Fond du Lac City Council approves series of appointments, finance and land‑use measures

The Fond du Lac City Council on Jan. 22 approved a package of appointments, event permits, financial‑policy updates and land‑use changes, and advanced an initial industrial revenue bond resolution for two LLC projects that city staff said will refinance developer debt and support existing jobs.

The actions were largely unanimous. Council President Tiffany Brault presided over the meeting; the council voted unanimously on the consent agenda, appointments, an alcohol‑possession waiver for a downtown festival, an update to the city’s public deposit and investment policy, the initial industrial revenue bond resolution, and a correction to a previously enacted ordinance. Two land‑use votes — a comprehensive‑plan amendment and a rezoning to allow an SSM Health expansion — passed with five ayes and one abstention by Ald. Schisler.

The initial industrial revenue bond (IRB) resolution concerned projects identified as 1125 East Johnson LLC (Johnson Crossing/Festival Foods Plaza) and 6663 Rolling Meadows LLC. Community Development Director Emily Benson told the council the IRB is a narrow statutory tool used infrequently by the city to pass through financing to a developer; staff said the mechanism imposes no liability on the city and can lower borrowing costs for the borrower. Benson said the Johnson Crossing location already resulted in 37 jobs at that site and three jobs at another retail location. The council approved only an initial resolution; Benson said a public notice and a roughly 30‑day waiting period precede a final resolution, and the final documents and interest rates will be negotiated by the borrower and lender before the council sees a final vote, likely in February.

On land use, the council approved Ordinance 3806, an amendment to the Fond du Lac 2040 comprehensive plan changing the future‑use designation for properties on Eastgate Place from residential to institutional to allow an expansion of SSM Health’s cancer center. Benson said the parcels are adjacent to existing institutional property and that SSM owns the lots in question. The council then approved Ordinance 3807 rezoning four Eastgate Place parcels (14, 20, 28 and 36 Eastgate Place) from R‑1 single‑family residential to O (office conversion) district, a zoning category staff said accommodates institutional uses including medical clinics and hospitals. Both land‑use measures passed 5–0 with Ald. Schisler recorded as abstaining.

Other items approved during the meeting included: • Resolution 9161 — appointments to the advisory park board and the alcohol license committee (two midterm replacements). City Manager Michael Moore introduced the nominees: a candidate who leads the Boys & Girls Club teen program and a candidate who is executive director of Habitat for Humanity. The resolution passed unanimously. • Resolution 9162 — waiver of the city’s prohibition on possession of alcoholic beverages on a defined stretch of Sheboygan Street for the Sturgeon Spectacular festival (Feb. 7–9, 2025); city staff recommended approval with a no‑glass and no‑carry‑in rule for the designated area. The council approved the waiver unanimously. • Resolution 9164 — update to the city’s public deposit and investment policy to reflect adviser recommendations and give staff more flexibility in managing the portfolio; the primary procedural change noted in discussion was allowing the city to park funds in a money‑market account. The council approved the update unanimously. • Ordinance correcting Ordinance 3791 — a technical renumbering correction identified during codification; Deputy City Attorney Panagopoulos said the amendment corrects a numbering error and the council approved the correction unanimously.

During audience comment, resident Laura DeGaulier thanked Greenway Arboretum volunteers by name for their 2024 work; that item was a public‑comment recognition and did not prompt council action. There were no public hearings on the agenda.

Votes at a glance • Consent agenda (Jan. 8, 2025 minutes; claims dated Jan. 15, 2025): motion by Ald. Schisler, second by Ald. Mullen — approved unanimously. • Resolution 9161 (appointments to advisory park board and alcohol license committee): motion by Ald. Mullins, second by Ald. Heisler — approved unanimously. • Resolution 9162 (waiver for Sturgeon Spectacular, Feb. 7–9, 2025): motion by Ald. Zimmerman, second by Ald. Leering — approved unanimously. • Resolution 9163 (initial resolution for taxable industrial development revenue bond financing — 1125 East Johnson LLC and 6663 Rolling Meadows LLC): motion by Ald. Heisler, second by Ald. Mullen — approved unanimously. Council heard that the initial resolution triggers a public‑notice period and that final documents and rates will return to council for approval. • Resolution 9164 (update to public deposit and investment policy): motion by Ald. Mullen, second by Ald. Heisler — approved unanimously. • Ordinance 3806 (amend 2040 comprehensive plan — Eastgate Place to institutional): motion by Ald. Zimmerman, second by Ald. Heisler — approved 5 ayes, 1 abstention (Ald. Schisler). • Ordinance 3807 (rezoning 14, 20, 28, 36 Eastgate Place R‑1 to O office conversion district): motion by Ald. Mullen, second by Ald. Heisler — approved 5 ayes, 1 abstention (Ald. Schisler). • Ordinance correcting 3791 (chapter 400 renumbering correction): motion by Ald. Schisler, second by Ald. Heisler — approved unanimously.

What’s next • The IRB matter will return as a final resolution after a public‑notice period and completion of loan documents; staff projected a final council vote in February. • The SSM Health expansion proceeds now that plan and zoning amendments are approved; implementation details such as permits, site plans and building permits were not discussed at the meeting and were not specified.