Waukesha Joint Review Board reviews annual TID report; no action required

The City of Waukesha Joint Review Board on June 19, 2025 reviewed the city's annual tax incremental financing (TIF) report but took no formal action on the document, a city staff member told the board.

Jeff, a city staff member, presented a brief overview of 2024 TIF activity and a five-year closeout strategy, showing an overview map of open TIF districts and a financial summary through Dec. 31, 2024. "So hope everybody attached to the agenda was the annual report document," Jeff said while opening the presentation.

The presentation highlighted recent and planned development inside several TIF districts. Jeff said Sky High Marketing completed and opened a new headquarters in the Waukesha Corporate Park; KTV Label is consolidating and building a new headquarters; Associated Bank has located in the district; and Cobblestone Hotel is under construction and "anticipated to open in May of next year." He also said the city is progressing on a development agreement with Mandel for a multifamily residential project and that Bridal Walk apartments and a new industrial/office building for WILDEK are completed and operating.

Jeff said several TIFs have closed recently or had termination resolutions adopted, with some closures effective in 2024 and 2025. He outlined the city's five-year closeout strategy and identified anticipated closure targets: TID 12 (Waukesha Corporate Park) in 2027; the area around the Standard Theater (near Arcadia and Highway 164) in 2027; leaving TID 11 open for an affordable housing extension with an anticipated close in 2028; a possible partial extraction of parcels from downtown to TID 17 in 2029; and HSA on Northview Road noted as closing (transcript reference: "02/1930"). Jeff said the five-year closeout slide was added to the presentation and that staff would forward the slide to board members after the meeting.

Before the presentation, the board approved the minutes of Sept. 9, 2024. "I'll make a motion to approve the minutes of 09/09/2024," a board member said; another member seconded. All three members present voted in favor and the motion passed.

Board members asked no substantive questions about the annual report during the session. The chair noted the annual TIF report was informational and did not require board adoption.

The presentation and the closeout strategy will be circulated to the board following the meeting, the staff presenter said.

(See "Votes at a glance" below for recorded motions from the meeting.)