Symons Recreation Complex is highly valued and operationally stable but faces long-term capital pressure, IPA report concludes

Innovative Public Advisors (IPA) completed an Operational Structure Assessment of Symons Recreation Complex, funded by a Wisconsin DOR Innovation Planning Grant. IPA’s final report was given at last night’s (Tuesday) Richland Center City Council meeting. It confirms Symons is highly valued and operationally stable but facing increasing long-term capital pressure.

The study concludes that maintaining the current shared City/County structure increases long-term levy exposure and capital risk. The study evaluated five governance models. However: Status Quo is not recommended due to levy constraints and the City’s identified inability to continue long term subsidy growth. Single-Entity City Ownership is not financially feasible under current municipal capacity. And Single-Entity County Ownership does not independently qualify for Innovation Grant funding unless they transfer the service to another entity. The Wisconsin DOR Innovation Grant application deadline is March 31. If operational governance transfers to the Richland School District, the County would qualify to apply for the grant. Accordingly, IPA’s recommendation is that, if the City and County wish to pursue the Innovation Grant opportunity, transfer of operational governance to the Richland School District represents the most viable and immediately actionable path forward. A meeting to have an agreement with all three entities will have to be held if the decision is made to apply for the Innovation Grant.

Chapter 400 of the Code of Ordinances governs zoning and land use regulations within the City, including standards for Planned Unit Developments, or PUDs. The PUD district is intended to provide flexibility in site design through unified site planning while preserving City discretion and oversight. A section of this chapter currently includes an absolute prohibition stating that a Planned Unit Development may not consist of a single city lot. Staff has identified that this provision conflicts with both the purpose of the PUD district and the definition of Planned Unit Development, which anticipates the possibility of multiple principal structures under unified site planning, including on a single parcel or lot. This conflict has created ambiguity in interpretation and has the potential to force unnecessary subdivision or lot configuration changes solely to satisfy the ordinance rather than planning intent. Economic Development and Public Works Director, Jason Glassbrenner, said this does create issues in developing sites such as the campus property. A public hearing was held on a proposed zoning amendment to Chapter 400 relating to planned unit developments. An amendment will adopt flexibility, but the city would still have control. The council approved to adopt Ordinance 2026-03 amending Chapter 400 relating to Planned Unit Developments, as presented at last night’s (Tuesday) meeting.

In other action last night the Richland Center City Council approved:

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for reunification with the Richland School District.

An MOU with Richland County for a Radio Building space agreement.

A Community Meal Site Agreement at the Richland Center Community & Senior Center good from January 2027 to December 2028.

To combine municipal wards for voting purposes to share a single voting place.

The spring election will be held Tuesday, April 7. Residents of Richland Center will be voting for a new mayor and alder persons. The city will be mailing out absentee ballots which have been requested on March 17. In person absentee voting will begin March 18.