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PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE – 10/01/2026 Meeting (Meets monthly on 1st Thursday at 5 p.m.) Page 1 of 6 *Attended virtually PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES October 1, 2026 Regular Meeting The meeting was called to order by Councilor Ledin at 5:00 p.m. on October 1, 2026, in Government Center Room 204. COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Nick Ledin, Garner Moffat, Tylor Elm, Joe Radtke (alt.) 1. ROLL CALL Members Present: Nick Ledin, Garner Moffat, Tylor Elm, Joe Radtke City Staff Present: Chris Carlson, Kara Czapinski, Jim Paine, Dave Pollock, Frog Prell Mary Osborne, Steve Roberts*, Justin Bernacki* Others Present: Shelley Nelson, Bill Fennesssey, Mick MacKenzie, Logan McInnis*, Ryan M. *, Jane Landretti*, Dan Walker*, Brian Wallin*, Jenny Van Sickle* 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2.1. Public Works Committee (Meeting held August 6, 2026) MOTION by Elm, second by Moffat and carried to approve the minutes from August 6, 2026. 3. OLD BUSINESS 3.1. Presentation on similar contested acquisition of water utility. Logan McInnis, the Deputy Public Works Director for Utilities, gave a presentation summarizing the City of Missoula’s acquisition of their water utility. He detailed that Mountain Water was privately owned until its acquisition by the City of Missoula through condemnation in June 2017. This acquisition involved a necessity trial, a distinct valuation process, appeals to the Montana Supreme Court, and culminated in a final cost of approximately $106 million. Post-acquisition, Missoula significantly increased its annual main-replacement budget from around $2–3 million to $8–10 million, investing about $46 million over nine years. As a result, leakage rates decreased by approximately 30% starting in 2021, alongside the implementation of automated metering, acoustic leak detection, customer repair loans up to $10,000, rebates of up to $3,000, and the establishment of an in- house repair crew. The average rate increase for Missoula after the acquisition was about 3.5%, including years without increases, in contrast to previous private utility increases of 5% or more. The City financed the acquisition and associated legal costs through revenue bonds, lower-cost state revolving-fund financing, and utility revenues. Most employees from Mountain Water transitioned to City employment, with around 40 retained, while senior management, a newly hired accountant, and a water-rights attorney were not offered positions. Service remained uninterrupted, as City staff managed benefits, human resources, and transition planning. Staffing levels were largely maintained, with some roles reassigned to focus on leak detection and other efficiencies realized through shared City services. Mayor Paine noted that the referendum process in Superior differs from Montana’s court-based necessity proceedings, yet both require a compelling public- PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE – 10/01/2026 Meeting (Meets monthly on 1st Thursday at 5 p.m.) Page 2 of 6 *Attended virtually interest justification and transparent preparation of costs, budgets, financing, and operational plans. Jenny Van Sickle joined the meeting virtually at 5:48 p.m. Logan McInnis left the meeting virtually at 5:56 p.m. 3.2 Recommendation to amend the water utility acquisition referendum question to the following: “Should the City of Superior acquire the water utility operated by Superior Water, Light & Power to become community-owned, if its value, as determined by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, falls within the City’s financial means?” The proposed referendum question names the City of Superior and Superior Water, Light and Power. It emphasizes the principle of community ownership while recognizing that any acquisition must align with the financial assessments made by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. Committee members favored the term "acquire," as it aligns with existing statute language. There was a debate regarding the use of "community owned" versus "city owned," with Mayor Paine advocating for "community owned" to better reflect public ownership without complicating municipal terminology. Additionally, the timeline for publication was addressed, indicating that due to the timing of Council approval relative to newspaper deadlines, the revised question would be published the following week and would be up for final adoption at a subsequent Council meeting in November. MOTION by Elm, second by Ledin and carried to amend the water utility acquisition referendum question to the following: “Should the City of Superior acquire the water utility operated by Superior Water, Light & Power to become community-owned, if its value, as determined by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, falls within the City’s financial means?” Frog Prell, Mary Osborne, and Bill Fennesssey left the meeting at 6:12 p.m. 4. NEW BUSINESS 4.1. Recommendation to secure memberships in APPA, MEUW, APGA, and WIAWWA/WIWARN to support utility acquisition planning. Annual membership dues are estimated at $4,930.00. Councilor Moffat articulated that the suggested memberships would facilitate essential preparatory work for a potential acquisition, encompassing areas such as business planning, financing arrangements, human resources strategies, job descriptions, and budgeting, all of which must be executed promptly following a PSC valuation. These organizations offer a range of resources, including conferences, training sessions, newsletters, peer networking opportunities, legal and technical contacts, standardized annual materials, model job descriptions, and case studies from municipalities that successfully manage public utilities. Additionally, the Wisconsin Water and Wastewater Response Organization could be beneficial for wastewater personnel, assuming the City is not already a member. Mayor PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE – 10/01/2026 Meeting (Meets monthly on 1st Thursday at 5 p.m.) Page 3 of 6 *Attended virtually Paine noted that the City possesses an unutilized segment of its budget allocated for general publications, subscriptions, and dues, which can accommodate the projected cost of $4,930. The memberships would serve as a resource at the City level, rather than being limited to Public Works or individual Councilor memberships. The committee expressed support for reviewing the memberships after approximately one year to assess which organizations deliver adequate value for ongoing participation. MOTION by Moffat, second by Ledin and carried to secure memberships in APPA, MEUW, APGA, and WIAWWA/WIWARN to support utility acquisition planning. Annual membership dues are estimated at $4,930.00. Mayor Paine left the meeting at 6:18 p.m. Jenny Van Sickle, Jane Landretti, and Ryan M. left the meeting virtually at 6:22 p.m. 4.2. Recommendation to award the Nemadji Golf Course Irrigation Construction Phase Contract to Mid-America Golf and Landscape, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $3,878,026.42. The current irrigation system, which has been in place for around 40 years, is characterized by inefficiency, high labor demands, and increasing maintenance challenges. Staff members have indicated that over 200 sprinkler heads require manual operation, and the aging infrastructure has struggled to adequately irrigate greens and tee boxes during periods of drought. Dan Walker noted that the construction phase will necessitate the closure of nine holes at a time, with an anticipated completion within one year. Despite this disruption, the course will maintain an 18-hole and a nine-hole option, allowing for the continuation of most nine-hole leagues, tournaments, fundraisers, season-pass holders, and public play, although a decline in revenue is anticipated during the construction period. This project is part of a previously approved capital plan amounting to approximately $4 million. Staff emphasized that Nemadji generates revenue for the City, and the proceeds from the course are expected to aid in the repayment of the associated financial obligations over time, with the Finance department overseeing the repayment structure. The course plays a vital role in supporting youth activities, tournaments, tourism, and local economic development. The new irrigation system will incorporate advanced software and more accurate controls, which will minimize watering in unintended areas and enhance water-use efficiency. Staff anticipates that the upgraded system will not only improve turf quality but also yield noticeable benefits during drought conditions, thereby reducing reliance on potable water when onsite ponds are inadequate. Brian Wallin reported that staff currently dedicates approximately 450 to 500 hours annually to the manual operation of sprinkler heads. The implementation of the new system is projected to decrease this labor by around 85%, freeing up approximately 400 hours for other maintenance tasks on the golf course. Mid-America Golf and Landscape submitted the most competitive bid among specialized firms, possesses significant experience in golf irrigation within the Midwest, and met the necessary project qualifications. MOTION by Ledin, second by Moffat and carried to award the Nemadji Golf Course Irrigation Construction Phase Contract to Mid-America Golf and Landscape, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $3,878,026.42. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE – 10/01/2026 Meeting (Meets monthly on 1st Thursday at 5 p.m.) Page 4 of 6 *Attended virtually Mick MacKenzie left the meeting at 6:27 p.m. Dan Walker and Brian Wallin left the meeting virtually at 6:36 p.m. 4.3. Recommendation to purchase two Flygt Model 3171 pumps for Lift Station 6 and the Sanitary Sewer Station in Allouez from Electric Pump in an amount not to exceed $97,776.00. Director Roberts indicated that the current pumps, installed in 2004, have consistently operated at or near their full capacity. Following one completed rebuild, it has been determined that the pumps are no longer viable for further refurbishment. The new pumps will possess slightly greater power to meet contemporary sizing standards, which necessitate capacity calculations with one pump out of service. By replacing two pumps, the necessary firm capacity will be achieved while still retaining the third existing pump. Roberts noted that two pumps handle the majority of routine operations, whereas the third pump, located in a storage basin and kept elevated and dry, is utilized only during non-freezing periods. Although replacing all three pumps would enhance system robustness, it would not significantly increase flow and would incur an additional cost of approximately $50,000. MOTION by Moffat, second by Elm and carried to approve the purchase of two Flygt Model 3171 pumps for Lift Station 6 and the Sanitary Sewer Station in Allouez from Electric Pump in an amount not to exceed $97,776.00. 4.4. Recommendation to approve Amendment No. 3 for Phase III Professional Services for the Blatnik Bridge Sanitary Sewer Relocation with Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. in the amount of $117,970.00. Dave Pollock clarified that SEH will act as the technical representative for the City while the Ames-Kramer joint venture assesses and possibly alters the submitted design. This arrangement allows the contractor to engage directly with the City’s design team for inquiries related to modeling and other technical aspects. The committee inquired whether the amount of $117,970 indicated the City’s total expenditure or the sum eligible for reimbursement. Pollock responded that state law guarantees a minimum reimbursement of 90% from the Department of Transportation, and noted that the initial contract along with previous amendments had qualified for full reimbursement at 100%. MOTION by Elm, second by Moffat and carried to approve Amendment No. 3 for Phase III Professional Services for the Blatnik Bridge Sanitary Sewer Relocation with Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. in the amount of $117,970.00. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE – 10/01/2026 Meeting (Meets monthly on 1st Thursday at 5 p.m.) Page 5 of 6 *Attended virtually 4.5. Recommendation to approve amendments to Chapter 112, Schedule E, Section 112-52(6), No Parking – Automated Garbage Removal Ordinance. Director Carlson highlighted that the presence of parked vehicles in certain alleys and roadways complicates or jeopardizes the safety of garbage trucks during collection. This situation may force trucks to reverse over considerable distances in narrow alleys, raising both operational and safety issues. The existing ordinance had not been revised since the garbage collection schedules were altered, prompting the need for an amendment to update the designated collection days and include newly identified problematic areas, such as those near Hammond Avenue. The parking restrictions will be enforced solely on the specified collection day, allowing parking on other days. Staff indicated that many locations already have signage in place, and upon approval, they will ensure that these signs are consistent with the updated ordinance. MOTION by Moffat, second by Elm and carried to approve amendments to Chapter 112, Schedule E, Section 112-52(6), No Parking – Automated Garbage Removal Ordinance. 4.6. Recommendation to approve an amendment to Ordinance O26-4427, Chapter 58, Article IV, Recyclable Waste Materials, Section 58-110(a)(1). After the Council's earlier approval of extensive ordinance modifications, the staff forwarded the revised ordinance to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for evaluation. The DNR pinpointed an extra provision that required adjustment to ensure compliance with state regulations. This amendment specifies further details concerning the necessary dimensions of recyclable containers, while maintaining the previously approved changes, with the newly requested language distinctly emphasized. MOTION by Elm, second by Moffat and carried to approve an amendment to Ordinance O26-4427, Chapter 58, Article IV, Recyclable Waste Materials, Section 58- 110(a)(1). 5. RECURRING BUSINESS 5.1 ESD Director’s Update – Received and Filed 5.2 Director Update 5.1.1 The ongoing Lead Line Project has successfully replaced 215 service lines within the designated area. While restoration efforts are still underway, the installation of new lines has alleviated the previous concerns regarding lead service lines for the affected residences. The Public Works Department is currently seeking qualifications from engineering consultants to design the upcoming project for the next year. Additionally, the City has submitted an application for state Safe Drinking Water funding, although it has yet to receive confirmation of an award or the allocation amount. The preliminary areas identified for this funding include sections of the North End and East End, with the selection of census tracts being influenced by the potential for obtaining principal forgiveness funding. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE – 10/01/2026 Meeting (Meets monthly on 1st Thursday at 5 p.m.) Page 6 of 6 *Attended virtually 5.1.2 The Tower Avenue Project is nearing completion, with only minor tasks remaining, including line striping, pavement finishing, and adjustments to manhole covers. Staff have observed enhancements in pavement quality, traffic flow, and the safety of pedestrian crossings. 5.1.3 The city is in the process of installing new bus shelters that will include amenities such as roofs, solar lighting, bike racks, and a heater specifically at the Belknap transfer point. 5.3 Future Agenda Items 5.3.1 Future Landfill Closure Update 5.4 Confirm the next meeting date as November 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. in Room 204 of the Government Center. 6. ADJOURNMENT Councilor Ledin announced the meeting adjourned at 6:56 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Kara Czapinski