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Caledonia board approves public participation plan after amendment requiring regular updates
Summary
The village board approved a public participation plan to guide the comprehensive‑plan update after adding an amendment requiring periodic ‘public participation’ updates at Committee of the Whole meetings; the vote passed after a lengthy debate about committee makeup and outreach methods.
The Caledonia Village Board voted to adopt a public participation plan for the comprehensive‑plan update after approving an amendment that requires regular updates to the Committee of the Whole. The measure was the subject of extended discussion on committee composition, survey timing and outreach methods.
Trustee (S5) said she could not support the plan as originally presented because she did not know how the special comprehensive plan review committee members were chosen and questioned whether the committee represented a balanced set of stakeholders. “I have a problem with the composition of this committee. I think it's not transparent,” the trustee said during debate.
Staff clarified that the public‑participation plan is intentionally general to preserve flexibility for outreach activities. Planning director Pete Wagner explained the online survey has not yet been released and will be reviewed by the plan commission; pop‑up events and QR codes are planned to reach residents in public venues such as the farmers market and beer garden.
Trustee (S2) offered an amendment to add an accountability item — a periodic “public participation update” on the Committee of the Whole agenda (suggested monthly or bimonthly). The board voted the amendment by roll call and then approved the main motion as amended. The clerk recorded the roll call: the amendment passed; on the final vote the resolution carried, with at least two trustees recorded voting no (Trustee Pierce and Trustee Martin).
Board members and staff said the procedure aims to meet state statutory requirements while giving staff flexibility to identify effective ways to solicit public input and to incorporate input back through the planning commission and the full board. The board instructed staff to provide updates as described in the amendment to keep the public informed and to allow trustees to provide ongoing input on outreach activities.
The measure establishes how the village will solicit input for the plan update — including online surveys and in‑person pop‑up events — and requires periodic reporting to the Committee of the Whole so the body and the public can track outreach progress.
