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Committee asks city attorney to review draft property redevelopment policy before action
Summary
Committee members requested legal review and further clarifications to the city's proposed property redevelopment/disposition policy, citing concerns about scope, public notice and committee authority on already‑owned parcels.
The Wausau Economic Development Committee continued work Sept. 2 on a proposed replacement for its property disposition policy, asking staff to seek a formal review from the city attorney and return with revisions.
Director Pfeifferke presented a reworked document retitled the "property redevelopment program" that the packet showed with tracked changes (modified text in orange, deletions in red and additions in blue). The draft reorganizes guidance by property type — industrial, single-family, remnant parcels and larger multi‑family parcels — and expands language about acquisition as well as disposition.
Alder Killian said she had numerous substantive questions and asked specifically whether the city attorney had reviewed the draft; she said the committee should not adopt policy language that might conflict with municipal ordinances. Killian also asked that the policy explicitly state that properties the city already owns that were purchased for redevelopment should come to the Economic Development Committee for discussion and potential action, and she asked why a former 30‑day posting process for surplus properties had been removed from the draft.
Staff said some posting and outreach processes may be added back for particular categories (for example, residential infill lots), and described ongoing work on a "business campus" listing intended to better show available industrial or development parcels. Committee members also discussed remnant parcels and how Marathon County and other jurisdictions have marketed small or undevelopable right-of-way remnants to return them to private ownership and the tax roll.
Several alder members suggested the city expand public outreach options — including listing for-sale city parcels on widely-used platforms such as realtor.com in addition to the city's GIS and website — so potential buyers could more easily find available lots.
The committee gave staff direction to work with the city attorney and bring a refined draft back to the committee; no vote to adopt the document was taken.
