City staff review year of development and recreation growth; council amends Malone Park budget

The City of New Berlin’s Department of Community Development and Recreation Division presented a year‑long overview at the Committee of the Whole meeting on March 25, 2025, reporting continued development activity, expanded recreation programs at The Arc and work on Malone Park improvements. The council voted on routine finance and licensing items, approved two joint public hearings for May 5 and amended the 2025 capital projects budget to allocate funding for Malone Park restroom and soccer shelter alternates.

The report from Department of Community Development staff summarized planning, inspections, engineering, water resources management and emergency management work over the past year and highlighted ongoing and upcoming projects that city staff said will affect construction and parks activity. "We do daily check ins," the presenter said, describing the department's coordination cadence used across divisions.

Why it matters: the presentation outlined growth that produces permit revenue and incremental property value in active TIF districts, while recreation expansions at The Arc are increasing program revenue and community usage. The council's budget amendment keeps alternate facility funding available pending bid results, a decision council members said would reduce the need to reissue borrowing paperwork later.

City staff said planning activity has been steady: the planning services division received roughly 200 applications annually in recent years for rezonings, conditional uses, certified survey maps and subdivisions. Building inspection staff issued just over 3,000 permits in 2024 and performed nearly 6,000 field inspections, the presentation said. Engineering staff reported about 3.55 miles of roadway rehabilitation in 2024 and 31.5 miles of crack sealing.

Staff gave updates on three active tax increment financing (TIF) districts. The presenter reported TIF No. 3 began with a base value of $729,000 and now shows more than $56,000,000 in increment value attributable to new development; staff projected that district to close in 2032 under current cash flow. TIF No. 4, created for a proposed Hampton Inn project that stalled, has produced about $5,000,000 in new value to date. TIF No. 5—associated with the ABB development—had an initial base of $1,200,000 and staff said build‑out value could exceed $55,000,000 once complete.

The city's water resources staff described routine administration of the city's Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit and a drainage complaint tracking process. Emergency management reported the city has nine outdoor warning sirens, six of which have been overhauled so far, and that the city responded to 12 spill incidents in 2024 and recovered about $23,000 in materials and response costs.

Recreation Division director Katie Roth said the second phase opening of The Arc has driven large increases in participation and revenue. "I think this year was... the recreation's year," Roth said. Staff reported issuing more than 5,000 daily passes since opening and 608 annual memberships; insurance‑based memberships included about 199 SilverSneakers and 482 Optum accounts, with 3,911 scans recorded in early 2025 from those programs. Summer day‑camp revenue grew from $61,587 in 2018 to $303,242 in 2025, staff said.

Roth outlined new and expanded offerings—youth sports programs (soccer, basketball, incoming baseball/softball), adult leagues, pickleball instruction and tournaments, wellness classes, culinary classes and special events including Winterfest and a July 4 festival with a drone show. Staff also described a growing volunteer base of more than 200 volunteers and the recent absorption of New Berlin Youth Athletics into the recreation division, which staff said brings roughly $106,000 in annual program revenue under city management.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes, March 11, 2025: motion approved unanimously (yes 6). - Utility and finance claims (03/26/2025): water $122,523.69; sewer $7,539.84; general city claims $1,506,203.99; tax overpayment checks $28,591.04; U.S. Bank EFT $37,944.82; We Energies EFT $71,068.88. Motion approved unanimously (yes 6). - Change of agent for F.P.G. Krause LLC (Krause Funeral Home), appointing Gene Davies as agent for liquor license period ending 06/30/2025: motion approved unanimously (yes 6). - Memorandum of Understanding, City of New Berlin and Waukesha County for provision of damage assessment services: motion approved unanimously (yes 6). - Memorandum of Understanding, City of New Berlin and Kwik Trip for fueling services during major incidents (renewal of existing agreement): motion approved unanimously (yes 6). - Joint public hearing set for 05/05/2025 at 6:00 p.m. before the Plan Commission to consider amending the comprehensive plan future land use map and rezoning at 6151 S. Moreland Road (proposed future land use: business park/industrial/mixed‑use residential; rezoning from A1 and C1 to RM1 PUD and C1 PUD): motion approved unanimously (yes 6). - Joint public hearing set for 05/05/2025 at 6:00 p.m. before the Plan Commission to consider amending the future land use map and rezoning at 16200 W. National Avenue (proposed future land use: suburban commercial to urban residential; rezoning from B2 to R4.5): motion approved unanimously (yes 6). - Resolution No. 2025‑8, amendment to the 2025 capital projects budget to allocate funding for Malone Park playground bathroom and Malone Park West soccer field shelter alternates: Roll‑call vote Aye 4, No 2 (Aldermen Hopkins, Horrenda, Straybill and Horbinski Aye; Aldermen Lefevre and Maxey No). Motion passes 4–2. The council directed that availability of the funds does not itself approve construction of the alternates; staff said the alternates will be considered only if bid prices are reasonable and council approval of actual contract awards is required.

Council members who spoke during the Malone Park discussion raised concerns about overall borrowing and competing budget priorities, including the upcoming budget needs for essential services such as the fire department. Other members cited citizen requests and heavy existing use at Malone Park and supported keeping alternate authorizations available to avoid additional bonding steps if bids make the alternates feasible.

What’s next: the Plan Commission will hold the two joint public hearings on May 5, 2025. Staff will receive bids for Malone Park alternates; if alternates are within acceptable ranges, the council will consider formal award and spending at a future meeting. Recreation staff said additional programming and outreach will continue through 2025, including further community on‑site enrollment for insurance membership programs and expanded event scheduling.

Sources: presentation and discussion at Committee of the Whole meeting, City of New Berlin, 03/25/2025; votes and roll call recorded on the meeting transcript.