The mission of the Ad Hoc Westside Waterfront Planning Committee is to take a fresh look at the future of the westside waterfront, to bring a design/development plan forward to the community for input and eventually to the City Council for ratification.  

The goal is to be making forward progress in preparation for the day when the lawsuit with the Friends’ group is settled.

The group will review current assets and obligations, will adhere to Public Trust Doctrine, will assess various proformas and economic development options for TID 4, and will call in field experts as needed.  The group will make every attempt to take into account the interests of all the factions that have invested time and resources in the waterfront’s future.  Meetings will be open to the public.  

Laurel Hauser and Dave Schanock will co-chair the group and will work with Marty Olejniczak and Council on a slate of 10-12 participants.  The goal in creating the group is to have all entities represented.  Up to 20% of the group may be non-voting, nonresidents of the City of Sturgeon Bay. 

Members will sufficiently meet the following qualifications:

• Willingness, commitment and ability to work as part of a group toward desired goal;
• Knowledge and expertise in economic development, public space design, governmental processes, architecture or landscape design;
• Familiarity with westside waterfront issues.

The group will consist of:

• Laurel Hauser, co-chair
• Dave Schanock, co-chair
• Marty Olejniczak, Community Development Director (or designee, if unavailable)
• Mike Barker, Municipal Services Director (or designee, if unavailable)
• 1 member of the Plan Commission (in addition to co-chair)
• 1 member of the Waterfront Redevelopment Authority (in addition to co-chair)
• 4-6 members of the community at large who fulfill above qualifications and represent affected entities and interests.

The group requests an initial budget of $1,000 for research; more funds may be requested as plan is developed.

Tasks for the committee include:

1.   Create a workplan and timeline.
2.   Review previous development plans and proposals for site.
3.   Review current financial status of TID #4 and consider alternate proformas.
4.   Keep apprised of legal issues relating to the site.
5.   Plan for meaningful public input such as focus groups, surveys, charrettes and meetings.
6.   Develop a general concept plan.  Future uses may include any combination of public recreation space, maritime uses,     quasi-public facilities (museums, ares center), and private development, as allowed under state law and Council directive.
7.   Consider design elements for the site for any public space, architectural elements for any private development, pedestrian links and so forth.
8.   Consider financial impacts of proposed general development plan, including costs for public improvements and methods for generating revenue to cover expenses.
9.   Create a report to the Plan Commission, Waterfront Redevelopment Authority, and Common Council containing the consensus recommendations. 

Ad Hoc Westside Waterfront Steering Committee nominee bios

Mayor David Ward, Helen Bacon, Dennis Statz, Dan Williams, J. Spencer Gustafson, Gary Nault, Seth Wiederanders, Kirsten Reeths [Meets at the call of the Chairperson]

This committee of the Common Council performs all duties of the board of public works required by the general charter law. They also look after all the streets and public places in the city and all such other duties as may be required or prescribed from time to time by the council.

David Ward, Chr., Helen Bacon, J. Spencer Gustafson, Dennis Statz, Mark Holey, Amy Stephens, Jeff Norland. [Meets the third Wednesday of each month – 6:00 p.m.]

The Plan Commission prepares and adopts the master plan for the physical development of the city. Among its other duties are to make reports and recommendations relating to the plan and development of the city to public officials and agencies, prepare and recommend a Zoning District Plan and regulations to the Common Council, prepare and recommend land division regulations to the Common Council. It may recommend to the mayor or council, programs for public improvements and the financing thereof.

Helen Bacon, Chr., Seth Weideranders Vice Chr., Dan Williams [Meets the Tuesday preceding Council meeting – 4:30 p.m.]

Among the responsibilities of the Finance/Purchasing and Building Committee are the review and of all bills and claims against the City and the recommendation to the Common Council for payment, with various departments formulates and adjust individual annual budgets and prepares the final budget for approval by Common Council, reviews the purchase of real estate, equipment, furniture, vehicles, and supplies ensuring that competitive bidding is practiced whenever necessary, and that purchases are made in accordance with the Purchasing & Property Accountability Guide. In general deals with all matters pertaining to the financial affairs of the City.

Dan Williams, Chr., J. Spencer Gustafson Vice-Chr.,Dennis statz [Meets at the call of the Chair]

Among the responsibilities of the Personnel Committee are all matters pertaining to the personnel of the City of Sturgeon Bay, including negotiating bargaining agreements with unions, hiring, dismissal, reprimand of employees (except for the Police and Fire Departments which are governed by the Fire & Police Commission), recommending adjustment of salary and benefits for administrative personnel, act on grievances, review requests for new positions.

Helen Bacon, Chr., Gary Nault, Vice-Chr.,Kirsten Reeths, Mike Barker, Randy Morrow, Jay Renstrom, Debbie Kiedrowski, Thomas Hemminger [Meets at the call of the Chairperson]

Helen Bacon, Chr., Gary Nault, Vice- Chr.,Kirsten Reeths   [Meets the fourth Wednesday of each month – 5:00 p.m.]

Among the responsibilities of the Parks & Recreation Committee are park development and maintenance, recreation programs, boat launch facilities, ball fields, program fees, dock fees/maintenance of municipal docks, beaches, water weeds and all matters pertaining to parks and recreation.

Kirsten Reeths Chr.,Gary Nault Vice Chr.,J Spencer Gustafson, Brian Weiss, Mark Smullen  [Meets the fourth Monday of each month – 4:30 p.m.]

Among the responsibilities of the Local Transportation Board are traffic patterns in the City, traffic and parking enforcement signs and markings, parking lots, on-street parking and all other matters pertaining to parking and traffic in the City of Sturgeon Bay.

Dan Williams, Chr., Kirsten Reeths, Vice-Chr., Seth Wiederanders [Meets the first Wednesday of each month – 4:30 p.m.]

Among the responsibilities of the Community Protection & Services Committee are street lighting, cable TV, the recycling program, composting program, garbage pickup, referrals of indigency, licensing and all matters relating to the health and welfare, and protection of the citizens/property of the City of Sturgeon Bay.

David Augustson, William Chaudoir, Nancy Schopf, Morgan Rusnak, William Murrock, Chr.,Vacant  (Alt. 1), Ronald Vandertie (Alt. 2).  [Meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month – 12:00 p.m.]

The Board of Appeals has the power to hear and decide appeals where it is alleged that there is an error in any order, decision or determination made by the building inspector or the plan commission; to authorize, upon appeal, variances from the terms of the Zoning Code where it will not be contrary to the public interest, where owing to special circumstances the literal enforcement of the provisions of the code will result in unnecessary hardship.

David Ward, Mayor, Steve Christoferson, Stewart Fett, Dan Williams (Council Rep.), Gary Nault (Council Rep.), Dina Boettcher, Seth Wiederanders (Council Rep.) [Meets on the second Tuesday of the month – 12:00 p.m.]

Sandy Hurley, Wayne Spritka, David Poulton, Michael VanDyke, Lois Kurschner[Meets at the call of the Chairperson.]

Among the responsibilities of the Police & Fire Commission are the appointment of the chief of police and the chief of the fire department, who shall hold their offices during good behavior, subject to suspension or removal by the board for cause; to adopt, repeal or modify, rules and regulations calculated to secure the best service in the departments and to hear charges against officers brought by the commission, the chief or members of the public.

Gary Nault, Chr., Nancy Schopf, Steve Propsom, Caitlin Oleson, Paul Mickelson, Robert Spude, Gary Nault(Council Rep.)  [Meets at the call of the Chairperson.]

The Harbor Commission maintains control of the commercial aspects of the day-to-day operation of the city’s public harbor and public harbor facilities; the harbor commissioners may make plans as it deems necessary for the improvement of the harbor, to include plans for the acquisition of land for harbor purposes.

Barry Mellen, Cameryn Ehlers-Kwaterski, J. Eric Paulsen, David Augustson, Chad Shefchik, Dennis Statz (Council Rep), Trudy Herbst [Meets at the call of the Chairperson.]

Among the duties of the Historic Preservation Commission are to recommend the designation of potential historic structures, sites, preservation districts or to recommend the recession of such designation; to review proposals which may result in an alteration of an historic structure, site or improvement in an historic district; to work for the continuing education of the citizens of the city about the historic heritage of the city; to maintain a municipal register of historic places.

Howie Phipps, Ryan Hoernke, Danny Wiegand, Robert Loss, Mike Herlache,  vacant (Alt.), Jon Kruse (Alt.) [Meets according to statutory deadlines.]

The Board of Review meets annually to receive the assessment roll and during that meeting allows taxpayers to examine the assessment roll and other assessment data. The board carefully examines the roll and corrects all apparent errors in description or computation, and adds all omitted property. The board will raise or lower the assessment of any property only after a hearing.

Dan Williams (Council Rep), Dennis Statz (Council Rep), Ryan Hoernke, Barbara Pfeifer, John Hauser, Chris Jeanquart, Carrie Tjernagel. Meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 3 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers, City Hall - 2nd floor, 421 Michigan Street.

The responsibility of the Waterfront Redevelopment Authority is the redevelopment of all waterfront areas of the city, so as to eliminate the economic and social liability as may exist and to improve economic growth and aesthetics of the city.

Dan Williams Chr., J. Spencer Gustafson (Gov’t), Robert Moellenberndt, Dan Tjernagel (Education), Bob Loss, Steve Propsom, Robert Moellenberndt  [Meets at the call of the Chairperson.]

Among the duties of the Cable Communications System Advisory Council are to make recommendations to the grantee of the Cable Communications System and to the users of the public, educational and governmental access channels; ensuring that access of the public access channels are available to residents of the city on a non discriminatory basis; planning and developing production and programming on public access channels; and to perform other duties and functions as may be assigned by the Common Council.

Dan Williams, Steven C. Asher, Michael Gilson, Greg Stephan, Thad Birmingham, Josh VanLieshout [Meets at the call of the Chairperson.]

Gary Nault (Council Rep) Chr., Sandy Hurley, William Murrock, Michelle Lawrie (DCEDC Exec. Director  Alt.)  [Meets at call of the Chairperson.]

All new developments within the I-1A and I-2A districts must receive the approval of the Development Review Team DRT. There are three (3) members of the DRT, one (1) member from the Plan Commission or Common Council, one (1) member of the Door County Economic Development Corporation and one (1) owner of a developed parcel within the I-1A or I-2A districts.

Matt Fox, David Augustson, Jolene Mc Mahon, Rick Wiesner, Pam Jorns, Thad Birmingham, and Nancy Schopf [Meets at call of the Chairperson.]

This a seven citizen member board that reviews new development projects and modifications to existing developments that are outside of the Historic District (also does not include single-family or two-family dwellings). This board meets every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m.

Please visit our website for our membership and information about our advisory board.

Helen Bacon (Council Rep), J. Spencer Gustafson (Council Rep), Bob Dickson Bridget Bowers, Nissa Norton, Megan Lundahl, Mary L Jackson[Meets the third Monday of the month at 5:00 pm.]

Helen Bacon (Council rep), Stephanie Trenchard, Claire Morkin, Margaret Lockwood, melaniejane 

The five-member Board's purpose is to promote cultural and artistic enrichment and diversity, and to facilitate arts and culture related communication and collaboration within the City.  The Board provides the structure through which artistic and cultural proposals involving public spaces and buildings may be considered.  This board meets the second Wednesday of the month at 9:00 a.m.

Members include Kirsten Reeths, Chr., Gary Nault, Spencer Gustafson, Brian Weiss, and Mark Smullen.  This board meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month at 4:30 p.m.

Duties include:

• Review existing plans and policies related to modes of transportation and parking facilities and prioritize implementation measures.  Advise and assist the city regarding the details of plans, goals, policies, and activities relating to such plans.
• Develop funding ideas for implementation of improvements.
• Pursue grants and other related local transportation facility enhancement funding.
• Develop and/or promote educational and marketing materials including safety tips, promotion of the benefits of biking/walking, and maps.
• Review requirements for gaining recognition for the city's efforts in providing bicycle and pedestrian transportation and recreation facilities (e.g. Bicycle Friendly Community, etc.) and recommend steps for the city to qualify for such recognition of status, if appropriate.
• Review locations and design of public parking facilities, restrictions for on-street public parking (no parking zones, time limits, accessible spaces, etc.).
• Review traffic signage, crosswalks, and speed limits along local streets.
• Other tasks as needed or delegated to it by the common council as related to the board's purpose.

Co-chairs Helen Bacon and Gary Nault, Nicholas Haus, Peter Hurth, Nicholas Lutzke, and Skyler Witalison.  Meets at the call of either chair person.