PRESENT: Chairman Mayor Wescott; Ann Shannon; Mike Phillips; Fred Steffen; Lois Feldman; (Excused, Karen Aldinger and Bud Flood)

ALSO PRESENT: Comm. Dev. Dir. John Gardner; City Clerk Victoria Zdroik; Ald. Moore, Sevenich, and Rackow; Park Dir. Tom Schrader; Tom Ludwig; Bernice Woitczak; Rebecca Mattano; Gene Kemmeter, Po. Co. Gazette; Kate Garsombke, Journal

Index of these Minutes:

1. Approval of the Minutes of the January 5, 2004 Plan Commission Meeting
2. Acquisition of 2416 Bush Street
3. Stevens Point Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 2004-2009
4. Update on Comprehensive Planning - 2004

1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 5, 2004 PLAN COMMISSION MEETING

Lois Feldman moved, seconded by Ann Shannon, to approve the minutes of the January 5, 2004 meeting. Ayes all; Nays none; Motion carried.

2. ACQUISITION OF 2416 BUSH STREET

Chairman Wescott reviewed the attached memo from Tom Schrader and noted the Parks Commission unanimously approved acquisition of the property at their January 7 meeting.

Mike Phillips moved, seconded by Fred Steffen, to affirm the recommendation of the Parks Commission to acquire 2416 Bush St. and recommend the purchase go to the Finance Committee concerning the appraisal of the property.
Ayes all; Nays none; Motion carried.

3. STEVENS POINT COMPREHENSIVE OUTDOOR RECREATION PLAN 2004-2009

Chairman Wescott noted we are introducing this item today and then you can study it for the next 30 days with formal action at our March meeting.

Tom Schrader stated the plan accomplishes two things: 1) sets a plan of action for the next 5 years and 2) allows us to obtain DNR grant money. The process started in August of 2003 with the comprehensive draft approved in January of 2004, with updates on the city's web site as we progressed. In response to the web site, Donald Hein ( his father donated the land for the park) contacted us from Appleton wanting to make a donation. We surveyed 33 people from each voting district in the city, or approximately 350 residences. The survey included two open-ended questions and approximately 160 of the surveys were returned some of which included narrative which is very helpful. He distributed copies of the survey results and pages of written narrative noting positive experiences.

Lois Feldman noted she has heard many comments about what a wonderful park system we have. She had several questions about the plan:
Pg. 7 - regarding the Plover River being a barrier until the bridge at Patch Street. Tom responded prior to Patch St. Bridge being built, Hwy. 10 was the only way to get east without going to Plover.
Pg. 32 - school recreation facilities. Tom responded some of these need updating yet.
Pg. 51 - #1 lands between Hwy. 10 and I-39. Tom responded the land is located on the west side of the Plover River. He will put in additional language to described it.
Pg. 54 - Pfiffner/Pioneer Park #6 - the status of the WPS property. Tom responded it is for sale and is included in our plan to purchase it or obtain an easement for public use.

Fred Steffen questioned whether the environmental concerns have been addressed on the WPS property. He expressed concern that the city not take title to WPS if there are environmental cleanup costs associated with it.

Chairman Wescott noted the site is not clean and some work could still be done.

No action taken until next month.

4. UPDATE ON COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING - 2004

Chairman Wescott noted he would like feedback from the commission and alderpersons on how you feel the work on comprehensive planning is going.

John Gardner reviewed the 9 elements. He had hoped we would be doing some of these things collectively with the Urban Planning Group and is not sure what the county has in mind. Our plan should relate to the surrounding municipalities.

Chairman Wescott noted Jeff Schuler had indicated in his memo that we would receive the draft text for the next three chapters later in the month, meaning January. We have not received anything yet. He has discussed with the city planner his intent to move the city forward in the comprehensive planning area. Comprehensive planning is important for our community, for the work we do as plan commissioners, and for the role of city council members. Although the master plan is not due until the year 2010, by this time next year, it is his goal that we will have successfully completed our work as a committee. We have a lot of work to do and will have to work aggressively and intelligently in these areas.

Ann Shannon noted the planning committee seems to be lacking people from the business community. The committee seems to be weighted heavily in other areas.

Chairman Wescott responded we have a Stevens Point comprehensive planning committee and also the county umbrella organization. The focus groups had representation from the business community, but the Urban Committee felt there was not a need for them to sit on the master planning committee as much as there was to participate in the economic planning group, a group on commerce, input from the business council, and the hopes and dreams workshops, and directly soliciting input from the business community. There has been a good channel from the business community into those specific component. We had people from the community and the housing authority participate in the Housing Section. The city group is large and we have participation from our schools, our university, council and plan commission and some of those are also business people.

Fred Steffen noted he sometimes wears several hats - businessman, landlord, commissioner, and citizen. He hopes he represents all of those bodies, but none of those bodies to the exclusion of the community. Whatever he does is not necessarily in my best interest as a landlord or as a businessman, but simply in the best interest of the community.

Chairman Wescott responded he is glad to see representation at our meetings from the Town of Linwood. Although they have technically withdrawn from the county's umbrella organization, they continue to participate in their own planning as well as the city's process.

Bernice Woitczak, representing the Town of Linwood, stated she attends these meetings for intergovernmental cooperation. There isn't much activity west of the city, but we are there.

Mike Phillips noted he applauds all of the townships that are sticking with the plan. He is not sure working with the county is a good thing. We all seem to be going in different directions. We have been at this for 1 ½ years, how many decisions have we made.

John Gardner responded he has advocated for the multi-municipal approach. The County maintains each municipality should have some sense of its own best interests before we get together collectively. The city has looked at Issues and Opportunities and Housing, so we have reviewed two background sections out of nine.

Ald. Moore noted he is concerned that some of the economic issues in the 2002 adopted vision plan are not being followed by the county.

Chairman Wescott reminded commissioners and alderpersons that the Sewer Service Advisory Committee has scheduled a meeting for February 12 at 3:00 at the Village of Plover.

Meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.

The meeting minutes reproduced on this website are derived from the computer files used to produce the official minutes for the City of Stevens Point, but are unofficial. The minutes on this web site cannot be certified under s. 889.08, Wis. Stats., and cannot be considered prima facie evidence under s. 889.04, Wis. Stats. Certain tables, maps, and other documents that are a part of the official minutes are not included in the files reproduced on this website. Please consult the printed minutes, available in the City Clerk's Office, for the official text. The decisions made by City of Stevens Point boards, committees, and commissions (other than the Police & Fire Commission) are advisory only and are not binding on the city until affirmed at a meeting of the Common Council. Some of the minutes on this web site might not be approved by the Common Council as of today.