A more realistic picture would show people dodging foul balls and looking for parking

Frame Park Stadium website, under construction. Must be still looking for financing.

Waukesha replay

Just heard the train horn, two short, one long. We've got helicopters landing in the neighborhood. (ht: Spring City) And the city is debating whether to allow Chad Bauer build a stadium in Frame Park.

Didn't we just go through all this?

Alderman Hernandez's explanation for his vote in favor of the stadium

Alderman Chris Hernandez gave his explanation to the residents of Phoenix Heights why he voted in favor of the stadium at Frame Park. Based upon audio I received of the meeting, the following is a transcript of his answer:

A Phoenix Heights resident asked Alderman Hernandez why he voted in favor of the stadium. “That was at a point in the time when I couldn’t go around and knock because I broke my ankle. I had a couple of screws put in so I was laid up for a long time, couldn’t walk or anything. So I was mostly relying on phone calls at my residence as well as e-mails. My plan, of course, before I broke my ankle was to go down to Frame Park, walk through Phoenix Heights, walk through the rest of the district ‘cause this is a bigger issue than – yes, Phoenix Heights is adjacent to this, but it’s also a huge city issue as well so it has to be looked at from that larger spectrum. So from the volume of phone calls and e-mails that I had plus being in law enforcement that of course I track everybody’s phone call and I look everybody up and whatnot so I got a lotta phone calls and e-mails from people saying that they were in my district that weren’t. By the time I completely tallied it up it was basically one and the same. So I had to look at it from the bigger spectrum of the city and not just the neighborhood and this is one of the issues that, of course being a brand new alderman I get thrown in the deep end right off the bat. So you know within, like, two months of being sworn in I got hit the hardest decision that I made and especially being completely limited – my wife was pregnant and she had these really bad migraines so the house was completely dark and I can’t see to do anything and it was the most probably miserable time of my life. So, and, you know, just being stuck on the couch and then since everything that I was remodeling in that room had to go in the rest of my house I could barely take my crutches to the opposite end to go to the bathroom and come back and flop down on the couch. So, unfortunately, I had to strictly rely on just phone calls and e-mails but you know my initial plan before I took that fall was to, you know, walk around like the rest of the aldermen, go down, you know, throughout the district, including Phoenix Heights, {garbled}

At this point he was interrupted by Marty Larson asking about the Alderman’s ability to walk, at which point another resident offered to get Hernandez a scooter.

Mayor Nelson not running for re-election

Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson (D) is expected to announce today he is not running for re-election. Nelson tells the Wigderson Library & Pub he is taking a job as a regional mascot for the Little Caesars pizza chain.

"I always wanted a job where I could meet so many people and never wear a tie. And my Crocs look a little like Roman sandals, so corporate had no objections to me wearing them."

Nelson's new duties include ribbon cutting ceremonies, visiting stores, and making public appearances at sporting events.

"I can't wait to appear at the new stadium at Frame Park in my toga handing out free pizza to all of the people looking for parking spots."

(Pictured at right, Mayor Nelson at Little Caesars Mascot Academy)

Fun with Larry and the gang

Went to the Waukesha Common Council meeting tonight. No announcement tonight on the radium settlement with the DNR.

Global warming has hit Waukesha.
Alderman Tortomasi said the "coldest January" caused nine water main breaks, and two in February. If you see water cascading down Arcadian or bubbling up on Broadway, call the city. And if you see water turning into steam, call Batman.

Dinner and a meeting.
February 17th at 5:00 PM the Common Council will be meeting at the Park & Rec building to go over the strategic plan. The Common Council will have dinner, and then after the meeting the whole gang will head to the council chambers. The mayor assures me it will be an inexpensive affair.

The public has to bring their own food and drink.

Lori Luther performance evaluation time.
The mayor distributed a form to Common Council members asking for input as he prepares the one-year performance evaluation for the city administrator. I for one welcome our evil genius galactic overlord.

Lights, camera, action.
Next Common Council meeting we get to see movies from the BID. Bring popcorn.

It's for the children.
The $1.5 million dollar expansion of the children's wing of the Taj Ma Larry library is out to bid.

Talking baseball.
The fight over the zoning for Frame Park stadium may have ended yesterday, but the issue is not necessarily dead. As the mayor pointed out to me this evening, Chad Bauer is going to have to demonstrate that he has the financial backing to build his stadium before the Common Council will approve the project going forward.

Unfortunately, we can't go rip out the survey sticks. Bummer.


See? And Alderman Vitale thought I picked a boring meeting to attend.

Frame Park stadium zoning appeal delayed to February 2nd

Will the Waukesha Board of Zoning Appeals see it's shadow? Consideration of Steve Edlund's appeal regarding the permitting of a stadium for the Northwoods Baseball League has been postponed to February 2nd at 4:00 PM. Edlund reports the delay is because, "the chairperson has requested more time to study the appeal."

C'mon big eight. Baby New Year needs a new pair of shoes

Let’s take a last look back at 2008 at the eight events that shaped Wisconsin and Waukesha.

Waukesha’s Big Eight:
1. The Flood. How often does a city emergency come up where a city handles it well?
2. The Great Lakes Water Compact passes, complete with a process for Waukesha to apply for a diversion. Speaking of water, you can never have enough. Where do we stick the $50 million straw?
3. Todd Gray becomes Waukesha Schools Superintendent. Already we’re seeing the changes. But do we have to have four-year-old kindergarten? Gray has ended talk of referendums and has moved the debate to reforms.
4. The great Frame Park baseball stadium debate. Compared to other cities, when we argue, we argue nicely. Unfortunately, the home team lost. But I predict we have not heard the last of some of the people involved in the argument, and this city will be better for it.
5. Bill Kramer defeating Ruth Page Jones after her squeaker victory over Steve Schmuki. It’s official. The seat is mostly safe for Republicans, especially if the Republican works hard to keep it.
6. The passing of Governor Lee Sherman Dreyfus. An institution.
7. Chris Lufter steps down as head of the Waukesha Taxpayers League. Great work is done by great people.
8. Evil genius Lori Luther takes over as the new city administrator. She sends the other guy to funerals, ribbon cuttings, and to buy lunch occasionally.

Wisconsin’s Big Eight:
1. The Flood. Governor goes golfing with contributors while parts of the state are washed away. Lake Delton still recovering. Golf course got free advertising.
2. Hillary Clinton bypasses the Wisconsin primary. What? Is she lactose intolerant?
3. The state assembly falls to the Democrats. You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!
4. Judge Gableman defeats Justice Louis Butler. State Supreme Court race still stirs political rancor and sets the stage for the Koschnick – Abrahamson battle.
5. Great Lakes Water Compact passes. I know some on the right disagreed, but a generation from now we’ll be thankful it passed.
6. Rose Fernandez leads coalition of virtual school parents and teachers to Madison. WEAC, Democrats back down and virtual schools are saved.
7. General Motors announces closure of Janesville plant. Ripple effects just beginning. Look at Paul Ryan’s support for the auto bailout.
8. Tommy Thompson’s presidential ambitions end in the cornfields of Iowa. I never did understand the logic behind his campaign.

Zoning? We have something called zoning?

Darryl Enriquez for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting a proposed shelter has been delayed because of something called "zoning."

Bernie Juno, executive director of the Hebron House of Hospitality, just said that plans to open a shelter for single men at St. Matthias Episcopal Church, 111 Main St., are now on hold until it can get a zoning variance from the city.

Apparently, there's no zoning that allows shelters, so Hebron House must present its plans to the Board of Zoning Appeals on Jan. 14, she said.

I wonder what is this "variance" of which Darryl speaks. Does the city council know about it?

Next somebody will tell me we actually have a definition in this "zoning" for parkland. Wouldn't that be neat?

Letter from Chad Bauer regarding the delay of the construction of a stadium at Frame Park

December 16, 2008
City of Waukesha, WI
Common Council

Dear Council Members,

The members of Waukesha Baseball LLC including myself are very excited at the opportunity to bring Northwoods League baseball and the approved improvements to the baseball facility in Frame Park. After the lengthy and detailed process we have gone through together, we look forward to bring the highest quality product to you and the citizens of Waukesha. That said, we feel the need to begin play in the 2010 season, as opposed to beginning play in 2009, which we had originally planned.

A number of circumstances have led us to this conclusion: The Northwoods League has been gracious enough to extend the deadline to release their 2009 schedule to accommodate the Waukesha Franchise; however, they are being forced to look at the reality of having the improvements to Frame Park completed in time for the 2009 season. The repercussions of not having the ballpark improvements completed on time would negatively affect not only the Waukesha Franchise, but the other members of the Northwoods League, not to mention the high school, college, and amateur teams that count on the Frame Park facility. The economic times in which we live today have contributed much to this delay. We learned last week that materials needed for construction may not be available to complete the project on time due to longer than normal winter plant shutdowns as product demand is low. Gaining final financing has proven to take much longer than before the current economic crisis, leaving the core group of equity investors to bear a larger burden of the endeavor.

With the decision to look towards 2010 for the inaugural Northwoods League season, we will be asking for a revision to the special use agreement between the City, League, and Waukesha Baseball LLC to be brought forward at a future date in the spring of 2009. To show our commitment to the City of Waukesha and our good faith, we would like to offer the following:

1) Renovation of the infield playing surface prior to the summer of 2009. This will allow the other users of the Frame Park ballfield to have the benefit of a new infield playing surface as originally planned.
2) Day to day maintenance of the baseball field beginning in the spring of 2009 as planned, taking over the duties from Waukesha Park, Recreation, and Forestry. This includes mowing and gameday preparations of the baseball diamond in Frame Park.
3) Pay for normal electrical utility expenses associated with the baseball diamond lighting from June through August as the special use agreement called for.

Taking into consideration these and other items, we feel the decision to begin play in 2010 is prudent. As evident from the process we went through this past year, we all are intent on doing this project first class. We believe the extra time will provide opportunity to ensure things are done properly, with an end result that we will all be proud of. As always, I look forward to working with the City of Waukesha to make the approved improvements to the baseball facility at Frame Park, making it the best facility of its kind in Southeast Wisconsin and beyond. I will make an effort to contact each of you in the upcoming days. Please feel free to contact me prior to that if you have any immediate questions or concerns. Thank you.

Sincerely,


Chad Bauer
President
Waukesha Baseball LLC

Letter from the Northwoods Baseball League regarding the delay in constructing a stadium at Frame Park until 2010

December 15, 2008
City of Waukesha, WI
Common Council

Dear Council Members,

After lengthy deliberation and a conversation with Chad Bauer, his investors, and his contractor it has been decided that to go ahead and commit to play in Frame Park for the 2009 season was not a prudent idea and in good conscience could not put our other 13 owners in jeopardy of not having its 14th member properly prepared to play the season.

Consequently, the League is 110% percent behind the effort to play Northwoods League baseball in Frame Park for the 2010 season and beyond.

While no one wanted this lengthy effort to go forth more than I, the fact remained that construction deadlines put all our membership in peril for the upcoming season. As we enter our largest market, in Waukesha, the League wants nothing more than to put on the finest show we can possibly achieve and pushing the limits of construction and business makes for poor decisions and performance.

I appreciate all your efforts to date and look forward spending many nights in beautiful Frame Park in the future.

Happy Holidays,


Dick Radatz, Jr.
President
Northwoods League

City Administrator's memo on the delayed Northwoods Baseball League stadium at Frame Park

City of Waukesha, Wisconsin
Memorandum

To: Mayor Nelson
Council President Francoeur
Common Council Members
Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Board Chair Rebecca Roeker
Members of the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board
Members of the Plan Commission
Members of the Ad Hoc Baseball Committee

From: Lori Curtis Luther, City Administrator

Date: December 16, 2008

Re: Northwoods League Baseball

Attachments: Letter from Chad Bauer
Letter from Northwoods League

I learned of a potential delay in construction for the Waukesha Northwoods League baseball project last Friday afternoon, which was confirmed in a meeting late yesterday afternoon. This memo and attachments are intended to notify all parties as quickly as possible.

Chad Bauer informed me that the schedule for Northwoods League Baseball will be released to member teams this week and will be publicly released in January. Due to a variety of factors, Waukesha will not be on the schedule for 2009 as anticipated. It is Mr. Bauer’s intent, as referenced in the attached letter, to begin play in 2010.

The key factors that have led to the revised timeline are the recent changes in the economy and specifically the banking industry that have led lenders to require additional capital and equity that was not originally anticipated. My previous review of business plans and initial financing was conducted prior to the current financial crisis. In addition, a shortage and unavailability of construction materials is reported as a significant concern for keeping the original construction schedule regardless of other issues.

Mr. Bauer continues to have League support as indicated in the attached letter. The Use Agreement currently authorized by the Council requires construction to be completed by June 1, 2009. Therefore, a revised Use Agreement and timeline for project completion will be submitted to the Council for consideration and approval prior to the initiation of construction.

It is important to note that the structure of the Use Agreement protected the City from any financial commitment until Mr. Bauer provided final evidence of financial viability for the full $2 million investment. For example, the 2009 Capital Improvement Plan budget of $210,000 for new lighting at Frame Park will not be borrowed or spent unless an amended Use Agreement is authorized by the Common Council. The Use Agreement approved by the Council has not been signed by the Mayor because we were awaiting final verification of financing. Therefore, the City has assumed no liability.

In regard to maintenance, Mr. Bauer has agreed to complete infield improvements and maintain the field at Frame Park in 2009, as previously negotiated and as a matter of good faith. Therefore, the City will not incur unbudgeted maintenance expenses and the field will be in better condition for the high schools, Carroll University and other users next year as planned.

I will continue to keep you updated on the status of this project as any new developments arise.

Note: Regardless of your position on building the stadium, the good news is that Chad Bauer will maintain the field at Frame park in 2009. Also, Luther's memo indicates that because the Northwoods League will not make their deadlines, a new use agreement will have to be created and approved by the city council.

Plans for Frame Park baseball stadium derailed for 2009

Chad Bauer of the Northwoods Baseball League was unable to raise the $2,000,000 necessary to build the proposed stadium at Frame Park, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

A letter written by the head of the Northwoods League, Dick Radatz Jr., stated that investors for the new team and contractors for the new stadium agreed it "was not a prudent idea" to try to field a team in Waukesha for 2009.

City Administrator Lori Luther said Bauer was unable to raise the money from banks for the team because of the economic crisis.

Consequently, the city will not spend $210,000 to install new lights at the proposed baseball stadium, Luther said.

Bauer had planned to build a stadium that sat about 6,000 people and field a team of non-professional college players competing against similar teams from throughout the Midwest and Canada.

The proposal drew opposition from residents who did not want to see the serene park altered to accommodate a commercial baseball operation.

So despite assurances from supporters of the stadium, the mayor, and the city administrator, it turns out the Northwoods Baseball League was too unstable to support a team here before a spade of dirt could be turned over. Good thing it was stopped before it got started. As much as I enjoy saying, "I told you so," a half-finished stadium is arguably worse than a completed stadium.

Remember the rush to approve the stadium so they could start building right away? The Waukesha Common Council should take the whole process back to square one and do all of the due diligence we were in too much of a hurry to do last year before granting approval to the Northwoods Baseball League or any other group to build an office park/entertainment complex in Frame Park.

The mistake on the river gets design final approval

Anyone check the echo effect of the new design for the Frame Park Sports Stadium/Office Complex/Industrial Park?

When do we get to bid on the naming rights? Wigderson Library & Pub Field at Frame Park has a nice ring to it.

Waukesha's leaf riots

Aldermanic district seven erupted in flames overnight as rake-wielding peasants with large yards filled the streets with dried leaves and set them afire whenever a city-owned vehicle attempted to pass through. They chanted, "No leaf pick-up, no peace!" as they burned pictures of the mayor's Crocs. "Hey, Hey, ho, ho, bagging leaves has got to go!" Residents were so upset over the early leaf pick-ups in their district that any trees planted by the city between the sidewalk and the streets that still had their leaves were cut down with chain saws, doused with gasoline, and set ablaze.

Alderman Peggy Bull was quoted as saying, "Maybe we should have moved the fire stations to decrease the response time. "

"Oh, the humanity!" the mayor cried shortly before ordering the cannons manned at Cutler Park to defend the Taj Ma Larry Library. Then Steve Crandell whispered something to the mayor. "Oh, never mind. Someone get Pewaukee Mayor Scott Klein on the phone! We need reinforcements!"

"He's at Frame Park with his watercolor set," said Ron Grall. "He's trying to capture what the new stadium is going to look like blotting out the fall colors from view."

"Scott Klein doodles while district 7 burns?" Nelson asked. "Who's writing this?"

Baseball at the Frame

From the Waukesha Freeman:

“I think this project will make the park even more beautiful than it is today,” {Mayor Larry} Nelson said.

The mayor wears Crocs. So much for his sense of aesthetics.

Ron Grall, director of the Waukesha Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, said Bauer, his department and the city have been looking at options so users of the park, the Schuetze Recreation Center and the Rotary Building, will have parking available to them during baseball games.

“We feel confident we can monitor parking and accommodate general park users during games,” Grall said.

It was "parking" that put the "p" in Pewaukee. (By the way, notice that mayor is in favor of building the stadium here.)

Marty Larson questioned why important details like parking are still being addressed in the final stages of the process.

“It seems like you’re saying, ‘We’ll address that as issues come up,’” he told the commission. “I thought this was the final plan and it should have those details in it.”

Or in other words, this is the Planning Commission, right?

The city, which will maintain ownership of anything Bauer builds, will also make some money in the deal, getting $25,000 for naming rights to the field and a certain amount from ticket sales.

Even in this depressed real estate market, what does prime riverfront property go for these days? Perhaps we can get Waste Management to buy the naming rights. "Waste Management Field at Frame Park" has a nice ring to it.

Bauer said some work will take place soon at the park, weather permitting. He said the taking down of the old light towers will probably be one of the first tasks.

He also said holding a contest to come up with a name for Waukesha’s team could begin as soon as next month.

I'm holding out for the Waukesha Wiggys.

(Ht: Spring City Chronicle)

Did his face match his crocs?

Oops. Steve Edlund e-mails to say the variance for the height of the new stadium was denied.

Mayor Nelson is not happy and he stuck around after the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting to "vent" on board members afterward.

The vote was 3-2 against on a finding of 4 facts and the vote was the same on all 4 facts.

The stadium will be proposed to the Plan Commission with a flat roof over the press box, something that will not be consistent with the Rotary Building, a standard quoted in the Freeman to be used by the Waukesha Parks Board President as criteria. Will she still vote "yes"? Of course.

Steve Edlund

Good thing they build these stadiums from the ground up. It'll give the mayor time to fix this. Otherwise, maybe we could use the flat roof for helicopter parking?

Chris Lufter steps down as WTL President

Christine Lufter has stepped down as president of the Waukesha Taxpayers League after more than ten years of serving the community. Her successor has not yet been named.

Former New Berlin School Board member Matt Weiss famously remarked, “Nobody ever thanks you for not spending money.” Let me take a moment to thank someone who did fight spending money.

The Waukesha community owes Lufter more than it can ever repay. She literally fought millions of dollars in taxes and spending increases during her time as WTL President. Among her accomplishments, she successfully fought the 2005 Waukesha school district referendums and led the effort to reduce the size of the county board in 2006. Her education efforts with the public are largely responsible for preventing the school district from seeking another referendum.

Lufter had a unique intuitive grasp of how government worked and made decisions. She understood the school budget and the contract with the teachers better than many members of the board. She could understand complex budget questions and explain them to the public.

Under Lufter the Waukesha Taxpayer League reached out to other organizations to form coalitions, like most recently with the Waukesha Environmental Action League during the Frame Park baseball stadium debate. Lufter also had a working dialogue with some members of the school board and the district administration, as well as leaders in other local governing bodies as well.

Unfortunately, the flip side was that as the public face of the Taxpayers League she was also the lightning rod. The attacks on her were often petty, personal and even vicious.

I would often tease her that she was, “the moderate of the group.” However, she was and continues to be my friend, and I wish her nothing but the best in her retirement as president of the WTL.

There goes the other half of Frame Park

Darryl Enriquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting Drew Vallozzi is starting an arena football league team, the Milwaukee Iron. Business operations for the team will be in "downtown Waukesha."

Please tell me it won't be at the proposed Frame Park enhanced entertainment complex, retail center and office park skyscraper.

In brief with the mayor last night

After last night's candidate forum I had a chance to ask Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson a couple of questions.

First, the mayor offered a nit to pick with me. In this column, I referred to the mayor's statement during his campaign for election, "You can fight city hall." The mayor believes he only said that during his victory speech. I believe he said it during his debate with Ann Nischke, too. However, since neither of us are absolutely sure, I thought I would share. He also said he never claimed we could win, just that when we fight City Hall we'll be treated with respect. He pointed to the Frame Park debate as the example.

Speaking of which, Nelson also pointed out that shortly after I received word from Steve Edlund that he was suspending his campaign against the Frame Park baseball stadium, Nelson received the fifth open records request from Edlund looking for the verbal opinion of the city attorney in writing that no zoning issues are involved in the building of the stadium at Frame Park.

(Just for the record, Edlund's group is still opposing the stadium and has distributed some yard signs. I'm told how the zoning proceeds will determine if there's a lawsuit to stop the stadium.)

And if you want to see the funniest expression on Darryl Enriquez's face, ask the mayor to explain why "ballpark" and "stadium" are both acceptable terms. I suggest we change it to the proposed Frame Park enhanced entertainment complex, retail center and office park skyscraper. Starbucks at the park, anyone?

The Mayor is hoping construction can begin at Frame Park before the snow falls but after everything has been approved. The final agreement between the city and Chad Bauer's investment group should be on the agenda for the November 6th meeting.

Finally, the mayor passed along some interesting info about leaf pick up (hey, this is Waukesha). Nelson explained that the additional leaf pick up (pick up #3) has to be in bags (clear plastic or paper) not just because of the potential for snow but also because the leaf trucks will already be converted over to snow plow use.

And we all know, after the first snow storm during Nelson's term in office, he has been sensitive to the issue ever since. There's no way he would ask to have the retrofitting of the trucks wait until after the extra leaf pick up. Besides, as the mayor points out, the bags will be visible in the inevitable snow piles.

Nelson also pointed out this is the first year that crews will be picking up leaves from two aldermanic districts on the same day, speeding up the process. (The aldermanic district order rotates from year-to-year.)

Frame Park stadium clears final hurdle

Waukesha's planning commission passed approval of the stadium on a 4-3 vote. This follows the written opinion of the city attorney that the proposed stadium will not violate Waukesha's zoning laws. Opposition leader Steve Edlund e-mailed me this evening to say he is suspending his efforts against the stadium.

There is no truth to the rumor the County is looking to take advantage of all the extra fences slicing up Frame Park and use the stadium to house prisoners in the off season. I'm still checking on the city.

All that remains is the naming rights to the stadium and the naming of the team. Bauer says he is going to have a contest to name the team.

For the stadium let me suggest "The Eyesore at Frame Park." For the team, let me suggest the TIFs.

Nice to know the team is going to follow through on its commitment to keep the ballpark a family venue.

Bauer is betting that cheap beer, stadium food and admission tickets will capture a fan base from throughout the region.

Well, okay maybe not. I'm looking forward to the bait shop, tobacco store, checks cashed and fireworks stand when they do the expansion.