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Wauwatosa council: summary of votes, appointments and development approvals
Summary
The Wauwatosa Common Council approved multiple appointments, ordinances and development-related resolutions during an open meeting that included public hearings and several committee referrals.
The Wauwatosa Common Council on March 18 approved a slate of appointments, adopted several ordinances and approved multiple planning and public works resolutions during an open meeting that included a public hearing on a gas station site change.
Council members unanimously approved the mayor's appointments to boards and commissions, and approved multiple items forwarded from the Plan Commission, Community Affairs Committee, Finance Committee and the Board of Public Works.
Why it matters: The actions formalize changes to zoning and municipal procedures (including new rules for tattoo and body-art establishments and adoption of the 2045 comprehensive plan) and move several planned-unit-development (PUD) decisions and public-works contracts into implementation phases. Some votes drew dissent and public commentary that the council recorded into the minutes. The council also scheduled a closed session to discuss a shared-services proposal for fire and EMS.
Key outcomes (selected): - Appointments: The council unanimously approved five mayoral appointments, including reappointments to the Police and Fire Commission and Parks and Forestry Commission and an appointment to the Wauwatosa Business Improvement District. (Vote: unanimous.)
- Plan Commission items: The council approved a certified survey map land division and a conditional use permit for secondhand merchandise sales, both recommended 7'0 by the Plan Commission and approved by the council (votes recorded as unanimous for the two items). The council approved an amendment permitting tattoo and body-art establishments in commercial zoning (cited in the meeting as a major change) by recorded voice/roll votes (vote recorded as 12 yes, 2 no). The ordinance adopting the 2045 comprehensive plan was approved by roll call (vote recorded as 12 yes, 2 no).
- Community Affairs items: The council approved creating a municipal code chapter regulating tattoo and body-art facilities (committee recommended 4'1). The council recorded a vote of 13 yes, 1 no for that ordinance on final passage. Multiple other Community Affairs items (historic preservation commission composition changes, PUD amendments, and design-review process changes) were approved by council action; several passed unanimously.
- Financial affairs: The council approved a two-year contract for an online community engagement platform, an amendment to the Burley Triangle Phase 2 term sheet and TID budget item, use of up to $15,000 in restricted Hart Park Senior Center funds for Milner Building furnishings, and 2024 operating budget carryovers. The council adopted a floor amendment to add a $7,100 senior commission carryover and approved the full package (votes noted in the record; financial items passed by recorded tallies recorded as 14'0 or 12' depending on item).
- Board of Public Works items: The council accepted board-recommended awards for emulsion and street patching contracts, concrete repair contracts for spring/summer 2025, an amendment to a Crown Castle antenna lease on the Hart Park monopole, final payment on the Burley Water Tower rehabilitation contract, and the Board of Public Works' 2024 annual report; all were recommended by the board and approved by the council.
What the council did not finalize tonight: A public hearing on a conditional-use permit for site modifications and a convenience-store expansion at 10636 West Bluemound Road was opened and closed; the matter will next go to the Plan Commission for additional review. The council also moved into a closed session to discuss a proposed shared-services or consolidation concept for fire and EMS with a neighboring community; no final decision on consolidation was made in open session.
Votes and formal actions in the meeting minutes are recorded in the council transcript and the official ordinance/resolution documents on file with the City Clerk.
Ending: The council adjourned the open session and moved to a closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(b) to deliberate negotiation matters related to fire/EMS services.
