July 7, 2025 · 6:00 PM

City Council

Council approved spending $30,000 to buy a downtown parking lot parcel after discussing the negotiations in closed session, with two split votes showing some unease about the deal. It also rezoned a Monroe Street property to residential with no public comments and shifted Water Utility funds to meet a DNR planning deadline.

Key Decisions

Council voted to amend the 2025 budget to free up $30,000 for a proposed parking lot purchase on Adams Street—after the price was negotiated in closed session, which limits what residents can see until the vote is already teed up.

Council approved the actual purchase agreement for the Adams & 18th parking lot parcel, but the vote split 6-2 and members amended the deal language (including making the seller pay title insurance), a sign this wasn’t a simple rubber-stamp.

Council rezoned 1608 Monroe St from industrial to residential with zero public comments across all three calls—worth noting because zoning changes can affect neighbors, even when no one shows up.

Public Input

No public comments or communications recorded for this meeting.

Agenda Items

25-126 Public Hearing Regarding Ordinance to Amend the District Map, Section 10-1-3(a)(1) of the Zoning Code to Rezone the Property Located at 1608 Monroe Street from I-1 Industrial to R-3 Single and Double Family Residential, as Requested by Applicant and Owner Mark Brami

Passed 8-0

Council held the required public hearing and then approved rezoning 1608 Monroe Street from industrial to single-/two-family residential. No one spoke during any of the three calls for public input, even though zoning changes can shape what a property can become and how it fits with nearby uses. The applicants were present in case council had questions.

Public Input: Three calls were made for public input; no one spoke.

📄 See in official document: Page 1

Roll call vote 8 yes

Doug Brandt yes

Shannon Derby yes

Bill LeClair yes

Darla LeClair yes

Tim Petri yes

Bonnie Shimulunas yes

Scott Stechmesser yes

Adam Wachowski yes

rezoning Full history →

25-131 Resolution Amending the 2025 City Budget to Provide Funds for Proposed Property Purchase

Passed 7-1

Council approved a budget change to make $30,000 available to buy a parking lot on the west side of Adams Street in the 1700 block. The city manager said the price had been negotiated with Wine Not LLC in closed session, meaning residents didn’t get to see the back-and-forth that led to the number—only the final ask. The vote was not unanimous, with one no vote.

📄 See in official document: Page 6

Roll call vote 7 yes 1 no

Doug Brandt yes

Shannon Derby yes

Bill LeClair yes

Darla LeClair yes

Tim Petri yes

Bonnie Shimulunas yes

Scott Stechmesser yes

Adam Wachowski no

city owned land Full history → budget amendment Full history →

25-132 Agreement With Wine Not, LLC for City Purchase of Parking Lot Parcel Located at SW Corner of Adams and 18th Streets

Passed 6-2

Council approved the purchase agreement for the Adams & 18th parking lot parcel, but amended the motion to correct the parcel number and clarify that the seller pays for title insurance. The 6-2 split suggests some members were not comfortable with the deal as presented, even after edits. This is a direct property purchase using city funds, so residents should expect follow-through on what problem this lot is meant to solve and how it will be managed.

📄 See in official document: Page 6

Roll call vote 6 yes 2 no

Doug Brandt yes

Shannon Derby yes

Bill LeClair yes

Darla LeClair yes

Tim Petri yes

Bonnie Shimulunas no

Scott Stechmesser yes

Adam Wachowski no

city owned land Full history → traffic and parking control Full history →

25-133 Authorization to Re-Allocate Funds in the 2025 Water Utility Budget to Fund Consulting Services Associated with Development of a DNR-Mandated Water Supply Service Area Plan

Passed 9-0

Council approved shifting $30,000 inside the Water Utility budget—from a water plant soffit project to consulting services—to complete a DNR-required Water Supply Service Area Plan by the end of 2025. This is a planning requirement with a deadline, and the city is choosing to pay consultants rather than delay or try to do it in-house. The Utilities Committee had already reviewed the idea and supported it.

📄 See in official document: Page 7

Roll call vote 9 yes

Mark Bittner yes

Doug Brandt yes

Shannon Derby yes

Bill LeClair yes

Darla LeClair yes

Tim Petri yes

Bonnie Shimulunas yes

Scott Stechmesser yes

Adam Wachowski yes

wisconsin dnr grant Full history → water supply service area plan Full history →

25-134 Ordinance to Amend Section 6-4 of the City Code to Eliminate Requirements for City Licensure of Massage Establishments and Massage Technicians

Passed 9-0

Council voted to remove the city’s local licensing requirement for massage businesses and massage technicians, saying the state already licenses massage therapists and the city has not been enforcing its own licensing rules. The practical effect is less local paperwork and one less city rule on the books that wasn’t being used anyway. Council and police emphasized that rules against illegal activity still apply.

📄 See in official document: Page 7

Roll call vote 9 yes

Mark Bittner yes

Doug Brandt yes

Shannon Derby yes

Bill LeClair yes

Darla LeClair yes

Tim Petri yes

Bonnie Shimulunas yes

Scott Stechmesser yes

Adam Wachowski yes

massage establishment licensing Full history →

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