Recapping Last Night's City Council Meeting

The Marshfield City Council met last night as they do the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 630 S. Central Ave.  Here is what was covered:

A Presentation of the 2014 “Vital Signs” report. The report, which covers data about the economic and overall well-being of Marshfield, was presented by Jason Angell, Planning and Economic Development Director; Paula Jero, Executive Director of the United Way; and Amber Kiggens-Leifheit, Executive Director of the Marshfield Area Community Foundation. The full report is available at this link: http://ci.marshfield.wi.us/ED/Vital_Signs_2014.pdf. According to the report:

• The Marshfield Area School District’s population has increased from its previous high point in 2010.
• 32.6 percent of Marshfield residents have at least a high school degree, 10.2 percent possess an associate’s degree, 16.7 percent have a bachelor’s degree, 9.3 percent have a graduate level degree.
• Home values are down overall from 2007 in the Marshfield area, though they are up from 2012.
• Foreclosures are down in the Marshfield area compared to the 2012 numbers.
• Unemployment rates in Wood County are higher (7 percent) than the state of Wisconsin’s unemployment rate.
• New home construction has tailed off from its peak in 2003.

In Voting, the Council unanimously approved the following:

• Re-zoning from a single-family residential to an urban mixed use district, for two parcels located at 201 W. 4th Street and 306 S. Chestnut Avenue.
• Amending Marshfield’s municipal code, correcting the minimum street setback in the single family residential district and increasing the height limitation of the single family residential district to 35 feet.
• Amending Marshfield’s municipal code regarding shoreline zoning regulations, adding general provisions to the ordinance per the Department of Natural Resources requirements.
• Vacating portions of Wildflower Drive and combining four lots into a 2-lot CSM, located north of 1920 Wildflower Drive.
• Transferring $6,700 within the TIF District Funds to complete a TIF District strategic plan update. This involves hiring engineers to help update the strategic plan.
• Transferring $52,000 from the Wastewater Utility equipment replacement fund to the Wastewater Utility general plant machinery and equipment to fund emergency repairs to influent screw pump.
• Adopting the Wood County Hazard Mitigation Plan.
• A resolution exempting Marshfield residents from the Wood County Library tax. This will allow residents to avoid a double taxation between city and county taxes.

The Following was approved by a vote of 8-2:

• The council approved referring a variance request for further review to the City Plan Commission. The issue is whether a variance is needed to use a crane for construction of a new water tower on E. Depot Street.