Marshfield council adopts municipal court fee increase, OKs $50,000 for comprehensive plan and appoints council rep to Visit Marshfield

The Marshfield Common Council on May 26 passed an ordinance amending city code to align with a 2025 Wisconsin statute that permits municipal courts to raise citation fees. City Administrator Steve Barnes told the council the permitted increase would raise the fee from $38 to $48, with the municipality keeping $43 and returning $5 to the state. Barnes recommended an effective date of July 1 so the villages that participate in the joint municipal court (Spencer and Stratford) can adopt the same change.

"We have the opportunity to increase our fees commensurate with what state law allows," Barnes said during the second reading. The council moved, seconded and approved the ordinance on the record.

Separately, the council approved budget resolution 14‑2026 to transfer up to $50,000 from the general fund contingency to the planning department’s professional services account to begin the statutorily required comprehensive plan update under Wisconsin Statute 66.1001. City Planner James Levin said the current comprehensive plan was adopted in 2017 and the statutory update deadline is July 11, 2027. "This is going to be a long‑term project that will involve everyone in this room," Levin said.

The council also voted to appoint Council member Miss Dallas as a two‑year nonvoting member of the Visit Marshfield board of directors; the position was created in October and had remained vacant.

What’s next: The municipal‑court fee change will take effect after Stratford and Spencer act and after the city completes required publication steps; staff will begin consultant outreach for the comprehensive plan update and return to council with a work plan and public engagement schedule.