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Committee roundup: signals, trails, developer agreement, street projects and parking lease advance to council or approval
Summary
The Wausau Infrastructure and Facilities Committee approved a slate of infrastructure and development items at its May 8 meeting, including signal-rehab agreements, a trail relocation order, a subdivision developer-agreement revision, street-reconstruction additions and a parking-lease deal for Foundry on Third.
The Wausau Infrastructure and Facilities Committee voted on a package of routine and project items during its May 8 session. Most items passed by voice vote or unanimous consent; the Foundry on Third parking-lease agreement passed on a recorded committee tally reported in the meeting as 3–1.
Key committee actions (all items below were approved by the committee unless otherwise noted):
- Signal rehabilitation (agenda items 3–6): The committee approved state municipal agreements to rehabilitate traffic signals at the following intersections under the state’s Highway Safety Improvement (TISSA) program with a 90/10 cost split: Bridge Street & Sixth Street; Bridge Street & Fifth Street; Bridge Street & First Avenue; and Thomas Street & Grand Avenue. Staff said the program is competitive and favorable because it reimburses 90% of design and construction costs; two projects are scheduled for construction next summer and the others may be built in subsequent years.
- Business Campus Trail East–West connector (agenda item 7): The committee approved a plat and a relocation order to initiate right-of-way and potential real-estate acquisition for the East–West Connector Trail (project ID 6999-18-11) that will follow city property and extend to 80 Fourth Avenue. Staff said one alignment that required acquisition would be less expensive and more desirable; approving the relocation order initiates the acquisition process.
- GreenTree Meadows subdivision developer-agreement revision (agenda item 9): The committee approved a first revision to the developer’s agreement with GreenTree Construction Inc. to shift the phase 1 completion date from February 2025 to February 2026 (as presented). Staff said the developer now has required DNR permits but will not begin construction until after closing on land and expects to pave next summer.
- 2026 street-reconstruction additions (agenda item 10): The committee approved adding Second Street from Fourth Street to Division Street and Division Street from Second Street east to the dead end to the proposed 2026 street-reconstruction projects. Staff noted a pending TID amendment could fund the work; if TID funding or a budget appropriation is not available the project will not proceed.
- First revision to state municipal agreement for Stewart Avenue (agenda item 13): The committee approved an amended state municipal agreement reflecting actual final costs and a reduced state delivery fee (reduced from 10% to 4%), saving the city approximately $107,000 on the project that reconstructed Stewart Avenue last summer (project ID 6999-09-02/72).
- Temporary lease extension with Woodson YMCA Foundation, Yockey Park (agenda item 14): The committee approved the requested extension to the temporary lease agreement.
- Foundry on Third parking lease agreement (agenda item 12): The committee approved a parking agreement reserving 100 stalls on the third floor of the Sears East Ramp for Foundry on Third, with a 20-year guaranteed revenue arrangement and a 20% discount for the tenant as reflected in the draft. The committee recorded the vote as 3–1 in favor. Debate before the vote included concerns from one aldermember about committing to a long discount and questions about ramp lifespan and maintenance costs; Public Works staff said the Sears ramp is post-tension construction, in good condition, and the city budgets annual ramp maintenance. The motion passed 3–1.
Procedural items: The committee approved minutes of the April 2025 meeting by voice vote at the start of the session.
What committee members said: Discussion on several items emphasized funding pathways (state 90/10 for signal work; TID amendments for reconstruction; budget modification if flashing beacons are installed this year), project sequencing (some signal projects scheduled sooner than others) and deferred design or acquisition steps for the trail and fleet facility updates.
Items with additional follow-up: Several approvals will return to the Common Council for final action (for example the Sherman Street parking amendment was forwarded to council on May 27). Staff said some projects await external approvals, funding allocations or future budget actions before construction can proceed.
