PLANNING, RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

 

Monday, March 31, 2008

Administrative Center – Room 3220

4:00 p.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  George Hammes, J. Terry Hanson, Tom Rauk, Don Meyer, Don Bina, Brian Kapanke, Robert Keil 

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  David Hansen (FSA rep.)      

MEMBERS ABSENT:  None

OTHERS PRESENT:  Gregg Stangl, Mary Meehan-Strub, Mary Jo Webster, Mike Weibel, Charlie Handy, Bill Jung, Cheryl McBride, Bryan Jostad, Jeff Moorhouse, Cheryl Stephen

 

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

Committee Chair George Hammes called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

 

APPROVE OF MINUTES

MOTION by Hanson/Bina to approve meeting minutes of March 3, 2008.  Motion carried unanimously; Hansen excused.    

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

None requested

 

APPROVAL OF THE STORMWATER CONSULTANT PROPOSAL

Gregg Stangl and Bryan Jostad reviewed the RFP process for the selection of stormwater consultant.  Because La Crosse County is designated as a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System by EPA and the County was issued a Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit by the DNR in November 2006, the process is to hire a consultant to assist the County in meeting the requirements of this permit; the consultant will conduct a pollutant-loading analysis of the area under the County jurisdiction and assist the County in developing a pollution prevention plan to assure compliance.  Six (6) vendors submitted proposals which were reviewed by an internal evaluation team.  The proposals were evaluated on:  1) qualifications & experience, 2) understanding/approach to scope of work, 3) cost, and 4) interview.  Based on scores prior to the interviews, the evaluation team decided to interview the two top scoring vendors; and based on interview scores, the evaluation team would like to recommend approval of Earth Tech at a cost of $38,300 which also had the highest overall score of 746.  The other vendor, MSA/Paragon had overall score of 733 at a price of $41,700.  Miscellaneous questions and answers.  Gregg noted $50,000 in the 2008 Land Conservation Dept. budget for this purpose.  Other urban municipalities will have to do the same as they hold separate permits.  The County’s consultant will look at County roads and county-owned lands.  MOTION by Hanson/Meyer to approve Earth Tech as the stormwater water consultant in amount of $38,300.  Motion carried unanimously; Hansen excused.    

 

APPROVE JOINT DATCP/DNR NON-POINT SOURCE GRANT APPLICATION FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2009

Gregg reviewed.  Each county will receive a minimum of $85,000 plus additional funding based on number of employees over one (1); 70% for 2nd employee, 50% for 3rd employee and all subsequent positions, plus additional grant dollar requests for various projects, such as LWRM, SEG and Targeted Runoff Management.  Total 2009 grant request is for $767,949, and based on past experience and state budget concerns, anticipate an award of approximately $387,000.  Copies of the grant application were sent to the committee members prior to the meeting that showed details of the grant funding requests.

 

MOTION by Bina/Keil to approve, as presented, the joint DATCP/DNR non-point source grant application for calendar year 2009.  Motion carried unanimously; Hansen excused.

 

UW EXTENSION WRITTEN REPORTS

MOTION by Hanson/Keil to receive and file the UW Extension written reports as presented.  Motion carried unanimously.  In addition, Mary Meehan Strub distributed copies of Wisconsin Associated County Extension Committee, Inc. (WACEC) winter/spring newsletter. 

 

REFERRED CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 773 – DAVID HARTER FOR HARTER TRUCKING, INC., TOWN OF ONALASKA

Mike Weibel reviewed.  The committee held the public hearing on this permit on March 3, 2008, at which time there was no correspondence from the Town of Onalaska.  The committee approved Conditional Use Permit No. 773 for David Harter/Harter Trucking, Inc., in Town of Onalaska, that also included six conditions.   Since that time, the Town of Onalaska has sent correspondence relating to that permit, noting that they met on March 24, 2008, and approved the permit that also includes 3 additional conditions, those being:  1) operation 7 days a week during daylight hours, 2) no outdoor storage of chemicals or fuels, and 3) the Town reserves the right to revisit application of chemicals in the future.  MOTION by Hanson/Rauk to re-approve conditional use permit no. 773, to include the original 6 conditions as approved on March 3, 2008, plus the 3 additional conditions as noted above as requested the Town of Onalaska.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

RESOLUTION RE AUTHORIZATION TO TRANSFER FUNDS FOR THE REGISTER OF DEEDS IMAGING PROJECT

MOTION by Bina/Meyer to approve the resolution.  Noted that this was presented at the last meeting and approved, though since it was determined that a resolution was needed.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

RESOLUTION RE AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY IMAGES

MOTION by Hanson/Meyer to approve the resolution.  Miscellaneous questions.  The balance in the Special Land Record Assessment Fund as of January 1, 2008 is $521,762.  Charlie Handy estimated receipt of $180,000 per year for this particular account.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

STAFF REPORT – NUMBERS OF LICENSED AND OPERABLE VEHICLES ALLOWED

Charlie reviewed; this issue came about at the request of Committee Chairman Hammes.  There are some residents around the County that have many licensed vehicles on their property, and at times are eyesores.  There was a question on whether or not the Zoning Code should be amended and to limit the number of licensed vehicles.  After discussion among staff, it was determined that through the process of zoning inspections, that staff could take care of most of these issues with the existing Zoning Code, but it’s up to the committee on what direction to give staff.  Miscellaneous questions and answers followed. 

 

LAND USE POLICIES – LOT SIZE RANGES UNDER LAND USE CATEGORIES, PERMITS IN NONCOMPLIANCE WITH LAND USE, ZONING VS. LAND USE VS. USE VALUE 

Charlie noted question(s) came about as part of adopting the new Comprehensive Plan, such as, can a developer come in and purchase 40 acres and wants to develop four (4) ten-acre lots, which is larger than the minimum lot size, though it qualifies for that land use category and if the land use category also has a maximum size.  He noted language within the Town of Holland plan which the town can deny any requests over 1-acre lots.  It would be beneficial to get the same/similar language in the County’s sub-division ordinance.  Another question, a number of developers that have platted subdivisions and are taking crops off that subdivision and claiming use value assessment, which in turn gives them a huge tax break; if zoned R1, agricultural use is not an allowable use.  Charlie has called the WI Dept. of Revenue and asked them if they are giving direction to the Assessors on how to handle.  In the meantime, if County staff has determined non-compliance, the enforcement will come to the committee for further review and determine enforcement.  Charlie also noted that this problem was brought to the attention of the County’s Legislative Committee back in February in which Assemblyman Huebsch was attendance at that meeting.

 

Committee Chair Hammes noted this has occurred in the Town of Holland; currently lots of 5 acres or less are required to have a Certified Survey Map (CSM); maybe the County should require all subdivisions (40 acres or less) in the County to require a CSM which in turn will give local municipalities more control in following the long-range plan.  Mike Weibel noted, in relation to the zoning, if the land was used as agriculture at the time it was rezoned to Residential District A, this in turn created non-conforming use, which can continue on and on as long as not changed over to different land use, or discontinued for up to a year; need to be careful on how to regulate the rezoned land from agriculture to commercial, because of the way the zoning laws are currently written.  County Surveyor also expressed concern of requiring CSM’s, though for 40 acres or less, could look at it further.   

 

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

 

At this time, Supervisor Bina noted upcoming “Conservation Day”, as well as celebrate Coon Creek Watershed that has been existence for over 75 years.  The event is planned for Friday, April 25, at the Coon Valley American and is sponsored by NRCS of the 4 surrounding states.  Expect 200-300 people in attendance; program held in the morning, followed by lunch, and afternoon bus tours of the area.  Supervisor Bina encouraged attendance noting no cost to attend, but need head count for the; if interested, contact him.

 

RECESS (4:47 p.m.)

MOTION by Rauk/Meyer to recess until the 6:00 p.m. public hearing.  Motion carried unanimously.  Supervisor Rauk relayed the following:

We meet for a hearing in about an hour,

I won’t delay and risk George’s ire,

The end is in sight,

Just one more meeting tonight,

So I move Hammes be allowed to retire.

 

Disclaimer:  The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.

Cheryl Stephen, Recorder