HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-26-2013 Community Development Minutes MINUTES
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
February 26, 2013 6:00 PM
County Board Room - Government Center
1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Edward Sontag FSA Representative Present
Travis Schachtner Secretary Present
Agnes Ring Chair Present
Richard Ottino Supervisor Present
Andy Brinkman Vice Chair Present
Duane Russett Supervisor Present
OTHERS PRESENT: Pat Thompson, County Administrator; Ellen Denzer, Community
Development Director; Bob Heise, Resource Management Administrator; Monica Lucht,
Recorder.
GUESTS PRESENT: Dan Gavin, St. Joseph Town Chair, Ben & Susan Heuiser, St. Joseph Plan
Commission and River Crossing Advisory Committee; and Kevin Adkins, St. Joseph River
Crossing Advisory Committee.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. January 17, 2013 6:00 PM
The minutes of January 17, 2013 were accepted as distributed.
RESULT: ACCEPTED
2. January 30, 2013 7:30 PM
The minutes of January 30, 2013 were accepted as distributed.
RESULT: ACCEPTED
3. January 31, 2013 3:00 PM
The minutes of January 31, 2013 were accepted as distributed.
RESULT: ACCEPTED
PUBLIC COMMENT
Gavin commented and prefaced the Loop Trail discussion by stating that the Town of St. Joseph
has put together a river crossing advisory committee made up of approximately 35 town
residents. Mitigation money has been designated towards the formation of this committee. The
hope is to move forward with projects and prioritizing plans on how to use the mitigation money,
as well as finding grant money.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. Financial Reports
Thompson explained the financial report stating that 2013 total revenue versus budgeted
revenue was up 115%. Year-to-date expenditures reflect that the departments are below
budgeted expenditures. The overage in revenue will lapse into the general fund.
2. Loop Trail Discussion
Chair Ring prefaced the discussion by stating that this committee has a lot of input into
this corridor and encouraged the members to give input tonight. This is the first
opportunity to get involved in a detailed way.
Denzer began the discussion by summarizing the request that the committee asked of
staff to investigate benefits and costs associated with the future trail and bring a report
back to the committee for discussion. The committee viewed the Loop Trail Animation
CD (copies available in the Community Development office).
Denzer gave an overview of the benefits and costs of the Loop Trail. The intent is to
provide a 3-season trail on the Wisconsin side. The City of Stillwater will own the lift
bridge and will be able to decide how many seasons to keep it open. With the Houlton
Hill as part of the loop trail in Wisconsin, staff recommends it would close in the winter
for safety.
Denzer went through the items to be negotiated with the WiDOT as well as the cost
estimates for maintenance, replacement, equipment, trail head with limited amenities,
restrooms and facilities along the trail. The WiDOT did give an average cost per mile
multiplying by 1.452 miles and adjusting for inflation. This may be considered their first
offer.
The committee discussed the possibility of lights and electricity along the trail as well as
putting in a Park-n-Ride. The WiDOT has already indicated neither of the two parking
lots will be a Park-n-Ride, but the committee asked that staff bring it up as part of future
discussions.
Gavin spoke on the Town's position regarding the Loop Trail, and said that the town
doesn't have the means to take over the trail, but if the town had to put a proposal on
table, they would like to help in making it an open and inviting trail. The trail runs
through the Town of St. Joseph and because the town will be significantly impacted, they
want to play a role in the planning, design and amenities of the trail.
Chair Ring asked if the committee’s consensus is to take the next step in the process.
General consensus is to start negotiations with the WiDOT. Chair Ring would like to
have explored, the possibility of adding water and a Park-n-Ride into the negotiations.
The committee gave the approval to enter into negotiations, and for staff to bring forth a
resolution in the next couple months.
3. St. Croix River Crossing Mitigation
Denzer summarized the St. Croix River Crossing Mitigation activities and stated that
there is an internal group working on the Memorandums of Understanding (MOU's). The
MOU's explain impact on the land and gives rules on how the money should be spent.
She explained the three areas of mitigation activities involving the County are Growth
Management, Greenspace Protection and Bluffland Mitigation. St Croix County is the
fiscal agent for the county and town mitigation money and will write checks when
authorized by the DNR.
Denzer explained the potential County steps for staff, committees and the County Board
needed in the review process. She also explained the River Crossing timeline for the first
round of activities in 2013-2014 concerning Riverway mitigation for damages to
blufflands and growth management. The committee will need to review the information
and nail down what proposals are important. Public input will need to be gathered and
decisions made on where the money will be spent before bringing a recommendation to
County Board. Staff would like comments and feedback on the draft materials at the
March meeting.
Chair Ring voiced her appreciation for all the work staff has put into this.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: MARCH 21, 2013 AT 6:00 P.M. IN HUDSON