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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Packet - 6/14/2016 CITY OF MUSKEGO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AGENDA June 14, 2016 6:15 PM City Hall, W182 S8200 Racine Avenue CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL STATEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE APPROVAL OF AGENDA APPROVAL OF MINUTES - May 24, 2016 and June 2, 2016 NEW BUSINESS 1.) Zoning Code Review - Accessory Structures in Front Yards 2.) Luther Parker Cemetery COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW ADJOURNMENT Possible reconvening of the Committee of the Whole immediately following Common Council Meeting of the same date to continue work on agenda items NOTICE IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MEMBERS OF AND POSSIBLY A QUORUM OF MEMBERS OF OTHER GOVERNMENTAL BODIES OF THE MUNICIPALITY MAY BE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE ABOVE-STATED MEETING TO GATHER INFORMATION; NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL BODY AT THE ABOVE-STATED MEETING OTHER THAN THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY SPECIFICALLY REFERRED TO ABOVE IN THIS NOTICE. ALSO, UPON REASONABLE NOTICE, EFFORTS WILL BE MADE TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF DISABLED INDIVIDUALS THROUGH APPROPRIATE AIDS AND SERVICES. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR TO REQUEST THIS SERVICE, MUSKEGO CITY HALL, (262) 679-4100. Unapproved CITY OF MUSKEGO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES May 24, 2016 6:30 PM City Hall, W182 S8200 Racine Avenue CALL TO ORDER Mayor Chiaverotti called the meeting to order at 6:38 pm. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Present: Alderman Wolfe, Hammel, Borgman, Kapusta, Engelhardt, Kubacki, Madden and Mayor Chiaverotti. Also Present: Director Mueller. STATEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE Director Mueller stated the meeting was properly noticed. APPROVAL OF AGENDA APPROVAL OF MINUTES - April 12, 2016 Alderman Kubacki motioned to approve the April 12, 2016 minutes. Alderman Engelhardt seconded. NEW BUSINESS 1.) Employee Health Insurance Update Director Mueller presented the Health Insurance Updates.  WPS Health Insurance renewal for 2016-2017 plan year 0% increase  HRA vs HSA  Health Allowance  Budget Results  Municipality Comparisons Consensus was to collect more information and to explore a reduction of health allowance, HSA options, comparison with other municipalities of the health allowance amounts. COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW ADJOURNMENT Possible reconvening of the Committee of the Whole immediately following Common Council Meeting of the same date to continue work on agenda items Alderman Engelhardt motioned to adjourn. Alderman Kubacki seconded. Unapproved CITY OF MUSKEGO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES June 2, 2016 5:30 PM City Hall, W182 S8200 Racine Avenue CALL TO ORDER Mayor Chiaverotti called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Present: Alderman Hammel, Borgman, Engelhardt, Kubacki, Madden, Mayor Chiaverotti and Director Mueller. Alderman Wolfe arrived late. Absent: Alderman Kapusta STATEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE Director Mueller stated that the meeting was properly noticed. APPROVAL OF AGENDA APPROVAL OF MINUTES No minutes were approved. NEW BUSINESS 1.) Employee Health Insurance Update Director Mueller presented municipal comparisons and HSA options.Unanimous consensus to remain with the current health plan at a 0% premium increase for the 2016-2017 plan year. No further changes to the health care plan until the 2018 budget process. COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW ADJOURNMENT Possible reconvening of the Committee of the Whole immediately following Common Council Meeting of the same date to continue work on agenda items Alderman Kubacki motioned to adjourn at 5:56 pm. Alderman Madden seconded. May 16, 2016 Mr. Jeffrey Graf 808 12th Ave. Union Grove, WI 53182-1449 Dear Mr. Graf: Thank you for sharing your concern for the care of Luther Parker Cemetery (formerly called Durham Hill Cemetery / Drought Cemetery) in our community. The City of Muskego is blessed to have this historic site where many of our community’s early pioneers were laid to rest. I also share your specific respect for those among them who had lost their lives serving our nation in the Civil War. I have a deep reverence for veterans as my father proudly served in World War II and have many other friends and family who have bravely defended our country’s interests. However I respectfully disagree with the premise of your letter and firmly believe that our community has been providing “proper and decent care” for this cemetery and is in compliance with State Statues. The vegetation of Luther Parker Cemetery is certainly not “weeds” as your letter states. The cemetery is being managed to preserve the same vegetation that existed when the deceased were interred. Many of these native plants are relatively rare and had been extirpated from the majority of our nation’s landscape by agriculture and development in the 20th century. Our community has taken the position that it is prudent and respectful to maintain the same plants that these deceased persons would have commonly seen through their lifetimes – thus, the native (and historic) vegetation. Conversely, mowing and turf grass maintenance are a relatively recent phenomenon compared to the age of the grave sites and not a landscape with which these pioneers would have been accustomed. Thus, changing to a more modern landscape style could be considered disrespectful to th ose who are laid to rest here. Further, this site is classified as an Isolated Natural Resource Area and a Natural Area of Local Significance by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission because of the plant community that grows upon it. Seeds derived from plants on this site are used to restore native plantings elsewhere – creating other examples of this (Civil War era) landscape. You further indicated that burning will degrade and eventually destroy headstones but our experience and research on this issue shows no evidence that prescribed fire has an adverse effect on the longevity of headstone markers. The City of Muskego will continue to hold Luther Parker Cemetery in reverence and work to preserve it. Many of the headstones were originally constructed from brittle, erodible sandstone and weathering has degraded them over the better part of two centuries. Around 2000, the City hired a professional monument contractor to repair broken headstones. Some of these repairs did not last due to the nature of the crumbling sandstone rock. Grave markers of more durable stone (granite) have held up well. The cemetery inventory (included) indicates that the headstone of First Lieutenant Homer H. Clark has (or had) a broken headstone. If (still) broken we certainly can work to make appropriate repairs again. Please call me if you have further questions or concerns at (262) 679-5617. Respectfully, Tom Zagar City Forester City of Muskego Copy: Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti Aldermen Jeff Muenkel David Simpson 0 PUBLIC WELFARE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD AUGUST 18, 196.5 CALLED TO ORDER AT 3:45 PM. ALDERNAN BUDISH, AS CHAIRMAN, ALONG WITH MAYOR GOTTFRIED AND ALDERKEN HUDZIAK AND DEANGELIS WERE IN ATTENDANCE. e GUESTS: WILLIAM GROTJAN, ARTHUR ODE, AND FIRE CHIEF LUDWIG. LUTHER PARKER CEMETERY: MR. WN. GROTJAN (NATURALIST) AND MR. ARTHUR ODE (BOTONICAL SUPERVISOR, COUNTY PARK COKNISSION) WERE INTRODUCED TO THE COKNITTEE AND SUBSEQUENTLY RELATED PERTINENT FACTS REGARDING TEE EXTREHE VALUE OF THE CENETERY AREA, IN CON- JUNCTION WITH SHOWING PICTURE SLIDES TO ILLUSTRATE THE SUBJECT MATTER. IT WAS POINTED OUT Br MESSRS. GROTJAN AND ODE THAT THE PRAIRIE TYPE SOIL AND PLANT LIFE Is ALHOST EXTINCT, AND OF THE VALUE IT IS TO NANKIND TO DETERNINE HOW THIS SOIL WAS CREATED. MANKIND KNOWS WHAT HAKES UP THE SOIL, BUT NOT HOWE IT IS CREATED- IYORE PARTICULARLY, ITS' CHEHICAL COKPOSITIONS. MANY DEEP SOIL RELICS EXIST IN THE LUTHER PARKER CEMETERY AND THESE GENTLEKEN WERE CONCERNED TO OBTAIN SEEDS TO REPRODUCE AN ACTUAL SIX (6) ACRE PRAIRIE IN WHITNALL PARK. THIS REPRODUCTION WOULD TAKE SEVERAL DECADES, IN THEIR OPINION. ALSO DISCUSSED WAS THE POSSIBILITY THAT A SIGN COULD BE ERECTED AT THE CEMETERY BY THE BOTONICAL GARDENS GROUP STATING THAT THE CEMETERY IS UNDER THEIR SUPERVISION, AND WHY THE FOILAGE IS NOT CUT. MR. GROTJAN SUGGESTED THE USE OF PRAIRIE ROSES INSTEAD OF MULTA-FLORE ROSES FOR A FENCE ON THE PERIMETERS OF THE CEHETERY. THE COKHITTEE THUS EXTENDED THEIR GRATITUDE TO THESE GENTLENEN FOR THEIR CONCERN, AND THE GUESTS LEFT THE HEETING. COPY OF COMMUNICATIO& FROM CHAIRNAN BULIISH To MR. McYEr, FISH & WILDLIFE MGR., WAS READ AND PLACED ON FILE. DEPT. OF PUBLIC WELFARE (WAUKESHA CO. GROUP)-* VOUCHER AFFIDAVIT RECEIVED FOR JULY CHARGES FOR THE Al¶OUNT OF $615.04. THIS Con- PIITTEE TO FORWARD SAID VOUCHER TO THE FINANCE COHHITTEE AND CALL THEIR ATTENTION TO THE CREDIT DUE UNDER THE REVOLVING FUND ASSES- NENT OF JULY IN THE AMOUNT OF $975.00. COMMUNICATION TO MR. VAN SKrHocK FROK SEC’Y DEANGELIS READ. IT APPEARS THE AREA IS CLEANED UP AND, CONSEQUENTLY NO FURTHER ACTION IS NECESSARY AT THIS TIIYE. WAUKESHA COUNTY HEALTH DEPT: A REPORT ON ALL THE ACTIVITIES OF THIS DEPT. WAS RECEIVED AND PLACED ON FILE. OUR CITY HAD 43 BIRTHS AND 14 DEATHS DURING THE MONTHS OF APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE. COMMUNICATIONS TO MESSRS. WAUER AND LUDWIG REQUESTING THEPI TO ATTEND THIS NEETING WAS READ. BECAUSE MR. WAVER COULD NOT ATTEND, THIS REQUESTED KEETING WAS POSTPONED UNTIL THE NEXT REGULAR B-EET- l ING OF THE COMKITTEE. ENTRANCE SIGNS: A GENERAL DISCUSSION RELATED TO THIS SUBJECT FOL- LOWED. IT WAS FELT BY THE COMNITTEE THAT SOrfETHINQ ALONG THIS LINE SHOULD BE DONE SOON. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT POSSIBLY SIX (6) SIGNS SHOULD BE ERECTED TEiYPORARILY. COST OF NATERIAL TO PRE- FABRICATE TWO SEPERATE STYLES OF SIGNS TO BE OBTAINED BY CHAIR- KAN BUDISH. CEIIIETERY FENCE: AN ESTIPIATE COST IS TO BE ACQUIRED FOR AN 0 "EARLY AKERICAN ROUND RAIL FENCE' AND GATE (2 RAIL STYLE). THIS IS THE TYPE OF FENCE THE COKKITTEE FEELS WOULD BE APPRO- PRIATE FOR THE FRONT PORTIONS OF THE CEKETERY LOT. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, ALDEREAN HUDZIAK MOVED TO ADJOURN. ALDERMAN BUDISH SECONDED THE MOTION . . . ETOTION e CARRIED. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 5:oo PM. PUBLIC WELFARE-COMMITTEE JAS Memo To: Committee of the Whole From: Tom Zagar CC: Jeff Muenkel, David Simpson Date: June 9, 2016 Re: Management of Luther Parker Cemetery On May 9, 2016 Alderman Eileen Madden and the rest of Common Council received a mailed letter (attached) from Jeffrey Graf of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War regarding the management of Luther Parker Cemetery. The letter which had no return telephone or e-mail information was subsequently passed on to City staff. The following includes a timeline and other background on the issue:  Mr. Graf’s letter alleged that the vegetation of the cemetery was a “weed patch” “passed off as a wild plant sanctuary” and the City was alleged to be in violation of state statutes concerning “proper and decent” care of the graves of veterans.  On May 16: I completed and mailed a response letter (attached) to Mr. Graf explaining that the extremely rare prairie vegetation that exists on the site was of historic value as it is the very same prairie soil that existed when the pioneers were laid to rest. I further explained that the site is classified as a Natural Area of Local significance by Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC). By the time Mr. Graf received the letter he had already taken his concerns to the media.  May 18 – May 29. Various local radio and television media featured the issue.  May 26: The Mayor received an e-mail from Mr. Graf that Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War planned a Memorial Day observance at the cemetery on Sunday May 29. The next day, staff mowed the turf in the County Hwy OO right-of way terrace and used a string trimmer to create a walking path and access areas around the two Civil War soldiers’ graves to accommodate the event. The observance was attended by about 25 people including Mayor Chiaverotti, Alderman Madden, and myself.  On June 1: I met with Mr. Mike Johannes, a Veterans Service Officer from Waukesha County and representatives Mr. Graf and Mr. David Daley of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Initially Mr. Graf indicated that he would not be satisfied with the cemetery’s management unless the entire site was mowed like a modern cemetery. In that meeting I agreed to remove brushy (non-prairie) vegetation from the cemetery and further indicated that some limited cutting of tall vegetation could be completed to accommodate their future observance activities for the soldiers’ graves.  June 3: The City of Muskego received a letter (attached) from Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) recommending that the City continue to preserve and manage the cemetery’s native mesic prairie vegetation (Defined in SEWRPC Planning Report No. 42). Community Development Department  Page 2  June 3-8: My assistant and I cut and removed shrub vegetation per the agreement of the June 1st meeting.  Five decades ago the City’s management of the cemetery’s prairie vegetation was also in the media (1966 Waukesha Freeman article attached). The article refers to a 1965 meeting of the City of Muskego Public Welfare Committee (minutes attached) where biologists from Milwaukee County gave a presentation on the rarity of the vegetation and the need to preserve it. Over the next five decades prairie relics have become even rarer due to development. Over the last half century, your predecessors who were elected to represent this community have continued to preserve and maintain this rare and historic vegetation. In doing so I believe we are preserving both history and natural history and Muskego is truly honoring the early pioneers who were laid to rest here over a century ago on “Durham Hill.”