WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Tuesday’s Wausau City Council meeting promises to be eventful as Alders prepare to take up two items that have created division within some sectors of the community.
That includes the “We are Wausau” resolution, which grew out of Marathon County’s attempts to pass a “Community for All” resolution in recent months. Mayor Katie Rosenberg reworked some of the wording after some on the city council expressed concerns about adopting a measure written by another body.
“Some folks felt that some of the data was not something that resonated with them,” said Rosenberg. “Some didn’t want to have any kind of negative connotations in there, they didn’t want to have reference to the New York Times article (on a previous failed attempt by the County to pass their own resolution.)”
She says she chose “We are Wausau” as the new title as well because she didn’t want the community to get hung up on the debate surrounding the county’s version, which has gone through over a half-dozen revisions in over a year.
“It is just a positive statement about where we stand as Wausaonians and I hope that it is something that we can eventually rally around and realize that it’s good. We welcome our neighbors and we want [the city] to be a positive place to live.”
Rosenberg had initially taken a copy of a previous version of the resolution and brought it forward for consideration. It made it to the full council before being sent back to committee for revisions.
Alders will also take up the proposed Environmental Justice resolution, which she says will encourage the city to better inform residents how decisions such as property zoning will impact their neighborhoods, and will not lead to the city favoring one group or another when it comes to certain projects. “I know there are different groups that use terms in different ways, so that’s why it is important that we define these things. So we and the public understand,” said Rosenberg. “Folks at City Hall have said ‘you know I like the idea of having more robust public engagement especially on the front end of projects. Not everybody responds to the letter you get if there is a re-zone happening, you may not even know what it means.
“Maybe there is a different language spoken at home, we need to offer translation services. Stuff like that, things that make it easier so you can form an opinion,” she added.
The Environmental Justice resolution would be the first of its kind in the state of Wisconsin. It was brought forward by Alder Tom Killian, who spent time as a community activist before winning a seat on the council.
Rosenberg reminds residents that public comment is welcome during Tuesday’s meeting but there is a strict three-minute time limit for each speaker. Those who wish to speak must also register in advance by contacting the city clerk.
Other topics Mayor Rosenberg discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischner include:
Start of Video- “We are Wausau” resolution
4:00- Environmental Justice resolution
9:00- Reaction to the possibility of having refugees resettled in Wausau
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