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Meet the Candidates: Sturgeon Bay Common Council

Three Sturgeon Bay Common Council seats are up for election April 3.

Bob Starr

David Hayes

In District 2 former mayor Bob Starr faces off with David Hayes for the right to replace the retiring Ron Vandertie. The 58-year-old Hayes has a BA in anthropology, MA in historic geography, and PhD in geography and has spent 25 years in civil service. Hayes served four years in the U.S. Navy and said he has facilitated more than 50 public open houses and public meetings.

A Sturgeon Bay High School graduate, Starr has spent 35 years in real estate and served as President of the Door County Humane Society. The 64 year-old Starr serves on the Plan Commission and Door County Tourism Zone Commission.

Richard Wiesner

Kelly Avenson

In District 4, Incumbent Richard Wiesner, 48, faces a challenge from Kelly Avenson, 34. Wiesner is a Sturgeon Bay High School graduate who attended Winona State University. He has served three terms on the council and serves on the Community Protection and Services, Finance, Purchasing and Buildings Committee, the Plan Commission, Library Board, Utilities Board and the Service Committee at Bay View Lutheran Church.

Avenson earned an associate’s degree in professional photography and owns two businesses in Sturgeon Bay. A member of the Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center board and volunteer with the Women’s Fund of Door County, Avenson has been an outspoken observer of council for several years.

Stewart Fett

Seth Wiederanders

In District 6 incumbent Stewart Fett, 63, is challenged by newcomer Seth Wiederanders, 45. Wiederanders is a 1991 graduate of Sturgeon Bay High School and board member of the League of Women Voters of Door County. He served on the Lakeshore CAP board from 2009-2016 and is a member of the Community Services Regional Steering Committee, Comprehensive Community Services/Coordinated Services Team, and Children’s Community Options Program Committee. Fett is a Southern Door and NWTC-Green Bay graduate who has been alderman for seven years. In addition to serving on several city committees, Fett serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club and is a member of Loaves and Fishes and the Sturgeon Bay Lions Club.

Each candidate responded questionnaires from the Peninsula Pulse. Select questions are included below. Full responses are posted at DoorCountyPulse.com.

 

District 2

Editor’s Note:  The candidates positions on the Premier Resort Area Tax and alternative solutions for street improvements were printed in February and can be found at DoorCountypulse.com.

The mayor recently removed public comment sessions from common council meetings? Do you agree with that decision, and do you believe public comment sessions are helpful to the council in making decisions?

David Hayes: I do not agree with the Mayor’s decision to remove public comment sessions from common council meetings. I have facilitated/conducted over 50 public comment meetings across the country. My experience always has been that public engagement improves the decision-making process at every level of government. When the public is allowed to contribute to the dialogue they also take some level of ownership in the project/process. The community comes together often with varied opinions which is good for community growth. Open comment periods encourage citizens to brainstorm new ideas that were never thought of before, and the council learns and listens to the new ideas when making their decisions. Without public comment, the council typically adopts or makes decisions based on personal agendas or persuasion from a few folks that did not speak publically. When that happens the public that was not allowed to speak does not understand the decision or how the council came to make the decision, and then trust is lost between the citizens and the administration.

Bob Starr:  I am aware that the Mayor felt he had to remove the comment period from common council meetings recently. I am also aware that he did not wish to do so but felt some members of the public had occasionally spoken disrespectfully to elected officials. I am confident the microphone will likely be turned back “on” once a well defined plan for open and respectful commentary can be established. I do believe public comment sessions can be helpful to the council in making decisions, especially when diversity of opinion is expressed.

 

What specific actions should the city take, if any, to repair its relationships with citizens and invite public input?

David Hayes: Everything I recommend is to renew the trust between the residents and City Administration/Common Council.
Immediate steps should be: allowing public comment during the Common Council meetings; having set office times for public listening sessions – these would get the most benefit when more than one Alderperson attends and when the Alderpersons don’t share the same desired outcome (assuming their opinion has already formed); and a published letter to the residents from the Mayor simply stating what is being discussed/researched/planned in the last week and in the upcoming week – this would allow the Mayor to release decisions on issues facing the City.

Intermediate and Long-Range steps should be: review all committees/authorities and ask, what is the value added with their current structure and membership; review all out-sourced contracts, and determine the efficiency and objectivity of the results; review or create a Sturgeon Bay Position Management Plan, that looks at each position in the administration and asks for the value added, the effectiveness and interrelationship of each position; finally, create a Sturgeon Bay Days to celebrate who we are. There are many festivals for our guests – we need to celebrate who we are as a community – celebrate our diverse history – celebrate our shared future – celebrate our leaders – celebrate our citizenship. I chose to move here after looking at towns in New York, Florida, California and New Mexico. I chose Sturgeon Bay because it feels like home to me and I want every citizen to have that feeling – a place to call home, a place where you trust your city officials and can talk to them openly, a place that has tons of fresh air and the sounds of seagulls and bridge whistles and children screaming at each other at the playground and tugboats. That’s a Sturgeon Bay I want to be part of.

Bob Starr: In general, the city should always remind the public of the many ways to provide input on issues either through calling, personal visits, or writing to their Alderperson, Mayor, City Administrator, or Department Heads. I have always found our elected or hired individuals to be very accessible through such methods of communication. Social media can also be used to communicate with residents about issues and invite comment. Relationships can be improved through mutual respect and better communication.

 

DISTRICT 4

Do you support the Premier Resort Area Tax proposal to pay for street improvements? If voters and the legislature don’t approve that solution, what mechanism – if any – would you support to pay for improvements?

Kelly Avenson: Increasing taxes should always be our last resort. What is nice about the referendum is that the people can use their voice to tell their elected officials what they want. If my constituents vote in favor I will support them. If voters and legislatures do not approve the PRAT tax, I would support further discussions with the Ad Hoc committee and other members of the community and city staff to be sure we have exhausted all other avenues before placing the full burden on the city residence.

Richard Wiesner:  I do support the PRAT tax. I also believe that a strong showing of support from us citizens will aid the legislature in passing this tax. If this tax fails, I would support the ad hoc committee reforming to look into other options, if any exist other than wheel taxes.

 

The mayor recently removed public comment sessions from common council meetings? Do you agree with that decision, and do you believe public comment sessions are helpful to the council in making decisions?

Kelly Avenson: People would like to participate and attend the meetings and share their voice but are unable due to this item removal along with the noon meeting times. I do not agree that council meetings are to just conduct business, I believe it is also to hear from our constituents so we as council members can gather their input and make sure we take in all views and opinions before making decisions and casting votes. We are not only limiting people’s voices – we are limiting those who can run for office or serve on committees, and we are limited to a City Council that doesn’t represent the people it serves. We need to open the door so working citizens of all backgrounds and ages can run and be heard or we are failing an important portion of our population.

Richard Wiesner:  I believe that the mayor was justified in ending public comment at city council meetings. Some members of the public chose to use this speaking opportunity to verbally bash city staff & sitting members of the council. Citizens are encouraged and have been encouraged to speak at the committee levels. This is where the true discussions on the topics happen. I believe that public comment should be allowed, but I also believe that this opportunity to speak to the council should be in civil tones and directed to topics.

 

What specific actions should the city take, if any, to repair its relationships with citizens and invite public input?

Kelly Avenson:  Bring back night meetings, bring back public comment at Council meetings, hold listening sessions when needed to gather more public input and to be able to have dialogue, and encourage the appointments of diverse viewpoints and ages to committees.

Richard Wiesner:  Public input is always invited. Alderperson’s contact information is always available online – email and/or phone number. Contact your alderperson. Explain to them your issues. If your alderperson won’t take your call and/or speak civilly with you . . . call or email me.

 

DISTRICT 6

Editor’s Note:  The candidates positions on the Premier Resort Area Tax and alternative solutions for street improvements were printed in February and can be found at DoorCountypulse.com.

The mayor recently removed public comment sessions from common council meetings? Do you agree with that decision, and do you believe public comment sessions are helpful to the council in making decisions?

Stewart Fett:  Public comment is always welcome. As president of the Sturgeon Bay Utilities and Chairman of the Finance purchasing and building committee,  the agendas allow for public comments. I support public comments at all meetings.

Seth Wiederanders: I believe that people who live in the city should be able to voice opinions and share insight at all common council meetings. I believe that at least ½-hour total should be allowed for the people to participate. People should have a voice in local government and be encouraged to organize prior to common council meetings so they can focus on important points and hopefully add to the discussion at future meetings. The Common Council exists to represent the citizens of Sturgeon Bay and public comment should be included in all open meetings.

 

What specific actions should the city take, if any, to repair its relationships with citizens and invite public input?

Stewart Fett:   Our city is made up of diverse people with diverse ideas. One of the greatest challenges in modern city governance is communication with the public. For years, newspaper, television and radio were the principal means of mass communication, all that has changed. For interested people, residents can now watch a council or plan commission meeting from the comfort of their own home, via either the City’s cable access channel, live streaming on the City’s website.

Minutes and recorded meetings are posted on the website as well and current updates are given via the city’s social media Facebook page. The city has invested monies in public communications infrastructure. Continued investment in modern communication technology and methods is imperative for engaging the citizenry and delivering the best possible services.

Civility is an important factor if strong commitments and ideas are going to be communicated and considered.

Seth Wiederanders: First, we need to bring back public comment to all common council meetings. I am also in favor of holding listening sessions on topics that concern a large group of citizens. Open and accessible local government is key to re-establishing relationships with people who feel they no longer have a voice. It is not enough for city government to simply push through agendas that they think are in the city’s best interest. The public needs to be involved and invited to participate.

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