Shameless name-dropping on a sunny day

Just bumped into Victoria Hekkers, former Waukesha BID president, in the parking lot at the Pick N Save grocery on Sunset Ave.  She was heading in to buy something to grill outside today.   Nice day for it. 

Downtown Waukesha is open for business

There will be a record eight ribbon-cutting ceremonies downtown this Saturday. The mayor is really going to have to burn rubber on his Crocs to keep this schedule:

•11:00 a.m Beyond Studio and Publishing, 131 W. Broadway;
Specializes in fine art reproduction

•11:30 a.m Poppin on Broadway, 260 W. Broadway;
Gourmet popcorn shop

•12:00 p.m. Guitar 4 Life, 266 W. Broadway;
Specializes in guitar lessons for all ages

•12:30 p.m. Bling N Things, 271 W. Main Street;
Clothing and jewelry store

•1:00 p.m. Three Sisters Spirit, 308 W. Broadway
Retail Store & Woman Spirited, Heart Centered Wellness Sanctuary

•1:30 p.m. Taylor’s People Park, 337 W. Main Street;
Upscale restaurant and bar

•2:00 p.m. Clinton Street Gallery, 801 Clinton Street;
Collective mix of artful gifts

•2:30 p.m. Ray’s on South, 225 South Street.
Restaurant and Bar

I don't see a hot dog stand on the list, yet. Mayor Nelson also passes along news about the Super Wal-Mart:

...last Friday Walmart closed on what will be the first Super Walmart in the City of Waukesha at the West Ave. And bypass location. It will be one of the first in the country with the new logo (no hyphen and sunburst) and design features making it one of the greenest buildings in the area with over 100 skylights and lannon type stone as a nod to Waukesha's history. Groundbreaking will be in the spring with an opening in spring of 2010.

Let them have their lights

Bad enough businesses have a hard time just putting a sign out letting the public know where their stores are hiding. Now Darryl Enriquez has stirred up trouble regarding some Christmas lights in a few city trees.

...Andy Ruggeri, the lead guy in renovating the Clarke Hotel and Black Trumpet restaurant, has strung lights onto four city trees at the Five Points. It's the main view of Black Trumpet patrons.

The lights were on during Sunday's Christmas parade.

I imagine the lights provide nice exterior scenery for well-heeled customers who otherwise would gaze out of the restaurant's spacious windows to see an empty storefront on their right, the seldom open Miss Kim's and a cell phone store to the left that's beome kind of a hang out for kids.

Ruggeri, contacted by phone, said he installed the lights because he thought they were pretty. He hopes others in downtown would do it, too.

Ruggeri said he was aware of Liska's policy. "I guess we'll see if anything happens," Ruggeri said.

Pete Traczek, the city's interim forester, said today that he was never told about plans to install the lights and was dismayed that it had occurred. He said lights damage trees, which is why they are not allowed. The city, he said, is now in the uncomfortable position of responding in some fashion.

Okay, why is the city in an uncomfortable position? It shouldn't matter who the affected party is. Either enforce the lights rule or don't, and don't worry about who Ruggeri has on his speed dial.

I'd rather they did not enforce the rule and let every merchant do it. It's a stupid "Bah Humbug" policy. A few lights in a few trees aren't going to cause nearly the damage the snow plows will. Just make the store owners responsible for the trees if anything happens. If it's done right, maybe a few kids will drag their parents downtown to see the pretty lights.

BID hands mayor defeat on baseball stadium proposal

The Waukesha Business Improvement District failed to approve a motion last night to support the mayor's proposal for a new baseball stadium at Frame Park. The vote was 6-6. The vote was especially significant given that the members of the board are selected by the mayor and are subject to being replaced when their terms are up. We'll see if this provides the momentum to kill the stadium proposal tonight at the common council meeting.

Also at the meeting, Alderman Radish reiterated his threat to see the existing diamond plowed under if the stadium is not built.

In all seriousness, it's a position that doesn't make sense. If the city was going to invest $205,000 for the lighting if the stadium was built, then it could still invest the $205,000 for the lighting. The remaining portion of the $300,000 CIP was for other improvements which could be possibly raised through private donations, a possibility not explored since the whole stadium issue was brought up in 2005 and the lighting and field improvements were an issue then.

Off to waste the county's water resources

I'll be at that place in Waukesha County where all Republicans go eventually for an unavoidable educational event. Something about elephants and water, my children, etc. So I won't be at the BID meeting tonight as planned, unfortunately.

My spies will just have to fill me in later.

Meanwhile, Darryl Enriquez catches up to Alderman Randy Radish who is not expected to attend tomorrow night's meeting, but his vote at tonight's BID meeting will put him on the record.

Truthfully, Radish's threat sounds like something the school board would pull. But I'm willing to call his bluff. A nice butterfly garden would be great.

Special BID meeting concerning Frame Park tonight

The Waukesha Business Improvement District is having a special meeting tonight 6:30 PM at the Rotunda. I'll be the big, bearded guy with the notebook if I can make it. I'm hoping the mayor will appoint me to the board.

Seriously though, it should be an interesting meeting and I would encourage the membership to ask a lot of direct questions. After all, much of the investment into Frame Park to this point was in part justified to help downtown. It would be a shame to see that thrown away for a future empty graffiti magnet.

I find it ironic that the BID completed a long-term strategic plan just as the mayor is proving with his plans for Frame Park that no long-term planning is safe in this community.

BID members may also want to consider the speed with which this is being pushed through. It's almost as if Drew Vallozzi was trying to build another hotel downtown.

BID meeting monday

The next step in the proposed baseball stadium at Frame Park is the Business Improvement District meeting Monday at the Rotunda at 6:30 PM. The BID members are appointed by the mayor. The BID normally meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month, so the mayor is obviously hoping for the BID to endorse the stadium just prior to Tuesday's vote. Because the mayor appoints the BID membership, it'll take some real courage to defy the mayor.

(B.I.D.) BOARD

Paula Neis expires: November, 2009
1807 Marliz Drive, 53189
549-4406(Home)

A. William Huelsman expires: November, 2008
235 W. Broadway, 53186
P.O. Box 467, 53187
542-8454 (Work)
547-4856 (Home)

Dave Smart expires: November, 2009
137 Wisconsin Ave., 53186
547-7755 (Home)

Jeff Seymour expires: November, 2009
234 Brook Street., 53188
262-893-9227 (Home)

Roger Igielski expires: November, 2009
2727 Minot Lane, 53188
262-542-3405(Home)

Kerry Mackay expires: November, 2008
340 W. Main St., 53186
414-234-9510 (Cell)

Cindy Liburdi expires: November, 2008
234 Brook St., 53188
547-8737(Home)

Norm Bruce expires: November, 2008
231 W. Main St., 53186
547-1060(Work)

Matt Jendrzejczyk expires: November, 2008
724A Hamilton Ave., 53186
262-574-0859 (Home)

Karla Harper expires: November, 2008
768 Crestwood Dr., 53188
262-513-5640

Joe Lester expires: November, 2009
512 Oakmont, 53188
262-547-8737 (Home)

Victoria Hekkers expires: November, 2009
431 W. Main St., 53186
650-8255 (Work)

Karen Richards (Director)
802 N. Grand, 53186
549-6154 (Work)

Ald. Randy Radish expires: April, 2009
619 N. West Ave., 53186
548-0738 (Work)

Alderman Radish will not be at the meeting Tuesday night, but the vote Monday night puts him on the record.