Verona council approves Arch Solar bid for City Center and fire station; funds drawn from fire and contingency reserves

Two local sustainability advocates urged the Verona Common Council on Monday to move quickly to install rooftop solar at City Center and the Verona Fire Station, and the council voted to approve Arch Solar's quotes and fund the work from city reserves.

Kathy Johnson, a Verona resident and member of Sustain Verona, told the council that the projects are “vital for advancing sustainability in our community” and said “the urgency of this decision cannot be overstated.” Her remarks came during the public comment period before the council considered the bids.

Her husband, Jeff Johnson, a member of the Sustainability Task Force and Sustain Verona, told the council that the combined purchase now likely produces cost savings and preserves eligibility for potential federal or other incentives. “If you said, ‘OK, we don't want to do both, let's wait to do one of them for a year later,’ a year later from now, tariffs kick in, potentially inflation,” Johnson said, arguing that the current bid and incentives made doing both projects now the better financial choice.

Alder Christine Posey moved to approve the Arch Solar quotes to install panels on City Center and the Verona Fire Station, using $59,270 from the Fire Department fund balance and $10,433 from the contingency fund; Alder Lytle seconded the motion. Council members who spoke during debate said staff had verified a positive review from the City of Wauwatosa and that the Sustainability Task Force had recommended awarding the work to Arch Solar.

“A lot of research” went into the recommendation, Alder Takalon said, and she noted Arch Solar had positive references and past project experience; she added Wauwatosa staff reported the company “was wonderful to work with.” Alder Lytle said the motion seeks approval for a “worst-case scenario” that assumes incentives are not available so the city would not need a later budget amendment if incentives fail to materialize.

The motion passed by voice vote. The council did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting minutes provided; the motion was announced as approved.

Votes at a glance - Approve Arch Solar quotes for City Center and Verona Fire Station (funding: $59,270 Fire Department fund balance; $10,433 Contingency fund) — Motion by Alder Christine Posey; second Alder Lytle; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Payment of bills totaling $1,898,251.82 (including Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals TID PAYGO $1,390,601 and Classic LLC PAYGO $100,585) — Motion by Alder Posey; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Appointments of Alder Christine Posey and Sean Coffey to the Zoning Board of Appeals — Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved by voice vote. (Transcript contains one instance where the mayor referred to "John Coffey" during the voice vote; the motion and initial nomination used the name Sean Coffey.) - Adopt changes to the City of Verona investment policy to include ESG criteria — Motion by Alder Posey; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Adopt resolution 25-005 allowing fermented malt beverage sales at parks by Parks and Recreation staff under Wisconsin Statute 125.06(6) — Motion by Alder Tucker Long; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Adopt revised Administrative Policy No. 60 (Social Media Policy) — Motion by Alder Tucker Long; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Award contract to Perizzi Construction LLC for West Verona Avenue/Legion Street reconstruction and Westlawn Ave RRFB — Motion by Alder Tucker Long; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Award design services agreement for the 2025 Edward Street resurfacing and sidewalk project to JT Engineering, NTE $35,000 — Motion by Alder Tucker Long; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Approve classification and compensation study from MGT Impact Solutions LLC, $24,765 — Motion by Alder Posey; outcome: approved by voice vote.

Why it matters The council’s action advances local solar installations on two public buildings and commits local reserve funds so the work can proceed without waiting for a future budget cycle. Council members cited both environmental goals and financial considerations — vendor pricing, potential federal or national incentives, and the risk of future tariff-driven cost increases — as reasons to act now.

Details and next steps Council members said the Sustainability Task Force reviewed bids and recommended awarding the work contingent on staff verification of Wauwatosa’s positive review of Arch Solar; staff reported that verification was received. Alder Lytle said the council approved the project at a funding level that assumes incentives might not be available so the city can proceed without a later formal budget amendment.

The motion and discussion did not specify installation timelines or exact project start dates; council members indicated staff would proceed with contract finalization and scheduling. The council did not record a numeric roll-call vote in the provided transcript for this item; the mayor announced the motion passed by voice vote.

Community comment and context Public comment supporting the projects focused on climate change mitigation and the financial logic of acting while incentives appear available. The Sustainability Task Force’s endorsement and the Wauwatosa reference were offered to reassure the council about vendor performance and project outcomes.

Ending Council members approved several additional routine and policy items during the 7:00 p.m. meeting, including payment of bills, committee-recommended contracts and a study on city staff compensation. The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:30 p.m.