Common Council Meeting — Minutes

CITY OF STEVENS POINT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Community Room 933 Michigan Avenue, Stevens Point, WI OR Zoom Teleconferencing August 17, 2026 6:00 PM Agenda 1. Roll Call. Present: Ald. Christianson, Guthrie, Keymer, Olson, Birr, Donahue, Kneebone, Shuda, Lang, Morrow. Ald. Moldenhauer arrival at 6:01 p.m. 2. Salute to the Flag and Mayor's opening remarks. 3. Persons who wish to address the Mayor and Council on specific agenda items other than a “Public Hearing” must register their request at this time. Those who wish to address the Common Council during a “Public Hearing” are not required to identify themselves until the “Public Hearing” is declared open by the Mayor. 4. Persons who wish to address the Mayor and Council for up to three (3) minutes regarding a non-agenda item. District 7 Alderperson, Mary Kneebone, spoke about her ride-along with the Police Department, homeless encampments, revenue loss, special care given to the unhoused population, and encouraged the Alderpersons to do a ride along with the Police Department. District 8 Alderperson, Dean Shuda, spoke about both of his ride-along experiences with the Police Department, time spent with volunteers giving out food to the homeless population and requested that there be more assistance from Portage County with resources. Evan Boaz, 900 Third Street, spoke against Flock cameras. Consideration and Possible Action on the Following: 5. Consent Agenda: a. Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of July 20, 2026. b. Actions of the Police and Fire Commission meeting of August 6, 2026: 4. Confirmation of Bills. 5. Discussion, with possible action, to approve Officer Dolorosa Lenz from probation status to permanent status with completion of the 18-month probationary period, effective August 17, 2026. 6. Discussion, with possible action, to approve the hiring of Codi Fox as a Probationary Police Officer (lateral transfer as 1.5-year officer), with the Stevens Point Police Department on August 31, 2026, pending successful completion of both the psychological and medical screening. (Lateral transfer candidate per the Stevens Point Police Officer Organization Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 22 - Seniority (F)). 7. Discussion, with possible action, on approval of a $2,000 donation from Wisconsin Public Service to the Stevens Point Police Department for patrol flashlights. 9. Discussion, with possible action, to approve Probationary Battalion Chief Mark Meyers and Kristopher Grod to the position of Battalion Chief with the completion of their probation, effective September 2, 2026. 10. Discussion, with possible action, to approve the carryover of 74 hours of vacation for Chief Moody per City Policy 3.02 Leave Policies, Annual Vacation, Section E. 11. Discussion with possible action, to approve a donation of a commercial ice machine from Manitowoc Ice for Station #1. 12. Discussion, with possible action, to approve Chief Moody’s participation in the upcoming PATRIOT Exercise held at the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center in Camp Douglas, Wisconsin, while on duty during the week of August 24, 2026, to serve as an Incident Commander (IC). c. Actions of the Park Commission meeting of August 5, 2026: 3. Consideration of single-day parking lot rental agreement for Zenoff Park with the UWSP Career Advising Center for September 24, 2026. 4. Request to expand the Yulga Park disc golf course from 18 holes to 24 holes by the Stevens Point Area Flying Disc Association. 5. Approval of the pedestrian trail concept and preliminary cost estimate for Mead Park. 6. Adoption of the Mead Park pedestrian trail project into the Stevens Point Parks, Recreation and Forestry Departments Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan to allow for future grant eligibility. 7. Presentation and consideration of approval of Peters Family Park concept and fundraising plan. 8. Review of ice rental rate at the KB Willett Arena and consideration of increasing the hourly fee for 2027. d. Minutes and Actions of the Plan Commission meeting of August 3, 2026: 2. Report of the July 6 & July 20, 2026 meeting of the City Plan Commission. 3. A request from Raymond Cal for an exception to fencing standards to install privacy fencing on the property located at 1233 Maria Drive (Parcel ID 281240829300103) and an unaddressed parcel bounded by Maria Drive (Parcel ID 281240829300139), consistent with Ch. 23.01(16)(g). 4. A request from Chase Rettler, representing SentryWorld Real Estate LLC, for an exception to fencing standards to install privacy fencing on the property located at 501 Michigan Avenue North (Parcel ID 281240821310003), consistent with Ch. 23.01(16)(g). 5. June 2026 Monthly Report. 6. Director's Report. e. Actions of the Board of Water and Sewerage Commissioners meeting of August 10, 2026: 2. Approval of minutes. 3. Approval of department claims. 4. Audit presentation by Baker Tilly. 6. Replacement of unit water heaters. f. Actions of the Airport Commission meeting of August 10, 2026: 2. Approval of minutes. 3. Approval of department claims. 4. Audit presentation by Baker Tilly. g. Actions of the Transportation Commission of August 11, 2026: 2. Approval of June 8, 2026 minutes. 3. Approval of the June & July 2026 Financial/Claims Reports. 4. Approval of the 2027 Section 5310 Mobility Management and Operating Assistance (Volunteer Driver Program) Grant Applications. h. Minutes and Actions of the Personnel Committee meeting of August 10, 2026: 2. Requesting to approve the proposed Associated Bank EDI Service Agreement — FSA, HSA, and COBRA. 3. Request for known 2027 out-of-state travel per Administrative Policy 3.05. 4. Request to move the Production Assistant position from Seasonal to Permanent Part-Time on Pay Plan. 5. Request for Merit Pay per policy 2.13(2). 6. Police Department request for additional part-time Community Service Officer. i. Minutes and Actions of the Public Policy and General Government meeting of August 10, 2026: 2. License List. 3. Request to Hold Event/Steet Closing. j. Minutes and Actions of the Finance Committee meeting of August 10, 2026: 7. Approval of funding for the relocation of telecommunication lines at and around the former Edgewater site. (1450 Water Street) 10. Approval of change order with AECOM related to the North Segment of the Business 51 project. 11. Approval of change order with AECOM related to phases 2 and 3 of the South Segment of the Business 51 project. 12. Approval of Claims Paid. k. Statutory Monthly Financial Report by Comptroller/Treasurer. l. Mayoral Appointments. -Police and Fire Commission - Todd Penske appointed for a five-year term expiring on April 30, 2031. Ald. Olson requested to pull out agenda item 5l. Ald. Christianson moved, Ald. Moldenhauer seconded, to approve the consent agenda with item 5l pulled out for later discussion. Call for the vote: Ayes: Morrow, Moldenhauer, Lang, Shuda, Kneebone, Donahue, Birr, Olson, Keymer, Guthrie, Christianson. Nays: None. Motion carried. Ald. Olson questioned the political party affiliation of the current members and cited City Ordinance 3.29 and Wisconsin State Statute 62.13(1). Mayor Wiza discussed that the question of political party affiliation can and has been proposed, but there is not a mechanism with which to compel the applicant to answer it. City Attorney Beveridge spoke about the phrases "member of" and "belonging to" a political party as general terms and that other actions such as attending meetings, donating, or campaigning on someone's behalf, would make it more clear. Attorney Beveridge spoke about municipalities not having a statutory obligation to do investigations and that asking if the applicant is a member of any political party on an application or during the application process is sufficient to meet requirements. Ald. Kneebone moved, Ald. Morrow seconded, to approve agenda item 5l. Call for the vote: Ayes: Christianson, Guthrie, Keymer, Birr, Donahue, Kneebone, Shuda, Lang, Moldenhauer, Morrow. Nays: Olson. Motion carried. 6. Approval of a finalized Sale Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank for the acquisition of property located at 601 Main Street and the associated parcel off Water Street (PIN 281240832201110). Ald. Lang moved, Ald. Moldenhauer seconded, to approve the agreement. Call for the vote: Ayes: Morrow, Moldenhauer, Lang, Shuda, Kneebone, Birr, Keymer, Guthrie, Christianson. Nays: Donahue, Olson. Motion carried. 7. Disallowance of Claim-James Smith: Damage to vehicle by falling tree branch. Ald. Moldenhauer moved, Ald. Keymer seconded, to accept the recommendation of our insurance to disallow. Calls for the vote: Ayes: Christianson, Guthrie, Keymer, Olson, Birr, Donahue, Kneebone, Shuda, Lang, Moldenhauer, Morrow. Nays: None. Motion carried. 8. Disallowance of Claim-Nicole Winkelman: Damage to vehicle due to displaced manhole cover. Ald. Moldenhauer moved, Ald. Olson seconded, to disallow the claim. Call for the vote: Ayes: Morrow, Moldenhauer, Lang, Shuda, Kneebone, Donahue, Birr, Olson, Keymer, Guthrie, Christianson. Nays: None. Motion carried. 9. Consideration of Resolution Amending Initial Resolution Regarding Industrial Development Revenue Bond Financing for Firecrest Aerospace, Inc. Project. Information with respect to the job impact of the project will be available at the time of consideration of the Initial Resolution. Ald. Shuda moved, Ald. Morrow seconded, to approve the resolution. Calls for the vote: Ayes: Christianson, Guthrie, Keymer, Olson, Birr, Donahue, Kneebone, Shuda, Lang, Moldenhauer, Morrow. Nays: None. Motion carried. 10. Update on adjustment to cat license fees. C/T Ladick gave a brief overview of the approved changes from the Finance Committee with regard to the licensing fees for cats. C/T Ladick also spoke about the delay in action until next month to review the licensing software capabilities. 11. Approval of agreement between the City of Stevens Point and MId-State Technical College related to the proposed Nexus Center for public safety training and fire station number 3. Ald. Morrow moved, Ald. Moldenhauer seconded, to approve the agreement. Call for the vote: Ayes: Morrow, Moldenhauer, Lang, Shuda, Kneebone, Donahue, Birr, Olson, Keymer, Guthrie, Christianson. Nays: None. Motion carried. 12. To award the Fiber Network Expansion Project 26-201 to Elexco Inc., of Seymour, WI in an amount not to exceed $420,500 which includes a 15% contingency. Ald. Christianson moved, Ald. Birr seconded, to approve the award. Calls for the vote: Ayes: Christianson, Guthrie, Keymer, Olson, Birr, Donahue, Kneebone, Shuda, Lang, Moldenhauer, Morrow. Nays: None. Motion carried. 13. Enter into closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(e) for deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session, relating to the following: A. Consideration of action taken by the Board of Water & Sewerage Commission on entering into a public-private-partnership with CDS TitanForge, LLC for the procurement of renewable energy credits and other operational agreements that would be mutually beneficial. The body did not enter into closed session. 14. Reconvene for possible action on the above-referenced closed session item. Ald. Christianson moved, Ald. Morrow seconded, to approve. Calls for the vote: Ayes: Christianson, Guthrie, Keymer, Olson, Birr, Donahue, Kneebone, Shuda, Lang, Moldenhauer, Morrow. Nays: None. Motion carried. 15. Adjournment. Meeting adjourned at 7:14 p.m.