West Bend Mayor BREAKS TIE vote AGAIN - River Bluffs coming SOON to a downtown near YOU

With a tie 4-4 vote on the City Council, West Bend Mayor Kris Deiss stated she was in an elected position because she "knows more about these things than the people," then cast her vote to approve the River Bluffs housing project for the downtown area.

Believe it.

UPDATED NOTE:  Ed DuQuaine gave a stellar speech indicating that he was not going to be held hostage by threats from the REE of being sued.  He was more concerned about representing those who voted for him and would prefer not to be sued by the people in the city he represents.  Steve Hutchins, as well, stated that the answer in this situation was "easy" and that he would not back down from representing his constituents wishes saying "it's that simple."  Roger Kist said little, but when it came time to vote had the ability to end the vote FOR the project and chose instead to vote against it stating "I'm going to put this in the Mayor's hands."  

VOTING TO RESCIND:
Alan Carter
Ed DuQuaine
Roger Kist
Steve Hutchins

VOTING TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT:
Tony Turner (who maintained his support though admitted his constituents were vehemently against it - remember that on election day, folks...)
Deb Anderson (who also stated that her constituents were strongly opposed until she sold it to them)
Nick Dobberstein 
Mike Schlotfeldt


TIEBREAKER - MAYOR DEISS

West Bend City Council Considers Rescind on River Bluffs Project

Kudos to our City Council.....

The West Bend Common Council will consider rescinding its previous vote approving the River Bluffs Townhomes developer’s agreement at its next meeting, scheduled for Sept. 13. 

    Monday night, Alderman Ed Duquaine asked for that after listening to city staff reports on the status of the controversial project. 

    He said the developer, Real Estate Equities Development of St. Paul, Minn., was not meeting the construction costs it promised when it first pitched the project to the city. 

    “That’s a huge concern of mine,” he said. 

    Aldermen who voted for the developer’s agreement in June are now openly wondering if Real Estate Equities hadn’t oversold its project to them. 

The Full Scoop on RDA/River Bluffs

CONCERNED CITIZENS AD ON DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT  By JUDY STEFFES

 

Last Saturday a half-page-advertisement directed at ‘Fellow residents of West Bend’ ran in the West Bend Daily News. The ad focused on the proposed River Bluffs downtown housing development and outlined a series of landscape upgrades made over the past year in the TIF-5 district.

 

Mike Husar and Mary Martin Husar are part of a group of concerned citizens and business people that financed the ad.

 

“We feel the property has way more value and potential than the city is giving it credit for,” said Mike Husar noting the additions of the art gallery, train depot, The Binkery and upgrades to Veterans Avenue.

 

“We have the mayor telling us it’s blighted and low income and that’s not what we stand for,” he said.

 

The property in question is off Veterans Ave. near Wisconsin St.

Real Estate Equities from Minnesota is a private firm that has been working with the Redevelopment Authority and the city to construct townhomes on that parcel of vacant land.

The Husar’s, owners of Husar’s House of Fine Diamonds located on Main St., are across the river from the proposed housing project.

 

They, along with about 80 concerned citizens, said the ad was designed to drum up attention and prompt discussion on the true potential of the property.

 

“We want the community and the aldermen to be brought up to speed on what’s going on with the project and hopefully better understand our concerns,” said Husar.

 

“This is not like saying we’re putting the Farmer’s Market back there and if it doesn’t work we can move it. Once this project is built, it’s done, it’s over; there’s nothing we can do to change it.”

Some of the group’s concerns include the financial feasibility of the housing project and the long-term income value of the property. “I question the occupancy levels, the rental amount of $650 to $950 a month – there are too many ‘what ifs’ and speculation,” said Husar. 

 

“That housing project belongs some place in the city, but not there,” he said.

 

Mary Martin Husar said their ultimate goal is “what is going to be best for this community and that is to bring in something that is going to bring more tax increment.”

 

“This group has offered to the community and to every one of the powers that be that we are willing to help find the right mix over there,” she said.

 

The newspaper ad concluded with a statement – ‘Give the Downtown a chance to develop its real potential.’ Taxpayers were also encouraged to call city officials and offer their input.

 

The Husars have held one-on-one meetings with Mayor Kris Deiss, city administrator Dennis Melvin, community development director John Cappelle, police chief Ken Meuler, a handful of alderman and representatives from the Redevelopment Authority.

 

On Monday the West Bend Common Council will receive an update on TIF#5 and the River Bluffs development.

 

Melvin confirms there have been items of concern about the project. He said new findings regarding pro forma and tax increment will be discussed Monday.

 

Police chief Ken Meuler met with Real Estate Equities this week and also expressed concerns regarding traffic and parking issues and other potential disorder.

 

As of Wednesday, council members confirmed they received feedback from the ad.

Mayor Deiss received five calls, all against pursuing the housing development. 

 

District 4 alderman Nick Dobberstein fielded 11 e-mails and six phone calls – three favored the development and 14 spoke against pursuing the housing option. 

 

District 7 alderman Deb Anderson received 17 calls and emails with two in favor and the rest either against the housing or looking for clarification on the development.  

 

District 8 alderman Roger Kist received three responses and two were against the proposed housing.

 

District 6 alderman Mike Schlotfeldt received five responses with one in favor of the housing and four against.

 

District 1 alderman Tony Turner said he received a handful of calls with a majority against the housing proposal.

 

Calls from aldermen Steve Hutchins or Ed Duquaine were not received by deadline.

 

*NOTE:   

- District 1 West Bend alderman Tony Turner has changed his phone number. Turner said he dropped his land line for a cell phone. His new number is 262-366-5374. Turner’s information has been updated on the city’s Web site.

Half-page Ad Taken Out Protesting Low-Income Housing in Downtown West Bend

Read it HERE.

Do your part: Say NO to low-income housing in WEST BEND'S DOWNTOWN district

NEXT MONDAY, 8/16/10, there will be a City Council meeting (6:30-8:00 p.m.) in which the aldermen will discuss the River Bluffs housing projectdestined to be placed in the middle of the downtown area next to the new Art Museum.  The location of this low-income housing project is inappropriate for the downtown location; small business owners are begging for local residents to stand by them in asking the aldermen and Mayor Deiss to overturn this decision for an already-suffering downtown community.

Do your part.

Make phone calls, write letters and send email in opposition to theRiver Bluffs project.  ATTEND THE MONDAY, 8/16, MEETING, 6:30-8 p.m., Council Chambers.

Phone numbers and e-mail's)            District Aldermen

District 1:  Tony Turner                      Call 334-3658 or email him at: district1@ci.west-bend.wi.us                  Voted for the project

District 2:  Steve Hutchins                 Call 388-4501 or email him at: district2@ci.west-bend.wi.us                  Voted against the project

District 3:  Ed Duquaine                      Call 305-1170 or email him at: district3@ci.west-bend.wi.us                  Voted against the project

District 4:  Nick Dobberstein             Call 306-9925 or email him at: district4@ci.west-bend.wi.us                  Voted for the project

District 5:  Allen Carter                      Call 334-5532 or email him at: district5@ci.west-bend.wi.us                  Voted against the project

District 6:  Michael Schlotfeldt          Call 689-0681 or email him at: district6@ci.west-bend.wi.us                  Voted for the project

District 7:  Deb Anderson                  Call 334-7095 or email her at: district7@ci.west-bend.wi.us                   Voted for the project

District 8:  Roger Kist                          Call 338-9913 or email him at district8@ci.west-bend.wi.us                    Voted against the project

City Officials

Dennis Melvin, City Administrator                   Call 335-5123 or email him at cityadmin@ci.west-bend.wi.us

John Capelle, Community Development        Call 335-5122 or email him at citydcd@ci.west-bend.wi.us

Kristine Deiss, City of West Bend MAYOR      Call 335-5111 or email her at mayor@ci.west-bend.wi.us         Voted for the project 

West Bend Mayor BREAKS TIE vote - Low Income Housing Coming to Downtown Area Despite Protest

On the City Council agenda for tonight was a decision regarding the Developer’s Agreement for River Bluff Townhomes. (TIF #5).


Seems Alderman Duquaine opened the can of worms and revealed that West Bend's RDA had a binding contract since 2009.  The formalities of listening to the local business owners and general public was nothing but smoke and mirrors.  

The scoop:

Real Estate Equities Development LLC of St. Paul, Minn. is set to sell federal tax credits offered through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to raise capital for construction of the apartment buildings. 

    Because of that, Real Estate Equities will be required to hold its rental prices at a level affordable to families with annual incomes 50 percent to 60 percent of Washington County’s median figure, which is around $64,733, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. 

and this:

 At that time, Alderman Steve Hutchins, whose district includes Wisconsin Street, and Mayor Kristine Deiss said neighbors and businesses did not want a subsidized housing project downtown. 

    “They don’t want any WHEDA housing. ... They don’t want low-income, subsidized, affordable-living, whatever you want to call it,” Hutchins said at that April meeting. 

    “I think we can do better for our community than additional low-income housing and by utilizing local businesses to do so,” Hutchins has said, most recently on his Web site, www.wbdistrict2.com. 

When all was said and done, the vote was tied:


VOTING YEAH-
ALD. TURNER
ALD. SCHLOTFELDT
ALD. ANDERSON
ALD. DOBBERSTEIN


VOTING NAY:
ALD. HUTCHINS
ALD. DUQUAINE
ALD. KIST
ALD. CARTER

Mayor Kristine Deiss cast the deciding vote FOR the subsidized housing, stating that this was never a project that was kept hidden, and that everyone has had a voice in the matter, which is why we are able to go to the polls on election day.


Indeed, Mayor Deiss.  Indeed.


Hats off to Ald. Duquaine.