City Council Meeting - September 16, 2026

City of Amery COMMON COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA The City of Amery does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or provision of services, programs or activities. NOTE: Upon reasonable notice, the City of Amery will accommodate the needs of disabled individuals through aids or services. For additional information or to request this service, contact the Clerk-Treasurer’s office at (715) 268-3410 by Noon the previous day so that arrangements can be made. Pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.84, Notice is hereby given to the public that a meeting of the Common Council of the City of Amery will be held on: September 16, 2026 at Amery City Hall - 104 Maple St. W, Amery, WI at 5:00 PM. Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Adoption of Agenda *Although the public may speak on any item that is not included on this agenda as a “Public Hearing or Forum” the Council will not respond or discuss the issue brought forward at this time. In accordance with open meeting laws the Council must notice an item on the agenda to take action on that matter. Your comments will be considered and may be placed on a future agenda for further discussion. Any person wishing to submit a public comment digitally may email them to Cityhall@amerywi.gov until noon of the day of the meeting. Although your comments will be presented to the Council they may or may not be read aloud or discussed during the meeting. The Public Comment Portion will be limited to 3 minutes total per speaker with the total duration to be at the Chair’s discretion. The council may act on any item that is noticed on the agenda. Taylor Larson Clerk/Treasurer **Posted: September 10, 2026 on the City Website (www.amerywi.gov); and at Amery City Hall, Amery Public Library, and the Amery Police Department. Order of Items Agenda Item 1 Public Comment 2 Ordinance 11-2026 Amending Municipal Code §14-7 Tourism Commission 3 Appointment of Members to the Tourism Commission 4 Zoning Code Rewrite Project Review and Discussion 5 Closed Session – Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(e) Deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session -Soldier’s Field Development 6 Open Session – Possible Action on Closed Session Agenda 7 Adjournment. 104 Maple Street W., Suite A Office: 715.268.7486 Amery, WI 54001 Fax: 715.268.4870 TO: The Common Council of Amery FROM: Alex Mansfield, City Administrator DATE: August 25, 2026 RE: Ordinance No. 11-2026, Amendment to § 14-7, Tourism Commission Requested Action. Adopt Ordinance No. 11-2026 amending § 14 -7 of the Municipal Code, and hold all Tourism Commission appointments until the amendment takes effect. Background. Section 14 -7 currently seats four members: one Alderperson, one representative of the Wisconsin hotel and motel industry, the President of the Amery Community Club, and one member of the Amery Economic Development Corporation. Under § 66.0615, Wis. Stats., the Commission designates the City's tourism entity and directs the room tax revenue that entity receives. The Community Club has been the designated tourism entity since the Commission was created. The conflict. Two of the four seats sit on the receiving side of that transaction. The Club's President serves on the body that designates the Club and sets its funding. Separately, a person under consideration for the AEDC seat holds a paid contract with the Club throu gh a private business, so a share of the revenue the Commission directs to the Club would fund that contract. The City Attorney has reviewed both and agrees a conflict exists. Wisconsin law treats a private pecuniary interest in a public contract as a serious matter, and abstention alone does not always cure it. Recusal is also impractical here as the Commission is currently structured. With four members, a quorum of four, and a requirement that actions carry a majority of all members, two members stepping aside would leave the Commission unable to designate an entity or approve an allocation at all. Composition. The amendment seats five voting members: one Alderperson, one representative of the Wisconsin hotel and motel industry, and three Amery residents at large. The City Clerk-Treasurer serves as a nonvoting ex officio member so the annual state report can be prepared and filed without waiting on a meeting. Appointed members other than the lodging representative may not be officers, employees, or paid contractors of the tourism entity, or hold an ownership interest in a business that contracts with it. The lodging seat is carved out of that restriction because state law requires a lodging representative on the Commission and a lodging owner or operator on the tourism entity's own board. Five members falls within the range state law allows. Meetings. The ordinance has required the Commission to meet at least quarterly, and that has not been happening. The amendment requires the Commission to adopt a schedule of regular meeting dates, times, and locations at its first meeting of each term and to file that schedule with the Clerk-Treasurer. Quorum drops to three to match the smaller body. Conformity with state law. At the City Attorney's direction, the definitions of “tourism entity” and “tourism promotion and tourism development” now track § 66.0615 word for word. The prior text listed only the two fallback options and omitted the primary definition, which reversed the order of review the statute requires. The amendment also states the May 1 deadline for the annual Department of Revenue report, assigns that filing to the Clerk-Treasurer, and requires the tourism entity to furnish its board roster and its members' business affiliations by April 1 so the report can be completed. Fiscal impact. None. The amendment reduces exposure to the daily penalty for a late room tax report and to a challenge to the validity of room tax appropriations. 104 Maple Street W., Suite A Office: 715.268.7486 Amery, WI 54001 Fax: 715.268.4870 Transition and timing. Two current members carry over under the amended composition: the Alderperson and the hotel and motel industry representative. The Community Club President's seat is eliminated by this amendment, and the AEDC seat is eliminated before it is filled. Three r esident seats must therefore be appointed and confirmed before the Commission can meet, because quorum is three and action requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the full voting membership. The Commission must allocate room tax revenue before the e nd of the year, which makes the appointment timeline the binding constraint rather than the ordinance itself. Recommendation. Staff recommends adoption, together with direction to the Mayor to bring forward appointments to the three resident seats at the same meeting or the one immediately following. Attachment: § 14-7, Tourism Commission, as amended. ORDINANCE NO. 11-2026 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING § 14-7 OF THE CITY OF AMERY MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE TOURISM COMMISSION The Common Council of the City of Amery, Polk County, Wisconsin, does ordain as follows: SECTION 1. § 14-7 of the City of Amery Municipal Code is hereby repealed and recreated to read as follows: § 14-7. Tourism Commission. A. Composition. The Tourism Commission shall consist of five members: one Alderperson; one representative of the Wisconsin hotel and motel industry, as required by § 66.0615(1m)(c)1., Wis. Stats., who need not be a resident of the City; and three residents of the City of Amery appointed at large. The City Clerk-Treasurer shall serve as a nonvoting ex officio member, shall not be counted in determining a quorum, and shall not be eligible to serve as an officer of the Commission. No appointed member other than the representative of the Wisconsin hotel and motel industry may serve as an officer, director, employee, or paid contractor of the tourism entity appointed under Subsection F(1), or hold an ownership interest in a business entity that is a paid contractor of that tourism entity. B. Appointment. Members of the Tourism Commission shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by a majority vote of the members of the City Council present when the vote is taken. Term of membership shall be one year. Members may be reappointed. C. Organization of Commission. Upon appointment to the Tourism Commission, members shall appoint a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Secretary from its members to serve throughout the duration of the term. The Chairperson shall serve as the President and spokesperson of the Commission and shall conduct all meetings of the Commission. The Vice Chairperson shall act as assistant to the Chairperson and shall fulfill the duties of the Chairperson when he or she is unable to do so. The Secretary shall record and distribute Commission meeting minutes and shall maintain all Commission records. D. Record. The Tourism Commission shall keep a written record of its proceedings to include all actions taken, a copy of which shall be filed with the City Clerk-Treasurer. Three members shall constitute a quorum and all actions shall require the affirmative approval of a majority of all the voting members of the Commission. E. Meeting. At its first meeting of each term, the Tourism Commission shall adopt a schedule of regular meeting dates, times, and locations for the term, providing for not fewer than four regular meetings and at least one regular meeting in each calendar quarter. The schedule shall be filed with the City Clerk-Treasurer. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or upon the written request of any three members. All meetings shall be noticed and conducted in compliance with sub ch. V of ch. 19, Wis. Stats. F. Duties. (1) Appointment of the tourism entity. In accordance with § 66.0615, Wis. Stats., the Tourism Commission shall appoint a tourism entity. The appointment of the tourism entity shall be ratified with every new term. As provided in § 66.0615(1)(f), Wis. Stats., "tourism entity" means a nonprofit organization that came into existence before January 1, 2015, spends at least 51% of its revenues on tourism promotion and tourism development, and provides destination marketing staff and services for the tourism industry in a municipality. If no such organization exists, the Commission may contract with one of the following entities: (a) A nonprofit organization that spends at least 51% of its revenues on tourism promotion and tourism development, and provides destination marketing staff and services for the tourism industry in a municipality. (b) A nonprofit organization that was incorporated before January 1, 2015, spends 100% of the room tax revenue it receives from a municipality on tourism promotion and tourism development, and provides destination marketing staff and services for the tourism industry in a municipality. (c) Before contracting with an entity described in Subsection F(1)(a) or (b), the Commission shall determine, and record in its minutes, that no organization meeting the definition set forth in the third sentence of this Subsection F(1) exists. (2) Room tax rate. The Commission from time to time shall evaluate the room tax rate and suggest to the City Council adjustments to it as deemed necessary. (3) Reports. (a) The Commission shall report to the City Council each term as to the purposes for which room tax revenues provided to the tourism entity were spent and of any delinquencies or inaccurate reporting by the tourism entity. (b) Annually, on or before May 1, the City Clerk-Treasurer shall prepare and file with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, in the form and manner required by § 66.0615(4)(a), Wis. Stats., all of the following for the previous year. The Clerk-Treasurer shall provide a copy of the filing to the Commission at its next regular meeting. [1] The amount of room tax revenue collected and the room tax rate imposed by the City. [2] A detailed accounting of the amounts of that revenue forwarded for tourism promotion and tourism development, specifying the commission or tourism entity that received the revenue, including all expenditures of $1,000 or more made by the Commission or by the tourism entity. [3] A list of each member of the Commission and each member of the governing body of the tourism entity to which the City forwarded room tax revenue, and the name of the business entity each such member owns, operates, or is employed by, if any. (c) On or before April 1 of each year, and as a condition of receiving room tax revenue, the tourism entity shall furnish to the City Clerk-Treasurer the information required under Subsection F(3)(b), including the roster of its governing body and the business entity each of its governing body members owns, operates, or is employed by. Each member of the Commission shall furnish the same information as to himself or herself on or before April 1 of each year. (4) Use of funds. The Commission shall ensure that room tax revenues provided to the tourism entity are used solely for the purpose of tourism promotion and tourism development and that no revenues are used to construct or develop a lodging facility. As provided in § 66.0615(1)(fm), Wis. Stats., "tourism promotion and tourism development" means any of the following that are significantly used by transient tourists and reasonably likely to generate paid overnight stays at more than one establishment on which a room tax may be imposed under § 66.0615(1m)(a), Wis. Stats., that are owned by different persons and located within the City; or, if the City has only one such establishment, reasonably likely to generate paid overnight stays in that establishment: (a) Marketing projects, including advertising media buys, creation and distribution of printed or electronic promotional tourist materials, or efforts to recruit conventions, sporting events, or motorcoach groups. (b) Transient tourist informational services. (c) Tangible municipal development, including a convention center. G. Vacancies. When vacancies occur during a term, the Mayor shall appoint a replacement member to serve out the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as appointment for the full term. The replacement member shall meet the requirements of the vacancy he or she is appointed to fill. H. Compensation. Compensation shall be as established by the City Council. Citizen members shall take the official oath as required by § 19.01, Wis. Stats., said oath to be filed with City Clerk-Treasurer. SECTION 2. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this ordinance is held invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. SECTION 3. CONFLICTING PROVISIONS. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed. SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This ordinance shall take effect upon passage and publication as provided by law. Adopted this ______ day of ____________________, 2026. ____________________________________ Mayor, City of Amery ATTEST: ____________________________________ City Clerk-Treasurer Published: ____________________________ City of Amery Zoning Code Update | Council Check-In | September 2026 Memo To Mayor and City Council From Claire Stickler, MSA Professional Services CC Alex Mansfield, City Administrator; Taylor Larson, Clerk/Treasurer Date September 8th 2026 Subject Zoning Code Update - Pre-Adoption Check-In Background The City is nearing completion of a comprehensive update to Chapter 450. The work has focused on simplifying the ordinance, making it easier to administer, and updating standards that no longer match Amery's existing development pattern or current land-use terminology. Since the initial diagnostic, staff and the Planning Commission have reviewed the code organization, residential districts and bulk standards, the permitted/conditional use framework, fences, accessory structures, and definitions. This Council discussion is intended as a check-in on those major changes before the final ordinance package moves toward adoption. Major Changes at a Glance Topic What is Changing Code organization Reorganize and consolidate the code so related standards are grouped together and easier to find. Zoning districts Move to eight clearer base districts, including Low, Medium, and High Density Residential; Downtown Mixed Use; General Commercial; Institutional; Industrial; and Conservancy. Uses Replace district-by-district use lists with one consolidated use matrix using Permitted (P), Conditional (C), and Not Permitted (-) designations. Accessory structures Remove the three-stall garage limit and fixed accessory-building count; allow carports; rely on setbacks, height, lot coverage, and the subordinate nature of the accessory use. Fences Increase the residential front-yard fence height from 3.5 feet to 4 feet, retain the general 6-foot side/rear standard, modernize material standards, and add diagrams for common fence situations. Definitions Update and consolidate definitions so they match the new use terminology without defining every self-explanatory use. City of Amery Zoning Code Update | Council Check-In | September 2026 Code Organization: Existing vs. Proposed The updated outline consolidates the existing 17-Article structure into seven main Articles. Existing topics are not simply removed; they are reorganized into broader sections so related standards can be found together making a more user friendly document. Existing Chapter 450 Proposed Chapter 450 Article I - Introduction Article I - General Provisions • Introduction • General • Administration • Amendments • Appeals Article II - General Provisions Article II - Zoning Districts Article III - Zoning Districts Article III - Overlay Zoning Districts Article IV - Planned Unit Development (PUD) Conditional Use Article IV - Uses • Consolidated Use Table Article V - Conditional Uses Article V - Design & Performance Standards • Residential Design Standards • Commercial Design Standards • Supplemental Standards • Solar Energy Systems Article VI - Nonconforming Uses, Structures and Lots Article VI - Signs Article VII - Traffic Visibility, Loading, Parking and Access Article VII - Terminology Article VIII - Signs, Canopies, and Awnings Article IX - Performance Standards Article X - Signal-Receiving Antennas; Wind Energy Systems; Wireless Telecommunications Systems Article XI - Accessory Uses and Structures; Fences; Trees Article XII - Administration Article XIII - Changes and Amendments Article XIV - Appeals Article XV - Mobile Homes Article XVI - Airport Overlay Zoning and Height Limitations Article XVII - Terminology City of Amery Zoning Code Update | Council Check-In | September 2026 New District Framework The district update is intended to better match how Amery is already developed and to make the purpose of each district clearer. The proposed base districts are: Low Density Residential (LDR) General Commercial (GC) Medium Density Residential (MDR) Institutional (INS) High Density Residential (HDR) Industrial (INDS) Downtown Mixed Use (DMU) Conservancy (C) The map is shown as an appendix of this report. Uses The existing code contains long, separate use lists and many older business-specific classifications. The updated code places uses in one matrix so staff, property owners, and applicants can see at a glance whether a use is permitted, conditional, or not permitted in each district. • Modernize outdated terminology and remove SIC-style classifications. • Consolidate similar retail, service, office, and industrial uses where separate treatment is not needed. • Keep higher-impact uses separate when they warrant different review or standards. • Remove many of the Conditional Uses in the Consolidated Use Table • Generally preserve the range of uses already allowed in the City while placing them in districts that better match their scale and context. The consolidated use table is shown as an appendix of this report. Accessory Structures What is changing • Remove the three-stall garage limitation. • Allow attached and detached carports as accessory structures. • Remove the fixed limit on the number of accessory structures. • Regulate accessory structures through setbacks, height, lot coverage, and the requirement that they remain incidental and subordinate to the principal use. Fences What is changing • Increase the residential front-yard fence height from 3.5 feet to 4 feet. • Retain the general 6-foot side- and rear-yard standard. • Update the ordinance to recognize common modern fence materials. • Clarify chain-link standards and allow for painted colored chain link in the front yards in the final ordinance language. • Add simple diagrams for interior lots, corner lots, and visibility areas. Council Check-In Staff is not seeking adoption at this meeting. Council is asked to review the overall direction and highlights of major changes. In particular, staff is looking for confirmation that the proposed organization, district framework, and use matrix approach are moving in the right direction. City of Amery Zoning Code Update | Council Check-In | September 2026 Next Steps Following Council feedback, staff and MSA will complete the ordinance text, use and definition cleanup, zoning map, and supporting diagrams. The final package will then proceed through the remaining Planning Commission and public hearing steps for adoption. City of Amery Zoning Code Update | Council Check-In | September 2026 Appendix A Draft for Planning Commission Review | July 2026 City of Amery Proposed Zoning Use Matrix Planning Commission Version - Category Pages P = Permitted Use C = Conditional Use — = Not Permitted Residential Uses Use Classification Low Density Residential Medium Density Residential High Density Residential Downtown Mixed Use General Commercial Institutional Industrial Conservancy Residential Uses Single-Family Detached Dwelling P P C P — — — — Two-Family Dwelling (Duplex) — P P P C — — — Zero-Lot-Line Two-Family Dwelling — P P P C — — — Townhouse / Attached Single-Family Dwelling — C P P C — — — Multifamily Dwelling — — P P C — — — Upper-Story Dwelling — — — P P — — — Boardinghouse or Lodging House — — P C C — — — Manufactured Home Meeting Residential Design Standards P P C — — — — — Manufactured Home Park — — C — — — — — Planned Residential Development C C P P C — — — Accessory Dwelling Unit P P P P — — — — Seasonal Farm Labor Housing — — — — — — — C Draft for Planning Commission Review | July 2026 Residential Accessory and Home-Based Uses Use Classification Low Density Residential Medium Density Residential High Density Residential Downtown Mixed Use General Commercial Institutional Industrial Conservancy Residential Accessory and Home-Based Uses Residential Accessory Building or Structure P P P P — — — — Private Garage or Carport P P P P — — — — Residential Outdoor Storage of Recreational Equipment P P P — — — — — Home Occupation P P P P — — — — Professional Home Office P P P P — — — — Garage, Yard, or Estate Sale P P P — — — — — Family Day Care Home P P C P — — — — Community Living Arrangement, 8 or Fewer Persons P P P P — P — — Community Living Arrangement, 9 or More Persons C C C C — P — — Keeping of Household Pets and Small Animals P P P P — — — — Private Sport or Play Area P P P P — — — — Draft for Planning Commission Review | July 2026 Civic, Institutional, and Community Uses Use Classification Low Density Residential Medium Density Residential High Density Residential Downtown Mixed Use General Commercial Institutional Industrial Conservancy Civic, Institutional, and Community Uses Public or Private School (K-12) C C C C C P — — College, University, or Technical School — — — C C P — — Child Care Center / Group Day Care or Nursery School C C C P P P — — Religious Institution or Place of Worship C C C P P P — — Governmental Facility or Administrative Facility C C C P P P C — Governmental Facility C C C P P P P — Library, Museum, or Cultural Facility C C C P P P — C Community Center or Public Assembly Facility C C C P P P — C Emergency Shelter — — C C C P — — Hospital — — — C C P — — Medical or Dental Clinic C C C P P P — — Nursing Home, Assisted Living, or Retirement Home C C C C C P — — Funeral Home C C C P P P — — Cemetery P P C C C P — C Private Club, Lodge, or Fraternal Organization P P C P P P — C Nonprofit or Membership Organization Facility — — C P P P — — Draft for Planning Commission Review | July 2026 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Uses Use Classification Low Density Residential Medium Density Residential High Density Residential Downtown Mixed Use General Commercial Institutional Industrial Conservancy Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Uses Public Park or Playground P P P P P P — P Private Recreation Area P P P P P P — P Golf Course or Country Club P P C C C — — C Indoor Recreation or Entertainment Facility — — C P P P C — Outdoor Sports Field or Skating Rink — — C C C P — C Campground or Recreation Camp — — — — — — — C Marina, Yacht Club, or Boat Harbor — — — — C — — C Ski Hill or Recreational Trail — — — — — — — C Hunting, Fishing, Hiking, or Trapping — — — — — — — P Wildlife Preserve or Game Management Area — — — — — — — P Arboretum, Botanical Garden, or Greenway — — — C C P — P Scenic, Historic, or Scientific Preservation Area — — — — — P — P Public Fish Hatchery — — — — — P — P Archery or Shooting Range — — — — — — C C Draft for Planning Commission Review | July 2026 Commercial and Service Uses Use Classification Low Density Residential Medium Density Residential High Density Residential Downtown Mixed Use General Commercial Institutional Industrial Conservancy Commercial and Service Uses Retail Sales & Services — — — P P — C — Grocery or Specialty Food Store — — — P P — C — Restaurant or Cafe — — — P P — P — Tavern, Bar, or Drinking Establishment — — — P P — C — Professional, Business, or Administrative Office — — — P P P P — Financial Institution — — — P P — — — Personal Service Establishment — — — P P — C — Business Support Service — — — P P — P — Repair Service, Small Appliance, Jewelry, or Similar — — — C P — P — Commercial Laundry or Dry Cleaning Establishment — — — P C — P — Hotel, Motel, or Tourist Lodging — — — C C — — — Bed-and-Breakfast Establishment P P C P P — — — Commercial Parking Lot, Garage, or Structure — — — P P P P — Passenger Transportation Station or Taxi Facility — — — P P P P — Communication Office or Facility — — — P P P P — Greenhouse or Plant Nursery, Retail — — — P P — P C Automobile or Recreational Vehicle Sales — — — — C — P — Automobile Service or Fuel Station — — — C P — P —