[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6309113,"mediaKeyId","2414569-3aac4b2785195c22a66030f2d031f00a","parentId",2414569,"title","Council approves downtown angled parking plan; funding, trees and park frontage draw debate","audioSeconds",58,"startMs",3622000,"endMs",3680000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2414569-3aac4b2785195c22a66030f2d031f00a&start=3622&end=3680","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2414569-3aac4b2785195c22a66030f2d031f00a/thumbnail_3622000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6309113/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Council-approves-downtown-angled-parking-plan-funding-trees-and-park-frontage-draw-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309113-e06b35aac6060d1e0f97c758c7e49293/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170453&Signature=dFwWRksSCwozeWSl8QjwhRnb5K5Xw~UQwSmnhoowOfzpgc1oxoHPvPaO~5jI2xi1bBRyEA5VvSZJu9Hx~KbjLznAYZIjlKrB7wZTJvUjRlIHpxUibopQO3tvmDfExyfFLPuGMnonDcAYpPwDZvIg1~ctX2s9Xg8JtWuoBez5aCgq7OLCkwI6O5d0UKfkVEdcwZCwCOxZO97z~M4cbO48mv0BK18~m~G17sIzYdgqWjnODHA39PVx6XvHAMJseC8DHkwvGsDh9GSgUA-j~7ZC9YvCQWWM9J5YLCJHzOZ59xdi4kbd6uTi9jFT6-add3ZKBidB-nHrUfn8s0vW0dFK9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Wausau, WI","date","2025-02-27T05:13:47.407Z","article","The Wausau Common Council voted 9-2 on Feb. 25 to approve a downtown parking improvement project on North Fourth Street, Franklin Street and McIndoe/Mackinac Street that changes parallel stalls to angled parking and includes a cost-share from the Woodson YMCA.

Proponents and city staff said the angled stalls increase total capacity and ease parking congestion near the Woodson YMCA’s Landing senior center. Brian Bailey, president and CEO of the Woodson YMCA, told the council the Landing generates heavy daytime downtown traffic and asked the council “please vote yes in partnering with the Y and the landing parking in this parking improvement project.”

The project drew repeated questions about who pays and how it fits into the city’s TID financing. During the meeting finance staff acknowledged figures in the packet were inconsistent: one packet excerpt showed a $238,000 figure and staff later referred to a higher total construction estimate discussed in budget work. The YMCA has committed $119,000 toward the project; staff said the city would pay the construction bill and then be reimbursed by the Y for its share.

Neighbors and some alderpersons raised concerns about impacts to Yockey Park frontage, tree removals and neighborhood optics. An amendment to exempt the Fourth Street/Yockey Park section failed 2-9. Engineering staff said the park’s footprint will not be reduced, though sidewalks would be shifted into the park and two boulevard trees would be removed; staff estimated a net increase of roughly 33 stalls across project phases and that the Fourth Street segment would add about seven to nine net stalls there.

Council later voted to include the parking project in a TID 3 project-plan amendment so the work could be financed through TID increment rather than another funding source. An amendment to add the Mackinac/Fourth/Franklin parking to the TID 3 plan passed 9-2 later in the meeting.

The council also allowed public comment on the agenda item (6-5 on the procedural vote). Speakers from the public asked that the Yockey Park section be exempted and pressed for clearer numbers in packet materials.

What passed: the council approved the parking plan as presented (motion from Henke, second Larson; outcome: approved 9-2). A separate vote to add the parking to the TID 3 project-plan amendment also passed (motion as amended: approved 9-2).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wausau City Council Meeting - 2/25/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Wausau Common Council voted 9-2 on Feb. 25 to approve a downtown angled parking project on North Fourth, Franklin and McIndoe/Mackinac streets with a cost share from the Woodson YMCA.","taxTitle","Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin","taxId",4562,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6309099,"Votes at a glance: Council adopts multiple routine and finance items, hires outside counsel in ethics matter",2859,873000,3732000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2414569-3aac4b2785195c22a66030f2d031f00a&start=873&end=3732","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2414569-3aac4b2785195c22a66030f2d031f00a/thumbnail_873000.jpg","/articles/6309099/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Votes-at-a-glance-Council-adopts-multiple-routine-and-finance-items-hires-outside-counsel-in-ethics-matter","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309099-cc1760a5d999f89bf6c66872dfabf6bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170453&Signature=BZoCaZ2UKl~mNj9Qm86c9cINVxK2nB1J0c2LyCLsySoCoikPkEV~-Mno1AkBeeh7~pTgv0-v-rCM2f4uB1KuM0YpXX2BCMZlcKTkn72GK0U5JG1EMG2VcXuGVn7zRkfGjp6nIUGj~8sY6YX78JfrfrQcYnMaA2sJpdfFl~p50ZR1CcAwi3pmTpM1fkR8Y912BgSAEB6jalqmGifleXV3c9cZulfps7JF8TrG9kTjhfqF97wUR1G-21OXSmppAL1bdW6HulQ3Vs3OXRr4-tSQXjDfwETyugJkmmqSA~JE8WvdlQop2gdYqSIsP5T7MydwsfcXKFfEx1C8P~vwHxhivw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wausau Common Council handled a series of procedural and budget items on Feb. 25. Key outcomes:

- Peckham Way naming: Council approved a parks resolution naming a portion of the River Edge Trail from Thomas Street to Adolph Street as “Peckham Way.” Vote: 11-0. (Item 250206.)

- Airport: Council approved a 2025 budget modification for Wausau Downtown Airport Hangar Door Number 4 to address safety issues. Vote: 11-0. (File 24-1109B.)

- Special counsel authorization: Council approved hiring special counsel and authorized the city attorney to hire and manage outside legal counsel to represent Nathan Miller in Marathon County case number 2025 JD 50xx (complaint referenced under 968.02 subparagraph 3). Vote: 11-0. (File 250213.)

- Tax Increment Districts (project-plan amendments): Council approved staff authorization to prepare project-plan amendments for multiple TIDs: TID 8 (authorization passed 10-1), TID 7 (passed 9-2) and TID 3 (as amended, passed 9-2). These votes allow staff to draft formal amendments adding project costs or boundary corrections; final plan adoptions will follow the public-notice and adoption process.

- World Migratory Bird Day: Council designated May 3, 2025, as World Migratory Bird Day in support of the city’s bird-city efforts. Vote: 11-0.

Several items were discussed at length earlier in the meeting (noted in separate articles), including the downtown parking project and the mayor’s ethics-board appointment, which was tabled.","At its Feb. 25 meeting the Common Council approved several items by unanimous or strong majorities including a trail naming, airport budget mod, designations and authorizations to prepare multiple TID project-plan amendments; council also authorized hiring outside counsel in a pending Marathon County matter.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6309103,"Council urges state and federal lawmakers to avoid Medicaid cuts; resolution passes with one abstention",68,1055000,1123000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2414569-3aac4b2785195c22a66030f2d031f00a&start=1055&end=1123","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2414569-3aac4b2785195c22a66030f2d031f00a/thumbnail_1055000.jpg","/articles/6309103/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Council-urges-state-and-federal-lawmakers-to-avoid-Medicaid-cuts-resolution-passes-with-one-abstention","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309103-de1e791f4d4c8493e2f3b7a61781d16a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170453&Signature=gJDfUMJseEhpVqLSQQl5VjyJIlvV2DG-YsEbQZQ8pH7y8GEmVC1th1MugEAXTWwYKF-KCGQMxrpkttzEHD3JmwfdKm~oz5m6Llf4S89PRe01ipUjPTiWA7yHM2gsIbhy2FcoQNVeaZl82gEVT48E-V7DH7t06tsqqqKKBz-qDtjJuCZBqvADhsrWsH4vnp9IzOwuqIZFyhD7t99JY45ZRqJU0TR9DAjh5NI7-r73UnAj5y8FFwvgFpjpPPDwKto~WWmPn25HuWx8S-3rJrkQa6I8P~Up8P4p9b8B66Y4A08LhE~fPjOipXtjUkUB6no-mW6U9uI9iHUQG1TIAWZrTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wausau Common Council unanimously approved a resolution urging state and federal representatives to oppose proposed cuts to Medicaid, with one alder abstaining for a conflict of interest.

Alder Watson, who moved the resolution, said nearly “23% of our residents rely on Medicaid for health care, medical mental health support, and long term care,” and argued that reductions would place residents at risk and increase burdens on local hospitals and emergency services. Watson said a unanimous council message would be a stronger signal to state and federal legislators.

Alder McElhaney announced an abstention because of an employer conflict; the motion passed 10-0 with one abstention. Several alderpersons said the city should send the resolution to U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and state representatives so the council’s view is known to higher levels of government.

What passed: resolution expressing opposition to federal or state cuts to Medicaid (motion from Watson, second Larson; outcome: approved 10-0 with 1 abstention).","The Common Council passed a resolution opposing proposed federal or state cuts to Medicaid, citing local reliance on the program and potential strain on local services. The motion passed 10-0 with one abstention.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6309108,"Council tables ethics-board alternate appointment amid ongoing complaint; motion added exception if quorum needed",223,1633000,1856000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2414569-3aac4b2785195c22a66030f2d031f00a&start=1633&end=1856","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2414569-3aac4b2785195c22a66030f2d031f00a/thumbnail_1633000.jpg","/articles/6309108/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Council-tables-ethics-board-alternate-appointment-amid-ongoing-complaint-motion-added-exception-if-quorum-needed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309108-ce7507e6c8caeaa13f4a2447a0394898/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170453&Signature=HrfMlHUQATYmVHxXm-NyMmb7QrI-TYyhBwU9-WFcriDAM2jxdyoRegPaJcHBSpnEYCrzqIX8LUQpJ0ekB6FwDuYSPZPUIExXwnezLCru1jY96QXyNn95urMr6R50kWb2NhEj1SD1QfS7Z7jVcIc3GOAOzuLjwNkwdcPPUDWwevc9yBbOjGI4MuqER0Y4nWaCaE2JI8fPUBD5C4gD1~oEu6FiEQE6Qj-PNR3SMyuNDfwRKz28yvlRTcURAhALD96VC1XHY-xNExeEtGc3Hjao1bUFqdCOA0pNk7zE--92Ckab40mLa-6clxj2PtNYwDRCoFq0wk2nQJ1nkgSTjgNQGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wausau Common Council voted 8-3 on Feb. 25 to table Mayor Denny’s nomination of Dylan Anderson to an alternate seat on the city ethics board until the current ethics investigation concludes or until the ethics board needs a fourth member to meet quorum requirements.

Mayor Denny introduced Anderson and said Anderson would be able to serve; Anderson described his background as a constituent services director for Congressman Thomas Tiffany and said his federal constituent work included handling sensitive personal records and adherence to ethics rules. Anderson told the council he was “a 27 year old father of 2” and that he believed his experience made him a good fit for the board.

Several alderpersons said they were concerned about optics while the mayor is the subject of an active ethics review. Alder Watson asked whether the council should delay the appointment “because the ethics commission, the goal of it is to show impartiality to the community,” calling it “slightly questionable” for someone to be appointed while an investigation is active. Others, including Alder Killian and Alder Tierney, thanked Anderson for applying and said they saw no impropriety in the mayor making appointments, but public concern about timing was widespread.

Alder Henke moved to table the nomination “until the current ethics investigation is complete or the need for a fourth member is required;” Henke’s motion was seconded and the motion passed 8-3. Council discussion clarified that tabling with the stated wording would prevent the nominee from being confirmed until either the investigation ends or the board needs an additional member, and staff said the council still has a duty to ensure the ethics board can operate if recusals reduce its membership.

Council members also noted multiple applicants had applied for the alternate seat and that some applications arrived after the mayor’s initial nomination. Several alderpersons referenced constituent emails raising concerns about timing and optics.

What passed: motion to table appointment until the current ethics investigation concludes or until a fourth member is needed (motion by Henke; outcome: tabled 8-3).","Mayor Denny’s nomination of Dylan Anderson to serve as an alternate on the city ethics board was tabled after extended debate about optics and timing while an ethics complaint involving the mayor is pending. Council added a carve-out so the appointment can be brought back if the board lacks a quorum.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves downtown angled parking plan; funding, trees and park frontage draw debate

Votes at a glance: Council adopts multiple routine and finance items, hires outside counsel in ethics matter

Council urges state and federal lawmakers to avoid Medicaid cuts; resolution passes with one abstention

Council tables ethics-board alternate appointment amid ongoing complaint; motion added exception if quorum needed