Brown Deer Visioning Committee Minutes

Date February 27, 2003

Members Present: John Buckley, Mary Fitzgerald, Barb Fleming, Margaret Hirschi, Anne Lutz, Bob Oates, Wayne Parker, Rick Stone, Gregg Umipeg, Carrie Weddle, Russ VanGompel, Barb Grant and Dave Vaclavik.

Members Excused: Marty Ball, Jeff Bersch, Mike Ganzer

Russ VanGompel reported that workshop invitations had been/will be sent out this week after address and other completeness/accuracy issues were resolved. Posters had been placed at strategic sites and information sent home with public school students twice. Local print media have done articles on the process and upcoming workshop. The local cable channel will be producing a 30-minute program as well as a promotional segment about the workshop and the visioning process.

Visions of the Future with Brown Deer Department Heads

a) Bob Premo, Building Inspector, summarized the history, mission, and work of his department and projected some changes related to changing codes. New housing inspections are nearing completion; inspections will continue to support safe redevelopment and maintenance of safe housing stock. He noted that there is some public controversy over the need for certificates of compliance when housing ownership changes.

b) Martin Glodoski, Water Superintendent, reviewed the utility’s structure and growth. He explained maintenance issues as well as public utility oversight and regulation. He pointed to the high cost of infrastructure replacements coming due to lower quality piping manufactured during Brown Deer’s growth era. He noted the potential for regionalization, the need for continued technology and staff efficiencies, and the benefits of competitive rates for local business and industry.

c) Library Director, Arnie Gutkowski, reviewed the library’s mission, services, funding, and both in and out of village customer base. He noted that circulation and customer numbers continue to grow. Collection items will continue over time, but the library will continue to be an important source of information in the community.

d) Jane Petersen, Director of the North Shore Health Department, introduced the services of the North Shore Health Department and identified a trend toward addressing lifestyle and environmental health issues rather than communicable disease management.

e) The Treasurer / Comptroller, Kathy Kasza, identified continued efficiency advancements and technical changes that will affect the way that this small department interacts with the public.

Discussion of survey models, guidelines, appropriate topics, potential questions

Members of the committee identified survey vision topics as attached. Survey examples were passed out for members to identify preferred topics and approaches. From these ideas and others, PMP will prepare a draft survey for review at the March 27 meeting.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:30 pm.

MARCH 12: Focus Groups

Groups will meet for approximately 45 minutes each under the facilitation of Public Management Partners. Numbers invited are at a minimum as identified in the table. Visioning Committee members were invited to attend, but their help will not be required.

Focus Group	Code	Current #	Time	Facilitator
Largest service and manufacturing employers	LE	14	7:30 am	Together
Commercial sector businesses (Services and goods to members of the general public)	CO	40	8:30 am	Separately
Commercial property & development specialists	CPD	11	9:30 am	Together
Realtors and apartment managers	RPM	20	10:30 am	Barb
Health care providers	HC	26	10:30 am	Dave
Ethnic minorities	EM	26	12 noon	Together
Hospitality sector businesses (Restaurants, motels, bars)	HO	24	2:00 pm	Barb
Seniors	SR	14	2:00 pm	Dave
Youth & youth organizations	YTH	43	3:00 pm	Separately

Assignments:

Russ: Final Focus Group invitations

Todd: Community Workshop cable television programming coordination

Committee Members: Workshop set up, attendance, and take down Saturday

Attachment:

Group Brainstorming Notes: Survey Topics

Group Brainstorming Notes: Survey topics

After school programming

Alternative transportation modes: sidewalks, bike paths

Building height/stories

Centralized place? What/where would it be?

Changes to schools

Cleanliness

Community interaction

Cultural center

Development of community roots/loyalty

Divisiveness of state highway system

Fine arts center

Green space amenities/greenery/parks

How to better project image

Is diversity important to you?

Lighting

Maintenance of property

Opportunities for kids/teens/where do they go?

Perception of Brown Deer as a multi-cultural community

Perception of Brown Deer versus Milwaukee

Perception of health service quality

Perception of safety

Perception of school quality

Priorities

Quality of schools

Quiet community/noise issues

Resident connection to village departments

Sense of identity

Shopping outside of Brown Deer

Sports center

Traffic safety/volume

Type of business or services needed