Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lake Geneva public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
19 issues in taxes budget with medium priority
Cemetery fee schedule updates
Proposed updates to the cemetery's fee schedule were on the agenda — these cover what residents pay for graves, niches, burials, and foundations. No outcome is known.
Water & Sewer Rate Study
The utility hasn't raised rates in years and is debt-free, but with ~$3.5 million in capital coming, Ehlers will study long-range cash flow and whether rate increases are needed.
Public Works Mechanic Position
Council approved a mechanic job description Monday, but there's no money in the 2027 budget for the position. There's also talk of moving trail maintenance from streets to parks.
Government transparency — livestreaming committee meetings
The council unanimously agreed to have the city attorney draft rules requiring every standing committee meeting to be livestreamed and recorded — closing the gap that left the personnel committee unrecorded.
Alder agenda item request process
A proposed ordinance change would let any two alders place agenda items directly on any committee, commission, board, or council agenda — bypassing committee chairs. The city attorney will draft language.
Free Wednesday parking for sticker holders
Ordinance 26-07 now lets parking-sticker holders park free all day Wednesdays downtown, aiming to draw locals to shops and events in the off-season.
Health Insurance Renewal Comes in Low
Good news on the budget side: the city's $2.1 million health insurance plan is only going up 2%, versus a 12-15% market rate and reports of 40% increases elsewhere.
Proposed Finance and Operations Committee restructuring
A proposal to create a new Finance and Operations Committee (absorbing the personnel committee) failed 2-5. Critics — including the mayor, staff, and most alders — said the old finance committee was inefficient and that full-council and Committee of the Whole discussions work better.
Training and conduct policies for city staff and officials
After months of delay, the council adopted a new employee training and development policy (6-2) and amended the Standards of Conduct policy for elected officials (6-2). Alder Hoiland's push to add his own expanded framework and to repeal Policy 101 in favor of new council rules of procedure failed both times.
2027 Lakefront Operating Budget
The committee was to discuss possible additions to the 2027 lakefront operating budget to fund more programming and activities at the beach and lakefront.
2025 Audit Findings and City Financial Reporting
The city's 2025 audit is in. The lingering issues — commingled cash, over-budget library and tourism funds, and bank collateral — mostly trace to old software and lax bank monitoring, and the new financial system coming in 2027 should fix most of it.
Updated Parks Schedule of Fees
New lakefront fees passed 6-2, but arguments flared over charging residents the same percentage increase as non-residents and over lagoon slip lessees being alarmed that lagoon fees vanished from the schedule.
Tourism Commission composition (Ordinance 26-08)
Proposed changes would shrink the commission to five members — two hoteliers, two council members, one city business owner — with more flexibility on residency and capped BID membership.
Remaining bond funds (~$645,000)
The county radio project came in hundreds of thousands under budget thanks to ARPA, freeing roughly $500,000 that must be spent by year-end — the council started with the alley and beach mats, with a public works storage expansion next.
Tourism Commission makeup and Visit Lake Geneva conflict
Ordinance 26-08 would trim the commission and bar Visit Lake Geneva board members from serving. The second reading stalled as alders split over whether the restriction is a needed safeguard or an unfair exclusion.
Downtown parking during 2027-28 resurfacing
Main Street resurfacing will wipe out 92 spaces near the library in 2027 and 102 downtown spaces in 2028. Staff is planning an offset lot at Central Denison School and counting on the parking fund balance to absorb revenue losses.
Parking Fee Increase
Crosswalk safety work cost four boat-launch spaces, leaving six. Alderperson Fesenmaier asked whether free bus parking could be converted to paid car parking to make up the loss; staff will study the ordinances and boat company contracts.
FLR Committee Elimination
The council dissolved the FLR committee, sending its finance and licensing work straight to council meetings. Critics worry losing that review step weakens oversight while the strategic plan is still being written.
State funding request for Highway 50 disruption
The council directed staff to draft a letter to state legislators asking the state to help fund projects (like the trolley system or parking) to offset the financial hit from its Highway 50 reconstruction.