Fond du Lac City Council approves rezoning for SSM expansion, backs industrial revenue bond and festival alcohol waiver

The Fond du Lac City Council on Jan. 22, 2025 approved a package of land-use, financing and administrative measures that included a comprehensive-plan amendment and rezoning to allow SSM Health to expand at Eastgate Place, and an initial resolution authorizing taxable industrial development revenue bond financing for projects at East Johnson.

The actions also included appointments to two advisory bodies, a temporary waiver of the city's prohibition on alcoholic beverages along a block of Sheboygan Street for the Sturgeon Spectacular festival (Feb. 7'9, 2025), and updates to the city's public deposit and investment policy.

Why it matters: The comp plan amendment and rezoning clear local land-use hurdles for a medical campus expansion by SSM Health; the industrial revenue bond resolution starts a formal public-notice process for developer financing that staff said would carry no city liability. Council members said the investment-policy change gives staff more flexibility to manage city funds; the festival waiver permits a temporary, city-sanctioned alcohol zone for a downtown event.

The council opened its action agenda by unanimously approving the consent agenda, which finalized minutes from the Jan. 8 meeting and a list of claims dated Jan. 15, 2025.

Appointments and community items City Manager Mike Moore (introduced nominees) and the council unanimously approved Resolution No. 9161 appointing two midterm replacements: Mr. Weese, who Moore said heads the teen program at the Boys & Girls Club, to the Advisory Park Board; and Strong Langolf, identified as executive director of Habitat for Humanity, to the Alcohol License Committee.

During audience comments Laura DeGaulier thanked Greenway Arboretum volunteers by name, listing volunteers who worked there in 2024. DeGaulier said those volunteers made the Greenway "what it is today."

Sturgeon Spectacular waiver The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 9162 to waive the prohibition on possession of alcoholic beverages on Sheboygan Street from Marr Street to Portland Street for the Sturgeon Spectacular festival Feb. 7'9, 2025. City staff recommended approval and the measure bans glass containers and carry-ins in the designated area.

Industrial revenue bond initial resolution Community Development Director Miss Benson presented Resolution No. 9163, an initial resolution regarding taxable industrial development revenue bond financing for 1125 East Johnson LLC and 6663 Rolling Meadows LLC. Benson described the city's limited tools for economic development and said industrial revenue bonds are a narrow statutory mechanism used only in select projects. She said the financing is a passthrough for the developer and stressed the city would bear no liability, adding, "There is absolutely no liability whatsoever for the city." Benson said the East Johnson project produced 37 jobs at that location and 3 jobs at a retail location associated with the borrower. She also described the formal process that follows an initial resolution: a public-notice period (30 days) and later a final resolution; she and council members said they expect to see a final resolution in February.

Investment policy update Director of Administration Miss Davey presented Resolution No. 9164 to update the city's public deposit and investment policy following recommendations from the city's investment adviser. Council members asked for clarification about the main change; the discussion noted the policy will allow the city to use money market accounts as a place to "park" funds for liquidity and flexibility.

SSM Health: comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning The council considered Ordinance No. 3806, amending the City of Fond du Lac 2040 comprehensive plan to change parcels just south of Division Street at Eastgate Place from residential to institutional land use, and Ordinance No. 3807 to rezone 14, 20, 28 and 36 Eastgate Place from R-1 single-family residential to O Office Conversion District to align zoning with the amended comprehensive plan.

Benson said SSM Health seeks expansion and cannot expand to the west because of a navigable waterway and to the south because of floodplain constraints, leaving the property to the east as the feasible expansion area. She said the amendment affects four lots, with three houses remaining on those lots, and that SSM already owns the properties in question. The plan commission and staff recommended approval.

Both the comp plan amendment (Ordinance 3806) and the rezoning (Ordinance 3807) passed the council with 5 ayes and one abstention (Mr. Schisler abstained); council members noted the change allows institutional uses including hospitals and medical clinics under the Office Conversion District.

Code correction Deputy City Attorney Miss Panagopoulos introduced a corrected version of Ordinance No. 3791 to fix a numbering error in the city's intoxicating liquors code that arose during codification. The council unanimously approved the corrected ordinance.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (minutes 01/08/2025; claims 01/15/2025): approved, motion Mr. Schisler; second Mr. Mullen; unanimous. - Resolution 9161 (appointments to Advisory Park Board and Alcohol License Committee): approved, motion Mr. Mullins; second Mr. Heisler; unanimous. Appointees: Mr. Weese (Boys & Girls Club teen program) and Strong Langolf (executive director, Habitat for Humanity). - Resolution 9162 (waive prohibition on alcoholic beverages for Sturgeon Spectacular, Feb. 7'9, 2025; Sheboygan St. Marr to Portland): approved, motion Mr. Zimmerman; second Miss Leering; unanimous. No glass/carry-in permitted in designated area. - Resolution 9163 (initial resolution: taxable industrial development revenue bond financing for 1125 East Johnson LLC and 6663 Rolling Meadows LLC): approved, motion Mr. Heisler; second Mr. Mullen; unanimous. Public-notice period: 30 days; final resolution expected in February. - Resolution 9164 (update to public deposit and investment policy): approved, motion Mr. Mullen; second Mr. Heisler; unanimous. Policy change includes allowing funds to be placed in money market accounts for liquidity. - Ordinance 3806 (amend 2040 comprehensive plan, Eastgate Place to institutional): approved, motion Mr. Zimmerman; second Mr. Heisler; passed 5'1 (Mr. Schisler abstained). - Ordinance 3807 (rezoning 14, 20, 28, 36 Eastgate Place to O Office Conversion District): approved, motion Mr. Mullen; second Mr. Heisler; passed 5'1 (Mr. Schisler abstained). - Ordinance 3791 (correction to chapter 400, intoxicating liquors code): approved, motion Mr. Schisler; second Mr. Heisler; unanimous.

What's next Benson said the industrial revenue bond process requires a 30-day public-notice period before the council takes a final vote; staff indicated the final resolution would likely appear on a February agenda. The council adjourned after the evening's business.

Ending The meeting also opened with a proclamation naming Crossing Guard Appreciation Week in January 2025 and closed after the council completed its agenda and adjourned.