 All right, good evening, everyone. It is six o'clock and I will call the 21st Regular Common Council meeting to order. Will the clerk call the roll? Alderperson Ackley. Excused. Alderperson Decker. Here. Alderperson Felde. Excused. Alderperson Licky Paneski. Here. Alderperson Heidemann. Here. Alderperson Mitchell. Here. Alderperson Porello. Here. Alderperson Raimi. Here. Alderperson Rust. Present. Alderperson Salazar. Here. All right, thank you. Folks could stand 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, invisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right, Alder Decker. Is there a motion to approve the minutes from our last meeting? I move to approve the minutes from the 20th Council meeting held on January 15th, 2024. Moved and seconded, discussion on the minutes. Seeing none, all those in favor, state aye. Aye. Any objections? Minutes are approved. Next we have some resignations, Assistant City Attorney Majors. Thank you. Kenneth King from the Citizens Board of Review, effective immediately. And Jackie Erdman from the Harbor Center bid, Board of Directors and Committees, effective immediately. Thank you, Alder Decker. I move to accept and file. Moved and seconded, any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, state aye. Aye. Any opposed? All right, those are accepted. All right, we'll do a presentation for Mayor's announcements real quick. Right, good evening everyone. Tonight we are accepting an award and I will call up on Stuart Howley from P1 Power Boat to introduce the award and see a few words. So, at the annual American Power Boat Association meeting last week in Orlando, they nominate, they basically award a bunch of different awards. One of them is race site of the year award. So, Sheboygan was nominated and the criteria for that award is excellence in overall production, including, you know, Power Boat racers need insurance. So that's one of the big criteria. Excellence in officiating participation and support from the teams, local and regional event marketing and publicity, which I think we can do better on for this coming year. But inclusion into the APBA in venue marketing and promotion for a pre, onsite and post event, creative use of social media and then the attendance. The event was attended very well and I think it had a positive impact on the economy. The committee made a quote when they awarded this. It said there were three finalists in the professional division. One of those venues had more than one person nominating the race. However, after reviewing all submissions, comparing statistics and weighing the results, it became clear that one event Sheboygan excelled. The race checked all the criteria boxes and the additional information made the committee's decision easy. Sheboygan is the first new first time event to be honored and the honor is well-deserved from the kernel of an idea to the complete, well-produced, marketed and publicized event. We knew it took commitment, dedication and a host of volunteers to accomplish an APBA multi-category racial casing, some of the most incredible race craft currently on the water to become the 2023 APBA best site. On behalf of the APBA and the club support committee, congratulations. So I'm gonna present this award to Mayor Ryan. Right here, and I would like that displayed, hopefully. Yeah. Well, thank you, Stuart, for representing Sheboygan and bringing the award home to us. We're excited to host the event. Again, the second week in August, and hopefully we'll keep doing it bigger and better and keep getting some more recognition. So thank you again, Stuart, appreciate it. All right. See, clerk, anyone for a public forum tonight? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We have two people and I'm not sure how to say the last name, Eric Colty. Cotty, thank you. If you come up to the podium, please. And then if you could just state your name and your address and then you'll have five minutes. Sure. My name is Eric Cotty and I live at 134 Lake Court in Sheboygan. I'm here today in opposition of RC number 1882324, which authorizes the execution of the letter form proposal from the Smith Group Incorporated. It appears that the city has poisoned the well of objectivity with the Smith Group. The letter contains some information that is clearly coming from an agenda that is not in the best interest of Marina slip holders. The letter states that the pool and the building are underutilized. That is simply not true. When the weather is good, there are always people there. Weekends can get quite crowded and I have seen many weekdays where it is crowded as well. If it were underutilized, why then two years ago was an email sent out by F3 to the slip holders reminding us of the pool guest policy, one guest per slip. One can easily surmise that was because the pool was being overutilized. To say that the building is underutilized is not a fair assessment either. The ship store provides many necessities to transient boaters as well as slip holders. There are no convenience stores close by. To be able to grab refreshments and something to eat is a welcoming amenity to transients as well as slip holding boaters. The city has made some decisions since they've taken over management of the Marina that don't seem to be very well thought out or welcoming to seasonal slip holders and especially transient boaters. Harbor Center Marina has always been a destination boaters from around the lake love to stop at because of the amenities and the location. Now, with all the amenities gone, what's to stop them from saying, you know what? I don't feel like putting on another 25 miles today as they make the trip down from Dore County back to Chicago. Let's just pull into Manitowoc and spend the night there. Or, you know what? Let's put on another 25 miles and just get to Port Washington. Sheboygan closed that pool we like so much. No reason to stop there now. Plus they don't even have grills anymore. What Marina doesn't have grills. Long time slip holders have now chosen to go elsewhere. Many of the boaters at Harbor Center come from out of the county and out of the state because they love Harbor Center. That's just not, that's not just lost revenue for the Marina. It's lost revenue for the grocery stores, restaurants and shops. Then there's the outdoor storage for the off season. Boaters previously had access to their boats throughout the off season. Now without warning, the city has locked them out. The weekend access policy of giving at least 72 hours notice and only between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. is absurd. Much of the maintenance that needs to be done is weather dependent. We as boaters are pretty tuned into the weather. And we know that you can't trust a weather report three plus days out. 36 hours is about the max. Then there's the inconsistent information we get from the city regarding Marina operations this coming season. The FAQ that was recently sent out states Marina will be open April 15th. Two lines later it states the goal is to have the Marina open by May 1st. That's inconsistent information. Many of us have made appointments to get our boats out of storage and in the water on or around April 15th. As that has been the opening day for as long as I can remember. Now if the Marina isn't open, it will cost us money to rent a slip where the boat was stored or incur other penalties. Then to announce that there will be no more outdoor storage in the off seasons going forward. You have displaced around 45 boats. You may not know, but storage is in short supply and you're often faced with a waiting list. With a stated goal of improving the Marina, you have done just the opposite. Thank you. Thank you. Next person. Micah Yerke. If you could just introduce yourself and state your address, please. Micah Yerke, 330 Morning Drive, Clemeth, Wisconsin. Could you pull the mic down a little bit? Thank you. All right, I'm here also to speak on item number 36, the proposal from Smith Group, regarding the development to Deeland Park and Harbor Center Marina. Eric did already state many of the items that I already had in my plan to speak about. So the main item I wanted to speak about today is the key stakeholders listed on page two of that proposal. So a stakeholder is an individual or group that has a vested interest in the future of the project. As a leaseee at the Harbor Center Marina in the boating season of 2023, all of us that have a yearly slip at Harbor Center Marina are 100% stakeholders in the future of the Marina. And if you look at that list of groups that they plan on including to identify as stakeholders, the entire boating community is excluded from that list with the exception of the Yacht Club, which they don't actually utilize the Harbor Center Marina. So I am strongly advocating to this council to allow us as slip leases or with the upcoming change permit holders to allow us to establish a committee or nominate individuals to represent the individuals that use the Harbor Center on a regular basis to participate in that discovery process and defining the needs and goals of that project. Thank you. Thank you. All right, moving on to the consent agenda then. Item 10 through 19, Alder Decker. Thank you, Mayor. I move to receive and file all ROs, receive all RCs and adopt all resolutions and ordinances. Moved and seconded. Any discussion on any of the items in the consent agenda? All right, seeing none. This will be a roll call vote. Eight ayes. All right, those items are approved. Next, reports of officers, RO number 99, 2324 by city plan commission to whom was referred to resolution number 962324 by the city clerk and general ordinance number 352324 by Alderperson Ramey annexing territory into the city of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. 1.7 acres, parcel number 59024351652, Alder Ramey. I move to file the RO and to adopt the ordinance. Sorry, moved and seconded. Any discussion on this item? Seeing none. This will be a roll call vote. That's approved. Items 21 through 26 will be referred to the respective committees. Next, resolutions resolution number 1522324 by Alderperson's Decker and Ross authorizing the city officials to execute an agreement between the city of Sheboygan and Fox Valley Athletics, LLC for the management and operation of recreation programs at Wildwood Athletic Complex. Alder Decker. Thank you, Mayor. I ask this to suspend the rules. Any objection? There's been two noted objections. Yep, we'll take a roll call vote then to suspend the rules. Alder Decker. We're not, yep. Just to suspend, if you wish to suspend, okay. Alder Felicky Paneski. Alder Heidemann. Alder Mitchell. Aye. Alder Pirella. Aye. Alder Ramey. Aye. Alder Rust. Aye. Alder Salazar. Aye. Six Ayes, two Nos. Then, yeah, that's approved. We suspended the rules. Alder Decker, please make your motion. Okay, I move to adopt the resolution. Second. We're didn't second it. Any discussion on this item? Alder Heidemann. Thank you, Mayor. I was gonna make a motion to take this item and have this referred back to the Department of Public Works Committee. Again, this is one of these things that it's a very important part of our community. We're changing something. We've never discussed it at committee. The outside stakeholders that at the softball diamonds and stuff like that, they haven't had a chance to talk to us about this. I think this deserves more discussion than just a suspension of the rules and pass it. I'm not saying it's not a good idea and won't work for this issue. Sheboygan. Well, what I'm saying, it didn't even come from our committee. So I would like to see this referred back to the Department of Public Works so we can have a discussion on it there. Would you like to make a motion, Alder? I'll make a motion to send it back to DPW. All right, there's been a motion. Is there a second? Moved and seconded. Any discussion on sending it back to committee? Alder, we've got a few here. Alder Flicky Paneski, you wanna speak on? So sending it back to committee? Oh. Okay, Alder Mitchell. Would you like to speak on this item? Sure. It'll be the same question as it was going to be before, which was why was this coming to us with a suspension of the rules that didn't necessarily want to oppose that if that was going to limit the ability of the community to enjoy using the facility as early as possible in the year. But it does seem like something that warrants discussion. I see Superintendent Curlin popping up. So I'm guessing we're taking him in. I'd love to answer that. So, the reason for the suspend the rules is sign up season for the leagues are right now. So the sooner we can get this approved, the sooner, one, the teams out there, they don't know what quite's going on. I get a lot of calls, I get a lot of people talking to me, but we really haven't been able to get the word out with social media or anything because we were in the middle of an agreement. So we want to get this out as soon as possible. So they can, the teams can feel a little more relaxed. Yes, there's, because the question is, is there going to be softball in Sheboygan this year? That's the question. And the question is hopefully, whether it's tonight or coming back, the question is going to be yes, hopefully with the approval. And that's the reason for speeding it up so we can get moving with the social media, with the advertising, get it out there that there is going to be softball in Sheboygan and teams can start getting signed up instead of going someplace else. And that's a big thing too. So to make this work, started this process in December, meeting with and talking to, and talking to other parks and recs and just a lot went into this and came across Fox Valley Association, actually that works with Appleton and two other places. And I know that the recreation, one of the recreation directors and it's like, oh, wow, this sounds like a great fit. So it took time, it really took time to meet with them, to get things going. And then when we sat down and talking to us, time is not good for us right now. We really do need to get moving. He's been great to work with. He hasn't been pushing, but he said that's his one big worry right now is time. And then the phone calls and the emails that I get, softball and shabuigan is big. And it's even though the numbers have gone down, the numbers have gone down everywhere, but he's proven that his program can keep the numbers going to the positive. He's proved that in three different cities. And that's one of the things we're missing here is just a really well-rounded, programmed adult softball. And I think that's what we're gonna get. And that's why we only did one year. And that's what he usually does with the other cities, start one year. He's gotta see if this is gonna work. We're gonna see if we're gonna, it's gonna work for us. And sitting down and talking with Eric Schaefer, who's the owner. I gotta believe just by his demeanor, and finding out about his programs that I think were a great fit for him and I think he's a great fit for us. So that is the reason for, I'm sorry to make this a little short, but that we need to get moving for the teams. All right, thank you, Superintendent Kerlin. So we have a few queues right now. So the motion on the floor right now is to refer back to public works. So we have Salazar Heidemann, Flicky Panesky, and then Decker. So Salazar. Alder Mitchell asked my question and he answered it for me. Thank you, Alder Heidemann. Yes. You stated that you started this in December. Okay, how many public work meetings have we had since December that we could have had a discussion at our meeting? I mean, you mentioned that the chairman, this is what we're gonna do, but we come down to the last minute to make a decision. Again, you and I were together back when, when we were dealing with the Sheboygan Softball Association, everything we had to do there to try to correct things there, but we didn't do it by suspending the rules. We did it by inviting the stakeholders in. I mean, the Sheboygan Softball Association, other people within the community, you Sheboygan, that might wanna do something for Sheboygan Softball, but yet we're suspending the rules, we're adopting something, and we've never had any discussion at the committee. Well, I did have a meeting, I'm sorry. Include the public works on December 12th or 13th. Invited anybody and anybody from the current league anybody that was playing. I invited LUFC, the soccer club. I invited the A's, I invited the rec department. I invited the Plymouth Adult Softball League. Those were the ones I just personally invited. So it was basically a kickoff meeting to, this is where we are. How do we get to where we have someone that we really feel that's gonna run these leagues properly? And it's just been a sprint ever since. All right, Alder Flickipinesky. Thank you. I appreciate that you had a meeting with all of those stakeholders. I commend you for that. You forgot that the decision-making power is here, and you did not go through the proper channels. And it is not, it's not, the bank is going to foreclose, okay? There are some reasons that you just have to suspend rules. This is purely in-house administrative. So I take issue with that. And it just so happened, you got caught in the crossfire this time. So I'm going to vote it down. Not that I don't want softball here. Not that I don't want wild wood to thrive. It's the process. And it's been one of my songs for a while and you just got caught this time. Thank you, Alder Flickipinesky, Alder Decker. Yes, my question is to Director Kerlin. If not this come, if not this, then who? I mean, is there, there's no plan B for softball. If this doesn't go through, there is no plan B. So really, why are we arguing? Plan B is start over again. Start at anything that I've come across and start working with different people that have come across this and through working with this just starting over. I do understand, I hate asking for the suspended rules. And if we don't, I believe this can move on. It's just going to hold back the getting the word out, but maybe now that we've had a meeting, maybe we can get the word out anyways. You really don't want to start getting the word out until you really have an agreement. All right, Alder, Remy. I have a question and a comment if I may. Question is, what was the result of that meeting that you had with everyone? Do you feel that you're supported from this? Is this something that those people want? The people want softball and should go again. They're very passionate people. I've received very, very nicely written emails, nice phone calls. Yeah, they want a better program also, but yes, very supportive. A follow up of that if I may. Any opposition to this bringing them on? So again, through working through an agreement, I'm not quite sure how many people know that we're working with Fox Valley Athletics. So, but what the people want is to make sure we have it. If I may have my comment then as well, thank you. And while I 100% respect the tradition of how we do things here, I also have to say I don't really want to punish anybody for maybe, lack of following or whatever things happen. I completely understand that. So in something like this, I'm gonna be in support of it. Thank you. All right, so the motion on the floor right now is to send it back to the public works committee. So yes vote will be sending it to public works and no vote will not be sending it to public works. So the clerk will call the roll. Alderperson Decker, Alderperson Flicky Panesky, Alderperson Heidemann, Alderperson Mitchell, Alderperson Pirella, Alderperson Ramey, Alderperson Rust, Alderperson Salazar, four to four. I will vote, let me just, I will vote yes to send it back to public works. All right, I had my first high breaking vote. Items 28 to 34 will be referred to their respective committees. 35, RC number one, eight, seven, 23, 24 by public works committee to whom was referred general ordinance number 36, 23, 24 by elder persons Decker and Rust amending various sections of chapter 60 of the municipal code. So as to reflect desired management changes regarding the river, the marina and the riverfront. Alder Decker. Thank you, Mayor. I move to receive the RC and adopt the substitute ordinance. Moved and seconded. Any discussion on this item? All right, seeing none, this will be a roll call vote. Eight ayes. That's approved. Item 36, RC number 188, 23, 24 by public works committee to whom was referred resolution number 144, 23, 24 by older persons Decker and Rust authorizing the appropriate city officials to execute the letter form proposal from the Smith Group Inc. regarding the development of D Land Park and Harbor Center marina master plan. Alder Decker. Thank you, Mayor. I move to receive the RC and adopt the resolution. Second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion on this item? Alder Rust. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would also like to echo what some of this marina, yeah, club member or slip members had some complaints about this evening. And I would like to see them be involved as stakeholders moving forward. I think that's important. And whether it be they vote for a committee and have some people represent them as well. But I think that's important that we have that. Thank you. Thank you, Alder Rust, Administrator Bradley. We do have them included in the RFP there on that page. We have them linked in as part of the sailing and kite surfing community. We wanna make sure that we kind of included all those groups. So they're not individually broken out, but that was the intent of how we included that. So all the users of the marina and beachfront we wanna make sure are included in that focus group that they're working with. Okay, we have a few keels to do. Heidemann, Flicky Panesky, Rust. Heidemann? Thank you, Mayor. I agree with the Alderman and I'm glad you made that stipulation because when you do read the document, it does seem like somebody's being left out and they're probably the most of people in the community not to be left out. So I'm glad to see that it's being taken care of. Alder Flicky Panesky. Thank you. When I read our document, the Smith group was kind of out there. I looked for, if I were to send them a letter, where do I send it? I don't know how we got the Smith group. Did it come through an RFP? Who vetted the Smith group? And where was that done? Because this is the first time we've seen this document. Director Publicer, do you wanna answer some of those questions? Sure, I'd be happy to. We received three proposals from consulting engineering firms specific to marina or lakefront development expertise out of the three after we had a committee of there was several people internally from staff and through that process, through the ranking, we interviewed then the top two firms of the two firms that were interviewed based on the discussion and their basic project experience, the team that they have assembled, some of their past project successes, how it would relate to what we have facing our marina and our lakefront area, how would they approach then re-imagination and input in terms of what the future could be at our marina? Based on that, the Smith group was selected. The Smith group also, if you recall, was involved in the assessment of our current state of the marina. They did a study of what is the condition and what could it be in the future. And that was the impetus because based on what they were looking at needing all new docs and infrastructure as well as seawall repairs, we're facing anywhere from 11 to $13 million of improvements for 250 slips. With that, we decided that's a lot of money for our community. We met, we should think, all right, if we're gonna spend that amount of money, what could be the next phase? What could it look like? What could it be? What could it be different? How could it be more accessible? Could it be differently arranged? The Smith group, given their background of marine projects in their team that they've assembled, really put forward the best proposal as well as the best team and, quite frankly, the best approach. I think through this process, I think it was always up front that the marina is the first and foremost key stakeholder in this group. The others that were listed in the proposal were just other ideas in terms of who else would have input besides just boaters. Because it's not just boaters, it's our lakefront. So we wanted to make this more inclusive of the entire community to have input as well. But the boaters, I think, were always first and foremost because they're the most affected with this process. The infrastructure down there is 30 years old, it needs to be fixed, managed, or replaced. This is the first step in getting that solution. The Smith group is out of Madison, Wisconsin, but they're a national firm. They have offices all over, including international. So they're well-respected in lakefront and marina operations in terms of design. And I think, again, through this process, they came to the top with their team and their proposal. Thank you. Walter Selzer. Yeah, I just wanted to clarify, and I think Director Bebel already did most of that, but we did talk about this at the Public Works Committee and that information was shared several times. And if you talk about Smith Group as far as, I think you said a comment of out there, meaning being innovative and very internationally awarded, yes they are. And so I think they are doing the work to sort of assist us in the city to create a plan that is successful and includes not only the marina, but those stakeholders here, so that it is something that this community and the city can use as a unit. And they are being very thoughtful about that, and as well as what it could mean in connectivity to the river and other things. So I believe this is, I'm really grateful that we selected them, but also I believe that the work they're gonna put forward is going to allow for a lot of community input. It's kind of one of their specialties. I think Director Bebel can attest to that. And so I think this is a good, I'm comfortable and this is a good proposal. And I think we should give them an opportunity to listen to what folks are offering to create something for us. That's what an RFP is, to ask them and then they create a plan that we can tweak and adjust and do lots of things with. We won't be doing any torturing. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm not doing any torturing. You set me up for that. Any other discussion on item 36, Alder Prelum? I just wanted to briefly add something. I do also appreciate the fact that this is a project that is more comprehensive and it's going to have an impact on the CDS as a whole, not only in that area. So I appreciate the choice of a company that shows previous experience in having done that. But I also, I assume that DPW will be part of the meetings, of the stakeholders meeting, including especially the first one. And I'm thinking it would be very useful that also the financials around the marina are going to be shared with the community because there is perhaps some misunderstanding about how it has worked in the last several, several years and just to address some of the comments of the residents tonight as well. So it would be very useful to clarify with the community and to the community how the marina has been doing for us as taxpayers. Thank you. Thank you, Alder Prelum. Any other items on this item? All right, seeing none, this will be a roll call. Eight ayes. That's approved. Item 37, RC number 191 2324 by the Finance Personnel Committee to whom was referred direct referral resolution number 145 2324 by Alder Persons, Mitchell and Flicky Panesky authorizing the appropriate city officials to sign the January 1st, 2023 December 31st, 2025 contract between the Sheboygan and Algumated Transit Union Local 998, Alder Mitchell. Thank you, Mayor. I move to adapt the resolution. Moved and seconded. Any discussion on this item? Seeing none, this will be a roll call vote. Yes, no. Yeah, proceed with the vote. Okay. Eight ayes. That's approved. General ordinances items 38 through 41 will be sent to their respective committees. Alder Decker, item number 42. Thank you, Mayor. I move to convene in closed session under the exemption provided in section 19.851 E Wisconsin stats where competitive and bargaining sessions require a closed session related to the following. One potential development land purchase and incentives involving redevelopment in the downtown areas. Two development updates regarding tax incremental district number 23. Moved and seconded. This will be a roll call vote. Okay. Eight ayes. That's approved. All right, this will adjourn an open session and we'll reconvene in closed session in about two minutes.