By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
A cross-section of representatives will soon meet to seek out long-term solutions aimed at tightening Whitewater’s municipal ordinances, yet assuring law-abiding planners are able to put on large-scale private parties within the community.
In the past six months, city officials have grappled with potential policy decisions in the aftermath of Spring Splash, the daylong event geared toward college students. This year’s event drew an especially large crowd and was taxing on municipal resources.
Local law enforcement, in particular, devoted a large amount of resources toward answering calls. In the aftermath of the event, Police Chief Lisa Otterbacher reported it generated 104 calls to police and 27 traffic stops. There also were widespread reports of property damage.
As a next step in seeking out long-term solutions, the Common Council on Sept. 20 voted to form an ad-hoc task force to develop long-term policy recommendations, which will be brought back to the council on a later date for deliberation and action.
“The scope of work is to define the problems and identify current or new solutions and present findings to the Common Council for consideration,” said Assistant City Manager Chris McDonell, who has spearheaded the city’s role in the effort.
During his investigation into the city’s options, McDonell noted a handful of Southeastern Wisconsin communities have ordinances aimed at curtailing nuisance issues during private parties. Oshkosh, Pewaukee and Stoughton are among the municipalities with such language on their books.
With the goal of ensuring a cross-section of interests are represented, the council’s motion included a caveat: The task force includes City Manager Cameron Clapper and council members Stephanie Goettl and Chris Grady. Rounding out the group will be University of Wisconsin-Whitewater representatives, residents and property owners.
The council’s motion comes on the heels of a similar effort within the confines of the UW-Whitewater campus. With Chancellor Beverly Kopper’s urging, a so-called Move-In Ad-Hoc Committee was formed and included students, campus staff members and landlords.
McDonell said the Move-In Ad-Hoc Committee “was created in response to complaints from students and parents about excessive drinking and inappropriate signage on city streets.”
Although Spring Splash was an impetus for the Move-In Ad-Hoc Committee’s formation, McDonell said the nuisance complaints linked to university students’ behavior occurred more than a year ago, during the 2015 fall residence hall move-in.
The new ad-hoc task force could take a page out of some of the Move-In Ad-Hoc Committee’s recommendations. The group developed 25 possible outcomes, including a suggestion to create a clear structure for community members having gatherings in excess of 70 persons.
That particular recommendation, outlined in a memo, included a directive: “City staff will submit to the Park Board and Common Council a registration/ordinance that establishes definition, approval protocol, exceptions, crowd management and minimum amenities for special events/parties. University will assist in sharing with off-campus partners.”
While there has been support within the council of putting greater parameters around special events, several officials have expressed concerns it could have unintended consequences.
Goettl and fellow council member James Langnes III, in particular, have gone on record in recent months and have taken aim at potential policy decisions, claiming provisions could unfairly target all University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students.
