Submitted By: denise4wheeler@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
The Mayor’s Corner: December 2024 City Council Recap
Hello, Wheeler!
Welcome to The Mayor’s Corner!
As we bid a fond farewell to Mayor Clif Kemp and prepare to hand the reins to our newly elected Mayor, Denise Donohue, we’re excited for what’s to come in 2025! True to her word, Mayor Donohue is committed to bringing more transparency to the happenings in Wheeler, ensuring that you’re always in the loop. If you haven’t had a chance to read the full meeting minutes, this is the perfect spot to catch up on what’s going on in our town. So, let’s dive into the December City Council highlights! Grab a cup of coffee or tea and let’s take a stroll through the goings-on in the lovely little town of Wheeler.
Call to Order (a.k.a. Mayor Kemp’s Moment to Shine!)
At precisely 6:00 PM, our fearless Mayor, Clif Kemp, officially kicked off his final meeting for the year. With all the Council members present (and the tech-savvy Karen Matthews joining via Zoom), we were ready to get down to business!
Quick Business, Big Decisions Consent Calendar First on the agenda: minutes from the November meeting! There were some minor edits—Councilor Stacks needed to be noted as present, and Councilor Matthews had a pre-planned absence. Just the usual fine-tuning that keeps us all on track.
Next, the finance report came up. Councilor Matthews raised an eyebrow at the property tax percentage, questioning if it was a bit low. City Manager Wes Wootten will be investigating this, so stay tuned for updates! But no worries, folks—the report passed 5-0. We’re all in good hands.
And don’t forget, the Waterfront Park Restroom Financing was submitted and officially noted in the records. Who doesn’t love a new public restroom?
Presentations & Updates: What’s New? FEMA BiOp PICMS Update with TJ Fiorelli Planner TJ Fiorelli dropped some floodplain knowledge on us, revealing that Wheeler had to go with the permit-by-permit option since the PICM wasn’t selected in time. Councilor Matthews asked about how a moratorium might interfere with development timelines. The Council asked for a floodplain map and a list of impacted addresses. If you’re wondering how this affects you, don’t worry—more info will be coming soon.
Safe Drinking Water & Waterfront Park Restroom Updates with Ed Hodges Ed from Curran-McLeod gave us the lowdown on two big projects:
Waterfront Restroom Project – Six bids came in ranging from $179,000 to $350,000, but we’re trying to keep costs down. The restrooms will be ADA-compliant and include a parking space for those with disabilities. Construction is slated to take 1-2 months.
Safe Drinking Water Project – This is a big one, folks! Work starts January 2025, with a completion date of December 2025. Five priority areas will be getting some much-needed attention. Council gave the green light for monthly updates on the restroom project.
Council Votes: Here’s What Went Down Planning Commission: Anna St. John was officially approved as a new member—welcome aboard, Anna! Election Results Resolution: The 2024 election results were formalized with Resolution 2024-22. The motion passed with a unanimous 5-0 vote. Nuisance Fine Schedule Update: The Council updated the nuisance fine schedule, adding a section for vacant properties (don’t leave your yard unattended!) and simplifying things by removing examples. It’s official—this one passed 5-0, too. City Manager’s Vacation: Council approved a well-deserved two-day vacation for our City Manager, Wes, after dealing with some illness. Rest up, Wes! Community Committees: What’s the Buzz? Waterfront Development: The Planning Commission has more questions on the “Character of Wheeler” proposal. Looks like this one is still in the works, so we’ll have to wait for more details.
Parks & Recreation: Big shoutout to the Dumas family for donating holiday decorations that made our train station look like a winter wonderland! Thanks, Dumas fam!
Salmonberry Trail Update: The Salmonberry Trail Foundation (STF) is busy applying for a grant for the Wheeler portion of the trail. They’ve asked the city to send letters of support. You might’ve heard a citizen ask if we’ve passed a resolution to support the trail. City Manager Wootten will look into that.
Planning Commission: The Waterfront Overlay ordinance is still under review, and the Development Code rewrite is complete!
WET Committee: This dedicated group is working hard on everything from green address signs (Stay tuned in January) to training for emergency preparedness.
The Mayor Speaks Mayor Kemp closed the meeting at 8:45 PM, wrapping up another productive session of City Council goodness. No major announcements this time, but you can always count on the Mayor to keep things moving!
That’s a Wrap, Wheeler! There you have it, the highlights of our December meeting. We’re getting ready for big things in 2025, including a new restroom at Waterfront Park and some much-needed updates to our water infrastructure. As always, stay tuned for more updates and be sure to stay engaged in your community. We’ll see you around town!
Until next time, this has been your Mayor’s Corner!
Hello, Wheeler!
Welcome to The Mayor’s Corner!
As we bid a fond farewell to Mayor Clif Kemp and prepare to hand the reins to our newly elected Mayor, Denise Donohue, we’re excited for what’s to come in 2025! True to her word, Mayor Donohue is committed to bringing more transparency to the happenings in Wheeler, ensuring that you’re always in the loop. If you haven’t had a chance to read the full meeting minutes, this is the perfect spot to catch up on what’s going on in our town. So, let’s dive into the December City Council highlights! Grab a cup of coffee or tea and let’s take a stroll through the goings-on in the lovely little town of Wheeler.
Call to Order (a.k.a. Mayor Kemp’s Moment to Shine!)
At precisely 6:00 PM, our fearless Mayor, Clif Kemp, officially kicked off his final meeting for the year. With all the Council members present (and the tech-savvy Karen Matthews joining via Zoom), we were ready to get down to business!
Quick Business, Big Decisions Consent Calendar First on the agenda: minutes from the November meeting! There were some minor edits—Councilor Stacks needed to be noted as present, and Councilor Matthews had a pre-planned absence. Just the usual fine-tuning that keeps us all on track.
Next, the finance report came up. Councilor Matthews raised an eyebrow at the property tax percentage, questioning if it was a bit low. City Manager Wes Wootten will be investigating this, so stay tuned for updates! But no worries, folks—the report passed 5-0. We’re all in good hands.
And don’t forget, the Waterfront Park Restroom Financing was submitted and officially noted in the records. Who doesn’t love a new public restroom?
Presentations & Updates: What’s New? FEMA BiOp PICMS Update with TJ Fiorelli Planner TJ Fiorelli dropped some floodplain knowledge on us, revealing that Wheeler had to go with the permit-by-permit option since the PICM wasn’t selected in time. Councilor Matthews asked about how a moratorium might interfere with development timelines. The Council asked for a floodplain map and a list of impacted addresses. If you’re wondering how this affects you, don’t worry—more info will be coming soon.
Safe Drinking Water & Waterfront Park Restroom Updates with Ed Hodges Ed from Curran-McLeod gave us the lowdown on two big projects:
Waterfront Restroom Project – Six bids came in ranging from $179,000 to $350,000, but we’re trying to keep costs down. The restrooms will be ADA-compliant and include a parking space for those with disabilities. Construction is slated to take 1-2 months.
Safe Drinking Water Project – This is a big one, folks! Work starts January 2025, with a completion date of December 2025. Five priority areas will be getting some much-needed attention. Council gave the green light for monthly updates on the restroom project.
Council Votes: Here’s What Went Down Planning Commission: Anna St. John was officially approved as a new member—welcome aboard, Anna! Election Results Resolution: The 2024 election results were formalized with Resolution 2024-22. The motion passed with a unanimous 5-0 vote. Nuisance Fine Schedule Update: The Council updated the nuisance fine schedule, adding a section for vacant properties (don’t leave your yard unattended!) and simplifying things by removing examples. It’s official—this one passed 5-0, too. City Manager’s Vacation: Council approved a well-deserved two-day vacation for our City Manager, Wes, after dealing with some illness. Rest up, Wes! Community Committees: What’s the Buzz? Waterfront Development: The Planning Commission has more questions on the “Character of Wheeler” proposal. Looks like this one is still in the works, so we’ll have to wait for more details.
Parks & Recreation: Big shoutout to the Dumas family for donating holiday decorations that made our train station look like a winter wonderland! Thanks, Dumas fam!
Salmonberry Trail Update: The Salmonberry Trail Foundation (STF) is busy applying for a grant for the Wheeler portion of the trail. They’ve asked the city to send letters of support. You might’ve heard a citizen ask if we’ve passed a resolution to support the trail. City Manager Wootten will look into that.
Planning Commission: The Waterfront Overlay ordinance is still under review, and the Development Code rewrite is complete!
WET Committee: This dedicated group is working hard on everything from green address signs (Stay tuned in January) to training for emergency preparedness.
The Mayor Speaks Mayor Kemp closed the meeting at 8:45 PM, wrapping up another productive session of City Council goodness. No major announcements this time, but you can always count on the Mayor to keep things moving!
That’s a Wrap, Wheeler! There you have it, the highlights of our December meeting. We’re getting ready for big things in 2025, including a new restroom at Waterfront Park and some much-needed updates to our water infrastructure. As always, stay tuned for more updates and be sure to stay engaged in your community. We’ll see you around town!
Until next time, this has been your Mayor’s Corner!