Staff presented a draft map and introduced a discussion of proposed revisions to the city's ATV/UTV ordinance focused on streets split between Wisconsin Rapids and neighboring municipalities.

"So what we've got with the map basically color coded areas where road segments are fifty-fifty in the town, in the city, and then also show areas that are a 100%, in the city or in the town," city engineer Joe Eichstead said as he explained the draft segmentation and how staff is evaluating connections to already-open ATV/UTV routes.

Committee members said the draft map helps identify both straightforward segments (e.g., Cliff Street, Lincoln Street) and landlocked or isolated pieces that would require creating new through routes if opened. One member noted Weeping Willow connects to Whitrock but does not provide through access without constructing a new route.

Alderman Bridal Austin said the committee's primary concern is the half-and-half roads that lead to open routes and that the discussion should include signage needs for those transitions and examples such as 2 Mile Avenue, 16th Street and Griffith Avenue.

Resident Tom Rome asked whether marking or signage requirements had changed from previous presentations. Eichstead replied that "any roadways that are opened would have to be, I guess, signed as such," and that adjacent open roadways should have signs on side streets to indicate closed streets.

Staff cited state statutory requirements for machine equipment and operator credentials, referencing "state statute 23 33" and listing vehicle requirements (license plate, headlights, brake lights) and noting that operators must have appropriate licenses. Eichstead also said anyone born after Jan. 1, 1988 must carry an ATV/UTV safety-course certificate.

Attorney Schill told the committee that an ordinance amendment will likely need to list specific roads (or clearly reference a map) "so that everyone could understand," rather than using only a general description of "split municipal streets." Committee members agreed staff should either enumerate the affected segments in the ordinance or incorporate a clearly referenced map.

Committee and staff discussed Wood County's GIS mapping, which currently shows some 50/50 roadways as closed; staff said the county map may not be fully up to date and that staff will review neighboring municipal ordinances and county data to reconcile differences.

Next steps: staff will finish mapping remaining corporate-limit split roadways, review neighboring ordinances and county GIS data, refine signage options and bring a completed map and recommended ordinance language back to the committee for further consideration. No formal action was taken at this meeting.