Votes at a glance: Verona council approves $2.42M in bills, AECOM contracts, licenses and parking change

VERONA, Wis. — The Verona Common Council at its Jan. 27, 2025 meeting approved a set of routine and project-related items, including payment of $2,422,207.71 in bills, service agreements with engineering firm AECOM, retail and temporary alcohol licenses, and an ordinance changing 15-minute parking on West Verona Avenue.

The votes came with limited debate on most items; staff provided brief explanations and the council approved the motions by voice vote or consensus where recorded.

Key approved actions

- Payment of bills, $2,422,207.71: Alder Helmke moved approval and Alder Posey seconded. Helmke explained the total includes three large disbursements noted in staff remarks: a transit payment to the City of Madison for $618,952, a first-half operating payment to "Fitch, Frona, EMS" for $421,169, and a payment to Madison Metro Sewers District for $421,220. The motion passed on voice vote.

- Fixed full-service retail outlet license for Cider Farm Brands LLC doing business as Orchard, 881 West Verona Avenue: A motion from the Public Safety and Welfare Committee (moved by Alder Hoax, second by Alder Posey) to approve the applicant passed. Staff reported a background check was conducted and recommended approval; the state issues the license subject to council sign-off.

- Temporary Class B fermented malt beverage and temporary Class B wine licenses for Verona Area Community Theater performances: The council approved two staff-recommended, contingent approvals for theater productions (Sweet Surrender, Feb. 13–15 and 20–22, 2025; Grease Senior Musical, May 8–10 and 16–18, 2025). Staff recommended final issuance be contingent on satisfactory background checks.

- Stormwater services agreement with AECOM, not to exceed $96,050: The Public Works, Sewer and Water Committee moved continuation of AECOM’s stormwater services tied to the city’s MS4 permit. Services listed by staff include public education, illicit-discharge detection, construction-site controls, stormwater ordinance compliance, facility inspections, MS4 annual report and design-manual updates. The council approved the agreement.

- Design engineering services agreement with AECOM for Verona 2025 comprehensive plan support, not to exceed $37,620: The council approved a motion by Alder Tucker Long to accept AECOM’s role in conjunction with lead consultant MKSK (staff noted an October 2024 budget amendment of $157,430 and MKSK work authorization of $119,810). AECOM’s portion is within that amended budget.

- Ordinance 25-1057 (amending section 10-1-26) — 15-minute parking on West Verona Avenue: The ordinance was approved following a Public Safety Committee recommendation. Staff said one parking stall will be relocated across an intersection when a crosswalk is moved and rapid-flashing beacons installed; the change preserves the number of parking stalls and shifts the 15-minute designation to align with sidewalk access.

Other items

- Appointment confirmed: Skyler Frankie was appointed to the Verona Library Board to fill the remainder of a term vacated by Regina Fuller and the council approved the appointment by voice vote.

- Whispering Cove phase 1 development agreement amendment: The applicant notified the council that this item was withdrawn from the agenda and took no action.

Votes and procedure notes

Most motions were approved by voice vote after staff explanation and limited questions. Several alcohol-license approvals were recorded as contingent on final background checks. The AECOM agreements were described as carrying routine or continuing-services work under previously authorized budgets.

Speakers and staff

- Alder Helmke, Alder Posey, Alder Tucker Long, Alder Hoax (Alder) - Miss Fisher, city engineer - Mr. Ollick, acting city clerk - Staff presentations from planning and public works

Authorities

- ordinance: "Ordinance No. 25-1057, amending section 10-1-26 relating to 15-minute parking on West Verona Avenue" (referenced by public safety staff) - regulation: "MS4 annual permit requirements" (referenced in AECOM stormwater services description)

Actions (summary)

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prior budget amendment $157,430."},{"kind":"ordinance_adoption","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"10b-4","ordinance_number":"25-1057"},"motion":"Approve Ordinance No. 25-1057 amending section 10-1-26 relating to 15-minute parking on West Verona Avenue","mover":"Alder Hoax","second":"not specified","vote_record":[],"tally":{"yes":-1,"no":0,"abstain":0,"absent":0,"recused":0},"legal_threshold":{"met":true,"notes":"Change aligns parking with relocated crosswalk and rapid flashing beacon installation; no net loss of parking."},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Shifts the 15-minute parking stall location to align with sidewalk and crosswalk changes."},{"kind":"appointment","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"6","project_slug":"library-board-appointment"},"motion":"Confirm appointment of Skyler Frankie to the Library Board to fill remainder of term","mover":"Alder Helmke","second":"Alder Braithwaite","vote_record":[],"tally":{"yes":-1,"no":0,"abstain":0,"absent":0,"recused":0},"legal_threshold":{"met":true,"notes":"Appointment approved by voice vote."},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Appointment fills vacancy after Regina Fuller resigned to move out of community."},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"11c","project_slug":"whispering-cove-phase1"},"motion":"Applicant withdrew agenda item; no action taken","mover":"","second":"","vote_record":[],"tally":{"yes":0,"no":0,"abstain":0,"absent":0,"recused":0},"legal_threshold":{"met":false,"notes":"Applicant withdrew the First Amendment to Whispering Cove Phase 1 development agreement." ,"met":false},"outcome":"no_action","notes":"Withdrawn by applicant."}]

provenance":{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"block_468.65","local_start":0,"local_end":300,"evidence_excerpt":"Yes. I'd like to make a motion for payment of the bills in the amount of $2,422,207.71.","global_start":468,"global_end":504,"tc_start":"00:07:48","tc_end":"00:08:24","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_4317.01","local_start":0,"local_end":300,"evidence_excerpt":"Who's in favor of notifying the, tenant that, the lease will, be terminated and directing staff to negotiate the last day for the tenant signify by saying Hi... So unless someone, wants to make an editorial comment, we can move on to item 12, which is adjourned. A motion to adjourn will be an order.","global_start":4317,"global_end":4325,"tc_start":"01:11:29","tc_end":"01:11:45","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}

topics:[{"name":"municipal_finance","justification":"Council approved $2.42M in bills and discussed budget implications; includes large vendor payments.","scoring":{"topic_relevance":0.90,"depth_score":0.65,"opinionatedness":0.02,"controversy":0.10,"civic_salience":0.75,"impactfulness":0.60,"geo_relevance":1.00}},{"name":"public_buildings_and_facilities","justification":"Approvals of contracts and licenses and parking ordinance affect city operations and public access.","scoring":{"topic_relevance":0.80,"depth_score":0.55,"opinionatedness":0.01,"controversy":0.20,"civic_salience":0.65,"impactfulness":0.50,"geo_relevance":1.00}}]