January 20

City of Bayfield Common Council • January 20, 2026, Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5 City of Bayfield Common Council January 20, 2026, Meeting Minutes 4:30 p.m. • Old Bayfield City Hall, 125 South First Street, Bayfield, WI 54814 Called to order at 4:30 p.m. Attendance Common Council: Acting Mayor/Council President Lyn Cornelius; alders Bill Bland, Matt Carrier, and Diane Fizell City Staff: City Treasurer Anne Adams, Public Works Laborer Roy Bainbridge, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Ashley Dickey, Utility Operator Jacob Dickey, Police Officer Jack Ledin, Police Chief Josh Novac, City Clerk Grace Stolen, Public Works Director/Zoning Administrator Joel Weber Public: In Person—Chris Basina, Curtis Basina, Chuck Bronte, Bill Cornelius, Steve Dunn, Fred Erickson, Carol Fahrenkrog, Liz Fentress, Mary Finn, Nathan Hauber, Billie Hoopman, Craig Hoopman, Wyatt Hoopman, Dave Judd, Lindley Mattson (Bayfield County), Gerry Miller, Erica Peterson, Mark Peterson, Jerry Simons, Cathy Smith, Jim Steffenson, Grant Wilcox, Jan Wilcox; Online—Cody Bermel, Jon Carpenter, Nick Goeman (Baker Tilly), BJ Havlik, Pete Havlik, Susan Hedman, Grace Hogan, Neil Howk, JJohnson, Kate Kitchell, Mark L, Robert M, MB, Michael, Stu Pickering, Kathleen Russell, Paula Scott, Andria Simons, Linda Simons, Mike Spence, Starlight, Kylie Vadnais, John Welch, Wade Max Williams, X Review/Approve Agenda Motion by Fizell, seconded by Carrier, to approve the agenda as drafted. All ayes. Public Hearing The City of Bayfield held a public hearing to receive input on proposed Ordinance no. 406: An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 21: Boards, Commissions and Committees; Chapter 152: Building Construction; Chapter 423: Historic Preservation; and Chapter 500: Zoning of the Code of the City of Bayfield. A full copy of the proposed ordinance was included in the meeting packet and made available to the public prior to the hearing. Public hearing floor opened at 4:30 p.m. Jim Steffenson asked if permits will only go through Bayfield County under the new ordinance. Permits will still start with the City of Bayfield. Susan Hedman spoke in support of the proposed ordinance. The current code is outdated and not in compliance with state and federal law, and the proposed historic preservation ordinance is a great approach. Public hearing concluded at 4:49 p.m. Full Common Council Meeting Meeting called to order at 4:49 p.m. Review/Approve Minutes of December 16, 2025, Common Council Meeting Motion by Carrier, seconded by Bland, to approve the minutes as drafted. All ayes. City of Bayfield Common Council • January 20, 2026, Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 Public Comment All public comment was focused on the snowmobile trail. A variety of different viewpoints were expressed, with some people strongly supportive of snowmobile access, some people strongly opposed, and others partially supportive with caveats. Roughly half of the people who spoke felt that this process has been rushed, though some people who felt that way still expressed support or partial support. Others spoke about the history of the trail and how it has been included in City and Town of Bayfield plans that involved public input, saying this has not risen out of nowhere. Those in support largely stressed the boost to winter tourism, benefits for local businesses, support for year-round employment, and that it would only be open to snowmobiles for a short time each year. Those opposed expressed concerns about trail conflicts, whether silent sports users could still access the trail, noise, and parking. Meeting Agenda 1. Snowmobile Access to the Big Ravine Kate Kitchell of Bayfield Area Trails said that while things have changed since the trail was last open, short-term access should be opened up now and partners can communicate about problems if any arise. Lindley Mattson of Bayfield County Forestry & Parks said it is very difficult for snowmobilers to steer on icy road routes, which can discourage access to the City without an off-road trail. Fred Erickson, owner of private property that the trail crosses, has been working with Bayfield Area Trails to improve and widen that trail and making it dual-use. There has not been a signed easement for any access to the property for three years, meaning the trail could close down fully at any time. He wants people to work together to allow snowmobiles as a condition of keeping the trail open on his land for any users. Motion by Carrier, seconded by Fizell, reading as follows: “I move that the Common Council of the City of Bayfield grant temporary, conditional access for snowmobile use on the East Rim Trail, to be designated as a dual-use trail, for the period ending March 31, 2026 subject to compliance with the conditions stated herein and those outlined in the East Rim Dual-Use Trail Plan. Access shall be conditioned upon: installation of required signage; posting of 15-mile-per-hour speed limit; designation of the trail as open but ungroomed; posting hours per ordinance 337-6, enforcement of leash requirements for dogs; coordination of enforcement responsibilities among applicable jurisdictions; and ongoing monitoring and reporting to Parks and Rec Committee by the Apostle Islands Snowmobile Club and Bayfield Area Trails; and use of the trail is limited to the route identified in the proposal, as depicted in the associated maps. Trail access will be managed collaboratively to ensure that all conditions are met and that public safety, environmental protection, respectful trail use, and property access are maintained. If concerns arise, the City will work with partners to address them. I further move that the Common Council direct the formation of a working group consisting of representatives of the City of Bayfield, Town of Bayfield, private landowners granting trail access, Bayfield County, Apostle Islands Snowmobile Club, Bayfield Area Trails, and Bayfield School to develop a dual-use trail management plan, using the outline contained in the proposal City of Bayfield Common Council • January 20, 2026, Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 and informed by monitoring, reporting, and public input from the 2026 season. The plan shall be submitted to the Common Council for consideration no later than September 1, 2026. Long-term snowmobile access on the East Rim Trail, including those portions located on City- owned park land within the Big Ravine, would be granted upon adoption of a City-approved dual-use trail management plan developed pursuant to this motion.” Carrier wants to open the trail now and come back together after the season ends to discuss what has been learned and gather more input. Bland is concerned by the quick timeline and asked about waiting until after the task force develops the plan. Brief discussion ensued regarding managing on-trail conflicts. Motion carried with all ayes. No action was taken on proposed ordinance no. 407, which would have officially designated the trail in the City Code. 2. Temporary Alcohol License Application: Apostle Islands Snowmobile Club Motion by Carrier, seconded by Fizell, to approve the application. All ayes. 3. Ordinance no. 406: An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 21: Boards, Commissions and Committees; Chapter 152: Building Construction; Chapter 423: Historic Preservation; and Chapter 500: Zoning of the Code of the City of Bayfield Motion by Carrier, seconded by Bland, to adopt the ordinance as drafted. Bland brought up accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in § 500-75(B)(12) and §500-75(B)(13); discussion ensued. Carrier raised the limitation on ADUs on properties with private wells and septic under the existing language, advocating that the restriction be lifted. Motion by Bland, seconded by Carrier, to amend § 500-75(B)(12) to strike the text “The property must front on an adequate water main and be adequately served by a meter sized for single- family use.” and amend § 500-75(B)(13) to strike the text “The property must front on an adequate sewer line with capacity to serve the accessory unit.” All ayes. Roll call vote on original motion as amended—Bland: Yes; Carrier: Yes; Cornelius: Yes; Fizell: Yes. Motion carries. 4. Resolution #641: City of Bayfield Fee Schedule This resolution updates the fee schedule to align with proposals for maintenance permit fees from the Architectural Review Board (ARB). ARB is still discussing fees for other building-related permits and refining penalties; the fee schedule can still be updated now and revised again later. Motion by Carrier, seconded by Bland, to approve the fee schedule as presented. Carrier feels that he should be paying more to cover administrative costs as a lodging operator. He intends to propose a new fee structure for room tax permits in the future. Motion carries with all ayes. City of Bayfield Common Council • January 20, 2026, Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5 5. Resolution #638: Vacating and Discontinuing an Unopened Alley in Block One Hundred and One The property owners’ attorney requested minor changes to the resolution. All exhibits remain the same. Motion by Fizell, seconded by Bland, to rescind the motion to approve resolution #638 made at the December 16, 2025, Common Council meeting. All ayes. Motion by Fizell, seconded by Bland, to approve resolution #638 as revised. Roll call vote—Bland: Yes; Carrier: No; Cornelius: Yes; Fizell: Yes. Motion carries. 6. Proposal for Lower Big Ravine Assessment and Redesign: Council Approval and Notice to Proceed A group met to review proposals and narrowed them down to this one. They felt it was the most compelling, and it also came in at the lowest bid price. Motion by Fizell, seconded by Bland, to approve the notice to proceed. All ayes. 7. East Dock Park Fundraising The City needs to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a new, unincorporated friends group to facilitate private fundraising and grant support for East Dock Park. Carrier stated that the friends group cannot include City employees or committee members, and it has not met yet. He would like them to have their first meeting and adopt a charter before Common Council acts. No action. 8. Appointments Brief discussion ensued regarding the role of alternates; consensus was to try to have two alternates. a. City Hall Task Force Motion by Carrier, seconded by Fizell, to accept the appointments of Tom Bogaard, Lyn Cornelius, Sharon Johnson, Tina Nelson, and Dan Noyes to the City Hall Task Force, with Gordon Ringberg to serve as an alternate. All ayes. b. Historic Preservation Commission Motion by Bland, seconded by Fizell, to accept the appointments of Tom Bogaard, Matt Carrier, Lyn Cornelius, Sheree Peterson, and Jerry Phillips to the Historic Preservation Commission, with Barron Whittet to serve as an alternate. All ayes. 9. Financials a. 2024 Audit Nick Goeman from the City’s auditor, Baker Tilly, presented an overview of the completed 2024 audit report and took questions. No action. b. Review Reports Informational discussion. No action. 10. Project Updates a. Harbor: None b. Parks and Recreation: None City of Bayfield Common Council • January 20, 2026, Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5 c. Public Works The City needed to get more sand for winter road treatment. A contractor on the Manypenny project submitted some charges that are being disputed. All other projects are coming along. d. Planning The Plan Commission looked at a zoning permit application form; consensus was to adopt it with a minor revision. A maintenance permit application needs changes before implementation. A proposed one-way and angle parking conversion on South Broad Street was well received. 11. Acting Mayor’s Report 12. File Reports from Committees, Commissions, Boards, and Departments Ambulance: No meeting ARB: October 27, November 4, and November 17, 2025 Fire Department: December 1 and December 22, 2025 Harbor: December 1, 2025 Library: No meeting Parks and Recreation: No meeting Parks and Rec Playground Subcommittee: November 20, 2025 Planning: November 18, 2025 Police Department: December 2025 Public Works: November 12, 2025 Tree Board: No meeting Motion by Carrier, seconded by Fizell, to put all reports on file. All ayes. 13. Correspondence a. Bayfield County Planning and Zoning: Open House on Floodplain Map Updates b. Northwood Technical College District Board Vacancies 14. Future Agenda Items: None Meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m. Next Meeting: February 17, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.