Commuinity Development Authority - MINUTES - 12/20/2011
CITY OF MUSKEGO Approved 2/8/12
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (CDA)
MINUTES
TUESDAY, December 20, 2011
Chairman Glazier called the meeting of the Community Development Authority to order at 6:03 PM
Those in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
STATEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE
The meeting was posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law.
PRESENT: Commissioners Rob Glazier, Larry Lefebvre, Ald. Snead, Ald. Soltysiak and Executive
Director Muenkel
EXCUSED: Dan Draeger, Gail Konkel, Bill Engelking
GUESTS: Ald. Borgman, Denise Konkol of MUSKEGO PATCH, Suzi Link, Mike Brandt, Robert
Turcott, Mark Oliver, et. al.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 18, 2011 MEETING:
Commissioner Lefebvre moved to approve the minutes of the October 18, 2011 meeting. Ald.
Snead seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion was approved.
PUBLIC INPUT: Mr. Robert Turcott question under what agenda item the Lake Park would be discussed.
Chairman Glazier advised him that Lake Park would not be discussed this evening and no action taken. It is
part of Redevelopment District #2 and would be noted as a separate agenda item. He further explained that
the redevelopment districts were listed on the agenda in order for Executive Director Muenkel to update the
CDA on occurrences that the CDA may want to be aware of within these districts. Mr. Turcott stated he was
concerned how this issue of the Lake Park worked through the process in Muskego. He was opposed to the
project. Just because there is no tax increase, doesn’t mean you can spend more money. Also, the city is
short-sighted in creating Pioneer Drive as a city center when the city had a center on Racine, Janesville and
Moorland. This being the only chance, forever to eternity, for the city to acquire land on the lake, that’s
foolishness. He felt there was a certain entity pushing this for personal benefit. He mentioned he had written
a letter to the city, several pages, on it and had not received one word back from the mayor or the aldermen.
He also predicted that if the city bought the property so people could glimpse the lake from Janesville Road
that there would be accidents as people driving through looked at the lake.
Ms. Suzi Link commented that historically the CDA has been most respectful of any city body in allowing
people to give comments. Again, specific to Redevelopment District #2, she had concerns about the decline
in property value, taxable property value, and the impact on the redevelopment district. With the removal of
property from the tax rolls, on the ridiculous wings that are proposed to be given to the city, you will be
permanently reducing taxable revenue from the contiguous properties. She stated that the CDA started off
as a body that any proposed development or redevelopment had to come before the CDA if it was in the
redevelopment district boundaries; lately, it seems that the CDA has been getting pushed more and more
into a grant administration body than a redevelopment body. Her concerns specific to Redevelopment
District #2 are that yet another group is making decisions on the city’s part of Janesville Road from the curb
to the residences and, also, will be getting some unattractive street light fixtures. As a former CDA member,
she knew that the Walgreen’s on Racine had to have a certain type of lighting that the city wanted and that
matched the lighting at the library and other developers were informed they needed that type of lighting. It is
a redevelopment district and it has some standards and some of those standards have not been getting
CDA Minutes, December 20, 2011 2
applied and some are getting lost because too many other groups are taking responsibility away from the
CDA and that defeats the core mission of the CDA. She added that the CDA had several hearing sessions
to come up with a downtown design guide and it seems as far as she can tell, it is being ignored. The pieces
that she has seen on Janesville Road are not reflecting the design guide. She is not aware that there have
been listening sessions and actual efforts being made to do what the community wanted rather than what
one special interest group wants. She cited other examples not keeping with the design guide.
Mr. Mike Brandt questioned if the CDA was the first city body where a project would get started in a
redevelopment district and then make a recommendation to government. Chairman Glazier stated there are
times when because of the grant program and projects that CDA administers, they would be on the leading
edge of a project, but don’t do development or create development programs. They create redevelopment
districts that create an environment that can foster development. At some point in time when the Lake Park
project comes along, Mr. Brandt requested the CDA to vote no. He continued, they would be tearing down
the two nicest homes on the lake, taking them off the tax roll. There was a public hearing a year ago and
one person talked for that project. People were against it and businesses were against it. The CDA needs to
say back off because the city can’t afford it.
NEW BUSINESS
Commercial Grant/Loan Discussion on Qualifying Issues
Executive Director Muenkel shared that Bethel Lutheran Church is looking towards making updates in their
landscaping, signage and access. They were inquiring if they would qualify for the grant/loan program as
they are an institutional body. Chairman Glazier stated the question, would the CDA let the institutional
groups into the commercial grant/loan programs? Ald. Soltysiak asked where the funds would be coming
from and are there restrictive uses for these funds relative to institutions? Executive Director Muenkel said
the funds would be from the TIF residual funds. CDA members discussed whether or not institutions would
qualify for the funding. Some issues brought up included:
They don’t pay taxes; thus, not paying into the funds;
Bring institutions into the programs, then should residential properties also be brought into the
program;
The county will pay for anything that is disturbed due to the reconstruction;
Would the school district also approach the CDA for funding, or the fire station, library, etc.
The spirit of the program is to spur commercial development.
For now, the CDA members did not want to bring institutional properties into the programs.
Mill Valley Redevelopment District Discussion
Executive Director Muenkel will be looking at the development of the Mill Valley district in the next month.
The city hasn’t had any discussions with New Berlin for some time. The last discussions centered around
the options of getting sewer and water to the New Berlin development so it doesn’t impact the City of
Muskego residents. He will be looking at the initial draft within the next month and have it for their comments
at the January meeting. Ald. Soltysiak felt the marketing research plan will help the CDA to know what will
work in that area. He stated it should be a prime area for growth being near the freeway.
OLD BUSINESS
Tess Corners Redevelopment District (#1) Implementation
Executive Director Muenkel shared that they have gone through the clean –up of the industrial park; they
didn’t have to issue any citations. Also, at the January or February meeting, the streetscaping designs with
costs should be ready for their review.
Downtown Redevelopment District #2 Implementation
CDA Minutes, December 20, 2011 3
Executive Director Muenkel received a draft of the beginning analysis on the marketing plan. They are in the
process of doing interviews with stakeholders to gain more information. He should receive a draft of their
recommendations in January. They are planning to attend the January meeting to go over the plan and to
get more information from the CDA members on any missing information so they can put together a final
plan.
In regard to the grants/loan program, Executive Director Muenkel had attended a recent conference and
shared the information he picked up on Oconomowoc’s business loan program. The funding for their loan
program comes from a bank. They put a base amount of money and partner with the city on these loans for
the city to manage the loans. Ald. Soltysiak liked this idea better than the grant program as the money
comes back to offer to some other business. He would like to pursue this to see if Muskego’s local banks
would partner with the city.
On the residual TIF 8 funds, Executive Director Muenkel reported they found interest from Muskego Beer
and Liquor and Delta; however, they wanted to wait until the finalized engineering designs came out for the
reconstruction of Janesville Road. They would not commit until they knew the true impact of the
reconstruction on their businesses. Muskego Beer and Liquor would be planning to make changes to their
façade. Chairman Glazier inquired if the CDA would have to amend TIF 8 to make funds available to the
businesses outside the district. Executive Director Muenkel responded they would have to amend the
district as the city auditors advised the funds have to be used within the district or directly benefitting the
district.
Muskego Business Park Redevelopment District#3 Implementation
Executive Director Muenkel had nothing new to report at this time. They will investigate projects in this
district in 2012.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW
Redevelopment District Development & Other Miscellaneous Information Updates
Executive Director Muenkel shared how he keeps “Logs of Implementation” on projects and now will
be doing the same for the CDA. It was a good resource not only for the CDA members but general
public.
Also on the city’s web site, the sale and lease opportunities are updated every several months.
Lastly, the city will be going the social media route next year with Twitter and Facebook. It will cover
the current events happening at the city.
Next Meeting Date
Tuesday, January 17, 6:00 PM
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, Ald. Snead moved for adjournment, Commissioner Lefebvre
seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:05 PM.
Stella Dunahee, CPS
Recording Secretary