller, I Reed. I Sean I Serrano I Worman no that passes 8 to2

okay excess land and tra trans transfer is a resolution declaring land within the village of Lake parcel number 22809-261 oh my gosh it's a long number 1105500000000 access land authorizes transfer by quick claim to village of Lake Halley Uh Mr. Lee,

good evening. Council President, city council members. Uh pretty unique situation within this resolution is before you tonight. Uh this resolution will declare land within the village of Lake's jurisdiction as excess and allow for the transfer of part of the old a state trail to transfer ownership to the village of Lake Halley. The area in question is along County Highway between 110th Street and 30th Avenue in Lake Alley. In order to accomplish this, there will be recording of a quick claim deed and a maintenance agreement will also be recorded for the trail. With a passing vote this evening, I will have the area surveyed for a legal description of the area in question. Since the parcel is partly in the city of Oaklair's jurisdiction and partly in Lake Hall's jurisdiction and we will retain the city of Oaklair jurisdiction portion. The village of Lake Hali has reviewed the quick claim deed and the maintenance agreement and found them acceptable. The waterways and parks commission recommended the access land declaration transfer and maintenance agreement on February 25th, 2026. The plan commission recommended the items on March 2nd, 2026. Is there any questions?

No questions. Thank you. So by a motion made by council member Reid, second by council member Otto, this item is moved. Any discussion? Okay, see none. Say clerk, please call the role. Council member Brewster. I. Johnson. I. Invoga. I. Miller. I. Otto. I Reed I shown I Serrano I Worthman I Bergie

I and passes unanimously. Uh we have easements easements up. It's a resolution granting a permanent gas easement to Northern State's power company within the city of Oaklair Trail property located near Falsam Street. Mr. Lee is back. Hello again. So, this area that is in question is along the Folsam Trail. Uh, it's the newly paved cement trail. Uh, that terminates at Folsam Street kind of adjacent from uh I believe that is Oh, what elementary school is that over there? Um,

Roosevelt. Thank you. Uh so this is an existing gas easement already and the easement includes expansion around the valves. Uh XL has cited uh some vandalism concerns that they are taking care of. We had a lot of back and forth about the type of fencing that they can put around the valves and the even the color of the cement that they can place within the fence area. um a lot of back and forth between uh city staff, legal staff, engineering staff, utility staff, park staff to kind of come to a agreement on what we would like to see in this area. Um so we finally came to agreement on what we would like to see in the area and what would be allowed with this passage is a 7ft fence. Uh um it'll be black in color so it won't be too eye-catching when you're on the trail at the trail head. Um with that I'll take any questions.

Council member Srano. Oh no. You're just ready to vote. Okay. No questions. Okay. So clerk please call the role. Oh I'm sorry. We haven't moved it yet. just like uh let's see go with auto council member moved by council council member Otto second by council member Serrano. Now it's moved. Any discussion? Council member Srano.

Thank you council president Bergie. Um I really like that we're going to be enclosing these valves. It always kind of I I I'm up there all the time and I I I just worry about kids and uh yeah it just seems like very exposed uh utilities there. Right. Thanks. Okay. No more discussion. So, city clerk can call the role. Council member Johnson. I. Imboga. I. Miller. I. Otto. I. Reed. I. Show. I. Serrano. I. Worth. Hi, Bergie. I Brewster. I.

And that passes unanimously. Another easement resolution granting a temporary easement for ingress and egress for border states industry uh within city of Oaklair detention pond property located on music way. So Mr. Lee

Andrew can you when we get to appointments can you pull that up? This resolution for your consideration is for a temporary access easement for border states, a supplier of construction utility companies. Uh while Music Way by Country Jam is being constructed, the easement will allow a 50 foot uh temporary gravel access road to be installed that border states can use um during their construction of their new facility. Uh the access is along music way on the most westerly edge of the city of Oaklair storm detention pond parcel. The easement is set to expire when musicway is completed. Uh city staff recommends the easement and the plan commission reviewed and recommended the easement on March 2nd. Is there any questions?

Council Miller. Thank you, Counc. More of a comment. Thank you for pointing out the music way is under construction because I was wondering how could I not know we had a musical way in town and it's not actually done yet. Okay, make sure I didn't miss that some at some point. Exciting. No more questions. Thank you. Okay, let's see. A motion by council member Johnson. Second by council member Brewster. This item is moved. Any discussion? Okay, see none. Say clerk, please call the role. Council member, I. Miller, I. Otto, I. Reed, I. Sh. I. Serrano. I Bergie I Rooster I Johnson

I and that passes unanimously. Another easement is a resolution granting an electrical underground distribution distribution easement to Northern State's power company within the city of Oaklair detention pond properties located near Ashton Circle. Mr. Lee.

Hello again. Uh, this resolution before you is to grant an electrical underground easement to Northern State's Power Company within the city of Oaklair detention bond property near Astron Court within SCS's new development off of Highway 12 on the southern side from the Menard's headquarters. The easement was originally going to be recorded prior to the lands being deed to the city. However, they were transferred prior to the easement being placed. Uh, the easements will not interfere with the city's detention ponds. City staff recommends the easement and the plan commission reviewed and recommended the easement on March 2nd. Is there any questions?

No questions. Thank you. Motion made by Council Member Emboga, second by Council Member Miller. This item is moved. Any discussion? Seeing none, say your clerk, please call the role. Council member Miller, I. Otto, I. Reed, I. Sh. I Serrano. I Worth. He stepped out. Bergie. I Rooster. Hi, Johnson. I and that passes unanimously.

Okay. Then our final easement. So, resolution accepting a permanent easement from Cypress Street LLC within parcel 15 or 4565. Mr. Good evening. For the last time,

this resolution will accept a permanent utility easement from Cypress LLC at the corner of Cypress and Oakwood Hills Parkway. This easement is in conjunction with the subdivision infrastructure agreement on tonight's agenda that you heard earlier. As of today, we have a new easement language that addresses the back and forth that the city had with the developer related to possible damage to the private roadway. I've passed out copies of the easement before you. Uh the easement will allow for the city to maintain water manes under the private roadway to maintain and protect uh the distribution network. Uh city staff recommends the easement and plan commission reviewed and recommended the easement on March 2nd. Is there any questions? Council member Miller.

Thank you, Counc. So, the plan commission recommended the original language and we have new language today. Is there any um substantial changes between I you kind of mentioned it, but like what exactly is the difference between what was approved by a plan and what we have in front of us today?

Uh the portion that substantially changed within the easement is the u the wording related to how the city and the developer would handle any damage related to the private roadway. Uh me and the engineering staff had conversations. We reviewed the plat and we found that the private roadway is going to be such a design that there isn't a concern for that. So we were able to pull back harsher language that would protect the city from paying for any damage of utility vehicles driving through the private roadway. So those concerns aren't there anymore. Okay. Thank you. Great question.

I don't see other questions. So thank you, Mr. Uh, so let's see. I don't know where I left off. I think we'll go. A motion by council member shown, second by council member Reid. This item is moved. Any discussion? Okay, see none. Say cler please call the role. Council member Otto I. Reed. I. Sh. I. Serrano. I. Worth. I. Bergie. I Brewster I Johnson I Mimoga I Miller I

and that item passes unanimously. Okay, next page. City council vacancy. This is a resolution approving the process to fill a vacancy on the city council. So clerk Kerner went over it last night, but you have anything else to add? I don't have anything to add unless there are questions. Okay. Is there any questions? especially people that weren't here. Council member Ramboga. Thank you, Council President. Just for curiosity purpose, have is this fans? Have people started applying? Oh, no. Not yet since there isn't a process approved though I have received one email about it. Okay. Thank you.

Okay, great. Council member Miller. Thank you, Counc. Um, uh, what would be the mechanism? So there are three options on the resolution um is the way that we do it that we just go around after discussion vote on the ones in whichever one receives to get a majority or a plurality or how does that work? Pick the one you want to do and vote on that one. So we make a motion to Oh okay. So bring one forward and if one gets a majority then that would pass then. Yes. Yes. And I got the finger of approval from the city attorney. So, I think this we're good now.

We're all straight now. That's good. Okay. Any other questions on the process? All right. By a motion made by Council Member Otto, second by Council Member Serrano. This item is moved. Any discussion or thoughts on? Well, yeah. Well, we have to discuss it first. So, the process to fill. Council member Brewster.

Thank you, Council President. Um, it seems to me like there's only one of these that uh makes a good amount of sense. Um, since having a special election in the fall would mean that the person would only serve for a few months before they would have to go into election mode again. Uh, that doesn't seem like the best uh use of our time as well as leaving it open. um you know, there's substantial time uh left in there for for someone to serve and sort of get their feet wet and decide if they want to uh run again in the spring. And so I would propose that we um appoint someone to fill the remainder of council, former council member Anderson's seat.

Okay. Before I ask if that's a motion, I'm gonna go to Council Member Miller. Uh I also would support the motion to do the appointment. Um I also appreciate um the city clerk or whichever party um laid out the timeline. Um it very nicely wraps up to have the candidate take their seat with the organizational meeting on April 21st. So they will be participating in the being appointed to all the different um boards and commissions and election of the vice president. So I appreciate the the quick timeline on that. So that makes um the appointment process even more really the the way to go I think. Great. Council member.

Oh thank you council president. I'd also like to speak in favor of this motion because special election would be more expensive and uh not appointing anyone would leave the second district without fair representation compared to other districts. Okay. Great. So like someone like to make a council member Brewster. Uh yeah, I guess I will move that we do um an appointment to the empty council seat on the timeline laid out by the city clerk. Okay, council member Miller. I will second that motion.

Okay, so we have a motion and a second. All right, any discussion on that motion? Okay, and city clerk, please call the role. Council member Reed I Sh I Serrano I Worthman I Bergie I Brewster I Johnson IA I Miller I Otto

I right that process uh passes unanimously. So now we're good for that one. Right. We don't need to go back to because we city attorney Nick, it's going to take more than just the the finger check mark in this one. Yeah. So, what what you did was you amended the main motion. Yeah. To identify the process. You amended it by selecting the appointment process. Now you have the main reszo in front of you. So, one more vote.

Okay. Thank you. All right. Any um questions on that? Otherwise, we'll move it. Uh Oh. Yep. Okay. Any other discussion? Right. State clerk, please call the role. Council Michonne I. Serrano. Hi. Worth. Hi. Bergen. I. Rooster. I. Johnson. I. I. Miller. Hi. Otto. [clears throat] I Reed. I.

It. Passes unanimously. Okay. On to boards, committees, and commissions. So this is a resolution approving the appointments and reappoints to boards, committees and commissions and vice president Worthman very nicely brought it up for me so we need to read. So the appointments committee met was it last Thursday. I was not able to attend but former council member Anderson was there and council member Brewster was there but I'll just go through this and if council member Brewster has anything to add you can add it. So for our BPAC committee, our bike and pedestrian advisory committee, one new appointment, Melissa Emerick. Uh for our board of review, there's three new appointments. Hoy Yang Lee, Thomas Elbert, Carson Ducey, and then one reappointment to the housing authority, David Carlson. Uh for our housing opportunities commission, there's one reappoint, Christina Ethrron, and then two appointments, Brooke Peterson and Tina Tyson. For our plan commission, there's two reo appointments, Earl Holesman and Josh Zoig. Then two new appointments, uh, Jeffrey Gut Guttinger and Susan Wolf Graham. And then for our South Barstow improvement uh, district, there's um, for reappoints, Rita Dorsy and then Louise. And then new appointments, Rose Johnson and Elliot uh, Pault. And then for our sustainability advisory committee, um, for our reappoints, Lindseay Hillshy and Janice Tyler. And then for appointments, Nicholas Bowman. And then Felix Sineros Garrow. So, sorry for butchering everyone's names. Uh, so that's any questions on that? Okay. Then I'm actually going to make a motion to add uh David Strobble to the South Barstow Improvement District.

Seconded. Okay. A second. Okay. So, we have a motion and a second. Point of order. Yep. You need to move the main motion before you amend it. Okay. So, motion by Council Member Johnson, second by Council Member Brewster. So, the overall is moved. And then we have I've made a motion to add uh David Strobble and second by council member. So now we will vote. Any discussion on that? On the amendment. My brain is not working. Sorry. Okay. No discuss.

Did you move him to be appointed to South Barstow Improvement District as a reappoint? as a reappoint. Nope, that's okay. Council show, I do have a question. Um, so would that eliminate one of the new appointments then or Okay, so there's no other changes, just an addition. Okay, thank you. Questions or comments? Okay. Uh, city clerk, uh, you can, uh, call the role. Council member Serrano I Worthman

Bergie I Rooster I Johnson I boogga I Miller I Otto no Reed abstain shown I okay so that passes 7 to one with two abstain abstensions. Okay. So then we're going to go back to the big motion. Any discussion on that? So we've added David Strobble to the list. Okay. No discussion. Okay. Uh

could I ask a question? Council member or Vice President Worthman because um is it possible to divide the question on this because I can't vote on this whole thing because I'm abstaining from the vote. But but maybe there's no way around that. Um and I have to abstain for all of them for the entire thing. Does that make sense? I think we can divide the question. Okay. So I would like to divide the question. So, um Dave Strobel's um consideration as a reappointment is its own vote.

Okay. Um we'll do Dave Strobble first. So, we'll vote on adding. So, confirming Dave Strobble, right? Okay. So, any discussion on that? All right. City clerk, please call the role. Council member Worth. Council member Bergie I Rooster I Johnson I Miller I Otto no

Reed abstain I srano I that passes 8 to one with two absensions. So now we're going to go to the other slate of candidates or appointments or reappoints. Oh, I'm sorry. What? 7 to one. Oh, 7 to one. [laughter] It's just a group effort tonight. Thanks, guys. I didn't eat supper before I came. So, obviously. All right. Any other discussion on that? Okay. Uh, city clerk, please call the role. Council member Bergie. I. Rooster. I. Johnson I Miller I Otto

I Reed I shown I Serrano I Worthman I Okay and that passes unanimously. Okay. Now we have ordinances for action [snorts] heavy vehicle parking and residential zones. This is ordinance ordinance amending title 10.24 ve oh okay vehicles and traffic and title 17.03 land development ordinance for heavy vehicle parking weights and conditional uses and residential zones. Uh Mr. Noel.

Good evening, council. Council President Bergie. Um, this item is actually is required for you to postpone it uh with the plan commission recommending postponement. So, they'll have a chance to look at it again, give you more input in their direction. Um, staff is available for any questions. Okay, any questions? I don't see questions. So, right. Oh, council member Shonne, could you just remind me of when the next planned commission meeting would be when this issue would be taken up by them again? April 6th.

Thank you. I don't see any other questions. So, thank you. So, a motion made by Council Member Emboga, second by Vice President Worman. This item is moved. Any discussion? Council member Brewster. Thank you, Council President. Um I am in the the plan commission and uh we had some questions about this that staff were looking into as well as a couple other members of plan commission. So I would like to move to uh postpone this until the plan commission has voted upon it. Okay. Vice or council member Miller were you going to second or

point of order? Uh I think it's either plan commission meets or 60 days passes since it was introduced. I think if plan commission doesn't move on it after 60 days it would still come to council. So I just amend maybe the motion to include that caveat that's listed there. I would say that. Okay. So I so either until plan commission meets or until 60 days after the original date of the proposed amendment. Okay. So we have a motion by council member Brewster and a second by council member Miller. Any discuss? Oh to postpone it on the postponement. Any discussion? Okay. City clerk, please call the role. Council member Johnson. I. Kimboga. I.

Miller. I. Otto. I. Reed. I. Sean. I. Serrano. I. Worth. Hi. Bergie. I. Rooster. I. That pass. That postponement passes unanimously.

Okay. Then we have parking restrictions near Robins Elementary. This an ordinance amending table nine entitled parking during specified hours of the code of ordinances of the city of Oaklair to add parking restrictions near Robins Elementary School and East Hamilton Avenue and Hastings Way East Fridge Road in response to concerns received about pedestrian and traffic safety. Director Ness, good evening again. I did not have any additional follow-up questions after last night's meeting. Um, and I can take any questions if there are any. I don't see any questions. So, thanks. So, by motion made by Council Member Emboga, second by Vice President Worthman, this item is moved. Any discussion? Secret, please call the role.

Council member, I. Miller, I. Otto, I. Reed, I. Sean I Serrano I Worthman I Bergie I Brewster I Johnson I that passes unanimously. Next we have a parking restrictions on Davis Avenue and Summit Street ordinance amending table 9 entitled parking prohibited of the code of ordinances of the city of Oaklair to add parking restrictions on Davis Avenue and Summit Street for increased traffic safety. Director Ness I'm available for questions if there are any. Council member Miller.

Thank you, Counc. I did have a question. You mentioned this last night and I think asking time. So, in the actual ordinance, there's Davis Avenue, Summit Street, which is the intersection, and then Hamilton Avenue East, Pine Lodge Road, 209 ft west. What does that have? Yep. That's a that's a existing section on the south side near Robins Elementary that is uh identified as no parking and signed as no parking. right now. It was discussed previously uh with the site plan of the apartments at that location, but uh hadn't been entered into the code of ordinance yet. So, it's just catching that at this time. Okay. Thank you.

Great. I don't see any other questions. So, thanks. So, by a motion by Council Member Miller, second by Council Member Shon, this item is moved. Any discussion? Seeing none, city clerk, please call the role. Council member Miller, I Reed, I show I Serrano. I Worth. Hi, Bergie. I Rooster. I Johnson. I

And that passes unanimously. All right, that's the end of our uh business agenda. We do have a close session, but first any announcements and updates.

Uh, just I will share that I know that you all have been getting um emails about the budget. And tomorrow when I get a minute, I'm going to reply to them all um and put together some Q&As's that I'll also then put in the newsletter and maybe online unless you tell me otherwise, but just information. Um, and I will also try to set up um some community engagement that I can direct people to or I'll keep the emails of people who have responded and then I can let them know when we figure out what the um community meetings will be. Um, and just to note, remember if you remember how uh the engineering director said that there's just been a huge increase in the sidewalk repair. So, we've gotten about 120 pothole requests here. [laughter] So the downside or the upside or downside of communicating and being so in touch with people is that and thanks to our media as well um people really do accept the invitation and they provide us information. So it's kind of an interesting challenge to have because you get a lot of um a lot of feedback. So um and also just stay tuned because I will probably add another budget related meeting next week to handle the innovation funding. So the innovation funding has to be approved application the intergovernmental agreement that would go into the application has to be approved at the next council meeting or at a special meeting and um so I may put on a work session so that you can hear more about it uh especially if the if we are able to submit one for the health department because that's very complex a very big department. So, just um stay tuned on on that and I we can set that up and if you can't make it, I can also set up um one-on-one meetings.

Great. Thanks. Any announcements from council?

All right. So, we do need to vote to go into close session, but we can take a little break after we vote. Um let me just read it. So upon a motion duly made and carried that the city council may go into close session to provide negotiation d direction for competitive or bargaining reasons and confer with legal counsel concerning legal strategy which is permitted in close uh session pursuant to S 19.851eg of the Wisconsin statutes. The purpose of this closed session is to discuss next steps regarding Altuna's payment delinquency under the wastewater service agreement between the city of Oaklair and the city of Altuna following mediation. Um can I get a motion going to close session?

So move. I have a motion uh by council member Brewster and a second by council member Emboga. So city clerk are any discussion on that? Okay. City clerk please call the role. Council member Otto I Reed I Sh I Serrano I Worth I Bergie I Brewster I Johnson I boogga I Miller I uh we're we'll go into close session that passes unanimously.