Watertown council approves development overlay, airport lease, transit contracts and several grant applications

The Watertown Common Council on Dec. 2 considered and approved multiple ordinances, resolutions and grant actions spanning development review, airport leasing and transit services.

Ordinances and development The council approved Ordinance 25-23 (second reading), which amends a municipal code section governing acquisition of facilities, rates and charges. Later, on first reading, the council advanced Ordinance 25-24, a planned-development overlay for properties at 100 East Division Street and 104 East Division Street (PINs provided in the record). During debate on 25-24, Ald. Arnett and others pressed to secure public access along the riverfront; Alder Blanky successfully moved to add an eleventh condition requiring the developer to include an easement for the riverwalk. City staff said the easement could alternatively be secured in the forthcoming development agreement but agreed to incorporate it in negotiations and return the agreement to the council and finance committee for final action.

Airport lease and property PIN clarification The council approved Exhibit 9801, a resolution to enter a lease for an airport hangar pad at 1820 River Drive. During the item councilmembers and staff clarified a discrepancy in the PIN number listed in the packet versus the resolution and confirmed the correct PIN on the record before voting.

Flood-resilience grant Council approved Exhibit 9802 to participate in a WEM pre-disaster flood resilience grant for a West Side Creek System study. City staff said the grant targets three areas on the city’s northwest side and will help plan future capital projects tied to a citywide flood study.

Transit contracts, vehicle leases and grant applications Council approved a contract with Passenger Transit Incorporated for shared-ride taxi services (Exhibit 9803) and a related vehicle-lease resolution (Exhibit 9804). Council discussed customer-service reporting and confirmed the program’s procurement includes ADA-compliant vehicles; staff noted the capital acquisition plan for 2026 includes an ADA-compliant van. Council also approved resolutions to apply for a DOT capital grant for shared-ride fleet purchases (Exhibit 9805) and an operating grant for the program (Exhibit 9806).

Closed session waiver Earlier in the meeting council convened in closed session under statute 19.85 to confer with legal counsel about litigation strategy; after returning to open session, Ald. Lampe moved to direct the city attorney and administration to execute the conflict-waiver presented in closed session; the council approved the motion.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 25-23 (amendment to acquisition of facilities, rates and charges): motion carried on second reading (vote recorded on the record). - Ordinance 25-24 (planned development overlay; riverwalk easement added as condition): motion carried on first reading with the added easement condition. - Exhibit 9801 (airport hangar-pad lease): adopted after PIN correction and roll-call vote. - Exhibit 9802 (WEM flood resilience grant participation): adopted. - Exhibit 9803 (Passenger Transit Inc. contract for shared-ride taxi services): adopted. - Exhibit 9804 (lease of shared-ride service vehicles): adopted. - Exhibit 9805 (apply for DOT capital grant for fleet purchases): adopted. - Exhibit 9806 (apply for DOT operating grant): adopted.

The meeting record shows councilmembers asked procedural and technical questions on multiple items — for example, parking requirements and county-line complications on the development overlay and fleet composition and ADA accessibility for transit vehicles. The council voted to carry forward the development agreement negotiations that will set final conditions and return to the finance committee and council for final approval.

SOURCE: Watertown Common Council meeting transcript, Dec. 2.