I’m not tired of writing these yet. Are you tired of reading them yet?
The Easy Button image will probably jinx me, but I think this one might not last too long.
Board Meeting Agenda #
Water’s Edge #
We’re starting with another proposal from a developer for Water’s Edge. Just like last time, please note:
- No decision will be made at this meeting about this proposal.
- Our new M.O. is “When we get a proposal, you see it. No surprises.”
- You will see the proposal first, then we’ll do public comment. You are welcome to give us feedback then or send it to us later. I promise we are listening.
- And most importantly, yes, we still need to define a vision for the property. In the meantime, though, if we get a proposal, we’re going to reveal it to you.
The agenda is designed to minimize your time spent in Village Hall if this is the topic you came to hear. My feelings won’t be hurt if you show up for this item and then leave.
Ordinances and Resolutions #
Nothing controversial or time-consuming.
New Business #
Also all rather straightforward. We are just ratifying our response from the last CoW meeting to the neighborhoods that requested signs and traffic-calming.
Continuing Business #
The Raymond 7-Mile Fair storage building is back. We sent it back at the last meeting to make it more compliant with our standards. Now it’s back with some modifications. Yes, the building is in the Village of Raymond. It’s a long story. We have a boundary agreement with Raymond that imposes our standards on the mile of land from I-94 west. Raymond has asked to get out of it, but it’s still in place as of this request.
Closed Session #
The description of the agenda item ends with “public water utility matters before the Wisconsin Public Service Commission.” You now know what I know about it. Based on the resolution that follows the closed session, it looks like we’re talking about hiring a law firm to handle a matter the PSC is discussing. Super. Can we quit it with the bad news for awhile until maybe we fix all our other problems?
Committee of the Whole #
A reminder to everyone what this meeting is, in plain English: it’s the place for the board members to discuss and influence stuff, as opposed to the Board Meeting, where the board members give final approval or denial on stuff. While it seems weird that we talk about stuff and then vote to send it to the board members (ourselves) for a vote, it does eventually make sense. Without committees (of the Whole, Finance, Legislative and Licensing, etc), the board members would just show up every 2 weeks to talk about finished work for 5 minutes and vote. Assuming you elected us to be a tad more active than that, the CoW is one way for us to discuss and influence work-in-progress while still remaining transparent with the public.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) #
The staff is asking us if we want them to proceed working on zoning code changes for secondary, self-contained residential dwelling units on the same lot as a primary residence. Think mother-in-law cottage in your backyard.
The agenda packet lays out why: house prices are high as heck, ADUs are likely going to happen, let’s be proactive about adjusting our zoning code to have standards for them.
Please note that this will be a request to staff to create a draft of zoning changes. It is not a discussion of any proposed zoning changes.
For those of you with a mother-in-law you would prefer not reside in your backyard, the zoning changes will focus on structures. It will not include standards for mothers-in-law. You’ll have to tell her no yourself.
Agenda Management #
This will be our first time through this new standing agenda item. Expect awkwardness considering it’s our first try. We’ll get better at it after a few tries. The theory is simple: spreadsheets show for Board and CoW what is actively being worked on and coming soon to a board or CoW meeting, and show what is “under the line” and inactive. Board cannot discuss the items, but can ask for priority change. Staff can likewise respond with concerns over bandwidth, the need to push something from active to inactive, etc.
- Are we working on the right things?
- Are items languishing in active?
- Is the staff juggling too many tasks instead of getting a few done and moving on quickly?
- Can we jettison anything on the inactive list?
And so on.