[0:00] of the city of River Falls common
[0:01] council to order and we'll start with
[0:04] the pledge of
[0:04] » Allegiance
[0:11] to the flag of the United States of
[0:14] America and to the republicy.
[0:26] » Miss White, the roll call. Abd
[0:29] » Here.
[0:30] » Gearstead
[0:30] » Here.
[0:31] » Carol Downing
[0:33] » Here.
[0:34] » Odin
[0:34] » Here.
[0:35] » Paige
[0:36] » Here.
[0:36] » Walker
[0:37] » Here.
[0:40] » All right. Thank you very much. Then we
[0:42] have the approval of the minutes from
[0:44] the August 28th, 2026 council meeting.
[0:48] » I so move.
[0:49] » Second.
[0:50] » We have a motion and a second to approve
[0:52] the minutes from August 28th. Any
[0:54] questions or comments? Hearing none. All
[0:56] in favor signify by saying I.
[0:58] » I.
[0:59] » Opposed say no. Motion carries. Next we
[1:02] have the approval of the bills with
[1:04] council member Odin.
[1:05] » Um madame mayor and councel um I move
[1:07] approval of the bills in the amount of
[1:10] $4 million 97,56424
[1:15] subject to the controller. And I will um
[1:18] remark that it is so high. It is high
[1:20] because there were some significant um
[1:22] debt reduction payments.
[1:24] » Second
[1:26] We have a motion and a second to approve
[1:28] the bills. Any questions or comments?
[1:31] Hearing none. All in favor signify by
[1:32] saying I.
[1:33] » I.
[1:34] » Oppos say no. Motion carries. We're
[1:37] going to rearrange the agenda this
[1:39] evening because we have some very
[1:40] special guests in the audience with us
[1:42] this evening. Many of our first
[1:44] responders are here. So, we're going to
[1:46] move the proclamations uh to the front
[1:48] of the agenda this evening. But thank
[1:51] you very much for being with us. And I
[1:53] will go ahead and read the proclamation
[1:56] recognizing the 25th anniversary of
[1:58] September 11th, 2001.
[2:02] September 11, 2026 marks the 25th
[2:05] anniversary of the terrorist attacks of
[2:08] September 11th, 2001. A day that forever
[2:11] changed our nation and the lives of
[2:13] countless Americans. Nearly 3,000
[2:16] innocent people lost their lives in the
[2:18] attacks on the World Trade Center in New
[2:20] York City, the Pentagon in Arlington,
[2:22] Virginia, and aboard United Flight 93 in
[2:26] Pennsylvania. We will never undo the
[2:29] pain and injustice born that terrible
[2:31] morning. Nor will we ever forget those
[2:33] we lost. These attacks were meant to
[2:36] terrorize our nation. But on September
[2:38] 11th, 2001, amid shattered glass,
[2:42] twisted steel, and clouds of dust, the
[2:45] spirit of America shone through. We
[2:48] remember the sacrifice of strangers and
[2:51] first responders who rushed into
[2:53] darkness to carry others from danger. We
[2:56] remember the unbreakable bonds of unity
[2:58] we felt in the long days that followed.
[3:00] We recall how Americans of every station
[3:03] and background joined together to
[3:06] support the survivors in their hour of
[3:08] need and to heal our nation in the years
[3:10] that followed.
[3:12] We remember the outpouring of love we
[3:14] felt from nations and people across the
[3:16] globe as they extended a caring hand.
[3:19] This 25th 25th anniversary of September
[3:22] 11th provides an opportunity for the
[3:25] city of River Falls to reflect upon the
[3:28] events of that day. It's an opportunity
[3:30] to honor the families, friends,
[3:32] colleagues, and communities who continue
[3:35] to carry the loss of loved ones as well
[3:37] as the survivors and first responders
[3:40] who continue to experience the lasting
[3:42] effects of that day.
[3:45] It's an opportunity to recognize the
[3:47] extraordinary courage and sacrifice of
[3:49] the firefighters, law enforcement
[3:52] officers, emergency medical personnel,
[3:55] members of the United States armed
[3:56] forces, and ordinary citizens who
[3:59] responded with bravery and compassion on
[4:02] September 11 and in the days, months,
[4:04] and years that followed. And it is an
[4:08] opportunity to ensure that future
[4:10] generations understand the significance
[4:12] of this day in our nation's history. Now
[4:16] therefore, I, Allison Paige, mayor of
[4:18] the city of River Falls, Wisconsin, do
[4:21] hereby hereby proclaim September 11,
[4:23] 2026 as a day of remembrance in the city
[4:26] of River Falls, and encourage all
[4:29] residents to honor the memory of those
[4:31] who lost their lives. recognize the
[4:33] courage and sacrifice of first
[4:35] responders and service members and carry
[4:38] forward the spirit of unity, compassion,
[4:42] and service that brought our nation
[4:44] together in the aftermath of 911 dated
[4:48] this 8th day of September 2026.
[4:53] So, thank you for being with us this
[4:55] evening.
[5:04] What? Do we want to do a picture? We
[5:07] want to pause right now and do that.
[5:09] Okay, let's do that. Where would we like
[5:10] to do a photo?
[5:13] Okay.
[5:15] Okay, we should all stand. Just right
[5:18] here.
[5:52] You can probably come right here.
[5:53] » Oh yeah.
[5:54] » Okay, I got it now.
[5:58] » Okay. In three, two, one. Let's do a
[6:03] little angle. In three, two, one. Let's
[6:06] go on this side. 30
[6:12] should be good.
[6:14] » Great.
[6:15] » Thank you.
[6:16] » Thank you.
[6:21] [applause]
[6:59] I think we're good.
[7:02] » Thank you.
[7:03] » Thank you. Have a nice evening
[7:06] coming. Our next proclamation is
[7:08] honoring Hispanic Heritage Month,
[7:11] September 15th through October 15th,
[7:13] 2026.
[7:15] Whereas Hispanic Heritage Month is
[7:17] federally recognized from September 15
[7:19] through October 15th to recognize and
[7:22] celebrate the histories and
[7:23] contributions of Hispanic and Latin
[7:25] Americans. And whereas Hispanic Heritage
[7:28] Month celebrates the histories and
[7:30] cultures of Americans whose families
[7:31] originated in Spain, Mexico, the
[7:34] Caribbean, or Central and South America.
[7:37] And whereas Hispanic Americans have made
[7:40] significant contributions through
[7:41] leadership, public service, education,
[7:44] business, agriculture, the arts,
[7:46] sciences, military service, and
[7:48] countless other endeavors. And whereas
[7:50] the city of River Falls is proud to
[7:52] recognize and honor the history,
[7:54] culture, and contributions of Hispanic
[7:56] Americans in our community and
[7:58] throughout our state and our nation.
[8:00] Now, therefore, be it resolved that I,
[8:02] Allison H. Page, mayor of River Falls,
[8:05] Wisconsin, to hereby proclaim September
[8:07] 15th through October 15, 2026 as
[8:10] Hispanic Heritage Month and authorized
[8:13] the Hispanic Heritage Flag to be flown
[8:15] at city hall during that time frame to
[8:17] honor the Hispanic Americans who
[8:20] contribute to our community, state, and
[8:22] country. We call upon the people of our
[8:24] community to observe this month with
[8:26] appropriate activities and celebrations
[8:29] dated this 8th day of September, 2026.
[8:33] I would mention also that there is um an
[8:36] explanation of the Hispanic Heritage
[8:38] flag that is available uh in a brochure
[8:41] out in the entryway. It's very uh
[8:44] interesting. So, thank you for that. Uh
[8:47] and now council member Abdusha is going
[8:49] to share with us a proclamation uh for
[8:51] the Chamber of Commerce Month
[8:54] » Recognizing the Riverfalls Chamber of
[8:57] Commerce and Tourism Bureau in
[8:58] conjunction with Chamber of Commerce
[9:00] Month. Whereas small businesses are at
[9:04] the heart of Riverfalls community,
[9:06] acting as catalysts for local economic
[9:08] growth, supporting the livelihoods of
[9:11] many residents, and enriching the
[9:13] character of a place we call home. And
[9:16] whereas acting as key partners in
[9:18] supporting the success of local small
[9:21] businesses in our local economy, the
[9:23] River Falls Chamber of Commerce and
[9:25] Tourist Bureau plays an essential role
[9:28] in connecting businesses, residents, and
[9:30] visitors. And whereas the Riverfalls
[9:33] Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Bureau
[9:36] provides a wide variety of services to
[9:38] its members and the community, including
[9:40] advocacy, education, and economic
[9:43] development, promoting entrepreneurship,
[9:46] encouraging local tourism, and helping
[9:48] solve unique economic challenges. And
[9:51] whereas the Riverfalls Chamber of
[9:53] Commerce and Tourism Bureau serves as a
[9:56] critical community partner and problem
[9:58] solver, working with shareholders from
[10:01] both the private and public sectors to
[10:04] ensure our local local economy thrives.
[10:08] And whereas September is recognized
[10:11] annually as Chamber of Commerce Month,
[10:14] encouraging chambers across Wisconsin to
[10:17] spotlight their work and facilitate
[10:20] greater community connection among
[10:22] residents, visitors, and businesses of
[10:24] all shapes and sizes. And whereas this
[10:27] month, the city of Riverfalls recognizes
[10:30] and commends the Riverfalls Chamber of
[10:33] Commerce and Tourism Bureau for making
[10:36] Riverfalls a better place to live, work,
[10:40] raise a family, open a business, and
[10:43] more. Now, therefore, be it resolved
[10:47] that Allison H. page. Mayor of the city
[10:50] of River Falls, Wisconsin does hereby
[10:53] proclaim September 2026 as Chamber of
[10:57] Commerce Month in Riverfalls, Wisconsin,
[11:00] and encourage all residents to recognize
[11:03] and support the River Falls Chamber of
[11:05] Commerce for its dedication to our
[11:07] community's prosperity dated this 8th
[11:10] day of September, 2026. And mayor, if I
[11:14] may add that the perfect way to do so is
[11:18] to celebrate at Bacon Bash.
[11:23] » Let it be noted. [laughter]
[11:26] All right. Thank you, Council Member
[11:27] Abdush. We'll move back then back up to
[11:30] the agenda for public comments um and
[11:32] requests, petitions, communications. Is
[11:35] there anyone in the audience who would
[11:36] like to address the council this
[11:38] evening? Um, remember to uh let us know
[11:41] who you are and where you live and put
[11:43] your name down if you will. And then you
[11:45] have two minutes of time to address the
[11:47] council on anything you would like to
[11:49] speak to us about.
[12:06] Good evening.
[12:07] I'm William Hansen, N8723,
[12:11] 1025th Street, River Falls.
[12:16] It's in the interest to look back
[12:17] sometime in history at events such as
[12:20] the arguments that destroyed the
[12:21] junction led to the destruction of the
[12:23] Junction Falls dam and Idram's decision.
[12:27] This is our largest source of renewable
[12:29] electricity.
[12:32] Reading from a 2019 Friends of the Kenny
[12:35] brochure, it's interesting to contrast
[12:38] statements from this formative time and
[12:41] the actual state of play today.
[12:45] A subsection of the handout labeled,
[12:47] "How much is it going to cost and who is
[12:49] going to pay for it?" states in part,
[12:53] "The expense of the restoration of the
[12:55] Kenny River through dam removal can be
[12:59] greatly offset by private funding
[13:02] through donations from individuals
[13:05] with friends of the Kenny organization
[13:08] dedicated in part to raise funds."
[13:12] Answering that same question today, who
[13:15] will pay? We find the following proposed
[13:18] plan.
[13:20] Federal tax dollars through the Army
[13:22] Corps of Engineers.
[13:24] State tax dollars gifted through the
[13:27] efforts of former mayor Tolen from
[13:30] Governor Ivers, plus every other service
[13:34] services of state and local employees
[13:37] and funds set aside from the River Falls
[13:40] electric utility rate payers.
[13:43] If the city council chooses to remove
[13:46] our dam and the operating hydroelect
[13:48] electric generator, removal costs then
[13:52] are proposed to be paid by federal,
[13:54] state, and local tax dollars and by
[13:58] money from River Falls residents monthly
[14:01] electric bills.
[14:03] Quite a change from costs were that were
[14:06] supposed to be greatly out offset by
[14:09] private funding. Thank you.
[14:13] Thank you, Mr. Hansen.
[14:24] Alicia and Costco,
[14:27] 514 River Hills
[14:30] Drive.
[14:31] » You might have to move the mic down just
[14:32] a tad there, too.
[14:35] » I was leaning over to try to multitask,
[14:37] too. Um I'm g my
[14:44] so I'm a resident of River Falls
[14:46] actually and I am also a certified
[14:48] planner my AICP
[14:51] I've reviewed in my time I've reviewed
[14:53] hundreds of plans in four different
[14:54] states hundreds of communities both um
[14:58] incorporated unincorporated counties and
[15:00] in counties. Last week, I sat down to
[15:03] look at a few of the most recent plans
[15:04] in and ordinance changes that have come
[15:06] before the council and the plan
[15:08] commission.
[15:10] And you might expect me to say I didn't
[15:12] like something or some like something
[15:14] like this, but what I actually I cannot.
[15:15] I actually found that there wasn't
[15:17] enough information in the staff reports
[15:19] when I would try to cross reference
[15:21] different um applica, you know,
[15:22] applications or um and then look online.
[15:25] There was actually not enough
[15:27] information for me to ethically say but
[15:29] if I'm speaking professionally that this
[15:32] is what I think about some of them like
[15:35] it's last four months worth. Um normally
[15:38] I can at this point I can usually refer
[15:41] review a plan or a subdivision proposal
[15:42] in about 15 to 20 minutes. Storm water
[15:45] is especially my jam. But um at the last
[15:49] couple meetings I went to and then I
[15:50] listened to some when I was commuting um
[15:53] I also noticed there's been you know
[15:55] during the proposed PUDS or ordinance
[15:57] changes they've been okayed fairly
[16:00] rapidly by the plan commission.
[16:02] Um and that's what I'm actually here to
[16:05] talk about. As a planner I'm responsible
[16:08] equally to a resident or to a developer.
[16:10] Doesn't matter if it's an unincorporated
[16:12] area or a municipality.
[16:14] Um
[16:16] and this typically means that we look
[16:18] for different levels of although this
[16:19] looks we look for different levels of
[16:21] detail between municipalities and
[16:23] uninorporated areas but the core
[16:26] foundation is we look at equally the
[16:28] impacts of both and the burden of future
[16:31] cost.
[16:32] » So while I was listening
[16:34] » I'm sorry 15 seconds.
[16:36] » Okay I guess I'm not going to be able to
[16:37] finish wrap up that's okay we'll let you
[16:40] give you some time.
[16:41] » Go for it. We've got time.
[16:46] It's um what I was going to say is that
[16:51] um
[16:52] that's my train of thought. Um listening
[16:55] I heard often um you all or the plan
[16:59] commission asking questions like does
[17:00] this make sense or what about this, what
[17:02] about that? Um and hearing staff say
[17:06] well we'll deal with that if it becomes
[17:07] a problem. But when I hear somebody say,
[17:10] "We'll deal with that when it becomes a
[17:12] problem," I hear potential cost in the
[17:14] future to the residents. You know,
[17:16] whether it's storm water or parking and
[17:18] especially in a flexible um in some of
[17:21] the what's been going on are fairly
[17:23] flexible. There's room for negotiation
[17:26] in a PUB. So, an example would be a
[17:29] street sign where there's going to be
[17:30] more pedestrians. Um that's much less
[17:33] expensive than a large parking lot.
[17:36] So you are our representatives. Um if
[17:40] the data is not there as citizens of
[17:42] this community, we depend on you to use
[17:47] your experience and the data that you've
[17:49] collected as a resident also to
[17:51] represent us and to ask those questions.
[17:54] And I I've don't think I've ever said
[17:56] actually no to an entire proposal, but
[17:59] it's okay to say no and negotiate,
[18:02] especially within a PUB process.
[18:04] » Okay. Thank you. Thank you for coming
[18:06] out.
[18:08] Great.
[18:20] » Thank you. I had originally planned on
[18:22] speaking on two things. Now I'll do
[18:23] three. Um it's really disconcerting to
[18:27] have somebody verbally interrupt a
[18:28] speaker here. I'd be happy to set up a
[18:30] light or something like that so that
[18:32] it's a little less uh interrupting
[18:35] during this. I realize you have to have
[18:36] limits, but interrupting sets us it
[18:40] really sets us back.
[18:43] As a representative of the River Falls
[18:45] Alliance for the Homeless, I'm here to
[18:48] inform the city that um
[18:53] because of the economy and cost of
[18:55] living, a lot of people that were on the
[18:57] very edge of homelessness are now
[19:00] plunging into it. Um
[19:03] the resources that normally run out in
[19:06] January and February are running out
[19:07] now. And so there's going to probably be
[19:11] some um
[19:14] a lot more homelessness in River Falls
[19:16] and it's not going to be able to go
[19:17] someplace else because it be everywhere.
[19:19] I'd like to to
[19:22] plan uh with the city um for that to
[19:25] help um minimize the impact. I don't
[19:29] know who I would speak to. Normally
[19:31] Chief Young would be the person I'd
[19:32] start with, but apparently he doesn't
[19:35] want to speak to me. The other thing is
[19:37] as a resident of of the community, um,
[19:40] flock cameras, mass surveillance AI
[19:43] connected cameras are a big issue.
[19:46] Cities are discovering across the United
[19:48] States that they were misrepresented in
[19:50] the contracts. There are things hidden
[19:51] in the contracts that allow the
[19:53] contracts to be broken without cost. I'm
[19:56] sure the city council can find some of
[19:59] those if you decide to break your
[20:01] contract. Uh, and I hope you do. And I
[20:04] hope you don't just replace it with
[20:05] something else. The technology has
[20:07] outstripped the regulation. There needs
[20:09] to be some time. It's an election year.
[20:11] I doubt it's going to happen in the next
[20:13] 6 months. But I would hope that you
[20:15] would decide to shut them down, even
[20:18] though it's a fantastic tool for law
[20:21] enforcement until some regulation covers
[20:23] it. Thank you very much and thank you
[20:26] for your time.
[20:27] » Thank you, Mr. Lyn Scott. We appreciate
[20:29] your your comments.
[20:32] Is there anyone else who would like to
[20:33] address the council this evening?
[20:37] If not, we will move on to the next
[20:40] agenda item, which is a series of three
[20:42] public hearings, second readings on
[20:45] ordinances.
[20:46] So, first we're going to have the second
[20:48] reading on ordinance 202615,
[20:51] an ordinance amending title 17 zoning
[20:54] chapter 1708. At this point, I'll close
[20:57] the council meeting and open up a public
[20:59] hearing and ask if there are any
[21:01] comments from people in attendance this
[21:04] evening regarding that ordinance. And I
[21:07] believe Miss White, if you could just
[21:08] recap for me in two sentences. This is
[21:11] the ordinance about the um the fences.
[21:15] Is this the fence? That is correct. the
[21:18] fences, the distance of the fences from
[21:20] the property line and and
[21:25] you have some Alicia Castro 514 River
[21:28] Hill Drive. I do have some historical
[21:30] context because I was around when that
[21:33] original the I did also listen to the
[21:35] meeting. So, the concept of the of
[21:37] landscaping or buffer was so that
[21:40] anybody could have whatever in the heck
[21:42] uh fence they wanted. And I do hear why
[21:45] that would be encumbersome when the
[21:46] public you was talking. Um but I just
[21:49] wanted to share that and um in driving
[21:51] by it. I think the other concern was the
[21:53] maintenance of fences. Like if we if
[21:55] there was a um some sort of design
[21:57] buffer then we wouldn't have to be on
[21:59] people about their maintenance as much.
[22:01] Driving down um division. I think you
[22:03] can see what I'm talking about a little
[22:05] bit. Um, and I could p again this is as
[22:08] I'm not speaking as a individual. I
[22:10] could really care less what people's
[22:11] fences look like. Um, as an individual,
[22:13] as a planner, I'm just giving you some
[22:15] historical background.
[22:16] » Thank you. Thank you. Other comments on
[22:19] this ordinance
[22:22] from the public?
[22:24] If not, then we will uh close the public
[22:28] hearing and open up the council meeting.
[22:30] And I would ask, are there any questions
[22:32] or comments from council members
[22:33] regarding this ordinance?
[22:39] Okay. If not, then do we have a motion
[22:41] to approve this uh ordinance for a
[22:43] second reading?
[22:45] » I move I move [clears throat] approval
[22:46] of ordinance 2026-15,
[22:48] an ordinance amending title 17 zoning
[22:50] chapter 17.08.
[22:53] » Second.
[22:53] » We have a motion and a second to approve
[22:55] ordinance 202615.
[22:58] Questions or comments? Hearing none. All
[23:00] in favor signify by saying I.
[23:02] » I.
[23:03] » Oppose say no. Motion carries. The
[23:06] second ordinance that we're considering
[23:08] this evening for a second reading is
[23:09] ordinance 202616,
[23:12] an ordinance amending title 12 streets,
[23:15] sidewalks, other public places, and
[23:17] property use impacts chapter 1204
[23:20] creating a new section 1204050.
[23:25] So, at this point, I'll close the
[23:26] council meeting and open up a public
[23:28] hearing and ask again, are there any uh
[23:30] comments or input from members in or
[23:34] people in attendance this evening?
[23:37] » Mayor, just for the record, this is this
[23:39] is in regards to Boulevard maintenance
[23:41] um establishing
[23:43] um in the ordinance officially that
[23:45] Boulevard areas are to be maintained. Um
[23:52] » Boulevard maintenance. This this was an
[23:54] interesting one in in how much um
[23:57] ability that PE residents have to
[23:59] maintain the boulevard.
[24:02] » Okay. Any other comments or questions
[24:04] from people in attendance?
[24:07] If not,
[24:09] did I close the council meeting already?
[24:11] No. Okay. I'll close the council meeting
[24:13] and open up a public hearing. Are there
[24:15] any other comments from the public on
[24:17] this ordinance?
[24:20] Okay. If not, then we'll close the
[24:22] public hearing and open the council
[24:24] meeting. Any questions or comments from
[24:26] council members?
[24:29] Okay. Council member Abdush. Scott, can
[24:32] you remind me please? So, do residents
[24:38] I know it's clear that if there's
[24:40] bailing trees, that is not their
[24:42] responsibility. So just like we had the
[24:44] ash trees, it is still anticipated that
[24:47] the city would be responsible for
[24:51] removing
[24:52] trees that are diseased and such from
[24:56] the boulevard.
[24:58] And we're and we are this would
[25:00] officially expect that residents would
[25:03] be mowing the grass, but they are still
[25:06] allowed to do things like plant flowers
[25:10] or put in ornamental rock. Like there
[25:14] are still liberties that a resident has,
[25:18] but like are they expected to trim a
[25:21] tree
[25:23] that is in the boulevard? Yeah, there
[25:24] isn't any new expectations regarding
[25:26] trees that are part of this. Um, and
[25:29] there are also other ordinances that are
[25:32] related to boulevards.
[25:34] » So, this is just in regards to lawn.
[25:37] » Yeah. And we have a natural I believe we
[25:39] call it natural lawn ordinance. So,
[25:41] there's a process if people want to not
[25:44] have
[25:46] » A maintained grass lawn um they can
[25:51] » They have some alternatives to that.
[25:52] Yeah. which would include the boulevard
[25:54] area. Um but this does specifically talk
[25:57] about um
[26:00] and we also have an ordinance on
[26:02] sidewalk maintenance which is in the you
[26:04] know so this is essentially um in
[26:08] addition to all of those other
[26:10] ordinances but specifically to trees
[26:12] there isn't any new requirements for
[26:14] tree maintenance. That's still something
[26:16] the council has um expected the the
[26:19] council and via ordinances they've
[26:22] expected the maintenance of trees in the
[26:24] public right away to be by the city not
[26:26] the private property owner. This would
[26:29] um kind of codify practice um which is
[26:32] that adjacent property owners, you know,
[26:35] and your home or the apartment or the
[26:39] business would maintain the the grassy
[26:42] area or in some cases the
[26:46] bouldered area or bricked area or
[26:49] whatever in front of the And then it
[26:51] also has some new um it has some
[26:55] restrictions essentially to help
[26:58] the folks that are maintaining that. So,
[27:00] there's some restrictions on placing
[27:02] yard waste, debris, or other things in
[27:05] the boulevard by anybody so that you're
[27:08] not having to take on that
[27:09] responsibility.
[27:11] Um,
[27:13] but it's a policy decision of the
[27:14] council if they wish to do that. It's
[27:16] something staff has said, you know,
[27:19] there's
[27:21] it closes this one little loop. um you
[27:25] know, somebody still wouldn't if you
[27:27] didn't pass this, they'd still have to
[27:28] shovel the sidewalk.
[27:31] Um they still couldn't put a couch out
[27:33] in the boulevard. So, there's other
[27:34] ordinances that pertain this
[27:36] specifically is is saying we need your
[27:39] help. That's an expectation of the
[27:42] community is we need your help
[27:43] maintaining that grassy area.
[27:45] » Perfect. Thank you for the
[27:46] clarification.
[27:48] » The questions or comments, council
[27:50] member Odin. Oh, I was going to make a
[27:52] motion um that we approve ordinance
[27:54] number 202616
[27:57] amending title 12 streets, sidewalks,
[27:59] and other public places and property use
[28:01] impacts um specifically boulevard
[28:03] maintenance.
[28:04] » Second.
[28:06] » All right, we have a motion, a second to
[28:07] approve the ordinance. Any other
[28:09] questions or comments? If none, all in
[28:11] favor signify by saying I.
[28:13] » I.
[28:13] » Opposed say no. Motion carries. Moving
[28:17] on to the last ordinance of the evening.
[28:19] This is the second reading of ordinance
[28:21] 202617,
[28:22] an ordinance amending the official
[28:24] traffic control map. This one was more
[28:27] extensive. Do you want to
[28:30] » Yeah. To summarize this, this is making
[28:32] six um essentially six changes to the
[28:35] official traffic control map. The city's
[28:37] official traffic control map is found um
[28:41] in our ordinances and it provides legal
[28:43] authority for um both police department
[28:46] and code enforcement uh staff but
[28:49] primarily police department um to issue
[28:52] citations for failure to to um abide by
[28:56] things that are in the official traffic.
[28:57] So you um a stop sign isn't just placed
[29:01] and then you can write a ticket if
[29:02] somebody runs the stop sign. you have to
[29:05] place the stop sign and the council has
[29:07] to make it law that you need to stop at
[29:10] that corner. So, um there is some
[29:13] changes to the school bus stop ahead
[29:16] signs. So, there's location changes
[29:18] based on the distance and and speeds and
[29:21] other things that have changed in the in
[29:23] the uh I believe it's in the uniform the
[29:26] manual of uniform traffic control
[29:28] devices. Um, there's a no parking here
[29:30] to corner on radio near the roundabout.
[29:33] 35 mph speed limit signage on Powell
[29:35] from Apollo to radio. No parking here to
[29:38] to corner on North Wson from East
[29:41] Division to the first driveway. A stop
[29:44] sign on Balmoral Place at the
[29:46] intersection of Newcastle would be for
[29:47] folks exiting the uh um daycare property
[29:51] and and going into the residential
[29:53] neighborhood. um pedestrian crossing
[29:56] signage and a crosswalk at the
[29:57] intersection of North Fremont Street and
[29:59] West Division Street. Um there's detail
[30:01] on each of those changes um in the map.
[30:04] Um and this is it is a physical map um
[30:09] that's kept um I guess in the internet
[30:14] um but is available to to the public
[30:16] also if they wanted us to print sections
[30:18] of it.
[30:21] » Great. Thank you, Mr. Simpson. With
[30:23] that, we'll close the uh council meeting
[30:26] and open up the public hearing. Are
[30:28] there any comments from anyone here this
[30:30] evening on this ordinance change?
[30:36] Okay, with that then we will close the
[30:38] public hearing and open the council
[30:40] meeting. Are there all right? Council
[30:42] member um Downey.
[30:44] » Uh mayor, I'm in favor of this. However,
[30:46] there are parts of the city, I believe,
[30:48] that would also benefit from a
[30:49] distinguished sidewalk such such as
[30:51] between like the library and Brierwood,
[30:53] for example. Uh my question for staff is
[30:56] could you describe the process from a
[30:57] study that gets to a recommendation from
[31:00] planning to council?
[31:04] » Uh I'm trying to understand that
[31:05] question. Council member, are you asking
[31:07] about changes to to enforcement areas on
[31:11] sidewalks or physically constructing
[31:13] sidewalks? No, just from how do you get
[31:16] from the process of you you just you
[31:19] figure out there's a problem, how you do
[31:20] that, then how do you how it gets to the
[31:22] staff and then plan commission then
[31:24] council. Could you define the process of
[31:26] how they identify a problem and then
[31:28] move forward it? Because there's other,
[31:30] you know, projects in this that I would
[31:32] have liked to have seen but that didn't
[31:34] get it. But I understand that we have
[31:35] only so much time and availability and
[31:38] planning in any given amount of time and
[31:40] space. So, if I'm understanding your
[31:42] question, you're asking how these six
[31:44] items,
[31:45] » The process
[31:46] » Were placed on on the official agenda
[31:49] and addressed,
[31:50] » But the process of how they're evaluated
[31:53] is what I'm getting at.
[31:54] » Um, so there's there's a number of we
[31:56] don't first of all, we don't have a
[31:58] traffic committee. So there's I have
[32:00] actually worked in one city that had a
[32:02] committee an official map committee and
[32:05] so then
[32:07] a police officer, a city engineering
[32:10] tech, a city administrator, a city
[32:12] engineer, a resident could submit a form
[32:16] and say this needs to happen. I want a
[32:20] stop sign here, a yield sign, children
[32:22] at play. and then it went to the
[32:24] committee and then they evaluated it and
[32:27] made a recommendation to council and it
[32:29] was kind of all comers. We don't have a
[32:32] process like that. Um so we're primarily
[32:35] getting requests through our engineering
[32:37] staff and through the police department.
[32:39] Um there is an occasional um request
[32:42] that or area of study that comes from
[32:45] the city council. Um, but a lot of times
[32:47] it's through when we do area planning,
[32:50] comp planning, park planning, other
[32:52] things where we're doing things. If we
[32:53] do construction projects, so we're doing
[32:55] milling overlays or other things, it's
[32:58] from our people, sensors, our city staff
[33:02] who are out out and about doing that
[33:05] that are recognizing a problem.
[33:07] Occasionally, it's an email from a
[33:08] resident to either one of you or the
[33:11] city administrator um to review. And
[33:14] then
[33:16] nearly 100% of the discretion is to the
[33:19] city engineer to kind of review um
[33:22] through through the criteria. Um and I
[33:26] referenced that there's the manual of
[33:28] uniform traffic control devices. So
[33:30] there's there's guidance and criteria
[33:32] for how you place things or don't place
[33:34] things. Um but there's also professional
[33:37] judgment and then the city engineer can
[33:39] determine that um his or her experience
[33:42] isn't enough to make the decision and so
[33:44] they can consult with traffic engineer.
[33:46] They can consult with other members of
[33:48] the staff. They could do um traffic
[33:52] studies either by um laser or um by
[33:57] video to try to determine um where
[33:59] they'd come. And so there is other
[34:01] requests from council um that are in the
[34:04] hopper so to speak, but um those are
[34:08] kind of behind an urgency for the ones
[34:10] here. And so they're done in batches
[34:12] typically. Um the police chief also has
[34:14] discretion in some cases to make changes
[34:17] for 90 days on his own discretion. So
[34:19] there's a number of things the police
[34:21] chief under statutes can do to say for
[34:24] 90 days I'm going to do some of these
[34:26] things. So, police chief can order 90
[34:30] days of no parking on a certain spot.
[34:32] Police chief can put up um can request a
[34:34] stop sign go up and be enforced. So,
[34:37] that's another process that's out there,
[34:38] but that's not intended to be
[34:41] the law permanently. It's the process of
[34:45] official map changes. I'm not aware,
[34:47] attorney Ghart, of any way to do an
[34:50] official map change without it going to
[34:52] council. It
[34:53] » Needs public hearing council. Correct.
[34:57] Does that answer the question?
[34:58] » Yeah. So, I mean essentially like if
[35:00] there's a request for a digital um speed
[35:03] limit cart, does that essentially get
[35:05] reviewed um by our city engineer or
[35:09] someone at some point because of how
[35:11] it's queued up or is it more of a
[35:13] question of is it already online?
[35:15] » Yeah, in that case it wouldn't be an
[35:17] official map issue. It would be just the
[35:19] service level um at the discretion of
[35:22] the police chief. Um and so those
[35:24] requests just come in. Again, city
[35:26] council member, mayor, myself, the
[35:29] police chief um would request those and
[35:32] then they then the police chief
[35:33] determines a rotation in that specific
[35:35] example,
[35:38] » But that's not required. The placement
[35:40] of speed carts is a is a operational
[35:43] decision by the police chief. It's not
[35:44] something that's law or has to be
[35:46] approved by the council.
[35:48] » All right. Thank you,
[35:49] » Council Member Abdush. on item number
[35:52] five for Balmoral Place stop sign. So
[35:55] that is in Sterling Ponds where I live.
[36:00] And so I've had a number of people
[36:01] contact me directly on this and I've
[36:03] worked with Jennifer a little bit.
[36:07] Is Balmoral Place currently a two-way
[36:13] even without that stop sign
[36:16] in place?
[36:18] Uh the my understanding of the
[36:20] restriction is it's it's not a two-way
[36:24] in its entirety.
[36:25] » Well, like they cannot enter from Casey,
[36:28] but they can enter from the exit of the
[36:32] daycare,
[36:34] but can they legally turn right
[36:38] and go towards Newcastle? So, is it a
[36:41] two-way if they're entering from the
[36:44] daycare? I think both of the the two
[36:48] essentially the two intersections are
[36:49] different under our current official
[36:51] map. So we're making a change to one of
[36:54] the intersections which is the one um
[36:57] there's Balmoral and Casey. Is it Casey
[37:00] or Southerntherland there? Trying to
[37:01] » I think that's where it changes. It's
[37:03] both.
[37:04] » Yeah. So that is essentially one
[37:07] intersection.
[37:08] And I believe this change is changing
[37:11] only the other intersection by putting a
[37:13] stop sign for people that happen to go
[37:16] out of the daycare. So essentially it's
[37:18] I think it can be operated two-way for
[37:20] part of the street in certain
[37:22] circumstances.
[37:24] » So
[37:25] » But you're still not it's still there's
[37:27] still turns prohibited from the Casey
[37:30] Southerntherland
[37:30] » Right.
[37:32] You cannot if you're driving on Casey or
[37:35] Southerntherland you cannot turn onto
[37:37] Bmore. There's that bump there currently
[37:41] which is under review if it'll be
[37:44] removed.
[37:46] » But even without that stop sign in place
[37:51] from the exit of the
[37:55] daycare up to Newcastle
[37:58] Baltimore is a two-way street. Correct.
[38:03] » You're I don't know that you're stumping
[38:05] me, but I feel like it.
[38:07] » [laughter]
[38:07] » So I didn't like
[38:08] » So I think we're going to have to go to
[38:10] the to the city engineer.
[38:12] » The man who knows the answer is
[38:14] » Like our residents waiting for the stop
[38:16] sign to be in place for it to be two-way
[38:20] street from the exit of that daycare
[38:24] » Boral Drive was never designated as a
[38:26] two-way street. I I'm sorry. It was
[38:28] never designated as a one-way street.
[38:31] It was designated that you couldn't
[38:34] enter Balmoral from Casey
[38:35] Southerntherland.
[38:36] » Okay. So what we're doing is not
[38:39] changing anything about how you can
[38:41] access B moral from KCR
[38:43] Southerntherland. We're just doing this
[38:46] um for the basically for the convenience
[38:49] of the residents who may be picking up
[38:51] their kids from daycare so they can
[38:54] safely get um from Belmoral into the
[38:57] Sterling Ponds residential neighborhood.
[38:59] And um
[39:01] » So Bmoral is not a one-way street.
[39:04] » Correct. Belmore is not a one-way
[39:06] street.
[39:06] » So, um,
[39:08] » Scott said and he mentioned that we're
[39:10] assessing the removal of the the speed
[39:12] bump um or whatever we want to call it.
[39:15] Yeah.
[39:15] » Um, when when we complete that that the
[39:18] next step for council will be for us to
[39:22] officially remove that do not enter sign
[39:24] from Belmoral at Casey Southerntherland.
[39:27] And then that along with removing the co
[39:31] uh removing the concrete and putting new
[39:33] asphalt in, maybe some striping, I can't
[39:35] remember. Um that's the the council's
[39:38] next step to actually open that up to
[39:40] two-way traffic,
[39:41] » Right? And I Yeah, and I appreciate all
[39:43] I and all the residents there appreciate
[39:45] all the work. you should see the string
[39:47] of comments and whatnot on the multiple
[39:52] um chains of public um post out there.
[39:57] So, thank you on behalf of all the
[39:59] residents out there. Thank you for the
[40:01] work done on that. But I did want to
[40:02] clarify because if that is a two-way,
[40:06] there has been some police activity out
[40:08] there and some tickets given to the
[40:11] residents there for turning right and
[40:15] exiting onto Balmoral to go to
[40:18] Newcastle. So, it wasn't clear. And I'm
[40:21] like, well, they're putting a stop sign
[40:22] there. What? And so then more people
[40:25] were questioning like if they're putting
[40:27] a stop sign there, that makes it a
[40:28] two-way. So that's why I'm like, are we
[40:30] waiting for the stop sign for it to be a
[40:32] two-way? That's what I was trying to
[40:34] clarify. And so, thank you. It is
[40:37] currently a two-way just from that exit
[40:40] to Newcastle. Like you cannot enter from
[40:42] Casey.
[40:43] » Yep.
[40:43] » Or Southerntherland. That's very clear.
[40:46] And um do we know the timeline of when
[40:49] like if approved tonight when the stop
[40:52] sign will be in place?
[40:54] » I I believe the stop sign would be in
[40:56] place within two weeks. Oh, wonderful.
[40:59] » Could defer to Erica, but um she's
[41:02] nodding yes. So,
[41:03] » And it's got to be because it's because
[41:06] it's a change in the ordinance, there's
[41:07] a posting and a publishing and other
[41:10] steps before it would be official. So,
[41:13] we usually time the signs about when it
[41:17] would be official. So, it's it's likely
[41:19] that public works can get the sign in
[41:22] before
[41:23] » It's announced.
[41:23] » It's it's official. So, we usually try
[41:25] to wait until it's official. And again,
[41:29] we appreciate and I think you do too as
[41:31] a resident.
[41:33] The reason it's the way it is now was
[41:36] 100%
[41:38] neighborhood request. And so, it appears
[41:41] the tide has turned. Um and there now uh
[41:48] there is now uh a desire for it to go
[41:51] back to the way that the city engineer a
[41:54] different city engineer originally
[41:56] designed that to operate which was a
[41:58] two-way
[41:59] » Street
[41:59] » Unrestricted street.
[42:01] » Well, and I think it's a beautiful
[42:03] display of how the process works, right?
[42:05] Like someone saw the bump there, they
[42:08] made a comment, then they reached out to
[42:10] me and we happened to be out on tour out
[42:14] at the innovation center. So when we
[42:16] were walking by the window, Jennifer and
[42:17] I were both standing there and I said,
[42:19] "Oh, I just got this this email." And
[42:22] she's like, "Let me look up the
[42:23] information." And then everything I
[42:25] reached out to you and it all kind of
[42:27] came into play. Um, and so even though
[42:30] it seems like it has taken forever
[42:32] because nothing really moves in one,
[42:34] two, three days, but it has definitely
[42:38] moved in a very timely fashion. And so I
[42:40] do appreciate all the work that's being
[42:42] done on it. And then the stop sign came
[42:43] up. So, thank you everyone.
[42:45] » So, would you like to make a motion to
[42:46] approve that?
[42:47] » I do make a motion to approve.
[42:52] » Ordinance 26.
[42:54] » Thank you.
[42:54] » 2026.
[42:55] » 2026-17,
[42:57] an ordinance amending the official
[42:59] traffic control map.
[43:00] » Second.
[43:01] » Right. We have a motion and a second to
[43:03] approve this ordinance. Any questions or
[43:04] comments? Hearing none. All in favor
[43:06] signify by saying I. I.
[43:09] » Oppose. Say no. Motion carries.
[43:12] Last item on our agenda are the reports.
[43:14] Uh we have any reports from the
[43:16] administrator?
[43:18] » I'd be happy to take any questions.
[43:22] » Any questions for Mr. Simpson?
[43:26] » Okay. Then we'll move on to the
[43:27] comproller report.
[43:29] » I have this month's comproller report
[43:32] for August 2026.
[43:34] General fund revenues through the end of
[43:36] August were 10,353,167
[43:41] or 72% of total budget revenues for the
[43:44] year. Revenues in August included
[43:47] 3,336582
[43:50] in property tax revenue, $33,366
[43:54] in building permit revenue, and $15,000
[43:57] in rightway excavation permit revenue.
[44:00] Expenditures through the end of August
[44:01] were 9,51,43
[44:05] or 66% of total budget expenditures. As
[44:09] of August 31st, 2026, net revenues over
[44:12] expenditures were $851,764.
[44:17] » Great. Thank you, Council Member Paige.
[44:20] Moving on to the mayor's good news. We
[44:22] got a couple items to uh this month.
[44:24] Actually, three. I want to remind
[44:26] everybody that Ardum Kenny is this
[44:28] weekend. It's a great event. starts at
[44:29] 10 o'clock on Saturday morning. They
[44:31] have more than 80 artists this year,
[44:33] lots of music, children's art tent, food
[44:36] trucks, and more. So, uh, take a stroll
[44:38] down the Kenny and, uh, meet the people
[44:41] who are showing their artware and buy
[44:43] something. It's good for good for the
[44:45] economy and good for them. We also have
[44:47] our final cookout and conversation of
[44:49] 2026 will be held on Thursday, September
[44:51] 17th. We're back at Glen Park that
[44:53] evening from 6:00 to 7:30. Hope you can
[44:56] join me. Hope council members can also
[44:58] join us that evening. Stop in for great
[45:01] hot dogs and ice cream. It's a lot of
[45:04] fun. Last item on uh the mayor's good
[45:07] news tonight is we are very very
[45:09] fortunate to live in a community that
[45:11] has a public school system that has a a
[45:15] recognized character development
[45:17] program. I don't know if everybody in
[45:18] town is aware of that, but we are
[45:20] recognized more than any other school
[45:22] district in the state of Wisconsin
[45:23] statewide and nationally for the
[45:25] character development work that is done
[45:28] um in our schools. So, for example, uh
[45:31] the school district celebrates character
[45:34] traits starting in September with
[45:36] curiosity, moving on to responsibility,
[45:39] gratitude, compassion, cooperation,
[45:42] perseverance, respect, honesty, and
[45:45] courage. And every month now this month
[45:48] it's curiosity. There's different
[45:50] activities going on in the schools, the
[45:52] grade schools, the middle schools, and
[45:54] of different activities at different
[45:56] schools that really reinforce that
[45:59] character trait. Um, for us as a
[46:02] community, I would call on members of
[46:04] the community to ask ourselves, how do
[46:06] we how do we embody that that um
[46:10] character trait and how do we
[46:12] demonstrate that in our community? So
[46:14] two things as citizens, how can we
[46:16] demonstrate that character trait of
[46:18] curiosity? We saw some of that here
[46:20] tonight. That's great. In the community,
[46:22] we see some of that in people who are
[46:24] addressing the council. That's
[46:25] wonderful. And that's what we should do
[46:27] as a community is be curious. And how do
[46:29] we model that behavior for our children?
[46:32] And then how do we also recognize it in
[46:34] others and honor other people who model
[46:37] these different character traits? So
[46:39] every month we're going to be talking
[46:40] about a different character trait this
[46:41] year and reinforcing it in our
[46:43] community. It truly truly does take a
[46:46] village to raise a child. It takes a
[46:48] community. Although um everybody knows I
[46:51] had a lot of children, but I saw a towel
[46:53] recently in a gift shop that said um I
[46:56] hear it takes a village, a community to
[46:58] raise a child. Um is there like a number
[47:02] you have to call for that or do the
[47:03] people just show up to help? And in our
[47:06] community, I think the people just show
[47:08] up to help uh and and people show up for
[47:10] children. So, let's all model these
[47:13] character traits as we go through our
[47:15] year. Thank you.
[47:17] With that, um anything else that come
[47:20] before the council?
[47:22] If not, I just ask is we have a motion
[47:24] to adjurnn.
[47:24] » Move to adjourn.
[47:26] » Second.
[47:26] » Second. We have a motion and a second.
[47:28] We are adjourned. Someone told me we do
[47:30] not have to take a vote. Is that
[47:31] correct?
[47:33] We should
[47:35] » We should Okay. All in favor say I. I.
[47:38] » I.
[47:38] » Thank you very much. We are
[47:40] » Journed.
[47:45] » Someone told me that we
[47:47] » It's not
[47:49] discuss.
[47:50] » Oh, you can't discuss it. Okay. So, I
[47:54] should ask