May 5th, Cinco de Mayo at Port Washington City Hall.
All older persons are present.
Please join with me for the Pledge of Allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
All right, this time we'll move into public comments and appearances.
Just a reminder that you have up to three minutes to speak,
and we will be allowing comments for a maximum of 30 minutes tonight.
Name and address.
Tracy Finch, Westport View Drive.
For it, Mayor, the people of Port Washington deserve honesty tonight.
I'm asking you to correct the record.
Your Q&A facts sheet claims you proposed data centers will not raise our power bills,
but we energies has already announced a 4.7 rate increase in 2027.
Driven by the new energy infrastructure, major grids, upgrades,
rising electricity demand fueled largely by data center growth and inflation.
Those are words, not ours.
To tell residents this project has no impact on the future rates,
it's simply not credible.
Any new power lines or grid expansions required for this data center
should be paid for by vantage and other developers,
not taxpayers or homeowners of Port Washington.
But the issue goes deeper than rising bills.
Right now, residents are living with confusion, anxiety, genuine emotional distress
because there is no clear trustworthy way to report problems.
Complaints bounce between seven different entities,
including two that many people don't no longer trust.
This is not a functioning system.
We need one centralized complaint department,
one number, one accountable person,
one unbiased log for of every concern.
Without this, the suffering will continue
and the city will continue to look unprepared and under responsive.
Mayor, you are hurting people because of decisions made under your leadership.
Families are losing sleep.
They are worried about their health.
They are watching their value of their homes.
The biggest investment slip away.
These are not abstract policy disagreements.
These are real human consequences.
And when residents feel dismissed and or ridiculed
for raising legitimate concerns in a road's trust
and edges dangerously close to a failure of duty,
taxpayers should not have to fight this hard to be heard.
We expect safe roads.
We expect clean air.
We expect leadership that protects those basic rights.
And when transparency is promised, it must be delivered.
You presented a construction timeline at a previous meeting
saying it would clear up confusion.
Now it's gone.
It's not in the hallway.
It's not online.
Simply removed.
When information appears once, then disappears without explanation.
It creates an impression that something is being hidden.
That damages public trust more than any construction noise
or dust ever could.
Mayor, this is the moment for accountability.
Not for defensiveness.
Not for excuses.
The people of Port Washington need a leader
who recognizes the impact of his choices
and is willing to say plainly and sincerely
that he understands the harm and is committed to making it right.
Annitting mistakes is not weakness.
It is leadership but below leadership.
Thank you.
Other comments?
Name and address, please.
Ben Donakowski, 4799 County Road, LL.
My paint is chipped.
My windshield is cracked.
And whatever line, binder, or stabilization powder
they are using on these temporary roads
is literally etching vehicle paint.
At this pace, vantage could hand out car washes every day
for the next several years
and it would still wouldn't come close to addressing the damage
for anyone living in the affected area.
Car washes aside, what I really want to focus on today
is something that is genuinely inexcusable
at this stage of construction, logistics.
What exactly is the plan for handling 5,000 workers?
Because right now, there are supposedly only around 500 on site
and even that is overwhelming in the area.
Here's an example.
When not closed for resurfacing,
the intersections of Lake Drive and LL
or Lake Drive and KW are abysmal that shift changes
and can't operate without county sheriffs
risking themselves while choking on dust.
Eventually, everything will reopen.
Both ends of Lake Drive, East West, LL will finally wrap up
to handle some traffic from Highland under I-43
or past the town hall.
But then what?
5,000 workers will still require
more routes, more lanes, more options.
Like that's only four exits.
We already know 500 workers is too much for one exit.
Simple math, four times 500, doesn't equal 5,000.
The complete lack of a real traffic solution
is putting families at serious risk.
Civilian vehicles don't stand a chance
against heavy construction equipment
and we can't even get a stoplight.
People have compared this project to Foxconn,
but there is certainly one big difference.
Foxconn had multiple roads expanded,
rebuilt or completely rerouted before construction ever began.
And again, we can't even get a stoplight.
I know the response is going to be something like
we have a tip, a transportation improvement plan coming,
but that's exactly the problem.
Why wasn't it done before construction started?
Everything so far has been reactive instead of proactive
and the community is paying the price for that.
Thank you, other speakers?
Mike Beaster, 305 of South Garfield Avenue.
I just wanted to, one more time,
reiterate my great thanks and gratitude to the city staff.
Roger John, Chief Devore, Melissa Susan.
Everybody was set down with me and tried to bring me up
to speed on what's going on in the city.
So it's been really helpful and we have
amazing city staff here.
So thank you.
Thank you.
Okay. Any other public comments?
All right, let's move into our agenda then.
In the consent agenda, is there anyone willing to make a motion
to approve the consent agenda?
So moved.
As moved and seconded, any questions or concerns on the agenda?
Are the consent agenda seeing none?
All in favor signify by saying aye.
Opposed?
All right, motion carries.
That takes us into Mayor's business.
There are no appointments to boards, commissions,
or committees this evening.
They will all come on May 19th and that brings us into
proclamations.
There are multiple proclamations for the month of May.
One is for ALS Awareness Month.
Another is for Professional Municipal Clerks Month.
Another is for National Nurses Week, which begins today.
Another is for Teacher Appreciation Week,
and another is for National Peace Officers Memorial Day
and National Public Works Week.
I'll have all of those available for public consumption,
but I wanted to speak to three of them tonight
and just share our gratitude.
The first is for National Peace Officers Memorial Day
and National Public,
or I'm sorry for National Peace Officers Memorial Day.
I just want to thank the Port Washington Police Department
for their constant commitment to community policing.
Making sure to follow the mission of serving and protecting
and also making sure they have a strong commitment
to the future of Port Washington.
They've done a fantastic job this year as is every year.
And as the department continues to grow
and we'll move into a new facility and building,
I just wanted to thank Captain Zarnicki and Chief Angus
for their work and making sure that those two buildings
are looking good and will be really future focused.
And we're going to hear about that a little bit from Rob tonight.
I'll be delivering that to the Police Department here this week.
The second one is Teacher Appreciation Week.
That's a special spot, I think, at all of our hearts
because I don't know anyone who never had a teacher.
Regardless of where you went to school or even homeschooled,
you still had a teacher.
And this week for the fourth through the eighth
is Teacher Appreciation Week.
And I would just ask citizens of Port Washington
to send notes to the teachers who provide a great public education
in the Port Washington Stockfield School District
to our children and as well as all the staff at those schools.
One of the things I don't think we always recognize
is that the 180-day school year is a really awesome time for teachers
but it's also a very trying time.
And May is the reason that they put Teacher Appreciation Week in
because this is the last few weeks of school.
It's the most difficult time to be an educator.
And I think if you remember, it was also a tough time to be a student.
So they share that together.
But after spending all that time together,
one of the things I think is really, really important is
62% of a child's waking life by the time they graduate from high school
is in a school.
And that means they're in front of our teachers
more than they are their own families.
And I think most of our teachers in the city of Port Washington
treat those children as if they are their own.
So please extend a great warmth and thanks to them.
And then the other one is it's National Nurses Week.
I think it's really fantastic that three people who selflessly,
three groups that selflessly serve the community either through nursing,
teaching, or policing get the same week together.
And if you get the opportunity, I think we've all been on the other end of a
very caring and empathetic nurse who has taken the time
he or she to ensure that we feel comfortable and safe.
Because if you've ever been hospitalized unexpectedly,
it's a really scary thing.
And you are front facing with these beautiful people
who calm you down and take you through that.
So National Public Works Week, let's keep removing there.
Rob, well done.
And then Susan, the Municipal Clerks Week,
we appreciate you very much for all that you do on a regular basis
to ensure the city of Port Washington has amazing elections
as well as records and support for our community.
And the ALS Awareness Month is something that's also very important to us all.
I have no further mayor updates,
so I'm going to take us into officer and staff reports
and start out with an update on the public safety building.
Rob.
Okay, yep, we have Maura Riordan from MC Group,
who is going to lead a short presentation on the status of our construction
of the public safety building.
Good evening, everyone.
Someone did it for me.
Thank you.
I haven't seen you in a while, and I'm glad to say I have good news.
So most of you have probably aware we're coming to the end
of the building of the new public safety building.
Tonight, I'm going to give you an overview of what's happened,
where we are today and what to expect.
I'm going to start with the good news.
So the whole project we've had over 100,000 work hours,
with not a single recorded safety incident.
That's very impressive.
We are still on track to complete construction in July,
which is how we started.
That's the schedule we started with,
and we are on track to maintain that schedule.
Current construction contract is below the original contract amount by over 300,000.
So example of effective cost control throughout the whole process.
And the total project budget of the 31.9 budget approved,
we have approximately $1.7 million remains unallocated.
That means that we're well positioned at this point to deliver the project under budget.
And the last I'm just going to say is a group.
I think you can, again, thank your police and fire.
You can thank Susan for her effort, Rob for his effort, Melissa for your help.
And everyone else that's been involved in this process,
because from the beginning, a very clear vision was stated,
and we feel that we've accomplished the mission.
So it's been a very successful project,
and you could all be very grateful for the team that you have working in the city.
Project budget update.
Currently, as I mentioned, the project is trending under budget
due to competitive bids, discipline change order management,
for active coordination.
It's been a very collaborative project team with the architects and engineers
and the construction manager.
We have limited any kinds of major cost growth.
We've preserved our contingency.
So the remaining contingency levels, both owners contingency
and construction contingency are healthy and appropriate.
They're better than appropriate for this phase of the construction project.
And as we reach completion, we'll maintain those two contingencies to the very end,
and then those will eventually be returned to the owner.
But basically, you won't be billed for those amounts is what happens.
And so holding on to that amount makes just makes sure that to the very end,
we have the finances available to take care of anything that might come up.
But generally, it's all good news financially.
As far as milestones schedule wise, we're also predicting a very successful completion.
So we've completed everything up to interior roughing.
We've started already with final grading and paving.
Landscaping is projected to complete by next month, substantial completion.
We're on target, like I said, for like I got to predict here, July 4th.
And we have started the owners fixtures and equipment procurement and installation.
And that should be wrapped up by the end of July.
Last 30 days, a lot has been happening.
So you might have noticed that they started building the police side,
then they've moved into the common area, and then they've worked on the fire department.
So we call those units A, B, and C.
So at this point, unit A, the police department, is nearly complete.
So drywall's done, ceilings are done, finishes, casework is going in,
and final mechanical electrical and plumbing.
It's all wrapping up here.
Moving into the common area, and they've already started with a lot of those trades,
and nearly done like with ceramic tile in the fire department.
Elevator is underway, should be installed and certified, maybe next week, depending on if we get
it, have phones to the building, phone lines.
And as I said, we started finished grading and site concrete is underway.
So sidewalks are going in.
And the owner furnished equipment, the procurement is well underway,
over 85% complete, and they started deliveries.
So in the next 30 days, we're expecting the majority of the work to wrap up and to start
the final finishes.
So landscaping, they're going to do start up and testing and commissioning.
That's all going to be in the next 30 days.
And I went ahead and added a slide here for a 60-day look ahead.
So after our 250th Independence Day celebration, that's when you can imagine
they're going to be moving in, hopefully.
So the strong coordination between the city,
the architect, and CD Smith, the construction manager, we've minimized disruptions.
Like I said, we're aligned with the overall project time lighting,
meaning the substantial completion date of 7-1, which was in the original contract.
We've managed to maintain that.
Like I said, owner furnished equipment, procurement is 85, almost 90% complete right now,
no lead time concerns.
And CD Smith, the construction manager, has accepted the idea of partial substantial
completion, so we're going to start installing equipment.
Like I said, unit A, B, C, we're going to start installing equipment in that same pattern.
And the police and fire department, the leaders are going to handle their own
occupancy planning, and that has already begun.
So meaning they're going to help, they're going to figure out how to move everything in,
get everything up and running.
So that's already started.
So overall, good news.
As you've probably seen from the outside, training tower's done, there's glass up,
signage is going on the outside of the building.
As I said, sidewalks are in.
That gives you a little brief look at what the inside of the training room slash
court area is going to look like, lots of light.
We've now well surpassed where this picture was taken.
So that wraps up my presentation.
And I am happy to answer any questions.
Any questions from Council, Mr. Planer?
Yeah, no, I guess I'm just thinking about contingencies, Morris,
so like nothing to be concerned about this time.
No, we're expected surprises that you're thinking about.
No, no unexpected surprises with contingency.
And as I mentioned, there will be a decent amount of
contingencies being returned to the owners, how we reference it.
But it's basically you won't be billed for that about.
And then I guess like Rob, will we have like access to some of those
numbers and dollars when we start talking about borrowing for the fall and like budget time?
Yeah, we think so as we go into budget season.
Yeah, well, I mean, I think we're going to have our substantial completion.
Like Morris said, it's seven on July 26th, I think.
And so, yes, we should.
Yeah.
So at budget time, we should have a pretty good grasp of what we have.
Yeah.
Even before then, I mean, I think we'll know.
July, for sure, we'll be getting our final bill from the construction manager.
Other questions?
Mr. Numer?
Oh, just a quick question.
We're set with DOT as far as access to the highway now.
We're on the agenda for tonight.
Yep.
Thank you.
Mr. Benning?
No, I get to look at it every day and watch it from my work.
It's a funeral home, but and I have gone through it a couple of times and
it's a very impressive.
I think it's going to be key to recruiting and retaining staff at this facility.
And we said, you referred to the vision of a 50-year building and it's
it will be a 50-year building.
We'll not be going in.
I know Melissa and I've talked was we've got plans for how we're going to maintain
it going forward.
That's been a key for us to know how we're going to mow the lawn, plow the snow,
you know, and know when we have to put a new roof on it or something like that.
So it won't be in five or 10 years.
It'll be 50 years.
And so talking with the Ben, the site manager out there, he's very pleased and
impressed. I've been very impressed with he and his crew with with everything they've done
out there.
So thank you and the whole team.
It's it's been a fun project to work on a good group of people.
Other questions?
I just I have one quick one that one of my the expectations that we laid out from the
start was that once we took occupancy of the building, we also acquired a capital plan that
showed life expectancy of carpet, windows, paint, and that we could adopt a nice
can chart or project map showing that, you know, in 2048, we would have to replace windows or
just so that future councils can maintain it because the current state is it's a 50-year
building, but there's nothing precluding that from being 100-year building.
If it's maintained properly, that's that's I'd really like to see that adopted, you know,
given to council when we take occupancy.
I think that's going to be critical.
I will make note of that. So a separate the idea would be like a separate binder for council
beyond the owner's maintenance manuals that we would give to say the building management team.
Yeah. So what I've what we've done in the past with larger projects is, you know,
like the carpet is warranted for X amount of time, HVAC's warranty, and just shows the end dates
of all of those so that that the the council and GGF can plan for an understanding that,
you know, the expected life cycle is X. So start saving now. So in the future,
some councils not sitting there going, well, you know, we can they don't need air conditioning.
Like it's a $250,000 liability. We know that the date of the year, and we need to be appropriately
budgeting for it. Good idea. Okay. Thank you. Anything else after that?
This was quick. I just want to say that working inside this project for all this time,
Mora, you've been outstanding to work with. And I really appreciate your professionalism
and your attention to detail. And I just wanted you all to know that she has been amazing this
entire time. Thank you. Thank you. I'll be back next week.
Well, anybody anybody who tells us we get some extra millions of dollars they deserve an applause.
Yeah. Yeah. We'll go get you some beanies, chips and nachos.
Okay. City administrator update. Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to I have to say this every time
the department heads do a report every month and it goes on the city under administration.
This month, I think it's 20 pages. I do encourage everyone to read those there in the packet. But
if you are wanting to read them at a different time, they're all each month, they're on the website.
We are hiring for the summer. So if you have anybody that is looking for a summertime job,
they can still jump online and help us out. I know I think John was filling in the pool yesterday.
So we're getting ready for summer around here. I wanted to also let everyone know for we're
going to be doing some work by underneath the i43 by the Inner Urban Trail. There will be some
closures during the daytime. We will do every effort to open it at night and on the weekends.
We're partnered with the county who runs Inner Urban Trail website and it's innerurbantrail.com.
All of the updates will be on there. I just double checked and Andrew from the county has
it updated. So it'll be open at night or after six o'clock and it'll be open on the weekend. So
we're going to allow as much as much access as possible to anybody using that trail. And then
they're doing as much as they can to keep that website updated if there are any closures. So
stay tuned on that. This week we will also there will be striping done on Lake Drive.
So that'll be happening and hopefully that will help alleviate some of the traffic
out there and they will get that handled. And I believe the I will get that data center
schedule backups up there. I don't know why it was taken down but I will get it back up there.
I don't I didn't take it down but we'll get we'll certainly get it back up there.
Oh okay. Okay. Okay we'll get it back up. So sorry about that. I didn't realize it was down.
And then lastly I believe Rob wanted to do just a micro update on the Upper Lake Park.
Sure. So I'm happy to report that our street department our street department was able to
get a little small section less than 100 feet of Upper Lake Park
reconstructed this week. So we should be opening reopening traffic northbound and
through Upper Lake Park tomorrow afternoon. And just for the community's sake that was
approved by overseen by can you just give the like slight details on why we're able to do that?
Safely. Sure. Well just so this is a recommend this was a recommendation from our geo tech
Miller engineers to pull back that section of the road from from the bluff which of course has
been creeping towards the road. And we were essentially able with our own street department
our own forces to do to do this work. And we rent the paving machine from Ozaki County and we're
able to complete that. Yeah complete that work today and we'll stripe it tomorrow so the
pedestrian lane will be back in action as well. I'll give a probably a larger I will give a
larger presentation to Board of Public Works just a discussion and update at their meeting next
Tuesday. Awesome. But that's a safe stretch now. Yes yes you have to travel again. Okay.
And so we pulled out we pulled out a section of asphalt so that people you know to discourage
people from even driving into that area. Yeah. I just it was back in the old days there was a
guy who ran parks department or yeah parks his name was Joe Weiss. And he loved putting boulders
along those strips to deter young people from driving along there. And I was thinking I was
wondering if are we going to put anything on the other side to stop traffic from getting a little
too close to that edge that isn't safe. Well the guardrail is still there. Yeah. Yeah. It's not
being moved over with the road. No it's okay. That was not the plan currently. Okay. Yeah. Melissa.
One more one question on that. Rob are we putting up fencing snow fencing or something along the
top of the bluff to keep people back way? We were not planning on doing that. We do have signage that
advises people to stay away from the edge. Okay. Because I you know Mayor talked about the
undercutting and I just feel like we need to put something up there and people don't assume that
it's good up to the edge. Yeah. Yeah. I guess that's I mean that's something we could discuss. I you
know that would be a long you know it it might give the impression anywhere you don't have a sign
that's perfectly safe. I guess nowhere along the bluff is perfectly safe to be standing on the
edge. I just I'm just more worried about undercut areas. Yeah. Okay. Melissa.
I actually said the same thing and there is a sign there. It's just one sign and you sent me
the photo of it that to don't go there because I didn't see either. There isn't like barricades
or anything and I don't think that we'll put those back up unless.
And then the deal the only other question I had was do we have a timeline on the clearing
of the path to the beach? We would like to start whether dependent we'd like to start that work
next week. Okay. Excellent. Thank you. And then one other you're going to do the bike
bed plan in June 2nd. Correct. Not next week or not. Yeah. We're going to what we're going to do
with the bike bed plan is we'll take it. It was tabled at the board of parks last month. So we'll
take it to public board of public works again this month. Traffic safety meets in May. So we're
going to traffic safety and then take it to the council on June 2nd. I think it is. Perfect.
Thank you. Awesome. Okay. And then the next agenda item then is from council committees
general government and finance committee consideration and possible action and a recommendation to
use debt reserves for the purchase of a replacement stump grinder.
Should the use of a debt service serves be approved to fund a purchase of a replacement
stump grinder in 2026 is the issue the staff recommends approval to use debt reserve to fund
the purchase of a replacement stump grinder and there is a recommended motion to use $84,500 for
that. Melissa. Thank you, Mayor. This did go to GGF and this was approved for our parks department.
This was in the plan from 2024 and we had pushed it out and unfortunately it kind of
went to put on it for us for what we need. John Crane is here for any questions on logistics or
more of the mechanical pieces of it. But if we didn't buy it now, we would be spending probably
20,000 more in a year. And then we don't have the usage of it right now. And we do use this
piece of equipment quite a bit. And if you have any questions on the logistics,
John's here. Otherwise, financials.
Great, Lou. Just a few questions. What is the lifetime of this piece of equipment expected
lifetime? It's right here.
I guess we would look at it to about 10 years. At 10 years, we would see if we can extend it
further. But I would say at about 10 years, maybe looking at a replacement.
And what's the warranty on this product? Is there a warranty?
There is there's a full warranty on it. I'd have to review what the warranty is, but
it's in the itch. Yeah, it should be in there, but it's the same as the new purchase.
Yeah. So one year standard limited warranty, three years gearbox and drive line and two years
standard cat engine warranty.
Where is that on? What page?
It's in the packet under the quote. 17.
I was wondering what the remote control, can you just do all this work from your house?
With use of GIS, we may be able to do it from the office.
A robotic stump writer. And lastly, Melissa had asked about it would cost us 20,000 more. Are
there any other costs that would impact this if we didn't buy it now?
Well, the cost would be we wouldn't be able to grind any stumps. What do you mean on what more costs?
Like the type of product that it is, it's from a certain country, it's chances of getting this product.
I guess anything's possible with the way things are changing with imports.
But right now, as it stands, if we were to wait until next year, there's a $20,000 increase on a
new piece of equipment. This is a demo model. We actually demoed this. We
had demoed three different types of units. We want to switch to a track unit. This is going to
save on a lot of time and labor. Part of the problem is we had a tow behind unit that the
operator has to back up onto the parkways and it isn't very efficient. Also, when you want to do
stumps in the parks, you have to drive the pickup truck and the machine. It's a towable trailer.
We end up making a lot of ruts. We do a lot of stump grinding in spring, so the parkways are
soft. It causes a lot of extra work to fill these in. That's why we were switching to a track unit.
As I said, we demoed three different types of track units and felt this one was the best.
What had happened is I don't know why, but the motor blew on the last one. I talked with our
mechanic. Sensively on it, one of the injectors could have failed. We don't know for sure. Once
it blows, it's kind of hard to say exactly why it happened. I talked with him about a rebuild and
he wouldn't have the time to do it. It wouldn't be cost effective to pay for it with the amount of
hours that are on it. That's why it should be done now. If we don't do it now, then all the stumps
sit all summer. We have several stumps along the bike path right now. Then we do have several
stumps throughout the summer. Then coming into fall, we're also going to have more stumps from
our street tree removal. That would be a big cost as we don't have a stump grinder. We would have
to rent one. Grafton was gracious enough to let us use theirs for our spring stumps. There's several
costs in labor. I can't give definitive costs if we waited.
Other questions, Mr. Gasper?
Sure. Since we're going to pay for this out of reserve funds, are we going to budget for next
year to refill the reserve funds for the same amount? Also, I said for selling the old one,
to Cedarburg for $5,000, is that then going into reserve to make up for this?
Yes.
Yes, the most said yes.
Thank you.
In their capital reserves.
Any other questions or concerns?
I'll move to approve.
I'll take a second.
There's a motion to approve in a second. Any questions or concerns on the motion?
All right, seeing none, all in favor signify by saying aye.
Opposed?
Motion carries.
That takes us to the next agenda item from the planned commission.
Consideration and possible action on ordinance 2026-02 amending the zoning ordinance relating
to permitted uses by right in the I-1 existing industrial and I-2 industrial park zoning districts.
City of Port Washington is applicant. This is the first reading.
The issue is should the common council, the common council is being asked to amend section 485-170
of the city of Port Washington's zoning code to add indoor storage to the list of permitted uses
for existing industrial planned developments?
The staff recommendation is there's no recommendation at this
as it is a first reading of the ordinance.
We did review the supplanting commission and agreed with it.
Mr. Harris.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
So the this ordinance will permit or it's a change in the zoning code to add that indoor storage use
in industrial zoning districts, specifically only for those existing industrial planned
developments. So in this case, it's both the business barns that are on South Park Street.
Those are actually were allowed at the time of approval and also the maritime light industrial
condominiums. And then the intent of this is just after speaking, you know, both with the developer
on uses and also police and fire on certain code issues with these industrial developments.
I think it's almost just a path of least resistance to allow this use in what is
essentially a mixed use industrial district. So I think it just I think in this particular
case with these particular developments, I think it's just it's an acceptable use.
And so so there is no indoor storage use allowed right now.
So in a plan development, it has to attach itself to an existing use.
So we're putting it in the code and applying it to those industrial plan developments.
Thank you, Mr. Harris. Any questions?
Just speaking on behalf of myself from the planning commission a few years ago,
I would have been adamantly opposed to this because we would have wanted to put density
and high value industrial uses in the industrial park. And after, you know, two decades of trying
to attract as well as working with those the existing occupants of the industrial park,
they've sold off their extra lots. They do not see themselves growing. And this would be the best
use for that land now. So I do recommend it from watching it for the last few years.
So we'll have the public hearing and the action on this matter at the next council meeting.
All good. Anything else? Okay. That takes us into the next agenda item.
New business consideration and possible action on a quit claim deed with the
Department Wisconsin Department of Transportation for highway access to the new safety building.
This is at the corner of County Highway LL and State Highway 33. The staff recommends the city
approve a quit claim deed with Wisconsin Department of Transportation to permit access
to the new public safety building off of County Highway LL and State Highway 33.
Mr. Vanden Oven. All right. Well, I'm happy to report that we
that in just under the amount of time that it took to build the entire building that we were
able to receive from the DOT a quit claim deed that we've been waiting for. So this is, as I think
you all know, the DOT has had access restrictions on that property because of the ramps that used
to be there for the old US Highway 141. And so it was a long process in which they typically sell
these rights to people who wish to develop on the land. We were able to negotiate a deal
with the DOT that they would only charge us the cost of the appraisal that they had to go through
to find out how much the access was worth before they sold it to us for zero dollars.
But the so the cost associated with it is twelve thousand five hundred
and that substantially under the I think we had over two hundred thousand dollars budgeted for that
two hundred and ten thousand dollars budgeted. So we the other requirement that they have
for this access what they are which they are giving us and this quit claim deed
is the cost of the left hand turn lane which will be going in this summer when we recon when the
DOT researches Highway 33. So in that cost I think I have estimated around sixty
thousand dollars. So part of our part of our savings that we'll realize with the construction
of the new building. And we worked you worked with the Department of Transportation on this.
We also talked to some local legislators got some help on that. So that's a big swing in
costs and a reduction. So thank you for that extra effort as well as our friends who helped us on
that. Any other questions for Rob? Yeah I guess since you brought it up Rob do you have timing
from the DOT when they're going to start construction on 33 there? We don't so they they had we it
was just out for bids we do have a low bidder and I apologize I can't remember who it is but we do
not have a schedule from that contractor yet but it will be this year. Yes I'm doing yeah I don't
know if it'll be mid-summer or late summer but yeah as soon as I know that I'll certainly get
that information out. Thanks. I did have a question about this not this particular thing but it's
within the purview of this conversation is when visiting the fire and safety center one of my
wonderings was because of the both contingency fund and the DOT approval for this did we or can we
consider on County Highway LL where the fire engines and trucks would be coming out?
I know that we've talked about potentially striping LL in a way to ensure that people
driving know that that's an exit but would we ever light that i.e. you know safety light
traffic light flips red when the engines are coming out or an ambulance is coming out to ensure
that traffic safety on that corner. We've not we've not considered that I think I think
we did talk about it but we did not move forward with it I think the fire department felt that
with the lights and the sirens that are on the vehicles themselves that that would be enough
given that it's a fairly low low traffic volume on LL. Okay that was the thinking but we did
discuss that during design. Okay all right so then there is a motion a recommended motion to
approve the quid claim deed. Oh Mr. Benning or Mary Lou I'm sorry.
Do you know what the landscaping that they're planning on doing in June will be disturbed from
the work that they plan on doing in July? Has that been?
What could you say the question again? Well so they're going to do a left hand turn right
and that goes into which direction is that coming help me out? So that's yeah so that's
eastbound highway 33 left hand turn into the public safety building yeah into the driveway
highway 33. Yeah which is shared with earnesty. Okay so that's not going to impact any any of
the work that's being done or is. No not any of the work that's being done at the public safety
No. Okay. Mr. Benning I would move to approve. There's a motion to approve is there a second?
Seconded by Ms. Miller any questions or concerns on the motion? All right seeing none all in
favor signify by saying aye. Opposed? All right the motion carries. That takes us to the next
agenda item under new business consideration a possible action on accepting a donation in the
form of a sculpture in Cole Dock Park. The issue is should the common council accept an I love
Port Washington sculpture in Cole Dock Park. I'm going to have Melissa start with this and then
I'll add to it. Sounds good. So this action item is out of working with Park and Rec and the
Friends of Parks and Rec. We have a donation for a sculpture in the Cole Dock Park and this has
been a long awaited project of having a sculpture garden in Cole Dock Park from a long time ago
some plans we had there so we're working on getting that started. This is would be one of
hopefully many in the future and this is this is a donation from cloverleaf who we were working
with early on in the project and I know that John Crane is here to answer any questions about
location. He was out there and then Mr. Mayor if you have any additions. You handled it pretty
well. I mean what what we did was this was five six years ago so right after covid when we
decided to use the relief funds to support paint on port we had said that when that stage kind of
closed out we would seek the opportunity to put sculptures at Cole Dock Park and around the city
of Port Washington. So this is really just to kind of trigger those pieces and philanthropic
investment in there. It's a steel sculpture. It'll be fabricated in the state of Wisconsin and
CD Smith is working with us on there. CD Smith has done the two jobs at the
police and fire center as well as our water plant and they will be making a cash donation
towards us as well to support the ongoing maintenance of the project but is also doing some work in
kind as a as a level of gratitude to the city of Port Washington. So the total project costs are
now estimated to be $92,000. We added a sidewalk in there and a couple of other things after John
and I met with CD Smith but it's being laid out in a way that it'll be tilted a little bit so that
when you're downtown Port Washington you'll look across 13 feet high by 12 foot wide. You'll be
able to see it and really the vision of starting with an I love Port Washington sculpture was I
think anybody who grows up in Port Washington there's like three places you go take prom homecoming
pictures and wedding photos etc and we just thought it would be a really iconic kind of start to our
sculptures here in the city of Port Washington so I'm pretty excited about it and happy that we
were able to find someone willing to fund the whole thing versus you know chasing some different
pieces and actually just the conversation around this has led to other inquiries of other people
who want to then donate sculptures and one of the pieces that I'm going to be requesting is that
the council when we do our strategic planning work session here this summer that we kind of
establish a sculpture policy like other cities and communities have of kind of the lane of which
we would allow or accept sculpture donations in the city so that we can make sure that people
have parameters understanding of that. I think for me the biggest thing was that there's operating
and maintenance cost built into this so that we don't we aren't in the hook there's no surprises
when it comes to long-term maintenance of the sculpture or hopefully future sculptures and I
also commend Melissa for for getting that generation policy kind of buttoned up so that we feel good
about this and that being stuck with me on on-term maintenance costs going forward so very happy
to see that as well. Ms. Miller? I'm very happy with the sculpture and I think it will be a great
addition however I am so disappointed that it didn't go to park and rec first that that committee
truly doesn't get to contribute much to this community at this point and it saddens me
that those individuals are left out so I know I'm no no I'll say I'll take responsibility for that
and I did bring this to park and rec I think two years ago when we had multiple sculpture
kind of conversations and and and yeah looking back I appreciate that. Other comments or concerns
though is is there anyone willing to make a motion to accept the donation? I'll make a
motion to accept the donation. There's a motion in a second. Any questions or concerns on the
motion? All right seeing none all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed? All right the
motion carries. I guess before we move on Mr. Mayor you don't mind um schedule for installation?
Yes so this thank the good question um after meeting with C.D. Smith being approved tonight
the donations will be acquired in the next four or five days but that will allow John to execute
with park or friends of park and rec to get moving. The estimated time I think he said would be by mid
June would be not the most aggressive because my goal was actually Memorial Day but it turns
out fabricating that much steel getting it painted installed it takes a little longer than that.
Yeah so well before the goal was well before fish day and in the heart of wedding season so
we can go down there plan on a nice ribbon cutting uh some beautiful day in June where it's 30
degrees at coldock park and 80 right here. Okay thank you for that everybody. All right so
consideration and possible action on resolution 26-05 approving the elected officials handbook for
elected officials holding office as of April 21st 2026. The issue is should the common console
approve this and the city attorney recommends common console adopt resolution 2026-05. Mr.
Nugent. Thank you Mr. Mayor uh resolution 2026-05 um is a resolution regarding the elected
officials handbook um essentially it's ratifying that elected officials handbook the current version
uh the updated version excuse me of that handbook essentially what we've done is we've gone through
and updated some information that needed to be updating um really bringing it in line to what
actually is occurring in the city um this year um the sole real material change is the addition
of a confidentiality policy um there was some confusion amongst council members about what
in fact was confidential what obligations and responsibilities that were for confidentiality
and so it made sense to kind of write that down and put that in one place to um allow council
members to review and refresh if if they have any questions about that um so that's really what
this is it's it brings it in line with what we do with the employee handbook employees um they
have to sign the handbook um when they come on um they sign it they acknowledge it and so resolution
2026-05 really brings the elected officials handbook into line with that practice as well.
Thank you for that Mr. Nugent. Any questions on the handbook?
Just a reminder to council to read it thoroughly and then ask if there's any wonders or worries
in there to make sure to address them with Melissa and I just wanted to thank Melissa
and Susan and the team for putting that handbook together a couple years back we didn't really
operate with any kind of norms or rules governing ourselves other than ordinances and that's a
a burdensome understanding for each of us so with that is there anyone willing to make a
motion to adopt resolution 2026-05? I'll move to approve. There's a motion to approve and a second
any questions or concerns on the motion so you know an all in favor signify by saying aye.
Opposed? All right. Motion is carried. That brings us to public comments and appearances
are there any public comments or appearances as we close out.
Okay seeing none that brings us into our last agenda item which is a convene in a closed session
per Wisconsin state statute 19.851g for the purpose of conferring with legal counsel for the
governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the
body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved. Is there anyone
willing to make such a motion? There's a motion and a second. Any questions or concerns on the
motion? I'm going to abstain on voting in this. Okay in a second we do a roll call and then when
we roll call then that's with them. Okay so roll call vote Ward 1. Ward 2. Ward 3. Ward 4. Ward 5.
Ward 6. Abstain at Ward 7. We are now in closed session. Please clear the chambers.
Council will do this immediately.
Thank you.