Town of Bell Planning Commission Meeting Minutes

Feb. 7, 2022

Meeting called to order at 4:00 p.m.

Commissioners present: Gordon Anderson, Mark Ehlers, Jackie Eid

Community  members present: Nancy Moye, Jayne Norton, Roger Lindgren, Allen Hahn

Motion was made by Mark Ehlers and second by Gordon Anderson to approve Jan. 18, 2022 meeting minutes. Unanimous.

Still need to review/approve Jan. 10, 2022 minutes.

Correspondence/Updates: Have commissioners that will need to be sworn in.

Horozaniecki Conditional Use Permit: Can this be allowed on a 2.63 acre parcel. Motion to table pending Zoning input Gordon Anderson, second Mark Ehlers. Unanimous.

Hwy 13 crosswalk: Moving forward. Matt Hipsher, Roger Lindgren, Randy Lund, and D.O.T. are all working diligently towards completion.

Commercial Use of Public Lands: Change title of Transient Vendor ordinance to Commercial Use of Public Lands. After next meeting send to Linda Coleman for review/approval of changes and additions.

Short Term Rentals: We continued the discussion.

Goal: Oversight on a unit by unit basis. Help raise revenue towards Town infrastructure.

A room tax does not come out of the pocket of the owners of rentals.

If room tax money is directed to the CBA it could be used towards the bathrooms, garbage collection, or other ways to help offset costs. Rough math: on $10,000.00, $7000.00 to tourism, $3000.00 to Town.

Does it really need to be a room tax? How about licensing fees. Wouldn’t be a massive windfall but would help.

Explore the possibilities of what can be done for Short Term Rentals to become an asset to the community. How to generate revenue to help offset costs to the Town.

Have a Town permit fee at onset then annual renewal.

Need to talk to the Wi. Dept. of Revenue as to how room tax works.

With increased rentals there is increased consumption of resources.

A decision was made to present to the Town of Bell Board a proposal to explore the need for an ordinance governing Short Term Rentals.

Sidewalk Ordinance: Motion was made by Mark Ehlers and second by Gordon Anderson, Section 5 at this time needs no changes. There was some discussion about the Town helping business’s to become ADA compliant. A conceptual plan needs to come to the Town.

Year in Review: Will finish up in March.

March meeting date: Monday March 7, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.

Motion to adjourn Mark Ehlers, second Gordon Anderson. Unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m.