EIGHTEENTH REGULAR MEETING OF THE 2020-2021 COMMON COUNCIL
Meeting Quote: “WHATEVER IS BEAUTIFUL. WHATEVER IS MEANINGFUL. WHAT BRINGS YOU HAPPINESS. MAY IT BE YOURS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AND THROUGHOUT THE COMING YEAR”
Council approved the appointment of Emily Rendall-Araujo to the position of Director of Senior Services.
Mayor Vandersteen presented a COVID-19 update for Sheboygan. The trajectory of the numbers since November was down 40% and we were pretty constant through Thanksgiving. The efforts of so many at this time have reduced the strain on the hospital admissions. We are four days away from the start of the Christmas and New Year’s Holiday season. Residents were encouraged to wear a mask, wash and sanitize your hands often, maintain social distance, and avoid groups of people not in your family. These actions, if followed, can prevent a spike of COVID-19 in the next two weeks in Sheboygan.
Wisconsin National Guard testing site completed an average of 150 tests each day last week. There will be NO testing on Friday, December 25 on Christmas and Friday, December 31 New Year’s Eve. Testing will continue on Wednesdays at the Sheboygan County Aging and Disability Resource Center in Sheboygan Falls.
The spring 2021 election will include elections for Mayor and Alderperson for the City of Sheboygan. Candidates for these offices are circulating nomination papers which must be turned in to the City Clerk by January 5. The election for Aldermanic seats will be in the odd-numbered districts only (Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9). Due to a replacement in 2020, there will also be an election for the aldermanic seat in District 2 (this will be for a one-year term). If you have any questions about running for an elected office please see the City Clerk.
Winter Parking rules began on December 1. Vehicles parked on the street must park on alternate sides of the street between midnight and 6:00 am. Remember: park for tomorrow.
Mayor wished everyone a Merry Christmas and encouraged them to bring along a non-perishable food donation to support the Sheboygan County Food Bank while taking in the Christmas light displays at Making Spirits Bright at Evergreen Park. Visit Downtown Sheboygan to view the Christmas lights at the Mead Library fountain. Please continue to shop local and support the retailers in Sheboygan.
In a year marked with a pandemic, political and social unrest, it has often felt dark. Today on this year’s Winter Solstice when the day is the shortest and night is the longest – literally the “darkest day” of 2020 – Jupiter and Saturn meet to give us light. Whether or not you refer to it as the Christmas Star, I hope you will take a moment to view it this week and perhaps be encouraged for brighter days ahead. Keep an eye out for the moments of light and good in your world. Better yet, be a star that shines brightly for those around you. Merry Christmas!
Council approved General Ordinance No. 27-20-21 amending Sections of the Municipal Code relating to sewers and sewerage disposal so as to make changes to service charges.
Council approved Resolution No. 135-20-20 authorizing an amendment to extend the cutoff date of the Offer to Purchase with Martens-Trilling True Value Hardware Inc.
Council approved Resolution No. 137-20-21 expressing gratitude for the skill, efficiency, and dedication demonstrated by City Clerk Meredith DeBruin and her staff during the spring and fall election cycle.
Council filed R. C. No. 187-20-21 as a communication from Black American Community Outreach, regarding their Juneteenth Day celebration and instructed staff to prepare the appropriate document to waive the park rental fee for the Juneteenth Celebration.
Council approved Resolution No. 214-20-21 adopting the Sheboygan County, Wisconsin Hazard Mitigation Plan 2020-2025 making the City of Sheboygan eligible for FEMA grant funding for projects to deal with shoreline erosion mitigation.
Council approved Resolution No. 133-20-21 authorizing retaining outside legal counsel to represent the City in the matter of Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust v. City of Sheboygan, and authorizing payment for said services.
Council approved Resolution No. 134-20-21 authorizing the appropriate City officials to accept the quote from Ovivo USA, LLC for the purchase of the components required to maintain the west influent screens at the Wastewater Treatment Plant and to make other expenditures relating to the maintenance and control of the west influent screen .
Council approved General Ordinance No. 26-20-21 amending Sections 118-276 and 118-279 of the Municipal Code relating to unlicensed vehicles. The previous ordinance focused on unlicensed vehicles that did not move, because unlicensed vehicles often move in the city the Police is not able to address the problem of unlicensed vehicles illegally parked on City Streets. This amendment will consider vehicles without valid registration license plates abandoned; the city is required to provide the owner of record 72 hours’ notice prior to towing the vehicle. If the unlicensed vehicle is moved to another location and parked on public property the vehicle may be towed and impounded without providing new notice to the vehicle owner of record.
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