Joint Meeting Land Conservation Committee and Planning, Zoning, and Land Records Committee

Joint Meeting LCC/PZLR December 7, 2012 (45 KB)

Land Conservation Committee (LCC) members present: L. Borleske, T. Kriegl, R. Puttkamer, J. Smoke, L. Wiese

Planning, Zoning, & Land Records (PZLR) Committee members present: J. Ashford, J. Gaalswyk, F. Halfen, G. Lehman, D. Nobs

Others present: B. Bergstrom, T. Damos, L. Hasenbalg, T. Liebman, B. Michalek, P. Pohle, B. Simmert, V. Solomon, M. Stanek, S.Terry, B. Vaillancourt, J. Van Berkel, P. Wolter

Absent: P. Murray was excused.

At 9:06 a.m. Chair Lehman called the Planning, Zoning and Land Records Committee to order and certified to be in compliance with the Open Meetings Law.

Chair Wiese called the Land Conservation Committee to order and certified to be in compliance with the Open Meetings Law.

Adopt agenda: Motion by Borleske/Wiese to adopt the agenda. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor.

Adopt minutes of previous meeting-November 10: Motion by Gaalswyk/Halfen to adopt the minutes of the meeting on November 10 of the Planning, Zoning & Land Records Committee and Land Conservation Committee. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor.

Public comment: Paul Wolter, Baraboo, spoke on his concerns about the Badger Coulee Transmission Line, its need, and location. He also presented recommendations on revisions to the draft resolution that the committees will be discussing later in the agenda. He requested that the committees request more information and be vigilant in their efforts. He noted that resolutions filed now will not be public record and will need to be refiled.
Sharon Terry, resident of Town of Baraboo, stated that the proposed resolution for the Badger Coulee Transmission Line “lacks meat.” She noted that the demand for electricity in Wisconsin is decreasing. She suggested that other ways to meet our needs should be considered.

Communications:

a. Wisconsin Land & Water Conservation Association (WLWCA) Newsletter-Thursday Note(s): None.

Discussion and possible recommended actions on resolutions at Wisconsin Land & Water Conservation Association (WLWCA) Conference: Bergstrom reviewed and discussed the five resolutions that Wiese will vote on at the WLWCA Conference with the committees. Resolution #1-Regarding Reduction of Agriculture Phosphorus Loading to Green Bay and Lake Michigan: Recommended that the acreage language be removed from the resolution. Resolution #2-Retain Agricultural Tax Classification on Lands Enrolled in the Wetlands Reserve Program: Recommend approve as written. Resolution #3-Requesting Increased Resources be Directed to Prevent Asian Carp from Spreading to Inland Watersheds through the St. Croix and Wisconsin Rivers: Recommend approve as written. Resolution #4-Requesting Changes be Made to Conservation Practice Standards Incorporating Recommended Adaptations for Climate Change: Discussed that changing the standards to design practices for a 100-year storm event could possibly double the costs for projects. Currently we design for 10 or 25-year storm events. This change could be cost prohibitive. Resolution #5-Support Merging WLWCA with WALCE and the Repeal and Recreation of the WLWCA Bylaws: Discussed the pros and cons of the proposed merger.

Discussion and possible action on rezoning request in the Town of Merrimac from an Agricultural to a Single Family Residential Zoning District as filed by the Town of Merrimac for Daniel Heffron to create four residential lots: Tim McCumber, Town of Merrimac Administrator & Clerk-Treasurer, updated the committees on the rezone request. There is a good plan for the parcel. There was no opposition at the public hearings held by the Town of Merrimac. The Town Board did not have firm confirmation that Highway 78 would relocate. Once the highway relocated, the town amended their development plan and made in compliance with their smart growth plan. Heffron’s neighboring property owners were all notified of the rezone. Motion by Gaalswyk/Ashford to approve the rezone to residential for the Heffron parcel. Motion carried with all PZLR Committee members in favor.

Approval to fill Conservation/Planning Technician position: Michalek informed the committees that the department is working on a job description for an Environmental Technician. The position is in included in the 2012 budget. The request will be taken to the Personnel Committee in January for final approval. Motion by Borleske/Smoke to refill the position. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor.

Discussion and possible approval of resolution regarding the Badger Coulee Transmission Line proposed by American Transmission Company: Discussion by committees to amend individual parts of resolution.

Motion by Borleske/Ashford to eliminate the third paragraph of the draft resolution. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor except Gaalswyk opposed.

Motion by Borleske/Smoke to add Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) as the third contact in the fourth paragraph. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor.

Motion by Halfen/Borleske to remove “the 110 to 180 foot steel or concrete poles” in the fifth paragraph. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor.

Motion by Smoke/Halfen to remove the Baraboo Range and add after plan “and recognizes local governments’ comprehensive plans.” Motion carried, all LCC members in favor. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor.
Motion by Borleske/Smoke to remove paragraph eight. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor except Gaalswyk and Halfen.

Motion by Halfen/Wiese to change paragraph eleven-b. to read “apply the appropriate size, scale, and voltage that minimizes the environmental impacts of electric transmission.” Motion carried, all LCC members in favor. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor.

Motion by Halfen/Borleske for paragraph eleven-c to remove “an alternate route” and replace with “routes.” Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor.
Motion by Borleske/Nobs to add paragraph eleven-d “Historically low growth rates, lower energy demand, and utilization of green energy technology, when determining the need for the line.” Motion carried, all LCC members in favor. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor except Gaalswyk.

Motion by Halfen/Ashford to add “Be it further resolved, that if the Badger Coulee Line is shown to be needed that it be built in the interstate corridor.” Motion carried, all LCC members in favor. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor.

Depending on when the closing date for resolutions are due to the PSC, will either approve a resolution prior to the December County Board meeting or at the January committee meeting.

The committees took a recess from 11:03 a.m. to 11:12 a.m.

Discussion and possible action on 2012 PZLR Committee meeting schedule: Motion by Halfen/Ashford to approve the PZLR meeting dates as presented. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor. Motion by Borleske/Smoke to accept the LCC/PZLR meeting dates as presented. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor.

Discussion and possible action to direct staff to work with businesses, landowners, and jurisdictional agencies in regard to the Hwy. 12 corridor: Simmert presented the history of the Hwy. 12 corridor. The Sauk County Development Corporation (SCDC) was involved in the last meeting. This has never been brought before the County Board. This area involves the Town of Delton, Ho-Chunk Nation, Town of Baraboo, and the County Board (Economic Development Committee, Highway Committee, CPZ). It was recommended to bring the City of Baraboo into the discussions. Committee members felt that there is an immediate need to assist the businesses and getting traffic to them. Around seven or eight years ago, there was an attempt to make this area into an entertainment district. Motion by Halfen/Smoke to make a recommendation to Economic Development Committee to form a task force with all the interested municipalities and supervisors from those districts to begin talking on what to do with that corridor. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor.

Motion Halfen/Kriegl to also send a directive to Highway Committee that the county move ahead with facilitating signage on the Hwy. 12 on all four exits. There is contingency money to assist with this. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor.

Discussion and possible action to authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to enter into a Hwy. 12 Memorandum of Agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation: Motion to approve the resolution by Ashford/Gaalswyk. On the Implementation Agreement add the Great Sauk Trail across from Badger Ordinance as a potential use. It was reminded that areas within the BRPA areas including most of the Great Sauk Trail are not eligible under this agreement. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor.

Review and acceptance of 2011 donations: Motion by Smoke/Kriegl to approve the donations received during the year for the Land Conservation Department for educational programming. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor.

Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department:

a. Department reports and updates: Michalek and Bergstrom presented the LCD and P&Z departmental reports.

b. Review and approval of vouchers: Motion by Wiese/Borleske to approve the 2011 and 2012 vouchers in the amount of $38,962.81. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor.

c. Clark Creek update: Van Berkel updated that the buyout of three homes process is moving forward, trying to remove some of the woody debris in the creek, building some upland retention basins, and grant funding extended to end of 2012. The final buyout numbers and debris removal contract will be brought to the committee for action in the future.

d. Discussion and possible action on 2012 Fee Schedule: Michalek may want to change some of the fees (flood surcharge fees, etc.) in the future. No action required at this time.

Reports:

a. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) report: None.

b. Farm Service Agency (FSA) report: Puttkamer reported they had a meeting yesterday. People are pulling out of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

c. Foresters’ report: None.

d. Economic Development Committee report: Gaalswyk reported they approved making a real county forest in Spring Green. Property and Insurance Committee needs to confer.

e. Mirror Lake District report: Smoke reported they met yesterday. A $20-$21,000 DNR grant was approved for an aquatic plant survey. The grant pays about 67 percent and the District picks up the rest of the cost. Have until December 2014 to complete the survey. Also, looking to rent the Village of Lake Delton’s harvester and do on their own versus hiring out.

f. Lake Virginia Management District report: Michalek will be attending the annual meeting on Saturday.

g. Lake Redstone Management District report: Borleske noted they will meet next Tuesday.

The next regular meeting of the Land Conservation Committee and Planning, Zoning & Land Records Committee will be held on Thursday, January 12, at 9:00 a.m. Will also meet prior to the County Board meeting to possibly approve the Highway 12 resolution and Badger Coulee Line resolution if necessary.

Motion by Gaalswyk/Smoke to adjourn at 12:40 p.m. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Peter Murray, Secretary                                        Joel Gaalswyk, Secretary
Land Conservation Committee                             Planning, Zoning & Land Records Committee