Community vitality is work session topic
By Shelia Tomkins
The Guttenberg city council held a work session on March 30 to discuss the community vitality position that has been vacant since the resignation of Emily Yaddof late last year. The Community Vitality advisory committee subsequently interviewed candidates and made a recommendation to the city council in February, but the council took no action at that time, instead making plans to continue discussion on the scope of the position.
The March 30 meeting grew out of a special council meeting on March 2 that saw input from city council members and the Community Vitality advisory group. At that meeting it was the council's consensus to hold a work session in order to bring stakeholders together to look at the responsibilities, structure, ways to measure success, funding of the position and if some duties could be assumed by volunteer groups and/or city employees.
On hand for Wednesday evening's work session were Mayor Fred Schaub, council members Mandy Ludovissy, Austin Greve, Jane Parker, Steve Bahls and Michelle Geuder; Community Vitality Advisors Russ Loven, Brandie Tomkins, Austin Coon, Tim Ahlers, and MJ Smith; Andy Reimer of the Guttenberg Economic and Industrial Development Commission; Jackie Lee of the Foundation of Cornerstone Communities; City Manager Denise Schneider and city staff member Michelle Meyer. Several of those in attendance played dual roles by representing other groups that had been invited, including the Guttenberg Chamber of Commerce, Guttenberg Rotary, Umbrella Arts and Community Foundation.
MJ Smith served as the meeting facilitator and opened by asking each person to give an anonymous written answer to the question "What is community vitality?" Responses were reviewed and assigned to one of three major community vitality goals: 1) retain/support existing businesses and develop/recruit new businesses; 2) community beautification and design coordination, and 3) expand activities for children and young families.
The group discussed numbers that could be used to measure community vitality, including population, visitor estimates, number of businesses, taxable sales and other metrics.
"Action steps" that were created in 2020 by the former Community Vitality director were reviewed and updated with the written answers from attendees.
In follow-up discussion, some of the topics touched on included connecting annually with major employers to build relationships, the importance of good broadband service, business plans, classes and resources, recruitment packets, succession planning for businesses, grants, ways to grow the population and community footprint, engaging with school students, beautification of highway 52, the bike task force, pond improvements, a public beach, and a community center.
As the meeting drew to its scheduled two-hour close, discussion turned to the next steps —looking at gaps in the action plan, proposing ways to meet the gaps and funding. MJ Smith asked for volunteers for a smaller group that would look at those issues and make recommendations. Council members Steve Bahls and Jane Parker voiced their support for taking money for the community vitality position and giving it to the Civic and Commerce Club on a one-year trial basis.
After additional discussion, it was decided to form a new Community Vitality advisory group that would meet and present suggestions to the city council as to how to move forward. Members of the group named that evening were Brandie Tomkins, Andy Reimer, Jackie Lee, Tim Ahlers, Mandy Ludovissy, Steve Bahls, Molly Moser, Denise Schneider and Michelle Meyer.
