Marshfield council approves TIF payment, pickleball carryover, zoning changes and contracts

The Marshfield Common Council on March 11 voted to approve a set of budget resolutions, ordinances and contract actions affecting the city’s economic development, parks projects and infrastructure.

Council members approved: a transfer of $150,000 into Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) District 15 to fund developer incentive payments; a $42,680 carryforward from 2024 to finish construction of the Breen Park pickleball courts; adoption of the five-year update to the Marshfield Fairgrounds Park campus master plan (Ordinance 15-27); amendments to residential zoning rules to enable infill on small lots (Ordinance 15-28); acceptance of a proposal to study the city’s economic development organizational structure and direction to draft a related budget resolution; authorization for the city administrator to give notice of intent to renegotiate the tourism agreement with Visit Marshfield; and a contract award to Moosan Brothers for a sewer-lining project as approved by the Board of Public Works.

Budget resolution 09-2025: TIF District 15 Staff explained that TIF District 15, which includes part of the Mill Creek Business Park, will receive a $150,000 budget transfer to fund developer incentive expenditures tied to a development agreement with Weinbrenner. City Administrator Steve Barr said Weinbrenner has met an initial milestone (foundation work) and is eligible for a partial payment; additional payments will be made as future milestones are reached. The council approved the transfer.

Budget resolution 10-2025: Breen Park pickleball courts Finance Director Jennifer Salinski said the original $597,500 project for pickleball courts at Breen Park used a mix of debt service, room tax and donor funding and is nearly complete; the council approved carrying forward $42,680 of unspent 2024 funds into 2025 to finish punch-list items. Salinski stated some donor funds are held by the Marshfield Area Community Foundation and will be remitted to the city when invoiced.

Ordinances Ordinance 15-27 (Fairgrounds campus master plan update) was adopted after staff described it as a modest five-year update; the report noted parking, traffic, dust and stormwater were raised at the planning commission public hearing. Ordinance 15-28 amended city code provisions for SR-4 and SR-6 residential districts to relax minimum setbacks, lot-area and building-coverage requirements to allow rebuilding and infill on smaller lots; staff presented the change as a tool to increase housing opportunities.

Economic development study and Visit Marshfield The council accepted a low-cost proposal from Redevelopment Resources (Kristen Fish) to analyze the city’s economic development organizational structure (about 39 hours, roughly $6,000) and directed staff to prepare a budget resolution, likely funded from the 205 economic development fund. Separately, the council authorized the city administrator to provide written notice of the city’s intent to renegotiate the tourism agreement with Visit Marshfield (the current contract requires one-year notice). Council members discussed timing and the desire to align any contract discussions with the forthcoming strategic planning process and the consultant’s recommendations.

Sewer lining contract After a closed session under Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(e), the council approved proceeding with a contract for Moosan Brothers for a sewer-lining project as recommended by the Board of Public Works.

Votes All motions described above carried. Where motions were recorded in the meeting packet, motions and seconds were provided; roll-call tallies were recorded verbally in open session as unanimous voice votes on the listed items.