Wisconsin Point Committee Agenda - August 11, 2026

WI Point Committee 8/11/2026 Meeting Page 1 of 2 WISCONSIN POINT COMMITTEE Agenda Tuesday, August 11, 2026 – 4:30 p.m. Government Center, Room 204 Virtual Meeting Link: Click here to join the Microsoft Teams Meeting Meeting ID: 255 813 330 407 89 Password: Kr96Cb2a Call in Option: +1 (872) 242-8028 Phone Conference ID: 868 416 006# MISSION STATEMENT: “Implementing of the Wisconsin Point Area Management Plan directives, policy development and monitoring.” COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Tom Bridge, Mike Herrick, Nick Danz, Thomas Howes, Deanna Erickson, Cherie Hagen, Matthew Steiger (alt), Lee Sandok Baker 1. ROLL CALL 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2.1. Wisconsin Point Committee (Meeting held May 12, 2026) 3. NEW BUSINESS 3.1. Election of Officers 3.1.1 Election of Chair 3.1.2 Election of Vice-Chair 3.2. Update on Allouez Bay 3.3. Discussion on Allouez Bay Alternative 3 3.4. Discussion on Wisconsin Point 50 Project 4. OLD BUSINESS 4.1. Update on the Fire Management Plan 4.2. Update on Schafers Beach 4.3. Update on 44th Avenue East Dock 4.4. Update on Wisconsin Point Cultural Connection Project 4.5. Discussion on funding and timeline for the Wisconsin Point Management Plan 5. RECURRING BUSINESS 5.1. Committee Member/Partner Updates 5.2. Future Agenda Items 5.3. Confirm the next meeting date as November 10, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. in Room 204 of the Government Center. 6. ADJOURNMENT WI Point Committee 8/11/2026 Meeting Page 2 of 2 Notice is hereby given that a majority of the members of the Common Council may be present at the meeting, and although this may constitute a quorum of the Common Council, the Council will not take any action at this meeting. ********************************************************************************************* Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, if you are in need of an accommodation to participate in the public meeting process, please call (715) 395-7200 by 4:30 p.m. on the day prior to the scheduled meeting date (OR dial 711 for Telecommun ications Relay Service). The City will attempt to accommodate any request depending on the amount of notice received. ********************************************************************************************* In compliance with Wisconsin Open Meetings Law, this agenda was posted on 8/04/2026 at the following locations: Superior Government Center, Superior Public Library, and online at https://www.ci.superior.wi.us/agendacenter. It was also emailed the Superior Telegram. WISCONSIN POINT COMMITTEE – 5/12/26 Meeting (Meets as needed/quarterly.) *Attended the meeting virtually Page 1 of 3 WISCONSIN POINT COMMITTEE Minutes Tuesday, May 12, 2026 Regular Meeting The meeting was called to order by Chair Bridge at 4:32 p.m. on May 12, 2026, in Government Center Room 204 & virtually via Microsoft Teams. 1. ROLL CALL Members Present: Tom Bridge, Lee Sandok Baker, Kirsten Rhude, Nick Danz, Matt Steiger, Deanna Erickson City Staff Present: Bridgit Maruska, Kara Czapinski Others Present: Shelley Nelson 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2.1 Wisconsin Point Committee (Meeting held February 24, 2026) MOTION by Danz second by Erickson and carried to approve the Wisconsin Point Committee Minutes from February 24, 2026. 3. NEW BUSINESS 3.1. Wisconsin Point Cultural Connection Project Update Director Maruska reported that the group has secured a $100,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Cultural Connections trail; however, the notification process was delayed. Occurring now are ongoing discussions to clarify budgetary and project scope details. To address these issues, Maruska has arranged a meeting with the EPA and the city contract analyst to determine whether the grant will fund the full design or a scaled-back version, while also presenting cost estimates for both 60% and 100% design options. During the discussions, participants considered the optimal trail length and features, with Maruska highlighting that a longer trail system would likely draw more users, although incorporating a boardwalk in the full design could potentially exceed the current budget. Maruska emphasized that following guidance from the EPA, the team would engage the public and select a design firm, underlining the significance of community involvement in the planning process. 3.2. 44th Avenue East Superior Public Access Project Update Director Maruska announced that Stantec has been selected as the consultant for the project after evaluating 11 proposals and interviewing three firms, with Stantec's strong references playing a significant role in the decision. Plans for a public engagement session at the river were outlined, which will include a 'meet, walk, talk' event at the dock, along with the potential distribution of a mailer featuring a QR code survey to solicit feedback from the Allouez adjacent community. The committee also discussed WISCONSIN POINT COMMITTEE – 5/12/26 Meeting (Meets as needed/quarterly.) *Attended the meeting virtually Page 2 of 3 logistical arrangements for the public engagement event scheduled for June 18th, addressing issues such as parking capacity and the possibility of organizing a trash cleanup in advance to enhance the area. Members expressed concerns about ongoing trash and dumping issues at the site, the absence of surveillance cameras, and the necessity for regular cleanups, highlighting the city's dependence on volunteers and staff for maintenance efforts. 4. OLD BUSINESS 4.1. Update on the Fire Management Plan Deanna Erickson announced that a proposal submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been approved for funding, which will facilitate the thinning of the pine plantation located off Lot 5 and the creation of a comprehensive fire management plan. Erickson highlighted the appearance of new plant species in areas recently affected by fire and outlined plans for continuous vegetation monitoring by LSNERR staff member, Kirstin Rhude. The fire management strategy encompasses two planned burns, designated staff time, and a cultural fire planning meeting that will engage the city, Reserve, and other stakeholders. The discussion also covered the historical context of the pine plantation, originally established for erosion control, and noted the rich diversity of vegetation in the thinned sections. Additionally, Matt Steiger and Erickson addressed ongoing and prospective initiatives to manage non-native cattails through prescribed burns, emphasizing collaboration with tribal experts and the potential for project expansion throughout the estuary. Tom Bridge questioned if the cattail burning was successful, and Steiger noted that data has not been issued from similar projects elsewhere yet. 4.2. Update on Schafers Beach Director Maruska announced that the team plans to transform the informal social trail into a switchback trail, although a specific timeline for this project has yet to be established. During recent site inspections, they discovered encampments near the trailhead on Douglas County property, which has led to discussions with the county and a temporary hold of trail work until the area is cleared. 4.3. Update on Visitor Use Assessment Director Maruska reported that the visitor use assessment was distributed digitally, yielding nearly 500 responses through QR code access. However, there was no clear distinction made between online and on-site participants. The survey revealed a strong preference for preserving the area's natural character. Reported concerns in the survey identified concerns regarding safety and vehicle security, despite a low incidence of reported break-ins. Partners are currently analyzing the data, which is anticipated to guide future management strategies and interpretive trail initiatives, highlighting the importance of this information for upcoming planning efforts. WISCONSIN POINT COMMITTEE – 5/12/26 Meeting (Meets as needed/quarterly.) *Attended the meeting virtually Page 3 of 3 Deanna Ericksen left the meeting at 5:03 p.m. 4.4. Update on Wisconsin Point Management Plan Director Maruska announced that the city intends to apply for a coastal management program grant set to open in August, which will require matching funds. This grant typically mandates a 50/50 match up to a certain limit, with larger funding requests necessitating a higher contribution from the city. 5. RECURRING BUSINESS 5.1 Committee Member/Partner Updates 5.2 Future Agenda Items 5.2.1 Update on Fire Management Plan 5.2.2 Update on Schafers Beach 5.2.3 Update on 44th Avenue East Dock 5.2.4 Update on Cultural Connections 5.2.5 Discuss funding and timeline for Wisconsin Point Management Plan 5.3 Confirm the next meeting date as August 11, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. in Room 204 of the Government Center. 6 ADJOURNMENT Chair Bridge announced the meeting adjourned at 5:13 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Kara Czapinski