City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everyone. And I'd like to call to order the March 25th, 2026 meeting of the FondeLac City Council. The first item of business is roll call, which is done electronically, and I will declare a quorum present with us all here. The next item on our agenda is the pledge of allegiance, which is followed by a moment of silent reflection. Please rise. Next on our agenda is a salute to excellence. which will be presented by our city manager, Mr. Moore.

Thank you. I thought it would be appropriate last Well, you got it for the stream. There's billions

the live stream. That's right. Thank you. thing I thought it would be appropriate because over the last month there have been three significant accomplishments that have been recognized by by agencies and national groups far far away who've looked at our organization in three different ways and concluded that they they have rated them excellently. The first one I want to read is an excerpt from a letter that was sent to Trisha and me. I'm not going to read the whole letter because there's two sentences that will pretty much give you the the flavor. It says, "We are pleased to notify you that your annual comprehensive financial report qualifies for the government finance office officers association's certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting." And this sentence is the real real important one. The certificate of achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. So Trisha, would you come up here? I'm going to give you the microphone because I know you've got a lot of great people that work for you and I'm sure the council would love to hear how you're celebrating uh having received that yet again.

So thank you. Um, this is our 30th year of receiving this award. I've been here for 29 of these years. So, the commitment to this is deeply ingrained in the comprollers department. You know, it's what we live and breathe every day. But we can't do it without the support of the city council, the city manager, uh, department heads, division heads, all city employees, and especially the comprollers team that, you know, we need everyone's support and encouragement and and help with this. So, this is a big thank you to not only my department, but to everybody for the support. So, thank you. THANK YOU, TRISHA. SO, you noticed that two weeks ago, Chief Garrettson and I were absent. You may have thought we were out goofing off and and we were, but but we we did take a moment uh in attendance to a it's a worldwide conference that convenes once a year, the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. firefighters, uh, rescue experts convene from literally around the world and many of the international ones are from the DoD because we have fire departments and rescue operations around the world and they have accreditation standards that apply worldwide uniformly. It is up to an agency to volunteer to strive for accreditation and our fire rescue department has done that. This is what was presented to Chief Garrison and his team two weeks ago after an appearance before the jury essentially of the board. They had to make the final decision. So, Chief, would you come up here? I'd like to uh give you the chance to share a few thoughts with the council and the public because this signifies quite an accomplishment for you and the department as well as the city of FondeLac.

Thank you, Mr. Moore. I'd like to just share a few thoughts on the accreditation process. So, uh Fire Rescue takes tremendous pride in delivering the highest level of public service to our community. As we have progressed through this third five-year cycle of accreditation, we recognize that this is not simply a reaffirmation of our past work, uh, but an opportunity to continue elevating our organization. Each cycle challenges us to examine who we are, how we serve, and where we can improve. Through that reflection, we consistently uncover new and innovative ways to enhance service delivery to our citizens we are entrusted to protect. Additionally, accreditation represents far more than just a benchmark for FondeLac fire rescue. It signifies accountability to our community, a steadfast commitment to continuous improvement and validation of professionalism and dedication of our members that demonstrate that each and every day. It reinforces transparency in our operations and ensures that we remain aligned with best practices in the fire service. Lastly, accreditation has provided us with a structured framework to make informed strategic decisions that maximize the value to our community. I'd also like to thank the accreditation team, our command staff, the entire department for taking on this task. Also, uh Joe Moore and his administration, Trisha Davyy, water department, communications, HR, legal, they all have a piece of this. It's not just our department. Everybody has a piece in this award. So, thank you very much. Thank you for the council for entrusting the finances and the trust in our department as well. You this award is for everybody. So, thank you very much. One thing that was interesting down there is there was a a giant foam poster board outside the hearing room. And I

when we walked over to it, it was noteworthy to think we have fire departments literally around the world. And on that board that day, there were like 15 hearings. That's how that's how elite this is that Eric was just describing. Speaking of elite, lastly, I want to talk about our police department and the accreditation it just received from the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group. This is really uh to me special to call on Chief Goldstein to talk about this because Chief Goldstein was the first accreditation manager in the police department. So he was the one on day one after the police department made the commitment to pursue accreditation not being accredited that he started personally putting together the plan to execute the vision to become accredited and that was a significant undertaking chief. Wouldn't you agree? So, we went uh to WIGG, the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group. Same thing, had a hearing in front of of the group of board members. They voted unanimously to approve our department for accreditation. And one thing that was very interesting and chief, I'd like you to mention something about this is they all talked about the high standards, the elite standards that they they saw in our police department. They had no questions at all about this accreditation. So with that, Chief Goldstein, I'd like you to come forward because this says a lot about what your department does for our community.

Thanks, Mr. Moore. And obviously Miss Davey and Chief Garrison shared a lot about what accreditation is. You know, for us it allows us to provide best practices to our community. Uh really look forward to so our current accreditation manager is Captain Han. Uh we're going into our fourth cycle. Uh we actually met within the last uh week here a couple times. I look forward to those meetings that go on the calendar and we look at every single policy and how we police this community. And it really started, as Joe said, it started uh in 2016 when we went to the community and we asked, "How would you like to be policed?" And we built that with best practices in mind. Uh so what I'll leave you with, and I think you've heard it a few times, is we're in rare company. You know, when you look at our fire, rescue, and police, we are only one of two uh communities in the state of Wisconsin that has a an accredited fire and accredited police. That tells you a lot about what we're doing here. and we couldn't do it without all of you. So, thank you.

Thanks, CHIEF. SO, Miss Paul, thank you for giving us a few minutes. I think, you know, in modern life, it's easy to be negative. We hear negativity a lot, but I wanted to take just a minute to highlight the these positives, right? And I think you'd all agree that it's wonderful that we can fund them. It's wonderful that we can support them. and then thanks to them for being able to execute right to such a high level. So, thank you again for the time. Well, and thank you, Mr. Moore, for making sure that we recognize this excellent work. Um, I see Mr. Mullen would like to make a comment and I'll open it up to other council members if anybody else does as well.

Yes. I I would just like to say um as a member of the city council um what an honor and a pleasure it has been to work with such an excellent team. Um not only the chiefs and and Miss Davey tonight, but our public works department. We're going to talk about storm water and we have, you know, an outstanding award-winning wastewater facility. It's just from from top to bottom. People don't like government. They say it's bad. They think we're uh we're lazy and corrupt. And you know, the fact is every corner you look in this city, there's excellence. And I just want to thank you all.

Thank you. I couldn't have said that better. Um, yeah, it just you you all do such excellent work that it makes our our job so much easier and it just really makes us feel good about representing this community because there's so much great work happening. So, thank you again, Mr. Moore, for making sure that we recognize these amazing achievements. Thank you. All right. Next, we will move on to our consent agenda. The consent agenda finalizes the proposed actions for the meeting. A, list of claims dated March 17, 2026 and B, March 11th, 2026 minutes. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, I will entertain a motion. We have a motion by Mr. Godfrey and a second by Mr. Heistler. Is there any other discussion? Seeing none, please proceed to vote. All right. And that passes unanimously. Next, we will move on to audience comments. Agenda and non-aggenda items. The presiding officer will limit speaking time for non-aggenda items to one minute and items noticed on the agenda to five minutes. Miss Heftter, do we have anyone wishing to speak?

Okay. All right. So, we have Katherine Schmidz who wishes to speak on a non-aggenda item. parking issue at Portland Square Apartments. So, Miss Schmidz, if you'd like to step up to the podium, uh we'll give you a minute to speak to us.

Um to put it straight, our parking lot has 21 parking spaces. We have actually 74 apartments. Obviously, not everybody has a vehicle. Um but even as my neighbor, she had to park cuz we had nowhere to park. She had to park in the public lot and got a ticket. So, what we want to know, we have a petition. I didn't get many signatures cuz we just started this last night. So, I did get 26. Excuse me. And what we were proposing is maybe if our vehicle has the ACC sticker on it, if we could park in the city lot without getting a ticket and without having to pay to get the parking permit. That's what we want to know. I mean, that's just I mean, I can give you my petition. It's all right there a lot better, but that's pretty much what we are asking for.

All right. And thank you. Um because this is a non-aggenda item, we can't discuss it, but feel free to um reach out to the uh Mr. Moore said if you would like to call the city manager's office um or otherwise you can send things to city council as well. We did that and I was working with a Mr. Dean and then he was no longer there anymore and we were told this is the best way to go about it now because there's nobody there. All right. Well, thank you for for bringing this to our attention and please continue to communicate with us but I'm afraid we can't discuss it at our meeting. That's fine. Um, who would I give this to? Because I can get another copy off my computer. There you go.

All right. Thank you so much. Thank you for letting me bring that up. You guys have a great All right. Thank you. All right. And with that, that ends our audience comments. So, we'll move on to our action items. Action item A is change of agent for class A into Intoxicating liquor and class A fermented malt license. Entity GPM Southeast LLC. Agent name Daniel Salaja doing business as our store. Location 1304 County Road V with our introduction by our city clerk, Miss Heft.

Thank you, President Bald. This is a standard agent change for our store's location at 1304 County Road V for their class A license. Background checks were done on the proposed agent and city staff recommends approval. Thank you. Are there any questions for Miss Hefer? Seeing none, I will entertain a motion. We have a motion by Mr. Schistler and a second by Mr. Heistler. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, please proceed to vote. And that passes unanimously. Item B is class B fermented malt license entity FOX Fondellex softball agent Marie Schumacher address Lakeside Park Baseball Island. Again, our introduction is by our city clerk, Miss Heft.

Thank you. Again, Bondelac softball is applying for their annual six-month beer license for the concession stand in Lakeside Park on Baseball Island. Backr run checks were done on the new officer and city staff recommends approval. Thank you. Are there any questions for Miss Heft? Seeing none, I will entertain a motion. Have a motion by Mr. Mullen and a second by Mr. Godfrey. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, please proceed to vote. And that passes unanimously. Item C is resolution number 9229, a resolution making reappointment to the board of review. Our introduction is by our city manager, Mr. Moore.

Thank you. Good evening, everybody. This is a nomination for Mark Weber to be reappointed to the board of review. I just want to take a minute to say something about Mark. I normally don't do this, but he was on the city council about 30 years ago, president about 30 years ago, and now 30 years later, he's still volunteering for these boards. And this past year, the board of review was busier than it's been in probably 10 years because of the revaluation. And so he and the rest of the board of review uh members were incredibly important last year. And so publicly thanks to Mark and the and his and that team, but I also use that as a reason to renominate him for the great work they've done. So with that, I recommend approval.

Wonderful. Thank you. Are there any questions for Mr. Moore? Seeing none, I will entertain a motion. We have a motion by Mr. Heistler and a second by Mr. Mullen. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, please proceed to vote. And that passes unanimously. Item D is resolution number 9230, a resolution approving and authorizing the execution of the working conditions agreement with the FondeLac City Fire Supervisory Association. Our introduction is by Mr. Chad Wade.

Good evening. Um so this is a approval a resolution for approval of the working conditions agreement with your fire supervisory group. Um the obviously the many of the terms are explained in the memo that was included within the packet. Um a large portion of this was to again bring our supervisory group um in line with changes that had been made during the bargaining process with our local union. And so the I want to thank the supervisory group for working, you know, diligently with the fire department's administration to um get to this get to this point and we recommend approval.

Right. Thank you. Are there any questions for Mr. Wade? Seeing none, I will entertain a motion. Motion by Mr. Heistler, second by Mr. Godfrey. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, please proceed to vote. And that passes unanimously. Thank you, Mr. Wade, for all the work that went into that. So, thank you.

All right. Item E is ordinance number 3825, an ordinance amending chapter 720, zoning schedule 3, bulk requirements, residential districts. Our introduction is by our assistant city attorney, Mr. Zordani. Thank you, President Bald. Um, this proposed ordinance would amend the zoning code to um align the R2 district zoning for single family with uh the R1 uh single family zoning. Um, specifically the sideyard setback. Um, so those would both be in line. The planning commission and the community development staff both recommend approval.

Great. Thank you. Are there any questions for Mr. Zordani? Seeing none. Oh, sorry, Miss Laring. Just explain that just a little bit more. Thank you. Yes. So, the the previous sideyard setback for R2 uh single family dwelling was um 6 feet on one side and 18 ft total. Um the proposed uh ordinance would amend that to five five feet on one side and 14 feet in total. Great. Thank you, Mr. Mullen.

Uh, yes. Uh, on on plan commission, um really in order to facilitate primarily infill housing in the city, we reduced lot sizes and the the side lot setback was left out of that inadvertently. So this change brings that more brings that more into line. It's not it's not being considered in a vacuum by itself.

All right. Thank you. Are there any other questions from councel? Uh seeing none, I will entertain a motion. We have a motion by Mr. Mullen and a second by Mr. Heistler. Is there any other discussion? Seeing none, please proceed to vote. And that passes unanimously. And item F is ordinance number 3826, an ordinance reszoning Northeast Corner State Highway 23 and Wisconsin American Drive FDL 151807247501 from a Agricultural District to R3 Central Area Residential District. And again, our introduction is by our assistant city attorney, Mr. Zordani.

You again. Uh a lot of zoning today. Uh so this proposed ordinance would reszone uh as you mentioned um the current plat from agricultural to R3. Um it's currently vacant. Um the proposal would um put in 135 unit senior living community. Um this is the area um near the intersection of Highway 151 and East Johnson. Um the planning commission supports this and so does community development staff recommend. Wonderful. Thank you. Answer any other

Yep. Are there any questions from council? Uh Mr. Mullen?

Yes. Thank you. Uh uh this project again uh it came before the plan commission. Um it is on vacant land and it's for um 135 units of senior living all the way from independent to memory care. And uh one of the nice things about this and how it applies to housing in general in the city is that as we know we have a lot of seniors aging in place because there's there's no place for them to move. So they're staying in their homes. This provides uh a place for somebody who maybe has a house but wants to move into an apartment setting with the possibility of in the future going to assisted living or even memory care. Uh and that frees up those houses for younger people. So, uh we support this.

Wonderful. Thank you for that background. Um this definitely seems like a very great addition to our community, something that there's a lot of need for. So, um, with that, I don't see any other questions from council, so I will entertain a motion on the ordinance. We have a motion by Mr. Mullen and a second by Mr. Zimmerman. Is there any other discussion? Seeing none, please proceed to vote. And that passes unanimously. Thank you. All right, with that, that ends our action items. So, we will move on to the presentation of input items. and we have the annual storm water report presented by city engineer Mr. Johnson.

Thank you, President Balt. Um, as attached in your uh council packet is the annual storm water report. This is a draft at this time. Um, first I always like to uh thank Nick Walshmitt from our engineering staff for the hard work he does not only preparing this report but also overseeing your entire storm water program here in the city. um permit you are required to have per the Wisconsin DNR and this permit is uh covering how you're going to deal with storm water pollution within the city. Uh the annual report itself what it does is it quantifies what you've done in the past year to address the permit items and quantify the actual uh pollution prevention measures that you've undertaken over the last year. I'll just go over a couple of highlights of some of the items that are covered in this report. Uh first is your construction and maintenance division always uh responds very diligently and effectively in renewing snow within the city and they apply the appropriate amount of salt to their endeavors because any additional salt ends up in the waters of the rivers and the lake. Second is several times a year the uh construction maintenance staff they go through and they run the street sweepers throughout the city collecting this past year close to 1,200 tons of material. And then lastly, I will just point out like you you're in your seventh year of your adopt a storm drain program here in the city, which educates uh residents on taking measures into their own hands to keep an inlet clean of debris that would otherwise end up in again your rivers and lakes. Um it's a very effective program. So, I won't go over all the specifics in in the report, but if you

have any questions on the report, please feel free to uh reach out to me or I can answer them now. Have any questions? All right, great. Are there any questions or comments from council on the report? I'm waiting for Mr. Mullen to hit his button. Mr. Mullen, please start us off. Yeah. Well, you know, I love the pipes, so if it's underground, you know, that that's what I'm all about it. Um, I I just had, uh, well, I had a couple questions. Um, I I noticed in the report, uh, we have elicit discharge. I was just wondering if you could give me an example of an elicit discharge.

Well, I like last year, I'll give you one example. We had a, uh, carpet cleaning company. Okay. instead of uh discharging their carpet water, dirty water into a sanitary sewer, it was noticed that they were dumping it into an inlet. Okay. So, we reached out to them uh let them know that they were not allowed to do that and basically requested a corrective action plan back from them to say, "How are you going to not do this in the future?" So, that's an illicit discharge.

Okay. and and um I this may not be the place uh but you know I'm all about INI and I just wanted to uh to know what the uh you know how are we doing on that. Every year we're making steps and strides to try to reduce INI within the city. Usually it's through our uh street and utility program where we replace old sanitary sewers. We're also looking at um rehabbing some sanitary sewers within the city this year to help reduce the infiltration into the sanitary sewer system. All right. Thank you. And only two questions. That might be a record.

All right. Well, I am not seeing any other uh questions or comments from council. So, I just want to thank you for presenting the report. Uh, as Mr. Mullen said earlier in the meeting, um, there's a lot of excellent work being done. Um, something that like just kind of came to mind as I was looking at it, uh, was, you know, we had a really late leaf drop this fall and then a really early snowstorm. So seeing the flexibility of the coordination to make sure that you know that then the spring once the snow melted to try to get those leaves picked up that weren't picked up in the late last year um to try to keep those from going into the storm drains. You know, there's a lot of things that the community can continue to do to try to help um with the adopt a storm drain. I'm glad to see that that's still a a priority and and trying to uh promote that and just thank you for all the work that goes into everything that's that's being done for our storm water. So, thank you.

All right. Thank you. All right. With that, that ends our input items. So we will be adjourning to closed session to consider employment promotion compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility. The subject of the closed session is 2026 city manager performance. This subject is exempt under Wisconsin statute section 19.851C. Can I have a motion to adjurnn to close session? Motion to adjurnn close session. Second.

Motion by Mr. Zimmerman, second by Mr. Heistler. Uh, this is not debatable. Please proceed to vote. All right. And that passes unanimously. We will now adjourn to closed session.