City staff told the Wausau Economic Development Committee on Jan. 6 that a public participation session for the 1300 Cleveland Avenue site will be held on Thursday, Jan. 29, and that outreach will include a dedicated public engagement landing page, social media posts, 104 mailers to property owners and tenants within 500 feet, door hangers and a flyer.

Tom Killian, the neighborhood group contact for the South West Thomas Street neighborhood, thanked staff for convening the meeting but said a slide on the public engagement page labeled "future land use designation" — taken from the 2017 comprehensive plan — risks confusing residents because the committee previously directed pursuit of nonindustrial uses for the site. "I don't feel bringing industrial further into this dialogue makes a lot of sense if the committee is sincere about just seeking input on nonindustrial," Killian said.

Committee members asked staff to refine or remove the historical land-use language and to make the meeting accessible: suggestions included public access/streaming, a sign-in sheet to capture addresses, and a short written feedback form available in English, Spanish and Hmong (and possibly Lao). City staff said they will provide sign-up sheets, pursue translation services and consider how to clarify or remove the outdated designation from materials.

Staff also thanked planning staff (Brad and Carrie) for their outreach work and said they will mail and door-hanger the neighborhood and keep participants informed by email.